EMPLOYMENT
In the right field, a career can be recession-proof
Jobs in nursing, tech services are financially secure
A recession isn’t necessarily the kiss of death when it comes to finding a job with long-term financial security. It’s all about entering a career field that isn’t completely reliant on the spending ability of others.
So what would be considered a hot job that’s recession-proof?
The safest would most likely be in health care, especially nursing. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and even HMOs are all searching for nurses to care for the growing numbers of people living into their 80s and beyond.
“The population — especially if you’re talking about Western New York — it’s older, and nationwide the population is older, so the need keeps growing,” said Fran Schmidt, director of career services at D’Youville College. “Nurses are really at a premium. They really are needed. And then there’s occupational therapists, physical therapists, physician assistants.”
The need is so great that older students also are studying nursing, many switching from a less financially secure career.
While health care careers are hot, they’re not for everyone, which is why Schmidt along with her University at Buffalo counterpart, Judith Applebum, encourages students to find a field that’s appealing to them. UB even offers a credit-bearing course to help freshmen and sophomores navigate career options and figure out what’s best for them.
“I think we have to see what happens [with the nation’s economy],” Schmidt said. “The main thing is, we encourage students not to give up they want to do.”
During a recession, “it’s hard to talk about hot careers and hot jobs,” Applebum said. “In my business . . . you really have to look at what the students’ interests are. Going into a job because it’s hot isn’t an ideal way to go into a career. It’s only one of the things you may take into consideration.”
While technological advances seem to be daily occurrences, a career in tech services is obviously a secure one, according to John Slenker, the state Labor Department’s regional economist in Buffalo. But while companies aren’t necessarily hiring en mass, the positions that are deemed vital to daily operations will continue to be filled, he said.
For example, if a database administrator’s job opens up due to a sudden retirement or departure, that’s a job that must be filled regardless of the economic climate, because that position is vital to a company’s profit margin, he said.
Need further proof of the vitality of tech positions? Just look at a receipt from a supermarket or department store. Someone wrote the program used by the computerized cash registers to track purchases so managers have an easier time keeping track of what they need to order. That someone has a job vital to a company’s bottom line — meaning it’s a protected position and must be filled.
“Those jobs are also still in demand,” Slenker said. “There will still be opportunities.”
Skilled construction trades will remain in demand, he said.
“If you’re for things like plumbing, if we’re in the middle of winter and water lines freeze and break then they have to be fixed.”
There’s always a need for workers, he said, “and the need will run from cashiers, nurses and doctors — across the board” with computer and health care fields in the lead.
The most recent state Labor Department projections through 2014 anticipate the most employment opportunities in fields not directly tied to the spending habits of others.
Health care is one field that isn’t dependent on one’s willingness to spend. If someone is sick or hurt, seeking qualified medical care is unavoidable, which is why Slenker said nursing and medicine are without a doubt the hottest jobs available.
But he said people still will be attracted to jobs that capture their interests. In that way, the battle for those positions is similar to the battle for tech jobs.
“When you have a downturn in the market, the difference between two candidates will be their skill levels,” he said.
Employers just aren’t going to look at resumes as a way of picking the best applicant. They want evidence that applicants can get the job done, he said.
They also have to take their companies’ image into consideration when selecting a new hire, so soft skills — such as a positive attitude and punctuality— are just as important.
“One of the other things employers are looking for are good work ethic, good attitude and your overall skills,” Slenker said. “They can’t afford to make mistakes with their workers. They can’t afford to not have somebody show up on time. . . . They want them to present themselves to their customers very well.”
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