It’s not easy to get a job these days, even when there are jobs to be had. Case in point: A friend of mine is a nurse manager in the psych ward of a major hospital, and she hasn’t been able to find anyone who’s qualified to be her assistant nurse manager. But that’s another story.

So what does it take to become a viable candidate for a solid, well-paying job? In the IT industry, the answer is clear: certification.

That’s the word from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and its recent “Employer Perception of IT Training and Certification” report, which is based on an online survey of business and IT executives who have made a recent IT hiring decision, and an online survey of HR professionals.

Get Certified, Get Hired
According to CompTIA’s research, 86 percent of hiring managers indicate IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process. The jobs are out there, but roughly eight in ten HR executives say it’s challenging to find candidates with the right IT skill set. As companies struggle to fill positions, they’re looking for validated skills. Just like my nurse friend, IT managers can’t afford to hire an employee who can’t contribute right away.

That’s where certification comes in. Nearly two-thirds of IT managers (64 percent) indicate that IT certifications have extremely high or high value in validating skills and expertise. Employers regard certified professionals as possessing a proven ability to understand new or complex technologies and engage in more insightful problem solving, both of which lead to higher productivity. And we all know that productivity is the name of the game no matter where you work.

Certification will be sought beyond 2011, of course. Eight in 10 HR professionals (80 percent) believe IT certifications will grow in usefulness and importance over the next two years, reports CompTIA.

Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money
Not only can IT certification give you a leg up in the job hunt, it can also translate to a higher salary. According to the 2010 IT Skills and Salary Report from Global Knowledge and TechRepublic, professionals who had earned an IT certification during the last five years earned an average of $5,242 more than their counterparts ($85,628 vs. $80,386).

But not all IT certifications are created equal. According to the report, the top five technical certifications by average salary are:

1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) – $99,928
2. Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) – $93,953
3. VMware Certified Professional (VCP) – $91,271
4. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) – $89,864
5. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) – $86,454

Don’t underestimate the role of IT certification in the hiring process. If employers are relying on professional certifications to aid them in their hiring decisions, give ‘em what they want (and score a sweet salary in the process!).

–Robyn Tellefsen

Here’s a fact: Not everyone is college material. When said like that, it may come off as demeaning, but that’s not at all the intention. By the same token, not everyone can fix a furnace, repair a car, style hair, or clean teeth; I know I can’t do any of those. Yet those are all specialized skills that are very marketable (and cost a pretty penny if you’re on the receiving end of those services!). What they have in common is that they do not require a formal four-year college education, but instead, career education.

But here’s the issue: Our society has been so pro-college over the last couple of decades, that we’re pushing high schoolers through to pursue degrees they may not even be interested in. Unfortunately, when their passions and talents lie elsewhere outside the realm of term papers and lecture halls, it results in them dropping out, often saddled with student loans.

Finally, a respected academic institution has come out to say that while education is always a good thing, it’s not one size fits all. The report “Pathways to Prosperity” released from the Harvard Graduate School of Education last week give a big thumbs up to career education:

The Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce projects that 14 million job openings—nearly half of those that will be filled by workers with post-secondary education—will go to people with an associate’s degree or occupational certificate. Many of these will be in “middle-skill” occupations such as electrician, and construction manager, dental hygienist, paralegal and police officer.

While these jobs may not be as prestigious as those filled by B.A. holders, they pay a significant premium over many jobs open to those with just a high school degree. More surprisingly, they pay more than many of the jobs held by those with a bachelor’s degree. In fact, 27 percent of people with post-secondary licenses or certificates—credentials short of an associate’s degree—earn more than the average bachelor’s degree recipient.

In other words, a traditional college education is hardly the only route to career success. Just remember that the next time you need to call a plumber, need technical support for your smart phone, or see a fire truck racing by to respond to an emergency.

-Dawn Papandrea

Whether you watched Super Bowl XLV to root on the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Green Bay Packers or you only tuned in for the commercials and the Black Eyed Peas’ halftime performance, you’re probably not expecting to advance your career through the event. But – suspend your disbelief – I’ve discovered that pro football players can actually teach us a lot more than how to handle the pigskin. Stay with me for some career advice straight from the hallowed halls of the NFL.

