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Friday, July 30, 2010
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blake lively hair
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Top 5 Ways to Work for Yourself
by Jessica Hanley, FindtheRightSchool.com
Work doesn't have to mean a dreary cubicle and an unappreciative boss--in fact, several of today's most in-demand careers lend themselves to self-employment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the following careers to grow faster than average from 2008 to 2018, and some require only a couple of years of career training.
Whether you want to add hours on a contractual basis or start your own business, the following five careers allow you to build client relationships and be your own boss.
1. Accountant
Accountants keep financial records for businesses and individuals, and they often prepare financial statements, budget analysis, and taxes. Unlike management accountants, who are generally employed by large corporations, public accountants and tax specialists find their own work through individual clients. According to the BLS, accountants earned an average salary of $67,430 in 2009, and their employment is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.
Accountants must be good with numbers, organized, and detail oriented. Most companies require their accountants to hold at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, and accountants who are self-employed often seek certification through the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
2. Web developer
Web developers use software languages to develop the technical aspects of Web sites, including organization, layout, and databases. Because Web developers can work from any computer with the required software, they can complete contract projects or run a small business from home. The BLS expects employment of all computer network, systems, and database administrators to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2009, this group earned an average salary of $70,930.
Most Web developers have a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer programming, or a related field, and they continually learn about new technology and software to keep their work current. If you're interested in becoming a web developer and currently work full time, consider an online bachelor's degree program in computer science.
3. Software applications engineer
Software applications engineers design the computer software we rely on every day, from word processing programs to computer games. Software engineers use computer science and mathematics principles to create and test software that responds to users' needs. Technological advances have allowed many software engineers to telecommute and perform client projects from home. According to the BLS, computer software applications engineers earned an average of $90,170 in 2009, and their employment is expected to grow by 34 percent from 2008 to 2018.
Computer software engineers need technical knowledge, so most prepare by earning a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, or software engineering. Professionals with an associate's degree in computer science may find work as computer programmers.
4. Skin-care specialist
Skin-care specialists, also called estheticians, are beauty professionals who specialize in facials, waxing, exfoliation, and other skin treatments. According to the BLS, 44 percent of cosmetologists (including skin-care specialists) are self-employed, and employment of skin-care specialists is expected to grow by 38 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2009, skin-care specialists earned an average of $31,990.
Skin-care specialists prepare for state licensing by attending an accredited cosmetology school and completing a program in skin care. These programs can often be completed in less than nine months, allowing you to quickly transition to a career in beauty.
5. Landscape architect
Landscape architects use principles of architecture, engineering, and ecology to design functional, attractive outdoor spaces. They design everything from public parks to shopping centers, and they ensure their designs meet clients' needs without harming the local ecosystem. According to the BLS, approximately 21 percent of landscape architects work for themselves, and their employment is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2008 to 2018. In 2009, landscape architects earned an average salary of $65,910.
Landscape architects should be artistic, good with their hands, and able to draft using computer-aided drafting software. Nearly all states require landscape architects to be licensed, which requires earning a bachelor's degree or master's degree in landscape architecture.
Start working for yourself
Whether you're interested in computers, beauty, or plants, you can work for yourself in one of today's hottest industries. Online degree programs and career training options can help you transition into your dream career without giving up your current job.
Jessica Hanley is a writer pursuing a graduate degree in creative writing. Her previous experience includes marketing for the Penguin Young Readers Group and teaching writing to students of all ages. Jessica received a B.A. in English from Stanford University.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
The Right Way to Say, 'I Quit!'
4 mistakes to avoid when you leave a job
by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs
The job market is finally showing signs of life--and that means more workers will likely have the opportunity to change jobs in the coming months.
It's clear that many will welcome this: A recent survey by the Corporate Executive Board, a research and advisory services company, found that 25 percent of workers whom employers had labeled as having high potential were hoping to move to a new company in the next year. This figure is up from just 10 percent in 2006.
Once you've found a new job, you may not give too much thought to the one you're exiting. But leaving a job--and the colleagues who will now become part of your network--the right way is crucial to your career.
(Read tips on effective networking.)
"Reputation is very important," says Marianne Adoradio, a career counselor in Silicon Valley. You'll cement yours with how you leave.
Experts explain how to avoid four common mistakes when leaving a job:
Staying too long
In most jobs, the standard is to give two weeks' notice when resigning. When you give notice, you may feel as though you should stay longer to make sure you don't leave your former employer short-handed.
Sometimes this is a good idea--for example, if you're working on a project that will be done in three or four weeks. However, you may discover that as soon as you announce your resignation, you are no longer considered indispensable and are left out of the loop. Your continued presence can even be a drain on an employer if you're no longer being useful.
Plus, "it's depressing and very demotivating," Adoradio says.
Saying too much
Whatever your reasons for leaving, now is the time to simply say that you have accepted a position that will move you closer to your long-term career goals.
"Leave graciously, and take the high road," says Kathryn Ullrich, the author of "Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success." "Don't use it as a time to air your grievances."
If you have an exit interview with the human resources department, it's OK to raise legitimate issues and let them know why the new offer seemed better. But don't use either formal or informal interviews to trash your coworkers.
(Looking to boost your earning power at a new job--or your current job? Read "8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Salary.")
Not preparing
If your job involves confidential information or you're leaving to go to a competitor, you may find yourself escorted out the door as soon as you tender your resignation, Ullrich said.
You should prepare for this possibility by making sure you have removed any personal items from your office or computer. (Do not take company items or information, of course.)
Accepting a counteroffer without careful consideration
Your company may offer you a raise or promotion to get you to stay. Sometimes this is a good deal--but keep in mind that much of the time, workers who accept a counteroffer end up leaving anyway not too much longer after. (And your employer might have lingering doubts about your loyalty.)
"People need to know why they're leaving in the first place," Adoradio says. If the boss you don't get along with is still there, or if you still don't see a likely promotion path at your current company, it's unlikely that a counteroffer will give you what you're looking for.
And even if it will, "you have to question, well, why didn't they offer this to me in the first place?" Ullrich says.
by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs
The job market is finally showing signs of life--and that means more workers will likely have the opportunity to change jobs in the coming months.
It's clear that many will welcome this: A recent survey by the Corporate Executive Board, a research and advisory services company, found that 25 percent of workers whom employers had labeled as having high potential were hoping to move to a new company in the next year. This figure is up from just 10 percent in 2006.
Once you've found a new job, you may not give too much thought to the one you're exiting. But leaving a job--and the colleagues who will now become part of your network--the right way is crucial to your career.
(Read tips on effective networking.)
"Reputation is very important," says Marianne Adoradio, a career counselor in Silicon Valley. You'll cement yours with how you leave.
Experts explain how to avoid four common mistakes when leaving a job:
Staying too long
In most jobs, the standard is to give two weeks' notice when resigning. When you give notice, you may feel as though you should stay longer to make sure you don't leave your former employer short-handed.
Sometimes this is a good idea--for example, if you're working on a project that will be done in three or four weeks. However, you may discover that as soon as you announce your resignation, you are no longer considered indispensable and are left out of the loop. Your continued presence can even be a drain on an employer if you're no longer being useful.
Plus, "it's depressing and very demotivating," Adoradio says.
Saying too much
Whatever your reasons for leaving, now is the time to simply say that you have accepted a position that will move you closer to your long-term career goals.
"Leave graciously, and take the high road," says Kathryn Ullrich, the author of "Getting to the Top: Strategies for Career Success." "Don't use it as a time to air your grievances."
If you have an exit interview with the human resources department, it's OK to raise legitimate issues and let them know why the new offer seemed better. But don't use either formal or informal interviews to trash your coworkers.
(Looking to boost your earning power at a new job--or your current job? Read "8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Salary.")
Not preparing
If your job involves confidential information or you're leaving to go to a competitor, you may find yourself escorted out the door as soon as you tender your resignation, Ullrich said.
You should prepare for this possibility by making sure you have removed any personal items from your office or computer. (Do not take company items or information, of course.)
Accepting a counteroffer without careful consideration
Your company may offer you a raise or promotion to get you to stay. Sometimes this is a good deal--but keep in mind that much of the time, workers who accept a counteroffer end up leaving anyway not too much longer after. (And your employer might have lingering doubts about your loyalty.)
"People need to know why they're leaving in the first place," Adoradio says. If the boss you don't get along with is still there, or if you still don't see a likely promotion path at your current company, it's unlikely that a counteroffer will give you what you're looking for.
And even if it will, "you have to question, well, why didn't they offer this to me in the first place?" Ullrich says.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
Is a College Education Worth the Expense?
by Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com
"College tuition"--those two words together strike fear into the hearts of parents and students across the country. Paying for a degree before entering, or while new in, the job market can be a monumental struggle. Many schools now charge more than $100,000 or even $200,000 in tuition, room, and board, for that precious degree. But, in the end, is it worth the expense?
Online salary database PayScale.com decided to take this issue head on, and figure out how valuable a four-year college degree is over a 30-year period of work, for 554 U.S. colleges. They did so using a common business calculation: return on investment (ROI).
PayScale figured out how much more a college graduate of each school makes in 30 years of working, compared with a high school graduate, then subtracted tuition and room and board costs, factored in the school's graduation rate (non-graduates see little improvement in pay over high school graduates), did some number crunching, and came up with a handy guide for potential students and their funders: a breakdown of whether college tuition is worth the investment.
