Posts Tagged ‘What jobs are demanding’

In the current economy it’s no surprise that unemployment remains to be the toughest issue facing most Americans. This remains true despite if the fact that unemployment is remaining steady at 10%, a good sign that we are on the slow road to economic recovery here in the United States. And the recent jobs bill passed by congress will hopefully help create more jobs as well as extend the benefits of people currently living on unemployment.

Here on the Ntroduction blog we’re doing our best to help you change your perspective when it comes to looking for your next job and hopefully our tips are helping weather these tough times of being unemployed and turn the situation into opportunity.

That’s exactly what green jobs are doing for unemployed. With a new awareness and understanding of the things we have to protect and restore our environment green jobs are becoming the hottest topic in the unemployment market.

Well based on research and trends everywhere from Forbes to Fast Company we’ve handpicked five of the hottest “green jobs” around.

• Urban and Regional Planner – With an expected increase of 15% by 2016, this is a smart move to make. An urban or regional planner’s job description encompass a lot and will probably include more in the coming years. But the biggest responsibilities of the planner are two fold. Planning contingency plans, flooding, heat waves, earthquakes and other possible disasters. And after the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile that is certainly becoming an even more important part of the job.  And of course the traditional aspect of the jobs s described by education-portal.com, creation of social, economic and environmental blueprints that make optimum use of the resources of a community in order to provide for growth, renewal and maintenance of the region.
• Conservation Biologist – Protecting and preserving the environmental and the ecosystem around is becoming more necessary each day meaning the need for more people to do the job also increases. The fact that President Obama’s stimulus package increased funds for science and research related to conservation biology only boosts the appeal of this career.
• Farmer/Forester – The need for sustainable farming and forestry is only going to increase in the coming years. To make the most of earths resources with as little disturbance as possible is vital. Also the increasing desire for organic foods and products also increases the demand for organic farming.
• Environmental Engineer – According to the Bureau of Labor and statistics Environmental engineering, Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs. It’s expected to grow rapidly and the salary for environmental engineering is among the highest for college graduates.
• Heating and Cooling Installer- With standards changing quickly to reach a better quality of air, this profession is among the fastest growing in the United States.

These are just a handful of the many green jobs that are considering to pop up in the job market. All of them do require a degree or certificate. You should contact your local community college or Adult education program to see what programs they have to offer to help you enter into the growing world of green jobs.

In a highly competitive job market there are certain realities that job seekers need to face. Things like there are jobs that you will apply for, that you’ll never hear back from. Or that the sometimes education doesn’t replace experience and sometimes vice versa.

Here are a few things that you may want to think seriously about when looking for work. A few things that Hiring Mangers know but aren’t willing to share with you.

• A Hiring freeze is in place – every head count is important. They’ve only got one shot at hiring the right person and don’t have the option to split that one job into two positions. Which means they may be cramming more than one position into the one you’re applying for. Be prepared and willing to perform multiple roles, Analyst, Manager, Technical and non-technical.
• That Hiring Manager is looking to hire the best talent/skill/experience in economical locations – may not be in Bay Area, may not be in US, maybe in Asia. Though this could sound discouraging, it could actually work for you. Sometimes the cheapest location is virtual. If you see a job that could conceivably be done virtually, apply for it. Be sure to include the ways that making the position virtual is going to save them money. If not, think about relocating to where they want you to be.
• Hiring Manager gets bonus and credit for getting results – not for hiring a new team member. The hiring manager wants proof that you can deliver results. A good handshake and pleasant smile are great, but show him proof that you can get the job done.
• Hiring Manager cannot make the decision right away because requirement is not finalized. Basically the age old “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” saying applies here. The hiring manager may just be checking to see who’s out there and how the hiring manager can achieve that goal, may not be ready to hire anytime soon. Just because the interview went well, doesn’t mean you’re going to be getting a call soon.
• The job title is not final – it may change probably to a lower title. These days’ titles change more times than Paris Hilton during a magazine shoot. That also means when searching the jobs ads, don’t just look at the title in the heading. Look closely at the description itself before deciding whether to apply or not. Also, Don’t count on the title of the job as the one you’ll actually be using. When you present yourself for the interview, be prepared to explain tasks you can/have performed in the lower titles too. You might get a job with lower title but you can grow quickly, given your previous experience in higher title
• He/She is looking for personal references – from people he/she knows closely. Nothing gives you a boost more than a first person reference. That is the Ntroduction’s core value – Which is also why LinkedIn is becoming more and more popular with hiring managers.
• He/She is looking for certifications as well as brand name company experience (such as Big4). The importance of secondary education has never been more important than it is today, but so is the importance of some real valid experience from reputed companies
• They’re looking for a team member, not a leader – the Hiring Manager wants to retain that role of leader. The Hiring Manager isn’t looking to hire someone to run the show, so don’t go into the hiring process acting like you’re going to do so. Demonstrate flexibility that you can lead as well as be a contributor.
• The hiring manager is looking for somebody who is available almost all the time to perform tasks – not somebody with commitments. Make sure when you interview that you make it very clear you’re willing to work overtime, be on call and go above and beyond the call of duty. These days hiring managers are looking for people who can do more than just pull their own weight.

