Tag Archives: job search

Where are the Jobs?!? (Part 7 of 7) All (Dollar) Signs Point to Accounting

If you are already in the field of finance or are looking to make a career change, becoming a CPA is a promising career path. CPAs fill a variety of positions, from tax advisory services, to auditing and international financial reporting. There are also wide differences between working in the private, public and governmental sectors. It seems there’s something for everyone in this field, but it does entail passing the notoriously challenging CPA exam—so not just anyone can do it.

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. Continue reading Where are the Jobs?!? (Part 7 of 7) All (Dollar) Signs Point to Accounting

Where are the Jobs?!? (Part 6 of 7) A Green Light for Green Jobs

Environmental awareness is no doubt a hot topic, and one that we all have a stake in.  Jobs in this field promise excellent growth over the next 10 years. Because of the explosion of interest in all things green over the last decade, unique “green-collar” jobs are starting to become part of the main stream. In January of this year, the Obama Administration awarded $2.3 billion for the Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy manufacturing projects across the United States. The White House press release stated that it will lead to “183 projects in 43 states…tens of thousands of high quality clean energy jobs and the domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies including solar, wind and efficiency and energy management technologies.” Regardless of your political perspective, there is no denying that the “green” industry is poised to produce a substantial number of jobs over the next decade and beyond.  

THE FACTS ON GREEN JOBS

The Pew Charitable Trusts stated in a 2009 report that “clean energy economy jobs” grew by 9.1% between 1998 and 2007, compared to a growth of 3.7% for all jobs, a fact that points to the sustainability of an industry that is all about… well… sustainability.

As further support, the number of job postings including the term “green” on Indeed.com, which searches thousands of job sites, has grown 120% since 2005. And job postings with the term “environmental” have grown more than 50%. This shows a clear rise in interest in this industry.

What’s more, on CNN Money’s list of the “100 Best Jobs in America” (in terms of pay, growth and quality of life), environmental engineering ranked #5 with a projected growth of 31% over the next 10 years. This is a great example of a “green collar” job.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, our go-to source for job trends, received funding this year to collect data on green jobs, which shows the growing presence of the industry. The BLS is still compiling all of the statistics and profiling for the field, but the information on careers in wind energy is now up.

HOT POSITIONS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks green jobs down into two categories: positions in which workers create green goods or provide green services and positions where employees are there to make their company more environmentally friendly. Here are some great options in both categories:

  • Sustainability coordinators
  • Carbon brokers
  • Environmental educators
  • Eco tour guides
  • Urban/land-use planner
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Interface designer
  • Interior/exterior designer (LEED standards)
  • Construction of solar thermal plants
  • Forester
  • Solar panel installer
  • Wind turbine fabricator

HOT SPOTS

Here are some green-only job boards and resources:

HOT TIP

The credentials for green jobs are still being developed and debated, but familiarize yourself with the various certifications and requirements that currently exist. Not all green jobs require them, but they could set you apart.

Key green credentials:

  • USGBC LEED Certifications
  • BPI Individual Building Certification
  • NABCEP Solar Thermal Installation Certification
  • RESNET Certified Energy Auditor or Rater
  • AEE Energy Certifications
  • Green Advantage Certified Practitioners

CONCLUSION

If green is your color, consider going green in your job search for a stable, rewarding career. Why not help the environment while making a good living?

Dr. Woody is author of The YOU Plan and is an executive coach trained in organizational psychology. 

Where are the Jobs?!? (Part 5 of 7) HealthCare Jobs, Growing!

The next industry my team decided to cover for the “Where are the jobs?!?” series is healthcare. It probably doesn’t surprise you that it is on our list of booming fields, as the need for healthcare is rapidly rising with the aging baby boomers entering their retirement years. Even with the uncertainty of healthcare reform there is still projected growth in many healthcare occupations.

Many find careers in healthcare rewarding and take great pride in helping others make their way through tough physical and mental challenges. It also doesn’t hurt that the healthcare profession has some of the highest-paying positions in the country, even when you factor out those that require medical degrees! Of the jobs on CNN Money’s “20 Highest-Paying Jobs” list, almost half are in healthcare.

THE FACTS ABOUT HEALTHCARE JOBS

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook wage and salary employment will increase in the healthcare industry by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is substantially greater than the projected 11 percent growth for all other industries combined. More specifically, the BLS projects employment growth of 41 percent in home health care services, 39 percent for outpatient care, and 21 percent for nursing during the next decade. To amplify matters, a 2009 article in Health Affairs by Dr. Peter Buerhaus and company found that even in the face of the Great Recession the nursing shortage in this country is projected to grow to 260,000 registered nurses by 2025. This is a strong signal that there is definitely high earning potential here!

