Looking for work? Here’s where the jobs will be

Posted on May 23, 2019May 6, 2019 by Jails to Jobs

Constructions jobs are increasing, and skilled labor is in high demand.

Job prospects are looking good these days, and a tight market means more and better opportunities for those seeking employment. In fact, 47 percent of companies plan on hiring contract or temporary employees, and 40 percent plan to hire full-time permanent employees this year.

These figures come from an annual survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder among 1,021 hiring and human resource managers and 1,010 employees between Dec. 20, 2018 and Jan. 16, 2019.

Jobs most in demand

The most in-demand types of jobs and the increased percentages in hiring, according to the survey:

Skilled labor: 25 percent
Data analysis: 21 percent
Digital marketing: 12 percent
Cyber security: 11 percent
AI/Machine learning: 10 percent
Healthcare: 10 percent

While CareerBuilder looked at types of jobs, the ManpowerGroup looked at 13 industry segments in its Q2 2019 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey of more than 11,500 U.S. employers.

Industry segments increase hiring

The strongest industry segments and their increased percentages in hiring:

Transportation and utilities: 25 percent
Leisure and hospitality: 25 percent
Wholesale and retail trade: 24 percent
Professional and business services: 23 percent
Mining: 19 percent
Construction: 19 percent
Durable goods manufacturing: 19 percent

“As U.S. employers continue to report double-digit hiring outlooks, demand for talent is growing across the board from cyber security experts and data analysts to delivery drivers needed to keep up with 24/7 online retail,” said Becky Frankiewicz, president of ManpowerGroup North America.

Companies willing to train

Don’t have the exact skills employers are looking for? Don’t worry. If you have potential, many employers may be willing to train you in some of the skills you might need.

“While a skills gap has created an environment where employers are having trouble finding qualified talent, employees’ and companies’ mutual dedication towards competency-based training indicates we have made leaps and bounds toward eliminating these obstacles. We’ve found that 59 percent of employers plan to train and hire workers who may not be 100 percent qualified but have potential,” says Irina Novoselsky, CEO of CareerBuilder.

And they’ve already been doing this. Sixty-three percent of employers in the CareerBuilder poll reported hiring someone without the required skills with plans to train them. And more than half have paid for an employee to get training or education to bring them up to speed.

Beyond technical and practical skills, soft skills are becoming increasingly important in the workplace. Ninety-two percent of employers say soft skills help determine whether they will hire candidates. And eighty percent also said that soft skills would be at least as important as hard skills. The top skills that employers mentioned to CareerBuilder are the ability to be team-oriented (51 percent), attention to detail (49 percent) and customer service (46 percent).

Consider some of these hot jobs that don’t require a college degree

Posted on September 13, 2018August 7, 2018 by Jails to Jobs

hot jobs that don't require a college degree It is possible to find a good job that pays well and doesn’t require a college degree.

CareerBuilder, the online employment website, has released a list of hot jobs that don’t require a college degree and:

pay about $20 or more per hour
have grown over the past five years
are projected to grow over the next five years

“The path to success is different for everyone,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder and co-author of The Talent Equation. “You can build a lucrative career through apprenticeships, post-secondary certificates or on-the-job training. There is significant demand for workers in everything from skilled trades to technology and health-related fields, and you can get your foot in the door without a formal degree.”

Here are CareerBuilder’s recommendations for hot jobs that don’t require a college degree that you may want to consider based on the opportunities they present:

Electricians:

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 11%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 5%
Average hourly earnings: $26.33
Required education: high school diploma and apprenticeship

Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 15%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 5%
Average hourly earnings: $25.76
Required education: high school diploma and apprenticeship

Computer User Support Specialists

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 10%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 7%
Average hourly earnings: $25.50
Required education: some college

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 9%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 8%
Average hourly earnings: $24.87
Required education: high school diploma and on-the-job training

Surgical Technologists

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 9%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 7%
Average hourly earnings: $22.68
Required education: post-secondary non-degree certificate

Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 17%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 6%
Average hourly earnings: $22.39
Required education: post-secondary non-degree certificate and on-the-job training

Chefs and Head Cooks

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 13%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 6%
Average hourly earnings: $21.54
Required education: high school diploma and on-the-job training

Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 7%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 7%
Average hourly earnings: $19.96
Required education: post-secondary certificate

Self-Enrichment Education Teachers

Growth in jobs between 2013 and 2017: 11%
Expected growth in jobs between 2018 and 2022: 8%
Average hourly earnings: $19.91
Required education: high school diploma

If you will soon be released from jail or prison or are already in reentry, you may want to investigate these jobs and others and discover if any of them match your skills, talents and interests. Your local American Job Center can help with your skills and interest assessment, and job search. Good luck!

