CONSULTING TIP OF THE MONTH 

The Value of Listening
 

VIEW FROM THE LAB BENCH 

Employment - It is bubbling?

Is employment for chemists looking up or down? The Great Recession (and the past decade) have taken their toll on chemists and chemistry; with the 2010 ACS Salary Survey reporting its highest unemployment rate in 20 years (3.9%), things still look pretty bad out here in the real world.

There are some faint glimmers of hope, though. To adapt a statistic from Richard Bolles' "What Color is Your Parachute?" (View Bolles' ACS Webinars presentation on Secrets to Career Success for Scientists), let's look at the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics hiring data. In November 2010, the manufacturing sector (the sector that includes most working chemists) hired 283,000 people. It also shows that 227,000 job openings went unfilled. From an optimist's perspective, there's probably some unfilled chemistry positions in there -- and one of those might have your name on it!

Also, there are potential signs that the employment recession in chemistry may be slowing or ending. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' unemployment rate for chemists and material scientists for 2010 was 3.1%, which is down from 2009's 4.5%. While you and I may disagree with those particular numbers, the drop in the rate is certainly a nice welcome going into 2011!

Chemjobber is a working chemist in industry; he writes a blog on employment in chemistry at chemjobber.blogspot.com.

Note: Learn more about Chemical Employment Trends with ACS Webinars on Feb 24, 2011.

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE to advance your career! 

• Strategic Planning
• Engaging Colleagues in Dialogue
• Coaching and Feedback
• Leading Without Authority
• Leading Change

Finding the right job is always challenging, but even more so in the current job market.  That's why the Career Fair offers so much value if you're searching for a job. At the Fair you'll be able to interview and network with employers, as well as meet with a personal career consultant who will help you plan your job search, improve your resume, and practice interview skills. Free workshops are also available providing valuable job tips. Registration is now open at www.acs.org/careerfair.

• Jan 30 - Feb 2, 2011 - Chemistry in Cancer Research: The Biological Chemistry of Inflammation as a Cause of Cancer
  Jointly sponsored by ACS and the American Association of Cancer Research, San Diego, CA

• Feb 3, 2011 - Chemical Marketing & Economics Group presents "Profiting from Sustainability Through Open Innovation" with Charlene Wall, NA Manager of Sustainability Communications, BASF.

• Feb 17, 2011 - Women In Bio Business Development Winter Webinar Series
  Learn the art of Business Development and Licensing by attending WIB's Winter Webinar series "Product Out-Licensing Process and Negotiation." 

• Mar 3, 2011 - Chemical Marketing & Economics Group presents panel discussion "Making Green with Green Chemistry" moderated by Doris De Guzman, Senior 'Green Chemistry' Editor, ICIS Chemical Business, and Neil A. Burns, Principal, Neil A. Burns LLC.

• June 19-22, 2011 - 85th ACS Colloid and Surfaces Symposium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Jun 21-23, 2011 - 15th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference + 5th International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry, Washington, DC.
   

Congratulations to Edine Heinig of Minnesota Rubber and  Dan Rabinovich of UNC Charlotte for the correct answer to last month's challenging quote contest "I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy" by Marie Curie. Winners were randomly selected from all the correct entries received and will receive an ACS lapel pin. Thank you to all who entered the contest.