Which schools are worth your precious cash? According to PayScale's research, you should look for nationally recognized private schools, particularly those with an engineering focus. Hence, M.I.T. is at the top of the list, followed closely by Ivy League schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. A recent graduate of M.I.T. will have spent approximately $189,300 to get his or her degree. But that expense will yield the graduate $1,688,000 (in 2010 dollars) more in earnings than someone who didn't go to college.
And to help people writing tuition checks feel better about where they're putting their money, PayScale also calculated an annualized ROI for each school's tuition. Continuing with the M.I.T. example, PayScale found that the money spent on a degree there returns 12.6 percent per year over 30 years. Compared with the stock market's performance, that percentage of return is competitive. Over the last 30 years, with dividend earnings included, the S&P 500 has returned about 11 percent, according to Yale economist Robert Shiller.
"For every year of work, the typical M.I.T. grad earns $50,000 more than the typical high school grad," says Al Lee, PayScale's director of quantitative analysis, who led the study. However, M.I.T. isn't a typical school in terms of money growth. In fact, only 16 percent of schools on PayScale's list beat the S&P 500.
For example, George Washington University is a small private school with a high price tag--more than $200,000 in tuition, room, and board over four years (in 2009 dollars) for recent grads. What is the annualized return on that money over 30 years? It's 10 percent. That's a decent rate of return, but it doesn't outperform the S&P 500 or give you back what M.I.T. or Harvard would.
Lee recommends that if you're paying full price for a less well-known private school, you need to think hard about whether the non-financial advantages of attending that college make up for the lower return.
However, if you can get financial aid, it completely changes the picture. Finding scholarship money really improves your long-term return calculation. If you're really fortunate, you could take advantage of offers like Stanford's University Scholarship: students who are accepted to the school and whose families earn under $60,000 a year receive tuition, room, and board for free.
Keep in mind, each student is unique--so a low-earning graduate from a highly ranked school like Stanford may earn less than a high earner from a public school like the University of Washington. Engineering schools, though, tend to have a floor below which their graduates' earnings do not fall. They are usually a safe investment.
If you want to spend a little as possible on your tuition and earn back as much as you can, an in-state public school with a technical focus, like Georgia Tech, is your best bet, according to PayScale's research.
So, which 10 schools are the best investment? See the list below. They are all private and well recognized by most Americans. The closest public school to the top is the University of California at Berkeley. It ranks number 16, with a sizable annualized return of 13.1 percent. Check out the PayScale college ROI package to compare college costs and the potential return on investment for each school.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.)
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $189,300
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,688,000
- Annual ROI: 12.6%
2. California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $181,100
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,644,000
- Annual ROI: 12.6%
3. Harvard University
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $189,600
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,631,000
- Annual ROI: 12.5%
4. Harvey Mudd College
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $187,700
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,627,000
- Annual ROI: 12.5%
5. Dartmouth College
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $188,400
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,587,000
- Annual ROI: 12.4%
6. Stanford University
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $191,800
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,565,000
- Annual ROI: 12.3%
7. Princeton University
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $187,700
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,517,000
- Annual ROI: 12.3%
8. Yale University
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $194,200
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,392,000
- Annual ROI: 11.9%
9. University of Notre Dame
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $181,900
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,384,000
- Annual ROI: 12.1%
10. University of Pennsylvania
- Average Cost for College in 2009: $191,300
- 30-Year ROI (2010 Dollars): $1,361,000
- Annual ROI: 11.8%
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
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You Just Got Fired. Now What?
by Denene Brox, for Yahoo! HotJobs
"The experience of being fired from a job is high on the list of stressful life events that can happen to anyone over the course of their employment," says Dr. Melodie Schaefer, executive director of The Chicago School, Southern California Counseling Centers.
So how do you manage the stress of being fired and get on the road to your next job? Here are some steps.
Don't burn bridges
Although you're not leaving the company under the best circumstances, how you leave can affect your success down the line.
"It can be awkward for colleagues to say good-bye to a fired employee, so don't bother going from cubicle to cubicle to announce your departure," advises Jeffery Cohen, the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Recession-Proof Careers." "Simply call your closest friends at work that evening to explain the news. They'll understand your desire to be discreet, given the circumstances."
After being fired, it's not uncommon to feel anger toward the company and certain employees.
"Never bad mouth a former employee or employer online, offline, or via social media," warns Cohen. "You never know when you'll need a reference. That small sense of satisfaction from dissing a former company will ultimately be outweighed if it costs you a future job."
Manage your emotions
While you may feel that your future is uncertain, it's important to realize that getting fired is not the end of your career.
But keeping your emotions in check can be hard, which is why Schaefer recommends good self-care--for instance, by exercising and journaling to relieve stress after being fired.
One aspect of getting fired that can weigh heavily on your mind is how to relay the bad news to your friends and family, for fear of their reactions and judgments. Schaefer says that remaining forward-thinking is vital when talking about your termination.
"Say, 'I'd rather not have to dwell on the past and would really appreciate your input in helping me think about my next steps, now that I have a chance to consider making a change,'" she advises.
Pick your battles
While it's common to feel anger toward your former employer, taking legal action is viable only in certain cases.
Paul Lopez, an employment attorney with the firm Tripp Scott, says that he regularly receives calls from people seeking legal advice after being fired.
"A lot of people are fired simply because they didn't get along with their boss, and you can't sue a company because your boss was a jerk," says Lopez.
However, there are circumstances that warrant legal action--such civil-rights violations.
"No one can be fired because of their sex, race, age, disability, or national origin," says Lopez. "If there's a manager who has a prejudice against someone in those protected classes and fires them--that's actionable."
Dennis Nason, CEO of Nason & Nason, an executive recruitment firm, adds, "If you're thinking about suing your previous employer, unless you have a very strong case, it's not going to get you anywhere. My advice is to move on."
Start over
Once you've allowed some time to mend emotionally and have gotten over the anger of being fired, it's time to set sail on a new course.
"Make a bad time a good opportunity," says Nason. "Ask yourself if you were in the right position, or if you need to rethink your career."
Career coach Ann Mehl suggests finding a coach or a friend to help you outline your past achievements and re-brand yourself in the job market.
"Stress what you learned from the past experience and frame your answers so that you let interviewers know that you see this new opportunity as a means to achieving your ultimate career objectives," says Mehl.
When you go in for interviews, have a good grasp on the facts about why you were fired, advises Nason. When asked why you left your last job, your answer should be true, concise, and as positive as possible.
"Don't lead your resume, cover letter, or interviews with bad news," says Nason. "They'll get around to asking why you left your last job. Tell the truth in a brief 10 to 20 seconds."
The key in interviews to explaining why you got fired is to make it not about you, says Cohen. "Anything from 'the new boss wanted to bring in his own team' to 'the entire department was downsized' is better than admitting you lost your job due to your own performance."
(Get more tips on handling the toughest interview questions.)
Remember that getting fired is never as horrible as it seems at first, especially if you use the time to pursue a chapter in your career.
"The experience of being fired from a job is high on the list of stressful life events that can happen to anyone over the course of their employment," says Dr. Melodie Schaefer, executive director of The Chicago School, Southern California Counseling Centers.
So how do you manage the stress of being fired and get on the road to your next job? Here are some steps.
Don't burn bridges
Although you're not leaving the company under the best circumstances, how you leave can affect your success down the line.
"It can be awkward for colleagues to say good-bye to a fired employee, so don't bother going from cubicle to cubicle to announce your departure," advises Jeffery Cohen, the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Recession-Proof Careers." "Simply call your closest friends at work that evening to explain the news. They'll understand your desire to be discreet, given the circumstances."
After being fired, it's not uncommon to feel anger toward the company and certain employees.
"Never bad mouth a former employee or employer online, offline, or via social media," warns Cohen. "You never know when you'll need a reference. That small sense of satisfaction from dissing a former company will ultimately be outweighed if it costs you a future job."
Manage your emotions
While you may feel that your future is uncertain, it's important to realize that getting fired is not the end of your career.
But keeping your emotions in check can be hard, which is why Schaefer recommends good self-care--for instance, by exercising and journaling to relieve stress after being fired.
One aspect of getting fired that can weigh heavily on your mind is how to relay the bad news to your friends and family, for fear of their reactions and judgments. Schaefer says that remaining forward-thinking is vital when talking about your termination.
"Say, 'I'd rather not have to dwell on the past and would really appreciate your input in helping me think about my next steps, now that I have a chance to consider making a change,'" she advises.
Pick your battles
While it's common to feel anger toward your former employer, taking legal action is viable only in certain cases.
Paul Lopez, an employment attorney with the firm Tripp Scott, says that he regularly receives calls from people seeking legal advice after being fired.
"A lot of people are fired simply because they didn't get along with their boss, and you can't sue a company because your boss was a jerk," says Lopez.
However, there are circumstances that warrant legal action--such civil-rights violations.
"No one can be fired because of their sex, race, age, disability, or national origin," says Lopez. "If there's a manager who has a prejudice against someone in those protected classes and fires them--that's actionable."
