Is Our Government Adding to the Nursing Labor Shortage?

I tend to stay away from political views, especially those I know little about. However, this one could use some attention. While jobs in certain industries have taken a hit as of late, the nursing and health care industries have been booming with growth. So much growth, that there is a shortage of nurses not only locally in Central Florida, but countrywide!

With a growing number of immigrants attending career education centers and attempting to enter the workforce, the government is holding them back. Rather than attempt to explain it, I will point you to an article that breaks it down for you.

Visa Changes: A Shot in the Arm for Nurse Staffing - Courtesy of the ERE.

After taking a look at the article I would love to hear your thoughts on the situation, to both inform myself of the situation and to also let our community know of any issues surrounding this industry that would prove to be beneficial to furthering your nursing career in Orlando.

If you are looking for a nursing position, please develop a MedCom profile and start job searching at HealthCareerWeb.com. It is great not only for the extensive amount of healthcare jobs and careers, but also for its resources for job seekers and the ability to connect with employers.

-Greg Rollett

How To Go To College on a Shoe String

For those of you that are graduating high school in the next few weeks, you are probably more focused on twisting your tassel on your cap and graduation parties than on college finances. When the dust settles and the party settles, college and their big bills will still be there, ready to greet you at the front door of your dorm room.

Fortunately there is help!

A new book from Atlantic Publishing titled, "How to Go To College on a Shoe String," show students and parents alike some great tips on saving for and looking for ways to save during the 4-6 year life changing experience.

What's even better (and cooler I might add) is the fact that they decided to ask me for some advice on interviewing!

If you are looking for ways to beat the struggle and keep you out of debt, go check out "How to go to College on a Shoe String." The tips are very noteworthy and you will get your money back and then some, by applying even a few of the methods the book showcases.

Question of the day: For those going off to college this summer or fall, what is the biggest expense you foresee for you and your family?

Reader Reply: Applying Online Just Isn't the Same

Yesterday I talked about the rising gas prices and how that is affecting the way people are looking for jobs. I received a few e-mails yesterday stating that this was true and they are doing much of their homework online.

One reader had a great point, one that rings a bell with a lot of job seekers.

when you fill something out on line you feel that you don't get the same treatment as if you went in person to fill out the application. Sometimes there are no responses back of what is taking place.

When filling out applications online you are never really sure if a hiring manager will read your application, skim your resume or even receive your response. Due to the ease of applying online and the wonders of the copy / paste function, you can apply to more jobs in a relatively short period of time. This may seem like a great concept. However, if every job seeker can do the same thing, it becomes taxing on the recruiters who have to look at hundreds of resumes from job seekers who are applying to anything and everything they see on a job board.

Most times, you don't even get a follow-up email or call. There is just silence.

The most dangerous thing about this type of non-interaction is that you do not know why you didn't get the call.

Was it your resume?
Your work history?
A reference?
Your e-mail address?

While the rising gas prices may be forcing you to job shop inside, remember to pay attention to details, apply by the company's rules and cater to their job.

Your cover letter should be company specific. Your objective should NOT be general. Tell the employer WHAT you are looking to do or give a brief sentence on who you are. No one likes auto-responses, they love personalization. The little things and the details will pay off more often than mass applying.

Job hunting online is not the same as filling in an application in person. Your job is to make it as personal as possible and to stand out from the crowd, while playing by the rules and then following up after you apply.

Question of the day! What do you NOT like about Online Job Applications?

-Greg Rollett

photo by arthit

Are gas prices affecting the way you search for jobs?

Gas isn’t cheap here in Central Florida. That might be an understatement.

A cool little site called FuelMeUp is showing the cheapest gas prices around. Within a 20-mile radius of Orlando, FL, I found the cheapest gas to be $3.49. That is not exciting for job seekers who are already on a financial crunch.

If you are one of the 5% of Central Floridians who are un-employed, you can ill afford to be driving around from business to business looking for a new job.

Are employers aware of this?

As more and more of the job hunt moves online to job boards, social networks and even different demographics start looking for employment, employers need to realize that coming in just to fill out an application, with no certainty of even an interview, is becoming out of the question.

Yet, I still see many employers using this method as the only way to apply!

With trends pointing towards more vacant jobs being advertised online, it would seem obvious that a response method would be email or an online application. This not only saves time for the job seeker but also a trip to your location.

A new Harris Interactive study shows that 33% of Americans are more likely to shop online, than drive to physical locations due to the gas spike. I imagine that the numbers of job seekers who prefer to apply online rather that in person are even higher.

To get some better numbers and to get a feel of how gas prices are affecting Orlando and Central Florida, please leave a comment to let us know about your situation.

