Manpower Report Names top 5 Strongest Job Markets

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Manpower, a leading staffing services organization, released its report on the top 5 strongest job markets in the US.  This year, with unemployment at very high levels, it is even more critical than ever to know where the jobs are.  The top 5 markets are: No. 1 Strongest Job Market: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. No. 2 Strongest Job Market: San Antonio, TX  No. 3 Strongest Job Market: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, S.C. No. 4 Strongest Job Market: El Paso, Texas No. 5 Strongest Job Market: Raleigh-Cary, N.C. For the details on each market including information on what sectors and individual organizations are hiring in each of these metro areas, click here to read the full report.

An Attractive Market to Consider

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If you’re a recent graduate and considering a move to a different market to kick off your new career, consider South Florida.  Now I know what you’re saying.  Yes, South Florida has been one of the hardest hit markets in the US.  But according to an article from Bloomberg, the excessive build up of luxury condo towers in the vibrant, multicultural gateway that is Miami – the build up of inventory that was in part to blame for the collapse of that metro market – has had an unexpected consequence.  It seems that the owners of those lavish, extravagant (but empty) towers are getting tired of taking a beating.  Knowing they will not sell them anytime soon, many have taken to renting these beautiful, often ocean-view apartments at fairly affordable rates.  As a result, the downtown area of Miami is experiencing a rebirth.  Whole communities of renters have reinvigorated the neighborhoods there and the tropical lifestyle one can lead there is absolutley wonderful.  I know because I have been spending time in the Miami metro area since 1975.  It is a paradisical place to spend time.  Why not consider renting a luxury condo unit and working amidst the azure waters of a tropical paradise?

But Can It Print Your EOB Statement?

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Scientists are closing in on perfecting a technology that will allow doctors to “print” new organs for ailing patients – organs made using their very own genetic material.  Unlike organ transplants where there is a very real probability that – in spite of steps taken to find a well-matched donor – the recipient’s body may reject the donated organ, this new process actually fabricates a replacement organ using genetic material from the recipient.  Using an organic “printer” and some concoction of stem cells and other amazing stuff, the new technology known as “bioprinting” promises to enable the production of organs other body parts veritably on demand.  Right now, the technology is still in its infancy.  But they have been successful in printing veins and other circulatory tissues.  Read the full photo essay at Wired magazine online.  What I want to know is will the ink cartidges be as expensive as the ones I use in my printer?

The Inside Info on What Hiring Managers Want

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Healthcare Career Hiring ManagerOne of my other jobs involves working with thousands of staffing companies.  As a result, I have regular contact with hiring managers across the United States.  When I saw this article in US News entitled, “21 Things Hiring Managers Wish You Knew”, I was impressed with how spot on it was.  Hiring managers have seen it all when it comes to people’s ideas of what is appropriate behavior in the pursuit of that “perfect job”.  If you’re about to embark on a job hunt, with your Allen School diploma in hand, have a quick read of this piece so you can get some idea of what hiring managers are looking for in today’s difficult employment environment.  Remember, there are 6 job seekers for every available job today.  So it pays to be as well prepared for the critical interview process as you can be.  Never before has it been so important!

A Day Worth Celebrating – Happy Chocolate Day

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First consumed by ancient Mayans in South America in a drink form laced with chili peppers and vanilla, Cacao beans (the primary ingredient in chocolate) were enjoyed for their unique properties for millenia.  It wasn’t until July 17, 1550 that Europeans got wise to the awesomeness of chocolate.  Read this interesting piece from Wired magazine on the origins of chocolate as we all know it today and celebrate my favorite new global holiday, “Chocolate Day” by hoisting your favorite kind of cocoa laced treat along with me!

Happy Fourth of July – Time to BBQ Properly!

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Well, it’s time again to celebrate American independence and I hope everyone has a healthy, happy, safe Fourth of July. I think of many things when I consider Independence Day. From liberty and justice, to fireworks, family and most importantly, Barbecue! I love me some barbecue and there is no more appropriate holiday to “cook-out” in celebration than the 4th of July. Many folks do not know the subtle but undeniable difference between grilling (like what you do to hot dogs and burgers) and actual barbecue which involves the slow, smoky roasting of pork, chicken, brisket, etc. So have a look at this article by Craig “Meathead” Goldwyn to learn the secrets of meats, properly smok-i-fied to fall-off-the-bone perfection. Enjoy!

The Future is Now!

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How about the Terrafugia Transition?  This vehicle, newly approved by the Federal Avaiation Administration brings to life the fantastic dreams of the “flying car” we all entertained as kids.  With traffic growing ever more problematic in large cities, this new vehicle promises to rise above the gridlock – literally.  Now all I need is $194,000 so I can buy one and soar to the grocery store. Flying Car Video – Terrafugia @ Yahoo! Video

How To Explain “Holes” in Your Work History

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Beach ComberWe’ve all had periods of unemployment.  We’ve all had to take time away from career pursuits, whether it was to tend an ailing loved one, return to school/training, deal with personal problems, support a family member’s struggling business or become a quasi-homeless beachcomber in an exotic tropical locale.  Whatever the reasons, inevitably, we end up with a gap in our history which can be a glaring weakness on your resume.  In interviews, it can be awkward trying to call attention away from the gaps.  How should you explain where you were when you weren’t working for 11 months? Take a look at this excellent article from The Savvy Networker wherein it is explained exactly how to address these holes in the resume.

Disregard the Naysayers

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Anyone who has tried to do something outside of the expectations of those around them knows how dispiriting it can be to be told, “you’ll never succeed”.  Take it from the US national soccer team who has been categorically panned by the international sports community as having “no chance to achieve” in the World Cup.  Well, again, our US team is proving the naysayers wrong.  Today, in a storybook, last minute ending fit for a Hollywood movie script, the US team pulled it out against a heavily favored Algerian squad to advance in World Cup tournament play.  So remember this team of underdogs when folks tell you that you cannot start a new career in a new field midway through life.

How Job Loss Can Lead to Untold Riches

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Clearly, it won’t happen this way to everyone.  But there is a lesson to take from the story of Bob Croak, the man responsible for making “Silly Bands” a household name.  You see, Croak was a bar owner/operator who ran afoul of the law.  As a stipulation of the judgment against him, he was ordered to refrain from being in the alcohol sales business.  In effect, he was pushed out of his career.  Did this sink him?  Did he end up destitute and living beneath an overpass?  No.  Quite the contrary, he struck off in a new direction and ultimately discovered what would become 2010’s hottest kiddie craze, the ubiquitous “Silly Bands”.  If you haven’t seen the colorful silicone bands in different shapes that adorn the wrists of nearly every American kid from ages 4-14, you should get your eyes checked.  Croak is sitting atop a toy empire and is making far more money than he ever could as a bar owner.  The moral of this story — especially for those who decided to enter the field of medical billing and coding after losing their jobs in other fields — is that the loss of a job is not always a negative occurrence.  Sometimes, unscheduled changes on the career path are just what a person needs to give them the time and space to explore entirely new horizons.  Sometimes, those horizons are at the edge of successes beyond their wildest dreams.