Job search checklist

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Job seekers

Planning a job search?  Then you probably know that it’s going to require many small—and some large—steps.

Every job search is unique.  But that doesn’t mean you have to re-invent the job search process for every search. There are some key steps that you’ll want to make a part of every search.

You can use the checklist below to plan your own personalized job search. You may find that you don’t need to complete each activity, but you’ll find your search will be more successful the more steps you do complete.

Activities to help you launch your job search

  • Find and contact your local American Job Center to talk to a counselor and find out what specific resources might be available to help in your search.
  •  Attend support groups and job clubs in your area.
  •  Attend job search training sessions or related training.

Activities to help you explore career options

Activities to help you search for available jobs

  • Practice networking, online and in person, to find out about available jobs.
  • Attend job fairs to meet employers.
  • Visit CareerOneStop’s Job Finder to search job listings across the United States.
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Free online learning for work or pleasure

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Career counselors, Job seekers, Students, Uncategorized

Take advantage of free online resources to develop your job-related skills, explore a personal interest, or exercise your learning muscles just for fun.

MOOCs

If you’re interested in free online classes on academic subjects, consider spending time on Class Central, a search tool to find online college courses. Class Central has assembled a database of MOOCs, or massive open online courses, that are offered by universities such as Stanford and Harvard, companies such as Microsoft or IBM, and organizations like the United Nations or the Smithsonian Institution.

Course subjects range from computer software and data management to preventing dementia and improving learning outcomes, or topics such as foreign languages and healthy living.

Courses use pre-recorded video lectures and readings, and offer project assignments and quizzes to help integrate and measure student learning. An online discussion component is often included, sometimes with instructors or mentors, or with other students enrolled in the course. Many courses offer students the option of purchasing a certificate to confirm that they have completed the course.

The courses are available through four core providers:

Academic Earth also provides free MOOCs. SkillUp is another great source; you can use their website to search for free or for-fee classes, register to teach a class yourself, or seek collaborators for a project you want to develop with others.

Basic skills and employment skills

Goodwill Community Foundation developed an interactive learning website called GCF Learn Free to offer a wide variety of tutorials free to the public. Topics are organized in four broad categories: Technology, Work, Core Skills, Reading & Math. They provide job search and career planning resources to help write a resume, prepare to interview, and guide users on writing effective business correspondence. The site has particular strengths in personal development topics and digital skills. Lessons take the user through activities, readings and videos in short modules.

Khan Academy provides free online lessons for students in grades K-12 or college, and for adult learners. Khan’s particular strength is in its close linkage with school curriculum in math, science, and the humanities, as well as graduate school entrance test preparation. Many students use Khan tutorials to supplement their homework and improve learning comprehension from the school day. Gamified elements help users engage with lessons.

Foreign language

In addition to foreign language courses offered through MOOCs, there are some excellent free apps you can download to your computer, or to your phone for quick lessons on the go. One of the most popular is Duolingo.com. The app teaches fun, bite-size interactive lessons in Italian, French, Japanese, Swahiili, and many other languages. Activities to practice pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary are gamified, so users earn points to spend on in-app rewards. Memrise is another popular free language learning app.

Looking for more?

Find more resources and information on gaining knowledge, skills, and credentials at CareerOneStop’s Credentials Center.

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Customizing competency models: new guide to help convene industry partners

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Workforce Development Professionals
Woman at a meeting

Guest post from the Competency Model Clearinghouse

If you are interested in building and deepening effective industry partnerships to better align education and training with business need, the Customizing Competency Models Through Convening Guide is for you!

This new U.S. Department of Labor resource breaks down the process for convening local industry members to customize a competency model in three simple phases: Building Data, Convening Employers and Partners, and Selecting a Post-Convening Path. After working through this guide, you will be able to effectively facilitate regional industry meetings using the U.S. Department of Labor’s competency models to begin to identify regional training gaps and curriculum development opportunities in any industry.

Industry leaders meeting

The Guide features:

  • Real life examples and success stories from organizations including the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri, Cleveland Community College, the State of Colorado, and many more.
  • Curated resources for labor market information and occupational data all in one place.
  • Downloadable tools including a sample agenda and a discussion questions guide to help as you prepare for meetings with employers and partners.

For more information about Competency Models, visit the Competency Model Clearinghouse and the Customizing Competency Models Through Convening Guide.

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The strongest job markets for Teachers

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Job seekers, Students, Teachers
African American male teacher with students

African American male teacher with studentsHave a brand new shiny teaching credential, and looking for a place to put it to work?

If you are a recently— or about-to-be—graduated teacher, there are excellent resources to help you identify strong potential job markets. The same holds true for experienced teachers, although they typically have stronger access to hiring tips and trends through the grapevine of their colleagues, unions, and professional associations.

