Our hearts go out to the families of those who died or were injured in Japan’s massive earthquake. The amazing thing when tragedies like this occur is to see news reports that show workers from the U.S. who swing into action and travel to the areas hit to assist the immediate rescue and relief efforts.

Videos and photographs of these workers reinforce that if you have a heart for people and desire to help, emergency and disaster relief occupations are possible career paths for you.

The earthquake in Japan joins other recent tragic events, such as the 9/11 attacks, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005, and Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, that have brought attention to the variety of occupations that help people prepare or deal with manmade or natural disasters.

These can be exhausting professions with long hours and difficult conditions, but the rewards are numerous in being able to provide aid and comfort to individuals impacted by emergencies and disasters.

Here are some of the professions where jobs are in demand for individuals willing to serve others in the wake of major disasters around the globe.

Emergency management

Federal and local emergency management agencies need workers in a variety of functions, from planning to safety to security to communications. If you visit FEMA’s website, you can pull up videos of workers that give you a glimpse into their jobs and responsibilities.  U.S. News & World Report identified an emergency management specialist – described as someone who creates disaster response plans and training, and coordinates with state and local emergency personnel – as one of the 50 best jobs for 2011. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for emergency management specialists will grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. For this and other emergency management positions, employers want to see a desire for helping people, along with a bachelor’s degree and often certification from the National Incident Management System, according to U.S. News.

Emergency medicine

Physicians, nurses, and others working in the health care field often are among the first called upon to provide assistance in the U.S. and overseas in the wake of a tragedy. Workers also who have degrees in public health are necessary to provide expertise related to medical needs in a crisis.

Nonprofit organizations

Nonprofit organizations also are essential to helping communities recover and rebuild after disasters. If you desire to work for major organizations such as the American Red Cross or local groups, you’ll definitely need to be passionate about helping others. Often workers in the nonprofit sector have received their education in fields such as business and the liberal arts, according to a Wall Street Journal story. The exciting thing about working for nonprofits is the ability to constantly touch the lives of those you are serving, and you could be involved in all aspects from working with volunteers to fund raising. When tragedy hits, nonprofits often excel at having the resources in place to provide for needs, with workers energized by the idea of serving others.

Working in the emergency and disaster profession can give you a sense of purpose while responding to those in a crisis.

-Lori Johnston

The summer before my senior year of college, I took a paid internship in NYC. I don’t remember what the job was supposed to have been, because I basically I spent two miserable months sitting at a desk doing nothing. It was a nightmare. My unpaid senior-year internship, however, was awesome – and it turned into an ongoing freelance gig even now, more than 10 years after graduation.

This is not to say that unpaid internships are the bomb and paid internships are destined to stink. But how do you know which internships will be good ones?

Vault.com can help. The source for employer rankings, ratings, and reconnaissance, Vault.com has released its Top Internship Rankings for 2011 to help you make the best internship decision you can. Each year, Vault’s editors evaluate hundreds of internships and choose the ones that provide the best all-around experience. Many factors are considered in the rankings, including intern involvement and capacity for learning, mentorship availability, career advancement opportunities, industry clout, corporate culture, and, of course, perks and compensation.

Ranking Results
According to the rankings, this year’s top 10 overall internships are (in alphabetical order): Capital Fellows Programs; Deloitte; Garmin International; Google; J.P. Morgan’s Investment Bank; NASA; Nickelodeon Animation Studios; Northwestern Mutual Financial Network; Smithsonian Institution; and The Boston Consulting Group.

In addition to the best overall internships, Vault lists the top 10 finance internships (e.g., Goldman Sachs); top 10 creative/liberal arts internships (e.g., Electronic Arts); top 10 internships with the best perks (e.g., Dell); and the top 10 internships providing the most unusual experiences (e.g., Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences). And, for the first time ever, Vault is highlighting the top 10 nonprofit internships, which include Food for the Hungry, National Women’s Health Network, and the Carnegie Foundation, among others.

Vault also provides a profile of all the top internships, offering inside information about the company, the types of work available, application deadlines, contact details, and tips on getting the gig.

The Internship Advantage
Some of these organizations offer paid internships, but don’t discount the ones that don’t provide a paycheck. Any good internship can offer a competitive edge, which is essential to employment in today’s economy.

Interning is a great way to test-drive a career to figure out if that line of work is right for you. A good internship can also help you prepare for the demands of working in a particular industry, which may lead to quicker advancement within the field.

Not only do top internships look great on your resume, but they can also jump-start a career at that organization, since many employers prefer to hire their own interns rather than taking a chance on an unknown applicant. Plus, the industry contacts you’ll make at your internship can help you advance your career, no matter where you end up working.

Take a look at the internship rankings, and do your research to find an internship that’s a good match for your skills and interests. Because, believe me – all the money in the world can’t make up for a job that stinks.

-Robyn Tellefsen

In the words of my college swimming coach, “A smart man learns from his own mistakes; a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” I sincerely hope that none of us has to walk a mile in Charlie Sheen’s shoes to learn from his many recent career-killing mistakes. In that spirit, I offer 7 career lessons gleaned from the life and times of the sacked actor.

