Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Moved! to www.N0T3.com
The posts that I started here are now being posted at N0T3.com.
The reasons are several, among which is a more reliable SEARCH function.
TY
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
For Many Employees, A Dream Job Is One That Isn’t a Nightmare
For Many Employees, A Dream Job Is One That Isn’t a Nightmare
CUBICLE CULTURE By JARED SANDBERG
Asked what job they would take if they could have any, people unleash their imaginations and dream of exotic places, powerful positions or work that involves alcohol and a paycheck at the same time.
Or so you’d think.
None of that appeals to Lori Miller who, as a lead word processor, has to do things that don’t seem so dreamy, including proofreading, spell checking and formatting. But she loves it.
“I like and respect nearly all my co-workers, and most of them feel the same way about me,” she says. “Just a few things would make it a little better,” she says, including a shorter commute and the return of some great people who used to work there. And one more thing: She’d appreciate if everyone would put their dishes in the dishwasher.
It’s not a lot to ask for and, it turns out, a surprising number of people dreaming up their dream job don’t ask for much. One could attribute it to lack of imagination, setting the bar low or “anchoring,” the term referring to the place people start and never move far from. One could chalk it up to rationalizing your plight.
But maybe people simply like what they do and aren’t, as some management would have you believe, asking for too much—just the elimination of a small but disproportionately powerful amount of office inanity.
That may be one reason why two-thirds of Americans would take the same job again “without hesitation” and why 90% of Americans are at least somewhat satisfied with their jobs, according to a Gallup Poll.
The matters that routinely rank high on a satisfaction scale don’t relate to money but “work as a means for demonstrating some sort of responsibility and achievement,” says Barry Staw, professor of leadership and communication at University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. “Pay—even when it’s important, it’s not for what you can buy, it’s a validation of your work and approval.”
So, money doesn’t interest Elizabeth Gray as much as a level playing field. “I like what I do,” says the city project manager who once witnessed former colleagues award a contractor, paid for work he never completed, with the title of “Contractor of the Year.”
Thus: “My dream job would be one free of politics,” she says. “All advancement would be based on merit. The people who really did the work would be the ones who received the credit.”
Frank Gastner has a similar ideal: “VP in charge of destroying inane policies.” Over the years, he’s had to hassle with the simplest of design flaws that would cost virtually nothing to fix were it not for the bureaucracies that entrenched them. So, the retired manufacturer’s representative says he would address product and process problems with the attitude, “It’s not right; let’s fix it now without a committee meeting.”
Monique Huston actually has her dream job—and many tell her it’s theirs, too. She’s general manager of a pub in Omaha, the Dundee Dell, which boasts 650 single-malt scotches on its menu. She visits bars, country clubs, people’s homes and Scotland for whiskey tastings. “I stumbled on my passion in life,” she says.
Still, some nights she doesn’t feel like drinking—or smiling. “Your face hurts,” she complains. And when you have your dream job you wonder what in the world you’ll do next.
One of the big appeals of a dream job is dreaming about it. Last year, George Reinhart saw an ad for a managing director of the privately owned island of Mustique in the West Indies.
He was lured by the salary ($1 million) and a climate that beat the one enjoyed by his Boston suburb. A documentary he saw about Mustique chronicled the posh playground for the likes of Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret. He reread Herman Wouk’s “Don’t Stop the Carnival,” about a publicity agent who leaves his New York job and buys an island hotel. In April of last year, he applied for the job.
He heard nothing. So last May, he wrote another letter: “I wanted to thank you for providing the impetus for so much thought and fun.” He didn’t get the job but, he says, he takes comfort that the job hasn’t been filled. “So, I can still dream,” he adds.
I told him the job had been filled by someone—but only after he said, “I need to know, because then I can begin to dream of his failure.”
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Get a Course, and then Stay the Course!
March.11.08 / Volume 08, Number 10
In This n0t3:
• J0hnG’s e-N0T3
• Starting Your Online Job Search
• Job Hunting in an Unsteady Economy
• Interview Skills That Attract Offers
• How to Network Like a Pro
• 5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, I don’t want this job”
• The Power of Positive Thinking
J0hnG’s e-N0T3
I’m certain you have seen the headline by now, so I am not telling you anything new: Recession fears rise on more job cuts / Employers slash jobs by most in 5 year / February jobs data seen making recession more likely.
Online and in print, there is concern. But remember, the shrinkage in the mortgage and construction industry has not affected all fields
As noted below, “experts say job seekers should pay attention to current economic conditions and expect that the job-search process may take longer.”
The articles in this NOT3 deal with “Getting a Course, and then Staying the Course!”
The article titles link you to the full article. The links in the column to the left connect you to additional sources of insight and, hopefully, motivation.
The first article is from the Job-Hunt.org site (link in the column to the left. Apart from the DBM job search process and resources as laid out in your DBM Roadmap and Webinars, this article (collection of suggestions and resources) is an excellent guide for beginning a Job Search period! (Not just an online search.)
The second article is from Yahoo Hotjobs.
The “how-to” articles that follow are from NetTemps Career CrossRoads newsletter.
Starting Your Online Job Search
“The good news is that there is plenty of very good (free!) information and assistance available to help you find your next job. The bad news is that it will take time to sift through all of it to find what works for you. But, you can, and you will!” [That is one of the benefits of your DBM program and resources—it saves you sifting time!]
“Three Stages of a Job Search” [DBM uses Focus, Prepare, Achieve]:
1. Preparation - lay the foundation for an efficient and effective job search.
2. Implementation - do the actual job search
3. Suspension/Maintenance - put your search efforts into suspension, but don’t shut down completely. It will be easier to re-start the next time if it’s still “warm.”
