Just five courses short of completing a Nursing program, Orayne Bradshaw started thinking about changing his career path when an advisor at Broward College gave him a tip about a hot industry that offered plenty of job opportunities at a high starting salary. After conducting his own research, Orayne was sold.

Making the move from nursing to study logistics has paid off. Orayne had a job waiting for him as an area manager with Amazon once he completed the Supply Chain Management program at Broward College. For the past 18 months, he has directed two teams of 50 employees at an Amazon warehouse in Sunrise, Fla.

“They call me the floor general,” said Orayne, who graduated from Broward College in April 2020 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management. “Everything comes through me. We use a lot of Java Management to problem solve why packages don’t get to customers. We work quickly. We’re sorting and dispatching 40,000 packages in two hours.”

Orayne said earning a salary of $50,000 a year plus bonuses to start was appealing, but the experience gained at a world-renown company like Amazon will be invaluable in the long run. He credits a hybrid education at Broward College.

“Learning to be disciplined, to learn things on my own,” said the 32-year-old Coral Springs resident who recently got engaged to be married. “That’s the Amazon culture—to be responsible for personal development. They insist on high standards, and I’m driven to deliver results.”

Other Hot Jobs

It should come as no surprise that Amazon recruited Orayne before he had graduated. According to Emsi, a labor market data company, students who choose to pursue careers in supply chain management, the health sciences, information technology, and business can expect to find well-paying in-demand positions now and job security in the future. Among the hottest jobs in South Florida in each of these fields include:

Financial Manager – Business--Perform data analysis and advise senior managers on profit-maximizing ideas to support the financial health of an organization. Financial managers create financial reports, direct investment activities and develop plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization. The median wage is $58.69 per hour, with a bachelor’s degree typically required for an entry-level position.  Career paths begin at Broward College, pursuing an Associate of Science in Business Administration.

Purchasing Manager – Supply Chain Management--Also known as a buying manager or a purchasing director, the purchasing manager is responsible for procuring products and services for use or resale by their organization. The median wage is $48.44 per hour, with a bachelor’s degree typically required for an entry-level position. Career paths begin at Broward College, pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management.

Medical/Health Services Managers – Health Sciences--Also called health care executives or health care administrators. They plan and direct an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. The median wage is $45.41 per hour, with a bachelor’s degree typically required for an entry-level position. Career paths begin at Broward College, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Information Security Analyst – Information Technology -- Install software, such as firewalls to protect an organization's computer networks and systems from cyberattacks. The median wage is $41.72 per hour, with a bachelor’s degree typically required for an entry-level position. Career paths begin at Broward College, pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology.

Upon earning an associate degree or other certification at Broward College, students can make a seamless transition to any of these bachelor’s degree programs and life-changing careers. In the meantime, students who complete Broward College associate degrees and certification programs can begin to earn as much as $40,000 or more in other hot jobs, such as registered nurses, diagnostic medical sonographers, information security analysts, software developers, supply chain management ship engineers, airline pilots, database administrators, physical therapy assistants, event planners, dental hygienists and dental assistants.

Broward College offers courses for students who require a flexible schedule, allowing them to work full-time or part-time and still obtain an education that leads to one of the many available hot jobs. Equally important is a Career Insight tool available to students who can identify academic programs that align with their goals and skills in a matter of minutes.

“We also have career coaches who will sit down with students and have an in-depth conversation to learn what motivates them, type of personality they have and some of their skills to determine the career options best-suited for them,” said Fortin Jean-Pierre, district director of Career Services at Broward College. “Sometimes the solution aligns with the career they have wanted, and other times they are surprised at some of the options.”

Jean-Pierre said his team provides resume and interviewing services to assist students in their career pursuit and keeps them abreast of current labor market information, including job boards that feature available internships and apprenticeships.

“We want our students to be occupationally curious,” he said. “If they have that curiosity, we will provide the answers to their questions.”

Do you need help choosing a major or exploring career pathways? Broward College Career Services can get you started toward short-term certifications and degree programs that lead to high-earning careers. Click here to learn how.