Your Guide to the Hottest Jobs in Chicago

Your Guide to the Hottest Jobs in Chicagoah, the windy cityhome of deep dish pizza and perennially dashed baseball hopes (sorry, cubs fans). by any measure, chicago is a bustling hub in the heart of the country. and while its thriving cultural and sports scenes are vital to everyday chicagoans, chances are youll need a day job in case that improv career with second city doesnt pan out. if youre seeking a new job or a new career path, take a lookat somethe hottest jobs in chicago. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) the tech sectorsure, chicago is considerably colder than silicon valley, but if youre looking for a job in the tech sector, dont count out a midwestern move. over the past 6 years, the chicago-based tech world has grown even faster than silicon valleys. companies like google have offices there, and the city is also home to co-work spaces and business incubators that are steadily putting chicago on the tech map. business incubators are communities-within-the-community that help support talent and entrepreneurs as they develop new products and businesses. and this kind of collaborative community is one of the reasons that chicago is becoming a magnet for young tech innovators and entrepreneurs.hot job software developerin an increasingly tech-friendly city, software developers are at the very heart of it all, working on software programs and apps. with a bachelors degree and the programming skills, software developers command a median salary of $100,000. and the demand keeps growing the u.s. bureau of labor statistics predicts 17% overall growth by 2024.the tafelgeschirr sectorover the past few years, chicago has seen an unprecedented number of visitors to the city. that means soaring demand for people to fill jobs in hotels/hospitality, restaurants, bars, and other service industries. and its not just chicagothe united states bureau of labor statistics predicts 6% growth for hospitality-related industries by 2024.hot job mixologistin chicago as anywhere else, there are plenty of places where you can drop in for a cold beer, no fuss. these days, there are also a lot of places where you can drop in for the plenty-of-fuss version an artisanal cocktail, crafted with homemade bitters, herbs grown in a community garden, and an instagram-ready look. bartenders and mixologists are taking on the position of chefs these days, and with the fancier cocktails commanding prices in the $10-$15 range, this is not your grandpas suds-slinger. the average mixologist in chicago earns $22,000 before tipsand the field is expected to grow by a healthy 10% nationally by 2024, per the bureau of labor statistics.the healthcare sectoras a nation, our health isa growing challenge. as such, healthcare-related industries are booming just about everywhere, especially as the population ages. chicago is no exception, and its even being touted as one of the next big hubs for health technology. chicago is a city with wor ld-class medical facilities (90 hospitals, six medical schools, and numerous fictional tv hospitals), as well as headquarters of major medical organizations like the american medical association, the american hospital association, the american alzheimers association, and the american heart association. (not to mention the walgreens pharmacy mothership just outside the city.)hot job home health aidei mentioned chicagos many exciting tv hospitals before, but the reality is that some of the most important healthcare jobs are considerably less flashy. home health and personal care aides fill important roles in this industry, providing daily care to seniors, the disabled, and other home-bound patients. what the job lacks in glamour and riches (the median salary is $22,920 per year, or $10.54 per hour), it makes up in stability and accessibility. you can become a home health aide without a formal degree (and with some on-the-job training). and the bureau of labor statistics predicts that the field will grow by an astonishing 38% over the next decade. if youre trying to decide whether the healthcare career path is right for you, this job could be a good way to dip your toe in and find out.the manufacturing/production sectorspeaking of less-glamorous jobs, chicago is a leader in manufacturing. and in fact, manufacturing is chicagos second-biggest business sector, tied heavily to its strong trade and export industries. and this has a long and storied history with its get-your-hands-dirty jobs as far back as 1914, poet carl sandburg referred to the city as hog butcher for the world / tool maker, stacker of wheat, / player with railroads and the nations freight handler.basically, you name it, chicago has probably processed and handled it. these days, manufacturing isnt the nationwide industry it once was, but in chicago there are some areas of the industry that continue to thrive, like food processing and production. companies like kraft, heinz, wrigley (of ballpark and chewing gum fame), sara lee, keebler, and quaker oats have maintained major operations in chicago, alongside a growing industry of small-batch food companies that are rising in popularity on the foodie tide.hot job truck driverall of these foods and products need to make it from point a to point b, and thats where a fleet of dependable drivers come in. whether local, regional, or long-haul, trucking can be a great career option for someone with a spotless driving record, an ability to find zen in the open road, and the knack for solving problems on the fly and get somewhere on schedule. with a specialized commercial driving license (cdl) and some on-the-job training, drivers make a median salary of $40,260 per year, or $19.36 per hour. according to the bureau of labor statistics, the need for drivers will continue to grow through the next decade.whatever you want your career path to be in chicago, windy city newbie to seasoned chicagoan, you have so many options, in fields that will continue to grow and thrive. happy hunting, and go bulls

