Employment

Job Transition: 4 Keys to Starting a Career in a New Field

December 11, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Job transitions can happen due to a number of factors. You may need to look for a field that rewards you better in terms of remuneration, your company may have downsized, or you could just want to move on to something that interests you more.

Whatever the reason, starting a career in a new field is a practice that some people might find cumbersome while others might embrace, as a way of scaling the career ladder. This article will delve into some key ways to make your transition smooth and fruitful.

Network and Find a Mentor

The best strategy for an easy career change is finding people who will play a key role in your job transition. And these people or companies will be located through networking. Therefore, your networking abilities will help you identify leads and informational advice that will impact your new field. [Read more…] about Job Transition: 4 Keys to Starting a Career in a New Field

Manufacturing Jobs Soar Under Trump

December 9, 2017 by Tim McMahon

On Friday December 8^th the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their monthly employment survey results for the month of November.

According to the BLS the Unemployment for November is virtually unchanged from October to November on both an Unadjusted and Seasonally Adjusted basis. Seasonally Adjusted U-3 was 4.1% for both months while Unadjusted U-3 was 3.9% for both months. Unadjusted U-6 unemployment which is a broader measure of Unemployment rose slightly from 7.6% in October to 7.7% in November. This is still significantly better than a year ago when in November 2016 Unadjusted U-6 was 9%.

Unemployment

Over the last month, the actual number of people working has increased by 532,000 and the civilian non-institutional population (a fairly narrow measurement of population) has increased by a very low 183,000.

This means that not only has the increase in jobs kept up with the increase in the population but it was actually almost 3 times greater than the population growth! And since only about half of the population is working, job growth has far exceeded the level needed to keep things on a steady keel. See: Current Unemployment Rate Chart for more info.

Employment

Employment was 147,975,000 in October (148,006,000 when the numbers were originally released in November) and the current numbers for employment are 148,507,000 in November for a net gain of 501,000 over the original October numbers or 532,000 increase over the new October numbers.

See Employment Commentary.

Although unemployment rates are virtually unchanged the Employment numbers tell a slightly different story. According to [Read more…] about Manufacturing Jobs Soar Under Trump

Moving on After Being Laid Off: How to Gain Back Confidence

December 7, 2017 by Tim McMahon

Getting laid off can be a traumatic experience. If you have found yourself in this situation, you could be wondering what you can do to restore your confidence. Getting motivated to go out job hunting after this hit to the psyche can be pretty tough. Below are a few tips that can help you move on after this difficult period in your career.

Know You’re Not Alone

First, you should know you are not the only person who is in this situation. In fact, layoffs are actually very common. You might even know a few coworkers from the same company in the same boat. Understanding that you are not alone in this situation can help you feel a little bit better about things. It might even help to go out to lunch with a few of these coworkers and lament your circumstance. Let yourself grieve and move on. You can also find support through a hiring service or resources from hiring firms.

Work Out a Financial Plan

A lot of people find themselves [Read more…] about Moving on After Being Laid Off: How to Gain Back Confidence

4 Reasons to Consider a Career as a Civil Servant

November 29, 2017 by Tim McMahon

“Civil servants” are employees that work under the local and national government to render services to the public. The state offers numerous services that the public continually requires, therefore considering taking up a career in civil service can be a wise move. People working in civil service, more often than not, have financial stability and are less likely to be laid off during an economic downturn. Here are some four reasons why you should start up a career as a civil servant.

Good Salary

Depending on the position you are holding of course, but most civil servant positions enjoy better than average salaries and benefits. This hasn’t always been the case. Years ago civil servants could expect lower than average salaries in exchange for more stability and less likelihood of being laid off. In recent years however, civil servant salaries have risen to be more comparable to industry averages. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has published a guide called, “How to get a job in the Federal Government“. That states “With more than 1.7 million jobs and over 400 occupational specialties (excluding postal service and military workers), the Federal Government offers more choices than any other single employer in the United States. Whatever your interest and background, you can probably find a Government career to match.”

The Availability of Jobs Is Consistent

Getting a job in the civil service sector can be a good option if [Read more…] about 4 Reasons to Consider a Career as a Civil Servant

Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

November 27, 2017 by Guest Contributor

When you’ve been injured, life can change dramatically, temporarily or permanently. A decreased income can often lead to a lot of financial stress, making recovery more difficult. There are a few things you can do to ease the stress.

Create a Budget

There are two steps to this. First, create a budget that outlines all of your current expenses. Then, create a budget that works for your new, reduced income. Look at the first budget to see which, if any, of your current expenses can be immediately cut.

Refinance or Ask for a Forbearance on Your Mortgage

If you own your own home, [Read more…] about Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

4 Signs Your Personality is Perfect for a Criminal Justice Career

November 8, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Criminal justice programs are common at most universities and community colleges around the country. They are also quite popular with students. But is it the right career path for you to pursue? These four signs might mean that your personality is perfect for a criminal justice career.