>> Never underestimate yourself.
At 38, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, already the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl, is now also the youngest coach to make it to the Super Bowl twice. As a young African-American man who never played in the NFL, Tomlin could have doubted his ability to lead a team to victory. Instead, he’s making career history.
Career lessons: Maybe the job you’re vying for typically goes to someone older, a member of the opposite sex, or someone of a difference race. But typical doesn’t have to apply to you. After all, just because it’s never happened before doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Get your head in the game and prepare to beat the odds.

>> Emphasize your strengths.
Stats-wise, Pittsburgh QB Big Ben Roethlisberger might not look the best on paper, but at the end of the day, he’s hard to beat. He doesn’t have the accuracy of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he does have certain intangibles (e.g., getting out of the pocket, being tough to sack) that allow him to play a good game.
Career lessons: If your resume isn’t deep enough to beat the competition, your interview is essential. So what if you didn’t go to Harvard or graduate summa cum laude? Prove that when push comes to shove, you’ve got what it takes to get the job done.

>> Be a team player.
Rashard Mendenhall isn’t necessarily a household name, but he’s one of the major reasons the Jets lost in the playoffs. (Sorry, fellow New York fans…) The Steelers running back ran all over the Jets, besting a team that was dying to make it to Dallas. Mendenhall isn’t listed among the greats just yet, but fame isn’t everything – even in the NFL.
Career lessons: Don’t become obsessed with making your mark and therefore step on everyone else to get there. Team players actually have a better shot at success, garnering greater employer recognition. Learn to play well with others – no one wants to work with a “superstar.”

>> Work hard till the end.
I bet the Chicago Bears thought they had it made when they were ranked the number two team in the NFC going into the playoffs. But Green Bay – a wild card – bested the Bears in the last round and snagged their spot.
Career lessons: If you’re up for a new job or promotion, now is not the time to rest on your laurels or previous credentials. You need to step up your game and prove yourself worthy in your interview or performance review. Work hard and persevere until you get what you want.

So as you’re getting over your Super Bowl hangover, start thinking about what you can do to achieve career success. We’re cheering you on!

-Robyn Tellefsen

If you spent any part of 2010 pounding the Internet pavement, you know that jobs are hard to come by. But things are looking up. According to CareerBuilder’s annual job forecast, 13 percent of employers expect to hire part-time employees this year, and 24 percent plan to hire full-time, permanent employees. And the largest growth is projected for temps and contractors – 34 percent of employers reported that they will hire contract or temporary workers in 2011.

It’s really not surprising that temp jobs are on the rise, given the uncertain economy and a desire on the part of employers to save money on payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, insurance, and benefits. But being a temp or contractor confers benefits for you, too – even if they’re not medical.

Become a Temp
If you want to become a temp, you’ll need to head down to a local staffing agency and pass tests that evaluate your software skills and typing speed. Once that’s done, you can usually get a job in a matter of days. If your computer skills are up to snuff and you’re not picky about assignments, you could even have a job in a matter of hours.

Temp jobs typically range from one-day assignments to those lasting four months or longer if you get in good with the company. If you like meeting new people and traveling to different offices regularly, temping could be a perfect fit.

The Beauty of Temping
Temping is a great way to make cash quick while you’re looking for another job, but don’t burn bridges in the meantime. Do a good job, and the company will ask for you again. Do a bad job, and once your temp agency gets wind of it, it may not send any more work your way.

Plus, as a temp, you can get an inside perspective on the organization and see for yourself if it’s a place you want to work full time. The powers-that-be are watching, and they could decide to keep you on as a full-fledged employee. And even if the company isn’t one where you see yourself long-term, keep your networking hat on. You can still use the experience to garner good references or even leads for a job at another company.

