2013 Jobs: When, Where and For Whom

by Barabara Bair, ACP PR Chair

 Employment opportunities in the Philadelphia Region --- is it good? Not so good?  or somewhere in-between... and what are employers looking for?

 Participants at our January 11^th meeting found answers to these and many other questions, when they were treated to a comprehensive conversation addressing industry growth for 2013, and general skills/experience and education requirements for "hot" jobs relative to the healthcare, financial and technology/manufacturing fields. 

 Phillip R. Hopkins, VP of Research for Select Greater Philadelphia opened the meeting by sharing current employment trends and expectations for the region. He noted that while employment growth has slowed, growth is best in the business services area, as well as logistics (including transportation) and wholesale trade.  

 Bowen Knarr, Account Executive with Stephen James Associates cited that key areas of growth in the financial sector will be in specialized services - niche areas.  Bowen noted there is a new flexibility in hiring practices currently, making it easier to transition into this field. Many employers are offering "contract to hire" opportunities which often pay benefits!

 Jean Kozicki, Director, Recruitment Main Line Health noted that as healthcare reform continues, the consumer is better informed, and therefore the focus is more "patient centered". As a result, healthcare recruiters are seeking people who demonstrate compassion, are "culturally competent" and possess critical thinking skills. Recruiters are specifically looking for individuals with a Bachelors degree in Nursing. Areas of growth include positions in critical care, physical therapists, occupational therapists and physician assistants, as well as, medical coders/billing staff. She added that, hiring in the Healthcare filed has been steadily increasing in our region!

 Ed Grose, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, commented that the hospitality industry is experiencing moderate growth as Philadelphia continues to develop its tourism ventures beyond our traditional historical focus. He sees growth in sales, meeting planning, security, facilities management and front line hotel positions. Ed noted that most employers are seeking solid interpersonal skills and people who have knowledge of energy efficiency.  

 Dave VanderDoes, Recruitment Consultant for the CBI Group, sited a tremendous need for engineers in the manufacturing sector; in fact, he noted at present, there is a shortage of engineers. Additionally, there is a specific need for material science professionals. He encouraged us, as career consultants, to tell our clients that they should be connected to their engineering alumni group because manufacturing recruiters regularly seek candidates from such sources!   Dave noted that the areas of expertise most sought are: process development, compliance, quality assurance, clinical trials, and new product development because of the number of professionals retiring from those positions.

 Phil Harkins summed up the discussion by noting that there is a demand in the Philadelphia region as a whole for people who have a knowledge of global economics, as well as, their specific professional subject knowledge. He pointed out that our region is an economically desirable area, especially with the work at the Marcellus shale. He also pointed out that Philadelphia has the second busiest UPS facility in the world, as well as, being a major pharmaceutical distribution center.  In short, employment prospects for 2013 look good!

 Mark your calendar for March 15^th, our next great meeting!

These links are being provided to assist career coaches in effectively assisting their client job seekers to maximize their job search efforts.

7 Tips for Landing a Job Using Social Media

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45kmhe/7-tips-for-landing-a-job-using-social-media-2/#/pictures/efkk45kmhe/dont-ask-for-a-job-2/?&_suid=134998476804907083753967742032

How Different Generations of Americans Try to Find Work

Read more: http://moneyland.time.com/2012/09/24/how-different-generations-of-americans-try-to-find-work/#ixzz285uXdZeY

5 Ways to Use Pinterest for Your Job Search

http://mashable.com/2012/09/23/pinterest-job-search/

What Every Employer Wants to Hear in an Interview

http://www.careerealism.com/every-employer-wants-hear-interview /

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