By Ginny Estupinian
Green jobs have recently been the buzzword among U.S. policymakers who say they could be one answer to rising unemployment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Labor Department’s Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program grants are being awarded to various organizations to help veterans enter this growing field.
Through the program, veterans receive skills assessments, individual job counseling, classroom or on-the-job training, skills upgrading and placement assistance. Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, announced these agency grants with the objective to provide about 3,000 veterans nationwide with training and employment in green jobs.
Participating veterans will be trained for jobs including: residential and commercial solar energy system installation, solar water heater repair, solar energy roofing, and electrical installation and maintenance, and solid wastewater treatment.
At present seventeen groups nationwide, will receive $500,000 in grants to train and find jobs for veterans. Besides California the other states awarded grants include Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Indiana and Arizona. ”This grant will provide our veterans with tools and skills that will ensure they are certified and trained in green jobs,” said Solis, adding that there was great need for such training.
A Two Day Workshop for Ohio Veterans Needing Help Finding Jobs
January 14, 2009
Bu Ginn Estupinian
On January 15th and 16th the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will be conducting a workshop for veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce. This program is designed to help veterans learn job searching skills and be able to match their military experience with potential employers.
The program will be taking place both days at the AMVETS Post 26 in Mansfield at 1100 W. Fourth St.
The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
By Ginny Estupinian
Here are two current items that can be of help to veterans and their families.
Veterans Job Fair set to take place on April 10th at Heinz Field. This job fair is open to anyone with a military background, including National Guard and Reserve members and military spouses. This is a great opportunity to meet prospective employers and explore possibilities in a environment that understands the value that veterans can provide.
The CARE-LINE service in North Carolina NOW provides round the clock service in order to respond to the needs of veterans and their families.
Reach CARE-LINE 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 662-7030 (English or Spanish) or (877) 452-2514 (TTY). Additional information is online at http://www.nccarelink.gov.
3 Key Ideas to Maximizing Your Efforts at Job Fair.
March 20, 2008
By Ginny Estupinian
On March 19th from 11:00am to 3:00pm , the Miami Herald is hosting the Recruit Military Career Fair at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. This is but one event that is being produced across the country in an effort to help veterans connect with employers. These job fairs are a great way to find out what employers are looking for, and a way to meet the people that make the hiring decision. Here are a few things to keep in mind when attending a job fair.
First, take a look at the event to see the list of employers that you might be interested in talking to. Before the event try to pull up information on the internet about these companies so that you walk in knowing something about what they do and what they stand for. You can get this information on the company website or simply Google the company name and see what appears. Another idea is to search the local paper website and look for articles that have been written about the company. By having this information in advance you will know what questions to ask as well as have comments to make concerning the company that might help you distinguish yourself from all the applicants.
Second, have your “elevator speech” ready and if at all possible change it up so that it fits to the companies that you are interested in. In a previous post I wrote about how to develop an opening speech that I called the “elevator Speech”. If you have not read it please scroll down and take a look. Now, assuming that you have the speech ready tailor it so that the person that you meet takes notice of you. In other words, you want to make sure the company you are interested in actually has a position available that you can do. For example, you do not want to begin to talk about an entry level position if after doing your research you find that they are not looking for entry level candidates. However, just because this particular company does not have any openings in what you are interested in does not mean that the person you are talking to can’t help you. Remember that these folks know other folks that do the same thing at other businesses. So by having your speech ready you can ask them to refer you to someone they know that is looking for people with your qualifications. You could simply say, “I know that your company is not presently looking for ____ but would you know of anyone else that you feel I should talk to that could have use for someone like me”. You will be surprised how many times people will say “yes”, and give you a referral that you would not otherwise get or know about simply because you asked.
Third, take the time to write down who you talked to and something about them on the business card or flyer that was handed to you. You are going to talk to a lot of people and at the end of the day it will all be a blur. Take the time as soon as you finish speaking with them to jot down some key points so you will remember later. Then follow up with a phone call or note the very next day. Some studies out there have suggested that only 5% of people ever follow up. That means that vast majority simply hope that their resume will be enough for them to be called in for an interview. You can push yourself ahead of the pack by simply taking the time to call them at their office, and thank them for taking the time to speak with you. At the same time you can emphasis that you are still very interested in having the opportunity to interview formally with them.
To Get A Degree or Not to Get A Degree
March 12, 2008
By Ginny Estupinian
As the economy begins to slow down and jobs become more difficult to come by, a lot of job seekers will turn their attention to considering getting a degree. After all, the links and banners on most job search websites are there screaming the virtues of getting a degree. There is also the first hand experience of looking for work and seeing that a lot of the jobs that you are interested in require a degree that you do not have. So a rational person would have to ask if getting a degree would be the answer to getting the job that they are looking for. The answer is both yes and no.
First of all getting a degree does not guarantee anyone a job once they have completed the program. In fact even trade schools that used to offer job placement services after completing their programs are now quick to disclose that there are no job guarantees. One reason is that you could finish a technical training program and still be lacking the skills to interview well or simply not be a good match for the company culture. Secondly, how many times have we all known fellow students that were great in class and just lousy in the work place. Third there is always a risk of choosing an educational program simply because it is the hot thing that employers are looking for now. By the time that it takes to finish most programs it is possible that the demand for people with these skill sets may have disappeared. We all saw a lot of this with regards to the computer industry several years ago. During the 1980’s and 1990’s the talk was about getting into the computer industry (today we say the IT industry) because common wisdom told us that this would be the ticket to a successful career. The around 2001 there began to appear a glut of people who had these skills and wages began to suffer also. One of the reasons for the loss in demand stemmed from the outsourcing of some of this type of work to other parts of the world.
Now this is not to say that there are no computer service related jobs available, or that everyone who went into the computer field is jobless. Rather what I am saying is that you can not bank on the demand for a specific field as being the reason to get a degree. Instead you really need to find what you are interested and passionate about first, and then see whether or not a degree is necessary.
A lot of my friends and I have known many individuals who went through a formal education just to hate doing the work once they got out. In one case a young man got his bachelor degree, and then went on to get his law degree, just to find out that he hated being a lawyer when he got out. Think about it, that was a total of seven years of education and he spent well over a $150,000 to get the education just to exit the profession after two years. Fortunately he found his calling in life, and today he is a very successful commercial mortgage broker who is very content with his life and his chosen profession.
My recommendation for anyone considering getting a degree in a specific profession is to first spend some time talking to those that do the actual day-to-day work. Talk to as many people as possible first, and even try to spend some time with them as they do the work. This is why internships are so important and powerful tools. We have all learned that there is a big difference between studying something and actually doing it. So definitely begin by spending the time to look to see what you are really interested and passionate about. Then if a degree is necessary you will not feel as much the burden of studying and spending the money to get the education.
By Ginny Estupinian
On February 13, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $6 million grant program aimed at helping Veterans to find jobs. The money will be spread through various state agencies and organizations across California who in turn will be matching almost $4 million in additional funds for a total investment of nearly $10 million. For example, $500,000 of this grant is going to the Fresno Based State Center Community College District and an additional $500,000 is going to the Bay Area, San Francisco Based, Swords to Plowshares organization.. Overall it is expected that 1500 newly discharged veterans will be helped by these grants in making the transition from military service to civilian workforce.
In Iowa the State Senate approved Senate File 2124 last month in an effort to help veterans get more help paying for prescription drugs, in hone nursing care, car repairs, and other expenses. The bill still needs to get through the Iowa House before it becomes law, but is a step in right direction to providing the assistance that these Veterans need.
Face to Face Job Searching Techniques for Veterans
February 28, 2008
By Ginny Estupinian
Mostly everyone will agree that in this day and age you have to stand out in order to be noticed. Nothing is closer to the truth than when you are searching for a job. This is one problem that many people experience when they mail or email in their resume. It shows up with a ton of other applicants, and the person that is reviewing them always has a hard time trying to decide which ones to call in for an interview. That is why at times showing up to a potential employer may be your best bet to finding a job.
In reviewing a lot of information about job searching it appears that most experts agree that you have a better chance of landing a job by simply going to a prospective employer with your resume and talking to them. You might remember that in my previous article I discussed the importance of having your “elevator speech” perfected before you talk to anyone about a job. Well, this is one of those times that being prepared will make a difference. That being said, you do not want to simply show up, hand your resume to a prospective employer, and spew out your speech. Instead begin by introducing yourself and ask a question. A simple question could be, “Do you have any job openings at this company”? Or “do you have a need for someone who can _____ (put in what you can do for the company)”? Next, when the prospective employer asks what you do, you can then give them your prepared speech. The point is that you need to be prepared because the vast majority of applicants are not prepared. They simply will either email or snail mail their resume in hopes that someone will pick their resume up and call them for an interview. If you want to take control of the process then it will be necessary for you to differentiate yourself from the pack enough so that you are the one that peaks their curiosity. In subsequent writings I will cover a few ideas on how you can be further prepare for that initial meeting.
