Think Maritime » Employment http://www.thinkmaritime.com Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:01:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 The Worst Jobs in History – The Maritime Age – Part 2 http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/03/02/the-worst-jobs-in-history-the-maritime-age-part-2/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/03/02/the-worst-jobs-in-history-the-maritime-age-part-2/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:22:26 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=970

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/03/02/the-worst-jobs-in-history-the-maritime-age-part-2/feed/ 0 The Worst Jobs in History – The Maritime Age – Part 1 http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/02/19/the-worst-jobs-in-history-the-maritime-age-part-1/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/02/19/the-worst-jobs-in-history-the-maritime-age-part-1/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:00:15 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=945

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/02/19/the-worst-jobs-in-history-the-maritime-age-part-1/feed/ 0 The Inspirational Job Posting http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/11/13/the-inspirational-job-posting/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/11/13/the-inspirational-job-posting/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:07:37 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=452 It may seem odd to focus on job postings at a time when recruitment is declining and layoffs are rising. To my way of thinking, however, now is the very best time to explore the intricacies of a superior online recruitment ad. Why? Because the winners in the coming recovery (and it is coming) will be those organizations that both improve the capabilities of their workforce in the present and upgrade the skills of their recruiters for the future. Learning the secrets of superior job postings enables you to augment your current workforce with top talent despite their fear of change in today’s economy and to ensure that your staffing team will be able to outperform the competition when things begin to look up. Think of it as a dual strategy, one that can help you with disaster minimization and recovery optimization.

What is a superior job posting? Certainly not the majority of those we normally see on the Web. Today’s online recruitment ads are more akin to a cure for insomnia. They’re dull and lacking in any persuasive power. That’s not a problem, of course, if you’re content to recruit mediocre talent, but if you want to hire the best, then boring ads aren’t going to work. In an economic downturn, a recession or at any other time.

Why? Because the best talent always has choices. They can stay right where they are and avoid the disruption of change or they can pick from what is often a number of other, competing employment opportunities. If you’ve connected with a person who has a hard-to-find skill, a person who has a track record of “A” level performance or that rarest of rare talent, a person who has both, then you can be sure that the prospect:

  • is employed and well taken care of by their current employer;
  • the recipient of constant messaging from other employers promising to do the same.

That’s why I think we need a new kind of job posting, one that can compel even the most happily employed and the most sought after prospects to submit an application. I call it the inspirational job posting.

The inspirational job posting four key attributes:

Passion

You can’t inspire others if you aren’t first inspired yourself. Work isn’t always fun, but on your best days, there are likely to be aspects of your time on-the-job that inspire and motivate you. So, figure out what they are. Pinpoint what is it that makes you willing (maybe even eager) to contribute your talent, your effort, your commitment to your current employer. Then make those factors the central feature of the value proposition you present in your postings. In fact, lead with your passion-make it the first thing a reader sees in your ad-and express it in a vocabulary that lets the emotion show through. That’s not unprofessional; it’s good advertising.

Vision

Communication is the art of enabling people to picture your message in their mind’s eye. To envision it as well as comprehend it. Videos are helpful, of course, but probably not feasible for every ad you post. The alternative is to create “word pictures.” These descriptions need not be Shakespeare, but they must be vivid enough to convey a mental image. They must touch the reader on the right hemisphere of their brain-the creative side-as well as the left hemisphere-the rational side. That can be a difficult task, of course, if the vision you are conveying is inadequate-if the leadership of your organization hasn’t given it a compelling sense of purpose-but it is always essential and especially powerful when the vision is worthy of your presentation.

Focus

Write your ad from the prospect’s perspective. Describe “what’s in it for them” but do so with both the features and the benefits of your value proposition. There’s an old saying in sales that, every year, hardware stores sell six million quarter-inch drill bits-a feature-and nobody really wants one; what they want is a quarter-inch hole-the benefit. So, throw out those corporate-centric position descriptions and present the requirements and responsibilities of your openings in a way that will affect the reader-what are the advantages and benefits your opening offers to them.

