Don't Vacation Without These Two Pieces of Technology

I am actually on vacation and have time to myself since the hubby and kids are off on some excursion.

This entry will be short as I just want to tell you about my two new favorite pieces of technology:
- My ATT air card
- My Garmin

We are in Southern California where we lived for about 12 years. However, detours and fading memory make it hard to remember the best way to get to everything. In addition, we now have two teenagers who want to visit every out-of-the-way indie music store in the greater Los Angeles area.

A trip to Silver Lake earlier today, to pay homage to the Silversun Pick-Ups, a new favorite band, was a breeze with our new handy, dandy Garmin, the children have named "Lola". Can't make it to the right lane fast enough and forced to take a new exit? No problem for "Lola", our new companion reassuringly "recalculates" our next move.

It came in really handy when we had to find medical center last night for a mini healthcare emergency.

My ATT air card, helped tremendously to locate healthcare providers who would take our insurance at 3am.

I can't imagine how we travelled before.

Vocational Training is Back in Vogue

Daniel Wood, staff writer for The Christian Science Monitor, recounts the story of how Toby Hughes, a honor student from Georgia with a 1350 SAT score, chose the vocational training option after high school.

Vocational training is making a comeback and enrollment in technical education programs grew by 57% from 9.6 million in 1999 to 15.1 million in 2004. (Source - US Department of Education)

No longer are the traditional offerings of wood shop, metal shop or machining, the only offerings. In fact, the offerings from career education and vocational training programs are very diverse and pretty much offer something for everyone. New career fields include hot careers and in-demand skills in healthcare, technology and education.

"We are redefining almost everything that has to do with the intersection of new technology and the global economy," says Mark Whitlock, CEO of Central Educational Center in Newnan, Ga., a charter school. "The economy is changing and therefore education has to continue to change."

The state of California is experiencing a boom as well following a 25-year decline in vocational programming. Governor Schwarzenegger supports targeted vocational education and has pushed for more public funding of programs.

As companies continue to feel shortages of skilled hourly labor they need to compete globally, vocational training programs are stepping up to meet the need.

Resources for Boomers at Work

Here are a few resources from Ageless in America that older working adults should bookmark:

Gen Plus - Check out their Over 50 job bank where you will be targeted by recruiters looking specifically for you and your work experience.

BoomersTV - This website supports the PBS Show about the Baby Boomer generation

2 Young 2 Retire - Learn more about alternative careers and encore careers. Sign up for the 2Young2Retire course.

Retirement Jobs - Helping match mature workers with jobs that are perfect for their lives.

The Best Places to Work in the Government

The Best-Places-to-Work-in-Government report was first completed in 2003 and every two years since then.

If you are looking for employment with the Federal Government, this report is a good place to start. Of course no one measurement offers overwhelming evidence of the best place for you, but this report could be part of your organizational research.

Here are the results for the "Best-In-Class" portion of the 2007 survey based on employer feedback:

Employee skills / mission match
1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
3 Department of Veterans Affairs

Strategic Management
1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 Securities and Exchange Commission
3 General Services Administration

Effective Leadership
1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 National Aeronautics and Space Administration
3 Department of State

Work / Life Balance
1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2 Securities and Exchange Commission
3 General Services Administration

Pay and Benefits
1 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
2 Nuclear Regulatory Commission
3 Securities and Exchange Commission

Women Leaving Science Careers.

ABC News (6/24, Phillips) reported that "[e]ven as nearly equal amounts of men and women pursue graduate degrees in science," a recent study "point[ed] to a troubling trend: A significant number of women are dropping out of the field -- both in the private sector and academia -- in their 30s and 40s." ABC News pointed to a "study by the Center for Work-Life Policy" that found that "52 percent of women in private-sector science and technology jobs drop out without returning."

During the study, "researchers conducted 28 focus groups in 13 major cities around the world, surveying women in science, engineering and technology who had been working at their company for at least six months." Laura Sherbin, a director at the Center for Work-Life Policy, said that the "reasons for attrition in the private sector...can't be attributed solely to women leaving to raise families." She said, "The top two reasons why women leave are the hostile macho cultures...and extreme work pressures" such as "the increasing demand to put in longer and longer...time at the office."

Tips for Landing Part Time Jobs for Teens

About SnagAJob.com
SnagAJob.com is a job board that lists thousands of part time jobs for teens in all kinds of industries including restaurant, retail, office, homecare, light industrial and more. The ZIP code search lets teens looking for work easily find and apply to part-time, full-time and seasonal jobs. Job seekers can create accounts and receive job alerts via email with hundreds of part time jobs perfect for teens.

Here are some tips for landing the first part time job from Snag-A-Job:

1. Set expectations. Teens should know what they are getting into when they apply for part time jobs and set realistic expectations about their availability and their commitment.

2. Prepare. Learn about the job search process from resume writing to job application to interviewing.

3. Spread the word. Most jobs for teens are found through networking. Teens should tell people they are looking for a part time job.

4. Consider options. Teens shouldn't limit themselves to the dream job just yet. Keep in mind the first part time job for a teen is about gaining experience.

Some additional tips from BullsEyeResumes:
1. Teens looking for work should get parents involved.
2. Get documents such as resume, social security card and working papers together.
3. Teens can ask for job search assistance at the high school career center.
4. Use good communication skills and be courteous throughout the job search.

The Ailing, Failing US Economy hits City and State Employees

Always considered "safe employment", state and city employees could get caught in the next round of layoffs. Falling revenues from sales tax, income tax and and real estate taxes led Bob Brusca, Economist with FAO Economics in NY to say in a CNN Mondy article, "This isn't a wrecking ball to a healthy economy, but it could be the straw that broke the camel's back."

