Workplace risk, workplace safety

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers, Career counselors, Job seekers, Uncategorized
Safety First

Safety First

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, passed in 1970, stated that employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace. The OSHA organization grew up around the Act to set and enforce standards and provide training, outreach, education, and assistance to employers and workers. An important emphasis for OSHA is their ability to offer free confidential advice to both employers and employees.

Resources for workers

OSHA offers workers easy-to-use resources to file a complaint, or to request an OSHA inspection of their workplace if they see serious hazards or infractions of OSHA standards. There are videos to inform workers of their rights and to walk workers through the complaint filing process.

Current safety and health topics are featured to keep the public up-to-date and informed on new developments, such as the Zika virus. Use their Frequently Asked Question page to locate detailed advice or information on a range of common questions and topics.

Resources for businesses

Employers will find detailed information on their safety and health responsibilities, recordkeeping, safety promotion materials, and other resources in Spanish and English, as well as current regulations. An A to Z catalog of videos covers a very broad range of safety and workplace health topics, including construction site safety, fall protection, respiratory equipment use, dealing with silica, excavations, and more.

OSHA also offers free on-site consultations for small businesses – separately from enforcement activities – so no penalties or citations may be imposed as a result. When workplaces are cited for violating OSHA regulations, many enter into the same set of categories. In OSHA lingo, the 2015 top 10 most frequently cited violations were:

  1. Fall Protection (C)
  2. Hazard Communication
  3. Scaffolding (C)
  4. Respiratory Protection
  5. Lockout / Tagout
  6. Powered Industrial Trucks
  7. Ladders (C)
  8. Electrical, Wiring Methods
  9. Machine Guarding
  10. Electrical, General Requirements
    (C) = Construction standard

New training tool for students and workers

For employers or instructors seeking to engage workers or students around workplace safety, OSHA offers an interactive, online, game-based training tool. The tool highlights the basics of hazard identification, and encourages thinking around resources and costs to mitigate common hazards. Currently, the user can choose between four different scenarios: OSHA Visual Inspection Training, Manufacturing, Construction and Emergency Room.

Facts about workplace risk

The seriousness of OSHA’s efforts is brought home through the related workplace Illnesses, Injuries and Fatalities program. While some occupations seem inherently risky, for example those involving heavy equipment, unpredictable circumstances, or chemical exposure, other professions present risks you might not be aware of.

The number of work-related fatalities for 2014, the most recent complete year of data available, totals 4,821. The more populous states garner the highest numbers, with California numbering 344, the highest number of any state. The fewest fatalities related to work occurred that year in Vermont and Rhode Island, at 10 each.

What’s encouraging to see in these discouraging numbers, is the significant reduction in workplace fatalities that have taken place during the last decade. Total numbers are down by more than 1000 since the peak year, 2006.

  • 92% of workplace fatalities were suffered by men, 8% by women
  • Agriculture and construction industries appeared to experience the greatest risk of fatality of any occupation, although heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers also experienced a high level of risk
  • In terms of age, the highest proportion of deaths occurred in the 45-54 age range, closely followed by the 55-64 age group
  • White or Caucasian workers experienced the highest number of deaths on the job, with close to 70% of all workplace fatalities; approximately 17% were Hispanic or Latino, and close to 10% were Black or African American.

Find more resources for your small business at CareerOneStop’s Business Center. Or consider looking for a safer career that might fit the skills you already have, using CareerOneStop’s mySkillsmyFuture.

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Do you need a license for that job?

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Job seekers, Workers with criminal records
Jobs

Did you know that nearly 30 percent of U.S. workers need a license to perform their job?

JobsThat means they have to meet certain standards—such as completing specialized training, logging a certain number of hours of experience, and/or passing an exam—before they are allowed to work in their field.  Often, it also means paying a fee that can top $1,000 a year.

Who needs to be licensed?

License requirements are determined by states, and their goal is to protect consumers from harm. For instance, if a doctor is going to perform an operation on you, you’d probably like to know that she’s qualified before she gets started.

Other examples of licensed occupations include teacher, lawyer, cosmetologist, nurse, building contractor, counselor, therapist, and electrician. Often, these are fields where people work with children, handle money, or have other high-stakes interactions.

Sometimes the reasoning for requiring a license is less obvious—for instance, flower arrangers, travel guides, and ballroom dance instructors need licenses in some states. (Many people believe that these licensing rules should be overhauled.)