-Greg Rollett

Work Life Balance in Your Healthcare Career

photo by evansent

As a patient, would you rather be operated on by a doctor you know who is on the back end of a 48 hour shift, or even worse, paged at 4am to come into the hospital to check you out;

or

Get a fresh doctor, whom you haven't met, but is clear headed, stress free and well rested.

This is a question that is being raised by younger health care professionals that are looking to create work-life balance. They are attempting to get away from the 24/7 on call lifestyle that some healthcare positions call for.

Career advice expert Lindsey Pollak says:

...this is an important step that all professions and career-minded people should watch with interest. We are seeing flexibility and change take place in some of the most traditional industries — finance (with flexible work programs), law (with the suggestion of eradicating the billable hour) and now medicine. We are clearly in the midst of a huge shift in the way we work and the way we build careers. Exciting, huh?

The Wall Street Journal covered this issue in their Health Blog yesterday. Check out the article, "As Doctors Get a Life, Strains Show."

To get involved in this discussion, head on over to the Health Career Web Forums. While you're hanging out, create a profile on MedCom and start talking with others in the Orlando Health Care industry to get a sense of what they are going through as nurses, physicians, physician assistants and other various health care jobs.

What do you think? Work-life balance or give yourself to your job 24/7?

-Greg Rollett

Are Wiser Workers Technologically Challenged?

photo by Pim Rupert

Apparently they are not! The AARP in conjunction with Focalyst have released the 2008 version of “How Well Do You Know Boomers? Counting Down the Top 10 Boomer Myths.”

With more and more boomers staying in the workforce or re-entering after a brief retirement, they are creating a new wave of workers. One that isn't defined by stereotypes, but from that of experience and even necessity. One of the myths states that all boomers are wealthy. While they are the richest generation in history, over 1/4 of this demographic have no savings or investments.

Other highlight include:

Myth #10 - Boomers are retiring early

Contrary to much of the attention given to the first Boomers turning 62 this year and being eligible to take Social Security benefits early. In reality very few Boomers are planning to stop working entirely when they reach retirement age – only 11%.

Myth #3 - Boomers are technologically challenged

Contrary to many assumptions, Boomers were in the workforce during the evolution of computers, e-mail and the Internet, and were the first to understand the value of technology. In fact, 82% of Boomers use the internet and their online activities extend beyond email to instant messaging, downloading music or movies, financial transactions and online gaming.

Myth #1 - Boomers are all the same

The media often portray the members of the baby boom generation as a monolith – 77 million people thinking, acting, behaving and buying all in the same way. Nothing could be further from the truth. More life events occur between the ages of 50-65 than in any other time in a person’s life, with the typical Boomer experiencing an average of two major life events around career, family, finance or health each year. These life events can have a major impact on attitudes, life goals and consumer behavior. It is a mistake to think of this cohort as all alike, and it is not all about age. Recognizing the differences among Boomers and understanding the truths behind the myths can help marketers craft products, strategies and messages that will resonate with this generation.

To see the rest of the AARP and Focalyst's findings, please check out the whole report.

If you are a boomer looking for resources, or better yet, looking for a job, head on over to WiserWorker.com, a site designed just for you! I am sure you will find what you need. If you have any questions about the site at all, please send a quick e-mail my way or leave it in the comments!

-Greg Rollett

10 Years From Now - A Graduate's Guide to Interviewing

photo by Stitch

Florida is already feeling the heat wave that the impending summer brings. Maybe it also has to do with the fact that UCF is just about wrapped up with finals and the public schools are starting to get summer vacation jitters around 4th period!

With the end of each school year, we get a plethora of graduates who are gearing up to enter the work force. These graduates have put in their time studying, making the grade and gearing up for the 'real world.'

You new graduates are getting ready to make a major change in your lifestyle. One that went from quick transition to quick transition to now "life long." (Well, not always but a life long career).

One question that always comes your way in an interview is; "where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

The problem with this question for millennials and recent graduates is that we (I am included in this group) have never thought of our lives in increments of 10 years. We have lived in 3-5 year spurts ever since Middle School. Our transitions happen when we graduate into the next level. When you are a senior in high school and you get the question of what do you plan to do next, your answer may be; "going to college for a few years and then who knows!"

There are exceptions to this rule, but for the majority we have never thought long term career status. Most of the jobs we help were summer, part-time, internship or a job I did while in college.

So my task for you is when speaking to a hiring manager and you are popped with that question, be honest and tell the manager that you have been brought up in a system that allows for change every 3-5 years.

