Boom careers for the coming years.

Are you a mid-career professional seeking a change in your career, company or industry? Are you bored with your current job--or looking for a safe haven after surviving the latest corporate downsizing?

If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes," here are some top careers guaranteed to boom in the 1990s. Despite the gyrating economic forces that are turning corporate America on its side, these jobs offer the promise of good salaries, job satisfaction and the opportunity to advance.

After studying government forecasts and talking to industry analysts, executive recruiters and professional associations, BLACK ENTERPRISE compiled a list of the 14 hottest careers to consider during the next few years. Doreen Hodgkin and Kathleen Hayes, career service directors at Northeastern University, provided valuable assistance in researching these career options.

Join us in taking a close look at the most promising opportunities in each of these growth areas. And meet seven professionals who perform some of these hot jobs. While nothing is sacred or totally secure in today's economy, these top careers offer the best chance for success during the rest of the decade. Choose the one that best meets your financial and lifestyle goals; it could well be the job you've dreamed about.

ACTUARY

OUTLOOK: Actuaries are becoming more important in the growing global market because they play a vital role in business--placing price tags on future risks. They project the financial effects of such events as death, sickness, injury, disability, retirement and property loss from accident, fire, theft and other hazards. Companies need this information to determine future costs, as well as potential profits or losses.

TRAINING: A bachelor's degree in actuarial science, with courses in calculus, probability and statistics, is the basic requirement. Beyond college, actuaries advance their careers by taking qualifying exams to test their knowledge and competence. Two organizations, the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society, grant professional recognition to actuaries in Canada and the U.S. who successfully pass this series of exams. Actuaries are expected to complete exams in order to achieve first Associate and then Fellowship status. The entire exam process takes five to 10 years.

SALARIES: Salaries vary geographically, according to experience and the number of exams completed. Salaries range from $23,000 to $27,000. With the first exam passed, $25,000 to $29,000; first two exams passed, the range is $27,000 to $31,000; new Associates can earn $36,000 to $50,000; new Fellows receive $48,000 to $60,000; Fellows with experience can earn from $55,000 to 100,000-plus.

PROS: Salaries are generally excellent, with fast advancement for those passing exams. There are also increasing opportunities to work abroad.

CONS: Expect a lot of overtime during busy periods.

HOT JOBS: The big growth areas are actuarial jobs in life insurance, health insurance, property/casualty, pension plans and their investments.

ACTUARY: MICHAEL WINN 

Michael Winn, 51, is vice president of Risk Management, Reinsurance Division of Transamerica Corp. in Charlotte, N.C. He got there by crisscrossing the country a few times, but his professional progress has been a steady vertical line. Winn earned a bachelor's in mathematics from Kansas University in 1964 and a master's from the University of Nebraska in 1966. Like many in his profession, he toiled through a series of actuarial exams while climbing the corporate ladder. Moving back to Kansas City, Winn joined the Business Men's Assurance Co., where he worked his way up to vice president of reinsurance technical services. In 1991, he took his flair for numbers to California and Transamerica. Recently, he moved with his division to Charlotte. "My overriding goal was to be a key executive in a life insurance company," says Winn. "At some point, it would be an honor to be elected president of the Society of Actuaries." So far, Winn is a former member of its Board of Governors and past vice president and treasurer. His advice, "Develop managerial and communications skills if you want to be successful."

CAREER COUNSELOR

OUTLOOK: With constant upheaval prevailing on the employment front, the need for skilled, results-producing career counselors can't be overstated. "People are going to be changing careers eight to 10 times," says Northeastern University's Doreen Hodgkin, noting that career counselors will be in great demand to assist in these transitions. Outplacement counselors will also be needed in increasing numbers to help dislocated workers from the military and professionals fired after 20 years on the job who want to know: "What do I do now?"

Early vocational preparation can lend young people an advantage they sorely need in this competitive marketplace. Counselors will be called upon more than ever before to advise college and high school students--and their parents--about how to get the most from their education.

TRAINING. To work as a career counselor in schools, you'll need a master's degree in college student counseling, personnel counseling, agency or community counseling, counseling psychology or career counseling. Private practice counselors must meet certification or licensing requirements.

SALARIES: The average salary for school counselors in 1990-91 was about $38,000, according to the Educational Research Service. That same period, 50% earned between $24,200 and $40,000, while the top 10% earned more than $49,300.

