06 October 2008

Recruiters are turning to a new web-based assessment tool to help evaluate candidates interested in a career in nursing, nurse.com has reported.

The pre-employment assessment tool – known as Healthcare Selection Inventory (HSI) – evaluates prospective nurses under a number of categories, including education, experience, skills and other criteria to determine whether the candidate is a good long-term fit for a health care team.

"HSI helps us to identify good job candidates in terms of customer service, retention, and job performance," said Ann Bures, a nursing recruiter at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

"It gives us an idea of how they approach work and what their work ethic is like," she added.
Applicants use the system to reply to 100 multiple choice questions – the results of which indicate the potential for future successes at work.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, compiled by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has indicated that there are excellent prospects for those seeking a career in nursing in the coming years. Employment in this sector is set to increase by 28% between 2006 and 2016.

In the not too distant past, many of the jobs we now take for granted didn’t exist. But as technology developed, so did the need for workers who could build and use it-and sometimes, the tasks those workers performed were so different that they became part of new occupations.

Technology is only one cause of new occupations. Demographic trends-such as increased immigration, aging, and higher levels of education-also cause new types of jobs to emerge, as do business trends and shifts in consumer needs and tastes.

Information technology

• GIS project managers
• GIS analysts-map production
• GIS analysts-land use

The pivotal role of visual information in land use decisionmaking at the local government level continues to generate emerging Geographical Information System (GIS) occupations. Local government infrastructure investments and land-use regulations require systemic development plans and other land use data in visual form. Among other uses, GIS information and models aid in discussions and negotiations between local governments and various private entities, including developers.

Manufacturing

• Sr Engineers-operations due diligence
• Quality control crew leaders-prod line

The concept of “due diligence” typically refers to a profound review of financial and accounting documents in the acquisition of a firm or in the process of investing in a firm. The concept also applies to the engineering and production activities, for which functional plans and systems may assume equal importance with the financial picture of a firm.

Industry adoption of new standards

(referred to as International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000 procedures) is closely related to the creation of a variety of management and technical positions that certify the efficiency of the engineering and production functions. Positions intended to certify manufacturing standards and quality production through use of well-documented procedures and processes continue to emerge. v Healthcare o Credentialing positions o Eligibility, necessity, & utilization reviewers o Selected medical specialties o Adjuvant therapists

In the health field, new & emerging occupations have addressed concerns with legal liabilities, responses to advancing medical technologies, administrative adjustments to rising costs, and alternative medical approaches. As a consequence, increased attention has been directed toward establishing and updating the credentials and certifications of medical personnel. New technologies and related certifications have created or changed work content in emergency medicine, endoscopy, enterostomal therapy, sonography, and retinal angiography, to list only some areas. Rising costs have created the need for additional cost-containment positions that determine the necessity of treatment, the form of treatment, the duration and location of treatment, and approved providers, among other cost control measures. Adjuvant, or “helping,” therapies of alternative varieties (acupuncturists, cultural healers, biofeedback clinicians, and sleep technicians) have created additional occupational opportunities as insurers extend coverage options.

Human Services

• Death and burial management
• Chaplains and religious educators
• Bereavement specialists
• Behavioral modification and adaptation

The aging of the American population continues to create occupations related to deaths and burials. Some associated occupations include “death-call drivers,” who handle initial disposition of human remains. Others are cemetery personnel, who handle grave preparation and graveside arrangements. Other positions exist for persons who help in the management of bereavement and subsequent grief management. Chaplain occupations and others dealing with religious education have been reported in nontraditional areas such as home healthcare services, residential care facilities, other health and allied services, labor unions and similar labor organizations, and some units of local government.

Transportation

• Aircraft line and support technicians
• Armored car drivers
• Aircraft interior refurbishers
• Ship container placement planners

Aircraft occupations are associated with corporate aircraft ownership. These aircraft owners require line technicians to move, fuel, and clean airplanes. The growth in the number of corporate aircraft has led to demand for interior refurbishers to maintain and renew interior accommodations. The continued growth of various convenience stores and fast-food outlets, among other factors, has created a need for armored car drivers to collect receipts and deliver operating funds. Finally, international trade and current ship container technology have resulted in occupations for specialists who plan the loading and placement of containers aboard ships.

