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Retool skills for today’s jobs
By Michael Caldwell 

(This article originally appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune's Employment Extra - used by permission of the author and the Union-Tribune.)

Teresa Rowe, a registered nurse with 25 years experience, spent the last 10 years on the business side of healthcare. Feeling she needed a new career challenge, she asked herself what transferable skills she had.
Her search led her to Marla R. Goonan, executive career coach and instructor at UCSD Extension. “She had questions about her career transition and came to me for career coaching,” Goonan said.
Rowe completed the Clinical Trials Research Certificate program UCSD Extension with flying colors, according to Goonan, and attended UCSD Extension’s Job Seeker's Club. Here, she learned the tools and skills she needed for a successful job search. With UCSD’s help and Goonan’s guidance, Rowe was able to land “an unbelievable position” with one of the best healthcare technology companies, according to Goonan.
“This was the biggest stretch in my career,” said Rowe. “The Clinical Trials Research Certificate gave me a broader knowledge base and increased my marketability.”
Rowe obtained a position as a professional associate with Cardinal Health Corporation. She provides sales support and education to hospitals, clinics, research organizations and anyone requiring control over medication, inventory, supplies and other patient care safety products.
“I’ll always be a nurse, but this was a real win-win situation,” Rowe continued. “Assisting our customers and knowing both patients and staff are benefiting from the products provides the career satisfaction I was looking for. I absolutely love it!”
San Diego County had an unadjusted unemployment rate of 4 percent in December of 2002, compared to 6.3 percent for California and 5.7 percent for the nation, according to the Employment Development Department.
There are still plenty of jobs available in the region, but the trick is honing or acquiring the skills necessary to secure employment in the most vibrant and lucrative sectors.
The San Diego Workforce Partnership identified the top 10 industry groups based on the number of employees, employment growth, highest wages, and highest wage growth. They are biomedical, biotechnology, business services, communications, computer and electronics, defense and transportation, entertainment, medical, software and computer, and visitor services.
Many of San Diego’s most well paid occupations are in the high technology industry areas. Last year, technology industry salary averages ranged from $45,500 for environmental technology to $116,500 for communications, said Terri Bergman, research director at San Diego Workforce Partnership.
Ironically, employers have had difficulty finding the high skilled employees they require. “Many firms in our high technology industries have had to import foreign workers to meet their workforce needs,” according to Bergman. Phil Blair, co-owner of Manpower Temporary Services’ San Diego office, agreed.
“What we're seeing is an evolution back to higher standards,” Blair said. “What we're encouraging people to do is take this time to go back to school. Learn new software. Ratchet your skills up in whatever area you choose, because the [employers’] expectations are going to be higher.”
Job seekers are realizing the need for advanced, specialized training in order to land a “hot job.” Nancy Davis, student development services supervisor for the career center, student job placement and adult reentry center at Grossmont College and staff recently realized this. They had a record-breaking turnout recently when 350 people attempted to register for telemetry technician and emergency dispatch operator classes offered through the Regional Occupation Program.
Today, people need to continue their educational endeavors in order to stay competitive on the job, keep up with technology, and sometimes, just to expand one's horizons, according to William Byxbee, dean of SDSU’s College of Extended Studies.
“Health care and high tech are among the hottest jobs out there,” added Steve Dolan, communications specialist at SDSU’s College of Extended Studies. “As far as qualifications are concerned, we are finding out more and more that professional certificate programs are an effective educational option for those pursuing careers.”
Most employers recognize certificates as significant academic accomplishments that can lead to promotions, as well as new jobs, Dolan explained.
Certificate programs at SDSU's College of Extended Studies include business and coaching, Internet marketing management, personal fitness trainer, project management, lean manufacturing and human resource management.
If you’re somebody’s who’s got a degree in aerospace engineering and you want to get into wireless communications, then UCSD Extension would be a great place to start. Here, you could pick up skills that would make you attractive to people in the wireless industry, according to Derry Connolly, associate dean of Continuing Education at UCSD Extension.
“Extension is a great way for people who are already degreed to retool and make a quick transition,” Connolly said.
According to the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the construction industry has a need for carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Ship builders need welders, and companies with defense contracts or those who are involved with military efforts, will be looking for additional engineers.
“Individuals with transferable skills can get laid off in one industry, repackage themselves, and get work in another industry,” said Gary Moss, labor market information specialist for San Diego Workforce Partnership.
As for the future, Moss foresees major sectors opening up. School teaching is a growing occupation. In the short term, with the budget deficit, there will be some layoffs and teachers will be affected, but, there will be a shortage when the baby boomers retire. The same goes for the medical field Moss notes. Pharmacists and physicians will be retiring in the next seven to 10 years. Software development companies will also need people.