PROS: Corporate counselors can maintain a booming business in the current job market. Many school systems are beginning to require career development sessions for students, fueling the need for career counselors in high schools. College students are turning more and more to the career placement centers on campus to help them in their job searches.

CONS: The profession is often an underappreciated one. Not everyone recognizes the importance of career counseling. There's an attitude that anyone can do the job.

HOT JOBS: The real boom spots for career counselors will be in private practice and at universities.

CIVIL/CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER

OUTLOOK: Projects to repair or rebuild infrastructures and to restore the environment will create a plethora of new jobs for civil and construction engineers throughout the decade. The decaying infrastructures of major cities, particularly in the Northeast, spell long-term commitment to engineers. The big Midwestern floods this past fall damaged or destroyed bridges, highways and water treatment systems that also must be rebuilt or repaired. Many parts of hurricane-damaged Florida remain in dire need of restoration.

On top of all these mega-projects, the drive to solve environmental and pollution problems has picked up speed both in the U.S. and Europe. And so has the demand for engineers able to handle environmentally sensitive projects, both for government and private concerns. In addition, there will be an ever-growing need in all 50 states for registered engineers. Opportunities will also expand--for those with solid experience under their belt--as consulting engineers in a variety of specialties.

TRAINING: Generally, engineers require a bachelor's degree from an accredited engineering program. A master's degree is essential for engineers who want to teach or work in certain specialized areas of engineering, and recommended for those who want to advance their careers in general. Throughout the U.S., you can become a registered engineer with a degree from an accredited engineering program, four years of relevant work experience and a passing grade on a state exam. Armed with a law degree as well, many engineers become patent attorneys.

SALARIES: In 1990, a junior-level engineer earned $31,412, while an experienced mid-level engineer pulled $49,195. With a Ph.D, engineers earned $50,400, and senior management-level engineers were drawing $93,500 or more.

PROS: Engineering translates into a good or excellent salary, as well as the opportunity to advance into the top management ranks of a company or government agency. In addition, there is always work for good civil, construction and environmental engineers someplace in the world.

CONS: Employment often drops dramatically during economic slowdowns and recessions, when both companies and municipalities cut back on big projects. While opportunities for experienced engineers abound throughout the world, many boom areas are rather remote, often tough places for foreigners to live. HOT JOBS: The real boom is likely to be in environmental and water pollution work in the U.S. and overseas.

CIVIL/CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER: J.Q. HICKS

As his grandfather did for him, J.Q. Hicks hopes to inspire minority youth to pursue a career in engineering. The 38-year-old construction graduate of the Tuskegee Institute has made his career at Bechtel Corp., starting as an assistant construction engineer. Now a senior in that capacity, specializing in rigging, Hicks has used his methods for handling heavy, awkward components during construction across the U.S. and in the People's Republic of China. Hicks now works closely with one of Bechtel's business development groups in the pursuit of engineering and construction opportunities worldwide. On the home front, Hicks volunteers for outreach programs, such as the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Inc., to encourage more minorities to join the field. His future goals? To move into a senior management position responsible for determining which way the company should go and grow. In the meantime, he says, "I try to stay flexible."

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST

OUTLOOK: Employment for these computer software architects and problem-solvers is expected to grow in response to the increasing use of computers throughout the world. More and more businesses will need systems analysts to develop sophisticated software capable of handling back-office operations and of providing new online services to customers worldwide. To secure a competitive niche in the U.S. and overseas, companies will need computer systems customized for their own particular markets. This will require the know-how of systems analysts both in setting up these systems and making sure they work the way they're supposed to. Then, to be certain their investment in new technologies actually pays off, companies will need these professionals to do cost-benefit analyses on the systems. Increasingly more than just technicians, those who move forward as systems analysts will have to become salespeople and insiders, too: Systems analysts will need a working knowledge of the industries they serve and the ability to market their systems to upper management.

TRAINING: There is no universally accepted way of preparing for a job as systems analyst because employers hire someone with the skills to match their needs. College graduates are preferred, and many companies look for people who have successfully completed a certificate program in programming and/or systems analysis. For more complex jobs, employers generally want people with graduate degrees. Businesses usually want analysts with a background in business management or accounting. A background in the physical sciences, applied mathematics or engineering is preferred for work in scientific firms.

