Explore a career: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs)

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized
African female EMT next to ambulance

Ever wonder what it feels like to be an EMT? Imagine driving with sirens blaring, your adrenaline running as you rush to the scene of an accident, preparing to take action to save the life of an injured person.

Emergency Medical Technicians, known as EMTs, are trained to handle just this kind of scenario, as well as non-emergency activities such as transferring a stable patient between health care facilities. Learn about the day-to-day work of an EMT, typical pay and job outlook, and the training needed to start in the field.   

What do EMTs do?

  • EMTs respond to 911 emergency calls and, when they arrive at the caller’s location, they assess their injuries and illnesses. They perform basic emergency medical care, such as administering CPR, stabilizing a trauma victim, or dressing a wound. Once the EMT secures an individual in the vehicle, they transport the patient to a medical facility.
  • Most paramedics and EMTs work for ambulance services, local government, fire departments, and hospitals. Some paramedics serve on rescue crews based on helicopters or airplanes.
  • EMT work is very physical and requires strength and stamina. To treat patients in various circumstances, they bend, kneel, and lift or move people to better position them or extract them from dangerous conditions.
  • Risks are inherent in this line of work. EMTs and paramedics may be exposed to contagious diseases and be called in to high-risk situations. They may need to treat combative individuals who don’t want treatment.
  • Work schedules are often 12- or 24-hour shifts, including overnights and weekends.

Watch a career video about EMTs.

Job outlook, openings, and wages for EMTs

There is strong demand for EMTs. Nationally, job openings are expected to grow much faster than average. According to the most recent figures, there are more than 260,000 EMTs employed in the U.S, with 20,700 annual job openings projected for the next several years. In some rural communities, ambulances are staffed by volunteers.

Nationally, annual salaries range from $24,650 for more entry-level positions to $62,150 and above for more experienced EMTs.

Training and education for a career as an EMT

To qualify for a career as an EMT in most states requires a postsecondary certificate, earned from a community or technical college. Training includes theoretical and practical coursework that prepares students to pass their state’s licensure exam. Programs vary in length from approximately 6 months up to 2 years.

Find training programs that can prepare you to become an EMT.

States vary in what tasks they allow EMTs to perform. Typically, positions do not require previous work experience. A professional license is required by many states to work as an EMT. Look up your state licensure requirements.

Professional certifications can help you qualify for an EMT position or enhance your qualifications; those sponsored by the American Red Cross, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians are frequently mentioned on job postings for EMTs.

Learn more about Emergency Medical Technicians. Or explore other careers in the Health Science career cluster.

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Job change? Make it a brighter future

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Change Word on Wood Blocks
Change Word on Wood Blocks

The last couple of years have been turbulent for the job market. Many workers have left jobs and many employers are looking for workers. That makes this an especially good time to consider the major reasons people leave their jobs, and how they can help make sure the next opportunity truly offers a brighter future.

Three of the reasons for a job change often rise to the top. Let’s make this personal. Are you:

  1. Looking for more pay or better benefits from a different job or career choice?
  2. Hoping to work in a different location that better meets your lifestyle goals?
  3. Seeking a job or workplace culture that provides greater meaning and purpose?

If you hope to make a job change for any of these reasons, it can help to do some research and gather information to test out your ideas. Let’s dive into some of the great tools on CareerOneStop that can help support your quest!

1.   You want to earn more pay or better benefits from a different job or career choice

  • Salary Finder: Use this tool to find salary information for more than 900 different occupations. To start, either search for an occupation or keyword, and enter a location. You will see the national and local salary information based on your entered location – ZIP code, city and state, or state.

    You can use this information to learn the typical salary range for your field, or other fields you are considering. This is helpful for choosing a career, targeting a specific location for your job search, and for salary negotiation.
  • Compare Salaries: Compare Salaries lets you compare how much you might earn in different careers.  You can choose up to five different occupations to compare average salaries in the same location. This tool also allows you to select up to five different locations so it may also be used to research new locations for “reasons to leave a job” #2 below.  

    You can use this information to see how different careers you’re considering measure up on pay. We use the median yearly salary figure (median means that half of the people working in that career earn less that this figure, and half earn more).
  • Highest Paying Careers: View the list of the highest-paying careers in any state. Data is the most recently available, authoritative data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can filter the list to show highest paying careers by level of education.

