Top 10 Jobs in Green Technologies

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/0d/ar5b5ny6dr4trztpz40d.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a><br /></div>The nation's movement to become a more productive and competitive economic force in the global marketplace is bringing a wealth of hope and job opportunities to recession-weary Americans.<br /><br />"In order to succeed in the 21st century, we are working to improve education, expand health care, fix the infrastructure, overhaul our manufacturing industries, adopt green technologies, and continue our leadership in high-tech innovation," says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., one of the nation's leading occupational experts and author of the recently released book "200 Best Jobs for Renewing America." <br /><br />In his book, Shatkin discusses the six industries at the center of America's shift toward a forward-looking economy: education, infrastructure, health care, information and telecommunication technologies, green technologies and advanced manufacturing. <br /><br />Of these industries, green technologies, in particular, has gained a great deal of interest among individuals hoping to secure a solid job as the economy continues to reinvent itself and become more competitive in the upcoming decades. <br /><br />According to Shatkin's research, the following list outlines the best jobs overall in green technologies.<br /><br />1. Construction managers<br />Annual Earnings: $76,230<br />Percent Growth: 15.7 percent<br /><br />2. Industrial engineers<br />Annual Earnings: $71,430<br />Percent Growth: 20.3 percent<br /><br />3. First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers<br />Annual Earnings: $55,950<br />Percent Growth: 9.1 percent<br /><br />4. Environmental scientists and specialists<br />Annual Earnings: $58,380<br />Percent Growth: 25.1 percent<br /><br />5. Construction and building inspectors<br />Annual Earnings: $48,330<br />Percent Growth: 18.2 percent<br /><br />6. Environmental engineers<br />Annual Earnings: $72,350<br />Percent Growth: 25.4 percent<br /><br />7. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters<br />Annual Earnings: $44,090<br />Percent Growth: 10.6 percent<br /><br />8.Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers<br />Annual Earnings: $75,800<br />Percent Growth: 21.9 percent<br /><br />9. Carpenters<br />Annual Earnings: $37,660<br />Percent Growth: 10.3 percent<br /><br />10. Electricians<br />Annual Earnings: $44,780<br />Percent Growth: 7.4 percent<br /><br />*Percent growth between 2006 and 2016.<br /><br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/).

Top 10 Jobs in Green Technologies

The nation's movement to become a more productive and competitive economic force in the global marketplace is bringing a wealth of hope ...

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What Do Common Interview Questions Really Mean? - How to determine what a hiring manager wants to know

