Education and Skills for Specific Jobs

Your Key to Opportunity

Peter Raeth, Ph.D.http://InformationAnthology.net/CareerMentor

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States. For details see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/.

What we will talk about

• Reality• Job categories• Specific jobs within categories• Gathering information• Places to look in Zimbabwe

A dose of reality• You can achieve considerable career success• You can overcome excuses people make

– discrimination, accidents of birth, late blooming, deprived background…. • But, not something to be done casually• There are no get-rich-quick schemes• There are no 90-day wonders• There are no effortless approaches to a successful career• If you want success, you have to reach for it• That reaching takes time and effort• Continuous cycle of studying, learning, working, producing• YOU are responsible and accountable• YOU have to take action – go to it, do not wait for it to come to you• In this personal enterprise, you will find great joy and solid

employment opportunities.

Jobs fit within business categories

Business Business Business Business

Management Development Administration Execution

• Each are critical to business success• All have to work together smoothly• Have to match you talents, skills, and knowledge to the category and related job• If the business is not successful then you are not successful – your job goes away

Advertised Jobs in Zimbabwe

• Accountancy, Bookkeeping (66) • Administration, Secretarial (41) • Agriculture, Forestry (10) • Automotive (19) • Banking, Financial, Insurance (10) • Bio, Chem, Pharmaceutical (2) • Construction, Civils, Property (28)• Creative, Media (8) • Domestic, Garden (9) • Electronics, Instrumentation (8) • Health Care, Social Services (16) • Hospitality, Catering, Travel (17) • HR, Education, Training (7) • IT, Telecommunications (16)

• Legal, Security (7) • Logistics, Shipping, Transport (23) • Management, Executive (8) • Manufacturing, Production (7) • Marketing, Sales, PR (42) • Mining, Metals, Minerals, Oil (20) • NGO, Non-Profit, Voluntary (2) • Retail, Wholesale (67) • Other Jobs (17) • Services (5)

Computer and Information Systems Managers

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos258.htm• bachelor's degree in a computer-related field• employers often prefer MBA with technology core• direct the work of other IT professionals• plan and coordinate activities• evaluate new and most innovative technologies

– determine how these can help their company

• develop technical standards, deploy technology• ensure availability, continuity, security of services

Engineering Technician

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos112.htm• opportunities best for those with associate

degree or other postsecondary training in engineering technology

• apply principles of science, engineering, math• solve technical problems• assist engineers and scientists

– design, production, inspection, process development– equipment operation, maintenance, and repair

Medical Assistant

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm• some trained on the job• many complete 1-year or 2-year programs• administrative and clinical tasks• keep office of health practitioner running smooth• update and file patients' medical records• fill out insurance forms• arrange for hospital admission, laboratory service• assist during patient visit, conduct routine tests

Sales Representatives

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1004.htm• as always, good training is necessary

– prospects best for those with two or four-year degree– expertise in customer and product domains– personal traits necessary for successful selling

• describe products, conduct demonstrations• explain benefits, answer questions• fully knowledgeable about range of products• focused on customer’s needs to close sales

Office and Administrative Support

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1005.htm• minimum: high school diploma• postsecondary education increasingly important• associate degree in business or accounting

required for some positions• update and maintain records• assist in preparation of reports and proposals• link between customers and company• filing, keyboarding, data entry, prepare mailings

Agriculture

• High school diploma through college degree• sow and harvest numerous types of plants• operate farm equipment• assist in animal breeding, care, prep for market• design, create, operate, maintain irrigation• apply plant and animal protection

– physical, disease, insects

• ensure compliance with safety and sanitation• classify by size, weight, shape, market value

Construction

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1009.htm• apprenticeships provide thorough training• two-year degree valuable for broad background• design, erect, install, repair durable structures• install iron or steel girders, columns, other

construction materials• make surfaces clean, attractive, vibrant• ensure compliance: building codes, ordinances,

zoning regulations, contract specifications

Installation, Maintenance, Repair

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1008.htm• postsecondary training or 2-year degree• electrical, electronics, automobile, trucks,

construction equipment, appliances, aircraft, etc• install, maintain, inspect, troubleshoot, repair• teach others how to use effectively and efficiently• ensure safe and reliable operation• keeps equipment up to date• adapts to new technologies and techniques

Production

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1010.htm• postsecondary through 4-year degree• assemble finished products and their pieces• learn and apply appropriate tools, technologies• understand detailed schematics and blueprints• identify faulty components, assembly mistakes • fix problems in assembly process and components• assist in determining and designing new products• design and implement safe work procedures

Transportation and Material Moving

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1011.htm• wide range of training/education requirements• dispatch, organize, control vehicle movement• plan trips: routes, fuel, weather, cargo,

passengers• pick up and deliver freight

– within city; between cities, states, countries

• load and unload cargo• coordinate cargo and operators• ensure vehicle maintenance and repair

Bottom Line

• The greater your training and education, the greater your potential for success

• You must stay up to date with your field– years of experience with out-of-date skills leads only

to job loss– experience matters only if it includes up-to-date skills

and accomplishments

• Flexibility is a must – Do what needs to be done• Put yourself forward – Grab the opportunity

Sources of Information

• Employment Agencieshttp://www.classifieds.co.zw/store_category/25/Zimbabwe_Employment_Agencies.html

• Job Listingshttp://www.classifieds.co.zw/category/14/Jobs.html

• News Sourceshttp://www.world-newspapers.com/zimbabwe.html

• Articles about employment in Zimbabwehttp://www.zimpapers.co.zw/component/search/?searchword=jobs&ordering=&searchphrase=all

• Find out who is opening a business. Go visit those people.– tell them what you can do for their business, how you can be of benefit