How to Find Urgent Industries
Landing a Job in a Difficult Economy Series:
By Tim Augustine
Author and Professional Speaker,
How Hard Are You Knocking?
The key to launching a successful job search strategy is understanding where and how to focus your efforts and time. With today’s economic challenges, competition is fierce. To be successful, you need to develop a game plan that will differentiate you from the competition and enable you to navigate through the job search process. Your overall strategy should include:
1) Conducting an internal assessment to identify your unique skills
2) Identifying the industry and firms to target your search
3) Utilize all available resources such as internet, network, career center to conduct your research
4) Develop a powerful resume that combines your skills, abilities and experience with the specific industry and firm research.
5) Prepare for the interview process including phone interviews, face-to-face interviews, group and/or meal interviews
6) Understand your candidate image. This includes dressing the part, first impressions as well as your on-line image with public domains such as Facebook and MySpace.
7) Developing your negotiation strategy to win the job.
This process is extensive, but the job seekers that approach their search from this perspective typically land the jobs they want and build a rewarding career. This month’s article explores the initial identification and research process for your target industries and firms.
As you prepare for your job search, it is critical that you identify and research target firms that drive your interest level. However, before you identify the firms, it is critical to identify the industry. This article is all about researching and finding urgent industries in today’s challenging economy.
As you begin your quest, focus your efforts on industries and firms that are growing, hiring, gathering public interest, and have financial stability in this economy. These industries are called urgent industries. Urgent Industries are those industries that are growing in specific market conditions. With the current economic issues face the US, there are still industries that are growing, providing opportunities and adding jobs each quarter.
For instance, during the next few years, you will see the baby boomer generation retire from their careers. This is the largest generation in our nation’s history as well as the most demanding on our healthcare system. With advances in medical technology, this generation is also living longer and placing a greater demand on our pharmaceutical markets and health care manufacturing which produce products such as artificial knees and hips. That is a hot industry right now as the technology continues to advance. Other industry opportunities that follow this trend will be senior living, non-medical senior care, and even specialized transportation services for the elderly. Nursing, pharmaceutical sales, medical research, and biotechnology will continue to grow and add jobs during the next 15 years.
The alternative energy market is also a good example of an urgent industry which is expanding throughout the United States. As America continues to trend toward green living and global warming receives attention, you will see renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar farm development receive capital, governmental incentives and job creation.
Another interesting industry that is experiencing growth is specialized manufacturing and services. Industries that cannot be outsourced are also seeing significant growth such as HVAC, plumbing contractors, and electricians. Service industries will continue to innovate and maintain a dominate force within our economy.
The top 5 urgent industries in today’s market are:
- Healthcare and Life sciences
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices
- Instrumentation
- Biotechnology research and ancillary services
- Medical Professionals and medical administration
- Alternative energy (Wind, Solar)
- Government sponsored markets:
- Homeland security and defense
- Infrastructure development based on gov’t stimulus package / investment
- Advanced manufacturing / Services Industry
- Management consulting – niche expertise to support outsourced workload
Here are a few steps to follow as your build your job search strategy:
1) Study market conditions: Read and study media and publication resources to understand which industries are growing and investing.
2) Identify a target list of firms: Choose 10 – 15 firms that interest you and align with your passions. Try to identify target firms that are within the category of urgent industries. First, make sure you are interested in the industry, the products / services supplied by the industry and firms within the market. Choose a limited number of firms to increase your time and efficiency as you conduct your research.
3) Leverage your network: Talk with your network of peers, professors, family and friends about your list of firms. Ask them if they have any connection, knowledge or data about the firms that might help in your search.
4) Research company web sites and conduct informational interviews with your network or actual firm’s employees to learn more about the industry outlook, the various competitors and its national and global opportunities.
5) Thoroughly research each firm: Understand the firm’s overview and history, markets they serve, their products / services, customers and competitors and finally their projected growth in the next few years. This information can be gathered on the web, periodicals, magazines and interviews.
In short, you want to identify industries that align with your passion and interests, which provide local opportunity, financial reward, and stability in today’s economy. Find an industry that matches your skills and abilities. Choose an industry that is aligned and well positioned to grow in these market conditions.
This is just the beginning of your quest. Once you identify your target firms and conduct your research, take the next step and start preparing your resume, interviewing skills and strengthen your ability to win the job offer.
About the Author: Augustine is a nationally acclaimed author and professional speaker focused on career development and corporate people strategies. He is the Author of the book How Hard Are You Knocking? and has been featured on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC and reviewed in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The National Association for Campus Activities. He has made numerous radio and television appearances and has presented to over 300 organizations throughout the United States. He is a contributing writer to Inc. Magazine, Fast Company and Monster.com on topics pertaining to the people strategies of successful organizations. His newest award winning seminar is titled “Landing a Job in a Difficult Economy” To learn more about Tim, his books and seminars series, please visit www.howhardareyouknocking.com or contact him directly at 734-786-7162.
