Archives for May 19, 2024

California experienced some of the most deadly and destructive wildfires in the past five years, including the August Complex. In June 2022, San Mateo County had an Edgewood fire burning accident that led to a serious power outage, affecting more than 24,000 residents of the Bay Area, San Francisco residents. Moreover, the National Weather Service has also released several heat advisories hinting at dangerous heat conditions in the state. 

All these factors, including high magnitude earthquakes and wildfires, climate change, and rising construction activities, led to the growing demand for emergency service professionals in California to keep the residents safe and protected in all conditions. 

The demand for emergency service professionals across different industries and areas, including health care, restoration services, disaster management, and crisis communication, is rising, meaning you can use this opportunity to start or advance your career in the respective field. 

Below are some insights about the current job market for emergency services professionals and the types of emergency services jobs available in the state. Read further to learn how a technical staffing agency can help you find your dream job. 

Increasing demand for emergency services jobs in California

California is prone to destructive earthquakes because it rests on the San Andreas Fault. Along with extreme seismic activities, the state is also susceptible to heavy storms due to El Nina and El Nino air currents in the Pacific Ocean. Adding to the dangerous natural calamity, the increasing civil activities, climate change, and searing temperatures contribute to the damaging wildfires, causing massive loss of property and lives. 

The global pandemic also increased the number of jobs for emergency medical professionals in the country. All these factors make hiring emergency service professionals more significant and urgent. 

Outlook for emergency restoration services professionals

There are several emergency management agencies available on both state and local levels, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cal OES, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All these agencies contribute to the growing number of emergency services jobs in the country. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be over 180,000 emergency and other relief services jobs by 2026. The number of fire restoration projects in the state has also increased, offering many opportunities for emergency restoration professionals looking for a job. Many large companies hiring professionals across different emergency restoration service job titles in California include Anvil Builders, Inc., WSP, Arcadis, Geo-Logic Associates, and Bancroft Construction Services. 

Types of emergency services jobs in the Golden State

The wide range of specializations in the emergency services, such as disaster assistance, public administration, planning and prevention, communications, and public security policies, offer plenty of employment opportunities across different job titles. 

Some of the top emergency services jobs in California include:

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedics
• Disaster Planning Manager
• Emergency Department (ED) Physician
• Firefighters 
• Emergency Management Directors 
• Law Enforcement Officers
• Emergency Response Security Officer
• Public Information Officer 
• Environmental Health and Safety Officer 
• Incident Response Manager

The BLS projected that EMTs and paramedics’ job opportunities will likely increase by 11 percent in the coming five years, which is faster than the average. The jobs for firefighters are projected to rise by 8 percent By 2030. In fact, the employment of emergency management directors is also growing by 6 percent, creating close to 1,000 jobs every year. 

To secure jobs in these respective fields, you must demonstrate excellent work competencies through additional credentials and certifications. You should aim to acquire the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians’ EMT and paramedics certification.

Set yourself apart from other job aspirants by gaining the Emergency Management Certification by completing at least seven classes in Disaster mitigation, disaster planning, introduction to emergency management in California, terrorism, crisis communications, disaster medical operations, and disaster recovery. Some of the standard emergency certifications include Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Associate Emergency Manager (AEM), and Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic.

Applying for emergency services jobs: Top tips 

Emergency services is a competitive field as it provides plenty of opportunities for career growth with a high remuneration rate, meaning you need to work hard to stand apart from other job aspirants. Here are a few tips to keep at the top of your mind to find your ideal emergency services jobs.

• Get trained in the specialized field to gain practical information related to the emergency field. Opt for an emergency management specialist (EMS) to broaden your skills and expertise as military personnel, firefighter, incident report manager, or paramedic. 

• Find an emergency management professional associations like the California Emergency Services Association and the International Association for Emergency Managers to connect with industry veterans and experts. These professionals can provide insights into the industry and companies hiring across different emergency services job titles.

• If you’re a new graduate, begin your career with volunteer work or internships, as these provide you with hands-on experience in the field. Volunteer work also helps you map out your area of expertise, allowing you to build your career in a specialized field.