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/cx/ar5b7bc769pdwlyb2lcx.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a><br /></div>You've probably been on quite a few job interviews in your career, and you know that there are certain questions that every hiring manager seems to ask. Because you've heard them so often, you feel you can practically answer them in your sleep. <br /><br />But are you providing the best responses possible?<br /><br />Often, a seemingly simple question can have hidden layers of meaning. What is the interviewer really hoping to learn when he or she asks why you want to work for the firm? <br /><br />Following are a few interview questions you're likely to hear the next time you meet with a prospective employer and insight into the qualities employers may be assessing with each one. Armed with this information, you can get to the heart of what a potential employer truly wants to know.<br /><br />Question: "Why do you want to work here?"<br />Many people talk in vague terms about how they feel they could excel in the role, why the job sounds appealing or what they admire most about the company. But hiring managers want you to cover more than the basics in your response.<br /><br />What it really means: "How much do you know about this company, and why are you hoping to work here instead of for one of our competitors?" When answering this question, mention specifics. You might note, for example, that you're excited by the firm's cutting-edge research, a recent merger or the company's corporate social responsibility programs. A detailed response will tell the interviewer that you are interested in more than just a paycheck. At the same time, showing that you've done your research lets the hiring manager know that you came prepared and are serious about the opportunity.<br /><br />Question: "What are your strengths?"<br />Answers such as "I work well with others" or "I have a can-do attitude" may in fact be strengths, but many job candidates make the same type of statements, and a generic response will do little to distinguish you from other applicants.<br /><br />What it really means: "How have you used your strengths to add value to your employer?" The interviewer wants to know how the particular talents you bring to the table will benefit the firm if you're hired, so put your best qualities in context. Talk about how your strengths can help meet a prospective employer's specific needs. In this economy, many firms are trying to cut costs, for instance. Your experience negotiating vendor contracts, for instance, could be a boon to your chances.<br /><br />Question: "What are your weaknesses?"<br />People usually try to list weaknesses that can actually be seen as strengths, such as "I'm too much of a perfectionist" or "I never say no when people ask for help." These types of answers can seem canned and could make the interviewer wonder what you're hiding.<br /><br />What it really means: "How honest and self-aware are you?" and "How have you successfully dealt with a challenge in your career or adversity on the job?" Everyone has weaknesses, but not everyone will admit to it. Employers look for workers who can recognize their own weaknesses and also take steps to overcome them. Show the hiring manager you can do both. If one of your weaknesses is a fear of speaking in public, for example, you could point out how you had to speak in front of your executive team to present a project proposal. Although nerve-racking, the situation forced you to confront your weakness and take steps, such as first presenting at smaller meetings with your colleagues, to improve in this area prior to the big meeting. Since then, you've also joined Toastmasters International and continue to improve.<br /><br />Question: "Would you rather work alone or in a team?"<br />This borders on being a trick question, because it's rare that someone would be required to just do one or the other in today's workplace.<br /><br />What it really means: "Can you work with minimal direction?" and "Can you describe a time when you worked with a colleague or group to solve a workplace challenge?" Managers seek individuals who can take the ball and run with it. They may not always have the time to walk you through a project step-by-step, so you need to be able to work autonomously and devise solutions on your own.<br /><br />At the same time, you need to be able to work with individuals from different levels, departments, offices or even companies, so the hiring manager is trying to gauge how well you can collaborate with others. You might cite an instance when you led a project team, for instance, to improve your chances of securing the job offer. <br /><br />By knowing what types of responses interviewers truly seek with seemingly simple questions, you give yourself a much better chance of impressing the hiring manager. After all, he or she has probably gotten used to hearing the same responses over and over again. Distinguish yourself with a response that gets to the heart of the matter.<br /><br />Robert Half International Inc. is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com.

What Do Common Interview Questions Really Mean? - How to determine what a hiring manager wants to know

You've probably been on quite a few job interviews in your career, and you know that there are certain questions that every hiring manag...

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The Power of Environmental Education

