Focus On: Jobs ___________________________________________________
Positively Minnesota
Which occupations are in demand now? Where are they? What are the long term projections?
Find the answers at the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) website. ♦
In Demand ... ♦
Projections ...
Bright Light in the Economic Darkness: Non-Profits Search for Talent
Despite the recession, job openings for leaders and senior managers at nonprofit organizations continue to rise.
According to a new report by the Bridgestone Group, 77,000 such positions were open in 2008 —
with a forecast of an 24,000 additional openings this year. Next decade? We'll need 640,000 new nonprofit leaders.
The New Agenda for the Older Worker
Employers still tend to look at upcoming retirements as cost-saving opportunities. Studies of the coming "Age Wave" suggest that this is a dangerous and short-sighted strategy.
That will change as it becomes clear that the largest available untapped workforce segment is older adults —
most of whom are still healthy and able to contribute long after they retire.
The best way to do this is, says the worldwide employment consultant firm Manpower, Inc is to provide the kind of jobs that mature adults want, and treat them as valued members of the team.
► Read a White Paper ...
The Case for Working with Your Hands
High-school shop-class programs were widely dismantled in the 1990s as educators prepared students to become “knowledge workers.” The information economy would triumph over all. This has not come to pass.
More fundamentally, now as ever, somebody has to actually do things: fix our cars, unclog our toilets, build our houses. And those jobs cannot be outsourced to India.
Recession? Not in the Senior Services Sector
Some business sectors seem to struggle like 80-year-olds competing in an Olympic sprint. The sector which actually does cater to 80-year-olds —
senior services —
is accelerating steadily and strongly, way ahead of the pack.
Reinventing America: Stimulus $$$ and Work Opportunities
The massive Stimulus Package is a clear call to the nation to re-imagine what we value, what we do, and how we do it. It's a matter of getting people back to work. Meaningful work.
Most of the Stimulus $$$ for employment will come through the state's Department of Employment and Economic Development. At our June 15 Forum, three presenters painted the picture: Bonnie Elsey, DEED's director for workforce development; John McLaughlin, director of Hennepin County's Workforce Service Area; and Kathy Carney, director of the Minneapolis Workforce Centers.
Theyl also pointed to the MinnesotaWorks website for the application process for education/training and employment. Review the distribution of federal $$$ to Minnesota.
Job Loss: Taking Charge
Job loss is tough at any age, and even more so if you're 45+. If you've just lost your job, what should you do first? A free AARP June 11 webinar might be able to help you:
- Create an effective job-search strategy
- Manage your job hunt, finances, and health
- Connect with others to get the support you need
- Cope with the emotional ups and downs of unemployment
Older Workers Need Not Apply?
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It's a brutal job market for everyone, but older Americans are facing a particularly rough time. Why do employers shun them? Are we —
oops, they —
less qualified, less hard working, less inexpensive than younger workers?
Help a Friend Survive a Job Search: Top Tips
#3. The first piece of advice in the notebook is "Always accept a free lunch. You will do the same when you are in their shoes." Most people don't know how to be on the receiving end of generosity. Hint: it makes both sides feel good!
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More Here ...
Not Laid Off? How to Aid the Less Fortunate
One of the signature emotions of this particular recession, besides the populist rage that boiled recently, is a bit of survivor's guilt. After all, if you still have the same job or salary that you had a year ago, you're among the lucky ones.
So what can you do to help? Plenty, it turns out. Read On ...
The Time Is Ripe for Startups
Someone who thinks "I better not start a startup now, because the economy is so bad" is making the same mistake as those who thought during the Bubble "all I have to do is launch a startup, and I'll be rich."
What matters is who you are —
not when you do it. If you're the right sort of person, you'll win even in a bad economy. And if you're not, a good economy won't save you.
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More Here ...
Monsterize Your Job Search
Monster.com was one of the early Internet job bank services. Its new Keep America Working™ program aims to help you take advantage of the federal Stimulus Package to track down job opportunities in the emerging new economy.
Monster is launching a nationwide campaign to raise the bar at job fairs in more than 100 cities.
Tap Your Global Earning Potential
Baby Boomers are trapped in a dreadful dance with fickle employers, shriveling retirement plans (IRAs, 401ks) and uncertain job prospects.
You can wait for governments, financial institutions and employers to "right themselves." Or you can advertise your experience, skills and abilities on the global market —
no matter where you live or work.
An outfit named Barefoot Consultants is sponsoring a worldwide survey on the subject.
Some Jobs Push against the Grain
Conventional wisdom: temp agencies typically take the first hit when the economy cools off, but they're also the first to regroup when the economy starts to heat up.
Clearly, these are not conventional times. Case in point: Wells Fargo bank has hired 200 temps to process mortgage applications. Check the local branches of agencies such as ProStaff and NexPro.
Job Hunt Smarts after Age 50
Last October, syndicated columnist Mark Miller (Retire Smart) invited Linked In members to submit their best ideas for finding a job after age 50. Take a look at these suggestions from a cross-section of people.
The Art of Referral Marketing
Referrals work, John Jantch says, because they're credible. "When a trusted friend tells you about a business, you transfer that trust to this company," he writes. "even if you’ve never heard of them before."
And, of course, it may be the least expensive form of marketing ever.
Speedreading the Shifting Workplace
Big changes bubbling up. A good place to begin is Seth Godin's blog (ex: Small is the New Big). On the light side: 99Cows is an irreverent take on emerging business trends.
Also check out Tom Peters' Excellence for the Rest of Us. Both Godin and Peters give away tons of useful material: an upstanding example of how to cultivate relationships.
