Earlier this week, a fairly significant earthquake hit Virginia and was felt along the East Coast. Luckily, there were few lasting problems, but today, as I’m writing this post, the Eastern United States is preparing for yet another natural disaster as Hurricane Irene heads up the coast. Disasters aren’t limited to this part of the country, though. Communities around the world deal with fires, tornadoes, blizzards, and more, and workers are needed in emergency management to help keep everyone as safe as possible. Let’s take a look at some of the job opportunities in this field:

• Federal Emergency Management

Whenever a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other major issue occurs, the government takes control of the situation to organize helpers and put a response plan into action. FEMA jobs include training specialists, community planners, education officers, and more, and in all of these positions, there’s the potential to earn a six-figure salary. Finding FEMA jobs is as easy as checking out the open positions at their website; keep in mind that for some of these positions, you need clearances or special education.

• Nonprofit Emergency Response

Nonprofit organizations, especially those in the healthcare field, often have emergency response positions open for workers who want to be in the field, helping people. There are positions for doctors and nurses, which require licensing in your state, as well as positions for organizers and EMTs. Some emergency responders from nonprofit organizations, especially with national groups like the Red Cross are the first who go into an affected area to provide care, so to work in this kind of position you have to be calm and collected, even in stressful conditions.

• Firefighter

Earthquakes are common in certain areas, while floods are common in other areas and so forth. However, no matter where you live, fires are a risk. Working as a firefighter means that you’ll be a first responder when a resident or business catches fire, and you may also help with wildfires, fires at the scenes of accidents, or other areas where fire is a risk. Some communities have volunteer departments, but in most large towns and cities, the fire department is government funded, so you can find a paying position. Some locations, such as power plants, also have firefighters on staff.

Emergency management doesn’t always put you at risk, but this can occasionally be the case, especially if you are a first responder. Interested in the thrill of a dangerous career? Check out the JobMonkey guide to dangerous jobs.

Today, across the United States, conscientious Americans are lining up at the polls to cast votes in the mid-term elections.

As you fill out the ballot, you may feel like some of the open offices have no good candidate options available. Have you ever considered running for public office yourself? For some people, holding government office is a great career choice!

There may seem like a daunting mountain of things standing in your way to hold public office – and you would be right if your goal is to be the president someday. But the great thing about the United States is that any citizen can get involved in politics in some way. Here are some tips you can use to see your name on the ballot in the future:

• Get educated. While you don’t need a degree to run for public office, getting your education is definitely an advantage and will help you appear more favorable to voters. You’ll also learn more about the American political system if you take political science or law classes, which can help you run in the future.
• Volunteer with your party of choice. You might not be ready to run yourself, but you can help candidates who are at the point where they want to run for office. Learn about the candidates who will be running and volunteer to help them with whatever skills you possess. Think you have no skills that can help a politician? They always need help stuffing envelopes, doing grunt work at rallies, and so forth. You don’t need to be a speech writer or analyst to volunteer with your party of choice.
• Read as much as you can about the issues that are important to you. When you do run, you’ll need to be able to speak about the topics that are most important to you. Read as much as you can about the history of these topics (like gay marriage, the economy, etc) so you know where the country has been and can better speak about where you’d like ti see it go.
• Work in leadership positions. Those who hold public office are definitely in leadership positions, so any kind of leadership role gives you good experience for this. If you can’t find a job in a leadership role, consider something like becoming a volunteer scout leader, heading a PTA committee, volunteering to organizing a fundraising event for a local non-profit, leading a study group at your house of worship, or otherwise jumping in to be a leader.

Start with a small local office as a way to get into politics and start meeting people. This field really is about knowing the right people, so network, network, network at lower levels so you can be prepared to run for a higher office in the future. Government job networking today can lead to success in the future!

History is constantly in the making in Washington, and never before has that been more apparent than in the past several months, with major legislation addressing topics like health care reform and the military’s Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy.

Behind every bill is a team of government workers. Did you know that the government employs over 1.8 million civilians? That’s not even including contractors!

