5 Pointers for Moving from Peer to Boss

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/zf/ar5d7sn6tl6kv3qmq1zf.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/zf/ar5d7sn6tl6kv3qmq1zf.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>In today's economy, reorganizations are common, and you may find yourself suddenly overseeing employees who were once at the same level as you. While transitioning into a supervisory role can be exciting -- and possibly signal a new phase in your career -- it also means a shift in dynamics with colleagues, especially those who will now be reporting to you.<br /><br />Your success taking on a leadership role is dependent on building positive working relationships with direct reports and being able to exercise authority when necessary. Following are some steps to help make the switch from peer to manager as smooth as possible:<br /><br />Meet with your team<br />One of the first items on your agenda should be to meet with those you will oversee. Arrange one-on-one conversations with each direct report to make sure everyone understands the following:<br /><br /><br />- His or her role in the department, including exact responsibilities. These may have shifted due to recent staff changes or focus areas for the firm.<br /><br />- What your expectations are and how they may differ from a previous manager's. For example, you may ask a copywriter to be more proactive in the research phase of new campaigns. Or you may request an experienced member of your team to begin taking on more tasks.<br /><br />- How accountability will be measured.<br /><br />These meetings also will allow you to better understand your team member's personal and professional goals, and what you can do to help them reach their objectives. In addition, give employees a chance to voice any questions or concerns they have about the change in management so you can work together to solve issues before they become problems.<br /><br />Set boundaries<br />Understanding the everyday responsibilities of your new position is the easy part; the subtleties of your role are often harder to gauge. For example, is it appropriate for you to go out with the team after work? Are you allowed to joke with colleagues like you've done in the past? Although there are no standard answers for questions like these, one thing is clear: You'll need to set new boundaries as a supervisor.<br /><br />For instance, in your previous role, you may have confided in co-workers when you were frustrated with management decisions. But now that you are a member of the management team, you must set the example. This means using discretion and offering support and guidance, not complaints, however harmless they may seem.<br /><br />Don't play favorites<br />You may be closer friends with some co-workers than others, but as everyone's boss, you must treat each staff member with the same respect and concern. Giving choice assignments to only certain individuals, for instance, hints at favoritism. More important, paying special attention to a select few could cause you to overlook other talented team members. Also, your responsibility as a manager is to ensure every employee is a productive contributor to the organization, so delegate projects fairly and ensure each person's workload is reasonable.<br /><br />Be firm when necessary<br />Despite your best efforts, some employees may test your authority by ignoring directives, missing deadlines or being perpetually late to work for meetings. Take a steadfast approach when handling these situations. Each person on your team should already be aware of your expectations, and performance issues should be addressed and documented. It may be tempting to relax the rules, especially for people you've worked with for many years, but doing so will only encourage the type of behavior you're trying to quell.<br /><br />Seek guidance<br />No matter how challenging your job as a supervisor may seem, you are not the first person to be faced with these issues. In fact, there are likely many individuals within your firm who have also had to navigate new relationships with co-workers after moving into management roles. Speak to them about the steps they took to overcome obstacles to success.<br /><br />Becoming a manager is often the first step on your path to career advancement. Don't let a poorly executed transition derail your progress. By communicating openly and often with your team, setting boundaries and seeking guidance from others who have been there before, you'll ensure your move from peer to boss is smooth sailing.<br /><br />Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

5 Pointers for Moving from Peer to Boss

In today's economy, reorganizations are common, and you may find yourself suddenly overseeing employees who were once at the same level as you. While transitioning into a supervisory role can be exciting -- and possibly signal a new phase in your car…

Read more »

Confused About Changing Careers?

