Month: June 2011 (Page 2 of 4)

      How to Find the Best Career Websites

      June 20, 2011 /

      Whether you’re looking for contract work or a full-time position, there are a number of different websites that can be useful in your search. If you’re looking for a full-time, permanent position, you can search through career clearinghouses to find useful links to career and job information on the web or you can search job banks and reliable government sources for job openings.

      If you’re interested in careers in the military, you want start your own home-based business, or you would like work as a freelancer or independent contractor, there are a number of resources you can tap into as well. Try My Future (military website), U.S. Small Business Administration, and HomeworkersNet.com. For regular full-time job seekers, the next section is for you.

      Searching Job Banks and Government Sources for Job Openings

      There are so many job banks and government websites that it would be tough to list them all here. What we can do is list ten of the most popular sites, which also happen to be the most user friendly and hassle-free of the bunch. For example, some websites have easy search functions that allow the user to enter only a few criteria to get relevant results. In many cases, these sites do not have a lengthy registration process. All that’s needed in these cases is a name and email address.

      Other sites may ask for more information than you are willing to give in order to search their database. These sites typically require a large amount of information to compile demographic information and to attract more business from advertisers and employers. In these cases, it’s best to study the sites privacy policy before going through the lengthy registration process.

      Besides the usual suspects such as CareerBuilder.com (23 million visitors per month) and Monster.com (75 million visitors), there are a number of lesser-known job banks that offer:

      • -A respectable amount of job listings
      • -Posts for people from all walks of life, age groups and skill levels
      • -Much less traffic than the most popular banks

      Less traffic is actually a plus if you prefer not to waste your time competing with thousands of applicants for a single position. Just a few alternative job banks that are well worth the effort are:

      1. 1. NationJob.com
      2. 2. Vault.com
      3. 3. NowHiring.com
      4. 4. AfterCollege.com
      5. 5. TrueCareers.com
      6. 6. CollegeGrad.com
      7. 7. CoolWorks.com
      8. 8. Dice.com
      9. 9. MarketingJobs.com
      10. 10. SeniorJobBank

      NationJob.com allows users to either search for a job on your own or sign up to have P.J. Scout, your personal online job search assistant, search for you. Whenever scout finds a job that matches your background, he will email it to you.

      Not only does Vault.com allow users to search through jobs in more than 70 different industries, it offers “insider” information on more than 3,000 companies. The site features the Internet’s first collection of company-specific message boards for employees. Here, anyone can network, find out what its like to work for any given company, and ask for job advice.

      NowHiring.com is a unique job search engine that caters to teens, students, and young adults. The site features seasonal opportunities, hourly positions, and entry-level job opportunities as well as a wide variety of job articles, tips, and advice.

      AfterCollege.com caters to recent college graduates or those looking to get their foot in the door through entry-level positions. The  site lists more than 200,000 jobs and an abundance of job related articles and information about everything from the top 50 popular jobs to the top businesses.

      Sponsored by Sallie Mae, TrueCareers.com is targeted towards degreed professionals in search of higher pay and jobs that are more satisfying. The site has a number of job and resume posting features as well as career articles, company profiles, a diversity center, and an “ask the expert” discussion forum.

      CollegeGrad.com is devoted to entry-level job information only. The site offers job listings from top entry-level employers as well as internships. Job seekers can also browse through a number of sections on interviewing, job planning, resumes, salaries, and more.

      CoolWorks understands that not everyone wants to wear a suit and tie everyday. There are a number of job seekers out there that would prefer to saddle up and hop on a horse to patrol a gorgeous national park for the day or slather on some sunscreen for sunny day serving Mai Tai’s on the deck of a cruise ship. CoolWorks features job listings for jobs in great places from cruse ships and ski resorts to parks and Buddhist retreat centers.

      If you’re an IT professional, Dice.com is the place to search for a position. Dice.com features a number of regular full-time positions, as well as a large number of contract positions. Users can search telecommuting positions only, or they can search by the amount of travel required. Job seekers can also create a profile and resume or use a personal search agent.

