The Secret To Finding Jobs In An Obama Economy (Part 1 of 3)

Here are a few tips, based on the President’s agenda for an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, on where the jobs will be and how to find them:

• Doubling the production of alternative energy in the next three years.
• Modernizing more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills.
• Making the immediate investments necessary to ensure that within five years, all of America’s medical records are computerized [data entry and computer].
• Equipping tens of thousands of schools, community colleges, and public universities with 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries.
• Expanding [communications] broadband across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
• Investing in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries.

In this, part one I discuss what the jobs will be and how to find them under the fist three elements of President Obama’s Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

Alternative Energy or “Green Collar” Jobs

The majority of green jobs are what’s called “middle skill,” meaning that you need more education than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree, according to the Apollo Alliance. Green jobs include in all major industries such as manufacturing, construction, sales and agriculture. Since green jobs encompass just about every skill set, the most important thing to do now is find them. The following web pages are great starts: Apollo Alliance, Alternative Energy.com. Also, keep an eye on your state, city, county, and school web pages and articles in the newspaper—these jobs will be highly advertised as public works projects.

Modernization Jobs

This is a biggie! This too is another area that will encompass all skill sets from construction trades to secretaries to accountants. The only problem I see here is that many of the contractors seeking award of these jobs using an illegal labor force. There not supposed to do it, but believe me, unless the Obama team watches this, it will happen. USA Jobs is a great source for all federal jobs. Also, watch your newspaper for local improvement projects. Not surprisingly, one place that constantly does renovations and will be first in line is public sector housing. Also, keep an eye on small local contractors who are not big enough to bid on the multimillion dollar jobs but will try to cash in on the home improvement market. Workers and contractors, review FedBizOpps, the single source of advertisement for all Federal Government jobs, on a regular basis. Finally, when you’re driving through downtown, look! All federal jobs must be properly advertised with a banner or sign detailing the project.

Data Entry and Computer Jobs

Already red-hot, the health care field will continue to explode under an Obama administration. There will be a huge demand for Abstractors, Records Scanners, Site Managers, Medical Billing Clerks, Coding/Billing Instructors and trainers, Medical Review Nurses, Medical Receptionist, Medical Transcriptionist, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, and Data Entry Clerks In fact CareerBuilder.com, a great source for these jobs, listed 10,477 jobs associated with these fields alone—better get started!
In order to take advantage, those outside of the health care field, such as traditional secretaries and data entry clerks, and office workers, may want to take time to freshen their skills or go back to school for Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Transcription, etc. Besides a bevy of Internet job sites such as CareerBuilder.com and Health care Jobs Career Center, your local newspaper also provides a great place to look for these jobs.. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor and dentist to find out where they got their people. And look around, there building those “immediate care” centers everywhere, they often take applications directly. Junior colleges and trade schools are also a goldmine because many have internships that lead to jobs once the program is complete.

Information Technology (IT) folks will also need to update their skills because the nature of their business makes technological obsolescence is a fact of life. I foresee a big demand for Database Managers and system configuration specialist to establish common standards for exchanging clinical information between independent computers. There will be a need for security specialists to safeguard all this personal information. Of course, hardware and software installers, vendors, and trainers, are just a few of the careers that will be in high demand. The best way to get at the front of these jobs is to take a look at who’s bidding on them. Turn to your large companies and don’t forget the government, particularly all the services. And I would continually review FedBizOpps: if you’re a contractor, you’ll see where the jobs are, if you’re a worker, you’ll see who was awarded the contract and then know where to apply.

I know this just touches the surface, but that’s the great thing about President Obama’s plan, there’s something for everyone—you just have to get started now.