Conciseness

People don’t read on the Web; they scan. Moreover, high caliber, passive prospects-the talent we most want to hire-have the attention span of a gnat and flit from posting-to-posting as if they were one. The key, therefore, is to change the format of your ads. Don’t write them in the thick, pithy paragraphs of the print medium. Instead, express your message in headlines and bullets so that the reader can quickly grasp your key points and, if appropriate, make a decision on-the-fly to invest more time in getting to know what you have to offer.

An inspirational job posting is able to sell even the most reluctant employment prospects when other ads won’t. Why? Because in a good economy as well as a bad one, people-especially those who are talented-want hope. They want to believe that there is a special opportunity for them. And, they want that hope expressed in a way that speaks to them. That’s what an inspirational job posting delivers. Not a chance to work at some job, but a chance to fulfill their dreams (source: weddles.com).

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/11/13/the-inspirational-job-posting/feed/ 0 Labor Shortage In Energy Industry A Bright Spot In Otherwise Troubled Economy http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/11/12/labor-shortage-in-energy-industry-a-bright-spot-in-otherwise-troubled-economy/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/11/12/labor-shortage-in-energy-industry-a-bright-spot-in-otherwise-troubled-economy/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:06:11 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=447 AVEVA recently announced that Houston Community College (HCC) is increasing the number of courses, as well as the number of campuses, that provide training in AVEVA’s Plant Design Management System (PDMS). AVEVA’s higher education-industry partnership with HCC is part of an ongoing effort to help alleviate the severe labor shortage of engineers and piping designers trained in 3-D design that continues to challenge the energy industry.

Rob Glasier, head of U.S. operations for AVEVA, said “Despite the great demand for qualified 3-D pipe designers and the six-figure salaries they can command, there simply is not enough skilled labor out there, which can delay owners and operators from moving forward with projects. We’re working to solve this labor scarcity by increasing PDMS training opportunities – with our customers, through partnerships with industry associations, such as the Society of Piping and Engineering Designers (SPED), and with educational institutions. AVEVA has donated over $2M in software to regional colleges and universities to date, with over $1M in software donated to HCC alone.”

AVEVA’s PDMS 3-D software solution is widely used throughout the energy sector, particularly now as a backlog of oil industry infrastructure projects are coming to the drawing board.

Some Hard Figures and Facts on the Engineering Shortage:

  • Compared to the 1970s, the number of U.S. based colleges and universities offering degrees in petroleum engineering has decreased 50 percent;
  • By 2010, a labor shortfall of 10 to 15 percent in engineers is projected globally, according to Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), based on the analysis of 400 projects expected to begin worldwide over the next five years;
  • The average age for engineers is now 51. More than 50 percent are expected to retire by 2015 (an attrition rate of roughly six percent a year) (CERA);
  • Two-thirds of the membership of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is over age 40;
  • To help alleviate this severe shortage, the Federal Government and President Bush recently signed (August 14, 2008) H.R. 4137 – Loan Forgiveness for Service in Areas of National Need – that provides up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness to graduating engineers ($2,000 per year for five years).

According to Doug Coberley, president of Professional Consulting Services (PCS) and the lead PDMS instructor for HCC’s Continuing Education Program, “Currently, there are not enough skilled structural and piping designers. These are possibly the best paying jobs you can get with just a two-year degree. But the companies also demand a great deal of experience for those top paying positions. When they can’t hire experienced personnel, they have to hire and train personnel with less experience. Candidates for these opportunities need to prepare themselves with extensive CAD training, piping or structural design training, an understanding of drafting and design standards, coordinate systems, the ability to read drawings, and a thorough understanding of orthographic and isometric projections. Candidates who have also completed PDMS training should appear that much more appealing to these companies.”

