THE FACTS ON ACCOUNTING JOBS

Why go into accounting? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, accounting and auditing positions are “expected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.” In fact, they predict that over the course of the next decade the accounting field will produce roughly 279,400 jobs.

The BLS claims that the reason for this strong growth is “an increase in the number of businesses, changing financial laws and corporate governance regulations, and increased accountability for protecting an organization’s stakeholders.” Another reason, as seen in other fields we’ve profiled in this series, is the retirement of baby boomers and the slew of positions that are opening up because of this.

HOT SPOTS

Here are some accounting-focused job boards and resources:

• CareerBuilder Accounting
• Accounting Jobs Today
• Five Reasons to Become a CPA
• Roger CPA Resources

HOT TIPS

When it comes to standing out from the competition, here are three ways to set yourself apart in the finance field:

Computer skills:  Become proficient in the accounting and auditing software relevant to the types of positions you are targeting.

Advanced degree: Earn your master’s degree in accounting or an MBA with an emphasis in accounting to allow for greater Advancement opportunities.

Specialization: Find a way to specialize in a certain kind of accounting. For instance, globalization has resulted in the need for accountants who have an expertise in services related to international trade, mergers, and acquisitions. There are also “forensic” accountants who focus on catching individuals and companies committing fraud. Many state and local law enforcement agencies hire forensic accountants.

GET OUT OF THE HOT SEAT

If you are you good with numbers and like paying attention to detail, accounting may be for you. It’s a prestigious field with a variety of specialties and a lot of room for advancement. It’s not too late to consider a change and get some career (and financial) stability in return.

Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, PhD is a coach and author of The YOU Plan: A 5-step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy. Dr. Woody is president of the consulting firm HCI, sits on the Academic Advisory Board of the Florida International University Center for Leadership, and holds a PhD in organizational psychology.

Getting back down to planet earth, and the the more immediate future, many are also predicting there will be an increased need for more traditional positions in biological and forensic sciences. Most of these opportunities are expected to be best for graduates of applied science technology programs who are well trained on the latest equipment being used in laboratories and production facilities. the reality is simple, technology is continuing to advance. So, if you are looking to play in the science/technology space keep reading for some tips on how to focus your search.

THE FACTS ON SCIENCE JOBS

According to the job trending tool on Indeed.com, job postings related to “science” have increased steadily over the past five years for a total of about 3% growth. This is evidence that the field of science in general seems to have survived the long-lasting slump in the economy and has potential to be a bright spot as we begin the road to recovery.

When it comes to specific occupations in the scientific field, biotechnology certainly stands out. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of biological scientists will grow 21 percent between now and 2018; a percentage of growth that is much higher than the average for all other US occupations. With an aging population and continued competition among pharmaceutical companies, the demand and drive for innovative health technologies should continue to expand.

For you CSI buffs out there, good news, because jobs in forensic science are expected to increase by 20 percent over the next decade, which is also much faster than the average growth for other US occupations. Although state and local governments have taken quite a hit, the BLS is projecting increases in applications for forensic scientists across the board.

HOT SPOTS

Here are some links to resources that will help you on your way to finding a career in science:

• NatureJobs  (Job search engine, career fairs, list of popular employers, etc.)
• Science Careers (Information and job search engine produced by the journal Science)
• NewScience (A bridge between the younger generation and the scientific world)
• USA Jobs (Science jobs in government)

HOT POSITIONS    

Here is a list of some of the more promising and/or up and coming science-related career paths and positions:

• Simulation developer
• Animal migration engineer
• Human/robot interaction specialist
• World watcher (via satellites)
• Hydrologist
• Meteorologist
• Fusion worker
• Forensic scientist
• Thought hacker (advanced lie detector)
• Food scientist
• Conservation Biologist

GET OUT OF THE HOT SEAT!

Overall, science has always been a great field to get into for those with a proclivity for being at the forefront of innovation and progress. Overall, most science-related jobs provide you the opportunity to choose between working in an office, a lab, or out in the field. But you have to have at least a Bachelor’s for these mentally intensive jobs, and often a Master’s or PhD for mid to high level positions. For more information on the specific jobs positions and the experience and education needed for them, check out these articles from U.S. News and Popular Science.

Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, PhD is a coach and author of The YOU Plan: A 5-step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy. Dr. Woody is president of the consulting firm HCI, sits on the Academic Advisory Board of the Florida International University Center for Leadership, and holds a PhD in organizational psychology.

THE FACTS ON GOVERNMENT JOBS

The Partnership for Public Service predicts the Federal workforce will expand to 2.1 million civilian employees from now through 2012. According to their estimates, 384,000 of these new openings will be the result of baby boomer retirements. Further, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) “Career Guide to Industries” predicts the continued retirement of baby boomers in the Federal government will likely last through 2018. Although many boomers in the private sector have been forced to delay their retirements due to the financial crisis, Federal pensions tend to kick-in earlier and pay-out fairly well in comparison.

HOT SPOTS

Many of the open positions we came across tend to have a security-related focus both on financial transactions and national security. However, there are opportunities in other sectors as well. Here are a few spots to look for government positions and also get support in your Federal government job search.

• USAJobs – Official government job search engine—special section for students
• USA.gov – Tips for applying to government jobs
• Partnership for Public Service – Connects the right talent to the right government jobs
• Making the Difference - Find helpful information on how to obtain a federal job
• Fedscope – Research which agencies are in your state and whether they hire people with your background

HOT POSITIONS

The following is a list of some of the hottest federal government positions out there:

• Detectives/criminal investigator
• Claims adjuster
• Compliance officer
• Security officer
• Federal marshall
• Budget/program/intelligence analyst
• IT specialists/cyber security
• Legal professional
• Border patrol agent
• Emergency management (terrorism/mass casualty)

HOT TIPS

Follow Directions: Make sure your resume and application are complete. The Federal application process can be very lengthy, so be ready for this. Also, be ready to fill out a comprehensive background questionnaire that will require information on at least 7 years of your residence and work history.

Be Patient: The application and hiring process for Federal positions can take a long time. For some positions it may take up to a year. Apply for positions that don’t require major security clearances about four months prior to your target start date and at least six to eight months in advance for national security-related positions.

GET OUT OF THE HOT SEAT!!!

Federal government positions are all over the country. In fact, only 10% are in Washington D.C. And, there are positions that require all levels of education and experience. So, if you haven’t considered this career path before, expand your horizons!

When it comes to knowing yourself, you have to start with values. The values you espouse are vital to the choices you make and ultimately dictate the way you live. Values can be thought of as the principals you hold near and dear. Your values are the code you live by. They are the rules you follow and the ethics you adhere to when dealing with others.    

The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book The YOU Plan:

“Who you are drives how you work, play, live, and ultimately shine. Your experiences, upbringing, and culture have acted to shape the person you have become and the values you espouse. The values you espouse ultimately influence the decisions you make and the path you choose to follow. Your values are the lens you view the world through… There is no doubt that our personal values play a critical role in the choices we make and the careers we pursue. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that most of us can’t articulate our values. Often this leads us to making bad decisions. These bad decisions tend to land us on career paths that aren’t truly fulfilling and sometimes, even toxic.”

Using Values to Reset

When resetting your career focus and re-engaging in your career journey, you have to be mindful of how your values play into your decisions. Every organization has its own unique culture driven by a set of core values. It’s up to you to understand what these values are and determine how well they match with yours. However, before you can do this you must be sure to have a good handle on your values. 

Values Checklists

So, how do you assess your values? Doing a quick web search for values checklists will provide a lot of results. For a quick values checklist you can try out the career-test on-line values assessment.

The key to using any adjective checklist effectively is taking the time to narrow down your values to your top five. This is a much tougher challenge than it seems because it requires making tough choices. Whenever I have taken groups through values exercises they always struggle with this, so take your time.  

Regardless of the checklist you use, you really need to ask yourself if the values you chose are really yours. A good way to test whether or not you truly value something is to ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you willing to fight for it?
• Are you willing to sacrifice for it?
• Are you willing to pay for?