Job Hunting in an Unsteady Economy
by Tom Musbach
“Whether or not the U.S. economy has hit a recession, one thing is clear these days: Uncertainty is in the air, and it affects nearly every economic sector, including the job market.
The recent rise in the U.S. unemployment rate—4.9% in January—indicates that fewer jobs are being created, but the shrinkage may not affect job-seekers in some fields, such as technology or health care. Nonetheless, experts say job seekers should pay attention to current economic conditions and expect that the job-search process may take longer.
Adjust Your Approach?
Tips for Reaching Your Goal
Experts recommend the following actions to increase your job-search success in an uncertain economic climate.
1. Tailor your presentations; don’t be generic. “In developing a resume and other promotions materials, think about how your current skills and talents apply directly to the responsibilities you’ll hold in the new job,” says Levit.
2. “Create a target list of companies,” says career coach Julie Jansen, author of “You Want Me to Work with Who?” She suggests sending the list to 25 people, asking them if they can put you in touch with an employee at one of the listed companies.
3. “Make yourself and your skills more visible,” says Bach. He suggests posting and refreshing your resume in more places, such as online job boards, and going to job fairs.
4. “Create an advisory board of smart and empathetic people and confer with them regularly about your job search,” says Jansen.
5. “Hone and utilize your ‘elevator pitch’ as often as possible,” says Bach, referring to a 30-second summary of your professional assets.
6. Keep your spirits high. Don’t let the process overwhelm you or weigh you down. Jansen advises, “Make a list of your five favorite things to do, and do them!”
7. Make an effort daily. “Do one thing each day—like emailing a new contact or attending a networking event—that moves your job search forward,” says Levit. “Your worst enemy is inertia.”
Interview Skills That Attract Offers By David Richter
”An interviewer’s mission is to assess your qualifications compared to the other candidates interviewed. Asking you questions is their way of accomplishing that mission. Preparing meaningful responses in advance is your way of impressing the interviewer.
How to Network Like a Pro By Kevin Donlin
“You can learn a lot about networking to find jobs by asking recruiters how they do it to fill jobs.That’s because recruiters, also known as headhunters, have to network every day to locate and place candidates in positions they’re hired by employers to fill. And recruiters don’t get paid until they succeed.
So you’d better believe that successful headhunters know a thing or two about networking. Here are two things, to be exact, you can do to network like a pro and get hired faster.
5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, “I Don’t Want This Job”
Cover letters can be a great way to get employers to notice you. Of course you always want to send one but what are some ways that your cover letter can actually hurt your chances of getting interviews? Learn what these mistakes are so you can avoid them in your own cover letters.
more - http://www.net-temps.com/adcgi/banner.cgi?ref=crnews&ch=2782&id=crs_2782
The Power of Positive Thinking
Are you finding it hard to generate meaningful interviews? When you get an interview does it seem as if the other candidate is always getting the offer? Has your job search gone on for months with no results, and are you finding it difficult to stay motivated? Finding a job is hard and demanding work. This is what you can do to maintain a positive mental attitude.
more - http://www.net-temps.com/adcgi/banner.cgi?ref=crnews&ch=2783&id=crs_2783
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Mobilizing Self!
March.04.08 / Volume 08, Number 09
J0hnG’s e-N0T3
Mobilizing a job search. Seldom a wished for endeavor. More often viewed as a necessary evil.
The emphasis should be put on necessary. Often, within the first several weeks after being separated from work, we have a good, confident feeling, anticipating that a dream job will just show up in little time with little work. Perhaps, harkening back to the good old days when recruiters were our short-work fairy grandparents. (They still can be, but seems everything is taking longer these days.)
But, when that does not work, for us and we actually have to get serious and put out a concerted effort—different story.
The articles in this NOT3 deal with “Mobilizing Self!”
The article titles link you to the full article. The links in the column to the left connect you to additional sources of insight and, hopefully, motivation.
The first and third articles are from the Wall Street Journal.
The second article from CareerBuilder. It addresses the “consulting” pursuit many of us explore.
And the fourth, First Step to Finding Your Dream Job, is from Business Week!
How to Hunt for Jobs as Time Drags On… by JoAnn Lublin, WSJ
“…About 18.3% of jobless Americans in January had been out of work for at least 27 weeks. The figure far exceeds the 11.1% of those who had gone as long without work when a recession began in March 2001. These individuals often battle pinched wallets, age bias and depression.
“Facing a similar predicament? Don’t lose hope. Smart strategies could revive your stalled job search and boost your sagging spirits. The key: Treat your hunt like a business problem. Package yourself based on a frank reassessment of your strengths and weaknesses.
“You can target possible employers better by figuring out and promoting what sets you apart. “Build your personal brand,’’ advises William Brown, a senior managing director for an arm of DBM, a New York human-resources consultancy. Ask yourself and acquaintances, “Why is this product not selling?” recommends Dave Opton, CEO of ExecuNet, a career and business network in Norwalk, Conn.
“One reason may be a flawed résumé.
“Other long-term unemployed people frequently waste too much time looking online.
“You could enlarge your circle of face-to-face contacts by doing community service, accepting a temporary job and participating in trade groups that mainly serve the currently employed.
“After you’ve been jobless for months, you also should meet with your references again and review what they tell hiring managers.
“Long-unemployed job hunters could keep their spirits up, counselors say, through exercise—or something less conventional.”
