Want to increase your chances of landing a great job in 2012?  A compilation of recent studies have determined the 10 of the top, fastest-growing careers for the New Year.  Check them out and see if they interest you!

1.    Information technology: According to a recent survey by Dice.com, approximately 65% of hiring managers would like to add IT employers in the next six months.  

2.    Healthcare professionals:  The healthcare industry has been on the rise for quite some time.  In particular, experts estimate that the U.S. will see an increase in the need for registered nurses, physical therapists, and dental hygienists.

3.    Healthcare management and support staff: In association with this growing need for healthcare professionals is a need for people to manage these institutions.  There are all sorts of openings in management, finance, marketing, and HR.

4.    Engineers: According to a poll by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), there is a severe shortage of engineers at 88% of employers.

5.    Industrial skill:  In the same poll, 68% of employers reported a shortage of people who have industrial trade skills.

6.    Life sciences and biotech: Job openings for research scientists are expected to increase by 40% at major pharmaceutical companies, as well as biotech startups.

7.    Salespeople: Sales is widely known as a recession-proof career, and 72% of employers have reported that they need more sales employees.

8.    Accounting and finance: Due to increased regulation, among other factors, employers are in need of more and more employees with accounting and financial services experience.

9.    Discount retailers: The recession has allowed these retailers to thrive in recent years.

10.  Private equity firms: Recruiters are revealing that private equity firms are aggressively searching for candidates for their management positions at their portfolio companies.