Running Advice Needed!!

<p>Day 1 down...on to day 2 now!! So far, so good!! Being "back in the groove" of eating better is so refreshing! </p> <p>I started out my day with a yummy <strong>gold delicious apple</strong> for <strong>1 point</strong>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhN9DcEGZdTfmDrXNX2mzzchJLsDpOx8V15nkXiRw_s7AmkTIWW3S4xKTDD7Q7rbuwNpjuX7cPfifXeVHcK8NFGht-c-q7tf0ux0htm8jxD1c9Fo1KJbJGzjgHdJ3h0tHrU-CXcugBFCF/s1600-h/DSC045373.jpg"><img alt="DSC04537" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw16mKoHbLxujyyRTVxPBOYYkQD0NJaDcTqWRnxrjaWjEUoNOzAfMVxS0sOYgsRD5oPO0EDnvpoarmi-IaJhY9Ar4C44qERxXCEjSJXvANUTsuAYb75zaLphGzO239Ba5Y0GWKEw_TxGPT/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC04537" width="554" /></a></p> <p>I planned on making oatmeal when I got to work, but got busy and didn't get it made. So around 11am I had a <strong>banana</strong> for another great <strong>1 point</strong> snack. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxKK7bqIxnj88AeoUGd_xWC8dYYvxqqRsPCeylE-d2aDn822cGhjsZVHxjKl97f7R-6iaroYZbXXw3KIpZcpiL-YYwc7AFe_WsmHC6bkgJmQ9sOUMAll8wqX2ePelMNmTKsmJ2M48d06W/s1600-h/DSC045383.jpg"><img alt="DSC04538" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQO_XHYnEuV-fJQGdyc17-Y02zjeUnQ9LnrVfCoWRLmTg36OXUopUU3KBQQOB8G40mqjaPQhnQi2JBdaot7P2OmCyKYsqwO9V_VG7JHtW8dtMXbUlbn1SsWXhPxDTgYdpdl86MbeINwEK/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC04538" width="554" /></a></p> <p>And of course I had to have my <strong>"morning mush"</strong> for <strong>3 points</strong>! Oh how I missed you mush!! And I didn’t get a picture of it…but I know you guys know what it looks like…pre mush anyway!! :)</p> <p>To expand one of my bullet’s about my busy summer…like I said I got a promotion. I am now the associate director in my office, which is great, but also requires more demand! So like today, I couldn’t leave for lunch at a “normal” lunch time because of meetings and helping some of my staff. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining at all. I love my job now more than I ever have! But I said all that to say this…I needed a quick easy lunch!</p> <p>So I hurried home, let Abby (my little puppy) out to go potty, and heated up a <strong>Smart One’s dinner</strong> for <strong>6 points</strong>. I only like a select few of these frozen dinners and don’t like to have them too often. For one I get burnt out and two, they are full sodium, I would way rather make my own stuff!! But it worked great today!!</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEZgGVQM1gpp7xlHselhe51Xnb9H-o-W9a3LP777zD2CmFoumYDH-d289qDsNJ2dTzhdNOOzqQXd-5GpCar0jbU0tGsBJjGxUgKEf0_Kbu28e5Zm73U0T4tmkGwco5Q4p67xwlilbX2NC/s1600-h/DSC045403.jpg"><img alt="DSC04540" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLhq8EoAyXRywyOlUoNZ5Ciec1_yvfTFOgrDPgRzlaN8ELlEsmow2Bk7F5gmtTp0QibtW3GM5NOCmdlgKDVSLzf_hsXb4YjUYzcx7h2IAHbMTqjzqTs6_MwxF82L1aej6FD_ik_-ukDCQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC04540" width="404" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9ed1ZCraNnLdaxmK1GVayokWbYwJZrjfpUCPwYahYAQ5cMqNMSukvfT3dg1XOw1j3kZ-YZiDC_46lvKvd7JMPnRkazpZrWLIPaRMvBqHmTkk_ldyHjVmpeArR9ZB1u4AbaqtN1Ppaye3/s1600-h/DSC045393.jpg"><img alt="DSC04539" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij7ZbGt4LUbvDQaNXFHjmIQpl-XG8AuHyETXtVbbreylXau7PfCBE0NyOYFOHAndQWzPPsAkDpXe-2fehoEiTaMTc1ilXELwjSTGzan3plQHh0n9pCQcUNiPSO-wa41XOn1SLZRmDidke/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC04539" width="404" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>The work day flew by. And before I knew it 5 was long gone and it was already after 6 and I was still in my office. I knew I needed to get going because Kyle and I had a scheduled <strong>7 mile run</strong> and it gets <strong>dark</strong> so early these days, we didn’t want to be running at dusk or in the dark! So I called it a day!</p> <p>Got home and Kyle was already changed and ready to go. So put on my kicks (a new pink pair of asics!!) and we headed out the door. I started out great, but the sore-ness caught up with me quick. By mile 2 my legs were in a great deal of pain. Running those 10 miles on Sunday I think I used muscles I didn’t even know I had!! Wow!! We ended up calling our run short and only did 5 miles instead of 7 because of the pain in my legs. I decided it’s better to listen to your body than push through and get injured!</p> <p>Kyle started up the grill when we got home and we grilled some <strong>chicken breasts</strong> and I steamed some <strong>veggies</strong>. It ended up being an easy, delicious, and filling <strong>6 point</strong> supper!</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XJC96IfySK6uk_FxNV4U-1Iq4gc_u8egk7DOuS1yJyrTH1eAxFcBxNSB5ckrIEGgIZhKJjBXUYwh9jx6H3rSdmQLa9dePFT0boW5CysVR0pMAv4MpTIRtQuOwqr_tKbNy_0AVBaL05Ca/s1600-h/DSC045413.jpg"><img alt="DSC04541" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh177LfStw9pwKZOGv6Ld5jyatCGKauhXa6SzzFD_Guc2bEQF5Zn-tCT9UgyX3OFkZoucpL8WvF3c0hfW1xNRuz3gnM14kcudearo1DPST3cNuWOknhcUedr2PFyR1GcYo_Q3AcnCSdK1O-/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC04541" width="404" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyj5TcBtbpIShct-IWUPAcvDG8n7uGshyphenhyphen4SegFZ9JuzNSZgMENY9wKfBizdKDbEfv_V3mJiDQDmjbZwNdyB5pbeQXsVzFH_QHbv9uEWbQ6mEEn0jHkK5ZIcmB772veb-L0GXrP6oNuQOsG/s1600-h/DSC045423.jpg"><img alt="DSC04542" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VPWfvOlIsN6K1seADUXwvJgSJb3imd6CghqhDwkNIuu124Uy-Tzom2cIYFh1BhuBcNOUc1PZftAF8HqPtf8zwnX1LvGhP2KVW57db6uxTlTwLoOPZg1k8-mczN_QgARGrcUMJfl5Un3o/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC04542" width="404" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>So I’m curious…those of you runners out there who have ran long distances, <strong>how many days of rest after your long run do you give yourself?</strong> And does your <strong>body adapt</strong> to those <strong>long distances eventually</strong>? We ran 10 on Sunday, rested on Monday, and ran 5 today. I’m not sure if we should have ran that 5 today for how my body is feeling. I know everyone is a little different, but I would love any feedback and/or advice you guys have!! We have a 12 mile long run scheduled for Friday and I’m quite nervous for it!!</p> <p><strong>TUESDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 17/22 <br />WATER = 96 oz <br />EXERCISE = 5 mile run</p>

Running Advice Needed!!

Day 1 down...on to day 2 now!! So far, so good!! Being "back in the groove" of eating better is so refreshing! I started out my ...

