Tag Archives: Obama

Special Report: What We Have Learned From The Oil Spills

The Gulf Oil Spill has taught us that a spill is not a singular event but a series of  poor decisions; lax regulatory enforcement or maintenance;a lack of qualified/well-trained people and bottom line thinking. One question that I have been asked about this situation is “What have we learned that can help combat future oil spills” . Here are some of the things we have learned from the oil spill.

  1. America has received ”crash” courses in petroleum and safety engineering, marine biology, forensics (accident reconstruction), geology, hazardous materials response and environmental engineering and was interested to hear more . One of the most interesting issues about all of these fields  is they are some of the very same fields where there are shortages of qualified people. Don’t believe me? (Search “petroleum” on Career Builder). I  have written numerous times about the growth predictions for STEM (Science, Technology and Mathematics), related jobs from www.bls.gov and other places. These opportunities are real and they will grow even more in the coming years as  more of the “Baby Boomer” workforce retires. It is my sincere hope that someone was influenced to look at these career fields as their future career choice.
  2. The Federal government needs more qualified inspectors for offshore energy facilities: Many news outlets including the Wall Street Journal and  Washington Post reported the fact that Mineral Materials Management Service (MMS) only had 60 inspectors to oversee 4,000 rigs. The testimony of Mary Kendall, the Inspector General highlighted the fact that inspectors received “On the job training” and that “ inspector training and training programs have not kept pace with the technological advancements occurring within the industry.” With that assessment and the impending overhaul of the agency, there will be some additional job opportunities with MMS for those who are interested in environmental, health & safety (EH&S) careers. The CSP or Certified Safety Professional is a great certification to have when looking at these job opportunities.
  3. The Oil & Gas industry, Federal Authorities and Gulf State governments will need an on-call cadre of cleanup workers: It is expected that the authorities and industry will put together a well-trained clean up task force for future spills to alleviate confusion and streamline operations in the future. However, training workers from scratch to clean up a hazardous material like oil is a huge undertaking which presents a host of problems. 40 hour HAZWOPER training is a good start but it is not enough. We can also expect these new workers to get advanced emergency management training such as incident command training as the government looks at ways to prepare for future incidents. Job seekers who want to be on the front lines of hazardous material clean up should look to get the Certified Hazardous Material Manager  (CHMM), Hazardous Material Manager in Training certifications (HMMT) or Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP). These certifications will give more in-depth knowledge on protocol and safety procedures.
  4. Environmental clean up technology companies will receive more investment to develop better technology.: We learned very quickly that our country does not have enough skimmers, booms, vacuums and other equipment to handle a large spill or other disaster of this type. Kevin Costner showed everyone that a great idea, some money and a lot of patience will do wonders for investments in oil clean up technology. You can expect investment to flow into these companies once the government agencies overhaul the regulations. Before you invest in any company make sure you understand the risks. 
  5. Safety Jobs will be hot: The federal government is in the process of overhauling the safety regulations which govern the oil & gas industry but the rule changes will also effect other industries who also use hazardous materials.  The affected companies will update their internal safety policies; step up training and enforcement. Look for Safety Training, Process Safety Management  and field safety positions to open up.

Oil Spill Coverage Over

This concludes Hinton Human Capital’s coverage of the oil spill. In the suggested reading I have provided links to other articles which will help job seekers to find opportunities in the hazardous materials response field.  I encourage readers to comment and ask questions.

Suggested Reading

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3 Hot Environmental Certification of Oil Spill and Other Disasters

How to Leverage Your Oil Spill Clean up Experience Into a New Career

International Directory of Oil Spill Contractors

Special Report: Oil Spill Related Environmental and Disaster Jobs on the Rise

We are all horrified at how quickly the oil spill has spread and angered by how much time it has taken to get the leak plugged. The Louisiana Oil Spill is one of the largest man-made disasters of recent times. One whose effects will reverberate through the gulf economy for years to come. While the spill will setback the coastal Louisiana fishing industries for a period of time, it will also create a boon of local environmental cleanup jobs and could lead to more environmental related jobs in the future.

A History Lesson

History is a great teacher if we heed its lessons. In 1989, the Exxon Valdez spilled 53 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska which devastated the local economy, 1300 square miles of ocean ecosystems and killed thousands (maybe millions) of wildlife. The clean up effort generated at least 11,000 local jobs and Exxon pumped more than $2.1 Billion to finance the effort. (See Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Facts). There are still a number of long-term research and restoration projects today. Scientists are restoring shoreline ecosystems and assessing the long-term effects  of the oil on animal populations. The states effected by the Deep Horizon Oil Spill can expect a similar situation.

A Look At Today’s Spill And The Jobs To Come

No one knows the final tally of the damages of the Louisiana Oil Spill but I want to give you some ideas of industries which will benefit from this disaster:

  1. Environmental Emergency Response: Many of these companies hold contracts with federal agencies, private industrial firms and state governments to deal with chemical spills and hazardous materials. One of company grew from 400 people to 1500 in 30 days. How is that for job growth?
  2. Water Treatment Industry: I am specifically citing those firms which make chemicals to disperse and treat oil laden water. If you troll, the stock market websites like CNBC (http://www.cnbc.com/id/36907210), these companies will be among the top gainers on the Dow, S&P and other exchanges. Some of these companies have to ramp up the manufacturing operations to meet the demand because the recession has forced them to cut production. Temporary and contract manufacturing jobs maybe around the corner.
  3. Environmental Law: There will be hundreds if not thousands of lawsuits against the responsible parties of the oil spill. Attorneys will need additional staff to handle the mountains of evidence needed to get a judgement. These suits typically take years to complete so there is potential for long-term employment.
  4. Damage Assessment Inspectors: Agencies such as EPA, FEMA, USGS, Army Corps of Engineers and US Coast Guard will have hundreds of people working the spill area to figure out what was damaged, how it was damaged and estimate cleanup costs. Although these jobs maybe temporary, a paid position could pay very well. In addition to federal inspectors, insurance companies environmental groups and the oil companies will have their people on the ground.  They will be looking for people with estimating/construction experience, high math aptitude and ability to work outdoors for extended periods of time.
  5. Oil and Gas Service Companies: There are a number of companies who provide emergency equipment and services such as divers, safety personnel firefighting and well capping  to the Oil & Gas industry who will benefit from the capping and cleanup efforts. I will explore this area more in future articles.

