Free Career Guides from the Federal Government

As you're plotting your course towards your next job, consider utilizing the free resources paid for with some of your hard-earned tax dollars. Today, we'll mention just two of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publications, available for free online, that you might find helpful. 

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) publishes data and information for hundreds of careers, e.g., nurses, engineers, bus drivers, advertising sales agents, logging workers, etc., etc. For each of these job areas, the OOH provides information about the nature of the work, training and qualifications needed, employment prospects, earnings and wages and other related information. To access this handbook, go to http://www.bls.gov/oco/.

The BLS also publishes the Career Guide to Industries (CGI) which provides information about careers available in different industries. As a companion to the OOH, the CGI tells readers about the nature of the industry, working conditions, job prospects, earnings, etc. The guide also links to information about the job market in each state. The CGI can be found at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/. 

Green Career Information

The Green Jobs staff within the Employment Projections program produces career information on green jobs. The information available for occupations includes: wages, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, working conditions, and necessary education, training, and credentials.
Remember to take advantage of useful free stuff, like these resources, to help you get your next job.

2012 Year in Review: U.S. Jobs By the Numbers.

Here are last year's (2012) monthly employment data as initially reported by ADP and by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the Department of Labor.

ADP National                                                               Dept. of Labor
Employment Report                                                     Nonfarm Employment
(Private Sector)                                                   
Calendar Year 2012                                                     Calendar Year 2012
Jan--110,921                                                                Jan--243,000
Feb--111,215                                                                Feb--227,000
Mar--111,344                                                                Mar--120,000
Apr--111,496                                                                Apr--115,000
May--111,596                                                               May--69,000
Jun--111,683                                                                Jun--80,000
Jul--111,811                                                                 Jul--163,000
Aug--111,884                                                               Aug--96,000
Sep--111,989                                                               Sep--114,000
Oct--112,137                                                                Oct--171,000
Nov--112,413                                                               Nov--146,000
Dec--112,622                                                               Dec--155,000


While the ADP data shows a slow but steady rise in private sector employment during the course of 2012, the U.S. government's nonfarm labor reports showed a year of ups and downs, though there seemed to be some rebounding at the end of 2012. We're all hoping 2013 presents a steadily rising jobs picture.

Just the numbers this time around, from Go Get Your Job!

The "Go Get Your Job" eBook Is Now Available.

Finally, our ebook has been published.

 Go Get Your Job - The Quick Essential Guide to Finding A Job Now is available as an ebook in a variety of ebook formats.  

If you appreciate our blog posts, consider buying this quick, easy to read guide. Visit: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/266146 to purchase your copy.

Enjoy the book, and then, go get your job.

Remembering 9/11.

It has been eleven years since the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Time often fades memories, but we're taking some time this week to remember all those who perished on that infamous day. Many, probably most, of the people who died on 9/11 were regular working people who had awakened and made the trek, yet another day, to their jobs, doing what they do for love or money or passion or loyalty or any number of reasons. 

Chances are, that if you were an adult at the time, you were at your job or on your way to your job or in the process of finding a job that day. Whatever your job situation today, this week, take a few moments to think of those who lost their lives 11 years ago. 

Part of your job today, is to remember.

The Dog Days of Job-Seeking.

Yes--it's hot; it's humid; in many places around the U.S. it has been disturbingly stormy. We're right in the thick of it--the dog days of Summer. If you're currently looking for a job, it's likely kind of slow. Vacations, shorter work hours and leisurely chats around the office coffee-maker may be putting a cramp in your Go Get Your Job! style. Right now, hiring managers, et al., might not be as enthusiastic about culling through resumes and scheduling interviews as an eager qualified candidate would like them to be. (We certainly have been victims of this Summer malaise; this is our first post of August. Sorry, folks.)