Demand for PDMS training at HCC continues to grow. Courses fill up quickly, and the college has recently hired two additional PDMS instructors so that it can offer more classes at more locations. HCC is expanding the evening and weekend program from the Northline Mall, Pinemont, and Codwell Hall Campuses, to now include the Katy Campus, as well as the Town & Country and Alief Campuses in Houston.

One of Coberley’s former students, Yousof Allam, is now a paid student intern working for a major engineering firm that serves the oil industry’s deepwater market. Allam recently completed a certified Professional Piping Designer (PPD) training program that was offered at HCC through the Society of Piping Engineers & Designers (SPED), a leading organization based in Houston aggressively addressing this labor shortage. According to SPED president, Bill Beazley, “In cooperation with the Texas Workforce Commission and Houston Community College, we offer training in PDMS and piping design. Last year, 14 local companies within the petro-chemical industry sponsored 150 students for training; today that same consortium is planning to sponsor 170 students. This represents a roughly 14 percent increased demand for piping professionals in just one year.”

Originally, the threat of jobs being outsourced overseas encouraged most engineering professionals to steer clear of a career in piping and plant design. Now many foreign countries are busy with their own projects, with no engineers and designers to spare. “The result is a labor shortage in the U.S. that will last well into the foreseeable future,” said Beazley.

With the average age for engineers now at 51, more than 50 percent are expected to retire by 2015 (CERA). “This aging workforce, coupled with the current pressure on the industry to deliver energy more cleanly, is changing the character of the labor landscape,” said Beazley. “All too quickly, the greens must replace the grays.”

According to Wayne Pierce, the program manager for Continuing Education IT at HCC, the classes currently underway in PDMS are full, with new classes now being scheduled for spring 2009. “Demand for PDMS in this industry is enormous, especially here in Houston – the epicenter of the domestic oil, energy and gas business. At the moment, there are so many people interested in our spring ‘09 classes that we are already planning the summer ‘09 schedule.” This deep shortage in “the talent pool”, according to Pierce, is the result of a number of factors, mainly: the emerging markets abroad, the significant collateral damage caused to rigs and refineries by several hurricanes in the Gulf, and an aging generation of engineers and 3-D piping designers cashing in on early retirement. “Companies are very busy and behind in their projects, which is driving up both job opportunities and salaries,” said Pierce.

“PDMS is a well-respected technology, with a good capacity to handle large industrial projects,” concurred Beazley. “Demand for highly trained piping designers and engineers, including those trained in PDMS, is seen everywhere. Regional training programs and classes in piping design are full, but students are often hired before completing their degrees. HCC, for example, offers night classes so working students can finish their programs. There is also a strong backlog of awarded or planned design projects, especially in the industrial and petro-chemical sectors, and an abundance of plant construction projects already in the pipeline. For skilled piping professionals, the future looks great.”

This bright spot for employment, despite the country’s current economic climate, is being evidenced by the recent students like Allam. Based on his experiences, Allam has found that training in PDMS, along with some oil industry experience, will vastly increase job opportunities. Said Allam, “Even a brief conversation in the elevator today again confirmed this fact, as a veteran engineer informed me it was possible to make $150 hour with a background in PDMS.” Other senior engineers are also advising him to stick with it, with a real payoff in salary coming in just a couple of years. “These guys often make more than their bosses and managers, due to the demand for piping designers. This is because not many people go into the design-side sector of the industry. A working knowledge in PDMS is considered to be golden by potential employers. The more you know, the more you’ll make. I’ve already had job offers from two other firms in the industry, but have declined,” said Allam.

As oil prices drop to more sustainable levels, more projects become feasible. Employment for PDMS trained piping professionals, like Allam, are expected to increase, putting further pressure on salaries. Every owner/operator along the Gulf of Mexico seems to be feeling the labor pinch. Even a leading Houston-based engineering/procurement/construction (EPC) firm such as Mustang Engineering recently reported a backlog of oil and natural gas projects around the world and is actively looking to hire hundreds of engineers and 3-D piping designers. EPC companies are advertising in the paper, on the radio, and at college football games.

