Imagine switching careers and landing the job of your dreams, complete with flexible working hours, high-paying salary and hardly any responsibility? It might sound too good to be true, but there are currently over a hundred careers on the market that let you apply via social media or work from anywhere. Looking for that sort of flexibility? Then in might be time to trade-up, or so says global recruitment firm Glassdoor.
Each occupation was ranked according to which had the highest Glassdoor Job Score. Three factors were compared to determine the score: earning potential (by annual base salary), career opportunities rating, and number of job openings. Each was then rated on a five point scale (Best jobs score a five, the worst one point). For a job to be considered, it must receive at least 75 salary reports, and at least 75 career opportunities ratings by employees.
Unsurprisingly, the top 25 jobs on the list are in technology. At the top of the chart is data scientist, which commands a six-figure salary as well as the highest career rankings for flexible working hours. To be a data scientist, one must have skills in database management, statistics and machine learning and distributed parallel systems. Essentially, if you can work with and analyse data you’re in high demand. Salaries for number crunchers grew 12 per cent between 2000 and 2014. Analytics manager and UX designer ranked highly (for the first time in Glassdoor’s annual career rundown) with high scores for increasing career opportunities. Software development manager has the highest median annual salary base. While it may not be listed as a requirement, those seeking tech jobs must have patience, says Glassdoor.
Outside of tech, Tax Manager comes in at second place and engagement manager is the number four job. An engagement manager is the main point of contact for clients, and managing this relationship can make or break a business. Engagement managers must be skilled in many tasks, including handling finances and resources while reporting on services rendered throughout a project. If sales are increasing, then managers of those sales should go up also.
Top jobs in 2016
(Ranked by salary, career opportunities and job openings)
1. Data Scientist
As more of the world gets online, the amount of data being sent, received and stores has grown exponentially. Deciphering the trends of big data is the job of a data scientist. While formal training is similar to that of a business or data analyst, a solid foundation in computer science is required. This is because new sources of information, like applications and social media, require technological understanding to source.
2. Tax Manager
3. Solutions Architect
4. Engagement Manager
On larger projects and when work is outsourced to a third-party vendor, an engagement manager is responsible for managing the client and monitoring delivery. Their focus is on the contractual relationship between client and vendor, rather than the management of the project itself. The engagement manager will also follow up with financial aspects, like billing and follow-up payments.
5. Mobile Developer
6. Hr Manager
7. Physician’s Assistant
The healthcare industry show no signs of slowing down in 2016, and a physician assistant (which requires fewer years of schooling than a fully-fledged doctor) roles are on the rise. While a physician’s assistant qualifications vary from country to country, it usually requires a four-year degree, along with one year clinical rotation.
8. Product Manager
9. Software Engineer
10. Audit Manager
11. Analytics Manager
Similar to the data scientist, an analytics manager is responsible for configuration, design, implementation and support of a website or other online tool, for intelligence purposes. An area perpetually growing within the technology industry, an analytics manager will go through the huge quantities of information gathered online.
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12. Software Development Manager
13. Product Marketing Manager
14. Marketing Manager
15. QA Manager
The quality assurance manager prevents mistakes or defects in manufactured products, to avoid potential problems when delivering solutions or services to customers. While certain aspects require providing clients with confidence that a contract will be fulfilled, others involve being able to spot defects or faults in quality control.
16. Finance Manager
17. Business Development Manager
18. UX Designer
Another growing role in many industries, a User Experience designer puts together digital or physical products from a unique standpoint. Focussing on making something that is useful, easy to use and a delight to interact with. It is all about enhancing the experience people have with a product, be it a gadget, an application, web service or even waiting in line at a grocery store.