Marci Alboher, author of New York Times column and blog, Shifting Careers, which recently ended its run, tweeted about a piece on the NBC Nightly News in which she commented. The segment, which is called, “Layoffs Land Some in Second Career,” tries to focus on a potential positive outcome of being let go from a job, especially a long-term career position. The upside? Turning a negative into a positive by retraining for a different career, possibly one that was once a pipe dream or seemed unrealistic.

In the piece, they highlight a former Wall Street executive who decided to go to school to become a chef after losing her finance job. It had been a long-time dream, and she decided to view the lay-off as a doorway to a new career.

The woman in the segment was able to use her savings to pay for schooling, but Marci suggests in the piece that there is scholarship money for those willing to look for it. If you are considering changing fields and retraining, another NBC segment (Recession Proof Jobs) suggests the following industries to consider:

• Healthcare. Reports show that 1 in every 5 jobs in the next 5 or 6 years will be in health care. This includes doctors and nurses, home healthcare aides and new medical technology experts.
• Education. In certain parts of the country, especially in the west (California, Utah) as well as in places such as Georgia and Kansas, there is a big need for post-secondary teachers, elementary school teachers and substitutes. Apparently, Connecticut has such a shortage of subs, they were calling in parents to watch classes when teachers were out! While substitute teaching isn’t necessarily a career path itself, you can certainly look into this option while pursuing other training or looking for steady work.
• Technology. There’s a big need for network systems administrators and main frame experts.

Unless you already have a background in these fields, re-training will be required, but at least you’ll probably be buying yourself some job security for the next few years!

None of these areas appeal to you? Lindsey Pollak suggested some other resources to consider in a recent blog post. Some of her suggestions:

• North Dakota is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers.
• BusinessWeek offers a list of places to ride out the recession.
• The following industries have potential, according to one study: railroads and utilities, the logging and mining sector, food, drink and tobacco manufacturing as well as oil pipeline transportation.
• President-elect Obama pledged to create a huge public works program to stimulate the economy, which will mean jobs in that sector. Lindsey suggests that  “you could set up a Google news alert for phrases such as “public works,” “national infrastructure” or “expanding broadband access” to keep abreast of this growth segment.
• Accounting is a growth industry.
• Looking to move outside the U.S.? Lindsey notes that Australia and Dubai are two hotbeds of job opportunities to consider.

The point is – even if you aren’t interested in moving to North Dakota, Australia or Dubai, keeping your options open and thinking beyond the obvious could help propel your search. With open eyes and a strong career search strategy, there ARE opportunities, even in an economy that seems to be spiraling down the drain.

What other locations or fields are offering opportunities? Share your thoughts in the comments!

You’ll want to be competitive no matter what your field of choice. I can help you succeed by writing a great resume and teaching you how to leverage your strengths and skills for today’s job market! www.keppiecareers.com.

photo by matty_p