Manpower Report Names top 5 Strongest Job Markets

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Manpower, a leading staffing services organization, released its report on the top 5 strongest job markets in the US.  This year, with unemployment at very high levels, it is even more critical than ever to know where the jobs are.  The top 5 markets are: No. 1 Strongest Job Market: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. No. 2 Strongest Job Market: San Antonio, TX  No. 3 Strongest Job Market: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, S.C. No. 4 Strongest Job Market: El Paso, Texas No. 5 Strongest Job Market: Raleigh-Cary, N.C. For the details on each market including information on what sectors and individual organizations are hiring in each of these metro areas, click here to read the full report.

An Attractive Market to Consider

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If you’re a recent graduate and considering a move to a different market to kick off your new career, consider South Florida.  Now I know what you’re saying.  Yes, South Florida has been one of the hardest hit markets in the US.  But according to an article from Bloomberg, the excessive build up of luxury condo towers in the vibrant, multicultural gateway that is Miami – the build up of inventory that was in part to blame for the collapse of that metro market – has had an unexpected consequence.  It seems that the owners of those lavish, extravagant (but empty) towers are getting tired of taking a beating.  Knowing they will not sell them anytime soon, many have taken to renting these beautiful, often ocean-view apartments at fairly affordable rates.  As a result, the downtown area of Miami is experiencing a rebirth.  Whole communities of renters have reinvigorated the neighborhoods there and the tropical lifestyle one can lead there is absolutley wonderful.  I know because I have been spending time in the Miami metro area since 1975.  It is a paradisical place to spend time.  Why not consider renting a luxury condo unit and working amidst the azure waters of a tropical paradise?

Good Resource for Job Seekers

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While we’re still in a deep hole in terms of the huge numbers of jobs lost during the recession that began in 2008, we are definitely seeing unmistakable signs that the job losses have ceased.  In fact, for the last two months, the US economy has added jobs.  But we still have lots of lost ground to cover if we’re to simply return to pre-recessionary levels of employment.  For students of the Allen School Online who may be nearing the end of their course of study, thoughts are turning to where the jobs are in this very difficult environment.  To help, I have uncovered a very useful resource that I want to share with our users.  It’s called the Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010-2011.  It is a website maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For hundreds of different types of jobs—such as teacher, lawyer, and nurse—the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you:
  • the training and education needed
  • earnings
  • expected job prospects
  • what workers do on the job
  • working conditions
In addition, the Handbook gives you job search tips, links to information about the job market in each State, and more. You can also view frequently asked questions about the Handbook. Have a look around this useful site for good, up-to-date info on ways you can supercharge your job search.

Best Affordable Suburbs in the US

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Finishing studies and embarking on a new career is often accompanied by a move to a new city where one hopes to find good availability of jobs in the field they’ve chosen.  However, beyond the availability of work, there are many other considerations to be made about where to live.  In year’s past, many of the “Best Places to Live” lists published by numerous magazines were focused on such things as access to luxury amenities; golf courses, nice restaurants, etc.  Today, the calcuations are much more focused upon things like affordability and quality of life issues like schools and crime rates.  This is why the recent “Best Affordable Suburbs in America 2010” article published in Business Week caught my eye.  Follow past the jump to read the article. Continue reading…

Surge in New US Medical Schools is a Positive Indicator

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The New York Times reported over the weekend on an imminent surge in new medical schools to open in the US this year.  From that article:
“The proliferation of new schools is also a market response to a rare convergence of forces: a growing population; the aging of the health-conscious baby-boom generation; the impending retirement of, by some counts, as many as a third of current doctors; and the expectation that, the present political climate notwithstanding, changes in health care policy will eventually bring a tide of newly insured patients into the American health care system. If all the schools being proposed actually opened, they would amount to an 18 percent increase in the 131 medical schools across the country.”
For some perspective on the significance of this development, follow me past the jump. Continue reading…

Top 10 Places to Get Ahead

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Forbes Magazine did some interesting research on what areas of the US are best positioned for growth.  They compiled a list of the top 10 locations for jobs, income growth and quality of life.  With so many major cities taking a beating in this near-depression, the landscape has changed dramatically in terms of where the best prospects are for job seekers.  Cities that used to be known for excellent prospects like San Francisco, San Jose, Atlanta and others are no longer at the top of the list.  Many of the cities and towns on Forbes’ new list are not even places you may have heard of.  If you’re about to finish studies and are looking for a great place to live and work, check this list out here.

Great News If You Want A Job In Health Care…

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newspaperGreat news for health care job seekers: According to an article written in  The New York Times, health care employment has increased during the recession, while employment as a whole has declined. The article highlights that regardless of how the current health care reform ends up, industry jobs will likely remain abundant due to the aging population and technological advances in medicine. To access the entire article, click here.

15 Ways to Blow Your Job Interview

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interviewdoThis is an exceptionally funny look at some of the really stupid things people do or say at job interviews.  Culled from professional recruiters, these are all things that actually happened and that should be avoided at all costs if you’re lucky enough to land an interview in this tough employment environment.

Jobs Disappearing (But Not in Healthcare)

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closedAn interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal discusses the likely permanent loss of jobs during the Great Recession of 2009.  Obviously, fields closely related to the credit and housing bubbles at the root of the current recession – mortgage brokerages, financial industry, home building etc. – have shed jobs which may never return.  Also, jobs in industries that can be automated by ongoing developments in IT – secretarial, mailroom, etc. – are also probably gone for good.   Add to this mix, the increasing practice of offshoring tech-enabled jobs to emerging, low-cost labor markets like China and India and it becomes apparent that it may take years for the US to return to employment levels seen pre-recession in 2006.  What was the one bright spot according to the US Labor Department?  Jobs in the healthcare field.  Training for service in the healthcare field puts you at the forefront of the career market for the next decade.  Congratulations!

Avoid the Top 10 Job Interview Blunders

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job-interviewFortune Magazine and CNN Money recently put together a list of the top 10 blunders, screw-ups, missteps and SNAFUs made by candidates at employment interviews.   The currently high  unemployment rate has made it even more difficult than usual to land a job with about six job seekers for every available position.  In normal economic times, there are about 2-3 seekers for every offered job.  The list below the fold, adapted from the Fortune magazine list, was compiled by hiring managers from companies across a wide range of industry sectors.  These are the folks who see hundreds of candidates each week.  They see all kinds of applicants; the good, the bad and the ugly.  Take their advice if you’re currently seeking gainful employment. Continue reading…