Key considerations for choosing a job location

While employment demand—or anticipated job openings—is a critical consideration, choosing a new work and living location involves other factors as well; two are wages and cost of living. Annual median wages (this is the wage point at which half of the workers in an occupation earn less and half earn more) vary considerably across the U.S.—from a high of $82,000 to a low of $34,000. Starting salaries will typically be considerably lower for beginning teachers. Cost of living is a key consideration when evaluating wage data; a high salary sounds great, but if your rent, food costs, and other necessities are also very high, the numbers add up to a wash.

Employment trends for teachers

As with many occupations in the U.S., there will be a large wave of teacher retirements as baby boomers age out of the workforce. Teacher shortages are expected to be most acute in high population states including CA, TX, FL, GA, and NY.

Teaching specialties overall that are in particular demand include special education, science, math, bilingual teachers; you can see which teaching specialties are particularly in demand in every state as reported by the U.S. Department of Education.

Employment of teachers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Rising student enrollment should increase demand for teachers, but employment growth will vary by region. Opportunities are likely to be better in urban and rural school districts than in suburban school districts.

Employment growth may depend on state and local government budgets. If state and local governments experience budget deficits, school boards may lay off employees, including teachers. As a result, employment growth of teachers may be reduced by state and local government budget deficits. Conversely, budget surpluses at the state and local level could lead to additional employment growth for high school teachers.

Strong hiring markets – High school teachers

Strong demand for teachers at all levels is indicated in the southwest and southeast United States now and for the next several years’ projections.

For high school teachers, the states with the highest employment level in this occupation are:

State Employment
California 112,960
Texas 110,420
New York 74,830
Ohio 52,240
Pennsylvania 50,460

Top paying states for high school teachers:

State Annual mean wage
New York $85,300
California $80,510
Massachusetts $80,020
Alaska $77,920
Connecticut $76,980

Data on teacher employment and wages is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can also find data on the cities that have the highest number of teachers and positions, as well as cities where teachers earn the highest salaries.

Learn more on CareerOneStop’s Occupational Profile for Secondary School Teachers.

Strong hiring markets – Elementary school teachers

States with the highest employment level of Elementary School Teachers:

State Employment
California 157,240
Texas 140,310
New York 80,930
Florida 72,560
Illinois 72,270

Top paying states for Elementary School Teachers:

State Annual mean wage
New York $80,540
California $77,990
Connecticut $77,900
Alaska $77,030
District of Columbia $76,950

Data on teacher employment and wages is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can also find data on the cities that have the highest number of teachers and positions, as well as cities where teachers earn the highest salaries.

Learn more on CareerOneStop’s Occupational Profile for Elementary School and Kindergarten Teachers.

You can find more about projections for teacher employment, current wages, and cost of living indicators – on CareerOneStop’s Available Workforce tool.

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Apprenticeships in healthcare

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Uncategorized
healthcare worker assisting patient

healthcare worker assisting patientLooking for a career where you can train on the job and have a good path for advancement? Healthcare may be the right field for you.

Healthcare is facing a shortage of workers at the same time that demand for services is growing rapidly.

That means hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare employers are looking for good candidates—and they’re often willing to train them via apprenticeships or similar programs.

What’s apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a career pathway that allows you to earn and learn at the same time. It combines a paid job with on-the-job training. It’s a great way to start your career and build your skillset. Learn more at Apprenticeship.gov.

What healthcare careers offer apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are available in many healthcare careers. Learn more about some of the most in-demand fields below:

Ready to explore apprenticeship opportunities? Find an apprenticeship near you or locate a local apprenticeship sponsor to see if they plan to offer more apprenticeship opportunities.

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Refugees gain credentials in the Career Pathways Program

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Refugees and immigrants
Refugee Career Pathways

Refugee Career PathwaysThe Refugee Career Pathways (RCP) program helps refugees gain self-sufficiency by obtaining the credentials, education, experience, and job skills they need to obtain employment in professional and skilled careers. As a starting point, the program grants funds to organizations that provide participants with training and technical assistance, help them overcome obstacles, and ensure they have the resources and knowledge needed to succeed.

The RCP was established by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, in 2018. Resettled refugees face many obstacles in initiating professional careers in their new communities. While many refugees have previous professional experience in their country of origin, they often lack the degrees, certifications, and knowledge needed by U.S. employers.

Even highly-skilled refugees are often required to take low-skilled jobs with little opportunity for advancement or skill development. This limits refugees’ potential to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to benefit their communities by making full use of the skills and experience they bring to their new home.

