Today is our last guest post by Carol McClelland, author of Green Careers for Dummies. If you have questions for Carol, visit our blog anytime today and ask her your questons LIVE! Thank you Carol for all your great widom and advice.

After gaining a basic understanding of your target green industry through online research, it’s time to reach out to your contacts. The people who are doing work in your target industry are your best source for up-to-date trends and industry information with a local/regional emphasis.
 
Whether you reach out to people in person or through online social networking methods, remember to keep your focus on your exploration of your target industry during the initial phases of your research. In other words, your goal is not to search out job openings at this point in your journey. Your job is to connect with people who can help you discover as much as you can about your target industry.
 
(1) Define your current research goal.
·         When you first begin your focus will be on understanding the industry in general.

·         Then your need for information becomes more specific as you begin to refine  

           your green career goal based on the information you are gathering.

·         As you build a picture of your target career, focus your networking           

          conversations on the topics where you have gaps in your own knowledge.

·         Eventually your research focus will shift to identifying companies that hire

          people with your expertise.
 
(2) Plan ahead. Review what you know about your contact. What can you discern about their background and work history that is relevant to your research goals? What questions can you ask to tap into their knowledge and experience?
 
(3) Know how you are going to describe your green career aspiration. Be as clear and concise as possible. If you aren’t completely clear yet, focus on the elements of your career goal that you are clear about.
 
(4) Be specific when stating your requests. As you ask your contact for information, referrals, and resources, state your need as precisely as you can. Rather than saying, do you know where I could network with others interested in green/sustainable business? Craft a specific question, such as, I’ve been researching various professional associations that meet locally. I’ve identify X and Y. Are you familiar with any other professional associations in this industry area that meet in our area? If they don’t know of anything, ask if they know someone who might.  
 
(5) Focus on building and strengthening your relationship with your contact. Don’t think of your contact meetings as a one time event. Establish ways to build an ongoing relationship.
 
(6) Keep your contacts informed of your progress and direction. Remember, your contacts are very likely to be the people who will point you to job openings that will fit your needs. To make sure you stay in their minds, be sure to be in touch with your contacts on a regular basis with updates of your progress. If you change or refine your direction, be sure to let all of your contacts know so they will know what resources, referrals, and job openings will be best for you.
 
 
 

The Conference Board, a Washington D.C. research group just recently released some very alarming data on job satisfaction in the U.S. The survey reveals that only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their work, down from 49% in 2008.

One would automatically jump to the conclusion that job dissatisfaction is directly related to the recession and current economic climate. This economy certainly contributes to unhappiness at work, but the survey points to bigger issues:

§  Workers do not consider their work interesting.

§  Incomes have not kept up with inflation.

§  Rising costs of health insurance eat into take home pay.

So is this a bad thing, if workers are unhappy? Well actually it is for corporations.

Unhappy workers are less creative and they stifle innovation. They are also less likely to foster a team environment at work and mentor younger works, who really need their support and guidance.

To read the complete article, go to:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34691428/ns/business-careers/

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January’s Recruiter Confidence Index from Execunet shows that a growing number of companies are adding executive jobs and that fewer firms are eliminating them The monthly study confirms that the economic recovery is beginning to take hold. In January, 64% of companies said they are “confident” or “very confident” that the executive job market will improve in the next six months.

This Index, which is published monthly by Execunet, survey’s executive search firms and is a key indicator in the executive job market.

To learn more about Exeunet or to read about the survey, go to www.execunet.com

Sunny Outlook for Solar Market

If you are looking for a job that might have some staying power, you might want to consider something in the U.S. solar market. According to a recent report by GTM Research, the U.S. is set to challenge Germany for world dominance in the solar market.

GTM Research estimates a 50 percent increase in the next two years in solar-related projects in this country that could create 50,000 new jobs. These projects would generate new solar power resources for 1.5 million homes.

Despite the downturn in the economy, solar projects increased to a record level in 2009, increasing predictions that this sector is a growth market. Both home- and commercial-site projects are sparking this growth.

Not surprisingly, California is the leading state in generating new solar-project businesses and jobs. But, Massachusetts is not that far behind. Massachusetts, along with Arizona, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Nevada, make up a strong second tier of states that have emerged in this field.

If you are interested in reading more about the GTM Research report, visit http://ow.ly/M2M1.

Cleantech Industry Predictions

The cleantech industry is definitely the wave of the future. More business, more investment, and more jobs are likely to sprout from this industry as the country and the world look toward a more environmentally conscious way to do business in the future.

