Emergency Management Careers
Hurricane Katrina, the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the rising threats of more terrorist attacks and flu pandemics have created a high demand for professionals who are trained in the effective management of emergencies. To meet this demand, many colleges and universities are implementing degrees to train people for emergency management careers. If you are skilled in strategy, planning, decision-making, and organization, this field needs you. Why not take the steps to go back to college and get your career training in emergency management?
Education and training
Most emergency management careers require that you earn a bachelor’s degree in emergency management, business management, environmental science, public safety, public administration, or a related field. You can find many degree programs that will qualify you for emergency management careers through traditional and online universities. If you choose to get your degree in emergency management, you will be required to take core college education courses as well as a variety of field-specific classes including Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Public Sector Finance, Security Operations, Labor Relations, Risk Management and Threat Assessment, and a variety of other public safety and emergency management courses. You will also be required to complete an emergency management and public safety internship to gain hands-on experience.
Once you have earned your degree for emergency management careers, it is important to gain relevant experience working in an emergency management agency, such as FEMA. Once you have gained experience and demonstrated competency in your job, you may advance to management or director level jobs. If this is your ultimate goal, you may also consider getting a master’s degree in emergency management to increase your skills.
Nature of the job
At the entry-level, emergency managers have a great responsibility to plan and coordinate emergency response in various situations. They must also be able to analyze risk, work with budgets, comply with Homeland Security and Emergency Management laws, and develop the procedures and policies to be used by various public and private organizations in an emergency situation. Emergency managers must have very strong interpersonal and communications skills since they are required to work closely and develop relationships with all organizational and government leaders in their area. Emergency managers must also see to the development and implementation of public education programs to help people know how to deal with various disasters and other emergency situations effectively. It takes a very strong leader to be effective in this career.
Emergency management careers are some of the top careers of today. By taking the steps to get your education and training in emergency management, you are making a commitment to public safety and the good of people and communities that are affected by disaster. It is a highly important job that can provide you with a deep sense of satisfaction, excellent job security, and a lucrative salary of as high as $90,000 a year. If you are a natural leader who has great communication skills and who truly wants to help and protect others, a career in emergency management is waiting for you.