My hope is that we can get the people in place to contain the oil; clean the impacted area and restore the damaged ecosystems as soon as possible. Check our Hinton Human Capital products and services

Suggested Reading

3 Hot Certifications For Oil Spill and other Environmental Disasters

Fishermen Sign On to Clean Up Oil-NY Times

Cost of US Oil Spill

How Crisis and Disasters Mean Opportunity In Green,Environmental & Infrastructure Industries

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Created 11,000 Local Clean Up Jobs

Hinton Human Capital Jobs

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The 7 Hottest Certifications For The 2010 Economic Recovery

Last year we talked about the “12 Certifications and Licenses You Will Need In The Green Economy“. In 2010, we are unveiling the 7 hottest certifications for the 2010 economic recovery. Here’s why: The flow of money from the stimulus package has been steadily building up and the deadline for some of federal agencies get their “shovel ready”money under contract is approaching. While there are some who disagree that stimulus package will have an effect on the overall unemployment statistics, it is a proven fact that infrastructure construction projects have a strong multiplier effect on the local economy and supplier chains by creating other jobs and economic flow. 

Certifications and licenses are an excellent way for job seekers to add to their experience and gain a competitive advantage in the job market without a major investment in a new college degree. However, we do want to emphasize that certifications and licenses do not guarantee a job. If you do not know which certification is right for you, check our new e-book: “Is It Worth The Green?”Here are the 7 certifications for 2010:

  1. CCE (Certified Cost Engineer): Every construction project has a price. Cost Engineers give building owners and construction professionals exact cost estimates of materials and staff for their projects. This field has huge shortage of people in the energy, commercial, healthcare and industrial sectors. It is highly recommended that a person has architecture, construction or engineering experience before pursuing this certification.
  2. CEM (Certified Energy Manager): Energy managers are the people who will make sure that buildings and other facilities will meet and stay within their energy consumption goals. Many of these professionals will primarily work in real estate, government and industrial settings. They are sometimes called Resource Managers.  
  3. CPEA(Certified Environmental Auditor): Environmental Auditors make sure that all industries are adhering to environmental regulations and protocols. As the green economy moves forward there will be an increased need for these professionals who understand the new cap-and-trade systems and Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations for greenhouse gases.
  4. CTAM(Certified Asset Manager): Infrastructure asset managers are responsible for managing the cost of owning and operating municipal and civil infrastructure such as water/wastewater treatment systems; roads and bridges or energy generation and transmission. The water industry is particularly in need of people with asset management ability because the nation will need to overhaul  its water systems to conserve drinking water and improve the quality of treated wastewater. 
  5. LEED-AP(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): This certification is focuses on green building techniques and energy efficiency. 75% of the federal government buildings and countless private owned properties will be made more energy-efficient and ecofriendly. If you are considering a career move into building construction, this is the certification that will set you apart.
  6. PE (Professional Engineer): The Smart Grid, alternative energy, nuclear and fossil fuel and shovel ready infrastructure projects are in dire need of licensed electrical, civil, structural, geotechnical, mechanical, environmental, mining and petroleum engineers. There are not enough people going into these fields to backfill the Baby Boomers who are retiring. If you are an engineer, a PE will make a big difference in your career and financial future.
  7. PSP (Project Scheduling Professional): Every construction project must be planned and scheduled before the first shovel hits the dirt. PSPs use the latest software tools and processes to make sure that project tasks are completed within the prescribed timeframes and prevent

This article is a part of our 2010 campaign to make the public aware of education opportunities and jobs in the climate change, environmental and infrastructure markets.

Your comments are welcome.  Please stay tuned for new updates, posts and E-books on certifications and licenses.


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.

5 More Hot Stimulus Related Jobs For Late 2009

Here are more stimulus related jobs which may start to pick up in late 2009.

  1. The US Government: Over 50% of the federal government employees are expected to be in retirement range by 2010. Expect the government to start replacing these people especially in national security and economic related positions. Look for growth in the SEC, IRS, EPA, FDA, Defense Procurement, Intelligence and other agencies.
  2. Software & Database Programmers/Developers: The medical records industry will go through a major database development phase. Now is the time to start positioning yourself for a job.
  3. Telecommunications: The Rural Broadband initiative includes money for telemedicine. Rural areas have some of the greatest challenges when it comes to health care access.
  4. Law Enforcement/Security/Investigation: Fraud, Fraud everywhere. Look for growth in niche industries especially forensic accounting, crime scene investigation and surveillance.
  5. Accounting, Auditing, Bankruptcy and Taxes: Someone must cleanup the mess left by failed banks, investment vehicles and businesses. There will be specific attention paid to the assets which come from the actions.

As the stimulus package money begins to seep into the economy more opportunities like these will open. Job seekers must position themselves now to get these jobs when they open.