Category: Your Business (Page 20 of 30)

How to Find the Best Career Websites

June 20, 2011 / Michelle Burton

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

–Internet Career Connection
-Careers.org
-JobHuntersBible.com
–The Riley Guide
-Job-Hunt.org
–Quintessential Careers
-Workindex.com

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

Your Business, Your Career, Your Workplace

find a job job boards

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

June 16, 2011 / Michelle Burton

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

How to Find $100K+ Staffing Agencies

June 9, 2011 / Michelle Burton

$100K+ staffing agencies are easy to find if you know where to look and what to look for. The first place to check is with friends, family, and co-workers. Referrals are the absolute best way to locate top agencies. If a friend, family member or co-worker has worked with an agency with good results, chances are the agency is reputable and good at what it does. If you have trouble finding a referral, you can always use your favorite search engine to locate $100K+ staffing agencies. The only issue is, once you locate several agencies, you’ll have to do your homework.

The first thing to remember is that $100K+ staffing agencies are not always so obvious. Use the search term “executive staffing agencies,” “executive recruitment firms,” or “executive head hunters.” Agencies that handle senior-level clients (and others) are also a safe bet. After locating several firms check their status with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can find out if they’re BBB accredited, how they rate, and if there are any complaints against them. You can also find out how long the service has been in business, the type of business, licensing information, and other background information,

After researching the company, give them a call or schedule an appointment to meet with them. Ask about success stories, what the process entails, and the time frame. If they don’t offer a definitive answer, then it might be a good idea to move on to next agency on your list. During your first meeting, it’s also important to make sure you’re clear about any fees that you may be charged. Again, if the answer is vague, try the next agency on your list.

Besides using your favorite search engine to find $100K+ staffing agencies try directories such as Searchfirm.com or Onlinerecruitersdirectory.com.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Network, Your Workplace

So You Have a Music Degree, Now What?

May 26, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Rock star isn’t the only career in the music industry. Yes, it’s probably one of the coolest, but there are so many other exciting careers in music, you’ll lose count! Believe it or not, not everyone wants to be in the spotlight. Fortunately there are dozens of behind-the-scenes careers that are not only exciting, but they can be just as lucrative as being in front of the camera. Many of these careers are technical in nature, so they require training. A music degree can give you the skills you need to break into:

-Sound editing
-Engineering
-Instrument design
-Music software programming
-Music publishing
-Recording (technician)

Other behind-the-scenes careers in music are not necessarily technical in nature, but many require a degree in music with a special concentration. Depending on the concentration, a degree in music can lead to a career in:

-Music therapy
-Education
-Tour management
-Voice Coaching
-Music journalism
-Music critic
-Special events
-Directing (film music)
-Concert promoter
-Band leader
-Copyright specialist
-Artist & repertoire (A & R) person

Composer, art director, advertising specialist, music attorney, lobbyist, and copy writer are other career opportunities for music majors.

Types of Music Degrees

The main types of music degrees are a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in music and a Bachelor of Music. Advanced degrees include Master of Music (M.M), Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Music Education (M.M.E.). If you’re interested in becoming a music professor, a PhD or Doctoral of Musical Arts (D.M.A) is usually required.

Music Employers

So, now you know the types of majors for aspiring music professionals as well as the types of careers open to graduates. So where are the jobs? Depending on the degree and specialty area, individuals with a degree in music may find employment at recording studios, production companies, and even government agencies such as the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Commission of Fine Arts, and Voice of America. Other types of employers are:

-Private and nonprofit organizations
-Media firms
-Music and film studios
-Performing art centers
-Production companies
-Orchestras and bands
-Entertainment companies
-Colleges and universities
-Booking and talent agencies
-Media firms
-Elementary and secondary schools

Colleges that offer Music Degrees

There are literally hundreds of colleges that offer music degrees. Traditional universities, schools of art and technical schools offer music programs of all kinds. Some of the top schools are:

-University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music) (NY)
-Juilliard School (NY)
-Curtis Institute of Music (PA)
-New England Conservatory of Music (MA)
-Oberlin College Conservatory (OH)
-Manhattan School of Music (NY)
-Cleveland Institute of Music
-Mannes College of Music (NY)
-San Francisco Conservatory of Music
-Westminster Choir College (NJ)
-Boston Conservatory
-University of the Arts (PA)

The Future of Music Careers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for musicians, singers, and related workers is expected to grow as fast as average. While this is good news, it’s important to remember that competition for positions in the music industry is intense. The more experience, education, and dedication you have the better. If you land a full-time job in the music industry, you can you expect to earn up to earn anywhere from $40,000 on the low end up to six figures on the high end. Self-employed musicians, singers, and others may earn more based on the number of performances, weeks of contract work, reputation, and recordings.

To learn more about music careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

Your Business, Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education

6 Ways To Protect Yourself While On Business Trips

May 18, 2011 / admin

Small businesses are especially vulnerable to fraud and identity theft. Many lack the resources to hire an internal auditor who can keep an eye on vital financial accounts and organizational information. Therefore, the responsibility falls on the owner and the employees to be extra careful with company information when traveling. Here are 6 ways to protect yourself while on business trips.

1. Only use one credit card when traveling. Leave every other card at home, in a safe place. If you do find yourself the victim of credit card theft, you’ll be able to limit the loss if only one card is stolen.
2. Check all accounts daily. Make sure you log on and check all of your financial accounts daily while on a business trip. If a dishonest cashier or waiter has managed to steal your identity or credit card information, you’ll see the illegal activity as soon as it posts to your account. Then you can call your bank and report the theft. They’ll cancel the account immediately.
3. Add identity theft restoration to your travel insurance. Identity theft restoration could be the single most important service your insurance company can provide. If you find that your credit card or identity has been stolen, you’ll have immediate access to the right kind of support. That quick call could save you thousands of dollars in financial losses to your company.
4. Use pre-paid credit cards when traveling for business. A pre-paid credit card allows you to load it up with a limited amount of cash. Once that limit is reached, the card will be declined. Even the fastest thief will run out of juice before he does any serious damage to your company’s bank accounts. If you reach the limit before you’re ready to go home, you’ll have the authority to reload the card. It may be a little inconvenient, but it sure beats the alternative.
5. Keep your laptop locked in the hotel safe. Most hotels have safes in the rooms. Keep your laptop and any other information that would identify you or your company locked in that safe. Identity theft happens in many ways, and a savvy thief, who works as a housekeeper, can rob you blind with just a few key strokes.
6. Turn on the pass code on your smartphone. Smartphones carry as much personal information as our laptops, so make sure you turn on the pass code while on a business trip. In the event you leave it on a restaurant table, no one will be able to access vital financial and personal information. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get back to the place you left it before anyone can crack the code.

Always use some kind of identity theft restoration when traveling for business. You’ll be using strange ATM locations and shopping in strange stores. It’s much more difficult to spot suspicious activity in places that aren’t familiar. If you aren’t properly protected and insured, ask yourself if your business can afford a theft. How will you protect yourself?

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