Jobs in Phoenix AZ

As the regional and global economy has slowed, along with the financing markets for new projects, construction jobs have become more scarce in recent months. Still, skilled professionals can find opportunities within specific fields, such as weatherization, restoration and modern development. Although traditional, large scale projects are on hold, pending additional financing for the projects, there are still active construction of new homes and businesses, albeit on a smaller scale. Those seeking work in construction are advised to learn a skilled trade, such as carpentry, electrical engineering, landscaping or architecture, as these skill sets are in high demand in nearly any economy.

Today’s focus for many home buyers is expanding their existing homes – the same can be said for business property owners. As a result, highly skilled construction workers can help improve the electrical wiring, insulation and roofing on existing buildings, as well as construction expansions and adjustments to existing design. While the larger economy may be stumbling, there are still a variety of opportunities in specialty construction.

For traditional workers, better opportunities may fall within general contracting jobs, including home upgrades, rather than large scale construction projects. It’s best to diversify your income source and skill set so that you can complete a variety of jobs reliably. As the economy picks back up, it’s likely that Phoenix will return to growth next year, so that construction may resume and expand in the commercial sector in 2010. The housing market remains difficult to predict, however, so construction workers are advised to increase their technical skills and marketability.

As consumers seek to improve the efficiency of their existing homes and cars in lieu of making new investments, jobs in maintenance and repair in the Phoenix area on are the rise. For a variety of specialties, ranging from home repair to auto maintenance, trained professionals can readily find work in the region. With a variety of levels of experience and training required, many workers can improve their job prospects by gaining additional certification or degrees in a particular area.

I general, we can categorize jobs in this area into electrical, vehicle, home and industrial maintenance. One of the fasting growing areas is in electronic and telecommunications repair, as contractors can find work with IT departments, utility companies, as well as consulting with local firms. As firms move to improve the efficiency of their operations, the importance of electronic repair and installation is increasing.

Another large trend is updating vehicle fleets and cars to provide for longer life spans and increased fuel efficiency - as car owners seek to get more out of their existing vehicles rather than buying or leasing new ones, car repair and maintenance is increasingly in demand. Since tuneups can increase fuel efficiency, car repair professionals are in high demand in Phoenix. Similarly, home efficiency experts who focus on home weatherization, insulation and green energy will find a variety of opportunities in the local market. Since cooling costs can be exorbitant in the hot Arizona summers, green building technologies and updates will provide a growing industry for years to come.

As the corporate sector in Phoenix undergoes an evolution from early stage industry to a more mature market, companies of all sizes are looking for experienced, results-oriented professionals. For operations managers who can help their organizations become more efficient. While the traditional route to an operations management role may be through formal business education, ranging from an associates degree to an MBA, many professionals find their route into the field through hands on experience within a particular career sector. For example, many IT managers were formally trained in technology and developed management skills on the job – translating the technical side of a given profession gives you unique insight into how to structure the operations in an ideal way.

Each industry that falls under the umbrella of operations requires a unique set of technical and social skills that are best learned on the job. Many area consulting companies, organized under IMC Arizona offer a wide variety of skill sets. Rather than going a direct route, many members learn their trade directly, and then offer their expertise to new business owners and those looking to expand into additional markets.

Some of the specialty areas including public relations, which assists business owners in dealing with government and publicity, along with process managers, who help with regulatory compliance. Many accountants transition to becoming financial officers within organizations, while real estate agents can help organizations with their property investments. Engineering skills also tend to translate well into management, given their analytics bearing and grounding in data. In the same way, many financial advisors and insurance agents transition to working internally for businesses to help them make better investment and risk management decisions. As businesses look to save money, hiring an experienced consultant to oversee a project can help ensure its long term success.

With growth in the tech sector in the Phoenix sector, computer science professionals can find opportunities ranging from network administration to database programming. Phoenix is a hub for both operations and research activity, with its proximity to the high tech sector in California, as well as its own technology incubators. Fast growing areas include biotechnology research, security programming and electrical engineering.

Most jobs in the area require certification or a high level of education, ranging from an associates degree to a doctoral degree, depending on the particular job in question. One specialty within the Phoenix area is computer security jobs, given the high level of corporate and federal institutions within the city limits. These professionals provide logistical support, as well as monitoring and threat protection for highly sensitive data. Although there are specialized degrees in computer forensics and security, many of the individuals in the field actually acquired their skills.