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Advice for Workers of Every Age, at Every Stage

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/vb/ar5d5y469qr5zygf80vb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/vb/ar5d5y469qr5zygf80vb.gif" /></a><br /></div>"Where is this relationship going?" is a question that can mean several things for a romance. It can signal demise or it can reignite long-lost passion. Whatever the outcome, asking it means you're taking control of things.<br /><br />Your career isn't exactly like having a significant other, but some of the same rules apply. Coasting through your professional life without asking any questions of yourself or taking into account your ambitions can limit what you achieve. And it doesn't matter if you're at your first job or you're about to retire, you should always be thinking about where you are and what you want out of your job.<br /><br />With that in mind, we put together some suggestions for workers at every stage of their careers. Many issues you face as a high school student aren't the same as what you'll face midcareer. But you'll also notice that some advice is relevant to you no matter what your age is. So here are some topics to think about as you navigate your career when ...<br /><br />... you're still in high school:<br /><br />Pick a job that doesn't interfere with school. First jobs can teach you about the value of work and earning a paycheck, but the real benefit is learning how to balance personal and work lives. At this age, you should be more focused on getting your education and a diploma than on climbing the corporate ladder.<br /><br />Take your job seriously. Don't become a teenage workaholic, but don't shirk your responsibilities, either. Show up on time, perform your tasks and treat your boss with respect. It never hurts to have a good reference and a boss willing to have you back, maybe during your summer breaks during college or full-time when starting your career.<br /><br />... you're still in college:<br /><br />Find a job that relates to your major or your interests. Working and going to school isn't easy, and you'll be even less inclined to enjoy your job if it bores you. While you may not find your dream job right now, any opportunity to see if you enjoy working in your ideal industry is a good learning experience.<br /><br />Look for internships. Now is a prime opportunity to get experience that can build into a full-time job after graduation, and it's also the one time in your life when you can live very cheaply. Internships don't often pay well or anything at all, but they often count for course credit and always build your résumé, so take advantage of them while you can. <br /><br />Start job hunting a semester (or more) before graduation. Every May, the job market is flooded with new graduates ready and eager to find work. If you start sending out résumés, going on interviews and networking ahead of your classmates, you can have a job lined up before you even get your diploma. You can really enjoy walking across that stage even more when you've already accepted an offer.<br /><br />Remember that you're a working student. Although a lot changes from high school to college, some things stay the same, namely, the need to remain focused on school and taking the job seriously. Don't forget to study for an exam because of work. (And don't forget to show up for work because you were having too much fun.)<br /><br />... you're at your first "grown-up" job:<br />Learn from others. You're a sophisticated, likable person with great ideas; you're also the newbie. Don't be afraid to speak up and contribute to the team, but remember that you have a lot to learn from colleagues and your boss. They can teach you what to do and what not to do at that particular company and in the professional world.<br /><br />Look for a good foundation. For the average worker, an entry-level job does not mark the beginning of a lifelong relationship with that particular employer. You're likely to have several jobs throughout your career, so don't look at a first job as if you're going to be there forever. Look for a job that interests you, offers networking opportunities and, most importantly, lets you develop skills that will help you down the road. <br /><br />Don't burn your bridges. When you move on to a new job, do not e-mail your boss with a diatribe about what an incompetent fool she is. Don't tell your colleague how sorry you feel for him because he's still stuck in that prison of a company. Peaceful partings can ensure you have good references and a good reputation. (This advice is good for everyone, regardless of age.) <br /><br />... you're in the middle of your career:<br /><br />Assess your life goals. For a second, forget about your career and think about what you want your life to be, both now and in the future. Are you on track to achieve what you want? This isn't just about a work/life balance, but also an opportunity to see if your job situation helps you achieve the personal goals and lifestyle you want.<br /><br />Take stock of your professional worth. Midcareer is a vague period because it comes at different points for many people and not everyone's professional life progresses at the same pace. So, this period isn't about your specific age as it is about the status of your career.<br /><br />At this stage, you've had at least one job, if not several, and are accruing experience and expertise in a field. Ask yourself what your résumé would look like if you were to job hunt right now. What are your strongest skills? Where do you need improvement? What career opportunities would be available to you? Now is the time for you to decide if you need to change directions or if you're happy with your situation.<br /><br />... you can retire:<br /><br />Decide what you want your golden years to look like. The template of what retirement should look like is long gone. Today, mature workers are taking different paths when it comes to their careers, and you can decide what works best for you.<br /><br />Because people are living longer, many older workers have no desire to leave the work force and spend another 10 or 20 years at home. Instead, some are scaling back to part-time jobs with their current employers. They still get a paycheck and the company retains their expertise. Others are switching professions entirely and venturing into their dream jobs now that they have the time and money to do so.<br /><br />Decide what you need to have the life you want: Some mature workers can't afford to leave their full-time jobs, even if they wanted to, due to financial needs. As you get older, you have to plan for the cost of health care, medicine and other living expenses, none of which is cheap. Deciding what your future looks like should account for your ideal situation and inevitable factors. <br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="mailto:http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Advice for Workers of Every Age, at Every Stage

"Where is this relationship going?" is a question that can mean several things for a romance. It can signal demise or it can reign...

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10 Ways to Damage Your Career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/hm/ar5b1cg6zkhwlmrbdghm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/hm/ar5b1cg6zkhwlmrbdghm.gif" /></a><br /></div>All workers share the common fear of getting fired. Today, people are not only scared of being fired; they fear getting laid off from their jobs. Neither is a situation any worker wants to face. What's worse, many factors that play a huge role in making these decisions are out of your control, such as the economy, performance and longevity in the company. To best avoid being faced with a pink slip of any kind, employees should make sure they aren't doing anything to themselves that might affect this decision. <br /><br />Avoiding self-destructive habits at work seems like common sense, but reasonable thinking is sometimes forgotten when employees try to stand out or learn new habits, styles and techniques in order to stay afloat in their lines of business.<br /><br />To avoid your own career self-destruction, avoid these 10 habits:<br /><br />1. Not keeping track of your accomplishments<br /><br />Let's say the boss is deciding whether to keep you or your co-worker on board. He sits you down and asks, "Why should I keep you?" If you have nothing to show or tell to prove your case, chances are, you'll be the one getting the boot. Additionally, it's good to keep a running list of awards, promotions and accomplishments to showcase when it comes time for annual performance reviews or when asking for a pay increase. Plus, you never know when you'll end up looking for new work. If you don't keep track of all the good you've done, you might not remember them when it's time to update your résumé.<br /><br />2. Not keeping your skill set current<br /><br />The business landscape is ever-changing, as exemplified by this tough economy. Right now, you're just trying to keep your job and the best way to do that is to show your employer they are getting the maximum return on their investment: you. Keeping your skill set current, along with expanding it, will show your employer you're worth their money, especially when companies are looking for ways to reduce expenses.<br /><br />3. Not delivering results<br />Common sense will tell you that business is about accountability. If you don't contribute to the bottom line, if you cost money instead of make money or if you harbor a sense of entitlement for simply having put forth effort, you are guaranteed to fall by the wayside.<br /><br />4. Efficient does not equal effective<br />Those who think that communicating via e-mail, because it's faster than actually talking with people, fail to recognize the importance of personally connecting with others in today's highly automated, technological and competitive environment. One thing that will keep you afloat in this economy is your relationships with people, and those relations can't be grown through e-mails, text messages or BlackBerry chats.<br /><br />5. Thinking you're irreplaceable<br />There is no room for "divas" in the workplace. There are millions of people looking for work right now and, chances are, more than a few of them could do your job. As soon as you convince yourself that you and only you can do the job "right," your star will surely start to fall. <br /><br />6. Knowing all the answers<br />Knowledge is power. Professing to know it all, however, will stall your career as it shows that you're uninterested in learning about new ideas and approaches. To stay afloat in today's job market, workers need to ask questions, stay current and listen to new ideas.<br /><br />7. Surrounding yourself with "brownnosers"<br />The old adage remains true: You are the company you keep. If you associate with brownnosers, it's most likely because you like having others boost your confidence. This fact will not be lost on those around you. Managers and other professionals will have no problem replacing you with someone who accepts and encourages intelligence and creativity in others.<br /><br />8. Taking all the credit<br />Give credit where credit is due. Most managers are smart enough to realize when you inappropriately take full credit for positive outcomes despite the help or input received by others. If you credit other people where they deserve it, you'll be seen as team player, a key element to any successful group. Plus, you'll probably find that you start seeing the same acknowledgement from your co-workers. <br /><br />9. Not tooting your own horn<br />Chances are your boss doesn't have time to keep a running tab on each of his employees, so how else will your boss know how valuable you are to the company unless you tell him? Bragging is one thing, but letting colleagues in your industry know of your success through case studies, promotion bulletins or other such tools is another. It's important to recognize the value of letting others know about your accomplishments as long as you go about it in the right way. <br /><br />10. Losing perspective<br />Those who fail to recognize their shortcomings are destined for the unemployment line.<br /><br />Intuitive business people recognize that, despite their best attempts to do everything right, they may sometimes approach roadblocks and need to seek the advice and perspective of a respected friend, colleague or even a business coach. Acknowledging that you aren't perfect will earn you respect in the office.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

10 Ways to Damage Your Career

All workers share the common fear of getting fired. Today, people are not only scared of being fired; they fear getting laid off from their ...