How do I find license requirements for different states?

Whether or not you agree that license requirements should be overhauled, you’ll need to know the rules in your state, or a state you are considering living in. CareerOneStop’s License Finder lets you search for an occupation in any state, find the licensing rules, and get contact information for the agency or organization that handles the licensing process.

What if I have a criminal record?

People who have had a criminal conviction may be unable to obtain a license for some fields. You can learn more at CareeroneStop’s Job Search for Ex-offenders.

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Employee retention ideas: low-cost and effective

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers
Two men talking in office

Two men talking in office

Unless you have unusual luck, hiring employees requires significant effort and expense. So for most businesses, retaining them is a top priority.

Fortunately, other than the staff time involved, many good retention practices are low-cost or free.

Effective retention

To understand how to retain good employees, you first need to know what they’re looking for. Today, the best employees want:

  • Career development opportunities and a chance to grow in their chosen field
  • Regular feedback on how both they and the company are doing
  • A chance to contribute directly to the organization and be recognized for it
  • Flexible work schedules that recognize their need for work / life balance
  • A good salary or wage and an opportunity to increase it over time
  • Benefits tailored to their individual needs

Key strategies

Good retention starts from the time you hire employees to the time they leave your company. Tweaking some of your employment practices can have a big impact on employee retention:

  • Recruitment and hiring. When there’s a good match between employees and your organization, retention is less likely to be an issue.
  • Orientation and onboarding. Treating employees right in the critical early stages of employment has been proven to improve retention.
  • Training and development. Training and development are key factors in helping employees grow with your company and stay marketable in their field.
  • Performance evaluation. When employees know what they’re doing well and where they need to improve, both they and your organization benefit.
  • Pay and benefits. While today many employees tend to rate factors such as career development higher than pay, good pay and benefits still count.
  • Internal communication. Employees need to know—and be reminded on a regular basis—how the organization is doing and what they can do to help.
  • Termination and outplacement. Employees who leave on good terms are much more likely to recommend your company, and in doing so, help you attract and retain future employees.

The power of the one-on-one meeting

One way to integrate a few of these strategies is to establish a practice of one-on-one meetings with direct reports. Digital communication is a necessity, but it misses a lot of meaningful communication that only face-to-face meetings can achieve.

Some experts believe that individual meetings are one of the strongest tools you can use to support an employee’s productivity as well as job satisfaction, according to a recent Harvard Business Journal article. It’s an opportunity to show interest in your employee’s success and growth, and also learn about the barriers they may be confronting.

They suggest:

  • Commit to regular meeting times in your schedules – consider weekly or monthly
  • Come with a list of discussion points and priorities. Specific questions like “What’s your favorite part of your job?” or “What’s the biggest opportunity we are missing out on?” often produce more meaningful results than a generic “How’s it going?”
  • Show up on time and keep your focus on the employee during the meeting
  • Start with a positive, and listen to how the employee would solve problems she’s confronting rather than jump in to tell her how you’d solve them
  • Talk with your employee about his future career plans
  • Close with an expression of gratitude for your employee’s work or effort

An employee who feels cared about, invested in, and who has major barriers addressed on a regular basis, is an employee who’s likely to stick around and get the job done – well.

For more on training and retaining your employees, check out CareerOneStop’s Business Center.

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Find the certifications employers value the most

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Career counselors, Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Older workers, Students, Veterans, Workers with criminal records, Workers with disabilities
Career woman

Ready to boost your career? Earning a certification is a great place to start.

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 most often. In CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder, you’ll now see a chili pepper icon flagging those certifications considered most in-demand.

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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What is the minimum wage?

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers, Entry-level workers, Job seekers, self employed, Students
Green U.S. dollar sign

Minimum wage in the United States: if the topic incites both your curiosity and confusion, read on for some facts, myth busters, and revelations.Green U.S. dollar sign

What is the minimum wage and how is it established?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) established the minimum wage at 25 cents an hour in 1938. It was last set seven years ago, in July of 2009, at $7.25/hour. To increase it, Congress would have to pass a bill that the President signs into law.

Generally, the law applies to organizations with sales or business of at least $500,000/year. To ensure workers receive the minimum wage, the U.S. Department of Labor enforces it with employers. Learn details of how FLSA is applied.