<strong><span style="font-family:arial;">When you write for a living, sometimes it is a struggle to come up with a topic, a theme, even an inspiration for posting on blogs such as these. Sometimes you're too busy to put down your thoughts. But then, every once in awhile, something makes you stop and remember why you do what you do. And sometimes, it's better to let someone else tell the story. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Below, you will find an essay from friend, volunteer and fellow educator, Mike Sustin. His essay is about how environmental education can truly inspire, not just our students, but even ourselves. Thanks Mike, for reminding me of why I love my job.<br /><br /></strong><em>In 2006 I was given the green light to develop an Environmental Science course at West Geauga High School, my alma mater and my place of employment for the past eleven years. While developing the course, I spent an enormous amount of time reaching out to resource people at other schools and at the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, Geauga Park District, Ohio Division of Wildlife, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Environmental Education Council of Ohio. Everyone I spoke with was incredibly encouraging, but everyone had a different perspective on how Environmental Education (EE) ought to be offered and on what it should be focused. Environmental Science is interdisciplinary by nature (no pun intended) and requires students to really wrap their minds around complicated issues and to draw upon prior knowledge and skills from other courses. I chose a textbook, I planned some laboratory experiences and field trips, but ultimately, I decided to keep an open mind and let my students’ interests drive the direction of the course.<br /><br />After working with the first two groups of students through the first year, I became acutely aware of two problems that so many Environmental Education professionals had been lamenting for years. First, our kids are indeed suffering from “nature deficit disorder,” a phrase coined by author Richard Louv in his best-selling book, Last Child in the Woods. The second problem needing addressed can be summed up by an often used quote from author and naturalist Robert Michael Pyle, “What is the extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?” Both problems are diagnosed by the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ95OkgwzgOILvvL4kMSkakcfI0Ok2zIOBqdGNq_KO54HzymHa6yLyRlomzr3V59_rs9pZMdJUPRQ4GJEoWUndWn68XjePFzfiXcA_abhrSlKcVRiUwgq57YrXi_RUw2KgjfSxkalRk-l/s1600-h/treehuggers.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393276466774154674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQ95OkgwzgOILvvL4kMSkakcfI0Ok2zIOBqdGNq_KO54HzymHa6yLyRlomzr3V59_rs9pZMdJUPRQ4GJEoWUndWn68XjePFzfiXcA_abhrSlKcVRiUwgq57YrXi_RUw2KgjfSxkalRk-l/s320/treehuggers.JPG" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" /></a>observations that my students know everything about polar bears, every species of penguin, bleaching of the coral reefs, the importance of recycling and energy conservation, but they can’t identify a single tree or bird’s song in their own backyard. These wonderful students, all of them seniors, most of them voting for the first time during their final year of high school, know so much and yet don’t know enough to really care about what they can personally embrace and purposefully impact.<br /><br />Three days that changed my life were spent on summer vacation in 2008 with Annie Rzepka and Nancy Speck of the Geauga SWCD, Jen White of the Portage SWCD, and over a dozen other teachers on a three day road trip called the Advanced Wonders of Watersheds Workshop. We piled into vans and explored EE opportunities all across the north coast from beautiful Burton all the way to the Oak Openings Region near Toledo. On the long ride home I decided that a trip like this needed to be offered to my high school students. How better to help them understand than to get them out there in the diverse environments of their home state and let them connect the dots on their own?<br /><br />On June 23, 2009, the first ever Summer Ecology Experience Across Ohio was ready to hit the road. At 6:30 am in the parking lot of West Geauga High School a group of nine students and their three chaperones loaded the vans for what would be an eight day and seven night road trip across Ohio. The itinerary included programs at Black Swamp Bird Observatory and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge near Oak Harbor, Ohio State University’s Stone Lab at Put- In-Bay, the Army Corps of Engineers office at Caesar Creek State Park and The Museum at Fort Ancient near Wilmington, the outdoor drama, “Tecumseh!” in Chillicothe, Hocking Hills State Park and concluded at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve in Huron.