Keep these things when looking for work and going on interviews. But don’t be discouraged, it may be slow going but things are definitely starting to turn around for the job market and hopefully, the long hours or lower titles will improve.  In fact a government report released today and mentioned on CNN.com shows that the number of job seekers competing for each job opening has dropped from 6.4 to 5.9, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It’s still tough out there, but it’s getting better.

If you’re thinking about going into business for yourself 2010 just might be the year to do it.  There are many pros and cons to becoming self-employed but with a less than stellar job market, looking at other possibilities is a wise move. We’ve offered tips on being self employed before on the blog and how research suggests that self-employed people are the happiest people.

But now a recent press release from the company BOTH (short for Back of the House, a company that offers support for self-employed individuals) predicting that self-employment is only going to grow in 2010 based a number of factors.

• Historically serious recessions has always led to a large group of workers who find their way back into the workforce via self employment or contract work.

• Even as unemployment begins to level out the growth rate for new jobs will take some time leading many companies to seek less expensive ways to get projects done. Leading to an increase in contract and freelance work.

• Professionals will resort to other measures to generate income outside their regular pay grade.

• With technology and the Internet job mobility has become without limits. As people become able to do more and more from virtual offices, companies will look to increase flexible work environments that embrace that.

• With many Americans having had the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath, many people will shy away from traditional “job security” and instead look for situations in which they have more control by working independently.

As the job market remains somewhat unstable now is a good time to take mental stock of your schools and abilities and see if branching out into freelance or contract work would be a good way to generate an extra income or replace a lost one.

It seems you can’t go anywhere online without reading about the importance of your online network. And while that is important, especially when trying to establish a network to build a career, change careers or even to find a job, it’s just as important to maintain your real life network.

A lot can be said for a strong and extensive online network. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and many other sites throughout the web give us incredible opportunities to connect and network with people across the globe. But many of these sites offer you the chance to connect with people local to you as well.

Take some time to explore ways to connect your online network to your real life network and you could open up a whole new set of opportunities.

• Twitter Lists: A few months back Twitter introduced a great new feature that allows you to create a list of Twitter users based on whatever category you’d like. A great way to localize your twitter stream is to use the Twitter search function to search your town or surrounding area. Add the people you find to a list you create and start interacting and Networking with people in your area.
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• Attend a Tweetup: Tweetups are meetups put together so that people who interact online via twitter can meet in person. These are usually great ways to network and to bring your online network offline and into your real life. Once you’ve started following folks in your area start asking around to see is anyone is putting something together.
• Organize a Tweetup: If no one in your area is taking the initiative to schedule a local tweetup, do it yourself! If you have connected with people locally g for it and start planting the seed. Here are some great tips for organizing a great Tweetup.
• Facebook Fan Pages: Many cities are creating fan pages for the city itself or institutions within the city. The local library, community center, Parks & recreation District and chamber of commerce in your area all may have active fan pages. Become a fan so that you not only connect with other locals who are fans but to stay abreast of any networking events or job fairs in your hometown. This is truly becoming a great way to stay connected locally and build a network of people nearby.
• The Local Paper: You don’t have to have the paperboy deliver the hard copy to your door anymore to take advantage of all that a local paper has to offer. If you have a local paper, chances are they are online and you can subscribe via email, usually for free. Many groups and local clubs still religiously list their events with the local paper.  This is another great way to network locally.

