Jobs and Professions

An accountant can find employment with an accounting firm or a large company with an internal accounting department or set up an individual practice.

An artist uses a variety of mediums to express their thoughts and feelings. There are many different types of artists including: photographers, sculptors, painters, digital artists, and glass blowers. Some artists master more than one art and combine them in their creations.

An architect designs houses, buildings and other structures such as bridges. An architect often draws the plans and conceives the designs for new projects, but they can also design alterations to older constructions.

A compliance officer makes sure that businesses, organizations, or individuals respect their contracts, and follow the government regulations and the laws. Compliance officers are often found in the fields of banking and healthcare.

A (network and) computer systems administrator is responsible for the configuration, upkeep and reliable operation of a company’s network and computer systems. They identify and try to resolve network issues and they update the equipment and software to make sure they are current.

A construction worker works on a construction site, and assists other professionals, such as electricians and carpenters, with a variety of basic tasks. For a example, they carry tools and materials, put up ladders or scaffolding, load and unload building materials, remove debris and assist with heavy equipment.

A chef or cook works in a kitchen. The chef plans the menu, makes the budget, sets the prices on the menu, prepares food, buys supplies, ensures safety in the kitchen as well as quality of food and service. The cook also prepares and cooks food but does not necessarily work in a big restaurant and is not formally trained like a chef.

Generally speaking, a counselor provides support and/or rehabilitation services. The job of a counselor varies depending on where they work. There are academic counselors like your API, guidance or career counselors, mental health counselors, and even marital and family counselors. A counselor offers guidance to individuals, couples, families and groups and helps them find what they need to do next to live a healthy lifestyle and do well in their lives.

A dental hygienist cleans and polishes your teeth and removes plaque and tartar. A dental hygienist also examines your mouth and teeth for diseases and educates patients on good dental health. The tasks of a dental assistant might include record-keeping, doing X-rays, and scheduling appointments with patients. The dental assistant also prepares the room and the equipment and performs basic dental procedures under the supervision of a dentist.

A dentist is a doctor who specializes in oral health. The responsibilities of a dentist include diagnosing oral diseases and planning treatment to restore the oral health of patients. The dentist also promotes oral health and helps prevent diseases.

A nutritionist develops diet plans, menus, recipes, and helps clients plan their meals. A nutritionist helps clients understand which foods provide the nutrients they need and follows clients’ progress.

A driver works for a company and transports goods and items from one place to another. Drivers are usually called by the type of deliveries they do. For example, food drivers deliver food.

NOTE: A driver is also a piece of computer software that tells hardwar how to run on a certain operating system.

An electrician installs and maintains the wiring and controls the equipment through which electricity flows.

An engineer analyzes, develops and evaluates systems. An engineer can also improve and maintain current systems or create brand new projects, by designing blueprints, visiting systems in the field and managing projects. Engineers work in a variety of fields. There are electrical, architectural, robotics engineers and more.

A firefighter is a man or woman who works to combat and extinguish fires. Firefighters are often called "first responders" because they always arrive first on the scene of a 911 call. They not only prevent and investigate the causes of fires, but they sometimes act as emergency medical technicians (EMT)*.

*See paramedic/EMT below

A flight attendant works for an airline company and is responsible for the safety and comfort of the passengers. Flight attendants are in charge of the cabin in an aircraft. They help passengers find their seats, show how to use the plane’s safety equipment and provide food, drinks and other services for the duration of a flight.

A HR, or Human Resources specialist, is a person who reads CVs or applications, interviews, recruits, and hires workers. HR specialists guide employees through human resources procedures and ensure that employees understand them. Sometimes, the HR specialist also offers training sessions. They ususally work under a Director of HR.

An insurance sales agent works for an insurance company and sells life, property, health, or car insurance.

A lab tech (short for laboratory technician) provides all the required technical support to enable the laboratory to function effectively, while adhering to correct procedures and health and safety guidelines. The work of a lab tech can include sampling, testing, measuring, recording and analysing results as part of a scientific team.

A landscaper builds and maintains gardens, parks, golf courses and other landscaped areas. Landscapers are usually employed by landscaping companies or cities. A groundskeeper, or caretaker, works for a private owner or company and maintains lawns, trees and flowers beds or gardens.

A lawyer, also called an attorney, gives legal advice to clients and represents them and their legal rights in both criminal and civil cases. Part of a lawyer’s job includes preparing documents and pleadings, and sometimes, going to court to defend their clients.

A manager is a boss. The manager is responsible for a part of the company, like being in charge of a department and the people who work in it. Sometimes, the manager oversees the whole business (e.g. a restaurant manager). A manager has the power to hire, fire, do performance reviews, and discipline employees.

A massage therapist uses different forms of massages and therapies to reduce pain and stress. Their goal is to encourage relaxation to help their clients feel better.

A mechanic is a trained professional who repairs and performs regular maintenance on cars and other motorized vehicles. Part of their job involves understanding how motors work, and how to take apart and reassemble any of the vehicle components in order to fix any problems.

Nurses play a vital part in hospitals and other medical facilities. A nurse has many duties, such as caring for patients, communicating with doctors, administering medicine and checking vital signs.

An ophthalmic technician prepares the patient to see the eye doctor by doing the preliminary exam, getting the patient’s medical history and preparing the examination and treatment rooms. Other tasks include performing basic and routine vision screening examinations, administering eye medications, cleaning and maintaining instruments and assisting the eye doctor during minor surgical and laser procedures. An ophthalmic assistant generally works closely with an ophthalmologist, gathering patient information necessary to complete a diagnosis.

An optometrist is an eye care professional who provides primary vision care. The optometrist tests your eyesight and can prescribe glasses or lenses as treatment to correct your vision changes. If you have trouble reading or seeing what’s on the board in class, if you often get headaches after reading or working on a computer, you may need to wear glasses.

