Putting Veterans First in the Job Market

Finding a job is hard enough these days, and even harder for returning military veterans. Now Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County executive, wants to put servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at the front of the line for job openings.

By Linda Saslow-
“Although in today’s economy it’s hard to foresee how many jobs we will be able to provide, the veterans will have first preference.”


Mr. Suozzi announced Warriors to Work, a program to provide job opportunities for those veterans. He said it was the first public-private program in the country to provide employment opportunities for returning veterans from the current wars.

“Over 3,000 Nassau County residents have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, and there are still hundreds more fighting for our country today,” Mr. Suozzi said after announcing the initiative. Federal Labor Department statistics for 2007 show the unemployment rate for veterans, including those 18 to 24 who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, was considerably higher than the rate for nonveterans.

Mr. Suozzi said he got the idea for the initiative from Fred Wilpon, the principal owner of the Mets, who, during a Dec. 15 meeting at a Nassau restaurant, suggested that Mr. Suozzi “do something for veterans.”

Mr. Suozzi met with officials of the Building and Construction Trades Council and the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and received commitments for jobs from them. Then he received pledges from four trade unions and a dozen other companies. The participants include the Long Island Federation of Labor, the Bethpage Federal Credit Union, CVS, King Kullen and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The unions and companies committed to placing more than 200 veterans who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan in jobs on Long Island this year. The county’s Veterans Service Agency will work with human resources departments to help match veterans to appropriate jobs.

James Castellane, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council and a Vietnam War veteran, said in a telephone interview that the initiative was modeled on the Helmets to Hard Hats program, which since 2003 has been helping veterans find jobs within the 36 trade unions represented by the council.

“These jobs have to have a pension, an annuity, medical benefits and a union card,” he said, referring to the council’s commitment. “Although in today’s economy it’s hard to foresee how many jobs we will be able to provide, the veterans will have first preference.”

John R. Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, which represents 135unions and 250,000 employees on the Island, said the county’s program would give business and labor an opportunity to work together to support veterans.

“We will be talking to different employers and affiliates to get as many jobs as we can,” he said in a phone interview. “Where there are already jobs available, we will help slot them for veterans, and we will also work with employers to help create new positions.”

Michael J. Dowling, president and chief executive of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System — the Island’s largest employer, with 38,000 employees — has already increased his initial pledge for 2009 to 20 jobs from 10. He said he expected to be able to provide even more jobs to returning veterans, at all levels, on a continuing basis. Since 2004, North Shore-L.I.J. has hired 94 people who identified themselves as veterans, said a spokesman, Terry Lynam.

“Being such a large organization, there are openings all the time, and we are committed to providing permanent positions with benefits and a career track,” Mr. Dowling said.

Two years ago, he said, North Shore-L.I.J. set up a family wellness center to help veterans deal with stress-related problems; for employees who serve abroad, jobs are guaranteed upon their return, with compensation for salary missed during military service.

Richard A. Cody, a retired four-star general who served as vice chief of staff of the Army from 2004 to last July, joined Mr. Suozzi to announce the new initiative.

“When soldiers return after 12 to 15 months away from their families, many haven’t had time to do job searches or think about their transition,” General Cody said. “Today, veterans return home with broader skill sets than ever. Many of the vets possess years of high-tech vocational training, leadership skills, and some have earned college degrees while on active duty.”

Mr. Suozzi said that he would continue to encourage businesses and agencies to sign on to the Warriors to Work initiative and that the county’s monthly newsletter to veterans would remind them of the program.

Source: Veterans Today

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Veterans Green Jobs Career Training Program Supports Veterans

Veterans Green Jobs announces that it has opened enrollment for the Spring and Summer 2009 sessions of the Veterans Green Jobs Academy™.

The Academy is a unique hybrid of classroom and on-the-job training designed to move the experienced, disciplined military veteran into a meaningful career in green industries. Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ programs include free or low-cost green job training; multiple industry-recognized home energy audit certifications; and job placement services to veterans seeking to help America restore its economy, environment and communities. All honorably discharged veterans are encouraged to apply now for 8-week training programs beginning in April, June and August 2009. The Spring 2009 session of the Academy focuses on home energy efficiency and conservation with an intensive Home Energy Audit Training (HEAT™) certification program. HEAT™ brings environmental education together with supervised on-the-job-training to meet the consumer demand for experts to help lower residential energy consumption. "Reports indicate that there are nearly 2 million returned or returning military personnel who now face the challenging task of transitioning into civilian careers after their tours in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere. Without effective support and viable economic options, many veterans and their families face serious hardships," says John M. Garcia, Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services. "At the same time, America has a rapidly growing demand for trained workers to implement a nationwide shift to more sustainable 'green' technologies, energy sources, business practices and lifestyles." The Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ has designed scalable curriculums in environmental industries, business management, and specific job skills that can be immediately applied to the marketplace. The HEAT™ Program is just one of several energy-efficiency-related programs being developed, and future programs offered by the Academy include renewable energy, green building, historic building preservation, and disaster preparedness, response and reconstruction. "Veterans Green Jobs is working to mobilize a highly-skilled population to lead the revival of a national service ethic to address our most pressing problems," says Brett KenCairn. "That includes setting a standard so that green jobs in this country offer a true living wage and job security, and so that careers in green industries lead to energy independence, ecological restoration, community renewal and economic prosperity for all Americans." In collaboration with a broad consortium of partners, Veterans Green Jobs is supporting veterans' military transitions through programs and support services that promote their personal healing, along with a community-based movement towards healing the economy and the environment. In doing so, Veterans Green Jobs is also mobilizing a dedicated field-tested workforce that our society has already invested in to help the US move quickly towards greater environmental and economic security. Academy programs will expand to 15 states in 2010 and are anticipated to be in all 50 states as soon as possible.

Source: Recruiter Trends

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Niche and Local Job Boards

Hong Kong job seekers and recruiters are set to benefit from the launch of a host of industry-specific websites serving the region.