What to do during the lull? Have a little fun, get some rest and polish up your job-seeking act. Tweak the CV, fine-tune your elevator pitch, tighten up your writing sample, clean out your contact list (to make room for new ones) and keep your eyes and ears open for those pre-Labor Day opportunities that could present themselves. 

Were you inspired by the Olympics? (Who wouldn't be??) Take a lesson from world-class athletes--train every day and in the off-season, find some race--any competition--to keep you sharp and fit. Complete an online application, do a cold-call to a company HR person and ask a few questions (do this with a firm you're not really interested in working for), get a friend to conduct a mock interview with you. 

Do something to keep you in the job-search frame of mind. When the energy of everyday work gets back into full swing in September, you want to be at the top of your game to Go Get Your Job!.



 

Happy Independence Day! Write and Sign your Job Search Declaration Today!

Today, while enjoying time with your family and friends with fireworks, parades, barbeques, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball  games, and ceremonies, etc, all in celebration of the history, government, and traditions of the United States, consider amongst the celebration, what is your personal declaration in your job search?

Declare what you stand for in your job search. Take ownership in what are you doing well and what you must change to Go Get Your Job. Write it out and then, sign it and date it. Keep your declaration near you and refer to it regularly. The point is to know where you are and where you are going in this job search. If you read the transcript of the Declaration of Independence, you will see that those guys were pretty determined in their goals.

Have a great Independence Day and take a look at www.usajobs.gov while conducting your search.

Veterans, Go Get Your Job.

This past Saturday, there was a very touching ceremony celebrating the retirement of a Sargent Major after 30 years in the Marine Corps. It was great to be able to witness the honoring of a good friend and his family. He still has a lot of working years ahead of him and fortunately, he already has a good civilian job.

The event inspired the Go Get Your Job team to start thinking about jobs for the

men and women returning from military service. We understand this is a big issue for First Lady Michelle Obama, who, along with Dr. Jill Biden, the Vice- President's wife, are trying to address the problem of high unemployment among post-September 11 veterans, among other issues surrounding those in the military.

While doing a little research on the matter, we came across what we think is an encouraging job-search story for veterans (and their spouses): CivilianJobs.com recently announced their 2012 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military. This impressive list of companies will help job seekers with military experience to identify the top employers to target for civilian careers.

We think information like this and the work of organizations like Hire A Hero or Hire America's Hero serve a crucial role for transitioning service members looking for employment in this tough job market. 

So we say to the military personnel out there and their families to check out those MVEs and these helpful organizations, and go get your job. 

What's New With You?

What's new with you? That's really a question to ask yourself. If you're a seasoned worker looking for that next position, have you taken stock of who you are today that's probably quite different from who you were ten years ago, even five years ago? 

The professional you are today is likely so much better than the one you knew back then. You're more patient when you need to be. You listen more and talk less. You see the big picture faster and can identify the problematic details with more precision. You don't fear rejection; you're unfazed by conflict. The beauty of work experience is that it makes you more experienced at working. Circuitous statement, for sure, but give it some thought. 

Even those fresh out of undergrad with a brand new degree and a new interview suit to go with it, need to ask themselves about who they are. Have you outgrown class clown? Is your party animal ready for more regular hours? If you were smart, you did a little growing while racking up student loan bills.

When you think about you now, get excited about all you know and have learned and have accomplished and will accomplish for years to come. Your enthusiasm about you will become contagious and will shine through in your resume and cover letters, in your interviews, and even your casual conversations. Get to know what's new with you so that others--especially hiring managers--can know, too. 

Most people write their resumes to demonstrate what they've done in the past. Write yours to reflect who you are now. When asked about your experiences, make sure you include a statement like, "I've combined the sum total of all my work in the past to create a better, more competent me today."

Every new day is an opportunity for you to be your newest, best you. So take what's new with you and go get your job.

Employment Numbers Up, Spring Is In the Air, Go Get Your Job.

There's a feeling of optimism these days: both ADP and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that employment is picking up. Spring, a time of renewal and growth is here (or very near, depending on where you live). And, here at Go Get Your Job, we're putting finishing touches on the book.