Marvin L. Griffin, the program chair for college credit courses in drafting/design engineering technology at HCC, said “Over the past three years, HCC has doubled the number of its piping classes from four to eight to help satisfy growing student interest and the demand from the oil industry for skilled entry level personnel in the latest PDMS technology. All of our current day and evening classes are full, and were filled within the first two weeks. This is because most of the students are hired before or soon after they complete their Certificates or AAS Degrees.” (source: theoilandenergynews.blogspot.com)

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/11/12/labor-shortage-in-energy-industry-a-bright-spot-in-otherwise-troubled-economy/feed/ 0 More Than 1,000 Seafarers To Call For More And Better Jobs At Sea http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/16/more-than-1000-seafarers-to-call-for-more-and-better-jobs-at-sea/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/16/more-than-1000-seafarers-to-call-for-more-and-better-jobs-at-sea/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:55:45 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=396 More than 1000 seafarers across Europe this week took to the streets of the Belgian capital to call for more and better jobs at sea.

The demonstration, which took place in Brussels on 14 October, aimed to lobby European decision-makers for an increase in employment for European seafarers and a set of standard conditions and against the replacement of crew with cheap labour. The seafarers’ demonstration was part of a long-term campaign by the ITF’s European arm, the ETF, and its affiliated unions for a fundamental review of the employment conditions of those working in the European Union (EU) maritime sector.

An ETF charter for European seafarers was presented to the Commission Vice-President responsible for transport, Antonio Tajani, on the day of the demonstration. The charter’s demands include: more employment opportunities; no social dumping; equal rights; greater regulation of the maritime sector and the right to safe working conditions and social security and state pension entitlements.

Philippe Alfonso, ETF Maritime Political Secretary commented: “The ETF has shown European Commission and Brussels policy-makers that seafarers’ unions across Europe are determined to promote European jobs at sea. The seafarers, representing 23 trade union organisations from 16 European countries, said that they wanted the European legislator to act now to safeguard European maritime know-how and make the industry a sector of excellence, where skilled and well-trained EU seafarers can enjoy the best possible living and working conditions.

“We also need to give young Europeans a chance to embark on maritime careers and to ensure that no one will be prevented from doing so because of poor working conditions.”

The event is being followed by a public seminar at the European Parliament today, held under the auspices of the Party of European Socialists and in the presence of Commission Vice-President responsible for transport, Antonio Tajani. It will debate the social aspects of EU maritime policy (source: itfglobal.org)

What has to be done according to you to increase the quality and number of jobs at sea?

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/16/more-than-1000-seafarers-to-call-for-more-and-better-jobs-at-sea/feed/ 0 Shipping 2009 | Save the Date!!! http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/05/shipping-2009-save-the-date/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/05/shipping-2009-save-the-date/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:49:24 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=225 Last year I visited Shipping 2008 and was very pleased about this world-class event. MaritimeJobSearch.com had the opportunity to exhibit at the Shipping Job Fair with great success. MaritimeJobSearch.com will also be present at the Shipping 2009 Job Fair.

As a maritime professional I can only say, mark your calendars for the CMA’s 2009 Conference and Exposition to be held March 23, 24 & 25 2009 at the Hilton Hotel, Stamford, Connecticut, USA:

For more information about the following topics of this great event contact:

  • The Exposition
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Conference Program
  • Advertising & Marketing Opportunities

Lorraine Parsons, CMA Event Director at

T. +1.203.406.0109 ext. 3717 | D. +1.203.406.0110

Email: conferences@cmsconnect.com OR

visit at www.shipping2009.com

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/05/shipping-2009-save-the-date/feed/ 0 Hiring Companies at USMMA Sea Fair http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/05/hiring-companies-at-usmma-sea-fair/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/05/hiring-companies-at-usmma-sea-fair/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:15:33 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=214 Last Wednesday was a great success for the students at USMMA. Fifty companies, including www.MaritimeJobSearch.com, exhibited and provided information about job openings and internship opportunities.

