A Veterans Day resolution for small businesses: Hire a Vet

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers, Uncategorized

An encouraging trend in veterans’ employment is looking even better: after reaching a seven-year low in August, the unemployment rate for veterans dropped even lower in October, to just 3.9 percent.

That’s good news!

It comes thanks to the hard work of many: veterans, employers, educators, nonprofits, and government have all worked together to improve veterans’ access to good jobs.

vets day for blogOne great partnership example is the Joining Forces initiative, launched in 2011 by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, who called on employers and all Americans to rally around service members, veterans, and their families and support them through wellness, education, and employment opportunities. In April, Michelle Obama announced that private-sector businesses had committed to train or hire 90,000 veterans and military spouses in such high-growth fields as energy, technology, and transportation.

That’s great for employers with the resources to devote to recruiting and hiring veterans.

But what about small businesses who want to hire veterans?

Luckily, you don’t have to task your HR department with developing a national partnership to begin hiring veterans. In fact, you don’t even have to have an HR department—or even spend an extra dime. You can get started today, online, from wherever you are.

There are two simple steps to hiring a vet:

  1. Begin by posting your job opening on your state job bank. Follow the instructions on your state job bank website to post your job opening(s).
  2. Next, contact a Veterans Employment Representative at an American Job Center. Let them know you want to hire a veteran. They may ask for details of your job listing(s), and they’ll help you identify qualified veterans that best meet your needs.
Tagged with: ,

Study up on Apprenticeship Week

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers, Entry-level workers, Students
woman apprentice

woman apprenticeThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship announced the first annual National Apprenticeship Week, November 2-8. It’s a great opportunity to learn about apprenticeship, whether you want to develop your skills for a new career, or you are an employer looking for workers ready to learn job skills.

What is apprenticeship?

If you are new to the idea of apprenticeship, it is a form of employment that combines hands-on, paid work experience with classroom training. Apprenticeships are often available in the manufacturing, construction, and transportation industries, among others.

Apprenticeship programs are generally sponsored by employers, labor unions or industry associations. To enroll, an applicant must meet a set of basic qualifications. An apprenticeship can last between one and six years, and participants earn wage increases at predetermined points as they gain work experience.

What kind of work do apprentices do?

If apprenticeship is a familiar idea, you may think of it as an arrangement only for plumbers, electricians and carpenters, but consider this: President Obama recently announced an investment of $175 million to 46 grantees to develop and expand apprenticeships in high growth industries.

Growth of up to 34,000 new apprenticeships is expected to expand opportunities in those more traditionally apprenticed fields, but also in industries newer to apprenticeship such as health care, finance and IT. Large and small companies, community colleges, unions and others are collaborating to extend the reach of apprenticeable occupations.

Who benefits?

Businesses benefit from their apprenticeship programs through greater worker productivity, higher retention rates, reduced injuries and improved morale. As for the apprentices, their average starting salary after completing an apprenticeship is $50,000. An apprentice will earn an average of $300,000 more in wages and benefits over his or her career than peers who haven’t apprenticed.

If you are seeking an apprenticeship, you will find that different states offer different opportunities. In Oregon, for example, more than 100 women each year enroll in a pre-apprenticeship class with Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. to prepare for entering an apprenticeship in the skilled trades. Following the program, participants credit their preparation and informed expectations for the high levels of success they experience in their new careers.

Learn more about apprenticeship on CareerOneStop.org. For details on how to get involved in apprenticeship, check out the U.S. Department of Labor’s ApprenticeshipUSA. Individuals will find resources and finders for opportunities, and employers will find tools to promote their opportunities or to explore how to establish their own apprenticeships.

 

Tagged with: ,

Jobs on the decline: Watch for narrowing job openings

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Career counselors, Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized
decline graph

decline graphWondering whether openings in your field are narrowing down, or if you will find job openings after investing in a training program? To chart your future, take a look at these jobs on the decline, and what factors may be behind the changes.

As you review the list, remember that a decline means there are fewer openings, not zero. The demand for an occupation in your location could differ from the national trend, and even occupations with declining employment will have some openings as workers retire or move on to other jobs.