While there is a national minimum wage, some states have also set their own minimum wage. As of this date, 29 states and the District of Columbia have set a higher minimum wage. Where national and state minimum wages differ, employees are entitled to the higher wage of the two. See the minimum wage in all 50 states.

Exceptions to the minimum wage

Workers under age 20 can be paid a minimum wage as low as $4.25 during their first 90 straight days of employment, unless their work causes any other workers to lose their jobs. Once 90 days have passed, or if they turn 20, employees must get a boost to $7.25/hour.

The minimum wage for employees who earn tips uses a different formula. Basically, their federal minimum wage is $2.13/hour, providing they receive tips that bring their earnings up to at least $7.25/hour.

Special programs for other groups allow for payment lower than the full federal minimum wage. They are: workers with disabilities in certain circumstances, full-time students, and student-learners.

What happens if it goes up?

A minimum wage raise is under discussion to keep pace with inflation, particularly during this election year. Analysts note that most workers who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage are adults; about 90% are age 20 +, and 56% are women.

Some concerns are raised regularly around the subject of raising the minimum wage. Research has provided insight to address these concerns with new information.

1)   Could raising the minimum wage cause newly hired employees and unskilled workers to lose jobs?

Past experience and current research by economists has shown there is little to no negative effect on employment when the minimum wage is raised. They also note that higher wages reduce employee turnover, which correlates to a savings for employers.

2)   How are small businesses affected if a wage increase goes into effect? Won’t it be hard for them to afford to pay higher wages to their workers?

According to a 2015 survey, 60% of small business owners see a gradual increase in the minimum wage as a stimulant to their bottom line. With more money in their pockets, low-wage workers will be able to spend on basics, creating more demand for products and generating more opportunities.

Economic experts weigh in on the minimum wage

It helps to hear specifics from the experts. More than 600 economists from policy centers and universities around the country signed a letter to President Obama and congressional leaders urging a minimum wage increase. They noted “the weight of evidence now showing that increases in the minimum wage have had little or no negative effect on the employment of minimum-wage workers, even during times of weakness in the labor market. Research suggests that a minimum-wage increase could have a small stimulative effect on the economy as low-wage workers spend their additional earnings, raising demand and job growth, and providing some help on the jobs front.”

Still curious? Read 7 Facts About the Minimum Wage on the U.S. Department of Labor Blog.

You can also learn about typical wages in your state and across the country with CareerOneStop’s wage tools and reports.

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5 careers you can get with a degree in information security

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Uncategorized
Computer professional at work

Guest post by Dixie Somers

Computer professional at workWith banking, consumer and business transactions, communications and even infrastructure run by computers and digital devices, hackers, thieves and even terrorists can wreak havoc on organizations and communities. These threats have increased demand for professionals trained in information security. The cyber security industry should balloon from $75 billion in 2015 to $170 billion by 2020. According to a report by Forbes.com, there were 209,000 vacancies of cyber security positions heading into 2016 and job announcements in this field grew by 75 percent between 2010 and 2015.

Colleges and universities offer master’s degrees in information security or cyber security, which offer graduates a number of career options. Here are five for your consideration:

Information Security Analysts

In this role, you defend an organization against cyberattacks and data security breaches. Your degree equips you to install firewalls, virtual private networks, and data encryption; perform “penetration testing” to spot weak spots in the organization’s cyber defenses; preserve company data through off-site copying and transfers; and develop and implement emergency plans. As an analyst, you will likely read the latest literature and attend conferences to keep abreast of new forms of threats and cyberattacks and the technology to defeat them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 36 percent rise in employment from 2014 to 2024 in computer systems design and related service employers, especially as small to mid-size companies (who don’t have IT departments) want cloud-based data.

Computer Network Architects

These professionals draw the plans for and build data communication systems, which may include local area networks linking two offices, a broader network, connections between a client and server, or peer-to-peer. If you work as a network architect, you likely will consider the security risks from particular types of systems and you’ll need to draw on your attention to understand the tools for securing the network. Demand for these positions should grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024. While some firms grow their IT networks, others will turn to cloud technology and somewhat reduce the need for these architects.

Compliance Managers

As a compliance manager, you ensure that the organization meets applicable laws and regulations. In the information security field, this means, for example, requirements for creating and carrying out incident response plans and business continuity plans. These cover data breaches and hackers that might compromise power grids or power plant equipment or other infrastructure run by companies. An information security degree program teaches you how to work with internal and external auditors, report regulations to management and research, and propose policies that conform to regulations on cyber security.