Sam Davidson from Employee Evolution says it like this:

Because of the educational system we grew up in, we were taught how to go from novice to expert in four years. The daunting hallways of 9th grade became friendly confines by senior year. And that gigantic quad our freshman year of college had seemingly shrunk by the time we got our degree. So, we’ve gotten pretty good at learning the ropes and playing the game in the amount of time between Olympics.

Most of us can't see past Friday night, and that's okay. Be honest with the interviewing manager and they will appreciate your outlook.

And remember that at the end of the day, this is just one question in a long hiring process. Write a killer resume, make a superb first impression and answer questions with confidence and landing your first post graduation "real job" will become a reality.

Happy hunting Orlando!

-Greg Rollett

How AOL and Hotmail Ruined Your Chances of Getting a Job

Well, let's not go that far. They started the trend of having "cute" screen names and e-mail addresses but it is ultimately you that has to choose one that fits you and your personality.

The reason I'd like to bring up e-mail addresses is that employers bring it up to me when they are trying to get in touch with candidates who have applied for their jobs.

There are a few problems with a non-professional e-mail address. Let me address them here:

1. Shows un-professionalism
2. E-mails can get blocked if they have terms that are blocked by company firewalls
3. They can use them to find your information online including Myspace, Facebook, YouTube and others
4. They do not coincide with your name, so they may get lost in the HR shuffle.
5. No personal branding

When talking with a few companies at last week's Spring Diversity Job Fair, I was listening to them talk about receiving some great applicants with disastrous e-mail addresses. The downfall is that results in a no-hire for someone who is qualified for that position.

The great thing is that this is an easy problem to fix. Head on over to your favorite free email client, Yahoo, HotMail, GMail, etc and create a new email address, one that even you can remember:

FirstNameLastName@email.com
First.Last@email.com
Last.First@email.com

One last tip of caution is to be careful when sending emails from a company email server. They can spy on your emails and see what you are sending out. I have received a few complaints from Managers and CEO's about their employees sending out emails looking for new positions.

Solution, when you're on company time and property, stay away from the job hunt.

Remember, a personally branded email address is only one tool in your job seeking arsenal. Your resume must look sharp and you need to be applying for jobs that you qualify for, both by location and by skill set.

Happy hunting Orlando!

Complete Orlando Industry Outlook Series

Below is the complete series from the Orlando Industry Outlook Series we finished early last week. Just click on the big picture and you will be redirected to a live site, similiar to the Virtual Job Fair landing page. From there just click on an industry and off you go!


*If you would like a job in Orlando or Central Florida in one of the below careers, please contact the companies directly or leave a comment and we will get you info asap.

*If you have a job in one of these industries, please leave a comment as well to help job seekers see what your position entails day-to-day, the good and the bads.

-Greg Rollett

Hiring in a Bad Economy

photo by Bob Jagendorf

The Orlando and Central Florida economy isn’t what it was a year or two ago. But neither are gas prices. These two factors, however, do not give you a reason to not grow your business, client base and employees who are going to help your company grow and prosper.

One of the age-old adages, Buy low – sell high is taking place right now. Unemployment is slowly rising, in Florida we are just above 5%. This means there are very qualified candidates trolling through print publications and online job boards at this very minute looking for opportunities to become part of a growing team. They may even be willing to do it for a lower cost than before.

If your company is not advertising your positions, or worse, you are not trying to expand and grow your business, you are losing out on your opportunity cost (not just a term they throw around in college economics class).

If one great new sales person can come in and continually sell new business, is that something that will help your bottom line? You bet it is!

If one factory worker can double productivity and get more trucks loaded to get more of your product into stores, would that be beneficial. You bet it is!

By not advertising and putting yourself into the public’s eye, you are not only missing out on top job seekers in the Orlando area, but you may be giving them away to your competition who isn’t afraid to spend a few bucks for an ad to get a top producer. In 2001, K-Mart cut back on its advertising to the public and not only lost the income that advertising drives but also suffered a sales loss of 5% in one month. By late fall the company had lost far more in sales than it had saved in marketing expenses.

What’s also great about recruitment advertising is the branding effect that it has on your company. With display ads in print, the SEO effects of job boards and the consistency of your message you are essentially relaying the theme that your company is out there to serve its customers and the local Orlando market. You are showing that you are continuing to grow in one of the country’s largest growing markets (Orlando, FL).

So before you start thinking that business is not where it should be, think about how you can make your office a more productive work place. I bet that includes your staff.

What is the opportunity cost of not hiring one more top seller?

