Flash … you are obsolete ...

“Automation does not make optimism obsolete.” – George Key Funston

Please be sure to see the links at the end of this post …
 I was interviewed by our own Joe Gallagher on 810 WGY (http://www.wgy.com/pages/joegallagher.html) this past Sunday morning. We talked about the job situation in our Region and as well the need to create new jobs in our changing economy. Clearly this is the political discussion of the day.

 One fact that Joe and I talked about is the whole issue of job obsolescence.  Our economy has changed over the past few years and will likely never return to where we were before. No politician can change what has happened no matter what they say.

 What happened?

 … Overnight you may have become obsolete. 

… You may have been replaced with technology. 

… The industry you worked in may be one on its way out forever.

 There is nothing you can do to change it - but there is plenty to do to prepare and be ready.
 During the recession, many companies used the money they built up by not hiring and cutting operating costs and invested in new technology to make their business more efficient. The auto industry is an example. Sales are way up now and so are their profits. They invested in technology with the bailout they received from the Fed and retooled. They retooled thousands of jobs that will never return. Some can say it was not right; others would agree that it is just good business.

 The result - there is a good lot of talented and quality minded people out there who overnight it seems saw their industry change. They didn't have the technology skills to survive the change.

 This is happening in businesses large and small today and in all industries. I hear it from the companies I talk to all the time. New software programs, new processes - you name it- business is doing more with less (and I should add the public sector too). I don't see any change in this. I see this continuing to happen - and likely with more gusto.

 Right here in our Region, I was talking to a business owner of a company of 21 people. Through new software in office automation, he was able to cut 5 jobs (and that means people) who he will never need again. That is about 20% of his staff.

 Okay you accept it. So what do you do?

 If you are seeing the signs, begin to tool yourself now - do not wait for an unemployment slip or difficult work situation. Take control and identify:

 What you want to do next...

And the skills that will be required to do that...

Then go get them!

 There are so many options for career development programs, technology training, training in jobs and industries with planned demand. There are private programs, community colleges, online learning and more is available to you. Start researching now - and get help with this if you need it.

 What are some areas of demand for skilled workers?

 Some of the many:

•  Healthcare -and not just those positions involving patients but administration, patient and family services, office, office management, etc. Remember- health care in a business and needs qualified people to run the business and serve its employees and patients.

•  Skilled trades - construction, carpentry, plumbers - you name it; there is a demand and shortage now.

•  Technology - need I say more? Hot spots: security, systems analysts, programmers, developers.

•  Engineering - most all disappoints.

• And in our Region - semiconductor processors and other positions in manufacturing in this industry.

 There are many opportunities if you plan, commit and take action now and do not wait until it is too late.
 Take control. Be in control. Never be obsolete.

 And thank you for reading this. – Dan

 PS: Some very valuable links to lists of highest demand and growing career occupations. Hope you find this helpful:

http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/76DB6BDB/Top-25-In-Demand-Jobs-and-Fastest-Growing-Occupations/

http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/27/10-hot-careers-for-2012-and-beyond/

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-25-best-jobs

Job Market Report 9 26 12

Big jump up last week - a littler cooler this week
_______________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate release

September 26, 2012

Job Postings Drop Back after Strong Week

(Albany, NY,  September 26, 2012) – After a very strong week last week, when job postings soared by 20% in one week alone, the market cooled a bit and every market in NYS was slightly down from the week before. “It was quite and increase and often we see this occur – a good strong week with a week to follow that is slightly off. The good news – we held the increase showing marked improvement in the Regional job market, as well as in other markets in the state. In the Capital Region, postings came in at 1670, slightly below last week’s 1,740”, stated Dan Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

As stated, other markets in NYS were slightly down as well. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

National Job Scene

How many job postings are there in the United States today? We will be watching this nationally going forward.

As of 9/26/12, there were,  on a seven-day-average, 557,225  national job postings, down 7.4% .  “Employers seem to be holding back for sure on hiring and I think this will be the case through Election Day or end of the year”, stated Moran.  indicating a more sluggish national market than our Region. The top five areas for the most jobs per capita remain unchanged: San Jose, CA, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Raleigh, NC and Oklahoma City, OK. There is one job posting per unemployed person in each of these markets meaning the market is much less competitive.  

About Next-Act

Next-Act, a division of DVG, Inc. is a career management & transition firm directed by Dan Moran, the Founder & President of the firm. Moran contributes over thirty years experience in career consulting, business and human resources management. In 2012, his firm will celebrate 24 years in business. Moran is noted for his expertise in helping today’s “boomers” move on to fulfilling second careers, while helping executives and professionals achieve their career goals. The firm also provides human resources consulting and corporate services to companies. Moran is also a certified facilitator for C.J. Hayden’s Get Clients Now! &  Get Hired Now! programs.

For further press information: http://www.next-act.com/press_room.

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act.com

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Celebrating 24-years of helping others in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Office: 518-261-4212

Cell: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Boomer Years: Years of opportunity, challenge and change – if you accept it and go with gusto!

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard

I had the opportunity to speak at a local conference for Boomers - "Living the 50plus Lifestyle" – presented by Vivacity Magazine and media sponsors including Capital Region Living Magazine (www.crlmag.com). My wife Vikki, who publishes Capital Region Living Magazine spoke as well; her topic was Travel in your Boomer Years.