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7UjfIBzdmhyObepEsIk-zRYM4jhLyeCo5x0lqPstAqMhSSIVlD7Tp6vFIzBykCVnhKz6i-aR2hP4p59RifqMPwoPN8Sd-uzVEUFPZM8IypHBPZruZYQJ_Tv0tynQL_zL5occvhOlEKE1/s1600-h/IMG_2358.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393275347450606658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7UjfIBzdmhyObepEsIk-zRYM4jhLyeCo5x0lqPstAqMhSSIVlD7Tp6vFIzBykCVnhKz6i-aR2hP4p59RifqMPwoPN8Sd-uzVEUFPZM8IypHBPZruZYQJ_Tv0tynQL_zL5occvhOlEKE1/s320/IMG_2358.JPG" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" /></a>The entire program was intended to address big picture topics such as conservation and preservation of habitat, human history of land use, and geology. Students were also engaged in activities on edible and medicinal plants, water quality monitoring, watershed management, wildlife identification, and rock climbing and rappelling. Moreover, all of this education was accomplished outdoors and outside each student’s comfort zone away from their families, camping in tents, cooking their own food, caring for each other and learning to deal with fears.<br /><br />Student learning was assessed through daily journal assignments and other entries including poetry and artwork. An assessment strategy I had adopted from the Wonders of Watersheds workshops was the use of haiku. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that uses only three lines, the first and third lines contain only five syllables and the second line contains seven syllables. The brevity of this form of poetry requires students to focus on key elements of a lesson and how they have internalized the material. Here are some examples:<br /><br />Epilimnion<br />Lake Erie can stratify<br />Hypolimnion<br />-Heather Wilcox, after a lesson on limnology at Stone Lab<br /><br />Dragon or Damsel?<br />Eyes on top or at head’s side?<br />Wings tall or spread wide?<br />-Hanna Wilson, on the boardwalk at Ottawa NWR<br /><br />The students’ journals reflected exactly the kind of learning I had envisioned for them. Each of them made the obvious connections I had planned, and all of them made the connections I had hoped they would catch. After reading their journals, I was pleasantly surprised, time after time, with the quality of the introspective entries the students had made. Each of them commenting on how one experience or another changed them, or brought a sudden clarity to their place in the world. In the heart of this teacher, I had only privately hoped that a student or two might have reached this level of informed understanding. Reading these journal entries made the months of planning worth every minute.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlPlp6p0YlASOKY55M2oMxAgPm6VSBVU2LQ0_7MjAIFe0Z0W76NBLkLI3pv2Ygelt8r-PhNP5T5_KCw_zPr0eONtsql71nBUeKxCskr-u20lz5MI2HWjSPQJ2vxbhebY5X48EwJKpGK5H/s1600-h/Spring09+187.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393275765271512978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlPlp6p0YlASOKY55M2oMxAgPm6VSBVU2LQ0_7MjAIFe0Z0W76NBLkLI3pv2Ygelt8r-PhNP5T5_KCw_zPr0eONtsql71nBUeKxCskr-u20lz5MI2HWjSPQJ2vxbhebY5X48EwJKpGK5H/s320/Spring09+187.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" /></a><br />In closing I would offer teachers the challenge to do something with students outside. All the hurdles that you can think of are just excuses. All you need is an imagination. Pay attention to your students. Take them outside and you will find your lesson plans under that rotten log or in the stream or mud puddle or at the birdfeeder. The Ohio Academic Content Standards should not be viewed as an anchor around your neck, and pointing to that thick green book as an excuse is exactly that. Taking kids outside provides for boundless integration opportunities for science, math, language arts, social studies and more. Get on the phone or the internet and contact your SWCD, your park district, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, or the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and you will be amazed at the resources waiting for you to use for free and in your own schoolyard. Lastly, I will share a quote from Rachel Carson that has inspired me in my growing career as an environmental educator, hopefully it strikes a chord. “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”</em><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>