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How to Make a Comeback in the Work Force

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/1h/ar5b3wr73rmvpjhjq01h.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/1h/ar5b3wr73rmvpjhjq01h.gif" /></a><br /></div>Thomas Jefferson once said, "Every generation needs a new revolution." No statement has ever seemed more true today as older workers approach retirement, but aren't ready to stop working. Rather, they want to revitalize their careers.<br /><br />This growing trend isn't limited to boomers staying in the work force. It encompasses women returning to work after maternity leave, workers wanting to change careers in general, even those who are sick of retirement and just want to make a comeback. <br /><br />To Marc Freedman, author of "Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life," such a comeback is called an "encore career," in which people find work that provides meaningful and significant contributions to the greater good in the second of half of their lives.<br /><br />"Instead of freedom from work, they are searching for the freedom to work," Freedman says. "Instead of accepting the notion of a career as an arc that rises in youth, peaks in midlife and declines into retirement, they are charting a new trajectory -- one that for many will reach its apex of meaning and impact when others in past generations headed for the sidelines."<br /><br />In fact, 5.3 million to 8.4 million people between the ages of 44 and 70 have already launched encore careers, according to a recent MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures survey. Fifty percent of people of the same age not already engaged in new careers say that they want to be and they want to move into such fields as education, health care, government and nonprofit work. <br /><br />Don't call it a comeback<br /><br />Though many workers want to make a transition back to the work force for various reasons, many don't know exactly how to do it. Lots of workers don't know the options they have when they want to come back to work -- or the obstacles they might face.<br /><br />"Workers returning to the work force should not assume they will be able to pick up where they left off, even those who left recently," says Jennifer Berman, managing director of the HR advisory, consulting and training group at CBIZ Human Capital Services. "Returning workers need an understanding of what industries are hiring for what types of positions. From there, they'll need to conduct an inventory of what skills they possess that are marketable to those opportunities and how they will obtain the skills they may lack."<br /><br />Many options exist for workers who want to learn fresh skills in a new industry or career. These programs can open doors to full-time work, provide experience in areas that you've previously lacked or allow you to get your feet wet in a new profession before committing to it permanently. <br /><br />Here are some options available to workers who want to rejoin the work force:<br /><br />1. Returnship<br /><br />Returnships are similar to internships, except they are for experienced professionals. They're designed for workers who have left the work force and want to re-enter the corporate world, most commonly in a different line of work than the one they left. A returnship could also be an internship in new field in order to give you the opportunity to test the waters before making a career change.<br /><br />Several companies, such as Sara Lee Corp. and Goldman Sachs, have already implemented similar programs. Sara Lee, for example, launched the Returnships @ Sara Lee program in October 2008. The initiative was put in place to provide flexible opportunities for midcareer individuals to re-enter the work force after an extended leave. Participants also have the potential for a permanent position after completion of the returnship program.<br /><br />Brenda C. Barnes, chairwoman and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corp., says the program "provides a win-win situation for candidates and for our company by offering flexible work arrangements on a trial basis, while at the same time allowing Sara Lee to tap into a deep talent pool of underutilized professionals."<br /><br />If you have your eyes set on a company and you don't know if it offers a returnship-type program, Berman suggests developing a proposition to create one.<br /><br />"In these tight times, almost every industry has trimmed staff to a point where there are real needs. Few employers will turn away free labor that offers a real value," she says. "Learn what the organization is missing or needing. Develop a proposal for the services you could provide in exchange for consideration for a future hire, introduction to another business unit or detailed recommendation."<br /><br />2. VocationVacations<br /><br />VocationVacations, another type of mini-internship experience, offers clients the chance to test-drive a dream job under the guidance of expert mentors who are passionate about what they do, says Brian Kurth, president of the company. Approximately 20 percent of "vocationers" have either switched full-time careers, gone back to school or have taken the steps to land their dream jobs.<br /><br />"What better way to return to the work force from early retirement, maternity leave or an extended layoff than to test it all out first?" he asks. <br /><br />VocationVacations offer one- to three-day, hands-on, career immersion experiences under the guidance of mentors who are experienced in the field in which a "vocationer" is interested. The company offers more than 160 types of vocations in everything from acting to yoga. <br /><br />Though a VocationVacation is different from a returnship in that you pay to participate, the expense should be thought of as an investment toward your future. After all, you do get a one-on-one mentorship, sound career-coaching advice and other perks. Kurth says some mentors feel so strongly about their vocationers that they've hired them full time. For more information, visit their Web site.<br /><br />3. Mom Corps<br /><br />Mom Corps, a staffing solution firm, places women returning to the work force in part-time, permanent, full-time, flexible and contract or project-based work arrangements. Companies such as KPMG, Merrill Lynch, Home Depot and General Electric are able to access a pool of professionals who have opted out of the traditional workplace, but still have the talent and time to take on work.<br /><br />"By hiring a contract or part-time worker during the economic downturn, companies are able to operate at a lower cost and still see results," says Allison O'Kelley, CEO and founder of Mom Corps.<br /><br />Unlike a returnship or other options, Mom Corps offers flexible job opportunities suited to candidates' qualifications and scheduling needs. Workers still have the option of returning to the work force, yet don't have to immediately dive in full time. Employers can post jobs, search for candidates and view résumés matching their criteria, and candidates can do the same while looking for companies.<br /><br />Benefits of return programs <br /><br />Still not sold on a return program? Here are several benefits to consider:<br /><br />1. You are essentially able to "try before you buy," Kurth says. Return programs allow workers to determine whether they truly like the field they are entering and if they don't, they have saved themselves a lot of time by not pursuing something they don't enjoy or aren't cut out for.<br /><br />2. Workers, though unpaid, get experience in a company, which is great for their résumé and networking pool.<br /><br />3. Employers get free work from seasoned professionals.<br /><br />4. Return programs give returning workers an opportunity to not only test out an experience, but also obtain additional skills, Berman says.<br /><br />5. Return programs are instant networking, Kurth says. Everyone you'll work with will know people who know people, etc.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

How to Make a Comeback in the Work Force

Thomas Jefferson once said, "Every generation needs a new revolution." No statement has ever seemed more true today as older worke...

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5 Ways to Fit in a Part-Time Job ... When you're already working full time

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/sd/ar5b1zf5wkb6fj0tkmsd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/sd/ar5b1zf5wkb6fj0tkmsd.gif" /></a><br /></div>When you're already working eight-plus hours per day, the last thing you really want to do is put on a happy face and go to another job. But in today's tough economy, some workers don't have a choice.<br /><br />"I work two jobs because I need the money in this economy. My full-time-job salary goes to all my student loans, bills and car payments, while my second paycheck goes towards things that I need or want," says Laura Gutierrez, a full-time marketing assistant for a Minneapolis-based law firm and a part-time liquor store associate. "I make it work because I have to. It's nice that my second job is really flexible and can fit around my unusual hours at the law firm." <br /><br />Gutierrez is just one out of millions of people working two jobs. In November 2008, 38.6 million people were working part time, defined as working less than 35 hours per week, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of those people, 7.1 million were working part time for economic reasons. <br /><br />When Catherine Patterson accepted a full-time account executive position for a Chicago-based public relations agency last year, she also accepted a decrease in pay ("Completely worth it," she says). But, she knew she needed to start saving money, so she took on a part-time job as an associate at Potbelly Sandwich Works, where she works two or three shifts per week.<br /><br />"When I started at Potbelly, I knew the economy was heading for the tank but I didn't foresee it would get this bad," Patterson says. "I am immensely grateful that I have my Potbelly job in addition to my PR job." <br /><br />Marcy Morrison, owner of Careers with Wings, agrees that many people are working multiple jobs to increase their cash flow. People have to not only deal with usual cost of living increases, but as the job market worsens, more workers are taking salary cuts and dealing with the layoff of a spouse or partner, Morrison says. In order to make ends meet, taking on another job might not be a choice.<br /><br />"Others might take on a part-time opportunity to increase their skill set to become more marketable in the work force," Morrison says. But the larger percentage of people who take on an additional job for monetary reasons "can find relief in meeting their financial obligations" by working a second job, she says. <br /><br />Indeed, Dana Hughes has been working two jobs simultaneously for over a year to help pay the bills after her husband was downsized 17 months ago. During the week, she works full time as a communications manager for a nonprofit membership association; on weekends, evenings and holidays, she works as a freelance graphic designer. Hughes, who is also a mom to three young children, says it's often challenging and stressful working all the time; it requires her to be very organized and efficient at managing her time.<br /><br />If you're thinking about taking on a part-time job in addition to your full-time gig, or if you do this already and need help, here are five tips on how you can make it work and how others make it work every day:<br /><br />1. Consider what you're doing. "There are lots of ways to make money that don't require physical labor or long, demanding hours," says Katie Mattson, a life coach. "If you have a talent for writing, pick up a few freelance gigs. Bottom line: Try to work a second job that doesn't demand too much from you so you don't overload your system."<br /><br />2. Find jobs that mesh well. Beth Zeigler is a full-time professional organizer for her own company, Bneato, but for part-time work, she writes for a blog called Apartment Therapy. She writes about inspiring home spaces, how to make space work and organizing -- her expertise. "Not only have I become more of an authority on organizing while writing for AT, it's given my business exposure that I never would have had otherwise," she says. <br /><br />3. Make time for yourself. "Make sure that you budget adequate time for yourself in the week to recharge your batteries," says Dave Crenshaw, author of "The Myth of Multitasking: How Doing It All Gets Nothing Done." "While holding multiple jobs may help cash flow in the short term, in the long term, the loss will be tremendous if you find yourself unable to hold any job due to stress or health concerns."<br /><br />4. Find something that works with your schedule. Erin Shanahan worked full time at a publishing company, but needed help paying off some debt, so she found a nonprofit looking for someone to telecommute whenever possible as long as it was 15-20 hours per week. "I would put in my full day at one job, go home and work two to three hours for the other one. I also usually put in at least one full weekend day," Shanahan says. "I made sure to take a night off here or there when I needed to and to do something for fun each weekend to keep me from feeling too stressed out."<br /><br />5. Be honest with both of your employers. Have an honest conversation with your boss about both of your jobs -- you never want one to start interfering with the other. When Laura Kassenbrock relocated, she took a job that she soon found out was not challenging enough. She found a better fit, but was afraid the short stint would look bad on her résumé. "I made a proposition to my current employer: Keep me on part time and I could do the amount of work I was doing in 40 hours in 20," she says. "It saved them money and allowed me to follow my passion and have extra income to pay my student loans."<br /><br />"Always work on your long-term vision. You don't want to be stuck with working two jobs forever," Morrison says. "Set goals and get organized on how and when you will reach your ultimate goal and take steps each day to get you closer to that goal."<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1253585622158">CLICKING HERE!</a></span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"> </a>

