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6 C O O L S T U F F 2 0 2 2 • A Guide to Career Opportunities in Central Mass. cation courses. Instead, students should try out a course or two in their chosen megam- ajor cluster and try to get a sense of whether that's really the area for them. At the same time, he said, colleges increasingly encourage students to frontload work experience rather than waiting until their final semesters to do an internship or co-op. Students can shadow a professional in an area of interest or take an early internship to see if they really enjoy the work. Meeting people Whether or not they're in college, young people can simply start working in their field in a part-time, full-time or temporary job. Younis notes that, because of the cur- rent hot labor market, employers are more willing than in the past to hire people with little experience and support their develop- ment. "We are really depending on young peo- ple right now, depending on a young work- force to hit the ground running," he said. For example, Younis said, Reliant Medical Group, which has locations across Central Massachusetts, has been hiring entry-level medical assistants. The job allows people to experience the real world of medical care and potentially continue studying for a more advanced job in the field at the same time. Annual openings through 2030 Annual salary Fast food and counter workers 22,455 $31,170 Home health and personal care aides 18,032 $34,990 Retail salespersons 13,344 $35,810 General and operations managers 13,052 $141,840 Cashiers 12,059 $31,270 Waiters and waitresses 10,191 $37,230 Software developers and software quality assurance analysts 9,634 N/A Customer service representatives 8,006 $46,330 Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaner 7,945 $40,710 Cooks, restaurant 7,676 $36,980 Stockers and order fillers 7,548 $35,980 Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 6,490 $39,220 Office clerks, general 6,192 $44,740 Registered nurses 5,902 $96,630 Nursing assistants 5,204 $37,680 Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks 5,122 $53,340 Project management specialists and business operations specialties 4,894 N/A Landscaping and groundskeeping workers 4,756 $42,890 Management analysts 4,745 $116,870 Accountants and auditors 4,687 $92,310 First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers 4,216 $47,330 First-line supervisors of office and administrative support 4,163 $70,270 Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical 4,066 $49,820 Food preparation workers 3,985 $34,370 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers 3,955 $54,060 Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance 3,945 $83,690 Security guards 3,868 $39,480 First-line supervisors of retail sales workers 3,559 $51,950 Light truck or delivery services drivers 3,525 $46,270 Construction laborers 3,467 $59,290 Source: Mass. Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development MASS. JOBS WITH THE MOST PROJECTED OPENINGS P I C K I N G A C A R E E R