One Year to a New Career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/02/ar5b8346qgtgpw673v02.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/02/ar5b8346qgtgpw673v02.gif" /></a><br /></div>You've counted down from 10 and watched the ball drop in Times Square. As happy as you are to usher in a new year, you can't help but remember a vow you made to yourself last December 31. "By this time next year, I'll have a new career."<br /><br />A year passed and not much changed.<br /><br />When you're unhappy in your job, a year can seem like a long time. Twelve long months of wanting something bigger and better. Not anything outlandish, just a job that doesn't make you cry a little when you leave your home every morning. Yet, when you look back on the last year, didn't that time seem to speed by? Who had time to change careers when you had all that work to do?<br /><br />We've put together a list of ways for you to make a career switch possible. Next year you can look back at January 1, 2010 and realize you've finally done it.<br /><br />Foreign language courses<br />The United States is a country filled with many languages. People who speak English as a second language or are still learning English need goods and services, and that's where bilingual professionals come in. If you studied a language in college but your tongue has grown a bit rusty since, this year is perfect for taking refresher courses. You'll be surprised by how much you know and you'll open a whole new set of doors for your career. You'll be as qualified and experienced as you already are -- only now you'll be able to reach a whole new group of potential customers.<br /><br />Public speaking courses<br />Have you ever sat through a boring presentation? And by "sat through" I mean "scribbled on your notepad until you fell asleep sitting up." Not everyone is a good public speaker, and even more people never even try to improve. If you know you have it in you to successfully present to a crowd, you should get more training so that you're a standout. Companies need people who can wow a VP or entertain a crowd without mumbling and sweating through their shirts. When you can add excellent presentation skills to your résumé, you immediately gain access to positions you didn't know were available.<br /><br />Professional certifications<br />If you don't hate the industry you're in, but you do hate the professional plateau you're on, a certification can give you a boost. Whether you have one degree or two, many times a new certification (such as one for a paralegal or legal assistant) can show employers you're serious about your job. You've just set yourself apart from most other candidates. Look into different professional organizations in your field and you'll be surprised how many certifications are available.<br /><br />Associate degrees<br />Most associate degrees take two years, but many only take one, or they can be accomplished in one if you barrel through school. An associate degree is different from a certification because an associate degree can single handedly set you in a new direction. Where a certification might only enhance your standing in the current industry, an associate degree -- which you can get at specialized institutes, community colleges and universities -- is often enough to qualify you for certain jobs regardless of your previous experience.<br /><br />Workshops<br />Sometimes what you need to move to a new level is just a refresher course or a way to reassess what you know. Many companies offer internal workshops and seminars to help their employees. The topics might range from a specialized task that's part of your job duty to a general issue, like time management or supervisory skills. Enrolling in one of these workshops, or an external one at a nearby institute, can show your boss that you're serious about advancement. You could even approach the boss to find out if he or she has certain areas they'd like to see you improve upon (or you might know this from your performance review) and use that as a jumping off point.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->

One Year to a New Career

You've counted down from 10 and watched the ball drop in Times Square. As happy as you are to usher in a new year, you can't help bu...

Read more »

When Job Search Desperation Kicks In

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/nh/ar5b3h778ql17tmsz5nh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/nh/ar5b3h778ql17tmsz5nh.gif" /></a><br /></div>Desperation isn't an attractive trait on most people ... maybe anyone. If you've ever witnessed desperation in a relationship, you know how unappealing it can be to see someone willing to settle for something. Anything. It makes you wonder just how much that person values himself or herself.<br /><br />A job search isn't the same as a quest for true love, but it can often result in desperation. Think about it: If you don't have a job, you don't have money to pay the bills. For many people, a job search is linked to survival. Who wouldn't get desperate after a while?<br /><br />Just like in a romance, however, being too eager and needy can backfire. Even if you're feeling as though you'll take any job that comes your way, don't let employers know that. You might be desperate for a job, but you don't have to act like you are.<br /><br />Why desperation doesn't help you<br />You might think, "Won't I impress my future boss if I prove I'm willing to do anything to get the job?" You would be wrong. To help you understand what hiring managers think when they come across desperate interviewees, we went straight to the source.<br /><br />Tony Deblauwe is the founder of HR4 Change and has 15 years of human resources experience. In his career he has seen more desperate job seekers than most people. Sometimes things go so wrong they're almost criminal.<br /><br />"I had a case once where after not hearing from the recruiter (from just a résumé submission), the candidate came to the office and waited in the parking lot for the CEO," Deblauwe remembers. "It was easy since the CEO's picture was online. [The candidate] felt that HR and staffing were a roadblock and the best way to prove his 'inventiveness' was to approach the CEO directly. It turned out badly as you might imagine -- we had to get security involved."<br /><br />Not all candidates are as extreme. In fact, desperation is so common, Deblauwe sees certain traits appear time after time.<br /><br />· "I'm willing to take any job!"<br />"People who have been searching a long time or who have limited leads respond to job posts that they will take any job even if it's clearly a step down," he says. "Sometimes this is due to the economy; sometimes they want to get into a company at whatever the cost. I have personally known of candidates doing this to get into Apple or Google."<br /><br />· "I'm willing to temp first."<br />"Sometimes [starting as a temp] works, but when a candidate offers it first against a full time posted job, it's a turnoff," Deblauwe cautions. "Rather than show confidence that you can do the job as presented, you offset the discussion by saying you will be a temp. Not a good move and very desperate."<br /><br />· "Money doesn't matter."<br />"It's one thing to say your salary is negotiable, but making a point in the phone screen or first round interview about not caring about the pay not only reflects bad judgment but low self-esteem," Deblauwe warns. "I ask myself, 'What else will you cave on if you had this job?'"<br /><br />· "Why haven't you called me back?"<br />According to Deblauwe, being pushy is one of the most classic signs of a desperate job seeker.<br /><br />"After sending in a résumé or getting an initial call back, a candidate loses all sense of how staffing process timing works," he says. "They will e-mail [or call] after one or two days. Candidates forget that many back-end processes slow job updates -- not because people forgot about you or don't care. This behavior doesn't show you are determined and eager; rather it makes you appear annoying and distracting. Almost always people who do this, even if they appeared to be a great fit in the beginning, get eliminated."<br /><br />What you can do<br />First off, don't say any of the above phrases. More importantly, prove that the company would be lucky to have you, and not vice versa. Don't be cocky, but act like you're ready for the job because it's the right fit, not because it's available now. Even if you are desperate for a job, remember these tips because they're important to every job search.<br /><br />· Have proof of your accomplishments so you can show the hiring manager that you deliver results.<br />· Show interest in the company. Employers like to know that you care about more than dollar signs, so do a little research on the company and even the interviewers if possible.<br />· Practice your interview answers so you don't blurt out a bad answer. For example, your answer to "Why do you want this job?" shouldn't include the low balance of your checking account.<br />· Make a list of the reasons you are the best candidate for the job. You can't convince a hiring manager that you're the best choice for the position if you don't believe it yourself. The best way to convince yourself is to look at all your best qualities.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->

When Job Search Desperation Kicks In

Desperation isn't an attractive trait on most people ... maybe anyone. If you've ever witnessed desperation in a relationship, you k...

Read more »

Droits, devoirs et prévention santé : CPAM à la Maison de l'Emploi le 7 janvier 2010

<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecs8cP9CmoFk_oTvWmqBwhmwCn8gl-4-y7HRAjZSqfxBnjUsXajtF_SpvSWZU7OlEJkMcs6k5n2XwmQyT6OaTFVvsLZvAieeY9jVeim51s-wA7A3Dsw7yhfJcrqSisLAqvwtKMLN_lfg5/s1600-h/logo_cpam_loiret.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376121006456646290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecs8cP9CmoFk_oTvWmqBwhmwCn8gl-4-y7HRAjZSqfxBnjUsXajtF_SpvSWZU7OlEJkMcs6k5n2XwmQyT6OaTFVvsLZvAieeY9jVeim51s-wA7A3Dsw7yhfJcrqSisLAqvwtKMLN_lfg5/s320/logo_cpam_loiret.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 316px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 176px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />Patricia Bayle, Déléguée Prévention à la CPAM du Loiret, assurera une <strong>permanence</strong> à la Maison de l’Emploi <strong>de 13h30 à 17h</strong> : <br /><ul><br /><li><strong>le jeudi 07 janvier 2010</strong></li></ul><br />Toutes les questions liées aux droits, aux devoirs et à la prévention (remboursement des dépenses de maladie, droits CPAM, mutuelle, CMU, paiement des indemnités journalières, prévention, examen de santé ...) peuvent être abordées par Patricia Bayle en fonction des besoins de chacun.<br /><BR>

Droits, devoirs et prévention santé : CPAM à la Maison de l'Emploi le 7 janvier 2010

Patricia Bayle, Déléguée Prévention à la CPAM du Loiret, assurera une permanence à la Maison de l’Emploi de 13h30 à 17h : le jeudi 07 janv...

Read more »

S'ouvrir les portes des métiers du bâtiment : visite d'entreprise le 7 janvier 2010

<BR><br />En partenariat avec le PLIE, la Maison de l'emploi du bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les métiers liés au secteur de l’installation de réseaux électriques (postes et conditions de travail) :<ul><br /><li>le jeudi 7 janvier 2010<br /><li>dans les locaux de l'entreprise <strong><a href="http://www.forclum.com/" "target=_blank">Forclum</a></strong>.</li></ul><br /><br />Le transport est pris en charge par la Maison de l'emploi du bassin d'Orléans avec l'appui du PLIE.<br /><br />Le nombre de places est limité.<br /><br />Pour s'inscrire, contacter la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans : 02 38 24 18 03 ou <a href="mailto:accueil@news-these-days.fr">accueil@news-these-days.fr</a>. <br /><br /><strong>Départ</strong> : <strong>PLIE</strong>, Espace Saint Marc, 5 place du 6 juin 44, 45 000 Orléans (dans l'espace d'accueil) à <strong>14h00</strong><br /><br />Pour en savoir plus sur les métiers de l'électricité et du génie climatique, allez consulter le site <strong><a href="http://www.metiers-electricite.com/" "target=_blank">www.metiers-electricite.com</a></strong>.<br /><BR>

S'ouvrir les portes des métiers du bâtiment : visite d'entreprise le 7 janvier 2010

En partenariat avec le PLIE, la Maison de l'emploi du bassin d'Orléans organise une visite d'entreprise pour découvrir les méti...