Here are the ten occupations projected to have the steepest employment decline between 2012 and 2022:

  1. Fallers
  2. Locomotive Firers
  3. Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders
  4. Postal Service Clerks
  5. Log Graders and Scalers
  6. Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
  7. Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  8. Postal Service Mail Carriers
  9. Word Processors and Typists
  10. Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

With an anticipated 43-percent decline in job openings, Fallers earn the dubious distinction of rising to the top of the list. (A faller cuts down trees in an environmentally safe manner.) Fallers pair up with Log Graders and Scalers to represent lumber industry occupations that will see a decline in employment. A possible explanation? Demand for timber rises and falls as shifts in the economy dictate whether resources are available for construction, while competition from other countries puts constant pressure on lumber industry jobs.

Employment with the U.S. Postal Service has a major presence on the list, representing three of the top ten occupations. Noted positions are: Clerks – who sell stamps and weigh and post mail and packages; Sorters who process and route the mail to the correct destination; and Carriers who deliver the mail to businesses and residences.

As much of our personal and business communication has shifted to electronic mail, the demand for mail service has changed dramatically in recent years. The number of pieces of first class mail delivered annually by the U.S. Postal Service dropped from 46 billion in 2005 to an estimated 21.5 billion in 2015. Far fewer hands are needed to move the mail from its point of origin to its destination.

And while online shopping has grown exponentially, creating demand for package delivery, a related uptick in package delivery businesses has resulted in a continued drop in demand for USPS services.

Another field predicted to see a steep decline in numbers is Word Processors and Typists, with a 25-percent drop expected. Changes in technology mean that everyone from entry-level employees to CEOs create documents that their predecessors might have relied on Word Processors and Typists to produce.

Also on the list are Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders (who make shoes on machines) and Fabric and Apparel Pattern Makers, Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. Between new efficiencies in the manufacturing industry, and increased purchase of clothing produced in other countries, the drop in demand for shoemaking and textile-related workers doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Interestingly, all of the “top 10” occupations on the list share the same education requirement, which is “high school diploma or equivalent.” While there is no clear consensus on the education needs of the future workforce, most experts agree that training beyond high school will continue to increase a worker’s odds of finding employment, and of earning higher wages.

Learn more about which occupations are seeing a decline in openings on CareerOneStop. And check out other occupation reports on CareerOneStop, including: Fastest Growing, Largest Employment, and Most Openings.

 

 

Tagged with: ,

Top 10 jobs for work-life balance

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

When you think of the good life where do your thoughts go?  Maybe you think of traveling the world or relaxing on a tropical beach?  Spending time with friends and family?  Or working as a data scientist?

work life balanceIt turns out that data scientists may be some of the happiest workers around.  At least that’s what a recent study of employee feedback posted on Glassdoor shows.  The job-listing website asked employees to rate their sense of work-life balance on a scale of 0 (worst) to 5 (best).

The results?  Kind of depressing, actually:  Glassdoor has been asking the same question since 2009, when the average score was 3.5.  In 2015, that dropped to 3.2.  Data scientist ranked highest this year with a 4.2 work-life balance rating.

What else ranked high on the list?  In the top ten were six tech-based jobs (SEO manager, social media manager, UX designer, digital marketing manager and web developer), two recruiting-related jobs (talent acquisition specialist and recruiting coordinator) and—surprising many of us who remember how poorly we treated them in junior high school—substitute teachers. Below are the top ten and their rankings:

  1. Data scientist (4.2)
  2. SEO manager (4.1)
  3. Talent acquisition specialist (4.0)
  4. Social media manager (4.0)
  5. Substitute teacher (3.9)
  6. Recruiting coordinator (3.9)
  7. UX designer (3.9)
  8. Digital marketing manager (3.9)
  9. Marketing assistant (3.8)
  10. Web developer (3.8)

Check out the rest of the list at Glassdoor’s 25 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance (2015). Then, learn more about finding the right career for you at CareerOneStop’s Explore Careers.