Dennis Nason, CEO of Nason & Nason, an executive recruitment firm, adds, "If you're thinking about suing your previous employer, unless you have a very strong case, it's not going to get you anywhere. My advice is to move on."
Start over
Once you've allowed some time to mend emotionally and have gotten over the anger of being fired, it's time to set sail on a new course.
"Make a bad time a good opportunity," says Nason. "Ask yourself if you were in the right position, or if you need to rethink your career."
Career coach Ann Mehl suggests finding a coach or a friend to help you outline your past achievements and re-brand yourself in the job market.
"Stress what you learned from the past experience and frame your answers so that you let interviewers know that you see this new opportunity as a means to achieving your ultimate career objectives," says Mehl.
When you go in for interviews, have a good grasp on the facts about why you were fired, advises Nason. When asked why you left your last job, your answer should be true, concise, and as positive as possible.
"Don't lead your resume, cover letter, or interviews with bad news," says Nason. "They'll get around to asking why you left your last job. Tell the truth in a brief 10 to 20 seconds."
The key in interviews to explaining why you got fired is to make it not about you, says Cohen. "Anything from 'the new boss wanted to bring in his own team' to 'the entire department was downsized' is better than admitting you lost your job due to your own performance."
(Get more tips on handling the toughest interview questions.)
Remember that getting fired is never as horrible as it seems at first, especially if you use the time to pursue a chapter in your career.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
2010's Most Annoying Workplace Trends
by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer
The way we work is changing. There are good workplace trends, like greater job flexibility, and there are bad workplace trends, like reduced benefits. And then there are just plain annoying workplace trends--too many, by all counts. Here are eight annoying trends we could do without:
The need to be (or at least appear) busy, busy, busy
Ed Muzio, the author of "Make Work Great," has a hardworking friend who was recently stopped in the company cafeteria and told by a stranger who was trying to be helpful that he didn't look "stressed enough." Muzio says this exemplifies a troubling trend he calls "the badge of busy." "It has become fashionable in far too many workplaces to demonstrate value by showing people how overwhelmed you are." Wouldn't it be better if you could demonstrate your real value by simply doing a good (and efficient) job in a career you love?
(Take a free career test to find jobs that best match your values, interests, and workplace personality.)
Open cubicles
"Where is the privacy?" asks Angela Petitt, an IT professional.
Cluelessness about other coworkers
With the rise in open cubicles comes the inconsiderate coworker. "One lady sits at her desk and talks as loud as possible on personal calls, as if we can all shut our hearing off," complains one cubicle dweller who prefers to remain anonymous. "It goes on for 20 minutes, several times a day. Annoying. Disturbing."
Overused jargon and inappropriate cliches
Value-add. Brain-dump. Incentivize. The list goes on (and on and on). Among the myriad troubling terms is "out of pocket." It's supposed to be about expenses (meaning an expense isn't covered, so you need to pay for it out of your own pocket). Now it's come to mean "out of contact for a while." Example: "I'll be out of pocket until 4:30!" your coworker says as he heads out the door. Duncan Phillips, of The Hodges Partnership, has this opinion on the phrase: "It needs to be officially retired from our lexicon."
The dreaded company potluck
Many companies are trying to save money these days by having employees bring in food for potlucks instead of treating everyone to pizza or other occasional goodies. "You get to work and hope there's enough room in the fridge to cram it in," says one employee who has attended too many of these. "When show time comes, you stand in line and attempt to heat it up in a 10-by-10-inch microwave. After that, you sit in a crammed conference room making awkward conversation."
The equally dreaded company restaurant lunch
Some businesses can still splurge on occasional lunches for a select group of employees. But it doesn't make them easy to swallow, according to Silicon Valley tech writer Ward Lee. "You go to the upscale chain restaurant at the dead end of a mall. ... Then you sit around feeling like you're at a wake, talking about nothing much, and then silence. No one dares say anything at all controversial, or even personal, or interesting. You feel farther apart than when you started. So much for team building!"
Tending to personal hygiene publicly
Freelance writer Stephanie Olsen is probably not the only person who has been hit by flying fingernails while a colleague clips away. Nor is she the only one who watches in shock as another colleague applies deodorant while chatting with coworkers. And she probably isn't alone in her feelings about it either: "Grossed out forever." Andrea Hoffmann, chief marketing officer of 8fold Integrated Creative Works, feels the same way about the increasing number of people who take off their "stinky shoes and keep them under their desk."
Bringing accident-prone dogs to the office
In the last month, two of three dogs who regularly "go to work" at one anonymous worker's office have had accidents on the carpet. "While I like four-legged furry friends as much as the next person, I must say feeling like you work in a dog's toilet is just wrong," she says.
The way we work is changing. There are good workplace trends, like greater job flexibility, and there are bad workplace trends, like reduced benefits. And then there are just plain annoying workplace trends--too many, by all counts. Here are eight annoying trends we could do without:
The need to be (or at least appear) busy, busy, busy
Ed Muzio, the author of "Make Work Great," has a hardworking friend who was recently stopped in the company cafeteria and told by a stranger who was trying to be helpful that he didn't look "stressed enough." Muzio says this exemplifies a troubling trend he calls "the badge of busy." "It has become fashionable in far too many workplaces to demonstrate value by showing people how overwhelmed you are." Wouldn't it be better if you could demonstrate your real value by simply doing a good (and efficient) job in a career you love?
(Take a free career test to find jobs that best match your values, interests, and workplace personality.)
Open cubicles
"Where is the privacy?" asks Angela Petitt, an IT professional.
Cluelessness about other coworkers
With the rise in open cubicles comes the inconsiderate coworker. "One lady sits at her desk and talks as loud as possible on personal calls, as if we can all shut our hearing off," complains one cubicle dweller who prefers to remain anonymous. "It goes on for 20 minutes, several times a day. Annoying. Disturbing."
Overused jargon and inappropriate cliches
Value-add. Brain-dump. Incentivize. The list goes on (and on and on). Among the myriad troubling terms is "out of pocket." It's supposed to be about expenses (meaning an expense isn't covered, so you need to pay for it out of your own pocket). Now it's come to mean "out of contact for a while." Example: "I'll be out of pocket until 4:30!" your coworker says as he heads out the door. Duncan Phillips, of The Hodges Partnership, has this opinion on the phrase: "It needs to be officially retired from our lexicon."
The dreaded company potluck
Many companies are trying to save money these days by having employees bring in food for potlucks instead of treating everyone to pizza or other occasional goodies. "You get to work and hope there's enough room in the fridge to cram it in," says one employee who has attended too many of these. "When show time comes, you stand in line and attempt to heat it up in a 10-by-10-inch microwave. After that, you sit in a crammed conference room making awkward conversation."
The equally dreaded company restaurant lunch
Some businesses can still splurge on occasional lunches for a select group of employees. But it doesn't make them easy to swallow, according to Silicon Valley tech writer Ward Lee. "You go to the upscale chain restaurant at the dead end of a mall. ... Then you sit around feeling like you're at a wake, talking about nothing much, and then silence. No one dares say anything at all controversial, or even personal, or interesting. You feel farther apart than when you started. So much for team building!"
Tending to personal hygiene publicly
Freelance writer Stephanie Olsen is probably not the only person who has been hit by flying fingernails while a colleague clips away. Nor is she the only one who watches in shock as another colleague applies deodorant while chatting with coworkers. And she probably isn't alone in her feelings about it either: "Grossed out forever." Andrea Hoffmann, chief marketing officer of 8fold Integrated Creative Works, feels the same way about the increasing number of people who take off their "stinky shoes and keep them under their desk."
Bringing accident-prone dogs to the office
In the last month, two of three dogs who regularly "go to work" at one anonymous worker's office have had accidents on the carpet. "While I like four-legged furry friends as much as the next person, I must say feeling like you work in a dog's toilet is just wrong," she says.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
How to Decode a Job Posting
It gives you much more valuable information than you may realize.
by Jerome Young, Forbes.com
During your job search you will review hundreds of job postings. Some will be very well written and provide quality information, while others will tell you little about the employer's needs. The majority of them have a similar format and characteristics, and they provide insight into what the employer wants--if you know what to look for.
As the founder of AttractJobsNow.com, I have conducted extensive research on the job market and the recruiting process employers use to find and choose candidates to fill open requisitions. In the process I've learned a lot about what you can divine from a simple job posting.
Postings can be written by a hiring manager or a recruiter, but it's usually the recruiter who receives and screens the applications. With this in mind you should be sure that your resume will make a recruiter feel confident that you are qualified. By making the most of the insight you can glean from the following three sections of a typical job posting, you can better position yourself to impress recruiters and get interviews:
The job title
Every job posting includes a job title. It is often what first piques your interest in the posting, and it's the first thing the hiring manager thought of when he or she decided to create the position. Most job seekers overlook the intelligence the job title provides and suffer for it. The job title gives you the most likely keywords that will be used to find qualified candidates for the job, and because of that you can use it to your advantage.
