BY PRABJOT SIDHU MY TOP THREE JOB CHOICES

FAMILY & GENERAL PRACTITIONERS A PHYSICIAN A PHYSICIAN OR VETERINARIAN WHOSE PRACTICE IS NOT LIMITED TO A SPECIALTY. ALSO CALLED A FAMILY DOCTOR.

FAMILY AND GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

A FAST LOOK Family physicians diagnose, treat diseases, physiological disorders and injuries. They look for health risks & diagnose health prevention (immunizations) They should have strong communication and interpersonal skills. They must have strong analytical skills and a background in the sciences Required to continually update their skills and knowledge Salary and occupation size is excellent, job stability is below average

DUTIES Examine patients Prescribe medications and administer treatments vaccinate patients Advise patients and their families on health care Report births, deaths, and diseases to governmental authorities Provide counselling and support to patients

WORKING CONDITIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS Often work irregular hours, nights, weekends, on-call 24/7. Exposed to infectious diseases, must be very careful with patients. See many patients requiring different types of assessments, support, treatment Must be prepared to handle fragile emotional state of patients To become a physician, graduates must pass two licensing exams Required to complete about 50 hours per year of continuing professional education.

CURRENT WORKFORCE Salary is among the highest in B.C. Higher wages Average proportion of women working in this occupation Employed in the Health care industry Most work in Lower Mainland Full time salary is around $124, % of employees are women

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK AND CAREER PATH There will be a strong demand for GPs Smaller & northern communities are in need. GP’s that work there, get bonuses ^. The Mainland/Southwest region has the highest employed New graduates begin by taking the role of substitute physicians Most physicians join an established group.

PHARMACISTS PERSON PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED TO PREPARE AND DISPENSE MEDICINAL DRUGS

PHARMACISTS

A FAST LOOK Compound and dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals/ medicine Focus primarily on providing patients with Pharmaceutical Care Provide consultative services to clients & health care providers. Participate in research and development of medicine Should have strong mathematical, computer and communication skills. Should have strong ethical senses & enjoy personal interaction.

DUTIES Maintain patient health and medication records. Develop new drugs and research their effects. Community pharmacists work in retail pharmacies, (most common type.) Hospital pharmacists provide drugs for more advanced forms of treatment Hospital pharmacists work with more toxic medicines. Industrial Pharmacists research & develop new drugs.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS Most work approximately hours per week. Required to have a bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Must pass a board examination by the PEBC. New pharmacists must pass an English Language Fluency exam. Must have 1,000 hours of practical experience through internships. Residency Training = highly recommended for hospital pharmacists

CURRENT WORKFORCE Full-time salary is above the provincial average. Working extended hours in retail pharmacies/ hospitals= better pay. 66% work in the lower mainland. 2% work in the Kootenay region. 55% of employees are women. Full time salary- $83, 658.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK AND CAREER OPTIONS Many job openings from new job creation and retirements. Demand for pharmaceutical services is rising. Aging population is putting pressure on pharmacies. Rural communities are short of community and hospital pharmacists. Experienced pharmacists may move into government administrative positions. Hospital pharmacists may move into supervisory positions.

INTERIOR DESIGNERS INTERIOR DESIGNERS MAKE INTERIOR SPACES FUNCTIONAL, SAFE, AND BEAUTIFUL FOR ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF BUILDING.

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

A FAST LOOK Usually require a collage education Salary is average Job stability is below average Produce designs for interior spaces in residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and industrial buildings. May be self employed Occupation size is above average

DUTIES Develop plans and 3-D models showing arrangement of walls, dividers etc. Consult with clients to determine needs and preferences. Estimate costs and materials required. Advise on selection of colours, finishes and materials. Work in a multidisciplinary environment. May direct site work crews and subcontractors.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS A normal controlled environment. Work in various buildings; office, hospital or school. Mainly need to graduate high school. Need to have a creative mind. Need to have a good sense in costs.

CURRENT WORKFORCE 65% are working in the lower mainland. 81% are women. $44,647 is the average full time salary. 51% are working fulltime. 1% are working in the Caribou region. Around 2,415 people are employed.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOKS AND CAREER OPTIONS In Lower Mainland, from , 605 estimated openings. In Lower Mainland, there are 545 new job seekers. In Lower Mainland, in 2010, there are 2675 estimated employments. The Mainland/Southwest region has the highest number of those employed. In the Mainland/Southwest region, 9,660 workers were employed. There is an excessive supply in the mainland region.

If I were to choose one occupation out of these three, I would choose a pharmacist. The reason for this is because the pay is good and not too much work is needed. If I was a Family or General Practitioner, it requires working extra hours. Being a pharmacist also doesn’t require as much educational training. Furthermore, now that I think about it, being an interior designer doesn’t seem like a very good job because its salary is only half as much. Pharmacists or Family & General Practitioners or Interior Designers? CONCLUSION