      In today’s economic climate, a move into marketing or to the marketing department of your company wouldn’t be a bad idea. As companies continue to struggle to stay afloat, they are also beefing up their marketing efforts. This is where MarketingJobs.com comes into play. MarketingJobs.com focuses on jobs in sales, marketing, and advertising. Job seekers can search state, job function, or keyword and they can also create an anonymous career profile, which will allow employers to find you.

      SeniorJobBank.org caters to the seasoned and talented 50 and over set. The job bank allows job seekers to search for jobs by industry, location, job category, and type of employment (short-term, contract, full-time). Users can also create up to three resumes and choose an option to let potential employers view your resume or have a personal job agent send job openings to your email.

      If you’re looking for jobs through government sources, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s America Job Bank site at www.ajb.dni.us or America’s Service locator at www.servicelocator.com. America’s job bank has more than 2 million job listings and America’s Service Locator features state by job openings as well as information on unemployment insurance, job training programs, education opportunities, and career services.

      Using Career Clearinghouses to Find Links

      One of the quickest and easiest ways to find career and job information is to check out career clearinghouses for links to the most relevant websites. A career clearinghouse is an index, directory or listing of other Internet sites. Career clearinghouses are much better than Googling (which can return more than 760 million results for “careers”) mainly because they allow you to narrow down your topic. An added benefit is that career clearinghouses are usually maintained by one individual or just a few so the results are more focused and the lists are  usually in alphabetical order.

      Some of the best clearing houses for career and job information are:

      For more career websites, read “30 best Web sites for job hunters,” by CNN Money.

      Your Business, Your Career, Your Workplace

      Can’t Find a Job? Consulting Might Be Your Calling

      June 16, 2011 /

      The nation’s economy has sent seasoned workers back to school, stay-at-home moms back to work, and those with an entrepreneurial spirit into their own businesses. In fact, independent contractors and freelance workers seem to be enjoying unlimited amounts of work now, while others are waiting in line with hundreds of applicants for a single, halfway decent job. Why? Independent contractors and freelance employees are an attractive option for employers today because they cost company’s less and they are usually more flexible to employer’s needs. Freelance workers and independent contractors handle their own health insurance, taxes, retirement, and other benefits, so employers don’t have to. As more and more companies downsize, limit or eliminate hiring altogether, and hire one person to do the work of three, they will call on independent contractors and freelance workers more and more to fill the gaps.

      So, what does this have to do with consulting? Plenty. While consulting firms are not immune to the effects of the economy, they still rake in billions of dollars each year. Not only this, but many ambitious consultants have found that they can take home a bigger piece of the billion if they branch out on their own. What this means is, freelance consultants and independent contractors will have plenty of opportunities to compete for thousands of jobs in an industry that’s expected to expand by 82.8 percent by 2018.

      Before you take the plunge, take inventory. There are certain skills, experience, and education that you’ll need in order to be successful in the consulting industry. Let’s start with education. Whether you’re looking for short-term projects or a long-term position with a consulting firm, you will have to provide some impressive credentials to and the account or get the job. Most companies prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in business management consulting, marketing, accounting, engineering, economics, computer and information sciences, or business.

      According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, some companies hire MBA (Master of Business Administration) students right out of college and place them in a rigorous on-site training program. The same goes for students with a master’s in a related field. For individuals interested in working freelance, as an independent contractor, or starting their own consulting business, spending a few years in the industry with a top firm is probably a good idea. This way, when its time to marketing yourself, you will have the education and experience needed to impress your potential clients.

      Besides education and experience, you will need certain skills that you cannot acquire in school and others you can. For starters, advanced computer skills are a must, so during your graduate and undergraduate career, take as many computer course as you can. Next, you have to have a certain type of personality to be a successful consultant. You must be a people person, friendly and outgoing as well as service-oriented and idea-driven. Most employers look for these qualities. They have to be able to work with you and depend on you to come up with ideas that will benefit their company or organization. Now that you have an idea of what it takes to become a consultant, take a look at the following list to find out which careers are ripe for consultants. 