At AttractJobsNow.com we use the job title as our guide in creating effective customized resumes by ensuring that each candidate's summary statement and areas of expertise are in line with the job title. We ensure that the words in the job title appear prominently throughout the resume, so that our clients will appear at the top of candidate searches. As a result, more than 95 percent of our candidates succeed in getting job interviews at their companies of interest.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities section describes what will be expected of the employee in the position. You'll often find that there are five to 10 bullet points in this section, but in our research with recruiters and hiring managers we've found that the first three responsibilities are the most important. Job postings are usually based on a primary business need to which additional responsibilities are added to create a full-time position. Your resume should focus on your experience, results, and accomplishments in the tasks outlined in the first three bullets in the responsibilities section. Also you'll find keywords in those first three bullets that recruiters will use in searching for qualified candidates.
Qualifications
The qualifications section provides insight into the experience, skills, and education the hiring manager has in mind for the person they feel will be capable of excelling in the role. As in the responsibilities section, the first three qualifications are usually the most important. If you meet those top three qualifications, you should directly say so in the summary section at the top of your resume, to instantly inform the hirer that you're qualified and to persuade them to read the rest of your resume. If you don't meet the top three qualifications but have others strengths that qualify you to excel, definitely mention them in your summary section.
Taking the time to analyze job postings and customize your resume based on their job titles, responsibilities, and qualifications is often the difference between receiving interviews and being screened out of the recruiting process.
Jerome Young is the founder and president of AttractJobsNow.com, a job search and recruiting consulting firm.
by Jerome Young, Forbes.com
During your job search you will review hundreds of job postings. Some will be very well written and provide quality information, while others will tell you little about the employer's needs. The majority of them have a similar format and characteristics, and they provide insight into what the employer wants--if you know what to look for.
As the founder of AttractJobsNow.com, I have conducted extensive research on the job market and the recruiting process employers use to find and choose candidates to fill open requisitions. In the process I've learned a lot about what you can divine from a simple job posting.
Postings can be written by a hiring manager or a recruiter, but it's usually the recruiter who receives and screens the applications. With this in mind you should be sure that your resume will make a recruiter feel confident that you are qualified. By making the most of the insight you can glean from the following three sections of a typical job posting, you can better position yourself to impress recruiters and get interviews:
The job title
Every job posting includes a job title. It is often what first piques your interest in the posting, and it's the first thing the hiring manager thought of when he or she decided to create the position. Most job seekers overlook the intelligence the job title provides and suffer for it. The job title gives you the most likely keywords that will be used to find qualified candidates for the job, and because of that you can use it to your advantage.
At AttractJobsNow.com we use the job title as our guide in creating effective customized resumes by ensuring that each candidate's summary statement and areas of expertise are in line with the job title. We ensure that the words in the job title appear prominently throughout the resume, so that our clients will appear at the top of candidate searches. As a result, more than 95 percent of our candidates succeed in getting job interviews at their companies of interest.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities section describes what will be expected of the employee in the position. You'll often find that there are five to 10 bullet points in this section, but in our research with recruiters and hiring managers we've found that the first three responsibilities are the most important. Job postings are usually based on a primary business need to which additional responsibilities are added to create a full-time position. Your resume should focus on your experience, results, and accomplishments in the tasks outlined in the first three bullets in the responsibilities section. Also you'll find keywords in those first three bullets that recruiters will use in searching for qualified candidates.
Qualifications
The qualifications section provides insight into the experience, skills, and education the hiring manager has in mind for the person they feel will be capable of excelling in the role. As in the responsibilities section, the first three qualifications are usually the most important. If you meet those top three qualifications, you should directly say so in the summary section at the top of your resume, to instantly inform the hirer that you're qualified and to persuade them to read the rest of your resume. If you don't meet the top three qualifications but have others strengths that qualify you to excel, definitely mention them in your summary section.
Taking the time to analyze job postings and customize your resume based on their job titles, responsibilities, and qualifications is often the difference between receiving interviews and being screened out of the recruiting process.
Jerome Young is the founder and president of AttractJobsNow.com, a job search and recruiting consulting firm.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
Be your own boss: the best time to jump in to self-employment
Say you've worked hard your entire life, lining someone else's pockets and now you'd like to start your own business. Only you know if the timing seems right for this venture, but a few things you'll need to be sure of is your own dedication, your financial situation and some expertise in the area you're considering. If you're currently struggling to make ends meet, you'll need to postpone the change until you've got some cash reserve. A new business takes time to turn a profit, if it ever does, so plan on having at least enough money saved to support your family and pay all the bills at home and business for at least two years. This is in addition to the cost of setting up the enterprise.
Before even considering setting out on your own, it's vital that you have the proper training to not only speak informatively about your products, but to have some kind of business training to help you in making decisions for and about your company. Whether your business will be a restaurant, a dry cleaning store or a print shop, it's recommended that you take some initial business courses before proceeding. Of course, there are people who will be happy to keep your records, pay your bills and manage your business, but these services are costly and may not leave you with the input that you'd like to have in your own company. There are others who do need to have some input in your business - your family. If they're not happy with the decisions being made, you're likely to have family problems that will later become business problems. Discuss the business plans with your spouse or potential business partners, so that each is aware of where they stand in the company, if they have a place in the company, and what is expected of each person.
Having the right approach is a necessity to starting your own company. Be prepared to work long hours, possibly for months or years, with little reward or income. And, don't be surprised if you not only don't break even, but you also show a loss over the first few years. It might even be necessary to have family or friends assist you with little or no pay to keep your head above water. Expect the unexpected. Prepare for the supplies you might not need, have money put back for vehicle repairs that might not come about, and set aside time for working when you might not have to. This way, you're prepared for much of what will pop up with little notice.
Before starting, have a workable business plan. Be realistic. Consider aspects of the area where you'll set up shop, be aware of tax issues and think about licenses and other additionals. Have capital and resources established long before the welcome mat is in place. Be ready to take action and implement various plans at different stages in the setting up of your business. And, include in your business plan a program of studying the job market, particularly in your chosen field and making discoveries of how others in your field operate and what they charge.
Being self-employed usually requires more knowledge, time, resources, and energy than working for someone else. Make sure that you are committed to whatever it takes to make your venture successful. This may mean putting off other goals and plans in your personal life. A general rule of thumb is to estimate how much time you think it will take to operate your store, then double that estimate. You might not think that this many hours will be needed, but it is an accurate way to determine how much commitment will be required of you. Likewise, estimate the cost of setting up and running the business for a year, then add half that figure again to get a realistic view of how much of an investment will be needed.
Of course, some types of businesses are a little more flexible in terms of time and commitment than others. You might want to adjust your business goals to fit in with your lifestyle. For instance, if you're determined to have your nights and weekends free, you'll have to eliminate many businesses from the list of possible ventures you can start, such as a real estate company. But, this doesn't mean that you can't run your own company. There are businesses to suit every lifestyle; you'll just need to choose an appropriate one for yourself.
If you're the nervous type, afraid to fire someone, too meek to speak up or you spend endless nights not sleeping then you're probably not ready for your own company. And, if the company is eventually started, recognize if the business is not succeeding and when to pull the plug if it becomes necessary.
www.essortment.com
High-Paying, Low-Stress Jobs
5 ways to earn big bucks without major stress
by Amy Bell, Investopedia.com
If you're like thousands of other job seekers, you may dream of earning big bucks without having to deal with the extreme stress that goes hand-in-hand with top-paying jobs. Of course, a high-salary, low-stress job sounds too good to be true. Or is it?
Believe it or not, you don't have to take on a heart-pounding career as a brain surgeon, an airline pilot, or a stock broker to bring home some serious bacon. As a matter of fact, some of the highest-stress jobs pay surprisingly scanty salaries. Just think about police officers, firefighters, and social workers. These folks have quite possibly the most nerve-racking jobs in the world, yet most of them earn less than $45,000 a year. What about combat soldiers who face death on a daily basis? They typically earn less than $30,000 a year.
In other words, high stress does not always equal a hefty salary, or vice versa. Fortunately, there are plenty of laid-back career choices that pay quite generously.
1. Physical therapist
Although physical therapists (PTs) work in the notoriously stressful medical field, they enjoy some unique advantages over ER nurses and doctors. First of all, PTs have flexible hours and generally aren't expected to work nights. Secondly, many physical therapists are self-employed--which means they don't have to deal with the stress of a boss breathing down their neck while they work.
Plus, as the massive Baby Boomer generation continues grow older and face new physical challenges, PTs are constantly flooded with patients. As a result, physical therapists rarely suffer from dry spells.
To top it all off, physical therapists can earn anywhere between $50,000 and $105,000 a year. Now that's therapeutic.
2. Computer software engineer
If you're a tech geek seeking a relatively low-pressure career, you may want to check out the software engineering field. Software engineers design and test a variety of different types of software, from computer games to operating systems to business applications. These days, many software engineers can work from home, since their jobs can be done from practically anywhere.
Software engineers also bring home steep salaries, normally ranging between $54,000 and $130,000 a year. There's nothing nerdy about that.
3. Civil engineer
Civil engineers design and build our nation's infrastructure, from public buildings and roads to water-supply and pollution-control systems. Obviously, these projects aren't pressure-free, but civil engineers generally work in teams, which helps alleviate some of the stress. As a bonus, these experts also enjoy long deadlines. As a matter of fact, most engineers have a few years to design and plan out a project before the construction company even breaks ground.
Even less stressful? Civil engineers don't have to work too hard to hunt down jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineers are expected to see a 24 percent spike in employment growth over the next 10 years--well above average for all U.S. occupations. Civil engineers bring home a respectable $50,000 to $115,000 a year.