Freelance Hiring Outlook By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com writer
“…looking for a way to earn some extra cash, need more time at home or simply can’t sit through one more “brainstorming session” with those clowns from corporate? You might want to consider branching out on your own as a freelancer. .
“From information technology to marketing, the opportunities that exist today for independent contractors and freelancers are as plentiful as they are diverse. And, according to a recent Sologig.com survey of more than 2,400 employers and 5,600 employees, more and more employers are relying on freelancers, contractors and consultants to stay lean, keep their companies agile and address a shrinking pool of qualified labor.
“…If you’re among the 45% of workers considering freelance or independent contract work, now is as good a time as any to take the leap. More than two-in-five (55%) companies have either relied on freelance or contract workers or intend to in the future. Of the companies that currently hire freelancers and independent contractors, 20% say that given the shortage of qualified labor, they are relying on independent talent more than a year ago. What’s more, nearly one-in-10 companies that don’t currently use freelance help plan to in the future.
“The pay’s not too shabby either. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics…
“What to look forward to:
• Say goodbye to dry cleaning bills and waking up at 6 a.m., and say hello to three-hour lunches….
• No more mundane quarterly reports for you…
“What to watch out for:
• The thrill of being on your own might be slightly tempered by the realization that you’re now responsible for your own health insurance…
• The work flow won’t always be steady…
• … if you are too easily sidetracked by your family, household responsibilities or the DVR, you won’t get far. Successful freelancers have the discipline to…
“What to expect
• Most hiring managers prefer freelancers who have a minimum of three to five years of experience in their field.
• Make sure you have an updated, professional-looking portfolio of your work to show potential clients; better yet, create a Web site …
• Look for opportunities at online job sites such as Sologig.com, which publishes freelance and contract opportunities for free agents…
• Register with a staffing agency…
• Be proactive…
Mobilizing an Unplanned Job Search By TODDI GUTNER
“Ramping up to land a new job quickly after a layoff, a downsizing, or company relocation takes real planning, despite the urgency of the task. Six tips to help you make the most of a surprise job search.
Take stock of your finances.
Create a planned job search strategy.
Determine your market worth.
Practice your pitch.
Polish and post your resume.
Network, network, network.
First Step in Finding Your Dream By Liz Ryan
“There’s no formula that works for everyone, so be as specific as you can when figuring out what the job you’ve always fantasized about really is
”We know it’s possible, even if we haven’t read The Four-Hour Work Week yet. We know people in our neighborhoods or we’ve seen people on TV who have dream jobs, so we know they exist. It’s the post-millennium workplace fantasy: To do work we love and are passionate about, be paid well for doing it, and to work among smart and supportive team members under the leadership of a wise and ethical chief executive officer. Sounds reasonable on paper. Why is it so hard, in real life, to get all the dream job ducks to line up in a row?
For starters, it’s helpful to remember that our dream-job requirements often change over time.
• Put it All On Paper
• Left Brain Vs. Right Brain
• Identify Your Dream Team
• What Are You Wishing For?
• Zeroing In on the Job
• Not an Easy Road
“Research and follow-up are key for dream-job seekers, but you’ve got an advantage over less proactive job seekers. You know what you want and you can spell out why this employer is a good fit for you. That’s something that most job-seekers can’t do—certainly not the people who blast out 20 résumés a day to whichever companies have posted jobs on the biggest careers sites.
“It could take you six months or a year to land your dream job, and it could take a change of location. It could require an industry or functional shift and a lot of networking, hours of research, and more hours of follow-up, online and over the phone. If that sounds too daunting, you could take the next job that comes down the pike. But don’t you deserve at least one dream job in your career? “
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Finding work can be hard work, but a rewarding as well
Feb.02.20 / Volume 08, Number 08
J0hnG’s e-N0T3
How can I do this? Send two N0T3s in one week? The really good news is supposed to be spaced out. This is spacing me out—hopefully not you, though.
All I did was read the WSJ with my coffee this a.m. And article after pertinent article kept showing up. I had to get a second cup of coffee. Something here for everyone—and just to make sure, I included a FORBES article link for entrepreneurs.
You probably need a subscription to access the full articles referenced in this NOT3, but I will post the links anyway. Or, buy a print copy
Finding work can be hard work, but a rewarding and learning experience as well.
1) Few Feel True Love for Their Jobs
2) Staff Worries at Energy Firms
3) C-SUITE GOODBYE
4) How I Got Here: Nature Lover Turned Mountain Careerist
5) How to Value an Exit Package
6) For Some, Suburban Jobs Prove Subpar
7) Enhance Your Marketability
8) How I Got Here: Building a Brand One Pint at a Time
9) 90 Days: Finesse a Flexible Work Schedule
10) FORBES: Entrepreneurs’ Guide To Person-To-Person Lending Sites
The Wall Street Journal’s Virtual Career Fair—February 26, 2008
Learn about The Wall Street Journal’s upcoming Virtual Career Fair.
1) Few Feel True Love for Their Jobs Andrea Coombes
Love Your Job Enough to Marry It? (Online title)
Do you love your job? Depends on your age and where you live, a new survey finds.
2) Staff Worries at Energy Firms
Staff Worries at Energy Firms
More than 70% of energy companies expect their future operations to be hit by shortages of skilled personnel, according to a survey commissioned by the London-based Energy Institute.
3) C-SUITE GOODBYE
In January, turnover among chief executive officers reached an eight-month high of 134, according to a new report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a global outplacement consultancy. The previous record was in May when 144 CEOs left their positions. Last month’s departures, 44 of which were resignations, included mainly company chiefs in the health-care industry, the study shows.