5 Ways to Fit in a Part-Time Job ... When you're already working full time

When you're already working eight-plus hours per day, the last thing you really want to do is put on a happy face and go to another job....

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Long Time W/No Blogging = Weight Gain

<p>I can’t believe it’s been almost 3 months since I’ve blogged! But I’ve been a busy girl!!</p> <p>Here is a quick re-cap of my past 3 months!!</p> <ul> <li><i>I got a promotion at work. </i></li> <li><i>Kyle and I are still training for the 1/2 marathon in October.</i> </li> <li><i>Spent lots of time w/friends & family over the summer.</i> </li> <li><i>Worked a lot!</i> </li> <li><i>Gained 12 lbs! Yikes!!</i> </li> <li><em>I turned 25!!!</em> </li> <li><i>Iowa Hawkeye football season started about 3 weeks ago!  (we have season tickets!!)</i> </li> <li><i>Two of my closest friends at work left. :(</i> </li> <li><i>Worked some more…are you seeing a trend here!! In August I worked over 70 hours/week!</i> </li> </ul> <p>Enough of that! All that matters now is that I’m back and ready to kick these lb’s I gained!! Not really liking these tight size 10’s!!</p> <p>Since I’ve been working so much I haven’t been to WW since July. But I hope to go back next week. I hope they haven’t kicked me out…I don’t think you can get kicked out when you’re a lifetime member…or I hope so anyway!!</p> <p>Today is Day 1 (again) for me! </p> <p>Yesterday Kyle and I stocked up at the grocery store on all kinds of good, healthy food! Feels good to have a nicely stocked fridge!! Oh and we also did a long run, our longest yet training for the 1/2 marathon…<strong>10 miles</strong>!! Wow, it was pretty hard, but I had such an accomplished feeling when we got done! </p> <p>I started my day out this morning just like I did so many mornings this last winter and spring! <strong>Oatmea</strong>l with <strong>blueberries</strong> and a <strong>sliced apple</strong> for a total of <strong>4 points</strong>! It was wonderful!! I felt so satisfied! But did forget to snap a picture! I so want to get back into that habit, I know it was a huge part of my success in losing weight!</p> <p>I couldn’t wait for my morning snack! I haven’t had my “morning mush” in a LONG time! I did the same combo of <strong>yogurt</strong>, <strong>1/4 c grape nuts,</strong> and <strong>1 1/2 c strawberries</strong> for a total of <strong>3 delicious points</strong>!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BjAkHUPkbA1ITdDzpfEEDzRkGNuNOSu3dQuNxEv78ooB9pjzmUfR8I-7xKW3Cd4xebUBQJIVNpTbO6_NyzzFbbJcVvR9SZzO1F7VM0_VGz2BhxQAHAQTmTWUTjPLKIyxGNUpy2k2-fNS/s1600-h/DSC04530%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04530" border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmt5uPfDTW6x0liTBNPkoL1U8cQuFua4FW1Kf_VCmW-gZVN8L_kJBXwOW-JnY-AFdyyjFVT22OVB9qkPkqJsq6GAphtVmzqQ5N6-BQAVWhyphenhyphenKYROJEQXG3dxhIwZgz-6xiPXB9iRMISoqEn/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04530" width="454" /></a></p> <p>  </p> <p>I had a late lunch today, but it was worth it because Kyle happened to be home when I got there! I made a <strong>chicken salad sandwich w/cheese</strong>, had <strong>1/2c cottage cheese</strong>, some <strong>carrot chips</strong>, and <strong>1 c grapes</strong> for a total of <strong>7 points</strong>. </p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizemrh6ZHPRuTkA388xlJNB-Z5J_JI06CHednEKNK0vXNaVWglqHDxvcOda-s4_o-q-WQRb4fjMYCXCAoyYjYF5DLPYBXTQUwy2R2Ow4lVwtQeDfzIJ_31Ijr81XAjyE5aRXqJtFv1ts3/s1600-h/DSC04531%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04531" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96jQiRQjYoMGX9_Lc9AVgjv4Bl-ECzpKNDrNYicOhhXSsqR7GQXqvk-RDXqJAx0YnGwXVzRdZod8TEn4kI_S_NUj46YrFU_pb-Sud9z-N8Y5nERmArOWNvPEkbQmll27RrDrsuXqdgvG_/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04531" width="404" /></a></td> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BMEO_E43PIpfTBT2joTQnJHqpUVpR6mN0nkxx7M4A1l-IZwjtJGhIgHykRShMg5NiMxWrgOnBEMwJ9E6xmNHMnx1weydnNNo1nVE5AE5neM62JuNtrGGUgNRIGFaY3_zMz_r-PKsVysU/s1600-h/DSC04532%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04532" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LHAKvqgk_d4Lx32KNuQ0sIAE7nCjd9JtuE0pibPm0M-pwZM9sQ_L5Hs6JCCm15MBkTU1mKETYVXU98SUGsS_vMUxtOoXeChzMzDr4eUBSGJAoOi3je5rCYgxogC9UFOMasADWuSPifpE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04532" width="404" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <p>Look what happens everyday after I leave my house from lunch…my cute little puppy jumps up in her chair and watches me drive away!! So cute!!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O5lZ4DRSFIcM751GY2DpvehKoA2ccq6VuU-Wop2RJhk2YCq98E87Om0_XpSL179j2r51N54D_rgHmfhncG-t2SGm4Pjl-RikXW0xi89ooz0zjDAXuiL_LPhlVvcnZBShb-c4Rtm14s31/s1600-h/DSC04533%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04533" border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindcnBwQvp82sRHZOIQJyGlIbS29pa_7FdLMjf0yUuJFjmMEW9YfdG3jUdmYLjD63zgIons1jk92v5p35zZ8_y3NiOs37f41ulzTHAWA750VwKKtWhRoUrXbMh0pdF_UKVhpwb_yXuzHmQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04533" width="604" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Work dragged on so much today! But 5 o’clock finally came around and I jetted out of there right away! Kyle was working late so when I got home I got right to work cleaning, organizing, doing laundry, etc!! Feels so good to get some of that stuff done. And I re-organized my closet…I need to take a picture, ‘cause it looks awesome!!</p> <p>It was raining all evening and was dark by the time Kyle got home so we didn’t get a run in today, but I welcomed a day of rest. After running 10 miles on Sunday my legs and hips muscles are SUPER sore!!</p> <p>Since I was a cleaning/organizing fool I didn’t get supper made. So it was easy food! Kyle and I both had cold cereal! I had <strong>3/4 c honey nut cheerios</strong> and a <strong>small sliced banana</strong> for <strong>4 points</strong>. I love this combo!!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWfIg7EFiQ8mgUiQbx2CBJaAiYqAZ9ZkqQ19f-AnLIpL0zXp5gzhsYUBEQ8rEtKANvU8NApgw1eEewxUtM60KHQXJvOZbkNxQ11nxcT0WqXIQVL65C9ckbBl1wkafpA9QOSkV_7uzTCPu/s1600-h/DSC04534%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04534" border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjYVeXUqvtov-_vK3mE1tLFc1n2O7KNBEcZvGCxA_E_CTy7tH8GcmILDQAAou5KbOBz3VNkOBbTaE3Nv5E96vlW5czxmQHKN68etB2B98jorFpC7cga88Sxa-iKTmx7-fU2GUo6sMztgb/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04534" width="504" /></a> </p> <p>Well my first day “back on the wagon” was great! Hoping to see that # on the scale go down!! Looking forward to doing some catch up on everyone’s blog and see how ya’ll are doing!! :)</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>MONDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 18/22 <br />WATER = 70 oz <br />EXERCISE = none…does cleaning count?!?!</p>

Long Time W/No Blogging = Weight Gain

I can’t believe it’s been almost 3 months since I’ve blogged! But I’ve been a busy girl!! Here is a quick re-cap of my past 3 months!! ...