4. Massage therapist
Massage therapy is an extremely low-pressure, relaxing career for most people. (As long as the thought of touching a stranger's back doesn't drive your stress level through the roof, of course.) Most massage therapists are self-employed--and they get to smell soothing aromatherapy scents and listen to calming background music or ocean sounds all day while they work.
Because many massage therapists work part-time, yearly salaries vary wildly in this field. However, most of these massaging masters charge by the hour. On average, they earn between $10 and $35 an hour.
Of course, if you take on plenty of clients, you could easily earn a salary of $45,000 or more. That kind of cash certainly won't rub you the wrong way.
5. Technical writer
In this high-tech age, new groundbreaking tools, mobile devices, and innovative gadgets are released on practically a daily basis. Obviously, someone has to write about these ingenious doodads and complicated thingamabobs. That's where technical writers come into play.
Although they sometimes face tight deadlines, technical writers typically enjoy flexible hours and a comfortable, quiet workspace. Quite a few of them have an enviable 10-second commute--from their bedrooms to their desks. Because all they need is a phone and a computer with an Internet connection, many technical writers work from home.
What's more, technical writers are in extremely high demand. As technical companies continue to release pioneering new products, someone has to transform their complex technical-ese into everyday language the average customer can comprehend. Technical writers generally earn between $47,000 and $98,000 a year.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
When They Require Experience and You Have None
How to overcome a catch-22 that almost every new college grad faces
by Tara Weiss, Forbes.com
Lack of experience is often the biggest obstacle college graduates must overcome when entering the job market. Prospective employers can sound like a broken record, saying over and over, "You don't have enough experience"--followed by the devastating "We'll call you" (especially last year, when only 19.7 percent of graduates had a job lined up after graduating). So how do you get your foot in the door--how do you gain experience if you don't have any already?
Many new grads already have what recruiters are looking for. They just need to recognize it and package it properly in their resumes and cover letters. To begin with, think of experience you gained before you entered "the real world" that could apply. Consider including all the things you did during college, even those you wouldn't have considered job experience at the time.
"Off-the-job" training
Bill Warner, director of sales and recruiting at the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, oversees all the hiring of interns and recent graduates for sales and operations positions there. He says one of the best resume/cover letters he's seen recently came from a woman who described how her position as rush chair at her sorority had given her the leadership and project-management skills she needed to work at AstraZeneca. She told of the unique challenges of dealing with rush rules that were changed that year, as well as how she managed the process, calculated how many new members to bring in, and got all the other parts of the job done as well.
Warner, impressed, offered her a job even though she had never worked in pharmaceutical sales. "They do have experience, but they struggle with the bridge from what they've done in college, how to link it to the position they're interested in," he says.
Build bridges
To identify that bridge, look at the skills you displayed and tasks you pulled off in your college exploits. One applicant hurt his chances by failing to emphasize being editor in chief of his university's newspaper, Warner says. That activity involved numerous duties employers consider valuable experience, such as managing a staff, working with outside vendors, and balancing the newspaper and schoolwork.
When you interview with potential employers and the issue of experience comes up, be prepared with an answer that doesn't dwell on past jobs (or lack thereof)."Don't stress your work experience as much as your skill set," says Tarek Pertew, cofounder and director of marketing at the career website MyWorkster.
Educate yourself
When college experiences and your skill set aren't enough, try brushing up on a job's specific requirements, Pertew says. If you repeatedly hear that you lack a specific technical skill for the jobs you want, take classes to gain that competency. Add those classes to your resume as you continue your job search. "It shows that you have ambition," she says.
Volunteering pays
Another way to gain technical competence is by volunteering your professional skills in the service of a nonprofit. The monetary perks might not be there, but the equally important networking perks will be. For instance, if you're looking for a position in public relations or marketing, volunteer to help an organization in those areas. You'll expand your circle of networking contacts, gain valuable experience, and learn the trade. Ask the professionals you work with if they know of any opportunities in your field or anyone you should meet, and try to add to your skill set while you're at it.
Volunteering anywhere improves your resume, but if you can work with a nonprofit that has connections to a company you want to work for, that's even better. It shows you've done your homework about the firm, and it's a way to network your way to employees already there.
Consider temp work
Also, apply for temp work at staffing agencies that place people in your intended field. That way, you can gain experience and meet professionals to further add to your networking circle, and a temp job can sometimes lead to full-time work.
"Temp agencies are still hiring, because companies are still waiting to see how things will unfold in the third and fourth quarters," says Joanie Ruge, senior vice president of Adecco Group North America, a human resources services firm. "They may have openings for which they can't bring someone on full time. Temp workers give companies flexibility as they wait to see supply and demand. As the market turns, they'll look at the temps first when they're ready to hire permanently."
Always be networking
Meanwhile, join your industry's professional association, and attend its monthly meetings and conferences. Also, join a committee in the association, and take a leadership position, since that way you can meet some of your field's most active professionals. That's another good way to network with people who know of job openings. Don't be intimidated because you're younger than them all. They'll be impressed with your eagerness to break in to the field. "It shows you've got initiative and leadership abilities," says Joe Ruffolo, a career coach at 360jobinterview.com.
In short, networking is the most effective way to find a job in this economy, particularly if you don't have much professional experience. Whether you're volunteering, temping, or attending a summer barbecue, have a 30-second elevator pitch ready to share with people who ask what you'd like to be doing professionally. That's a brief explanation of what you'd like your next job to look like and what you've done in the past, whether it's school, internships, or full-time work.
Sometimes you just have to take any job. If there's a position you can get as a manager at the Gap or as an executive assistant, go for it. The trick will be to successfully market the skills you learned on that job when you meet a hiring manager for the job you really want.
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career
6 Careers That End Early
Some people strike it rich, others are forced to retire early in these careers with short life spans.
by Fleur Bradley, Investopedia.com
Are you dreaming of retiring young? Not all careers are designed to last until the golden age of 65--some people get rich and bow out early, while others are forced to pack it in while they're under forty. Whether by choice or not, here are six careers that end young.
1. Investment Banking
Government bailouts, frowned-upon employee bonuses--the financial industry doesn't exactly have the best public image, but the earnings are still substantial. The risk of failure is great, but so are the rewards if you make the right move at the right time: investment bankers make an average of $73,000 a year--a respectable number, but remember that the earning potential has a high ceiling.
Take 31-year-old Fabrice Pierre Tourre (dubbed Fabulous Fab), who saw the housing bust coming and hedged against it. Though questions are now being raised about the legality and morality of these actions, right now he could retire at 31 off his prediction that the housing bubble was about to bust.
2. Acting
You may have heard how top-earning actress Angelina Jolie makes $27 million a year, and that Jennifer Aniston comes in at second place at $25 million--according to Forbes. These paychecks sound great, but Hollywood is a tough employer. Those high earnings are the exception to the rule, and careers can flunk overnight.
Actresses are at particular risk of forced early retirement, since the industry likes its female talent under 40 and wrinkle-free. Still, if you make it big like Ms. Jolie and Ms. Aniston, you'll be able to retire comfortably in your Malibu mansion and let the younger crowd take over while you take in the California sun.
3. Military
The training is brutal; the hours, long; and the deployments, wrenching. But a career in the military can be a great way to ensure an early retirement. Say you joined at 18--you can draw a (modest) retirement when you've served 20 years, at the age of 38.
Medical and education benefits add to the perks. Many military careerists go on to well-paying jobs working for contractors, or continue to build their retirement payout by working as government employees. When you add job security and tax perks, those combat boots start to look pretty tempting.
4. Sports
If you've ever watched a football quarterback take a brutal hit, or watched a baseball player hit that perfect home run, you know the skill to take the heat on the field is rare. Athletes can be paid millions for their talent, like the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning's rumored $50 million long-term deal, once his current contract expires.
These kinds of paychecks require great commitment, however, and end when the athlete's body no longer performs at optimum--which is most certainly a few decades before the standard retirement age of 65.
5. Modeling
Their beauty is dazzling, but it also fades faster than any other job attribute. To gain success, models often start working during their teens, and are considered at the peak of their careers before they're even legally allowed to drink. Pay can be high for those in couture or with a famous supermodel image, like top-earning Gisele Bundchen, who--according to Forbes--makes $25 million a year.
To earn these types of salaries, models have to snag endorsement deals or branch out into television, like Heidi Klum, number two on the list of top-earning models. Many older models go on to work in fashion or design, or find lucrative endorsement deals, like Cindy Crawford and Christie Brinkley.
6. Dancing
Being a ballet dancer sounds so romantic, but to dance professionally does mean to be young. Often said to be harder than any sport, dancing requires that you be in top physical condition (and keep your weight down), practice, travel and generally be devoted to your profession beyond your average career. To be successful, dancers must start training at a young age, with first professional auditions at the age of 17.
Pay is generally low, with top-earning performers making just over $15 an hour. Dancers often stop performing by their late 30s; some go on to work as choreographers or teachers.
The end of the employment road?
Although these careers have short runs, many who retire from these jobs go on to branch out as consultants or teachers or to do contract work. Some, like famous actors, top athletes, and investment bankers, just strike it rich and can spend their young years spending their fortune--giving us doing the 9-to-5 something to dream about.
by Fleur Bradley, Investopedia.com
Are you dreaming of retiring young? Not all careers are designed to last until the golden age of 65--some people get rich and bow out early, while others are forced to pack it in while they're under forty. Whether by choice or not, here are six careers that end young.