I was asked to speak about careers after 50 – or Boomer Year career opportunities, a subject near and dear to me and my business. The truth be told – a significant majority of the clients I work with are in their Boomer years, or find themselves seeking new direction at a younger (30 to 40’s) age. As a workforce, we have become more open to change now than ever before. If you think about our parents and our parent’s parents, they likely worked one job with one company for their entire working life, and then retired. That was the promise of years past.

Not so today – no way. Today people are changing jobs, on average, once every 2-3 years. They are changing careers two to five times in their working life. A recent study reported that 47% of the employed workplace is reevaluating their career direction at this time – WOW! We are not complacent. We want change, and will go to many lengths to achieve this. It is especially true for the Boomer generation, defined as a person born between 1946 and 1964 in Australia, Canada or the United States. Following World War II, the United States experienced an unusual spike in birth rates, a phenomenon commonly known as the baby boom.

The 78 million Boomers are the most powerful contingent in today’s workplace, and as a generation that have a significant impact on the economy. They spend to enjoy life, to travel and to help others. They seek new opportunities which provide them:

Passion …

Purpose …

Value …

Boomers view work in a different manner as they pursue second careers or life:

• 22% say they are bored with the mere thought of retirement
• 39% simply cannot imagine being retired
• 21% state that they need to continue to be productive and contributing, not sitting on the porch
• 52% seek more intellectual challenge in their life or their next career act

And they plan to work longer:

• 8 of 10 Baby Boomers state they plan to work at least part time during their retirement years 
• 43% plan to continue working into retirement

·         51% plan to start a second career

·         37% will seek to work part time

·         Only 16% plan to not work at all

And we plan to work for various reasons:

·         35% stated they will be working for the sake of interest and enjoyment

·         33% said they will work for the income work provides

·         33% just enjoy working – and want to continue

·         39% see work as a tool to keep physically active

·         17% will be stating their own business

·         21% plan to move to a new geographic area

·         5% stated that they will be working full-time. They want to work on their terms

What are Boomers concerned about?

·         76% are concerned that they will not have enough money to retire

·         52% are concerned that they will not be healthy enough to do what they want

You can see how dynamic this part of our population is, and the impact they have. It is truly exciting to see someone blossom in their second phase of life and career which I get to do in my practice. Ten years ago, we would have never heard of a 50’S Lifestyle Conference for Boomers; it is reality today.

So you may be saying to yourself, “Sure Moran, but what about age discrimination”. Yes – it is still there but not nearly as prevalent. Employers are becoming more enlightened – they see the value that a “more seasoned” employee brings – dependability, experience, responsibility and loyalty, often missing in  other generations. They are courting Boomer year employees (walk into a Home Depot lately or notice the ages of flight attendants as two example that are right in your face). My advice has been: If you feel that someone isn’t going to hire you because of your age, yes you can raise holy hell with EEOC and regulatory enforcement agencies or simply agree – not a place for me to work – which I think is always the best choice. Let that company go on and be misguided. It will catch up to them someday.

In your Boomer years or approaching the same?

Embrace the change – embrace the opportunity. As you enter this phase, do what you want to do – really want to do – and work on your terms. Branch out – start a business, give back to others or the community – make a difference. Be more than you ever imagined you can be. You are not alone! You are powerful.

And thank you for reading this. - Dan

 

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act:

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Corporate Management Services

Celebrating 24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Visit the Assessment Center: next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm

Manage Performance & Achievement: next-act.com/prescriptive-performance-analysis.cfm

Job Market Report September 19 2012

Job market takes a big step forward - YEA!
_______________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate release

September 19, 2012

Job Postings Increase Sharply – Almost 20% in one week!

(Albany, NY,  September 19, 2012) – After waffling the past few weeks, job postings posted a very strong approximate 20% increase this past seven days indicating a stronger market in our Region, which is excellent news. Postings were about 1740, up from 1450 last week. “Overall the market has been much stronger in this quarter and there is nothing to think that this will stop in the near future, unless there is a significant upheaval in the economic or political markets”, stated Dan Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

Other markets in NYS posted increases however not as strong. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

NEW – How many job postings are there in the United States today? We will be watching this nationally going forward.

As of 9/19/12, there were,  on a seven-day-average,  570,172 national job postings, down slightly from the week before indicating a more sluggish national market than our Region. The top five areas for the most jobs per capita remain unchanged: San Jose, CA, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Raleigh, NC and Oklahoma City, OK. There is one job posting per unemployed person in each of these markets meaning the market is much less competitive.  

Other markets in NYS were generally down slightly from the week before. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

About Next-Act

Next-Act, a division of DVG, Inc. is a career management & transition firm directed by Dan Moran, the Founder & President of the firm. Moran contributes over thirty years experience in career consulting, business and human resources management. In 2012, his firm will celebrate 24 years in business. Moran is noted for his expertise in helping today’s “boomers” move on to fulfilling second careers, while helping executives and professionals achieve their career goals. The firm also provides human resources consulting and corporate services to companies. Moran is also a certified facilitator for C.J. Hayden’s Get Clients Now! &  Get Hired Now! programs.

For further press information: http://www.next-act.com/press_room.

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act.com

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Celebrating 24-years of helping others in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Office: 518-261-4212

Cell: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com