Simply Hired Blog

Hot Job of the Week: Sustainability Manager

By Annie Favreau

Looking for a job with a future? This series profiles in-demand careers and expanding professional fields. Here's our latest pick:

Sustainability Manager

What's involved:
For businesses, being green is the hot, new thing. And by green, we're talking small-carbon-footprint, good-for-the-environment kind of green. As a sustainability manager, you're responsible for ensuring that your company does all it can for the environment—at the best price for the organization.

To do this, you examine every angle of a company, and figure out big and small ways to make operations more energy-efficient and less wasteful. For example, you might reorganize how supplies are delivered, introduce company-wide recycling, install solar panels, or create a ride-share system. In other words, your area of expertise covers all aspects of pollution reduction, resource conservation, and energy efficiency.

It's also your responsibility to stay updated on the different rules that govern your industry, as well as researching the latest, greatest practices in sustainability and green technology.

Why the job outlook is good:
Because of the growing demand for environmentally friendly practices, the entire green industry is charted for growth. While this specific position is anticipated to expand at average rate, the US Department of Labor has labeled it a Bright Outlook occupation—which means this job area should have a sunshiny future (great for all those solar panels!).

What training you need:
For this career you'll need an undergraduate degree in business, engineering, or environmental science. Find an entry-level position in a company’s green initiatives department. While you're working your way up, consider getting an MBA in order to improve your chances of becoming Chief Sustainability Officer—a top ranking executive position.

Show me the money!
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average salary of a sustainability specialist around $62,000.

 

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site that helps people discover and pursue a career that excites them. Check out the website for more information on sustainability managers or join in the conversation on Twitter.

Hot Job of the Week: Online Reputation Manager

By Annie Favreau

Looking for a job with a future? This series profiles in-demand careers and expanding professional fields. Here's our latest pick:

Online Reputation Manager

What's involved:
Like any good PR person, online reputation managers work to maintain a favorable image for their clients. Your main work involves scouring the web for negative information about a company, brand, or celebrity client. 

Once you find dirt—whether it's a bad product review or a picture of the CEO canoodling with a bikini-clad girl—it's your job to respond. This might take the form of an apology or explanation, but more often you work to remove, replace, or downplay the slip-up.

Often this is done by creating or promoting positive search engine results. For example, you might post an article that casts your client in a favorable light. That way, when the name or brand it searched, the negative info is pushed lower in the results, and, voila, becomes less visible.

Why the job outlook is good:
As more people and organizations jump on the internet bandwagon, the need for public relation specialist positions—like online rep managers—is going through the roof. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is expected to expand at least 24 percent by 2018. 

What training you need:
Because this field is so new, even the best pros only have a few years of experience under their belts. Get a Bachelor's degree in a field like computer programming and learn all you can about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques. Good communication and writing skills are also crucial to success. And don't forget to ensure that your own online presence is spotless. 

Show me the money!
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average salary of an online reputation manager between $38,000–$72,000.

 

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site that helps people discover and pursue a career that excites them. Check out the website for more information on online reputation managers, or join in the conversation on Twitter.

How to Get a Government Job by Learning Spanish

By Susan Taylor

Two years after the recession hit, and experts say the United States economy is on the rebound. That news may be surprising to the many people still out of work and looking for jobs. If you're in that group, it may be time to change your strategy. You can keep pounding the pavement looking for a position in your previous field of work, or you can pursue a government job.

Working for the U.S. Government doesn't necessarily mean sitting in a drab, windowless office doing paperwork all day. Some branches offer truly exciting opportunities, if you have the right skills. One talent that can get your foot in the door, and get you closer to a challenging and exciting job with the government is the ability to speak Spanish. Whether you already know the language, or you're willing to learn, here are three agencies where Spanish skills will give you an advantage in finding a job.

Department of Homeland Security
With so much activity lately related to border issues, illegal immigration, counterterrorism, and drug trafficking, one government agency currently expanding is the Border Patrol. Jobs with the Border Patrol range from officers actually patrolling the borders to administrative personnel who manage the agency. Border Patrol officers do much more than that, including fighting cyberterrorism and human trafficking.

You don't have to already speak Spanish in order to be hired as a Border Patrol officer. The agency administers a Spanish test to all trainees. If you score below a certain level, your training is extended by eight weeks to include a language class. By taking a little time to learn some Spanish on your own before you apply, you can start working much sooner.

Department of State
As the lead foreign affairs agency in the United State government, the Department of State is involved in matters of foreign policy. This means that many State Department employees, from the Secretary of State on down, often deal with foreign dignitaries and people from countries around the world. Not everyone who works at the State Department speaks a language, so the agency hires both full time and contract translators and interpreters.