      • -Accounting
      • -Advertising
      • -Auditing
      • -Business
      • -Business Writing
      • -Career Counseling
      • -Communications
      • -Computer Consulting
      • -Editorial Services
      • -Executive Search/Headhunter Firms
      • -Gardening
      • -Granstmanship
      • -Human Resources
      • -Insurance
      • -Marketing
      • -Payroll Management
      • -Public Relations
      • -Publishing
      • -Taxes
      • -Writing Services

      For more information about consulting careers, visit the Association of Professional Consultants at Consultapc.org.

      Your Business, Your Career, Your Education, Your Network

      Do You Need a Retirement Coach?

      June 14, 2011 /

      More than 77 million Baby Boomers will retire over the next two decades, but not all of them need a retirement coach. Many individuals approaching retirement age know exactly when they want to make the move, how they want to make it, and just how much money they have (or need) to have socked away to make their golden years special. This is great for individuals that know how to plan, but for those that haven’t even begun planning, a retirement coach might be the answer.

      A retirement coach helps individuals make a smooth transition from the working full-time to retirement. They help soon-to-be retirees deal with the financial and non-financial aspects of retirement. A good retirement coach typically has business skills, experience with financial planning, counseling skills, and even experience with health and physical fitness. These are just a few areas that clients need help with as they transition.

      Retirement coaches may be licensed and/or certified in any number of areas, but the most important certification is “certified retirement coach.” This means that the coach has been trained to handle all aspects of retirement. A certified retirement coach has completed a training program that consists of a minimum of 10 weeks of lectures, several classes/teleclasses or a 12-week program that may be completed online. Other types of training programs are available. Just a few certifying organizations include Purposeful Entrepreneur Institute, Retirement Options, and 2 Young 2 Retire.

      If you’re unsure about whether or not you need a retirement coach, all you have to do is ask yourself a few questions. The following questions were provided by Feroce Coaching:

      • -Do I want to work or do volunteer work? If so, how much do I want to work?
      • -How will I develop a new sense of identity and my feeling of status in the community without my job and my business card?
      • -How will I recreate the sense of purpose and meaning that my job gave me?
      • -How will I spend my time when I’m no longer working full time?
      •  -How will my relationships change? How will I replace the sense of connectedness and develop new relationships that my former work colleagues provided?
      • -What is my vision for my retirement?
      • -Will a retirement of full-time leisure satisfy me? And if not, what will?

      If you aren’t too sure about the answers, you might need a retirement coach. To find the right retirement coach, stick to referrals. If you have trouble finding a referral, check with the International Coaching Federation. You can also use your favorite search engine to look for coaches, but always check the coaches’ record, qualifications (including certification), the number of years in business, and check with the Better Business Bureau.

      If you decide to hire a retirement coach, keep in mind that sessions can cost as much as $100 an hour.

      Your Career

      4 Ways to Make a Good Impression at Your Company’s Theme Party

      June 14, 2011 /

      There are standards to approaching your traditional Company Theme Party, but first, recognize how awesome it is for your corporation to even have one. Typically, parties are of the holiday variety — a Christmas shindig or 4th of July get-together, and that’s it. If you’re lucky enough to have a type of party celebrating either the New Year, or maybe the anniversary of the company, by wearing ‘costumes,’ by all means, get creative with it.
       
      We’re not talking about Halloween, though —  although that is an idea. Rather, skip the candy giving and make it a private party with your company by focusing on movie costumes. Nice theme, right? So, that’s what you get to work with — here’s a list of some of the best ways to make a good impression, using movie costumes.
       
       
      • Dress Like James Bond
       
      Being that Agent 007 has a certain flair for the dramatic and can also party respectfully, it matches well with some of the most important tips to good office partying. For one, he’s not going to drink himself to death and plaster himself to the wall (remember, this is an “office party”). All he needs is his dry martini — shaken, not stirred.
       
      • Twin Costumes Are True Enjoyment
       
      Typically, spouses are often ignored at the office party. Let’s change that. This is supposed to be about fun. If you’re going to a theme party handled by your business, go with your spouse in a dual costume getup. Hansel and Gretel, Neo and Trinity from “The Matrix,” Smokey and the Bandit, Rocky and Bullwinkle, or Tom and Jerry. You’ll involve your spouse more with your own office doing that.
       