    You can use this list to consider different careers that may pay a higher salary than you currently earn. Select your current education level in the filter titled “typical education” and the list will narrow to show the occupations that require your same education level that pay the highest salary.

2.    You want to work in a different location that will better meet your lifestyle goals

  • Compare Cost of Living: This tool helps you understand how much more or less it might cost to live in a different location. When you enter your current location and salary (or hourly wage), the tool will show you the salary or wage amount that would pay for a similar lifestyle in any new location you enter.

    You can use this information to estimate the salary you may want to aim for if you relocate and help determine if you can afford a new location. For example: Let’s say you live in Wichita, KS and earn $40,000 per year. Given the difference in cost of living, to earn a comparable amount in Los Angeles would require a salary of $60,100. Or if you moved to Bozeman, MT, you’d need to earn about $43,100.
  • Largest Employers: Check out the companies that employ the highest number of people in any state. Just choose a state to search, and you’ll see the 150 largest employers in that state.

    You can use this information to target your job search to large employers in the state you are moving to. Links take you to a business detail page that lists business website, phone number and address, key contact person and more.
  • Compare Employment Trends by Occupation: Learn how many people in your field are employed in every state. Also find whether your occupation is expected to grow or shrink in every state, and by how much.

    You can use this information to see how robust the job market may look for your occupation in any state you consider moving to.

3.   You’d like to find a job or workplace culture that provides greater meaning and purpose

  • Work Values Matcher: The Work Values Matcher is a quick card-sort exercise that asks you to rank statements to define your ideal job. Your choices indicate your top work values, such as career advancement, or working independently.

    Knowing your work values can help you choose a career that matches your values and identify employers that offer a workplace culture with similar values to your own.

    Use this tool to learn how to recognize a workplace culture or employer that reflects your own values. You’ll find sample questions to ask in informational interviews or job interviews to get at what the company culture and values are all about.
  • Research employers: Research is a critical part of the job search process. This page has tips and questions to guide you in employer research, including where to find information.

    You can use these tips and questions to identify companies that may be hiring in your field; learn about potential growth of businesses and industries; understand how you can apply your skills in a new field; learn about their workplace culture; and prepare you for a job interview. They will also help you focus your job search on employers that share your values.

Ready to start looking for jobs? Search for job openings on the Job Finder.

Apprenticeships in nearly every industry

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Software engineer explaining to controlling robotic welding process to welder in factory.
Software engineer explaining to controlling robotic welding process to welder in factory.

You may know that an apprenticeship is a great way to get started in a career. It offers the chance to obtain paid, relevant workplace experience while acquiring the skills and credentials that employers value.

When many people think about apprenticeships, they picture the construction industry: apprenticeship has long been a pathway into careers such as plumber, electrician, or other specialty trade. But did you know that apprenticeships are actually offered in hundreds of occupations? Apprenticeship are available in nearly every industry, including in these high-growth and emerging fields:

  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Cybersecurity
  • Energy
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Engineering
  • Transportation
  • Construction
  • Financial Services

What are apprenticeships?

The U.S. Department of Labor describes an apprenticeship as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.”

Apprenticeships have three key pieces. The first is paid work. You apply directly to an employer or apprenticeship program sponsor (such as a union) for a specific apprenticeship job opening. Once you’re hired, you’re guaranteed wage increases as you gain skills.

Another essential aspect of apprenticeship is training. Typically, some of your work time each week includes classroom instruction to learn job skills, which may include college credit. These classes are included as part of the job at no cost to you, so you also avoid the student debt you might incur through other types of training. Training also happens at your worksite, or “on the job.”

Mentorship is the third key ingredient of an apprenticeship. Having a mentor lets you learn from an experienced professional in the field. As you progress, the credentials you earn will be recognized by employers in the industry nationwide–and once your earn the credentials, they are all yours whether you stay with one employer or move on.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 94 % of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship program retain employment, with an average annual salary of $70,000. Not only that, but, on average, apprentice graduates earn an additional $300,000 in wages over their lifetimes compared to peers who don’t pursue apprenticeship.

Interested?

Does apprenticeship sound like it may be a good fit for you? Search for options at Apprenticeship.gov.