1. Investment Banking
Government bailouts, frowned-upon employee bonuses--the financial industry doesn't exactly have the best public image, but the earnings are still substantial. The risk of failure is great, but so are the rewards if you make the right move at the right time: investment bankers make an average of $73,000 a year--a respectable number, but remember that the earning potential has a high ceiling.
Take 31-year-old Fabrice Pierre Tourre (dubbed Fabulous Fab), who saw the housing bust coming and hedged against it. Though questions are now being raised about the legality and morality of these actions, right now he could retire at 31 off his prediction that the housing bubble was about to bust.
2. Acting
You may have heard how top-earning actress Angelina Jolie makes $27 million a year, and that Jennifer Aniston comes in at second place at $25 million--according to Forbes. These paychecks sound great, but Hollywood is a tough employer. Those high earnings are the exception to the rule, and careers can flunk overnight.
Actresses are at particular risk of forced early retirement, since the industry likes its female talent under 40 and wrinkle-free. Still, if you make it big like Ms. Jolie and Ms. Aniston, you'll be able to retire comfortably in your Malibu mansion and let the younger crowd take over while you take in the California sun.
3. Military
The training is brutal; the hours, long; and the deployments, wrenching. But a career in the military can be a great way to ensure an early retirement. Say you joined at 18--you can draw a (modest) retirement when you've served 20 years, at the age of 38.
Medical and education benefits add to the perks. Many military careerists go on to well-paying jobs working for contractors, or continue to build their retirement payout by working as government employees. When you add job security and tax perks, those combat boots start to look pretty tempting.
4. Sports
If you've ever watched a football quarterback take a brutal hit, or watched a baseball player hit that perfect home run, you know the skill to take the heat on the field is rare. Athletes can be paid millions for their talent, like the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning's rumored $50 million long-term deal, once his current contract expires.
These kinds of paychecks require great commitment, however, and end when the athlete's body no longer performs at optimum--which is most certainly a few decades before the standard retirement age of 65.
5. Modeling
Their beauty is dazzling, but it also fades faster than any other job attribute. To gain success, models often start working during their teens, and are considered at the peak of their careers before they're even legally allowed to drink. Pay can be high for those in couture or with a famous supermodel image, like top-earning Gisele Bundchen, who--according to Forbes--makes $25 million a year.
To earn these types of salaries, models have to snag endorsement deals or branch out into television, like Heidi Klum, number two on the list of top-earning models. Many older models go on to work in fashion or design, or find lucrative endorsement deals, like Cindy Crawford and Christie Brinkley.
6. Dancing
Being a ballet dancer sounds so romantic, but to dance professionally does mean to be young. Often said to be harder than any sport, dancing requires that you be in top physical condition (and keep your weight down), practice, travel and generally be devoted to your profession beyond your average career. To be successful, dancers must start training at a young age, with first professional auditions at the age of 17.
Pay is generally low, with top-earning performers making just over $15 an hour. Dancers often stop performing by their late 30s; some go on to work as choreographers or teachers.
The end of the employment road?
Although these careers have short runs, many who retire from these jobs go on to branch out as consultants or teachers or to do contract work. Some, like famous actors, top athletes, and investment bankers, just strike it rich and can spend their young years spending their fortune--giving us doing the 9-to-5 something to dream about.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
What Employers Want from Job References
by Yahoo! HotJobs staff
A great resume and solid interview skills may place job seekers in the running for a position, but a new survey conducted by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service, finds that the results of a reference check can really be what makes--or breaks--a job search. Hiring managers interviewed for the survey said they remove about 21 percent of candidates from consideration after speaking to their professional contacts.
Managers also were asked, "When speaking to an applicant's job references, what is the most important information you hope to receive?" Their responses:
- Description of past job duties and experience: 36 percent
- A view into the applicant's strengths and weaknesses: 31 percent
- Confirmation of job title and dates of employment: 11 percent
- Description of workplace accomplishments: 8 percent
- A sense of the applicant's preferred work culture: 7 percent
- Other/don't know: 7 percent
"When hiring managers narrow the field to a few potential candidates, the reference check often becomes the deciding factor," says OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "To distinguish themselves from the competition, job seekers should assemble a solid list of contacts who can persuasively communicate their qualifications and professional attributes."
OfficeTeam offers five tips for creating a reference list that works in your favor:
1. Choose wisely. Select people who can discuss your abilities and experience that directly relate to the position, not just those with the most impressive job titles. Offer a mix of contacts who can address different aspects of your background; for example, a former peer may be able to describe your interpersonal skills, while a past direct report can talk about your management style.
2. Check in beforehand. Always call potential references first to get their permission and evaluate their eagerness to talk to hiring managers. Be sure to give all references a copy of your resume, the job description, and the name of the person who will likely call.
3. Be prepared. Provide clear contact information for your references, including their names, titles, daytime phone numbers, and email addresses. Also, offer a brief explanation of the nature of your relationship with each individual. Consider supplying more references than are requested, so you won't miss out on the job offer if the hiring manager can't get in touch with one of your contacts.
4. Think outside the box. It's common for employers to seek out additional references for new hires--either online or through their own networks. Since you never know whom a hiring manager might reach out to, you should not only remain on good terms with your past supervisors and colleagues (if possible), but also be selective about who's in your online network, on sites such as LinkedIn.
5. Give thanks. Express your gratitude to people who agree to serve as references, even if they aren't contacted by employers. Keep them updated on your job-search progress and offer to return the favor by providing a recommendation should they need one.
The survey referenced in this article was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and involved telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career
Despite Unemployment, Many Jobs Hard to Fill
A new survey reveals that talent is elusive for many employers.
by Yahoo! HotJobs staff
Manpower's fifth annual Talent Shortage Survey reports talent shortages in many countries and industry sectors. Despite continuing high unemployment rates, 31 percent of the employers worldwide report having difficulty filling key positions--an increase of 1 percent since 2009.
The hardest-to-fill jobs are skilled tradespeople, sales representatives, technicians, and engineers, according to the survey of more than 35,000 employers across 36 countries. These are the same top jobs that employers have reported struggling to fill for the past four years, demonstrating that there is an ongoing global mismatch in these key areas.
(In this survey, the term "skilled trades" refers to a broad range of job titles that require workers with specialized skills, traditionally learned over a period of time as an apprentice. Examples of "skilled trades" jobs include: electricians, carpenters, cabinet makers, masons, and plumbers.)
"As the global economy slowly recovers, employers will remain focused on maintaining financial flexibility and doing more with less," says Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower chairman and CEO. "Applying the same mindset to their workforce, employers have gotten more specific about the combination of skill sets that they are looking for, not only seeking technical capabilities in a job match, but holding out for the person that possesses the additional qualities above and beyond that will help drive their organization forward. This conundrum is upsetting to the ubiquitous job seeker, who will need to take more responsibility for his or her skills development in order to find ways to remain relevant to the market."
Jobs most in demand by employers in 2010:
1. Skilled Trades
2. Sales Representatives
3. Technicians
4. Engineers
5. Accounting & Finance Staff
6. Production Operators
7. Administrative Assistants / PAs
8. Management/Executives
9. Drivers
10. Laborers
The top 10 is little changed from 2009, though management and executive positions have apparently gotten slightly harder to fill. (For more survey results, visit Manpower.com.)
The survey shows that 34 percent of employers in the Americas are having difficulty filling positions, due to the lack of suitable talent available in their markets. This is a decrease of 2 percentage points from the 2009 survey, and is 3 percentage points greater than the global average.
Manpower's Fresh Perspectives paper "Teachable Fit: A New Approach for Easing the Talent Mismatch," also released today, details how employers should broaden their search for suitable talent by considering industry migrants, location migrants, role changers, and workforce entrants.
"Employers need to recalibrate their mindsets to consider candidates who may not have all the specific skills a job requires and identify people who are teachable," says Joerres. "Candidates may not present the perfect fit right now, but they may possess the flexibility, intellectual curiosity, and personality to be able to fill the gaps in their capabilities."
by Yahoo! HotJobs staff
Manpower's fifth annual Talent Shortage Survey reports talent shortages in many countries and industry sectors. Despite continuing high unemployment rates, 31 percent of the employers worldwide report having difficulty filling key positions--an increase of 1 percent since 2009.
The hardest-to-fill jobs are skilled tradespeople, sales representatives, technicians, and engineers, according to the survey of more than 35,000 employers across 36 countries. These are the same top jobs that employers have reported struggling to fill for the past four years, demonstrating that there is an ongoing global mismatch in these key areas.
(In this survey, the term "skilled trades" refers to a broad range of job titles that require workers with specialized skills, traditionally learned over a period of time as an apprentice. Examples of "skilled trades" jobs include: electricians, carpenters, cabinet makers, masons, and plumbers.)
"As the global economy slowly recovers, employers will remain focused on maintaining financial flexibility and doing more with less," says Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower chairman and CEO. "Applying the same mindset to their workforce, employers have gotten more specific about the combination of skill sets that they are looking for, not only seeking technical capabilities in a job match, but holding out for the person that possesses the additional qualities above and beyond that will help drive their organization forward. This conundrum is upsetting to the ubiquitous job seeker, who will need to take more responsibility for his or her skills development in order to find ways to remain relevant to the market."
