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      Regulations and jobs

      November 14, 2011 /

      It’s sad how lame our political discourse has become. Complex issues like jobs and regulations become sound bites between both extremes. Instead of debating sensible regulations and the cost and benefits of specific rules like environmental rules, we get shouting matches between the parties on these issues.

      The Washington Post has a good article on the complex issues surrounding regulations and the impact on jobs.

      The Muskingum River coal-fired power plant in Ohio is nearing the end of its life. AEP, one of the country’s biggest coal-based utilities, says it will cut 159 jobs when it shuts the decades-old plant in three years — sooner than it would like — because of new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency.

      About an hour’s drive north, the life of another power plant is just beginning. In Dresden, Ohio, AEP has hired hundreds to build a natural-gas-fueled plant that will employ 25 people when it starts running early next year — and that will emit far fewer pollutants.

      The two plants tell a complex story of what happens when regulations written in Washington ripple through the real economy. Some jobs are lost. Others are created. In the end, say economists who have studied this question, the overall impact on employment is minimal.

      “If you’re a coal miner in West Virginia, it’s not a great comfort that a bunch of guys in Texas are employed doing natural gas,” said Roger Noll, an economics professor at Stanford and co-director of the university’s program on regulatory policy. “Some people identify with the beneficiaries, others identify with those who bear the cost, and no amount of argument is ever going to change their minds.”

      Read the whole article for a good perspective on this issue. The bottom line is that regulations can also help create jobs and add certainty, though of course some regulations do hurt jobs. We have to measure that impact versus the environmental and safety benefits we get from rules. Things like a carbon tax should also be evaluated, as here we just put a cost on pollution as opposed to specific regulations.

      Your Business

      Online Education: Using Twitter to Get the Job You Deserve

      November 14, 2011 /

      Social media is a twenty-first century revolution that has swept the globe. It has given billions of people new opportunities to share their voices, connect, and facilitate the type of discussion that helps propagate more revolutions. It has infiltrated television, movies, advertising, mobile phones, online education, and a whole slew of other niches that are heavily embedded in many peoples’ daily lifestyles. To say that social media is here to stay would be an absurd understatement. In a way, the world is moving towards virtual connectivity on a level that parallels the time when the Internet first became available for personal use.

      Continue reading »

      Your Career, Your Network

      Spending time abroad after graduation

      November 14, 2011 /

      This has been a very difficult time for graduates, as the great recession has made it very difficult to find a job and get your career started. Many young people are stuck living at home with their parents and don’t know what to do next.

      We’ve stressed the importance of creativity and finding a career that suits you, regardless of the economic situations. We’ve also stressed the importance of work-life balance, and there must be more to life than just your work.

      This might be a time for you to also consider doing other things while you wait for the job market to come back. It might seem silly yo think about traveling the world given the economic circumstances, but again it’s a matter of getting creative. If your overall career is on hold, why not figure out a way to see the world? You’re only young once, and now you can take advantage of the freedom of fewer choices here at home.

      Cruise companies are one option, as you can get a job on a cruise ship and make pretty good money. You’ll work hard, but you’ll see new places and you’ll be surrounded by other young people. Just imagine the opportunities that could come from that.

      Europe is also another option. Of course the job market is even worse in places like England, but there are always opportunities for Americans, particularly if you’re willing to consider an internship. Look for companies in the tourism industry or even finance. Again, it’s a matter of being creative. You may find yourself working in hotels in Liverpool or a Cardiff hotel just as easily as you might be working for an American company in London.

      You are only limited by your imagination. If seeing the world is a priority, use this time in your life to find something unique an interesting. It sure beats hanging around in your old bedroom at your parent’s house.

      Your Career

      Facebook and job interviews

      November 5, 2011 /

      Most people are aware now that the stuff you post on Facebook and other social media outlets will likely be researched by prospective employers. This interview with Dr. Lawrence Burgee, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Information Systems, Brown School of Business and Leadership, Stevenson University, illustrates the point. He tells a story of one interview where an applicant was asked if a person could be their friend for an hour to look over their Facebook page while others were interviewing him.

      Your Career

      Dave Navarro gives career advice to musicians

      November 2, 2011 /

      Bullz-Eye.com recently interviewed Dave Navarro as Jane’s Addiction was about to release their first album since 2003. In the interview he was asked about advice he’d give to aspiring musicians.

      BE: What is the number one piece of advice you would give to someone starting a band today?

      DN: I’ve answered that before, and to be perfectly frank, in this climate and the way the music business is, I would say the number one piece of advice is to do exactly what you love, and make sure you love doing it. I think back to when Jane’s Addiction started in the late ’80s, and we weren’t really aware that we would amount to much. We thought we were doing something special, but given the climate and what was successful at the time, we just felt that it was best to do what we wanted to do and stick to who we were, and as a result of that, we were able to gain some attention. The climate has changed so much, and the media has changed so much over the years, I’m astonished with how many people I’ve come into contact with that are really looking for fame, period. And those are all the wrong reasons to do this. You’d just be chasing some dream, and once you’ve reached a certain level of success, their whole life will be okay. But the fact of the matter is, they’re still stuck with themselves at the end of the day.

      BE: So music’s not the end goal for a lot of these bands? It’s just celebrity that’s more important to them?

      DN: I don’t want to say that, because there’s a really great rock movement happening, and there are lots of great artists out there. I’m saying that, and I’m sure you can understand, if you look in the more mainstream/pop world, there are a lot of people just chasing the notoriety. And hey, they’re happy doing that, I’m not saying anything negative about them. I’m just saying to upcoming bands, make the goal to work on the music that you’re most proud of, and the rest should fall into place.

      It’s good advice, and the notion applies far wider than the music industry. Ask yourself why you pick any profession, job or career. Are you doing it for the money or other types of rewards, or is it something you really want to do for its own sake. You have to be honest with yourself.

      Your Career

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