Innately money-hungry Americans stuck in a recession can only hope for one thing: jobs, jobs, jobs. With so many companies cutting back or closing down, we can’t help but wonder what the future of the job market will be.

Fortunately, if you’re in the healthcare field, customer service or the
food industry, things are looking “up”. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these are projected to be the largest growing jobs from 2008-2018: Registered nurses are estimated to spike 22.2 %. Home health aides will increase by 50%. Customer Service representatives—17.7% and food preparations and service—14.6%. Between 2008 and 2018, personal and home care aides will increase 46%.

But maybe you don’t fit into any of these categories, have any of these expertise, or plan on learning these trades.

Maybe the time to chose your path is behind you. You’ve got a liberal arts degree, or some business degree...anything at all. Think two words: Social Media.

Businesses of all kinds, big and small, are surfacing in social mediums. Websites, such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wordpress, and LinkedIn are helping businesses become multi-platform and building their online presence. That’s where you come in.

“It works in all industries and verticals,” Steve Goldner, or Social Steve says. Goldner is the founder, principal, and social media visionary at Opt-In.

It’s obvious why businesses today are turning to these sites. Tweet about the latest product, blog about the inspiration for it, post insider videos, invite anyone to become a fan—hook your consumers on all levels.

According to Twitter, users can quickly share information and get feedback. It is also a useful tool for market research.

LinkedIn, a site where professionals post a profile and connect to other professionals, gives companies the opportunity to connect with potential clients.

These are just two of the many examples. Each site has a slightly different function that businesses thrive from.

So you want the job?

It seems like all you need is an interest in technology and social media and an understanding of HTML. According to an article on MediaBistro.com, author Chris Nerney describes important attributes of a social media manager. He or she must be a people person, be curious, both intellectually and emotionally, be thoughtful, work strategically, and be a team player within the company.

Tammy Tibbetts of Hearst Digital Media explains the role as a “jack-of-all-trades,” She emphasizes an understanding of social media, blogging, video production, and scripting.

Although at Hearst, the social media falls into the laps of the current employees, other companies are hiring specifically for this position. In a job listing for a Yahoo Social Media Editor, the post read, “The editor is expected to flag trends and be aware of new social media sites on the horizon. Relationships in the social media community are a plus.”

Websites like USAintern.com and Ed2010.com, list internships in social media within a variety of fields across the country. Public relations firms, non-profit organizations, agricultural or software companies, and print and online magazine—just to name a few—have recently sought social media interns.

Telecommute?

Even though social media updating can be done from anywhere, both Tibbetts and Goldner agree that these tasks are best carried out in the office setting. “There is a lot of value having face-to-face interaction with staff,” Tibbetts says.

Goldner says social media has to work in conjunction with other business functions and departments.

“Conversations are happening within the industries of every business,” Goldner says, “Isn’t it better to ‘influence’ the conversation than to just leave it to luck?”