States planning to cut jobs include Tennesse,2000 positions; New Jersey, 3000 jobs; Ohio, 2700 jobs and Detroit, 1300 jobs.

The first 6 months of 2008 has seen the US economy lose almost a half million jobs. The report in June brought the number of job losses for the year to 438,000. Job losses were expected and have ocurred in:

Manufacturing - 33 000 jobs
Construction - 43 000 jobs
Retail - 7 500 jobs
Business and Professional Services - 51 000 jobs

If you are in any of these sectors you should be scanning the environment for pending changes and strategizing to be ready if you are forced to make a career change after a lay off.

Find more information here:
- Ways to Keep Learning as Your Company Falls Apart
- Times are Tough. Can You Still Find the Right Job?
- US Economy Loses 63 000 jobs in February

Hot Career Alert - Auto Mechanic

"Manpower Inc. conducted its annual talent shortage survey for 2007 and it revealed that Sales Reps, Teachers and Auto Mechanics are the top three in-demand jobs." Source PennFoster.edu blog

A NASCAR report shows that a large number of experienced auto mechanics will retire over the next several years and 35 000 new auto technicians will need to complete training each year and enter the profession.

Did you know you can start training as an auto mechanic online? Most people, including me, didn't know that until recently. Considering that so much of an auto mechanic's work requires equipment, machines and vehicles one might think that online education would be out of the question.

However, combining online classes with apprenticeships in a local auto shop is definitely a solution.

How to Not Feel Guilty About Leaving at 5p!

If your are returning to work after a long absence, know that some workplace protocols have changed. One of the changes you might notice is that people are working longer hours. You will also notice that many managers expect employees to work beyond the published hours, since company productivity and competition demands it. For the company, greater productivity means greater output, which translates to higher revenues and ultimately greater profits. In a perfect world your hard work would then translate to a greater share of the profits through higher income...but I digress.

A recent Wall Street Journal Juggle live poll shows that only 30% of the almost 1800 people responding are working 40 hours or less per week. The other 70% are working more than 40 hours, with 34% working between 40-50 hours weekly, 22% working 50-60 hours and 14% working over 60 hours weekly.

As you try to fit in at the new workplace, you may feel the pressure to immediately jump in and "pull your weight". Some workers will feel guilty about having to leave at the end of a shift or even take a day off.

Some tips to help you manage schedules at work:

1. Clarify expectations early. The job interview is not too early. Of course you do not want to come across as a "clock watcher" but you do want to learn about the culture of the organization or department.

2. While at work know that your task list will always be growing and there will always be work to be done. Trying to "finish" the work is not real and could increase your workplace stress.

3. As a career reentry professional, think about how to be effecient at work during your work hours so you can work smarter not harder. Watch the water cooler breaks if you think they are limiting your productive.

3. Be a team player and show your willingness to stay late to meet deadlines when you can. You do not want to be known as the person who is packed up and ready to go at 4:45p everyday!

Times are Tough. Can You Still Find the Right Job?

Gary Santana of Bluegrass Community and Technical College, offers college students good advice on how to find the right job in tough times. Santana suggests that college graduates who are job seekers need to stand out in a crowd through personal branding.

One major point in the job search to which job seekers need to pay close attention is the job application.

The job application helps employers make decisions about you. "if their first impression is that this is someone who is sloppy, incomplete, or can care less about the job then your chances are cut to slim right off the bat."

Additional suggestions on completing the job application from Santana:

1. Get two copies or make a copy of the one you receive. Use one as a first draft and make sure the second copy is clean, free of errors and wrinkle free.

2. Fill out the form completely.

3. Pay attention to dates and places. Most job applications require that job seekers list everything in reverse chronological order.

4. Use the word "negotiable" or the abbreviation 'neg" on the application where salary information is required.

Some additional tips from BullsEyeResumes to complete the job application:

1. Some applications will ask for a writing sample. Prepare a draft on another sheet of paper, before writing into the job application.

2. If using an online job application kiosk or creating a job board profile, where a number is required in the "salary desired area", do the salary research first. Don't guess.

3. Call HR or the college career center for help if you do not understand a specific question.

4. Watch for the box that asks if the potential employer can call existing employers.

New York Needs Healthcare Professionals

The Healthcare Association of New York State (www.hanys.org) conducts periodic surveys on issues affecting the Healthcare profession in that state.

One recent HANYS study showed that 80% of reporting hospitals indicated a nursing shortage. No surprise there since the federal Bureau of Health Professions projects a shortage of New York nurses of nearly 37,000 by 2015.

Quoting a recent press release from HANYS to announce findings:

The health care needs of “baby boomers” are growing. New York State’s population age 65 and older increased by 25% between 1980 and 2000.

According to a recent article in the Times Union, the labor shortage and workforce dilemma in New York's health care system does not stop at nurses.

The article explored the incentives that hospitals were offering to potential hires as a way to attract Respiratory Therapists to the profession. In one case, students from Hudson Valley Community College were learning how to use high tech breathing equipment while working with patients in intensive care at Albany Medical Center Hospital. These students are getting their tuition paid by the hospital in exchange for future employment contracts.

Another recent HANYS study, "Falling Short: A Workforce in Decline," shares the following statistics:
- 82% of New York hospitals report difficulty finding lab technicians
- 79% reported that pharmacists and physical therapists are hard to find
- 63% reported that nursing positions were the most difficult to fill
- 34% found it difficult to find imaging technicians

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting that Health care industry will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry.

Vocational programs and career training that result in certificates or associate degrees offer great alternatives to get the required training quickly.