  • Apprenticeship opportunities are offered through an employer or the program sponsor.
  • To become an apprentice, search for an opportunity using our Apprenticeship Finder and apply directly with the employer or the program sponsor.
  • Questions about a specific opportunity? Contact the employer or the program sponsor listed on the job posting for more information.

Each state has an Apprenticeship Office that work with companies and unions to develop Registered Apprenticeship opportunities. And each state handles their apprenticeship programs in slightly different ways. Some offer extra guidance to first-time apprenticeship seekers. You can find your state’s Apprenticeship Office to learn more.

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Yes, you should advocate for your own professional development

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Job seekers
Younger black man interviewing with 2 HR professionals
Younger black man interviewing with 2 HR professionals

Whether you’re applying for jobs or thinking about how to advance or stay relevant in your current workplace, it’s always a good time to think about your short- and long-term professional development. What’s professional development?  It simply means all of the ways that you continue learning and developing your skills throughout your career. That includes formal and informal classes, trainings, and networking.

Advocating for professional development as a job seeker

It’s never too early in your job search to start thinking about and advocating for your lifelong career learning and professional development. Get started in any of these ways:

  • Research companies with strong reputations for supporting professional development.
  • Ask your friends, colleagues, and the rest of your network about the professional development opportunities at their places of employment.
  • At interviews, ask directly about how professional development is supported by the employer.
  • Once you get an offer, negotiate for professional development time and or money. Identify how you want to approach your own development:
    • Do you want time and money to attend professional conferences or other networking events?
    • Do you want time and money to take courses or pursue a certificate or degree?
    • Do you want support for achieving certifications related to your field?
    • What else does professional development look like in your field?

Advocating for professional development as an employee

Thinking about professional development doesn’t end once you land a job. As an employee, professional development is important throughout your career. Learning new skills helps motivate you and can help you perform your current job better—as well as prepare you for advancement.  There are many ways to practice professional development throughout your career:

  • Network with others in your field to exchange ideas and learning opportunities.
  • Subscribe to newsletters, journals, or other updates from your career field or industry.
  • Volunteer for projects outside your regular roles, if available in your workplace.
  • Find professional associations to learn about trends in your field, access trainings, and explore conference or other networking opportunities.
  • Find local training programs—short-term or long-term—that can help you get to the next level in your career.
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Explore a career: Welders

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Career counselors, Students, Uncategorized
Underwater welder working on equipment
Underwater welder working on equipment

Ever wonder how underwater bridge supports hold together? Or how high-rise buildings maintain integrity so many stories up? Welding is a trade with ancient roots dating back more than four thousand years, but that now operates at the edge of innovation. Learn about a career in welding, where to get training, and find job openings in your local area.

What do welders do?

Welders use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to create or repair metal products, by cutting and joining different metal parts. They study sketches and specifications to understand the full picture of the structure and materials for a project before they start their work.

Welders’ tools use high heat to soften the material, then fuse metal parts. They work for a wide variety of industries, from car racing and manufacturing to steel beam construction.

Welding projects within one workshop can be very diverse; the variety in the work is one of the advantages many workers experience.

Welding also has hazards; welding arc heat ranges up to 20,000 degrees F, and other equipment can be heavy and dangerous. Safety equipment is required for all welding workplaces. It can be a physically demanding job that requires coordination, lifting, and sometimes climbing.

Welding specialties include: structural welding, aerospace welding, motorsports fabricator, underwater welding, traveling contract welder, robotic welding, metal artist, and more.

Watch a career video about welding.

Job outlook, openings, and wages for welders

  • The current national outlook for welders is good; nearly 50,000 welding job openings per year are expected over the next decade.
  • Find job openings for welders in your area. Just enter your ZIP code, or city and state in the search box under “Where?” and select “See Jobs”.
  • Welding is practiced similarly around the world, and construction projects in other countries may hire welders from abroad, so traveling for work may be an option.
  • Nationally (different states may pay higher or lower wages), annual wages range from about $30,000/year at a more entry level wage to more than $65,000 at the higher end.
  • Find salary information for welders in your area. Just enter your ZIP code, or city and state in the search box under “Location” and select “Search”.

