Many are unemployed or underemployed – even college graduates with advanced degrees. U.S. Manufacturers are complaining that they have job openings they can not fill because the applicants they get are not qualified:
There are ways you can find a job worth having in your area, and for companies to find qualified applicants. Before you decide to pile up huge debt getting college degrees, use the tips below to find out what you REALLY need to make a career move.
If you want a new career or need to find a job or are having difficulty finding
qualified employees, this post contains solutions to your challenges.
If you find this information valuable, be sure to share it on social media and send it to anyone you know who will benefit from it. Students can send this link to their school guidance counselors as it contains information they would not know.
CHOOSING A CAREER
Whether you need to make a career change or are a new graduate, everything in this post can benefit you. For decades we’ve been told getting a college degree will guarantee higher earnings and success. That is no longer true, so read this post for how to decide whether college is right for you and to start networking NOW so you can land your dream job. .
While there ARE corporations and careers that require college degrees, be sure there are going to be jobs available in your chosen career. Small businesses are more interested in your attitude, ability to learn, and interest in doing excellent work.
You can jump right to the “how to get a job” information below, or you may want to watch this very interesting movie about college, debt, and jobs that presents the facts regarding the true cost and potential additional income from attending college and how the U.S. is changing:
Far too many students fail to receive good advice from school guidance counselors and end up being encouraged to get college degrees that do not prepare them to actually make a living. Students need to take responsibility for their own lives and DO THIS INSTEAD!
Identify potential employers
Contact them and ASK THEM what you need to qualify to get hired (in detail).
Ask whether they prefer a particular degree, training program, or technical school.
Find out if they recommend specific training program or offer internships or apprenticeships.
Also ask whether they expect to have any openings when you will be seeking employment (when you will have the qualifications they require)
There is no reason to pay for an education from ANY source – whether that is a traditional college, online education, or the local training programs that advertise heavily – if the employers you want to work for believe they are not worthwhile!
Colleges and Training Companies exist to make money.
Many use misleading statistics and vague promises about job placement.
If they do not have good relationships with hiring employers
they may be a waste of your time and money.
Search for +”Chamber of Commerce” +”your city or county and state”
Search for +”economic development” +”your city, state” or your county, state” to find local sites that list major employers or local job opportunities. Here are some examples:
IMPORTANT: If you feel overwhelmed by the advice in this post ask for assistance.
You probably know someone who is an Internet whiz or who knows lots of people.
There are personal or business coaches you can hire if you can afford them.
If you do not know anyone who can assist you, ask me for help.
“The unpublished job market (where an opening is filled without being advertised)
represents about 80% of the total jobs filled within a given year.”
(Source: CareerAchievementNetwork.com Published Versus Unpublished Job Markets (PDF)
JOB TRAINING or EXPERIENCE VERSUS COLLEGE DEGREES:
Many large companies require college degrees for positions that would be better taught in technical schools or through internships or apprenticeships. Smaller regional companies may not. If you have the skills they need but not the degree, I encourage you to try to sell yourself to them on merit. They often CAN and DO make exceptions.
Companies that need a trained work force like those 3 million unfilled jobs we mentioned earlier should be working with local colleges and especially technical colleges. The company can specify what they need their future employees to know how to do and need to assist in funding whatever equipment and training materials are necessary.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
These programs offer training that could benefit both employers and employees more than a typical college degree. For example, Texas funds Texas State Technical College (TSTC) and offers financial aid, grants and scholarships. Businesses work with TSTC to develop a customized training program specific to their industry or a particular location.
Specialized training for skills that are in high demand and pay well is often a better choice
than another college degree – especially when employers are waiting to hire graduates.
Here are examples of jobs in high demand everywhere.
Other states have similar training programs and technical colleges. Now that you know they exist, search for “technical college” and “technical training” to find others. Use the quote marks to get the best results from the search engine you use. (We recommend DuckDuckGo.com for clean results.) You can include a state in your search by searching like this: +”technical college” +state
There are sites that help you find technical and vocational training programs like these:
Remember that any site you visit wants to sell you an education. That benefits them. You have to make sure the one you choose BENEFITS YOU. Here are some specific questions you need to ask:
What is the average time required for graduates from their programs to find a position RELATED TO what they studied. (Many claim a high placement rate based on graduates taking ANY job – not the job they learned to do!)
What percentage of graduates were placed by the program prior to graduation. (If they are working with local businesses they should have job openings waiting for their graduates.)
Do not expect them to be able to get ALL their students jobs if they accept all applicants to their program. Unfortunately there are many people today who lack basic skills including reading, simple math, or the ability to communicate. They will have difficulty finding work except as unskilled laborers.
