Resources for criminal justice social workers

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Uncategorized, Workers with criminal records
social worker helping individual with a criminal record

March is National Professional Social Work Month, and CareerOneStop is thinking about criminal justice social workers who help formerly incarcerated individuals transition to life outside of prison. More than 650,000 people are released from prison each year in the United States, and according to the U.S. Department of Justice, around two-thirds of those individuals are likely to be re-arrested within three years.

social worker helping individual with a criminal record Social workers play a huge role in helping former prisoners re-enter their communities and stay out of prison. Studies have shown that assisting ex-prisoners in finding and keeping employment, identifying transitional housing, and receiving mentoring are three key elements of successful re-entry; and criminal justice social workers do all of those.

Are you a criminal justice social worker?  CareerOneStop has a a website of resources just for you: Job Search Help for Ex-Offenders provides a collection of career, education and job search resources to help people with criminal records gain meaningful employment. Visit the website to find resources to help you assist your clients, or have your clients spend time on the website themselves; it’s designed for easy use by people without extensive research or Internet experience.  The website includes four main sections:

Explore Careers includes:

  • How skills and interests match up to jobs
  • Work restrictions that apply for certain convictions
  • How to set career goals

Get Training includes: 

  • Basic skills training like math, English, and computer use
  • Getting a GED
  • Short-term training programs
  • Paying for training or college

Find a Job includes:

  • Tips for job applications, resumes, and references
  • A Job Finder to search local openings
  • How to talk about a conviction in interviews

And Find State Resources provides help with basic needs or getting ready to job search including:

  • Basic needs like housing, food support, and medical care
  • Finding legal assistance
  • Getting a driver’s license and other vital records
  • Finding training and employment

 

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Be strategic with your first resume

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized, Youth
young woman looking at laptop screen

young woman looking at laptop screen“If I include everything I’ve done, the employer can see my great potential.”

That statement describes a classic mistake many of us make the first time we write a resume. When you consider that hiring managers may give only a handful of seconds to scan a resume and decide whether to put it in the “no” pile, it’s worth being thoughtful and strategic about what you include.

What should you do to get started?

Start with a basic resume that you will be able to customize for different job applications. These are the typical sections of a resume, and what to include in each:

  • Contact information. At the top of your resume, write your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. If you don’t have a permanent address, use a location where you can receive mail, or a rented post office box.
  • Summary. This is your five-second commercial, and it’s best if you can target this section especially to each position you apply for. Write your top three or four accomplishments or skills.
  • Education and training. List education and training you have done. Include school or program name, city and state, dates attended, and any diplomas, degrees, or certifications you have earned. For most first resume writers, their education is their strongest selling point, so it’s listed before work experience. If your work experience is stronger, list that before education.
  • Work experience. List past jobs you’ve held. Include the name of the employer or company, city and state, your job title, dates you held the job, accomplishments, main tasks, if you were promoted, or other highlights.
  • Volunteering / activities. List volunteer or community work you have done. Also include other activities that can show your responsibility, commitment, or skills such as sports, clubs, or languages spoken.
  • Military experience. If you’ve served in the military, list dates of military service, rank reached, and branch. Write in any special training or skills you gained.

You can add sections to highlight your strengths, such as “Technical Skills Summary” or “Awards.”

How can you make it look professional?

Making your resume look polished and professional is not complicated, but it takes time. Use these tips to make your first resume clear, easy to scan, and appealing to the eye:

  • Length: one page for a first resume
  • Alignment: Left-aligned, except for headings, which can be left-aligned or centered
  • White space is important; aim to have a one-inch margin all around
  • Choose a simple font: Times New Roman, Cambria, Arial, Calibri, Garamond are good options. Avoid cursive or fancy fonts as they are too hard to read quickly.
  • Use bold, italics, and all capital letters sparingly
  • Font size: 10-12 point; most first resumes can use 12-point
  • Proofread and spell check
  • For printed resumes, use high-quality paper and a quality printer

Be sure that your resume makes an excellent first impression! Ask friends, family members, or others to read through your resume before sending it out. Misspellings, inconsistent use of font and type size, and misaligned margins can all indicate a lack of attention to detail.

