Category Archives: career planning

USA Employment Projections for 2008-2018

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Dec. 10, 2009 that, during the 2008 to 2018 period, the total employment in America is projected to increase by 15.3 million, or 10.1 percent.

These are very interesting projections; and good news at the times when jobs are scarce. Some of the key highlights of the study are:

  • Projections show an aging and more racially and ethnically diverse labor force, and employment growth in service-providing industries. More than half of the new jobs will be in professional and related occupations and service occupations.
  • Occupations where a post-secondary degree or award is usually required are expected to account for one-third of total job openings during the projection period.
  • Job openings from replacement needs–those which occur when workers who retire or otherwise leave their occupations need to be replaced– are projected to be more than double the number of openings due to economic growth.
  • The projected growth for the 2008-18 period is larger than the increase of 10.4 million over the 1998-2008 period, or 7.4 percent.
  • The relatively slow growth rate for the earlier 10-year period was affected by the recession which began in December 2007, and the projected growth rate is higher than would otherwise be expected because the 2008 starting point is a recession year.

This report focuses on four areas for which BLS develops projections–labor force, industry employment, occupational employment, and education and training. Continue reading →

Indian Students in USA surpass 100,000 count

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The Institute of International Education, the leading educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States publishes the annual Open Doors report.  According to the Open Door 2009, the number of Indian students studying in USA has exceeded 100,000 (one lakh) mark. In spite of the slow down in the US economy, America continues to attract international students at a record pace. India, China and South Korea are the top three nations with highest students studying in America.

According to the Open Doors related statistics on this topic:

  • The total number of Indian students studying in the United States increased by 9% in 2008/2009,  from 94,563 to 103,260. This is the highest number ever for total students from a foreign country studying in USA
  • This is the eighth year in a row that India leads as the country sending the most students to the United States. However, China is catching up quickly, with more than 20% jump in the Chinese students in USA for 2009.
  • The Indian student numbers in the U.S. for 2008/209 in detail are:
    • 15,600 undergraduates,
    • 71,019 graduates (including masters and PhD programs),
    • 1,755 non-degree, and
    • 14,886 internship participants.

    • Continue reading →

Commonsense tips for a successful business start-up

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Business is a combination of war and sport. ~Andre Maurois

A large number of businesses fail soon after the start. Many of us don’t know what we are getting into; or the market conditions are very different than what we imagined. A sound business case involves thorough planning, in-depth understanding and good knowledge of market conditions for the related products or services. Anyone can open a business anywhere. People start it from their kitchen-tables or garages. A simplest business is the kids’ lemonade stand on the street corner. Staring a business is easy, sustaining a profitable operation is a different story.

Here are some of the key factors to consider for a successful business start-up:

Know what you are doing: A good business case requires understand of your niche, services or product. With today’s competitive world, one needs specific expertise, knowledge and ability to provide a seamless and reliable product or service.

Business Plan: Planning is the most important aspect of a new start-up. A thorough and robust business plan includes the overall business strategy, market analysis, financial aspects, risk analysis etc. If you have a good business plan, most of the following elements in this article could be part of it. A business plan could be dynamic and flexible that could evolve and change based on changing business needs or market conditions.

Find a Niche: Finding a niche with unique and focused appeal is very important. If possible, find something -product or service- that specializes in a key area to attract certain clients, and with very little existing competition. Look for a way to set yourself apart from others by focusing on specific customer needs and interests.

Location, location, location: Every street vendor in New York City knows the importance of prime location. For a brick and mortar business, the location is everything. The location alone can make or break a business. The business site should be easy to access, in a good neighborhood, and should make a good first impression on customers and walk-ins alike. Continue reading →

Jobs and Occupations in highest demand in USA: 2006 to 2016

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Bureau of Labor Statistics: A summary of Tomorrow’s jobs

Making informed career decisions requires reliable information about opportunities in the future. Opportunities result from the relationships between the population, labor force, and the demand for goods and services. ~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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The unemployment rate in USA is almost 10% – the worst in decades. A large number of well qualified individuals are desperately looking for jobs. Finding a job that you really like, and getting it, can be a challenging process.

