Get Ready For The Next Wave

The last time I wrote this column we had elected a new US President and we were in the midst of the financial meltdown.  Today we should be ready for some real movement in the economy with career opportunities in the job market, new jobs are being developed, contracted, freelance, and temporary employment are on the rise. Is this Spring?. After extensive layoffs, downsizing, retrenching, the economy is picking up, sales are up, housing stock is back selling, and there is a new jobs bill in the pipeline.  How can you be ready for this next wave ?

Get Ready Now

• Make sure you are current in all the computer software changes and applications whether it is the new MS Office 7, Razer’s Edge, Access, Photo Shop, Constant Contact, and iPhone.

• Update your professional skills in your field or enhance yourself with new knowledge, skills and abilities.  This is vital for your professional development. This will help you develop networking contacts, brand yourself, and become more marketability. Employers want someone who is current and who has taken an active role in developing their skill set.

• Community involvement is key to developing your contacts, resources, and giving back to your community. Employers want to interview someone who is not complacent and who is totally involved in teamwork, giving back to the community, and volunteering.

There are many options for you to find out about opportunities to improve yourself.  There are course offerings at colleges and universities, at a community college, continued education center, library, on-line courses, technical schools, study tutorials at your library.

Additionally, professional associations, non-profit organizations, open and free lectures, local workshops, alumni group programs (college, university, club), networking associations, can all give you a refreshing opportunity to improve yourself.  I recommend you check out these web sites for further information.

Get Training Now

www.onetcenter.org and www.online/onetcenter.org – US government career center, detailed career assessments, individual career paths and opportunities, and career and job research.

www.acinet.org - another government cite sponsored by DOL which is an excellent source of occupational information, occupational description, skills, interest, and personality assessment, training requirements and training sources, associations.

www.tutorials.com – get tutorial classes for many courses such as Microsoft 7, customer service, finance, human resources, and many more range of price $19.95 and up.

www.ipl.org – a listing of associations that you can attend, join, learn more about their offerings and programs.

www.volunteermatch.org – a great listing of volunteer opportunities by occupation, city, and state with non profit organizations listed as well.

www.idealist.org the non-profit king with information on tutorials, jobs, advise, connections to the non-profit world.

www.rileyguide.org – the queen of information about careers, jobs, and resources and when all else fails or you just want an overview of options check out this free no sell librarian site look under index is the best option.

www.about.com the source of all information that is current and helpful.  Look at the resume examples and check out the resources for job shadowing, interview questions, internships and other subject areas.

www.simplyhired.com this web site is rated number one by most job searchers, it is connected to Linknd In, and now Facebook. Best source of jobs for mega search.

Anna Whitcomb,NCC, MPA, CAGS in Counseling,  has been providing career -counseling services since 1995 helping clients follow their career path. Career Choices offers you an opportunity to identify your strengths, determine new directions, and move forward.  Contact her at anna@yourcareerchoices.com