*Remember that your customers and potential customer do not stop buying during a recession, they just become more cautious of what they buy and who they buy it from. When your advertising decreases, so do your sales. So much for cutting back those advertising dollars.*

When job seekers are looking for jobs they are looking for a company that is growing and going to be in business year in and year out. By advertising you are showing the stability that a thriving company has and prove to the job market that you are an option worth pursuing. As the economy turns around, you will already be in the lead and your competitors will be playing catch-up not only in sales, but with the leftovers of the job hunt. And you don’t want the leftovers; you want the cream of the crop!

Employers sound off in the comments! The floor is yours.

Greg Rollett

Orlando Getting U There Job Fair Recap

Hey Orlando! Another Friday is upon us and for the 1,700+ job seekers and students that visited us at the Orlando Employment Guide's Getting U There Job Fair yesterday, potential is in the air. Everyone was fighting the crowds to talk to one of the 65+ employers and recruiting managers in attendance. Resumes shifted hands and applications were filled out. Handshakes were made and contact information swapped.

Over all the day was great for all parties. The students got a first hand look at how real companies recruit and view their skills and availability and the Orlando job seekers had an opportunity to make a first impression that would turn into a follow-up call or initial interview.

This event made it clear that making a first impression is essential. Have a neat and professional appearance, matched with a strong outlook and positive attitude can make all the difference. I personally witnessed students from the Life Skills Center get hired on the spot based on their initial conversations and approach with the HR professionals.

If you were at the event and have anything to say, pictures to post, rants or even complaints, we welcome your voice. It is important to us that we make the events as great as possible and that takes feedback from our local community of job seekers, employers, paper readers and website viewers. Let us know how to better serve the Orlando and Central Florida community.

The comments section is open for you to be heard!

Check out a view from the South Entrance:

Orlando Job Seeker Training Series - Class is in Session

This Thursday at the Getting U There Career Fair, we will be offering 2 classes to help job seekers in their journey to find a career path that suits them. The classes will be in the Amway Arena Concourse and feature 2 distinct and important topics.

10:30 a.m. - Job Fair Survival Tactics
The first session is a how-to for job seekers as they wonder around a job fair. We will cover topics including dress, resumes, demeanor, approach and the art of the follow up. The session will last for 15 minutes to ensure the Orlando job seekers optimal time to put the topics into practice at the job fair.

11:00 a.m. - Using Social Media when Looking for a Job
The second session of the day will focus on how the internet has changed the way we look for jobs, how employers are finding candidates, how social networks have changed the background check and why YouTube can be used to help get you a job. The session will last 25 minutes and will be followed by an open Q and A session.

Everyone at the job fair is welcome to stop by, ask questions and participate in these talks. We hope that they are helpful in your quest for a great new job that will make the summer even hotter here in Orlando and Central Florida.

If you have any questions about either of the sessions, please leave them in the comments and we will get back to you asap. You can also find out more at the main registration table when you walk into the Amway Arena.

For a full recap of what's happening with the job fair, please click here.

See you Thursday Orlando!

Greg Rollett

Keiser University Presents the Medical and Health Services Managers Industry Outlook

The final piece to the puzzle concludes with the Orlando Industry Outlook for Medical and Health Services Managers. This exciting career with great pay and benefits has been brought to you by Keiser University and the Employment Guide To Careers. To get your copy and to meet with Orlando's best recruiters, hiring managers and education centers, please visit us at the Getting U There Diversity Career Fair this Thursday, April 17th at the Amway Arena. After this article we will be back to our regular posting schedule on Job Seeking in Orlando and Central Florida. If you have a topic idea, wish to guest post or need help with a certain factor, please email us at greg.rollett@employmentguide.com. Thanks and enjoy!

Nature of the Work
Health care is a business and, like every business, it needs good management to keep it running smoothly. Medical and health services managers also referred to as health care executives or health care administrators, plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. These workers are either specialists in charge of a specific clinical department or generalists who manage an entire facility or system.

The structure and financing of health care are changing rapidly. Future medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with the integration of health care delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care. They will be called on to improve efficiency in health care facilities and the quality of the care provided.

Large facilities usually have several assistant administrators who aid the top administrator and handle daily decisions. Assistant administrators direct activities in clinical areas such as nursing, surgery, therapy, medical records, or health information.

In smaller facilities, top administrators handle more of the details of daily operations. For example, many nursing home administrators manage personnel, finances, facility operations, and admissions while also providing resident care.

Clinical managers have training or experience in a specific clinical area and, accordingly, have more specific responsibilities than do generalists. For example, directors of physical therapy are experienced physical therapists, and most health information and medical record administrators have a bachelor’s degree in health information or medical record administration. Clinical managers establish and implement policies, objectives, and procedures for their departments; evaluate personnel and work quality; develop reports and budgets; and coordinate activities with other managers.

