One true thing about careers in Emergency Management is that you most likely won’t find two jobs in the career field that are exactly alike. This is what makes the field so interesting and challenging to recent graduates pursuing a career in Emergency Management. The three biggest employers of Emergency Management specialists include state, local and federal government organizations, law enforcement and the military. There are also jobs found in the private sector in places like hospitals, colleges or universities and community organizations that are focused on relief efforts. The top 5 Emergency Management careers are:

Disaster Management Specialists

These highly trained specialists design policies and help to formulate emergency preparedness planning strategies. They also train others and help coordinate efforts with police, fire and hospitals. Jobs can be found as leaders in colleges, health care facilities and in government organizations. They are responsible for designing plans to reduce health risks and oversee emergency planning for short-term and long-term emergency responses to things like natural disasters, disease breakouts and terrorist threats and attacks.

College Professors and Teachers Specializing in Disaster Management

Professors not only teach students how to become experts in preparing and formulating disaster plans, they also conduct independent research at universities into the best responses to disasters. They are also tasked with teaching students how to effectively communicate disaster plans they’ve come up with and how to be effective, strong and calm leaders in times of crisis.

Researcher at Public Policy Centers

These specialists conduct research and help formulate effective response plans on regional, state or local levels to disasters such as natural disasters, diseases like Zika transmitted by mosquito infestations and other diseases, and threats from outside of specific areas from global terrorist organizations. They also help determine the effectiveness of plans that are already in place, help formulate new plans as situations demand, and must have skills in areas like situational awareness and effective organization.

Consultants Specializing in Hazard Mitigation

These experts often work in the private sector helping businesses stay safer in their daily operations. This includes things like working with companies that deal with hazardous chemicals, especially in places that experience natural hazards like earthquakes, and teaching them good ways to handle these obstacles and challenges safely and effectively. Plans that those in Hazard Mitigation come up with often help prevent or lessen impacts that can happen from disasters. They advise company management and help them to set up departments within their companies for handling emergency management challenges.

Emergency Management Program Analysts

Analysts provide thoughtful examination of emergency management programs that are already in place and recommend changes and updates to programs. They analyze programs for their adherence to government regulations, and determine the efficiency and effectiveness of programs. Program Analysts can work either in private companies or for government agencies. They must be excellent communicators and be able to make recommendations and communicate ideas for changes to programs. They must also have analytical thinking skills, be good listeners and have good skills in attention to detail.

Resource: Top 10 Doctorate Degrees in Emergency Management Online 2016-2017

Graduates who choose careers in Emergency Management must be skilled communicators, be able to manage stress and keep calm in challenging situations. They must also be skilled at collaborating with complex government and other bureaucracies, and know how to communicate situations to the public to help assuage and avoid panic. The job probably will not be continually stressful, since most work is normally done in office environments. In the times when it is stressful, those who work in Emergency Management must know how to successfully handle challenges.