| We are in the midst of a recession with an increasing | | | | and custom manufacturing, auto mechanics, |
| rate of unemployment. With that said, we are also | | | | maintenance and repair look very good in terms of not |
| experiencing a lack of preparation by many entering | | | | moving offshore. Also, cosmetologist, hair stylist, dental |
| the workforce and those which have been laid off. To | | | | hygienists, administrative assistants and computer |
| deal effectively with gaining the career knowledge | | | | support specialist are good choices. |
| required to navigate the ever changing workplace, | | | | Online retail sales will continue to drive home delivery; |
| takes thought, making smart career choices, a plan, | | | | this will increase the need for drivers, pilots, airplane |
| and focus. | | | | mechanics, distribution specialists, etc. Retail store |
| Many are now faced with chasing any job, with others | | | | positions will decline gradually as Internet shopping |
| not knowing what their next career move will be. If you | | | | continues to grow, but there will always be retail stores |
| find yourself in this situation; stop…take some time to | | | | and retail positions. |
| think through your possible options. Take the time to | | | | Positions requiring creativity and originality will still be |
| examine your strengths, skills, talents, competencies, | | | | highly valued. The need to write books, screen plays, |
| and aspirations… and what it will take to “reinvent | | | | TV shows, music, and produce the sports our culture |
| you” so you can best deal with the realities of the | | | | enjoys, will continue to drive the entertainment sector. |
| market place. Not only is the workplace itself changing | | | | The retirement population alone is driving the need for |
| rapidly, but career opportunities are also evolving. The | | | | replacement workers and is already creating high |
| Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that over | | | | demand in products and services tailored to this |
| Fifteen million new jobs will be added in the next ten | | | | demographic. Home building in retirement areas will be |
| years. | | | | on the increase, home healthcare services, nursing |
| A large number of individuals will enter into college or | | | | homes, yard care and the leisure/recreation industry |
| enroll in certification programs without a clear career | | | | for the 55+ age group will generate a large increase in |
| goal. This approach results in costly time and money | | | | employment. The increase in the “baby boom” |
| spent chasing a degree and low-demand | | | | population will also drive a continuing need for |
| “sunset” jobs (a sunset job is one that is going | | | | surgeons, nurses, and financial specialists. |
| away, overseas etc.) or drifting from one major or | | | | Many jobs in local, state and federal government will |
| program to another. Engaging in obtaining more credits | | | | surly continue. Jobs related to the energy field such as |
| or training without a clear purpose is not an effective | | | | engineers, line technicians, and fuel cell sales and |
| direction to take. Don’t get caught in the trap of | | | | distribution specialists will grow. Our wired society will |
| pursuing courses which do not align with employer | | | | continue to drive the need for applications engineers, |
| needs. | | | | network and technical support technicians for many |
| When planning your next career move, look for trends | | | | years. |
| that will possibly require your present skills and abilities. | | | | Last and certainly not least, a vocation in religious |
| Most likely you will need some addition education or | | | | institutions and employment in nonprofit organizations |
| training, but it will be focused in the right area. Look for | | | | will definitely continue. There will be a need for |
| the “sunrise” jobs (the new hot jobs with a | | | | ordained ministers, priest’s, rabbis, and all the jobs |
| growing demand). The following information may spark | | | | associated with religious and nonprofit intuitions such |
| some ideas which will help you focus on making smart | | | | as, executive directors, counselors, program directors, |
| career choices. | | | | grant writers, fund raisers, lobbyists and administrative |
| In general, any job that requires personal contact with | | | | support individuals. |
| customers or provides a service that can not be | | | | As new discoveries are made in medicine, science and |
| transferred off shore is a smart career choice. These | | | | technology, new and unnamed jobs will be created. |
| can be categorized as “high touch relationship | | | | Each major discovery in these fields has spawned |
| jobs.” Examples of these job areas would be: | | | | new industries which have created tens of thousands |
| residential care, child care, pharmacist, psychologists, | | | | of jobs. |
| personal/business coaches, and physical therapists, | | | | The key to survival and winning in the career game will |
| public relations specialists, hospitality specialist, police | | | | be your ability to make smart career choices, spot and |
| officer, firefighters, security, sales people, nursing and | | | | learn new jobs, and be the best at what you do. Even |
| teaching. | | | | in tough times, if you have a reputation for being a |
| The economy will come back so traditional skilled | | | | quick learner and being the best in your field, you will do |
| trades such as carpentry, electrician, plumbing, | | | | better than most. |
| construction contractors, food processing, quick-turn | | | | |