LINKEDIN: WHERE EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES
If you have experience or training, creating a profile on LinkedIn.com can greatly enhance your chances of getting hired.
93% of Job Recruiters Use LinkedIn to find prospects
(according to 2012 survey by Jobvite)
Credit: Jobvite Click Image for details
Here are some links to help you optimize your LinkedIn profile and increase your chances of getting hired and meeting people who can further your career:
“The number one reason networking is so important and effective is that the vast majority of jobs are never advertised — thus, the only way a job-seeker can find out about these jobs is through word-of-mouth.” Finding the hidden job market.
[NOTE: Many positions that ARE advertised are already filled. Companies are often required to advertise even if they already know who they plan to hire.] You MUST network to know about almost all jobs!
REMEMBER: LinkedIn is what you want potential EMPLOYERS to see so act
professionally, use conservative photos, and do not use profanity or discuss
anything inappropriate for what used to be known as “polite” company.
There are two major ways to find a job: get recommended or go visit the businesses you want to hire you. Using LinkedIn to make sure those who are looking will find you and to meet those in a position to let you know about opportunities and recommend you is much easier unless you only want to work for a handful of local businesses you can visit in person. Read How to Get Recommended.
FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS
All the above information applies to those changing careers, too. Here are some projections about where the job growth is:
The infographic below from GraduateDegreeProgram.net shows the worst college degrees, careers that are not promising any more, and what careers are in demand.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Interested in finding more technical, vocational education options? See these International listings:
Business Schools, e-learning, online education and training companies are listed on these pages. If you have a related business, visit this link to find out how to get listed.
Gail, Small businesses do place less emphasis on qualifications and more on whether you are a good fit for the company and whether you will deliver what the company is employing you for. College degrees can be overated and candidates do need to ensure that the degree they are studying for will help when they choose their career.
Hi Chris,
I agree that college degrees have been oversold by educators and corporate employers. Attitude and capacity to learn are more important in my book than having any number of degrees. Experience is what makes someone truly valuable - and experience is far more often obtained by actually working than by sitting in a classroom.
Corporations use degrees to string employees along who want a promotion or more money. They can keep people less dissatisfied by claiming they have to get another degree before they can get a raise or position change. I know this because I only had an A.A. when IBM hired me (even though they generally required a B.A.) and they kept trying to promote me into management while at the same time two co-workers who wanted into management already had bachelor's degrees and were told they needed to get their Masters to get promoted.
So many corporate employees spend all their free time and money chasing another degree and when they get it they still don't get the raise or promotion. If they want you to move up they don't tell you that nonsense. It just keeps others satisfied for more years while they're working on that degree they never needed in the first place.
Among the fastest-growing disciplines, according to federal statistics, is healthcare administration.
Healthcare administrators manage, direct and coordinate medical services in a variety of settings, from clinics and hospitals to practices operated by groups of physicians. As the person in charge of a medical facility, a healthcare administrator’s duties can be varied and complex. Handling such responsibilities requires a mix of business administration skills and knowledge of medical services, as well as the regulations that govern the industry.
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Gail, Small businesses do place less emphasis on qualifications and more on whether you are a good fit for the company and whether you will deliver what the company is employing you for. College degrees can be overated and candidates do need to ensure that the degree they are studying for will help when they choose their career.
Hi Chris,
I agree that college degrees have been oversold by educators and corporate employers. Attitude and capacity to learn are more important in my book than having any number of degrees. Experience is what makes someone truly valuable - and experience is far more often obtained by actually working than by sitting in a classroom.
Corporations use degrees to string employees along who want a promotion or more money. They can keep people less dissatisfied by claiming they have to get another degree before they can get a raise or position change. I know this because I only had an A.A. when IBM hired me (even though they generally required a B.A.) and they kept trying to promote me into management while at the same time two co-workers who wanted into management already had bachelor's degrees and were told they needed to get their Masters to get promoted.
So many corporate employees spend all their free time and money chasing another degree and when they get it they still don't get the raise or promotion. If they want you to move up they don't tell you that nonsense. It just keeps others satisfied for more years while they're working on that degree they never needed in the first place.
Among the fastest-growing disciplines, according to federal statistics, is healthcare administration.
Healthcare administrators manage, direct and coordinate medical services in a variety of settings, from clinics and hospitals to practices operated by groups of physicians. As the person in charge of a medical facility, a healthcare administrator’s duties can be varied and complex. Handling such responsibilities requires a mix of business administration skills and knowledge of medical services, as well as the regulations that govern the industry.