Software Developers, Applications

In this field, you create computer or mobile device applications for consumers, organizations, and for use on the Internet or intranets. You learn through an information security degree program the tools for applications free of design or implementation errors. Courses such as secure coding in Java and other programming languages help you create products that can withstand viruses and other attacks. You also can develop apps that specifically recognize and fend off malware, viruses, and other threats to your operating system and computer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 19 percent growth in demand for these developers from 2014 to 2024, especially as demand for consumers and organizations for security software to protect their computers grows.

Criminal Investigators and Special Agents

Law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation hire information security graduates to combat terrorism, cyber theft and other forms of online and cybercrime. As an investigator or agent, you need to know computer and cyber-related laws, the legal standards and procedures for collecting and presenting evidence in court, and how to present your findings to prosecutors, judges and juries.

Dixie Somers is a freelance writer and blogger for business, home, and family niches. Dixie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls and wife to a wonderful husband. She can be found on Twitter at @DixieSomers.

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Calling all pro athlete wannabees

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Parents, Students
Woman soccer player

Woman soccer playerIf you find yourself dreaming about a future as a professional athlete, you might wonder what it takes to get there. While learning the facts may burst your bubble, a passion for athletics can lead to many rewarding goals.

What does it mean to be a professional athlete?

Professional means that you are paid to participate in the sport. Not all sports offer opportunities to make a living at playing them. In general, sports that pay athletes to go pro include team sports like football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, and individual sports including tennis, golf,  boxing, ice skating, skiing, driving stock cars, and riding in the rodeo circuit.

Several criteria are typical of professional athletes. As a rule, they:

    • Are extremely motivated
    • Train consistently for hundreds and even thousands of hours
    • Continuously learn skills and improve on their own initiative
    • Possess enormous, well-founded, confidence in their abilities
    • Are resilient in the face of defeat and loss

How do pro athletes get started?

Most start early in life and spend hours each day practicing their activity. Many attend college to develop their athletic and life management skills and learn about other subjects to support them if going pro doesn’t work out, or they need additional income to pay the bills. Division 1 and 2 colleges and universities offer athletic scholarships to outstanding prospects, covering some or all of these students’ college costs in exchange for their sports participation.

What are the odds of getting to pro leagues?

The National Collegiate Athletic Association maintains statistics on players who move from high school sports to college, and from college to professional leagues. For example, here are recent yearly odds on making it in basketball:

Women’s basketball

  • Total number of high school players: 438,933
  • Number who make it to the pros: 255
  • Odds of making it to the pros: 13,717 to 1

Men’s Basketball

  • Total number of high school players: 545,844
  • Number who make it to the pros: 48
  • Odds of making it to the pros: 11,372 t0 1

How hard is it?

Pro athletes carry a lot of expectations from their sponsors, coaches, teammates, and the public. They need to maintain top condition year-round and be at their peak all the time. There is both physical and mental stress from competing, including the risk of injuries.

Public appearances, diet and exercise restrictions, travel requirements, rigorous practice and study to improve technique and performance – are all part of the life of a professional athlete.

Consider a back-up plan

If sports are your passion but going pro is not in the cards for you, there are many other sports-related careers to consider. Learn about different sports-related careers by following links on the following job titles, then select your state: coach or scout, ticket sales manager, sports writer, physical education teacher, athletic trainer, sports equipment designer, umpire or referee, general manager, team owner, fitness instructor, gym manager and public relations specialist.

There are also powerful lessons that you can gain from participating in sports, that will contribute to your success in any career. For example:

  • How to accept criticism
  • How to accept loss
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Self-discipline
  • Confidence
  • Teamwork / cooperation

More information

Find more details on being a professional athlete, check out CareerOneStop’s Occupation Profile for Athletes and Sports Competitors. Select your state and click “continue”.

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5 career ideas for introverts

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Students, Uncategorized
introvert at work

Guest post by Dave Landry Jr.

An introverted nature is almost always accompanied by some above-average abilities, such as strong observation, excellent listening skills, high degree of readiness and extreme attention to detail. If you’re an introvert, then you should definitely choose a career that plays to your unique skills.

introvert at workHere are five high paying jobs best suited for introverts that have been compiled using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET, an occupational database sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. They are the best career options if you want to be in a profession that doesn’t call for much interaction with others, but puts your natural abilities to good use.