The sites, led by Jobs-In-Hong-Kong.com, are being launched by The Omni Job Board Network, Inc. in response to changing needs in the internet recruitment market. The Omni network was created by a team of former recruiters, web developers, human resources (HR) and marketing professionals, "who had become disillusioned by the high cost and inconsistent results they experienced with traditional job boards." Their research reveals that the vast majority of internet job seekers have little loyalty to major job board brands, instead relying primarily on search engines to deliver relevant and up-to-date job listings in their area, according to the website. Despite being newly launched to the industry, the sites feature highly in internet search engines, including Google, Yahoo! and MSN Live, giving employers and recruiters a high level of exposure to high quality candidates from around the world.

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Part-time Opportunities

Most people (meaning job seekers) perceive part-time jobs as a waste of time and offer less than full-time positions.

Many part-time jobs pay just as much as full-time as a 40 hour per week job and there are number of part-time jobs that offer benefits such as health insurance, 401(k), vacation days and employee discounts. Here is a list of the best part-time opportunities.

1. Tax Preparer
2. Substitute Teacher
3. Private Tutor
4. Part-time Receptionist
5. Computer Technician
6. Copy Editor
7. Direct Seller

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Hiring Firms Gear Up for Finance Mop Up

The expected clean-up of the U.S. financial sector and an anticipated economic stimulus package has staffing firms preparing to find jobs for everyone from blue-collar workers to highly trained compliance officers.

While most headlines in the past few months have been about companies and industries eliminating jobs and closing factories, once these federal government programs roll out, demand within some sectors is expected to spike!

"Cleaning up the bad loans and reregulating the financial sector is going to be huge," said Brendan Courtney, Vice President of Mergis Group, a unit of staffing company Spherion Corp, which has set up a special group to handle hiring related to the U.S. financial sector bailout. "None of this is going to get done without armies of people."

The U.S. Congress is debating a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus package, including tens of billions of dollars for infrastructure projects to create jobs.

President Barack Obama has also vowed to overhaul the nation's financial regulatory system, which may include stricter rules for hedge funds, credit rating agencies and mortgage brokers, to prevent a repeat of the credit crisis that has plunged the world's largest economy into deep recession.

And U.S. policymakers are considering whether to place toxic or virtually worthless assets left in the wake of the financial crisis into a bank cleanup program that some analysts estimate could cost as much as $4 trillion.

Although the exact form of these programs has yet to be decided, staffing companies say they are preparing to fill a raft of different jobs with accountants, engineers, lawyers, bankers, mortgage specialists and compliance officers.

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Wanted - Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy equipment operators will have plenty of career opportunities in 2009.

Job opportunities for construction equipment operators are expected to be in abundance through 2012, due to the shortage of adequate training programs, according to the National Heavy Equipment Operators School. The National Heavy Equipment Training program is offered in two phases: distance learning and resident training. Resident Training requires a month of hands-on heavy equipment training, of which students are required to complete 201 hours of hands-on heavy equipment operator training in order to graduate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, construction equipment operators held about 416,000 jobs in 2002. Jobs were found in every section of the country and were distributed among various types of operators. About three-out-of-five construction equipment operators worked in the construction industry. Many heavy equipment operators worked in heavy construction, building highways, bridges, or railroads. About one-out-of-five of all heavy equipment operators worked in state and local government. Others, mostly grader, bulldozer, and scraper operators, worked in mining, manufacturing, and utility companies.

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100 Best Companies to Work For In 2009

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2009/full_list/

Check out one of my online discussion groups. You may be able to connect and network with a current employee or former employee from one of this companies.

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Health Care Employers Are Hiring

While the recession injured many industries in 2008, health care was one of the few bright spots in the employment picture, growing by 372,000 jobs last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January 2009 Employment Situation Summary. The large aging population has health care employers in need of qualified workers: stat. Therefore, despite the current economic conditions, health care employers will continue to increase staff in 2009, according to CareerBuilder.com’s annual health care hiring forecast, conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive.

Close to one-in-five (17 percent) of large health care employers (50 or more employees) plan to increase the number of full-time, permanent employees in 2009, while 67 percent foresee either making no change in the number of employees or are unsure.

"The health care industry continues to boast high demand for qualified workers. Employers are reacting to this need by continuing strong recruiting efforts this year," says Jason Ferrara, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for CareerBuilder.com. "Half of health care employers, the highest among industries we surveyed, have open positions for which they can’t find qualified candidates. In response, health care employers will have to adjust their recruitment and retention strategies to find and keep top talent."

Health care recruitment trends for 2009
1. More Flexibility. Flexible work options continue to be an important benefit for health care employers to provide in an effort to attract new candidates and to prevent employee burnout. Forty-one percent of health care employers will provide more flexible work arrangements for employees in 2009, including:

· Alternative schedules – come in early and leave early or come in later and leave later

· Compressed work weeks – work the same hours, but in fewer days

· Telecommuting

· Job sharing

· Summer hours

2. Recruitment Tools. As demand for qualified workers continues, health care employers will leverage a variety of recruitment tools to reduce the time-to-hire cycle and fill open positions. Health care employers plan to spend more money on the following recruitment tools in 2009:

· Online recruitment sites

· Newspaper classifieds

· Career fairs [click the "Job Fair Calendar" tab at the top of the page]

· Staffing firms and recruiters

· Social networking sites

3. Freelance Workers
To help alleviate their employees’ demanding work load, health care employers are hiring contract and freelance workers to help get the job done.

4. Green Jobs
Being "green" is a burgeoning movement within the health care industry as companies seek ways to run more efficiently. Health care employers plan to be more environmentally aware in 2009, as 14% plan to add "green" jobs, up from 7% in 2008. "Green jobs" are positions that implement environmentally conscious design, policy and technology to improve the conservation and sustainability.

