5 of the Top Careers for 2011

Posted on September 12, 2011 by meghan_ntroduction

US News and World Report released its list of the Top 50 Careers for 2011. It was an interesting list that included five categories with 10 jobs in each. The jobs were chosen based a few factors. Pay scale, growth rate and of course educational requirements. Though a few of the jobs listed were no real surprise (Biomedical, environmental and computer software engineers) there were a few that I wouldn’t have guessed.

So here are a few of the more obscure or unexpected top jobs for 2011 hand picked from US New World Report’s list of the top 50.

Meteorologist-Science & Technology – Though we all might first picture our local weatherman when we think meteorologist, the fact is the majority work for the National Weather Service. With Climate change and global warming becoming bigger issues each day it’s no surprise that jobs for meteorologists are expected to increase by about 15%. Meteorologists can move own to starting there own weather consulting firms or working in the private sector for research firms.

The median salary is $84,000 not too shabby. To be a meteorologist you need a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology or at least chemistry or physics. To focus more on the research aspect of meteorology you’ll need your PHD.

School Psychologist-Healthcare – Of the handful of healthcare positions mentioned, this one stuck out the most. School Psychologists is a career that’s expected to increase by 11%. Certainly more stressful than meteorology, becoming a school psychologist would mean obtaining a specialist degree, which most schools require. That would be on top of three years of graduate school.

The median salary is $66,040 but could rise considerably if you start your own practice. Stressful, yes, but a job that would enable to truly help many children in need.

Clergy- Social Service – This was one of the more surprising mentions on the list. And there was no real explanation as to why the growth in the Clergy. There is an expected increase of about 13% across the board. Pay, opportunities and schooling require varies heavily depending on the church. Smaller congregations have the largest need but the smallest salary. Methodists and Catholic churches have the larger salaries and career paths. The room for growth also depends on the church and congregation.

Education requirements for the clergy vary from needing a Masters in Theology to no previous education at all. Once again, depends on religion and church. Maybe the stressful economic times have created a growing need for clergy.

Logistician – So this is not usually on any list of top careers. Logisticians are the ones who manage the supply chain that includes all the raw materials that go into a finished product. They also oversee shipping and transportation, distribution to wholesalers or retailers, warehousing, and the just-in-time delivery that helps minimize costs and maximize productivity.. With an expected increase of 20% and a median salary of about 68,000, it’s not a bad choice to make.

You’ll need to start with a bachelor’s degree in a field such as business, supply-chain management, process engineering, or industrial engineering. The higher your education the more opportunities and money you have waiting for you.

Nice work if you can get it.

Actuary- Business & Finance – Many of you may be starring blankly at your computer screen wondering what the heck is an actuary? Generally actuaries are most often found working for insurance providers and their job is “use statistics and mathematics to estimate the likelihood and cost of claims related to death, illness, injury, or property damage so that the insurance company can cover its expenses and stay profitable.”

Sound a little boring? Maybe. But with a median salary of $87,210 and an expected growth rate of 21% over the next decade, it’s wouldn’t take an actuary to figure out it’s a safe career to move into. In fact most Actuaries start at 56,000 right out of college.

Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries offers certification programs and you would most likely need a bachelors degree in mathematics, statistics, economics or even actuarial science (if you’re local school offers it).

Maybe not the most glamorous of career choices but glamour isn’t exactly topping anyone’s list of needs as we enter the last half of 2011. Check out these careers as well as the rest of US News and World Report’s list of top careers. Maybe you’ll find the perfect match for you in 2012.

How To Ace Your Job Interview

Posted on September 9, 2011 by meghan_ntroduction

3485785271_eb19121b90 Previously on the blog we posted Tips for updating your Resume. So what happens next, now that you’re updated and snazzy new resume has landed you the interview you’ve been hoping for?

Well now it’s time to prep for that interview to make sure you charm you’re way into that new job. What a way to start 2010, right? Take some time and review these steps for preparing for your next job interview.

Do your homework! Always make sure you read up on the company before you go in for the interview. It will give you a huge edge to be armed with knowledge about the company you’re applying for. The beauty of Google is that you have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
Dress for success. You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s always important to remember not to show up to an interview in jeans and a tennis shoes.
Attitude is everything. If you walk in confident with a positive attitude it will show and set the tone of the entire interview.
Ask questions. Nothing shows that you’re interested in the job more than asking questions about the company and the job you’re interviewing for.
Follow Up. Always, always, always send a follow up email, letter, or phone call after an interview. It can sometimes be the final act that will help you win the job over another candidate.

Good luck!

4 Things You’re Not Doing to Find a Job

Posted on May 24, 2011 by meghan_ntroduction

These days looking for work can require a certain amount of creativity. Not only are the jobs harder to find but also the market is saturated with other people competing for what jobs there are. On top of the fact that with today’s ever evolving use of social networking and technology new jobs are being created every day as well as new ways to find people to do them.

