Most people who visit Hawaii on vacation never want to leave…but have you considered actually making this dream of living in paradise in a reality? It might be easier to think – if you can line up a job. It’s not cheap to live in Hawaii, so let’s take a look at what you need to know about getting a cool job in this state.

• Maritime Jobs

The maritime industry is expected to continue growing in Hawaii through at least 2018, meaning that it’s easy to get a job in this state if you have education or experience in this area. Finding a maritime job is possible in all areas of this state, especially as a ship engineer. In fact, rates in this specific position are expected to triple in the next few years! In addition, there will be tons of other positions opening for naval architects, marine architects, ship crew members, and even motorboat operators.

• Travel Nursing Jobs

As a travel nurse, you’ll move from island to island, going where you’re needed most to fill positions temporarily while health care facilities and related companies find permanent employees. Working as a travel nurse isn’t easy – you’ll have to pick up your life every four to 12 weeks in most cases – but you’ll be easily able to find a job in paradise in this industry.

• Jobs in the Tourism Industry

Of course, you can also find tons of tourism jobs in the Hawaii, since lots of visitors like to explore paradise too! Consider working as a white water rafting guide or getting a diving job in Hawaii. You can also work as a tour guide, get a hotel job, or take a restaurant position. There are tourism jobs available for both unskilled workers and college graduates, so no matter what you education level, you can find positions in this industry in Hawaii.

Career website CareerCast.com recently announced their picks for best and worst jobs for 2011 – and some of these career paths may surprise you. Over 200 professions were evaluated and rated based on five different criteria: pay, outlook, work environment, stress, and physical demands.

Topping the list for best jobs of 2011 were:

1. Software Engineer
2. Mathematician
3. Actuary Jobs
4. Statistician
5. Computer Systems Analyst

As you can see, these top jobs all have one thing in common – workers are skilled in math! This hearkens back to the report I recently posted from CBS Moneywatch on the Top Salaries by College Degree, where the winners were all in the math and science fields.  If you’re looking for a career outside of these fields, some other high-rating options include working as a historian (ranked #8 on the CareerCast.com list), working as a paralegal assistant (ranked #13), and working as a philosopher (ranked #16).

Similarly, CareerCast.com ranked the worst jobs, using the same metrics. The jobs at the bottom of the list are often dangerous and stressful, as well as low-paying. According to their list, the worst jobs for 2011 are:

1. Roustabout
2. Iron Workers
3. Lumberjack Jobs
4. Roofer
5. Taxi Driver Jobs
6. EMT
7. Welder
8. Painter
9. Meter Reader
10. Construction Worker

Take that information with a grain of salt, though – “best” and “worst” is subjective! If you love working as a taxi driver, for example, you might be happy to put up with low pay rates and stressful fares in exchange for the happiness it brings you in other areas. The same is true of the jobs that top their list of the best for 2011. If you hate working with numbers, becoming a statistician probably isn’t going to make you happy, even if you’re working in a secure field with little stress and a fairly high salary.

In short, it’s about finding what’s right for you – and keep in mind that there are a lot of jobs that weren’t ranked as part of this studying. Finding a unique job like becoming a bush pilot or working as a forensic artist might be the best choice for you. Check out JobMonkey’s database of guides to learn more about jobs that were included on CareerCast’s list, as well as jobs that you may not have even realized existed.

Ah, summer camp. From roasting smores and braiding friendship bracelets to kayaking, swimming and hiking, summer camp is a wonderful place to have the time of your life while making lifelong friends.

And I’m not talking about attending summer camp as a camp; you can still enjoy this special summer experience — in fact, you might even enjoy it more! — as an adult by being a summer camp staffer.

The position and rate of pay at a summer camp job is generally determined your by your age and experience, but even those of you without any camping background should be able to land at least an entry level position with many sleep-away or day camps. And while it may seem way too early to be thinking about what you are going to do this summer — especially for those of you on the East Coast, who are digging out from under a meeeeellion feet of snow! — the reality is that February and March are prime hiring season for summer camps.