With the growing job count in the nursing profession, NursingCrossing, a job site catering to nursing professionals, has reportedly added 12,255 nursing jobs in a single week, bringing the site's job count to a staggering 89,923.  As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs related to nursing and residential care facilities grew by 19,600 from January to August 2008.

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10 Cities for Growth Opportunity in 2009

If your job search strategy includes opportunities outside your local area check out this list of cities projecting job growth in 2009.

No. 1: Madison, Wis.

Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Madison has several things working in its favor, one being the University of Wisconsin, a major employer. The university's technology arm, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, supports scientific research at the school and helps drive breakthroughs in health care, biotechnology and medical devices, resulting in strong local businesses in all those fields. Adding to the city's optimistic job outlook is its highly educated workforce and the fact that it's the center of state and county governments--both big employers (city government is a big one too). Add to that an ideal mix of start-ups and medium and large businesses, and you have a city that is not reliant on one main employer.

No. 2: Washington, D.C.

Unemployment rate: 4.2%

That's a rise from 3.2% in October 2007, but still it remains well below the national average. The largest job growth has been in federal and local government. Other major employers include defense contracting, law and education. There are so many schools and colleges that education is the third largest employer, and the area is expected to add 30,000 more education jobs in 2009.

No. 3: Boston, Mass.

Unemployment rate: 4.4%

Boston's unemployment rate has risen almost a full percentage point since October 2007, when it was 3.5%, but things continue to look good on the job front there. All those colleges keep on employing thousands of area residents, and the many hospitals and research institutions make for a strong showing in health care. Not everyone who works at those institutions is a physician or researcher either--finance staff, managers and all kinds of back-office workers are always needed. With so many educated men and women wanting to stick around after graduating, Boston has become a hub for the tech and pharmaceutical industries. The city lost just 900 financial sector jobs in the past year--far fewer than other, harder hit places.

No. 4: Richmond, Va.

Unemployment rate: 4.4%

A year ago, Richmond's unemployment rate was 3.1%. But at 4.4% currently, it's still well below the national average. One reason is its healthy mix of industries and business sizes. The area doesn't rely on one or two huge companies to employ most of its residents. Public accounting, manufacturing and service remain strong fields, and with the nation's capital just three hours away, there are plenty of jobs in government contracting and defense. The military bases in the area contribute to a strong showing in government-related jobs.

No. 5: Milwaukee, Wis.

Unemployment rate: 4.8%

Milwaukee's unemployment rate is barely changed from a year ago, when it was 4.7%. The aging population has helped health care jobs multiply; they've grown by almost 30,000 in the past 12 months. Many health care, energy and environmental companies that were based in Chicago have been moving to Milwaukee for its cheaper expenses. The city is only about an hour from Chicago by train.

No. 6: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Unemployment rate: 5%

This city's unemployment rate has climbed in the past year from 3.9%, with much of that job loss in manufacturing. However, it continues to have several strong industries, particularly education, health care and government. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the city's largest employer, with 40,000 workers. Banking, technology and education also continue to keep the economy and job market lively.

No. 7: Baltimore, Md.

Unemployment rate: 5.1%

Though unemployment in Baltimore jumped from 3.6% the previous year, the jobs in education, professional services and business services have grown. The city's close proximity to Washington, D.C., means there are many government contractors around and many commuters who live in Baltimore but work in the nation's capital.

No. 8: Seattle, Wash.

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Unemployment here increased from 3.7% in October 2007, but certain sectors have stayed quite strong, including biotech and health care. The area has a large elderly population and several Veterans Administration hospitals that employ considerable numbers. You'll do best looking for a job in Seattle if you're trained in the knowledge economy; the city has very few blue-collar positions to offer.

No. 9: Houston, Texas

Unemployment rate: 5.4%

The unemployment rate has risen from 4% in the past year. However, government jobs, particularly in oil, gas and other types of energy, continue to be strong. The city added 11,100 government jobs just in the last year.

10. Dallas, Texas

Unemployment rate: 5.6%

Dallas enjoys job growth very much like Houston's, concentrated in government positions related to energy. The city also has growing technology and information technology industries that are providing work, and it's home to many companies handling government contracts.

Source: Forbes.com

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Resume Tips for Mortgage Industry Career Changers

The loss of a job ranks as one of the most stressful and devastating events in ones life. If you worked in the financial services sector as a loan officers, underwriter, loan processor, closer, appraiser, broker, or real estate agent you may be facing an additional challenges - how to reinvent yourself and re-write your resume. If you are a student of resume writing you know that a well written resume can get you an invite for an interview. So, how do you translate your mortgage experience and skill sets so you are competitive with others outside your industry?

I came across a well written article by Karen Hofferber. She provides helpful resume writing tips for people in the mortgage industry who are considering a career change. I do not think that I could have given any better advice. Here's the article:

"The U.S. housing crisis has led to a mass exodus of mortgage professionals from this industry. With foreclosures and defaults skyrocketing, lending guidelines tightening, and home values plummeting, opportunities for commissions are scarce and layoffs are increasing. It's tough to make a living originating mortgages when lenders and their loan products are dwindling and qualified borrowers are difficult to locate.

If you're a mortgage lending professional and considering a career change, here's some good news: armed with a powerfulcareer change resume, you can successfully break into a new industry. Here's how to make your resume shine:

1. State your goal. Remove guesswork for employers by clearly stating your career goal towards the beginning of your resume. There are several ways you can do this. My favorite is to create a resume title that spells it out succinctly -- such as "Career Goal: Medical/Pharmaceutical Sales." Another option is to write an objective (but make sure that your objective focuses on employers' needs and not just on what you want). A third choice (which I often use in conjunction with a resume title) is to incorporate your goal in a powerful opening profile summarizing your key strengths. (See #3, below.)

2. Emphasize your transferable skills. Loan officers bring a wealth of skills and knowledge to the workplace that are transferable to many industries. Examples include consultative selling, customer needs analysis, risk assessment, relationship building, presentation/communication skills, inside/outside sales, and computer proficiencies. But you have to spell out these transferable skills on your resume -- don't assume that these skills will be considered a "given" by employers outside the mortgage industry. You can incorporate your transferable skills into virtually all areas of the resume, including the qualifications summary, an "Expertise" (or "Key Skills") list, and the "Experience" section.

