February 11, 2009 2:03 PM
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Finding Recession-Proof Jobs
In her new suit, Kim Black has a job interview. She hopes it's a new start, CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports.
Black was laid off last month for the third time. If Georgia Retina hires her, the eye clinic would pay her to train as a technician.
It's one industry still hiring: health care.
Black, a single mother, wants a job. A stable job.
"Something that is not going to go away or disappear, or put me out of work," she said.
Even in a brittle, brutal economy - some fields are still hiring.
Education: teachers at all levels.
Computer technology: from troubleshooting to software design.
Alternative energy: from factory workers to engineers.
Security: at ports and as city police.
And most of all, health care. That industry's adding 30,000 jobs a month.
Rosemary Gignilliat's a head hunter for clinic and hospitals.
This year she's already placed 112 people - that's double a typical year. And none of them are doctors or nurses.
"You have to have coders. You have to have billers. You have to have surgery schedulers," Gignilliant said. "It doesn't stop."
Andy Greider was also laid off. So he started his own marketing company on the Internet. And now feels more nimble - and secure.
"It's really hard to roll with a punch when you have to get three people to sign off on it," he said. "It's really been fun to do."
T.C. Collier built high-end custom homes such as one jewel in Atlanta.
When new projects dried up, he spent six months building something else: A new career as a legal arbitrator.
"There are many businesses that people thought were recession-proof that aren't," he said. "We have to be creative and find new things to do."
Kim Black's still looking for her new thing. But invited back for a second interview, she feels one step closer to stability.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Black was laid off last month for the third time. If Georgia Retina hires her, the eye clinic would pay her to train as a technician.
It's one industry still hiring: health care.
Black, a single mother, wants a job. A stable job.
"Something that is not going to go away or disappear, or put me out of work," she said.
Even in a brittle, brutal economy - some fields are still hiring.
Rosemary Gignilliat's a head hunter for clinic and hospitals.
This year she's already placed 112 people - that's double a typical year. And none of them are doctors or nurses.
"You have to have coders. You have to have billers. You have to have surgery schedulers," Gignilliant said. "It doesn't stop."
Andy Greider was also laid off. So he started his own marketing company on the Internet. And now feels more nimble - and secure.
"It's really hard to roll with a punch when you have to get three people to sign off on it," he said. "It's really been fun to do."
T.C. Collier built high-end custom homes such as one jewel in Atlanta.
When new projects dried up, he spent six months building something else: A new career as a legal arbitrator.
"There are many businesses that people thought were recession-proof that aren't," he said. "We have to be creative and find new things to do."
Kim Black's still looking for her new thing. But invited back for a second interview, she feels one step closer to stability.
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