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January 07, 2009
Spotting the Career and Employment Trends
Trying to spot career and employment trends isn't as easy this year as it has been in past. The global economic situation has played havoc with many careers and employment situations, but it also has created opportunities in areas we might not have thought about before.
It seems that the morning news shows are full of tips on how to find new jobs and improve yourself to increase your chances for being hired. ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) has a contributor who runs the website Women For Hire who for the past few months has been hosting the Great American Job Fair where women and men, armed with their resumes and portfolios go to companies who are actually hiring personnel. The next Great American Job Fairs is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14th in Boston.
You can also sign up for a weekly newsletter offering tips and insights on finding work and improving yourself.
Tori Johnson the owner of Women For Hire on a recent GMA suggested that these careers or jobs could be ones you might want to pursue. Some require learning new skills.
- Financial Services. Many banks and businesses are closing down, they may need those with experience in helping close books etc. Some may even need forensic and financial auditing.
- Book keeping, tax preparation and accountants. Small businesses which may be closing or may be starting up need bookkeepers, tax preparers and accountants. Finance and business students working for their charter accountants certificates may be able to find opportunities to prove your competency and establish working business relationships.
- Debt Collection Agencies and Repossession Agencies. These require no training other than what the employer wants you to know and the legal methods you can use. It's not always easy to have to call people about their debts or to repossess their items but in hard financial times it happens.
Be ready for the emotional onslaught and name calling but also be empathetic and compassionate. Most people would never dream something like this could happen to them and they're probably emotional, angry and overwrought themselves.
- Law enforcement. Whenever there's a downturn in the economy, law enforcement jobs increase. However it doesn't have to be police officers. Often first responders need dispatchers for 911 or other emergency calls which those with disabilities can do with adaptive technology.
- Repairs-auto mechanics, computer doctors, plumbers, electricians. Let's face it, things break down. Most of us whether disabled or not haven't a clue how to fix it, so we rely on others to fix things for us. Trades in certain areas will never not be needed especially with our new technology.
Refrigerators and air conditioning units are essential for most people as is anything electrical. Look into these types of fields as a second career or a new one.
- Health. Even though most baby boomers hope to have good health into their old age, it may not always happen. And since boomers have been the largest demographic for a few decades now they're going to need more people to help them stay healthy and lead active lives. So health care careers and dealing with gerontology will be growing for a few decades to come. Personal home support workers, massage therapists, occupational, recreational and physio-therapy being some of the careers which will more than likely grow. Boomers have always been interested in the holistic approach so career counselors, social workers, therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists will more than likely be careers to look into as well.
- Clean energy jobs. Green has become the new industry and it will involve all sectors of society and work from organic farming and processing to finding new green healthy energies like the advancement of solar and wind power as T. Boone Pickens and Ted Turner are advocating. This is a sector that is wide open for those in research, engineering, technology, agricultural, you name it.
- Medical transcription and other technology. This is another area that common sense tells you will grow. Many health systems around the world are integrating computer records and paper records into electronic systems that will make it easier to access. Medical transcription courses are available on-line and at your local junior or community college. Technologists will be needed for the new ways of doing research and practicing medicine.
Another website that has been in operation for 25 years and has a good reputation for spotting trends is Trend Research Inc.
One of the statements made on the January 2nd coast to coast am radio show was that what is bad for Wall Street will be good for Main Street in the next few years. With large chain stores failing in malls there will be openings for mom and pop businesses to re-establish themselves on main street as long as they offer excellent quality at affordable prices. With the closure of a chain like Starbucks, for example, there will still be a demand for coffee but at more affordable prices. This can be the time for small business entrepreneurship to flourish if you fill a niche.
People are going to want to be green about their habits now and so will be re-using, repairing things. If you having sewing or tailoring experience, open an affordable tailoring business since more conservative business dressing is coming back into style. People always need hems or buttons fixed. The art of cobbling shoes may come back which means repairing soles and heels, making shoes last longer. Handy man/woman repairs are always needed especially in areas where seniors reside and may not be able to do it themselves. Same with lawn and garden care or especially this winter, snow removal.
In Buffalo during the holidays recently they were advertising for people over the age of 16 to come clean out Rich Stadium when the Bills had a game and the field and seats were covered with snow. It paid ten dollars an hour but better ten dollars an hour especially if you had no income coming in at that particular time.
Other areas to look for job trends are with your state or provincial governments. Often there is info about skills updating training or second career training so check out those opportunities. Check out non profit agencies like Goodwill or Jewish Vocational Services. Look for jobs at temporary agencies and ask if they provide skill training or skill updating for free, many do. Look to your local community or junior colleges, many offer associate degrees which are a year or two in length and not as expensive as college or university. Check the open online free courses. You may not get the accreditation but it may spark an interest or passion for an area of study which you've never considered.
