That's a Real Job?

5 careers you might not have heard of

One of the many unfortunate effects of the Great Recession was felt by longtime professionals who found themselves looking for a job for the first time in decades. These skilled and experienced workers discovered that the job market was significantly different than it was 20 years ago, or in some cases, even just five years ago.

A shift in public demand can create new jobs or cause others to fade away. Technology also plays a significant role in the evolution of career opportunities, as some of today's jobs (think Internet security) couldn't have existed 40 years ago. The job industry has a natural give and take that permanently removes certain jobs and creates other. For instance, within the manufacturing industry alone you can witness a shift from one emphasis to the other. Once upon a time turntables and large console stereos were being built in droves because they were found in every home. Today digital music players and music-playing phones are being churned out for music lovers. The production is still there, but the job titles changed.

Now, as you try to find the right career, you just don't recognize some of these job titles. In order to simplify your job hunt and perhaps realize where your skills can be put to good use, we've put together a list of five jobs that many job seekers don't recognize but that are real opportunities. In some cases the jobs are relatively new, while others are just often overlooked.

Here are five careers you've probably never heard of:

Social media managers / social media strategists

Industries: Technology, public relations and communications

What they do: Social media has emerged in the past six years as a serious player in the business world. Although MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare began as ways to kill time or connect with friends, they have become essential extensions of a company's brand. Social media managers and strategists help organizations understand how to use social media to connect with customers, what messages they should be conveying and how to measure success. Social media experts can be part of a marketing that is promoting a new ad campaign online or they can be a liaison who interacts with customers and presents feedback to managers and company leaders.

Cybrarians

Industry: Library and information sciences

What they do: Cybrarians are exactly what the name implies: a librarian for the 21^st century. Cybrarians have the same research and data gathering skills of traditional librarians, but they apply that knowledge to online technology. They are experts in accessing online information and using the latest technology to conduct research. (Many libraries and research centers do not distinguish between the two, as many traditional librarians have the same education and technology skills as a cybrariain.)

Risk management specialists and managers

Industries: Finance, technology and insurance

What they do: Risk management professionals look at specific projects or initiatives and assess the potential damage that could occur to any involved parties and set plans for dealing with it. Although that description is vague, it can be applied to a variety of industries. In one setting, a risk manager might estimate the cost of a natural disaster and what the financial repercussions would be. In the technology sector, a risk manager can look at computer safety issues, such as data leaks or security flaws.

Patient advocates

Industry: Health care

What they do: Patient advocates work for health care patients who need assistance understanding the often confusing world of medical bills and treatments. They educate patients on their rights and ensure they are consulting with the proper specialists. They also help patients sort through medical bills and keep important items in order.

Futurists

Industry: Science and social sciences

What they do: Simply, futurists are the opposite of historians. Futurists predict how an industry, consumers or even nature might change over time. They use research and case studies to understand what is happening today and then attempt to figure out what will happen in the coming years. Futurists are employed by many organizations, from an educational institution to a corporation wanting to create a business plan that is ahead of consumers' demands.

By Anthony Balderrama

Four Most Available and Highest-Paying Part-Time Jobs

Part-time jobs can be hugely beneficial when your full-time job isn't netting the cash you need each month to live off of, or you're just trying to make ends meet until you snag the next full-time gig. But sometimes job seekers unknowingly uncover the holy grail of part-time jobs -- the ones that pay enough dough to allow you to work part time and reap the salary benefits of a full-time job.

We've uncovered the top paying, and most widely available, part-time jobs. Read 'em and weep (because they're not staffed by you).

1. Yoga/Pilates Instructor

Looking for a way to stay in shape and make some cash at the same time? Being a part-time yoga or pilates instructor can be hugely beneficial and - once you're established - can generate a nice income. Interested parties need to become certified, which is easy to do in your off hours through a certified studio. Once certified, instructors can make anywhere from $20-$40 an hour for classes to sometimes $100 hour for private sessions.

Who's Hiring: Yoga/Pilates Instructor Jobs

2. Executive Language Coach

Tutoring another language part-time can yield decent pay - especially in more metropolitan areas where it's not unheard of to charge $40 for an hour long one-on-one session in a coffee shop. But the real jackpot is getting contracted to work with large companies that need to give their executives a base of a foreign language for business purposes. Obviously you'll need to be fluent in another language, but to get the really lucrative jobs you'll need to have a legitimate language certification - preferably a business language certification. Gaining a contract with an individual company to teach their employees certain foreign language business basics can net you anywhere from $25 to $60.

Who's Hiring: Executive Language Coach Jobs

3. Contract Copywriter

Hourly pay typically ranges from $30/ hour to $100/ hour for skilled and experienced copywriters. Many of the highest-paying positions are for copywriters in the health and pharmaceutical industries, so if you have experience in the life sciences industry, consider yourself ahead of the game.

Who's Hiring: Contract Copywriter Jobs

4. Massage Therapist

Granted, this is a job where you need specialized training and certification. But if flexibility in your work environment is the light at the end of your tunnel, this is a good career path to go down. Once certified, a massage therapist branching out on his or her own can make between $40 and $100 an hour. While a massage therapist working in a spa or fitness facility will usually bring in anywhere from $20 to $60 per hour.

Who's Hiring: Massage Therapist Jobs

By Lauren Fairbanks