If you haven’t figured out what you want to be when you grow up, you’re not alone! Even some adults with many years of work experience haven’t found a career that gives them satisfaction or stability. When you realize how much of your time will be spent at work, it’s worth putting some thought into careers of the future.

Careers in Retail

Good or bad, what’s driving our national economy today is consumerism. That is our consumption of goods and services. With that said, it’s worth looking into a career in retail sales, retail operations or retail management. People that serve consumers may find long-term employment and lucrative careers. When you think of retail, think big and broad, because it’s a huge industry. Here are just a few retail chain categories: grocery, car rental, clothing, electronics, furniture, cars/trucks, drugs/pharmacy, home décor. And within these categories, you’ll find multiple "brands" to choose from in terms of employers.

Want to learn more? Attend the “Careers in Retail” workshop on March 26th during the Career Bazaar: 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Careers in Banking and Insurance

Two other industries that are thriving in our world today are banking and insurance, both are part of the giant financial services industry. There’s a lot more to banking than being a teller and there’s a lot more to insurance than selling. Similar to retail, banking has a large operations component with many different types of jobs. And, if that weren’t enough, there are different types of banks: Institutional banks, commercial banks, and we’re extremely fortunate in Kansas City to have a Federal Reserve Bank, one of only 12 in the country. Following suit, insurance also has a large operations component. There’s customer service, underwriting, administration, and more. You don’t have to sell insurance to work in this industry. And, again, you’ve got

different categories (property casualty, life, health) and different employer "brands" to choose from as well.

Want to learn more? Attend the “Careers in Banking” or the “Careers in Insurance” workshops on March 26th during the Career Bazaar: 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Careers in Bioscience, Healthcare and Advanced Manufacturing

It’s no secret that the Baby Boomers will consume more healthcare than any other generation that’s gone before it, and probably any that will come after. Also, Baby Boomers are not sitting still when it comes to aging. They are demanding elective services and looking for breakthroughs that will keep them looking younger and feeling fitter. To meet Baby Boomers’ needs and demands, bioscience and healthcare organizations are gearing up. And let’s not forget about advanced manufacturing, which today depends on computers and robotics to get the work done. Advanced manufacturing is not the dirty work our fathers or grandfathers may have experienced. All of these industries will need workers with highly specialized skills and knowledge. And the only way to get the necessary skills and knowledge is by getting an education. The good news is you may be able to get a scholarship to pay for your education in one of these three fields. The Full Employment Council will offer more than 500 non-income based, competitive scholarships to persons who will pursue a career in bioscience, healthcare or advanced manufacturing.

Want to know more? Attend the workshop titled “Scholarship Opportunities to Learn Skills for Today’s Job Market” on March 26th during the Career Bazaar: 9:00 a.m. to 10: a.m.