Working for the federal government means that you can have a say in this nation’s laws. For example, you can work for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to help create policies involving border protection or check out Environmental Protection Agency jobs to work toward laws that prevent oil spills from happening in the future. Whatever your passion, there are ways for you to get involved with a federal government job.

Landing a federal government job isn’t easy. Here are some tips for getting hired:

• Start in a low-level position to gain experience. Working in the government is all about climbing the corporate ladder. You have to make a lot of coffee before you can start making laws.
• Network as much as possible. The saying, “it isn’t what you know, but who you know,” is not truer in any other industry, and meeting someone at a rally or charity function could land you an interview with a friend of a friend.
• Work outside of Washington. Although many government departments are headquartered in D.C., you can find federal jobs in every state, and local and state government jobs are great for experience as well.
• Make smart decisions during your everyday life. Having bad credit or a mark on your criminal history record (even for something like a DUI) can disqualify you from certain positions.

You can also get a job working for a lobbyist group, government-funded nonprofit organization, government contractor, or political party to get your feet wet in the world of government. Remember, the military is part of the government too, and working in a field like military intelligence could be your ticket to a job in the FBI or CIA, positions that are notoriously competitive.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday that the month of March saw the biggest boost in new job creation in over three years. 162,000 new positions were created, with just under one-quarter of them coming from temporary government jobs, such as working for the Census Bureau.

So where are the rest of these jobs — and the hundreds of thousands more that analysts are predicting to be created over the coming months? Here’s a look at some of the hottest up-and-coming career fields:

1) Green Jobs
Did you know that the green industries currently account for 8.5 million American jobs? According to the United States Conference of Mayors, green jobs are one of the fastest growing segments in the U.S. They predict the creation of 4.2 million new green jobs by the end of the decade, with as many as 12 new green occupations being created. To learn more, check out the JobMonkey section on Green Careers.

2) Health Care
Half of the thirty fastest growing careers will be in health care, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationwide nursing shortages and the rapidly aging “Baby Boomer” population have put major pressure on U.S. cities to recruit and hire trained nurses, physician’s assistants, physical and occupational therapists, home health aides and medical record technicians. To learn more, check out the JobMonkey section on Jobs for RNs.

3) Education
2.8 million new teachers will be needed over the next eight years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. An aging teaching population, coupled with population booms in certain urban areas, has led to an increasing shortage in school districts around the country. Key subject areas include science, math, foreign languages, and Teaching English as a Second Language. To learn more, check out the JobMonkey section on School Teacher & Education Jobs.

While these three fields are especially hot, a changing economy will produce openings in nearly every sector. If you have you heart set on becoming a radio DJ, designing video games, or fighting forest fires, this is a good time to follow your dreams (and to visit the JobMonkey for information on each of these areas — and more)!

Federal careers expert Derrick Dortch hosted a Q&A on Wednesday at washingtonpost.com. If you missed it, you can read the full summary online here. Some of my favorite pieces of Dortch’s advice include:

Define what kind of position you want and develop a target package around it. If you are trying to stay within a support role on the administrative side, then you want to focus on the work you do but provide details about what programs and experts you support.

Put your success stories in your federal résumé and any materials you submit. It cannot just be job-descriptive language. There are many people out there looking for the same jobs, and you have to make sure you stand out. Success stories make you do that.

Think about the experts at your [current place of employment], and think about whom you can trust to talk to about wanting to work in government. It may be your boss or another expert, but after you have identified who the right people are to talk to, let them know that your passion is working for the federal government and ask them for advice and assistance. Many people understand someone trying to move up and will be more than happy to help you.

Job Networking, resume tweaking, and self-promotion… All great ideas, which it’s no coincidence that we cover extensively at the Job Monkey blog, as well!

Are you considering a move to a federal government career? There are a host of good reasons to work for Uncle Sam, including:

• Job security
• Stable paycheck
• Diversity of career options
• Great benefits — including health care and retirement packages
• Opportunities for advancement
• And more!

In honor of President’s Day today, I thought I’d write a post about working for the federal government.