What's the difference? Translators work on converting documents of all kinds from their original language into English. Interpreters perform live translation, such as when a foreign dignitary visits and must be able to communicate with State Department personnel. The agency employs interpreters and translators proficient in more than 40 languages, including Spanish. If you speak Spanish, you could be well on your way to a job with the Department of State. And who knows? If you speak it well enough, you may work your way up to being an interpreter for the Secretary of State, or even the President.

CIA and FBI
Not every job in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) entails going undercover and chasing spies. But even the administrative-type jobs require special skills, and make important contributions to the success of the agencies. One of those jobs is the Open Source Officer. This person analyzes information available through open means such as radio, television, press, and the Internet, and provides reports related to political and economic conditions in countries around the world. With so many Hispanic countries, an Open Source Officer who speaks Spanish has a lot of job security.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) does things a little differently. The agency offers opportunities for new hires to become Special Agents, or Professional Staff. Many agents can benefit from foreign language skills, including Spanish, which sometimes depend on where the agent is assigned. Professional Staff jobs include analytical positions, many of which can also require language skills. If you've ever considered a career in intelligence or law enforcement, either agency is worth considering.

Government jobs aren't right for everyone. But in this job market where civilian jobs are not only scarce but uncertain, it just makes sense to consider all your options, and to give yourself as many advantages as you can, even if it means learning a new language.

 

Susan Taylor is a freelance writer specializing in topics that involve creating a successful and enriched life. She loves travel, foreign languages and curling up with a good book.

Hot Job of the Week: Anesthesiologist Assistant

By Annie Favreau

Looking for a job with a future? This series profiles in-demand careers and expanding professional fields. Here's our latest pick:

Anesthesiologist Assistant

What's involved:
Anesthesiologist assistants are a vital part of the team that keeps patients sedated and comfortable during surgery. As the anesthesiologist's right-hand man or woman, your main work is to monitor patients while they're "under." Other routine tasks include performing physical exams, preparing equipment before surgeries, and drawing blood. 

Like most other medical careers, this job is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. But if you're detail-oriented, level-headed and a strong team player, this career could be a good match.

Why the job outlook is good:
As baby boomers retire and require more medical attention, the entire healthcare industry is expanding to meet that need. As a result, positions like this one are expected to grow at a rapid rate over the next few years. 

What training you need:
To become an anesthesiologist assistant, start with a 4-year undergrad degree in science. After that, complete a 2-year master' degrees at an accredited anesthesiologist assistant program. This training includes a hands-on internship experience, and ends with a certification exam from the National Commission on Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (to find out more, go here).

Show me the money!
The US Bureau Labor of Statistics puts the average salary of an anesthesiologist assistant between $71,000–$100,000.

 

Annie Favreau works for Inside Jobs, a career exploration site that helps people discover and pursue a career that excites them. Check out the website for more information on Anesthesiology Assistants. Or join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook!

Halloween is Coming… 3 Costumes Job Seekers Wear Everyday

By Tony Morrison

Halloween is just around the corner and we all know what that means--costumes! 

Halloween provides children and adults alike the opportunity to become someone entirely different for a day. From ghoulish ghosts to wicked witches, your Halloween costume can be just about anything you want to be.

What some people don't realize is that, for the other 364 days of the year, job seekers have to wear their own costumes, just on the inside. They might not be flashy, but when used correctly, these costumes help job seekers get noticed and into a new job.

Check out these three costumes job seekers wear everyday:

Ballerina
In your job search, sometimes you need just a little finesse and flexibility to land that interview. Just like a ballerina, job seekers oftentimes need to perform complex maneuvers quickly and effortlessly to attract the right employers.

As a job seeker, jump into a new opportunity like it’s a performance. Practice what you’re going to say, dress your best, and develop your overall technique.

Robot
A robot never stops going, and as a job seeker, you shouldn't either. Of course, you need time to relax, but when you're on the clock, you need to be 100% in your job search. 

Persistence and energy are two important "cogs" in the job search robot you want to be.

Superman
We all know Superman is the man of steel. He can fly and has heat vision. Keeping his Kryptonite allergy under wraps, Superman appears to be unbeatable. Just like Superman, job seekers need to become a super version of themselves. 

We all have weaknesses, but it's up to us to keep them close while showing off our strengths. Instead of focusing on what you can't do, focus on what you can accomplish.

What do you think? What other costumes do job seekers have to wear every day? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

Tony Morrison is the Vice President at Cachinko, a unique professional community where social networking and job opportunities come together. Tony is focused on helping job seekers find their ideal job and employers attract and engage rock star candidates. Find him on Twitter and Talent Connection. And, connect with Cachinko on Facebook or Twitter.