CareerBuilder survey highlights job interview mistakes and what to watch out for

Posted on August 31, 2017February 21, 2018 by Jails to Jobs

interview mistakes Few experiences can be more nerve wracking than being interviewed for a job. But with a bit of awareness of what can go wrong, you will be able to avoid mistakes and make a good impression.

And a good impression is crucial, because it doesn’t take hiring managers very long to make a decision. At least that seems to be the case, based on the results of a nationwide survey, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder from November 16 to December 6, 2016. Among more than 2,600 hiring and human resource managers surveyed, 51 percent said they know within the first five minutes of an interview if a candidate is a good fit for a position.

Along with doing your research about the company you’re interviewing with and practicing the answers to potential interview questions, there are some very important things to remember that will help you make a good impression.

According to those surveyed by CareerBuilder, your body language could be more important in making a positive impression than what you say. So pay attention to nonverbal communication, and be sure to avoid some common mistakes.

Learn not to make these body language mistakes

Here are the top 10 body language mistakes mentioned in the survey and the percentage of hiring managers who felt they were a problem:

Failing to make eye contact: 67 percent
Failing to smile: 39 percent
Playing with something on the table: 34 percent
Fidgeting too much in their seats: 32 percent
Crossing their arms over their chests: 32 percent
Having bad posture: 31 percent
Playing with their hair or touching their faces: 28 percent
Having a weak handshake: 22 percent
Using too many hand gestures: 13 percent
Having a handshake that was too strong: 9 percent

These body language mistakes are something you can memorize and try to avoid.

Worst things job applicants can do in an interview

The survey also found a few things that were even more problematic than bad body language. In fact they are the worse things that hiring managers say an applicant can do during an interview. And they could potentially ensure that you won’t get the job.

Candidate is caught lying about something: 66 percent
Candidate answers a cellphone or text during the interview: 64 percent
Candidate appears arrogant or entitled: 59 percent
Candidate dresses inappropriately: 49 percent
Candidate appears to have a lack of accountability: 48 percent

Keep all these tips of what to avoid in mind, and your chances of getting that job you’re after will continue to improve.

Highlighting soft skills can be key to getting a job

Posted on May 25, 2017February 21, 2018 by Jails to Jobs

Soft skills – the personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with others – may be just as important to performing and keeping a job as the technical or job performance related skills for which people are hired.

And many employers agree. In a survey of 2,138 hiring managers and human resource professionals conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder in 2014, 77% of employers felt that soft skills are just as important as hard skills.

“When companies are assessing job candidates, they’re looking for the best of both worlds: someone who is not only proficient in a particular function, but also has the right personality,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.

“Along with responsibilities, it’s important to highlight soft skills that can give employers an idea of how quickly you can adapt and solve problems, whether you can be relied on to follow through, and how effectively you can lead and motivate others.”

Top 10 soft skills that employers consider when evaluating a job candidate

The top 10 most popular soft skills companies say they look for when hiring are that the candidate:

has a strong work ethic – 73 percent
is dependable – 73 percent
has a positive attitude – 72 percent
is self-motivated – 66 percent
is team-oriented – 60 percent
is organized, can manage multiple priorities – 57 percent
works well under pressure – 57 percent
is an effective communicator – 56 percent
is flexible – 51 percent
is confident – 46 percent

If you want to know more about the importance of soft skills, just ask Frederick H. Wentz. He’s an expert on the subject and wrote two books used for training people so that they can recognize and develop their soft skills.

Wentz became aware of the need during his years working in the restaurant industry. “I hired a lot of entry level employees, and many came from communities that lacked exposure to soft skills,” he says.

He also worked training people in reentry and noticed that people who have been out of the workforce for a long time had the same problem.

“The biggest challenges (to those in reentry) are making decisions and problem solving. When they’re incarcerated all their decisions are being made by someone else,” he says. “Communication is another difficulty for them. In prison communication is just one way.”

Wentz goes on to say that, “The behaviors that people need to survive in prison are being tough and being intimating, and these are not going to work on the job.”

Four types of soft skills

Instead they need to develop soft skills. Soft skills can be one of four different types, related to:

Communication
Problem solving
Interpersonal relationships
Personal attributes

As specific examples, Wentz mentions, among other things, being:

Able to get along with others
Positive
Able to control emotions
Conscientious
Friendly
Able to follow instructions

In his book, Soft Skills Training: A Workbook to Develop Skills for Employment, Wentz alternates articles and stories about success with exercises that make students think about the importance of soft skills.

Some examples of the questions from the exercises in the book:

What do most entry-level workers lack?
In what areas do entry-level employees need the most improvement?
Why is it important to reach out and help others while at work?
When you do not understand something, what are three positive consequences of asking a question?
List five personal qualities you must display on every job.
How did Michael Jordan visualize and how did it help him? Give an example of how it can help you.

Job developers who work with those in reentry may find this book a useful tool.