Read more »

10 Healthy Careers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/b4/ar5c2jn6q9d3pzq06tb4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/b4/ar5c2jn6q9d3pzq06tb4.gif" /></a><br /></div>Every year, one of the most popular New Year's resolutions is to "be healthy and lose weight." Easier said than done. Of course, everyone wants to be healthy, but when it comes time to put in the effort, it's hard for many to find the time.<br /><br />For others, however, finding the time to be healthy is all in a day's work. If you're interested in a career that lends itself to staying active or promoting a healthy lifestyle and environment, check out these 10 careers and the requirements you'll need to meet to get started:<br /><br />1. Activities coordinator<br />Why it's healthy: Activities coordinators plan and conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies, or recreation facilities. They focus on keeping individuals fit and active, whether they are in a nursing home or day camp.<br />Requirements: Educational and training requirements vary based on the institution in which you will be working. They range from a high-school diploma to a bachelor's degree.<br />Salary: $31,390<br /><br />2. Athletic trainer<br />Why it's healthy: Athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and healing of injuries for athletes. They usually focus mostly on the rehabilitation and reconditioning of injuries, but can spend time educating on the prevention of such injuries.<br />Requirements: A bachelor's degree and in most states, certification.<br />Salary: $46,049<br /><br />3. Chiropractor<br />Why it's healthy: Chiropractors deal with conditions of the spine, but their approach is more holistic in that it's focused on a patient's overall health. They are concerned with diet, exercise and other issues related to well-being, and they provide natural, drugless and nonsurgical health treatments.<br />Requirements: Chiropractors must be licensed, which requires two to four years of undergraduate education, completing a four-year chiropractic college course, and earning passing scores on national and state examinations.<br />Salary: $115,289<br /><br />4. Dieticians and nutritionists<br />Why it's healthy: Dieticians and nutritionists constantly think about what they put in their clients' bodies and in their own. They promote healthy eating habits by recommending dietary modifications, planning food and nutrition programs, supervising meal preparation and oversee the serving of meals.<br />Requirements: At least a bachelor's degree. Licensure, certification or registration requirements vary by state.<br />Salary: $52,911 and $54,301<br /><br />5. Exercise instructor<br />Why it's healthy: Exercise instructors, whether in aerobics, Pilates or yoga, are constantly moving their own bodies, teaching others to do the same and how to do so correctly. Multiple days of the week, hours at a time, are spent sweating, so there is no question you'll be in tip-top shape.<br />Requirements: Depends on the specific type of fitness work. For most fitness workers, certification is critical and you are expected to know how to do your job without any on-the-job training.<br />Salary: $30,189<br /><br />6. Health educator<br />Why it's healthy: Health educators must practice what they preach, as they work to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellness. They educate people and communities about healthy living, disease prevention, proper nutrition and the importance of exercise.<br />Requirements: A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level positions; other employers prefer a bachelor's degree and some related experience. A master's degree and even doctorate may be required for some positions and is usually required for advancement.<br />Salary: $63,817<br /><br />7. Personal chef<br />Why it's healthy: Personal chefs offer meal preparation to clients for a fee. They are usually healthy, individualized meals for families and individuals of all types, and they can personalize your menu to any special nutritional needs you may have.<br />Requirements: Most culinary schools offer personal chef training; you may also choose to be certified by the American Personal & Private Chef Association.<br />Salary: Varies<br /><br />8. Personal trainer<br />Why it's healthy: A personal trainer's job is to help individuals lose weight, get in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. They got tons of extra exercise through working out with clients, and part of their training is to learn about nutrition.<br />Requirements: Personal trainers usually must be certified to work with clients or with members of a fitness facility.<br />Salary: $46,049<br /><br />9. Massage therapist<br />Why it's healthy: Massage therapists promote one's general health, helping people become more aware of their bodies and taking care of it better. They focus on relaxation, muscle recovery, treating painful ailments and reducing stress.<br />Requirements: Most states require massage therapists to complete a formal education program and pass a national certification examination or a state exam.<br />Salary: $32,399<br /><br />10. Weight reduction specialist<br />Why it's healthy: Weight-loss specialists help clients in devising and carrying out weight-loss plan, using established dietary programs and positive reinforcement procedures. <br />Requirements: At least a bachelor's degree. Licensure, certification, or registration requirements vary by state.<br />Salary: $32,368<br /><br />Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek 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: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><a class="addthis_button" href="http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&username=rockfordlink"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script><br /><!-- AddThis Button END -->

10 Healthy Careers

Every year, one of the most popular New Year's resolutions is to "be healthy and lose weight." Easier said than done. Of cours...

Read more »

Reflecting on 2009

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYLu1tU26y-AreCytHEmQaq-Im8uDGOIU7We6wc4jeVWUVcPzfoqoI2krzjyzzbpHtAYH6HbW77fXqbJRlXh1Vdamiz-AEA3NNxFQsN-Y4HhPPn3or4u9Vdx8IbMJavN82iTbjjlOupSu/s1600-h/2009.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420542186174906946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYLu1tU26y-AreCytHEmQaq-Im8uDGOIU7We6wc4jeVWUVcPzfoqoI2krzjyzzbpHtAYH6HbW77fXqbJRlXh1Vdamiz-AEA3NNxFQsN-Y4HhPPn3or4u9Vdx8IbMJavN82iTbjjlOupSu/s400/2009.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />Today I looked at my old blog, the one on the right, titled "My old Diana's Weight Loss Journey". I don't even remember why I started a new blog in March 2009. I vaguely remember it was something to do with this <a href="http://theantijared.blogspot.com/" target="blank">guy</a>. :)<br /><br />I was in search of my 2009 goals, which I found in my January 1, 2009 post. I also found my old blog was black type on a black background which made it unreadable. No idea how that happened.<br /><br />When I read through my 2009 goals I wanted to cry. My first thought was that I'm a big, fat failure. I didn't actually make any of my 2009 goals happen, and I only had four goals. Then I decided to try and look at the glass half full instead of half empty.<br /><br />Some of these goals are still going to be on my 2010 list, but here's how I did for 2009. Fortunately it was a short list.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">1. Get to my goal weight of 135 (28.6 pounds to go!).</span><br /><br />~~~ This was a fail. Any way I look at it I failed. I don't even know how I can put a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">positive</span> spin on this one. I was so close and then something happened. I just stopped and went the other direction. I weighed 163.6 when I posted this goal January 1, 2009. Today I weighed 175.4, a gain of 11.8 pounds in 2009. I suppose the positive is that I didn't go all the way back up to 240 pounds.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">2. Maintain my 75-pound loss.</span><br /><br />~~~See #1. Although I've managed to maintain a 64.6 pound loss, this goal wasn't met.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">3. See a therapist for that nasty little compulsive overeating problem I have.</span><br /><br />~~~I saw a therapist for three sessions. It didn't help. I suppose I didn't give it a chance, but it seemed like a total waste of time and money. I know I have issues, but seeing a therapist didn't seem to really work for me. I'm neutral on this being a failure.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">4. Work on my marriage.<br /></span><br />~~~I did and I didn't. I guess the positive on this one is I'm still married. We have our good days and our bad ones. Sometimes it seems all bad, then a glimmer of the old us shows itself and it all seems worth working on.<br /><br />Well, so much for the positive spin. The only positive is that by being such a failure in 2009 I have an opportunity in 2010 to make these things happen. More to come on that later.<br /><br /><strong>My workout today</strong><br />Oh my gosh! I just about killed myself at the gym. I think I'm a bit of a showoff when it comes to lifting weights and I did a really foolish thing. I did all my concentrated <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dumbbell</span> curls with 20-pound <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dumbbells</span> (some guy was watching me), and then my overhead press with 25-pound <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dumbbells</span>. I also added some new exercises today for upper body and now I can't lift my arms over my head. Ouch!<br /><br />I've added a blog page on the the right, My workouts, where I'll keep track of all my workouts. I always carry a notebook with me to the gym and write them down. Now I'll transfer the information to a blog page. If anyone has any suggestions of new exercises or web sites with exercises, please let me know. I had some bookmarked on my old laptop that crashed last summer and now I can't find them. I really want to ramp up my workout routines in 2010. This is going to be my year!

Reflecting on 2009

Today I looked at my old blog, the one on the right, titled "My old Diana's Weight Loss Journey". I don't even remember wh...