Today I want to make your summer camp job search a little bit easier by posting three great summer camp job openings from the JobMonkey Job Center. If you’re a JobMonkey blog newbie, this is known is Hot Jobs, and I do this every week! Each Hot Jobs post has a different employment focus, but they all bring you hot job openings that you don’t want to miss. So without further adieu:

1. Outdoor Adventure Staff – 2010 Season, Camp Ridgecrest, Ridgecrest, NC

Camp Ridgecrest is seeking to hire a camp director and two assistants for its boys’ camp Outdoor Adventure Program, as well as an OAP director for the girls’ camp. Job responsibilities include instruction and facilitation of mountain biking, rock climbing, and low ropes course initiatives. Past experience is a must, as are proper safety certifications. To apply for this position, apply directly through the company’s website at Camp Ridgecrest Employment Opportunities .

2. COUNSELORS – 2010 Season , Camp War Eagle, Rogers, AZ

Camp War Eagle is a Christian summer camp seeking counselors for the 2010 season. The ideal candidate must love kids, be willing to have fun, be eager to work long, hard days, have a skill related to an activity taught at Camp War Eagle, and be positive Christian role models. Counselors are directly responsible for 10-12 campers per cabin (with one  or two other co-counselors), plus coaching a team competition and supervising camp-wide free time activities and special events. Counselors work 24-7, with one day off per two-week session.

3. iD Gaming Academy Instructors, iD Tech Camps, Various Locations

Now here’s a different kind of summer camp: A tech camp, where campers learn to program C++ and other not-so-traditional summer camp activities. Academy Instructor are iD Gaming’s version of counselors, and in additional to their specific duties, instructors are responsible for fostering a fun and safe environment while helping kids learn new technology and to think creatively. Instructors must prepare lessons to teach a class of 8-10 students each day, in addition to general camp duties such as lunchtime supervision and socializing with campers and parents. The ideal candidate will have completed at least two years of college, be CPR-certified, and have a background working with teenagers; camp experience is preferred. Technical skills are essential as well, dependent on the area of instruction. At the Game Academy, instructors must demonstrate skill in Autodesk Maya, or C++. Game title experience is also highly desirable.

Good luck with your job search today. If you want to learn more about working at summer camps, please visit JobMonkey’s summer camp employment section.

Welcome to the Wednesday hot jobs post! If you are new to the JobMonkey, this is where I tell you about three of the hottest leads for jobs over at our JobMonkey Job Center.

Remember earlier this week, when I shared a list of 13 jobs for the future? These high-paid, high-status, white collar jobs are all top-ranked by Kiplinger.com for the upcoming decade. Well today, I’m focusing on three jobs that made that Kiplinger list — just to give you an idea of how you can put that list to work in your own life.

1. Patient Services Specialist Job , Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA

Are you a Grey’s Anatomy fan? Get in on the Seattle culture by working as a Patient Services Specialist at Harborview Medical Center. The job duties include clerical and support activities for patient care as delegated by and in collaboration with the Nurse Manager. Additionally, the specialist serves as a role model and provides guidance in hiring and evaluation of other staff  members. The ideal candidate will be a high school graduate with at least one year of experience in a health care setting or two years of general office experience.

2. Associate Veterinarians, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Banfield, Utah

The Pet Hospital in Banfield, UT is looking for experienced veterinarians and new graduates to expand its thriving practice. If you are a new graduate, the Pet Hospital is a great place to work: It provides a structured, 14-week mentorship program and access to a large pool of colleagues to consult with, including board certified specialists.

3. IT Project Manager Job, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Arlington, VA

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking an IT Project Manager to design and develop multiple, complex Concorde applications and services. The ideal candidate has the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, an in-depth knowledge of computer hardware/software technologies, and familiarity of database administration principles. Additionally, candidates must have completed two years of progressively higher level graduate education or a master’s degree, such as an LL.B. or J.D. Coursework must have included computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering. The salary for this position ranges from the high $50,000s to the low $110,000.

Good luck with your job search this week! I hope you find the career of your dreams.

Welcome to the Wednesday hot jobs post! Are you a regular of this feature or a newbie? If this is your first time at Hot Jobs day, let me welcome you! I’m glad you made it here.

Every Wednesday, I tell you about three of the hottest leads for jobs over at our JobMonkey Job Center. Don’t know what the Job Center is? That’s JobMonkey’s free resource for job seekers, with hundreds of job openings posted every day, from every imaginable field and in every state in the union — and many countries abroad, too.