Working Conditions
Some managers work in comfortable, private offices; others share space with other staff. Most medical and health services managers work long hours. Nursing care facilities and hospitals operate around the clock; administrators and managers be called at all hours to deal with problems. They also travel to attend meetings or inspect satellite facilities

Training and other Qualifications
A master’s degree in one of a number of fields is the standard credential for most generalist positions as a medical or health care manager. A bachelor’s degree is sometimes adequate for entry-level positions in smaller facilities and departments. In physicians’ offices and some other facilities, on-the-job experience may substitute for formal education.

Education and training
Medical and health services managers must be familiar with management principles and practices. A master’s degree in health services administration, long-term care administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, or business administration is the standard credential for most generalist positions in this field. However, a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller facilities, at the departmental level within health care organizations, and in health information management. Physicians’ offices and some other facilities hire those with on-the-job experience instead of formal education.

Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in health administration are offered by colleges; universities; and schools of public health, medicine, allied health, public administration, and business administration. In 2007, 72 schools had accredited programs leading to the master’s degree in health services administration, according to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Employment
Medical and health services managers held about 262,000 jobs in 2006. About 37 percent worked in hospitals, and another 22 percent worked in offices of physicians or in nursing and residential care facilities. Most of the remainder worked in home health care services, Federal Government health care facilities, outpatient care centers, insurance carriers, and community care facilities for the elderly.

Job Outlook
Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow faster than average. Job opportunities should be good, especially for applicants with work experience in the health care field and strong business management skills.

Employment Change
Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 16 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. The health care industry will continue to expand and diversify, requiring managers to help ensure smooth business operations.

Information courtesy of Bureau of Labor

Here is what you missed in the rest:

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Medical Assistants
Dental Assistants
Construction Equipment Operators
Financial Services Sales Agents
Video Game Testers
Network / System Administration

Computer Software Engineers
Armed Forces

Truck Drivers

National Truck Driver School Presents the Truck Driver's Orlando Industry Outlook

It's the start of a new week and the potential to take your career to a new destination, literally. Today we continue the Industry Outlook Series with a look into Truck Drivers in the Orlando and Central Florida area. This industry outlook has been sponsored by the National Truck Driver School. Enjoy Orlando!

Nature of the Work
Truck drivers are a constant presence on the Nation’s highways and interstates. They deliver everything from automobiles to canned food. Firms of all kinds rely on trucks to pick up and deliver goods because no other form of transportation can deliver goods door-to-door. Even though many goods travel at least part of their journey by ship, train, or airplane, almost everything is carried by trucks at some point. Before leaving the terminal or warehouse, truck drivers check the fuel level and oil in their trucks. They also inspect the trucks to make sure that the brakes, windshield wipers, and lights are working and that a fire extinguisher, flares, and other safety equipment are aboard and in working order. Drivers make sure their cargo is secure and adjust the mirrors so that both sides of the truck are visible from the driver’s seat. Drivers report equipment that is inoperable, missing, or loaded improperly to the dispatcher.

Working Conditions
Truck driving has become less physically demanding because most trucks now have more comfortable seats, better ventilation, and improved, ergonomically designed cabs. Although these changes make the work environment less taxing, driving for many hours at a stretch, loading and unloading cargo, and making many deliveries can be tiring. Local truck drivers, unlike long distance drivers, usually return home in the evening. Some self-employed long-distance truck drivers who own and operate their trucks spend most of the year away from home. Local truck drivers frequently work 50 or more hours a week. Drivers who handle food for chain grocery stores, produce markets, or bakeries typically work long hours—starting late at night or early in the morning. Although most drivers have regular routes, some have different routes each day. Many local truck drivers, particularly driver/sales workers, load and unload their own trucks. This requires considerable lifting, carrying, and walking each day.

Training and other Qualifications
State and Federal regulations govern the qualifications and standards for truck drivers. All drivers must comply with Federal regulations and any State regulations that are in excess of those Federal requirements. Truck drivers must have a driver’s license issued by the State in which they live, and most employers require a clean driving record. Drivers of trucks designed to carry 26,000 pounds or more—including most tractor-trailers, as well as bigger straight trucks—must obtain a commercial driver’s license. All truck drivers who operate trucks transporting hazardous materials must obtain a CDL, regardless of truck size. In order to receive the hazardous materials endorsement, a driver must be fingerprinted and submit to a criminal background check by the Transportation Security Administration. In many States, a regular driver’s license is sufficient for driving light trucks and vans. To qualify for a CDL, an applicant must have a clean driving record, pass a written test on rules and regulations, and demonstrate that they can operate a commercial truck safely. A national database permanently records all driving violations committed by those with a CDL. A State will check these records and deny a CDL to those who already have a license suspended or revoked in another State. Licensed drivers must accompany trainees until they get their own CDL. A person may not hold more than one license at a time and must surrender any other licenses when a CDL is issued.

