GtrPhilaBiz

Submitted by Meg Shope Koppel, Ph.D., Director of Research, Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board

The PhillyMagnet Career fair took place yesterday.  Click here for photos.

The Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and the four other southeast Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Boards were delighted to present workshops and informational sessions on job hunting in the region at the PhillyMagnet Career Fair.  This annual event is presented in partnership by Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and philly.com.  Though the economic times are tough for those looking for a job, there is hiring going on in the five county region and beyond in the contiguous counties in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Finding a job can be hard work today – but the most important factor is having the skills and knowledge that match the job opportunity you pursue. In this competitive market, job credentials signal potential employers about your knowledge base and skills. Highlighting employment experience demonstrating what you can accomplish is key. Now is an important time to retool by completing training or finishing a degree if your search is stalled. The needs of employers are constantly changing and new skills are essential. “Lifetime learning” is not a cliché but a requirement today whether in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, or business services.

For those without the skills or credentials to land the jobs they want in this knowledge-based economy, there is help through the PA CareerLink centers – our employment one-stop centers (www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us). In addition, the reengagement Center of Graduate! Philadelphia in the Gallery can help negotiate turning work experience into college credit and can help workers get enrolled to finish a degree (www.graduatephiladelphia.org). The Commonwealth job opportunity database is on-line for those with access to computers at https://www.cwds.state.pa.us/cwdsonline/.

There are also opportunities in transferring skills across industries. Green job opportunities are a good example. Many people will have skills that will translate into green industries. Although people equate green jobs with weatherization – that is, construction work to make homes more energy efficient – green jobs encompass many more opportunities. There are green collar jobs in construction, recycling, landscaping, production, and transportation. There are green tie jobs in material engineering, sustainable design, property management, green roof design, marketing and communications, and biofuel manufacturing. One can design rain barrels or carry stones to shore up river banks, determine the structural requirements for a green roof or plant trees, manufacture solar cells or caulk and seal a home. According to the Green Jobs Act, your job is green if all workers in the company systematically reduce waste, recycle, and protect the environment. The world of green is very broad and many smaller companies will be involved. Those seeking jobs will need to build a strategy for touching base with many employers rather than a few larger ones.