High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Dust Off Your Resume This Spring

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

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• Dust Off Your Resume This Spring: "Now that the season is changing, it's time to do an overhaul on this document."


• Employer Report Card: Candidates with Disabilities Identify Many Opportunities to Improve "GettingHired conducted a survey of job seekers with disabilities. The results reveal several areas where employers could improve."


• 6 Tips for Stopping the Excuses and Meeting Your Goals Instead: "People often fall back on excuses and give up on trying to reach their goals. Here are several tips for jumping off the excuses train and forging the path to your goals."


• 4 Strategies for Accompanying Spouses/Partners to Stay Relevant in Your Career Field: "Once you have made the decision to travel with your family, how do you stay up-to-date on career-related technology, best practices, and trends in your industry?"


• How Using Your Job Application to Tell a Story Can Get You Hired: "By adding context to your resume, you give hiring managers a frame for your experience and accomplishments so they can quickly digest your story."

Green Job Series: Careers in Geothermal Energy [Third Installment]

To reach hot water far below the earth's surface, geothermal plants use wells that descend thousands of feet into underground reservoirs. Drilling these wells requires specialized machinery and workers. This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key drilling occupations in geothermal energy

Drilling Occupations

Drilling crews first drill exploratory wells to confirm the locations of underground reservoirs. After discovering the best locations, they use a derrick, a large, metal framed crane hanging over the main well, to guide drilling equipment. Because drilling equipment is so heavy, derricks are necessary to control and maneuver drilling bits, pipes, and other equipment.

Drilling fluid mixtures that help to break up the rock are pumped into the well through a pipe connected to the drill bit. The pipe also carries debris and mud out of the well and to the surface, where it can be disposed of. As the well gets deeper, new pipe sections are connected to those already in the ground, and the drill continues until it taps the underground reservoir.

Job Duties

Derrick operators control and inspect drilling derricks. These workers can raise or lower the drill bits and pipes into or out of the well. Derrick operators are also responsible for maintaining their machinery and ensuring that it operates correctly.

Rotary driller operators control the drill itself. They determine a drill's pressure and speed as it penetrates rock. To keep drill sites safe, rotary driller operators use gauges that monitor drill pump pressure and other data, such as how much drill mud and debris are being pumped from the well. Rotary drill operators also keep records of where they've drilled and how many layers of rock they've penetrated.

Roustabouts do much of the basic labor on drilling sites. They clean equipment and keep work areas free of the debris and drilling mud that the drill pipes carry up from the wells. Roustabouts also install new pipe sections that allow the drill to reach deeper underground.

In addition to the workers who drill the wells, drilling crews might include some support personnel, such as workers who transport the drilling rigs and fuel to project sites.

Education

There are few formal education requirements for drilling crew workers. Although drilling crew workers are not required to have a high school diploma, some employers might prefer to hire workers who do. While in school, drilling crew workers can learn skills such as basic mechanics, welding, and heavy equipment operations through vocational programs.

Most drilling crew workers start as helpers to experienced workers and are trained on the job. However, formal training is becoming more common as new and more advanced machinery and methods are used. Drilling crew workers usually must be at least 18 years old, be in good physical condition, and pass a drug test.

Wages

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not currently have wage data specific to the geothermal industry. However, BLS does have wage data for drilling crew workers across all industries. The following table shows wages for drilling occupations in that industry group for May 2011. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Derrick operators, oil and gas	$45,220
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas	$51,310
Roustabouts, oil and gas	$32,980

For more detailed information on drilling occupations in the geothermal industry, click the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week's geothermal industry series installment: Construction Occupations.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The Habits of Happiness

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

So what is happiness, and how can we all get some? In this video, Biochemist turned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard says we can train our minds in habits of well-being, to generate a true sense of serenity and fulfillment.

Click on the link to learn more: Matthieu Ricard

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Battle Uncertainty

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• The Most Certain Ways to Battle Uncertainty: "Whether you’re starting a company and can’t see exactly what lies ahead, or you’re working for an organization where everything seems a bit shaky, we’ve rounded up some great resources that, with certainty, will help you deal with uncertainty."