Security

• Security screeners, Managers and Supervisors
• Crisis response phone specialists
• Surveillance analysts
• 9-1-1 coordinators
• Alarm monitoring center operators

In 2000, a variety of airport screening occupations appeared. Similar occupations were created for work in the lobbies and public areas of commercial and government buildings. Camera surveillance of retail sites created the need for analysts to review videotapes and reports. The need for telephone companies to support 9-1-1 call systems required the use of various coordinators to oversee the installation and maintenance of required switches. The expansion of telephone call centers of 9-1-1 type systems required increased staffing of crisis response specialists. Finally, an expanded reliance upon silent alarm systems at businesses and homes supported the need for alarm monitoring personnel at central alarm locations, partly due to local police complaints about having to respond to false alarms.

Management support

• Total quality management
• Bankruptcy coordinators
• Governmental affairs specialists
• Disaster business plan specialists
• Regulatory specialists
• Overseas operations specialists

The total quality management label denotes a number of related occupations that incorporate integrated management functions. These positions have resulted from widespread adoption of the process improvement approach to management. The positions of governmental affairs specialist and manager of environmental affairs were created to address conditions outside of internal operations. Global business opportunities and requirements have spurred demand for international sales managers, senior managers of international affairs, overseas operations specialists, directors of international accounting, and export/import trade representatives. Domestically, business failures and personal credit problems have created the need for bankruptcy coordinators at a variety of loan and consumer finance establishments. At another level, concerns about business disruptions resulting from natural and other disasters have provided opportunities for specialists who prepare contingency plans that address possible risks. Tec
hnology-specific o Satellites o Wheelchair and scooter maintenance o Environmental care o Nonmetallic technicians o Underground operations o Salvage technicians

The extensive development of satellite technology has created occupations such as satellite engineers, technicians, and repairers. Increased attention to environment management and care has led to growth in the numbers of restoration cleaning technicians, fire and water damage restoration technicians, mine cleanup technicians, waste water technicians dealing with disposal to city systems, and reverse osmosis repair and service technicians. The expanded use of underground routings of various pipeline and cable systems has boosted demand for underground specialists. The mobility needs of an expanding senior population have driven increases in the numbers of wheelchair and scooter repair and service technicians. The prevalence of nonmetallic materials in everyday products has created positions for laminator/ welders of fiberglass tanks and pipes, plastic welders, and laminators. Finally, the high intrinsic value of components and materials going into high-technology products has resulted in an increase in salvage activities and in the growth of occupations engaged in the salvage of such goods as automobile parts and materials in x-ray units.

Summary and conclusions

A number of occupations have been highlighted here to substantiate patterns with specific details.

If any conclusions are possible, they are that new and emerging occupations are appearing throughout the economy, in many industries in many States. Increasing human needs and new technology serve as the engine and fuel for the creation and expansion of these jobs

[ Adapted from : Bureau of Labor Statistics; June 2003; Bulletin 2559 ]

Forbes recommends network administrator careers, citing a projected shortage. While there probably will continue to be high demand for these jobs, I would recommend getting a more generalized computer science/information technology education and going for network certification later. Network jobs tend to be highly specialized, with the technology continuously changing. To have the best chance at long-term job security, more flexible skills such as programming may serve you better in the long run.

1. Registered Nurse (RN)

Day Shift: $54,500 annually

Night Shift: $55,700 annually

Working as a night nurse is more lucrative, but as all graveyard shift employees know, you have to stick to a rigid sleep schedule. “I usually sleep six to eight hours during the day,” says John Dunavant, who works overnights as vice president of national hub operations at FedEx in Memphis, Tenn. “The weekends are tougher. When I go home on Friday, I try to sleep a few hours and then go to bed at a regular time. Monday nights are the worst, though, because we’re all trying to get back into the third-shift mode.” Additional nursing jobs that pay better at night include:

2. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Day Shift: $36,300

Night Shift: $38,400

3. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Day Shift: $22,200

Night Shift: $22,600

4. Truck Driver

Day Shift: $31,300

Night Shift: $36,000

Aside from sleep deprivation, working at night and sleeping during the day leaves little time for running errands. Says John Dunavant, who works overnights as vice president of national hub operations at FedEx in Memphis, Tenn., “You have to be prepared to not have everything you need. Make sure you get to the bank and stop at the cleaners. You have to force yourself to get up early.”

5. Bartender

Day Shift: $24,600

Night Shift: $31,200

The good news here is that you have plenty of company to keep things exciting. When was the last time you saw someone fast asleep at a bar? Plus, employees don’t usually work the entire evening. Depending on what city they work in, bartenders leave when their establishment closes.

6. Waiter/Waitress

Day Shift: $16,500

Night Shift: $22,500

A dinner waiter or waitress has the advantage of larger dinner checks, more involved dining and the option of working late into the evening for late night eaters. 24 hour diners and eating establishments are a must to server the entire night time work force.