      • Don’t Go Overboard
       
      This is still your office, so make sure you don’t make your costume such that everyone has to ask who you are. This means no dressing up as King Kong, Godzilla, the Predator, an Alien, or even Optimus Prime. Keep it simple — no masks, lay off the makeup, and go for clever and quaint such as Dirty Harry, Blondie from “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” or even Batman would suffice (letting the mask slide, of course).
       
      • Pop Culture Works Well — Like John Dillinger
       
      In other words, don a simple modern fedora and a black suit and tie, and you’re basically a historical gangster like Dillinger, or Lucky Luciano, or Bugsy Siegel. There’s a certain flair to this look, and it presents a quality style your whole office would probably enjoy. Not to mention, it’s attractive. However, keep it professional! A themed office party, while a lot more fun than most office parties, needs to avoid the personal as well as the alcohol (hence trying out a James Bond outfit).

      Have fun with it! It’s about cinema. It’s about style. It’s about making a statement to your colleagues that you know how to have fun in a classy way, supporting your office environment and being the life of the party. Just remember — shaken, not stirred.

      Uncategorized

      Are There Any Recession-Proof Jobs Out There?

      June 10, 2011 /

      Although the unemployment rate is still considered high—8.7 percent of the labor force was unemployed as of May 2011, and many occupations have become unpopular or died. Many occupations and industries are still thriving. Research and development, homeland security, aerospace, and defense are still going strong, while the advertising industry has been the hardest hit by the recession. Not everyone has what it takes to land a job in homeland security or aerospace, and that’s ok. Fortunately, there are a number of other occupations and industries that seem to be recession proof as well. They are:

      1. Registered Nurse
      2. Retail (manager, assistant manager, sales associate)
      3. UPS Driver
      4. Financial Advisor
      5. Occupational Therapist

      Registered Nurse

      This is the number one recession-proof career on the list of top recession-proof careers and among the fastest growing. Registered nurses work in hospitals where they assess patient problems ad needs, and provide support to patients’ family members. Registered nurses can earn anywhere from $40,250 a year (entry level) up to $83,440 a year. Job Growth: 30%.

      Retail (manager, assistant manager, sales associate)

      Retail managers manage sales staff, coordinate promotions and schedules, manage inventory, and perform some accounting duties. Sales associates sell merchandise, and ring sales. Retail workers earn anywhere from $14,120-$38,430 a year. Depending on the size of the store and responsibilities, some store managers can earn as much as $75,000-$80,000 a year. Job Growth: 20%. 

      UPS Driver

      UPS drivers hold the number three spot on the list for several reasons. For starters there will always be a need for UPS delivery personnel because a computer cannot deliver a package to someone’s home or to a business. This occupation offers some of the most flexible schedules, so there’s room for thousands of full or part-time workers, which allows the business to continue to grow. UPS drivers, whether full-time or part-time, receive excellent benefits. This attracts workers as well. UPS drivers may earn anywhere from $55,000 a year up to $70,000 a year, depending on location and overtime. Job Growth: 27%

      Financial Advisor

      Financial advisors are in high demand, thanks to a lagging economy and companies (and individuals) that need to re-evaluate their business and personal budgets. They also help individuals and businesses make sound investments. Financial advisors may earn anywhere from $32,340 a year (entry level) up to $145,600+ per year. Private financial advisors that work for banks can easily earn seven figures. Job Growth: 26%

      Occupational Therapist

      Occupational therapists assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help to restore daily living skills and general independence. Occupational therapists may earn anywhere from $40,840 a year (entry level) up to $90,000 a year. Job Growth: 35%

      Other top recession-proof jobs include:

      Accountant
      Job Growth: 23%
      Salary: $34,470-$94,050

      Customer Service Representative
      Job Growth: 23%
      Salary: $18,110-$45,990

      Sales Representative, Sales and Marketing Representative
      Job Growth: 20%
      Salary: $24,340-$98,960

      Financial Analyst
      Job Growth: 17.3%
      Salary: $40,340-$130,130

      Controller
      Job Growth: 15%
      Salary: $50,290-$145,600+

      For more information about top recession proof jobs for 2010-2011, visit Forbes.com.

      Your Career, Your Workplace

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