 Take out your “A-Z Job Skills” sheet.  Now, imagine your perfect full time job (or career). What skills do YOU need on a daily basis for this job? List at least 2.  Next to each skill you have written down, write down why you need that skill.  Example:  Job: Dental Hygienist  Skill: Communicating  Why: Need to be able to explain and demonstrate proper flossing techniques to people of all ages.

 What do you think those careers are?  Personal and Home Care Aides  Home Health Aides  It's important to note that personal care aide and home health aide are different vocations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health aides work for certified, federally-funded agencies and can be trained to perform tasks such as changing dressings or dispensing prescribed medications.  Personal Care Aides work for public and private agencies or are hired directly by clients' families. They generally are supervised by licensed medical personnel, such as nurses, or social workers and perform less medically-oriented duties than home health aides.

Personal care aides generally are responsible for:  light cleaning, cooking, running errands, and doing laundry  assisting clients with bathing, showering, grooming, and other personal hygiene tasks.  They also engage clients in activities like reading, talking, and playing games.  Additionally, personal care aides might consult with a client's family members to address their concerns regarding the client's health, nutrition, and overall well- being.

 Records patient information by making entries in the patient journal; notifying nursing supervisor of changing or unusual conditions.  Monitors patient condition by observing physical and mental condition, intake and output, and exercise.  Supports patients by providing housekeeping and laundry services; shopping for food and other household requirements; preparing and serving meals and snacks; running errands.  Assists patients by providing personal services, such as, bathing, dressing, and grooming.  Helps patients care for themselves by teaching use of cane or walker, special utensils to eat, special techniques and equipment for personal hygiene.  Helps family members care for the patient by teaching appropriate ways to lift, turn, and re-position the patient; advising on nutrition, cleanliness, and housekeeping.  Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy patient environment by following state standards and procedures; maintaining security precautions; following prescribed dietary requirements and nutrition standards;  Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities.

 Why are there so many openings in this category?  People have quit from high - turnover positions -- They may be very stressful mentally and physically and offer no opportunity for growth.  People use these as stepping stones to higher level jobs and many people pass through them on their way up.  These are noted in the Top 10 on the next slide, projected through the year 2016.

 Registered Nurses (RNs) - Associate (2 years) or Bachelor's Degree to start.  Retail Salespersons - requires only a HS diploma, but most employers wish candidates to have considerable successful experience and sometimes a following of loyal customers already.  Customer Service Representatives - High School Diploma.  All Food Prep & Service work - High School Diploma for many of these jobs, although fast food chains often require a 4-year degree for managers.managers  General Office Clerks - High School Diploma. However, in many US States this is a Declining Job, where fewer workers are needed every year.  Personal and Home Care Aides  Home Health Aides

 Postsecondary Teachers - College and Vocational level - requires at least a 4-year degree or higher.  Janitors/Cleaners, except maids, etc. - High School Diploma.  Nurse's Aides, Orderlies, related - Vocational Certificate.

 Of the Top 30 Declining Jobs that are decreasing in openings through 2016, 29 require only a high school education (with on the job training - OJT).  Some of these jobs are comparatively well paid, but they are falling into low demand, because they are becoming obsolete. Of the Top 10 Jobs in this category, only one requires higher than a high school diploma.

 Photographic Processing Jobs  File clerks & Order Clerks  Sewing Machine Operators  Electrical/Electronic Equipment Assemblers  Computer Operators  Lathe Operators and related jobs (The occupation entails monitoring and operating computer numerically controlled lathe machines to cut metal and plastic parts for the manufacturing industry.)  Bindery Workers - book binding  Prepress Technicians - Vocational Certificate ( set the foundation for successful printing production  Paper Goods Machine Operators  Machine Feeders & Off loaders

Lets take a deeper look into the Top 25 In-Demand careers…