For many interested in disaster relief, the question in the back of their mind is always this: is emergency management an exciting field to work in? The answer isn’t as simple as a yes or a no; however, it’s safe to say that emergency management is more exciting and demanding than other careers. Here are some ways that this profession is an exciting career to seriously consider.
Career Paths are Various and Plentiful
Emergency management is a relatively new carer in America; only a dozen or so colleges and universities offer a degree in emergency management. But the career paths within emergency management vary from working within local and national governments and agencies to being a part of emergency security firms and non-governmental organizations that help with disaster relief worldwide. There are so many choices for an emergency manager that any region a person would like to work in has a job waiting for them. This makes emergency management an exciting and growing field to work in, one that continues to evolve with every passing year.
High Stress Levels
Emergency management is an exciting field to work in, but it can also be very stressful during times of disaster. Emergency managers are required to be on the ground, helping with evacuations, investigations, opening public shelters, distributing food and water, and more. It can mean a lot of long hours and stressful situations, such as dealing with government officials, giving press briefings, and relocating citizens. In this exciting field, the stress comes with the job, but many emergency managers accept it because they understand that their job is indispensable during emergencies.
Preparation and Planning for Execution
Emergency management is an exciting field to work in, but like other professions, it has its calm moments. These usually happen during logistics planning, budgeting, and other office projects that are required as part of the overall effort of emergency managers to keep life running smoothly during a disaster. Since emergencies don’t happen all the time, many emergency managers spend their time training their staff for plausible scenarios, working on building resource caches, and more; it’s not the most exciting part of the job, but comes in handy to be prepared when an emergency unfolds.
Specialists On Call During Emergencies
Emergency management is an on-call career that masks itself as a normal, 40-hours a week job. While managers often spend time in the office, compiling reports and doing budgets, it shows itself as an exciting and demanding career when a disaster hits, like a plane crash, a flood, or a forest fire. Emergencies are possible at any time anywhere, so managers are kept on-call when an emergency in their area arises. This means a lot of sleepless nights, working with people on the ground, and making sure that as many people are safe as possible.
Training and Continuing Education is Consistent
For those who are still not sure that emergency management is an exciting field to work in, consider this: the job is certainly never boring. Between office work and being in the field, emergency management is an ever-evolving profession, especially since training is not yet regimented. Emergency personnel often go through training a few times a year and online continuing education is becoming more common, ensuring that each day brings new and interesting challenges.
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