More than ever, people around the world are concerned about the environment. And not only are businesses being concerned out of the goodness of their own hearts, a lot of businesses are being forced to care. With strict rules regarding aspects such as harmful emissions, a lot of businesses have had to take extra care to make sure they are within the rules.

This new focus on going green is actually creating a lot of jobs. While environmental scientists are more popular, many other less skilled jobs are available in the green sector. For example, businesses are hiring people to test the surrounding groundwater to make sure there is no pollution occurring.

If you are in a dead end job and you want a new challenge, consider going into the green industry. The best way to do so is to further your education, however that isn’t necessary. A lot of green related opportunities offer on the job training. If you are dedicated to learning, businesses will teach you what you need to know.

A recent report indicated that in 25 years, one in four jobs will be in the environmental field. While that might be a bit optimistic, green jobs are definitely the wave of the future. Getting into the field now could secure you a long lasting and well paying job.

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With the NBA playoffs in full gear, a lot of people wonder how they can get a NBA related job. While it’s not easy getting such a job, one exciting field that many don’t consider is refereeing. Becoming an NBA referee is a difficult task, but it’s possible if you have the dedication and the willingness to pay your dues.

The first thing you want to do if you want to become a basketball ref is to go to a referee school. There are a number of camps and clinics that provide beginner, intermediate and expert tips. ProBasketballRefs.com and Officiating.com are two very good resources if you are looking for camps or clinics in your area.

Once you learn the ropes, you will likely have to start at the bottom of the ladder. Many professional refs started out by refereeing rec leagues and church leagues – and oftentimes for little or no pay. Once you get comfortable with your refereeing skills, you can begin to climb the ladder.

The most difficult aspect of becoming a professional basketball ref is the dedication required. It usually takes years to climb up one step on the ladder. For example, if you are a ref in a rec league, it’ll likely take you a couple years to go to the high school level. Once you are at the high school level, it’ll take even more years before you move up to the college level. However, if you stay dedicated and you remain willing to learn your craft, there’s really no limit to what you can achieve on the basketball court as a referee.

And make sure you don’t take bets on games or you’ll end up like Tim Donaghy.

Recent studies show that the city of San Francisco added 10,000 new jobs in 2007 – many of which were high-paying technology jobs. San Francisco is quickly becoming one of the most technologically advanced places in the United States and many companies are opening offices within the city.

Among the companies that have recently added jobs in San Francisco are Yahoo and Google, which are arguably the two biggest and most powerful internet-based companies. Yahoo and Google opened offices in San Francisco to tap into the extremely savvy population of potential workers that call the city home.

While the economy is slowing job growth across the United States, that phenomenon isn’t as apparent in San Francisco. Due to San Francisco mostly relying on the steady technology field for their local economy, the city isn’t affected as much as other cities that rely on a broader array of fields.

If you are thinking about getting a job in the technology field, consider looking for jobs in San Francisco. However, keep in mind that San Francisco isn’t for everybody. While it’s true that the many high-paying jobs are available, the cost of living in San Francisco is also very high. Specifically, houses in San Francisco are notorious for being extremely expensive.

Be sure to calculate the increased cost of living if you plan to move to San Francisco for a job. The cost of living is high but depending on the specific job and the corresponding pay, it still might make sense for you to move.

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Do you love sports? Do you live, breath and eat sports? If so, you may consider getting a job in the sports field. Sports, while it may look like fun and games, is a multi-billion dollar industry that is hiring new people everyday.

If you aren’t fast enough, can’t jump high enough and don’t the have hand-eye coordination to be an athlete, there are other ways to enter the sporting world. The only bad part is that due to high competition for sports related jobs, you will likely have to start at the bottom and work your way up. What are some entry level jobs in the sports world to try to get?

Ticket Sales
Almost every sport in existence relies on selling tickets to their events. And while selling tickets isn’t a glamorous job, it’s a way to get your foot in the door. Once you are inside, you can work your way up to positions such as promotions manager, fan relation manager or even entering the business side as a financial manager.

Scouting
The best scouts in the sporting industry make millions of dollars a year. However, a lot of scouts have had to start off working for little or no pay. When you begin scouting, all it takes is one good find and then your job prospects for the future will get a lot better. Have a good eye for talent? Consider getting into scouting.

Athlete Assistants
Athletes typically have a very busy life. Sure, they may make a lot of money, but it’s hard for a lot of athletes to handle everything that needs to be handled. That’s where assistants come in. If you want to become an athlete assistant, unless you know someone, you are going to have to prove your worth. To do so, you’ll likely have to work for free for a period that last anywhere from a month to a year. However, if the athlete comes to depend on you, the amount of money you can make in this line of work is impressive.

Sports Agents
Another job to consider is becoming an agent. The first thing you should do is get your law degree. While in law school, get a lower level job (perhaps even clerical in nature) at a sports agency. Then after you have passed the bar, it will be easier for you to get into an established agency or start up your own practice.

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I was thinking the other day about common jobs that I would never want to do. I’m not talking about gross jobs necessarily (like proctologist). I am referring to jobs that I just personally wouldn’t want, even though they might be considered normal and profitable.

Here’s my top five list of jobs I’d hate to have.

Dentist
I know they make the big bucks and they don’t work long hours, but I don’t like the idea of having my hands in someone else’s mouth all day. It’s just too unsanitary to me, no matter what kind of gloves they wear.

Gynecologist
Like dentists, gynecologists make a pretty good living. I would never want this job. I’m female myself so I don’t mind the vagina. I just don’t want to be looking at them all day, particularly if the women have hygiene issues.

Truck Driver
I know this job is necessary for our economy to function - after all, the products have to be transported. But the long, long hours and time away from home has got to be terrible.

Public School Teacher
This probably sounds horrible, but I could never be a public school teacher these days. Years ago, I actually thought of making teaching a career. However, teachers are really underpaid and overworked. And so many public schools are underfunded. I commend those who have chosen education as their field of choice. I just know that personally I couldn’t do it. You are better women (and men) than I am.

Accountant
I’m really good at math. I took Advanced Placement Calculus in high school. I had lots of math and accounting classes in undergrad and grad school. However, numbers all day, everyday would bore me to tears. I’m not sure how much money you’d have to pay me to be an accountant, financial analyst or something of the sort, but it would have to be huge.

How about you? What jobs would you hate to have?

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Yahoo recently put together a beautiful flash presentation of numerous “careers” around the country and how much the workers are paid.  The celebrities are compensated nicely, the American Idol host, Ryan Seacrest makes over 10 million a year.  Surprisingly, a car dealership manager makes over $200,000 a year - but I would probably guess that he is a partial owner.