While six of the 10 fastest-growing occupations require an associate or bachelor's degree, degrees alone do not guarantee a competitive edge.

"College students should not expect employers to hire 'just anyone' to fill a job," cautions Marilyn Mackes, executive director of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE. "Employers are looking for candidates who have the right mix of skills and experience for the job; in a good job market, that can be tougher to find."

John Challenger, chief executive officer of New York outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, says companies have long coveted verbal and written communication skills, flexibility and interpersonal skills. Increasingly, however, it's a resume that demonstrates a commitment to continuing education that separates the wheat from the chaff.

"In the technology field, for example, you've got to really be up-to-date and current to compete," Challenger says. "Your education has to be continuous because that knowledge base is always growing. You have to build that into your career in a much more essential way than with other careers, where learning is done on the job."

Bilingual candidates are also in demand.

"More U.S. companies are going global," Challenger says. "They're selling products worldwide and setting up operations overseas, so language skills and a familiarity with other cultures and international business customs are going to be very strong. First- and second-generation Americans will be in great demand."

For new college graduates, internships are another important way to get their feet in the door. Employers who responded to the 2005 Job Outlook Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers survey noted internships provide an easy way to "identify talent early." On the scale of importance, most pushed its rating up a few notches to just below "extremely important."

Finally, Challenger says an entrepreneurial spirit will get you everywhere in today's job market. "Corporate America, more and more, is looking for people who will go out with initiative and really help them build their businesses," he says. "Recognizing this, more business schools are actually building entrepreneurial programs into their curriculums."

North San Diego is part of a Recycling Market Development Zone which offers incentives to manufacturers and processors of recycled materials in designated areas around California. The program is funded and centrally administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board and was created to increase demand for recycled materials.

INCENTIVES are available for businesses that use recycled materials, including:

• Low interest loans
• Marketing assistance
• Siting and permitting assistance
• Feedstock procurement- over 600,000 tons of recyclables are available in North San Diego!

The RMDZ offers North San Diego County the opportunity to recruit new or expand existing companies.
Many items previously thought of as waste are now valuable products. Annually, $14 billion of sales comes from recycling and reuse industries statewide. This industry accounts for nearly 5,000 businesses in California.

The recycling and reuse industry creates “green- collar” jobs, which are generally entry level to skilled, but usually with wages and benefits superior to service jobs otherwise available to less educated workers. Recycling businesses are responsible for about the same number of jobs as the California motion picture industry; less glamorous, of course, but important for our future, and growing.

Recycling and reuse industry has a direct effect on State government revenues. Statewide recycling collection, processing, and manufacturing and reuse businesses account for $218 million in tax revenue annually.

Recycling-based businesses are eligible for loan funding up to 75% of project cost, loan terms of 10 years, or 15 years if secured by real estate, and fixed interest rates; at or below the prime rate (current rate is 5%). To qualify for a loan, the business must be located in the zone and divert significant quantity of materials from a California landfill.

RMDZ offers specialized services and incentives for participating businesses, helps create new markets for recycled materials, and builds a stronger and more sustainable local economy. For more information, view www.ciwmb.ca.gov/rmdz/NoSanDiego/ or contact zone administrator Michael Wonsidler at (858) 874- 4081.