This week, I’m focusing on the fun jobs at amusement parks and theme parks. Many people think of theme park jobs as part-time gigs for college students home on break. And while there are plenty of those opportunities (including a couple in today’s Hot Jobs posting), amusement parks hire full-time employees, too. Not all parks are open year-round, but those that are need staffers out in the park and behind the scenes in the “back office” to make sure the operation is running smoothly. If you want to learn more about working at this “thrilling” field, be sure to check out our section on Theme Park Jobs.

1. Water Quality Technician, LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad, CA

This is one of those year-round, full-time jobs I was telling you about. The job doesn’t have much to do with theme parks, other than the fact that you will happen to work at one… but what a cool setting for a not-so-theme-park-y job! Legoland is seeking a technician to remove, install, repair, and test all water treatment and filtration systems within the park. This includes keeping chemical balance in pools and lakes at safe health standard levels and performing other maintenance functions as required. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the practices, tools, and equipment used in water filtration and treatment, and have experience in the basic practices of plumbing, and PVC piping application and installation.

2. Ride Attendants Job, Pacific Park , Santa Monica, CA

Now here is a more typical amusement park job! Santa Monica’s Pacific Park is seeking ride attendants (pay is $8/hour). The ideal candidate is out-going and friendly. You must smile a lot and be willing to go the extra mile to ensure that guest have a great time! You must also be able to follow operational procedures to ensure guest safety.

3. Costumer and Wardrobe Positions, Sesame Place Langhorne, PA

Would you like to work where sunny days keep the clouds away (if you don’t get the reference, this may not be the right job for you!), Sesame Place is hiring wardrobe and Costumer positions. No experience required for wardrobe jobs; costumer must have background and past experience.

Good luck with your job search this week! I hope you find the opportunity of your dreams.

Welcome to the Wednesday hot jobs post! If you are new to the JobMonkey, this is where I tell you about three of the hottest leads for jobs over at our free JobMonkey Job Center. This week, I’m focusing on the fun careers working with animals. Are you a lover of man’s best friend? An aspiring Dr. Doolittle? There are dozens of great opportunities to work with animals posted over the last two weeks on the Job Center, so if this is your dream job, you should definitely check it out. You can also learn more about animal jobs — from dog walker to veterinarian — on the JobMonkey’s section on working with animals.

1. Collector, Billing Department Jobs, Animal Medical Center, New York, NY

What happens when you love animals, but don’t have the necessary training and education to work with them directly? No problem! Remember even veterinarians need administrative staff, cleaning staff and even marketing/advertising staff. Here is one such example of a non-veterinarian job at an Animal Medical Center. If you have an administrative background, you are in luck. The collector in the Billing Department is responsible for day to day monitoring of the collection of client accounts. Specific duties include placing weekly phone calls to clients with delinquent accounts, preparing agency reports on a monthly basis, and making adjustments to accounts within the computer system.

2. Associate Veterinarians and New Grads, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Various Locations, Utah

Utah’s Banfield Pet Hospital is seeking both experienced doctors and new graduates to help expand its practice. For new graduates, the Pet Hospital offers new graduates a structured 14-week mentorship program. The ideal candidate will practice the highest quality of medicine and surgery and be able to perform procedures requiring a licensed DVM.

3. Animal Keeper Jobs, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA

This position is located in the National Zoological Park is seeking an animal keeper (salary $18-26/hour) to perform routine duties related to the care and maintenance of a collection of animals. Specific duties include measuring food items, cleaning animal enclosures, keeping service areas clean and maintaining enclosures. The ideal candidate will be able to lift and carry materials weighing up to 60 pounds and withstand extended periods of standing, walking, bending, and stooping. Workers are assigned to an eight-hour shift, but must be prepared to fill in at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays, since duties are considered “critical care”.

Best of luck with your search this week!

Welcome to our weekly hot jobs post, where I tell you about three of the hottest leads for jobs over at our free JobMonkey Job Center. This week, I’m focusing on the fun career track of video game programming. There are a dozen or more video game jobs up on the Job Center tonight, so if that your dream job, you will definitely want to check it out.

In the meantime, be sure to visit JobMonkey’s section on video game programming jobs to learn more about this fun — and fast growing — industry.

