June 24, 2009
Want less stress? Eight demanding careers to steer clear of
NWjobs
One of the positive side effects of this nasty recession is that many laid-off workers looking to reinvent themselves have grown more concerned with better balancing work and play.
If this sounds familiar, you may want to take note of a new report published by the job site CareerCast, which lists the eight most demanding jobs in the nation. To arrive at this list, CareerCast used U.S. Department of Labor data to compile a list of the country's top 200 jobs and then ranked each by hours worked, stress level, and physical exertion required.
Starting with the most demanding, here are the top eight jobs CareerCast suggests you avoid if you don't thrive in a pressure-cooker environment:
1. Firefighter
2. Surgeon
3. Senior corporate executive
4. Police officer
5. Roustabout (yeah, I had to look up this one too)
6. Sailor (think "Deadliest Catch")
7. General practice physician
8. Psychiatrist
For those thinking, "No way in heck does a desk jockey with a window office have it tougher than a city cop," see CareerCast's individual lists of the eight most demanding white-collar jobs and the eight most demanding blue-collar jobs, which should take some of the apples-to-oranges comparison out of the equation.
Then tell me what you think. Did CareerCast get it right? Or horrifically wrong? And while we're on the subject, what are your top picks for the least demanding or least stressful jobs?
Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail Michelle at mgoodman@nwjobs.com
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Karen Burns is the author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl, a career guide based on her 59 jobs over 40 years in 22 cities.
Lisa Quast is a certified career coach, mentor, business consultant, former corporate executive and author based in the Seattle area.
Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.
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Matt Youngquist is the president of Career Horizons, a career counseling firm.
Natalie Singer is a Seattle writer, editor and small-business owner.
Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide."
Paul Anderson helps professionals in transition find their desired employment.
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Why isen't call center on this list of impossibly stressful jobs. I thought I worked in the worst call center of all in Las Vegas but I was wrong. I moved to Colorado. I won't advertise my company name but here are a few things I cannot do.
1-dont take late breaks
2-but dont disconnect a call to go on break
3-dont skip your break
4-never be late
5-dont be sick for the first 90 days
6-if you are sick in the first 90 days dont call out because that is a write up
7-deal with the stress of talking with the police, fire, emergency medical departments.
8-make sure you dont call them though if you dont need too.
9-call your clients in the middle of the night and wake them up for no good reason
10-be constantly afraid of making a mistake because you are not permitted to be human
11-if you make a mistake you will be written up
12-dont go to the bathroom unless it is your breaktime.
13-be constantly bored.
14-Im sure there is more I just cannot think of it right at this moment.