Soon, Spring fever will hit and many of us likely won't feel like doing much other than play. Now's the time then, before the seasonal malaise sets in, to make the push--to research those job prospects, send out resumes, make new connections or renew old ones, practice interview skills, use the lighter mood that Spring has brought us, along with a more positive employment picture, to get that job you want. 

Every week we throw our two-cents worth into the very large pool of job hunting advice websites, blogs, columns, books, etc., because we believe that one's mindset is at the core of every successful job search (and for that matter, any successful endeavor). There are innumerable ideas about the details of how to get a job. Without belief in yourself, however, your search for employment, even with all the details in place, is so much more difficult. We say Go Get Your Job! because we want you to believe, deeply, truly believe, that you can and will find the job that is for you. In our view, your job is out there. Many will think it simplistic, but we say, just go get it. You'll figure out the details.



 

RESET!!!

We had a client call this morning and she wanted to talk about what she saw as a lack of productivity in her search to Go Get her Job!

We took a moment to talk about her activity to progress ratio and when we heard her speak about the book that she always wanted to write (while she had the time during her unemployment), her draft proposals for her contract work, the fact that her husband had moved to another state 100 miles away for his new role, the fact that she was weekly using her network to seek out opportunities while holding down the homestead, the fact that she attended a lecture regarding her employment interests towards continuous learning and the fact that she was calling during a coordinated super market run that was focused on the most economic way to make a solid, nutritious  dinner for her 10 year child and herself – we said, push the "reset"  button, you are fine, you are on the right track. You just need to reset.  …You are having a moment of conflicting IP addresses. You are fighting against the cached input. … Yes, some of us here have a tech background, so, forgive us for the reference, but, know that you get it.

She just needed to manage the old input against the new input. Yes, we told her that the realities of looking for income are different than when she graduated from college over 25 years ago. In fact, we are coming to understand that the world economy may have fully changed from what we knew. … Yes, we told her, life looks a bit different from the time when you had that corporate job with the private company plane, but, consider how more rich the time is now. She said,  I hope to look back at this time of unemployment and uncertainty and smile at the learnings. We assured her that she would.

With that said, we have spent time and resources to learn the intricacies  of navigating this challenging new job market and we cannot wait to get our book out to share with you what we know.

Times a ticking and you will hear from us soon on the book.

Go Get Your Job is Back!

We took a short hiatus (OK, maybe a pretty long one) to work on a book and to re-group, re-charge and re-energize. 

Well, we finished the book, and what a relief! We're in the final editing stages now and expect to have an e-book version ready by the end of February. We've gotten great feedback, thus far, so we're very excited about making the book available to the public. 

We think this is a great start to a promising year for Go Get Your Job! We're going to take the opportunity to capitalize on the improving unemployment picture (the January 2012 rate was down to 8.3%) by getting our book out there and continuing to bring you helpful job-hunting news, information, tips, etc.

We believe everyone is entitled to meaningful, paid employment. In keeping with our ever-positive outlook, we say, once again, Go Get Your Job!

Our Brand Promise ...

Our brand promise is to always provide a point of view that works for you in getting your job.
Check out this website.
http://careerconfidential.com/job-search-video-watch/?goback=%2Egde_136366_member_65733092

Steve Jobs on Work.

We all know the big business news last week was the resignation of Steve Jobs as CEO of Apple. He said he stepped down because he no longer felt able to do the job. His leaving Apple reverberated throughout the business world and likely will continue to do so for years since his tenacious creativity will not be there to continue to lead technological innovation. And, although his letter of resignation did not explicitly state illness was the reason for his leaving, we all need to keep Steve Jobs in our thoughts in hopes that he will recover from recent known health problems.