This article provides a long term view of the jobs and occupation that are, and going to be, in high demand in USA. The information and data is based on the study from U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. A wide variety of occupations are forecast to be in high demand. Among all occupations, health-care is forecast to make up 7 of the 20 fastest growing occupations.

The first chart displays the jobs and occupations that are supposed to enjoy the highest rate of increase. The Top jobs with highest percent change in employment over the period of 2006-16, as shown in the chart, include:

  • Network systems and data communications analysts
  • Personal and home care aides
  • Home health aides
  • Computer software engineers, applications
  • Veterinary technologists and technicians
  • Personal financial advisers
  • Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
  • Medical assistants
  • Veterinarians
  • Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
  • Skin care specialists
  • Financial analysts
  • and so on…..For more details, you may refer to the chart on the right.

According to this detailed study, the 7 top health-care occupations are exhibiting high growth rates. Overall, as you can see in the chart, the high growth rates comes from health care, social assistance, engineering, services and technical occupations. Continue reading →

Education levels for the fastest growing jobs!

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Fastest growing jobs and occupations by the level of education

“Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century.” ~ Perelman

Education is the foundation for any profession or a career. The skills acquired and the learning experience during education often determine the level of success for any individual. A study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of US Depart of Labor, lists the fastest growing occupations by the level of education and on the job training: Continue reading →

The fastest growing jobs and occupations in USA!

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of US Department of Labor, has a very interesting and comprehensive study on the jobs and occupations projections. The report titled ‘Tomorrow’s Jobs’  is quite telling in terms of expected growth in employment over the period of 2006 to 2016. 
The chart/graph here provides a snap-shot of the fastest growing occupations in USA – the change in the total employment by occupation groups projected over 2006 – 2016.chart 6_99
The top occupations that are expected to enjoy the highest percentage increase are:

Professional and related occupations: These occupations cover a wide range of skilled professions. Professional and related occupations are expected to increase by 16.7%. Among the top beneficiaries include:
-Computer and mathematical occupations,
-Health-care practitioners and technical occupations,
-Education, training, and library occupations

Services: Employment in service sector is projected to increase by 16.7%, tied with professional and related occupations for the fastest rate of growth. The services occupations that are expected to grow the fastest include:
-Food preparation,
-Serving related occupations
-Health-care support occupations
-Personal care and service service occupations

Management, business, and financial occupations: The employment is expected to increase by 10.4% by 2016 in this category. Among top growth projections are:
-Construction managers
-Accountants and auditors and business operation specialists
-Financial analysts and personal financial advisers Continue reading →

Stretch your goals…land somewhere!

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“You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.” ~Yogi Berra

Consciously or unconsciously, we are setting new goals everyday. We always have a wishlists, targets, milestones and things to accomplish.
Some of the goals are simple and straightforward:

  • Lose weight: lose those few extra pounds from last winter
  • Quit smoking: Give up smoking in next 6 months
  • Finish MBA studies in next 2 years….

Then, there are other goals that look easy on the surface:

  • Drink less coffee
  • Sing only in the shower
  • Play with kids more often
  • Spend more time with family…..

These goals are equally, and may be more, important. Many times, some of the better goals are left vague, not fully defined. These goals are easy to miss, because they are easy to justify, in case we fail to meet them.

But, there are some goals which we don’t set often enough, or don’t consider seriously. Continue reading →

Job search Tips: How to look for a Job effectively!

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Where to learn about and search for reliable job openings

“Never turn down a job because you think it’s too small; you don’t know where it can lead” ~ Julia Morgan

The jobs are scarce in today’s economy. The good jobs are even harder to find. There is too much noise, too many misleading advertisements on dream jobs that don’t exist. Based on various sources including a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics division of the U.S. Department of Labor, here are the key resources for job search:

Personal contacts: Many of the job openings are never advertised. Talk to your friends, family, neighbors and others; tell them that you are looking for a job. They may be able to help with the new leads and even recommendations. Find ways to network and advertise yourself among peers and the community.

School career planning and placement offices: Placement officers in schools and colleges can be very helpful in finding jobs. They have lots of resources at their hands to help in this area including possible lists of open jobs, career counseling, aptitude testing and job search advice. Some of them also have career resource libraries and may host workshops on job search strategy, resume writing and effective interviewing.

