I work at a company that seems to be going nowhere. Although I am being paid well, I feel like I am standing still. What should I do?

There are three types of companies…companies that make things happen, companies that watch what happens and then make decisions and companies that wonder what happened. It is difficult to be motivated when the company is not excited about its future.

If you feel you have learned as much as you can and have little room to go, it is time to think about your next position. It is better to look for a new job while working so you have more options. I would recommend you prepare and/or revise your resume, start networking and seek jobs that use your skills so that your contributions will help the company succeed. It is also important that you use the interview to assess management’s willingness to grow the business.

The mortgage origination business is in trouble. I have worked in this industry for 10 years primarily in the sub-prime market. Do you have any suggestions as to where I can use my talents in another industry?

To be a successful mortgage originator you need good analytical and people skills. These skills are transferable to other jobs in the financial services sector where you deal with clients. For some jobs, a college education, special licenses and examinations may be required.

Commercial banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions often look for customer service representatives who are self starters, have networking skills and like to work with people to solve their financial problems. Investment firms seek people who are strong in customer service, understand the financial markets, have strong communications and selling skills and are willing to help clients make investments. Insurance companies are on the lookout for strong salespeople who are good at prospecting for new customers. Your experience in the mortgage business has prepared you for many positions where customer interaction and problem-solving are important job requirements. You do not need to limit your search to the financial services sector. Ten years of being an “entrepreneurial salesperson” makes you a strong candidate for any job requiring a self-starter.

I have considerable experience in the computer business as a customer service representative, but I can not find a job. What do you think I can do to improve my chances of finding a job?

As I have mentioned in previous columns finding a job is a job. If you are limiting your search to the computer business, good networking and a well prepared resume will move you closer to getting an interview. It is also important to belong to the right professional associations. You also need to use a variety of sources to identify job opportunities such as the newspaper, the internet, government employment services, college placement offices and jobs listed through professional associations.

You can also broaden your search by looking for customer service representative positions in other industries where information and computer technology are important skills to have in dealing with customers. You improve your chances of finding a job by having others know of your availability and your willingness to search in many different industries and geographical locations.

My employer is about to sell his business. What generally happens to employees when a new owner takes over?

This is a difficult question to answer since you would need to know the plans of the new owner. In most cases, employees valuable to the business continue to have a job. However, it is important to make yourself as marketable as you can by being a positive force in the transition to the new owner. You should not prejudge the motives of the new owner.

Hopefully, your current employer will keep you informed of any possible changes brought about by the sale. This is a good opportunity to update your resume to highlight your accomplishments. A new owner will generally give employees a chance to tell them what they do in the organization as a way of introduction to listen to the new owner’s objectives for the business. This is a good opportunity to “re-interview” for your job.

Are there any manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island?

Although jobs in this sector of the economy continue to decline each year, there are job opportunities for individuals with special skills to operate machinery in specialized areas of manufacturing. Since 2005 Rhode Island lost over 3400 manufacturing jobs and the New England states lost a total of 21,800 jobs.

These losses were due to manufacturing operations moving to other regions of the country and to places like China and Vietnam. It is expected that Rhode Island will lose 1,200 more jobs in manufacturing in 2007. The average hourly earnings for manufacturing production workers in Rhode Island was $13.46 in March 2007 compared to $18.48 the average hourly wage in the New England states. The hourly rate does not include the fringe benefits that may come with the job.