5 Green Jobs You Should Think About

Posted on March 9, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

In the current economy it’s no surprise that unemployment remains to be the toughest issue facing most Americans. This remains true despite if the fact that unemployment is remaining steady at 10%, a good sign that we are on the slow road to economic recovery here in the United States. And the recent jobs bill passed by congress will hopefully help create more jobs as well as extend the benefits of people currently living on unemployment.

Here on the Ntroduction blog we’re doing our best to help you change your perspective when it comes to looking for your next job and hopefully our tips are helping weather these tough times of being unemployed and turn the situation into opportunity.

That’s exactly what green jobs are doing for unemployed. With a new awareness and understanding of the things we have to protect and restore our environment green jobs are becoming the hottest topic in the unemployment market.

Well based on research and trends everywhere from Forbes to Fast Company we’ve handpicked five of the hottest “green jobs” around.

Urban and Regional Planner – With an expected increase of 15% by 2016, this is a smart move to make. An urban or regional planner’s job description encompass a lot and will probably include more in the coming years. But the biggest responsibilities of the planner are two fold. Planning contingency plans, flooding, heat waves, earthquakes and other possible disasters. And after the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile that is certainly becoming an even more important part of the job. And of course the traditional aspect of the jobs s described by education-portal.com, creation of social, economic and environmental blueprints that make optimum use of the resources of a community in order to provide for growth, renewal and maintenance of the region.
Conservation Biologist – Protecting and preserving the environmental and the ecosystem around is becoming more necessary each day meaning the need for more people to do the job also increases. The fact that President Obama’s stimulus package increased funds for science and research related to conservation biology only boosts the appeal of this career.
Farmer/Forester – The need for sustainable farming and forestry is only going to increase in the coming years. To make the most of earths resources with as little disturbance as possible is vital. Also the increasing desire for organic foods and products also increases the demand for organic farming.
Environmental Engineer – According to the Bureau of Labor and statistics Environmental engineering, Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs. It’s expected to grow rapidly and the salary for environmental engineering is among the highest for college graduates.
Heating and Cooling Installer- With standards changing quickly to reach a better quality of air, this profession is among the fastest growing in the United States.

These are just a handful of the many green jobs that are considering to pop up in the job market. All of them do require a degree or certificate. You should contact your local community college or Adult education program to see what programs they have to offer to help you enter into the growing world of green jobs.

10 Things Hiring Managers Won’t Tell You

Posted on February 9, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

In a highly competitive job market there are certain realities that job seekers need to face. Things like there are jobs that you will apply for, that you’ll never hear back from. Or that the sometimes education doesn’t replace experience and sometimes vice versa.

Here are a few things that you may want to think seriously about when looking for work. A few things that Hiring Mangers know but aren’t willing to share with you.

A Hiring freeze is in place – every head count is important. They’ve only got one shot at hiring the right person and don’t have the option to split that one job into two positions. Which means they may be cramming more than one position into the one you’re applying for. Be prepared and willing to perform multiple roles, Analyst, Manager, Technical and non-technical.
That Hiring Manager is looking to hire the best talent/skill/experience in economical locations – may not be in Bay Area, may not be in US, maybe in Asia. Though this could sound discouraging, it could actually work for you. Sometimes the cheapest location is virtual. If you see a job that could conceivably be done virtually, apply for it. Be sure to include the ways that making the position virtual is going to save them money. If not, think about relocating to where they want you to be.
Hiring Manager gets bonus and credit for getting results – not for hiring a new team member. The hiring manager wants proof that you can deliver results. A good handshake and pleasant smile are great, but show him proof that you can get the job done.
Hiring Manager cannot make the decision right away because requirement is not finalized. Basically the age old “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” saying applies here. The hiring manager may just be checking to see who’s out there and how the hiring manager can achieve that goal, may not be ready to hire anytime soon. Just because the interview went well, doesn’t mean you’re going to be getting a call soon.
The job title is not final – it may change probably to a lower title. These days’ titles change more times than Paris Hilton during a magazine shoot. That also means when searching the jobs ads, don’t just look at the title in the heading. Look closely at the description itself before deciding whether to apply or not. Also, Don’t count on the title of the job as the one you’ll actually be using. When you present yourself for the interview, be prepared to explain tasks you can/have performed in the lower titles too. You might get a job with lower title but you can grow quickly, given your previous experience in higher title
He/She is looking for personal references – from people he/she knows closely. Nothing gives you a boost more than a first person reference. That is the Ntroduction’s core value – Which is also why LinkedIn is becoming more and more popular with hiring managers.
He/She is looking for certifications as well as brand name company experience (such as Big4). The importance of secondary education has never been more important than it is today, but so is the importance of some real valid experience from reputed companies
They’re looking for a team member, not a leader – the Hiring Manager wants to retain that role of leader. The Hiring Manager isn’t looking to hire someone to run the show, so don’t go into the hiring process acting like you’re going to do so. Demonstrate flexibility that you can lead as well as be a contributor.
The hiring manager is looking for somebody who is available almost all the time to perform tasks – not somebody with commitments. Make sure when you interview that you make it very clear you’re willing to work overtime, be on call and go above and beyond the call of duty. These days hiring managers are looking for people who can do more than just pull their own weight.