1. College education can be an asset.
Charlie Sheen didn’t need a college degree to get his acting jobs, but I’m betting he could have used some higher ed to keep them. Maybe if he had taken a history, sociology, or communication course, he would have learned a thing or two about diplomacy or even respect for others. When Sheen made derogatory, anti-Semitic comments about his boss, Chuck Lorre, he practically signed his own execution papers. Not smart, Sheen. Not smart.

2. Salary negotiations should be made within the realm of reason.
It is perfectly acceptable to ask your boss for a raise, but please, keep a foothold in reality. In one of many, many recent interviews, Sheen said he would only return to “Two and a Half Men” if he got a raise from $1.2 million to $3 million per episode. At $1.2 million, Sheen was already the highest-paid actor on television. Which brings me to…

3. Money can’t buy peace and happiness.
It’s easy to believe that if we were rich, or could at least pay off our mortgage, we would be happy, stable, complete… but that’s a big, fat lie. Have you ever noticed how the wealthiest people are sometimes the most miserable? Charlie Sheen’s got it all when it comes to material wealth – but do you really envy him?

4. Badmouthing your boss is a bad idea.
Most of us have, at some point, worked for a boss who was less than pleasant. Maybe our grievances were justified; maybe they weren’t. But one thing’s for sure – calling your boss a “turd” and a “clown” won’t get you very far. Even if you’re not ranting live on the radio, tweets and texts have a funny way of getting into the wrong hands.

5. The family business might not be right for you.
If a career has been handed down to you, think twice before you embrace it, whether it’s in your dad’s construction company, the family-owned funeral parlor, or Tinseltown. Having Martin Sheen for a father is a great opportunity to make it big, but just because it’s a given doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

6. Bridges should never be burned.
If you are fired, laid off, demoted, or in any way rejected at work, try your best to be gracious. You never know when another opportunity will arise, and by talking trash, you make it virtually impossible for them (or anyone else) to ever take you back. Would you want to work with Charlie Sheen now?

7. Crack kills.
Need I say more?

-Robyn Tellefsen

I was at a salon in my town the other day, and a massage therapist I know mentioned one of the big changes she’s making in her life: going back to school to pursue a career as a physical therapist.

She was explaining that she has been a massage therapist for 10 years (she’s 31 now) and was looking for a change. She still loves having a relationship with her clients and by providing massages, she’s in a profession where she creates a relaxing, rejuvenating environment for her clients. And often people schedule massage to treat pain and for the rehabilitation of sports injuries, recognizing its medical benefits.

Her decision to pursue physical therapy allows her to be in a career with a hands-on touch, and she’s enjoying the fact that she’s learning more about the human body with classes like anatomy. Physical therapists are focused on providing care to people suffering from burns, amputations, conditions such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, stroke, back and neck injuries, and muscle and bone sprains and fractures.

Going back to school isn’t an easy road, but my massage therapist is making it a little easier by selecting a new career that is still in health and wellness arena where she is already working.

It could be that your next career move is not so far away from the field where you’re working now. If you enjoy the industry you’re in, but are looking for more career opportunities, higher pay, or just a change of work life, look to springboard to an occupation in the same industry or a complimentary industry. It may take away some of the fear in your quest for a new career, too!

-Lori Johnston

There are some jobs you can get right out of high school, but according to recent data from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, a whopping 63 percent of jobs in the U.S. require some type of postsecondary education. That’s more than double the percentage required in the mid-1970s.

It follows, then, that higher education leads to greater chances of getting off the unemployment line and getting into a job.

How do community colleges fit into the equation? A few ways:

• Affordability. Community college tuition is much lower than private or even public four-year college tuition, which of course makes a huge difference for low-income students.
• Availability. Community colleges are found in your local community, which can significantly shorten your commute and simplify your life.
• Academic Accessibility. Admission to community colleges is typically open to anyone who has completed high school.
• Adult-Friendliness. Most community college students are adults with work and family responsibilities, and community colleges tailor programs to that population.

“For years I have said that community colleges are one of America’s best-kept secrets,” said Jill Biden at the White House Summit on Community Colleges in October. “Well, with the President of the United States shining a light on us, I think that secret is out.” Obama’s American Graduation Initiative calls for an additional five million community college graduates by 2020.

It’s a lofty goal for sure, and students are flocking to community colleges in droves. But none of it matters if they’re not graduating.

That was the specific problem addressed at the Community College Summit held last week, the first of four regional meetings planned to identify promising practices for increasing completion rates at community colleges. Community colleges are committed to creating policies and programs to encourage more adult students to finish school and earn a degree or certificate.

Best Practices
At Tennessee Technology Centers, degree acceleration is the name of the game. At these schools, students sign up for a program rather than individual classes, and they move through the program as a cohort, which increases the level of accountability and support. Plus, programs lasting a year or less decrease dropout rates and help students get into the workforce and draw a decent salary sooner.

And at the “reverse job fair” at Central New Mexico Community College, local small businesses are asked to come to the school and talk about the kinds of jobs needed in their company. Armed with the knowledge of employer needs, the school develops targeted, short-term programs so students can get skilled jobs in these companies. Talk about a college career connection!

The next three Community College Summits will focus on successful transfer programs; partnerships between community colleges and employers; and exemplary programs for veterans, military members, and families.

-Robyn Tellefsen