Temp vs. Contractor
Neither temps nor contractors are employees of the company, but there is a difference between the two. Independent contractors (like freelance writers, for example) are hired by a company to do a specific job or project. Contractors are 1099 workers, which means they’re responsible to get their own insurance and pay their own taxes. (But don’t think contractors can skip out on paying Uncle Sam – the company that hired them reports the amount paid to the IRS, so there’s no getting one over on the man.)

Temporary workers, on the other hand, are W2 employees of a staffing agency. The temp agency acts as the contractor, covering temps’ liability insurance and workers’ comp, and withholding taxes.

When you become a temp, you can get your foot in the door of a decent organization, make some fast cash, and buy yourself time while you figure out what you want to do long-term. What have you got to lose?

-Robyn Tellefsen

This guest post is contributed by Louise Baker, a freelance writer and blogger who writes for the ZenCollegeLife blog, as well as car insurance comparisons at CarinsuranceComparison.org.

A wise person once said “The only thing that you can count on any more is change.” There is a lot of truth to that statement. Change is constantly happening all around us whether we want to admit it or not. Companies are outsourcing repetitive, predictable tasks overseas that can be done at a fraction of the cost. Competition and the bottom line drives and influences the decision making in the corporate world everyday. Companies are also quick to re-organize and restructure at lightning speed in order to keep pace and stay relevant with today’s technology.

So, how do you manage a career in the fast lane? What can you offer a company who also has their pick of fresh new graduates? Adaptation and innovation have never been more important, and they begin with continual learning and integration of new ideas into your expertise. This is why you must update your skill set and stay on top of the latest trends. Here are two fields in which staying on top of your game is vital…

Accounting
You might not realize it, but the world of accounting is constantly changing and evolving. Think about this fact: a good number of accounting professionals can still remember a time when accounting was done on a paper ledger. There was a time not too far in the distant past when converting your paper general ledger to computer software was seen as a risky and dangerous move. Accounting professionals that refused to become experts in various accounting applications became outdated rather quickly as their competitors applied the benefits of computer-assisted accounting to their business. Today, every accounting professional has to attend the latest classes in Excel, Access and specialized accounting software packages like Sage, and be aware of the newest additions and tools that can make their business more efficient or make their services more useful. Accounting is more than having a mind for numbers, and those who cannot incorporate computers in their work run the risk of being defeated by those who can.

Computer Programming
Recent statistics are now telling us that the pace of technological development is advancing faster than ever. If you are employed in a position even remotely related to modern technology, keeping your knowledge current is a necessity. Programmers should subscribe to blogs and magazines in an effort to stay abreast of the latest discoveries, trends, insights, and strategies. Training courses are also vital, and plenty of IT workers set aside a certain amount of time to study new programming languages or attend seminars or conferences outside of their normal working hours. What used to take an employment force of 35 can now be done by a good programmer and entrepreneur – but being that programmer means staying on top of the technology field, and making sure your net worth as an employee is very high. It is important for you to be ready when the top executives come to you about any new strategy or framework, otherwise they will go looking for the expertise elsewhere.

Many careers require a lifelong commitment to constant learning and development. With the speed of communication in the modern world, improvements to a particular field in one country can be transmitted and implemented in another country almost overnight. There is simply no room left for those who think that their education ends with their degree.

For anyone who’s ever worked in an office environment, you know there’s always that guy… The one who says inappropriate things at meetings. The one who cannot grasp how to use the copy machine. The one who keeps his phone on speaker all the time.  The one who accidentally downloads a computer virus to the network.

The one who will never get ahead because he thinks he knows everything (and doesn’t!).

