Is there any place for workers to run to in this economy…
Nowhere to run to, baby
Nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to run to, baby
Nowhere to hide
Remember these lyrics? They’re from “Dance Party” by Martha & the Vandellas?
It could very well be the anthem for this job market.
There seems to be no industry to run to if you’re looking for a job. And there seems to be no place to hide if you don’t want to get downsized, or screwed on your raise this year.
The struggling economy is definitely making it tougher, that’s for sure. Earlier this week I wrote about the ailing financial services sector. The bailout of Bear Stearns was an ominous sign for workers throughout the industry.
But it’s not just finance. On Tuesday, Delta announced it was cutting 2,000 jobs and offering buyouts to 30,000 employees. And don’t even look at the cutbacks and layoffs in the U.S. auto industry. (I write about how that industry has been ravaged in my MSNBC column later this month.)
So, where does a poor working soul go to find job safety, let alone employment bliss?
Believe it or not there are places to go. I’ve written about many segments that are actually growing. Healthcare, telecommunications, alternatives-energy providers and a host of technology jobs.
The Department of Labor has a list of top occupations, and on that list are ones you’d expect – home health aides, physical therapists. Lots of jobs that will help deal with the aging population.
There are also some you would not expect – veterinarians and gaming surveillance experts, you know the people that keep an eye on gamblers in Vegas.
And all types of jobs in the forensics arena are big, especially computer forensics. You know, the people that figure out who hacked into computer systems.
Now let me offer a reality check here. Just because experts and the labor department tell you there’s opportunity in a certain profession doesn’t mean you can walk out and snag a job like magic.
There may be parts of the country where growth occupations are big, while other towns have few if any openings. You also have to have the experience and sometimes educational background to land one of these jobs. This is especially critical in a tough economy when employers can be a bit pickier and wait for the right candidate.
Lists like these should just be a guideline.
Figure out what’s hot in your town. Check out job boards and see how many positions are available in specific industries. Look for firms that are advertising in your town, at ballparks or in the local paper. If they’re spending big on ads they probably have a budget to hire.
Call you local chamber of commerce; they probably have their own list of growth companies and industries.
If you guys get a chance, I’d love to hear if you are in an industry that’s growing or dying?
March 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am
I work in the information technology field with a focus on information security. There’s no sign that this particular segment will shrink anytime soon. If anything, with the increase in regulatory and compliance issues, and increasing awareness of the risks of data loss, this will be a groth industry for quite some time.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I’m a career transplanter. Medical transcription, a healthcare job, is “dying out.” Software technologies like “Dragon Naturally Speaking-Medical” have replaced the need for transcription budgets in many clinics and private physician offices. Larger healthcare organizations are beginning to split between only two options: a) paying a national medical transcription service (these services tend to hire a large amount of transcriptionists overseas); or b)require physicians to type their own notes (believe it; I’ve watched it happen).
I’ve returned to school to get my second Bachelor’s and plan on re-entering the industry of higher education once my baby is potty-trained. Higher education, incidentally, is experiencing explosive growth - particularly those institutions that are regionally accredited and offer distance-learning programs.
Not every degree program can be offered via the Internet. For example, nurses are in high demand, but they can’t learn and practice these skills and equipment from home. Neither can radiology technicians, social workers or counseling psychologists.
Many programs can, however, such as: human resources management, computer programming languages; graphic design, business administration, finance, information technology, tax attorneys, etc.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Hi all,
I have a question. I submitted my resume and received an e-mail saying the following:
We have elected to pursue other candidates for this position. We will keep your information in our candidate database and hope you will continue to check back with “x”. Best wishes to you in your career search.
Several weeks later, the company called and asked if I was still interested, saying the candidates interviewed weren’t a good fit. She said I was overqualified and asked if I would be OK with a lower salary. She also said that the company can afford to be picky (paraphrasing) . . . in this economy.
How would you take this kind comment? I’m not in a position to turn the job down . . . and I applied there because I “thought” the company was a good one (good values, mission, and so on).
Thanks,
p
April 4th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Hey Pati,
I think it’s interesting that they asked you over the phone if you’d be OK with a lower salary. If I were you I would tell them I’d like to sit down with you and the hiring manager and find out exactly what the job entails before I commit to a certain salary. And I don’t think it’s a great sign that they told you they can be picky in today’s economic climate, but don’t just right them off. This one person could just be a bit of a dolt when it comes to the social graces. So, say, “everything is negotiable. Let’s sit down, let me find out more about your firm and you can find out more about me and then we can take it from there.” You could accept a slightly lower salary with the caveat that in three or six months your pay would be bumped up X percent based on how you’ve performed. But get all this in writing, and don’t let that three, or six month mark go. Make sure to remind them and ask for a meeting. You could also consider negotiating more time off, or getting stock options if those are available. Since it sounds like you like this company I would try to make it work, but don’t let them take advantage of you and give away the store. Find out what similar jobs pay today in your area before you call them. You need to have this kind of information when negotiating so a year from now you don’t regret your decision.
I hope this helps.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Thank you, Eve. I like your comment about “social graces” and keeping an open mind regarding the variables. A flexible work schedule would be a great trade-off. My thought is, always treat people with dignity and respect. I appreciate your writing about current happenings. I’ll let you know how it goes. Best wishes to you and your readers. p