SALARIES: The median annual salary in 1990 was about $38,700. About 50% of systems analysts earned $30,900 to $50,700. The highest-paid pulled salaries upwards of $62,400. Financial service firms often paid even more.

PROS: In many industries, such as stock brokerages, analysts often qualify for hefty bonuses, depending on corporate profits and the state of the overall economy.

CONS: Despite the high pay, systems analysts often give up plenty for their financial perks. There's generally a lot of overtime work on projects with deadlines. This frequently translates into 12-hour days or longer and into weekend work. Plus, many systems analysts involved in critical back-office and on-line systems are expected to remain on call 24 hours a day during crunch periods.

HOT JOBS: The big-bucks and high-prestige jobs are usually found by systems and programming managers, and computing systems directors. Also, more and more companies are adding a position at the top level for a chief information officer to manage all strategic computing functions within a company.

FINANCIAL MANAGER

OUTLOOK: Several factors are spurring the demand for financial managers: a growing need for skilled global financial management in the face of increasing domestic and foreign competition; changing laws affecting taxes and other financial matters; and a greater emphasis on the accurate reporting of financial data. As chief financial officers, treasurers, controllers, cash or credit managers or analysts, these professionals oversee the financial reports and the tax and regulatory requirements of their corporations. New jobs will be created as financial institutions offer an increasing variety and complexity of services, including financial planning. Familiarity with a range of financial services--such as banking, insurance, real estate and securities--and expertise with computers and data processing systems will enhance a would--be financial manager's chances for employment and advancement.

TRAINING: A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance and/or business administration is important. A master's degree is also valued. The rise in interstate and international banking, coupled with increased domestic and foreign competition, makes a working knowledge of foreign financial systems a plus.

SALARIES: Pay varies depending on the size and location of the organization. Many private employers give bonuses that can be quite hefty, depending on the size of the firm and the company's overall profitability. The median salary in 1990 was $35,800. The top 10% earned $68,000 plus.

PROS: This is generally a well-paying profession. Plus, it's often less subject to layoffs during periods of slow economic activity, which seem to have little effect on financial management activities. Developing expertise in a rapidly growing industry such as health services can lead to advancement.

CONS: This is not a career for the weak-livered or for pure 9-to-5ers. Working in a quick-shifting and complex global money market requires a facile mind, nerves of steel and a lot of cold hamburger lunches.

HOT JOBS: Financial planners, international bankers, credit union managers, stockbrokers, portfolio managers and real estate brokers head the list of booming positions in the financial arena. Hot industries employing these managers will be securities, banking (domestic and foreign) and other financial institutions, risk and insurance, real estate and service industries, including business, health, social and management services.

HEALTH SERVICE MANAGER

OUTLOOK: The need for more health services managers will be fueled by the nationwide emphasis on cost containment and well-managed health-care facilities. The job of managing a health facility has become a highly complex operation. Under President Clinton's health plan, health services managers will be needed to plan, organize and coordinate the delivery of health care in a growing number of smaller facilities.

TRAINING: You'll need to pursue academic programs in health administration that lead to a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. A business background in such disciplines as finance, administration, personnel, planning, marketing, labor relations and information systems is a definite asset.

SALARIES: According to the American Hospital Association, half of all hospital CEOs earned $121,500 or more in 1991. The lowest 10% earned less than $71,000, while the top 10% earned $203,400 or more. According to a survey by Modern Healthcare magazine, the average salaries in 1991 for the heads of various clinical departments were as follows: medical records, $41,700; imaging/radiology $46,600; physical therapy, $47,100; rehabilitation services, $51,000; nursing services, $59,700. At health maintenance organizations (HMOs) associate administrators earn $63,000 and chief administrators earn $94,000.

PROS: Those business-minded healthcare administrators will be in great demand as the nation moves rapidly toward a managed-care policy.

CONS: The uncertainty of health-care reform makes this job a particularly tough one, as the debate over the President's plan continues. In general, health managers face long hours and the stress of being on call for emergencies.

HOT JOBS: The big opportunities will be found in hospitals, nursing homes, doctor's offices, outpatient-care facilities and home health organizations.