• Here's What You Should Put In The Subject Line Of Work Emails : "The email subject line--a field that confuses many people--is the first thing that recipients see and therefore the most important part of an effective work email. Here are some tips for what to write."


• How to Land the Perfect Reference Letter: " Here’s how to pick the ideal references to write a glowing testament to your skills."


• The Road Traveled Alone: How Millennials Can Find Motivation In Challenging Environments: "What do you do when you need that extra, strategic support and it’s not something you can reach out and grab in your immediate environment? Try these four steps."


• How to Write the Perfect Networking Follow Up Email: "Being one of the few who consistently follow up with new contacts after a networking event will make you standout among the majority of networkers."

Green Job Series: Careers in Geothermal Energy [Second Installment]

Designing geothermal plants or new drilling equipment requires the work of many engineers. This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key engineering occupations in geothermal energy.

Engineering Occupations

Most engineers work in offices, laboratories, or industrial plants, but some work outdoors at construction sites, where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems.

Job Duties

Civil engineers design geothermal plants and supervise the construction phase. Many geothermal plants are built in rocky, difficult terrain, which require special procedures. Civil engineers also have to consider potential hazards such as earthquakes, and build plants to withstand them. These engineers are also responsible for designing access roads that lead to the plants.

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of geothermal plants' electrical components, including machinery controls, lighting and wiring, generators, communications systems, and electricity transmission systems.

Electronics engineers are responsible for systems that control plant systems or signal processes. Electrical engineers work primarily with power generation and distribution; electronics engineers develop the complex electronic systems used to operate the geothermal plant.

Environmental engineers deal with the potential environmental impacts of geothermal plants. Although geothermal energy is an environmentally friendly source of electricity, environmental engineers must consider a site's potential impact on local plants and wildlife.

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, and test tools and a variety of machines and mechanical devices. Many of these engineers supervise the manufacturing processes of drilling equipment or various generator or turbine components.

Education

Engineers typically have at least a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty. However, some jobs require more education, such as a master's degree or doctoral degree. Additionally, an engineer typically must be licensed as a professional engineer (PE) and is expected to complete continuing education to keep current with new technologies.

Entry-level engineers may also be hired as interns or junior team members and work under the close supervision of more senior engineers. As they gain experience and knowledge, they are assigned more difficult tasks and given greater independence.

Engineers are usually required to be certified as competent to carry out specific work, depending on the systems used by a particular geothermal power company.

Wages

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the geothermal industry. However, BLS does have wage data for the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry group. The following table shows wages for engineering occupations in that industry group for May 2011. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Civil engineers	$84,950
Electrical engineers	$84,730
Electronics engineers, except computer	$90,790
Environmental engineers	$79,530
Mechanical engineers	$82,230

For more detailed information on engineering occupations in the geothermal industry, click the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week's geothermal industry series installment: Drilling Occupations.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Make Stress Your Friend

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this video, Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.

Learn more in the video below:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Job Search Lessons from Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show Debut

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 5 Job Search Lessons from Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show Debut: "Recently Jimmy Fallon made the leap to 'The Tonight Show.' For the job seeker on a quest for their own new gig, here are some gems from Fallon’s first day on the job."


• What HR Won’t Tell You: "Human resource professionals are doing the best they can to find and hire the best candidates. What should you know when you’re looking for a job?"


• Break Into IT with Temporary Work: "The business world may be looking for technology pros, but you're not a pro (yet) if you have a new certification and no experience. How do you gain that experience?"


• 5 Tips for Preventing Age Bias in Your Executive Resume & LinkedIn Profile: "Consider these 5 ways to get a better reception from employers – and create an “age-proof” executive resume and LinkedIn Profile-–if you believe age is working against you."


• The Era of Creative Resumes: "For a resume to be effective, it needs much more than just enlisting your details, qualifications, and achievements. This should always be kept in mind when you write modern and creative resumes."

Green Job Series: Careers in Geothermal Energy [First Installment]

Geothermal power uses groundwater found deep in underground cracks and reservoirs. The Earth's natural heat has brought these underground reservoirs to temperatures of 225 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (107 to 315 degrees Celsius).