While the economy is still bumpy, and gains in 2010 are expected to be slow, the cleantech industry has some high hopes. Chief among them are investment opportunities. Recently, I read an article by Nicholas Parker, executive chairman of Cleantech Group, about what to expect from this sector in the coming year.

Among his predictions, Parker suggests that global investments, including venture capital funding, will continue to increase in 2010, and top the levels of 2009, which was a good year in this area. He sees the number of investors, nationally and globally, to continue to increase.

The building of clean economies is expected to be the next “space race,” as countless companies begin to compete for the investments in this field. Continued political support for cleantech industries also is expected to help increase business and create new jobs.

Of course, nothing is ever perfect. And, there are predictions of expansion in the cleantech industries creating an increased demand in metals, oil, and food, causing price hikes in these areas. Also, an increase in proposals for land- and ocean-based wind and solar farms might generate public and political opposition from local residents, and even environmentalists, that could slow or kill these projects.

For the complete report, visit http://ow.ly/KJmn.

Where are the jobs going to be in 2010?

Last year was a really difficult year as so many individuals lost their jobs and as industries retrenched. I saw the economy start to shift in November with more and more of my clients getting interviews in November and December.

So what does 2010 look like for employment growth? Some early signs suggest that companies are hiring again. Boston Business Journal did a great job of covering this topic in a recent issue. I have summarized some of the key points here from their articles.

Sectors that show growth in 2009 and that will most likely continue in 2010 include:

§  Health Care

§  Education

§  Accommodation and Food Services

§  Information Technology

§  Professional, Scientific, and Business Services

Sectors that are still in decline include:

§  Leisure and Hospitality

§  Arts and Entertainment

§  Financial Services

§  Government

§  Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing

It appears that the IT sector is really driving the growth in Massachusetts as companies can no longer afford to delay spending and they will have to replace systems that are outdated.  An uptake in semiconductor sales back up this prediction.

Sources: 

Boston Business Journal January 1-7

Executive Office of Workforce Development

Are you thinking about reinventing due to changes in your industry or the general economic situation? If so, you might want to consider looking at the Federal Government.

The Federal Government is seeking to fill about 275,000 positions in the next three years.

If you are interested in learning more about the areas that have the largest growth potential, go to:

http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/articles/17529-10-government-careers-that-earn-70k?utm_source=nlet&utm_content=gc_r1_20090924_70k

Businesses stop slashing IT budgets-Finally some good news

After many months of horrible economic news, we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.  The WSJ reported late last week that many businesses across the US have stopping slashing their IT budgets, which is certainly going to have an positive impact on firms such as IBM, HP and CISCO.

Does this mean a big uptake in spending and hiring? Probably not, but it does mean that the “cutting” has stopped and perhaps we are turning the corner. The WSJ article states that firms probably won’t boost their budgets again until 2010.

To read the entire article, go to:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124225721337517263.html

Federal Jobs Are Available in Numbers

With the private sector in crisis, if you are thinking about reinventing your career, you might want to look at the Federal Government for job opportunities.

You can search for jobs by state at:

www.usajobs.com

For additional information on how to apply for government jobs, this is a good podcast to listen to:

http://turnerjo.typepad.com/job_search_guy_blog/2009/02/have-you-thought-about-working-for-the-federal-government.html

Every day, I get the same question from clients. How can I reinvent and which industries are growing? JobBait’s Executive Job Market Report provides very detailed information on new job and new industry growth per sector. Click here to see what is happening in your state.

http://jobbait.com/r/#Trends

With the current economic trials and tribulations, if you are thinking of changing careers, you might want to consider the FBI. The FBI is currently seeking to hire over 2100 support personnel and over 800 special agents. 

 To learn more about the FBI hiring blitz, follow this link:

http://www.fbi.gov/inside/archive/inside011408.htm

Fasting Growing Occupations

I have been blogging the last few days about fields/industries that are growing-nursing and teaching (math and science jobs). I have gotten emails from clients asking for more information about fields they can look into.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes great data on growing professions from 2006-2016. Here is the link for more info:

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t06.htm

Want a New Career???? Teach Science or Math

I recently blogged about nursing as a potential career options for those looking to reinvent their careers. Another field that is in desperate need of new talent is science teachers. Over the next decade, schools will need close to 200,000 or more new teachers in science or math. They are needed due to retirement, overcrowded classrooms or people teaching out of their field.

The Knowles Science teaching Foundation offers fellowships for teachers in these fields.

To read about two individuals who have reinvented themselves as teachers, read this article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1229/p02s01-usgn.html

For information on the scholarships, visit the KSTF at:

http://www.kstf.org/

What do the following have in common?