HEALTH SERVICES MANAGER: LISTER ROBINSON

Lister Robinson, 45 represents the ultimate health service manager of the 21st century: a medically trained business administrator. As medical office administrator for Kaiser Permanente, on HMO in Fort Worth, Texas, Robinson says her job is to "make sure that the three medical service office I run are managed efficiently, and that we have the proper staff, equipment facilities." Her facilities serve 34% of Kaiser Permanente's 129,000 HMO members in the Texas region. Robinson received her R.N. degree from the Princess Margaret School of Nursing in Dominica, West Indies, in 1971. She came to the U.S. in 1973 and worked at Flower and Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City for 5 1/2 years as a staff nurse in obstetrics and gynecology. In 1978, Robinson and her husband, a civil engineering, moved to the milder climate of Fort Worth. There, she worked at St. Joseph's Hospital for a year, then went to Medical Plaza Hospital as a nurse and assistant patient care coordinator. In 1986, she earned her degree in business management from the University of Texas in Arlington, got her job at Kaiser Permanente, then earned her MBA from the University of Dallas in 1992. "I wanted to use my nursing and business education," she says. "I planned to become an R.N., but didn't plan to run a facility. My career progression took place as the market changed."

HOTEL MANAGER

OUTLOOK: Hotel managers will be in great demand for two reasons: More large hotels and motels are being built, and business travel continues to grow along with increasing domestic and foreign tourism. The hotel manager with an eye for the bottom line--one who knows accounting and understands cash managment--and an eye for the amenities that give the hotel's customers the best value for their money will be much sought-after in this decade.

TRAINING: For this job, you'll need a bachelor's degree in hotel and restaurant management or a liberal arts degree, with experience in food and beverage service, administration, marketing and data processing.

SALARIES: Annual salaries in 1991 averaged $31,000, but pay tends to vary according to a hotel's size and location. Managers of hotels with more than 350 rooms earned $36,000, while those at smaller hotels (I 50 rooms) earned $25,000. General managers averaged nearly $56,000, except those in hotels and motels with under 150 rooms; they made $42,300. In addition to these salary figures, hotel managers often earn bonuses of up to 15%.

PROS: As a hotel manager, you have the ability--and the opportunity--to work almost anywhere in the world. You're also the driving force behind what is often a small city, providing services to people from all walks of life while managing an equally diverse staff.

CONS: You're directly responsible and accountable for how profitable the hotel is, which means that you spend a great deal of time managing money and balancing the budget. The most worrisome part of all this is that your hotel's profits often have more to do with factors outside your control--such as a downturn in regional tourism, poor weather that drives away potential guests or local labor relations problems.

HOT JOBS: The real opportunities in the 1990s will go to hotel and motel managers who have joined the top chains. Good hotel prospects: Hilton Hotels Corp., Hyatt Corp., Marriott Corp. and Westin Hotel Co. Top-notch motel chains include Best Western Intl. and Quality Inns Inc.

HOTEL MANAGER: EDDIE L. ISOM 

With an undergraduate degree in hand from Livingston College, Salisbury, N.C., Eddie L. Isom found himself uninterested in the subject he was trained to teach: biology. Migrating north by 1964, Isom joined the Marriott Corp., where he learned the hospitality business by working in the food and beverage department. After several years of training new staffs in the hotels opened during the company's rapid expansion, Isom tried of traveling and longed to set down roots. He served as a restaurant manager in Arlington, Va., before jumping back into the hotel game. While working for Marriott again, Isom heard about Howard University's hotel and restaurant program in Washington, D.C. In 1981, the University purchased a property in order to turn it into a commercial hotel and laboratory for the University's hotel program. Now, Howard University Hotel, as it is called, is the only black-owned and operated hotel for minorities in the U.S., and Isom, 53, is its general manager. He started there as the director of food, realizing the need for--and the lack of--minorities in the industry. Nothing that his 18 years of Marriott was a good "learning experience in one of the best training programs in the industry," he adds, "but now I get more satisfaction seeing kids come here and leave four years later as industry professionals.

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

OUTLOOK: Expect the schedules of management consultants to become even busier as both corporate America and the government rely on such expertise to improve the performance of their organizations. In particular, downsized companies that no longer have the staffs they once had to do their strategic planning will seek the specialized services of consultants. In fact, increased competition has caused all of American industry to take a close look at its operations. In the more competitive global marketplace, companies cannot afford the luxury of inefficiencies and wasted resources or they risk losing their marketshare. Consequently, consultants are being called upon to help organizations reduce their costs and streamline operations.