Archivist

Being an archivist means you’ll be spending a lot of time archiving material in a museum or auction house, surrounded by historical documents and objects, and works of art, instead of people. This solitary pursuit has an annual median salary of $53,880 with a projected employment growth of 6.8% by 2024.

Creative Writer

Most creative writers spend hours alone typing away on their computer and writing novels or completing ghost writing assignments. Most writing work involves research work which can be done online without the need to interact with anyone in person. And if that’s not enough, you also get to become famous when your work is published! Creative writers earn an annual median salary of $69,130 and the projected employment growth is 2.3% by 2024.

Web Developer

With more and more small businesses coming up, there’s a big demand for website designing and development work. This kind of work consumes a lot of time because of the creative thought process and experimenting involved. So naturally, as a web developer, you’d be spending more time in front of your PC, bringing your imaginations to life. Web developers earn an annual median salary of $70,660 and the projected employment growth by 2024 is huge at 26.6%.

Statistician

If you love numbers and don’t mind spending long hours crunching data, then this career is for you! All your time would be spent poring over spreadsheets and equations, leaving you little time for social interaction. Statisticians are also paid well with the annual median salary at $84,440 and a projected employment growth of 33.8% by 2024.

Astronomer

If you’re looking for a solitary job that involves spending most of your time among the stars in the sky, then you should take up astronomy as a career. This position calls for some strong observation skills and ability to detail findings – something which most introverts are extremely good at. An astronomer earns an annual median salary of $110,220 and has a projected employment growth of 2.8% by 2024.

If you’re still not sure which career option is right for you, visit CareerOneStop’s Interest Assessment, a free, quick 30-question assessment. Or, take a longer free career test & assessment. Both of these free assessments test what types of things you like to do and don’t like to do and matches your personality traits and likes with careers requiring similar likes and traits. Understanding which career is best for you will also help you to identify the right education required to meet your specific professional goals.

 

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I’m still in high school—why should I take an interest assessment?

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Students
Woman making a cup of coffee

Woman making a cup of coffeeGetting ready to embark on your first job search, college, or planning your career?

There’s one big reason to take an interest assessment when you’re starting to think about your future career plans: when you enjoy your job, you’re more likely to be good at it.

What are “interests”?

Your interests are the things you like to do, the ideas you want to know more about, and anything that inspires you. Interests are activities like:

  • Exploring ideas
  • Fixing things
  • Helping others
  • Working with numbers
  • Creating art
  • Convincing people about your ideas

What do interests have to do with your career?

When your job includes your interests, you enjoy it more. And you usually become good at things you enjoy. With so many days and years in your working life, it’s absolutely important that you enjoy it.

If you aren’t sure what your interests are, find out what you really like. And even if you do know what you like, you can learn about the careers that fit your interests. Get started with the link below.

Ready to learn about your interests?

Take the Interest Assessment. It’s a short survey that shows what your interests are and matches them to careers that might be the best fit for you.

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5 tips for teens looking for a summer job

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Students
Teen job seeker

Teen job seekerSummer’s officially here, but it’s not too late to search for and land a summer job. With unemployment rates down across the country, it’s getting easier to find a job even when you don’t have experience—but, you still have to put effort into a job search.

Follow these 5 tips to help make your search successful:

Think outside the box when you’re looking for opportunities. Take a walk around your neighborhood or city and look for help wanted signs, check out online job banks, network with everyone you know, and check out these ideas for first jobs.

Take the application seriously. Whether it’s paper or online, take the time to fill out an application completely. This might mean you have to spend some time collecting names and phone numbers of references, former jobs, etc., but it will show a future employer that you take the job opportunity seriously and that you take the time to follow through with tasks. Learn more about job applications.

Be engaged during the interview. Smile, look the interviewer in the eye, and give more than one-word answers to questions. Also, ask questions that show you’re interested in the work (don’t make all your questions about pay and time off!). Find more interview tips.

Put away your phone! This should be obvious, but employers say they’re constantly surprised by how many teens look at, or even text on, their phones during interviews. If you think you can’t trust yourself to keep your phone hidden during your interview, leave it at home!

Continue to work on making a good impression—even after you’ve got the job. Show up for your first day on time, dressed appropriately, and ready to work. Read more about what to expect on the job.

Ready? Time to find a job!

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