Here at Go Get Your Job!, we were reminded by a recent WSJ online article of Steve Jobs' 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University where he talked about, among other things, loving the work you do. (See a video of the entire speech at Ted.com (http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html.) Here's an excerpt from that speech that resonates with us and that we hope will inspire you:

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." (You can also read the transcript at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903596904576520690515394766.html#ixzz1Wc2OMIXA.)

ADP's private-sector employment report came out this morning, and the numbers are not impressive. (Find report at http://www.adpemploymentreport.com/.) The Labor Department will release its montlhly nonfarm jobs figures on Friday. Whatever these statistics, let us learn from Steve Jobs and strive to do what we love. If the major companies don't want to hire and the bailed-out banks don't want to lend, let's become individual and collective visionaries like Jobs, and find or create our own jobs.

We want you to go get YOUR job, not just a job. Heed the words of the former Apple CEO: Don't settle.

Sorry for the rant, but...

It's getting harder these days to accentuate the positive, like we like to do here at Go Get Your Job! Private sector employment increased by 114,000 jobs last month, according to ADP's monthly jobs report. That's down from the month before (which was revised down from 157,000 to 145,000 jobs added). Washington's debt ceiling drama which just ended in a last-minute deal, has the left the U.S. economy wounded, and probably has damaged the nation's global financial reputation for the near future. Sixty-six thousand-plus job cuts were announced by some very large companies (among them, Cisco, Lockheed Martin and HSBC) and government in the month of July, says the consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. All of this comes ahead of U.S. Labor Department's non-farm payroll numbers to be announced this Friday That initially irksome term, "jobless recovery" is just too real and is now more chilling than annoying. Recession talk is back.

But, CNN Money says 3 million jobs remain unfilled in the United States. How can that be? Well, U.S. companies claim workers don't have the right skills. Is that why the Wall Street Journal reported that business leaders are pressing the U.S. Senate to change immigration laws allowing companies to hire more highly skilled workers? What about training the unemployed and underemployed that are already here to fill those vacant positions?

We, the working people, must insist that the politicians, the financial pundits, the flush corporate CEOs and all those forecasting economists implement a plan to put money into the hands of people who will spend it with businesses who will hire more people who will then have more money to spend and get this economy running again. It doesn't make much sense to implore people to go get a job unless there are real opportunities for individuals to actually gain employment. 14.1 million unemployed Americans is a lot of people--in fact, it's a significant political and economic bloc. What if there were some way to mobilize that people-power towards opening up the job market? Food for thought. 

Today's blog is a rambling rant borne out of frustration this week with trying to find relevant information that will help you go get your job. So, let's try to close with a bit of positive news. If you haven't already done so, check out CareerBuilder's recently released list of hot areas where workers are in demand. Titles like, Cloud Developer, SEO Strategist, Truck Driver and Healthcare Administrator are among the top areas. (See the full news release at PRNewswire.com.) "While the U.S. still has a very competitive job market, there are areas within technology, healthcare and other fields that have a growing deficit in talent," says CareerBuiler's CEO Matt Ferguson.

If you already have the skills, read that article and go get your job. Figure out how the skills you possess qualify you to get one of those jobs. If you need to get your skills first, do that. Then, go get your job.

 

So, Maybe it is the Job Market … And Not You …

In keeping with our blog promise to let you know what we know when we know it in your hunt to Go Get Your Job, we wanted to let you know about a bill introduced yesterday that seeks to address adverse hiring practices against the unemployed.

We all are programmed to accept the old adage that it is easier to get a job when you have a job. … But, should that hold as a proverb/truism in today’s tough economic market? Is it logical or resolute that an employed person will prove to be a better worker to an organization … or, is it discrimination?

… Well, Representatives Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Hank Johnson of Georgia introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. They outlined in their bill that, not only is this thought seemingly outdated, it discriminates against the unemployed, those who are affected not because of any fault of their own, but, because of the tough economic environment effecting the U.S. job market.