The Power of Environmental Education

When you write for a living, sometimes it is a struggle to come up with a topic, a theme, even an inspiration for posting on blogs such as t...

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Social Media on the Job Search - Knowing when traditional tools are better

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/wb/ar5b7j26l32jlvdrvtwb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a><br /></div><br />The Internet has significantly changed how we carry out many everyday tasks. We don't have to receive bills in the mail or go to the bank to check our account balances. Hop online and almost everything we want to do is at our fingertips. Online job hunting has replaced flipping through the newspaper want ads to find that elusive open position.<br /><br />Another significant addition to the Internet is social media. Social networking sites have suddenly put us in touch with long-lost friends or helped us make new ones. They're like class reunions and dating services rolled into one. And now they've become professional tools, too. You can use your online profile to display your work history and skill set. <br /><br />As great as these advances are, some people fail to understand that new isn't always better. Sometimes older, more traditional methods are better than the newer, flashier ones. It's something that plenty of job seekers need to realize when they're looking for work and professionals should think about when using their profiles to network.<br /><br />The job seeker's friend ... and foe<br />When looking for work, the biggest drawback to social media is the virtual paper trail you might leave. Attorney Robin Bond reminds job seekers that how you interact with friends is probably not how you interact with a boss or even co-workers, so make sure your professional side is what people see.<br /><br />"Use separate sites for business and personal contacts," Bond advises. "If you were having a party, it's unlikely you'd invite all your party pals to the same event where you were entertaining your boss and work colleagues." For that reason, take advantage of professional networking sites like LinkedIn and BrightFuse for displaying your skills to potential business contacts and employers. <br /><br />Keep the more irreverent profiles on a separate site and out of the hands of employers. Even then, Bond cautions against posting potentially damaging photographs because it is the Internet and nothing is entirely private. <br /><br />"If you think your mom would be embarrassed by something you post, then think twice about posting it," he says.<br /><br />Naturally, the visibility that could potentially ruin your career could also be what gives you one in the first place. David Gammel, author of "Online and On Mission: Practical Web Strategy for Breakthrough Results," sees the value in social media's prominence when used for good.<br /><br />"If you have posted lots of content under your identity that enhances your qualifications, it will show up high in search results and benefit how you are perceived," Gammel says. "If that content is unprofessional or otherwise at odds with the job you are pursuing, it may stop you in your tracks."<br /><br />Although social media is an asset, it's yet to become the definitive way to land a position, he says.<br /><br />"The best way to find a new job is still through a personal referral from someone who trusts you to someone who trusts them," Gammel says. "Social media might be used for communicating, but it won't create that trust. Good old-fashioned relationships will do that."<br /><br />Remember the "network" in social network<br />For professionals who already have a job, and for those who are considering a career move, social media can supplement traditional networking methods. It doesn't replace them, but it offers new opportunities alongside them.<br /><br />"I think the biggest problem is that people treat social media and 'the real world' as if they are two separate modes of contact all too often," says Sam Ford, director of customer insights for communications agency Peppercom Inc. "The best answer is to use a combination of the two when searching for jobs, building relationships with potential employers, building out your network, etc. In my own network and in dealing with job prospects, I've found that a combination of the two makes all the difference in the world."<br /><br />That amalgamation can add another dimension to an otherwise dull online experience.<br /><br />"I find myself wanting to connect with people on Twitter [and] accepting LinkedIn connections particularly if we've had a strong face-to-face or phone conversation in the past," Ford says. He found that the online component enriches the relationship and wouldn't have occurred had they never interacted in a traditional way first.<br /><br />Ultimately, what job seekers and professionals interested in networking need to remember is that business doesn't only exist online or face-to-face. Technology is part of everyday business and there are people behind those Tweets and profiles, so you should remember to make both new and traditional methods part of your networking practices.<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.

Social Media on the Job Search - Knowing when traditional tools are better

The Internet has significantly changed how we carry out many everyday tasks. We don't have to receive bills in the mail or go to the ban...

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Feel like Giving Up on Your Job Search? - 5 ways to shake things up