Don't be dismissive about doing certain jobs, thinking they are beneath you and your "experience or education". In these times work that pays is good work. You won't always have to stay in that job and you may acquire skills that will put you onto a different career path, increase your social network or just change your life.
Wake up every morning with a purpose, become prepared and willing to work and check the attitude at the door. Don't be wishy-washy but don't have a chip on your shoulder either. Become passionate and enthusiastic, pro-active and positive. Studies show that happiness is contagious and so share your optimism. Look at everything as an opportunity.
Poor economies sometime spawn viable small businesses. What small business products or services do you think are needed in your area?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Liz Seger at January 7, 2009 04:07 PM
Comments
Happy New Year everyone! One program that used to be at The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually-Impaired--say that ten times fast--was medical transcription. My brother, who is also blind but that is his only disability, successfully completed that program and went on to become a medical transcriptionist for a small firm. The firm eventually went out of business, but my brother was very successful there. When I came along, however, the medical transcription program at the Chicago Lighthouse was no longer in existence. I think there used to be a medical transcription program at The Hadley School for the Blind, but it too is no more. I've transcribed medical reports for my father--who has been in the medical profession for a long time--and some of his colleagues. I thoroughly enjoyed doing these, and I have a knack for computers so I was good at transcribing the reports. So I think medical transcription is one area that needs to be brought back here in some form. Going back to Hadley for a minute, I took a few courses from them and loved every moment of it. The approach at Hadley is excellent, and I'm going to enroll in more courses there. I think another thing that is needed in my geographical area is better VR services. This is probably only in my dreams, but I think it would be good. Not to dwell too much on this, but I went through a few job programs that were state-run and I really didn't gain much from them at all. I was in fact placed in two summer jobs, but only one of them was fullfilling and even that one didn't last long. The "job coaching" which I received at The Chicago Lighthouse wasn't that good, and the employee turn-over rate there was and I think still is very high. I don't know that much about temp agencies, but a neighbor friend who worked at one or two once told me that they probably wouldn't be that great for a person who is visually-impaired because of the constant relocation of work. I'm assuming he's right but I have never been able to talk with anyone else about it. He is fully sighted. In addition to being blind, I have a couple other minor disabilities and this fact has more or less been looked down upon by the VR agency workers. They just don't seem willing or perhaps able to change their mindset and this is a real problem which demands a real solution. I'm very happy with the nonprofit job I have now, and with the nonprofit job I previously held. In addition, I'm doing some telecommuting which is very satisfying. So at this point I don't really want another job. If something comes along that perhaps doesn't involve VR services, I'll take it. Jake
Posted by: Jake at January 7, 2009 05:48 PM
Happy New Year to All and, May We All Have Superior Results in 2009 Whatever We Choose To Do!
Over the next few days, I'll post additional ideas to this question. For now, I'd like to suggest a Website that many who I work with are using to find part-time, telecommuting, temporary assignments and even full-time employment in the present economy.
It's indeed.com and, it enables the individual to conduct a search by Job Title, Region, Salary, Newspaper, Corporate Website, Corporate Publications, Professional Journals and related publications! You can search by any combination of the aforementioned, post a resume and get timely Career guidance that's a bit more realistic than Career Builder, Career News or Job Search Weekly.
Another site becoming extremely timely is usajobs.gov (Yes, I know what the stats are related to employment of PWD's in Federal service). In spite of this, the Wall St. Journal on-Line, Washington Post and Federal Times have all acknowledged that with the incoming Administration's desire to quickly develop infra-structure projects, enhance health care and continue the present Administration's focus on education alternatives for youth and adults who need training to be competitive for 21st Century Jobs, there is a clear need for individuals in Federal/State government entities to provide the functional guidance in order for these services to be available in local communities.
Finally, in late November (2008), The "Plum Book" was released by the Government Printing Office. For those not familiar, the "Book" provides a listing of all Direct Appointment positions available in each State and, the Federal Government to Advisory Boards and Commissions. These positions will be filled during the next four years as those appointed by the present Administration in the past four years (since 2005), will expire routinely and since, it's a New Administration, re-appointments are highly unlikely. www.gpo.gov has additional info on purchasing this Federal Government Publication. (Note: Because of its popularity, it's very unlikely, a visit to a Local Library will get a look/see. Likewise, a call to one's Senator/Congressman will not get you a copy because of the cost of the publication by the GPO, $38).
Posted by: James J. Elekes at January 8, 2009 12:33 PM