Getting Jobs: Are We Talking to Each Other?

For those seeking jobs in this slow economic recovery, there are some hidden jewels — industries where the demand is greater than others!

However, sometimes there are obstacles even where the demand is strong. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of people who are not currently looking for work (because they believe that there are no jobs available for them) rose to 717,000 in the first quarter of 2009, a 70% increase from the year before. The numbers may be a little stale, but they serve as an important indicator. No doubt there are still hordes of discouraged potential workers.

Some people are plainly unaware of where opportunity lies, so jobs go unfilled. Often times, the question is whether the “job-seekers” and the “job-fillers” are communicating with each other.

So first, I checked with our client, Beyond.com, the premier Career Network focused on helping people grow and succeed professionally, to determine which industries offered the most job opportunities. Beyond.com advised that, based on its most recent survey, the two industries that show the most interesting growth signs are: IT and Healthcare. For starters, I thought my blog would be one of the communications channel for this critical information! So here are some “hot stats” from Beyond.com on these two industries:

IT
• The Number of IT jobs posted at the end of 2011 increased by more than 117%.
• The top three technology job titles: JAVA Developers, Software Engineers, and .NET Developers.
• The cities with the most IT candidates currently are New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Healthcare
• The number of Healthcare jobs posted in the second half of 2011 grew significantly when compared to the first half.
• The cities with the most Healthcare opportunities: Houston, Cleveland and Baltimore.
• Top 3 job titles: Medical Assistants, Pharmacy Techs, and Registered Nurses.

Both categories are primarily seeking people with 1-3 years’ experience: early entries in the workforce.

So where should this news be publicized? How can “job-seekers” and “job-fillers” find each other?

In the days when I looked for a job, you used classified ads primarily. Today, in a digital environment, more and more people are turning to technology, such as social networks, e.g. LinkedIn or communities like Beyond.com’s Career Network. For example, both applicants and prospective employers go there to discuss specific needs. Then things start to happen.

It’s now more about engagement than putting your resume in the mail. And engagement, in the traditional sense of the word, is as important as digital.

Challenge your creativity! Traditional ways to engage still produce!

Out of work, I once decided that, instead of sending resumes, I would personally visit companies on my target list — without appointments — asking the receptionist for informational interviews. It resulted in two offers, whereas nothing was happening using the mails.