TRAINING: A master's degree in business or public administration is extremely helpful. But a bachelor's degree with solid work experience in the area of expertise you intend to provide clients is essential.

SALARIES: Most sole practitioner consultants charge on a daily basis, with fees ranging from $400 to $2,500 a day. Fees can be higher for senior level or managing partners at large firms or those with special expertise, says certified management consultant Pamela Yards, president of Chestnut Hill Consulting Group and chair of the Institute of Management Consultants in New York City. According to the Association of Management Consultants, consultants who work for firms can earn a range of salaries: $31,200 as a research associate; $42,700 as an entry-level consultant; $61,900, managing consultant; $88,000, senior consultant; $122,600, junior; and $189,700, senior partner.

PROS: Working as an independent management consultant offers all the advantages of running your own business: Usually, you get to choose your clients, and you get the personal satisfaction of putting your best ideas to work. If you're part of one of the big management consulting firms, you'll also get to travel the globe and work with some of the biggest and brightest managers. You can also expect to make some really big bucks if you're good at what you do.

CONS: Because the rewards are so lucrative, management consultants face tough competition. For sole practitioners, it's either feast or famine. During upturns in business, you're stretching to serve all your various clients' needs. And during downturns, you spend a lot of unpaid time on the phone or on the seminar circuit trying to land new clients. As part of a management consulting firm, you face similar but different pressures. There's often an "up or out" policy at most of the big firms, which means you either make it to the next level within two years or so, or you're out of a job. Also, whether you're a sole practitioner or part of a larger firm, you tend to be on the road a lot, often working quite long hours.

HOT JOBS: The big boom will be in anything having to do with the process of reengineering a firm. Economic conditions will force consultants to look carefully at "process" jobs, find what's wrong and implement change.

PARALEGAL

OUTLOOK: Employment of paralegals has grown tremendously in recent years due to the new emphasis on cost and efficiency of legal services. Job opportunities are expected to expand throughout the private sector as companies clue in to the fact that legal assistants are able to perform some of the routine work of high-priced attorneys. The growth of prepaid legal plans should also contribute to the demand for the services of law firms.

TRAINING: Graduation from the American Bar Association-approved program for paralegals is a plus. Formal legal assistance training at college also helps. Some firms require a bachelor's degree, and some employers prefer to train their personnel on the job. Training programs are also offered at many four-year colleges and universities, law schools, community and junior colleges and business schools.

SALARIES: Earnings vary, depending on your training and experience. The average annual salary in 1991 was $24,900, according to the National Association of Legal Assistants. About 50% of paralegals earned between $20,000 and $29,000. With three to five years' experience, salaries were $24,200. Many paralegals also received bonuses that averaged $1,100. For paralegals in government work, the average 1990 annual salary was $32,164.

PROS: The profession offers a broad and diverse choice of work with many areas of specialization.

CONS: The hours tend to be long and the competition for jobs is often keen.

HOT JOBS: Beyond the traditional law firm, paralegals can choose between working for the government or the private sector.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

OUTLOOK: This is the fastest growing health-care occupation, with an expected 76% growth through 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The reason: As baby boomers age, therapists will be more in demand to treat patients with the kind of prolonged-care conditions (such as strokes) common among older people. Therapists will also be needed to treat sports- and exercise-induced injuries. The role of physical therapists has greatly expanded in recent years to include testing and measuring certain functions of the musculoskeletal, neurological, pulmonary and cardiovascular systems and treating a broad range of physical problems stemming from illness, injury or birth defect. In addition, physical therapists can be certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy as clinical specialists in geriatrics, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, sports, cardiopulmonary and clinical electrophysiology. As older people become the majority of the population, the role of the physical therapist is expected to expand even further.

TRAINING: Physical therapists must complete at least four years of college and graduate from an accredited physical therapy educational program. In addition, they need to secure a license by successfully completing a state exam. Specific requirements vary from state to state. A number of professional organizations provide additional certification of value to employers.

SALARIES: Your salary will vary, depending on the number of years you work as a physical therapist. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, in 1993, average gross income for physical therapists with up to five years of experience was $35,000; with six to 10 years, $42,000; and with 10-plus years, the figure was $60,128. Self-employed physical therapists tended to earn, on average, $99,676.