1. Part-Time Retail Representative, Nintendo of America, San Francisco, CA

This is a part-time position with the worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment. Shift work will total 24 hours per week, 3 full weekdays Monday through Friday. Weekend available is also required. The job will require extensive driving (1,100 miles per month) to make site visits at 63 accounts, where you will reset and maintain product displays. The ideal candidate will be a resident of San Francisco, with at least one to two years of experience working in the retail environment, plus a valid drivers license and vehicle ownership.

2. Senior Flash Developer Job, Sega of America, San Francisco, CA

Sega is seeking a Senior Flash Developer to design and/or develop web content for SEGA.com and PlaySega.com. Primary responsibilities will including designing and developing interactive Flash websites, banners, ads, widgets and games, and managing junior Flash developers. The ideal candidate will be expert at Flash timeline animation, Actionscript 2/3, PhotoShop & Illustrator, HTML/CSS, and overall creative agility. 3-5 years of Flash development experience, plus 2-3 years of management experience is also required.

3. Manager or Sr. Manager, Project & Systems, Nintendo of America, Redmond, WA

Nintendo of America, at its U.S.-headquarters in Redmond, Washington, is seeking a Senior Manager of Project & Systems to lead strategic projects and planning activities. The job will require extensive travel (15%). The ideal candidate will have seven to ten years of related experience, excellent leadership skills, and a sales administration background with lean transactional knowledge. Also required is a minimum of an undergraduate degree in Business, Sales, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent

Good luck with your job search this week!

Oh my goodness, I just checked the blog archives and realized that is has been almost a month since I last posted a Hot Jobs post!

Have you been in complete withdrawal? So sorry about that. The holiday season obviously got the better of me.

Well, I’m climbing back on the hot jobs “horse” and have I got a doozy for you this week: Internships. If you are a college student and you don’t know what you’re doing this summer, it’s high time that you figure it out. A paid or for-credit internship is a super solution. It can help you make networking connections, explore your career options and maybe even lead into a job once you graduate. Be sure to check out the free JobMonkey Job Center today for a host of great internship opportunities (beyond the three I’m going to tell you about now). Or go to the JobMonkey section on internships to learn more about it as well.

1. Summer Diversity Internship, The Nature Conservancy, Little Rock, Arkansas or San Antonio, Texas

The Nature Conservancy’s 2010 Summer Diversity Internship program is seeking students currently underrepresented in the conservation field for paid internship opportunities available in locations throughout the U.S. and set to begin on June 7, 2010. Among the intern’s responsibilities will be working on the Conservancy’s digital tools, particularly for Web sites within the Conservancy’s Southern Region. Candidates must have experience in creative Web design, including DreamWeaver, Flash and Adobe Photoshop. Applicant’s resumes should include links to Web pages or animation applications they have designed. Experience with either video editing and/or writing for the Web are a plus.

2. Trails and Greenways Program Internship (Spring/Summer 2010), Rails to Trails Conservancy, Washington, DC
The Trail Development/Policy Team of Rails to Trails Conservancy is seeking up to two full- or part-time interns for the spring and summer semesters. The role of the interns will be to assist in the creation of reports and web content, to maintain the RTC’s trail database and to help map out new trail projects. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students with excellent writing and communications skills and a strong interest in environmental issues and/or trail development.

3. Paramount Pictures Marketing Intern, Hollywood, CA

I’ve heard it said about finding a job these days that it’s not what you know, but who you know. I wouldn’t say that’s entirely true, but there’s no doubt that networking is exceptionally important. And nowhere is that truer than in tinsel town. If you want to get your start in Hollywood (behind the scenes — I can’t even begin to help you with becoming the next Jen Anniston), here’s a great opportunity: Paramount Pictures is looking for a part- or full-time marketing intern to create compilation reels, archive and analyze competitive campaigns, and assist in creating timelines for marketing materials. Oh, and by the way, you will get to work in the office of the president, gaining face-to-face exposure with the processes and PEOPLE behind Paramount. I.e. this is a prime networking opportunity! Applicants must be in at least their junior year of college up through a Master’s Degree program. Course work or previous internship experience in marketing and/or film is ideal. Night and weekend hours are likely and a background check will be performed.

Good luck with your internship search this week!