3. Profile your most marketable strengths. A qualifications summary is a must for career changers. Written as a brief paragraph or a few bulleted statements, it gives you the opportunity to tell employers why they should interview you. For example:
"Multimillion-dollar producer motivated to leverage six-year record of commended sales performance to transition into new product lines and industries. Fast learner of complex products; 'power user' of MS Office; and expert prospector, negotiator, presenter, and closer. Consistently deliver quota-surpassing results, and excel in building rapport and enduring relationships with key accounts."

4. Turn negatives into positives. The ability to survive during tough times is something to tout on your resume. If this is your story, consider adding a bulleted accomplishment or two highlighting this track record. For example:
"Generated steady referral business despite the severe collapse in the industry. Found creative ways to structure deals and meet client needs while adhering to lending guidelines and preserving company profitability."

5. Use comparisons, pipeline metrics, or previous production numbers if your current sales have declined. "What do I use for accomplishments when the mortgage industry has tanked?" is a question that was recently posed to me by a loan officer client. You have several options, and depending on the specifics of your situation, at least one of these should be relevant and applicable. Use comparisons to your peers if this presents you in a favorable light. For example, you may have only closed one deal last month, but if that tied for first place in your office then you can truthfully report that you achieved top ranking despite the industry's decline. Or maybe you've been successful in generating a healthy pipeline even though some of these deals may not survive underwriting. Again, highlight the positive. And even if you haven't received any sales awards this year, include previous honors. (Just remove references to the year that you received these, as in the last example, below.)

I've included a few sample bulleted accomplishment statements below. Not all of these may be applicable to you, but I hope it gives you a jumping-off point to create your own accomplishment statements:

• "Harnessed previously built relationships to continue bringing in deals and closing sales during period when few peers were able to achieve these results."
• "Consistently led the office in sales volume, earning top rankings for production during periods of high growth as well as market decline."
• "Maintained a strong pipeline (with over $4.5M in current pending deals) despite dwindling prospects and product availability."
• "Honored with numerous awards during five-year tenure, including repeated 'Top Sales' distinction for record-breaking production (six months in a row of $1M+ volume)."
  

6. Minimize industry-specific terms. The widespread negative press the mortgage industry has received, including the largely unpopular bailout plan, has the unfortunate residual side-effect of "guilt by association" for hardworking professionals on the front-lines of this industry. Combat this problem by minimizing industry-specific terms on your resume. Now is not the time to be connected to Fannie or Freddie, and any mentions of "sub-prime," "Option ARMs," "Alt-A," and even the term "mortgage" (use euphemisms, like "finance" and "financial services," instead, wherever possible) should be used sparingly on your resume."

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The Secrets of Successful Networking - Part 2

Networking itself is not a revolutionary concept, but how people are networking and connecting to great opportunities is changing with next-generation job sites that combine job search and networking. People can now find jobs and be found using powerful search tools on the Web and get jobs based on the strengths of existing relationships. Social networking sites are gaining traction as a tool in job searches. Stay with me because I will explain why later in this post. This is part 2 of a 2 part piece on networking.

If you read part 1 I discussed tips and techniques about building your social network. I also wrote an article ("Leveraging Your Online Social Networking") on the do's and don't when participating on a online social networking group. In this segment I will discuss how to choose an online social networking group and the benefits.

There are many out there and I would not recommend subscribing to every one. Doing so will spin you into a "social networking overload".
LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to create a professional profile and discover connections in your network.
MyWorkster: Get networked with people in your community on this site for students, alumni, and job seekers.
Facebook: Use Facebook to get connected with old friends and new contacts.
MySpace: Although MySpace doesn't exactly say professional, you can get connected with friends and other contacts on this social networking site. I have a discussion group on MySpace called "Ask a Recruiter"
Tribe: Join Tribe to network with people who have similar interests.
Ryze: Make business contacts and establish a networking homepage on Ryze.
Netparty: Get connected with other young professionals at the parties thrown by this organization.
Probook: Canadians can get connected on this professional networking site.
Fast Pitch Networking: On this professional social network for business, you can find step up your Internet presence, find friends and colleagues, and more.
Xing: Find people, manage your business contacts and network for your career on Xing.
Layoffspace: The unemployed can gather and network on this site.
Twitter: Use Twitter to update the world in 140 characters or less.
Meetup: Find a Meetup group to meet people who share your interests.
Whototalkto: Help people get your old position while looking for a new one on this website.
ZoomInfo: Build your online reputation by filling out a profile on ZoomInfo.
Ecademy: Create contacts and market yourself on this business networking site.
orkut: Find new business contacts and join communities on orkut.

Don't forget Chat rooms, Web forums and discussion groups.

Now, in order to make online social networking work for you it is essential that you maintain a presence and cultivate contacts. It becomes difficult to manage when you have a profile on more than 3 sites. Remember. This is not a stand alone job search activity. You have to allocate your time to other job search activities. Do not consume your time creating a profile on numerous sites. Narrow your list down to 2-3 sites. Brian Chappelle compiled a very comprehensive report that may help you choose which online social network sites to consider. He shared those results on Ignite Social Media. I wish I had discovered this information when I searching for a job.

After you review the report ask yourself these questions:
1) Which networks are getting enough traffic/users that merit my involvement?
2) Is it for the masses or for unique users (i.e., healthcare, education, IT, executives, HR, finance, etc.)?
3) Which networks are getting traffic/users from the countries you need to network with?
4) Which networks cater to what you want the most?
Why should you consider including online social networking in your job search activities?

• 77% of recruiters run searches of candidates on the Web to screen applicants. For instance recruiters at Microsoft and Starbucks troll online networks such as LinkedIn for potential candidates. Goldman Sachs and Deloitte run their own online alumni networks for hiring back former employees and strengthening bonds with alumni-cum-possible clients. The more senior your position, the more likely you will be researched online.
  