Strategy checks

  • Set yourself up for success by using keywords that match words from the job posting or description and look for connections in your experience or education to the needs of the position. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the employer and think about what their priorities and questions might be in identifying people to interview. Focus on highlighting those experiences that make you a good candidate for the job.
  • Remember to be truthful. Some first resume writers feel insecure about their lack of experience and so they embellish or make outright false claims on their resumes. Be prepared to talk about any experience on your resume and stand behind it. In any case, enthusiasm is often more valuable to an employer than a specific skill that they can teach. So be bravely honest, claim what you’ve done, and state your skills and abilities accurately.

For more resume ideas and resume samples, check out CareerOneStop’s Resume Guide.

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5 in-demand careers for seniors

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Older workers

If you’re in your fifties, sixties, or seventies and planning to keep working for a while, you’re in good company. Workers age 55 and older are now the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And given today’s continuing low unemployment rate—giving job seekers a big advantage in the labor market—it’s a great time to be looking for work as an older worker.

But staying in the workplace into your seventies doesn’t mean you have to stick to the same career field. Many older workers make career shifts, either by choice or by necessity.

If you’re considering making a career change, here are 5 great options. The list was produced by AARP researchers who analyzed job openings, U.S. Census Bureau data, and information on what skills and experience older workers possess. Each of these fields are in demand (expected to have many job openings in the coming years) and suited to people with transferable skills from other work experience.

1. Computer systems analysts and other computer professionals

If you have IT or other analytic experience, you might find you have skills you can put to work as a computer systems analyst. These are the people who analyze systems and design improvements to make sure computer programs run smoothly and effectively. They are in demand in several states, but most notably in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Not sure you have the right skills or experience? Look into earning a certification to prove your qualifications. Read more about computer systems analysts.

2. Dieticians and nutritionists, or other healthcare diagnosing and treating practitioners

Already have health care experience? You may be able to transition into one of the in-demand healthcare jobs such as a nutritionist. Those are the professionals who plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs at healthcare or other facilities. These professionals are in particular demand in Alaska, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Read more about dieticians and nutritionists.

3. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations and sales managers

If you have management experience in any field, you might be able to transition into a marketing or promotional field, where jobs are in high demand—especially in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington. These managers typically plan, direct, or coordinate advertising or promotional activities, produce collateral materials, or otherwise help raise awareness for a product, company or organization. Read about advertising and promotions managers or public relations and fundraising managers.

4. Motor vehicle operators

According to AARP’s analysis, motor vehicle operators—including ambulance drivers, chauffeurs, and taxi drivers—will account for 11 percent of job postings over the next two years, with the heaviest demand in Alaska, Arkansas, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Many of these jobs don’t require prior experience, though most do require a clean driving record and, sometimes, an occupational license. Read about ambulance drivers.

5. Wholesale sales representatives

These are the people who sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. And whether you have sales experience or not, you may have some of the transferable skills needed for these jobs: negotiation, listening, persuasion, and speaking. Many companies will train you on the product-specific knowledge you need to succeed. Read more about Sales Representatives.

Want to learn more about in-demand jobs in your state?  Visit Fastest-Growing Careers. Also, find more job search tips for older workers.

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Conquer the emotional downfalls of a job search

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Career counselors, Job seekers, Uncategorized
man on couch watching tv eating popcorn

man on couch watching tv eating popcorn

A job search can feel like an emotional roller coaster. Depending on how you left your last position, you may feel elated, deflated, relieved, terrified, desperate, depressed, or possibly, excited and hopeful. Many people feel a little of all of these.

This list catalogs some of the most common emotional downfalls that may occur in a job search and how to avoid them or work your way through them.

Losing your confidence. Job search is hard for everyone (almost), and most people have to look quite a while before a good opportunity works out. Resilience is built by recognizing all the skills and talents you possess, remembering the times you met a challenge and succeeded at handling it, focusing on all the good things past employers have said about your performance, and taking good care of yourself with sleep, exercise, good eating. Speak positively about yourself, and treat yourself like a person of value.

Being afraid to ask for informational interviews, meetings, and contact recommendations. This is where many job seekers stall. It can be awkward to ask for something, most of us avoid it, and prefer to figure things out on our own. People can say no. However, your career is valuable and will be richer for including other people and their wisdom in your process. Everyone’s been a job seeker at some point, most people are pretty empathetic, and many will say yes. Knowing how to contact potential employers can help make it easier.