And those looking for work might want to add references to their soft skills in their resume or JIST card. Including things like “meets all deadlines,” “works well in a team environment” and “communicates effectively” will highlight your proficiency in the soft skill arena.

Because employers are convinced of the importance of these skills, make sure you let them know you have them.

What you post on social media can keep you from getting a job

Posted on December 15, 2016February 11, 2018 by Jails to Jobs

As social media becomes a growing presence in everyday life, you need to be increasingly careful about the things you post and tweet.

The pictures you publish and the things you say on social media sites can keep you from getting a job, can get you in trouble with your boss or can even get you fired. But social media postings can also work in your favor, if they portray you as professional, able to communicate effectively and make you appear as a person that would be nice to work with.

60% of employers use social media to research applicants

And don’t think that hiring managers and recruiters aren’t looking. They are. Or at least according to CareerBuilder’s annual social media recruitment survey of 2,186 hiring and human research managers conducted between February 10 and March 17, 2016. It found that 60% of employers use social media sites to research job applicants, up from 52% last year and 11% in 2005.

“Tools such as Facebook and Twitter enable employers to get a glimpse of who candidates are outside the confines of a resume or cover letter,” says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder. “And with more and more people using social media, it’s not unusual to see the usage for recruitment to grow as well.”

Info on social media can hinder job search

The company’s survey found that 49% of hiring managers who screen candidates using social media found information that made them decide to not hire a candidate. The top things that bothered them:

Provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos or information (46%)
Information about a candidate drinking or using drugs (43%)
Discriminatory comments related to race, religion, gender, etc. (33%)
Bad-mouthing a previous company or fellow employee (31%)
Poor communication skills (29%)

Jobvite, a San Mateo, Calif.-based software and recruiting company, found similar responses. In its Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report 2016, based on an online survey conducted in June and completed by 1,600 recruiting and human resources professionals:

47% of recruiters view pictures of alcohol consumption negatively on social media
60% find over sharing a problem
72% view typos negatively
71% find indications of marijuana use problematic

Shutting down Facebook account may not be best idea

In the past some people recommended that job seekers should shut down their Facebook accounts, since it’s impossible to tell what a hiring manager might find offensive. These days, however, many hirers may wonder why a certain job seeker does not have a social media presence, i.e., a Facebook account.

According to the CareerBuilder survey, 41% of employers said they are less likely to interview a job applicant if they are unable to find information about that person online.

Although LinkedIn is used by hiring managers and recruiters to get an idea of an applicant’s professional background, Facebook – and to a lesser extent Twitter – portray the personal side, and can answer the question, “Is this someone I would enjoy working with.”

If your Facebook postings or tags are even slightly offensive, however, it might not be a bad idea to deactivate your account while you’re searching for a job, since it will no doubt work against you.

And even after you get a job, you’re not safe. According the CareerBuilder survey, more than a quarter of employers have either fired or reprimanded an employee because of content they found online.

It’s important to carefully consider each and every photo and comment you post, especially on Facebook. So constantly monitor your social media presence and make sure it portrays you as the kind of person that the company you dream of working for would like to hire.

Don’t forget to write job interview thank you notes

Posted on April 14, 2016April 27, 2016 by Jails to Jobs

In conducting a job search, you always need to keep in mind ways to set yourself apart from other applicants. And one of those ways is to write a thank you note.

Be sure to do this after every job interview, but also after after an informational interview or job shadowing experience. If you’re proactive, as we recommend, and drop by restaurants, retail shops or businesses unannounced to talk to the hiring manager about potential job opportunities, be sure to follow up by sending a thank you note to that person as well.

While many people don’t bother to send these notes, it’s very important to do so.

In a survey of 2,878 hiring managers conducted in 2011 by Harris International for CareerBuilder, more than one in five (22%) said they are less likely to hire a candidate who doesn’t send a thank you note after the interview. The reasons stated: It shows a lack of follow through and sends a message that the candidate is not really serious about the opportunity.

Although the survey was conducted nearly five years ago, it still rings true. Hiring managers like to be thanked.

While it used to be said that hand-written notes were the preferred method to thank people, these days email thank you notes are also appropriate. Some people send an email note within 24 hours of the interview and follow up with a hand-written note that emphasizes other details.

Either way, the medium may not be as important as the message.

What to include in a thank you note

Be sure to keep the thank you note to a few paragraphs, and use it strategically to:

Bring up a point or two that you didn’t remember to mention in the interview.
Briefly elaborate on a question the interviewer asked but you feel you didn’t answer well.
Clarify anything that you think might have been misunderstood.
Show that you are really interested in the position (or the field, if it’s an informational interview).

If you’re not sure how to write one, there are plenty of examples of interview thank you notes online. Just search using the term “interview thank you notes,” and they will come up. Read a few examples and write an original note of your own.

Creating a habit of writing follow-up thank you notes will be just one more way to help ensure your job search is successful.