Instead, learn how to be the go-to guy by brushing up your business basics, office know-how, and more in a business training program. Beyond spreadsheets, marketing principles, finance and accounting — all super important! — you’ll also pick up these highly sought after soft skills:

• Communication. No one is going to help you prepare memos, send emails, or leave a voice message – it’s all you. And how you represent yourself will say a lot about your professional potential. A business education will provide you with the opportunity to refine your written and verbal communications skills.
• Organization. If you’ve never had to keep track of anything in your life beyond your social calendar, that’s going to be an essential skill to practice if you expect to work with spreadsheets, documents, contracts, and other “official” paperwork. Working on school project deadlines and compiling research materials are great ways to exercise those skills.
• Time management. How can you possibly get all of your work done if you’re bogged down in meetings half the day? Can you really work on four things at once? What’s the best way to prioritize several incoming projects? You’ll have to do it on the job, just as you’ll have to do in school. Practice makes perfect.
• Teamwork. You don’t necessarily have to party ‘til the wee hours with your co-workers to have a good working relationship with them. Learn how to utilize everyone’s strengths (and deal with their differing personalities) when working on a group project for class, and you’ll be well prepped for dealing with different departments.

If you want to climb the corporate ladder, consider some formal business training. And someday, you’ll be telling that guy what to do!

-Dawn Papandrea

NBC Photo: Trae Patton

We all know that getting a job can be more about who you know than what you know, and in the digital world it’s becoming easier to get to know the people who are in-the-know. You know?

Back in the day, scoring a decent business contact meant climbing the phone tree, attending countless meet-and-greets, or dusting off career information books that (hopefully) listed the latest company contacts. Now, recent college grads can save themselves the hassle by making connections via LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, which boasts more than 80 million members representing 200 countries and executives from every Fortune 500 company.

LinkedIn is ramping up its offerings and collaborating with PwC, one of the largest employers of new college graduates in the United States, to provide students with data-driven insight to help them build their careers. Through Career Explorer, LinkedIn’s latest beta product, college students can explore a variety of career paths based on their skills and personality, school and major, level of education, and desired industry.

Specifically, students can use LinkedIn Career Explorer to:

Learn about potential professions. Check out relevant facts, stats, and industry trends (e.g., salary info, geographic distribution, age density) about a variety of professions, jobs, and targeted companies.

Map out career paths. Get tailored career path recommendations based on the real paths of professionals with similar profiles to yours. Create and save multiple paths to your Career Explorer dashboard.

Make connections. Find potential mentors in your network who can help you advance in your recommended career paths.

Find job openings. Learn about relevant job openings and discover ways to use your network to secure or get more info about open positions.

Follow potential employers. Review profiles of top companies so you can follow them and get updates about them in your news feed.

LinkedIn and PwC are rolling out the free job-finding feature to students at 60 universities across the U.S., starting with a launch event at New York University in October. When students sign in to LinkedIn, they will see a “Career Explorer” link under the “Jobs” menu at the top of the screen. If you’re not one of the lucky ones with an immediate in, your turn is coming – Career Explorer access will be expanded to the broader LinkedIn membership in the coming months.

I’m interested to find out how this virtual tool will impact students’ and recent grads’ career and job search success. Stay tuned, and let us know what you think of the new feature.

-Robyn Tellefsen

If you think about what it takes to excel in the workplace, sure, there often are power struggles, long hours, and the pressure to stand out among your peers. Otherwise, you may get passed over for a promotion or be unemployed during tough times for your company.

But it’s great to see how some of the 10 career success strategies in consultant Donna Dunning’s “10 Career Essentials” are wrapped around education and the desire for lifelong learning.

Here are a few of her “essentials” that you can put into practice now, steering your career in a positive direction.

Cultivate Your Curiosity
Dunning makes a good point, that if others at work see your ability to learn new skills and apply new information, your name will be in their mind when challenges or opportunities arise. Obviously there’s a wealth of industry information, reports and career development tools online, but you can also prove you are a lifelong learner and want to stay current in your field by pursuing certificate and degree programs, too.

Learn from Everyone
This can be applied in your existing workplace, but also in your willingness to think about your career field and determine if there is additional training that could be of benefit to you. Maybe the professors or peers you meet in a college program could put you on the path to a new employer or type of job in your existing field.

Exceed Expectations
It takes prioritizing and planning, as well as organizing your time and persisting, to reach high standards that make you shine in the workplace, the book notes. But also look at the degrees held by your co-workers and ask yourself whether additional education would show employers that you take initiative and want to exceed their expectations. Maybe you could be in line for a pay raise or a promotion because of your willingness to continue your college education or pursue a degree for the first time.