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/h5/ar5b3pk75g1mrxdn0bh5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a><br /></div><br />According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 38 percent of full-time workers were unemployed for 27 weeks or more in September 2009. That's equivalent to more than 5.4 million people.<br /><br />Whether you're out of work for five days, five weeks, five months or five years, any period of unexpected unemployment can be frustrating -- especially when it seems to go on forever. Although the economy seems to be showing signs of recovery, any job seeker who has been out of work for a long period of time will tell you: It's still not easy to find a job.<br /><br />"Even though there are positive indicators, companies aren't adding jobs now at the rate they cut jobs over the last year," says Noah Blumenthal, bestselling author of "Be the Hero: Three Powerful Ways to Overcome Challenges in Work and Life." Despite that, Blumenthal reminds us that economic activities are cyclical. "Every boom feels like it will last forever and so does every bust. But none of them do. Know that things will turn around. The jobs will come back."<br /><br />Laura Torres, a 28 year old development associate in Boston, knows first-hand about being frustrated with a job search. She was laid off in December 2008 and didn't find a job for about nine months. <br /><br />"The most frustrating aspect was not feeling totally in control of the process -- particularly once you started interviewing at a job," she recalls. "Obviously you can play the game and even play it well, but your fate is still up to a small group of people. The agonizing wait between the interview and the follow-up is eerily reminiscent of trying to date someone who 'just isn't that into you.'"<br /><br />Elena Sokolow-Kaufman, 30, who works at small nonprofit in Massachusetts, also had a frustrating job search. After being unemployed for a little more than two months, she reached a breaking point.<br /><br />"I had sent out a lot of résumés and had a few interviews for specific job opportunities, but nothing seemed like it was moving forward. At the time I was going on a lot of informational interviews and at that point I started to feel very burned out," she recalls. <br /><br />If you do reach a breaking point like Sokolow-Kaufman, Blumenthal says it's important to switch things up and try something new in your job search. Doing so will reinvigorate you and help you stay motivated.<br /><br />"When you've been searching [for a job] for a long time, it can wear you out. You need to do things to keep you excited about your job search so that you keep going," he says. "The most important thing you can do is keep yourself eager, motivated and energized to continue the search."<br /><br />To revitalize her efforts, Sokolow-Kaufman says she started a blog, in addition to working on her search in coffee shops with friends who were in the same position.<br /><br />"It helped me a lot to feel less isolated and was a good reminder that many other people were in the same boat I was in," she says.<br /><br />Torres also took different measures to revive her job search. In addition to narrowing her focus in order to find a job she really wanted, Torres challenged herself by applying for jobs outside of her interests or background.<br /><br />"I never got interviews for these jobs, but it helped me think outside the box a little," she says. "I also sometimes just had informational interviews with people whose careers were markedly different from mine. Again, this was to broaden my horizons a big and give me more perspective."<br /><br />If you (and your job search) are stuck in a rut, here are five ways Blumenthal suggests to rejuvenate your job search and mix things up a bit:<br /><br />1. Go online<br />"You've sent out more résumés than you can count. But have you Tweeted? It's a social networking world. Build your online connections on services like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Then use that platform to make value-added observations about your line of work and job searching. You never know where your electronic connections can lead," he says. <br /><br />2. Separate yourself<br />"Hiring managers and recruiters receive tons of résumés. Some are better than others, but frankly, none of them stand out. You need something else," he says. "Try writing an article or two about your field. Print them up on glossy paper with a nice graphic design. Add a professional bio, and put it all together in a nice folder. Now, instead of sending a résumé, you're sending a press kit on you. That stands out."<br /><br />3. Have fun<br />"I know a woman who once sent her résumé folded up and stuffed inside of a baby sneaker. Her note said she was sure to be a shoe-in for the job," he recalls. "If you are bored with your job search, it will show in your materials, your applications and your interviews. So have some fun." (And yes, the shoe-in did get the job.)<br /><br />4. Set a big goal<br />"You've already met 100, 200, 500 people? Set a goal to meet and have one-on-one conversations with 100 new people this month. Is it possible? Can you do it? Use Facebook. Go to professional meetings. Ask 10 friends to introduce you to 10 new people. It doesn't matter if they are in your field. This is the "Six Degrees of Separation" game. Meet up and let the new connections take you where they will," he says. <br /><br />5. Go to work<br />"Volunteer at a local charity or political organization. You have the time and this helps you in so many ways," he says. How? It feels good to help; you're using your skills; you're meeting new people; you're getting off the couch and out of the house; and you will build your stockpile of stories. "When you meet people or interview, the connections you make are through your stories. What better story to tell than something that happened while you were helping make the world a better place?"<br /><br />Ultimately, Blumenthal reminds job seekers to treat your job search like a job, and like a project that has a long-term objective. <br /><br />"Do what you would do if this were such a project. Celebrate milestones and accomplishments along the way. Appreciate what you love about this job. After all, you can work in your pajamas, set your own hours, work from Starbucks and pick your kids up from school." <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.