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Why You Might Want to Work on the Weekends

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/d3/ar5d4bw5zbcbv1ps9zd3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/d3/ar5d4bw5zbcbv1ps9zd3.gif" /></a><br /></div>Weekends have an almost mythical place in the lives of the working man or woman. Those two days hold so much promise. In those approximate 48 hours, you can accomplish anything: partying, relaxing, sleeping, reading, running errands and so much more. The opportunity to finally achieve something the workweek has prevented is a priceless gift.<br /><br />Whether or not you actually cross anything off of that to-do list is another story. Blame it on years of schooling that taught you to behave all week and maybe you can go to your friend's birthday party or the movies on Saturday.<br /><br />Put aside your notion of the weekends as the only reason to wake up on Monday mornings and you'll see that working on Saturday and Sunday can actually be good for you. You just have to change the way you think.<br /><br />At your convenience<br /><br />Part of the beauty of the weekend is that you don't have to worry about someone else taking up your time. On a Tuesday, for example, everyone else is working, which means they're probably coming to you with problems or trying to schedule face time with you. A weekend workday lets you get things done on your own terms without interruptions.<br /><br />Reduce weekday stress<br /><br />Although you're used to seeing the weekends as a two-day detox from work, Saturday and Sunday can lower your stress level during the week. As much as we'd like to think everyone's schedules revolve around our own, we know from experience that's not true. Personal obligations, such as your spouse's office party, your child's school play, a night at the opera or even a happy hour that goes overtime, can interfere with productivity Monday through Friday.<br /><br />If you're able and willing to work on the weekend, you can handle weekday disruptions without panicking. If you have a project due in a week, then any time you lose today working on it can be made up later. Tell yourself that what's not finished today can be taken care of on time and you'll be fine.<br /><br />Extra money<br /><br />Weekend work can bring you extra money in two different ways. First, if you have a job where overtime pay applies to Saturday and Sunday shifts, you're earning more money than you would in a regular workday.<br /><br />Another way to fatten your wallet is to take an extra job. If your weekday job isn't the kind of position that needs weekend work, you can find a part-time job to fill that extra time. You'll not only make more money, but you'll also add skills and experience to your résumé.<br /><br />Learn time management<br /><br />For some workers, going into the office or working from home on a Saturday morning isn't an inconvenience because they don't let it dominate the day. If you want to squeeze in a few extra hours of work or want to get ahead for the next week, you can use some of your weekend without sacrificing it all. For example, get up early on Saturday and block off a few hours so that you know you need to be done by noon so you can go to a movie or to watch your child's soccer game. <br /><br />When you know that getting distracted from your work will result in less time for yourself or your family, you're more likely to work hard. You might realize that those few early morning hours on the weekend are more productive than a full workday.<br /><br />A better reputation<br /><br />A good balance between your job and personal life is a must, so you don't want to talk yourself into working seven days a week without a break just to be known as the office workaholic. However, if you're willing to give up a little bit of your time once in a while -- maybe one Saturday a month or a few hours of your Sunday every few months -- in order to finish a project or lend a hand to the boss, your efforts will be recognized.<br /><br />If your job isn't a 9-to-5 position and you work evenings or only certain days, your co-workers might ask you to cover their shifts once in a while. Although you might always have the weekends off and be tempted to tell them no, picking up weekend work gives you the extra money mentioned above, and it also shows you're a team player. Plus, you could find out that you prefer working on the weekends and being off during the week so that you can enjoy your time off while everyone else is toiling away at their jobs.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Why You Might Want to Work on the Weekends

Weekends have an almost mythical place in the lives of the working man or woman. Those two days hold so much promise. In those approximate 4...

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Is Nursing Your Calling?

With the aging of the baby boomers, better technology and an emphasis on preventative care bringing Americans to their doctors in droves, patients may soon start noticing they have fewer nurses caring for them. It's not their imagination. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association predicted that 40 percent of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States will top age 50 by 2010. The retirement of these nurses - combined with the aging general population - is expected produce a shortage of 434,000 nurses by 2020. Interested in filling the gap? Here's an overview of the industry, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).<br /><br />Overview<br />Nursing is the largest healthcare occupation today, with 2.3 million jobs. A passion for healthcare and a compassionate nature are crucial for this field. Registered nurses work to promote health, prevent disease and care for ill or injured patients. Many nurses work directly with patients, observing and recording symptoms, assisting physicians, administering medicine and assisting in rehabilitation. RNs also put together nursing care plans and instruct patients and their families in proper care.<br /><br />Training and Education<br />All nursing students must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass a national licensing exam. Though diploma and two-year associate's degree programs exist for nurses, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree or higher.<br /><br />Opportunities<br />Sixty percent of the 2.3 million RNs in America work in hospitals, though opportunities for nursing are as diverse as the patients being treated. The following are just a sampling of the areas nurses serve: Hospitals - The largest group of RNs are hospital nurses, who provide bedside care and carry out medical regimens. Hospital nurses usually specialize in one department - pediatrics, surgery, etc. - though some nurses rotate departments. Offices/Clinics - These high-profile nurses serve in doctors' offices, clinics, emergency medical centers and ambulatory centers. Their duties include giving injections, dressing wounds, aiding examinations, assisting with minor surgery and maintaining records. Nursing Care Facilities - RNs in nursing care facilities monitor residents' health, supervise practical nurses/aids, perform invasive procedures (like administering IVs) and develop treatment plans. Some work in specialty departments, such as long-term rehabilitation centers for patients recovering from strokes. Home Care - Home health nurses work independently to provide care in patients' homes, assess the patients' home environments and provide instructions to patients and their families. Public Health - These nurses work in settings ranging from public clinics to schools. They help plan health programs, provide information and arrange for immunizations, testings and other health screenings. Nurse Practitioners - After undergoing additional training, nurse practitioners can diagnose, treat and prescribe medicine for common illnesses and injuries.<br /><br />Pros and Cons of Nursing<br />The looming shortage of qualified nurses is expected to result in higher salaries for RNs. Some employers are already offering sign-on bonuses as high as $14,000 to entice qualified candidates. Nurses can also enjoy increased job security and less fear of layoffs. The 24-hour nature of many hospitals and residential care facilities lends itself to flexibility in scheduling and the ability to work part-time, and many employers offer childcare, educational benefits and bonuses. The scarcity of nurses, however, can lead to RNs being overworked and quickly becoming burned-out. Nurses must also be prepared to be on their feet most of the time, and take strict precautions against disease, radiation and accidental needle sticks.<br /><br />Salary<br />Median earnings for nurses were $48,090 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $40,140 and $57,490. Nurses in employment services enjoyed the highest earnings, with a median f $55,980. General medical and surgical hospital nurses earned $49,190; home care nurses made $45,890 and physicians' office nurses earned $43,850.<br /><br />Industry/Job Growth<br />Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow more than 27 percent -- faster than average for all occupations through 2012, with 623,000 new jobs added. Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, an increasing emphasis on preventative care and the aging of the baby boomer generation.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

Is Nursing Your Calling?

With the aging of the baby boomers, better technology and an emphasis on preventative care bringing Americans to their doctors in droves, pa...