Another specialty area is in providing information technology support to small businesses, educational institutions and government. Many local employers, such as Petra Security and Network Solutions work with business owners to provide support for their network operations. Individuals within the Phoenix area can also find freelance and consulting opportunities in the technical field, in addition to seeking jobs with local employers. There are many avenues to independent work, including responding to help wanted advertisements, as well as publicizing your services to local businesses.

The growth of computer records in law enforcement has also created opportunities in computer forensics, which requires individuals to learn to professionally handle computer records for court cases. A fast growing, lucrative area, forensics provides a number of high potential jobs within the Arizona region and opens the door to national consulting opportunities. Aspiring professionals are recommended to earn their certified information security credentials before pursuing a full career.

As businesses and high net worth individuals take steps to safeguard their wealth and property, the demand for security guards and professional is increasing. With jobs in the Phoenix area ranging from facility security to personal bodyguards and high level armored guard positions, security professionals can find a variety of work opportunities in the Phoenix area.

While traditional security guard jobs tend to focus on patrol and inspection, more advanced jobs focus on prevention of vandalism, terrorism and other crimes. Today’s security professionals rely upon high technology as well as advanced training and monitoring techniques. Major corporations in the Phoenix area have invested in developing in-house security professionals, as well as outsourcing to a growing number of local firms who specialize in the area. Traditional, land based guards are supplemented by more specialized professionals who focus on guarding buildings such as research facilities, power plants, terminals and airports, which are at a higher risk than traditional targets.

Working closely with the government and law enforcement, private security professionals often earn opportunities to work in the public sector, whether in local, state of federal government. A number of military professionals also find work in the sector, by way of their advanced levels of training. Most security jobs require extensive training in a variety of areas. For that reason, military and law enforcement work translates well into private sector work. While there are college degrees in criminal justice, the single best training source is through military or law enforcement work, which can open doors to a variety of assignments. Obtaining a certain level of physical fitness is required for many jobs, given that you will, at times, really to be in pursuit or actively on your feet.

Security professionals are required to be licensed by the state, and there are also additional certifications available for certain specialties. Estimates suggest that the industry will grow over 15% over the near decade, with particular growth in areas of high risk such as research and medical centers. Local institutions such as Bolt Security have been hiring to meet needs in these areas.

Marketing jobs in the Phoenix area remain highly competitive, given the vast pool of talent drawing from professionals and recent college graduates. With recent economic shifts, the marketing and public relations job marketing has gotten even more competitive in the region. As a result, it’s important to specialize in a particular area of marketing in order to put yourself in the best possible situation for further employment.

Areas of growth include technical and analytical marketing, including search engine and web-based campaign manager, as well as individuals specializing in international and bi-lingual advertising. By focusing on skills related to areas of growth, such as the Hispanic and developing markets, you are more likely to be attractive to potential employers. As the economy tightens, managers are looking for marketers to focus on measurement and results, so solid quantitative skills are a must in today’s market. willingness to travel and learn new skills is crucial to keeping up with a changing promotional environment, especially for growing companies.

While many marketing jobs don’t have formal requirements, experience with many computer tools, such as Excel and web analytics programs, is useful in obtaining career opportunities. You can get a step ahead by showing Phoenix employers that you’re certified in Google Adwords and have experience in various analytics tools.

Today’s marketing environment places a premium on networking and business development. As employers are receiving many applications for each job, University Alumni networks, volunteer opportunities and professional groups are a great chance to connect with like minded individuals to help with your long term career plans.

Due to shifting demographics and an increased focus on preventative and physical care, jobs in physical therapy are expected to rise rapidly over the next decade. Catering to patients recovering from injury or elderly and disabled individuals seeking to re-gain full functions, therapists have specialized degrees and certifications that place them at the center of a revolution in health care.

The shift from pharmaceutical to therapeutic treatment places therapists in clinics, hospitals and out-patient care is leading to grow in demand for certified therapists. In addition to treatments, therapists can provide important preventative care with exercises to improve strength, endurance and overall health. As alternative therapies for pain, therapists often provide massage treatments which can be much more effective in sustaining recovery and well being.

