6 Reasons to Consider a Career in Emergency Management
Disasters and emergencies are inevitable. Thus, in every nation, the goal is to have measures in place to mitigate the risks and ensure there is preparedness to handle disasters when they strike. These are basically some of the major roles of professionals in emergency management and related fields. They work on four key principals; mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The specific roles will differ depending on the exact position. If you are in the process of choosing a career path, consider some of the following reasons why emergency management may be a good decision for you.
Fulfilling Career
If you are a person who takes delight in helping, then this may be a fulfilling career path for you. As stated above, some of the roles you can expect in this career path include working on plans to mitigate risks and preparing and implementing plans when disasters or emergencies strike. Take your time to analyse your interests and if you notice some interest in that area, then that may be a sign that emergency management is for you. At the end of the day, it won’t just be a paycheck, but you will also get a sense of fulfilment knowing that you played a role in disaster relief.
Training is Available
Another reason to consider this career path is that you can easily get the training you need. There are many institutions such as Wilfrid Laurier University that offer courses in Emergency management. Some of the courses are purely online and thus you can study as you work a job or run a business. Online courses also make it easy to learn when there is no college nearby that you can attend. You just have to do your homework well when signing up. When choosing an online course in emergency management, you should:
- Check the program curriculum
- Look for Accreditations
- Check if the institution has any memberships and affiliations
- Read online reviews by people who have taken the course – this will tell you whether it is a good place to study.
Variety of Job Opportunities
Since the scope is wide, there are a number of paths that you can follow within emergency management. Some of the job titles in this field include:
- Emergency preparedness specialist
- Emergency management coordinator
- Specialist in emergency management
- Emergency management planner
Jobs are also available in a number of sectors, including:
- Government
- Private organisations
- Non-profit organisations
- Colleges
Before you can work in any of the areas, and to increase your chances of succeeding in this very competitive field, consider getting the right education. This will grow your skills and knowledge and increase your chances of standing out among other applicants. When you are new to the field, getting some experience either through volunteering or internship can also help. Finally, don’t forget to look into certification and licensing requirements in your country. These too can make you a better candidate for a job.
It’s Exciting
Looking for an exciting career? This might be the right opportunity for you. A career in emergency management is exciting for two key reasons. One, consider the roles you will be playing as a manager or coordinator. Some of them include training staff members on emergency management; analysing situations and information; writing reports; making budgets; coordinating emergency teams; assessing hazards; coming up with new disaster management strategies, among many others. It’s a job industry where you will have so much going even in the absence of emergencies and disasters. Additionally, you will have to keep up with new development to stay relevant in the industry. Thus, continual learning is essential for long term success.
The second reason why this can be an exciting career is that most jobs not only entail office work but fieldwork too. You will be in the office one day, and in the field coordinating teams the next. This makes the career path more interesting, especially for people who don’t like spending the whole day in the office.
You Meet Lots of People
When you are working with different teams and meeting new faces every day, you benefit in two key ways. One, you get to learn a lot and see things from different angles. This can help you to grow and become a better performer in your job. Two, the people you work with and the new faces you meet every day can become part of your professional network. Networking is super important in work and in life.
In emergency management, you meet lots of people because:
- From time to time, you will have to consult and have meetings with other players in the emergency and disaster management fields.
- Organising emergency response teams also gives you the opportunity to meet so many people
- As you take your degree or short courses to grow your skills in emergency management, you can create good relationships with other people in your class as well as your professors. These relationships can grow your professional network and it could also give you the chance to meet a mentor for your career.
Salary
Finally, professionals in emergency management do earn a decent salary. However, don’t choose a job based solely on how much money you are going to make. Take time to learn what the job entails to see if you are up to the task. Otherwise, you will end up underperforming in your job, getting stressed and stressing your co-workers, and quitting after realising that it wasn’t your profession. Thus, check other benefits too when making your decision.
The best thing to do before making a decision is to check exactly what these professionals do and, if possible, talk to someone who is already working a job in this field. Hearing it from someone who is experienced can give you a better view of things. It is also a good way to learn some of the challenges you are likely to face as a professional in emergency management. Finally, remember that to succeed in this field, you need some soft skills such as good communication, critical thinking and an ability to relate with others well. As you sign up for your degree to learn the technical stuff, find a way to work on these skills as well to promote success in the workplace once you secure your dream job.