Pick an Industry Before It Blows Up

Pick an Industry Before It Blows UpPick an Industry Before It Blows UpGo to the front of the line by finding the next industry or specialty about to grow and make it look like you were made to have that job.In the wake of the economic recession, pinpricks of prosperity are beginning to shine through. No single industry is necessarily bouncing back to pre-recession vigor, but there are some industry segments that are starting to get back into shape. The challenge is to identify those areas of your industry and focus your job search accordingly.Say youre an IT person who is looking for a new position. Technology is huge, overlapping every industry. Identifying the high-growth areas in tech can help you focus the companies and positions you target the language you use in your resume, cover letter and interviews and the skills you emphasize.This will require some research and an open mind. Read industry journals and blogs. Attend relevant conferences and events, and listen carefully to the buzz. What topics come up again and again?Youre going to need to do a little bit of homework, and the homework is doing some research in terms of what are the growth rates. Look for indications from industry analysts, even the stock market, in terms of where growth is appearing, said Kathleen Brush, author of Leadership = Motivation = Innovation + Productivity.Cheryl Palmer seconded the critical need for research, and recommended using the Bureau of Labor Statistics as a tool. Check out the Career Guide to Industries on the BLS Web site to find out if an industry is growing, declining or staying flat, said Palmer, a career coach, professional resume writer and founder of Call to Career. This guide will also tell you which professions in that industry are growing the fastest.Once you have identified an area of growth, its time to cast your resume in a new light.Repackage similar experiences or close experiences on a resume, said Phil Rosenberg, president of reCareered, a job info rmation site and career coaching service. You can demonstrate to an employer that you have a lot of similar experiences, while maybe not the exact experience.Rosenberg recommends taking a hard look at your resume to ensure that its reflective of what your target companies are looking for and not what your present or former employers found important.One of the things that I see consistently - and this is across industries - is that candidates tend to write a resume about whats important to themselves, rather than whats in it for the companies they are targeting, he said. That even comes down to the language used in a resume. Many times, resumes are written in the language of the old employer, using jargon and words that were typical of their former employer.Job seekers should always keep their ears open - sometimes literally - for the kind of information that will help them determine the most promising employment paths.Going back to the IT example Tim OReilly is the founder and C EO of OReilly Media and one of the people who runs the Web 2.0 Summit. He spoke about the conference, held recently in San Francisco, on the NPR radio program, All Things Considered. When asked for his opinion about the next big thing, OReilly, who is credited with coining the term Web 2.0, said, without missing a beat, the transition to mobile. He went on to discuss the applications of mobile technology that he believes will be major influences on businesses and consumers alike.Of course, OReilly isnt the only person to identify mobile as being the hottest trend in the tech industry, and All Things Considered is certainly not the only venue on which its been discussed. But thats the point Job seekers should look for convergence points and use that information to inform their search. The person who connects all of those data dots can package and promote his experience and skills so that he appeals to companies growing interest in a critical area.This strategy can, and should, be ge neralized to any industry, and can help job seekers get ahead of the curve and comfortably into a new position.Debra Donston-Miller covers work-life issues and difficult job-search situations for Ladders.

11 out-of-the-box activities that will add years to your life

11 out-of-the-box activities that will add years to your life11 out-of-the-box activities that will add years to your lifeWe all want to live rich, full and long lives. Now clearly what you do now can impact how long you live (even if it doesnt feel like it.) Things like taking care of your body, being part of happy relationships, and even laughing every day, can do wonders for your health.But are there other, not-so-obvious things you havent even considered that could prolong your life? Achart from Information Is Beautifulthat collected data from a number of sources including various published science papers found the following can add some years.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBe optimisticOk so this one isnt too surprising but interestingly but women who have high levels of cynicalness, even though they tend to live longer than men, are 16% more likely to die earlier.Have a l ong-lived maternal grandfatherWow. Seems a little random but apparently, this is a factor, especially for men.Hang out with women a lotThis is another one geared for men. If you have more gal pals, you will live longer So go bestattungs some women. No, dont grab them. Politely and not creepily make friend with them. This one could add as many as 15-plus yearsDrink more red wine with friendsMany studies have shown that red wine, in moderation, has numerous health benefits as does being surrounded by friends. Again, though, men benefit more from this.Have more petsDogs (and I guess cats) are awesome. And our furry friends help both sexes live longer.Live in the countrySorry city dwellers, but country mice may live longer.Get promotedThats right. If you are thriving and succeeding in your career you tend to live longer.Have a long-lived siblingIf they have good genes, you probably do too.Live at a high-altitudeYou may want to consider a move to Colorado.Though it seems like more of the se were geared towards men, dont worry ladies. First of all just being a woman gives you a leg up on the life game. Other more obvious findings for pro-longed life included regular health checks, getting married, quitting smoking, eating healthy, living healthily (diet and exercise combined) and avoidingcancer and heart disease.As for things that are shaving years of your life, well some of them are pretty obvious but there are a few you may be surprised by.Sleeping too muchEven though sleep can be so wonderful, sleeping too much is not a good thing. Catching up on sleep on the weekends can actually be quite bad for your health.Sitting downAgain not surprising. Try to stand more.Eating red meatApparently one can eat too much steak.Suffering from severe mental illness, smoking and becoming obese were also listed.Go to church regularlyBringing a little faith into your life can have a positive effect.Have more orgasmsToo bad this isnt more helpful to women but this apparently makes lif e worth living for men. According to IIB, you should aim for 350 a year.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Adapting Education to Overcome the STEM Workforce Shortage

