Though technically an opinion, not too many would disagree with the statement that 2020 was a pretty bad year compared to most. The one aspect that will certainly go down in the history books is the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected pretty much every inch of the planet in some way or another, causing health crises, economic crises, and political unrest along the way. In addition, the United States has had to deal with a steady dose of other unpredictable emergencies such as a very active hurricane season on the Southeast Coast, and a very active wildfire season on the West Coast.
To keep these disasters at bay, and to collect data that can be used to prepare for future emergencies, many cities, states, and even large organizations like hospitals and shopping malls employ some form of emergency management team. One of the silver linings of the wild year at hand may be recognition of how important these jobs are to limit the effects a given emergency has on a group of people, or even an entire state or country.
There are quite a few options in the rewarding-yet-stressful career of an emergency or disaster manager, and here are a few that are expected to offer the most job availability in the coming years.
Security Analyst
The best way to limit casualties and damage during an emergency is by being prepared to the best of your ability. Security analysts generally specialize in preparing for long-term threats by analyzing smaller issues that have occurred within a given area or workplace. Both cybersecurity and physical security analyst jobs are on the rise, and even if a given security analyst’s every day job is to prepare for the unexpected at a small organization, their knowledge is often requested when something affects a larger area, as a resource for deciding how to stop the metaphorical bleeding of a given disaster or emergency.
Response and Recovery Specialist
Someone who would use the security analyst data mentioned above would be a professional in the field of response and recovery. Planning is also the name of the game for this profession on a day-to-day basis, but when a disaster does strike, these individuals are trained to get things back on track in the most efficient of ways. Response and recovery specialists also work to inform the public about cleanup efforts via social media or other news outlets, and analyze costs and time constraints regarding the rebuilding processes.
Emergency Management Director
As the name would suggest, these professionals have knowledge and experience in all parts of emergency management, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks to cyberthreats and more. Again, the job requires a lot of data analysis and preparation when things are going well, but during emergency situations, emergency management directors are responsible for collecting data, utilizing that information, and organizing personnel in a manner that best serves the public affected by a given situation. This is considered a very high-stress job, and not for people who buckle under pressure. If you’re a person who is looking for a career that pushes you, then look no farther. Armed with thick skin, a degree relative to public administration, or disaster relief, and a deep knowledge of the populations you will be serving, emergency management directors can truly be life savers on a grand scale.
Hospital Emergency Preparedness Administrator
A bit of a microcosm of the former job, but with equal, if not more, potential to save lives, hospital emergency preparedness administrators communicate plans of action to hospital personnel during times of patient influx, such as that with the coronavirus. These professionals must possess deep critical thinking skills, knowledge of hospital processes, and be confident in making very difficult-yet-important decisions without much time to think. Again, preparedness and planning are the bread and butter for being successful at this occupation.
How to Get There
If any of these careers interest you, most can be laterally moved to for individuals with jobs that experience small crises often (anything in a hospital, construction sites, etc.), though a bachelor’s degree is required for the majority. Certifications are often required in government and hospital-related crisis management positions, but most of these certs are available online, so use some of that coronavirus downtime if you’re interested in a career in emergency management.
If you are searching for a job in emergency management, please explore the emergency management current openings on Jooble.