§         Physical Therapist

§         Registered Nurse

§         Biomedical Equipment Technician

§         Health policy specialist

§         Fundraiser

All of them are hot fields in demand according to US News latest report. Click here for more information:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009.html

More good news! The outlook for the executive end of the employment market in 2009 is beginning to show signs of improvement.  ExecuNet’s Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI), which hit an all-time low in November, climbed in December, as executive search firms begin to target late 2009 as a period of in creased optimism and confidence about employment.

The Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI) is based on a monthly survey of executive search firms, is conducted by ExecuNet (www.execunet.com) and aims to forecast executive job growth. Execunet is career and recruiting network where senior level executives connect to share business challenges, solutions and professional opportunities. Execunet offers fantastic tools and resources for the executive job market and I highly recommend it.

To read more about the RCI or to learn about Execunet’s services, please visit:

www.execunet.com

Well here is some good news during the holiday season-the ranks of the employed rose in eastern Massachusetts!!!!!

According to recent figures from the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the Greater Boston area saw 3,100 workers show up at new jobs in October and November. The data in this survey covers a region from the New Hampshire border and incorporates employment for Framingham, Mass.

Let’s hope this good news continues….

During these difficult economic times and continued layoffs, it is important to consider your options with respect to severance packages, should the pink slip arrive on your desk.

If you did not negotiate a severance package as part of your total compensation package on the hiring end, that does not mean it is too late to negotiate. But there is homework to do and you have to know what you are negotiating for. Here are some helpful tips:

Do Your Research:

Before you even attempt to negotiate with your management, you need to do your homework. In any negotiation, preparation is key to success. Here are a few things to try to sleuth out:

·        Has your company negotiated severance packages in the past?

·        What terms have they agreed to with other executives?

·        Why are you and others being laid off? Are the dismissals based on company finances and “economic times”, or based on your performance?

·        How many others were laid off?

·        What is important to you in this negotiation?

·        What do you think will be on your employer’s agenda?

Severance Checklist:

I have listed below some points to consider when approaching your management to negotiate your severance benefits.

·        Make sure you are getting paid for all your accrued benefits (personal and vacation days).

·        Ask for outplacement services for several months or longer.

·        Ask to be able to choose your outplacement provider/career coach yourself

·        Ask for a continuation of benefits coverage until the severance ends.

·        Ensure you get your bonus(es) that are due to you.

·        Ask for access to office space and administrative support to look for a job during the severance period.

·        Ask for a letter of reference signed by a senior executive.

Take time to think and get advice:

The last points to remember are that you should never sign any package on the spot. Take time to review what the company is offering and seek out professional advice from an employment lawyer. Generally, once you accept a severance package, you must sign a waiver to release the company from any further claims.

Finally some GOOD news!!!

According to a new survey by Insight Performance Inc. of Dedham, 63 percent of small and mid-size companies in New England intend to raise salaries in 2009. This poll sampled a broad cross-section of industries included financial services, high-tech, manufacturing and non-profit.

Of interest as well is that 77% of New England firms also have no plans to downsize, according to the survey.

The Boston Globe has ranked the top 100 employers in the state. If you are interested in learning more about these employers and why they are an ideal place to work, visit:

http://www.boston.com/jobs/topworkplaces/

Are you interested in the green sector for employment opportunities? Maybe you should consider solar-it is hot!

I read a very interesting article in Fortune this month on the solar energy sector. Here are a few interesting things I learned from the article:

· Even though solar companies have seen their stock prices decline, there is a general consensus that the industry is here to stay and flourish. Solar electric energy is going mainstream as evidenced by solar panels on top of residential rooftops, retail stores such as Wal Mart and on warehouses. Solar installations use photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight into electricity.

· Even though PV solar on average is still twice as expensive to produce as regular electricity, efficiency is increasing and prices are coming down. Some experts think that in a few years solar power will equal the price of energy generated by the grid.

· Most residential solar installations still cost between $20,000 to $30,000.

· The worldwide market for solar energy roughly doubled last year to $33 billion. Analysts expect revenues to grown around 33% a year for the foreseeable future.

· Germany, Japan and Spain rank as the top markets for solar power. Nations coming on fast are the U.S. and China.

· There are a few favorite companies, that are really poised for growth:

o First Solar of Tempe Arizona

o Sunpower of San Jose

o SunTech Power of Wuxi, China

To follow trends and read more about this sector, go to:

http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/29/new-solar-technology-for-the-home-market/