In order to serve you better, MaritimeJobSearch.com just finished a redesign. Uploading your resume is easy and you can now even create your own online presentation!

To upload your resume, just go to: www.maritimejobsearch.com/signup/employee

Please see below the list of fifty hiring companies that are looking for qualified candidates;

Alaska Marine HS | http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs

CSC | http://www.csc.com

Faststream Recruitment | http://www.faststream.us

GD-EB | http://www.gdeb.com

Kirby Inland Marine | http://kmtc.com

Hornblower | http://www.hornblowermarine.com

MaritimeJobSearch.com | http://maritimejobsearch.com

Mercy Ships | http://www.mercyships.org

MCS-Shoreside | http://www.msc.navy.mil

Moran Towing | http://www.morantug.com

US Air Force | http://www.airforce.com

United Maritime Group | http://www.unitedmaritimegroup.com

Sealift | http://www.sealiftinc.com

ADM | http://www.admworld.com

Alion | http://www.alionscience.com

AMO | http://www.amo-union.org

Atlantic Marine | http://www.atlanticmarine.com

BG LNG | http://www.bg-group.com

Celebrity Cruises | http://www.celebritycruises.com

GD-BIW | http://www.gdbiw.com

Crowley Maritime | http://www.crowley.com

ENSCO | http://www.ensco.com

NAVY | http://www.navy.mil

Hornbeck | http://www.hornbeckoffshore.com

MM&P | http://www.bridgedeck.org

K Sea | http://www.k-sea.com

MEBA | http://www.d1meba.org

MSC-Civmar | http://www.msc.navy.mil/

USMC | http://www.marines.mil

NAVSEA-PEO | http://www.navsea.navy.mil

Northrup Grumman | http://www.northropgrumman.com

Vane | http://www.vanebros.com

Norwegian Cruise | http://www.ncl.com

Reinauer | http://www.reinauer.com

NOAA | http://www.noaa.gov

Penn Maritime | http://www.pennmaritime.com

Seacor | http://www.seacormarine.com

Sayres | http://www.sayresandassociates.com

OTTO Candies | http://www.ottocandies.com

OSG | http://www.osg.com

Army | http://www.army.mil

Keystone | http://www.keyship.com

ISCG |

US Nuclear Reg. | http://www.nrc.gov

McAllister | http://www.mcallistertowing.com

G&H Towing |

NASSCO | http://www.nassco.com

Oceaneering | http://www.oceaneering.com

Puget Sound |

Columbia Group | http://www.columbiagroup.com

If you need help contacting one of these organizations, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dirk@maritimejobsearch.com

Or go to www.MaritimeJobSearch.com to view jobs and upload your resume.

Share/Bookmark]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/10/05/hiring-companies-at-usmma-sea-fair/feed/ 0 USMMA Job Fair/Sea Fair http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/09/20/usmma-job-fairsea-fair/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2008/09/20/usmma-job-fairsea-fair/#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:36:01 +0000 Dirk http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=62

I am excited about Wednesday, October 1, 2008! This day the United States Merchant Marine Academy organizes the Sea Fair 2008.

The entire Regiment of Midshipmen, as well as recent graduates, will be present. It is also a great opportunity to visit the Academy’s educational facilities, and visit the faculty.

The Sea Fair 2008 is a wonderful opportunity for Midshipmen to become better acquainted with the maritime industry, investigate internship opportunities, and prepare for their careers.

MaritimeJobSearch.com will be at Sea Fair 2008 and is looking forward to meet all the great men and women at the USMMA.

Do you have a job fair at your maritime/marine academy, tell us about it!

Dirk Meuzelaar | Managing Director

MaritimeJobSearch.com

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