Taking rejection personally. Wow, another “no” can feel incredibly hard. Thoughts may turn to “what am I doing wrong?” “what’s wrong with me?” “no one will ever hire me!” It can help to get honest feedback from a job club or career counselor or other trusted person; maybe there are concrete ways to improve your approach. And hiring managers are fallible; they might have missed significant points about your abilities. But people who make hires have a problem to solve and are focused on filling an open position, which has nothing to do with your value as a person, or your potential to find a better fit.

Going it alone. Job search can get discouraging! And it’s much easier to feel discouraged when you go it alone. Consider joining a job club or teaming up with another job seeker to check in, brainstorm, and share tips. Your local library can offer computer or Internet access, along with knowledgeable reference librarians and, increasingly, employment help. And spend time at an American Job Center for free services designed specifically to help people get jobs.

Getting lost in the process. The number of possible leads and contacts and job search tasks can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, it just seems easier to distract yourself with those household chores that need doing, or with video games / fun reading / binge watching / etc. Anything to avoid focusing on the next step. It can help to set a schedule for yourself that moves your search forward, while building in self-care and some fun. Remember most jobs are found through communication with your your network, both in person and online, so invest much of your time there and in employer research to keep focused on your targeted jobs and employers.

Bringing negativity from a past job into the present and future. By the time we’ve held a few jobs, many of us have been hurt in some way by a supervisor, co-worker, or even customer. We may carry guilt, anger, anxiety, or feel disempowered. To the best of your ability, clearing through these emotions will allow you to approach the job search with an open mind and heart. You may find help through writing about your past experiences, talking at a job club or with a career counselor or therapist, or asking a friend to listen so you can forgive yourself and others for mistakes made, and free yourself of anxiety about a potential future recurrence.

Besides improving your well-being, recognize that working through any negativity will help you avoid bringing it in to an interview, where it’s very likely to emerge and influence the interviewer’s perception of you as an employee. So better to envision how you would like to feel in the new scenario and act accordingly.

 

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Find new in-demand certifications

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Job seekers, Older workers, Uncategorized
Certification Finder logo

Looking to boost your career by earning a certification that employers value?

It’s a great idea: getting certified in your field can show your current or future employer that you have the skills and knowledge needed to excel, that you’re motivated, and that you’re wiling to apply yourself to meet a goal.

You can get certified in hundreds of career fields—and within many fields, there are hundreds of certification options. So how do you decide which one is best for your career? One answer is to choose the certifications that many employers want. And one way of identifying those in-demand certifications is to review job listings for the ones they mention the most.

CareerOneStop did just that, analyzing thousands of job listings to see which certifications are mentioned by employers most often. In CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder, you’ll now see a chili pepper icon flagging those certifications considered most in-demand.

And CareerOneStop has recently updated its in-demand certification list. The list contains nearly 500 certifications that have been identified as in-demand through CareerOneStop’s analysis of national job posting data. The updated list includes 143 new certifications.

Results page of CareerOneStop's Certification Finder

You can search for a certification by name, industry, or occupation.

There are three main types of certifications:

  • Skill certifications: these cover basic skills, and can often be applied in several career fields. Examples include a CPR certification or a desktop publishing certification. Some skill certifications are specific to a product, such as a software program.
  • Specialty certifications: these relate to specialties within certain fields. For example, an Oncology Nurse certification and a Pediatric Nurse certification are both nursing certifications.
  • Advanced certifications: these require an Associate’s degree or higher, as well as more than two years of work experience. Sometimes they require that you hold a ‘core’ level certification from the same organization.

The in-demand “chili pepper” designation isn’t the only way to compare certifications—you should also research the certification and the certifying organization. But when your goal is to show an employer that you’re qualified for the job, it helps to know which certifications employers value enough to ask for it in job postings.

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Thinking about freelancing?

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Job seekers, self employed
dictioanary page with definition of freelance

Have you thought about freelancing, or already started to build your freelance skills and business network? CareerOneStop offers food for thought on aspects of freelancing to consider.

Freelancing, defined

A freelancer, or freelance worker, is self-employed, sells their work or services by the hour, day, or project, and may work for more than one employer at a time, or different employers sequentially, for short terms.