PROS: The need for therapists will continue to increase as new diagnostic equipment and methods are developed; as participation in sports and fitness exercise increases; and as the population grows older overall.

CONS: The job itself is physically demanding, and can be frustrating when patients don't improve.

HOT JOBS: The demand for therapists favors solo practitioners, as well as professionals in hospitals and sports-medicine clinics.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST: KAREN FREEMAN ORTMANN

For Karen Freeman Ortmann, physical therapy is much more strategic than what most people think. Ortmann, who manages the physical therapy department at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, suggests why it is the top rehab center in the country: "Our focus is an evaluating and then solving the patient's problem. We rehabilitate people better and faster today. What once took us six months to accomplish, we can now do in three months or less." Ortmann received her undergraduate degree from Lawrence University in 1975 and attended Northwestern University's physical therapy program the year after. Since beginning her career on staff at the University of Chicago Hospital & Clinic, Ortmann has held about six jobs. Why do physical therapists seem transient? Because there are so many job opportunities. Her electric experience includes working at hospitals, in a school system, in a visiting nurse association and as an independent therapist. In 1989, Ortmann received a master's in management from Northwestern's J.L. Kellogg School of Management. Now that she manages 80 physical therapists and 15 support staff members at the 176-bed Rehabilitation Institute she says, "Fortunately, we have the autonomy to practice as we see fit, using a team approach."

PSYCHOLOGIST

OUTLOOK: Psychologist/ professor Halford Fairchild, Ph.D., who teaches psychology and black studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., believes the field offers a rosy future for black Americans. Currently, there is a dearth of black psychologists; they make up only 1% to 2% of the profession. In an increasingly complex and troubled world, more and more families and individuals are expected to seek relief in psychotherapy. Educational institutions--primarily elementary and secondary schools--will also need psychologists in positions involving counseling, testing, special education, research and administration. In addition, health-care facilities, government agencies and the Veteran's Administration will be hiring psychologists. And they will be needed to serve on college and university faculties.

TRAINING: A Ph.D. or Psy.D. is required for psychologists in academia, hospitals and clinics. A master's degree or higher is required for private practice, social work and psychotherapy.

SALARIES: At the Ph.D. or Psy.D. level, salaries in 1993 ranged from $40,000 to $80,000, according to Dr. Fairchild. Psychologists with a master's degree/MFCC (marriage, family, child counselor) earn S35,000 and up. In private practice or in the applied specialties, a psychologist's income can be $150,000 and up.

PROS: The need for psychologists will continue to increase. For those who get a sense of satisfaction from helping others, this can be an especially rewarding profession.

CONS: Dealing with the problems of others can often be draining and exhausting.

HOT JOBS: The biggest growth is in private practice, research clinics and universities.

PHYCHOLOGIST: NANCY BODY-FRANKLIN

Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D., understands stress, inside and out. As a wife, mother and multifaceted professional, she knows how to handle it. Professor at Rutgers University's Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology with a private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y., the 43-year-old psychologist treats individuals, families and couples, and runs therapy groups for African-American women. The author of two books, Black Families in Therapy: A Multisystems Approach and Children, Families and HIV/AIDS, Boyd-Franklin is also a clinical professor on two medical schools' voluntary faculties and consultant to the Children's Hospital AIDs Program and the National Pediatrics HIV Resource Center in Newark, N.J. She received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College in 1972 and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Columbia University Teachers College in 1977. During her career she worked as staff psychologist at Bronx Psychiatric Center, Montefiore Hospital in New York, and served on the faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1980, she practiced at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, as both a supervising psychologist at its Community Mental Health Center and as a clinical associate professor in the psychiatry department. After 12 years, she went to Rutgers. She is the mother of one child and three stepchildren. "Psychology is wonderful for an African-American woman who wants a career and family," she says. That's because it offers options: working in the public sector in community/mental health, private/public hospitals, university teaching or private practice.

PUBLIC RELATIONS 

OUTLOOK: Public relations professionals will be needed in growing numbers in such areas as investor relations, government relations and health care. They'll also be drawn into the area of professional services, providing assistance to architectural, law and management consultant firms. In 1992, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 13,68 5 blacks among 161,000 public relations specialists.

TRAINING: A college degree is a must, and a basic grounding in liberal arts is recommended. A newspaper or magazine background can also be a helpful springboard to public relations.

