Athletic Trainer

By Nathan Yi

Work Description: Primary Work Tasks• Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness

to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

• Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.

• Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.

• Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.

• Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.

• Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.

• Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.

• Plan or implement comprehensive athletic injury or illness prevention programs.

• Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.

• Travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events.• Inspect playing fields to locate any items that could injure

players.• Teach sports medicine courses to athletic training students.• Advise athletes on the proper use of equipment.

• Develop training programs or routines designed to improve athletic performance.

• Confer with coaches to select protective equipment.• Recommend special diets to improve athletes' health,

increase their stamina, or alter their weight.• File athlete insurance claims and communicate with

insurance providers.• Perform team support duties, such as running errands,

maintaining equipment, or stocking supplies.• Lead stretching exercises for team members prior to games

or practices.• Accompany injured athletes to hospitals.• Conduct research or provide instruction on subject matter

related to athletic training or sports medicine.• Massage body parts to relieve soreness, strains, or bruises.

Work Description: Typical Day

• Athletic trainers work in universities, high schools, gyms, or are self employed.

• They typically work in gyms or outdoors at playing fields, and have some office work to maintain records.

• Many have offices or work areas are well lit and equipped with work out machines and other equipment needed to train athletes.

• Most work a 40 to 50 hour week.

Training

1. Education required– Though a bachelor’s degree is the minimum

formal education for this occupation, some may require a master’s degree.

2. Appropriate Majors– Major in athletic training from an accredited

program is part of the requirement for becoming certified by the Board of Certification (BOC)

Skills and Personality Traits

• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Talking to others to convey information effectively.

• Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

• Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

• Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

• Teaching others how to do something.• Actively looking for ways to help people.• Adjusting actions in relation to others'

actions.• Communicating effectively in writing as

appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Characteristics• Ability to Stay Calm• Quick Thinker• Creativity• Persistence• Strong Listener

Work Setting

1. Where this work is done– Athletic trainers work in universities, high schools, gyms, or are self

employed. They typically work in gyms or outdoors at playing fields, and have some office work to maintain records. Many have offices or work areas are well lit and equipped with work out machines and other equipment needed to train athletes.

2. Description of work setting– Fun and exciting – A chill and calm in the office– Always has a busy schedule

Salary

• Salary range 10th – median – 90th

Advancements

1. High school 2. Hospital3. Private4. College5. Professional

Employment Outlook

National = 30% increase in employment

Geographic MobilityAthletic trainer can go anywhere around the

world. If a team goes around the world to play the athletic trainer comes with them.

Professional Organizations

• NATA - National Athletic Trainers' Association• CATS - College Athletic Trainers' Society• Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association• NATA District 2 - Delaware, New Jersey, New York,

Pennsylvania• NATAPAC- The National Athletic Trainers’ Association

Political Action Committee• PATS - Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society• WFATT - World Federation of Athletic Training and

Therapy

Pros– This work entails helping people prevent as well as treat sports

injuries.– This is a great job for those who have interests in health, fitness and

sporting activities.– Job prospects are good for this field even though competition for

some positions will be strong.

Cons– This work can be stressful, as clients may be in pain. The pressure to win in

sports can also be an influence in this career.– Athletic trainers often are required to work long days, sometimes up to sixty

hours a week.– Many jobs in this career require at least a master’s degree in order to be

considered.

What I like about this career– I love the fact of helping people when they are hurt and

traveling around the world with the teams and helping them with anything they need

What I dislike about this career– There is nothing that I dislike about this job

except that you need many certificates and a master degree to become an athletic trainer

Software Developer

By Nathan Yi

Work Description: Primary Work Tasks

• Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.

• Develop and direct software system testing and validation procedures, programming, and documentation.

• Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design system and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.

• Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.

• Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcome and consequences of design.

• Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.

• Consult with customers about software system design and maintenance.

• Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.

• Coordinate software system installation and monitor equipment functioning to ensure specifications are met.

• Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, and security needs to determine hardware configuration.

• Determine system performance standards.• Train users to use new or modified equipment.• Specify power supply requirements and

configuration.• Recommend purchase of equipment to control

dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.

• Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan computer specifications and layouts, and peripheral equipment modifications.

Work Description: Typical Day

• Computer engineers work in well-lit computer labs where they do much of their work using computers; however, they also talk with users to determine their needs. Most work a 40-hour week.

Training

1. Education required– A bachelor’s degree is the formal education for

this occupation

2. Appropriate Majors– computer science – business management/administration– graphic design– marketing

Skills and Personality Traits

• Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

• Writing computer programs for various purposes.

• Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

• Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance,

relative to the goals of the system.• Considering the relative costs and benefits

of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

• Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Talking to others to convey information effectively.

• Using mathematics to solve problems.

Characteristics• Creative • Friendly • Fast learner• Focused• logical

Work Setting

1. Where this work is done– Computer software engineers normally work in well-lighted and comfortable

offices or computer laboratories in which computer equipment is located. Most software engineers work at least 40 hours a week; however, due to the project-oriented nature of the work, they also may have to work evenings or weekends to meet deadlines or solve unexpected technical problems

2. Description of work setting– boring – A chill and calm in the office– Always has a busy schedule– Stressful– Flexible on time

Salary

• Salary range 10th – median – 90th

Employment Outlook

National = 28% increase in employment

Geographic MobilityUsually will just stay in office

Professional Organizations

• American Society for Quality• International Software Certification Board• IEEE Computer Society• Institute of Certified E-Commerce Consultants

Pros– You make good money – The job is perfect for people that love computers – You can freelance

Cons– It is hard to change jobs – There is too much too learn in too little time – You may be required to work overtime

What I like about this career– I like that I can just chill in the office and just do what I

want

What I dislike about this career– I don’t like how much work I need to do and how

much I need to learn in little time