Why freelance?dictioanary page with definition of freelance

Freelancing appeals to some people as a means to use their unique set of talents fully, in ways they can’t seem to do in a standard job. Some like the independence of setting their own schedule, taking time off when needed, and working extra hours when they have the time. Others like the opportunity to earn a higher hourly rate of pay than they could as an employee. Some people get into freelancing after a layoff, quitting—or being fired from a job. They may want a break from the obligations of regular employment, have a hard time finding a job, or just need an immediate income source.

How freelancers find jobs

It’s common to build a freelance career over time, establishing relationships with clients and developing a network of business contacts that can provide leads for projects and freelance jobs. Reputation is key, as word of mouth referrals are like gold for freelance work. Freelance work may be posted on major job websites as well as on niche freelance work sites for writers, designers, developers and coders, photographers, marketers, and more. Social media may be especially helpful for digital media freelancers, and for outreach to develop contacts and establish links to your portfolio.

The product

As a freelancer, you will benefit from having an articulate, clearly-defined brand that communicates who you are and what you offer an employer. It’s important to know:

  • What is your unique skill set?
  • Are there passions that freelancing will allow you to express, explore, and expand?
  • What are the work environments you understand, in which you thrive, and to which you are able to make an immediate contribution?
  • How will you keep up in your field to continue to offer in-demand skills?

Most freelancers have a targeted skill set they’re marketing, so maintaining and refreshing that skill set needs to be part of the plan. Look for ways to keep your skills sharp such as sources for free or low-cost classes and software instruction or consider a skill training swap with someone who knows something you’d like to learn. Community college classes and certifications may be good options. Teaching your skills is another way to keep them sharp and build your reputation as an expert in the field.

Your product may best be communicated through a portfolio of your work—considered essential for most freelancers, so keep a record of your projects, publications, a client list, successes, and accomplishments to include.

Costs for freelancers

Freelancers need to be aware of the costs of providing health insurance, retirement, and other benefits for themselves. For some, this may be the deciding factor in whether they can afford to freelance. Freelancers also forego unemployment insurance, so during gaps in employment, you are on your own. You may want to establish a reliable fall back income stream, such as a job you can easily pick up when needed.

Freelancers may also need to pay for their own equipment, tools, and other gear. But unless items are essential for a particular project, you may build up your tool kit over time.

Keeping a balance

Emotional support is a factor that some freelancers neglect to consider until its absence is felt. Many employees who work in teams and have longevity in a job develop close relationships with coworkers. This may not be part of a freelancer lifestyle, so you may want to take an honest look at how your social needs will be met by other means. Options could include joining freelancer networking groups, scheduling regular meetings with friends, or establishing yourself as a regular at a gym, favorite coffee shop, or volunteer gig.

Employers may have unrealistic expectations of freelance workers and impose workloads and deadlines that leave little time or energy for a life outside of just keeping up. In cases like these, freelancers may need to assert their conditions to make the work sustainable.

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New online career tool for veterans

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Veterans
CareerOneStop's Toolkit

Want to put your military experience to work in a civilian career?

Veterans Job Matcher logoCheck out the new Veterans Job Matcher, where you can enter your military job title or code, and create a list of civilian careers that use similar skills and work experience as your military job. For each of the civilian careers on your list, you can review basic career information such as typical wages and job outlook, and you can link to job postings in your local area.image of Veterans Job Matcher results

Once you get your list of civilian careers, you can compare them by several different measures.

  • Typical Pay Grade: the minimum military pay grade that usually qualifies someone for this civilian career. You can use this as a reference to know if a civilian career is appropriate for your own career level; if the Typical Pay Grade is the same or very close to yours, the civilian career may be a good fit. If it’s much higher than yours, you may not qualify for jobs in the civilian career. If it’s much lower than your military pay grade, you might find that the civilian salary does not meet your requirements. qualifications.
  • Typical Wages: the median annual salary for all workers in the career.
  • Typical Education: the amount of education that most workers have when they enter the career.
  • Outlook: a measure of how fast the career is expected to grow. This can help you identify demand in the job market for that career.
  • Job postings: when you enter a location, you’ll link directly to local job postings for any career you choose.

This tool uses the O*NET Military Search equation, which matches military jobs to civilian careers based on skills and other factors.

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Looking for a hot career for 2019?

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

Wondering what the hot careers will be in 2019? And once you identify them, are you curious to know how you can boost your own credentials to earn a job in an in-demand field?

