June 13,2001
STje Jïartlan h (©bseruer
a portunities in fields
pressing are banks’ needs for
retooled sales and mar-
keting staffs, de-
v e lo p e r s
of
new r
p r o d u c ts , \
m o rtg a g e \
Vi0” 1
and securities
e x p e rts, and \
credit analysts. \
Banking and
b a n k -re la te d
work are
a good fit if you know something
about finance and you like soft
ware development; if you’re in
terested in marketing and sales; if
y ou’re a business school grad
and you want a solid career start;
if you’re not a B-school grad but
' you’re looking for work experi
ence the equivalent o f an MBA; if
you’re fluent in Spanish, Japa
nese, or another language and
you want to live overseas for a
few years; or if you just want the
know-how to eventually start your
own business. One thing about
\ such as sales, cus-
\ to m er su p p o rt,
\ and tech n ic al
..„ go ""'
........
writing go to in
\ dividuals with
\ good people
s k ills ,
a
strong custom er-
service bias, and the abil
ity to communicate complex
ideas in plain English. If that
sounds like you, give com
puter hardware a close look—
but be prepared to get up to
speed on the technical side o f
the hardware.
Important note: Although
all hardware makers require
some in-house software de
velopers, the environment is
often quite different from the
software industry. Most com
panies in this industry are
noticeably more hierarchical
and rule bound, though you
can still expect a relatively
P hoto by C onnie A sh brook for O regon T radeswomen
Sheet metal worker Lydia Shevchuck works on a heating and
cooling duct. The potential earnings o f an Entry level/Joumey
level person after 3-5 years is $11.94-326.03 per hour.
banking skills: They are extremely
useful and portable. So even if
you join a bank that gets gobbled
up by a competitor and you end
up a merger casualty, you can
usually transfer your expertise
somewhere else with relative ease.
Computer Hardware
The com puter hardware in
dustry holds job opportunities not
only for engineers and others with
technical skills, but also for people
with financial, marketing, sales,
and product management back
grounds. Job seekers with tech
nical expertise and a computer
science degree attract the most
opportunities and the sweetest
compensation packages, whether
they work as engineers, product
managers, or in marketing. Op-
casual work environment. If
you’re looking for interna
tional work experience, you
may be surprised to learn that
Japanese and Asian compa
nies aren’t threatening U.S.
companies— for now at least.
However, domestic computer
manufacturers actively mar
ket themselves internationally.
They also run factories in
countries from Malaysia to
Ireland and buy from suppli
ers all over the world, so a job
in the States could still have
you filling up your passport
quickly.
* To earn a 2-year College
Transfer from PC C’s Com
puter Science Program, call
any o f their 2 campuses: Rock
Creek at 503/614-7604 or
Sylvania Campus at 503/977-
4298.
Computer Software
Most o f the new activity in
computer software is happening
in Silicon Valley and the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area. But you also
might check out opportunities in
one o f the second-tier high-tech
regions, such as Boston, Austin,
Minneapolis, New York City,
Denver, Dallas, Atlanta, Boca
Raton, and the Research Triangle
Page 3
region o f North Carolina. Outside
the areas o f concentration, there
are at least a few jobs around
every big city.
If you’re looking for interna
tional work experience, give con
sumer software a close look. For-
S tory continues on next page
ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP:
A VIABLE CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Careers develop over time, while jobs are short term. In the
construction industry you have a mixture of both. A career that
spans short term jobs. Construction seems to be one of the
best kept secrets regarding career opportunities and appren
ticeship one of the most misunderstood concepts.
One career opportunity in the construction field is that of
General Journeyman Electrician.
Electricians make somewhere between $60K- $ 100K annu
ally. Plus a $20K-$30K annual fringe benefits package.
To get to this level takes successful completion of a five
year apprenticeship program, which takes place on the job
and in one o f the best training facility in the United States
at 16021 N .E . A irport Way. When the apprentice com
pletes the program, passes a state exam and becomes a
Journeyman, he or she will have made over $200K plus
benefits.
Just like college, apprenticeship is not for everyone, but
if you’re interested in starting a career that starts at over
$25K a year in wages alone, check this out.
For more information call 503.262.9991 ext.228.
■ NTERNATIONAL
[ ■ B ROTHERHOOD of
■
LECTRICAL
iSV
ORKERS
LOCAL
48