4) How I Got Here: Nature Lover Turned Mountain Careerist
A love of the outdoors inspired Erin McEvoy to work in and travel to exotic locales—including a stint as a carpenter in Antarctica. Pairing that passion with her desire to do something more—and a senior executive’s departure—led her to a job as program director for Big City Mountaineers, a nonprofit that brings disadvantaged teens a taste of the outdoor life.
5) How to Value an Exit Package
When you are offered thousands of dollars to leave your job, does it make sense to accept the offer? The answer is: maybe. Voluntary buyout packages encourage highly paid—read expensive—workers to move on. Here’s what you need to consider if you receive such an offer.
6) For Some, Suburban Jobs Prove Subpar
Moving to a city, hunting for an apartment and joining friends for happy hour after work are rites of passage for many recent college graduates. But what if you’re offered a job opportunity that requires you to commute to the suburbs? Such a move could drastically alter your social life, your travel time to work and your ability to network in your industry, so it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before you accept.
7) Enhance Your Marketability
Seek out opportunities that differ from the bulk of your experience, advises Fran Luisi, a principal at Charleston Partners, an executive search firm specializing in human-resources recruiting. For example, if your career has been primarily focused in North America, volunteer to take on overseas assignments. Similarly, if your portfolio consists of mainly broad-based tasks, offer to handle projects that are highly narrow in scope.
8) How I Got Here: Building a Brand One Pint at a Time
With his experience working with consumer packaged goods companies and a degree from a top-notch M.B.A. program, Josh Gellert has applied his knowledge to become a brand manager at one of the most respected—at least by many taste buds—dessert companies around, Haagen Dazs. Mr. Gellert is the first to admit that the ice cream is a huge perk, but his interest in identifying innovative programs that will help drive the success of the brand is his biggest motivator. Amy Palanjian spoke with Mr. Gellert about his transition from investment banker to brand manager. Edited excerpts follow.
9) 90 Days: Finesse a Flexible Work Schedule
Seventy percent of Cisco Systems employees regularly work from home at least 20% of the time. So do 34% of workers at Booz Allen Hamilton and 32% at S.C. Johnson & Sons. If you’ve convinced your employer to let you work remotely, here are six tips for getting it right in the first few months.
• Tips on Creating a Work From Home Proposal
• Do Telecommuters Make Work Rough for the Office-Bound?
10) Entrepreneurs’ Guide To Person-To-Person Lending Sites
FORBES - Maureen Farrell
The inner workings of five innovative lenders. What you should know before you borrow or lend.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Five Secrets of Successful Job Hunters
Joe Turner, for Yahoo! HotJobs
Completing a 26-mile marathon race shares some characteristics with a successful job search.
There is one “winner” who crosses the finish line first. There are the many who quit before they’ve completed the race. Finally, there are the rest of us who don’t finish first, but are determined to complete the race nevertheless.
For most of us, half the battle is finishing the race, regardless of where we place among the finishers. The same goes for a job search.
The Five Secrets
1. Visualize. Marathon runners and other goal-directed athletes are great at visualization. They set a goal and see themselves achieving it. The same applies for your job search. Set a goal and see yourself achieving it. No matter how many setbacks you have, hold that vision of the job you want. Continue to hold it.
Focus on the outcome you want, and not on how you’re going to achieve it. Picture it in your mind. Be specific. What is your supervisor like? How about your co-workers? What is your workspace like? What hours do you work? Including your right brain in the imagination and visualization process enhances the achievement of your goal.
2. Be Persistent. Just as in running a marathon, nothing worth having is ever easy to achieve. There is a lot of rejection in job search. Sometimes it seems as if you’ll never get a “yes.” Remember what good sales people already know: that winning a sale, a job, or any other goal is a numbers game. Commission sales people will tell you that every “no” is one step closer to a “yes.” When you can see your process from a more objective viewpoint, knowing that you’re one more rejection closer to a “yes,” you’ll be less inclined to take the “no’s” personally or get discouraged.
3. Replenish Yourself. The job search process, like a marathon race, can be an endurance test with a lot of disappointments and setbacks. It can also go on for weeks, months, and for some people, even a year or more. If you’re going to outlast this process and prevail, you have to take care of yourself. This means taking time to relax to take your mind off the challenges, frustrations and rejections. Work hard on your job search, then take time out to exercise and pursue activities that bring you joy and replenish you.
4. Inoculate Yourself Against Negative Messages. Succeeding at a job search is a mental process, and negative input from anywhere can poison your mental outlook and encourage fear, discouragement, anxiety, anger, and other negative emotions. Associate with positive people and protect yourself from all types of negativity.
A job search can be a big undertaking. You need all of the assets and advantages that you can possibly bring to the party. You can’t afford to be exposed to the negativity of others. This includes friends, relatives, and negative articles in newspapers and magazines as well as negative TV shows. Make a point of reading books and articles that motivate, encourage, and inspire you.
5. Meditate. This can be the most important secret, yet it can be very simple. Take some time every day to be still and to get away from the “white noise” of life. Whether you are a spiritual person or not, commit to some quiet time away from the noise of TV, radio, and other distractions. Give yourself the gift of quietness to contemplate, calm down, and center yourself. Even five minutes of quiet time can make a positive difference in your life. It will ground you and make it easier to face and overcome the stresses of your job search journey ahead.
As with successful marathoners, job hunters have some secret tactics that make their success look easy to others. Winning the job search game has a mental component. Developing the above five winning secret tactics will enhance your chances of success, and make the process more pleasant and less stressful.