7. Verizon telephone operator

Day shift: $890 weekly

Night shift: $979 weekly

Aside from additional pay, employees who work at night get experience they wouldn’t have during the day because of all the competition. “Employees who work at night generally have the opportunity to move up faster and to learn more on the job,” says Rand Wilson, spokesman for Communications Workers of America. “Also, it’s more objective-oriented than process-oriented.”

8. Television writer/ news writer

Writers on the night shift get a 15% differential hourly rate. But the hours considered the night shift vary from network to network. At ABC the night differential is from midnight to 6 a.m. It covers employees at the national and local level at both television and radio stations. Positions covered include news writers, editors, desk associates, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers. At CBS, night differential is paid from midnight to 7 a.m. and includes the same positions.

9. Nanny

Night nannies generally start their shift at 2 p.m. and work until 10 p.m. They receive about 20% more than daytime nannies, according to Cliff Greenhouse, co-president of the Pavillion Agency in Manhattan. While a daytime nanny makes between $50,000 and $70,000 annually (in the metro New York City area), an evening nanny makes between $60,000 and $80,000. He attributes the pay increase to the added responsibilities at night such as bedtime, dinner, baths and picking the kids up from school. Many night nannies are also for families with a disabled child who needs extra personal care.

Agriculture / Natural Resources – Careers.Org

Animal Breeders breed animals, including cattle, goats, horses, sheep, swine, poultry, dogs, cats, or pet birds. Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring.

Animal Breeders – Careers.Org

Farm Equipment Operators – Careers.Org

With Health Care the strongest employment sector in our economy right now, many are looking to nursing as a smart career move. Careers.Org has some great resources for those considering nursing school, or searching for nursing jobs. But what else is out there online?

The Nursing Jobs Blog on nursingjobs.org is a terrific, in-the-know resource, with helpful tips like the current popularity of LPN jobs. On the rest of the site, you can set up a job alert, contribute your resume, or sign up to browse through resumes and hire candidates. Check it out some time.

Trade magazines and job websites love to identify the latest job trends. Often, “hot jobs” are based on government predictions, such as those contained within the Bureau of Labor Statistics “Tomorrow’s Jobs” report, issued every ten years. Ten years is a long time, however. Unforeseen circumstances can alter what once looked like a very safe prediction, leaving students and job seekers in the lurch.

Consider the cautionary example of the “librarian shortage.” In the late nineteen nineties numerous sources predicted a widespread shortage of library science degree holders, as the baby boomer generation approached retirement age. Students flocked to Masters of Library Science programs and discovered, en masse, that jobs failed to materialize as the boomer generation put off retirement and held on to the most desirable positions.

The current BLS “Tomorrow’s Jobs” report predicts growth in a number of industries likely to experience a downturn if recent economic developments continue – including banking, personal finance, employment services, trucking, recreation, real estate, and restaurants. While some occupations such as registered nurse, home health care assistant and computer software engineer do still appear to be sound career paths, others such as personal financial advisor, veterinary technologist and skin care specialist reflect the belief expressed throughout the 2006-16 report that the economy will continue to grow, incomes will rise, and the population will have more opportunity for leisure and discretional spending.

In contrast, some industries are outperforming government predictions. Mining, which was predicted to lose jobs through improved safety standards and increased automation, has added 241,000 new workers since 2003. Likewise, the government predicted job losses in the rail transportation industry, which has since experienced a large increase in passenger ridership as well as big gains for shipping companies utilizing rail in place of the troubled trucking industry. As the world’s energy needs increase, some experts predict continued growth in both of these industries, as well as the development of a new “green” employment sector surrounding the research and development of clean technologies.

As you look for the right college or job training program, don’t take an institution’s assertions about job growth at face value. Ask yourself: in light of current events, does it make sense that a particular job will be waiting for me when I graduate?

We’ve taken a second look at the Tomorrow’s Jobs Report and selected ten of the most recession-proof jobs from its list of occupations predicted to show the greatest percentage or numerical increases in employment:

Registered Nurses

Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts

Personal and Home Care Aides

Pharmacy Technicians

Computer Software Engineers

Forensic Science Technicians

Dental Hygienists

Medical Assistants

Social and Human Services Assistants

Teachers and Child Care Workers

Emerging recession-proof jobs:

Geologist

Renewable Energy Analyst

Social Media/Online Marketing Specialist

Energy Efficiency Consultant

Locomotive Technician