Feel like Giving Up on Your Job Search? - 5 ways to shake things up

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 38 percent of full-time workers were unemployed for 27 weeks or more in September 2009. That...

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Parent-Child Job Searches

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/v7/ar5b7xq5zp2nc79581v7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img /></a><br /></div>In the current economic climate, people are finding themselves in dire situations. Veteran workers find themselves laid off after 20-plus loyal years with the same company. College graduates, with their diplomas hot off the press, can't find a job. Parents, who perhaps have never had to work before, find themselves desperate for a job. <br /><br />Sometimes, these parents find themselves job searching in an even more unique situation: with their children.<br /><br />"This scenario is becoming more prevalent with the current job market, leaving new grads sometimes competing head-to-head with baby boomers and seasoned professionals for jobs," says Diane Crompton and Ellen Sautter, co-authors of "Seven Days to Online Networking: Make Connections to Advance Your Career and Business Quickly." "Job search is a stressful situation for most families to go through. It's easy to highlight the negatives of this scenario but there can be some productive aspects of this as well."<br /><br />Andrea and Maria Densley, 54 and 26 respectively, are both looking for work. Andrea was laid off in February 2009 and Maria is unemployed after teaching English in Japan and working as a substitute teacher. Although the situation isn't ideal, they are both helping each other as best they can.<br /><br />"While I was a young mother I never would have imagined this situation. I thought I would be successfully operating my own business. I anticipated that when our daughter graduated from college she would embark on her chosen career," Andrea says. "It has been hard because I just want to 'fix' things for her, make everything smoother for her. I find job ideas or training opportunities that I think would be very helpful for her, things that seem interesting, yet I have to think through what I am offering and remind myself that she is an adult; this is her life and her decisions to make."<br /><br />Despite this impractical situation, the duo says they help each other by sending each other job postings, reviewing each other's résumés and cover letters, and most importantly, providing each other with support and encouragement.<br /><br />"When I am just feeling burdened by the past due bills, the disconnect notice of the phone, the struggles to hunt for work and crafting the beginnings of my own business, Maria has encouraged me, told me not to give up, that I was doing a good thing," Andrea says. "It has really made a difference to me."<br /><br />If you're a parent or child looking for work, here eight ways you can help each other in your job search, according to Crompton and Sautter. <br /><br />Parents can: Offer privacy protection<br />"Parents can provide some guidance to their children regarding protecting their online presence. Not all parents have a sophisticated comfort level regarding social media and being 'out there,' but they can advise caution when it comes to showing too much personal or unflattering information that may be picked up in an online search," Crompton and Sautter say. "More and more hiring managers and recruiters are going to their keyboards to find and check out viable candidates. It's a good idea to make sure that whatever turns up in an [Internet] search is on target and portrays the job seeker in the best light." <br /><br />Children can: Look for the right culture and reward<br />"Gen Xers and Gen Ys need more in a job than a certain income. Equally important can be the ability to get noticed, rewarded and have a more personal connection to the corporate culture. This can an important aspect of considering a next job that could also help a parent to make a well thought-out decision," Crompton and Sautter say.<br /><br />Parents can: Be realistic<br />"With years of experience behind them and working themselves up in the ranks, parents can encourage their children to start with realistic expectations about their first job," Crompton and Sautter say. "The reality of starting in an entry-level role that may not be challenging or an ideal job, but could provide excellent training for a 'next' role, can be a scenario that supports longer term job objectives." <br /><br />Children can: Share the knowledge of technology tools<br />"Young professionals grew up learning to use computers and technology tools as part of their daily lives. Sharing their takeaways and providing guidance on leveraging social media, computers and technology could provide some practical and hands-on tips to parents," Crompton and Sautter say. "This is especially important with the popularity of online networking as part of job search and overall career management. Having a presence online is no longer considered a 'maybe' and is a critical part of a successful job search. Children can share their insider tips and guidance on using social media and professional networking tools including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to the benefit of their parents."<br /><br />Parents can: Leverage connections<br />"With years of professional experience and amassing professional and personal connections, parents can be of real benefit to their children who may have fewer contacts to leverage when it comes to landing a job," Crompton and Sautter say.<br /><br />Children can: Offer optimism and energy<br />"Energy, lack of fear and optimism can be wonderful youthful traits to offset possible cynicism of parents," Crompton and Sautter say.<br /><br />Parents can: Impart wisdom <br />"More mature professionals who may have been given outplacement services with their companies can share these practical tips and insights with their children to make their job search as effective as possible," Crompton and Sautter say.<br /><br />Children can: Land a job<br />"A child could actually land a job earlier than a more seasoned parent, especially with the likelihood of fewer jobs at senior levels," Crompton and Sautter say. "This could be a wonderful way for a child to feel like a contributor to the household, without being made to feel the entire weight of responsibility on his or her shoulders."<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.