As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Known on the Internet as “The Job Search Guy”, Joe has also authored ‘how-to’ books on interviewing and job search. Discover more insider job search secrets at his site.
How to Go Back to Work After Raising Kids
How to Go Back to Work After Raising Kids
Account for hidden costs, negotiate for flexibility, and don’t whine about parenting woes.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/careers/2008/02/01/how-to-rejoin-the-workforce-after-raising-kids.html
Job 1 for Working Moms: Running the Numbers
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/careers/2008/02/01/job-1-for-working-moms-running-the-numbers.html
5 Pitfalls for Working Moms
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/careers/2008/02/01/5-pitfalls-that-trip-up-working-moms.html
What’s Changed at Work While You Were Out
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/careers/2008/02/01/whats-changed-at-work-while-you-were-out.html
Monday, January 28, 2008
One Year to a New Career
One Year to a New Career
Start learning in 2008 to land a hot job in 2009
By Ysolt Usigan
Has your current job situation finally convinced you that your New Year’s resolution should entail a career change? If so, you’ll need to come up with a game plan that can take you to a new career. But, don’t let a lack of a degree or training keep you from getting there.
Luckily, some career-training paths can be completed in a matter of a year or two. From dream titles to positions that might surpass your financial expectations, exploring professional options begins at school.
And don’t think of it as a traditional four-year journey: Many of today’s most popular associate and certificate programs grant entry into careers in financial services, the restaurant industry and “green” fields, to name a few.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, many of the jobs projected to be among the fastest growing or most lucrative can be attained via two-year degrees and certificate study.
What’s an actuary?
Most people don’t know what an actuary is. To sum it up in the fewest words possible: Actuaries help businesses assess financial risk. From analyzing data to estimating probabilities of what an event, a project or other occurrence can cost a company, actuaries use mathematical formulas to address financial questions.
Knowledge of statistics, finance and general business practices is a must, since actuaries have a hand in designing insurance policies, retirement plans and other strategies that will ensure a company’s many practices remain financially sound.
While most actuaries are employed by insurance companies, they can work for various other types of businesses. Salary predictions are high. According to the BLS, median annual earnings for actuaries were at $82,800 in 2006.
Employment for actuaries is expected to grow much faster than average through 2016, as more and more businesses require professionals to assess their financial risks. Those extremely dedicated in finding work in this field will have a good chance at landing lucrative positions once they’ve completed and passed the stringent qualifying exam for actuaries.
Not including the qualifying exam, you can become an actuary in less than two years by completing an accelerated or associate program in business, math or actuarial science.
Sheetal Kaura really enjoyed math as a child. She’s an associate of the Society of Actuaries at Fitch Ratings, a global rating agency that provides credit markets with independent opinions.
“I was originally a math major when I started at the University of Western Ontario,” she said. “At the end of my first year, we had a mathematics career day where an actuarial science professor spoke. I decided to enroll in my first actuarial science class and from then on, I loved it!”
Although Kaura earned a Bachelor of Science in statistics and actuarial science, you can follow in her footsteps (and quickly, too) by exploring an associate program.
More “spirited” work
Wine lovers are in luck. Demand for sommeliers (that’s wine stewards, in case you were wondering) is high. The number of available positions for connoisseurs is expected to continue to grow throughout 2008 and beyond.
Shayn Bjornholm’s wine career began on the restaurant floors of the Stanhope and Palace hotels in New York City in the mid-1990s. He worked his way up to become a dining manager of Jeremiah Tower’s Stars Bar and Dining in Seattle, and nearly 10 years later was the first to complete the International Sommelier Guild’s diploma program at Washington State University.
Wherever Bjornholm goes, he carries the knowledge of 15,000 bottles of wine. He’s skilled in the art of pairing wine with food. His specialized training landed him an impressive position at Seattle’s Canlis Restaurant. “My job is to demystify wine,” he said, “while still honoring a fantastic food pairing.”
Those interested in becoming sommeliers will learn about the production of grape varieties in major growing areas of the world and the viticulture (science of winemaking) practiced in each. Food and wine matching, the proper serving of wine and wine list development are also taught in such programs, which typically result in a certificate in under six months.
Four-year viticulture/enology degree programs, which focus on the cultivation of grapes and the science of winemaking for wine enthusiasts, are also available. Prior food-service or bartending experience is not necessary in order to enter such programs.
Going green
The move to reduce humanity’s impact on the planet has been neatly summed up by all things “green.” Add to that the growth of green-collar jobs. According to a recent BLS report, top future jobs will include green sectors that will greatly impact the economy.
To stay ahead of the curve, schools such as the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, a community college, are “greening” their curricula and campus efforts to meet the needs of the growing sector. The school’s green curriculum is designed to comprehensively train future employees in a variety of jobs compiled by using CNN’s Top Green Gigs List.
Programs include wastewater management, green-related architecture, and diesel and sustainable construction technologies, just to name a few.
Marcy Drummond, vice president of academic affairs at LATTC, is spearheading the effort for the Los Angeles Community College District. “We’re committed to training workers to build and maintain a more environmentally sensitive world,” she said.
Michelle White, director of environmental affairs at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, is also staying true to this cause. As an authority on sustainable operations with the tourism industry, White serves as a brand-wide ambassador of Fairmont’s award-winning environmental program.
More and more companies are investing in environmental management and employing experts like White to address planet concerns. “Like Fairmont, other companies are looking to hire [individuals] to oversee this area of their business,” said Mike Taylor, public relations manager at Fairmont.
Although White received a master’s degree in environmental science, you can follow in her footsteps in just two years. Some schools offer distance-learning programs for certification in geographic information systems and various environmental policy and management as well as water resource management.