The Fair Employment Opportunity Act sets forth that it should be unlawful for employers and employment agencies to “refuse to consider for employment or refuse to offer employment to an individual because of the individual’s status as unemployed.” Read here the latest briefing paper from the National Employment Law Project (NELP).

Specifically, NELP states the following in support of the bill:  

“This perverse catch-22 is deepening our unemployment crisis by arbitrarily foreclosing job opportunities to many who are otherwise qualified for them. It dilutes the storehouse of talent in

America, by casting aside an untold number of skilled and dedicated workers who have the

misfortune of being unemployed in the worst downturn since the Great Depression. And it adds to the crisis that unemployed workers, their families and their communities face, as we try to crawl out of this deep recessionary hole”.

... We have always said here that you are unemployed and not stupid.  ... So, follow the bill, ... get out there and Go Get Your Job!

Do Something to Make Someone Smile at You Today so That You Can Smile Back!!!

We always tell you to watch your finances ((see Budgeting for the Job Search (March 9, 2011)) and maintain your mental well being (well, check any of our blog entries for that J) during the job search. … But, sometimes you just may have to spend money or give your time or both to maintain a sense of normalcy.

We know of one job searcher who purchased the most beautiful orchid for his job search partner to encourage her when she was having an especially tough week. This was a pick me up for his partner and also for him.  Next time, coffee will be on her when they get together to share network contacts, leads  and keep each other honest  on job search accountabilities in their respective searches.

Bottom line, the beauty of the act was a pick me upper for both and will keep the giver top of mind to the recipient when open opportunities in his field come to attention.

Now go Get You Job and do something to make someone smile at you today so that you can smile back!

It's Graduation Time! Celebrate, And Go Get Your Job!

Graduation usually marks the end of a grueling, fun, exhausting, exhilarating, sometimes painful, sometimes unbelievably awesome educational experience. Successfully getting through school is an accomplishment worthy of celebration. Graduation also marks the beginning--the commencement of the rest of one's life, which likely will include some more grueling, fun, exhausting... --you get the picture--experiences. 

Whether you experience more or less of the good times that the rest of your life has to offer, depends a great deal on the choices you make, particularly your job and/or career choices. The U.S. News & World Report's personal finance blog, Wise Bread, just posted "15 Career Tips for Recent Grads," and among the listed suggestions are things we've covered here at Go Get Your Job!: do your research, prepare for the interview, build your resume, utilize your network, etc. (See the complete list here.) 

All of those tips are practical steps any job seeker should take, recent grad or seasoned worker. We'd like to add another, perhaps less practical tip, one given to us by Henry David Thoreau, that we hope inspires all:

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

 Graduates (and everybody else), go get your job, Thoreau-style.

Funemployed (noun)

Funemployed is part of the new lexicon.

Definition: People who have found that they enjoy being out of work – Times of London, June 14, 2009

Looking for a job is a full time job, we know that. We also know that you are tired, stressed perhaps financially and physically. So, why not consider this as a period of funemployment versus unemployment.

Funemployed people enjoy daily excitements. They take mental vacations to center themselves and can now laugh at why they had to buy a copy of the book; Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--and it's all small stuff  just to keep in the office. They wonder why Dilbert cartoons were once funny and sad and now just funny.  

We are not saying that you should not continue to look for that job. You need to understand your financial portfolio. It is just basic math – money out with no money in equals a loss in financial resources. We get that, but, look at all your resources now that you have the time. Know how long you can provide for yourself before you hit a critical time, and, in the meantime, take the power back and make sure that you are funemployed.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Tweet, blog, finds friends on facebook or finds family on ancestry.com (of course using their free two-week trial).
• Give yourself a You-Tube concert. Never saw the Beatles perform on Ed Sullivan, now is your time.
• Explore your creative side. Paint by numbers anyone? Know a good recipe, anyone?
• Make your home your sanctuary. If the closets have been bothering you for years, now is the time to address that.
• Exercise your body and mind. What is that book that you have been meaning to read? Why not walk to the park to read it?
• Learn something new each day. Maybe you always wanted to learn Spanish, so, walk yourself to the local library (again with the exercise) and check out what free resources are available.
• Think. Thinking is a verb. What do you want to do? Map out your life on paper. Are you living with purpose? When is the last time you had that thought?
• Help someone else. Volunteer, give a favor of time.