Employers: One of the effective way to find reliable job openings is to go straight to the source. Contact the company or business directly. If an employer is on your wish-list, find out if they are hiring. Contact their HR department. Send them your resume and follow up; show sincere interest in working for them.

Classified ads: There are lots of commercials and advertisement about job openings. The main sources of classified ads include:

  • National and local newspapers
  • Professional journal
  •  Trade magazines
  • Library and other local bulletin boards

Continue reading →

10 most uncommon business ideas for overseas!

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NRI Tips: Most uncommon or non-traditional business ideas to consider abroad

“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

There are some popular business ideas for overseas, including the one discussed in 10 most common businesses to start abroad. Now, here are some not-so-common ones. This should get you thinking, to make your own choice – from these suggestions or perhaps even better ones of your own based on your knowledge, skill and circumstances!  sxc1088992_glass_bangles

1. Indian fashion accessories: Consider an online or local store to sell Indian fashion accessories including glass bangles, simple Indian jewelries and other beauty items. This can start at a small scale and expand as the business grows

2. Pet care and grooming: A place to take care of pets including grooming, styling and domesticating. If you love pets, may want to look into this one. Continue reading →

10 most common business ideas to consider abroad!

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NRI Tips: Common Businesses to start overseas!

There are many ways to make a good living abroad, business is one of them.  A business operation and ownership is not for everybody, you have to have an aptitude for ventures, willingness to take risks and understanding of different aspects of operating a business. Depending on your ambitions and circumstances, it may become an around-the-clock run that comes with huge rewards and big downsides. Along with the day-dreams of prosperity to follow, you and your stakeholders – family, partners, and investors – should also understand the possibility of losing your shirt.
For those, who have done their homework and understand the pros and cons of opening a business, here are some of the most common ones to consider:
1. Indian Grocery store: In the USA, Canada, England and other courtiers with Indian diaspora, there is quite a bit demand for Indian stores that carry common grocery items used in Indian cooking. This kind of business is ideal for the area with high concentration of Indian population. Continue reading →

How to make a really good living abroad! – $$!!

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NRIs Tips: How to select work and financial options overseas to make real money

As I discussed before, there are many good reason to go abroad and then there are some bad ones too. Most of the main reasons to leave India and go overseas are directly or indirectly linked to the search for long term or short term financial gains and prosperity. By end of the day, it comes down to MONEY. :) sxc_money_series_51
However, the often overlooked factor is the poor planning behind all this. If we are sacrificing so much, and put up with so many new hurdles and challenges, we should at least have a solid plan to find the right occupation or business. 
The plan may vary from one person to another depending on personal strengths and weakness, but it is important to have a plan towards reaching our financial goals; how we are going to succeed in our mission toward prosperity.
There is all kind of job planning info available, but most of them are more generic career plans for local individuals planning their goals, not for immigrants, Indians or NRIs. As a part of the basic plan, it is very critical to outline and understand:
- What kind of jobs best suit your skills and needs?
- Would you consider and take a position that is less rewarding as a back-up plan?
- Would you consider a career change or downgrade if things are not working out?
- What are the other options or choices to consider as a back-up?
- Is going back to India one of the options?

Depending on how you answer the questions above and any other personal circumstances, you can then decide on the best jobs or best options to support your financial plan abroad. Here are some of the main options to consider for a suitable and rewarding job or business, to make real money:

  1. Find your dream job – Plan A: The best possible scenario is to look for a job that meets your skill sets and then finding one. If you are a computer engineer by trade for example, then first preference should be to search for a job in that field.  There are lots of online and local resources to help in this area. Make sure to take a look at the  job-search tips detailed in a separate post linked here. Also check out the common online resources such as  Career Builder, Yahoo Careers and Monster.com. If you find one, especially in this economy, consider it a major achievement.

    2. Continue reading →

10 jobs and occupations in high demand!

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Job Tips- Top jobs and best occupations for today and tomorrow:

The job market in America is in a bad shape, and keep getting worse. The unemployment rates at 9.7% is the highest in decades. However, as always, there are some bright spots; many occupation continue to be in demand. Based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the US Department of Labor, here are the some of the fastest growing  job markets:

  1. Network systems and data communications analyst
  2. Physician assistant
  3. Medical assistant

    4. Continue reading →