Hopefully these tips will just be the tip of the iceberg for you when it comes to making your online network grow and become a part of your local network. You never know what new job and career opportunities may await at your next local Tweetup.

One more reminder: When you do attend local events to meet up with online friends always remember your business card! Have a number, email, website address and of course your Twitter handle on a card ready to hand out at all times.

Good luck!

US News and World Report released its list of the Top 50 Careers for 2010. It was an interesting list that included five categories with 10 jobs in each. The jobs were chosen based a few factors. Pay scale, growth rate and of course educational requirements. Though a few of the jobs listed were no real surprise (Biomedical, environmental and computer software engineers) there were a few that I wouldn’t have guessed.

So here are a few of the more obscure or unexpected top jobs for 2010 hand picked from US New World Report’s list of the top 50. One job from each of the five categories. Science & Technology, Healthcare, Education & Civic, Creative Service, and Business & Finance.

• Meteorologist-Science & Technology- Though we all might first picture our local weatherman when we think meteorologist, the fact is the majority work for the National Weather Service. With Climate change and global warming becoming bigger issues each day it’s no surprise that jobs for meteorologists are expected to increase by about 15%. Meteorologists can move own to starting there own weather consulting firms or working in the private sector for research firms. The median salary is $81,000 not too shabby. To be a meteorologist you need a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology or at least chemistry or physics. To focus more on the research aspect of meteorology you’ll need your PHD.
• School Psychologist-Healthcare- Of the handful of healthcare positions mentioned, this one stuck out the most. School Psychologists is a career that’s expected to increase by 11%. Certainly more stressful than meteorology, becoming a school psychologist would mean obtaining a specialist degree, which most schools require. That would be on top of three years of graduate school. The median salary is $64,140 but could rise considerably if you start your own practice. Stressful, yes, but a job that would enable to truly help many children in need.
• Clergy-Education And Civic- This was one of the more surprising mentions on the list. And there was no real explanation as to why the growth in the Clergy. There is an expected increase of about 13% across the board.  Pay, opportunities and schooling require varies heavily depending on the church. Smaller congregations have the largest need but the smallest salary. Methodists and Catholic churches have the larger salaries and career paths. The room for growth also depends on the church and congregation. Education requirements for the clergy vary from needing a Masters n Theology to no previous education at all. Once again, depends on religion and church. Maybe the stressful economic times have created a growing need for clergy.
• Plumber-Creative & Service- So this is not usually on any list of top careers. In fact most people would not likely consider being a plumber very glamorous. But if the standard for a dream career is a steady work with a stable paycheck, than the Plumbing industry should top every list. With an expected increase of 15% and a median salary of about 45,000 to 79,000 it’s not a bad choice to make. While some people attend tech schools or community college, many plumbers find their way through on the job training or apprenticeships. Opportunities are large, as any successful plumber can eventually start his own business with an even larger income potential.
• Actuary- Business & Finance- Many of you may be starring blankly at your computer screen wondering what the heck is an actuary? Generally actuaries are most often found working for insurance providers and their job is to “evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes in order to minimize losses, both emotional and financial, associated with uncertain undesirable events.” Sound a little boring? Maybe. But with a median salary of $85,000 and an expected growth rate of 21% over the next decade, it’s wouldn’t take an actuary to figure out it’s a safe career to move into. In fact most Actuaries start at 56,000 right out of college. Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries offers certification programs and you would most likely need a bachelors degree in mathematics, statistics, economics or even actuarial science (if you’re local school offers it).

Maybe not the most glamorous of career choices but glamour isn’t exactly topping anyone’s list of needs as 2009 comes to a close. Check out these careers as well as the rest of US News and World Report’s list of top careers. Maybe you’ll find the perfect match for you in 2010.

Once you do be sure and update that resume and prepare for that interview! Before you know it you’ll be spending 2010 doing a job you love.

Good Luck and Happy New Year!

