Central Florida Employment Council

Dr. Barbara Seifert, CPC

     Organizations today want employees who have the skills they need and will hit the ground running – quickly.  Meaning, they are looking for potential hires that are a “fit” for the organization, not only in terms of aptitudes and abilities, but who have interpersonal skills.  Being adept at job tasks won’t mean much – or get you noticed for future promotional opportunities – if you aren’t able to relate and work well with your boss or coworkers.  

Here are the top skills that employers are looking for – see how many you stack-up:  

1. Communication Skills – not only should employees be able to read and write, to convey their messages assertively, but to listen well.  This includes communication through written documents and email, as well as public speaking or presentations
2. Computer/technical skills – employees should be familiar with computers or other office machinery; expectations for proficiency with many applications continue to increase and you will show your value when you keep up with the ever-changing demands
3. Leadership – employees should show initiative and to take charge of projects or people, but should also know when to let others take over, depending on what’s needed. Taking on more challenging work will help you to stand out and get noticed
4. Teamwork – employees should be able to work well and cooperate with a diverse group of people and to share and support team members to accomplish organizational goals
5. Interpersonal skills – employers want workers who can relate well, who can influence and inspire others to in work activities, to make good decisions, to work independently, and to resolve conflict
6. Visionary – employers want workers who have the ability to see the ‘big picture’  or the future direction for the organization; it is about understanding, embracing and promoting organization’s mission and values
7. Goal-directed – workers who have goals, both personally and professionally, particularly when they agree with and promote goals of the organization, will engrain themselves and be an asset
8. Entrepreneurship – employers want workers who will use their entrepreneurial skills, like creativity, promotion, ownership, etc. so they can grow and advance the organization; employees who take ownership for the work they do have higher rates of involvement and satisfaction
9. Personal Traits – it is important to have traits of initiative, self-motivation, adaptability to change, integrity, honesty, ethics and morals, the ability to handle complex tasks, and critical thinking skills

Honing these skills will go a long way towards increasing your SKA’s (Skills, Knowledge & Abilities), which increases your value to the organization and helps you manage your career for life.

Dr. Barbara Seifert, LCSW, CPC, NLP is the President of Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting in Orlando, Florida.  She helps individuals to take charge of their careers, find the work they love and enhance their professional development to reach their peak performance. She also coaches in organizations to enhance employee engagement and leadership development. Dr. Seifert is an adjunct professor, a certified coach and certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.  She is a Premier Coach with the American Society of Training & Development.  You can learn more by visiting www.cyscoaching.com and Your Career Success Blog.

It is anticipated that 2012 will bring about monumental change, maybe not so  much with the economy, but in the way we work and how we align positions with the current demand.  Is it possible that certain jobs are becoming replaced and yes, maybe even extinct?  According to a recent Forbes article by Jenna Goudreau, entitled “Jobs Outlook 2012: Careers Headed for the Dustbin”, the answer is “yes.”  While this may seem disappointing to those still working in these fast-declining occupations, the good news is, the economy continues to “reorganize” itself offering an opportunity for new careers to emerge.  As a job-seeker, the potential for advanced education with priority given to current skills, in addition to experience, becomes priceless in trying to navigate all of the change that has yet to come.

In the article, Goudreau identifies the 20 fastest-declining jobs through 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Here is the top 20:

1. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
2. Postal Service Mail Sorters, Carriers and Clerks
3. Sewing Machine Operators
4. Switchboard Operators
5. Fast Food Cooks
6. Agricultural Workers
7. Data Entry Keyers
8. Word Processors and Typists
9. Door-to-Door Sales Workers and News and Street Vendors
10. Food Service Managers
11. Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
12. File Clerks
13. Prepress Technicians and Workers
14. Computer Operators
15. Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
16. Office Machine Operators
17. Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
18. Florists
19. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
20. Loan Interviewers and Clerks

Now is a great time to be a student and regardless of major, opportunities still exist in terms of employment.  Our new global economy just makes it a little interesting and definitely promises change.

Reference: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/02/07/jobs-outlook-disappearing-dying-careers-outsourced-eliminated/

Posted by: Lisette Guillén-Dolby, Placement Specialist – Seminole State College of Florida

MANPOWERGROUP 2011
TALENT SHORTAGE SURVEY

Despite the slow and uneven recovery from the economic downturn and lingering high unemployment, organizations still report that they cannot find the talent they need when they need it. As we enter the Human Age, when human potential is becoming the driving force behind business growth, having the right people in the right place at the right time becomes more critical than ever.

ManpowerGroup™ surveyed nearly 40,000 employers across 39 countries and territories during the first quarter of 2011 to gauge the impact of talent shortages. Here’s what U.S. employers say are the most difficult positions to fill.

U.S. HARDEST JOBS TO FILL

1. Skilled Trades

2. Sales Representatives

3. Engineers

4. Drivers

5. Accounting and Finance Staff

6. IT Staff

7. Management/Executive Positions

8. Teachers

9. Administrative Staff

10. Machinists

Download the full report at us.manpower.com/talentshortage.

This report was recommended by CFEC Board Member:

Lisa Hancock
Manpower
445 W SR436
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
T:  +1 407-774-4242
www.us.manpower.com

StartWire: “American’s #1 Job Search Organizer!”

Employers and job applicants can benefit from the useful Internet job search organizer called StartWire. Currently, there are over 5,400 employers using this site, which provides job candidates with daily updates sent via email and by text, regarding their job application status with their respective companies. This is another great way to leverage the use of contacts and generate “inside” connections within participating organizations. StartWire appears to integrate the use of LinkedIn and Facebook, which supports the job search even more.

To learn more about StartWire, please visit http://www.startwire.com for short, easy-to-follow instructions on how to use the system.

Reference: http://www.recruiter.com/recruiting-news/survey-results-job-applicants-want-feedback

Contributed by: Lisette Guillen-Dolby, Seminole State Career Center

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Lisette Guillén-Dolby, M.A.
Career Development Center
Seminole State College of Florida
http://www.seminolestate.edu