Read more »

Just another Monday (on vacation)

<strong>A blog worth checking out</strong><br />I read a lot of weight loss blogs. I don't always comment because I don't always have something worthwhile to say or I'm in a rush, but that doesn't mean I'm not reading your blog. Many of you are really great writers with lots of ideas and suggestions on how to be healthy and fit. Even those of you that struggle, you still give me hope because you keep on trying.<br /><br />Today I came across a blog that's I think is worth mentioning. <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/" target="blank">Oh She Glows</a> written by Angela Liddon, a beautiful young woman that lives in Milton, Ontario.<br /><br />I have to admit when I first read her "about" story I was turned off because her highest weight was 147 (she's 5' 4"). Fortunately, I kept reading and realized the real difference between Angela and myself is that she figured it all out before she gained another 100 pounds.<br /><br />I remember weighing 147 pounds. It was when I graduated college. I remember I felt as big as a cow, and how I thought I was so incredibly obese. I was repulsed by my fatness. It's also when I started my obsessive behavior towards food and exercise. An obsession that has continued throughout my life, resulting in me gaining almost another 100 pounds.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/" target="blank">Oh She Glows</a>website. Especially some of her older posts. She has a lot to say about society's obsession with beauty and being skinny. She's a pretty amazing young woman, and I like her way of thinking.<br /><br /><strong>About my post-Christmas illness</strong><br />I feel 100% better today. Thank you for all your well wishes...they must have worked! I really don't know what happened, or why I got so sick. It was scary and horrible.<br /><br />The more I think about it, the more I think it might be related to having my gallbladder removed about three years ago. I was reading Dawn's <a href="http://bbubblyb.blogspot.com/2009/12/lazy-sunday.html" target="blank">post</a> about how she can't eat fatty foods anymore since she had her gallbladder removed.<br /><br />Normally, even when I overeat I don't eat fatty foods. I eat too many apples or too many grapes or too many ounces of broiled chicken breasts or too many roasted Brussels sprouts. Trust me though, I can easily gain weight from too much good stuff so it's not necessarily a good thing that I overeat healthy food.<br /><br />Christmas dinner consisted of a lot of foods laden with butter. Real butter. Not the Smart Balance stuff that I normally use, but real, 100% dairy butter. Even the turkey gravy had, heaven forbid, drippings from the turkey, including a lot of the grease (made mother-in-law style).<br /><br />I suspect that's what caused my "stomach flu" symptoms. Overeating really fattening food. In other words, that was self-inflicted pain. It's something I don't ever want to experience again. Ever!<br /><br /><strong>Plan for the week</strong><br />Today is just a lazy day. It's noon and I'm still in my PJ's. I often wonder if when I retire someday, if I'll even bother to get dressed. I could be like Hugh Hefner and just wear my PJs all day, every day. :)<br /><br />I am going to get out of the house and hit the gym soon. I'm going to really make an effort to limit it to about an hour. Also, because of Fatinah's <a href="http://fatinah.blogspot.com/" target="blank">post</a> about 10 health misconceptions, I'm going to change my workout.<br /><br />I'm going to do a 10-minute warmup on the elliptical, then my strength training for 30 minutes, and then a 30-minute cardio. I've been doing this backwards for months (okay, years). I know it's suppose to be strength first and cardio second, I hate cardio so much I always want to "get it over with" so I do it first. It's time to do it correctly.<br /><br />I'm also really going to try for muscle confusion. I was watching a P90X infomercial last night (at 3am...my sleep is really screwed up), and they kept talking about muscle confusion. I'm a creature of habit but I need to mix up my exercises and not do the same blasted exercises every day. I have exercise books and favorite websites so I'm going to try out some new things today.<br /><br />Wednesday we're going snowshoeing up at Crystal Mountain. We bought snowshoes last spring when they were on sale and haven't used them yet. I'm looking forward to getting outside. I'm starting to feel housebound. A day trip to the mountains is just what I need.<br /><br />Did I mention I love not working? Totally, completely love it. I don't miss one aspect of it. I'm just sorry I only have six and half more days until I have to return to the grindstone. Yes, I really need an attitude adjustment about work. Something to work on for the new year, among many other things.

Just another Monday (on vacation)

A blog worth checking out I read a lot of weight loss blogs. I don't always comment because I don't always have something worthwhile...

Read more »

55 Jobs with High Growth in 2010

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/pz/ar5d3z76fx0trhg2jcpz.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/pz/ar5d3z76fx0trhg2jcpz.gif" /></a><br /></div>Although 2009 saw some of the most desolate unemployment numbers in history, there is reason to believe that things are starting to look up.<br /><br />Both the unemployment rate and the number of jobless persons decreased in November to 10 percent and 15.4 million, respectively, according to the most recent date from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was down from October, when the unemployment was at an all-time-high of 10.2 percent and there were 15.7 million unemployed persons. <br /><br />In addition, although employment fell in several industries, several groups saw little change or added jobs in November. Employment in professional and business services rose by 86,000, with temporary help services adding 52,000 jobs, the majority of the increase. Since July, temporary help services employment has risen by 117,000. Health-care employment rose to 21,000 in November, with gains in home health-care services (7,000) and hospitals (7,000). The health-care industry has added 613,000 jobs since the recession began in December 2007. While there was little change in wholesale and retail trade, department stores added 8,000 jobs over the month. Finally, the number of jobs in transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality showed little change over the month.<br /><br />As these numbers continue to trend upward, there should be hope for the millions of people still looking for a job in 2010. The labor force is projected to increase by 12.6 million people during the 2008-18 period, according to the BLS. Total employment is expected to increase by 10.1 percent, adding about 15.3 million workers over the decade -- including in 2010.<br /><br />It should be noted, however, that the jobs that will be added won't be evenly distributed across industries and occupational groups. It goes without saying that changes in consumer demand, technology and the like will continue to affect the economic structure. <br /><br />If you're looking for a job this year, here are 55 (of many) jobs to look for in 2010, defined as jobs that saw growth in the second half of 2009 in every industry.* <br /><br />Industry: Management, business and financial operations<br />Jobs that saw growth in management:<br /><br />1. Marketing and sales managers<br /><br />2. Purchasing managers<br /><br />3. Property, real estate and community association managers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in business and financial operations:<br />4. Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products<br /><br />5. Cost estimators<br /><br />6. Meeting and convention planners<br /><br />Industry: Professional and related occupations<br />Jobs that saw growth in computer and mathematics: <br /><br />7. Computer programmers<br /><br />8. Network systems and data communications analysts<br /><br />9. Statisticians<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in architecture and engineering:<br />10. Electrical and electronics engineers<br /><br />11. Materials engineers<br /><br />12. Engineering technicians, except drafters<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in life, physical and social sciences: <br />13. Market and survey researchers<br /><br />14. Psychologists<br /><br />15. Urban and regional planners<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in community and social services:<br />16. Counselors<br /><br />17. Social workers<br /><br />18. Religious activities and education director<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in legal: <br />19. Judges, magistrates and other judicial workers<br /><br />20. Paralegals and legal assistants<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in education, training and library:<br />21. Archivists, curators and museum technicians<br /><br />22. Librarians<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media:<br />23. Designers<br /><br />24. Athletes, coaches, umpires and related workers<br /><br />25. Editors<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in health-care practitioner and technical: <br />26. Chiropractors<br /><br />27. Occupational therapists<br /><br />28. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians<br /><br />Industry: Service occupations<br />Jobs that saw growth in health-care support: <br /><br />29. Nursing, psychiatric and home-health aides<br /><br />30. Massage therapists<br /><br />31. Dental assistants<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in protective services: <br />32. Firefighters<br /><br />33. Bailiffs, correctional officers and jailers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in food preparation and serving related occupations: <br />34. Chefs and head cooks<br /><br />35. Bartenders<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in building and grounds cleaning and maintenance:<br />36. Pest control workers<br /><br />37. Grounds maintenance workers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in personal care and service: <br />38. Tour and travel guides<br /><br />39. Child-care workers<br /><br />40. Recreation and fitness workers<br /><br />Industry: Sales and office occupations<br />Jobs that saw growth in sales and related:<br /><br />41. Cashiers<br /><br />42. Advertising sales agents<br /><br />43. Travel agents<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in office and administrative support: <br />44. Customer service representatives<br /><br />45. Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping<br /><br />46. Office machine operators, except computer<br /><br />Industry: Natural resources, construction and maintenance<br />Jobs that saw growth in construction and extraction:<br /><br />47. Carpenters<br /><br />48. Cement masons, concrete finishers and terrazzo workers<br /><br />49. Electricians<br /><br />Industry: Installation, maintenance and repair <br />Jobs that saw growth: <br /><br />50. Automotive body and related repairers<br /><br />51. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation<br /><br />Industry: Production, transportation and material moving <br />Jobs that saw growth in production: <br /><br />52. Bakers<br /><br />53. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers<br /><br />Jobs that saw growth in transportation and material moving: <br />54. Refuse and recyclable material collectors<br /><br />55. Industrial truck and tractor operators<br /><br />*Data reflects figures based on the second- and third-quarter employment numbers according to the Current Population Survey released by the BLS.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek 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: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

55 Jobs with High Growth in 2010

Although 2009 saw some of the most desolate unemployment numbers in history, there is reason to believe that things are starting to look up....

Read more »

Still alive after 36 hours of hell

I'm not sure what happened to me Saturday but after my two-hour workout at the gym I became really sick as soon as I got home. Room spinning dizziness, horrible nauseousness and dry heaves because I hadn't eaten anything before going to the gym.<br /><br />It continued all day yesterday, throughout the night until 6am this morning when I sort of started to feel human again and could finally lay down on the bed. Prior to that the movement of the bed made me feel sick so I was either laying on the floor or sitting in a hard chair.<br /><br />I couldn't even keep water down. I tried eating saltines and I threw up. I took Pepto Bismol and threw up. I couldn't watch TV because the movement and the noise made me feel even more nauseous. I couldn't even read because of the dizziness.<br /><br />My husband found me curled up in a ball on the bathroom floor at 3am and tried to make me go to the emergency room. I refused. I told him if I was still sick in the morning, then maybe. The thought of going to the emergency room made me feel even sicker.<br /><br />I'm not sure what happened but I suspect it might have been either 1.) some sort of stomach flu or 2.) that disgusting, fattening Christmas dinner. I swear I'll never touch butter again as long as I live. Even now just thinking about it makes me feel kind of sick.<br /><br />I felt better today but still kind of dizzy and slightly nauseous. I was able to eat a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup tonight and actually keep it down (no turkey, it makes me feel sick to think about it). I also drank a couple glasses of water today. I've been super thirsty because I couldn't drink anything yesterday and actually keep it down.<br /><br />You never appreciate your health until you go through something like that. I'm so happy to feel better. I can't wait for tomorrow to feel even better. Plus I can sleep in my bed tonight and not on the floor or in a chair. Life is good!

