Here’s what you should do if you’re looking for a new career in 2018
Dec 28, 2017, 4:34 AM | Updated: Feb 15, 2018, 1:02 pm
PHOENIX — If you’re thinking of starting a new career in 2018, now is the time to look around.
Ryan Naylor, the president and founder of the Phoenix-based employment agency LocalWork, said most employers are already starting to hire for the first quarter of the year.
“It’s one of the best times to get your resumé out, get its dust off and get it out there,” Naylor said.
Naylor also recommended cleaning up your social media profiles, too. “Employers are more sophisticated than ever, looking at your digital footprint, what kind of impact you might have on the company,” he said.
Two of the industries with the biggest gains were health care and trade jobs, Naylor said.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics bore this out. Positions like personal-care aides and registered nurses grew 37 and 14.8 percent, respectively, from 2016 to 2017. And by 2026, the health care field is expected to grow even more.
Trade jobs, like plumbers and HVAC technicians, will be in even higher demand in the new year, Naylor said, adding that those type of jobs don’t necessarily need a college degree.
“If you’re willing to come in, put in the time and learn the trade, a lot of these skilled-trade positions actually pay quite well,” he said. “A lot of the time, these companies hiring these trade positions are offering full paid training along the way.
“You might not have the industry experience or the technical degree, but a lot of (these companies) will pay you to go get your certificate; get your training; whatever it is in the industry you need.”
Whatever route someone decides to take, Naylor said, they need to have a few qualities in common: “(Employers) are looking for people that are sharp, got great work ethic, and willing to put in the time.”
