By Claire Kaufman

Firefighters are the nation's heroes, from the local volunteer fire brigade to the brave FDNY force who rushed into the burning Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Despite the dangers of the job, firefighting attracts many more applicants than there are positions available. The career is poised for rapid 19 percent job growth in the 2008-2018 period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But competition will heat up as more and more apply to serve their communities and earn such job perks as a flexible schedule and generous pension.

By Adam Stone

After a successful run as an entrepreneur, Sparrow Rogers of St. Michael's, Md. decided it was time for a change.

"I did a lot of reflecting on the entrepreneurial cycle, with all its very high risks and lots of pressure," said Rogers, 35. "I decided I wanted to find something that was both a profession and vocation. I wanted a career with a cause."

By Clare Kaufman

Physical therapists help patients get up and go again following illness or injury. Armed with a deep understanding of how the human body works, physical therapists devise a therapy regimen that puts the patient on the fast track to recovery. Ranked among the top thirty fastest growing jobs in the U.S., physical therapists can count on healthy demand for years to come.

By Kristin Marino

Perhaps more than any other profession, elementary school teachers hold the future in their hands. A career as an elementary school teacher could put you at the front lines in the pursuit and delivery of a quality education to every child in America. Projected employment growth for elementary school teachers is about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Jon Fortenbury

Lauren Berger did 15 internships during college. She's blown up coffee machines and jammed paper in printing machines. She's received job offers and learned from top-notch professionals. She's interned at Fox and MTV.

But there's one thing she didn't take away from doing so many internships: regret.

By Kristin Marino

From the excitement of the courtroom to the intense concentration of the legal library, paralegals enjoy a variety of tasks in a wide range of settings. Paralegals continue to assume more tasks (with some important exceptions) once reserved only for lawyers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, formally trained paralegals with experience should have the best paralegal job opportunities through 2018.

By Rob Sabo

Having the right skill set can help you land a new or better job, as well as put you in prime position for a promotion. Some may argue that being a well-rounded employee is more important in 2012 than ever before. High national unemployment -- 8.5 percent in December 2011 -- means competition for jobs is fierce and is likely to remain so throughout 2012 and maybe even beyond.

By Janis Beem

What can you do in seven months? If you're unemployed, the way you answer that question can impact where you find your next job. David Rosenberg, chief economist at Gluskin Sheff, reported in 2010 to US News & World Report that over 6.5 million people in the U.S. had not worked for 27 weeks or more -- that's nearly seven months.

By Rob Sabo

While you were busy blowing a horn, wearing a funny hat and watching the ball drop at the stroke of midnight on New Year's eve, you probably weren't thinking about career growth. But in the early days of a new year, it's great to contemplate career growth and change.

By Kristin Marino

Sonography technology is well-known for its ability to show a fetus as it develops in a mother's womb, but there are dozens of other uses for medical sonography as well. Sonography's noninvasive nature makes it the preferred method for several diagnostic applications.

Students applying to law school and business school face another layer of scrutiny beyond their applications: Some 41 percent of law school admissions counselors and 27 percent of their business school counterparts admit to running applicants' names through Google to see what photos and information turns up.

This screening practice isn't limited to graduate school, however, about one in five college admissions officers and many employers also use search engines to see what they can glean about applicants.

By Kenneth Corbin

Last year, the U.S. workplace got a little safer for some: the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) tallied 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2010 among private sector firms, down from 3.3 million reported incidents the previous year. That made for an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 100 full-time workers last year, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It's a different story in the public sector, which saw a notably higher rate of injuries and illnesses. The BLS counted 5.7 cases among full-time state and local workers such as police and firefighters, with the lion's share attributed to employees of local governments.

By Kristin Marino

To protect and to serve. If those words hold particular meaning for you, you've probably considered a career in law enforcement--and if not, you might want to. Employment for police officers and detectives is expected to grow by 10 percent during the decade ending in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Amelia Gray

When you're thinking of going out on your own to open a small business, it's probably wise to take a few minutes away from dreaming up business schemes to consider the hard facts. A recent report by Dun & Bradstreet found that small business failure rates have increased 40 percent between 2007 and 2010, with states such as California, Nevada and New Hampshire leading the way. If you want your business idea to succeed in a challenging climate, knowledge and training are your best tools.