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Retiree Job Trends

For baby boomers, a funny thing is happening on the way to retirement: more work. Although this generation of forty- through sixty-somethings is nearing what was once the traditional retirement age, their futures are filled with more paychecks and less leisure. Some will keep working to keep busy. Others can't afford to quit. What you're left with is a work force with an unusually large amount of older workers changing the rules of retirement.<br /><br />Boomers who aren't retiring have plenty of options<br /><br />If baby boomers were following the patterns of their parents and the generations before them, they would be at home indulging in their favorite hobbies or relaxing near a beach. However, in much the same way they revolutionized cultural norms in their youth, boomers are redefining the concept of retirement.<br /><br />How? By not retiring -- at least not in the traditional sense. Workers in their late 50s or older are choosing different paths, or creating them, rather.<br /><br />Christine Moriarty, a certified financial planner, sees would-be retirees fitting into one of three categories. First, entrepreneurs who have the financial security to retire but don't want to leave a job they love. Then there are those workers who do leave their jobs in order to pursue a lifelong passion, also known as "encore careers." Finally, there are workers who keep working due to inertia -- they don't know what else to do, so they keep showing up for work.<br /><br />Of course, traditional retirees who stop working and pass the time with their favorite activities still exist. You just might find fewer of them in the coming years. According to a MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey, 79 percent of boomers between 50 and 59 intend to work past the traditional retirement age for the pay and benefits. Only 64 percent of boomers between 60 and 70 have the same plans, a sign that the younger boomers are not ready to move on.<br /><br />Why now?<br /><br />We're living longer now than before and need something to keep us busy. An American born in 1950 was expected to live to be 68 years old while the average person born in 2005 will live to be almost 78, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retiring at 55 leaves you with plenty of time to fill, a fact that Nancy Merz Nordstrom understands.<br /><br />"I was a typical wife, mother of four and a secretary, until I was unexpectedly widowed at age 48. At age 51, I went to college. At age 53, I found my life's work," she says. She got remarried, became the director of Elderhostel Institute Network, an educational network for older adults. "At age 61, I wrote my first book. And today, at age 63, I'm busier than ever with my career and family."<br /><br />In addition to having all that extra time to work, workers with longer life expectancies have more opportunity to accrue bills. Daily needs like food and taxes won't ever disappear. Add to that the cost of medications and doctor's visits and living longer becomes a pricey privilege.<br /><br />What are your options?<br /><br />Millions of mature employees who want to keep working decide to leave the familiar behind and venture into new territory. More than 50 percent of encore career workers have left professional and management careers and 30 percent are now in education, according to the Encore Career Survey.<br /><br />Plenty of workers are staying in their field and bringing their decades of knowledge and experience with them. One of the most popular paths for an encore career is that of a consultant. Companies hire a consultant to examine their business practices and look for ways to improve efficiency and remain competitive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the amount of consultants will increase 22 percent between 2006 and 2016.<br /><br />Consulting can be part-time or contract work, allowing mature workers to strike a balance between work and retirement. Thanks to technology, consultants are part of the growing number of employees who work remotely, a workplace trend initiated by younger workers but benefitting everyone. The freedom to work from home lets mature workers travel or move without quitting their jobs.<br /><br />"This is already happening today," says Ilya Bogorad of the Bizvortex Consulting Group, a management consulting company. "It is likely that in the very near future corporate HR departments will have to learn how to work with distributed teams composed of such consultants."<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span></strong>

Retiree Job Trends

For baby boomers, a funny thing is happening on the way to retirement: more work. Although this generation of forty- through sixty-something...

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10 Ways to Network Properly

"People don't mind being used," says Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's TV show, "Hardball with Chris Matthews." "What they mind is being taken for granted."<br /><br />Right on, Mr. Matthews. Every day, people are taken advantage of when their acquaintances need help networking. It's become such an issue that it might do everyone some good for a little lesson in the networking etiquette department.<br /><br />"In today's job market, the old cliché 'It's not what you know but who you know' has become, 'It's not what you know but who knows you,'" says Katharine Hansen, author of "A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market." (Ten Speed Press)<br /><br />Here are 10 important aspects of network etiquette, excerpted from Hansen's book:<br /><br />Know your purpose for networking. It sounds obvious, but job seekers waste their contacts' time when they don't really know what they want to do, where they want to work or how the contact might be helpful to them. Think about what companies you want to target through networking and how you can identify connections that will lead you to those employers.<br /><br />Do your homework. Don't ask your contacts questions that could easily be answered by doing a little basic research. The more you know about your contacts' companies and backgrounds, the more impressed they will be.<br /><br />Don't act desperate. Your contacts will be much more willing to help someone who is confident and capable than someone groveling, whining and desperate. Don't forget that as high a priority as it is to you, your job search is not so to most of your network.<br /><br />Listen. When someone is kind enough to offer you job advice, listen attentively. Write your contact a thank-you note and include something that tells your contact you listened.<br /><br />Respect your contact's time. Don't drop into a contact's office uninvited and when you call a current or prospective member of your network, always ask if he has time to talk. When the situation allows, bide your time before launching into networking conversation.<br /><br />Ask for help in small doses. Don't burden your contact with overwhelming requests for help and advice. Ask more questions than favors. You can always ask for more at a later time.<br /><br />Get permission before using a network contact's name to approach another prospective contact. Similarly, when you're scouting for new members of your network, tell prospective contacts how you got their names.<br /><br />Be careful with your use of the word networking. Some people have grown weary of being networked. Unless you are attending a function specifically earmarked for networking, it's best not to advertise the fact that that is what you are doing. Instead, think of yourself as making connections, building relationships and seeking advice.<br /><br />Don't be pushy and aggressive. Be sensitive to just how much a contact is willing to do for you and don't push beyond that limit. Be persistent but not annoying.<br /><br />Remember that networking is a two-way street. The idea of reciprocity is perhaps the most important aspect of networking. Offer your help to your contacts and supply needed information whenever possible.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br />Reprinted with permission from A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market, revised.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

10 Ways to Network Properly

"People don't mind being used," says Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's TV show, "Hardball with Chris Matthews." &q...

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Make Getting Fired Work for You

Getting a pink slip. Being downsized. Making adjustments. Reorganizing. So many synonyms that mean the same thing: You're fired.<br /><br />With the unemployment rate reaching 5.5 percent in May 2008, more and more employers are telling workers that they're out of work. While losing your job unexpectedly is never good news, it doesn't have to be a setback. It can be a chance to change directions and find a better career.<br /><br />The day you get fired, you can feel angry, sad and every other emotion that comes your way. The next day, however, take steps to make the most of the situation.<br /><br />Ask the right questions<br /><br />You got fired for a reason, so whether it was you, the job or the boss, you need to know what did and didn't work about the situation. Todd Dewett, a management professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and the author of "Leadership Redefined," recommends asking yourself a variety of questions to assess your experience.<br /><br />"Why did this happen to me? What functional or technical skills do I need to build in order to avoid this situation in the future? How does my professional network need to grow? Are there things about my interpersonal style or leadership skills I need to reconsider?"<br /><br />Then, he suggests, take action. "You can innovatively and aggressively start answering these questions. The alternative is to blame others and stew in negative emotions -- and that never helped anyone get their career back on track."<br /><br />You might discover that you needed to move on from that job but weren't willing to take the step. Look at getting fired as your employer giving you a little push that now allows you to make some drastic changes, says Rachelle J. Canter, career expert and author of "Make the Right Career Move."<br /><br />"Finding work you love is easily a full-time job. Virtually every career transition client of mine over 20 years has been dissatisfied and made some fledging attempts to find new work," she says. "The lack of financial and employment security provides more time to look and more inspiration to get serious."<br /><br />It's OK to be happy about it<br /><br />After hearing that you've been fired, you might be waiting for rage to bubble up or tears to flow, but your initial reaction to getting fired might not be as negative as you expect. You might even crack a smile.<br /><br />Pamela Skillings, career coach and author of "Escape from Corporate America" has seen people expect to feel bad about their job loss only to realize the benefits of getting fired.<br /><br />"Of course, most didn't see their pink slips as blessings right away," she says. "It's never fun to suddenly lose your job, though I have heard many say that they were surprised to feel a great sense of relief upon hearing the news that they were being let go."<br /><br />What now?<br /><br />Once you've asked and answered the questions, you're left wondering what to do.<br /><br />Explore your options. Decide whether or not you want to stay in the same field, if you want to make a change or if you want to start your own business.<br /><br />Make a plan. Once you know where you want to lead your career, take steps toward making it happen. For example, you might need more training or education if you're going to switch careers.<br /><br />Commit. No job search is easy, especially one that you weren't planning, but you can't be deterred along the way when you don't get every position you want. You'll be tempted to return to the familiar if you're making a big move, but trust your decision to start fresh.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

Make Getting Fired Work for You

Getting a pink slip. Being downsized. Making adjustments. Reorganizing. So many synonyms that mean the same thing: You're fired. With th...

