Try these hot jobs in the Naperville area

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

While the latest figures show that nationally the unemployment rate remains just a tick below 10 percent, experts say for those with the right skill sets, “hot” jobs do exist for 2011.

In Naperville, employment firms say job seekers should find work in both entry level jobs requiring little if any formal education to others where specific skill sets are required. Katy Gallagher, vice president and chief operating officer of Ashley Ellis, says Naperville is rich in technological opportunities as well as work supporting contractors.

“Naperville surprisingly has a lot of Internet-based technology as well as software development that goes on,” she said. “These aren’t companies that you’ll find all over the Internet — they are often listed in the phone book’s Yellow Pages. It’s kind of this big hidden niche out there that many don’t know about.”

Gallagher also suggests that, as the economy slowly begins to improve, big box retailers in the area like OfficeMax are likely to begin to increase their regular work force.

“A lot of companies in the area that are headquartered here cut their staff and employees beginning in 2009 in order to not lose a lot of money,” she said. “Now that things have started to come around, contractors are beginning to come back, which is always the first level seen during a recovery. Usually hiring increase begins after that, which is part of the normal cycle. So I see a lot of businesses beginning to hire more help as contractors increase.”

Fred Hurst, owner of Express Employment Professionals in Naperville, cites a number of potentially active job markets, including engineering, sales positions and retail jobs — particularly in the grocery and food business.

“Companies are looking for engineers in the electrical and mechanical areas, and I would think those with a chemical background might be able to write their own ticket,” Hurst said. “These aren’t entry-level positions, but ones where you obviously need some training. Sales positions are also getting bigger as a lot of companies are looking to add people to represent them and carry the load, but they like people with some background in communication, sales, human resources and other things.”

Hurst also said office personnel, including administrative positions, bookkeeping and accounting, financial analysts and other business-related jobs are on the rise locally, along with food and grocery jobs.

“People are doing more at home and relying more on things they prepare themselves,” he said. “Along with that is the slew of warehouses along the Route 59 corridor. Naperville supplies a lot of parts and repair items that are shipped all over the country. We have everything here from car parts to pigments that are put in paints. People are more into renovating, repairing and upgrading what they already have, and Naperville has companies and warehouses that fill a lot of those orders.”

Weathering downturn

Certain jobs remain strong out of necessity, said Greg Rivara, communications manager for the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Education, health care and information technology should continue to be strong prospects in the coming year.

“These are areas that people have to connect with eventually whether they want to or not,” Rivara said. “Education, health care and IT fields weather economic downturns and turnarounds better than other job sectors.”

Rivara said some specific medical-related jobs would include physician assistants, skin care specialists, medical scientists, dental hygienists and veterinarians. Naperville’s Brian Williamson, vice president in charge of business development for Executive Partners, an executive recruiting and training firm in North Barrington, believes there will be continued growth on the entrepreneurial front.

“There has been a dramatic increase in people becoming self-employed due to the high number of layoffs during the recession,” he said. “That will manifest in two ways this year. First, some of these new companies will grow and need people. Second, many who became independent consultants will align with companies who are hiring.”

First to go

Fran Liontakis, regional vice president of Robert Half International, the parent company of OfficeTeam, believes Naperville will continue to offer jobs in the areas of finance and administration, including accounting and financial analysts, customer service, receptionists and sales associates. The latter, she said, frequently experience high turnover rates and are jobs even those without previous experience can learn.

“People like receptionists were the first to go when the economy went bad and in terms of sales associates — as businesses grow again, they’ll be looking to add staff,” she said. “For people who don’t have the necessary skill sets, our advice is to stay current in your own area. Keep informed about legislation, technology and certification requirements, so that when a job opens in your area, you’ll be ready. Focus less on your title and more on the industry itself.”

Jobs without much shelf life only serve as a Band-Aid when it comes to addressing the unemployment problem, but Hurst argues job stability may also be on the rise.

“For a while, people that were placed in work often found themselves completing some short-term things, but now we see more people being upbeat as companies are trying to put together packages showing where people can be in two to three years if things work out and they stay,” Hurst said. “Companies are talking more about people carving a career path and making a place for them.”