Other Hot Careers on the Two-Years-or-Less
Piece this URL back together--I split it into two.
http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/Features/encnet_Departments_AdultLearning_
default_article_Learn08Career09.html?GT1=10788
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Work to Rebuild Your Confidence After a Job Loss
Work to Rebuild Your Confidence After a Job Loss
WSJ January 8, 2008; Page B4
Q: I have 15 years of experience in consumer-product marketing, seven in my last job. It ended six months ago, when my boss and I parted badly. Since then, job interviews haven’t gone well because of my low self-esteem. Should I stop job hunting and find temporary work until I feel better?
A: Since your interviews haven’t gone well, finding interim work so you can “sit it out” for a while may seem tempting. But it isn’t easy to find interim jobs that pay decently. In addition, “companies ask hard questions of people who take breaks,” says Robert Richards, an executive recruiter with Axcel Recruiting Inc., Richmond, Va.
The market in your field is good, adds Mr. Richards, so work on rebuilding your confidence and devising a strategy to market yourself. Think of yourself as a product with many benefits, and don’t worry about a few bad interviews with recruiters.
Develop a concise statement about why you left your past job. It could be as simple as “after seven years, I needed a new challenge.” Be honest about your boss without saying anything negative. “Just say that you parted ways and don’t get into the details,” says Mr. Richards. If necessary, come up with other people who can serve as references.
Sign up with leading job-search sites in your field, and contact recruiters you haven’t spoken with yet. Be flexible about relocating. Most jobs in your field are at headquarters, and more opportunities will be available if you are open to moving. Also consider small companies. “Lots of smaller companies need people with your know-how, especially if you have big-company experience,” says Mr. Richards.
Remember: Job hunting is a numbers game. The more customers you contact, the closer you’ll get to a sale. With the right attitude, a new job may be at the end of the next conversation.
Write to Perri Capell at
Hyperlinks in this Article:(1) mailto:careersqa@wsj.com
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Get Your Dream Job
Dream JobGET YOUR DREAM JOB
The First Step to Finding Your Dream Job
There’s no formula that works for everyone, so be as specific as you can when figuring out what the job you’ve always fantasized about really is
More Than One Road to the C-Suite
While certain jobs are still statistically more likely to lead to top-level jobs, executive recruiters say more factors are coming into play
Slide Show: The Path to Your Dream Job
From executive chef to chief financial officer, here are 20 enviable occupations and the job paths most statistically likely to lead you there
When the Dream Job Becomes a Nightmare
Yes, it can happen, even when a situation looks like a great fit. Here’s how to probe deeper during the interiew process
Video: A Teacher’s Tale
Robert Pondiscio left his job as BusinessWeek’s communications director five years ago to teach fifth-graders in the South Bronx. The experience led him to his true calling
Best Business Books of the Year
Best Business Books of the Year
Here are BusinessWeek’s top 10 picks from a particularly strong list of contenders
In nonfiction book publishing, 2007 could go down as the year of Chindia. There was a small avalanche of books on the history, changing economics, and investing opportunities in Asia’s two powerhouse societies, India and China. But the two countries are quite different economically, with enterprise in India tending to be more capital-intensive and more reliant on skilled labor than is business in China.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1130_business_books/index_01.htm
30 Top Jobs of 2008
30 Top Jobs 0830 Top Jobs of 08
By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
A new year means new beginnings: new resolutions, ideas and friends; new habits, relationships and goals; new salaries, titles and responsibilities.
And perhaps most importantly, new jobs. Lots of ‘em. And not just for 2008, either - until 2016.
Total employment is expected to increase by 15.6 million jobs during the 2006-16 decade, according to the most recent employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Almost all of this growth will occur in the service-providing sector, which will account for 75 percent of all jobs in 2016.
Professional and related professions and service occupations are projected to grow most quickly, accounting for more than six of 10 new jobs created throughout 2006-2016. Twenty-eight of the 30 fastest-growing jobs are in professional and related occupations and service positions.
Interested in getting in on the new job action this year? Here are the 30 fastest-growing growing occupations for 2006-2016, according to the BLS.