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5 Factors to Consider Before Relocating

In an ideal job market, you would find the job of your dreams right under your nose. You'd have a hefty paycheck, great benefits, flexibility and you'd wake up every day loving the work you do.<br />The reality is you'll probably spend several weeks -- even months -- scouring the Internet and chasing job leads just to find a few openings worth pursuing. Even after all of your efforts, the jobs you find may fall short of meeting all of the criteria to be the right opportunity for you.<br /><br />People in such situations may never come across their dream job because they've limited themselves in the job market. They've narrowed their search to local job openings and have no idea that their dream job is actually in another city or state.<br /><br />Many people, however, would be willing to pursue those opportunities if they were aware of them. According to a study from CareerBuilder.com and Apartments.com, conducted by Harris Interactive, 59 percent of employees say they'd be willing to relocate to another city for a new job and 44 percent say they'd be willing to relocate to another state, province or region for a new job.<br /><br />"Depending on your career goals and where you live now, your best chance of finding work and achieving a rewarding career may be in another city or town," says Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin, co-authors of "Today's Hot Job Targets."<br /><br />They warn, however, that relocating for a job isn't the best option for everyone. In their book, they encourage people to consider the following five factors before making the decision to relocate.<br /><br />Continued growth<br /><br />There are no guarantees in today's ever-changing job market. An occupation may experience booming growth one year and then come to a stand-still or decline a few years later. For example, jobs in the finance, insurance and human service clusters are now expected to grow significantly faster than previously expected, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009, which is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, job projections are less optimistic than they were two years ago for occupations in the manufacturing, retail and wholesale sales, and service clusters.<br /><br />To help determine whether relocating is worth the effort, Farr and Shatkin suggest researching a particular occupation and its field or industry first. They say, "Before moving to another area, investigate whether local economic trends are expected to remain favorable. You may be able to find projections of job openings at the Web site of the state department of labor or office of employment security."<br /><br />Opportunities in your field<br /><br />Many occupations flourish in some locations, but are rarely offered in others. For example, job seekers interested in the public relations field would have much more luck landing a job in densely populated areas like New York City than in areas populated by only a few thousand people.<br /><br />Farr and Shatkin recommend visiting www.acinet.org to compare job opportunities in various cities. This resource shows people the state-specific economic trends for each occupation, followed by links that let them compare wages in different regions of the state; compare wages across states; or compare employment trends across states.<br /><br />Networking<br /><br />Having an intricate network of contacts is one of the biggest advantages people can have in their job search and careers. These contacts are excellent sources of job search advice, job leads and referrals. In most cases, a person's network is usually made up of contacts living in the same area. Although a change in location doesn't mean the contacts are no longer useful, it does mean the person relocating will need to work hard to develop new contacts that can support them in their new location.<br /><br />Farr and Shatkin suggest, "Investigate whether your targeted area offers opportunities for you to network quickly. Perhaps there are local branches of social, religious or hobby-centered organizations to which you now belong or where you would fit in readily."<br /><br />Your résumé<br /><br />Farr and Shatkin also warn that a person's résumé may not be as impressive in one location as in another. "Employers in many regions may not be as familiar with your previous employers or the school or college you attended."<br /><br />They recommend that job seekers contact the job placement office of their school or college to find out whether or not other people have found employment in their target area. This strategy isn't as necessary for job seekers from schools with a national reputation or seeking jobs where on-the-job training is all that's required.<br /><br />Culture shock<br /><br />Before moving to a new location, people should be aware that there's a good chance the culture will be different than where they currently live and work. It's important for people to visit their target area before actually moving there to see if they feel comfortable there.<br /><br />Farr and Shatkin remind job seekers that, "Given these concerns, the ideal strategy for relocating is to get hired for a job in the new location before you move -- but this can be very difficult to do. A compromise strategy would be to set up temporary, bare-bones living quarters in the new location, find employment there and then settle into your new location."<br /><br />By Selena Dehne career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. Her articles help people find meaningful work, develop their career and life plans, and carry out effective job search campaigns.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

5 Factors to Consider Before Relocating

In an ideal job market, you would find the job of your dreams right under your nose. You'd have a hefty paycheck, great benefits, flexib...

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Forum de recrutement le 24 septembre 2009

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzu8Y6bMvJgPLtyc-6mHqZJfR_wRm93vVkYB0l1NIQeVHRNUK12-1wdMW39-KEHL28C9ig35Sg6TUGbjkQZ9g-5ny7Kb_eX_bwIJSYkj1vFoniCAsVRm2GLcFoY6hJzXgJjszGG4GiYr/s1600-h/au+centre+de+l%27emploi.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382819620292507314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzu8Y6bMvJgPLtyc-6mHqZJfR_wRm93vVkYB0l1NIQeVHRNUK12-1wdMW39-KEHL28C9ig35Sg6TUGbjkQZ9g-5ny7Kb_eX_bwIJSYkj1vFoniCAsVRm2GLcFoY6hJzXgJjszGG4GiYr/s320/au+centre+de+l%27emploi.gif" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 75px;" /></a><br /><br />Les communes de Saint Denis en Val, Saint Jean le Blanc, Saint Cyr en Val et Sandillon organisent un <strong>Forum de recrutement</strong> avec la participation de Pôle Emploi, la Mission locale, la CCI, la Chambre de Métiers, la Maison de l'Emploi, le Conseil Général, le PLIE, l'AFPA, l'ADEL et EGEE.<br /><br />Ce forum se déroulera <ul><li>le <strong>jeudi 24 septembre 2009</strong>, <li>dans la <strong>salle de Montission à Saint Jean le Blanc</strong>,<br /><li>de <strong>14h00 à 18h</strong>.</ul>

Forum de recrutement le 24 septembre 2009

Les communes de Saint Denis en Val, Saint Jean le Blanc, Saint Cyr en Val et Sandillon organisent un Forum de recrutement avec la participa...

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When Co-Workers Go From Friend to Foe