Existing job training programs for refugees often focus on supporting initial job placement, which may not be adequate to secure long-term self-sufficiency. The RCP assists refugees to begin professional careers that provide not only a salary but also greater job security and the possibility of career advancement.

To achieve this goal, the program employs the career pathways approach, which has shown promise in enabling immigrants to gain entry into career fields in the U.S.

Examples of services provided under the program include:

  • Assistance in creating personalized career development plans
  • Classroom and work-based learning opportunities
  • Career coaching and mentoring
  • Connections with educational opportunities, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training
  • Re-credentialing and credential recognition
  • Vocational English language training

You can learn more on the Office of Refugee Resettlement website.

Find social services programs for refugees in communities across the U.S. using CareerOneStop’s Refugee Assistance Finder. Program types listed include:

 1) Refugee Social Services programs, which provide employment and employability services to all refugees;

2) Refugee Career Pathways programs, which help skilled refugees obtain U.S. professional credentials; and

3) Other organizations that provide social services to refugees.

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It’s the week to celebrate local libraries

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Librarians, Uncategorized
National Library Week 2019 logo

Did you know there are more public libraries than Starbucks in the United States? It’s true!

National Library Week 2019 logoAnd this week is a great week to celebrate the libraries in your community. It’s National Library Week from April 7 to 13.  This year’s theme is “Libraries = Strong Communities,” and Gates Foundation Co-founder Melinda Gates is this year’s Honorary Chair.

Sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country, this year’s National Library Week celebrates the theme of “Libraries = Strong Communities.” Libraries are key components of many communities, providing many services to many people: they provide free access to media, host special programs and events, and strengthen communities through education and lifelong learning.

And for job seekers and career explorers, libraries can be a key resource. Libraries’ collections often include valuable books and other resources to help with career and education planning as well as job search. Many libraries also offer free workshops such as resume writing classes or interview practice groups. Many also host local job clubs.

Curious about what your local library has to offer? Find branches near you with CareerOneStop’s Library Finder, and start exploring!

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Job application encounter: The ATS

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Job seekers, Uncategorized
Keyboard highlighting Yes and No options

Keyboard highlighting Yes and No optionsIf you’ve applied for a job in recent years, especially at a large company, your application has undoubtedly encountered an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The ATS searches job applications for keywords deemed critical to the job.

For example, the employer may prefer candidates who have held specific job titles, earned particular education credentials, or who possess certain technical skills. If a job applicant does not include those keywords on their resume, there’s a good chance their resume will be left in the “no” pile. If the ATS recognizes enough keywords and meets with no other significant obstacles to interpreting the resume, the resume moves on to review by human resources staff.

From the employer’s side

ATS software has become really popular in part because it takes over a number of functions formerly carried out by people. After reviewing applications, the ATS can send automated messages to the applicant, give online tests, and even schedule interviews and send out rejection notifications.

But all is not perfect – an ATS can reject excellent, qualified candidates who do not use the pre-determined keywords; it can reject resumes based on insignificant appearance issues such as unusual fonts or formatting; and it can miss spotting potentially excellent candidates who may lack specific experience but could more than make up for it through different, or non-traditional experience.

ATS-busting tips for job seekers

The big challenge for job seekers is how to maximize the advantages of an Applicant Tracking System, and downplay its disadvantages. When you send in your next job application, keep these pointers in mind:

1) Use thoughtful keywords. Analyze the job posting or position description you want to apply for,  identify the most critical keywords about job requirements, then use those exact terms in your resume. This is by far the most critical tip, and is well worth the investment of your time and research. Since the ATS is programmed to specific language, any variation from what’s written in the job posting may miss the mark.

2) Follow the posting’s instructions to the letter. Send the documents requested by the posting and not additional documents. Be aware of sensitivity to file types as well. While you may think a PDF may be the safest bet, if the request is for a Microsoft Word doc, be sure to send your application materials in Word. Word is trustworthy as a default. Plain-text files are easily read by ATS software, although if you convert an existing resume to plain text, it’s helpful to review it to ensure it still makes sense.

3) Be deliberate in design choices. If font choices are not specified, you can rely on the basic fonts such as Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman. Use a font size of 11 or 12. Margins of 1 inch all around are typical. Bullet points are fine, but just use solid circles, open circles, or solid squares. It’s generally fine to use bold and italics for emphasis on your resume, but it’s better to avoid use of underline, which can be confusing to an ATS.

4) Choose a resume style that’s compatible with an ATS. While a functional resume may best highlight your transferable skills from one industry to another, it is likely to sink your chances with an ATS. A chronological resume – with your work history in order by dates – should be used somewhere on your resume for the ATS to successfully interpret it. You can still use a “highlights of qualifications” section, just include the work history as well.