Still alive after 36 hours of hell

I'm not sure what happened to me Saturday but after my two-hour workout at the gym I became really sick as soon as I got home. Room spin...

Read more »

The Death of Edward Schillebeeckyx

Edward Schillebeeckyx died on December 23 at the age of 95. He was a great theologian, important to me chiefly for shaping my understanding of the Eucharist as a point of encounter with Christ, and Christ as a point of encounter between our humanity and the divine core of reality. He will be missed. I plan to honor him by reading one of his early books on Jesus that I have never read beforel and by reading Robert Schreiter's introduction to his theology.

The Death of Edward Schillebeeckyx

Edward Schillebeeckyx died on December 23 at the age of 95. He was a great theologian, important to me chiefly for shaping my understanding ...

Read more »

Planning de la semaine du 28 au 31 décembre 2009

<BR><br />Exceptionnellement, la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans sera <strong>fermée au public le mardi 29 décembre après-midi</strong> et <strong>fermera à 16h le 31 décembre</strong>.<br /><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Les permanences du <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> et de la <strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de gestion</a></strong> seront suspendues entre le 28 décembre et le 31 décembre 2009.</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - jeudi 31 décembre de 10h à 12h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 28 au 31 décembre 2009

Exceptionnellement, la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans sera fermée au public le mardi 29 décembre après-midi et fermera à 16...

Read more »

A new beginning

Christmas. Food. Lots and lots of food. After the last two Christmases of being a really good little Weight Watcher, yesterday I made the attempt but finally said to hell with it. The Weight Watcher recipes I made turned out disastrous.<br /><br />The Weight Watcher stuffing recipe, the Smashed Buttermilk Potatoes from their Thanksgiving magazine issue, and the 3-Point pumpkin pie all tasted really terrible. The stuffing was dry, the potatoes, well, turns out I hate buttermilk, and the pie, I messed up and accidentally doubled the sugar. It wasn't even edible.<br /><br />So I dug into the real stuffing that was full of butter (I know, because I made it) and the real mashed potatoes with again, lots of butter. Because doesn't lots of butter equal lots of love?<br /><br />I also drank too many Pomegranate martinis. Actually, they were mostly juice. I love Pomegranate juice but it's very high calorie so it wasn't much of a trade off to have mostly juice instead of vodka.<br /><br />Oh, and the pumpkin pie from Costco. It's ginormous so I'm sure a piece isn't 8 Points like a normal pie. Probably more like 16Points. Bad. All very, very bad.<br /><br />A strange thing happened yesterday morning, my brand new scales stopped working. I stepped on them and nothing. These were my second new scales in about three months. They both stopped working for no apparent reason. A new battery didn't help either. On my list of things to do today is buy new scales so I can weigh in before the new year.<br /><br />I started off today reading several posts by other bloggers. I was surprised by how many people said they ate poorly yesterday but <u>they'd get back on program after the first of the year</u>. What???<br /><br />That sort of surprised me. My intent was to get back on program TODAY. After reading about other people waiting to start after January 1st, I thought, well, maybe that's not a bad idea. I have all this great food in the house, how am I going to resist it. Why not just give in and eat what I want for a whole week?<br /><br />Then I read <a href="http://jackfit.blogspot.com/2009/12/this-is-your-wake-up-call.html" target="blank">Jack's</a> post, and I came to my senses. That was crazy thinking, eat what I want for a week?! It's like I went temporarily insane. I was 175.4 on Christmas Eve day. I probably gained a couple pounds yesterday, and if I continue to eat like yesterday for a whole week I could easily pack on another five pounds.<br /><br />No worries. It's not going to happen. The gym opens at 8am, and I'm going to be there. I'm getting dressed as soon as I finish this post. After my workout I'll stop by the store and buy another new scale so I can weigh in today.

A new beginning

Christmas. Food. Lots and lots of food. After the last two Christmases of being a really good little Weight Watcher, yesterday I made the at...

Read more »

Not Getting Hired? 10 Reasons Why

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7s/ar5c6zb75ml06h4fny7s.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7s/ar5c6zb75ml06h4fny7s.gif" /></a><br /></div><br />You don't understand. You updated your résumé, you're applying to jobs every day, you've cleaned up your digital dirt and you network every day. Yet here you still are on the unemployment list. What is wrong with employers? <br /><br />Unfortunately, many job seekers don't stop to consider that the problem might not be employers but themselves. <br /><br />It's a hard concept that most job seekers have trouble wrapping their heads around, but applicants frequently (and inadvertently) display signs that tell an employer that they're not the best fit for the job. <br /><br />According to a 2009 CareerBuilder survey, 47 percent of employers said that finding qualified applicants is their biggest hiring challenge. When asked to identify the most valuable characteristics in new hires, employers cited multitasking, initiative and creative problem-solving.<br /><br />Do you lack what employers want? Yes, there are fewer jobs and there is more competition, but are you doing everything you can? Here are 10 reasons why employers might have passed you by.<br /><br />1. You lie<br />Any lies you tell in your job search, whether on your résumé or in an interview, will come back to haunt you. In a 2008 CareerBuilder survey, 49 percent of hiring managers reported they caught a candidate lying on his or her résumé; of those employers, 57 percent said they automatically dismissed the applicant. Everything you tell an employer can be discovered, so it behooves you to be honest from the get-go. If you're concerned about something in your past, invention is not the answer. Use your cover letter to tell your story, focusing on your strengths and accomplishments and explaining any areas of concern if needed.<br /><br />2. You have a potty mouth<br />It's certainly tempting to tell anyone who will listen how big of a (insert expletive here) your current boss is, but a hiring manager for a new job is not that person. A 2009 CareerBuilder survey showed that 44 percent of employers said that talking negatively about current or previous employers was one of the most detrimental mistakes a candidate can make. Find a way to turn those negative things job into positives. If you can't get along with your co-workers, for example, tell the prospective employer that you're looking for a work environment where you feel like you're part of a team and your current position doesn't allow for that kind of atmosphere.<br /><br />3. You don't show long-term potential<br />Employers want people in their organization to work their way up, so it's best to show that you want to and can grow with the company. If you were asked where you see yourself in five years and you gave an answer that wasn't related to the position or company you're interviewing with, kiss your chances goodbye. Ask questions like, "What type of career movement do you envision for the most successful candidate in this role?" It shows that you have envisioned your future at the company. <br /><br />4. You have serious digital dirt<br />Social networking sites and online searches are the newest way that many employers are checking up on prospective hires. A 2009 CareerBuilder survey showed that 45 percent of employers use social networking sites to research candidates. Thirty-five percent of those employers found content that caused them to dismiss the candidate. Make sure to remove any photos, content or links that can work against you in an employer's eyes.<br /><br />5. You don't know ... well, anything<br />In two separate 2009 CareerBuilder surveys, 58 percent of employers said that coming to the interview with no knowledge of the company was a turnoff, and 49 percent said that not asking good questions cost candidates a job offer. Plain and simple, do your homework before an interview. Explore the company online, prepare answers to questions and have someone give you a mock interview. The more prepared you are, the more employers will take you seriously.<br /><br />6. You acted bored, cocky or disinterested<br />A little enthusiasm never hurt anyone, especially when it comes to a potential new job. Forty-five percent of employers in a 2009 CareerBuilder survey said that the biggest mistake candidates made in the interview was appearing disinterested and 42 percent said appearing arrogant cost applicants the job. Every business wants to put their most enthusiastic people forward with important clients and customers, so acting the opposite will get you nowhere.<br /><br />7. You were a little too personal<br />Seventeen percent of employers said that candidates who provided too much personal information in the interview essentially blew their chances at the job, according to a 2009 CareerBuilder survey. Not only does personal information offend some people, but anytime you talk about topics such as your hobbies, race, age or religion, you're setting yourself up for bias. Though it's illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants because of any of these factors, some will do so, regardless. <br /><br />8. You were all dollars, no sense<br />As a general rule of thumb, you should never bring up salary before the employer does. Doing so is tacky and makes the employer think that you care about the money involved, not about helping the employer succeed. If the topic does arise, however, be honest about your salary history. Employers can verify your salary in a matter of minutes these days, so lying only makes you look bad. <br /><br />9. You didn't -- or can't -- give examples<br />Hiring managers want people who can prove that they will increase the organization's revenues, decrease its costs or help it succeed in some way. If all you give to an employer is a bunch of empty words about your accomplishments, you don't demonstrate how you can help the company. In fact, 35 percent of employers said that the most detrimental mistake candidates make is not providing specific examples in the interview. The more you can quantify your work, the better.<br /><br />10. You don't have enough experience<br />Managers don't have as much time as they used to to train and mentor new employees. The more experience you have, the more likely you are to hit the ground running without a lot of hand-holding. The best way to show that you know what you're doing is to give the employer concrete examples of your experience in a given job duty.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek 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: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><div><a expr:addthis:title='data:post.title' expr:addthis:url='data:post.url' class='addthis_button'><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script></div><!-- AddThis Button END -->

Not Getting Hired? 10 Reasons Why

You don't understand. You updated your résumé, you're applying to jobs every day, you've cleaned up your digital dirt and you ne...

Read more »

5 Jobs for Internet Addicts

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/dd/ar5b3xx5z31lvmps63dd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/dd/ar5b3xx5z31lvmps63dd.gif" /></a><br /></div>Are you an online addict? The dictionary doesn't have a definition for it just yet, but if it were to exist, I suspect it would look something like this:<br /><br />Internet addict (n): 1. One whose hand has molded to fit the contour of the computer mouse; 2. One who feels energized by the glow of a computer screen in much the same way a fresh cup of coffee makes most people feel in the morning; 3. One who dreads going to sleep because he or she is unable to go online for eight hours.<br /><br />Is this you? Do you hate the fact that your job gets in the way of your Internet activity? Perhaps you don't let that stop you from surfing the Web during the day and you pray the boss won't catch you. Whatever the situation may be, you might be better off in a different job. Say, a job where you're paid for your online addiction.<br /><br />Maybe you need help weaning yourself off of the computer, but until your friends and family stage an intervention, you should consider one of these Webtastic jobs:<br /><br />Branding consultant<br />Branding is a buzzword that's worked its way into the permanent lexicon. Companies, organizations and even individuals want to have a brand -- an identity that customers instantly recognize and respond to positively. Much of that branding is formed online, via ad campaigns, press and customer interaction. Branding consultants help companies identify what type of brand they want and then they help create it and keep it consistent through all outlets. They know the likes and dislikes of their target audience, so they try to be in front of them as much as possible to get exposure and gauge their reactions. The placement of banner ads, the spread of viral videos and other places you see a company's advertisements are the results of branding consultants' efforts.<br /><br />Public relations director<br />The world of PR is busy and ever-changing. In fact, what you do as a public relations specialist or director depends on the organization in which you work. What is the same everywhere is the need to monitor what type of media attention you're getting and employ damage control if necessary. Directors give interviews online, in print, on radio and on TV to speak on the company's behalf. They stay on message so that the company presents a unified, cohesive voice at all times. Directors also monitor what publications and critics, both online and offline, are saying about the company and are prepared to respond to all inquiries that might come their way.<br /><br />Recruiter<br />The Internet has been changing industries for well over a decade now, as most people recognize. Recruiting has also experienced a shift, mostly due to networking sites. Sites where people can post their education history, work experience and skills are ripe for recruiters who need to find new talent. By logging on to a social network, they have access to thousands of potential employees at the click of their mouse. Of course, good recruiters want the right candidate, so they spend hours scouring different networks to find the most qualified individuals.<br /><br />Social media consultant<br />Social media are still relatively new in the business world, as is this position. In some companies, a social media consultant is a busy, high-level job. In others it's a part-time gig suited for an intern. What you can be certain of is the need to find new ways to engage customers online. Companies need someone to set up and maintain accounts on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and any other social media site that pops up. The social media consultant might work for a public relations director or alongside a branding consultant. Whatever the case, this person need to keep the content fresh, monitor user feedback and create a persona for the company -- all through the click of a mouse.<br /><br />User operations analyst<br />What one thing do advertisers and site owners want to know more than anything else? How online users behave. The pages they visit, how far they scroll down a page, how many clicks they are willing to make to find information, and anything else that gives insight into how users navigate a site. User operations analysts monitor how users interact with the site and they also answer users' questions or listen to their feedback to see what they want in a site. The analysts then share their information with the site owner.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><div><a expr:addthis:title='data:post.title' expr:addthis:url='data:post.url' class='addthis_button'><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script></div><!-- AddThis Button END -->

5 Jobs for Internet Addicts

Are you an online addict? The dictionary doesn't have a definition for it just yet, but if it were to exist, I suspect it would look som...

Read more »

20 Jobs That Don't Require Degrees but Pay Big Salaries

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fh/ar5b3fh793ny27205yfh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fh/ar5b3fh793ny27205yfh.gif" /></a><br /></div>Higher education isn't for everyone, and people have a variety of paths to choose from once they graduate from high school. They might know from the start that they want to go straight to the professional world. Other new graduates often decide to try college for a semester to see how it goes and then realize it's not for them.<br /><br />While the decision to pursue a degree or to enter the work force is fraught with pros and cons, earning a lot of money isn't. Not that money means everything, but wouldn't we all like to see some bigger numbers on our next paycheck? You can find jobs in many industries that don't require formal degrees, but you still need relevant experience, skills and possibly other training, depending on the position.<br /><br />If you're in the market for a job that doesn't require a degree but does come with a nice salary, here are 20 jobs to consider and their average annual salary:<br /><br />1. Aides supervisor $60,652*<br />Aides supervisors typically supervise home-health aides, monitoring quality of care and setting work schedules. <br /><br />2. Assembly supervisor $59,926<br />Assembly supervisors oversee workers who put together products by using power tools or other dangerous equipment.<br /><br />3. Assistant site manager $86,584<br />At a construction site, assistant site managers report to head site managers and plan, direct and coordinate the necessary tasks to complete that day's activities.<br /><br />4. Automobile service station manager $81,793<br />The manager draws up guidelines for gas stations and automotive repair shops and decides on hours of operation, assigns job duties and sets prices for services and products.<br /><br />5. Cable supervisor $71,826<br />Cable supervisors monitor workers who install, maintain and repair cables, and also perform related services.<br /><br />6. Carpenter supervisor $70,565<br />Carpenter supervisors oversee carpentry work on a specified project to ensure that workers are on schedule and executing plans accordingly. The supervisor also performs some of the carpentry duties if time permits.<br /><br />7. Chemical supervisor $67,114<br />Chemical supervisors oversee workers who make chemical products, which involves handling dangerous substances and following strict guidelines.<br /><br />8. Construction equipment operator $50,783<br />These operators are in charge of the large tools and equipment used during construction projects and they also inspect the equipment for safety and performance issues.<br /><br />9. Credit and collection supervisor $61,387<br />Credit and collection supervisors manage employees who calculate credit risks and collections, and they sometimes review client credit history to grant or deny extensions of credit.<br /><br />10. Data control supervisor $61,118<br />Data control supervisors manage data entry workers and are responsible for the completion and accuracy of that work. On occasion they help with assignments.<br /><br />11. Flight service manager $67,766<br />Airlines hire flight service managers to ensure that flight attendants adhere to personal appearance and preflight requirements. They also compile flight reports.<br /><br />12. Gas plant operator $64,198<br />Pipelines that produce and transport gas need to stay at certain pressures to function safely, and that's what these workers do.<br /><br />13. Home care aide supervisor $66,244<br />Home care aides assist homebound patients with daily activities and some rehabilitation exercises, and the supervisor ensures that all patients are being taken care of properly by their aides.<br /><br />14. Housekeeping manager of a medical facility $60,584<br />In a medical facility, the housekeeping manager sets the schedules and tasks for his or her team. Housekeeping duties vary depending on the type of medical facility, but managers must work with other hospital staff to ensure they are following health and safety guidelines.<br /><br />15. Lead carpenter $68,616<br />Lead carpenters ensure that construction projects are completed on time and correctly, and they perform some of the labor themselves.<br /><br />16. Locomotive engineer $70,116<br />Locomotive engineers drive electric, diesel-electric or gas-turbine electric trains that transport passengers or freight.<br /><br />17. Margin department supervisor $87,745<br />Margin department supervisors manage customer credit-card accounts for a company, and one of their principal duties is to approve or deny credit to customers.<br /><br />18. Painting supervisor $62,211<br />Painting supervisors monitor all painting activities involved in a particular job. They ensure paint is mixed properly and surfaces are prepared correctly, and they apply decorative or protective finishes when needed.<br /><br />19. Payroll supervisor $63,626<br />These supervisors oversee payroll employees to ensure that all pay calculations follow company policy, government regulations and tax codes.<br /><br />20. Route sales manager $65,771<br />Product and service delivery teams have to achieve goals pertaining to customer satisfaction, efficiency and personal performance. The route sales manager monitors their work and keeps them on track to achieve their objectives.<br /><br />*Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><div><a expr:addthis:title='data:post.title' expr:addthis:url='data:post.url' class='addthis_button'><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script></div><!-- AddThis Button END -->

20 Jobs That Don't Require Degrees but Pay Big Salaries

Higher education isn't for everyone, and people have a variety of paths to choose from once they graduate from high school. They might k...

Read more »

10 Jobs That Aren't Your Typical 9-to-5

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/sp/ar5b7y36cz35nry6hwsp.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/sp/ar5b7y36cz35nry6hwsp.gif" /></a><br /></div><br />A strict schedule where you clock in at 9 a.m. and clock out at 5 p.m. is ideal for some professionals. You can schedule events easily when you know that you're busy for only those eight hours.<br /><br />Not everyone can do that or even wants to. Routine doesn't sit well with some people who like a little variety in their lives. For other people, that particular eight-hour block of time conflicts with other plans. School, family obligations and part-time jobs often mean working 9 to 5 is impossible. Of course, just because these jobs have different hours than most others, don't think they're easy jobs.<br /><br />If you'd prefer to have a schedule that offers different hours, here are 10 jobs to consider:<br /><br />1. Chefs and bakers<br />You might not eat lunch until noon, but someone had to start preparing it long before you sat down. Chefs get up early to get the freshest ingredients from local markets and to start chopping vegetables and marinating dishes so they'll be ready for you. Bakers also need time to make all those delicious baked goods you scarf down in a few seconds. While you were still snoozing, a baker was making those pastries you picked up on the way to work. The next time you pass by a restaurant or bakery that is closed in the middle of the day, realize that they were working long before you were.<br /><br />2. Construction workers<br />Construction work is tough for many reasons, one being the weather. Imagine wearing protective gear while building a skyscraper on a hot summer afternoon. To avoid spending their entire day in dangerous heat, construction crews often start working before the sun rises so they can be done early. It's safer for them and means they're heading home before most 9-to-5 workers call it a day.<br /><br />3. Emergency room nurses<br />You can't schedule an emergency, so we're glad ERs are open around the clock all year long. Naturally, no single nurse can cover every shift alone -- and they're often long shifts -- so someone needs to be there during the day, late at night and in the morning.<br /><br />4. Firefighters<br />Fires don't just occur during normal business hours. Firefighters need to be available 24 hours a day, so they have different shifts to ensure someone is ready to help out when a call comes. Certain departments have schedules that require firefighters to work for a certain set of days but then be off for the following three days. You're still working a lot of hours but you're not sticking to a standard workday.<br /><br />5. Hair stylists<br />Hair stylists need to be available to clients when it's convenient for them, and not everyone can sneak away for an hour or two during the day to get a haircut. And you probably don't want a groggy stylist holding a pair of scissors at 6 a.m. just so you can get an appointment before work. That's why many salons don't open until late morning but then stay open until late evening. As a result, they're working when many other people aren't, so you can make an appointment.<br /><br />6. News reporters<br />The news might last only 30 minutes, but a lot of work goes into those stories. The reporters you see on morning shows get up at absurdly early hours just to be able to give you a story while you get ready for work. The reporters on the evening news when you get home were gathering information all day while you were at work.<br /><br />7. Pilots<br />Try to imagine how difficult traveling would be if you could fly only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Not only are pilots flying planes at various hours, they're also crossing time zones and datelines on flights that can go well beyond eight hours.<br /><br />8. Professors<br />Some professors teach only day courses, so their workday might not look that different from yours. But others teach in the evenings as well, so they might have a six-hour gap between their morning class for undergraduates and their evening class for grad students. Plus, grading papers and holding office hours mean work well beyond the hours they spend in a classroom.<br /><br />9. Retail sales clerks<br />When you buy clothes, groceries or even a car, you probably don't do it during the middle of a workday. Retail salespeople work evenings and weekends so you can buy what you need without having to leave the office.<br /><br />10. Security guards<br />When everyone leaves their 9-to-5 jobs, someone has to make sure the office is secure all night. Security guards patrol the grounds to ensure that no one gets in the building and they alert the police if something goes wrong. Of course, you can find security guards at banks and stores that are open only during standard business hours, too.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><div><a expr:addthis:title='data:post.title' expr:addthis:url='data:post.url' class='addthis_button'><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script></div><!-- AddThis Button END -->

10 Jobs That Aren't Your Typical 9-to-5

A strict schedule where you clock in at 9 a.m. and clock out at 5 p.m. is ideal for some professionals. You can schedule events easily when ...

Read more »

Should You Fake Your Job References?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gg/ar5c5hz68jflmshfflgg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gg/ar5c5hz68jflmshfflgg.gif" /></a><br /></div>Every day, William Schmidt gives job seekers with a not-so-great job history, a gap on their résumé, or even a criminal record, a second chance. How does he do it? He fabricates job references to cover up their sordid pasts.<br /><br />Schmidt is the founder of CareerExcuse.com, a Web site that says it will fill any gap on your résumé by acting as your past employer. It will go as far as creating a new company with an accompanying phone number, logo, Web site and LinkedIn profile. He says the site is designed to "help our subscribers meet the needs of the modern day job market."<br /><br />"Many of our subscribers tell me how a bad reference from a previous employer is akin to having a criminal record and is preventing them from providing for their family. All they ask is for a second chance," Schmidt says.<br /><br />While Schmidt feels good about the service he provides for job seekers, naturally, not everyone shares his opinion. After all, not only is it unethical to lie about anything on your job application, but some argue that it puts those who have legitimate references at an unfair disadvantage.<br /><br />"It's like using a professional photographer, who helps you look your best, versus using someone else's photo. One is enhancing your appearance, while the other is blatant misrepresentation," says David Wright, author of "Get a Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves." "People do make mistakes and bad choices. Winners learn from the mistakes while losers try to cover them up, hide them, or keep making the same mistakes over and over while expecting different results."<br /><br />Is the economy to blame?<br />Many people can agree that finding a job today is difficult and not having anyone in your corner to toot your horn could be detrimental. Schmidt said he got the idea for his company after perusing posts on Twitter, where he said he saw many users asking strangers for references.<br /><br />"We understand that there are over 12 million workers who have been fired or let go from former employers in the last eight years. With six applicants for every job today, anyone with a blemish in their career can be left out," Schmidt says.<br /><br />Lauren Milligan, résumé expert and job coach for ResuMAYDAY, says that it's sad that anyone would think they had to fake their job references, but she can see how the poor economy could lead to making desperate choices.<br /><br />"If a candidate was previously turned down because of a lack of reference, that otherwise honest person may decide to unethically stack the deck in his or her favor," she says. "It's kind of pathetic that anyone would have to [use a service for a reference], but perhaps it could be that 'rock bottom' that turns around bad behavior."<br /><br />Is it worth it?<br />Although many job seekers may feel that they need to use a fake reference because they were fired, or need to cover a gap in their employment history. Experts say that paying someone money to do that for you is likely a waste -- especially since many employers ignore the references you give them anyway.<br /><br />"Having consulted on hundreds of hires, I don't care about the three personal references the candidate has given. Anyone can find three people that will swear they can turn water into wine," says Barry Maher, career consultant and owner of Barry Maher & Associates. "I check everything else I can. And not just the last job, which may be a service that will vouch for them, but the job before that and the one before that, all the way down the line." <br /><br />Checking references all the way down the line has also become much easier with the advent of social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, which provide a place for you to list your employment history. Employers aren't stupid -- if a few things don't match up, they'll catch on pretty quickly.<br /><br />"The good thing about social networking is that the world has become a much smaller, accessible place. The bad thing about social networking is that the world has become a much smaller, accessible place," Milligan says. "Within a few minutes, I believe that anyone with a mid-level of expertise in LinkedIn or Facebook (combined with an elementary-level [Internet] search) could identify fake information. Hiring mistakes are so costly; due diligence can really pay off in a company's recruiting process."<br /><br />And while employers cross-reference information that candidates provide them, including references, services like CareerExcuse.com have an answer for that, too.<br /><br />"CareerExcuse.com uses [social networks] to our advantage," Schmidt says. "As a matter of fact, it is the Internet and the reliance of the Internet by human resource managers that make our services work so successfully."<br /><br />Consequences of your actions<br />Every action has a reaction, including providing a fake job reference to a potential employer. Although you may not get caught, you'll likely have to deal with trying to cover up your lies and forever worrying about if you'll get caught.<br /><br />"Liars are always going to use lies to try and put themselves at an advantage over honest people," Wright says. "This may be effective in the short run, but over time, honesty wins out because eventually lies do get found out, and liars are exposed for who they really are. As in a great quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: 'You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.'"<br /><br />The truth will set you free<br />If you feel the need to use a fake job reference, try these three tips from our experts instead:<br /><br />1. Turn your negatives into positives<br />"Nothing builds credibility like exposing your own negatives. You can turn them into positives, selling points, even bragging points," Maher says. He gives the example of Clyde Thompson, who "provided us with all the reasons why we may not want to hire him; all the ones that we probably would have brought up on our own once he was out of the room, and a few more we might never have come up. Clyde presented his unemployability in a light made it appear that he'd be a more reliable employee. And his honesty gained him a massive amount of credibility."<br /><br />2. Don't give up<br />Before giving up and resigning to having no references, Milligan suggests scouring LinkedIn and Facebook to try and reconnect with any former colleagues. Or, consider if you've volunteered anywhere, played on a sports team or been a member of industry associations. Reach out to peers from these organizations for a reference.<br /><br />"References don't only have to come from supervisors or co-workers," she says. "Perhaps company clients or vendors would have a few good things to say about you."<br /><br />If you still can't find anyone to give you reference by the time an employer asks for one, Milligan suggests saying, "Unbelievably, I wasn't able to connect with any of my former supervisors or co-workers after ABC Company shut down unexpectedly. Thanks to social networking, I'm in the process of trying to find people, but it just hasn't panned out yet. In lieu of that, I would assure you that I wouldn't have been able to achieve (insert career success here) if I wasn't good at my job and I fully expect to create more successes like that one, for you."<br /><br />3. Tackle the issue head-on<br />Instead of trying to sweep the issue under the rug, be the first one to address it, Wright suggests. <br /><br />"If you know you've got something bad that would probably show up on a background check, it can help to be proactive, particularly when you've established some degree of rapport with the hiring manager," he suggests. "Tell them that you want to be up front with them -- you made a mistake in the past and they'll probably find out anyway, but you'd rather them hear it from you first. By being proactive, you have the opportunity to position it better as well, emphasizing your strengths or how you overcame that experience."<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek 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: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><div><a expr:addthis:title='data:post.title' expr:addthis:url='data:post.url' class='addthis_button'><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script></div><!-- AddThis Button END -->

Should You Fake Your Job References?

Every day, William Schmidt gives job seekers with a not-so-great job history, a gap on their résumé, or even a criminal record, a second cha...

Read more »

Today's Best and Worst Cities for Jobs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/m5/ar5d6qy63k1jnvhxdwm5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/m5/ar5d6qy63k1jnvhxdwm5.gif" /></a><br /></div>Last fall, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession was "very likely over" -- at least by the numbers -- and the United States had moved into a period of recovery. <br /><br />That was September. Most job seekers, especially the 5.9 million long-term unemployed workers who have been out of work for six months or more, are still waiting for that renewal.<br /><br />The national unemployment rate in October was 9.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 6.1 percent a year earlier. Fifteen metro areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15 percent, while 13 others registered rates below 5 percent. Overall, 138 areas recorded unemployment rates above the U.S. average, 229 areas reported rates below it, and 5 areas had the same rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. <br /><br />But the unemployment rate is a lag indicator. Looking at other BLS figures, there are signs that the economy is healing. Many U.S. metros experienced some -- albeit small -- job growth from the period of July 2009-October 2009 (most recent data available at press time).<br /><br />According to seasonally adjusted data from the BLS, out of the largest 281 metros in the United States, 77 cities added jobs the July-October 2009 period. Eleven metros saw no change in the number of employed persons; however, another 193 metros saw declines in jobs.<br /><br />The best...<br /><br />Of those 77 cities whose employment increased from July-October 2009, here are 19 that saw growth by 1 percent or more.<br /><br />Merced, Calif.<br />No. of employed in July: 55,200<br />No. of employed in October: 56,700<br />Percent change: +2.7<br /><br />Morgantown, W.Va.<br />No. of employed in July: 62,800<br />No. of employed in October: 64,300<br />Percent change: +2.4<br /><br />Dubuque, Iowa<br />No. of employed in July: 53,200<br />No. of employed in October: 54,300<br />Percent change: +2.1<br /><br />Wilmington, N.C.<br />No. of employed in July: 138,400<br />No. of employed in October: 141,300<br />Percent change: +2.1<br /><br />Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J.<br />No. of employed in July: 60,200<br />No. of employed in October: 61,400<br />Percent change: +2<br /><br />Mansfield, Ohio<br />No. of employed in July: 53,800<br />No. of employed in October: 54,900<br />Percent change: +2<br /><br />Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.<br />No. of employed in July: 798,200<br />No. of employed in October: 810,500<br />Percent change: +1.5<br /><br />Portsmouth, N.H.-Maine<br />No. of employed in July: 53,900<br />No. of employed in October: 54,600<br />Percent change: +1.3<br /><br />Raleigh-Cary, N.C.<br />No. of employed in July: 500,400<br />No. of employed in October: 506,700<br />Percent change: +1.3<br /><br />Iowa City, Iowa<br />No. of employed in July: 91,000<br />No. of employed in October: 92,100<br />Percent change: +1.2<br /><br />Springfield, Ohio<br />No. of employed in July: 50,400<br />No. of employed in October: 51,000<br />Percent change: +1.2<br /><br />Fresno, Calif.<br />No. of employed in July: 289,900<br />No. of employed in October: 293,100<br />Percent change: +1.1<br /><br />Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif.<br />No. of employed in July: 167,700<br />No. of employed in October: 169,600<br />Percent change: +1.1<br /><br />Rockford, Ill.<br />No. of employed in July: 152,00<br />No. of employed in October: 153,700<br />Percent change: +1.1<br /><br />Glens Falls, N.Y. <br />No. of employed in July: 52,600<br />No. of employed in October: 53,200<br />Percent change: +1.1<br /><br />Athens-Clarke County, Ga. <br />No. of employed in July: 83,700<br />No. of employed in October: 84.5<br />Percent change: +1<br /><br />Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa<br />No. of employed in July: 87,300<br />No. of employed in October: 88,200<br />Percent change: +1<br /><br />Johnson City, Tenn.<br />No. of employed in July: 79,000<br />No. of employed in October: 79,800<br />Percent change: +1<br /><br />Spokane, Wash.<br />No. of employed in July: 210,100<br />No. of employed in October: 212,200<br />Percent change: +1<br /><br />And the worst<br /><br />There were also 193 metros that experienced declines in jobs from July-October 2009. Here are the 15 that had the greatest losses.<br /><br />Greenville, N.C.<br />No. of employed in July: 76,400<br />No. of employed in October: 74,900<br />Percent change: -2<br /><br />Columbus, Ga.-Ala.<br />No. of employed in July: 120,200<br />No. of employed in October: 117,700<br />Percent change: -2.1<br /><br />Dalton, Ga.<br />No. of employed in July: 68,000<br />No. of employed in October: 66,600<br />Percent change: -2.1<br /><br />Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C.<br />No. of employed in July: 119,400<br />No. of employed in October: 116,800<br />Percent change: -2.2<br /><br />Lafayette, Ind.<br />No. of employed in July: 96,700<br />No. of employed in October: 94,500<br />Percent change: -2.3<br /><br />Bellingham, Wash.<br />No. of employed in July: 82,200<br />No. of employed in October: 80,300<br />Percent change: -2.3<br /><br />Greeley, Colo.<br />No. of employed in July: 79,700<br />No. of employed in October: 77,800<br />Percent change: -2.4<br /><br />Barnstable Town, Mass.<br />No. of employed in July: 96,000<br />No. of employed in October: 93,700<br />Percent change: -2.4<br /><br />St. George, Utah<br />No. of employed in July: 49,600<br />No. of employed in October: 48,400<br />Percent change: -2.4<br /><br />Gainesville, Ga.<br />No. of employed in July: 75,300<br />No. of employed in October: 73,400<br />Percent change: -2.5<br /><br />Lima, Ohio<br />No. of employed in July: 53,600<br />No. of employed in October: 52,200<br />Percent change: -2.6<br /><br />Rochester-Dover, N.H.-Maine<br />No. of employed in July: 58,200<br />No. of employed in October: 56,400<br />Percent change: -3.1<br /><br />Yuma, Ariz.<br />No. of employed in July: 51,500<br />No. of employed in October: 49,800<br />Percent change: -3.3<br /><br />Missoula, Mont.<br />No. of employed in July: 55,100<br />No. of employed in October: 52,800<br />Percent change: -4.2<br /><br />Grand Junction, Colo.<br />No. of employed in July: 64,800<br />No. of employed in October: 61,400<br />Percent change: -5.2<br /><br />By Kate Lorenz editor for CareerBuilder.com and its job-seeker blog, www.TheWorkBuzz.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow CareerBuilder on Twitter www.twitter.com/CBforjobseekers.<br /><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><br /><div><a expr:addthis:title='data:post.title' expr:addthis:url='data:post.url' class='addthis_button'><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border:0" width="125"/></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=rockfordlink"></script></div><!-- AddThis Button END -->

Today's Best and Worst Cities for Jobs

Last fall, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession was "very likely over" -- at least by the numbers -- and the U...

Read more »

Ateliers CV, Lettre de motivation, Préparation à l'entretien 2014

<BR><br />Les nouvelles sessions des ateliers CV, "Lettre de motivation" et "Préparation à l'entretien" spécifiques de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans organisés en partenariat avec l'AFEC reprendront le 11 janvier 2014 à la Maison de l'Emploi.<br /><br />Tous les ateliers sont maintenus les mêmes jours aux mêmes horaires.<br /><br /><strong>Planning des ateliers : <ul><br /><li>CV : mardi matin et mercredi après-midi.<br /><br /><li>Lettre de motivation : mardi après-midi.<br /><br /><li>Préparation à l'entretien : jeudi après-midi.</li></ul></strong><br /><br />En fonction des besoins et sur demande de tout lieu d'accueil du territoire de la Maison de l'Emploi, ces ateliers collectifs (2 à 4 personnes) peuvent être organisés en dehors de la Maison de l'Emploi.<br /><br />Pour tout renseignement complémentaire, contacter la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans : 02 38 24 18 03 ou <a href="mailto:accueil@news-these-days.fr">accueil@news-these-days.fr</a><br /><BR>

Ateliers CV, Lettre de motivation, Préparation à l'entretien 2014

Les nouvelles sessions des ateliers CV, "Lettre de motivation" et "Préparation à l'entretien" spécifiques de la Mais...

Read more »

Silver Angel

We worshiped at St. Timothy's on Christmas Eve. It was a warmly human service, a cozy service, in a beautifully decorated church. It was the first time Linda and I have sat together in church on Chrismas Eve in many, many years. We were blessed by the sights and sounds of Christmas. They enfleshed for us and revealed to us the Word of grace in the our story.<br /><br />Then when we got home, there was an angel at our door. On our door actually. A small silver Christmas tree ornament angel with a crystal heart. She went immediately to our kitchy tree. Our secret Santa or Santas made this a lovely Advent. And yes, the white plastic tree will be up again next year.

Silver Angel

We worshiped at St. Timothy's on Christmas Eve. It was a warmly human service, a cozy service, in a beautifully decorated church. It was...

Read more »

I have the power

Since I returned from Edmonton over a week ago I started my late night binging. I've been like an addict that has lapsed and returned to her drug. Sneaking, quietly into the kitchen around midnight, and eating whatever I could find. I've disgusted myself.<br /><br />During the day I'm the perfect Weight Watcher. Eating very healthy, working out two hours a day of intense exercise. At night I become a different person. It's a sickness.<br /><br />Last night I was reading the latest issue of US Weekly. I really bought it because Elin and Tiger were on the cover. I can't help it but I'm fascinated by their story. The perfect woman with the perfect face and perfect body, with two perfect children married to what we all thought was the perfect man. As sordid as the story is, I can't stop reading about it.<br /><br />I digress. Also on the front cover is the Biggest Loser at-home winner, Rebecca Meyer. She went from 279 pounds to 140 pounds. At the start of the article the journalist ask Rebecca "How do you feel?" After saying how fantastic she feels she said something that really struck a nerve with me. She said:<br /><br /><strong>"I realized The Biggest Loser wasn't going to magically "fix" me. They were going to give me the tools to help me change my life forever, but I have the power. I just had to wrap my head around it and do it myself."</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I read that one paragraph several times. This was me! Weight Watchers has given me the tools, but no one is going to magically fix me. It's all up to me. I have the power. It's in my control what I eat.<br /><br />There are a lot of things in my life I don't have the power to control. I can't control my husband (sure, I try, but that's a losing battle). If he's in a bad mood or grumpy, I can't change him (yes, I try, sometimes it works, sometimes not). I can't control our dark, wet weather here in Seattle. It's going to rain and be cold and dark no matter how much I prefer warmth and sunshine. I can't control my job, what projects I get assigned to work on. I'm somewhat powerless in many areas of my life.<br /><br />The one thing I do have power over is what I eat. I have the power for that one facet of my life. It seems so clear to me now. It's literally like a light bulb went off in my head.<br /><br />I didn't binge last night. The first night in eight nights. I feel enlightened, like suddenly I "get it".<br /><br />I have the power. That's my new mantra.

I have the power

Since I returned from Edmonton over a week ago I started my late night binging. I've been like an addict that has lapsed and returned to...

Read more »

The Christian Text In A New World Context

I was having dinner with a group of Episcopal Church leaders discussing “the emergent church” and a bold new proposal to ordain priests for the emergent church with minimal preparation, trusting they would pick up priesthood OJT. I said nothing, but it gave me pause to hear this idea, knowing we tried it in Nevada and other Total Ministry dioceses, sometimes with unfortunate results. In fact, only a couple of conventions ago, the church repealed Canon 9 to get away from that experiment. We are now in the midst of upgrading the training for all orders of ministry so it surprised me to hear that training for priesthood was at risk again. (I am not saying the training has to be conventional seminary education. We are expanding local training, but still requiring that training comes before ordination.)<br /><br /> The conversation then took an interesting turn, the turn that makes this subject blog worthy, because there was a young man at the table – a college student. The older leaders asked his view. He said relaxing the training for clergy was irrelevant. He saw no reason for the church to have ordained people anymore than there was any need for the church to have buildings. (It is an axiom of the emergent church movement that the church should not have buildings.) This led to the leaders asking how he would envision a service led by a lay person in a secular building. The young man did not think church services were such a good idea either. His vision is that the lay minister would hang out at a bar with people and if religion came up naturally in the conversation, then the minister would participate in that conversation.<br /><br /> I suddenly got a vision of the post-modern church: no sacred space; no clergy; untrained laity; no prayers; no hymns; no scripture. I wondered if the bar where religion might come up in the conversation naturally would have a Sunday School area for the children. I am entirely for extending the gospel message into all sorts of settings in all sorts of ways, but I was struck by the idea that so much of the faith that has saved my life might be erased as no longer relevant to people now.<br /><br /> I remembered when I was that college student’s age, I was not a Christian. I did not attend worship services either. But when driving through central Texas – which I did a lot back then – I would without fail stop at an old Lutheran church near a German village. It was always unlocked. I would just go in and look at the stained glass windows and cult objects I did not even understand, and I felt the holiness. What if they had sold that building and become emergent, meeting in a bar, talking about religion if it came up naturally?<br /><br /> I remember when I was his age, and I would go home to East Texas, I would visit Fr. Allen, a pious old Episcopal priest who never said anything to convert me, but who was a holy man and dressed the part so I could recognize him as a personal representative of something much larger and older than himself. What if St. James, Texarkana had decided they did not need any hierarchical professional clergy. Fr. Allen would not have been there for me, teaching me gospel without saying a word, sharing grace just by listening.<br /><br /> In his book, The Cross In Our Context, Douglass John Hall asks the question whether Christianity will survive the 21st Century, noting that some respectable voices question whether Christianity made it into the 21st Century. Christendom, the era when being Christian was a social and cultural norm, is certainly long dead in most places. It may have never reached us here in Nevada. But Christianity is another matter. Is there an authentic Christian voice crying in our wilderness? Is there a Christian word that can be spoken? Is there a Christian word that can be heard? “Does a tree falling in an uninhabited forest . . . ?”<br /><br /> Hall’s premise is that Christians engage the world. “Unlike other religions that draw their converts away from this world, a faith informed by this (Christian) tradition . . . constrains the community of discipleship to enter into its historical situation with a new kind of openness, attentiveness and compassion.” We must share our faith with the world “by word and deed.”<br /><br /> This raises the perpetually recurring issue for us, which Hall speaks of as text and context. We have a text – not just the Bible and the Prayer Book, but a whole tradition of belief and practice. We also have a context – the world around us. Internationally, that is post-colonialism, the fearful conflicts among religions in Africa and the Near East, the post Cold War ascendancy of the United States and China, and to a lesser degree Iran. Closer to home, it is the secular materialism of American culture, in which all religious affiliation is in decline but we are becoming more religiously and ethnically pluralistic, a society in which the new convention is to be “very spiritual but not religious.” Can we be true to our text and engage with this context at the same time?<br /><br /> There has always been a tension between our text and any human context. It may be better when it is explicit as it is today. I have found it harder to make the gospel heard by anyone in a setting where conventional Christianity is the social norm than here where faith is countercultural. It is better shouting faith into the secular void than into the conventional Christian void. The oddness of the words makes people curious if they do not already think they know what they mean. But how shall we go about it? How shall we make the faith understood in our society?<br /><br /> I don’t have answers to that. But I feel pretty sure we have to tell the truth. I cannot expect everyone to connect to God the way I do, but I cannot pretend that my way isn’t my way. Can we be true to our text and engage our context? I desperately hope so. If we are not true to our text, we will not be engaging our context honestly. If we do not engage our context, then we will be false to our text which requires jus this engagement. Jesus called us to be “in the world, but not of the world.” That has never been easy.

The Christian Text In A New World Context

I was having dinner with a group of Episcopal Church leaders discussing “the emergent church” and a bold new proposal to ordain priests for ...

Read more »

Top 10 Tips for Your 2010 Résumé

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9z/ar5c32w5xvzbcfw6kq9z.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9z/ar5c32w5xvzbcfw6kq9z.gif" /></a><br /></div><br />"Out with the old, in with the new," isn't that what they always say? The same thing applies to your résumé. Chances are you applied for hundreds of jobs in 2009, only to be ignored or rejected. That means that something has to change. <br /><br />Last year, 25 percent of employers said that on average, they received more than 75 résumés for each open position; 42 percent received more than 50 résumés. In addition, 38 percent of employers last year said they spent one to two minutes reviewing a new résumé and 17 percent spent less than one minute.<br /><br />"Human resources managers serve on the front lines of a company's recruitment efforts and are often the gatekeepers of the interview process. Because they can receive a large volume of applications, you may only have a matter of seconds to make a lasting impression," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. "You should always have a current résumé and portfolio ready to go because you never know what the next day will bring whether it's a weak or healthy economy."<br /><br />You want employers to see you differently this year. Here are 10 ways to get your résumé noticed in 2010:<br /><br />1. Start from scratch<br />A new year means a new résumé. Even though it might not sound like fun to rewrite your whole résumé (it probably won't be), give it a try. Obviously, if you didn't get any bites last year, something was a little off with your current résumé. Rearrange some sections, try a different format and use a different font. Just switch things up a little bit and see what happens.<br /><br />2. Use a different format<br />Many job seekers don't realize that there are different formats to use when writing a résumé. The most common form is chronological, which lists each job you've had in reverse sequential order, so you start with your most recent job first. This form doesn't work for all people, though. For example, if you've done a lot of job hopping in recent years or if you haven't had a job in a long time, a functional résumé is a better option.<br /><br />A functional résumé focuses on your skills versus your work experience. For this, you would list a pertinent skill for the job to which you're applying, followed by a list of accomplishments that demonstrate that skill. If you don't have relevant skills or a strong work history, you still have the option of using a combination résumé, which combines elements of both a functional and chronological format.<br /><br />For a combination résumé, you should list your applicable skills and the accomplishments that demonstrate each one. Below that, you'll list your work history, starting with your most current job and working backward, but you won't list your job description. Doing this allows you the chance to play up your skills while proving your solid work history.<br /><br />3. Ditch the empty words and vague phrases<br />Many job seekers fall prey to a common mistake that irks most employers: using cliché keywords. In a 2009 CareerBuilder survey, employers cited these common phrases as overused and often ignored by hiring managers:<br /><br />People person: 39 percent <br /><br />Go-getter: 38 percent <br /><br />Team player: 33 percent <br /><br />Hard-working: 29 percent <br /><br />Multi-tasker: 28 percent <br /><br />Self-starter: 27 percent <br /><br />Results or goal-oriented: 22 percent <br /><br />These words are just empty fillers that don't say anything about your achievements. For an accountant position, for example, keywords might include "accounts payable" or "month-end reporting" -- words that actually say something about what you can do. Look over your résumé and find where you have listed generic qualities about yourself and replace them with keywords that match the job to which you are applying. <br /><br />4. Make your achievements stand out<br />Job seekers often run into the problem of listing their job duties on their résumés, but not their accomplishments. Although your past duties are important, employers care more about your ability to produce results. Try separating your daily functions from your achievements by first listing your job duties in a paragraph format, and then incorporating a bulleted area below that entitled "key accomplishments" to list your successes. <br /><br />5. Quantify your accomplishments<br />Applicants often don't know the difference between quantifying results and just stating a job responsibility. A job responsibility is something that you do on a daily basis and a quantified achievement is the result of that responsibility. By quantifying results, you show employers what you can actually do for them. So, if your current résumé is a block of words and you don't have one numerical figure in there, whether it's dollars, percentages or comparative numbers, you need to make some revisions.<br /><br />6. Include a summary or objective<br />Including a summary on your résumé is one of those steps that many job seekers forget to take -- and if they do remember, they usually include the wrong information. Employers want to know if you're a good fit for their organization, so writing something like "To gain experience in X industry," doesn't say much about you, or what you can do for the employer. Your career summary should portray your experience and emphasize how it will help the prospective employer. It should be very specific and include explicit industry-related functions, quantifiable achievements or your areas of expertise.<br /><br />7. Fill in the gaps<br />Most people will tell you to wait to explain any gaps in your work history until you get to the interview. But, there's a good chance that you won't get that opportunity if there are gaps in the first place. If, for example, you were laid off at the beginning of 2008 and are still unemployed, try using the functional résumé format we explained earlier. Or, if you feel comfortable doing so, explain what you were doing during lapses between jobs. The employer will know you aren't trying to hide a sketchy past.<br /><br />8. Keep it simple<br />How many times do we have to tell you? Do not, by any means, format your résumé with crazy fonts, colors or print it on fluorescent paper. Find an uncommon, yet attractive and simple layout to catch the employer's eye, instead of his wastebasket. <br /><br />9. Double-check for the basics<br />Silly as it sounds, many people get so caught up in formatting and proofreading that they don't check for the most basic information, such as an e-mail address, phone number and permanent address. Double-check that your résumé has this information -- none of your hard work will pay off if no one can get a hold of you.<br /><br />10. Check for consistency<br />Take a look over last year's résumé and make sure there are no inconsistencies. If you decide to include periods at the end of your sentences, for example, make sure they are at the end of each one. If you chose to list your job duties, followed by an accomplishment in that duty, make sure you do so throughout your résumé. Use consistent fonts, sizes, bullets and other formatting options. Employers will notice your attention to detail and assume your work quality is of the same standard.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek 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: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

Top 10 Tips for Your 2010 Résumé

"Out with the old, in with the new," isn't that what they always say? The same thing applies to your résumé. Chances are you a...

Read more »