Information on how to apply for a CDL may be obtained from State motor vehicle administrations. Many States allow those who are as young as 18 years old to drive trucks within their borders. To drive a commercial vehicle between States one must be at least 21 years of age, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations published by the U.S. Department of Transportation (U. S. DOT).

Job Outlook
Job opportunities should be favorable for truck drivers. In addition to growth in demand for truck drivers, numerous job openings will occur as experienced drivers leave this large occupation to transfer to other fields of work, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Jobs vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, the number of nights spent on the road, and quality of equipment. There may be competition for the jobs with the highest earnings and most favorable work schedules. There will be more competition for jobs with local carriers than for those with long-distance carriers because of the more desirable working conditions of local carriers. Job opportunities may vary from year to year since the output of the economy dictates the amount of freight to be moved. Companies tend to hire more drivers when the economy is strong and their services are in high demand. When the economy slows, employers hire fewer drivers or may lay off some drivers. Independent owner-operators are particularly vulnerable to slowdowns. Industries least likely to be affected by economic fluctuation, such as grocery stores, tend to be the most stable employers of truck drivers and driver/ sales workers.

information courtesy of Bureau of Labor.

This afternoon we will be back with the concluding industry from this series. For a recap, click on any of the below links:

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Medical Assistants
Dental Assistants
Construction Equipment Operators
Financial Services Sales Agents
Video Game Testers
Network / System Administration

Computer Software Engineers
Armed Forces

Getting U There Spring Career Fair - April 17th 2008

With all the hype surrounding this Orlando Job Fair, from blog posts to local articles and press, we are very excited to be getting into crunch time in the office. We promised a great event and we are ready to deliver. The Getting U There Diversity Job Fair is next Thursday, April 17th and will take place at the Amway Arena on Amelia in Downtown Orlando.

This event presents an amazing opportunity for you to showcase your skills, communication ability and first impression to over 75 employers in the Orlando and Central Florida area. All the time that you have spent preparing your resumes, securing your online brand and networking within the community can all culminate with a great job fair success story!

The Details

• When: April 17th, 2008
• Time: 10am - 2pm
• Where: Amway Arena 600 W. Amelia St.
• Who: Central Florida Community, Orange County Public Schools and Top Recruiters and Education Centers

The Companies: (as of Friday 3pm)

• Advanced Testing Company
• Advoserv
• Aflac
• Alpha Retail
• Amazing Pictures
• Americall
• Army
• Belhaven College
• Celebrity Resorts
• Central Florida College
• Century Security and Event Staffing
• Colonial Bank
• Connecticut School of Broadcasting
• Corestaff
• Cracker Barrel
• Crystal Springs Water
• Dental Career Training Academy
• DeVry University
• EA Sports
• Exon - Mobil Corporation
• Faneuil Inc
• FedEx Ground
• Florida Army National Guard
• Florida Highway Patrol
• Herzing College
• Hilton Grand Vacations Club
• Hubbard Construction Co.
• International Academy of Design and Technology
• Lowes Hotels at Universal Orlando
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Middleton Pest Control
• Mountain State University
• NASCAR Sports Grill
• National Hispanic Corporate Achievers
• National Training Inc.
• Nordstrom
• OC Supervisor of Elections
• Orange County Corrections
• Orlando Academy - School of Healthcare Careers
• Orlando Weekly
• Polytechnic Institute of America
• Ranger Construction
• Rock For Hunger
• Sky Resorts Management
• Southern Technical College
• Starwood Vacation Ownership
• Tempus Resorts
• The Krystal Company
• Troy University
• United States Air Force
• United States Marine Corp
• United States Navy
• UPS
• U.S. Probation
• Universal Studios
• Walt Disney World
• Waste Management
• Westgate Resorts
• Workforce Central Florida Career Track
• Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort

Pre-Registration:
If you are attending and would like great distribution of your resume, please send a Microsoft Word version of your resume to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com and we will get it into the hands of all employers at the Orlando Job Fair.

If you cannot attend the event due to prior obligations, you can also send your resume to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com to have your information spread as well.

The Video:
Check out the scene from our January Event!

The Map:

What About the Kids:
Yes Orange County Public Schools will be there, live in attendance. Don't worry the event is non-exclusive. Any and everyone who is looking for career advancement opportunities MUST be at this event.

