Does An Illegal Immigrant Have Your Job?

In this economy, every job counts. Do you feel illegal aliens are hurting your prospects for finding a job? If so, you’re not alone.

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, a watchdog group advocating tougher immigration reform, there are 6 or 7 million illegal aliens in the American workforce, concentrated in farm work, construction, hotels, and restaurants; and their presence was not, and is not, economically necessary.

Many people feel that “[the] illegal aliens…flood of low-skilled undocumented workers is depressing wages and causing greater unemployment for U.S. citizens” (Steve King, Republican Congressman, newsVOA.com) And, that employers in these industries use these workers to boost profit and skirt labor laws—they also do not pass these savings on to the consumer.

There are also questions of quality of work. My antidotal account on the matter is in my observation of construction, particularly of homes. I remember when I bought my first house, a trim carpenter took nearly a week to build all the cabinets, base boards, chair rails, etc. Seemed like a true craftsman. Today however, all that is gone. Even in the best of houses here in Atlanta, you find pre-fabricated materials being stuck up by undocumented workers—and you can readily see the mistakes.

Yet, others take a different view.

Immigration proponents argue that illegal workers are a necessary and beneficial component of the American economy. According to these supporters, illegal workers fill a void by taking on low-paying, often unpleasant, and physically demanding jobs, including many in the agricultural, construction and service industries that Americans are seemingly less willing to do. Some economists predict that, without the illegal-immigrant workforce, the American labor force would shrink by as much as 3 or 4 percent and that the overall economic growth rate would likewise suffer. (Hoover Institution, February 2, 2008)

Some argue that illegal’s fill skill sets that many Americans no longer have or fill jobs many Americans do not want.

So how do you feel? In these hard times, do you actually think there is a job out there someone would NOT do? Do you feel these workers have skills that the average American laborer does not have. How about the quality of their work: does it differ from that of a legal citizen?

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

While there seems to be much debate on Capital Hill about the size, scope, and timing of the ecomonic stimulus package, please note, there will be some sort of economic help on the horizon aimed at creating jobs. So, what can you do to be the best position to capatilize on this environment?


Do

• Polish up your skills or broaden them to be qualified for the job you want.


• Monitor you state, city, and county web sites for solicitations (remember, the package will work with Government dollars--solicitaitions must be duly advertised).


• Follow public college websites or visit them to find out what projects they will undertake.


• Check local newspaper public announcement pages.


• Review trade journals to see which companies seek contracts that involve your line of work.


• Follow your local City Council meetings for word on public works projects being undertaken.


• Meet with contractors and vendors NOW to introduce yourself, discuss your qualifications, and submit an application and/or resume.


• Read parts 1 and 2 of this post to find good websites for the position you want and build an online resume.

Don't

• Wait until jobs are advertised--by then you will be competing with hundreds of applicants.


• Assume the skills you have now will sufice: grow yourself!


• Rely soley on friends...who knows, they may be out of work soon themselves.


• Not look for a job just becuase you have one--'nuff said.

The Secret To Finding Jobs In An Obama Ecomomy (Part 2 of 3)

This is a continuance of a previous post on my ideas for finding jobs--this year!

Public School Modernization Jobs

According to CNNMoney.com, economists say as many as 150,000 jobs could be created from the proposed [Obama's] school building plan. This is another area that will generate jobs every skill set out there to modernize and rebuild school infrastructures, to training and development of teachers, administrators, and other employees on how to utilize the latest computer and software technologies. In addition, there will be a tremendous need for community planners, project manages, and contract managers. The need to train teachers on the use of new technologies and installation of new computer equipment and supplies also spell a boom for folks in Information Technology. To find these jobs, you can use all the normal Internet sources such as govtjobs.com, but to really get ahead of the pack, be sure to find and bookmark the following web pages: your local Board of Education; state, city, and county government web pages, local government Public Works web pages, all public college (including two-year institutions). Also, follow your city council meetings. Also, get tomorrow's Sunday newspaper and check the Public Announcement section. Please note that these will be public procurement projects that will be bid out or obtained with Grants (ah! Grant Writers!), so these projects will be advertised.

Communications Jobs

These jobs will involve a push to increase America's broadband capabilities. The hot jobs in this area will not only be the usual construction folks, installers, and computer technicians. Logisticians, project managers, planners, and office workers will be needed. And while you can wait until the jobs are advertised in the usual sources: newspaper, Internet (indeed.com, communicationsjobs.net, telecomcareers.net, careerbuilder.com), or at your local telecommunications affiliate (Comcast, AT&T, Alltel, Cox Communications, etc.), I still think your best bet is to check all the government sources these programs are meant to help. I know, I know, I keep harping on it--but just trust me, there's a method to my madness which I'll explain in Part 3 of this post.

Science, Research, and Technology Jobs

When I think of this, I see scientist of course. But those folks need a whole lot of support from lab assistants, research analyst, suppliers of goods (specimens, food, animals, etc.), administrative specialists, and the list just goes on and on. Perhaps the best way to find these jobs is speaking with the agencies being helped themselves: those receiving public money of any kind.

Well, I've covered quite a bit in parts 1 and 2 of this post. I'll give you some time to digest what I've outlined and then we'll get back together to recap.

Until then, PLEASE; let me know what you think, because someone who needs a job, needs you.

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.