Any good career plan starts with introspection. A critical component to the introspective process is assessing values. Keep in mind, values are a major driver in decision making. We are in uncertain times and successfully navigating the New Economy will require using your values as a compass. When it comes to stepping back and creating a YOU Plan, be sure to start with assessing your values.

Good luck,

To learn more about my new book check it out on amazon: The YOU Plan

In April of last year national unemployment was at 9.4%. Currently, national unemployment is at 9.7%. The unemployment rate in Ohio, the site where the President showcased this “shovel ready” project, is nearly a full percentage point higher than this time last year.

Unemployment is continuing to rise and the number of American workers out of work for longer than six months has grown to 6.7 million. This accounts for nearly half of all unemployed workers in this country.

Welcome to the New Economy!

Making your way in this new environment is going to be a challenge. Blasting resumes into cyberspace, brushing up on your interview skills, and trolling job fairs isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s no longer about chasing down existing opportunities, it’s about cultivating new ones. This is going to require adapting an entrepreneurial mindset!

Any good entrepreneur will tell you that success comes from opening your mind and seeing the world of possibilities that lay in front of you. Entrepreneurs are not big believers in happenstance, they tend to create their own luck. Take for example the June 2010 issue of Psychology Today where the featured article was on the notion of serendipity and success. The article noted that differences in personality and approach to life tend to impact perceptions of luck. When it comes to personality, one study cited by the article found that those who report being more lucky tend to be more extraverted, open to experience, and more tolerant of stress. With respect to differences in how one approaches life, the message was simple, take a step back and relax. Those who are more “present” in what they are doing and engaged with those around them, tend to have more luck.

Although personality is not something you can change, you most certainly can change the way you approach life. In particular, when it comes to dealing with the uncertainty of career transition, it’s critical that you begin by looking inward first, then outward. You must be present in the moment before considering where to go next. Uncertainty can produce a great deal of anxiety. The less control we believe we have over a situation the more anxiety we feel. The best way to take control of this anxiety and position ourselves for serendipity is to create a plan.

Personal planning is the key to taking charge of your career, reducing the impact of uncertainty, and generating your own luck. It’s all about creating a YOU Plan, a plan custom tailored for you and by you. I firmly believe that any good YOU Plan starts with introspection. You can’t build a strong plan without a solid foundation. When it comes to creating a YOU Plan you must ask yourself five fundamental questions that I remember as VIPER:
• What are my Values?
• What are my Intrinsics?
• What are my Passions?
• What is my Essence?
• What is my Roadmap?

To learn more about creating a YOU Plan go to www.TheYouPlan.com

Good luck,

Dr. Woody – www.DrWoody.com

I use the word intrinsics as a catch-all to describe what you bring to the table as a unique individual. We all have our own mix of personality, experiences, training… that combine to create a unique value proposition in terms of what we are able to accomplish in the marketplace. Spending the time to really understand your intrinsics is a critical component to successful career planning. 

In my upcoming book, The YOU Plan, I describe intrinsics in the following way:

“Think of your intrinsics as a deck of cards. All of our lives are shuffled differently, which means our cards are all spread across our life decks in very different ways. Some of your cards are close to the top and readily accessible whereas others are buried somewhere near the bottom and haven’t been played in a while.”

In other words, your intrinsics are that which you have within you that can be leveraged for value by potential customers, partners, or employers. However, in order for others to be able to see the value you bring to the table, you have to be able to articulate it in a way that is meaningful. Having a good handle on your intrinsics is an important part of career planning, particularly in a tough economic environment.  

For the sake of simplicity, I have broken intrinsics down into six factors. I believe these six factors impact the pace of your career development, thus I refer to them as your career PACERS.
• Personality
• Affiliations
• Contributions
• Experiences
• Relationships
• Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities (KSAs)

Career success requires really knowing the value you bring to the table and how to leverage and communicate that value in a way that helps others want to utilize it.

Over the next couple of weeks I will address each of the career PACERS in more depth, touching on how to really identify and leverage them. So, be sure to stay tuned!

