系统工程师当选"美国最佳工作"

近日，美国cnnmoney.com通过调查选出了“全美50个最棒的工作”，其中系统工程师名列榜首。

这些工作是如何选出来的呢？cnn Money和payscale.com合作，先从 7000 多个职位中挑出 260 个年薪中位数在 65,000 美元（44.36万人民币）、需要大学以上学历、而且未来十年内会增加 10% 以上的工作，再把这 260 个工作剔掉前一阵子经济萧条中比较惨淡的几个，留下前 100 名。这前一百名的职位实际访问 35000 名员工后，根据目前的就业状况、长期成长、稳定度、生活质量等项目，再将范围缩小到 50 个职位，就是最佳的 50 个工作啦！

五十个工作中，IT 产业就占了十位，除了第一名的系统工程师之外，IT 计划项目经理（IT Project Manager）在第五，计算机／网络安全顾问在第八、软件开发工程师在第 12、软件产品经理第 16。技术编辑（Technical Writer）也榜上有名喔，在第 28。

但这和医疗照顾产业完全没得比，不仅入榜 12 名，而且几乎都在前段班 -- 12 个里面最差的（Speech-Language Pathologist，啥鬼啊）也有 27 名。往常比较吃香的金融产业大概受到这次金融风暴的影响，只入榜 7 名，而且除了注册会计师（Certified Public Account）在第六名之外，其他大多在后段班。前十名如下，附上了工作描述、工作优缺点和加入这个领域的必备条件，有兴趣的小盆友可要读仔细啦！

1. Systems Engineer（系统工程师）

What they do: They're the "big think" managers on large, complex projects, from major transportation networks to military defense programs. They figure out the technical specifications required and coordinate the efforts of lower-level engineers working on specific aspects of the project.

Why it's great: Demand is soaring for systems engineers, as what was once a niche job in the aerospace and defense industries becomes commonplace among a diverse and expanding universe of employers, from medical device makers to corporations like Xerox and BMW.

Pay can easily hit six figures for top performers, and there's ample opportunity for advancement. But many systems engineers say they most enjoy the creative aspects of the job and seeing projects come to life. "The transit system I work on really makes a tangible difference to people," says Anne O'Neil, chief systems engineer for the New York City Transit Authority.

Drawbacks: Long hours are common; project deadlines can be fierce.

Pre-reqs: An undergrad engineering degree; some jobs might also require certification as a certified systems engineering professional (CSEP).

2. Physician Assistant（医师助理）

What they do: Call it MD lite. Working under the supervision of a doctor, PAs do all tasks involved in routine medical care, such as diagnosing illnesses and assisting in surgery. In most states they can write prescriptions as well.

Why it's great: You get the satisfaction of treating patients minus insurance hassles, since PAs have far less administrative responsibility than the typical MD. "I'm part of a team yet have a lot of autonomy," says PA Robert Wooten.

You don't have to take on the time or expense of med school and the field is virtually recession-proof, owing to an ongoing shortage of primary-care physicians. PAs are also far cheaper to employ than MDs, so demand is expected to steadily increase as medical facilities try to rein in costs, says Bill Leinweber, CEO of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

And since they don't need as much specialized training as doctors, PAs can switch from, say, geriatrics to emergency care with relative ease.

Drawbacks: It's a fairly new profession, so the number of annual job openings is still small.

Pre-reqs: A master's degree; 100 hours of training every two years; recertification every six.

3. College Professor（大学教授）

What they do: Teach and grade papers, of course. But profs also spend about half their time doing research and writing articles and books about their field.

Why it's great: For starters, major scheduling freedom. "Besides teaching and office hours, I get to decide where, when, and how I get my work done," says Daniel Beckman, a biology professor at Missouri State University. And that doesn't even take into account ample time off for holidays and a reduced workload in the summer.

Competition for tenure-track positions at four-year institutions is intense, but you'll find lots of available positions at community colleges and professional programs, where you can enter the professoriate as an adjunct faculty member or non-tenure track instructor without a doctorate degree. That's particularly true during economic downturns, when laid-off workers often head back to school for additional training.

More valuable perks: reduced or free tuition for family members and free access to college gyms and libraries.

Drawbacks: Low starting pay and a big 50% salary gap between faculty at universities and community colleges. If the position is at a four-year university, you'll probably have to relocate, and you'll be under pressure to constantly publish new work to sustain career momentum.

How to get it: For a tenure track position, you'll need a Ph.D. But all colleges want at least a master's degree and prefer plenty of teaching experience.

4. Nurse Practitioner（护士）

What they do: In addition to performing routine caretaking tasks, nurse practitioners have the advanced medical training to diagnose and treat a wide range of ailments. They can also prescribe medication without consulting an MD.

Why it's great: Thanks to the growth of retail health clinics and the shortage of primary-care doctors, opportunities abound for nurse practitioners in settings from hospitals and urgent-care centers to private practice. They can specialize in fields such as women's health or oncology. Experienced nurse practitioners looking for a change of pace can shift to teaching or medical research.

Nurse practitioners are also specifically trained in patient teaching; disease prevention is typically a large part of their practice. "Helping people see that small changes in their lifestyles can make a big difference to their health is very rewarding," says New York City nurse practitioner Edwidge Thomas.

Drawbacks: Constant insurance headaches. Education requirements are ratcheting up.

Pre-reqs: Must first complete training to get license as a registered nurse; master's degree, plus certification. A doctor of nursing practice degree is increasingly in demand, which requires about three additional years of study.