Finding a Good Job
June 4th 2008 14:26
Just because the economy is down a little bit, doesn’t mean that there aren’t still good paying jobs available for qualified individuals. The problem is that the jobs may not be in your field of expertise. In fact, the more educated you are, the more likely you are to be able to find employment in a sluggish economy. Note that I don’t say it is a guarantee you will be employed with more education. As I said before, it all depends on your field, past experience and your attitude.
As far as the field, the majority of demand for skilled workers right now is in the health fields. Nursing, respiratory therapy, and radiology are all great fields right now in most communities. One reason for this is the aging population. Another reason is a shortage of qualified teachers. For example, most schools of nursing admit only a small fraction of the applications they receive. This in turn means that they aren’t able to keep up with the employers demand for skilled workers. They can’t take more students into the programs because there is a shortage of qualified instructors since a master’s degree in nursing is required to teach in certified programs. How’s that for a vicious circle?
Past experience can also be a big plus for you. Even if you are looking to switch industries, look closely at your resume and figure out how you can use your past experiences to meet the needs of another employer. For example, working with a budget still uses the same basic concepts in manufacturing as it does in a hospital. Don’t go to extremes though since there is no way to make your accounting experience into the skills for a surgeon. Be realistic and look for the opportunities in markets you hadn’t considered before. I have hired people in the past that worked in manufacturing for years and had never considered higher education as an option. When they were unemployed suddenly the realized the possibilities. They had not realized that their skills could be needed at a college, but when they did, they were pleased with what they found.
My final point has to do with attitude. If you want to stay employed or find new employment, your attitude is going to a big issue. Your job is not an entitlement. I have worked with a number of people over the years that acted just this way. They thought they couldn’t get fired. Well, guess what, if you don’t do your job or just put in the bare minimum, don’t expect to stay employed for long. Also, don’t be surprised if that attitude comes through in an interview for a new job. No employer wants to hire someone like that. If someone comes across like they will just try to do the minimum and won’t put in any extra effort, I don’t want them on my staff. The same is true for most employers. I like to see go-getters that want to be successful and move up in the organization. In this economy, there is no reason to settle for average when there are ten people lined up that will go above and beyond.
As far as the field, the majority of demand for skilled workers right now is in the health fields. Nursing, respiratory therapy, and radiology are all great fields right now in most communities. One reason for this is the aging population. Another reason is a shortage of qualified teachers. For example, most schools of nursing admit only a small fraction of the applications they receive. This in turn means that they aren’t able to keep up with the employers demand for skilled workers. They can’t take more students into the programs because there is a shortage of qualified instructors since a master’s degree in nursing is required to teach in certified programs. How’s that for a vicious circle?
Past experience can also be a big plus for you. Even if you are looking to switch industries, look closely at your resume and figure out how you can use your past experiences to meet the needs of another employer. For example, working with a budget still uses the same basic concepts in manufacturing as it does in a hospital. Don’t go to extremes though since there is no way to make your accounting experience into the skills for a surgeon. Be realistic and look for the opportunities in markets you hadn’t considered before. I have hired people in the past that worked in manufacturing for years and had never considered higher education as an option. When they were unemployed suddenly the realized the possibilities. They had not realized that their skills could be needed at a college, but when they did, they were pleased with what they found.
My final point has to do with attitude. If you want to stay employed or find new employment, your attitude is going to a big issue. Your job is not an entitlement. I have worked with a number of people over the years that acted just this way. They thought they couldn’t get fired. Well, guess what, if you don’t do your job or just put in the bare minimum, don’t expect to stay employed for long. Also, don’t be surprised if that attitude comes through in an interview for a new job. No employer wants to hire someone like that. If someone comes across like they will just try to do the minimum and won’t put in any extra effort, I don’t want them on my staff. The same is true for most employers. I like to see go-getters that want to be successful and move up in the organization. In this economy, there is no reason to settle for average when there are ten people lined up that will go above and beyond.
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