An optician sells and repairs eyeglasses and contact lenses based on the needs of each customer.

A geologist works on-site, develops research proposals, and fulfill contracts. A geologist spends time both outdoors and indoors, in laboratories observing, sampling, and testing liquid, mineral, soil, and rock samples. Geologists work in a variety of fields including water supplies, ground investigation, pollution control, glacial geology, volcanology and geochemistry.

A pharmacy technician helps prepare and distribute medication to patients, maintains patient records, prepares and packages medications, and places orders. A pharmacy technician also reviews prescription requests with doctors' offices and insurance companies.

An orderly assists nurses and doctors in the basic care of patients. An orderly makes sure wards are neat and tidy, lifts and turns patients and transports them in wheelchairs or on movable beds and provides direct care and support to patients. They are employed in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities for the elderly.

Paralegals, or legal assistants, support lawyers by doing legal research, drafting and reviewing documents, communicating with clients, preparing hearings, trials, and meetings, and organizing and maintaining files.

A paramedic/EMT is one of the first healthcare professionals to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Paramedics respond to emergency calls such as sudden illness, accidents and natural disasters; they evaluate patients, provide first aid emergency treatment and make diagnoses. They can also administer medication, pain relief, and intravenous (IV) infusions.

A physical therapist helps people with various physical problems to overcome barriers to physical performance. The physical therapist tries to decrease the impact of patients’ disability and improve their quality of life.

A pilot flies and navigates airplanes, helicopters, and other types of aircraft. Usually, an airline pilot works for a specific company and transports people and cargo on fixed schedules.

A photographer is an artist with a camera. A photographer uses technical skills and an artistic eye to create memories and make special moments unforgettable. Photographers take pictures of people, places, landscapes, or even food! They are hired to capture the highlights of public and private events, can work as fine artists, wedding and event photographers, or sell their photos to commercial clients.

A plumber installs, repairs and maintains water supply lines, waste disposal systems, and related fixtures (plumbing) to keep homes and businesses flowing smoothly. Plumbers work for construction companies, contractors and maintenance departments, or they can also be self-employed.

A police officer has four major responsibilities: enforcing laws, preventing crimes, responding to emergencies, and providing support services. Typical daily duties include assisting in emergency scenes, responding to burglaries, and stopping cars that are driving erratically or speeding. For every incident that occurs, a police officer is required to file a report.

A psychologist is a medical doctor specialized in mental health and mental disorders. Psychologists work with individuals, couples, and families by identifying and diagnosing mental problems, then developing a treatment plan and collaborating with doctors or social workers to help the patient carry out desired changes.

A researcher is somebody who performs research investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions and specialize in different fields such as sociology, psychology, medicine, or science. Researchers collect, organize, and analyze data or opinions to solve problems, explore issues, and predict trends.

A respiratory therapist is a professional who provides life support for patients who can't breathe on their own. A respiratory therapist can assist in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and support of critically ill patients, and maintain an open airway for trauma, intensive care, and surgery patients.

A salesperson sells a product or service in a store, on the telephone, or in a given territory. You might also hear the terms salesman or saleswoman.

A scientist conducts research in a field. Scientists make hypotheses and test them out, record and analyze data to formulate conclusions. Scientists work in almost every area of science imaginable. They plan and carry out experiments and investigations in a range of areas, including geoscience, medical research, meteorology and pharmacology.

A server works in a restaurant, a café, or a bar. Servers used to be called waiters or waitresses. A server helps customers in a restaurant during a meal, by taking their order, bringing them their food and beverages, bringing their bill, and accepting their money in exchange for the restaurant services.

A software developer conceives, designs, and builds computer programs. A software developer will identify and analyze users' needs and then design and develop software to meet those needs.

A student goes to school and is learning something. Students usually, learn from a teacher or a lecturer if at university. They also do a lot of reading and homework. A student can also be a person studying for a specific profession.

A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that may require surgery, or physically changing the human body. Surgeries can be done to diagnose or treat disease or injury. In the operating room, surgeons lead a team of other doctors and nurses to make sure that a procedure goes smoothly.

A teacher is responsible for preparing lesson plans and educating students at all levels. Their duties include assigning homework, grading tests, and documenting progress. A great teacher can get students to read, inspire a passion for languages, make math or science fun, and turn history lessons into fun and exciting stories. For many teachers, one of their simplest goals is to inspire their students to love learning.

A veterinarian, or vet, is a doctor for pets and other animals, such as farm animals. A vet will examine and treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery. Vets can also collect body tissue or fluids for examination and analysis.

A wind turbine technician, also called a windtech, installs, inspects, maintains, operates, and repairs wind turbines. A wind turbine technician can diagnose and fix any problem that could cause the turbine to shut down unexpectedly.

A journalist is a communications expert who finds information, summarizes it, and shares it in a way that can be easily understood by specific audiences or by the general public. Although a journalist will often spend a good portion of their day in front of a computer researching and writing, they also go out in the field, go to events, cover stories, and interview people.

A radiologic technologist also known as a radiographer, performs medical exams on patients using X-rays to create images of specific parts of the body. The images are then interpreted by a doctor for diagnosis. Radiographers prepare patients for the exams, move patients to the correct position, operate the equipment, and use their knowledge and skills to minimize the radiation dose to the patient.

A stay-at-home parent (also SAHP) is a parent of one or more children who chooses to stay at home to perform typical stay-at-home tasks, such as taking kids to school, after-school and weekend activities, scheduling and coordinating medical and other appointments for the family, cooking meals, cleaning, doing laundry, house maintenance, and shopping for groceries. Some stay-at-home parents also choose to homeschool their children and manage the family budget.