By Judit Price, MS, CDFI, IJCTC, CCM, CPRW
I have long been receiving job availability information from HR managers, recruiters and various organizations and state agencies. This year the number of positions sent to me has dramatically grown. When I saw an article in the Boston Business Journal that stated over 50 thousand jobs are vacant in Massachusetts, and a significant number are defined as “middle-skill”, I realized that a large proportion of the open position I receive fit that description.
Middle skills jobs are defined as requiring more than a high school education and less than a 4 year degree. These jobs, according to the Journal, make up “the largest part of our state and national market.” These are also positions that tend to be full time, permanent with good wages and opportunities for growth. They are difficult to outsource and provide long-term stability. Generally, a 2-year associates program or vocational certificate in a specialty is sufficient.
I raise this issue because when I present to groups the audience is almost entirely professional or managerial and I rarely get calls from this middle-skill workforce. As a result I fear that too many do not understand that the principles of career planning are fundamental to a successful job search for almost everyone. This includes assessments, job search strategies and networking training, solid documentation including resume, cover letters and other documents, and good interviewing skills.
The job hunt takes much longer than in the past, and that probably will not change. In addition, recruiters and hiring managers look for some other factors that help determine which candidates fits their needs as they move through the process. There are a number of you who have given up, at least temporarily. To those people I would say you need to ask yourself what are you are doing that is right and what are you doing that is wrong?
