Image by WilliamsCreativity at Pixabay   OVERVIEW Database administrators refer to programming professionals who manage and maintain databases and servers. The advancement in computer hardware, back-end programming languages, and the rising demand for organized data-keeping made this job a trending career.   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: WHAT DO THEY DO? Plan data capacity consumption Design tables and databases Implement data backup and recovery  Identify user needs to administer and make databases Collaborate with data analysts who will need databases Create and manage dashboards, database reports, and visualizations. Tune-up database systems   WORKPLACE - WHERE DO THEY WORK? DBAs work in companies that maintain databases and servers. They do work in the following industries and in any settings or situations where a database is needed. Airline catering companies that use Systems Applications and Products SAP and database programs. Banks, Compulsory Social Security System Construction Data Centers Electricity Financial Intermediation Gas and Water Supply Hospitals that maintain patient and medical record programs Hotels and Restaurants insurance companies, Internet service providers, Manufacturing Public Administration Real Estate Storage and Communication Transport   SKILLS NEEDED Soft skills Hard skills   Communication (writing and oral) Problem-solving Meticulous or eye-to-detail Teamwork Time management     Back-end programming languages - SQL, PHP, R, PHP, Python and C# Some of these Relational database programs - MySQL, Microsoft Database, Maria DB, and Oracle Operating Systems - Linux, UNIX, Windows, zOS. Familiarity with SSAS, SSIS, and SSRS Experience with cloud services such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.     EDUCATION AND TRAINING Most or some DBAs are graduates of computer science and engineering. However, other people with no programming educational background can work up to DBA careers by changing careers or studying.   Full-time study route Taking a degree or course in the following: Computer science  Computer engineering Information science Management information system   Remote and self-study Certifications in one to two or more of these competencies: Structured Query Language Statistics (more for data science jobs) Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) - Specialisation in either of these popular RDBMS or database management systems: Oracle DB MySQL Microsoft SQL Server  PostgreSQL MongoDB Cassandra database   PAYSCALE DBAs are humbly paid compared to other IT roles. Their pay scale depends on certification, experience, location, company size, and skills. Here’s a resource of the average DBA salary in the Philippines. Note: The data presented above is subject to change in the job market and time.   JOB MARKET OUTLOOK The increase in the number of industries and companies that use computers will give more opportunities to database professionals. Being a DBA isn’t easy because it requires concentration, dedication, and planning. For example, the healthcare system will boom, and a database will be needed to manage patient, doctor, and medical data. Soon, hospitals and clinics will need DBA or computer professionals who can use SAP or any healthcare management programs.   RISK OF AUTOMATION Like any other occupation, it’s hard to predict that robots will replace such a job. According to willrobotstakemyjob.com, DBAs have a moderate automation risk of 56%. AI could run some repetitive tasks of DBAs, but not all of them can be run by AI. Human oversight and AI will shape the work environment of DBAs in the future.   PROSPECTS FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT DBAs may progress into leadership or specialist positions. Those who mastered a sure database may move to manage big data.   RISKS While DBAs may not face the same risks compared to firefighters and police, these database professionals may face the following health risks: Carpal tunnel syndrome Too much screen exposure can lead to headaches and eye ailments such as eye strain. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to belly fat increase and risk of blood sugar increase in individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure. Neck strain Back problems Joint pains  

Photo by Marco Verch from CCNULL License: CC-BY 2.0   Accountants ensure the financial integrity and stability of businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. From the bustling streets of Manila to the serene shores of Cebu, these individuals play a vital role in shaping the country's economic landscape.   OTHER RELATED NAMES OR ROLES Accountants hold different specialisations and titles in various areas of the financial domain. Some of the related names and roles are: Auditor Bookkeeper Certified Public Accountant Controller Forensic Accountant Management Accountant Tax Accountant   PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Preparing and analyzing financial statements Ensuring compliance with national and tax laws. Providing strategic financial advice to decision-makers and stakeholders   POSSIBLE EMPLOYERS AND INDUSTRIES Accountants can be employed in different industries as all businesses need to keep records of business transactions. Small to medium enterprises Multinational corporations Hospitals Government agencies (especially tax collection and audit) Universities and colleges   INVESTMENTS - EDUCATION AND TRAINING Individuals must complete a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from a school accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Aspiring CPAs must pass a rigorous PRC exam and meet specific experience qualifications.   