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/s8/ar5d2vt5xk5dg6qw4zs8.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/s8/ar5d2vt5xk5dg6qw4zs8.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Rarely is the decision to change careers made without some anxiety and doubt to accompany it. It's such a life-altering decision that even those who are bursting with excitement to launch a new career sometimes feel overwhelmed by the obstacles and "what ifs" along the way.<br /><br />"Changing careers can feel like you're standing in the vortex of a tornado. You're watching thousands of things swirl by, you can't see anything very clearly, and you're very hesitant to take a step in any particular direction. Too often, this uncertainty is all it takes to keep someone chained to a career that makes him or her miserable," says Katy Piotrowski, author of "The Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers."<br /><br />Piotrowski has observed hundreds of career changers and says that it's natural to run into roadblocks. "Remember, your goal is to find a career that offers what you want and need. It may take awhile to discover the right solution for you, and you may have to change your course a few times, but that's OK. If you persist in your pursuit for the right fit, new, more realistic options will soon become apparent."<br /><br />Below are three common career-change roadblocks and Piotrowski's tips for approaching them:<br /><br />Will changing careers significantly lower your earnings?<br />Before scrapping your interest in a particular career because of its lower income, Piotrowski suggests you do the following:<br /><br />Do some research to find out how professionals in that field make it work for them. Do they have multiple jobs? Expand their work areas to generate more income? "For example, my neighbor is a potter. In addition to making and selling beautiful wares, he teaches pottery-making lessons," says Piotrowski.<br /><br />Assess what the likelihood may be that you could eventually earn enough income within a reasonable amount of time.<br /><br />Consider cutting your expenses and banking the money saved before making the career change to see if you can survive on that level of pay.<br /><br />Keep in mind that the skills you've earned in former careers will help you progress faster than someone with less experience and may allow you to earn better pay more quickly than the average worker in your new career field.<br /><br />Don't have the right education or training?<br />"A lack of a certification or degree can be a maddening roadblock for career changers. Rather than throw away an excellent career possibility, consider these avenues to work around or through such barriers," Piotrowski says.<br /><br />Begin at the bottom. Beginning in an entry-level position makes it easier to get started in your chosen field. Once you're in, you will be more likely to discover avenues to obtain the training you need, and may even be able to have your employer pay for it.<br /><br />Aim for a position that requires less training. "For example, if you want to be a physical therapist, but don't want to complete several years of college to get your degree, you could become a physical therapy technician instead. Frequently, technicians can be trained on the job or with just a year or two of formal instruction."<br /><br />Torn between two or more careers?<br />When it comes to choosing between multiple career passions, there's no rule that says people must pick one or the other. Below are Piotrowski's suggestions for juggling multiple career-change opportunities:<br /><br />Create a "muffin tin" career. "Typically, when you think of having a career, you imagine it to be a single profession that you immerse yourself in and develop over time. Another possibility is to select more than one career and to execute them simultaneously. So, instead of developing a single 'loaf' of a career, you might create several 'muffins,'" Piotrowski explains.<br /><br />Become a serial careerist. If the "muffin tin" approach is too scattered for your tastes, consider committing to one career for a few years, then pursuing another, and perhaps another. There's no rule that says you have to stick with one specialty your entire life.<br /><br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

Confused About Changing Careers?

Rarely is the decision to change careers made without some anxiety and doubt to accompany it. It's such a life-altering decision that even those who are bursting with excitement to launch a new career sometimes feel overwhelmed by the obstacles and "…

Read more »

To Go or Not to Go - Is Graduate School a 'Safe' Harbor for Weathering the Recession?

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/46/ar5c5146w30drfs3f946.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/46/ar5c5146w30drfs3f946.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><p>Attending graduate school might seem like an ideal way to wait out the recession. By the time you've earned a degree, the thinking goes, any uncertainty surrounding the economy will be ironed out, and job prospects will be brighter. For Generation Y workers, who have been hit hard by the downturn, this strategy can be especially appealing because many graduated with four-year degrees not long ago, and a return to school would not be a difficult a transition to make -- especially if it pays off in the end.<br /><br />A poor job market shouldn't be your primary reason to go back to school, however. In addition to the cost and time required to complete a graduate program, there are several factors that could mean a return to the ivory halls isn't the right move for your career. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:<br /><br />What will the job market really be like?<br />Ideally, any program you attend should be directly applicable to the professional discipline you pursue and make it more likely you'll find employment following graduation. Research the field you want to enter and consider its future career prospects. Remember, it may take several years to earn an advanced degree, and the demand for workers in that industry can change dramatically between now and then. Long-term growth is forecast in areas such as health care and green technology; these professions may warrant your consideration. A good source for information on future employment trends is the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, whose "Occupational Outlook Handbook" outlines expected job prospects for hundreds of positions.<br /><br />Would bolstering your work experience be better?<br />If you've just earned a four-year degree and don't need an advanced degree to pursue your chosen position, bolstering your work experience may be your best option. Keep in mind that there are ways to gain experience other than through full-time employment. Consider temporary work, internships or volunteer opportunities. In addition to adding to your work history, spending some time "in the trenches" can also help you better formulate your career goals and determine what form of advanced education -- if any -- is right for you.<br /><br />Have you considered the alternatives?<br />You don't have to pursue a formal degree to strengthen your roster of professional skills. Attending classes at a local community college or pursuing an industry certification could give you the boost in marketability needed to land a new position. Other alternatives, such as volunteer work or internships, are also effective ways to obtain applicable skills and continue learning without the time and monetary commitment a graduate degree requires.<br /><br />When jobs are difficult to come by, going to graduate school can feel like a way to achieve professional progress. Earning an advanced degree has proved beneficial for many people's careers. But before you jump in headfirst, give careful thought to your decision and determine if going back to school is the only way to reach your goal.<br /><br />Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.rhi.com/. </p><div></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span></strong></div>

To Go or Not to Go - Is Graduate School a 'Safe' Harbor for Weathering the Recession?

Attending graduate school might seem like an ideal way to wait out the recession. By the time you've earned a degree, the thinking goes, any uncertainty surrounding the economy will be ironed out, and job prospects will be brighter. For Generation Y …

Read more »

The Secret to My Success ... in This Economy

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/65/ar5c6cy6s40w6bbg5865.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/65/ar5c6cy6s40w6bbg5865.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>In today's economy, personal and professional failures are abundant. Personally, we're tired of hearing bad news. Instead, we wanted to know how people have stayed relevant and successful.<br /><br />Here's what we found out:<br /><br />Ann M. Clemmer, Stampin' Up!<br />Ten years ago, I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator to bring in a little extra money. Five years ago, I got the opportunity to leave my job in the television industry. I felt that if I was ever to try this stamping job full time, this was it. The first year I did this full time, I doubled my best sales year. I've made it twice into the top 100 demonstrators of the U.S. and hope to again this year, as I bettered my best year by about 19 percent.<br />Secret to success: There's always someone making money in every economy. Listening to the news can help you decide where to go, but it also can bring you down. I've often felt that the only 'no' that counts is the last one I accept. If someone doesn't want what I'm selling, I just keep looking for the next person who does. My mantra is that I'm only one new customer away from where I want to be.<br /><br />Candida Canfield, Dinner in Hand Founder<br />I conceived Dinner in Hand while returning home from work on the train and realizing what a pleasure it would be to have a fresh and delicious dinner delivered to my door. Planning, testing, networking and evolving have been keys to my success. I initially tested the service on 22 families and I learned many lessons, including the need for hiring an exceptional chef.<br />Secret to success: In this economy I have learned to be flexible, be willing to kill an original concept and experiment with new ideas in order to grow.<br /><br />Joshua D. Crumbaugh, Platinum Mortgage<br />I am the head of marketing for a regional lender. With the mortgage implosion, then the credit crunch and the recession starting, I was extremely concerned that I wouldn't be able to hold on to my job throughout the worse crisis our industry has seen. I'm proud to say that over the past two years we have grown by nearly 1,000 percent.<br />Secret to success: I kept my job by digging in, studying my ailing competitors and learning from their mistakes, which combined with our top-notch customer service, has turned us into one of the fastest-growing lenders in our industry. Image and knowledge are everything. Whether it's B2B marketing or applying for a position, image will make all the difference in the world.<br /><br />Karen Burns, editor<br />I've had 59 jobs -- fired from only one -- doing everything from ditch digger to consultant. But most of my jobs involved writing. I wrote marketing materials for corporate America and then supported myself by writing brochures in English for French companies. When I moved to Seattle, I became a scientific editor, based on my lifelong love affair with grammar and on my extensive writing background.<br />Secret to success: I spent a lot of my free time studying up on the finer points of grammar, style usage and diction -- but my employer didn't know that. A willingness to go the extra mile has always helped me. Plus, I am fanatic about meeting deadlines. I think those are two reasons I've always managed to find, and keep, jobs.<br /><br />Lev Ekster, CupcakeStop<br />I was on my way to securing a position at a law firm, but the change in the economy took that off the table. During late nights studying, I took breaks to trek to a popular bakery to wait in line for a sweet treat, but was disappointed with what was supposed to be the "best of the best" the city had to offer. I decided I could do better. Thus, the concept for CupcakeStop was born. It's New York City's first mobile cupcake truck that offers high-end, delicious, fresh-baked cupcakes of every variety.<br />Secret to success: No matter how good or bad the economy is, without a good product, fair price and exceptional customer service, I don't believe a business can be successful. I'm looking for CupcakeStop to be around for a long time to come and for that goal to be reached, I know it's necessary to be consistent and never sacrifice quality.<br /><br />Rich Close, The Recycled Retriever<br />I own a business called The Recycled Retriever, which started as a Web-based business from our home. My partner and I researched eco-friendly pet products on the market. We were unable to find one place that offered nothing but Earth-friendly products. We developed The Recycled Retriever as a resource that pet owners could utilize knowing that the products they purchased from us were not only good for their pets, but great for the Earth. As the Web business began to grow, we decided to take the concept to a retail-store version and now have a storefront open in Provincetown, Mass.<br />Secret to success: Taking a risk and going forward with the idea. If I didn't try it, I would never have known whether it would be successful or not. By believing in the idea and putting it in motion, success was destined to come.<br /><br />Rob Allen, franchise owner, ShelfGenie<br />I worked as a mental-health counselor for nearly 10 years before trying my hand as an IT professional for an Atlanta-area Fortune 100 company. I remained in that field for 23 years and most recently worked in auto logistics for two years. Due to the struggling economic situation, I have been laid off twice in the last five years. Tired of peddling my résumé and given the current job climate, I decided to open ShelfGenie, a franchise that designs, builds and installs glide-out shelving solutions into existing cabinets throughout the home in South Atlanta.<br />Secret to Success: In times like these, one must take calculated risks and invest wisely when seeking money-making opportunities. Opening ShelfGenie, a home-based business with little expenditures and minimal staff, has been a key element to my success as a business owner.<br /><br />Thea Zagata, Gumdrop Cookie Shop<br />Before starting Gumdrop Cookie Shop in 2007, I worked in public relations for 10 years. I left my career to start my business because I wanted leave the fast-paced agency lifestyle and create my own schedule. I knew I wanted to start a business in baking yet still exercise my PR skills, so I wrote a business plan which helped me come up with a unique and new-to-the-market product.<br />Secret to success: With my history in PR, I was able to do all of the publicity myself without having to spend a lot of marketing dollars. I also think finding a smart balance with where to spend your time and when to outsource is key. It's important to apply your skills where they make the most sense.<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ. </div><br /><div></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

The Secret to My Success ... in This Economy

In today's economy, personal and professional failures are abundant. Personally, we're tired of hearing bad news. Instead, we wanted to know how people have stayed relevant and successful.Here's what we found out:Ann M. Clemmer, Stampin' Up!Ten years…

Read more »

Success Stories: I Thought I Didn't Have Time for School - 10 people who made it work

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/0h/ar5c5865zdpscydpgr0h.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/0h/ar5c5865zdpscydpgr0h.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>For many workers, finding a balance between personal and professional commitments is a constant battle. In a March 2009 CareerBuilder survey of more than 8,000 workers, only 13 percent said they were very satisfied with their work/life balance. Fifteen percent said they were dissatisfied.<br /><br />Between work, family, friends and all of life's little extras, it often seems there are just not enough hours in the day. So what happens when you add to going to school in the equation? Today's economy has many people returning to school in lieu of working full time, while others have chosen to enhance their education to make themselves more marketable to employers.<br /><br />In the same CareerBuilder survey, 21 percent of workers said they were going to school to make themselves more viable for employers. Of that group, 7 percent go to school full time, 3 percent attend part time and 5 percent take classes online. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Have you toyed with the idea of going back to school, but didn't think you could? Here are 10 stories from workers who thought they didn't have time for school and how they made it work.<br /><br />Aimee Cirucci, writer/editor/public relations specialist<br />After seven years working in various marketing communications jobs, I quit my job, sold my home and, at age 29, moved back in with my parents for six months while I found work and made my dream of going back to school for a graduate degree a reality. I wish I hadn't let seven years pass thinking this wasn't possible. I am currently finishing up an MS in communication management. I received a teaching assistantship that covered one year of my education and discovered a deep love of university teaching. I applied and was accepted to the Ph.D. program and will likely begin in 2010. I really do think that if you leap, a net will appear -- for me it has completely been the case. The hard part is just getting the courage to take that leap.<br /><br />Jessica Lieu, account executive<br />I decided to jump head-first into [a] master's program six months after being hired as a full-time PR account executive. While I was initially hesitant to tackle work and school at the same time, I decided that being in both academic and professional worlds at the same time would up my learning curve.<br /><br />I currently juggle a 45-plus hour workweek with night classes, papers, presentations, group projects and a borderline caffeine addiction. While it can be overwhelming at times, the payoff is in being able to draw parallels between my academic and professional worlds, and using these parallels to improve the quality of my work. If that means sacrificing the occasional happy hour or weekend to prepare for class or write a paper, I think that that is a fair trade-off.<br /><br />Joshua Fahrenbruck, corporate communications<br />I just completed my undergraduate degree, and am planning to start on my MBA next month -- while working full time and getting married. I have been employed at the same company for seven years and went back to school to make sure I could continue to be upwardly mobile. I had 12 credit hours when I started; two-and-a-half years later, the degree was complete. A second reason for finishing my degree was to make sure, if I do choose to find another job, I would be marketable and could maintain or increase my level of compensation and benefits.<br /><br />Kami Gray, wardrobe stylist<br />I decided to go back to school to become a costume designer for films. I've loved fashion all my life and just decided to go for it. For financial reasons, I couldn't stop working; for the next two-and-a-half years, I earned a second BS in fashion design while working full time, going to school full time and raising two middle-schoolers. I worked hard in school and managed to become the salutatorian of my graduating class. With a little luck and perseverance, I landed a job as a wardrobe stylist for national TV commercials. About a year and a half ago, I combined my love of fashion with my love of healthy eating and living and wrote a bestseller, called "THE DENIM DIET: Sixteen Simple Habits To Get You Into Your Dream Pair of Jeans."<br /><br />My take on going back to school? Do it and do it now! Yes, I'm still paying off student loans, but school is invaluable. Confidence and a can-do attitude can take you places and for me, it all started with getting more educated.<br /><br />Keith Lukes, vice president of business development<br />I went back to school [for my bachelor's degree] in 1996. Right after I started, my wife and I had our first child and my career was starting to take off. As I rose through the ranks, I was working 50-70 hours a week, while taking two to three classes each semester. Trying to balance all of that with a newborn was difficult, but I knew without a degree I would not be able to advance my career. Finally in 2001, I graduated with my bachelor's degree in communication systems.<br /><br />At my graduation ceremony, I joked that I was an "11th-year senior." Three months after graduation, I took a position with a small IT firm. Without my degree, it is very unlikely I would have been given that opportunity. I have made partner and I am currently our vice president of business development. The degree helped get me in the door and the education I received has been extremely valuable throughout my career. If I had not gone back to school, I am confident that I would not have achieved the same successes.<br /><br />Kelly Stettner, administrative assistant<br />In 2006, I began investigating options for finishing my bachelor's degree. I applied for financial aid and enrolled in a program while pregnant with our second child; I had our son in July 2006 and began the low-residency degree program that fall. After two on-campus semesters, in which I did the bulk of my work at home and went to the Brattleboro, Vt., campus one weekend each month, I switched over to a strictly online option through the same program. That worked even better for me, and I was able to graduate this past January. I am now looking into master's programs.<br /><br />Nathaniel Williams, president/CEO<br />I am president/CEO of a human services agency. I attained four graduate degrees in four years while my wife and I had four kids. I hold a master's degree in human services, a master's degree in public administration, master's degree in business administration, and a doctorate degree in education. I'm now adjunct teaching at one of my alma maters two nights a week. I found time for school by strategically planning and partnering with all the people in my life; I did not do it alone.<br /><br />Sally Berry, tourism professional<br />I went back to school full time while working, and got my master's degree in management in January 2008. It took two years and I am a single parent as well. I also traveled for my job at the time and was always doing homework in airports, on flights and at night in my hotel room. It was so difficult, and I thought it would never end. But it did and I am so happy and proud to have my master's degree. My advice would be to pare down your obligations and your standards of housekeeping and cooking; maintain the very basics to keep home and family operating. It was good for my kids to see me work so hard and they all pitched in and helped. School and work is a short-term challenge, but the degree lasts forever!<br /><br />Susan Peters, mortgage consultant<br />I graduated in September of 2008. I balanced school, work and family for three-and-a-half years while I pursued a degree in business management. I attended class one night a week for those three-and-a-half years at a local campus and graduated with a 3.99 GPA, a feat I never dreamed was possible. Both my husband and I attended college at night when we were into our 50s, and we were met with great success. All this was accomplished while we were putting our three children through college the conventional way and holding down very full-time jobs.<br /><br />Terese Irwin, special events manager<br />I have worked full time since just before I turned 21, when I left college without a degree. Although I started school again just two years later, it took me another 10 years to complete my bachelor's degree and two associate degrees. I finished my bachelor's of business administration last December. I swore I was finished; after 12 years of part-time school and full-time work, I was tired. Although I absolutely love my job, [given the economy,] I had to look at reality: My bachelor's degree alone was not going to open the doors I'd like to walk through. I have enrolled in graduate school and start again this August to pursue my master's degree in international affairs.<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

Success Stories: I Thought I Didn't Have Time for School - 10 people who made it work

For many workers, finding a balance between personal and professional commitments is a constant battle. In a March 2009 CareerBuilder survey of more than 8,000 workers, only 13 percent said they were very satisfied with their work/life balance. Fifte…

Read more »

3 Emerging Skill Sets - Coming Soon to Your Career

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/qp/ar5d1bw5zs46khhpg3qp.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/qp/ar5d1bw5zs46khhpg3qp.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Times are tough, no doubt. But innovation thrives on challenge, and every downturn leaves a fresh new wave of opportunity in its wake. Often the solutions demanded by society involve change, and will recycle our existing skill sets for a whole new purpose.<br /><br />Don't miss the next trend in your chosen discipline. A number of emerging industries will produce new jobs in the near future, and some cross-functional projects mean opportunity across more than one skill set. Here are just a few that you should know about:<br /><br />1. Health Informatics<br />Health informatics will put technology in place that provides hospitals and other health care providers with access to an electronic network of vital patient information -- like medical histories and prescriptions. The information age finally meets health care administration.<br /><br />The facts<br />The health informatics initiative won't succeed unless employees (that's you!) bring the specialized skills needed to build and expand the network. All other pieces are in place:<br /><br />· The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $20.6 billion to help providers drive adoption and develop the IT infrastructure needed.<br /><br />· The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects Health Information Management employment to grow nearly 18 percent by 2016.<br /><br />· The BLS projects a need for more than 6,000 new professionals each year through 2014 -- but only 2,600 graduates have entered the field this past year.<br /><br />Your opportunity<br />To succeed, health informatics will demand a wide variety of specialized positions across IT and health care. It will engage conventional experience from both areas -- such as registered nurses and LPNs/LVNs, or IT implementation specialists and IT project managers -- if you're looking for a new twist on your current career.<br /><br />But new positions will also thrive in this hybrid field. Look for new HIM job titles in your next job search, like health IT professionals, HIM coders, HIM medical records professionals and various health informatics specialists -- including trainers, researchers and analysts.<br /><br />Get online to check out the job titles mentioned above and listed below for related descriptions, and see if you might need any additional training to meet requirements:<br /><br />Nursing<br /><br />- Telemedicine clinical professionals<br /><br />- Chief nursing information officers<br /><br />- Clinical IT liaisons<br /><br />Health care administration<br /><br />- Medical and health services managers<br /><br />- Document scanners<br /><br />- Data entry clerks<br /><br />- File clerks<br /><br />IT specialists<br /><br />- Senior programmers<br /><br />- Senior clinical analysts<br /><br />- Database analysts<br /><br />- Developers<br /><br />- Business analysts<br /><br />- Software engineers<br /><br />- Data integration specialists<br /><br />2. International Financial Reporting Standards<br />International Financial Reporting Standards is a single set of high-quality, global accounting standards. It will allow U.S. public companies to present financial statements under the same rules as foreign companies and standardize accounting across international subsidiaries. Ultimately IFRS should also help capital formation in the U.S. and stimulate growth in today's global economy.<br /><br />The facts<br />Much like the introduction of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002, companies realize that compliance is no small endeavor. Auditors estimate that it will take 18 to 24 months to install an IFRS-based accounting system.<br /><br />· IFRS was accepted unanimously by the SEC in August of 2008.<br /><br />· More than 100 countries require or accept IFRS reporting today.<br /><br />· If the SEC mandates IFRS in 2013 -- large public companies will be required to use IFRS in 2014, with all public companies following suit by 2016.<br /><br />Your opportunity<br />IFRS will offer opportunity for more than just accounting and finance personnel. "To prepare for IFRS, U.S. companies must first understand that the shift will not only affect the accounting and financial departments, but will have resulting impacts on all aspects of the company's operations," says Mike Gillan, Regional Manager of Kelly Financial Resources.<br /><br />Based on European conversions, the IT department could incur as much as 50 percent of the total convergence cost. The shift will also greatly affect the HR department. For example, Daimler AG trained more than 3,000 employees in departments from accounting and treasury to controlling, investor relations and tax while launching its conversion process.<br /><br />3. Green-collar jobs<br />As the United States looks to alternative sources of fuel and innovative ways to make our energy stretch farther, green-collar jobs are coming more in demand. Positive employment impacts are expected in fields ranging from mass transit and energy-efficient automobiles, to retrofitting buildings, to wind power, solar power or biomass fuels.<br /><br />The facts<br />Millions of U.S. workers expect to benefit from our transformation to a green economy -- across a wide range of familiar occupations, income and skill levels.<br /><br />· The ARRA provides hundreds of billions in funding for smarter systems, advanced energy efficiency and loans for renewable energy power generation.<br /><br />· By 2012, green job statistics project 29,000 new jobs in advanced biofuels; 140,000 in energy efficiency; 110,000 in solar energy; and 185,000 in wind energy.<br /><br />· Statistics project 37 million renewable energy jobs overall by the year 2030, as much as 17 percent of all U.S. employment.<br /><br />Your opportunity<br />Look for the Green movement to potentially impact a wide array of job titles, including:<br /><br />Scientific<br /><br />- Chemists (analytical, organic, inorganic)<br /><br />- Geologists/hydrologists<br /><br />- Air quality technicians<br /><br />- Laboratory assistants<br /><br />- Industrial hygienists<br /><br />Industrial trades<br /><br />- HVAC technicians<br /><br />- Electrical technicians<br /><br />- Metal fabricators<br /><br />- Machinists<br /><br />Engineering<br /><br />- Civil engineers<br /><br />- Environmental engineers<br /><br />- Industrial engineers<br /><br />- Electrical engineers<br /><br />- Mechanical engineers<br /><br />- Petrochemical engineers<br /><br />- Chemical engineers<br /><br />- Software engineers<br /><br />- Safety engineers<br /><br />- Engineering technicians<br /><br />Kelly Services is a world leader in workforce management services and human resources solutions, providing employment to nearly 650,000 employees annually -- with skills including office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, creative services, light industrial, education and health care. For more information, please visit www.kellyservices.com. </div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

3 Emerging Skill Sets - Coming Soon to Your Career

Times are tough, no doubt. But innovation thrives on challenge, and every downturn leaves a fresh new wave of opportunity in its wake. Often the solutions demanded by society involve change, and will recycle our existing skill sets for a whole new pu…

Read more »

The insomnia

For about two weeks I've been waking up at about 3 a.m. (after going to bed around 10 or 11p.m.). It's like a switch is turned on in my head and I'm suddenly wide awake. I immediately start thinking of work, of all the things I need to do, and I can't go back to sleep.<br /><br />I've tried all my tricks that I've used over the years to go back to sleep, but they're not working for me. I usually just give in to it and get up. Often writing down some of my work tasks, checking my work email, even sending work emails.<br /><br />Around 4:30 a.m. I get dressed for the my workout and drag my tired butt to the gym, getting there around 5 a.m. My workouts are still pretty good, some mornings better than others, some mornings I can tell the lack of sleep is catching up with me because I'm just so tired.<br /><br />I know how bad this is for me, but I seem powerless to stop it. Several years ago I read a book about stress and the effect it has on your body. Weight gain was only one of the issues, the authors even claimed it could more serious problems such as cancer.<br /><br />Besides the serious health issues is the simply problem that I'm tired. Very tired. So tired that some days I don't think I'm going to make it through the day.<br /><br />I have no problem going to sleep at night. In fact, I'm practically asleep before my head hits the pillow. Literally.<br /><br />Sometimes I take a sleeping pill, just other the counter stuff. This will make me sleep through the night, but then I wake up groggy and exhausted. I hate that feeling.<br /><br />My only hope is when my current project at work ends things will be better and my sleep pattern will return to normal. Our first beta deployment is tentatively scheduled for September 28 in San Francisco. I hope I live that long. Right now, I'm not so sure.<br /><br /><strong>The food</strong><br />I'm doing pretty good. I've been eating too much at night lately, but I just don't care. The only really unhealthy thing I've eaten this week were those tortilla chips a couple nights ago. I ate more than the two servings, more like five servings. But I didn't eat the whole bag, which is good. In the "old" days, about two years ago, I would have eaten the entire bag.<br /><br />I ate out twice this week, the sushi (too much but all healthy) and the Italian Chop Chop salad without the salami that left me starving. That reminds me, I ate Sweet Tarts at the movies and a couple cups of movie popcorn. My weigh in on Saturday is probably going to be bad. Again, right now I just don't care.<br /><br />Lately I don't have time to eat my mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks at work or drink all my water. I have too many meetings and too much to do. I keep telling myself I need to slow down, not be in such a frantic rush all the time, but I just can't seem to follow through on this thought.<br /><br /><strong>This post<br /></strong>I feel like I'm rambling. I'm writing just like my brain is running lately. Disconnected thoughts that aren't really focused. It's almost like I'm heading towards some sort of mental breakdown.<br /><br />I know the stress is getting to me. I see a spattering of "I don't care" in this post. That's really not like me. For me to not care about eating too much or not worry about my weigh in, is a sign something is terribly wrong in my life. I guess my brain can only worry about so much at a time and right now my job is my central focus.<br /><br />Balance in all things, right? How does one do that when one part of your life consumes you? Sucks all your energy and leaves you left with nothing for yourself.<br /><br />It's 4:36 a.m. I have to go to the gym now. Thank God it's Friday. Seriously. Thank God.<br /><br /><em>8am - back from the gym. I feel 100% better now...in fact, I feel like dancing! I care! I really do care about what I eat and my weight. I want to get 100% back on track...and that's my goal this weekend. To set up a real plan on how to do this when faced with overwhelming work issues.</em><br /><br /><em>I really changed up my upper body workout this morning. I did four machines I haven't used in a long time and four dumbbell exercises I haven't done in months. Everything was new, except for Sadie (the old "StairMistress"). I'm so in love with her I hate doing other cardio. I did the bike and elliptical yesterday so I do take a break from her occasionally, but she's my first love. :)</em>

The insomnia

For about two weeks I've been waking up at about 3 a.m. (after going to bed around 10 or 11p.m.). It's like a switch is turned on in my head and I'm suddenly wide awake. I immediately start thinking of work, of all the things I need to do, and I can'…

Read more »