Jobs most in demand by employers in 2010:
1. Skilled Trades
2. Sales Representatives
3. Technicians
4. Engineers
5. Accounting & Finance Staff
6. Production Operators
7. Administrative Assistants / PAs
8. Management/Executives
9. Drivers
10. Laborers
The top 10 is little changed from 2009, though management and executive positions have apparently gotten slightly harder to fill. (For more survey results, visit Manpower.com.)
The survey shows that 34 percent of employers in the Americas are having difficulty filling positions, due to the lack of suitable talent available in their markets. This is a decrease of 2 percentage points from the 2009 survey, and is 3 percentage points greater than the global average.
Manpower's Fresh Perspectives paper "Teachable Fit: A New Approach for Easing the Talent Mismatch," also released today, details how employers should broaden their search for suitable talent by considering industry migrants, location migrants, role changers, and workforce entrants.
"Employers need to recalibrate their mindsets to consider candidates who may not have all the specific skills a job requires and identify people who are teachable," says Joerres. "Candidates may not present the perfect fit right now, but they may possess the flexibility, intellectual curiosity, and personality to be able to fill the gaps in their capabilities."
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
Endangered Careers and How to Survive Them
by Stephanie Powers, Investopedia.com
Move from laid-off to in-demand by choosing the right career. Here are some occupations hit hard by the "Great Recession," but take heart: workers can still prosper by transferring skills to fast-growing occupations. Below we'll look at some jobs that are on their way out, and how they can lead to in-demand occupations in growing fields.
1. School-district employees
The recession deeply impacted K-12 education employees. School districts across the U.S. experienced steep budget deficits, forcing many to cut their payroll. According to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, 100,000 to 300,000 education jobs could be lost due to declining revenues. While there are talks of additional federal monies to help bail out struggling school districts, the ongoing economic crisis has already caused the layoff of administrators, teachers, counselors and coaches.
Career Transitions
Administrators can apply organizational skills to project-management positions in the private sector. Most industries use the titles project manager, management analyst, or project coordinator for these roles. There is a high demand for the positions in consulting firms specializing in process improvements, and IT departments implementing large-scale software installations. Add a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate to your credentials and show your ability to successfully maneuver through complex problems. Short-term certification programs are available at local colleges and include hands-on projects, an exam, and ongoing continuing-education requirements. Management analyst positions are expected to grow 24 percent through 2018, with median salaries of $73,570.
Teachers may find work switching from K-12 to adult education in corporate training and development departments where there is a high demand for knowledgeable instructors. Courses in adult education, curriculum design, and online education techniques will bolster your resume. Visit your local chapter of The American Society for Training and Development and become certified. Training and development specialists earn approximately $60,000, with many earning in the $80,000 range.
A more radical career change for a teacher would be to transfer his or her unique combination of skills (communication, audience analysis, motivation techniques) into sales positions. Sales jobs often have a competitive environment, but organizations are always looking for fresh sales talent. Select a topic you enjoy, leverage personal contacts, and be prepared for a fast-paced lifestyle. Compensation varies depending on the industry and type of sales (for example retail sales vs. insurance sales), but it is most often commission based.
State and municipal employees
State and local municipalities are struggling with decreased revenues, translating into massive cost reductions, including laying off workers. As state and local governments find ways to become more efficient with a smaller staff, the outlook for lost jobs is uncertain. Residents are paying close attention to state and local budgets as taxes increase while municipal services decrease.
Career transition
Management and technical consulting jobs are plentiful for former government workers. Experience coordinating projects through complex rules and regulations is a valuable skill to the many organizations that do business with government agencies. Whether your background is in information technology, occupational safety, grant writing, or security, private-sector firms large and small may have a place for you. Depending on your background, you may also consider becoming an entrepreneur specializing in government liaison consulting for your area of expertise. Consulting is expected to grow a whopping 83 percent with salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 depending upon your experience and job level.
Nonprofit organization staff
The recession continues to plague nonprofit organizations. Charitable donations are down and endowment funds are still recovering from the stock market turbulence. Foundations lost 30 percent of their value in 2008 while some endowment funds lost even more throughout the recession. There is less money to spend on staff, and it couldn't come at a worse time as charitable organizations are receiving more requests for assistance from their constituents.
Career transition
If you can coax cash out of donors, manage limited resources with a skeleton staff, and wade through bureaucracy, consider a career in health care management. Office and administrative jobs in the health care industry are expected to grow 19 to 25 percent. Community colleges and vocational schools offer certificate courses and sometimes internships in health administration.
The bottom line
Modern career management includes assessing your skills and talents to recognize new opportunities. Being flexible enough to transition to a new career can mean the difference between being unemployed and rising quickly in a satisfying job. Some career transitions may require additional training, but the payoff is worth it.
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career
How to Behave at Your First Job
You're lucky you got one in this economy. Don't mess it up.
by Tara Weiss, Forbes.com
You've landed your first job out of college. That wasn't easy, in this tough time. Now you've got to make sure you keep it and succeed at it.
How? You can start even before you arrive at work. Set up a Web news-alert account that emails you news stories relevant to your new employer, says Danielle Leyland, a recruiter in the information technology department at Sherwin-Williams, the paint company. That will help prepare you to engage your coworkers when you get there, especially if there's big news--and it's also a way to find out about potential opportunities. Even if it's bad news--a round of layoffs or company downsizing, for example--it will affect the entire company and will be important to know about.
To take it a step further, stay up-to-date on competitors and the industry as a whole, too. That will give you perspective on where your employer is heading and why certain decisions get made. Your colleagues will take you more seriously when they see how dedicated you are to the profession.
Good first impressions
When your first day on the job arrives, show up at least 10 minutes early, and don't leave as soon as the clock strikes 5 p.m. That could come off as doing the bare minimum, which is not the first impression any employer wants to receive.
Also, dress professionally, even if you're sure most people dress casually. Men should wear slacks and a button-down shirt; women, either slacks or a skirt with a top that covers their shoulders. "You can assess what everyone is wearing during the first few days and then tone it down," advises Kathryn Santers, a staffing manager for the higher-education division of the educational publishing firm Pearson.
The right questions
Once you settle in and are given projects to work on, be sure you've got a clear understanding of what's expected. If you're not completely sure about something, ask. "It's better to ask a question and be cautious than to do it wrong," says Santers. And when you ask, have pen and paper with you to write down the details so you don't have to ask more than once. If you don't agree with an assignment you're given, don't say so until after you've completed it. Even then, do so tactfully, suggesting alternatives or slight tweaks without antagonizing your manager.
Along the same lines, never behave as if some tasks are beneath you. At some point, everyone needs to file or make photocopies. Your goal is to make your boss's job easier. If doing clerical work accomplishes that, do it without complaining. "It may seem menial, but it's a part of a big picture," says Santers. "Not every day on your new job will be glamorous, but there's always a point to what you're doing."
Effective communication
Don't try to impress your manager by saying you'll finish a job quickly if it means you'll have to get too hasty. Be realistic in what you can accomplish, and keep your manager up-to-date on your progress. During your first week, discuss with your boss how he or she prefers to communicate. Not every question requires popping into her office, so ask if she prefers email or instant messages. As you work on your first assignment, check in to update her on your progress. Ask if you're approaching it right. When you've completed it, ask for feedback. Did you get it done successfully? Was there anything you could have done to improve your work?
Don't be shy about this. Your manager has a vested interest in your success, since it's much easier for her to help you as you go along than to retrain you.
This takes balance, though. Before you run to the boss with a problem, always try to find a solution on your own. You want to be solutions-oriented, says Diane Borhani, national director of campus recruiting at Deloitte & Touche, and bosses always prefer it if people who bring them questions also bring suggested answers. So try to come up with a fix, and discuss it with the boss.
When you're in a meeting, share your thoughts and opinions, albeit in a respectful way. That's why they hired you. When there's an opportunity to take on a new challenge or additional people are needed for a project, volunteer.
"The people who are happy to raise their hand and go above and beyond what they're doing are the people I want on my team," says John Campagnino, senior director for global recruitment at the consulting firm Accenture. "That's a differentiator for managers."
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career
Have You Gone Green? Here's How to Get a Job to Match.
by Lydia Dishman, PayScale.com
If you have a passion for the environment and want to align these values with the way you earn your paycheck, a green job could be right for you. And you may not need to spend time or money earning an advanced degree to get one--you may already have the necessary skills. Dion Lim, president and COO of Simply Hired, says, "In many ways, green-collar jobs will be about re-purposing people with good skills onto projects that are green-oriented. For example, roof installers may become solar installers, electricians may become building retrofitters, and so on."
According to recent data from Simply Hired, the availability of "green tech" jobs has increased by 233 percent since October 2008. Some of the top green jobs are:
Civil engineer: Thanks to the influx of stimulus cash, infrastructure needs are on the rise, as is the demand for qualified civil engineers to oversee projects such as the construction of roads, airports, water systems, and sewage facilities. Online salary database PayScale.com puts the median salary for civil engineers in the $67,000 range, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that this sector will grow by 11 percent in the next few years.