1. Network systems and data communications analysts
2006 employment: 262,000
2016 projection: 402,000
Percent growth: 53.4
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
2. Personal and home care aides
2006 employment: 767,000
2016 projection: 1,156,000
Percent growth: 50.6
Salary range: Less than $21,220
Education/training: On-the-job training
3. Home health aides
2006 employment: 787,000
2016 projection: 1,171,000
Percent growth: 48.7
Salary range: Less than $21,220
Education/training: On-the-job training
4. Computer software engineers, applications
2006 employment: 507,000
2016 projection: 733,000
Percent growth: 44.6
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
5. Veterinary technologists and technicians
2006 employment: 71,000
2016 projection: 100,000
Percent growth: 41
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Associate degree
6. Personal financial advisors
2006 employment: 176,000
2016 projection: 248,000
Percent growth: 41
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
7. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
2006 employment: 2,000
2016 projection: 3,000
Percent growth: 39.8
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Postsecondary vocational award
8. Medical assistant
2006 employment: 417,000
2016 projection: 565,000
Percent growth: 35.4
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Moderate on-the-job training
9. Veterinarians
2006 employment: 62,000
2016 projection: 84,000
Percent growth: 35
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: First professional degree
10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
2006 employment: 83,000
2016 projection: 112,000
Percent growth: 34.3
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
11. Skin care specialists
2006 employment: 38,000
2016 projection: 51,000
Percent growth: 34.3
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Postsecondary vocational award
12. Financial analysts
2006 employment: 221,000
2016 projection: 295,000
Percent growth: 33.8
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
13. Social and human service assistants
2006 employment: 339,000
2016 projection: 453,000
Percent growth: 34.3
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Moderate on-the-job training
14. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators
2006 employment: 9,000
2016 projection: 12,000
Percent growth: 33.6
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Moderate on-the-job training
15. Physical therapist assistants
2006 employment: 60,000
2016 projection: 80,000
Percent growth: 32.4
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Associate degree
16. Pharmacy technicians
2006 employment: 285,000
2016 projection: 376,000
Percent growth: 32
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Moderate on-the-job training
17. Forensic science technicians
2006 employment: 13,000
2016 projection: 17,000
Percent growth: 30.7
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
18. Dental hygienists
2006 employment: 167,000
2016 projection: 217,000
Percent growth: 30.1
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Associate degree
19. Mental health counselors
2006 employment: 100,000
2016 projection: 130,000
Percent growth: 30
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Master’s degree
20. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
2006 employment: 122,000
2016 projection: 159,000
Percent growth: 29.9
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Master’s degree
21. Marriage and family therapists
2006 employment: 25,000
2016 projection: 32,000
Percent growth: 29.8
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Master’s degree
22. Dental assistants
2006 employment: 280,000
2016 projection: 362,000
Percent growth: 29.2
Salary range: $21,260 - $30,560
Education/training: Moderate on-the-job training
23. Computer systems analysts
2006 employment: 504,000
2016 projection: 650,000
Percent growth: 29
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
24. Database administrators
2006 employment: 119,000
2016 projection: 154,000
Percent growth: 28.6
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
25. Computer software engineers, systems software
2006 employment: 350,000
2016 projection: 449,000
Percent growth: 28.2
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Bachelor’s degree
26. Gaming and sports book writers and runners
2006 employment: 18,000
2016 projection: 24,000
Percent growth: 28
Salary range: Less than $21,220
Education/training: On-the-job training
27. Environmental science and protection technicians
2006 employment: 36,000
2016 projection: 47,000
Percent growth: 28
Salary range: $30,630 - $46,300
Education/training: Associate degree
28. Manicurists and pedicurists
2006 employment: 78,000
2016 projection: 100,000
Percent growth: 27.6
Salary range: Less than $21,220
Education/training: Postsecondary vocational award
29. Physical therapists
2006 employment: 173,000
2016 projection: 200,000
Percent growth: 27.1
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Master’s degree
30. Physician assistants
2006 employment: 66,000
2016 projection: 83,000
Percent growth: 27
Salary range: $46,360 or more
Education/training: Master’s degree
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 3:39 PM
Monday, December 24, 2007
Rocking The Virtual World
Matthew Schifrin
Three-dimensional virtual worlds are the next frontier for social networks. Among them Kaneva stands out for its simplicity.
On the Web Facebook is the flavor of the moment, with 55 million users and a valuation (if you want to extrapolate from what Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) paid for a sliver) of $15 billion. So what’s the next big thing? Three-dimensional communities. In a recent study Gartner predicted that by 2011 up to 80% of active Internet users, or 250 million people, will participate online in virtual worlds.
Soon you won’t merely be reading about your friend’s day at work or blogging about a recent film you’ve seen, but rather your avatar, or 3-D digital character, will be watching movies and listening to music with your friends’ avatars. You will walk through virtual malls together and dance the night away at virtual nightclubs. Millions of residents on dozens of virtual worlds are already doing so.
Some online worlds are pure fantasy: multiplayer games like Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people )’s Everquest and Vivendi Universal’s World of Warcraft. Many are also cutesy sites geared toward children and toys, like Disney’s Club Penguin, Ganz’ Webkinz and Mattel (nyse: MAT - news - people )’s BarbieGirls.com. In the first three months of operation Barbie drew 4 million members to her site.
Among the producers of virtual worlds Atlanta’s Kaneva may be on its way to becoming the most “disruptive,” according to Strategy & Innovation, a Cambridge, Mass. newsletter founded by Harvard Business School’s Clayton Christensen. Christensen has made a career of studying market disruptions--how novel products or novel ways of doing things have upended whole industries. In this world disruptive is a compliment.
Since Kaneva launched in March 2007, its membership has swelled to 800,000. It is geared toward people ages 18 to 34 and is, in essence, a virtual world version of MySpace. Its much larger rival, Second Life, from San Francisco’s Linden Lab, has 11 million registrants.
In Pictures: Most Popular Virtual Worlds
Kaneva is the creation of Christopher Klaus, 34, who had the money to get it going without venture capital. Klaus started Internet Security Systems when he was a Georgia Tech student and last year sold that outfit to IBM for $1.3 billion.
“Virtual worlds are still in the very early stages,” says Klaus. “We are where MP3s were seven years ago. Our goal is to combine the virtual world with social networking and videogaming.”
The key to Kaneva’s rapid growth is in its accessibility. It’s aimed not at videogaming geeks but at ordinary folk. “Second Life currently has huge mind share, but they are after a different market,” says Klaus. “We want people who have never played videogames before.” Kaneva encourages residents to create avatars that are online versions of their real identities, linking photos of themselves and lists of hobbies to their animated avatars. Second Life, in contrast, fosters taking on an alternative identity, including imaginary beasts.
On Kaneva, registrants can decorate their virtual houses with their own photos, upload their favorite music and stream YouTube videos and television shows. Like Second Life, Kaneva has a “micro” currency that can be bought for real money; take ten real-world dollars into a Target (nyse: TGT - news - people ) and you can buy 1,500 units, then use these to buy furniture or outfit your avatar with cool clothes to wear at the Dance Party 3-D contest.