SKILLS NEEDED (Soft/Hard) Hard: A strong foundation in arithmetic, some math, accounting software, and data analysis software. Soft: Ability to work under pressure, problem-solving, and time management. While most accountants work alone and perform duties without rigorous socialization, they will benefit from teamwork skills and collaboration.   RELATED TRADE ORGANIZATIONS After graduation and during the practice of their professions, accountants can join any or one of these organizations. These groups can provide education, networking opportunities, and professional development. Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP) - Promotes professional standards and ethical practice. Association of Government Accountants in the Philippines - Promotes professional excellence among financial management practitioners and accountants. Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) - A prestigious association of over 700 C-level executives from top companies, academic institutions, and startups. Institute of Internal Auditors Philippines (IIA-P) - Focuses on internal auditing or accountants involved in auditing practices. It also provides resources and community support. Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) - A PRC-accredited integrated professional organization (AIPO). PICPA promotes the accounting profession, provides members with professional development resources, and upholds ethical standards. Philippine Association of Management Accountants (PAMA) - Promotes management accounting and provides members with resources.   WORKING ENVIRONMENT Accountants usually work in office settings, large organizations, or private practices. They may spend long hours at desks preparing reports and financial records, especially during peak seasons such as annual audits and tax season.   STRESS LEVEL Stress level varies depending on workload, company position, and time. Stress can be high during tight deadlines, although some accountants can find the intellectual challenge and sense of career purpose rewarding, which can mitigate stress.   SALARY AND BENEFITS  Accountant’s salaries vary depending on experience, location, industry, and company size.  Data source: Salaryexpert.com and ERI’s Assessor Series   PROS AND CONS Pros Ability to work in various industries Office environment Opportunities for career advancement It requires a lower investment in education compared to medical doctors and pilots.   Cons The need to stay for long working hours The need to stay updated about changing laws and regulations Potential for high-stress levels during peak seasons A sedentary lifestyle that can impact health.   RISKS OF BEING AUTOMATED OR REPLACED BY ROBOTS The emergence of AI chatbots and AI for accounting raises doubts about the future of an accounting career. Some websites that measure occupations place accounting at a 64% chance of being automated, which is high risk. AI will remain a tool for analyzing financial records, requiring human oversight. In addition, people are likely reluctant to entrust their financial transactions to automated systems alone, which lowers the possibility of AI completely replacing accountants. Complete automation is unlikely until an AI accounting robot perfects accounting tasks.  Accountants can enhance their marketability by upskilling on new AI tools and software.   CAREER PATH AND OUTLOOK Accounting roles comprise diverse career paths. Some will progress from entry-level positions to senior roles such as controller, finance manager, or chief financial officer. Others may start their consulting firms or join accounting firms or private practice. Some individuals may study for a law degree, pass bar exams, and become CPA lawyers. Other career pathways for other roles in the corporate environment include: Teachers Risk management specialist Advisors

  Photo by Rural Health Professions from Flickr When you visit a local pharmacist, that store is likely managed by a pharmacist and an assistant. These professionals are experts in dispensing and prescribing medicines. The profession existed thousands of years ago when people sought and used medicines derived from herbs and minerals. The advancement in biology, understanding of human anatomy, chemistry, manufacturing process, and computer technology made pharmacy - a profession we know today.    OTHER RELATED/SIMILAR ROLES  Chief Pharmacist Clinical researcher Druggist Food and Drug Regulation Officer Military pharmacist Pharmaceutist Pharmacist in Charge Pharmacologist Pharmacy aide Pharmacy Assistant Pharmacy instructor Radiopharmacist Retail Pharmacist Staff Pharmacist   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Dispense medicines as prescribed by a medical doctor through a medical prescription. Organise medicines according to general sales (GS), pharmacy, prescription-only, and controlled drugs. Perform administrative tasks Ensure a safe and clean workplace Adhere to governing laws that cover pharmacy practice Communicate with prescribing physicians Counsel patients Educate other health professionals Assess the identity, purity, and strength of medications Order and buy pharmacy drugs, medical supplies, and pharmaceutical supplies. Maintain stocks  Check expiration dates Maintain a database of medicines Provide other medical services such as checking blood pressure or temperature measurements and administering injections.   WORKPLACE - WHERE DO THEY WORK? Clinics Hospitals Pharmacy chains Pharmaceutical companies Supermarket pharmacies Food and drug regulatory body (in the Philippines, it’s the Food and Drug Administration). Forensic laboratories Consultancy Clinical research labs Pharmacy instructor   SKILLS NEEDED Soft skills Hard skills Teamwork Oral and written communication Negotiation Customer service Attention to detail Time management Organisation   Biochemistry Pharmacy Finance Valid license Knowledge of software used in pharmacy information systems   EDUCATION AND TRAINING To be a legit pharmacist, you must finish a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (Philippines) degree. Before graduation, your school will require you to undergo job training or internship in a hospital or pharmacy. From there, you’ll be consulting with patients, taking blood pressure, and instructing them on the correct way of taking medicines.  