Focus on your next job, here and now

Where should I look for a job?

That’s probably the most common question I get, including twice just today.

The range goes from asking for a personal career rewind to asking on behalf of sons, daughters, grandchildren, spouses, friends and neighbors.

The answer is always about the same.

San Diego’s economy is pretty much divided nto thirds. One third is tourism, one third is military-related and the other third is business/health care/innovation. 

All continue to be vibrant job generators, each in their own way.

Thanks to Chula Vista’s newly opened Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, with more than 1,000 new employees, our region’s tourism hiring surged earlier this summer.

But the president’s unclear global tariff policies have led to a slight slowdown in tourism and convention bookings here, resulting in limited hiring and less turnover. Simply put, people who have these jobs are happy to have them and unlikely to leave.

Moving to the military, first let me emphasize that, no, you don’t need to enlist.

But you do need to study the defense industry that supports the military.  Think about the huge NAVWAR building that’s crammed full of contractors that provide billions of dollars to keep our military strong.

That’s only a fraction of the estimated 370,000 military-related jobs in our region. And don’t forget the more than 5,000 companies that serve the military at all levels.

Huge employers like Qualcomm

Next comes the business/health care/innovation economy, starting with huge employers like Qualcomm down to entrepreneurial startups that just may grow into another Qualcomm.

As concerns increase about the outlook for the U.S. job market, the one bright spot continues to be the health care industry, probably the fastest-growing job market that everyone tends to underestimate.

A recent Indeed survey showed that six out of the top 25 jobs, factoring in job satisfaction and pay, are top health care positions like physician, veterinarian and registered nurse.   

But what if you haven’t gone to medical school or your background and skills have little to do with those fields?

The truth is, growth in health care is being propelled by a variety of factors that go beyond the obvious roles, led by the aging demographics of the U.S., and around the world.

We’re all getting older, yet most of us seek to live an active life. And we all want to live longer and happier.

We care about staying as healthy as possible by being as active as our bodies and the strains of everyday life will allow. And gym memberships aren’t cheap.

Then there’s the chance to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We all remember the COVID pandemic when health care workers at all levels emerged as heroes on the front lines.  

The list of non-clinical health care jobs is pretty much endless. In fact, doctors, vets and nurses comprise only about 8% of health care jobs. Think janitors all the way up to the CEOs that make a hospital hum.

Metaphorically, where are they feeling the most pain? What skills are they recruiting for? 

Get a broad understanding of the issues they are facing, and the basics of how the industry works.  

The kind of beneficial ‘soft skills’

Along the way, you’ll likely need to convince HR that you’re a fast learner, a creative thinker, and possess the kinds of “soft skills” the company views as beneficial.

As always, I have a passion for the rewards of networking. Make sure you talk to everyone you know in every corner of the health care industry, and anyone who might get you inside the hiring process.

Some call those jobs non-clinical, while others call them allied jobs. They’re out there, believe me.   

They can be pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and sales reps at almost every level of health care. Why did they chose that industry and what do they like about it? 

Be aware, too, of possible downsides, such as the current job actions by nurses, not to mention (but I will), the impact of the federal government shutdown.

Finally, don’t ignore human resources. Who do you think is going to hire all those new employees?

Besides me, that is.

Blair is co-founder of Manpower Staffing and can be reached at pblair@manpowersd.com.