If you’re looking to switch careers or are just entering the workforce, finding the right job can put you on a path to success. But some careers will help you reach your goals more than others.
Credit score site WalletHub set out to pick which roles are easiest for entry-level workers to find a job and build a career without requiring an advanced degree.
It ranked professions by three key criteria: immediate opportunity, growth potential, and job hazards; the site also factored in starting salaries, income-growth potential, and median tenure with employers.
“An entry-level job won’t necessarily be what you stick with long term, but it’s certainly good to search for something you think can turn into a career,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Pursuing an entry-level job in a field like engineering or nursing can ensure that you get your foot in the door with plenty of job openings, good compensation, and a reasonable work week, among other benefits.”
Continue reading to see which professions WalletHub recommends, and which it cautions against.
Software engineers ranked highly for job openings and scored the lowest for on-the-job hazards.
Engineers got high rankings for salaries and “have access to more job openings than most other careers,” WalletHub said. They also can usually get a job out of college without practical experience, and report solid work-life balance.
Nursing Assistants at Nursing Homes are among the most in-demand jobs, with the third-lowest unemployment rate. “And due to the personal aspect of the job, workers have some of the lowest chances of their jobs being replaced by machines,” WalletHub said.
Hardware engineers, who develop and design computer systems, ranked highest on this list, offering the highest starting salary, good work-life balance, and a large amount of job openings.
Automotive mechanics received decent scores for job opportunities, but ranked much lower for growth potential and on-the-job safety.
Mechanical drafters, who create working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, got low scores for growth and job safety.
Computer numeric control machine programmers, who write the code that directs automated machines, scored second-to-last, thanks to few jobs and meager growth potential.
WalletHub doesn’t recommend becoming a welder, thanks to scant job openings, little growth potential, and a significant job hazards.
The post The 4 best entry-level jobs right now — and the 4 worst appeared first on Quartz.