• A growing number of companies are advertising on social network sites. "Facebook provides us with the opportunity to show our fun environment with pictures, comments, and discussions", writes financial services Ernst & Young.
  
• It's said that 80% of the jobs available never get advertised. Using this resource can help you find them. According to CareerXRoad's 2007 Annual Sources of Hire Surveyof new hires brought in from outside an organization were due to employee referrals. Those employees have profiles on online social network sites.
• You can review profiles of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce you.
• The more contacts you have within a network, the greater your chances are that someone will know of an opportunity which is right for you.
• Smaller, more tech savvy companies are using online press releases, blogs or their own social networks for recruitment. If people have joined their RSS feed, or signed up for their newsletter, that person is likely to have an interest in their services and may be looking for work. So become a joiner for those companies/groups you are interested in working for, and keep an eye out for work opportunities. If you become an active part of these communities, you could even ask the group if there are jobs available.
• Use these sites to showcase your experience and achievements.

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New Year Resolution - Get That Job! Get That Job! Get That Job!

At the end of each year we reflect on events that shaped our lives and how we improved our lives. We look forward to the New Year with new commitments to reform a habit or a lifestyle change. If your goal in 2009 is to secure a job or transition into another career add “create and execute an assertive job search strategy” to your New Year resolution list. Read what my colleagues say are the “must do” activities to jump start your career search in 2009.

Get on Twitter. “Use Twitter to demonstrate your professional expertise and draw the attention of people in your industry who will want to hire you. At the same time, actively reach out to those kinds of people by following and networking with industry recruiters and other insiders.”
Jacob Share, Job Search Expert and creator of JobMob

Help Others with Their Job Search. “You don’t have to give someone else your hottest lead, unless you decide that it's really not right for you. But, you can help them connect with someone you know who works (or worked) at their target employer, give them help with their resume, a ride to the next job search support group meeting, etc. Particularly when you are unemployed, helping others can help you feel more useful personally. And, it often, but not always, comes back to you. That person you helped with their resume has a neighbor who might be able to help you, and so on. As "they" say, “what goes around, comes around,” and paying forward to help others really does seem to payoff. Do it for that reason, if for no other.”

Build or Enhance Your Personal Brand . “My recommendation to all job seekers would be to focus on building, or enhancing, their personal brand. Attract potential employers to you rather than reaching out to them. That puts job seekers in a much better negotiating position that the reverse, even in a tough economy.”
Susan Joyce, President and Editor/Publisher of Job-Hunt.org
[Read my post "How to Make Your Resume Discoverable on the Web]

Google Yourself. “Put positive and branded professional content under your name and Google yourself everyday.”
Maor Kaplanski, Personal eBrand & ORM expert, Israel

Think Outside and Inside the Box. “Think outside and inside the Box (that computer screen in front of you, that is). In other words, you need to diversify the way you market yourself, whether it's online at job boards, or at social network sites like Twitter or LinkedIn; or offline at campus recruitment opportunities, job fairs, networking events in your field, or spreading the word to friends. The more ways in which you get the word out that you're looking, the more potential jobs you'll hear about.”
Dawn Papandrea, managing editor of The CollegeBound Network, and blogger at CollegeSurfing.com/blog

[Read my post "Job Hunting in Times of Uncertainty: Five Overlooked Strategies to Help Make Your Job Search More Productive -- and Successful"]

Rely on Your Professional Network “to try and get inside information for future openings or current openings. Of course if you have a LinkedIn profile you will want to ensure your profile is up-to-date and is robust, fully completed, and full of industry keywords that draw attention to your skills and accomplishments. Highlight areas where you can provide added value if you were to be hired.”
Linda, Reeder, Training Specialist,LinkedIn
[Read my post "The Secrets of Successful Networking, Part 1

Use Keywords. “Analyze job postings for keywords and incorporate them in your resume. I also recommend that job seekers review at least 6 to 8 job postings in their field to find keywords that appear consistently in these postings. This gives job seekers a good idea of what skills hiring managers are looking for. These are also likely to be the keywords that hiring managers search for when going through their database of resumes. Incorporating these keywords into your resume increases the chances of your resume being seen by a hiring manager.”
Cheryl Palmer, Certified Executive Career Coach,Call to Career
[Read my post "Optimize Your Resume with Keywords

Know Thyself. “What do you want to do (goals)? What do you bring to the table (talents & skills)? What differentiates you from your competition (accomplishments and capabilities)? What is your passion and calling?” Give to Get. “The karma of the job search says ‘What goes around, comes around.’ If you want to receive something, first you must give something. Freely give your time and talent to others. Give without expectation of getting anything back.” Terrence Seamon, Learning and Organization Development Consultant


Expand your Job Search Resources. “Job boards and networks are fantastic - also contact your alumni office, placement office at your college/university, industry associations, professional organizations, read trade journals - all can be great resources for your job search.”
Elaine Basham, Partner,The Resume Group

Stay Positive. “While there may be times when the job search will leave you feeling frustrated, don't ever give in to negative feelings or let them derail you from your professional goals! When you're feeling down spend time with a friend or family member who has a positive outlook. The key is to be with someone who is going to reinforce your efforts and give you encouragement and suggestions. This is not the time to be around people who complain or who have a negative outlook.”
Laura Zurowski, Director of Outreach, Marist College
[Join a discussion group]

Step outside your comfort zone. “Avoid limiting your search to your current industry or field. Identify your transferable skills and experiences, and communicate them to prospective employers.”


