Tired of reading the same headlines about the job market? They all sound the same – Job Losses Expected to Continue – Growth seen in 2011! Chances are you would not pay much attention because you have been hearing the same thing for months. There is no denying the job hunt is difficult today but I am here to tell you that there are areas of opportunities out there.
Working at San Diego’s largest staffing agency allows me to see, first hand, the opportunities that are available to job seekers. In the last quarter, business has increased at The Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies by about 10%. We have helped San Diegans understand that there are ways to compete and win in today’s job market.
Don’t just take my word on the employment market; ask Shaun Alger, CEO of MyOffice Facility Solutions, a local company helping firms with furniture installation, office moves, cabling and technology. Shaun reports, “In our San Diego office, our staff grew by 15% so far this year. We are always hiring great people, and always developing our current team.”
You can also ask anyone at Bridgepoint Education which is a growing higher education company headquartered in San Diego. With more than 60 career opportunities available including a Receptionist, Director of Corporate Purchasing, and Project Manager, Bridgepoint is seeing growth in one of the sectors projected to create jobs over the next decade – Educational Services.
California’s Employment Development Department forecasts growth in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services as well, which is expected to grow at an annual rate of 2.9%. The biggest gains in this sector will be Computer Systems Design. Another sector poised for success is Health Care which is expected to grow at 2.3% annually.
But what if you do not have experience in a sector experiencing growth? Bridgepoint Education has a solution. They would like to help experienced professionals become teachers, corporate trainers or online educators. Through their Master’s of Teaching and Learning with Technology program, experienced professionals can become online instructors and seek new opportunities and advancement since the demand for online educators has escalated.
Alger adds, “To compete for a spot on our team, people we interview must be able to communicate, have passion and commitment, critical thinking and project management skills, and must be teachable and willing to teach.” He adds, “We appreciate experience but it is not a deal breaker.”
While direct experience may not be a deal breaker, job seekers are looking for a way to get noticed. Matthew Carpenter, Sr. Human Resources Business Partner for Samsung Electronics America, American Distribution Center says, “While Samsung has continued to see growth in 2009, the growth is being managed through the addition of a temporary workforce which has allowed Samsung to maintain operations in correlation with economic fluctuations.” The Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies is unique with its 15 specialty staffing divisions to offer employees a way to get noticed at San Diego’s best companies across virtually all industries. While I am biased on the value of a temporary workforce, there are additional ways to compete and win for San Diego jobs.
Carpenter says, “Most jobs being filled within my organization are being filled outside the advertise, interview and hire scenario. When faced with an unmanageable candidate pool, recruiters use their networks to find the best candidates. The key to successfully attracting offers in the current economic environment is in networking including the online networking site LinkedIn, but industry organizations should be part of your plan.”
Experts agree that to win that job, you should pick up the phone and talk to people in your field. Carpenter explains, “Calling Human Resources and asking for a job is not networking.” The HR team at Bridgepoint says that you need to be persistent and know the company from the inside out by using social networks. They add that following up after a meeting does make a difference. Alger adds, “Referrals definitely get a person to the top of the pile and normally warrant a face to face.” He also says, “Follow up with a handwritten note versus an email and follow up more than once.”
The bottom line is that you need to do your homework and continuously demonstrate how you can add value to the organization. By putting a career management plan together, and following the strategies offered by San Diego employment insiders, you will not need to wait until 2011 to compete and win in today’s employment market.
This piece was published in the Jobs Extra supplement to The San Diego Union Tribune on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. As always, I welcome any questions or feedback.