Of course, when George Washington was president, the federal government was a relatively teeny tiny little entity. Today, it’s the nation’s largest employer with over 1.7 million employees.

Working for the federal government comes with a host of benefits, including job stability, competitive salary and generous benefits. Don’t live in Washington, D.C.? No problem. Over 90% of all government jobs are located outside the Beltway, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And with more than 200,000 new federal jobs to be added by 2012, the federal government is a good bet for finding a great job!

So, now that I’ve sold you on a government job, you’re probably wondering where to get started. Here are some great online resources:

• JobMonkey’s section on Federal Government Jobs covers more than a dozen different agencies, with information on salary range, work environment and more. Plus we have a federal job board for those of you ready to actively seek employment, covering federal government jobs, jobs with the U.S. Postal Service, and private governmental contract work.

• The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers data about the salary ranges of a wide range of different federal government jobs.

• The Federal Employees Health Benefits program details health insurance coverage for 8 million federal employees and their families.  This is the same policy coverage that members of Congress get.

• USAJobs.com is the top-ranked search engine for federal government jobs.

• USPS.com’s job search board lists openings for postal service workers.

• The Department of Homeland Security has a page with tips on applying for a job in homeland security. Much of this advice applies to other agencies as well!

• The Federal Career Intern Program (FCIG) is a comprehensive, entry-level employment and career development program. It’s a great way to get your start on a federal government career, if you have completed at least a Bachelor’s Degree. Almost every agency has FCIG internships, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Have you considered working for Uncle Sam? What online resources have been helpful to you in your job search?

Kiplinger columnist Marty Nemko recently profiled 13 professions that she believes are the best bet for the next decade, based on three factors:

• Ability to have at least a middle class income
• Socially redeeming value — i.e. no tobacco execs on this list
• Work-life balance — reasonable hours, positive work environment, etc.
• Status — these are “white collar jobs” here, with a good deal of social ‘status’ associated with them (not that blue — and green, for the matter — collar jobs can’t pay well and give employees a lot of job satisfaction, but this particular list wasn’t about that kind of work)

So, what did Ms. Nemko come up with?

1. Federal-Government Manager

In the post economic recession era, the federal government is slated to be this nation’s largest employer, creating 300,000 new jobs over the next two years! Federal jobs don’t have to be based in Washington; there are opportunities around the country — and the world.

2. Higher-Education Administrator

3. Program Evaluator

4. Global Business Development Executive

If you speak Mandarin, Hindi, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic or Farsi, there is likely a job for you (especially if you are willing to work abroad.)

5. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist

6. Immigration Expert

7. Researcher

Key specialties include energy/green energy research; and science research jobs such as genomics, neurophysics, diagnostic imaging, and pollution control.

8. Health-Informatics Specialist

No medical degree required; informatics specialists will help docs and hospitals set up electronic medical records systems.

9. Optometrist

10. Genetic Counselor

11. Patient Advocate

12. Physical Therapist

Among medical-related jobs, this one scores highest on the job satisfaction indicators, according to Nemko. She says it’s the one-on-one relationship and reasonable work hours that do the trick.

13. Veterinarian Careers

And let me add… If you want to work with animals, but years of schooling aren’t your thing, consider a job as a veterinarian technician: Same good hours, same great work environment, but less education (and, unfortunately, less salary).

You can get the full run-down on each of these careers from Nemko’s article at Kiplinger.com.

So, what do you think? Is your future high-earning, socially relevant, high satisfaction (and status) next job on this list? Which job speaks to you the most? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

P.S. Check back tomorrow for a Hot Jobs post that may just help you get started on this list!

Looking for a job and feeling like no one is hiring? Good news from our nation’s capital is just around the corner. According to a report released late last week, the federal government is poised to hire 273,000 new workers by the end of 2012.

This 41% hiring bump is being necessitated by a combination of factors, including retiring baby boomers, an increased demand in areas such as homeland security, and an influx of Stimulus Bill funds.

The agency expecting the largest increase is the Department of Veteran Affairs, which is expected to bring on an additional 48,000 workers over the next three year. Over 55,000 of the new hires will be in the field of public health, including nursing jobs. The next largest need will be for security workers, including 31,000 law enforcement jobs.