HOT POSITIONS

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

  • Patient advocates
  • Health informatics technician
  • Physical therapy assistants
  • X-ray technician
  • Fitness nursing (similar to dietician)
  • Holistic nursing
  • Gerontological nursing
  • Medical and public health social worker
  • Lab technician
  • Dental hygienist
  • Occupational therapist

HOT SPOTS

Where can you go to find these positions? Here are some options:

GET OUT OF THE HOT SEAT

After researching this industry, there is no doubt some potential for solid career paths here. So if you’re in a rut and have the urge to go back to school or get a certification, it’s never too late in the name of job security. But if school isn’t an option, they have lots of administrative jobs that range from human resources to billing and even jobs in maintenance. Growth in the healthcare industry is going to require a lot of non-health related jobs because these are complex operations which will require a lot of support. Definitely keep your eyes open for opportunities in healthcare!

Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, PhD is a CEC certified professional coach who holds a PhD in organizational psychology. Dr. Woody is founder of the consulting firm HCI and author of the new book: The YOU Plan: A 5-step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy.

The YOU Plan: Career Intrinsics – What You Bring to the Table

In my previous post I wrote about the importance of introspection in the career planning process. I laid out a model for taking personal accountability (VIPER) and then focused on how starting out with your values (the “V” in VIPER) can play a role in the career choices you make. The next step in the introspective process is examining your intrinsics (the “I” in VIPER).

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.  

In my newly released 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. 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. Your intrinsics are what you arrived on this planet with and everything you have gained since.

Consider the first PACERS for example, your personality. Personality is a critical part of who you are and how you operate. Think of personality as your natural disposition or tendency to want to express yourself in a certain way. Because this is such a part of who you are, you must understand how to harness this element of your intrinsics for positive gain in the career search.

Before you can successfully get out of the career hot seat and back on the market, you must have a good handle on what you bring to the table! Knowing your intrinsics is the first step.     

In the next blog I will begin to address each of the career PACERS in more depth, so stay tuned!

Cheers,

To find out more about my new book, check out The YOU Plan on amazon.com 

Career Hunting in the New Economy: Time for a YOU Plan

The Great Recession has fundamentally changed the employment landscape in this country. The old rules no longer apply. I believe we are entering into an age of career entrepreneurialism, an age where careers aren’t pursued they are created.

Career success in the New Economy is going to require personal accountability and proactive planning. The 9.5% rate of national unemployment is unchanged from this time a year ago. To make matters worse, there are nearly 7 million American workers who have been out of work for longer than 6 months. This is substantially higher than at any point during the recession. So, whether you are a battle-tested workforce veteran or graduating college senior, you are going to have to start thinking differently. The number of defined job slots available continues to dwindle, which means that you are going to have to start getting more creative and ultimately more competitive.

Yes, you are going to have to start thinking like an entrepreneur. In one way, shape, or form, every entrepreneur has their own YOU Plan and so should you.

Creating a YOU Plan

As a coach trained in the field of organizational psychology, I am firmly against the notion of one-size-fits-all. I believe that we all have our own unique assets and it’s up to each of us to tap into them.

Creating a YOU Plan is about asking yourself serious questions and making tough choices. Developing your own plan starts with taking stock of who you are and the assets you have at your disposal. Although this sounds simple, it’s not. Both transitioning professionals and students alike tend to struggle with this. Once you have a solid handle of yourself, then it’s time to put together a brand package and get in the game.

Start with Your VIPs

When I talk about understanding who you are and the assets you have, I am really talking about three things: Values, Intrinsics, and Passions. Before you can make a series push to get out there and make your next career move, you need to have a firm handle on your Values, Intrinsics, and Passions or what I like to refer to as your VIPs. Just about everyone I meet and work with believes they have a good handle on their VIPs until I push them to seriously answer three questions:

• What are my Values?
• What are my Intrinsics?
• What are my Passions?

Your VIPs are important because they represent the essence of who you are and what you are capable of. Before you can create a brand package and get out there on the market, you must know what you bring to the table. Consider the fact that:

• Your values are what drive your decision making, they are your compass
• Your intrinsics are what you bring to the table, they are your value proposition
• Your passions are what generate your energy and enthusiasm, they are what people see

Package Your Essence

If you can answer the three VIP questions, you’ve answered the larger question of what you are about. The next step is to create a brand package.

Personal branding is about taking the essence of who you are and packaging it in a way that makes sense to potential employers and consumers. Getting your message across will require simple yet high impact sound bites. When developing your brand message make sure you:

• Establish your credibility
• Demonstrate your value
• Show that you stand out

Draw a Roadmap

At the end of the day this is all academic if you don’t have a roadmap. As a job seeker back on the market, you are now in sales for you. Creating a roadmap is about setting goals, establishing metrics, and taking deliberate action. You should have a clear set of activities with daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Even simple things like the number of networking events you’ll attend or the old contacts you’ll reach out to can be a great start.

Creating a YOU plan isn’t easy and it shouldn’t be. However, it is a critical first step in creating a successful career. Keep in mind, would a coach field a team on game day without a game plan? Would an airline pilot take off with a plane full of passengers and no flight plan? Would a general take to the battlefield without a strategy?

Thanks and good luck!

Dr. Woody
Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, PhD is a CEC certified professional coach who holds a PhD in organizational psychology. Dr. Woody is author of the new book The YOU Plan: A 5-step Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy.