Business Administration Jobs
Many people with a business degree have a BBA or MBA, a bachelor’s or master’s of business administration.  Because a degree in business administration covers such a broad curriculum, this business degree provides students with the knowledge to pursue any business job while also offering opportunities to specialize in specific areas, like accounting or sales.  But what about actual business administration jobs?  You may want to enter a management or supervisory position, or even get started on your career goal to someday become a top-level executive.  Business administration jobs may include CEO, COO, president, vice president, regional manager, assistant general manager, administrative support, and purchasing manager.

Business Development Jobs
A career in business development involves identifying new business opportunities and determining whether it is profitable to take advantage of these opportunities.  This may include making decisions regarding entering new markets, developing new products, forming partnerships, changing sales processes and strategic planning.  Business development professionals then design a plan of action to implement the chosen changes.  Business development jobs require strong analytical skills and business knowledge.  A business degree is required, and it may be a smart to begin your career with business jobs in finance, corporate sales or consulting before looking for business development jobs.

Business Management Jobs
Any job that involves managing others and overseeing operations is considered a business management job.  Because managers are needed in a wide range of different industries, business management jobs can be tailored to meet your other interests.  For example, you may pursue retail management, healthcare management and hospital management, manufacturing management, sales management, human resources management, restaurant management or hotel management.  A strong business background will prove helpful for a management job in any industry, including ones that don’t appear to be as business-oriented, such as healthcare and manufacturing.  Some business jobs in management, particularly in the retail and food services industries, look more for experience and the right job skills rather than a college education.  Other business management jobs will require a college degree.  A career in corporate business management may also take you on the path toward highly regarded positions such as vice president or CEO.

Marketing Jobs
The first thing to know about business marketing jobs are the “Four P’s of Marketing:” product, promotion, price and placement.  The marketing department deals with all aspects of the products offered by a company, from designing a product in order to meet customer needs, to marketing campaigns that get the product in the hands of the consumer.  Business marketing jobs can be found in large consumer product companies like Kraft Foods and Clorox, as well as consumer service companies such as American Express.  You may also pursue business-to-business marketing, where one company markets and sells their product to another company, or work for a marketing agency.  Marketing jobs are great for individuals who are both creative and analytical.

International Business Jobs
International business refers to any firm that has operations in more than one country, including multinational corporations (such as PepsiCo, Marathon Oil, and Ford Motor Company), joint ventures, financial institutions and consulting agencies.  Most companies do not have entire departments devoted to international business, so when looking for an international business job, you may want to get involved in the finance, marketing, or sales aspects of a company that operates internationally.  For international business jobs, it is best to have general business knowledge in a particular field alongside international-related business knowledge such as that of cultural understanding, foreign language fluency, international trade and the world economy.

Finance Jobs
Finance and banking are two of the most popular industries in business.  One of the great things about a career in finance is that there are many different options to choose from.  Some finance careers include investment banking, sales and trading, financial advising, asset management, corporate finance, accounting, commercial banking, insurance and real estate management.  Many companies and firms recruit undergraduate and graduate students for finance jobs such as sales and trading and asset management.  If you are interested in finance but don’t want to be spending your days (and nights) on Wall Street, you might want to consider accounting, insurance, or commercial banking.

Sales Jobs
There is a lot more to sales jobs than door-to-door salesmen and car dealerships.  Some types of sales, such as retail sales, do not require much formal training, while other business jobs in sales often require business degrees, and they may involve tasks such as data analysis and corporate visits to clients.  Different types of business jobs in sales may include corporate sales, pharmaceutical sales, advertising sales, real estate sales and insurance sales.  Communication skills are one of the most important aspects of a career in sales, as well as extensive knowledge and expertise in one’s industry.  In many aspects of sales, experience is more important than education.

Consulting Jobs
One of the most desired business jobs for college graduates is consulting.  Consultants may either work independently or for a large consulting firm.  Consultants are hired by companies to analyze business problems, make recommendations, and implement a solution.  There are many different types of consulting jobs including management and strategy consulting, technology consulting, human resources consulting, healthcare consulting and manufacturing consulting.  Consulting jobs offer a lot of variety in terms of different clients and projects.  Business jobs in consulting also require strong problem-solving skills and an analytical mind.

Human Resources Jobs
Business jobs in human resources cover a large range of duties, such as hiring employees, facilitating terminations and separations, putting together benefits packages, maintaining organizational structure and company culture, encouraging employee communication and solving disputes, and measuring employee performance.  More specific job titles within the human resources field may include HR manager, payroll administrator, recruiter and benefits manager.

This list of business jobs could go on and on.  In fact, business professionals are also seeking out business careers in industries that are not typically associated with business, such as healthcare, law, non-profits, and government.  This shows the versatility of having a business background and the many different options available for careers in business, both for those of you with a business degree and for those without.

Most all of us have experienced a case of the Mondays or had “just one of those days” where it seemed like the hands of the clock couldn’t possibly move any slower.  Even for those of us who truly love our jobs, there will always be a time when you are just plain old bored.  If you are bored on the job, here are some fun things to do at work to help pass the time.

• Listen to music on an MP3 player (using headphones, of course)
• Take the scenic route when walking to the copy machine or restroom
• Redecorate your cubicle or office – a change of scenery may be refreshing
• Entice co-workers to come chat with you by placing a candy jar on your desk
• Clean out your e-mail inbox – while not the most exciting, at least it’s a change of pace and it might give you a fresh start
• Make yourself feel better by reading about other people who are even more bored at work than you are at DisgruntledWorkforce.com
• Exercise your creative mind and brainstorm – Where will you take your next vacation?  Or even better, what would you do to improve your company’s product or customer satisfaction? Your boss may appreciate some new insight (and this may even lead to consideration for a future promotion).
• Change your computer’s screensaver to a picture slideshow of your family or your favorite vacation spots
• Tackle the New York Times crossword puzzle online or watch some YouTube videos during a few spare minutes before a meeting or phone call
• Make the most of your breaks.  Rather than watching television in the lunchroom or surfing the web, take a walk or eat lunch outside for some fresh air
• If it’s a rainy day, try reading for pleasure or catching up on the news after you finish your lunch
• Sign up for a lunchtime yoga or fitness class nearby
• Take more frequent, shorter breaks instead of one long break in the middle of the day – this divides up your time and gives you something to look forward to

While these may not be as exciting as pulling practical jokes on your co-workers, if you try some of these ideas you may find that it’s fairly easy to solve the problem of being bored at work.

But what if you are still counting down the minutes (or hours) until five o’clock rolls around?  Maybe the issue is a bit larger, calling for a solution with a little more impact than headphones and an MP3 player.  You may need to ask yourself, “Why am I bored at work?”  Perhaps you don’t have enough work to do or your workload is not challenging enough.  This would be a perfect opportunity to approach your boss.  Ask him or her if there are any new projects you could work on.  Not only will this alleviate your boredom, but your boss will be impressed that you are taking the initiative.  If you are nervous about talking to your boss, take a look at The Boss and You and you will realize that he or she is not as scary as you think!

If this boredom at work still persists, maybe it’s time to find a new job.  If your current job doesn’t interest you, there are plenty of others out there that could.  It never hurts to explore your options because you never know what you may discover.  Check out What Career Is Right For Me? to get started.  If you are having trouble knowing where to start, consider looking at jobs in the fastest-growing occupations for 2008-2009 – there is probably a reason they are becoming so popular.  Here are just a few of these jobs, as provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Data Communications
• Home Health Aide / Personal Care Aide
• Computer Engineer
• Medical Assistant
• Financial Analyst
• Dental Hygienist/Assistant

If you are considering completely starting over in a new industry, take a look at these Entry-Level Jobs for a fresh start.  Or, maybe all you really want is a Fun Job.  Whether it is engaging in some fun things to do at work, taking on a new project or searching for a new job all together, you are bound to find a solution for being bored at work.

Labor Day is more than just a day that marks the first football games of the season, department store sales and the end of summer.  Labor Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of American workers.  Labor Day is not the typical holiday that honors American heroes or the men and women who have served in our military — Labor Day is a holiday that recognizes you, the American worker.  The Central Labor Union of New York planned the first Labor Day celebration in 1882, which included a Labor Day parade followed by a picnic with music and speeches.  Labor Day was made a federal holiday in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland.  While Labor Day was originally associated with labor union activities, over the years it has become more of a day for leisure and a time to rest from hard work.  Every year, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September, and Labor Day 2009 is on September 7th.

This Labor Day 2009, you have a day off as recognition for the hard work of you and your fellow Americans.  Here is some information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent June 2008 employment data:

Civilian Labor Force: 154,390,000 (number of citizens 16 years of age and over who are employed or looking for work)

Employed individuals in the labor force: 145,891,000 people

Average hours worked per week: 33.7 hours (for production and nonsupervisory workers)

Average hourly earnings: $18.01

Workers who hold multiple jobs: 7,694,000 people

Part-time workers in all industries: 24,912,000 people

Industries with growing employment opportunities:

• Mining and Oil
• Healthcare
• Retail
• Food Services
• Government

Number of employees by industry:

• Government: 22,459,000
• Professional and business services (legal, accounting, management, administration, etc.): 17,931,000
• Health care and social assistance: 15,777,200
• Retail trade: 15,325,600
• Leisure and hospitality: 13,723,000
• Manufacturing: 13,537,000
• Construction: 7,204,000
• Finance and Insurance: 6,089,600
• Wholesale trade: 6,037,600
• Transportation and warehousing: 4,526,700
• Educational services: 3,053,000
• Information (publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, etc.): 3,000,000
• Real estate and rental and leasing: 2,125,900
• Natural resources and mining: 764,000
• Utilities: 558,800

Occupations and Industries with lowest unemployment rates:

• Management, business, and financial operations (2.5%)
• Professional and related occupations (2.9%)
• Government workers (3.0%)
• Mining (3.3%)
• Education and health services (3.4%)
• Financial activities (3.4%)
• Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (4.4%)
• Information (4.7%)
• Office and administrative support occupations (4.8%)

Average hourly earnings by industry:

• Utilities: $29.08
• Information (publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, etc.): $24.71
• Natural resources and mining: $21.88
• Construction: $21.72
• Professional and business services (legal, accounting, management, administration, etc.): $21.11
• Financial Activities: $20.23
• Wholesale trade: $20.09
• Education and health services:$18.75
• Transportation and warehousing: $18.49
• Manufacturing: $17.73
• Retail trade: $12.87
• Leisure and hospitality: $10.88

More Labor Day resources:

• U.S. Department of Labor: The History of Labor Day
• Library of Congress: The First Labor Day
• History.com: The History of Labor Day
• USA.gov: Labor Day
• Labor Day Weekend.com – party planning ideas for Labor Day celebrations
• 2009 Federal Holidays

Key things to address when writing a cover letter

• Why you want to work for the company
• What you can bring to the company
• What differentiates you from other candidates
• How you qualify for the particular position
• Highlight your most important and relevant accomplishments

Opening paragraph

• Introduce yourself. This answers the basic question, “Who are you?”  For example, you may introduce yourself as a college student in her third year studying engineering at MIT; a recent graduate of USC who is interested in working for a social services agency; or an individual with a passion for investing and wealth management.
• Explain why you are writing. It is important to include this early in your cover letter so as not to mislead the reader.  For example, if you are responding to a job ad, reference the name of the position opening.  You should also specify what type of employment you hope to find.  Are you available for part-time or full-time employment?  If you are applying for a temporary position, such as a summer job or internship, state your availability.
• Grab the reader’s attention. If you want the hiring manager or supervisor to continue reading your cover letter and resume, it is good to include at least one sentence in your opening paragraph that will grab their attention.  This may be as simple as previewing your strongest qualities, showing that you understand the industry or company goals, or mentioning a referral from someone in the company.

Body paragraphs

• Sell yourself while addressing the company. While a targeted cover letter for a position opening is designed to sell yourself, remember that this business letter isn’t only about you – a company wants to hear how you will fit in with them.  With this in mind, you will want to tie everything you write back to the company and job requirements.  For example, how will you use your past experience or your strong personality traits to contribute to the company?  To help you make this connection between your skills and the job, it is a good idea to review the job description and requirements listed in the job posting.  You may also want to do some research on the company to gain a clear understanding of their history, function in the industry and company culture.
• Expand on your resume. A cover letter is meant to complement your resume, not to repeat it.  Instead of re-typing your bullet points, try focusing on one or two jobs or activities and elaborate on what you did there.  It is important to use specific examples to support each of your statements.  Similarly, rather than simply describing your past job, describe how you did your job.  Again, in your cover letter be sure to make the connection between your experience and the position opening by showing the reader how you will use your skills to successfully meet the requirements of the job to which you are applying.

Conclusion paragraph

• Take action. In the final paragraph of your cover letter for the position opening, you should indicate what the next step is.  For example, you may write that you will follow up by calling the employer at the end of the week.  Or, you may want to write that you are interested in setting up an interview.  If the company has stated that they will not be accepting phone calls, or if you are applying through a recruiting program, it may be more appropriate that you wait for the employer to contact you.  In that case, write that you look forward to hearing from them soon.
• Thank you. Your cover letter should end with a thank you.  This can be something as simple as “Thank you for your time and consideration.”

Don’t forget the details

• Formatting of your cover letter should be like a business letter, which includes your name and contact info, date, company contact info, salutation, body and closing.  See our sample cover letters for position openings below for an example cover letter template.
• Length should be no more than one page.  A typical cover letter is three to four paragraphs.
• Concise cover letters are the best because they are clear and to the point.  Employers have a limited time to go through hundreds of e-mails and job applications, so it is best not to waste their time with jargon or long, complicated sentences.
• E-mail cover letters should be much shorter and even more concise than traditional cover letters that are faxed or mailed.  It is best to include a cover letter in the body of the e-mail with your resume as an attachment.  You may also choose to follow up by sending a hard-copy of your resume and full cover letter through the mail.

Sample Cover Letters for Position Openings

• Sample Letter for Position Opening – Cover Letter Template
• Sample Letter for Position Opening – Sample Cover Letter 1
• Sample Letter for Position Opening – Sample Cover Letter 2
• Sample Letter for Position Opening – Sample Cover Letter 3

For more cover letter advice and sample cover letters, visit our article on “Cover Letters” or review our Cover Letter Tips.

In a profession with increasingly high turnover and recruiting issues, boosting the salaries of new teachers could help to increase the amount of time they spend with a particular school or school district. Additionally, wide discrepancies between teacher salaries from region to region also affect the likelihood that a qualified teacher will work for a school with low salaries. Some school districts offer high teacher salaries and great benefits, while others do not. With the rising price of gas and other inflation, teachers must make difficult choices when considering where to work. Again, the discrepancy in teacher salary from district to district can hinder the likelihood of retaining veteran teachers. Before accepting a position, teachers should research the salaries from district to district in their areas. Ask other teachers where they enjoy working and for a list of pros and cons of a particular school or school district.

The most recent report included a list of teacher salaries by state. The state with the highest average teacher salary was Connecticut, at $57,760. California was a very close second, where the average teacher salary is $57,604. New Jersey teachers make approximately $56,635 per year. Rounding out the top five were Illinois and Rhode Island, with the average teacher salary at $56,494 and $56,432, respectively. The state with the lowest average teacher salary was South Dakota, at $34,039.

According to CBSalary.com, the average teacher salary by city was as follows:

• Springfield, IL – $48,015
• Chicago, IL – $53,713
• Atlanta, GA – $35,903
• Savannah, GA – $25,008
• Orlando, FL – $31,684
• Tampa, FL – $36,630
• Miami, FL – $34,501

Teacher salary also varies according to education level of the teacher. A teacher with a four year bachelor’s degree may make less than a teacher with a master’s degree. The ranges for teacher salary in Chicago, IL vary from $37,372 to $89,620. This wide range obviously incorporates education level and experience of a multitude of teachers. Teacher salary also depends on what school level or subject teachers specialize in. A secondary school teacher may make more than a primary school teacher. In Chicago, a primary school teacher makes approximately $44,480. A secondary school teacher makes about $4,000 more, or $48,180. The average mathematics teacher makes $38,211, while the average science teacher makes $62,391. These teachers may make up to $52,977 or $87,946, respectively. A history teacher at the secondary level makes $38,256. The highest reported income for a history teacher in Chicago is $53,106. These wide ranges include teachers in public and private institutions at a variety of experience levels.

With the hype of watching the pros in the U.S. Open or scheduling a tee time to take your dad golfing for Father’s Day, it is easy to forget that golf is actually a business tool.  Whether you are golfing with a coworker, entertaining a client or attending game as a customer, golf is a great way to get ahead in your career.  In fact, being comfortable on the fairway is often considered a necessity in today’s business world.  Here are some tips to use golf to your advantage in your career:

1. Take golf lessons. Whether you are a beginner or you are looking to improve your swing, taking golf lessons is a great idea.  If you find yourself turning down golf invitations from friends or business partners because you are not skilled enough, this may be seriously hurting your career.  You never want to miss out on a golf opportunity, so take the steps needed to learn how to play and improve your golf skills.  Taking golf lessons is also a great place for networking — it’s likely that many of the other people there will be businesspeople in the same situation as you.  Check out Play Golf America.com to find a golf instructor near you.

2. Join a private club. If you anticipate the need to entertain clients or invite friends from work to play golf, it may be to your advantage to join a country club.  Private clubs are also excellent ways to meet businesspeople outside of your company.  The person you speak with while waiting to tee off may remember you a few years down the road and think of you when a job opens up at his or her company.  Golf is a great networking tool, and joining a private club is one of the best ways to combine golf and your career.

3. Remember that the conversation on the golf course doesn’t have to be strictly business. Even if you are golfing with a client in hopes of closing a business deal, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to talk about business the entire time.  While business may be on the agenda, the majority of the conversation should be casual.  Golfing is a great way to spend some time with a client or colleague to develop a positive relationship with each other.  Don’t worry about making a sale on the golf course or impressing your boss by rattling off your most recent achievements in the company.  This will come later, whether it be at the last hole, lunch afterwards in the clubhouse or during a conversation the next week.  The main thing to remember is that business golf is primarily for establishing rapport with one another.

4. Don’t forget to follow-up. After entertaining a customer or being treated to a game of golfing, it is best to send a thank-you letter or make a quick phone call in the next few days.  Show your thanks and appreciation and be sure to mention that you truly enjoyed your time on the golf course together.  This shows that not only do you value the business relationship with them, but you also value their friendship.  The follow-up is also a good place to bring in the business side of things, especially for salespeople.  Reference something you discussed during the golf game and ask your client if they would be interested in pursuing the business relationship even further.

5. Be professional. While business golfing is often casual, it is still important to act professionally.  Pay attention to the people you are golfing with, especially those who are higher up in the company than you are.  If they aren’t ordering drinks, then you probably shouldn’t order drinks either.  Conversation may switch to personal topics such as family, but be careful not to say anything too revealing.  You want to say enough so that the other person can get to know you on a more personal level, but you don’t want to say anything that would give a bad impression or make someone think you are irresponsible.  Finally, if you have a temper, you might want to practice controlling this before you find yourself throwing your clubs at your next business golf meeting.

6. Stay informed. Golf is a great icebreaker even when you aren’t on the green.  Know who the top professional golfers are, watch the replays of the best shots from the weekend’s game, and stay up to date on the PGA Tour and U.S. Open.  Golf is a good conversation starter for getting to know coworkers or finding common ground with a potential client.

Golf Jobs: If golf is your passion but you aren’t golfing at a professional level just yet, you may be interested in investigating some of the various careers available in golf.

• Golf Shop Jobs
• Golf Course Jobs
• Country Club Jobs
• Golf Resort Jobs
• Food and Beverage jobs at golf courses
• Golf Course Maintenance
• Event Planner – planning business meetings at golf courses and other venues
• Sports Marketing
• Hospitality Jobs

Business Golf Resources:

• U.S. Open
• Find a Golf Course
• Business Week: Golf Digest
• “What it comes to golf, business women are also furthering their careers on the fairway”
• “Business golf etiquette”

Part-Time Jobs for High School Students A full-time job during the school year is almost always out of the question, but maybe you have enough time to work part time while you are still taking classes. Most high school students with part-time jobs work approximately 10-20 hours a week. If you want to work during the school year, look for weekend jobs or jobs that don’t require you to work hours too late at night – homework should still be your number one priority! You will also want to find an employer who can give you the flexibility needed to accommodate your extracurricular schedule. Your high school guidance counselor may also be able to help you in finding a job. Most jobs for high school students are hourly positions in the service industry. While not the most glamorous, these jobs offer great experience and flexible schedules. Here are some part-time jobs for high school students:

• Retail part-time jobs include working at a store in the mall, at a larger retail outlet like Target, Kohl’s or Wal-Mart, or as a cashier at a local hardware store or small business.
• Restaurant and Food Service jobs may include fast food restaurant workers, cashiers, waiters and waitresses, servers, hosts and hostesses, bus persons, banquet hall servers, or pizza delivery drivers.
• Grocery jobs for high school students include those who cashier at the check-out line, bag groceries, bring in shopping carts, or stock the shelves. Like retail and fast-food, grocery stores offer flexible hours and are familiar with having high school students as employees.

Summer Jobs for High School Students With classes out of the way, high school students have a lot more options in the summer. Some may choose to work full time, while other students seek out a part-time job that allows them to go on vacations, take summer school courses, or spend time with friends.

• Retail can be either a part-time or full-time job during the summer. One perk of working in retail is the employee discount. This is especially good for high school students on a tight budget. Some retail jobs are commission-based, such as at cell phone stores or cosmetics counters. WorkInRetail.com is a good source for retail jobs.
• Restaurant and Food Service jobs can also be either part- or full-time.
• Outdoor jobs may include caddying at a golf course, lifeguard, camp counselor, or lawn and park maintenance. If you are a sports person, you may also enjoy giving tennis lessons, helping coach a little league baseball team, or being an umpire or referee. Check your local park district, zoo, beach, or golf course for more outdoor summer jobs for high school students.
• Administrative and Clerical jobs for high school students may be available in the summer at any sort of office, such as real estate agencies, insurance companies, doctors offices, car dealerships, banks, etc. These jobs may involve answering the phones, filing papers and other office work.
• Temp Work may be a good summer job for high school students who are interested in administrative work. Temporary workers are sent out on assignments of varying length (one day, one week, the entire summer, etc.) to fill in for employees who are out of the office or to help work on special projects. OfficeTeam and Manpower are two temporary agencies which offer some entry-level jobs that may interest high school students.

Summer Internships for High School Students Many determined high school students are hoping to get lucky and land a summer internship. Keep in mind that you must work hard to get a high school summer internship, because you will be competing with college students who have already taken coursework specific to their major and job. Often times students get internships through their parents, family friends, or neighbors, so tell everyone you know what you are looking for. If gaining experience is more important to you than money, unpaid internships for high school students are also an option. Search online or stop in at local companies and ask if they need any additional summer help. Unpaid internships might also be available at a local community organization or non-profit. Check out your town’s web page or go to idealist.org to find these summer internships. Many universities also offer research opportunities and internships for high school students. Finally, some companies have internship programs designed specifically for high school students. Many of these internships are local, most require that you are at least 16 years old, and some are even paid! Here are some of the companies that offer summer internship programs for high school students:

• Microsoft (Washington)
• Museum of Modern Art (New York city)
• Science & Engineering Research at Berkeley Lab (San Francisco Bay area)
• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute – Biomedical Research
• Johns Hopkins Materials Research Science and Engineering (Baltimore area)
• NASA – high school internships and summer programs (nationwide opportunities)
• Youth Internship Program – places high school students in law, business, and government paid internships (Los Angeles)
• Progenics Pharmaceuticals (New York)

If you don’t get an internship, and the typical entry-level, minimum wage jobs for high school students don’t appeal to you, just remind yourself that everyone needs a first job at some point in their life. Work experience, no matter what kind, is something to put on your resume, and it will help you in finding your next job. Besides, you may find that you actually enjoy the fast-paced and customer-oriented atmosphere in these types of high school jobs.

Mother’s Day is a holiday that honors mothers across the world. In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. Mothers are dedicated and loving individuals and Mother’s Day is a time to thank them for all they do. Mother’s Day also reminds us of all the hard work that is involved in being a great mother. Whether your mother is a stay-at-home mom, has a work-at-home job or is a part-time or full-time working mom, take the time to truly appreciate all their hard work this Mother’s Day. Here are some different job options for moms, as well as the top companies for working mothers. This Mother’s Day, do yourself a favor and look for jobs that accommodate the needs of working mothers.

Work at Home Moms Work-at-home jobs are a good solution for mothers who want to stay at home with their kids but need or want to continue working. Mother’s Day would be a perfect time to speak with your current employer at possible work at home opportunities. Some companies specialize in work-at-home jobs, such as Alpine Access, LiveOps, Arise and West at Home. Common work-at-home jobs include data entry, medical transcription, medical billing and coding, customer service, call center, telemarketing, sales, loan officer, writing, editing and freelance work. Work-at-home moms may also want to investigate starting their own business, such as affiliate marketing or an auction business on eBay. Other work-at-home moms may enjoy the freedom of working at a company like Avon or Mary Kay.

Part-Time Working Moms Part-time jobs for moms are a nice compromise between the two extremes of being a full-time stay-at-home mom or a full-time working mom. There is such variety in the different part-time jobs available that you are sure to find one to fit in your schedule. Shortened hours, working fewer days a week or working at night when your spouse is home are just a few of the different scheduling options available for part-time working moms. Some great part-time jobs for working moms include: substitute teacher, part-time bookkeeper, part-time administrative assistant, part-time receptionist, part-time nurse and part-time retail worker. Seasonal jobs, such as working in retail or the post office during the holidays or at an accounting firm during tax season, are also good ways to earn some extra money. Job-sharing is another option for working moms to consider this Mother’s Day.

Full-Time Working Moms If working from home or working part time are not options for you, there are many full-time jobs available. Some full-time jobs may be better for mothers than other jobs. For example, a job in education is more likely to provide a schedule that allows you to be home when your school-age children are home. A few great education jobs are teacher, school nurse, school secretary, school psychologist or guidance counselor. Full-time working moms may also be interested in companies that offer flextime plans or alternative work schedules, where you have the option to come in to work earlier or later than the standard workday. Flextime is most common in business jobs, and some companies are especially notable for offering flextime, such as Sun Microsystems, KPMG, Best Buy, PNC Financial Services Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

This Mother’s Day, take a look at the top 10 companies that made Working Mother’s “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers”:

1. Baptist Health South Florida
2. Booz Allen Hamilton
3. Ernst & Young
4. General Mills
5. IBM
6. KPMG
7. The McGraw-Hill Companies
8. PricewaterhouseCoopers
9. UBS
10. Wachovia

Other companies that made the list:

• Financial Services
  • Bank of America
  • Capital One
  • Citi
  • Credit Suisse
  • Fannie Mae
  • First National Bank
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Northern Trust
  • PNC Financial Services Group
  • RSM McGladrey
• Hospitals and Healthcare
  • Scripps Health
  • TriHealth
  • University of Wisconsin Health
• Information Technology & Technology Services
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Intel Corporation
  • Microsoft
  • Verizon
• Insurance
  • Allstate
  • Metlife
• Legal Services
  • Merrill Lynch
• Manufacturing and Retail
  • Colgate-Palmolive
  • Dow Chemical
  • DuPont
  • General Electric
  • Kraft Foods
  • Marriott
• Media, Publishing and Advertising
  • McGraw Hill Companies
  • Pearson
• Pharmaceutical and Biotech
  • Abbott
  • Bayer
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Novartis
  • Pfizer
  • Sanofi-Aventis
  • Schering-Plough
  • Wyeth
• Professional Services
  • Accenture

Mother’s Day Job Articles:

• “Advice for Working Moms”
• “How Mother’s Can Balance Work and Family”
• “Telecommuting 101″
• “10 Jobs That Let You Work from Home”
• “How to Make Working from Home Work”
• “For Returning Moms, Companies Roll Out the Welcome Mat”
• “Need Flexibility? Work From Home”
• “Working Mother: Balance Work”

Mother’s Day Job Resources:

• WAHM.com The Online Magazine for Work at Home Moms
• BizyMoms.com
• WorkingMother.com
• Work It: A Blog for Working Moms
• Working Mom’s Blog

Mother’s Day Resources:

• Famous Mom Quotes
• Mom Quotes for Mother’s Day
• Mother Quotes by QuoteGarden.com
• Mother Quotes by Mothers.net
• Mom Poems for Mother’s Day

Hiring Resources for the Job-Seeker:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: research industry trends and education requirements to gain a better understanding of who is hiring, why they are hiring, and what they want
• EmploymentSpot articles
• CareerBuilder.com advice
• CBsalary Calculator
• Vault.com
• WetFeet.com

Here are some great jobs that are now hiring and in high demand:

• Sales Representative
• Teacher
• Mechanic
• Engineering Technician
• Management/Executive
• Truck Driver – Freight
• Driver – Delivery
• Accountant
• Construction Laborers
• Machine Operator

Hiring Resources to Get Inside the Mind of the Employer:

Apply online When looking for jobs, of course you will want to go where the employers go – online job databases.  Employers like to post their job openings online because this gives them a much larger and diverse audience that they wouldn’t have access to elsewhere.  Because the number of applicants for online jobs that are hiring is so large, it is important to make yourself stand out when submitting a resume online.  WetFeet’s article “Using Keywords to Make Your Resume Stand Out” will help you do this.  cbResume, a professional resume service, and CareerBuilder’s free resume review are two other great hiring resources you can use.  You should also include a cover letter with your resume – this immediately puts you a step ahead of those individuals who do not submit one.  Plus, unlike your resume, which focuses on you, a cover letter allows you to tell the company what you can do for them and why.  Purdue University has some very informative resources on how to write a cover letter and what to include in each paragraph.

Job Descriptions Employers spend a good deal of time writing job descriptions.  By knowing how to read and interpret these job postings, you can figure out exactly what the employer wants.  Pay close attention to how they phrase the job tasks and qualifications and find underlying “themes” of the job by considering the entire job description as a whole.  For example, if most of the required skills deal with data and analysis, you may want to “sell” yourself as a numbers person who enjoys problem-solving with concrete evidence.  If a job description is written in a way that suggests there is flexibility in the job duties, this tells you that the employer is looking for a person who is innovative, proactive and wants to help the company grow.  Finally, do not let a low salary or unmet education requirements stop you from applying to jobs that are hiring.  If you feel you are an “exception” to the requirement, figure out how you can overcome this in your cover letter or interview.  For example, if the employer is looking for someone with 3-4 years of experience and you have only had one internship, give them examples of how you are a fast-learner and hard-worker. If an employer is impressed by you, they may be willing to negotiate.

Interviews Employer hiring resources are just as helpful to you as they are to HR managers.  When preparing yourself for an interview, look beyond the job-seeker resources and study hiring resources.  Familiarize yourself with different interview techniques by reading employer hiring resources such as  “Top 4 Strategic Interview Styles.” Prepare yourself for these different interview styles and try to anticipate which one a company will use based on their job description and the company culture.  By reviewing hiring resources designed for the employer, you can get a better idea of what sort of questions you will be asked in an interview.  During the interview, you will also want to ask the employer some of your own questions, such as those in the article “The Best Questions to Ask in the Interview.” In addition to giving you a better idea of the company’s goals, this will show the employer that you have a genuine interest in their company.

Does all of this talk about job hiring sound interesting to you?  If yes, you might want to consider a career in human resources.  HR jobs involve hiring employees, putting together benefit packages, maintaining organizational structure and company culture, encouraging employee communication and solving disputes, and measuring employee performance.  Some specific HR jobs include HR manager, payroll administrator, recruiter and benefits manager.  With a human resources job, you could finally be the one sitting on the other side of the interview table!

Environmental concerns were first brought to the forefront of public and political attention with the establishment of Earth Day on April 22, 1970.  Nationwide demonstrations involving over 20 million participants helped to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues and the need for legislative action.  Earth Day is now celebrated worldwide every year on April 22, with millions of people in hundreds of different countries working together to better our environment.

What can you do to help the environment this Earth Day 2008?  Here are some “green companies” that are environmentally conscious.  Further down the page, you will also find some great Earth Day resources for teachers and parents, such as Earth Day activities for kids.

Fortune’s list of the “10 Green Giants” who go above and beyond the legal requirements to be environmentally responsible:

1. Honda (manufacturing, sales and management jobs at Honda)
2. Continental Airlines
3. Suncor
4. Tesco
5. Rio Tinto Alcan (jobs at Alcan)
6. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
7. S.C. Johnson
8. Goldman Sachs
9. Swiss Re
10. Hewlett-Packard (jobs at Hewlett-Packard)

Remember that just about any job can be considered a green job if you are working for a green company like one of these. Here are some jobs at eco-friendly companies who are making efforts to stay green and not harm the environment:

• 3M
• Alcoa
• Bank of America
• Bayer
• BP
• Canon
• Chrysler
• Citigroup
• Coca-Cola
• Dell
• Dole Food
• DuPont
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Ford Motor
• General Electric
• General Motors
• Home Depot
• HSBC Group
• IBM
• IKEA
• Intel
• JP Morgan Chase
• Kohl’s
• Nike
• Ricoh
• Siemens
• Target
• Toyota
• Unilever
• UPS
• Wal-Mart
• Whole Foods

Sources:

• USA Today’s “Companies Turn Up the Green”
• Portfolio.com’s “The Green 11″
• USA Today’s “Companies Discover Going Green Pays Off”
• Chicago Tribune’s “Green Companies Grow into Hot Investments”
• BusinessWeek’s “Green Technology Innovators”
• BusinessWeek’s “Climate Change: Top Companies of the Decade”

Once you are working at an environmentally-conscious company, the EPA has provided some resources to help you learn ways to protect the environment during your day-to-day routine at work.

Earth Day Resources:

• Earth Day Network
• History of Earth Day by the founder of Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson
• Earth Day by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Earth Day by the U.S. Government
• “Going Green: America’s 10 Greenest Cities”
• “Environmental Jobs – Green Careers”

Earth Day Activities for Kids:

• Earth Day games
• Earth Day activities
• Earth Day activities (Pre-K – high school)
• Earth Day activities for kids
• Earth Day lesson plans (4th-6th grade)
• Earth Day crossword puzzles and other Earth Day activities

Earth Day Word Search:

• Earth Day Word Search (Beginner)
• Earth Day Word Search (Easy)
• Earth Day Word Search (Medium)
• Earth Day Word Search (Hard)
• Earth Day Word Search (Challenging)

Earth Day Coloring Pages:

• Earth Day coloring pages
• Earth Day coloring pages
• Earth Day coloring pages

1. Why do you need to hire someone? Before you can begin the hiring process to find the perfect person for your company, you first need to spend some time thinking about why you are hiring. Analyze your company’s current successes and downfalls. What do you see in your company’s future? What additional resources do you need in order to reach your goals? Bringing an additional person into the company involves a large financial commitment, so you will want to be sure that hiring is the right decision. Ask yourself if you are you fully utilizing your current employees’ skills. You might realize that a few changes and restructuring may solve your problems, or you may find that your company is still in desperate need of extra help.

2. What will the new position entail? Once you have decided that you are in fact going to hire a new employee, you must determine exactly what that employee will be doing. If you are filling an newly open position, reflect on the previous employee’s job duties. Is there anything you want to add to this position? Do you want the position to switch focus to a different task? If you are hiring for a brand new position, you should spend a good deal of time analyzing your company’s needs in order to develop a proper job description. Some key components of a good job description include:

• • summary of the position
  • list of job duties – tasks the employee will actually perform
  • list of minimum requirements and skills – what the employee needs to successfully complete the job duties

Flexibility is one of the most important aspects of a job description because it shows the employee that he or she has options and room for growth within that job. It is also important to be as specific as possible, without losing any flexibility. For example, there is a big difference between technical writing, good phone etiquette and customer presentations, so if the applicant needs good communication skills, be specific as to what sort of communication is required. You can keep the description flexible by stating that the employee decides the best way to approach the customer presentations and communication. Remember that a good job description will attract the applicants best qualified for the job, thus saving you time and money. For a great hiring resource on job descriptions, check out the article Writing Effective Job Descriptions.

3. What kind of person do you want to hire? This question is both practical and abstract. For example, will your new employee be full time, part time, an intern, or temporary? Will he or she be a recent college grad or an experienced professional? Do you place more value on education or experience? These are all very practical questions, and you should have a general idea of what your answer is for each. However, one of the biggest mistakes in interviewing is being too quick to judge and placing limitations on your hiring process. It is important to remember that each individual is different. For example, in general you might prefer to have an employee with a degree from a highly-respected institution. But what about the exceptions to the rule? You don’t want to overlook an outstanding candidate with an extensive list of relevant experience just because they did not attend college or majored in something other than what you had in mind.

4. How are you going to find the right person? This is probably the most difficult part of hiring for jobs. First of all, how will you inform potential employees that this job is on the market? Maybe you want to hire from within or you already have someone in mind. However, if you want to choose from a large applicant pool offering a wide range of talent, you might want to consider posting your job descriptions online. Advertising your job openings on web sites like this one give you access to millions of people who you could not otherwise reach through word-of-mouth or local newspapers. Once you have received and reviewed resumes and job applications, you will want to begin interviewing those candidates with the best prospects. Here are some hiring resources to help you with interviewing:

• • Make sure you are asking the right questions. Just as job candidates prepare for interviews, you need to prepare too. Study their resume ahead of time and have some specific questions in mind. It is a good idea to ask behavioral questions such as those that begin with “Tell me about a time when…” While it is easy for an applicant to say that she has leadership qualities, behavioral questions will help you figure out if she really is a leader. For more hiring resources and advice on interviews, check out 5 Steps to Giving Quality Interviews.
  • Pick an interview style. According to the article Top 4 Strategic Interview Styles, the four main interview styles are Relaxed, Intimidating, “Friend,” and Panel. The best interview style will depend on the job, the type of employee you want, the sort of information and observations you want to receive from the interview, and the company culture.
  • When interviewing a number of different candidates, try to keep the interview process as consistent as possible. If the same person conducts the interview and asks the same set of core questions each time, it will be easier and more fair when comparing one candidate against another.

CareerBuilder.com offer some more great hiring resources, providing help with hiring the right people, training your work force and legal issues associated with job hiring.

It may also be beneficial for employers to look at the hiring process from the job-seeker’s perspective. If a candidate is interviewing at multiple companies and you really want him/her to work for you, you will need to sell the job and your company. Knowing what a job seeker is looking for will help you in doing this. Check out “Hiring Resources: Job-Seekers” or Employer Hot Buttons – What Employers Look For for more hiring resources.

Feel like you will never get a job?

Getting desperate?

Do you need work now?

You have been searching for jobs for hours on end, day after day, but still aren’t having any luck. Maybe you can’t find the right jobs to apply to, can’t get to the interview, or can’t get past the first interview. Whatever it is, there is a solution to those thoughts that are constantly running through your head — “I need work.. and I need work NOW!” We understand what it’s like to need work in order to pay the bills, get health insurance and put dinner on the table for your family. Here are some tips to help you find work now:

1. Look in the right places. If you need to find work, online job boards, such as EmploymentSpot and CareerBuilder, are the easiest ways to find and apply to jobs. You can search by location or industry, or use specific keywords to narrow down your job search as much as possible. It is also smart to look through newspaper help wanted ads for jobs that aren’t being advertised online. Talk to friends, family and neighbors and get the word out that “I need work.” Finally, stop in local businesses with your suit on and resume in hand. Whether or not they have a “Help Wanted” sign on their door, it never hurts to stop in and ask.

2. Perfect your resume. If you need work now and are applying to jobs but aren’t getting any phone calls, maybe your resume needs some helps. Get a second (and third) opinion by having someone with good judgment review your resume. Spelling and grammar errors are the first thing to look for. Next, focus on the layout of your resume. The easier it is to read and understand, the more likely it is that an employer will take the time to look it over. Finally, pay attention to the wording and order of the items in your resume. Most people use a chronological format, but if your most recent or current job has nothing to do with the job you are applying to, this may not be the best method. Also, doing something as simple as rewording your bullet points by making them more active and descriptive can help you find work now, helping your resume go from the bad pile to the good pile. What you say in your resume and how it looks can make all the difference in getting a job.

3. Don’t forget a cover letter. Many employers will throw away resumes that do not come with a cover letter. No matter how much of a hassle it seems, if you really need work now, writing a cover letter could be your key to landing the interview. By taking the time to write a cover letter, it shows the employer that you are truly interested in the job. Employers can tell when you mass-mail resumes and use the same cover letter template for each job application, so it is important to address the specific job requirements in each cover letter and write about how your skills and experience relate to fulfilling those requirements. Your cover letter is the place to sell yourself, especially if you are lacking experience on your resume.

4. Master the interview. First of all, if you are headed to an interview, it means that you did something right. The first thing to remember in interviews is to show the employer what you can do for their company. When asked why you want the job, it probably isn’t smart to say to the HR manager, “I need work.” This shows that you are only thinking about yourself. Instead of saying why you need them, tell the company why they need to hire you. It is important to be prepared for interviews and know what questions to expect. For example, have some idea of how you would answer the infamous “So, tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to work for [insert company name here]” questions. For interview help, check out “Interview Tips to Get the Job.” For more interview tips straight from the employers, check out “Master the Interview: Insight from the Inside” and “Hiring Manager Secrets: The 5 Smartest Interview Moves.”.

5. Be professional. If you are still saying to yourself, “I need work,” then maybe you aren’t as professional as you think you are. How is your phone and e-mail etiquette? How are you behaving during the interview? How are you dressing for the interview? These may seem small in comparison to the skills you have to offer, but a lack of professionalism is a warning for employers. First impressions make all the difference in the working world, so when you need to find work you must act and look your best.

6. Stand out from the crowd. Standing out from the crowd does not mean submitting a hot pink resume — it means differentiating yourself. Employers want to see why you are better than the other 100 applicants applying to this job. Imagine that you all have the same work experience and education. What is it about you that makes you different — and better — from the rest? Find out what this is and sell yourself with it. For example, everyone in sales is friendly (or at least they should be), so how do you go above and beyond to find more clients and secure the most sales?

If you are still saying to yourself (and everyone you know), “I need work,” consider starting out in an entry-level job. Or, maybe you just aren’t in the right place at the right time. If you need work and are willing to move, look for jobs in other cities and states. Maybe you will be lucky enough to have your employer pay for you to relocate! Here are some of the states with the best prospects for employment:

• South Dakota
• Idaho
• Wyoming
• Nebraska
• Utah

Go to a career fair. If your resume isn’t getting you in the door, attending a career fair gives you face-to-face time with employers. Show a genuine interest in the company and ask lots of questions before telling them about yourself and what you are looking for. This is you chance to make a lasting impression!

After all this, do you still need to find work? Make sure there isn’t something you are overlooking. Is there a chance that you are unemployable? Read this article to find out: “Are You Unemployable?”

Do you already have a job but need more work? Consider taking an extra job on nights or weekends. While not the ideal situation, it may be a temporary solution if you need more work to get you through some tough times. Look into working somewhere that is open on nights and weekends, such as in retail or food service. You may also enjoy the entertainment industry, such as working at a casino or being an usher or concessions worker at a music or sports venue. If you need more work you can also pick up some extra hours by working in security, construction and general labor. These are all great jobs if you need more work because they allow for flexibility so you can continue at your current job.

Do you need work but aren’t sure where to start? Find out what job is right for you by exploring these different industries:

• Accounting
• Administrative & Clerical
• Automotive
• Construction
• Customer Service
• Engineering
• Finance
• Hospitality & Hotel
• Insurance
• Manufacturing
• Restaurant & Food Service
• Retail
• Telecommunications
• Warehouse

Ten appropriate office April Fools’ Jokes

Do you want to pull off an office April Fools’ joke that will go down in company history?  Before you do, it is important to consider the possible consequences. Is this April Fools’ joke appropriate for work?  Will it offend, upset, or embarrass a co-worker?  Would you be upset if someone played this April Fools’ prank on you?  Consider the worst-case scenario, and if there is even the slightest possibility of any negative consequences, then it is best to play it on the safe side and leave the April Fools’ prank for friends and family.  However, if your company has a laid-back culture or if people have successfully pulled office April Fools’ jokes in the past, then April Fools’ Day may be the perfect way to bring a little more fun and laughs into the office.  Here are 10 appropriate office April Fools’ jokes:

1. Take all the lunches out of the refrigerator around 10 AM and hide them (preferably in a cooler).  You could also hide just two or three lunches, or swap the food in everyone’s lunch bags.
2. Switch two of the keys on a co-worker’s keyboard.  Better yet, switch the same keys on everyone’s keyboard in the office.
3. Put a co-workers office supplies inside a Jell-O mold. (Great for fans of Dwight and Jim on The Office television show!)
4. Cover someone’s cubicle and everything inside it with aluminum foil.
5. Swap desk drawers between co-workers — just make sure there isn’t anything personal in them!
6. Plastic wrap someone’s car.
7. Redecorate the victim’s office with posters of their rival college or most-hated sports team.  Don’t forget to change their computer background and create a new screen saver.
8. Place a piece of tape or a Post-It note that reads “April Fools!” on the bottom of every employee’s mouse.  Simple yet sure to get a chuckle from everyone.
9. Filling your boss’s office with packing peanuts is a little unrealistic, but a more practical office April Fools’ joke is to tape Styrofoam packing peanuts to sheets of paper and then tape the paper to the windows of your boss’s office, so it looks like the entire office is filled.  Check out this picture for the full effect.
10. Team together with your co-workers.  Meet on a different floor or outside the building and have everyone call in sick or inform the boss of different off-the-wall emergencies that will keep them from coming in to work.

To pull off these office April Fools’ jokes, it is best to arrive to work early or stay late the night before.  Or you can do the dirty work while everyone is out for lunch.  Once you have pulled your office prank, play it as cool as possible.  Your co-workers will spend the entire day trying to guess who pulled the joke.  Even better, play an office April Fools’ joke on a few select co-workers, and do it on yourself too — you will be less suspicious this way.  If you get all of your co-workers involved and play an office April Fools’ joke on your boss, be sure that he or she is the joking type.

For a list of 10 of the most memorable office April Fools’ jokes, check out CareerBuilder.com’s annual April Fools’ Day survey on April Fools’ Day Pranks at the Office.

And again, as a final reminder, be sure you anticipate the consequences before playing office April Fools’ jokes.  Don’t let a seemingly harmless office joke be the reason you get fired from your job!  If you’re not sure that office April Fools’ jokes will go over well at your company, take a look at these articles for some more advice:

• “April Fools’ Day at the Office – To Joke or Not to Joke”
• “Office Pranks for April Fools’ Day? They May be No Joking Matter, Survey Suggests”

Good luck, have fun, and Happy April Fools’ Day!

Fun jobs for the creative mind…

• advertising – You could be the creator of the next television commercial, magazine ad, or even entire ad campaign that everyone is talking about! From strategy and initial concept, to artistic design, to placement of ads, advertising is sure to be a fun career for the creative types.
• graphic design – With a fun career in graphic design, you may be creating business logos, designing promotional displays, or working on the layout of a magazine. Using your creative mind and computer technology, graphic designers may work for a large advertising or publishing agency, start their own graphic design business, or do freelance work.
• animation – How would you like to help create the next box-office Pixar or Dreamworks movie production? Just like graphic design, animation combines artistic ability and creativity with technology. Animators have fun careers that may involve working with television commercials, video games, or movies.
• writer - Are you constantly jotting down ideas on napkins, or composing your memoir in your head? Whether you want to write a newspaper column, magazine articles, self-help books, children’s books, or the next New York Times best seller, a fun career in writing could be just the thing for a creative person with a passion for words.
• music therapist - Music lovers who don’t have dreams of stardom may want to pursue a creative, fun career as a musical therapist. Music therapists use music to help people, often those with disabilities or the elderly, with things like motor skills and social development. They must be creative individuals with knowledge and a love for music.

Fun jobs for the problem-solver…

• consulting – For those who enjoy a challenge, consulting would be a very fulfilling, fun career. Consulting is fun because of the variety it offers in a diverse environment of changing clients and tasks. Management and strategy consulting involve analyzing a business problem and implementing the best solution.
• intelligence analyst – Intelligence analysts take deceptive information and figure out what it means, all the while trying to avoid influence from information that is purposely meant to lead the analysts in the wrong direction. High-profile intelligence jobs are usually involved in national security and government agencies like the CIA. While not an easy job, it is definitely a fun career.
• engineering – Engineers face challenges every day in figuring out how to apply scientific concepts to every day problems. For the problem-solver, engineering is a fun career that is intellectually stimulating and makes a difference in the world.
• tech support – A career in technical support is for the tech-savvy problem-solver. This usually involves solving customer problems with technology products, such as computers, telephones, etc.

Fun jobs for the social butterfly…

• publicist – A career as a publicist is a fun job for those interested in working with the media, celebrities or other big-name people and events. A similar field is public relations, where PR reps look for opportunities to get their company’s name out in the public, whether it be through press releases, coordinating events, or the media.
• buyer – How would you like to go shopping for a living? A buyer, also called a purchasing agent, is a fun career because you must stay up on consumer preferences and know the latest trends in order to make decisions regarding what items to stock in a major department store or retail chain. It also involves managing a budget, seeking out vendors, and beating the competition.
• event planner – If you love the details involved in parties, weddings and other social events, you may want to look for fun careers in the event planning industry. Event planners usually start as an assistant for someone else, and then work their way up to owning their own business after they establish a good customer base.
• entertainment reporter - Whether you are covering entertainment events for your local newspaper, or you are a news anchor on television, an entertainment reporter is one of the fun careers that allows you to get as close to the celebrities as possible.

Fun jobs for the thrill-seeker…

• storm chaser - Did you know that storm chasing isn’t just for amateurs? There are professional storm chasers who have degrees in meteorology or science. Check out stormtrack.org for some helpful FAQ about storm chasing. While it may be dangerous, it might be the perfect fun career for a thrill-seeker with a scientific mind. You may also want to consider other careers in meteorology and weather.
• zookeeper/wildlife management - Watching over the lion den at a zoo is probably a lot more thrilling than feeding fish at the aquarium (unless they are piranhas). If you are an animal lover, a job as a zookeeper or animal conservationist are just two of the many fun careers that involve animals.
• FBI special agent - A fun career as a FBI special agent includes fighting terrorism, cyber crime, organized crime, white-collar crime, drug-trafficking, and counterintelligence, to name a few. Visit the FBI web site for more information about being a special agent, or consider similar fun careers such as a police or detective.

Fun jobs for the humanitarian…

• teacher – Teaching offers fun careers for people who love children and want to make a difference in their lives. Whether you go back to your hometown, teach in an inner-city school, work with Teach for America, or teach young people across the world by getting involved with organizations such as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), teaching is a great career for those who want to see change in the world.
• social worker – Social work is a rewarding and fun career for those of you who have a passion for helping others. Social workers help people who are disadvantaged, like the poor and the elderly, and people who have faced setbacks in life, such as abused children or rape victims. Social workers are also involved in a movement for social change and bringing about social justice and equality.
• nonprofit jobs – If there is an issue which you deeply care about, you may want to get involved in a nonprofit. Nonprofits are organizations which do not make any sort of profit; instead, through donations and fundraising efforts, they strive to better the world. Whether you are interested in the environment, energy, animal protection, urban youth or poverty, you will be able to find a nonprofit organization that works for your cause. Or, you can always start your own nonprofit organization!

March is here and that means one thing for college basketball — the NCAA Tournament.  Crossing your fingers in hopes that your team makes it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament could very well be one of the most intense and exciting moments of the month (hence the title “March Madness.”)  The NCAA Tournament has come a long way since Oregon’s defeat of Ohio State in 1939.  The tournament now consists of 64 college basketball teams, as seen in the 2008 NCAA brackets, while the 1939 NCAA brackets show that only eight teams competed in the NCAA Tournament. 

Do you ever wish that your job could be as exciting as the NCAA tournament?  Thankfully, you don’t have to be the next Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods to have a career in sports.  Here are just some of the many types of sports jobs.  From media to healthcare to law, there is something for everyone in sports jobs.

• Health and fitness sports jobs:
  These jobs involve treating sports-related injuries, rehabilitation and promoting a healthy lifestyle for athletes.  Personal training and coaching are great sports jobs for athletic individuals, while sports medicine jobs are a good option for those with a healthcare background.  One place to look for health-related sports jobs is at gyms and fitness centers, such as Bally Total Fitness.  Here are some more health and fitness sports jobs:
  • Athletic trainer
  • Coach
  • Physical therapist
  • Sports medicine
  • Sports psychologist
  • Sports physician or surgeon
• Sports writing jobs:
  Newspapers, magazines, and even sports Web sites hire people to fill sports journalism jobs.  Sports writing jobs involve covering major or local sporting events.  Individuals with sports writing jobs often work under a tight deadline, but the job is ideal for a sports-enthusiasts.  Sports writers for major newspapers may even be assigned to a specific team, attend all their games and interview top players — what could be better than attending sporting events for a living?  Other sports writing jobs include:
  • Sports writer
  • Sports newspaper editor
  • Sports copy editor
  • Sports magazine editor
  • Online sports writer or blogger
  • Online sports Webmaster
  • Sports freelance writing
• Sports broadcasting jobs:
  Ever wonder how people land a job as a sports announcer or commentator?  Sports broadcasting jobs are a branch of sports journalism, and they are perfect for sports lovers with charisma and people skills.  Some individuals are play-by-play announcers, while others provide additional commentary and insight on the game.  Athletic experience may be helpful but is not necessary for a career in sports broadcasting.
  • Sportscaster
  • Sports reporter
  • Sports news anchor
  • Sports announcer
• Sports marketing jobs:
  Endorsements by major athletes, advertising and sponsorship at sports venues, and marketing major sporting events such as the Olympics have made sports marketing huge industry in the business world.
  • Sports advertising
  • Sports marketing
  • Sports media relations
• Sports management jobs:
  In addition to sports marketing, sports management jobs are another great opportunity for business sports jobs.  Sports management jobs will vary depending on whether the job is with an amateur or professional sports team, and tasks may include keeping track of equipment and making reservations, scheduling, or even working with the coach in buying players.
• Other Sports Jobs:
  • Athletic director at a university
  • Sports agent
  • Sports law jobs
  • Sports photography jobs
  • Sports real estate jobs
  • Sports retail jobs
  • Sports sales jobs

NCAA Tournament Resources:

• NCAA men’s basketball
• 2009 NCAA Tournament schedule
• NCAA tournament predictions and NCAA bracket projections
• ESPN NCAA brackets
• NCAA brackets in history

The search is finally over. You’ve received a job offer and it sounds too good to be true. Before you scream “I accept,” step back and think. There are many factors to weigh before deciding whether to accept and on what conditions.

When you receive the initial offer, ask for time. “Students have a goal of getting a job and getting it quick,” said Mark Gasche, associate director of recruiting at the Career and Placement Service for the University of Chicago. “Often they forget the crucial step between the offer and the acceptance.”

Most employers will not retract the offer if you ask for time to mull it over, Gasche said. Employers should give a minimum of one to two days, but a week is an acceptable request. If potential employers question your motives, explain that you want to make the best decision possible. Still waiting to hear back from another company? Check out Virginia Tech’s tips on requesting more time.

The Interview

The evaluation process begins during the interview. If you request the right information during the interview, you’ll be better equipped to make a decision later. Virginia Tech’s career services department offers sample questions that can help you evaluate a job during the interview.

When the employers asks if you have any questions, have some prepared. This is especially important with dot com companies. “With established companies like Andersen Consulting, you know what you’re getting into,” Gasche said “With dot coms, job titles change monthly and the company’s future is riskier.” He recommends asking the potential employer where they get funding, what the business plan is and how they see the future of the company.

Salary

There’s more to happiness than money, but bills still have to be paid. Know what others in your field are making by searching the Bureau of Labor’s data on occupational wages by state.

For tips on negotiating your salary, check out Job Stars’ tips on negotiating salary when accepting a job offer. Make sure the employer states a figure first, or you’ll lock yourself into a set amount.

The Organization

First, research the organization on the company Web site. You can gather basic information during the interview, but be wary of “buzzwords” that recruiters think potential employees want to hear. You can get background on an organization by contacting its public relations office or by exploring the Internet.

Long-term projections for a company’s industry can provide a good indicator for the future of your job. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections of employment and output for more than 200 industries.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Department of Labor Statistics also provides job outlook and earnings information. The handbook recommends additional criteria to consider, such as weighing small firms against large ones and established organizations against start-ups.

The Job

No matter how many perks the job offers, you will be unhappy if you dislike the day-to-day work. Ask specifically what the job entails, what your responsibilities will be and what they expect you to contribute to the company. Fancy titles like “administrative distribution technician” may translate to “incoming fax distributor.”

When asked what gave them the most job satisfaction, most people ranked “I love what I do” over “the amount of money I make” in an informal poll at About.com. Cast your vote and view the current results.

The Environment

Another important factor to consider is the office environment. One of the best ways to get a feel for your new job is too talk to current employees and tour the office.

Consider:

• Hours
  Are you expecting a 9-to-5 job, or are you willing to work overtime to meet deadlines and production goals?
• Attire
  Are people wearing pinstripes or tennis shoes?
• Office Space
  Where will you be working?
• Co-workers
  Would you feel comfortable working with them on a daily basis?
• Employers
  Would you feel comfortable working for this person?
• Finally, you should consider whether the organization’s interests and beliefs are compatible with your own. It’s easier to apply yourself to the work if you are enthusiastic about what the organization does. If the company tests on animals and you’re a vegan, you may have trouble doing your best.

Benefits

Benefits are an important consideration when deciding on a job, and they vary a great deal from company to company. Some salaries are non-negotiable. If you can’t get as much as you think you deserve, you may be able to extract it from signing bonuses, training programs, or reimbursements for moving costs.

Negotiating stock options? CareerJournal.com offers a helpful Q&A section on the subject.

Cost of Living

If a move is involved, you may be getting less than you bargained for. Be sure to weigh the salary offered against a city’s cost of living. The Salary Calculator at Homefair will show you how much you’d have to make in a new town to equal what you make now.

Also consider whether moving will take up a significant chunk of your first paycheck. The company may pay some or all of the moving costs, or they may offer a signing bonus to compensate. Some companies will also help with the house/apartment hunt.

Commuting costs can also eat away at your time and salary. Is a longer commute worth it, or will you be pulling your hair out on the train after the first week?

Advancement Opportunities

Will there be a chance to move up in the company? Will the skills acquired from your new position contribute to your career overall? Where is the person who had the job before you?

Finally, ask about salary review. Most companies evaluate your performance annually. Are there opportunities for a salary or benefit increase after the first evaluation? If you aren’t able to negotiate the starting salary you originally desired, you may have opportunities for salary increases or promotions after the first six months.

Putting it All Together

O’Brien & Company offers a worksheet to help you compare your current position with a new one and tips on weighing the pros and cons. But it’s not all formulas, worksheets and lists. “Some of this decision is gut, some of this is feel,” Gasche said. “There is a logic piece and an emotional piece, and these are both important.”

Once you’ve made the big decision, let the employer know politely and as soon as possible. It’s important to get things in writing. For tips on writing acceptance and rejection letters, check out the Career Center’s sample letters.

Outdoor Adventure Jobs
Outdoor enthusiasts and thrill-seekers are both likely to find outdoor adventure jobs to be very fulfilling careers.  These adventure travel jobs may involve being a tour guide in the mountains, kayaking on a river or exploring a rainforest.  Sleeping under the stars, getting up close and personal with wild animals or walking on a volcano may become an everyday occurrence for you in these travel jobs.  There are many web sites with links and postings for various adventure jobs in different countries, such as Great Adventures, Back Door Jobs Abroad and Transitions Abroad.  Another tip for finding these adventure jobs abroad is to think about what outdoor organizations or tourist destinations you would enjoy visiting and then inquire about any job openings they may have.  These travel jobs are fun yet challenging, requiring skill, motivation and hard work.  From wildlife conservation to adventure guide jobs, there is probably an adventure job abroad that suits you.

(Slightly More) Conventional Travel Jobs
If you aren’t too keen on African safaris or Whitewater rafting but still want to make a career out of traveling, here are some more conventional travel jobs that may interest you.  Getting involved in the media, journalism and newspaper industry could land you a travel job as a sports writer or reporter, news anchor, or international journalist.  Or, you could be a travel writer, getting paid to experience new cultures and learn all there is to know about foreign cities and countries.  If business is more your thing, there are many business jobs that involve travel, such as consulting, auditing and executive positions in multi-national corporations.  These business travel jobs allow you to maintain some structure while still giving you the opportunity to explore the world.

Travel Nursing Jobs
One of the most well-known travel jobs is that of the travel nurse.  Nurses and healthcare professionals are in increasingly high demand, giving you the opportunity to find work in your desired location.  Travel nurses are sent on short-term assignments to different locations, with perks often including paid housing and a higher salary than typical nursing.  Travel nursing jobs also allow you to learn from many different talented doctors and work in new environments.  You will also have the opportunity to experience life in different towns, meeting new people as you progress through your career.  There are hundreds of travel nurse staffing agencies, such as Med Travelers, American Mobile Healthcare, Nurses Rx and O’Grady Peyton International, which help nurses find these travel jobs.

Humanitarian Travel Jobs
Many people who want to make a difference in the world choose to get involved with TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).  Travel plays a large part in these jobs because teachers are sent to countries where English is not the dominant language.  Transitions Abroad is a good resource for finding these teaching opportunities.  If teaching isn’t your thing, you may want to consider working with a nonprofit organization.  The first thing to know about nonprofits is that they do not mean “no pay”.  Nonprofit jobs are a great way to get involved in something you truly care about, and you have the option of making them into a travel job as well.  Idealist.org allows you to search for nonprofit jobs and internship opportunities by country.  How would you feel about being the director of an orphanage in Kenya or starting a micro-finance career in Bolivia?  These types of jobs provide travel job opportunities as well as engage you in humanitarian efforts to help the world.

Cruise Jobs
With a travel job on board a cruise, you can see the world!  Cruise director, captain, entertainer, casino dealer, bartender, housekeeper, chef, electrician, engine mechanic, scuba diving instructor and physician are just some of the many different jobs available on cruise ships.  Living accommodations and food are provided for free for on-board cruise jobs.  On your days off, you have the luxury of going on your own mini vacations, spending the day on the beach in the Bahamas or walking through the city of Athens.  Cruise jobs have higher employee turnover, so the chances are good that they will be hiring.  A travel job on a cruise is a great opportunity to get paid to see the world.  One good online resource for cruise travel jobs is Cruise Ship Job.com.  You may also want to apply directly for these cruise travel jobs through company web sites, such as Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.

Check out the Traveler’s Notebook for some more great information and advice on travel jobs.  Be aware that travel jobs aren’t all just fun and games – you may find that these  jobs are great for a while, but may be too tiring to become a life-long career.  However, there are still many people who have made careers as adventure guides and travel writers, and they wouldn’t trade their job for the world. (Probably because their job takes them around the world!)

If it turns out that adventure jobs, spending your life on the move and living in foreign countries isn’t quite the lifestyle you want, there are still opportunities to get involved in the travel industry.  Travel agents, hotel and resort managers and other careers in the tourism and hospitality industry offer a few ways of having a travel job without actually leaving home.

• Research. Research trends in the industry and gather information on salary averages in your profession and your location.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a good amount of information, which will help show your boss that you know what you’re talking about.  Another easy way to get salary information is to read through similar job descriptions.  If you want help in assessing your worth, Web sites like CBsalary offer free salary calculators as well as customized salary reports that take your education and experience into consideration.  You should use this salary research when approaching the topic of how to negotiate a salary.
• Provide evidence. Your boss will want concrete evidence of what you have done to improve the company’s success.  For example, if you increased sales, by how much did they increase and how did you achieve this?  It is not enough to say that your team passed an audit with flying colors — tell your boss exactly what role you played in this accomplishing this.  If you are a new hire and negotiating a starting salary, you should provide evidence from previous jobs, explaining how you can transfer those skills to your new job.  Give your hiring manager evidence that shows you are better than the other candidates — what did you do at your previous job or school that really set you apart from everyone else?
• Use support. It never hurts to back up your evidence with even more support.  If you are a current employee negotiating a salary increase, it is wise to document all of your accomplishments and keep track of them in writing.  You should make a list of your accomplishments as you progress through your career — this will be helpful when you want to negotiate a higher salary.  If you want to negotiate a starting salary, you should have solid academic and professional references to use as support for why you deserve a higher salary than what they are offering.  If you have other job offers, you may want to mention them in order to show that you are in high demand.
• Do not limit yourself. When negotiating a job offer, you never want to give a definitive answer to a question like, “What salary are you looking for?”  Think about it — if you immediately say $50,000, you will never know if the hiring manager had actually been considering going as high as $65,000.  On the other hand, you also don’t want to say that you are looking for a salary of around $90,000.  This shows that you have unrealistic expectations and don’t have a good understanding of the industry.  It is usually best to respond by saying that you are open to negotiation.  You may also respond by asking the manager what they think would be appropriate for someone with your qualifications and experience.
• Consider the bigger picture. As we have all been told, money isn’t everything.  If your manager simply cannot offer a higher salary, then look at your other options.  You could ask for a bonus, more vacation days, or help in financing further education.  If you are negotiating a job offer, consider all aspects of the job, including job responsibilities, opportunities for learning and advancement, location and corporate culture.  When choosing between job offers, it is important to consider more than just salary.  Perhaps you will find that in the larger scheme of things, it is worth compromising salary for a job you truly enjoy.

When negotiating a salary, it is important to remember that this is not something that will necessarily be solved in one meeting.  It is okay to leave the room with one or both parties still thinking about the situation.  Your boss or hiring manager may need to speak with his or her boss, and you will want to take some time to figure out what is most important to you.

If your boss does not agree to a salary increase or any change in benefits, this does not mean you have to give up.  Plan on meeting with him or her again in six months.  During this time, you can go above and beyond your job duties to prove to your boss that you deserve a higher salary.

“Retirement jobs” – no, this is not an oxymoron.  Many baby boomers and seniors are seeking out further employment after retirement.  In particular, many are looking for part-time jobs for seniors.  Some seniors need extra income or medical insurance, others are looking for personal satisfaction in doing something they enjoy, and some are simply bored and want something to do after retiring.  Times are changing, and many people are working well beyond the traditional age of retirement.  Employers are now recognizing the hard work ethic and experience these seniors can bring to their company.

Part-time jobs for seniors after retirement can do more than provide extra income to put towards that red sports car you have always wanted.  These jobs for seniors provide personal satisfaction and enjoyment, friends and an opportunity to bond with others, and fulfill one’s need to contribute to the world.  Here are some ideas for part-time jobs for seniors:

• Retail is great for part-time employment for seniors because it offers a flexible schedule, interaction with customers, and of course, extra income.  Retail jobs may include cashier, greeter, stock room associate or even retail management positions.  You may want to consider working for major retailers, or instead you might prefer a business where you can specialize in your area of expertise, such as a florist, sporting goods store or car dealership.  Here are some of the best retail employers who are hiring jobs for seniors:
  • Home Depot
  • Borders Group
  • CVS/pharmacy
  • Walgreens
  • Staples
  • Target
  • Walmart
  • Verizon Wireless
  • AT&T Wireless
• Consulting is another part-time job for seniors that is stimulating and makes use of their wealth of knowledge and experience.  Many mature professionals start their own business as independent consultants, finding clients through their past business relationships.  Independent consulting or working for a small existing firm both allow for flexible hours and time off.
• Non-profit jobs for seniors are an excellent way to get involved in a fulfilling career that helps others.  Many non-profit jobs are paid, and most organizations will be flexible and accommodating for an enthusiastic, senior worker.  These non-profit part-time jobs for seniors will help you make a contribution to the world.
• Freelance work offers part-time employment for seniors in many fields, such as writing.  Freelance writing as a part-time job for seniors allows you to work from home and at your own leisure.  Check out Sologig for more information on freelance work to find jobs for seniors, or read the article “Seven Easy Steps to a Freelance Life”.
• Tour jobs may include giving tours at museums, historical monuments or local sight-seeing attractions in the community.  These part-time jobs for seniors provide opportunities to learn, share knowledge with others and meet new people.
• Staying Where You Are is another option for retiring seniors.  If you love your current job, tell your employer that you are around the age of retirement and ask if there is a way to reduce your hours and workload (and salary).
• For more ideas on part-time jobs for seniors, check out the article “Deferring Retirement? Best Part-Time Gigs for Baby Boomers” or “Today’s Best Part-Time Jobs”.

If part-time jobs for seniors aren’t enough for you, you may be more interested in a career change after retiring from your current position.  PrimeCB is a great resource for the mature professional looking for a career change.  The AARP puts out a yearly list of the best employers for workers over 50, based on recruiting practices, opportunities for training, education and career development, workplace accommodations, alternative work options (such as flexible job scheduling, job sharing and phased retirement), employee health and pension benefits and retiree benefits. Highlights from the AARP’s list of the “Best Employers for Workers Over 50″ include the following companies:

• Scripps Health
• Stanley Consultants
• Lee Memorial Health System
• Principal Financial Group
• Volkswagen of America
• John Deere

What if I am too old? You are never too old, unless you act like it.  Think of yourself as an asset to the company, and showcase your experience and enthusiasm.  If you do this, employers will be competing to get you in their door.  If you are still worried that employers will not hire you because of your age, take some classes and do a lot of reading to stay up to date in your industry and the world in general.  Mature job seekers may decide to only include more recent and relevant job experience in their resumes or avoid putting dates in the education section.  Check out this article for interview advice: “How Boomers Can Answer Interview Questions.”

What you have that employers want:

• Experience – with years of professional experience, you have so much to offer; this experience is invaluable and is something that can only be gained with time, thus setting you apart from younger job seekers and recent college graduates
• Wisdom – in addition to professional experience, you are learned in the ways of the world; from decision-making to people skills, your wisdom is a huge asset to companies
• Commitment – senior employees are more likely to feel a sense of commitment and loyalty to the company; because of this, employers know that you are less likely to jump from one job to another in hopes of advancing you career – instead, you want to make the most out of the job you have

Factors you may want to consider when looking for part-time jobs for seniors:

• Less stress
• Flexible Hours
• Enjoyment
• Making a contribution to society
• An opportunity to get out of the house and meet new people

Whether you need extra income, want a part-time job that allows you to spend time with your family and travel, want to make a difference in the world, or are not quite ready to retire, there are many opportunities available to you in finding jobs for seniors.  The best piece of advice to seniors looking for jobs is to do something you love.  If you love your job, then it won’t even feel like work.

For more information on jobs for seniors, check out these articles:

• “The New Retirement: Going Back to Work”
• “Career Tips for Mature Workers”
• “Tips for the Over-50 Job Seeker”
• “25 Best Jobs for Boomers”
• “Six Career Moves for Older Workers”

Here are some other great senior resources:

• PrimeCB – a job-search site focused on connecting experienced and retired workers with potential employers
• AARP – American Association of Retired Persons
• Senior Citizen’s Resources at USA.gov

CareerBuilder recently broadcast its new commercial during the Super Bowl. If you can relate to it, you could be well on your way to winning one of three prizes. You need to show us in a short video your worst workplace moment(s).

Three Steps for Submission:

1. Create your original and humorous 45 second or less video
2. Upload the video to your account on YouTube.com
3. Complete and submit the application at ItsProbablyTime.com by March 10th

After the submission deadline on March 10, 2009, there will also be an online, public voting period from March 24, 2009 – April 7, 2009. Don’t forget to come back to see the finalists and vote for your favorite!

For complete details and contest rules, go to http://www.itsprobablytime.com