Contra Costa County, Calif., is ground zero for the Bay Area's sub-prime mortgage meltdown. Thousands of jobs linked to housing have disappeared in the past six months, and many professionals in the finance and real estate professions are looking for work.
Experts say in an employer's market, job seekers need to work on their curb appeal. Mike Stucher's job is full of hot air, but it's also the real deal when it comes to a solid job in tough economic times. He's one of many process-technicians or p-techs working at Conoco Phillips in Rodeo.
All Bay Area refineries, waste water plants and utilities need p-techs.
These workplaces are hiring - and not necessarily who you think. The people they are looking for don't need a college degree.
"It's a great job." according to Stucher.
Stucher owned a landscaping business, but with business slowing down, he decided to plant the seed of a new career. This refinery job - has been around for years - but is considered a job of the future because it's an in-demand manufacturing position that can't and won't be outsourced.
Getting the job wasn't easy. Stucher had to pass a test to be eligible for specialized job training. It has to do with your mechanical aptitude, computer skills, and your ability to monitor a process.
Bob Lanters, Executive Director of the Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board said the county sees 1,200 workers a month vying for 300 available jobs at state run workforce sites. The county offers free job training to candidates like Stucher, but they need also need commitment and patience. It can take up to a year to find a job.
Fewer than one in four who show up for help land a job like Stucher's. But Lanters said there are many options, and exploring them is the first step in finding jobs in new careers. The fields that are hiring right now, according to Lanters, include manufacturing and insurance, commercial construction, biotechnology and of course, health care.
Every county has a number of one-stop resources for job seekers. You can apply for jobs, find out about training, and receive free career counseling. And it's all free.