The Perfectionists Guide to Setting Goals You Can Actually Achieve

The Perfectionists Guide to Setting Goals You Can Actually Achieve In the real world, there are no gold stars for effort or report cards to gauge your progress. Yet, a common mistake is treating work like school. As CEO and author, Sallie Krawcheck points outLets not confuse what made us successful in school for what can make us successful in our careers.While an honor roll mindset can translate into a drive to succeed that lands you deals and accolades, it can also easily lead to workaholism and burnout. The industriousness that served you well in school may now be whats actually hindering your productivity and professional progress.Thats because when you hold yourself to exacting standards as many high-achievers do you can get caught in the trap of perfectionism. The result? Feeling perpetually frustrated, stressed, unacknowledged, or like you never measure up.Heres some signs an Honor Student Hangover might be costing you1. You beat yourself up when you make a mistake.For you, a goof is really hard for you to rebound from even if it doesnt have a larger effect on your career standing.Perfectionists experience shame, as opposed to guilt, over screwing up.Shamesays I am bad (which suggests a character flaw) whereas guilt says, I did something wrong (which suggests its in your control to fix or improve).2. If something isnt perfect, its not good enough.You insist on dotting every i and crossing every t on every single task, or else it just doesnt sit right with you. That tunnel geistesbild can stunt your ability to make decisions and move forward.Attention to detail is obviously an important skill that makes you successful (even if youre not being graded on it anymora). But theres a difference between excellent and perfect The latter does not exist.3. You push yourself to work harder not necessarily smarter.Youre never satisfied with yourself, most notably when youre treating yourself to hard-earned deserved downtime, which you probably view as wasteful. Th is penchant to give your all to your career can come at the expense of your well-being, leaving you ripe for burnout.4. You expect gold stars.In her book The Happiness Project, happiness expert Gretchen Rubin talks about her frustration with not receiving metaphorical gold stars for adult achievement. If you feel expectant of and disappointed by not getting a pat on the back for your successes, youre probably suffering from honor student hangover, too.Heres the thing its great to have high standards, and even better to be able to actually hit them most of the time. But if you operate in your career constantly striving for A-pluses, the effort is not only futile, but also harmful. Youre going to drive yourself to burnout. And besides, its simply not possible. Its not how the working world, well, works. Trying to achieve the same Gifted and Talented student status in your job is a dream destined to go unfulfilled.Heres how you can hold on to high standards, but keep perfectionism in c heck1. Face up to the ironic consequences.Not only does having an honor student hangover from your adolescence into your adulthood drive you nuts with unrealistic expectations, it can actually erode your self-esteem and performance. If youre constantly falling short of where you think you should be, youre never going to feel good enough. Over the long term, that feeling of inadequacy can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy youll shirk new responsibilities, avoid taking risks, and otherwise stunt your professional growth all because of fear.2. Consider multiple measures of success.As a student, you were graded on academic performance alone. In real life, how you define success is much more within your control. In fact, research shows that chasing after external motivators like a prestigious title or bigger paycheck wont make you happier. Pursuing meaningful work and deep relationships, on the hand, can result in authentic happiness.3. Have some compassion for yourself.Remove I wish an d I should from your vocabulary. Only say things to yourself that you would say to your close friend. Cut yourself some slack. If youve had a life-long track record of achievement, carrying your honor student outlook into your professional life is something that probably happened naturally, and its not the easiest habit to shed.Start to separate the parts of that mentality that are productive from the ones that no longer serve you. Then you can strive to continue succeeding without the weight of trying to reach an unreasonable bar.--Melody Wildingis a coach and licensed social worker who helps ambitious women stop doubting themselves so that they can reach their full potential. Her clients include managers at top companies like Google, IBM, Facebook, and Deloitte. She also teaches Human Behavior at Hunter College in NYC. Sign up for yourfree guide, The 3-Step Workday Reset at melodywilding.com