Best Careers for 2009

Let me start off by saying I hate lists of "best careers." It's not that a lot of thought doesn't go into putting them together. Generally, but not always, they are based on extensive research. Those who choose which careers to include on these lists base their selections on a bunch of criteria. They look at job outlook, earnings and whether people working in those fields are satisfied. I'm not faulting the publications that publish these lists. They are giving you a way to weigh your options. After all, how many of us are equipped to do the kind of research they do? So, what's the problem? It's people who use those lists, not merely as suggestions, but as an absolute reason for going into a particular field. Simply seeing a career on one of these "best careers" lists is enough to make some people start making plans for a future in it — I'm not saying you would do this, but maybe someone you know would.

I was happy to see that U.S. News and World Report's Best Careers for 2009 came out a few days ago. It doesn't just list some occupations and send you on your way. It provides you with information about each one and even gives you resources where you can find more information. In addition to the Top 30 Careers, you'll also find a separate list of Ahead-of-the-Curve Careers, which includes occupations that are relatively new but are expected to see future growth, and a list of Best-Kept-Secret Careers, ones that didn't score as well as those in the top 30, but hold promise. In addition, there is also a list of Overrated Careers, which U.S. News and World Report writer and career expert Marty Nemko says "aren't bad, just overrated relative to their popular perception."

More from Career Planning at About.com:

• 10 Myths About Choosing a Career
• How to Make a Career Choice