As we count down to a new year, the call for jobs is at turns simple and complicated. Simple in that there are sectors that are really hot right now in Jamaica such as business process outsourcing, IT and construction.

The call for jobs becomes complicated as many have jobs available that are not satisfying applicants internal desire for more. So university lecturer and current partner of EGSCareers, Dr Carolyn Hayle, shares with us some of the ideas that can spark individual growth for 2018.

YOUNG GRADUATES

For young people, the BPO is really a hot sector which employs 22,000 people already. How does one get to the top of the salary scale in the BPO sector (as the low pay is a notorious issue)?

According to Dr Hayle, “the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, as it is called is made up of several areas. You will also note that for the most part Jamaica has not explored the higher end of the chain, which is the knowledge process outsourcing areas (KPO). We refer to the contact centre support services as BPO, but you can see that BPO is very wide and very deep.”

So if we seek to understand what this means, Dr Hayle notes, “My advice for those who have left university and cannot find employment would be: create your own. Go over to Jampro and ask them to guide you how to either rent office space for a BPO or to start your own centre with a couple of seats. This will require, of course, a well thought through business plan and financials. As I understand it, HEART Trust/NTA is training people to train for the BPO sector. This is an avenue for learning the sector while preparing to operate your own business within the space.”

That said, many people leaving university have issues finding jobs that are not in the BPO sector, what career advice would you give them for 2018?

To that, Dr Hayle suggests, “People need to stop looking for a job. You can create your own employment or start a business which will allow you to create employment for others. First, you need to have a clear and deep understanding of the sector in which you wish to operate. For example, if you want to work in the tourism industry, you need to understand how it is structured and the part of the sector you would like to work.”

Let’s say you don’t want to spend the time to get hands-on experience in a particular industry. Dr Hayle notes, “You can also work online. There are several opportunities for learning how to operate on the worldwide web. Internet Income Jamaica hosts several training sessions and have trained thousands of Jamaicans to work on the net. The possibilities are endless. You work from home and you set your own financial targets and work schedule. This can accommodate any lifestyle.”

Of course, Dr Hayle notes, “another thing that people overlook is volunteering. When you do not have a job, it is a very good idea to volunteer at something as this fills the void on your resume, exposes you to new skills and people who in turn can lead you to a permanent job.”

IN A CAREER RUT

Moving from young people, the fact is that employed people are always looking for new opportunities. It may be that you are in a job for a number of years and you are ready to move on to something bigger and better.

Dr Hayle says, “Mid-tier professionals are almost always caught in a trap. You have moved up the ladder to a point, you seem to have plateaued; Young people more qualified than you get hired and come in above you. This leads to frustration because you need to pay your bills, but you also need to make a move to either a new position in that company or a new position in another company.”

Dr Hayle notes, “It is never too late to learn, and it is never too late to switch careers. It is all up to you. Remember this saying: “If it is going to be, it is up to me!”

That said, for people ready to make a career change, Dr Hayle notes that the five “hottest jobs in Jamaica for 2018 are:

1. General manager, brand manager, hotel manager, and IT manager. Unfortunately, while there are many people called “manager”, few are trained to effectively manage. This is an area which is critical to every organisation, but it is a skill for which you must train.

2. Health care workers. All aspects of this industry are growing.

3. IT is a growth area. All aspects of the industry are growing.

4. Fitness trainers. People are being very health-conscious, and with the Ministry of Health pushing “Jamaica Moves”, there are several opportunities for people who like the world of physical fitness, and wellness.

5. Security. The Government of Jamaica has signalled that it will need more police officers so if you are fearless and have high integrity this is the place for you.

If your mid-career plan involves moving to believed greener pastures, Dr Hayle notes, “If you want to study as a means of leaving the country, you will need to research the areas where scholarships are being offered. If you are lucky these scholarships will coincide with your interests.”

For the mid-career professionals, the advise continues: “the second assumption is that you have already acquired some sort of qualification but want to seek out the areas that are most attracting talent for 2018. Here are five for which you could possible get work visas:

1. Biomedical engineering

2. Network systems and data analyst

3. Medical scientists

4. Computer applications software engineer

5. Environmental engineers

For those who are not ready for that level of training, there are other options.

Dr Hayle, notes, “Now, I can hear you saying that these are very specialised areas. Yes, but these are the areas that are in demand. There are some other very interesting and less complicated areas, but my doubt is that you could get a work visa for these areas. I will list them nonetheless.”

1. Home health aide

2. Fitness and aerobics instructor

3. Physician assistant

4. Occupational therapist aide.

5. Self-enrichment education teacher

Bottom line, Dr Hayle notes, “The essential point is that you need to have a clear plan mapped out for achieving your goals. Start now, plan for January 1, 2018.”