Thinking of training for a Green Collar or renewable energy job? Look to the heartland.

The state government set some pretty lofty green energy goals for Kansas businesses. Former Governor Kathleen Sebelius and current Governor Mark Parkinson set a goal of producing 10% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The business community recently met this ambitious goal much earlier than expected, and is showing signs of making even further progress.

Quick facts about Kansas Green Energy:
•    Kansas’ wind generating capacity recently surpassed 1,000 megawatts
•    Kansas’ wind generating capacity has more than tripled since the beginning of 2008
•    Hutchinson, Kansas is the site of a huge turbine factory expected to create and install 650 wind turbines by 2010
•    The state’s rapid increase in wind power infrastructure has positioned Kansas as 3rd out of all states for wind energy production

The Hutchinson factory operation is expected to create an estimated 400 Green Collar jobs, along with all of the community support services, construction and amenities jobs attached to any large-scale production facility. Even better, the new facility has an adjacent 80,000 square-foot service and repair facility. The Green Collar industry is exploding in Kansas, and it only took a few years to get it off the ground.

Types of jobs that are created to service the Green Energy industry:
•    Construction
•    Electrical infrastructure
•    HVAC
•    Trucking and Transportation
•    Real Estate
•    Medical and health care
•    Emergency Medical Response teams (EMT)
•    Business and project management

Green Energy is an excellent and profitable industry that creates new jobs for emerging technology, but also boosts traditional industries looking to expand into new markets.

If you were to move to the Hutchinson, Kansas area, what Green Energy jobs would you qualify or be able to train for? It may be easier than you think to join the renewable energy movement!

The economy’s been in rough shape over the last few months – even the last few years. Last February, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed, and it’s time to look at the overall impact.

Overall, things are still pretty grim – while the rate of job loss has slowed, unemployment is still on the rise, at 9.7% in August. Some industries, however, are doing better than others – namely manufacturing, construction and retail trade. The energy sector is also on the rise – particularly with the emphasis on ‘going green’.

While things are still grim, some recruiters tend to be slightly optimistic about the future, expecting job openings to start picking up again at the beginning of 2010.

Some unemployed are using the time to try to update or freshen skills through career training. Others are attempting to take advantage of as much temporary work as possible. And almost everybody is applying everywhere they can – making this a very rough and competitive job market.

Do you feel like things are really getting better??

Since the world is turning greener, how can you establish yourself in this new career field? Green-collar jobs have been cropping up in the past few years – we first heard about them in the presidential primaries from candidates on both sides of the political fence. Now with the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act, President Obama has promised to spend $150 billion over 10 years to create 5 million new green-collar jobs.

How can you take advantage of the added funds to this new career field? Can you just transition your skills over – or will there be additional training? These are the questions many people are asking themselves, especially when jobs are already scarce.

But, there’s good news! Since the government is willing to fund these new green jobs, that means there are possibilities for your current career or a new one. Take your current skills and apply them to:

• Hybrid auto repair, maintenance and assembly
• Clean coal production
• Green construction
• Green public transit operators
• And more!

There are new careers hitting the green-collar job field that might take additional training and skills. Explore some new areas of green jobs, like:

• Wind energy
• Solar panel production, repair and maintenance
• Green Information Technology
• And more!

Learn more about green careers and training today!

Looking to switch careers? Want to go back to school but don’t know what industries will survive economic downturns? Career Explorer wants to help you by listing the top 10 fastest-growing industries.

Now, you can find the industries where projected growth is guaranteed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled a list according to percentage of growth in a 10-year period from 2006-2016.

10. Internet publishing and broadcasting: Expected to increase by 44%.
9. Securities and commodity contracts, brokerages, and exchanges: Expected to increase by 46%
8. Facilities support services: Expected to increase by 46%
7. Other financial investment activities: Expected to increase by 47%
6. Community care facilities for the elderly: Expected to increase by 50%
5. Educational support services, public and private: Expected to increase by 53%
4. Home health care services: Expected to increase by 55%
3. Gambling industries: Expected to increase by 66%
2. Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities: Expected to increase by 74%
1. Management, scientific, and technical consulting services: Expected to increase by 78%

Most of these industries have a number of careers and positions within each sector. Begin searching for a career that has positive growth and stability. Career Explorer can help you achieve your professional and academic goals. Search for programs that could fit into one of the industries and start building a better life!

In an economy like this, you probably feel lucky just to have a job … let alone feel like you’re in a position to ask for more money. But the reality is, you are providing an important service (through time, expertise and labor) for your company and you deserve to be compensated fairly. Now, if your company is losing money hand over fist or you haven’t actually been performing the job you were hired to do, then maybe now isn’t the best time to demand a raise. But if you really feel it’s deserved, there is a fair, reasonable way to ask for the compensation you deserve.

Find out how much other employees in your position are earning. Determine your value by browsing the salaries of comparable positions in your area. Come to your employer with concrete examples of competitive salaries and a tangible, reasonable amount that you deserve to be earning.

Determine how much you can earn. If a competitive salary for your position applies to employees with 10 years experience and you only have 2? You may not be able to leverage your amazing skills as much as you’d hoped. You’re worth it, but you also have to pay your dues.

Make sure that people know your value. Display a helpful, flexible, initiative-taking attitude and it will be noticed. Don’t wait until you go in to ask for a raise to point out all the good you do the company … make sure your boss already knows.

Ask. You’ll never receive anything you’re too afraid to ask for. Schedule a meeting with your supervisor, and begin the conversation with a confident, respectful phrase like: “I’d like to talk to you about a salary adjustment.”

Remind your manager of the strong contributions you’ve made. Stay away from mentioning financial hardship, unfair comparisons and pity parties. Show your employer the ways that you have helped to earn or save the company money.

Don’t give ultimatums. Especially if you’re not prepared to follow through. They come across as manipulative and immature, and your manager just might take you up on your offer to take a position at a (fictitious) company that is willing to offer you more money.

Overall, keep your approach confident, level-headed, and be prepared to back your request for a raise with concrete numbers and reasons why you deserve what you’re asking for. If your request happens to be rejected this time, don’t pout. Instead, see if your employer is willing to meet you in the middle with some non-salary perks like a few extra vacation days.

If all else fails, research some more job training that would put you a little more ahead of everyone else!

What are some ideas that worked for you the first time you asked for a raise?