Opportunities in the New Green Economy
Minnesota may lack the standard energy industries —
coal, petroleum, natural gas. But it's a leader in some new and emerging areas, especially wind and biofuels. And new regulations are forcing utilities to innovate.
What sorts of skills will our workforce need to succeed in this emerging market? They're in four areas: Energy, Construction, Manufacturing, and Services such as recycling and hazardous waste disposal.
► Read More ...
Finding a Job after Age 50: The Wisdom of the Group
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| Mark Miller |
Finding a job is challenging for anyone in tough economic times but it’s harder if you’re over age 50. It’s illegal for employers to discriminate based on age, but any older job-seeker will tell you it happens every day.
That reality is colliding with the intent of baby boomers, most of whom hope — and need — to keep working past traditional retirement age. So, what are the best strategies for landing a job when you’re over 50?
Retirement Revised is the companion website of "Retire Smart", a column written by Mark Miller that appears in more than 30 newspapers each week. The site features an active blog, as well.
Find the Correct Door, and Step Inside
No question, start-ups are risky ventures for the entrepreneur, the lender and economic development partners like WomenVenture, Bremer Bank, and the Small Business Administration.
Yes, lenders are now much more aggressive in assessing a potential client’s credit-worthiness —
and the viability of his or her business plan. But that doesn’t mean the doors are shut tight to entrepreneurs.
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Read On ...
A Place to Land for Baby Boomer Job Seekers
A weak economy is putting a tighter squeeze on workers in their 50s and 60s. Having spent their career with only one or two employers, many are looking for work for the first time in years.
"The world has changed since they last went job hunting, and some don't have a clue what to do," says Renee Ward, founder of Seniors4Hire.org, an online community for mature workers.
Joining the Seniors for Hire website is free for job seekers 50 and older.
Your Dream Job: Try It on for Size
VocationVacations offers its clients a unique experience: one-to-three day, hands-on, career immersion experiences under the tutelage of expert mentors — everything from beer brewing to private investigating.
The mentors offer more than 150 vocation types in locations across the U.S. and have helped people from all walks of life test-drive their dream job.
Basilica of St. Mary: The Employment Ministry
Unemployed or underemployed? The Employment Ministry provides a people centered, hands-on approach with one-on-one coaching and small group workshops. It features 20 coaches and more than 400 members.
Get assistance with resume writing, interviewing, transitions, and self-assessment. The Ministry works with recruiters, human resources staff, and networking contacts to link people with opportunities.
To learn more, email Janet Grove, or call 612-317-350.
Telecommuting: New Opportunities
New technology has made Telecommuting an even more attractive option. Hundreds of legitimate companies are hiring more and more home-based freelancers to perform tasks ranging from software development to writing press materials.
Tory Johnson, co-author of "Will Work From Home: Earn the Cash Without the Commute," suggests resources and ideas. Among them:
Cash for Crafts. Many people get rave reviews for their handmade wares from family and friends, but most have no idea how to make money from their stuff.
Answer the Call. Virtual customer service —
answering in-bound customer calls for big brands from your own home —
is a rapidly growing field.
Tutor students. Online classrooms allow a student to connect with a tutor for one-to-one help using instant messaging, file sharing —
even an interactive whiteboard.
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Read More ...
Connect for Success via Informational Interviews
WomenVenture's Connect for Success program helps clients clarify their career interests by an evaluation of financial needs, education, and life skills. Clients are then matched with three professionals in their career field of interest with whom they can meet for an informational interview. Training on how to conduct an informational interview is also part of the program.
Connect for Success has hundreds of contacts at major local corporations including Target, United Way, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Medtronic, General Mills and more. The program also connects clients with small business owners and nonprofit professionals.
MinnesotaWorks
MinnesotaWorks is a service provided by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. This internet-based self-service system helps employers and job seekers find each other. The site also features online tutorials. Membership is free.
Members can post up to five resumes, search for job openings, contact employers by email, and even apply online. MinnesotaWorks currently lists 23,123 job openings.
Support and Education Group
Mondays, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
St. Andrew Lutheran Church ELCA
13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie
Cost: Free
Featuring small group discussion. Speakers are scheduled on the 1st and 3rd Mondays. Other weeks are large group informal networking. Groups are facilitated by volunteers. No pre-registration required. For maximum benefit, we ask you to attend 3 or 4 meetings in a row as each evening’s presentation is uniquely different.
Dress is casual. Contact: 763 - 544 - 4648.
Free Resumè Workshop
Room 103, Basilica School
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis
Cost: Free
Resume and Cover Letter Workshop
This popular workshop covers resume formats, scannable and electronic resumes, resume submission guidelines, and cover letter content.
Workshop Leader: Victor Massaglia, a career advisor for the University of Minnesota Law School. Vic has over 18 years of experience in coaching, communication, personnel administration, training, management, and supervision for organizations both in the United States and abroad.
Presented by the Basilica Employment Ministry. Email Janet Grove or call 612-317-3508 for info on the next workshop.
Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
The organization has posted eight job openings for functions that fit the term meaningful work: prenatal services, creative services, fund development, youth counseling, cooking, and shelter advocacy. Review jobs and download applications at the Catholic Charities website.
GetGo MN: Build Your Business
From their website: Join the GetGo community to make strong connections and build your business by:
* Discovering opportunities and people that support your business initiatives.
* Providing access to top-notch tools and resources.
* Introducing your company to potential investors.
* Finding proven professional service providers and advisors.
Registration is free. Sponsored by Wells Fargo. Check it out.