Tagged with: , ,

What’s next? Planning beyond high school for youth with disabilities

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Students, Uncategorized, Workers with disabilities
youth smiling

youth picCompleting high school is an accomplishment in itself, but the question of what comes next looms for students even before they graduate. The abundance of options can feel overwhelming, along with the weight of the future seeming to rest on every decision.

For youth with disabilities, there are additional considerations around opportunities, rights, and potential supports. To assist these students, youth across the country helped to develop a guide entitled Hitting The Open Road After High School: How to Choose Your Own Adventure to Success! to explore their options for their future after high school.

The Guide focuses on a core set of needs:

  1. How can I learn to make choices that are right for me?
  2. What activities can I do during high school to help me get ready?
  3. What are my options after high school?
  4. How do I access other supports to be successful?

There’s a strong theme of personal empowerment for youth to develop goals and take charge of knowing what they will need to achieve them. The Guide emphasizes practicing self-determination and challenging yourself, volunteering, and participating in extra-curricular activities to expand options. There are 3 main sections:

  • The Guide begins with suggestions for current high school students to maximize their options while still in school. For example, authors suggest that students participate in their own Individual Education Plan meetings throughout high school to insure that they have input to decisions about their schooling.
  • Next are descriptions of post-secondary options including: college, training, certifications, apprenticeship, Job Corps, YouthBuild, paid work, internship, volunteer service, and military service.
  • The last section covers how to find supports after high school, specifically in the areas of independent living, finances, health, postsecondary education, employment, and vocational rehabilitation.

This is a practical handbook, identifying many career and education paths while encouraging readers to take time to figure out what will fit them best. Written by members of the Youth Action Council on Transition (YouthACT), a national leadership initiative to improve opportunities for youth to succeed, the overall tone of the Guide is: Remember, this is your life. Advocate for what you want and need to be successful!

YouthACT is led by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth at the Institute for Educational Leadership with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Find more ideas from CareerOneStop to address students’ options after high school, and employment and higher education for people who have disabilities.

 

 

Tagged with: , ,

3 tips for finding an entry-level job

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Audience, Entry-level workers, Students, Uncategorized
graphic of job search topics

graphic of job search topicsReady to join the workforce—but having trouble finding and landing that first job?

Job hunting is hard work—at times it can feel impossible.  So what do you do when you don’t have any experience to put on your resume? Get started with these three tips:

1. Stop wasting time sending your resume to every job posting you see.

The fact is, without a past job or jobs to highlight, your resume is among those most likely to get glossed over and tossed out. That doesn’t mean you should throw your hands up in the air and declare your job search a failure—it just means you should concentrate your efforts on activities that are more likely to bring results. (Wondering what those are? See Tips 2 and 3, below.) That’s not to say you should immediately cease and desist from all resume-sending. Notice the tip says “Stop wasting time sending your resume” and not “Stop sending your resume”?  It’s the time-wasting part you want to avoid. If you’re focused only on sending your resume, you’re not going to get the results you want. Once you’ve invested time and attention to Tips 2 and 3, below, go ahead and use any spare time you might have to send your resume to as many job postings as you like.

2. Network, network, network.

This activity is where you should focus your efforts.  Why?  Because even if your resume might not convey your true potential to an employer, you no doubt know plenty of people who do understand your potential. And they, in turn, probably know plenty of people who would value a connection to a potential employee, or colleague, or a new acquaintance with similar career interests.  So pick up the phone (a personal conversation with someone is always the best way to network), log onto social media (because there’s nothing wrong with spreading your job search interest far and wide, once you’ve had those personal conversations), and talk to everyone you know.  Not sure how to network? Find networking tips on CareerOneStop.

3. Do your research. 

Networking—talking to people about your career and job interests—is by far the most important activity in job searching. But of course you can’t expect other people to do all the work.  You can learn a ton online that will help your job search.  You can connect with professional associations, find typical salaries and wages, locate local businesses, get job search tips, and learn how to polish your resume.

Tagged with: ,

Pick college classes for impact

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Students, Uncategorized

students at desksCollege students: questioning if you are in the right classes?

Parents: wondering how your student can best grow from the college experience?