Therapists are accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association, which helps administer graduate programs with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy. Therapists take courses in a variety of biology sciences, as well as practical training in therapeutic techniques; the job, as a result, requires a mixture of scientific and human behavioral understanding to properly treat various ailments. While the high level of education required limits the supply therapists, demand for services is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade.

A number of Phoenix area colleges, including Gateway Community College have specialized Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) programs which can help entry-level students enter the field and continue their careers with further education toward full PT certification.

The computer science industry in Phoenix is a conflicted picture: on the one hand, many organizations are increasing their spending on hardware and software to improve efficiency, but, on the other hand, many of these jobs are being outsourced to lower cost providers. For a variety of positions, ranging from systems administration to database analysis and software engineers, there are growth opportunities in the Phoenix area, although competition for jobs remains high.

Jobs in the area range from those requiring advanced degrees to those that value experience and technical knowledge over credentials. Most positions strongly encourage applicants to gain certification in their particular area of expertise, such as MCSE (Microsoft) certification or a specialized certificate in their area of practice. Most jobs require skill examinations based upon direct problem solving, so expect your coding skills to be tested during an interview.

The single largest opportunity for growth is for network analysis who help companies with their network infrastructure and earn premium salaries based upon demand. For example, Scott Trade, an electronic brokerage company, is hiring in the area for IT employees at a new Phoenix data center. The new data center is over 20,000 square feet and employees 25 IT professionals, half of whom were transfered from other areas to manage the company’s new data center. Companies that are seeking to scale up their electronic infrastructure to improve web and data capabilities remain one of the largest opportunities for growth going forward.

Overall, the job outlook for teachers in the Phoenix area remains bright, although growth in employment is largely related to high demand areas such as the sciences and foreign language. At nearly every level, from preschool to secondary education, as well as private tutoring, teachers in these areas can find job openings that match their particular skill level.

Most teaching positions require state certification, which can be obtained through a qualified degree, teaching experience and approval by the State Board of Education. Many positions are open tu qualified professionals without prior teaching experience, provided they meet certain requirements and go through a certification process. Even without a dedicated degree in education, you can pursue a teaching position with the right set of qualifications and experience.

The largest growth opportunities, according to the Arizona Educational Employment Board, are in specialized secondary education, as well as early childhood positions. Earning within the industry vary widely, ranging from around $30,000 for beginning teachers to upwards of $70,000 for experienced teachers with advanced degrees. Teachers can further supplement their incomes through additional training, private tutoring and consulting and training positions. Many institutions are interviewing for positions on a year-round basis, so make sure you are actively working toward certification and submitting an application for consideration well in advance of your anticipated start date.

On a national level, the health care industry employs nearly 15 million individuals and is among the fastest growing areas due to demographic shifts. Within the field there are jobs for a number of professionals, including medical administrators, nurses, physicians, emergency responders, medical specialists, laboratory scientists and mental health professionals. Within hospitals, clinics, private offices and in-home care, qualified professionals serve nearly every Phoenix resident in some capacity. As a result of the growing demand for these services in the area, our editors anticipate that health care jobs will be one of the steadiest, fastest growing industries in the coming decade.

Most health professionals require advanced college-level training, ranging from specialists associates degrees and certification to advanced graduate degrees in a given area of study. Ongoing and continuing educational opportunities are a mandatory part of the health profession, given advances in diagnostic technology and patient treatment. Research suggests that the industry will grow more than 20% over the next ten years, with an even larger growth in home-based and specialized care, especially for the elderly. Along with the increased demand, most analysts expect salaries will continue to grow for professionals in the field. As a result, job growth in the Phoenix area continued for health care professionals even as traditional industries saw a recessionary downturn.

Resident per capita spending on health services amounted to nearly $4,000 for each Phoenix resident, with a majority of the spending going toward hospital and clinical care. Nearly 1 in 5 Phoenix residents lack health insurance while a full 1 in 2 have coverage through employers. The three largest hospital systems in the region, including Banner Health, Catholic Health Care and Scottsdale Health Care all saw increases in demand for their services and capacity, especially in specialized care areas.