Tag Archives: economy

Where The Jobs Are: CNBC Special Points Out Infrastructure Job Opportunities

CNBC aired a great documentary “The Race To Rebuild: America’s Infrastructure” which pointed out the serious problems with our country’s bridges, levees, pipelines and roads. The degradation of these key pieces of infrastructure is a direct threat to our human lives and our economic future. CNBC did an excellent job in pointing out the fact that infrastructure investment would create thousands of jobs. Here are some jobs that could come from major infrastructure investment:

  1. CAD Technicians
  2. Civil Engineers
  3. Construction Inspectors (bridge,dams, highway and pipeline)
  4. Construction field workers
  5. Electrical Engineers
  6. Environmental Technicians
  7. Environmental Scientists
  8. Equipment Operators
  9. Forensic Investigators
  10. Geotechnical (Dam & Levee) Engineers
  11. Line workers and Electrical Maintenance
  12. Natural Gas Technicians
  13. Pipe layers
  14. Structural Engineers

What Do You Think?

There are many more jobs that would come from infrastructure investment. Here are some questions to discuss:

  1. What should be done to protect the public from these preventable dangers like the I-35 bridge collapse?
  2. The “Shovel Ready ” stimulus was a failure in its implementation. What could be done differently?
  3. Is it right to settle with injured people after a infrastructure disaster or fix the problem?

What do you think?

Further Reading

Job Certifications & Skills Needed

Top 17 Job Skills Employers Want In 2012

 

Special Report: Why Recent Pipeline Disasters Point Toward Jobs

 

20 Hottest Licenses and Certifications In The Green Economy For 2011 Part 2

This article is part 2 of our series “The 20 Hottest Certifications and Licenses In Green Economy for 2011″.

It has been predicted by a number of economists that the US economy will grow at 3 percent this year. While this rate may not be the pace that will bring down the unemployment rate, employers will be looking for workers with specialized experience and training. Certifications are one way for job seekers to position themselves for new job opportunities as they open.

  1. Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM): Cleaning up waste and recycling are two large areas of the green economy. Hazardous Materials Managers will oversee the analysis, cleanup, handling and disposal of chemicals, biological or radioactive waste. They will also have a lead role in responding to emergencies like oil spills or cleaning up old factory sites for redevelopment (see requirements). 
  2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional  (CISSP): The roles of  CISSP professionals  will expand as more SMART grid applications are implemented. Their primary job  protecting our infrastructure from foreign and domestic cyber attacks but they also have a secondary role in eliminating bottlenecks between networks,  
  3. Certified Safety Professional (CSP): Safety prodessionals will be in high demand in the energy, manufacturing and construction sectors. Look for companies implement stronger safety programs which move safety from a cost to an asset. Strong safety programs lower insurance rates, medical costs and legal liabilities. (7 steps to CSP)
  4. CWO (Certified Water Treatment Plant Operator): Clean Water is vital to life and the economy. These professionals run our drinking water and waste water treatment facilities. There are record numbers of these professionals headed to retirement and few people in line to replace them. Every state has its own certification program. ( Links to water operator training programs)
  5. Electrician License: Electricians will see a resurgence as the Green economy grows especially in the green buildings market. They will be installing  generators, switchgear and car charging stations  in homes and businesses . Every state has its own license program. (IBEW training Program).

We have 10 more certifications to go. Stay tuned

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It’s Not Easy Being Blue, Brown and Green: Who is Needed for Environmental and Water Industry Jobs in America

Blue, brown and green are the colors of water, contaminated land and restored land. The job opportunities available in these markets are well paying and cannot be off-shored due to national security concerns. However, a major problem exists for the environmental and water industry companies: there are not enough Americans willing pursue these jobs because they are not glamorous and highly technical. Who wants to use math and science everyday, right? I hope you see it differently. If you are a job seeker who has the right skills and knowledge you will get hired immediately when the projects start up. Here is some information which may be helpful.

The stimulus package has $6 billion set aside for each state’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to “promote clean water and ensure safe drinking water “. These funds are used by the states to build and improve water and wastewater infrastructure in cities and rural communities. The jobs connected to these projects require certifications or degrees in construction management, engineering and water plant operations. Let me turn your attention to a good opportunity.

Water/wastewater treatment plant operators are in high demand due to the large numbers of people retiring from the field. Each state has its own certification program and requirements but job seekers who have mechanical knowledge and a college degree may have a distinct edge over candidates who do not.