Keep these things when looking for work and going on interviews. But don’t be discouraged, it may be slow going but things are definitely starting to turn around for the job market and hopefully, the long hours or lower titles will improve. In fact a government report released today and mentioned on CNN.com shows that the number of job seekers competing for each job opening has dropped from 6.4 to 5.9, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It’s still tough out there, but it’s getting better.

Self Employment Could Increase in 2010

Posted on January 28, 2010 by meghan_ntroduction

If you’re thinking about going into business for yourself 2010 just might be the year to do it. There are many pros and cons to becoming self-employed but with a less than stellar job market, looking at other possibilities is a wise move. We’ve offered tips on being self employed before on the blog and how research suggests that self-employed people are the happiest people.

But now a recent press release from the company BOTH (short for Back of the House, a company that offers support for self-employed individuals) predicting that self-employment is only going to grow in 2010 based a number of factors.

Historically serious recessions has always led to a large group of workers who find their way back into the workforce via self employment or contract work.

Even as unemployment begins to level out the growth rate for new jobs will take some time leading many companies to seek less expensive ways to get projects done. Leading to an increase in contract and freelance work.

Professionals will resort to other measures to generate income outside their regular pay grade.

With technology and the Internet job mobility has become without limits. As people become able to do more and more from virtual offices, companies will look to increase flexible work environments that embrace that.

With many Americans having had the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath, many people will shy away from traditional “job security” and instead look for situations in which they have more control by working independently.

As the job market remains somewhat unstable now is a good time to take mental stock of your schools and abilities and see if branching out into freelance or contract work would be a good way to generate an extra income or replace a lost one.

Five of the Top Careers for 2010

Posted on December 30, 2009 by meghan_ntroduction

US News and World Report released its list of the Top 50 Careers for 2010. 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 2010 hand picked from US New World Report’s list of the top 50. One job from each of the five categories. Science & Technology, Healthcare, Education & Civic, Creative Service, and Business & Finance.

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 $81,000 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 $64,140 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-Education And Civic- 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 n 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.
Plumber-Creative & Service- So this is not usually on any list of top careers. In fact most people would not likely consider being a plumber very glamorous. But if the standard for a dream career is a steady work with a stable paycheck, than the Plumbing industry should top every list. With an expected increase of 15% and a median salary of about 45,000 to 79,000 it’s not a bad choice to make. While some people attend tech schools or community college, many plumbers find their way through on the job training or apprenticeships. Opportunities are large, as any successful plumber can eventually start his own business with an even larger income potential.
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 to “evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes in order to minimize losses, both emotional and financial, associated with uncertain undesirable events.” Sound a little boring? Maybe. But with a median salary of $85,000 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 2009 comes to a close. 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 2010.

Once you do be sure and update that resume and prepare for that interview! Before you know it you’ll be spending 2010 doing a job you love.

Good Luck and Happy New Year!

Tips on Becoming Self-Employed

Posted on December 8, 2009 by meghan_ntroduction

When talking about being self-employed it draws many different pictures to many people. For some being self-employed is being a consultant, a subcontractor, a freelance writer or artist, accounting, running a daycare, floral design, wedding planner, the list goes on and on. As different as all these jobs may be, the decision to become self employed and what goes along with being self-employed remains the same no matter what field your in.

With many people finding themselves out of work under a troubled economy now couldn’t be a better time to consider becoming self-employed. But there are a number of things you should think about before taking the leap.

How’s the Industry? Is industry your considering entering established? Is it crowed with competitors? Maybe the career you’ve worked in up until now can give you a built in network or edge when building a client base, because you’ve already been in the industry.
What are the logistics? Can you work from home or will you have to find an office? Working from home can save you a lot of money and provide some extra tax incentives. If you have a computer, printer, fax, phone, scanner and a handful of other home office essentials, working form home might be the way to go.
What’s your back-up plan? If you have a spouse who has a job that offers health benefits make sure you use them. Otherwise check into unions for the type of work your doing and you may be able to find group plans that can help you get health insurance for your family at discounted rates. Also, whenever possible when starting a new line of work for yourself, having at least 6 months worth of expenses in the bank is always a smart idea. Though not many of us can do that these days…
Pay the Taxman. Make sure you talk to your accountant or at the very least research it on your own online to see what you can and cant deduct for taxes and make sure you keep detailed records and copies of everything you do for your business. Remember, if your spouse is working you can set up to have YOUR taxes deducted from their paycheck. A smart move that can save you from having to owe at the end of the year.

Remember that being self-employed has many ups and downs but it can give you more freedom and satisfaction than any regular employment could ever give you. Good luck!