Parent-Child Job Searches

In the current economic climate, people are finding themselves in dire situations. Veteran workers find themselves laid off after 20-plus lo...

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Les clauses sociales : les différents dispositifs et les conditions d'une mise en œuvre réussie

<BR><br />La Maison de l’Emploi du bassin d’Orléans organise une demi-journée de sensibilisation sur le thème : "Les clauses sociales : les différents dispositifs et les conditions d'une mise en œuvre réussie"<ul><br /><br /><li>Le mercredi 21 octobre 2009 de 9h00 à 12h30 <br /><li>Salle Fernand Pellicer – Rue Edouard Branly à Orléans la Source</ul><br /><br />Depuis la circulaire de 1993 (mieux-disant social dont les dispositions sont inscrites depuis 2001 dans le code des marchés publics), il est possible d'introduire des clauses sociales dans les marchés publics : les dispositifs existent et, dans de nombreux territoires, ils ont démontré leur efficacité. <br /><br />Le Maire d’Orléans, Serge Grouard, et le Président de l’AgglO, Charles-Eric Lemaignen, ont déjà affiché leur volonté politique en ce sens, notamment par la signature de la Charte locale d’insertion le 16 janvier 2009. Charles-Eric Lemaignen devrait d’ailleurs assister à cette demi-journée.<br /><br />Avec ces clauses, on opère le rapprochement nécessaire entre les collectivités, les entreprises et les structures d'insertion par l'activité économique dans différents secteurs d’activité ; des demandeurs d'emplois peuvent ainsi avoir accès à l’emploi et les entreprises trouvent les salariés qui leur font défaut notamment dans des secteurs en tension.<br /><br />L’ordre du jour est le suivant :<ul><br /><li>9h00 : Accueil par Isabelle Baranger, Présidente de la Maison de l’Emploi du bassin d’Orléans<br /><li>9h30 : Intervention de Patrick Loquet, Maître de conférences en droit, expert national sur les clauses sociales<br /><strong>" Les clauses sociales : les différents dispositifs et les conditions d'une mise en œuvre réussie "</strong><br /><li>10h15 : Séance de questions/réponses<br /><li>10h45 : Pause<br /><li>11h00 : La mise en œuvre pratique : présentation des modèles de convention<br /><li>12h00 : Clôture des travaux autour d’un apéritif</ul><br />Le but de cette rencontre est d'apporter des réponses aux questions des donneurs d’ordre (collectivités territoriales, bailleurs sociaux …) en s'appuyant sur des exemples concrets.<br /><br />Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur la méthode mise en œuvre par la Maison de l’Emploi du bassin d’Orléans, vous pouvez consulter l’article suivant sur la <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2008/04/mise-en-uvre-des-clauses-dinsertion.html">mise en œuvre des clauses d’insertion</a>.<br /><BR>

Les clauses sociales : les différents dispositifs et les conditions d'une mise en œuvre réussie

La Maison de l’Emploi du bassin d’Orléans organise une demi-journée de sensibilisation sur le thème : "Les clauses sociales : les diffé...

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