How to Transition Into Working in the Solar Industry

How to Transition Into Working in the Solar IndustryHow to Transition Into Working in the Solar Industry With the growing uncertainty when it comes to the sustainability and profitability of fossil fuel production coal mines, oil rigs, oil companies, gas companies people are either being laid off or are considering changing careers. The biggest trend? Transitioning into the solar industry.The solar industry has taken the world by a storm. The price of fossils is exponentially growing, just as the price of solar energy and technologies is in a decline, becoming more affordable by the day. It is the marking of a new generation of power. While the solar industry is plummeting, some other branches of industries are inevitably crumbling. Oil, gas and coal industries have suffered the fruchtwein through this process. Companies are closing or struggling and people are losing their jobs. Production of fossils has become a liability for the environment and is deteriora ting the climate due to its high greenhouse gas emissions, and this is one of the main causes for the advancement of and the transition to renewable, natural energy.But just as the rise of the solar industry closes certain opportunities and doors, it also opens new, different ones . There are many new job positions available for new and for old workers. For those who have previously worked in the oil or gas industries, there are also different options and ways to transition into this new, growing solar industry. It is a process, and it certainly does take some adjustment, as well as more or less extensive training, but it is possible and very feasible.First of all, when it comes to the financial part, there is no exact rule on whether workers will earn more or less money than before, it is even more likely that the pay will be smaller. But the thing is that oil workers, for example, working at oil rigs, are facing more and more uncertainty when it comes to their jobs. They may be working one month, and be out of a job the next month. Working intermittently like that can take a toll on a person, both physically and financially. Therefore, working regularly, full-time, but on a smaller salary, can seem much better.Some workers are even considering transitioning before they are laid off due to the rather reasonable fear that they could lose their job. They may be settling for a smaller salary , but they are gaining certain job security. Salaries vary depending on the position, experience, level of education and training. Some technical workers, or janitors could even earn more in the corresponding jobs in the solar industry. They would do the same or similar work but at a higher standard, in an industry whose profits are rapidly increasing . Some will have a smaller annual pay, but after the required training and education, that can also change and grow.Some states and local governments offer programs for training unemployed skilled workers , particularly t hose from the oil and gas industries, training them in various areas of the solar industry. increasing their employability and opening new opportunities. Organizations, such as the Solar Energy International , offer different courses, training, retraining and career transition programs that help workers learn, adjust and prepare for the new industry and the new circumstances it has created. Department of Energy and the US Departments of Labor and Education partnered up to create The Solar Instructor Training Network , providing education and training as well as encouraging the development of a solar workforce.Some companies like Vivant Solar and SolarCity offer training programs for their workers before they get laid off. This helps with the process of transition and prepares them rather early on for the changes that will inevitably happen. The process of finding a new job and entering the new industry is easier this way and significantly shortened. This is, of course, the id eal solution and in ideal circumstances, but unfortunately, not very common or often practiced. All in all, transitioning workers have to be prepared for a somewhat difficult period, probably a stiff competition, and they certainly have to be willing to learn, acquire new skills or upgrade their old ones.It is important to know and understand that many skills that oil and gas workers have are transferable to the solar industry. The job search may be hard and often discouraging or disillusioning, but perseverance is the key. Steps also need to be taken by the recruiters and employers, who have to put aside their preconceptions and recognize the value of a skilled worker.Matt Reilly is an operations manager and home improvement writer currently working for Reilly Roofing and Gutters in San Antonio. He is a promoter of sustainable living, both on a large scale and through the use of eco-friendly technology in everyday life.