Have you benefited from pay increases or new job assignments due to steps you’ve taken in education? If so, we want to hear about your career success stories!

-Lori Johnston

No matter where you work and what position you hold, you may have the opportunity to take some courses for free or on the cheap. Don’t dismiss this – everyone, no matter who they are, can benefit from a boost in skills.

It’s well-known that full-time employees of just about every college or university are eligible for tuition breaks and discounted rates on specialized classes and workshops. But there are plenty more organizations offering education opportunities to their employees.

Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers: The worldwide discount department store chain has begun working with American Public University to offer its U.S. employees the opportunity to earn credits that relate to their jobs, in areas like retail management and logistics. The online university will offer eligible employees a 15 percent tuition reduction, and Wal-Mart will offer other tuition assistance for employees who participate. To be eligible for the program, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club employees must have been in the job at least one year full time or three years part time and must also score on or above target on their most recent evaluation.

At NYC-based Dukas Public Relations, account executives all the way to VPs have the opportunity to take continuing education classes on the agency’s dime. Courses must be relevant to the employee’s professional growth in public relations and marketing or the clients and industries with which the agency works (e.g., financial services). The agency pays for half the cost upfront and the remainder upon successful course completion.

Members of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the nation’s largest labor group, will soon be able to take advantage of a suite of college-readiness educational services from the Princeton Review. Participants in Union Plus, a benefits plan, will have access to test prep and other undergraduate and graduate products at a discount. The AFL-CIO is also joining with the Princeton Review and the National Labor College to create an online school – the College for Working Families – for union members and their families.

Youth Villages, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Memphis, TN, offers tuition reimbursement to its employees to help them attain master’s and doctoral degrees as well as professional licensure. The organization, which is dedicated to helping emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live successfully, allows employees to complete their required supervised work hours on the job and become licensed social workers at no cost of their own.

Employees of Genesys Health System, a health care delivery system in Michigan, receive tuition assistance for relevant degree and certificate programs at a number of schools, including Jacksonville University, Florida Tech University Online, Villanova University, and the University of Notre Dame. Eligible programs include RN to BSN, MBA, health care management, information technology, Six Sigma, project management, leadership and management, and organizational leadership.

If an employer-subsidized education opportunity presents itself, why not take advantage? If you’ve done it, let us know — we’d love to hear how it went!

-Robyn Tellefsen

If you’re looking for slick job-hunting advice that doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself (you’re not doing enough, your resume is from 1998, no one is hiring, aaaahhhh!!!), I’m going to let you in on a little secret: There’s not much out there.

That’s why it was so refreshing to pick up Vicki Salemi’s “Big Career in the Big City: Land a Job and Get a Live in New York” (Jist Works, 2010). The author offers practical advice you haven’t read 1,000 times before; real tales of survival from the layoff trenches; and a ton of resources to get your job search in gear. The best part? She does all of this in an upbeat, encouraging tone, which helps motivate you rather than fuel your out-of-work funk.

Full disclosure: I’ve known Salemi since she wrote for our former print publication, CollegeBound Teen magazine. But because I know her, I can also tell you that she writes from experience and from the heart. After spending many years as a corporate recruiter for a huge firm, she herself became a layoff survivor, and had to reinvent and brand herself. All of her tips are those that she and other successful people profiled in the book have actually used. In other words, it works!

Among the gold nuggets of advice you’ll glean from her book include how to dress to standout (in a good way) for professional networking events, using Facebook and Twitter to increase job prospects, and there’s even sample thank-you notes for after the interview. If you’re looking for New York-specific tips, well, that’s your bonus material. Salemi touches on how to leverage the high cost of Manhattan living, dealing with big city culture shock, plus a fun quiz: “What’s Your NYC-ability?”

If you’re not on the hunt yourself, the book definitely makes a great graduation gift. Check it out.

-Dawn Papandrea