Environmental engineer: The BLS estimates that the need for engineers who can work to solve issues such as water and air pollution, waste disposal, and public health issues will continue to rise--and that doesn't even include the professionals who will be needed to clean up BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. According to PayScale data, environmental engineers can make more than $67,000 per year.
Water-treatment specialist: This job has been around for as long as we've had running water in our homes and businesses. But now, as tap water is being rediscovered as a sustainable alternative to bottled, and new sewage-treatment rules are being implemented, specialists will be in high demand. Even workers with just a high school diploma and five years' experience can expect to earn over $40,000 per year.
On the other hand, Dennis Cail, CEO of GreenJobs.pro, says that some jobs need only to be redefined to meet green criteria. "Employees who seek out ways to get involved with their current employer's sustainability initiatives will likely be more successful in this transition." For example, says Cail, "Every project manager should add a green component as a project deliverable."
Other "regular" jobs that can be turned green include:
Surveyor: Often called "the second-oldest profession," land surveying can be easily adapted to projects that redevelop old industrial sites or reclaim contaminated property. With a bachelor's degree and several years' experience, a surveyor can expect to earn a salary in the $50,000-per-year range.
Software developer: Applying software- and database-design skills to make solar energy more affordable is just one of the ways a developer can channel technical expertise into a green job. The median salary is $74,000 per year, but developers with special certifications or advanced degrees can expect to earn more.
Grant writer: Just like software developers, grant writers need only to turn their communication and research skills to green endeavors. With environmental advocacy on the rise, nonprofits that protect the planet need plenty of funding sources. A grant writer for such an organization can make about $48,000 per year.
Sales and human resources: Every business needs help selling its products or services and hiring qualified people. HR professionals can bring five-plus years of motivational, training, and planning skills to a variety of sustainability-minded organizations--and earn around $59,000 annually. Career salespeople will also find that their persuasive techniques will transfer easily to eco-friendly products and services.
Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career
Career Networking Tips: Get Started on Twitter
Using Twitter to establish an online presence is easy (and necessary)--here's how.
by Charles Purdy, Yahoo! HotJobs Senior Editor
The number of job seekers using networking sites like Twitter is rising: a recent Yahoo! HotJobs poll asked site visitors if they were using Twitter in their job search, and 12 percent of respondents said yes (up from 8 percent a year before).
But compare that with numbers from a survey (conducted by Econsultancy) called the Social Media and Online PR Report: it found that only 10 percent of companies are not engaging in social-media activity.
Now, you're not going to be conducting your next job interview in answers of 140 characters (the maximum length of a tweet) or less. We're nowhere near ready to abandon traditional job-seeking methods like a well-crafted resume, online job boards, and face-to-face networking. But in these days of "Job Search 2.0," social networking sites like Twitter are valuable tools: they keep you informed, they help you network, and they allow you to establish a credible online presence (and that's important for professionals in almost any industry: by all accounts, hiring managers and recruiters are researching many--or most--candidates online).
Not really looking for a job right now? Then now is the perfect time to get started. (If you start online networking only when you need something, you're much too late.) Here are some simple first steps:
1. Go to Twitter.com to create an account--it takes mere seconds. Choose a username that is appropriately professional and descriptive (for instance, I'm HotJobs_editor.) And be sure to add a bio (like mine, for example) that explains who you are and why people might be interested in what you have to say. If you have a new career goal in mind, express it here.
2. Find people to follow--all these people's tweets will be displayed on your main Twitter page. After you create your account, Twitter will offer you categories to browse, will offer to search your email address book for contacts already on Twitter, and will then let you conduct your own searches. Search for people you admire, leaders in your industry, companies you respect (or would like to work at), and industry publications or websites. (And look at whom they follow.) You'll be amazed at what you can find out from spending a few minutes each day reading their tweets: not only valuable industry news but also specific information about companies--info that you can employ when you craft a cover letter or meet someone for an interview.
(Yahoo! HotJobs also tweets up-to-the-minute personalized job listings to followers--sign up here to be among the first to receive listings in the areas and industries you choose.)
3. Start participating. A key to building momentum on Twitter is to participate--join (respectfully) conversations that the people you follow are having. If someone you follow says something interesting, retweet it (forward it to your followers), with or without adding your own comment; this is a great way to get a casual dialogue started.
4. Gain followers and build your reputation. There are many ways to do this: When you read something interesting online, share a link to it via Twitter. For instance, if you know that friends are looking for jobs, you may want to share links to Yahoo! HotJobs' career-advice articles. (Or if you see a HotJobs job listing a friend might be interested in, forward it via Twitter simply by clicking on the listing's Share button.)
Also share your own insights, humor, achievements, and so on. Twitter works best if it's a mix of personal and professional, and it lends itself to lightheartedness. But keep in mind that if you hope to someday use Twitter in your job search, you should avoid tweets like "Playing hooky from work and watching soaps in my pajamas." This may accurately reflect your activities on a certain day, but no employer is going to look at that and think, "This person would be a great fit for my company!" Make sure all your communications on your social networks are consistent and support your professional and personal goals.
And make sure people know you're tweeting: add your Twitter handle to your email signature for instance, and include it as a way to contact you when you comment on blogs.
5. Manage your Twitter account. There are numerous programs that add a fuller-featured dashboard to Twitter (and help you with things like shortening URLs without making you go to a separate website). I use TweetDeck and HootSuite; both are free. Test-drive a couple, and see what other people on Twitter are using, to see if one works for you.
6. Stay involved online. Keep up the momentum you've gained by staying active. Consider starting a blog related to your profession or even one of your hobbies--it'll give you something to tweet about, and it's a great way to continue establishing your online reputation.
7. Get back from Twitter. Managing a Twitter presence takes minutes a week. The preceding steps are designed to establish your good reputation and create a foundation of goodwill--when you need to reach out to your contacts for assistance, they'll be more inclined to help someone they feel connected to.
Say you decide you'd like to go for a marketing job at Company X. If you've been following the company, its CEO, and its marketing director, you'll have a good idea where the company and its marketing department are--this already gives you a tremendous advantage over the competition. Even better: if you've been retweeting the company's tweets, making helpful suggestions, adding positive comments to company and industry blogs, and sharing your own insights, important people at the company may already be aware of you.
That's the goodwill and good foundation that allow this Twitter direct message (a message you send privately to another Twitter user) to be received with interest: "I see you're making SEO marketing improvements: my area of expertise. I'd love to set up an info interview to discuss working together."
Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career
The 10 People You Need in Your Professional Network
Want to get ahead? Getting these people into your network is key.
by Tai Goodwin, Forbes.com
It is important to know the two Q's as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?
In this job market, having a strong network is critical to your professional survival. There are plenty of tips and articles on where to find people, how and when to connect to them, and even what you need to say to attract and maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.
Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network:
1. The Mentor: This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from their success as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you evolve.
2. The Coach: The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.
3. The Industry Insider: This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it. This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a sounding board for your next innovative idea.
4. The Trendsetter: This is someone outside of your chosen industry who always has the latest buzz. It can be on any topic that you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations interesting.
5. The Connector: This is a person who has access to people, resources, and information. As soon as they come across something related to you, they are sending you an email or picking up the phone. Connectors are great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities that most people would overlook.
6. The Idealist: This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest idea is, this is the person who will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to make it happen.
7. The Realist: On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations exceed your effort. These are not people who knock down your dreams; rather, they challenge you to actively make your dream happen.
8. The Visionary: Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.
9. The Partner: You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact, partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share resources, opportunities, and information.
10. The Wanna-Be: This is someone you can serve as mentor to. Someone you can help shape and guide based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell that you understand something is to be able to explain it to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is knowing that someone is watching.
Obviously you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, and so on that fit into the roles listed above. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.
Serious about building a strong professional network that can actually provide the leverage you need to make progress at work or in your business? Evaluate your current network and get started filling in the gaps.
by Tai Goodwin, Forbes.com
It is important to know the two Q's as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?
In this job market, having a strong network is critical to your professional survival. There are plenty of tips and articles on where to find people, how and when to connect to them, and even what you need to say to attract and maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.
Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network:
1. The Mentor: This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from their success as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you evolve.
2. The Coach: The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.
3. The Industry Insider: This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it. This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a sounding board for your next innovative idea.
4. The Trendsetter: This is someone outside of your chosen industry who always has the latest buzz. It can be on any topic that you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations interesting.
5. The Connector: This is a person who has access to people, resources, and information. As soon as they come across something related to you, they are sending you an email or picking up the phone. Connectors are great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities that most people would overlook.
6. The Idealist: This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest idea is, this is the person who will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to make it happen.
7. The Realist: On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations exceed your effort. These are not people who knock down your dreams; rather, they challenge you to actively make your dream happen.
8. The Visionary: Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.
9. The Partner: You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact, partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share resources, opportunities, and information.
10. The Wanna-Be: This is someone you can serve as mentor to. Someone you can help shape and guide based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell that you understand something is to be able to explain it to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is knowing that someone is watching.
Obviously you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, and so on that fit into the roles listed above. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.
Serious about building a strong professional network that can actually provide the leverage you need to make progress at work or in your business? Evaluate your current network and get started filling in the gaps.
Job Info , Jobs , Employment
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