The business world is constantly changing due to the myriad forces like politics, technology, and economics. As a result, the rate at which new and exciting jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is worth noting. The breadth of industries that these STEM jobs reach is hard to measure, because, in some sense, every industry owes credit to a combination of these fields and their progress made over the last few centuries.
As these fields expand through continued research and advancement, the need for people with such a background of study will continue to be a steady need. Since this acronym is so broad, this article will go into some examples of various career positions that are derived from one of the four fields inherent in STEM, but first, a basic summary of what STEM is and some of the skills associated with those abilities.
What is STEM?
A job that falls under the broad category of STEM is any that can be traced back to the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math. People in these fields demonstrate a consistent acumen for problem solving, research, creativity, and the construction of new ideas or objects. They can work in any number of industries or environments ranging from colleges, research facilities, big tech firms, or out in the wilderness with conservation companies, just to name a few.
Some of the more general skills that would come in handy in such positions are things like data analysis, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, leadership, and creative communication.
The following are some examples of various STEM degrees and the jobs associated:
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of the underlying chemical compounds of living things such as cellular energy distribution, metabolism, molecular compounds, and their effects on organisms. These people apply their vast knowledge of chemicals to study and create experiments that help to solve various problems in things like biology or medicine.
A job in research and development will not come easy, most need a PhD. But more accessible positions can be earned with bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Accounting
There will always be a need for accountants. They are responsible for helping businesses, large or small, with the management and organization of their financial information. A typical role will handle transaction history, budget management, tax law, and even audits. Accountants don't need much more than a bachelor's degree to get started or to be very successful.
Pediatrician
A pediatrician is a medical doctor that maintains a specialty in the treatment and care of infants, children, and young adults. Having a full range of medical training but with an emphasis on children— which is, at any given time, a significant part of the population— is a necessary variation on the more familiar medical positions.
As with any medical position though, there is an intense level of schooling and training that proceeds employment. Four years of college, four years of medical school, and usually three years of residency in a pediatrics unit.
Web Developers
The world runs on computers today, and the internet is responsible for a lot of these ways business is conducted. As such, the need for web developers is not only consistent, it will remain stable for the foreseeable future. Web developers are tasked with the development of coding that supports the system, layout, and infrastructure of most websites. A knowledge of programming languages is a must, but from that point there is flexibility as to what type of specialties someone may want to combine with that knowledge.
The unique thing with web developers is that someone doesn't necessarily need a degree to be successful at it. In many instances, those people with enough interest and motivation can teach themselves the bulk of the skills needed to be a good programmer. However, as with any degree, there is a lot that can be learned with just a bachelor's degree.
System Analyst
A systems analyst is another derivative of the computer sector's wide field. These individuals work to create solutions that help businesses to run more effectively and efficiently through the analysis of the systems that comprise that business. They are tasked with various roles like designing and developing, or testing and fixing those systems that may currently be in place.
Again, a bachelor's degree is not necessary but, as with most employers, there is a great benefit to having one on your resume.
Statisticians
Statisticians are practiced in the art of analyzing data of various kinds to help companies make better decisions. They make the call of what types of data are needed, how to go about collecting, storing, and interpreting that data to present conclusions that are helpful in any industry. A bachelor's degree is a minimum.
Nurse Anesthetist
These nurses play a very important role in the medical field: they are responsible for the administration of various anesthesia to patients at different times during medical care like before surgery. They do this with precise understanding of what and how bodies will respond favorably to the chemical which enables safe procedures. They are also responsible for the monitoring of the vital signs of those patients during and after care.
As with most medical degrees, there is a significant amount of study involved: a Bachelor of Nursing plus a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia as well as passing a national exam.
IT Management
Information Technology (IT) managers are tasked with the responsibility of seeing to the direction and cooperation between teams and computer systems in a business. They might perform regular tests to make sure that those systems are running efficiently, that data is maintained securely and that those same systems are the most effective for the demands of that business.
They would typically hold an advisory role to a business executive team, helping them to understand how to utilize those technologies for profitability. A bachelor's degree is a great start, but with high demands for jobs, a masters might help to set someone apart from the bulk of applicants.