With the New Year right around the corner, there couldn’t be a better time to go over your resume and get a jump on your 2010 job search. One of the most vital tools to any job search, whether it is online or in person, is your resume.  So take a little time over the holidays to revamp your resume and make sure it’s up to date.

Here’s an easy checklist to make sure your resume is got everything you need to get the job you’re looking for.

• Make Sure it’s updated. Delete any job that doesn’t have any bearing on the job you’re looking to land. Make sure you ad anything that may be missing. And don’t overlook time spent volunteering or anything else that could help boost your skills.
• E.E.S. These three things should be on every resume, no matter what fields you’re looking for work in.  Experience, Education, and Skills. The key pieces of information any potential employer is looking for is going to be in these three sections. If they’re missing, you just might miss out on the job.
• Grammar. Always run a spell-check and take your time with easily overlooked grammatical and spelling errors. Sometimes a simple grammatical mistake can cost you.
• Ask for help. A second pair of eyes is priceless! Ask a friend to take a look and proofread your resume and see of they catch anything you may have missed.
• Correct the dates. Take the time to double check the beginning and end dates of your jobs to give any potential employers a correct timeline and idea of your experience.
• One page wonder. One of the classic pieces of resume etiquette that still remains to be the norm is keeping your resume at one page. Though this isn’t always possible, always try to keep your resume to one page if you can.
• Contact info. It may seem like a no brainer, double check that your name and contact info are correct. If you apply for a job and they can’t get a hold of you to tell you it’s yours, then what?
• One thing that becoming more common in resume today’s is listing the results of jobs or projects you’ve worked on. Future employers don’t just want to see what’s you’ve done in the past, but what results you’ve had with those jobs.

Now that you’re resume is in top shape it’s time to start 2010 with the new job you’ve been searching for! Good luck in your New Years job search.

When talking about being self-employed it draws many different pictures to many people. For some being self-employed is being a consultant, a subcontractor, a freelance writer or artist, accounting, running a daycare, floral design, wedding planner, the list goes on and on. As different as all these jobs may be, the decision to become self employed and what goes along with being self-employed remains the same no matter what field your in.

With many people finding themselves out of work under a troubled economy now couldn’t be a better time to consider becoming self-employed. But there are a number of things you should think about before taking the leap.

• How’s the Industry? Is industry your considering entering established? Is it crowed with competitors? Maybe the career you’ve worked in up until now can give you a built in network or edge when building a client base, because you’ve already been in the industry.
• What are the logistics? Can you work from home or will you have to find an office? Working from home can save you a lot of money and provide some extra tax incentives. If you have a computer, printer, fax, phone, scanner and a handful of other home office essentials, working form home might be the way to go.
• What’s your back-up plan? If you have a spouse who has a job that offers health benefits make sure you use them. Otherwise check into unions for the type of work your doing and you may be able to find group plans that can help you get health insurance for your family at discounted rates. Also, whenever possible when starting a new line of work for yourself, having at least 6 months worth of expenses in the bank is always a smart idea. Though not many of us can do that these days…
• Pay the Taxman. Make sure you talk to your accountant or at the very least research it on your own online to see what you can and cant deduct for taxes and make sure you keep detailed records and copies of everything you do for your business. Remember, if your spouse is working you can set up to have YOUR taxes deducted from their paycheck. A smart move that can save you from having to owe at the end of the year.

Remember that being self-employed has many ups and downs but it can give you more freedom and satisfaction than any regular employment could ever give you. Good luck!

It’s no surprise that with the current state of the economy and unemployment that Americans are stressed. A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 80% of American’s surveyed fare stressed over personal finances and the economy. It also found that 50% are stressed over meeting the needs of their family and 56% over the security of their job.

People questioned in the survey were asked how the stress was affecting them. 60% stated they regularly feel angry and irritable over stress and 53% feel fatigued a majority of the time. 52% admitted that they simply lie awake at night due to overwhelming stress.

After reading these staggering, yet unsurprising statistics, I did a little research to find out what jobs would be good for people who are becoming buried beneath the stress of simply getting by. I came across the Best jobs in America List on CNN.Money and Payscale.com where they had a category that enable you to look up the least stressful jobs.