Minimize work history gaps. “If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships and part-time opportunities, all of which can potentially lead to a full-time role.”
Chris Russell, Webmaster, Blogger and Podcaster for the online job search industry

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America's Best Paying Jobs

High Paying Careers / Occupations

Management Occupations $96,150
Legal Occupations $88,450
Computer and Mathematical Occupations $72,190
Architecture and Engineering Occupations $68,880
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations $65,020
Business and Financial Operations Occupations $62,410
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations $62,020
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations $48,410
Education, Training, and Library Occupations $46,610
Construction and Extraction Occupations $40,620
Community and Social Services Occupations $40,540
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations $39,930
Protective Service Occupations $38,750
Sales and Related Occupations $35,240
Production Occupations $31,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations $31,200
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations $30,680
Healthcare Support Occupations $25,600
Personal Care and Service Occupations $23,980
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations $23,560
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations $22,640
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations $19,440

Top 10 Highest Paying Careers

Anesthesiologists $192,780 = 4.6% (% Change)
Surgeons $191,410 = 3.9% (% Change)
Orthodontists $185,340 = 4.8% (% Change)
Obstetricians and Gynecologists $183,600 = 3.1% (% Change)
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons $178,440 = 8.3% (% Change)
Prosthodontists $169,360 = 6.6% (% Change)
Internists, General $167,270 = 4.0% (% Change)
Physicians and Surgeons, All Other $155,150 = 9.1% (% Change)
Family and General Practitioners $153,640 = 2.5% (% Change)
Chief Executives $151,370 = 4.7% (% Change)

Would you like to see more salary information? Visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How would you use ths information in your salary negotiations?

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US Employment will Grow in 2009

Despite the recessionary views of economists, workforce employment will grow in 2009. Job seekers in 2009 will continue to hear a lot of conflicting and sometimes confusing information about the state of the job market and the state of the economy overall.

If you are in the market for a job you need to understand the changes surging through the economy in order to determine which companies to pursue and which to avoid. The U.S. employment market is evolving quickly, and you must be both knowledgeable and nimble in order to position yourself to find promising careers

Schonfield and Associates, an analysis firm, predicts 2009 employment will continue to grow modestly in many industries with productivity, as measured in sales per employee, also continuing to grow.

Many foreign companies will also show employment growth.

Among the twenty largest public corporations, ten of the largest employers will be non-U.S. headquartered firms.

According to Schonfeld & Associates, the largest U.S. based employer will be Wal-Mart Stores with over 2.4 million employees in 2009, up 5.8 percent.

The largest non-U.S. based employer will be Gazprom, Russia’s largest company, with 611,000 employees, an increase of over 10 percent.

The Commercial Banking industry will be the largest employer with 4.4 million employees in over 500 banks, reflecting a 8.8 percent increase.

Variety Stores will be second with 3.7 million employees, up 6.1 percent.

The medical services sector will be a continuing source of employment growth. Home Health Care Services, Skilled Nursing Care Facilities, as well as Offices of Medical Doctors are all growing at over 11 percent.

As in the past, areas of computer software development continue to show workforce growth.

The Prepackaged Software industry, growing at 9 percent, includes over 280 companies employing 674,000 workers.

The future is not as bright, however, for all sectors of the economy.

Employment by Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Air Courier Services, as well as the large diversified food manufacturers, will experience negative growth.

These predictions come from the 2008 edition ofWorkforce Ratios & Forecasts by Schonfeld & Associates.

The study contains historical employment for 2007, an estimate for 2008, and a forecast of 2009 for over 7,200 individual companies and summaries for over 400 industries.

In an era of downsizing, right-sizing, mergers and acquisitions, the numbers are encouraging for job seekers.

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Working with Recruiters

Job Search: Working with Recruiters - The best video clips are right here





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How to Work a Job Fair

Job fairs are a great place to network. It's an opportunity for you to showcase your skills and make an impression on an employer. But do not set your expectations high. You may receive an on-the-spot interview but typically, recruiters and managers do not make job offers at these events.

To get the most out of a job fair, you should be prepared to talk confidently about your skills and how they could meet the needs of each employer you talk to. You want to stand out to employers based on the value your skills could offer their company. Here are a few tips.

1. "Plan Your Attack" - What to do the day before. Make a list. Get a list of companies attending and choose 10-15 that are offering positions that you are interested in.  Research each company of interest. Many job-seekers go to fairs to "see the sights" and are not prepared to interview. You can get a huge jump on the competition by doing some research on each of the companies you want to interview with. Hoovers.com offers alot of information -- very little for free and more for a fee. Web100 tracks the largest American and international companies on the Web. Vault.com is well know for it's insider reports on thousands of companies. Talk to current employees to get an idea of the work environment. Ask them what they like and dislike about the company and why they chose to work for the company. Go to your favorite search engine and find the company's websites. Inspect your resume to ensure that it is updated and has accurate information. Make sure you have different versions of your resume (example: admin/clerical, management, payroll, etc.). Prepare a "Wow" statement. This is a 60-second introduction, which should include your name, your skills and why you are interested in this company. Be sure to include some interesting fact that you learned about the company during your research. Practice your approach. Work on your handshake as you hand over your resume, your eye to eye contact, and your introduction. It's part of the impression you will leave with the employer.  Put together your "Job fair kit". A bonded portfolio presents a more professional appearance and can neatly store your resumes, notebook and pen. If you have business cards leave them at home. Your resume is your business card. Pack plenty of copies of your resume(s).

2. "Execute, Execute, Execute" - The Day of the Job Fair.  Arrive early and revisit each booth before leaving. Turn your cell/pager off before entering the event.  Don't forget the eye-to-eye contact and firm handshake. Have your resume out and ready to hand over. Remember to smile. Helps to relax you and shows enthusiasm. Try to eavesdrop when employer speaks with other candidates so you do not ask the same questions. Use follow up questions. Ask intelligent questions - 1) "What are your fields of greatest need and do you anticipate these needs changing over the next few years?"; 2) "What kind of career opportunities are available for people with my degree and skills?”; 3) "What qualities are you looking for in new hires?"; 4) “What are your future hiring plans?”; 5) “Describe the work environment at your organization?”; 6)“What characteristics do you see in successful people at your organization? “Get a business card from each company you are interested in.  Jot down notes about company you visited and conversations you had with the recruiter. You will need the information for your follow up. Do some networking with your fellow job seekers in terms of sharing information about job leads and companies. After you leave the job fair reflect on what you did well and what you can improve on. Write those thoughts down so you can work on them before attending your next job fair.

