Hey, unemployed person! Thought that high finance or magazine job was going to last forever, didn't you? Not to worry. The good news is that business is booming in some sectors of the economy, and CNN was helpful enough to describe a few fields in which you might actually find a job. Time to dust off that interview suit and check out our short list of industries that are thriving.

Unqualified Learning Annex Instructor: Unemployment is the perfect time for the newly laid off to reconsider going back to school. That kind of misguided optimism is your gain. There's no better time to dip your toe into this field by becoming a teacher. Not only will interest in adult education, advanced degrees and certification programs be at an all-time high, but that kind of book learnin' costs money! Don't know anything about creative writing, business, or gas tungsten arc welding? No problem! You can charge half as much as those so-called "professional" training programs, and everybody wins.

Prescription Entrepreneur: An industry that continues to thrive despite the economic downturn. Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms and medical equipment manufacturers are all hiring. Turn your jobless friends' desperation into an advantage. Simply get a cushy job in the mailroom of a drug company, break into the lab, swipe as many antidepressants and narcotics as you can find, and sell them below market value to your despondent buddies. Be sure to save some for yourself when you eventually get caught and fired.

Accountant "Executive Assistant": Tax season will be here before you know it, and with companies trying to cut costs, the need for solid accountants has never been greater. How can you capitalize on this? Get to work today! Call your accountant and ask him what he needs. Coffee? Dry cleaning picked up? A thrice-daily sponge bath? You're going to need as many "creative" deductions as possible this year, so whatever your tax guy needs, you better make pleasing him your new career.

Online Networked Card-Based Trading: Though it may seem counterintuitive, this is a great time to get involved in the Internet. There are still quite a few online poker Web sites that accept players in the United States, assuming you don't mind handing out your bank account number to a sketchy, offshore company (but hell, what's your savings worth these days anyway?). What are you waiting for? Get online and get winning!

Posted by: Jason Reich      I’m a fan of Jason Reich