Cheers,

Dr. Woody

To find out more about Dr Woody’s upcoming book, The YOU Plan, check out www.TheYouPlan.com

When it comes to knowing yourself, you have to start with values. The values you espouse are vital to the choices you make and ultimately dictate the way you live. Values can be thought of as the principals you hold near and dear. Your values are the code you live by. They are the rules you follow and the ethics you adhere to when dealing with others.

The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book The YOU Plan:

“Who you are drives how you work, play, live, and ultimately shine. Your experiences, upbringing, and culture have acted to shape the person you have become and the values you espouse. The values you espouse ultimately influence the decisions you make and the path you choose to follow. Your values are the lens you view the world through… There is no doubt that our personal values play a critical role in the choices we make and the careers we pursue. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that most of us can’t articulate our values. Often this leads us to making bad decisions. These bad decisions tend to land us on career paths that aren’t truly fulfilling and sometimes, even toxic.”

When resetting your career focus and re-engaging in your career journey, you have to be mindful of how your values play into your decisions. Every organization has its own unique culture driven by a set of core values. It’s up to you to understand what these values are and determine how well they match with yours. However, before you can do this you must be sure to have a good handle on your values.

So, how do you assess your values? Doing a quick web search for values checklists will provide a lot of results. The following are some on-line values assessments:

http://www.career-test.biz/values_assessment.htm

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/Career-Assessment/Work-Values-Check-List/article.aspx

The key to using any adjective checklist effectively is taking the time to narrow down your values to your top five. This is a much tougher challenge than it seems because it requires making tough choices. Whenever I have taken groups through values exercises they always struggle with this, so take your time.

Regardless of the checklist you use, you really need to ask yourself if the values you chose are really yours. A good way to test whether or not you truly value something is to ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you willing to fight for it?
• Are you willing to sacrifice for it?
• Are you willing to pay for?

Any good career plan starts with introspection. A critical component to the introspective process is assessing values. Keep in mind, values are a major driver in decision making. We are in uncertain times and successfully navigating these times will require using your values as a compass. When it comes to stepping back and creating a YOU Plan, be sure to start with assessing your values.

Good luck,

Dr. Woody

To learn more about Dr. Woody’s upcoming book, The YOU Plan, go to www.TheYouPlan.com

In 2009 we saw a 26 year peak in the national unemployment rate. Foreclosures, bankruptcies, and all out corporate collapses hit all time highs.

There is no doubt the year 2009 exposed a lot of perpetrators and created a lot of victims. In one way, shape, or form we all felt the pain, some of it caused by others, and some of it caused by ourselves. Regardless, it’s now up to you to take the next step and rise above it all. It’s time to start thinking about thriving in the New Year.

The New Year is always a great excuse to reset and start anew. I can’t think of a year where there has been more incentive to do just that. Twenty-ten is your chance to take the reins and transcend the madness of ‘09. It’s time to transcend in ten!

So, what can we do to leave 2009 behind for good?

First and foremost, you must accept that the old rules no longer apply. For those of you feeling secure in your jobs, keep in mind that being a diligent worker and following the rules is no longer a safe haven. For those in transition, the days of pounding the pavement and chasing those great job opportunities are gone.

The New Economy is about creating opportunities, not chasing them. It’s about being innovative and demonstrating your value. It’s about being your own brand. I truly believe we are entering into an age of career entrepreneurialism, an age where it will be up to you to determine your path and then go out and make it happen.

Second, you will need to create a plan. And not just any plan, but a YOU Plan. Without a destination in mind and a roadmap for getting there, success will always be a challenge. To be fair, there is no simple straight line to any destination and life often requires detours. However, without any kind of path in mind, your actions will always be driven by those around you. In other words, when it comes to living your life, you can lead or you can follow. If you want to lead, you will need a YOU plan.

Thoughtful planning and deliberate action are the foundation for any successful endeavor. Your success is up to you; and you alone. Take the reins and start thinking like an entrepreneur. Every Monday and Thursday I’ll be posting tips, tidbits, and simple steps or creating a YOU plan, so stay tuned!

Welcome to the New Year. Good luck and transcend in twenty-ten!

Dr. Woody

To learn more about Dr. Woody and his upcoming book The YOU Plan, check out www.TheYouPlan.com