3. "Life after the Job Fair". As a recruiter I am amazed at how few job seekers actually take the time to follow-up after a job fair, thus when you do it, you will get an edge over the many others who do not.
Send "Thank you" notes or letters as soon as possible. In the letter or note, thank the recruiter for his/her time, restate your interest and qualifications for the position, reiterate your interest in a second interview, and make a promise to follow-up the letter with a phone call. Mention something you learned about the company while you were at the job fair. Refer to those notes you took at the event. Another method is to call the recruiter the evening of the fair and leave a voicemail message thanking the recruiter again for his/her time that day. A more concrete and traditional method is to write a thank you note and mail it the next day to the address on the recruiter's business card. I would recommend including another copy of your resume.

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The Secrets of Successful Networking - Part 1

Looking for a job is a job in itself. We've all heard this. So those on a serious job quest polish their resumes and dutifully distribute them around town.

For many, the concept of networking conjures thoughts of calling up people they know and having lunch or coffee with them and talking about opportunities that may exist in that person's company. Aggressive networking carries this a step further.

First, make a list of people you know who have jobs in your line of work or related to your line of work. Then sit down and call each person on your list and suggest that you meet for a coffee or something equally brief. There are two reasons for this. One, you don't want to take up a lot of the other person's time and two, lunches and dinners get to be expensive if you have many of them to buy.

Take networking seriously. That is, don't spread the meetings with your list of contacts out over a month-long period. Start on a Monday morning and call everyone to book a get-together for later in the week or at the latest, early next week.

When you have the meeting, keep it light. Don't show up with your resume and ask, "Do you know of any jobs?" This is simply a reconnaissance mission. The person you're having coffee with is in the business and knows what's happening. Ask for this information. Try saying something as simple and straightforward as: "You're plugged into what's going on around town. Any suggestions on who I can talk to about what might be coming up in the future?"

By the end of the week, you may have a couple of dozen names of people in the industry. Sit down the next Monday morning and call them. Introduce yourself, explain where you got their names and ask if you can have 15 minutes of their time. Suggest meeting for a coffee near their office. Often, the person will say something like, "Why don't you drop in around 3 p.m. We can talk here in my office."

Schedule your week, filling in time slots to meet people. And again, get three names from each of these people. After a while, you may notice an overlapping of names as your contacts give you names of people you have already contacted.

Don't ask for a job. Just the same as meeting with your acquaintances, keep it light. Say that you're looking for a place in the industry and in the meantime, you're making an all-out effort to keep plugged into what's happening.

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Job Hunting in Times of Uncertainty: Five Overlooked Strategies to Help Make Your Job Search More Productive -- and Successful

In times when the economy falters, when financial markets fall, and when companies of all sizes in many industries announce plans to reduce their workforce, job seekers tend to get a bit concerned about the length and success of the job search they may face. It almost goes without saying that job-hunting in a boom economy is quite different (and much easier) than job hunting in a slumping economy.


Different, yes. Harder and often more time consuming, yes. Impossible, no. Job hunting is an art that simply takes more time and work to perfect in uncertain times than in good times. You will have to work harder and smarter at finding new opportunities, but they are out there, and if you take advantage of these five strategies you will be much better positioned to land a new job.

Utilizing the Power of Networking. What's the most important tool of job-hunting, especially in times of uncertainty? Not a resume nor interviewing skills…but networking. Why networking? Networking is the most effective tool of job-hunting because if you use your network properly, you will hear of multiple job opportunities, often before they are even listed (if they are ever listed).

Some job seekers shy away from networking because they equate networking with taking advantage of people, but if done correctly, networking can be a rewarding experience for all parties involved. Networking is not asking everyone you know for a job. Networking means developing a broad list of contacts -- family, friends, and people you've met through various social and business functions -- and using them to your advantage when you look for a job. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.

Now is the time to broaden your network -- even if you are not currently looking for a new job. You never know when you'll need your network, so make every effort to grow it.

Finding Hidden Job Opportunities. In good times job openings are plentiful, but in uncertain times the job openings disappear. Job-seekers are left scrambling for the few “open” jobs. But there are always other job possibilities lurking in the background, and it is up to the persistent job-seeker to find those hidden job opportunities and/or to create new opportunities.

Finding hidden opportunities. Job seekers must take full advantage of their network to uncover as many potential job openings as possible. Hunt down every lead. Consider using cold calling techniques to find other opportunities. Focus more of your time and energy here than trying to respond to every job posting at Monster.com or the other job boards.

Creating new opportunities. As companies downsize and consolidate job functions, many opportunities may arise for a job seeker with the right skills. Determine your most marketable skills, examine the ongoing needs of the employers where you want to work (including your current employer), and develop a proposal showcasing how the employer would benefit from hiring you.

Sharpening the Focus of Your Resume. Decide whether a traditional chronological resume format is better for you or whether you need a functional resume format, or some type of hybrid format.

Consider developing a "qualifications summary" or "key accomplishments" section for your resume. Think of this section as the executive summary of your resume. If the employer reads only this one part of your resume, will it be enough to entice the employer to read the rest of your resume?

Develop multiple resumes, perhaps even customizing each resume you send to the specific job and employer. Also consider multiple resume formats, from the standard formatted paper resume to a scannable text resume and Web-based resume.

Finally, remember that a resume is a living document. You are never "done" with your resume. You should update and edit your resume(s) regularly, adding new accomplishments and skills, sharpening the focus, removing outdated material.

Developing a Dynamic Cover Letter. A cover letter is an integral tool of your job search. Perhaps in the past you have been able to get good jobs with a mediocre cover letter, but in uncertain times, your cover letter becomes the main tool that can determine whether your resume is read and whether you are even considered as a candidate for a position.