Training and education for a career in welding

  • Most workers starting out in welding have a high school diploma and learn on the job. To start at a higher level, or for career advancement, there are 1-2 year long community and technical college-based programs in welding engineering technology technician and welding technology available.
  • Welding apprenticeships offer technical, classroom training alongside working in the field; it’s an “earn while you learn” model that can help you gain higher level skills with guaranteed wage increases as you advance.
  • Trained welders may earn a wide variety of professional certifications to qualify for specific positions and continue to advance their skills.

Learn more about a career as a welder.

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Struggling to hire?

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers
Apply now key on keyboard
Apply now key on keyboard

If you’re an employer struggling to recruit and retain workers this year, you’re not alone. The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that job openings in February remained near record levels, while the number of workers voluntarily leaving their positions increased.

The economy is currently growing faster than it has in decades, and demand for labor has outpaced the availability of workers.  Labor economists offer a few tips for employers struggling to recruit.

Reach out to hard-to-find workers

If companies want to find new sources for recruiting, they’ll need to reach out to  people who may not be actively seeking work right now, says Ron Hetrick, a senior economist at Emsi Burning Glass, a workforce data and research company. Some places to look include:

Consider additional benefits 

According to a recent Forbes article, retirement and insurance plans remain the most valued employee benefits. But business advisors suggest several more out-of-the box options to attract workers too:

  • Flexible hours
  • Remote working options
  • Generous time off and parental leave.
  • Commuter benefits
  • Workspace stipend
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Longevity perks
  • Half-day Fridays
  • Free gym memberships

Ensure your pay scales are competitive

While benefits are important, wages are still one of the top reasons that workers take jobs. Learn how to understand and research salary data for your job openings in your local area.

Want more tips on how to hire, train, and retain a strong workforce?  Visit CareeeOnStop’s Business Center.

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Hiring help for small businesses

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers
African american woman owned small business
African american woman owned small business

Hiring the right employees is one of the hardest tasks for small business owners—especially during the current labor shortage—but it’s also essential for success.

Did you know that CareerOneStop’s Business Center offers tools and information on best practices for the critical steps in your hiring process? Learn about recruiting, screening, onboarding, and ensuring  diversity in your workforce.

Identify Your Hiring Needs

Learn about skills, salaries, and job descriptions before you recruit and hire. Also, see if internships, temporary agency workers, or a recruiting firm would be a good fit.

Where to Find Candidates

Learn where and how to recruit qualified candidates for no cost. Job banks, local schools, job fairs, and professional associations can all be great sources.

Interview & Hire

How effective is your hiring process? Refresh your practices with information on pre-screening, employment assessments, illegal interview questions, negotiating an offer, and more.

Hiring a Diverse Workforce

Tips and legal information for hiring workers with disabilities, youth, older workers, veterans, people with criminal records, and foreign nationals.

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Explore a career: Morticians and funeral directors

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized
Undertaker showing coffins to a widow

Curious about what it’s like to be a mortician? Ever thought you have what it takes to be a funeral director?

Most of us will eventually meet up with someone in this field to help plan a cremation, burial, or funeral service of a deceased loved one. In this unique profession, workers helps families and friends both mourn the death of loved ones and celebrate their lives. Since March 11 is National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day, we’ll explore what this career entails and how to get started in the field.

What do morticians and funeral directors do?

At many funeral homes, the same person performs both functions, but when roles are distinguished, morticians prepare the body for cremation or burial, while funeral directors meet with family members of the deceased to coordinate arrangements for a memorial service or funeral, and process required paperwork. Here, we’ll treat them as a single occupation.

Morticians and funeral directors coordinate the transportation of the deceased to the mortuary and obtain information to complete legal documents such as the death certificate.

They meet with family members or friends of the deceased to plan the funeral or memorial service, help with writing an obituary, and provide information about cremation and burial options. Funeral directors and morticians also typically maintain a casket room to show available options, and help to plan details of the service such as arranging for clergy to provide services and transportation for mourners. They also coordinate burial arrangements with cemetery staff.

Morticians and funeral directors help families identify financial resources, such as applying for veterans funeral benefits and resolving insurance claims. They offer comfort and compassion to bereaved families and may witness a wide range of emotions as family members come to grips with their loved one’s death.  Funeral services may also include grief counseling and support for family members for some time after the service.

When family members elect to have the deceased’s remains embalmed, morticians and funeral directors perform the embalming using chemicals and special equipment.