After graduation, if you want to be a licensed pharmacist, you must pass the Pharmacist Licensure Examination conducted by the Board of Pharmacy and supervised by the Philippines Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). You can also take post-graduate education, such as the Doctor of Pharmacy. Edukasyon.ph lists the 10 best Pharmacy programs in the Philippines.   PAYSCALE Although there’s a minimum wage set for all labour sectors, salary depends on the following: Location (Metro Manila versus Provinces) Seniority level Company size Position Licensure status Skills set Experience   According to payscale.com, the average yearly salary of a registered pharmacist (RPh) is 206 394 PHP, which is 87.92 PHP per hour or 19 727 per month.    Note: The data for this Salary range is subject to change on the source website. Salary changes depending on the economy, time, and location.   JOB MARKET OUTLOOK There will always be a need for pharmacists as people need medicines to solve their medical problems. As time passes, the aging population will increase the need for pharmacy services in geriatric centres, clinics, and hospitals.   PROSPECTS FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT You can advance from your current pharmacist job in a drug store to a pharmacy manager or food in drug regulation officer in the government. Also, you can take post-graduate studies to    RISKS OF BEING AUTOMATED OR REPLACED BY ROBOTS According to willrobotstakemyjob.com and replacedbyrobots.info, there’s a 1.2% chance that AI and robots could replace pharmacists. Probably, in upcoming decades, when technology advances, repetitive and lower-level tasks could be automated and delegated to machines. Humans will still hold the oversight role in the pharmacy industry. On top of that, machines have no emotions, and thus, they can’t completely replace humans.   PROS AND CONS Pros More job opportunities - People often get sick and need medicines. Pharmacies are everywhere. You can have an option to work from home in telepharmacy You can be self-employed - set up your drugstore Job outlook is improving - more people born in the 20th century will get old in the middle of the 21st century. Cons You could face some competition - Many students are taking pharmacy degrees You may work the night shift at hospitals Your work could be repetitive You could be underemployed and underpaid    

Photo of Medical record by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free Often when medical jobs are discussed, and doctors, nurses, med techs, and radiologists are noticed. Most or some don’t know that there’s a medical records officer profession that is essential for efficient healthcare services. If you’re thinking about this career without spending a huge amount of money on a medical career, you can consider this job. OTHER NAMES FOR THIS ROLE Medical records clerk Medical records administrator Medical records staff Patient registrar Medical Secretary Health records officer Medical records analyst   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Gather patient demographic and personal info. Safeguard data from theft and nature’s  Perform clerical duties such as answering calls, and recording patient admission and discharge information. Maintain the accuracy and quality of records by following hospital standards. Provide medical records to appropriate offices or departments and medical staff.    WORKPLACE — WHERE DO THEY WORK? Hospitals Clinics Specialised medical research facilities   EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS In the Philippines, you can train as one by completing a certificate course in health information management. Some hospitals require candidates with a course in a medical background such as pharmacy, biology, nursing, and medical technology. In addition, you could be required to know some health records software used as a standard in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.   PAYSCALE According to Salaryexpert.com, the average salary for this job is 798,000 per year. Here’s a graphical representation: Data source: SalaryExporer Note: This data is subject to change depending on time and the job market. Last update: November 21, 2024   JOB MARKET OUTLOOK Medical records officers will continue to see a demand in the near future due to increased healthcare. People will become seniors and need healthcare.   PROSPECTS FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT Through experience and training, you could climb the career ladder and become a medical records manager.   RISKS OF BEING AUTOMATED OR REPLACED BY ROBOTS According to willrobotstakemyjob.com, the chances of automation for this job are 92%. This could be due to advances in robotics technology, software, and artificial intelligence. However, this result should not be taken as an exact measure to justify not taking the career of medical records officer. Even though there’s a risk of automation, human oversight is needed, and robots won’t replace humans.   PROS AND CONS PROS Contribute to the healthcare system. Gain knowledge in medical science and health software Work in an office environment far from the risk of infections and biohazard specimens. You may choose a career path to other medical professions, such as    CONS The work can be sedentary, and you can gain more weight. You may work long shifts depending on the number of patients.

Photo credited to Elevate from Pexels   Warehousemen receive, store, keep, retrieve, and send items. They are the stewards of the warehouse that stores different goods — inedible and edible items.   OTHER RELATED NAMES Warehouse worker,  Storekeeper,  warehouse keeper,  warehouse manager,  warehouse stock clerk,  warehouse supervisor,  Property custodian,  Yard Clerk, Parts person,  Divisional Storekeeper,  Freight Associate,  Inventory Manager   PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Receive, sort, and store items in the warehouse; Count inventory (in and out) and record the data. Enter data of items to logistics software. Label merchandise. Open crates and containers. Organise pallets. Prepare and ship orders. Receive delivery vans or trucks. Sort merchandise according to unique number, shape, size, and type. Store merchandise using a forklift. Use forklifts to move merchandise. Verify invoices and ensure their information is correct such as consignee, sender, number of items, expiration, and tracking number.  Confer with clients and suppliers about the items’ delivery and retrieval; Arrange transportation Coordinate with deliveries Retrieve items required by the clients; Fill up paperwork to inform customers regarding the deliveries of their items. Prepare items for shipment. Maintain warehouse cleanliness; Prevent infestations from pests such as rats and roaches; Report malfunctioning devices and machines; Check if items need special storage facilities such as extra packing and refrigeration. Follow and maintain safety procedures and policies; Use gloves, goggles, and helmets Use forklift safely. Place safety signage in designated areas   POSSIBLE EMPLOYERS AND INDUSTRIES Industries and companies that purchase or deliver goods or require storing items in large numbers.  Airlines Electronics and battery manufacturers E-commerce companies Food and beverage companies that own warehouse Malls Vaccine manufacturers Wheel manufacturers   OTHER RELATED ROLES Distribution Center Manager Forklift Operator Inventory Control Manager Warehouse Associate Warehouse Clerk Warehouse Manager Warehouse packer   INVESTMENTS Formal route Bachelor’s degree in warehouse management Supply chain management course Certificate in logistics Certificate in warehousing operations   Informal or hybrid route You could be a warehouseman by taking an informal route. Even if you didn’t have a supply chain degree, you could work your way up the logistics ladder. You can start as a warehouse apprentice and get promoted once you learn the fundamentals and gain experience.   SKILLS NEEDED Soft skills Hard skills Communication (oral and writing) Punctuality Self-motivation Teamwork Willingness to learn   Forklift driving and license Picking and packing RF Scanning Knowledge of safety rules Computer literacy —  experience and skills in logistics software (SAP) High levels of integrity, honesty, and reliability. Physical strength for handling heavy items.   WORKING ENVIRONMENT Your 24/7 life will likely be in the warehouse or within its premises. The warehouse size depends on the goods or products, such as pallets of crockeries, medicines, computers, or anything that could be sold online or through stores.  If you know some logistics software, you could be assigned to a warehouse computer room where you manage the inbound and outbound flow of goods. An entry-level warehouseman will spend time using a manual forklift to retrieve or store pallets. You can use a forklift to get merchandise with a driving license.    STRESS LEVEL The stress levels depend on the volume of deliveries, demands, and the warehouse location. Stress can arise from handling heavy items and repetitive retrieval and storage of items. In a car parts warehouse, you could pull out a 30 kg to 53 kg car battery and bring such human-weight items into the loading ramp and truck. You’ve to worry about carefully handling products under your care because, with one mistake, you could bump into heaps of bottles or mistakenly drive the forklift in the opposite direction. SALARY AND BENEFITS  Salary depends on the company size, experience, location position, and skill set. According to Salaryexpert.com, the warehouse salary in the Philippines is 184,762 yearly on average.  Data source: Salaryexpert.com Note: The data above may change depending on time and job market conditions. Depending on the company size, location, and position, benefits may include: Free accommodation or stay-in Free transportation Free meals Government-mandated benefits Vacations and leaves Health cards Mobile Allowance   PROS AND CONS Pros Stable industry — Businesses need a warehouse to distribute goods — from healthcare to automotive. Fitness — You spend your day walking around the warehouse, which means you can stay fit compared to sedentary jobs.   Cons It can be physically exhausting — you could work in a warehouse for truck or car batteries that weigh more than 30 kg. Repetitive —  If you do the same menial tasks daily, you could get bored, such as picking and loading, and you’ll face boredom and frustration.    CAREER PATH Depending on your education, company, skills, and performance, you can work your way up the career pyramid or ladder.     ROBOT AND AI REPLACEMENT CHECKER Because of advancements in Artificial intelligence and robots, some warehousing roles could be replaced by machines. Robots may handle tasks that are repetitive or dangerous. For example, Amazon USA has already employed robots in their warehouses. Machines may not overtake our jobs since oversight will always go for humans, and AI or robots will support human workers.  If you want to check whether robots could replace warehousemen, check this site.   JOB OUTLOOK This occupation will continue to grow due to the increase in online shopping and the use of shopping platforms. Logistics is an essential part of business and will remain an essential business force today and in the near future.