Use this guidance based on Tracy Mumford’s 6 Tips for College Success to choose classes that will garner the greatest impact in the long run.

1) Focus on learning, not your grades

Once you are out of college, your GPA quickly fades in importance, while the skills and knowledge you’ve developed in school rise in value. Most employers don’t care what your GPA was; they will be interested in your skills and how you approach problems in the workplace. Taking risks by enrolling in challenging classes rather than playing it safe for good grades will better prepare you for meeting difficulties after college. You may learn more from a subject in which you earn a lower grade than you might from one that comes easy to you.

2) Use college to catapult you to your long-term goals

If you turn down classes that require extra effort, you could miss out on some life-changing subjects. Classes that require internships, lab and field work, lots of analysis, papers or group projects might look intimidating in the short term, but probably offer greater learning and growth long-term.

Where do you want your college experience to take you? What do you hope to do in your career? If you find a class that will serve your long term goals, don’t let fear of the workload or schedule stop you.

3) Find great teachers to inspire you

Some students learn this lesson even in high school. The really good teachers are so effective at teaching their subject they could interest anyone in it. Wherever possible, learn which faculty engage students, challenge them, and provide a positive learning environment. Those terrific professors may later also offer academic or career mentorship, and eventually, provide recommendations needed for scholarships, jobs, or graduate school.

4) Build your communication skills

Take classes that require presentations; many people are held back in their careers by a terror of public speaking. Use the supportive college environment to grow your ability to effectively communicate your thoughts to others.

Many colleges require participation in writing-intensive courses for good reason. If yours doesn’t require it, choose to take writing intensive classes anyway. Good writing requires clear, independent thinking, a strong vocabulary, and knowledge of grammar, all of which will be invaluable throughout your lifespan.

5) Surprise yourself and stretch

Try something that appeals to you, but doesn’t necessarily fit your degree program or serve any purpose other than to intrigue you. College offers a wide range of classes and activities that will stretch your perception of life and the world. Take a class outside of your experience and you may find a new career direction, a lifelong hobby, or at least a new way of seeing.

6) What if college isn’t your best fit?

Some families and teachers still consider a four-year degree to be the only worthwhile option after high school. But many students have talents and interests that lie elsewhere. If you prefer to learn from experience, enjoy hands-on work, or need to earn money while you learn, an apprenticeship may be a good option.

Trade school, a two-year degree or earning a certificate award, are all options that prepare students for challenging professions, with less investment of time and money than a four-year degree. And the opportunity to obtain a four-year degree will still be available if you later choose that option.

See CareerOneStop’s Credentials Center to learn more about training options, paying for college or tips on choosing a credential that’s right for you.

Tagged with: ,

Job fairs: what to expect

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Students, Uncategorized
People at a job fair

stk313128rknLooking for a job? Job fairs are a great way to make contacts and gather information about potential jobs.

You can speak directly to employers that might have job openings. Sometimes, that can lead to a job offer.  But other times it can lead. . .nowhere. And that’s okay. You still have a lot to gain from attending a job fair. To make sure you gain all you can, it’s a good idea to have the right expectations for what you can and cannot do at a job fair.

Expect to:

  • Build your professional network
  • Introduce yourself to potential employers and answer employer questions
  • Get information and leads that are not available on the employer’s website

Do not expect to:

  • Have on-the-spot interviews (but be prepared, just in case!)
  • Be given a job offer

Before the job fair

  • Register. Although not always required, having your name on the list of pre-registered attendees shows professional courtesy to both fair organizers and exhibiting employers.
  • Research participating employers. Find out ahead of time which employers hire people with your skills. Even if the company is not on your list of target employers, treat them as if they were.
  • Know your career objective.
  • Make a list of questions for employers. Ask about how they recruit and hire people with your skill set. Your target employers will likely have similar hiring practices.
  • Polish your resume.
  • Practice your elevator speech. Begin with a firm handshake and good eye contact. Use a clear voice and provide the employer with concise and relevant information. It’s a good idea to practice with someone else.
  • Practice interview responses.