Adapting Education to Overcome the STEM Workforce Shortage Adapting Education to Overcome the STEM Workforce Shortage Many recruiters these days are struggling to overcome the shortage of prized skills in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. To address this problem, the U.S. government recently announced a $200 million initiative to teach computer coding to young girls and minority students - groups typically underrepresented in the STEM field - in U.S. schools.The administrations actions reflect a growing awareness that society mustcreate more effective ways to train workers for new roles in the digital economy.Federal funding for in-school training programs is a good first step that should have an impact over time, but what can be done in the near term? One proven approach to meeting the growing demand for STEM grads is to harness the transferable skills and critical thinking of our citizenry not currently trained in STEM.By identifying people from div erse backgrounds who want to be re-skilled for high-demand, high-worth tech jobs and matching them with the coursework they need to obtain STEM degrees, we can bridge the tech skills gap in the short term.STEM fields offer exceptional employment opportunities, long-term career potential, and competitive salaries that are up to 26 percent higher than other professions, so finding people who want to be re-skilled should not be too difficult.One solution involvesoffering STEM bridge courses toward a graduate STEM degreeto those from non-STEM bachelors degree backgrounds. In addition, by partnering with technology companies, educational institutions are developing more modern curricula to meet the timely demand for a cutting-edge STEM workforce. Such transition programs will be critical to building the skills and workforce diversity necessary to maintain U.S. competitiveness.Taking a More Direct Path to the STEM PipelineEducators have begun to recognize the value of creating a more dire ct path to a Master of Science degree in high-demand fields such as computer science, bioinformatics, and cybersecurity. For example, Northeastern Universitys ALIGN program integrates substantial firsthand work experience in the field into each students coursework. Options include internships, co-ops, and mentorships. In this way, non-STEM students can build their resumes while still working toward their graduate degrees.Academic bridge courses enable students to connect their past undergraduate experiences to new STEM career paths. In this way, people can quickly navigate career changes and break into tech fields withoutneeding to earn additional bachelors degrees.Anotherapproach involves plugging non-STEM students into broader networks beyond campus so that they gain exposure to employer partners, alumni, and other industry professionals.Launching Tech Boot Camps to Put STEM Boots on the GroundAnother strategy to grow the STEM workforce involves short re-skilling programs that com bine many educational elements, including high-demand skills training, hands-on work experience, and networking opportunities.At Northeastern University, we have developed a fast-track program for re-skilling and upskilling known as Level Education, which includes a significant experiential component with industry partners. Course requirements vary with no GRE requirements, and all graduates receive a certificate and the option to further their education through a variety of masters programs.The Level Education programoffers a range of ways to accommodate busy schedules. Students can choose between introductory, intermediate, and focused courses with flexible class formats including full-time, part-time, and hybrid courses combining in-person and online coursework.Currently, Northeastern has more than 300 students and alumni involved in these programs nationwide. In each case, a program professional supports the student for a one-on-one capstone project in which the student applies newfound data skills to solve real-world problems. These capstone projects culminate with final reports in which students make formal presentations to real-world employers.All these innovative approaches can help more students graduate with technical certificates and portfolios of relevant projects that showcase the practical application oif their skills.We can no longer depend on 20th century educational models to build a 21st century workforce. Arming non-STEM graduates with new STEM skills and real-world experiences is the most direct way to instill the necessary confidence and optimism that can lead to new career opportunities.PK Agarwal isCEO and regional dean ofNortheastern University-Silicon Valleyand former CTO for California under Governor Schwartzenegger.