Dislocated Workers  Tags: displaced_workers personal_finances wellness switching_careers job_seeking  

To communicate with potential employers, you may want to have an email account. Choose a "professional" sounding username when setting up your account. Here's a couple of popular free web email services.

From the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin WorkNet is a fabulous resource for information about the labor market in our state.

Among its many features is a list of "High-Growth Occupations," which lists occupations and the percent change in employment numbers from 2006 to a projected 2016, the skills you need to do the work, and a link to current job openings. For most occupations there is also a video with more details about what the job entails.

Number one on the list? Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts

Take That Skill, Use It

by Alexandra Levit, The Wall Street Journal, March 1, 2009

Career expert Alexandra Levit on how to leverage a unique skill -- even an obscure one -- to jump into another field.

Read the article

O*NET Online, the Occupational Information Network is a project of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration.

O*NET's Skill Search allows you to find occupations that match a list of your current or soon-to-be-acquired skills. You can also compare up to ten related occupations to one selected from the list.

From the Worker ReEmployment Portal:

Why Think About Skills?

After a layoff, your top priority may be to find a job immediately. But you’ll be more successful in your search if you first think about your skills. Recognizing your unique blend of abilities can help you make yourself marketable to employers.  It may also help you decide if you need to upgrade your skills.

Go to the CareerOneStop's Skill Center to learn more about:

• How to assess your skills
• How to review your skills
• What the standards are for various skill sets, and
• Identify skills that are in shortage