1. Education/Training Consultant
2. Physical Therapist
3. College Professor
4. Software Developer
5. Technical Writer
6. Telecommunications Network Engineer
7. Speech-Language Pathologist
8. Software Architect
9. Occupational Therapist
10. Civil Engineer

So if you’re being kept up nights by stress and you’re looking to switch careers to something a little less stressful you can check out these job listed above. You can also look at the entire list of the Best Jobs in America to see where yours falls on the list.

One of the most unfortunate things about making our way through the current economic recession is the fact that things are tough all over. Which means that while this is the time when you and your family need a raise the most it’s also the time when your company may be in the worst position to give it to you. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

There is one thing about an economic recession, companies that have loyal hardworking employees that are doing their best to help keep business rolling want to do all they can to keep those employees happy. So just because things may be tough for the company you work for, doesn’t mean they aren’t going to want to give you what you need to keep you working hard.

If you think it’s time to start looking into getting a raise at your job use these tips to help prepare you and give you the best chance at getting what you deserve.

1. Find out how what your salary is compares with what your salary should be. The first thing you should do is see how your salary ranks with what other companies are paying. Websites like Payscale.com or Salary.com help you figure the average salary for your job in the area you live and work in. See where your paycheck fits on the scale and use that as your jumping off point for how much you should be asking for.
2. Research the company. Don’t relay on company gossip to figure out how things are going for the company you work for. About.com has a great section about how to research a company to see what the condition is, how the market fairs, and how successful the industry you work is in is doing. These favors can help you come up with a reasonable request when meeting with your boss. Not to mention be armed with the facts about the status of your company’s well being always gives you an edge while negotiating.
3. Read the Employee Handbook. Refresh your memory on the do’s and don’ts of your company. See if there is a set protocol for asking a raise that you should be following. Be sure and reread your job description as well. Are you doing all that your job entails? Are you doing more?
4. What can you bring to the table? Sit down and make an honest list of everything you do for the company. Then make a list of all the things you can offer the company to help keep them successful. What can you do that no one else can?
5. Get the lowdown. Do you have friends or coworkers who have already asked for a raise in recent months? Even if it’s someone who doesn’t work for your company find out how they went about it and went right or wrong with during their experience.  Take notes.
6. Come up with Plan B. You have to be sure that you have a game plan in mind BEFORE you walk in the door. How low of an increase are you willing to take? And what does it mean if your boss says no? Are you going to be willing to take no for an answer or will this be an all or nothing ultimatum. Whether you’re willing to quit your job if you don’t get your raise or not is a decision you need to make before setting up the meeting.
7. Set up a meeting. Make sure your boss knows your mean business. Don’t just pop in to his/her office on your way out the door or grab he/she in the break room. Call ahead and set up a meeting so he/she knows you’re serious.
8. Be Confident. No one knows your situation better than you, and know one knows what your worth better than you.  So when you step in that room be sure you don’t walk out settling for anything less than what you deserve.
9. Stay Confident.

Job losses - How Ntroduction can help

I was yawning  at the San Jose airport waiting for my friend who I had not seen for over 14 years (limited to email, phone calls) and  news Flash on the TV monitor in front of me, shook me – CA has 14% unemployment.

Man! – That might be a bit exaggertated. I would say perhaps 12% would be near to reality. I opened my iphone to check emails and my friend had sent me this link which is related to CA job situation.
Lets not feel happy comparing to the last year’s July planned job cuts as that’s not a happy news but overall, Say I am walking on a street of 20 people, 3 of them are without job in CA – Scary isn’t it?

These  are lost jobs to outsourcing or corporate greed or stockholders pressure or M&A. Whatever the reasons are, most of the jobs are ‘Gone Baby Gone’. What happenned to the promise by President that companies sending jobs would be taxed more?

I was talking to a friend, Director of IT in leading storage company and he agreed with me that IT jobs are now outsourced every second as we speak. So, , my advice to future employment force is to stay away from IT and look for something that is core to the business and that would be essential to keep it within corporate.  I would suggest you to browse professional introductions Seeked and provided and you will get an idea of what seems to be in demand.