Geothermal plants capture and use this heat to generate electricity for the power grid. The plants subsequently release the cooled water back into the ground, where it seeps back into the underground reservoir, is reheated by the Earth, and can be reused by the plant.

Through this full cycle, geothermal power provides a renewable and inexhaustible source of energy.

Many different workers are required to get a geothermal plant up and running. This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key science occupations in geothermal energy.

Science Occupations

Scientists work in offices where they study charts and maps of geothermal resources. They might also travel to the field to examine proposed geothermal sites. Scientists work on teams with other scientists in various disciplines. Geothermal companies employ some scientists full-time, while others are hired as consultants.

Job Duties

Environmental scientists work with geothermal plant developers to help them comply with environmental regulations and policies and to ensure that sensitive parts of the ecosystem are protected. They use their knowledge of the natural sciences to minimize hazards to the health of the environment and the nearby population. These scientists produce environmental impact studies necessary for a geothermal project to earn its building permits.

Geologists spend a large part of their time in the field, identifying and examining the topography and geologic makeup of a geothermal site. Geologists also study maps and charts to ensure that a site will be able to supply adequate geothermal energy. Geologists use their knowledge of different kinds of rock to make recommendations on the most cost-effective areas to drill. Some specialized geologists might help to monitor a plant's location for seismic activity and attempt to predict the threat of earthquakes.

On geothermal projects, hydrologists study the movement, distribution, and other properties of water below the earth's surface. They help decide where to drill wells and analyze the groundwater that is pumped from the underground reservoirs to the surface.

Wildlife biologists evaluate a geothermal plant's effect on local animal life and their ecosystems. Although geothermal plants are not inherently destructive, construction of the related infrastructure, such as plants, roads, and transmission towers, can be disruptive to the natural environment. Wildlife biologists ensure that the plant's impact on local animal populations is minimal.

Education

Although a master's degree is often preferred, a bachelor's degree, depending on the specialty, is typically sufficient for an entry-level position for geologists, environmental scientists, and wildlife biologists. Hydrologists typically enter the occupation with a master's degree. A Ph.D. is desirable for scientists who oversee environmental impact and site suitability studies.

Most scientists must have excellent computer skills because they use computers frequently for data analysis, digital mapping, remote sensing, and computer modeling. Scientists in certain specialties, such as geologists, are usually certified or licensed by a state licensing board.

Wages

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the geothermal industry. However, BLS does have wage data for the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution industry group. The following table shows wages for science occupations in that industry group for May 2011. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	$87,160
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers	$77,460
Hydrologists	$75,680
Zoologists and wildlife biologists	$57,420

For more detailed information on science occupations in the geothermal industry, click the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week's geothermal industry series installment: Engineering Occupations.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Succeed? Get More Sleep

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this video, Arianna Huffington , co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of thirteen books, shares a small idea that can awaken much bigger ones: the power of a good night's sleep. As she explains, adequate sleep leads to increased productivity, happiness, and smarter decision-making.

Learn more in the video below:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Connecting with a Stranger on LinkedIn

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• The Right Way to Connect with a Stranger on LinkedIn: "The next time you’re reaching out to someone new over LinkedIn, consider bringing in one of these four success elements to your message."


• What You Need to Know About How Recruiters Get Paid (And How It May Affect Your Job Hunt): "There is some confusion out there as to how recruiters get paid for their contracted job placement services. Here's a breakdown of these recruitment methods and what they mean for you as a job seeker."


• 5 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence: "Expanding research shows the importance of emotional intelligence (EI) as an important ingredient for effective leadership. The good news is that everyone can increase their EI, regardless of their level. Here are some ways."


• A Networking Trick That Could Help You Find Your Next Job: "Most of us don’t network as much as we should. Here’s a trick few people have tried, simple as it sounds. But it works."


• The Science Behind Why You Procrastinate in the Afternoon (and How to Stop): "Here are some research-backed lifehacks to help break out of the daily afternoon slump and finish your day strong."