One good place to start is with an IT certification. When LinkedIn analyzed hiring trends to identify the most in-demand jobs of 2018, four out of the top five were in the tech field.

That’s great news—if you happen to have a tech background. But guess what?  You don’t necessarily need a tech background to break into a tech career.  You can take many different tracks to entering this growing field.  Depending on where you are in your current career path, choose one or all of the options below:

  • Network or join a professional association to learn more about local trends in the IT industry.  You might already know someone who can help you learn about the field, but if not, you can connect with others at association events.
  • Identify certifications that can help you demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Visit CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder and search for “IT” or a more specific skill. You’ll see a list of certifications and then you can filter by specific career fields. Pay particular attention to certifications that are marked with a red chili pepper icon—they have been identified as in-demand by a analysis of job postings.
  • Find a local training program.  If you’re planning on going back to school, investigate schools in your area that have classes or programs in fields you want to enter.  Not sure what those are?  See above, and check in with other professionals to find out what’s in-demand or where your current skills might best line up.

 

 

 

 

 

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Start your 2019 career plan

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Job seekers, Uncategorized
Man kneeling under words Get Ready For 2019

Man kneeling under words Get Ready For 2019If you’re ready to start 2019 with a new career plan, make a glimpse of the job market your starting line.

ManpowerGroup, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the third-largest staffing company in the world. They recently completed a survey of employers to identify hiring plans for early 2019.

The survey entailed more than 12,500 interviews conducted with employers from a wide variety of industries, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The key questions asked employers to identify their anticipated employment change from end of 2018 through the first three months of 2019.

Key findings of the survey:

  • In first quarter 2019, 23% of U.S. employers expect to add to their workforce, while 5% expect to trim back.
  • Geographically, employers in all regions anticipate growth. The strongest labor market growth will be in southern states, with Midwest, Northeast and West regions all following close behind.
  • Industries vary in growth rates, although all anticipate increasing their workforce during first quarter 2019.
  • The five industries leading growth trends are (figures are seasonally adjusted):
    • Transportation & Utilities – 28%
    • Leisure & Hospitality – 27%
    • Professional & Business Services – 25%
    • Mining – 24%
    • Wholesale & Retail Trade – 24%.

To explore what these results could mean for your career, find more in-depth details on industry trends on CareerOneStop, and learn about different types of careers available in the growth-leading industries in your region.

You can also search for employment trends by industry and occupation, to identify the very specific slice of an industry likely to hire employees in a given occupation.

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5 careers for people who love food

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

Do you love all things food? Wish you could work with and around food as a career? Here are five  ideas to consider.

Check out the job outlook and average salary range for each career, and then click on any career name to view a complete Occupation Profile with more details.

Chef or head cook

This may seem like an obvious dream career choice for a food lover, and it’s not unattainable. Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s data, most people landing a job as a head cook have five or more years of experience working in a restaurant but do not have a college degree?

Job outlook: New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Average salary range: $33,950 – $61,870

Food scientist

Ever heard of a food scientist or technologist? They’re the people who study food—they use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to learn how to produce the best food, understand food nutritional content, discover new food sources, and figure out the best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

Job outlook: New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Average salary range: $49,390- $88,100

Dietician or nutritionist

If you love science and the health care field as much as you love food, you might be interested in working as a nutritionist or dietician in a hospital, school, research, or other setting. You can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nutrition or a related field to get started in this fast-growing career.

Job outlook: New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Average salary range: $47,720 – $72,490

Food journalist or restaurant critic

There’s no U.S. Department of Labor information specifically for food journalists, but food writers are a niche slice of the larger Reporters and Correspondents occupation. And while the outlook for general reporters is not so strong, demand for food writers remains high at magazines, websites, and some newspapers. Note that the below information applies to Reporters and Correspondents as a whole—food writers may command higher salaries and be more in demand.

Job outlook overall for Reporters and Correspondents occupation: New job opportunities are less likely in the future,

Average salary range for Reporters and Correspondents occupation: $28,930 – $62,500

Food marketing strategist

Food marketing is a slice of the larger Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist occupation. Marketing specialists research market conditions in local, regional, or national areas, or gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or create a marketing campaign. Food marketers carry out the same tasks, but they specialize in grocery or restaurant markets.

Job outlook overall for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: New job opportunities are very likely in the future

Average salary range for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: $46,460 – $89,200

 

 

 

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