Nearly all Fortune 500 companies use an ATS in their hiring process, so double down on this advice if you apply to a job with one of them.

Learn more about how to craft your best possible resume on CareerOneStop.

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Hot industry profile: Construction

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
new house construction

new house constructionThe construction industry is growing. Today, nearly 7 million workers are employed in construction, and after shedding nearly a million jobs between 2006 and 2016, the industry is projected to regain most of that employment by 2026. According to one industry expert, there are nearly a quarter million open construction jobs in the United States today, with many new projects either slowed or stalled due to the tight labor market.

Who works in the construction industry?

The construction industry includes businesses that build, maintain, or repair buildings and engineering projects such as highways and utility systems. Those businesses employ workers ranging from administrative assistants to CEOs.  But when we think of construction industry work, we usually think of the occupations that do the actual design and hands-on building work.  That includes entry-level laborers, experienced managers, skilled workers such as carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, and many types of engineers. Follow the links in the chart below to learn more about these key construction occupations.

Earnings by occupation in construction industry

Occupation Median wage, 2017
Carpenters $21.71
Construction laborers $16.60
Construction managers $43.93
Electricians $26.01
Equipment operators $22.61

 

What are some trends in the construction industry?

Several trends are driving the construction industry’s anticipated growth, including:

  • Technological advances. Specifically, project management software is continuously improving, allowing for more efficiency from design through implementation of large projects.
  • Green and sustainability initiatives. More and more construction projects are being planned and built in an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient way.
  • Increased focus on modular and prefabricated projects. In prefabricated and modular construction, units are built off-site in a factory, so companies don’t have to worry about the weather. Because of this, they have the ability to save time and money.
  • Increasing material costs. Rising costs are a fact that construction and many other industries have to plan for.
  • Shrinking labor force. Labor shortages throughout the United Sates make it hard for construction firms to fill open positions–and can lead to slow or stalled projects.

 

 

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WIOA: A law to help people find good jobs

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Diverse crowd of people

Diverse crowd of peopleThe Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal law, effective 2015-20, that helps job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services. Under WIOA, the partners that oversee services—government, nonprofit, education, and industry—are tasked with designing programs that ensure workers have the skills they need to get good jobs at family-sustaining wages. The law also helps match employers with the skilled workers they need to stay competitive.

How does WIOA serve the public?

WIOA guides the services available at American Job Centers (AJCs), numbering about 2400 offices, located throughout the Unites States. AJCs provide free help to the public for a variety of career, education and training, and employment-related needs. You can find AJCs in your local area on CareerOneStop.

AJCs offer a self-service resource room which includes computers with Internet access, telephones, and fax machines. Staff are typically available to assist job seekers with building a resume, general career exploration, and job search.

Centers also have experienced career counselors on staff who work with job seekers to identify their interests, assess their skills and abilities, and advise them on in-demand jobs and potential training opportunities. Many AJCs also offer recruiting events, workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills, and job search activities.

AJC programs are overseen by Workforce Development Boards, with representatives from local business, higher education, local elected officials, and workforce experts. They ensure services are consistent and high-quality, and focused on the business needs of the local area.

Who qualifies for education and other special services? 

WIOA’s goal is to improve access to job training and education opportunities for people who have barriers to employment. The law emphasizes earning credentials as a foundation for improving career prospects for the long-term. A high value is placed on training that leads to industry-recognized credentials, that are in local demand, and likely to garner a living wage or beyond.

Programs and provisions include these groups:

  • individuals with disabilities
  • out-of-school and at-risk youth
  • youth in foster care or young adults who have aged out of foster care
  • formerly incarcerated individuals
  • older workers
  • veterans, and others

WIOA resources support four titles, or designations.

  • Title I serves youth and adults, including workers who have been laid off from jobs, public assistance recipients and other low-income individuals, and individuals who lack some of the basic skills needed for work. Services include paying for education and training, job search classes, summer jobs and internships for youth.
  • Title II helps eligible adults who have barriers to employment obtain education, training, or employment. Services include English language and literacy classes, and job search help for immigrants.
  • Title III covers services for people who qualify for unemployment insurance. General services for the public are also included in this title, including many AJC services, and referrals to training and education resources.
  • Title IV provides employment services for people who have disabilities that are a substantial barrier to employment. Participants may receive diagnosis, an individualized rehabilitation program, counseling and guidance, training, job placement, and services to support job retention.

WIOA also authorizes employment and training services for the Job Corps, YouthBuild, Division of Indian and Native Americans Programs, and National Farmworker Jobs Program.

Explore a variety of career, training, and job search resources on CareerOneStop.

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