The EPA has an appropriation of $100 million dollars dedicated to environmental remediation and restoration programs. Environmental remediation and restoration is the process of cleaning contaminated commercial and industrial land (or brownfields) to a useful and functional state (one of the most successful industrial remediation and restoration sites is Atlanta’s Atlantic Station where an old steel factory was turned into a green based commercial area) . There are many contaminated buildings and factories around the country where chemicals and heavy metals are slowly seeping into the soil and water.

Before these contaminated sites can be restored, environmental scientists, engineers, real estate development professionals and remedial contractors will evaluate the contamination and design a cleanup plan to restore the land to “clean” status. Other professionals in the field of environmental forensics, toxicology and chemistry will be needed to assist in evaluation and legal matters.

If you are a job seeker interested in environmental remediation and restoration or the water industry make sure that you get the right education and certifications to increase your chance of getting a position . You will be glad you did.

 

5 Critical Skills Needed to get an Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics Job in America

Learn more about Green Careers

America has a shortage of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals. As the economy continues to recover, companies will need technical professionals who have well rounded skills and the ability to produce results. If you are looking to get hired early in the American economy’s upswing, it is vitally important that your resume showcases your achievements,  ]experience and skills in at least three of the following five skill areas:

  1. The ability to create and manage business relationships: In America, money follows relationships. Top technical professionals use their expertise and interpersonal skills to create beneficial relationships with the clients, stakeholders and sponsors of a project. While they may not always be the key person in the sales relationship, their ability to communicate technical information in layman’s terms and management of expectations will play a critical role in delivering a successful and profitable product, service or solution.
  2. Strong Technical skills: A top technical professional understands the basic and advanced technical skills of their profession and can execute them in a corporate setting even as an entrepreneur or freelancer if necessary. There is a market for freelancers in any economic situation.
  3. Financial Management: A top technical professionals understands the financial objectives of their managers, clients and stakeholders. They know how to manage budgets and can present their ideas using Return on Investment (ROI), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and other financial calculations. This skill will be important since investors will be cautious about their investments.
  4. Management: Managing people, processes and policy takes leadership, empathy, adaptability and diplomacy. A top technical professional is concerned with  recruiting and mentoring talented employees; efficiently using resources and ethical business practices while maintaining profitability. In their eyes, the quality of the people, project, product or service under their charge is a statement of their character and company.
  5. Strategic Leadership: Top technical professionals anticipate new markets, types of customer needs and new applications for their product or service. For them, it is not enough to build the solution for today’s problem but to develop the next generation of upgrades, patches and innovations before the market moves.

One of the biggest issues in the current STEM job market is the “Skills Gap” where unemployed job seekers do not possess the necessary education and skills for the available jobs.  Once job seekers acquire the education and skills, they should make sure they continually take classes to keep their skills up to date.

Further Reading

 4 Ways Job Seekers Can “Skill Up” In the Post Recession Economy

Top 17 Key Job Skills Employers Want In 2012

Hinton Human Capital Careers

 

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It’s Not Easy Being Green: Who Will Be Needed in the First Wave of Green Jobs

Kermit the Frog had it right - It is not easy being green. Especially if you are one of the thousands of people going after a “green job“. These job opportunities will be a driving force in the job market for years to come but they will not be easy to get initially. If you are a job seeker, you will need to get the right skills and knowledge today if you want to get hired immediately.  Here is some information which may be helpful.

The stimulus package has $5.55 billion set aside for the General Services Administration (GSA) to “convert GSA facilities to High-Performance Green Buildings”. These buildings will require some level of redesign and the procurement of specialized building materials before the projects will go to construction. Many of the initial green building construction jobs connected to these projects will require knowledge of LEED AP standards plus degrees in construction management, science or engineering. Job seekers who have a LEED AP certification, knowledge of sustainable building practices and a college degree may have a distinct edge over candidates who do not. 

The Smart Grid has an appropriation of $4.5 billion dollars. Before it goes to construction, there will be an initial need for engineers, Computer Aided Design (CAD) professionals, real estate professionals, scientists and geodetic survey personnel. The engineers and CAD professionals will do the design and specifications for the generation plants and transmission lines. The real estate professionals, scientists and geodetic survey personnel will  do the reports and surveys for the National Environmental Policy ACT (NEPA), Right of Way Acquisition and the local environmental permits required for power plant and power line construction. Job seekers pursuing these fields will need to update their education and certifications to be considered ahead of the competition.

These are just some of the green job opportunities that will come available as the stimulus package takes effect. Our advice to job seekers who want to get an edge over the competition is to take the initiative and get your certifications, degrees and/or experience in order to get these new opportunities. You will be glad you did.