Consider, are you funemployed or unemployed? You are your own manager. Are you a good manager? Are you a caring manager? Would you work for you?

Who Do You Want To Work For?

According to global employer branding company Universum (www.universumglobal.com), Google is the No.1 preferred employer. Universum's recent poll of over 10,000 young professionals revealed that the top ten preferred employers in the U.S., also includes, Apple, Disney, the U.S. State Department, Amazon, the FBI, MIcrosoft, the CIA, NASA and Teach for America. It's probably no surprise that these stable, well-known and financially strong organizations would round out the top of the list. Universum provides a full list of 100 companies and their rankings among professionals, available on their site here.

Now, during these times of challenging unemployment rates, job-seekers may feel there's little room to be choosy. But, think of how you might use this information strategically. For example, if fellow job-hunters are clamoring for positions with the top companies, perhaps you might look to the less sought-after organizations. Or, maybe you prefer smaller companies over these large employers--research who are the suppliers or contractors for the big guys, and find out if those suppliers are hiring. Also, think globally, especially if you're willing to be flexible--Universum also has issued survey results for the top 50 most attractive global employers. (Google tops the global list, too, based on the employer preferences of students from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, U.K., and U.S.)

So, who do you want to work for? If your choices are not on any of these lists, that's perfectly fine. There are plenty of high-quality employers here in the U.S., and worldwide, who may never get a mention in a top-10 a survey. Your goal is always to go get YOUR job, whatever the rest of the world has to say.

Take a Pay Cut and Cut Yourself a Deal, … Really, ….well, Maybe

While taking a cut in salary may seem like the cruelest cut of all, it just might make sense to you as you navigate through this challenging economic time.

We say, give yourself permission to consider the following possible benefits to that lower paying role:

Greater Work Life Balance

Maybe, your last job burned you out with that 24/7 schedule where you actually slept with your BlackBerry; however, the new job would allow you to work the regular 9 to 5 and leave your desktop computer at work!

Maybe you will not have to travel as much. Consider that while in the last job where you earned frequent flier miles the hard way (by traveling each and every one of them) and finally did achieve that complimentary trip to Europe, with the new, lower paying job, you have greater flexibility in your schedule. You can take that noon Zumba dance class at the local YMCA, shower, and return to work and drive home during rush hour.

Need Gap Coverage for the Resume

We all understand that employers prefer to hire a working person versus one who is unemployed, so, that lower paying job gets you back into the job market. You can always stay in the job for a year or two until the economy heats up allowing you to calculate that move to get your salary back up.

Compensation is More Than Money When You add it up

It could be that the new job is in a lower cost of living area. Consider the financial impact of a move from that Manhattan apartment to the single family home with the yard in Arkansas.

The benefit package, or total compensation package of tangible benefits like health insurance, 401(k) matches, pension possibilities, paid time off, or even company perks like that new car with insurance and gas can help you address the sting to the loss in salary.

Need to Change Industries or Jobs

It could be that you have spent the last 15 years working in finance as a senior analyst and you want to become a cartoonist, because, after all, you did go to school for that and it is truly your passion.

Maybe your last job was a big fish in marketing with a small business and the new job is a marketer with Google or IBM. It just might be good for you to take the cut so that you get the Fortune 500 stamp on your resume.

These are just a few reasons why a person might decide to take a pay cut. Again, while we know that the thought of a lower number on the paycheck can be one charged with emotion; there are several valuable reasons to consider that lower paying job for you right now. … Go ahead; give yourself permission to consider the possibilities.