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

We live in interesting times!  Not necessarily fun, but interesting.  One of the casualties of the economic downturn seems to be a lack of opportunities for C-level candidates.  As companies downsize they also eliminate leadership positions, and so there are many very experienced executives looking for opportunities.
There is also an increase in CEO turnover as some take early retirement, some are removed by their boards and some are casualties of the economic times.  According to an article in Staffing Management magazine the government/non-profit sector led all industries in May with 19 CEO departures.  The budget shortfalls being experienced by this industry means it continues to struggle, even as job losses in the private sector have slowed.  The largest turnover for the year was experienced in health care with 98 executives leaving so far this year. 
In the technology industry, and particularly in companies just starting out, the CEO has a major impact on success.  One of the problems in this area is that many of the new companies are cutting edge and there is no established market, or the business has a disruptive technology that requires a new approach.  Tech companies with new ideas need leadership that can apply new tools to grow the company. 
So, there is opportunity for leaders to find positions in these tech startups – but they may have a very small office and no secretary!  They also may not be able to pay much of a salary up front.    Ownership in the company is sometimes offered in lieu of salary, but to collect, CEO’s have to get the company into the profit mode, and this could take awhile.  We need the talent that these executives possess, and our challenge is to provide an opportunity that  these leaders will find attractive. 

Tags: candidates, Executive jobs, For Employers, industry news

The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Kirtland Air Force Base are hosting their second annual job fair at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque on August 4 from 9AM to 2 PM.  Technology Ventures Corporation is also a major sponsor.
This year in addition to the government sector jobs available through KAFB and their partners, nmtechjobs.org and NM WIRED Project are expanding the employer list to include private sector technology job opportunities as well as administrative positions in the area. 
Opportunities in the government sector include: Federal Protective Service project managers and criminal investigators; Air Force Research Lab in physics, space sciences, geophysics, chemistry, computer sciences, all engineering field, and management positions; US Fish and Wildlife Service openings, and many more. 
In the private sector: Mechtronic Solutions software engineers, controls engineers, technical writer and others;  Analytical Solutions software programmers; Wells Fargo bank tellers, and others to come.

As part of this event there will be subject matter experts at the KAFB booths, as well as work stations to help job seekers navigate the USAJobs site to apply for government positions.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the jobs available with some of our largest technology employers. Check out the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber website for updates:  ahcnm.org.

Tags: candidates, hiring talent, industry news, job fair, job seeker

These are interesting times for job seekers and employers.  Because of the economic environment, the same old tools aren’t as effective as they used to be.  For one thing, there are many more job seekers than jobs, and that has been the case for awhile. 
Even so, groups are hosting job fairs on a regular basis.  Their reasons vary, but for the one thing it is a visible way to try to help the community and the candidates looking for opportunity.  Also, for the educational institutions it is a way to highlight a new group of graduates and bring alums back to the alma mater.  Events like these provide networking opportunities for both companies and candidates, and can give a good overview of the economic activity in the community. The question is, then, how does someone looking for work get the most out of an event where there may be 1000 people in line with them? 
A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal talked about the frustration some job seekers felt after attending a job fair at Expo New Mexico where there were approximately 5000 attendees and few opportunities.  Many companies were sending people to their online websites to apply, and there were few onsite interview opportunities.  Many employers participated as a show of support, but because of internal hiring policies weren’t able to actively interview at the booths.  Their online applications may include a prescreening process to determine if the candidate fits their needs. Also some employers may be anticipating a new contract and are collecting resumes in advance to test the waters.
So for the job seekers:  the best policy is to plan ahead.  Find out what companies are in attendance and check out their websites before you go.  Target the booths that have jobs to meet your talents.  Also it’s a pretty good bet that if there are no jobs listed on the company site that they are collecting, or just being a good citizen! 
Here’s a news flash – papering the booths with your resume without checking to see if you have the skills they need doesn’t get you points or even an interview.  It is also not a good practice to say “I’ll take anything you have” whether you are qualified or not.  There are still jobs available, and more coming.  Keep looking and do your research.  In the meantime, these fairs are a good way to learn about what is happening in your area, and maybe learn new techniques for your search.
Good luck!

Tags: applications, hiring process, hiring talent, Hiring Trends, industry news, job fair

Economic development folks always mention that new companies with new ideas are a good source of new jobs. An article in Inc. Magazine (July/August 2010) cites a statistic that young companies, (younger than 6 years old) provided the bulk of new jobs. In 2007 they accounted for 64% according to a Kauffman Foundation survey conducted in 2009. So, how do we support the folks that start these new companies—an average of 500,000 per year?

There were a number of suggestions provided in the article, and interestingly New Mexico was used as an example of how to grow a local investment community. The program created through the state committing funds to venture capital firms that opened an office in New Mexico greatly increased the number of VCs in the community. The presence of national venture capital companies has more than one benefit.

Initially of course this presence provides a more direct access to capital for local entrepreneurs. Add to that the fact that these representatives provide invaluable feedback to startup companies in the state and it does give entrepreneurs a leg up. It also makes it easier to attract investment from out of state, as the investor usually wants a local firm to partner with who knows the territory.

Another suggestion that New Mexico has also followed is having local non-profits that provide resources and training to entrepreneurs. Technology Ventures Corporation, University of New Mexico’s Science and Technology Corporation and local economic development groups can give entrepreneurs access to tools and learning to help them with their startup efforts.  The national laboratories, Sandia National Labs and Los Alamos National Lab offer tech support grants to small businesses, and encourage technology business development.

Other ideas were to expand microfinancing, fund big science, rework the SBIR and expand funding, cutting paperwork overall, and passing an energy bill. All these ideas would have a positive impact. Finally, for those who have been looking for their next job opportunity, there are opportunities to work for yourself building your dream company. Historically in times of high unemployment there are more small business startups. Good luck.

Tags: change management, entrepreneurs, Executive jobs, industry news