The ultimate goal of job hunting – getting hired!  There are a lot of people working hard at the hunt, so I thought maybe it was a good time to talk about success stories.
First there is the gentleman who attended the recent Kirtland Air Force/Hispano Chamber of Commerce job fair in Albuquerque.  He came prepared and was able to visit with a company representative about his skills and interests.  From that meeting he was invited for a formal interview, and was hired for a $50K a year job.
Then there was the person who was laid off from an out-of-state technology company and was networking in New Mexico.  He contacted the Technology Ventures Corporation recruiting service and shared his resume both on the free job site, nmtechjobs.org and with me.  I noticed that his skills and experience seemed a great fit for a local tech company.  They didn’t have any posted openings, but when I forwarded the resume they recognized his talent and added him to their team. 
One more example is the woman who was laid off from a local technology business and decided to strike out on her own.  Using the contacts and experience she had gained in her former position, she joined local professional organizations and contacted colleagues she knew in her field.  The result of her hard work was a successful consulting business.
So – keep looking, and be creative (an overused term but appropriate).  First and foremost always be prepared for an opportunity by having business cards and resumes at hand.  Dress professionally for any occasion where there might be an opportunity to make a contact to start you on the road to a new career, and keep your schedule flexible so you can take advantage of these opportunities.
Good hunting!

Tags: candidates, hiring process, hiring talent, job application, job fair, job seeker, job seeker attitudes

The third virtual online job fair had a great list of New Mexico technology companies and over 80 high tech jobs.  Tech2, held from September 20-24 allowed companies to bring attention to their opportunities in a unique way.  Many of these companies are small and haven’t enough staff to host booths at multiple job fairs, but they do have time to review the resumes they get through our job fair site, www.nmvritualjobfair.com. 

This venue also gave job seekers access to the most current opportunities in the tech industry, without having to stand in line to reach the recruiters.  They could review company profiles and job descriptions at their leisure, and submit their information to hiring entities they were interested in.  It was a good opportunity for both employers and job seekers to reach new audiences and tell about themselves and their talents.

The event  was sponsored by Technology Ventures Corporation and the New Mexico Wired Project as part of their effort to support technology career development in the state.  The job site, www.nmtechjobs.org, is also sponsored by this group, and many of the same companies that were in the job fair post jobs on this site.Be sure to watch for our next event in November.

Tags: applications, Executive jobs, hiring talent, job fair, job seeker

As we are all aware, the jobless rate hasn’t dropped much in the last year. Hiring is happening, but piecemeal, and for specific talents. So, one way to set your target is to watch industrial/business news about what positions have been difficult to fill.

An article in the SHRM Magazine, June 2010, highlights a projected severe shortage in workers for the utilities industries. According to the article, electric power industry companies estimate that 30-40% of its 400,000 workers will be eligible for retirement in the next two years. These positions range from executive level to skilled craft workers and may create a huge demand for people to fill these slots.

HR folks in all utilities have been aware of this issue for years, but there has been a lack of future workforce planning to make sure the right people are available to meet the need.

One company in this industry, Southern Co. built a statistical model that highlighted particular hot spots..technicians, system operators, control system engineers, water and wastewater operators and operations management. So – hiring ahead is part of the plan.

There is, however, a problem finding qualified replacements for the industry– inadequate training and education of workers. Companies are even willing to train on the job but the candidate needs to be science-savvy and a high school graduate.

Another industry that will need (and does now) more skilled workers is the healthcare world. There are not enough trained nurses and techs to fill the needs now. One nursing educator in southern California said most of her students were preparing for a second career. The healthcare insurance industry will also be adding folks as more of the population obtains formal insurance coverage.

Job seekers need to check business/hiring surveys put out by local departments of labor or professional organizations. Educational institutions will also have hiring and salary information for the area. Then, get the tools you need to fill the jobs there are.

Tags: candidates, change management, hiring process, hiring talent, industry news, job seeker

A recent job fair in Albuquerque ( Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber, TVC)  boasted over 800 job seekers, but the good news…there were real jobs available. Overall there were 34 different companies or government entities present, and over 500 jobs among these.

For the attendees it was a lesson in “just show up”. There were 4 people hired on the spot and many more invited for further interviews. Recruiters in the booths were helpful in guiding the job seekers to appropriate opportunities and making suggestions. Even if attendees didn’t find something that was a fit for them, the information about careers and companies as well as networking with other job seekers was a valuable experience.

There are more opportunities in the future; a career fair at UNM on September 15 & 16, and a TVC-sponsored virtual job fair September 20-24. The virtual fair allows companies to highlight current openings and collect appropriate resumes online, and the job seeker has direct access to the company recruiters without leaving home! The website, www.nmvirtualjobfair.com has information on the upcoming event.

Tags: hiring process, hiring talent, job, job fair, job seeker

It is always interesting to read the different articles and studies predicting where job growth will occur.  To job seekers especially reading the future becomes key to finding steady employment.  It also helps then decide what retraining or new training they will seek to help their job search.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics produced an occupational outlook handbook in December of 2007 giving an overview of the 2008-2018 projections.  They talked about changes by industry and by occupation.  Their views seemed consistent with local surveys and articles in New Mexico and presents an interesting future.

As baby boomers age, increasing by 29.7 % there will be a need for services relative to that group.  The goods-producing industries vary by group:  Mining and Oil & Gas jobs are expected to decline, but construction work is expected to increase.  Manufacturing and Agriculture are also expected to produce less jobs in the future.  The Service Industries, as mentioned above, will offer new jobs in certain sectors, with the largest increases in Transportation and Healthcare. Interestingly, the Arts and Recreation industry is expected to grow by 15% mostly in amusement, gambling and recreation.  This is attributed to more participation in these fields because of increasing income, leisure time and the focus on health and physical fitness. Other areas such and information, finance and insurance and management is predicted to show modest growth.

 The big news, however, is that professional, scientific and technical services are expected to grow by 34% in the next 10 years.  Waste management and remediation services are projected to grow 18%. For job seekers, computer design and related services is a huge growth sector, and offers good jobs and in many cases flexible working conditions, something all of us would like! There is one sector receiving local attention, with an increase in enrollment at UNM in the field:  nuclear & chemical engineering related to the nuclear energy industry. 

If you are looking for the next great job, check out some of these predictions and get yourself ready for the future, either through new training, or trying out a new industry to help you reach your goal. 

Tags: candidates, change management, Hiring Trends, industry news