It’s freezing out there! But if the temperatures don’t deter your love of the great outdoors, then an outdoor job may be right up your alley.

Today I am featuring three hot (er, cold) outdoor jobs featured at JobMonkey’s free Job Center — the web’s #1 free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure — and a paycheck. This is just a sampling of the great leads you can find at the Job Center right now, so if you don’t see your dream job on my list today, head on over there!

Outdoor jobs can be either seasonal or year-round, part-time or full-time. Learn more about working in the great outdoors from JobMonkey’s section on Outdoor Jobs http://www.jobmonkey.com/parks/ , including National Park, Forest Service and other Outdoor Jobs.

1. Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service , Various U.S. Locations

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a full-time Fish and Wildlife Biologist to work in the Northeast Region. Job duties will include planning and providing oversight for technical reviews; evaluating biological and operational data pertaining to Federal programs for threatened and endangered species; collecting and managing field data; and providing technical guidance to other biologists.  This is a Level 11 or 12 position with the Federal Government. The listed salary range for this position is $41,324.00 – $61,157.00 /year

2. Terrain Park Staff, Angel Fire Resort, Angel Fire, NM

Angel Fire Resort in Angel Fire, New Mexico is seeking a seasonal worker to shovel, rake and maintain the shape of Park features. Other job duties will include testing Park features at the beginning and throughout the day, maintaining daily terrain park logs, and conducting morning set up of the Terrain Parks. The ideal candidate will be competent in skiing and/or snowboarding and have a guest-oriented service attitude.

3. Building and Yard Maintenance, Bear Mountain Resorts, Big Bear Lake, CA

Bear Mountain Resorts in Big Bear Lake, California is seeking a part-time maintenance person to help maintain and repair buildings and grounds. Shifts are available around the clock. The ideal candidate must be at least 18 years old, able to work outdoor in winter weather and equipped to perform physical labor.

If you didn’t find the job of your dreams on our hot jobs list today, be sure to check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

Woops, I missed last week’s Hot Jobs post. Did you miss it? We’re getting back in the saddle today with three great leads on casino & resort jobs from JobMonkey’s free Job Center — the Web’s #1 free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure … and a paycheck.

There are several pages of casino job leads right now over at the Job Center.

I’ve picked three really different kinds of opportunities, just to give you a sense of the possible diversity in this career path. After all, a lot of you probably think that working at a casino means dealing black jack, but the truth is these mega operations require staff at all levels — in front of the house, and way behind the scenes, too. From housekeeping and food service to marketing and masseurs, the casino resort world is a very, very big one. To learn more about this exciting, fast-paced career field, be sure to check out the JobMonkey section on Casino and Gaming Jobs.

1. Director of Casino Marketing Job,  Tropicana Express, River Palms Resort Casino, Laughlin, NV

The River Palms Resort Casino in Laughlin is seeking a director of Marketing and Player Development to implement strategies that will increase revenues and ensure guest satisfaction. The director will be responsible for managing departmental budget; hiring and training employees; planning and implementing promotions and special events; overseeing print and online communication materials; supervising the tracking and coding of special offers and redemptions; promoting programs for premium players; and more. The ideal candidate will have a minimum Bachelors Degree in Business (or the equivalent) plus at least five years of related work experience. He or she must also be able to obtain a Louisiana Riverboat Gaming License.  And then there’s my favorite part of the ad: Must be able to work inside in a “dry and noisy” environment. I’m guessing filled with cigarette smoke, too!

2. Spa Runner, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is seeking a spa runner to be responsible for supporting and assisting the spa staff in maintaining the cleanliness of all spa rooms and back of house areas. If you would like to get your foot in the door of the luxury spa world, this might be a great opportunity for you.

3. Slot Technician Job, Harrah’s Chester, Chester, PA

This one is pretty straight forward — Harrah’s in Chester, Pennsylvania is seeking a slot technician who demonstrates superior customer service skills and can maintain an upbeat, positive attitude and friendly, helpful demeanor. The technician will perform repairs and maintenance on all slot machines on property and be able to solve any problems in a timely fashion. The ideal candidate will have a GED with at least one year of slot floor experience. He or she must be able to sit or stand for prolonged periods and be able to work in a smoke-filled environment.

If you didn’t find the job of your dreams on our hot jobs list today, be sure to check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!