If you don’t want to live in the “Beltway”, this recent report holds especially good news for you. About 85 percent of the new federal government jobs will be outside the Washington D.C. area — and more than 44,000 of them will be work abroad jobs.

You can read more about the report, issued by the Partnership for Public Service, here.

Did you know that the federal government is the nation’s largest employer, with over 1.7 million employees?

It’s Wednesday, which means it is Hot Jobs Day! As you probably know by now, on Wednesdays, I feature three of the hottest job leads from our free Job Center.

The Job Monkey Job Center is the web’s #1 free resource for job seekers in search of an adventure — and a paycheck.

This week, I am spotlighting jobs in the Federal Government. If living in and around the beltway equals adventure in your book, then you are in luck! Many agencies are staffing up, thanks to an influx of “stimulus” dollars. You can learn more about working for the “feds” from Job Monkey’s extensive section on government careers.

1. Contract Tester, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Arlington, VA

The FBI is seeking telephone administers of the Speaking Proficiency Tests. You are paid per number of tests you administer, which typically take one hour and are conducted in English. Candidates must be native English speakers and be able to pass an English-speaking test at the professional level. You must be available to attend a two-week training session in Washington, D.C., after which you will work from home.

2. Consumer Safety Officer Job, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration is seeking a consumer safety officer to provide authoritative guidance and consultation regarding inspection and investigation methods and procedures. This technical position will require constant study of scientific developments and research in the areas of food science in order to identify and assess emerging, complex, or precedent-setting issues impacting the department. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. or a minimum of three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree. The job is a minimum GS11 position. Hiring for the position will be subject to a background investigation.

3. Chief Scientific & Technical Advisor for Advanced Avionics, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC

The FAA is seeking a Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor (CSTA) for Advanced Avionics to be responsible for maintaining a high level of aviation safety and for retaining U.S. leadership in the development and implementation of technical standards for new technologies. This position requires advanced education, or equivalent experience in the physical or engineering sciences with concentration in advanced navigation systems that operate on satellite signals, risk factors in systems which perform new avionics functions, and aircraft performance controlled by digital electronics. Hiring is subject to passing a drug test and receiving Secret Service clearance.

Didn’t find the job of your dreams on our hot jobs lists this week? No worries, just check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

Business Week ran a fascinating article a few weeks ago about how to find a job during America’s economic recovery.

As I’ve long been harping on here at the JobMonkey, the earliest growth will be in one of four fields: health care, education, government employment, and green business. In fact, these four fields have been some of the most stable over the past 8 months of the recession, posting positive growth numbers over a number of months despite record-high layoffs in nearly every other field.

Here are some of the highlights from BWeek’s article on landing one of these “jobs of tomorrow”.

Healthcare

• New report by President’s Council of Economic Advisors says that healthcare will be largest source of U.S. job growth over the next seven years (through 2016)
• 3 million new jobs will be added annually, including hundreds of thousands of nursing job opportunities
• For students, internships at a hospital or other health-care related organization are a great way to establish some credibility; for current job-seekers, a volunteer position is a great way to augment your resume and get your foot in the door.

Education

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is set to invest $90 billion in education, with half going to local school districts
• Students can gain classroom experience by working as a teacher’s aide or substitute teacher — neither of which require a college degree
• Seniors and current job-seekers should consider Teach for America

Green Collar Jobs

• Job growth within the green collar job industry is expected to exceed 50% by 2016 — four times the growth for all other sectors combined (yes, combined!)
• Billions in federal dollars being invested in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy research
• For students, industry-specific internships demonstrate genuine interest in the field

Federal Government Jobs

• Hundreds of thousands of federal government employees are expected to retire over the next five years
• Stimulus Plan will add 200,000 additional employees at Social Security Administration, the Veterans Affairs Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Defense Department and more
• Federal government jobs cover a range of 900 different occupations

Be sure to check out the rest of the Business Week article here. It really is a wealth of advice for landing a job in these turbulent times.