SALARIES: Earnings vary widely. In 1992, an account executive could earn $30,000 or more in a consulting firm or in a corporate public relations department. A director of public relations in a small or medium-size company can earn $35,000 to $40,000, while the salary in a large firm can run $50,000 and up. Seasoned executives can earn $75,000 to $150,000-plus. The median salary, according to the Public Relations Society of America, (PRSA) is $46,204.

PROS: Employment opportunities for minorities in the fastest growing and highest paying service-related careers are increasing, according to the PRSA.

CONS: A weak economy can affect corporate budgets for public relations, which means that jobs tend to be cyclical.

HOT JOBS: The four highest paying areas for public relations professionals, reports the PRSA, are investor relations, international, environmental affairs and government relations.

PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER: CHERYL I. PROCTER

Cheryl I. Procter, director of public relations and advertising for Nielsen Marketing Research North America in Northbrook, Ill., didn't walk into her career straight out of school, although she looks as if she might have. A 1978 graudate of Bradley University, where she majored in English and journalism, Procter took her first job as a technical writer and administrative assistant for Sperry Univac Computer Systems. From there she moved to Los Angeles and joined Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co. as a copywriter in the public relations department. Continuing her education, she completed a UCLA public relations extension program and was promoted to Golden State's manager of public relations and advertising. In 1986, she earned accredited professional status in the Public Relations Society of America in Los Angeles--the youngest and the first black woman to achieve that honor there. She left Golden State that year to open her own business, specializing in consumer packaged goods companies. In 1992, she was recruited to become director of public relations for Nielsen, the $1.3 billion Chicago firm that tracks information on the consumer packaged goods, industry. By August 1993, Nielsen promoted her to director of public relations and advertising, and at 35 she was named "Rising Star" by Inside PR. Says Procter of public relations: "It is one of the most exciting professions." In her shoes, how could it not seem that way?

REGISTERED NURSE

OUTLOOK: With upcoming changes in the health-care system, opportunities in nursing health care are excellent, says Romaine Martin Semeah, J.D., M.S., R.N., of the National League for Nursing. Advanced nurse practitioners, which include nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists, will practice in increasing numbers at health-care centers springing up across the country. These advanced nurses will relieve doctors in some areas, such as writing prescriptions, filing insurance reimbursement forms and engaging in both private practice and home health care.

TRAINING: You'll need an advanced master's degree certifying you to practice in a specialized area. There will also be opportunities for executive jobs in nursing centers for the registered nurse with a master's or a Ph.D. degree.

SALARIES: Nurses' salaries generally start at about $32,000. Nurses with master's degrees can command at least $45,463, according to an annual nursing compensation study by the Department of Health and Human Services. Advanced nurses will earn over $80,000.

PROS: Dramatic changes in nursing go way beyond bedpan practice medicine. As these changes elevate the profession, many nurses could achieve the level of status that physicians have long enjoyed.

CONS: Despite the many positive changes, nurses still have to fight for respect in the medical community.

HOT JOBS: The big boom will be for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse executives and nurses who teach.

SALES

OUTLOOK: In the U.S., "a larger and better trained sales force is needed to respond to better educated and more price-conscious consumers," says Northeastern University's Doreen Hodgkin. Customers will be choosy--if they're not happy with one product, they'll switch to another--which means greater opportunities for savvy salespeople. With the advent of the NAFTA, multinational companies will seek knowledgeable salespeople to sell their products in Europe, South America and the Pacific Rim countries.

TRAINING: A college degree in finance or business is generally required, depending on what you'll be selling. For technical sales, an engineering degree or technical training is necessary. Salespeople who can speak a foreign language will have a great advantage in the marketplace, thanks to NAFTA.

SALARIES: How much you earn depends on how well you sell and what type of products or services you are selling. Generally, highest earners are representatives in securities and financial services, service sales (technical equipment), real estate and insurance brokers. Thus, salaries can vary broadly from 25,000 to $100,000 and up.

PROS: Salespeople set their own schedules, with built-in time to woo customers and prospects. It's like running your own business. CONS: Convincing customers or potential buyers to sign a sales contract is not the easiest job in the world. Recessions usually diminish sales and reduce commissions.

HOT JOBS: The top jobs are in securities/financial sales, service sales, real estate and insurance.