Morticians and funeral directors earn a median national salary of $54,000, with a range from $29,100 – 91,100.

How do you become a mortician or funeral director?

Most positions for funeral directors and morticians require an associate’s degree in mortuary science, funeral direction/service, or thanatology. Almost all states require professional licensure to practice in the field. In many positions, new graduates work under the guidance of an experienced mortician for one to three years before working independently.

Morticians and funeral directors often work long and unpredictable hours that include evenings and weekends. When someone dies, the funeral service workers pick up the deceased and the process of planning funeral services begins immediately, as soon as family members are available.

Learn more

Learn more about morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers or funeral home managers on CareerOneStop.

Learn about professional licensure requirements for morticians.

Find training programs for mortuary science in your area.

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Employment help for homeless veterans

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Librarians, Uncategorized, Veterans
Homeless veteran sleeping on rug on street
Homeless veteran sleeping on rug on street

In 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs set a goal to end homelessness for all veterans. Since that time, a number of veterans have gained permanent, stable housing, and the program has expanded to include additional services to help ensure veterans’ ongoing financial stability. A key area to help veterans exit homelessness—or to avoid it—is employment.

The Veterans Administration established Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services to improve employment outcomes for veterans who have experienced homelessness. This program has established more than 150 specialists who serve as Community Employment Coordinators in VA medical centers across the country. Participants are veterans engaged in programs to obtain stable housing.

The HVCES provide information and resources, referrals to community jobs programs, and direct job placements. Participants may have a variety of barriers to stable employment, such as a poor work history; lack of transportation and appropriate clothing; history of justice involvement; substance use, and mental health issues. The HVCES staff work individually with participants to overcome these and other barriers and prepare for jobs.

HVCECs also work with local employers to develop job opportunities for veterans exiting homelessness. Often, technical assistance is needed to translate the veterans’ skills, training, and military experience into civilian-equivalent knowledge, work experience, and job titles. Services don’t stop with a job placement; they also offer support with retention efforts as participants adjust to jobs and work environments.

Connections with other meaningful services is the third major priority for HVCES programs; along with essential health care, housing and social services, they ensure that veterans access career and employment resources with community partners such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Veterans’ Employment and Training Services, American Job Centers, Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP), and more.

In 2021 alone, despite the impact of the pandemic on employers nationwide, HVCES programs helped nearly 13,800 veterans obtain newly documented, unique instances of employment.

Learn more

CareerOneStop veteran resources

  • Check out the Veteran and Military Transition Center on CareerOneStop to explore civilian careers, go back to school, find jobs, and learn about benefits and other assistance.  
  • Or use the State Resource Finder to look up resources in your state for veterans employment and training help, and more.
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3 online tools for finding job openings

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Digital tools
Digital tools

CareerOnestop.org offers a wealth of tools and resources for job seeking. You’ll find information on planning your job search, networking, polishing your resume, and more.

But when you’re ready to get down to the work of identifying employers and places to apply, here are three tools you can focus on.

1) Job Finder

The most obvious place to start finding potential jobs is an online job search tool, and CareerOneStop’s Job Finder is updated daily with thousands of job postings from four major job search engines: CareerBuilder, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and NLx (by the National Labor Exchange, which is co-sponsored by the Direct Employers Association and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies).

Get started by entering a keyword for a job title, employer, or career field along with your city, state, or ZIP code. You’ll be able to search and filter job postings, and link directly to websites to apply. If you’re not familiar with searching for jobs online, learn more about what to do and what to avoid on online job banks.

2) Business Finder

You may have heard that a large portion of open positions never even get posted before they’re filled. So finding employers that hire in your field and approaching them directing is a sound job search strategy. CareerOneStop’s Business Finder is a great place to start.

You can search by business name, industry, or occupation and identify employers in any U.S. location. Then, learn more about how to contact potential employers to learn about job openings.

3) Professional Association Finder

Professional Associations are another great resource for identifying employers in your field. These organizations specialize in specific careers or industries and they are one of the best ways to learn about trends and unadvertised jobs. Many members are eager to help job seekers and often know employers with open positions.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, CareerOneStop’s Professional Association Finder can help you identify organizations representing your field or interest. Then, learn more about how networking van help you find a job.

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