• Sign up with a technical staffing agency like Certis Solutions, which helps you get into top emergency management companies in California. It provides you access to a broad network of industry professionals, enabling you to gain practical experience. Moreover, Certis help you find a job that aligns with your personal and professional goals with best-in-industry pay. 

Visit Certis Solutions, a platform helping new graduates and experienced professionals to find their dream jobs in architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) firms and emergency services. 

With an increasing number of construction activities in California, the demand for project engineers is rising. Many top architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the state, including Deacon Construction, DesCor Builders, Forgen, Clark/Sullivan Construction, and many more are hiring talented project engineering professionals across various industries.

Moreover, project engineer jobs often attract AEC professionals as it promises long-term career opportunity, competitive salaries, career advancement, and development. But to get to your dream project engineering role, consider a few tips to stand out among other job candidates/applicants.

Below are some things to know when applying for project engineer jobs, along with a few helpful tips for answering questions in a job interview. Read on to learn how an engineering staffing agency like Certis Solutions can help you get your dream project.

Applying for project engineer jobs? Here’s what you need to know

Apart from a well-formatted resume and captivating cover letter, there are a few other things to work on both before and after submitting a job application to get your desired project engineer job.

Go through the job description

Always remind yourself what you really want from a position before applying to a job opening, and reading through the job description is the best way. Look at your resume and match the job description requirements. This way, you can narrow your search and only apply for jobs that meet your skill set, experience, expectations, and future goals. 

Do your homework

When applying for a project engineer job, carefully read about the AEC firm, its work, projects, achievements, and future developments. This will help you know the company better and prepare you to answer any related questions during a job interview.

Prepare to address things that make you nervous

Addressing things that can put you in a spot before a screening or interview process is important. It could be a gap in your background, bereavement period, or parental leave. The idea is to address issues that make you nervous or uncomfortable. The more you prepare to answer questions related to that particular scenario, the more you become confident to address that issue in front of the interviewer(s).

Top tips for answering interview questions

In a job interview, demonstrate great confidence, work competencies, and zeal to excel in the given role. Dress professionally and focus on all interview protocols to appear as a professional and experienced job candidate. Be prepared to answer every question to showcase deeper understanding and dedication to secure the desired project engineer job. Below are a few common engineer interview questions asked in a project engineer job interview with some useful tips to answering them.

Walk us through the resume

Most interviewers begin the interview by asking this question, expecting you to expand on your professional achievements, educational credentials, certifications, and skill set. The best way to answer this question is by highlighting two or three of your accomplishments you’re most proud of. Share your experiences and what you’ve learned so far to lead to a deeper discussion.

Professional training and certifications

AEC professionals must acquire professional training and certifications, including Engineer in Training Certification (EIT), OSHA safety certificate, and Project Management Professional (PMP), to be proficient in their respective careers. They also help you stand out among other job applicants, so be prepared to answer any question related to the training you’ve received, from which institution, and your achievements to showcase an in-depth understanding of the field.

Managerial and team-building

Regardless of your role, you’re required to work with a team. It could be a group of engineers, managers, project coordinators, or architects. Companies look for professionals who demonstrate excellent management and team coordination.

During a job interview, an interviewer may ask questions about developing a successful team to lead a project, so be prepared to answer that thoroughly. You can quote examples from your previous experience or talk about the importance of each role and how you’ll incorporate them to lead a project.

Goals and expectations

When an interviewer asks about your goals and expectations from the job, break your answer into the short-term and long-term. Talk about what you want in the next three months while describing your short-term goals. Mention things like fitting into your role, getting to know the project details deeply, and coordinating with your team. Also ask about promotions or career advancement, getting into managerial roles, and taking on complex tasks when discussing your long-term goals over the next five years.

Find your next project engineer role with an engineering staffing agency

An engineering staffing agency like Certis Solutions helps reduce the stress and hassle of finding a job by connecting you with top-notch AEC firms not listed on job boards like LinkedIn. The dedicated consultants at Certis Solutions also help you prepare by providing project engineer interview questions to excel in a job interview.

These staffing agencies help you build and expand your network by connecting you with industry professionals that can guide your path to excel in your respective career. Moreover, you get long-term work opportunities and a learning experience by working on top-notch AEC projects. Search jobs with Certis Solutions and get help from highly trained and experienced project coordinators to learn about top AEC firms hiring in California.