What do I need to do to be a success?
Update your resume and have plenty handy. There will be in upwards of 80 companies, that's a lot of resumes!
Dress for success! No jeans, flip flops, b-ball jerseys, short skirts or bathing suits. Its a Spring Career Fair - Not Spring Break!
Bring a smile and a firm handshake. Noting promotes you faster than a great and memorable first impression.
Wear comfortable shoes. The Amway Arena is a big place. Walk smarter, not harder.

Helpful articles:
Interview Follow-Up
The Right Resume
A Successful Job Hunt

If you have any questions about this or any Orlando area job fair, please leave your thoughts in the comments or shoot over an email to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com.

See you Thursday Orlando!

Greg Rollett

The United States Navy Presents the Orlando Armed Forces Industry Outlook

image courtesy of rry Lime_

It's Friday and we're back with another installment of the Industry Outlooks, taken from the Orlando Employment Guide To Careers. If you do not have a physical copy, we will have a bunch at the Job Fair next Thursday, April 17th at the Amway Arena in Downtown Orlando, FL. This is a Diversity Career Fair event and is also sponsored by the Orange County Public Schools. (More on the job fair later this afternoon)

Today we are happy to have the United States Navy presenting the US Armed Forces Industry Outlook. Enjoy Orlando and be sure to leave any questions, concerns or comments in the comments section located at the end of this post. We appreciate your feedback!

Nature of the Work
Maintaining a strong national defense requires workers who can do such diverse tasks as run a hospital, command a tank, program a computer system, operate a nuclear reactor, or repair and maintain a helicopter. The military provides training and work experience in these and many other fields for more than 2.6 million people. More than 1.4 million people serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and more than 1.2 million serve in their Reserve components and the Air and Army National Guard. The Coast Guard, which is also discussed in this Handbook statement, is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The military distinguishes between enlisted and officer careers. Enlisted personnel, who make up about 84 percent of the Armed Forces, carry out the fundamental operations of the military in combat, administration, construction, engineering, health care, human services, and other areas. Officers, who make up the remaining 16 percent of the Armed Forces, are the leaders of the military, supervising and managing activities in every occupational specialty.

Working Conditions
Most military personnel live and work on or near military bases and facilities throughout the United States and the world. These bases and facilities usually offer comfortable housing and amenities, such as stores and recreation centers. Service members move regularly to complete their training or to meet the needs of their branch of service. Some are deployed to defend national interests. Military personnel must be physically fit, mentally stable, and ready to participate in or support combat missions that maybe difficult and dangerous and involve time away from family. Some, however, are never deployed near combat areas. Specific work environments and conditions depend on branch of service, occupational specialty, and other factors. In many circumstances, military personnel work standard hours, but personnel must be prepared to work long hours to fulfill missions, and they must conform to strict military rules at all times. Work hours depend on occupational specialty and mission.

Training and other Qualifications
To join the military, people must meet age, educational, aptitude, physical, and character requirements. These requirements vary by branch of service and vary between officers, who usually have a college degree, and enlisted personnel, who often do not. People are assigned an occupational specialty based on their aptitude, former training, and the needs of the military. All service members must sign a contract and commit to a minimum term of service. After joining the military, all receive general and occupation-specific training. People thinking about enlisting in the military should learn as much as they can about military life before making a decision. Doing so is especially important if you are thinking about making the military a career. Speaking to friends and relatives with military experience is a good idea. Find out what the military can offer you and what it will expect in return. Then, talk to a recruiter, who can determine whether you qualify for enlistment, explain the various enlistment options, and tell you which military occupational specialties currently have openings. Bear in mind that the recruiter’s job is to recruit promising applicants into his or her branch of military service, so the information that the recruiter gives you is likely to stress the positive aspects of military life in the branch in which he or she serves.

Job Outlook
Opportunities should be excellent for qualified individuals in all branches of the Armed Forces through 2016. Many military personnel retire with a pension after 20 years of service, while they still are young enough to start a new career. About 168,000 personnel must be recruited each year to replace those who complete their commitment or retire. Since the end of the draft in 1973, the military has met its personnel requirements with volunteers. When the economy is good and civilian employment opportunities generally are more favorable, it is more difficult for all the services to meet their recruitment quotas. It is also more difficult to meet these goals during times of war, when recruitment goals typically rise. Educational requirements will continue to rise as military jobs become more technical and complex. High school graduates and applicants with a college background will be sought to fill the ranks of enlisted personnel, while virtually all officers will need at least a bachelor’s degree and, in some cases, a graduate degree as well.

information courtesy of Bureau of Labor

If you have missed any parts of our Industry Outlook Series, here is a look back!