You Enjoy Helping People

Every day, across the nation, people have their lives or the lives of loved ones destroyed because of criminal activity. Bringing criminals to justice helps give solace to those affected by crime. Then there is the other end of the spectrum—the criminals themselves. If helping people is your passion in life, there can be nothing more powerful than directly playing a role in the rehabilitation of someone who has gone down the wrong path.

https://youtu.be/upsQ0B0_At4?t=1s

You Are Passionate about Social Justice

It’s no secret that [Read more…] about 4 Signs Your Personality is Perfect for a Criminal Justice Career

Making A Difference: 3 Jobs That Will Satisfy Your Inner Humanitarian

November 7, 2017 by Guest Contributor

If you’re like most people, helping others makes you feel good as well. Why not make it a career? Most careers work to make human lives a little bit easier, although some are more focused on this goal than most. If you have an inner humanitarian who needs satisfying, look into these three jobs.

Health Care Professional

The healthcare industry is growing in leaps and bounds and medical professionals of all stripes are in heavy demand. There is also a lot of variety in the different healthcare roles, so you’ll be sure to find something that interests you, whether that’s being a traditional doctor or a nurse practitioner. Medical professionals often do pro bono charitable work, whether at home or abroad. The nursing field has actually evolved a segment of itself dealing with vulnerable communities called nurse-managed care. At nurse-managed health care centers, nursing professionals provide a number of common procedures such as immunizations, physical exams and cardiovascular checks to people in need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.3 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services. The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (such as registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and dental hygienists) was $63,420 in May 2016, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations in the economy of $37,040.

Healthcare support occupations (such as

Medical Personnel Shortage: How This Vacuum Will Impact the Careers of Health Professionals

October 17, 2017 by Guest Contributor

There’s been quite a bit of discussion lately about the shortage of medical personnel in many areas. This is both a problem and an opportunity. It’s certainly a problem for the healthcare industry and the patients who depend on it.

On the other hand, it’s an opportunity for people seeking careers that are highly in demand. Let’s see how the health professional vacuum is impacting this field and creating new possibilities for careers.

More Opportunities for Nurses

The nursing shortage is frequently discussed in the media and in any discussions of modern healthcare challenges. One aspect that’s not as well known is that there are now many diverse opportunities for nurses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, in 2014 there were 2,751,000 Registered Nurses in the United States and in 2016 Registered Nurses earned an average of $68,450 per year. From 2014 through 2024 the number of Nurses is expected to increase by 16% resulting in 439,300 new nursing positions. This is much faster than average growth for all jobs projected. According to the BLS “Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses also must be licensed.”

Pharmacy Technicians

There are many choices for working in the medical field. In addition to [Read more…] about Medical Personnel Shortage: How This Vacuum Will Impact the Careers of Health Professionals

September Unemployment Rate Down

October 7, 2017 by Tim McMahon

On Friday October 6^th the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their monthly employment survey results for the month of September. Every month the BLS conducts two surveys one contacts a sampling of households and the other collects data from businesses. Then they massage some of the numbers to “Seasonally Adjust” them and release them to the media.

According to the BLS, the current “Seasonally Adjusted” Unemployment Rate for September (released October 6^th) is 4.2% DOWN from 4.4% in August. The current “Unadjusted” rate is 4.1% down from 4.5% in August.

Seasonal adjustment provides something like a moving average leveling out the bumps due to normal seasonal variations. See: Unadjusted vs. Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate for more information about Seasonal Adjustment.

According to the BLS Commissioner’s report for this month:

“The unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in September, and total nonfarm payroll employment changed little (-33,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A sharp employment decline in food services and drinking places and below-trend growth in some other industries likely reflected the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. “

See: Current Unemployment Rate Chart for more info.

In the very next paragraph, based on the Household Unemployment Survey, he said, “The unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 4.2 percent in September, and the number of unemployed persons declined by 331,000 to 6.8 million. Both measures were down over the year.”

Declining unemployment means more jobs! So which is it 331,000 more jobs? -33,000 fewer jobs? Or 340,000 more jobs? [Read more…] about September Unemployment Rate Down

What’s Costing You the Most in Your Hiring Process?

October 3, 2017 by Guest Contributor

What’s Costing You the Most in Your Hiring Process?

Hiring the right personnel is one of the most important tasks of an HR Manager. If the wrong person is hired, you can expect poor performance, frustrated Managers and higher costs when trying to do damage control. However, the hiring process, done correctly, is not easy or cheap as there are a lot of measures and steps that have to be taken before you can give out that offer letter.

Costs Associated with the Hiring Process

Recruitment costs. These include hiring a recruitment firm, defining the position, advertising the position and test scheduling.
Selection costs. Selection costs range from shortlisting, interviews, communication with applicants, security checks, and the job offer.
Productivity costs. When a position is vacant, other employees are forced to do the work of that position which means they put less effort into their job. The hiring team also takes a lot of time away from their regular duties during the hiring process to do all the recruitment and selection meaning there is work that is not being done, and that is a loss of revenue.