The day of the job fair

  • Dress professionally.
  • Bring several copies of your resume, pen and paper for notes, and breath mints.
  • Talk with recruiters, but not for too long.
  • Get business cards, names, and contact information.
  • After meeting someone, make a few notes. What did you discuss with them? Did you commit to any follow-up?
  • Talk with other job seekers at the job fair.
  • Be professional, polite, and positive.

After the job fair

  • Send a thank-you e-mail or letter to remind your contacts of who you are and any specifics you discussed.
  • Thank your contacts for their time and ask about next steps.
  • Make sure to organize your job fair notes and contact information.

Visit CareerOneStop for more job search tips.

 

Tagged with: ,

More facts to help choose a college: the expanded College Scorecard

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Students, Uncategorized

CollegeScorecard.fwThe U.S. Department of Education’s new College Scorecard site, which replaces an older one of the same name, shows details about students’ actual college costs, loan paybacks, earnings and more. Counting more than 3500 two- and four-year colleges in the database, the Scorecard brings a wealth of mobile-friendly data into the hands of students to make informed decisions about college.

On the financial side, the Scorecard shows annual college costs for all students, and average costs broken out by family income levels – so you can estimate what a student with your family’s income might expect to pay. The financial aid and debt tab highlights the percentage of students with federal loans, the amount of debt students graduate with, and an estimated median student loan payment amount.

Thanks to a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, the Scorecard shows students’ median earnings six and ten years after they start at a college. Student earnings are compared to national averages, and to earnings for those with only a high school education.

A caveat to note is that earnings data is summarized by college, rather than by degree program. In reality, students who graduate from the same college with different majors will have significantly different employment and earnings prospects. The Department of Education would like, in the future, to include additional types of data in the Scorecard that addresses this limitation.

On the academic side, the Scorecard shows student graduation rates, so you can see the percentage of students who earn their degrees within a specified time. You can also learn the percentage of students who return after their first year.

For more input to your college planning, check out CareerOneStop to research education and training programs, in-demand occupations, career assessments, and financial aid.

Tagged with: , ,

I scheduled an informational interview . . . now what?

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

An informational interview—a meeting with someone in your profession or industry of choice—is a great way to learn more about a career, decide if a particular field might be right for you, or even find job leads.

informational interviewIt can be intimidating to reach out and request a meeting with someone you may or may not have ever met before. And once you’ve done that, it can be easy to sit back and think the hard part’s over. (Need tips for that setting-up-the-meeting part?  Read more about networking or informational interviews).

But guess what?  Your work’s not done as soon as you set up an informational interview.  Now it’s time to plan your meeting so you can make the most out of the time someone’s agreed to give you. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Have a game plan. Take the time to identify—for yourself—exactly what you’re hoping to learn (Are you really curious about what a day-on-the-job is really like? Are you worried about how competitive the field is? Or do you want to know what a particular company is like to work for?)

Draft an agenda.  You don’t have to write out word-for word what you’re going to say, but it’s helpful to have a list of questions that get at what you really want to know.  Here are a few examples:

  • What do you like most / least about this career?
  • Is your job typical of others in this field?
  • What are current job prospects like?
  • Are there related fields I might want to look into?
  • What makes a resume impressive in your field?
  • Is my resume appropriate for this occupation?
  • How do you stay current in your knowledge?
  • What are employers looking for in this career (skills, education, experience)?
  • What’s the best way to find out about jobs in this field?
  • What is the career ladder for this position?
  • What would you recommend I do at this point to get into this field?
  • What are the future trends for this field?
  • Is there anyone else you would recommend I talk to in this field?

Be professional.  This includes dressing appropriately, being on time, being considerate, and all those other things you know you should do. Even though you’re not actually applying for a job, you want to make the best impression you can—you never know where a contact could lead you.

Respect your contact’s time. Limit your initial interview to 15 to 30 minutes, based on how the conversation is going. And always end with a sincere thank-you and a quick recap of how they’ve helped you or what you’re going to do based on their recommendation.

And once your interview’s over—then you get to relax, right? Yes! (As soon as you send your thank-you note and make a plan to follow up on any referrals your contact may have given you.)

Tagged with: