Occupational Outlook Publications Help You Choose the Best Career

From the Gov Book Talk blog:
Holding a job vs. having a career. Making a living vs. following your vocation. In today’s tough economic climate, many unemployed or underemployed would be happy with any job, and don’t dare aspire to a dream job. But what if you could have it all: a job that you love to do, you’re good at doing it, and is in demand so you will actually get paid to do it?
Image: Dream Job = sweet spot between passions, skills, and market demand. Image credit: TheUndercoverRecruiter.com
In President Obama’s State of the Union Address this week on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, one of the themes was the need for education and job training (and re-training) to help get Americans into the workforce or transition into more stable industries. But half the battle is knowing which profession matches your passions and talents, what skills and education you need to carry out that job, and what the current and future prospects are for that particular field so you have a better chance at keeping that job in the future.
Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (known as BLS) has two complementary publications to help you choose the right career path.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is the Federal Government’s premier source of career guidance featuring hundreds of occupations—both blue-collar and white-collar— from carpenters, firefighters and sports referees to teachers, medical professions, personal financial advisers, and even multimedia designers and scientists.  Revised every 2 years, the latest version contains employment projections for the 2010-20 decade.
Do you “dig” bones and ancient cultures? Read up on archeologist careers and learn their most recent media pay, entry-level education requirements or equivalent work experience, the number of jobs in this field today and the job outlook for this field over the next decade.
Currently, the top two fastest growing occupations are personal care aides and home health aides, to serve the aging baby boomers. The HGTV home renovation effect seems to have been a boon for tile/marble setters and stone and brick masons, and our nation’s kitty and puppy love for pets has made veterinary techs in high demand. The highest paying of the top 20 fastest growing occupations are physical therapists at $76,310 median annual pay and biomedical engineers at $81,540.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE FULL SIZE

Image: Fastest growing occupations: 20 occupations with the highest percent change of employment between 2010-20. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

For those who want more regular updates with more in-depth articles, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also offers its attractive magazine, the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, or the “OOQ” for those in the know. Suitable for job-seekers, students, teachers, parents, job and guidance counselors, this color magazine format features personal stories and detailed articles describing insiders’ views of what different jobs are like.
In the Winter 2012-13 edition of the OOQ, the feature article explained what certificates and certificate programs are, the differences between certificates and licenses or degree programs, and how certification might offer a quick way to enter a career. Another described the “hot” field of geothermal energy (pun intended) and the various careers to take advantage of this growing industry. Other articles provide tips for online resources for comparing colleges and available scholarships, life in the real estate or personal fitness professions by successful people in these occupations, and which types of careers tend to offer the best benefits and job perks.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW FULL SIZE

Have a hankering to turn your “ho-ho-ho” into more than a hobby? The OOQ even included a fun article entitled “You’re a what? Santa Claus!” describing the jolly job of Phil Wenz who became a professional full-time Santa Claus and Santa historian at a Christmas theme park in Illinois.
Image: Full-time Santa and Santa lecturer and historian, Phil Wenz. Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
How can I buy these Occupational Outlook publications?

• Buy them online 24/7 at GPO’s U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov:
  
  • Buy the Occupational Outlook Handbook
  • Buy a one-year subscription to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly
• Buy them at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, (202) 512-0132.
• Find them in a federal depository library.

About the Author:  Michele Bartram is Promotions Manager for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales Division in Washington, DC, and is responsible for online and offline marketing of the US Government Online Bookstore (http://bookstore.gpo.gov) and promoting Federal government content to the public.

Filed under: Business, Department of Labor, Jobs and Employment

Find a Job and Get Career Advice from The Labor Department's New Social Jobs Partnership Facebook Page [Job Search]

Find a Job and Get Career Advice from The Labor Department's New Social Jobs Partnership Facebook Page [Job Search]:

It's no secret that millions of people are having a hard time finding work. The US Labor Department's new Social Jobs Partnership page on Facebook is designed to connected these job-seekers with little-known career resources and job openings.

Right now the page is in development, but you can see organizations and services listed in the career resources section such as the National Association of Colleges and Employers, DirectEmployers, and Job Corps. The Labor Department's My Skills My Future website is one of the resources linked; it helps people find alternative careers based on their current skills.

The Facebook page promises to be sort of an online job fair mixed with career counseling tools and information. Given Facebook's popularity, it has great potential, and this is one Facebook page we hope will be a great success.

Social Jobs Partnership | Facebook via LA Times

---

You can follow or contact Melanie Pinola, the author of this post, on Twitter or Google+.

New USAJOBS Website

New USAJOBS Website:From Freegovinfo.info
According to NextGov, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management announced the launch of "a more user-friendly website to search, apply for and share information about federal jobs", USAJOBS 3.0, on Tuesday, ahead of schedule.

• USAJOBS - The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site.
  USAJOBS is the U.S. Government’s official system/program for Federal jobs and employment information. USAJOBS delivers a service by which Federal agencies meet their legal obligation (5 USC 3327 and 5 USC 3330) providing public notice of Federal employment opportunities to Federal employees and U.S. citizens. Technology and program operations offer Federal agencies and job seekers a modern platform to support online recruitment and job application.
  
• USAJOBS 3.0, By Brittany Ballenstedt, NextGov (10/12/11)
  

Finding A Job in This Tough Market

Finding A Job in This Tough Market: From USA.gov Blog:
"The Department of Labor announced the unemployment rate had edged up to 9.2 percent in June, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that it takes about 10 weeks to find work (PDF).

While those numbers might be disheartening, there is help if you’re looking for a job.

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has online tools and resources to help find you find the right job.

You can also use CareerOneStop to learn about different careers, typical salaries, and get resume help.

And, don’t forget, the Government is hiring! There are more than 5,000 federal government job openings right now. Use our Work for the Government page to help you begin the process of applying for federal, state, or local government jobs."

Summer Jobs with the Federal Government

Summer Jobs with the Federal Government: From USA.gov Blog: "
Summers are synonymous with hot days at the beach, picnics at the park, and lots of fun outdoors. For some, summers are also a busy time of year—especially if you’re a student looking for a summer job.
Fortunately for you, the government is hiring.
Federal agencies have many summer jobs available for both students and recent college grads. The best part is that many of these positions are available across the country—not just in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.
Wide-Ranging Jobs
Every year, federal agencies turn to students to fill temporary positions that range from administrative assistants and technicians to other support staff in the fields of engineering, national security, environment, health, and technology.
You can see the extensive array of jobs available by going to the student section of USAJobs.gov, an online portal that centralizes job postings across the federal government.
“There are opportunities virtually in every area you can imagine,” said Angela Bailey, Deputy Associate Director for Recruitment and Hiring at the Office of Personnel Management, the agency that runs USAJobs.gov.
Wages for these positions vary from $9 to $15 an hour, and applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Although you need to be a U.S. citizen to get most of these jobs, there are some positions for noncitizens (it depends on the position and the agency).
How to Apply for a Job
Federal summer job searches generally begin by going to USAJobs.gov/studentjobs/ where you can search postings by keywords, geographical areas, and type of student positions. If you find a job that you like, you can apply for it right there on the site.
Federal agencies are not required to post all of their jobs on USAJobs.gov, and in fact many positions are not announced there. That’s why Bailey suggests that you use the portal as a guide for the type of government work that interests you and then reach out to agencies.
“I recommend that students visit the agencies’ websites or call them by phone to see if there are any jobs available,” she said.
To increase the chances of landing a summer job with the federal government, Bailey offers the following advice:

• Start searching for a summer job in March or April. By June, agencies have already identified which students they are going to hire.
• Apply for jobs related to your area of study. For example, if you’re a psychology major then look for jobs in industrial organization; if you study computers look for opportunities in the area of cyber security.
• Speak with school counselors since your school may have a direct relationship with federal agencies and they can help you land a job.
• Speak with someone you know who works for the agency where you’d like to work. This person might help you understand the process better and offer you more specific advice.

Long-Term Opportunities
Besides summer jobs, the government has other programs for students and recent graduates including internships, apprenticeships, fellowships, and grants to help students get more education or experience in a specialized field.
Bailey says students should look at these summer jobs as more than temporary employment, as they can be the beginning of a career with the federal government. These temporary jobs allow students to see if public service is something they want to do in the long term.
So far, it’s worked pretty well for both agencies and students.
“We get to try them out and they get to try us out,” she said. “It’s a win-win for everybody.”
"

Finding a New Job

Finding a New Job: From GovGab:

"January’s unemployment rate was 9%, and that means that there are a lot of Americans who still need jobs.
The local paper is a good way to find jobs close to home, and these days many jobs are posted online. Don’t forget that there are lots of government jobs out there too.
If you’re looking for a job or an internship with the federal government, you’ll find all federal job openings announced to the public at USAJOBS. Check out your state job bank for even more job opportunities in your area. If you need a job-seeking advice, look up your local Department of Labor office and see what services they offer to job seekers in your area.
And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of job scams."

Student Jobs

Student Jobs: From GovGab: "When I was in high school and college I almost always had a part-time job. I worked at the mall, in department stores, sold shoes, lifeguarded, and did some office work in an academic office on campus. I always avoided being a waitress. I’m so clumsy that I would have surely dropped a tray of drinks in someone’s lap.
All of these jobs lined my pockets with a little extra cash, but it was really that job in the academic office in college that was something that gave me the skills and experience I needed to enter the workforce. And who would guess that it was a federal work study job that would get me started? The university got the money to pay me through a federal grant program.
Students looking for a job have a lot of options. I wish I knew about all these different programs when I was in school.
If you’re looking for a paying position like I had at the university, talk to the people in your financial aid office. They know where the work study jobs are. If you want to branch out a bit, I recommend looking at the student jobs section of usajobs.gov, the official source for federal government jobs.
Internships are also a great place to gain experience, and sometimes they pay too. There are many internship opportunities with government and non-government organizations.
And if you’re really not in it for the money, think about volunteer opportunities like Job Corps or Peace Corps that offer rich life experiences.
What was your favorite student job? I think the one that I really liked the most was teaching swimming lessons."