Job Hunter Bags a New E-Learning Job

Job Hunter Bags a New E-Learning JobJob Hunter Bags a New E-Learning JobHarry OBrien follows his instinct to uncover new sales opportunities a new position at SkillSoft plays to his strengths.Harry OBrien thinks of himself as a hunter. In his previous position as business development manager at Volt Information Sciences (a staffing firm headquartered in Westbury, N.Y., that specializes in clerical, accounting, administrative, light industrial, technical, IT and engineering fields), his predatory instincts were put to good use seeking out and placing qualified candidates in a variety of fields.I go find it kill it bring it back and someone else cooks it, so to speak, OBrien laughed. While OBrien also counts account management in his career experience, that part of his job welchesnt really his strong suit.Ive done some account management, but it frankly bored me, he said. I like the challenge and the excitement of starting from zero, building something for two or three months, and then handing it off instead of landing an account that has to be maintained for a couple years.While he welches content at Volt Information Sciences, the 32-year-old Bronx resident was unnerved when the company went through a substantial downsizing and realized the writing was on the wall.I just didnt feel comfortable there after the downsizing, and I decided it was time to begin my job search again. I wasnt sure if I would be laid off, but I didnt want to take the chance that it would be my head on the chopping block, he said.The thrill of the huntIn January 2009, OBrien signed up for SalesLadder and took advantage of the available resume-rewriting services. OBrien was blown away by the thoroughness and attention to detail of his resume-writing team and credits them with the incredible response his reworked resume generated.Coming from the staffing world, I wasnt sure that theyd be able to do much for me, he said. I was looking at resumes daily, and I thought I knew what was what. But they pointed out things Id never even noticed, and I was getting hits at least once a week.OBrien developed a few different versions of his resume and tailored them to address specific industries he was searching.I liked the fact that I could have three or four different versions of my resume and cover letter to encompass software sales - which Id also done in the past - human capital, etc., he said. While the ability to tailor resumes to specific job listings was helpful to OBrien, he said that its more relevant for some industries than others.In sales, for example, you can sell anything you believe in as long as you know the details of the product, the sales skills are all pretty much standard and the same, so tailoring a resume might not make a difference one way or the other, he said.OBrien focused his search on companies that offered strong values and an emphasis on internal opportunities for advancement. He said he was looking for an employer that would understand the need f or a balance between personal and professional time and that invested in its employees professional growth and career advancement.Introduced through a recruiterThat opportunity presented itself in the form of a third-party recruiting firm representing SkillSoft. The provider of e-learning content, online information resources and flexible-learning technologies for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses has U.S. headquarters in Nashua, N.H. OBrien said the interview process was lengthy, spanning almost four months and six total interviews from April to August, but the payoff was worth it.As an associate regional account executive with SkillSoft, OBrien is responsible for developing and delivering on-demand e-learning classes for clients internal employees and also selling SkillSofts e-learning expertise to new customers who want to employ e-learning technology.It took about four months, but my official hire date was August 3, he said. I got the professional growth I was looking for, OBrien said, And Im now in the middle of week one of a 13-week training program.

Got Interview Jitters Heres How to Manage Them

Got Interview Jitters Heres How to Manage ThemGot Interview Jitters Heres How to Manage ThemJob interviews can be extremely stressful for candidates- even very qualified ones. Research from Everest College and Harris Interactive found that almost all Americans surveyed (92 percent) suffer from pre-interview jitters and anxiety related to the interview process.Some specific interview-related fears that job seekers cited includeNot knowing the right answer to questions askedBeing lateMaking a bad impressionBeing underpreparedWith these factors in mind, here is some practical advice on how get rid of interview jitters, and feel more confident and prepared going into an interview situationPractice your interview answers.While there is no way to know exactly what questions you will be asked in an interview, that doesnt mean you cant brainstorm answers to specific types of common questions. A large part of your overall interview prep should involve getting very comfortable fielding job-rel ated questions with confidence and poise.For abflugers, read this article on three tough job interview questions and how to answer them. You should also try to anticipate questions that the hiring team may ask you about the specific position to which youre applying, as well as the company. Thoroughly review the job description so that you have the right language to use when discussing it. Prepare answers about how your past experience and current skills can help the company solve their problems.Arrive in the vicinity ahead of schedule.If you feel nervous about arriving late for your interview, you should- there is no doubt youll make a poor impression and set off on the wrong foot by showing up past the requested start time. Knowing this, you should do everything you can to ensure an on-time arrival, which means planning to arrive at a location near where your interview will be held well in advance of your scheduled interview time.Arriving early requires careful planning. Think thro ugh how long each leg of the journey could take, from the amount of time you need to shower, dress, and eat to how long the commute is to the companys interview location. Build in a large cushion of time- a half hour or more. This will help ensure that you arrive early in the general vicinity of where you need to be. Once youre on-site ahead of schedule, you can breathe a little easier. Dont head into the interview check-in location too early though. Wait out the time nearby- in your car or a local coffee shop, for example. With the travel out of the way, youll know that youll be on time, and you can brush up on your interview answers while you wait to check in for your meeting.Amp up your attitude.Theres no need to worry about the impression youll make if you prepare to make a good one. In addition to taking the steps above, projecting a positive attitude counts for a lot in interview scenarios. Be sure to get a good nights sleep so that you can arrive energized and ready to rock y our interviewDont leave your interview performance to chance. By taking these three steps- planning in advance to say the right thing, arriving early to be on time, and making a great attitude impression on the hiring managers- you can quash your worries about being underprepared and position yourself for job success.Looking for more interview advice? Check out our category dedicated to job interviewing tips.