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Medical Assistants
Dental Assistants
Construction Equipment Operators
Financial Services Sales Agents
Video Game Testers
Network / System Administration

Computer Software Engineers

DeVry University Presents the Orlando Industry Outlook for Computer Software Engineers

Our industry outlook series continues today with Computer Software Engineers, presented by DeVry University, whose slogan reads, 'We Major in Careers.' Enjoy Orlando.

Nature of the Work
Computer software engineers apply the principles of computer science and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers work. The tasks performed by these workers evolve quickly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers.

Software engineers can be involved in the design and development of many types of software, including computer games, word processing and business applications, operating systems and network distribution, and compilers, which convert programs to machine language for execution on a computer.

Computer software engineers begin by analyzing users’ needs, and then design, test, and develop software to meet those needs. During this process they create the detailed sets of instructions, called algorithms, which tell the computer what to do. They also may be responsible for converting these instructions into a computer language, a process called programming or coding, but this usually is the responsibility of computer programmers. (A separate section on computer programmers appears elsewhere in the Handbook.) Computer software engineers must be experts in operating systems and middleware to ensure that the underlying systems will work properly.

Working Conditions
Computer software engineers normally work in clean, comfortable offices or in laboratories in which computer equipment is located. Software engineers who work for software vendors and consulting firms frequently travel overnight to meet with customers. Telecommuting is also becoming more common, allowing workers to do their jobs from remote locations.

Most software engineers work at least 40 hours a week, but about 17 percent work more than 50 hours a week. Software engineers also may have to work evenings or weekends to meet deadlines or solve unexpected technical problems.

Like other workers who spend long hours typing at a computer, software engineers are susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort, and hand and wrist problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Training and other Qualifications
Most employers prefer applicants who have at least a bachelor’s degree and broad knowledge of, and experience with, a variety of computer systems and technologies. The usual college major for applications software engineers is computer science or software engineering. Systems software engineers often study computer science or computer information systems. Graduate degrees are preferred for some of the more complex jobs. In 2006, about 80 percent of workers had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Academic programs in software engineering may offer the program as a degree option or in conjunction with computer science degrees. Because of increasing emphasis on computer security, software engineers with advanced degrees in areas such as mathematics and systems design will be sought after by software developers, government agencies, and consulting firms.

Students seeking software engineering jobs enhance their employment opportunities by participating in internships or co-ops. These experiences provide students with broad knowledge and experience, making them more attractive to employers. Inexperienced college graduates may be hired by large computer and consulting firms that train new employees in intensive, company-based programs.

Job Outlook
Employment of computer software engineers is projected to increase by 38 percent over the 2006 to 2016 period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation will generate about 324,000 new jobs, over the projections decade, one of the largest employment increases of any occupation.

Employment growth will result as businesses and other organizations adopt and integrate new technologies and seek to maximize the efficiency of their computer systems. Competition among businesses will continue to create incentive for sophisticated technological innovations, and organizations will need more computer software engineers to implement these changes.

Demand for computer software engineers will also increase as computer networking continues to grow. For example, expanding Internet technologies have spurred demand for computer software engineers who can develop Internet, intranet, and World Wide Web applications. Likewise, electronic data-processing systems in business, telecommunications, government, and other settings continue to become more sophisticated and complex. Implementing, safeguarding, and updating computer systems and resolving problems will fuel the demand for growing numbers of systems software engineers.

Story information courtesy of Bureau of Labor

Thanks for tuning in Orlando and be sure to catch the latest information on our 'Getting U There Spring Job Fair at the EmploymentGuide.com. I will be attempting to get a resource center on this page as well this afternoon so you can get all the scoop in one spot.

If you haven't already, please subscribe to the JobSpot with the options on the top right of this page to get all the updates in the Orlando job seeking community as they happen! Join the conversation folks, if you want information we can give it to ya! And as always feel free to drop me an email to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com.

Previous entries to the Industry Outlooks:
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
Medical Assistants
Dental Assistants
Construction Equipment Operators
Financial Services Sales Agents
Video Game Testers
Network / System Administration

-Greg Rollett

Herzing College Presents the Orlando Computer Network / System Administration Industry Outlook

We are back for another installment of the Orlando Industry Outlook series presented by the Employment Guide to Careers. This afternoon we are taking a look into computers and the Computer Network / System Administration Industry Outlook sponsored by Herzing College of Orlando, FL. Enjoy and happy hunting Orlando!

Nature of the Work
The rapid and widespread use of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers proficient in various job functions. These computer specialists include computer scientists, database administrators, and network systems and data communication analysts. Job tasks and occupational titles used to descri