How can you improve your cover letter? Let's review the two most important parts of the cover letter: the introductory paragraph and the ending paragraph.

The first paragraph of your cover letter must sell the employer on the benefits/skills/talent you will bring to the job - a mix that no other job seeker has and one that has a clear benefit to the employer. Do not waste this critical opening paragraph.

• Weak opening paragraph: I am writing today to apply for the account manager opening you have posted on your company Website.
• Better opening paragraph: I have increased the size and sales levels of my client base in every position I have held, which in turn has increased the revenues and profits of my employers. I want to bring this same success to the account position you have posted on your Website.

The final paragraph of your cover letter must be proactive. You must ask for the job interview (or a meeting) in this paragraph. You must express your confidence that you are a perfect fit for the job. You must also put the employer on notice that you plan to follow-up within a specified time.

• Weak closing paragraph: I hope you will review my resume, and if you agree with what I have stated here, consider me for the position. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
• Better closing paragraph: I am eager to help advance the success of your company, and I am convinced that we should arrange a time to meet. I will call your office in the next week to schedule an appointment.

Mastering the Art of Follow-Up. In good times, some job seekers may be able to get away with being impolite in not sending thank you letters and being lazy by not following up all leads, but in a tight or uncertain job market, job-seekers must follow-up every job lead, every job application, and every job interview.

Some job seekers may see follow-up as too aggressive, but the cliché about the squeaky wheel getting the grease applies to job seeking. As long as you don't contact the employer too often or act abusive, following up with emails or phone calls is a way to stay at the forefront of the minds of the employers, as well as a way for you to stay on top of the status of the search. Each time you follow-up, your strategy should be to reinforce the perception that you are the ideal candidate for the job; the job seeker with the unique set of skills and experiences required for the job.

Follow-up each cover letter and resume you send with a phone call or email requesting an interview. Follow-up each interview you have with a thank you note or letter to each person who interviewed you. And follow-up your thank you note with a phone call or email to again express your interest and fit with the job and check on the status of the search.

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Niche Job Search Sites

Once you have built a solid résumé, you need to get it out there where people can see it. Post it to all the major job sites and to the niche sites you have identified for your industry or profession.

Q: Why should you bother with all the work it takes to find and post on niche job sites?
A: The big job boards important, but they aren’t enough. Niche job sites offer many advantages, both for employers and for job seekers. Employers receive far fewer resumes for each job listing than they would on Monster.com or Yahoo! HotJobs, yet the resumes they do receive are often more qualified and more targeted simply because they are focused in their job search. Job seekers deal with fewer competing applicants and therefore have a better chance at making the short list of candidates to be contacted for the next step in the hiring process. The big job boards should, of course, be a part of your overall job search strategy, as many employers only post on one job board or only a few - by having your resume on as many relevant job boards as possible you maximize your chances of being found by your ideal employer.

How do you find the niche job sites specific to your industry or area of expertise? Just go to your search engine of choice and search for (your niche) + “job sites”. For example, a search for accounting job sites will yield a number of sites specific to accounting jobs. You may even try localizing your search, such as searching for “Accounting job sites New York” (with or without quotes).

Try a few different variations when searching so you’ll find more good sites to use. You can even try your target title such as “fixed assets manager job sites Los Angeles”.

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Where the jobs are

This is a follow up to my previous post, "How to Survive a Layoff". In that post I discussed how to approach your job search after being laid off. Feel free to engage any of those techniques as you explore "Where the Jobs Are".

Here are some questions and answers about who is hiring.

Q: What fields are hiring?
A: Even Friday's (Dec 7th) dismal November jobs report had tiny positive glimmers in the form of fields that are doing a little bit of hiring — mostly in the low thousands, and nowhere near enough to offset the hundreds of thousands of job losses elsewhere. Look to your "Monopoly" board for a couple of the industries that are hiring: railroads and utilities. Others are just as old school, like the logging and mining sector, and food, drink and tobacco manufacturing. The oil business is still adding a few jobs, as is pipeline transportation. General merchandise stores also did some pre-holiday hiring.

Q:Which jobs are considered "recession proof"...jobs that are still expanding in a volatile economy?
A: Accounting. The more companies reorganize, the more accountants they need.
Nursing: One field where there is still a shortage, and openings at most hospitals.
Computer I-T: With companies keeping computers longer, they need people to fix them and update software.
Commission Sales Reps: In a recession, companies are desperate for good salespeople.
Security: You can't have enough security guards these days.
Building maintenance, as companies hold off on new offices.
The US Census Bureau...which is now hiring thousands of workers to prepare for Census 2010.

Q: What industries generally don't shrink when times are bad?
A: Health care and education tend to stay flat during bad times. That's it. This recession has sparked a surge in federal spending — so much so that the government hopes to add about 100,000 jobs this year.

Q: Are there specific jobs, even at companies laying people off, that will continue to be filled?
A: Yes. In the financial services sector, some hiring continues as companies lay off workers who make $350,000 and replace them with workers who make $75,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which cut 10 percent of its staff in the last few months, has been running select help wanted ads for junior positions.

Q: Are some states better off than others?
A: Yes. Even in industries that are shrinking nationally, the reality is rosier in some places than in others. Connecticut, for instance, has seen its financial services workforce shrink only slightly, despite widespread layoffs in New York, thanks to its more stable insurance base. The state's construction industry is also holding up better than construction is nationally. Similarly, Wyoming's energy industry continues to hire.

Job placement firms may be the number one place to turn to right now. Many companies are holding off hiring full-time employees until they see a bottoming of the economic crisis. Accepting a "temp to hire" positon could lead to a full-time position. If companies keep telling you they are under a hiring freeze right now, ask about a "temp to hire" position, where they take you on as a temp with no commitments. Then if the economy starts to look better in 2009, you'll have an edge over outside applicants.

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