This is why you should always have a job search plan that goes beyond the old job board and newspaper ads. If your reading this blog, it should be safe to assume that you’ve already taken the initial steps in setting up an online presence. You’re on Facebook; maybe Twitter and you have a profile on LinkedIn. If not, you should head over there and do those things now.

I think it’s also safe to assume since you’re here hanging out on Ntroduction.com you’re familiar with the networking services we provide here. And again, if you’re not go check it and come back. Its ok, I’ll wait.

Since you have the basics down here a list of how you can use social networking to put you ahead of the game when it comes to competing for the job.

Facebook- if you suddenly find yourself in need of work one of the first things you should do is put the word out to families and friends on Facebook. You never know who know someone who’s retiring or an opening that will be coming up soon. People won’t no to give you a heads up if they don’t know you’re looking. But take it to the next level, become a fan of companies who are in your field and that you’d like to work with. Be active on their page. Also think about paying for an ad. A few folks have had success with purchasing ads for themselves and targeting the ads for people and companies in the area their looking for work.
Focus on LinkedIn- One of the cool things about you using the job search function on LinkedIn is that you can sort it by “relationship.” So that jobs you already have a connection with show up on top. This is one of the most important reasons to keep your LinkedIn network growing. Join groups that fit your interests and your field. Also, every time you meet someone new in real life or online find him or her on LinkedIn.
Brand yourself – Get a blog and create a YouTube account. A blog is a great way to enhance your online network and allow people to get the chance to know you better. You can set something up on WordPress.com for free with little effort. There you can also create a page for your resume and to list references. On your YouTube account (which you should link to your blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter accounts). Leave regular videos explaining what you have to offer or even examples of what you do and why you’re the best. Make a video resume. Stand out.
Look somewhere else – If you’re not having any luck finding work in your chosen field, think about choosing another field. Sometimes when you find yourself looking for work and closing one chapter of your life, it’s fate’s way of telling to start a whole new book.

As always, good luck!

Tips on Updating Your Resume: A Handy Checklist

Posted on March 11, 2011 by meghan_ntroduction

With the New Year right around the corner, there couldn’t be a better time to go over your resume and get a jump on your 2010 job search. One of the most vital tools to any job search, whether it is online or in person, is your resume. So take a little time over the holidays to revamp your resume and make sure it’s up to date.

Here’s an easy checklist to make sure your resume is got everything you need to get the job you’re looking for.

Make Sure it’s updated. Delete any job that doesn’t have any bearing on the job you’re looking to land. Make sure you ad anything that may be missing. And don’t overlook time spent volunteering or anything else that could help boost your skills.
E.E.S. These three things should be on every resume, no matter what fields you’re looking for work in. Experience, Education, and Skills. The key pieces of information any potential employer is looking for is going to be in these three sections. If they’re missing, you just might miss out on the job.
Grammar. Always run a spell-check and take your time with easily overlooked grammatical and spelling errors. Sometimes a simple grammatical mistake can cost you.
Ask for help. A second pair of eyes is priceless! Ask a friend to take a look and proofread your resume and see of they catch anything you may have missed.
Correct the dates. Take the time to double check the beginning and end dates of your jobs to give any potential employers a correct timeline and idea of your experience.
One page wonder. One of the classic pieces of resume etiquette that still remains to be the norm is keeping your resume at one page. Though this isn’t always possible, always try to keep your resume to one page if you can.
Contact info. It may seem like a no brainer, double check that your name and contact info are correct. If you apply for a job and they can’t get a hold of you to tell you it’s yours, then what?
One thing that becoming more common in resume today’s is listing the results of jobs or projects you’ve worked on. Future employers don’t just want to see what’s you’ve done in the past, but what results you’ve had with those jobs.

Now that you’re resume is in top shape it’s time to start 2010 with the new job you’ve been searching for! Good luck in your New Years job search.

Opportunities Growing for Executives and Managers

Posted on September 21, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

While many people are looking for work, there is one group of unemployed who are starting to see a huge increase in openings, senior management. The outlook for executives is pretty encouraging right now. Now that it appears the worst of recession has passed many companies are open for business and ready to get back to work.

With companies looking to get “back on the horse” so to speak jobs in sales and marketing will be the ones most in demand. Many job sites have seen listings for management jobs increase as much as 41%.

Many companies are just now deciding to go public or are emerging from bankruptcy creating another wave of job listing for directors.

If you are an executive who is looking for work now is the best time brush up on your job search skills and start visiting the job search sites. Fields that are seeing a huge increase is the health care and energy industry. Executive and management positions anyway.

While these jobs are increasing everywhere the top places to be looking for executive and management jobs are as follows,

Washington D.C.
Boston, Massachusetts
San Francisco, California
Seattle, Washington
Atlanta, Georgia

Good luck in your search!