Both Second Life and Kaneva are free to join. They get revenue by selling play money, leasing virtual land and, in the case of Kaneva, by promoting real-world commerce (especially TV shows).
If Kaneva becomes a hit it will prove that disruption does not come from technology alone. It comes from playing the game differently. Says Christensen, “Simplicity, convenience, accessibility, affordability--all of these are hallmarks of disruptive innovation.”
Adapted from a recent edition of Strategy & Innovation . For more information visit http://www.forbes.com/strategy&innovation.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/1224/103.html?partner=ecommerce_newsletter
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Careers for a Changing Job Landscape
Careers for a Changing Job Landscape
We’ve selected careers with strong outlooks and high job satisfaction. Plus, see other careers that are deemed overrated and which are ahead of the curve.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2007/12/19/best-careers-for-a-changing-job-landscape.html
Sortable Table: Career Components
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2007/12/19/the-components-of-31-top-careers.html
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Career Change Gaffes
Career Change Gaffes By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing
Getting from Point A to Point B in your career path isn’t easy. Along the way, you’ll experience roadblocks and uphill climbs, and there’s a good chance you’ll feel pretty lost from time to time. Like most professionals, you can also expect to face a major fork in the road—the decision to stay in your current career or make the leap to another.
For some, the prospect of a new career is exciting and offers the chance to break free of a job stuck in the doldrums. For others, career change sparks feelings of terror, as though it were synonymous with plunging into an unknown abyss. Either way, it’s a situation almost all professionals are bound to encounter at some point.
In fact, 74 percent of U.S. workers reported they have changed careers at least once, according to a new survey of more than 5,700 workers conducted by Harris Interactive. More than one-third of those surveyed said they are currently interested in a career change.
Of those who were unwilling to pursue a career change, 35 percent did not want to start over in an entry-level position, 39 percent were comfortable with their current career and viewed change as scary, 22 percent expressed financial concerns, and 16 percent said they’d need to receive additional education to successfully change careers.
Career coach Katy Piotrowski, M.Ed., author of “The Career Coward’s Guide to Changing Career”s (JIST © 2008), believes it’s not uncommon for these fears to hinder people who refuse to change careers or those currently in transition.
“When faced with a career change, chances are you’re wrestling with a tiny voice inside of you that keeps whispering ‘What if it doesn’t work? Wouldn’t it be better to just keep doing what you’re already doing and not risk failing?’” she says.
It’s true. Sometimes a career change can be a huge mistake. Imagine leaving a ho-hum career to begin one that’s even more dreadful. Or discovering your bank account’s empty because you were unprepared to deal with a change in your finances. In spite of these roadblocks, a brand-new career could be the very thing you need to revamp your life.
To prevent a career change from derailing your goals, finances and happiness, Piotrowski says to steer clear of the following gaffes:
Gaffe 1: Jumping the Gun
It can be tempting to make a hasty decision when a killer opportunity comes along or the thought of spending another day on the job seems excruciating. Piotrowski, however, recommends taking baby steps to execute a new career strategy.
“Plan a timeline of one to two years to implement your career change. Gather information for four to six months, and then get moving on activities that will bridge into your new specialty over the next few months. Remember, you can make the switch over time. You don’t need to do it all at once.”
Gaffe 2: Skipping Your First Steps
It’s not unusual for people to know they need out of their current career, while having no idea which one will suit them best. In situations like these, Piotrowski encourages people to turn to the Yellow Pages, Internet or books to learn more about specific careers. “Make gathering information your first priority, rather than putting a lot of pressure on yourself to change careers quickly,” she says.
“Spend time looking through industry categories and a variety of jobs to get ideas about new-career areas that may appeal to you. This can open your eyes to a multitude of options you hadn’t considered before.”
Informational interviews—the best-kept career change secret, according to Piotrowski—will also help aspiring career changers come to a solution. The key is to seek people already immersed in a particular career and pick their brains with questions such as, “What training do I need to do well in this job? “What kind of money will I make?” and “What’s a day on the job really like?”
Finally, people should try a few career experiments to test their abilities and build experience to move into a new career more easily.
“A career experiment can be one of thousands of activities that allow you to learn more about a new type of work before you commit to choosing it,” Piotrowski says. Career experiments include shadowing a specialist, volunteering, taking field trips and designing projects to enhance knowledge and skills.
Gaffe 3: Forgetting to Present the New You
It’s true career change rookies are at a disadvantage when it comes to convincing a hiring manager that they deserve to make the cut—they’ve never had a job like the one they’re looking to fill. That doesn’t mean they can’t find a few savvy ways to get around this roadblock.
When writing their résumés, career changers should include relevant information about their background that would appeal to the employer. Piotrowski recommends focusing on functions rather than previous job titles.
Finally, once an interview has been landed, career changers should take a few steps to ensure they have plenty of strengths to talk about, despite their lack of experience. “Brainstorm examples of how your background ties to the new position you want. Next, make sure you’ve got a few powerful stories to share that include What, How, and Proof components to demonstrate your achievements and skills. Finally, create a portfolio to bring along on interviews,” Piotrowski says.
This can include letters of appreciation from customers, pictures or samples of work, training certificates, performance reviews and anything else that portrays you as a powerhouse professional ready to take on a new and exciting challenge.
Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers.
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 - 10:11 AM
http://www.educationcrossing.com/article/index.php?id=470031
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=1209