Get hired! Your questions answered

Question: How do I narrow my search to change careers from construction to government and government contractor jobs? Where would I look to obtain a list of the company and government agency Web sites? --Brad Watson

Answer: During a downturn, targeting a particular industry that is hiring can be the key to finding a job and the government is certainly one of those sectors now. In fact, the government added 40,000 jobs in the first two months of this year, according to the Labor Department.

Dan King, principal of Career Planning and Management Inc. in Boston and Gerry Crispin, co-owner of Careerxroads, a consulting firm based in New Jersey, recommend starting at the government's one stop site, www.careeronestop.org, for employment resources or the federal job search site, www.federaljobsearch.com, which allows job seekers to search by occupation and geographical location.

Job seekers can also find information on government jobs in their area by checking with their state's employment office or U.S. Congressman for information and contacts. Due to the Obama administration's stimulus package, there are several construction projects in the works, King said, and there may even be lists available of potential construction projects that could receive federal funding going forward.

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