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/2f/ar5c2016mpf8hbx42x2f.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/2f/ar5c2016mpf8hbx42x2f.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Growing up, plenty of people dished out advice about what kind of job to get. I was told to find a way to get paid doing what I love. I was also told to find a job that paid the bills because I'd resent my passion if it were my job. Each person had a story to prove why their advice was right. Ultimately, I listened to no one and just did what felt right. As a result, I realized one size does not fit all for career advice.<br /><br />The same goes for befriending the people you work with, or bringing friends into the workplace. For some people, friendship and professionalism go hand-in-hand. For others, not so much. And for certain workers, friendship was integral to the workplace until things went very, very wrong.<br />"It can be very good or very bad -- depending on a number of factors, including the personalities of the people who are friends and their relationship in the workplace. For example: Is one person insecure, jealous, needy or passive-aggressive? Is one supervising the other? Are they in a very competitive environment? Are there wide discrepancies between their salaries or earning power?" says Irene S. Levine, author of "Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with a Best Friend."<br /><br />"Because of the potential downsides, such friendships should be approached slowly and judiciously to avoid disappointments. You need to allow them to unfold slowly so you have a good sense of the other person -- and know whether the person is trustworthy and has good judgment," says Levine.<br /><br />If only some people got this advice early in their careers.<br /><br />First comes friendship, then comes betrayal<br />At a previous job, Crystal Brown-Tatum was a receptionist but had formed a professional friendship with a sales executive -- one of the few people in the office who showed her respect. That all changed when the sales executive became involved with Brown-Tatum's fiancé, who was a manager at the same company. As you might expect, the friendship suffered, and so did her career. As a result, Brown-Tatum was put on paid leave to "cool down" and her access to e-mail and the premises was restricted.<br /><br />"By the time the affair came out, [my fiancé] was relocated to a New York office while [the sales manager] and I remained in the Houston office," she says. "When I returned to work, we were all advised by HR not to discuss the relationship or face severe consequences. I had to go out of my way to avoid her but everyone in the office knew. It was extremely awkward."<br /><br />Another consequence of the situation was how distrusting she became with colleagues, even after she had moved on to a new employer. She was especially hesitant around the women in the office. Ultimately she started her own company, Crystal Clear Communications, because the thought of working in a similar environment was too much for her.<br /><br />Leslie Jacobs of Les Mess Organizing Cards also found her work life go from peaceful to turbulent in a brief moment. She was friends with an office manager at a previous employer. They were regular lunch friends and spent much of their time together. Then one day the office manager stopped talking to her. Years before the friend had done something similar, but the silent treatment didn't last long so Jacobs dismissed it as a one-time event. This time it was permanent -- no explanation and no opportunity for Jacobs to understand what was going on.<br /><br />"I asked her to talk to me -- let's talk this out. She refused," Jacobs remembers. "She would only talk to me in a very businesslike way. But, as office manager she had the power to make my job easy or not -- and she chose not." Not surprisingly, there was a round of layoffs shortly after and Jacobs was let go from her job. Although she was told it was a financial issue, Jacobs knew that wasn't the case -- especially when she saw the organization throw a party for 50,000 attendees. She never found out the reason for the sudden change of heart, but she knows former colleagues are being told a significantly different story to explain Jacobs' departure.<br /><br />A friendship postmortem<br />Sometimes the friendship falls apart after the professional relationship ends, which can be just as hurtful. That's what happened to Linda Athans, now a marketing manager at Mangrove Employer Services. For a previous company she was a director and had hired an assistant from another department. She established a mentor/protégé relationship with the assistant.<br /><br />"The two of us not only reshaped the entire department for the company, but also became great friends in the process ... almost sisters," Athans says. "We saw each other outside work frequently, shared secrets and could be both professional and silly with each other. I was even in her wedding!"<br /><br />Unfortunately, Athans' position was eliminated and she left work permanently on a Friday afternoon. She didn't hear from the assistant until Monday morning, and then it was only to ask about project Athans had been working on. She was apparently filling Athans' role and made no attempt to approach her as a friend.<br /><br />"Needless to say I was upset at the callousness -­ I had just lost my job of four years.[I] told her that I didn't work there anymore and she should get direction from the VP," Athans says. "She got angry with me, hung up, and that was that."<br /><br />They've seen each other since and their interaction has gone from cordial to nonexistent. For Athans, the lesson learned was that friendships shouldn't exist within the office.<br /><br />"Most of what we shared revolved around work and being in the same situation. But once I left, it was obvious that we didn't really have that much in common and were two very different people. Sometimes I am reminded of her and remember the good times we had fondly, but that relationship definitely changed how close I get to people in the workplace."<br /><br />How to deal<br />What do you do if your friendship with a co-worker is going south? And what if it's beyond repair? Levine has some tips for workers:<br /><br />· Notice the warning signs and stay calm<br />"The first step would be to communicate, without casting blame, to see if a minor misunderstanding can be straightened out," Levine advises. "Perhaps it is a question of establishing boundaries with which both friends feel comfortable. Depending on what happened, for example, two friends may decide to only be friends in the workplace or to only be friends outside of work, limiting their conversation about work."<br /><br />· Approach with caution<br />"If the friendship is falling apart, you might want to act cordial but slowly pull back, spending last time and sharing fewer intimacies with the individual. You still want to act friendly and greet them in the workplace. The last thing you want to do is to draw other people into your conflict [or] misunderstanding," Levine suggests.<br /><br />· Understand the kind of friendship you have<br />"Workers need to remember that not all friendships stick," Levine reminds. "Most are transient and you don't want to do anything to jeopardize your employment and reputation, particularly in this economy. On the other hand, friends in the workplace can be your greatest collaborators, cheerleaders, and shoulders to cry on and re-energize."<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 /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

When Co-Workers Go From Friend to Foe

Growing up, plenty of people dished out advice about what kind of job to get. I was told to find a way to get paid doing what I love. I was ...

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Own Your OWN Business!

<a href="http://www.rockfordlink.com/gv.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.rockfordlink.com/gv.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>If you've ever wanted to own your own business, now is your chance! This ground-floor opportunity will only present itself once. Failure to get in early means the ability to earn higher returns is reduced. We always encourage potential business owners to read all the information available to them before getting involved.<br /><br />This is an opportunity that I could not walk away from. I've always been skeptical of MLM programs, but this one comes with real products, real solutions and was founded by people who have been successful business leaders their whole lives. I researched them and the opportunity...and gladly and ethusiastically got involved. You can too. Check out the <a href="http://bobkinnison.globalverge.com/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">WEB SITE</span> </strong></a>and see for yourself if this is an opportnity you should be in as well!</div>

Own Your OWN Business!

If you've ever wanted to own your own business, now is your chance! This ground-floor opportunity will only present itself once. Failure...

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Planning de la semaine du 21 au 25 septembre 2009

<BR><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Permanences<br /></span></strong></h2><ul><br /><li>Le <strong>Conseil Général du Loiret</strong> sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans<br />- le mardi 22 septembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 23 septembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 24 septembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 25 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de gestion</a></strong><br />- lundi 21 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- vendredi 25 septembre de 9h à 12h30</li></ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Ateliers</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 22 septembre de 9h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation </strong>- mardi 22 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2009/07/atelier-situtilises-tu-trouves.html">Sit'Utilises tu trouves</a></strong> - mercredi 23 septembre de 10h à 12h<br /><br /></li><li><strong>Préparation à l'entretien</strong> - jeudi 24 septembre de 13h30 à 16h30<br /><br /></li><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 25 septembre de 10h à 11h30</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Informations collectives</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>RSA - Conseil Général</strong> - mardi 22 septembre à 10h<br /><br /><li><strong>Boutique de Gestion</strong> - vendredi 25 septembre à 14h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 21 au 25 septembre 2009

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le mardi 22 se...

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Day 22: Choices

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia5pi8_uS7f1vo8Ys4jRql6RHAOVuokeJdV3FZOVGLGwPUaFtdYB6mlNtis7jJWpYN3ZHifGk3ppCJajSxYVT4-Mm8wQ7Qy2HZNe8fw3kjkjdnVlt_00kcdFHdcx1caneQTEhyphenhyphenv9d-RSY/s1600-h/166.6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383315149421920386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia5pi8_uS7f1vo8Ys4jRql6RHAOVuokeJdV3FZOVGLGwPUaFtdYB6mlNtis7jJWpYN3ZHifGk3ppCJajSxYVT4-Mm8wQ7Qy2HZNe8fw3kjkjdnVlt_00kcdFHdcx1caneQTEhyphenhyphenv9d-RSY/s400/166.6.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> It is what it is. A gain of 7.6 pounds in two weeks. Weekly average loss since Feb 9, 2008 - 0.9 lbs. per week.<br /><br />Let me go back over the last two weeks and see what I shouldn't have done (this is just a sample of my bad choices).<br /><br />1. Beer - 9 Points<br />2. Skinny Cow Mint ice cream sandwiches, six in one night (crack) - 17 Points<br />3. Weight Watchers Cookies 'n Cream ice cream bars, six in one night (more crack) - 17.5 Points<br /><br />Stupidity - priceless.<br /><br />New day, new week, and all that other crappola I spout all the time.<br /><br />I read several blog posts the last few days that talked about choices, making the right ones. I made some really bad choices last week. Part one of my plan is to make better ones this week.<br /><br />Part two of my plan is to go to bed by 9pm. Since my crazy eating happens between 10pm and midnight, what if...I was asleep?! I'm brilliant!<br /><br />~Diana<br />166.6

Day 22: Choices

It is what it is. A gain of 7.6 pounds in two weeks. Weekly average loss since Feb 9, 2008 - 0.9 lbs. per week. Let me go back over the las...

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Piercings, Tattoos and Mohawks at Work

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9s/ar5c4515w7d9gq29nw9s.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9s/ar5c4515w7d9gq29nw9s.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Today's workplace doesn't look much like it did 20 or 30 years ago. Typewriters gave way to clunky PCs which are now paper-thin laptops. Perhaps more noticeably, the workers look different now that shoulder pads are gone and they took teased bangs with them.<br /><br />Over the past few decades, fashion statements that belonged to rebels became part of mainstream attire. Piercings in your eyebrow, nose and tongue started showing up on your Average Joe and Jane. Tattoos no longer belonged to bikers -- your typical college student might be sporting ink somewhere on his or her body. Even Mohawks and brightly dyed hair worked their way into suburbia. As a result, younger generations entering the work force have brought their sense of style with them and are complicating the old dress codes.<br /><br />Know your audience<br />Now that business casual is the new suit-and-tie, how much liberty can you take with your appearance before you're not seen as professional? Depends on the industry, says Brad Penman, chief operating officer at The Marketing Arm, a promotions agency.<br /><br /><br />"Obviously the dress code and the acceptable 'look' should match your organization's culture," Penman says. "What's OK for a creative agency like ours may not be right for a bank, investment firm or attorney's office."<br /><br />Workers should keep in mind that the company culture has two components: the boss and the client.<br /><br />"[The company's dress code] should match the expectations of your clients. Your clients pay the bills, so it's important to respect what makes them comfortable," Penman explains. "And, by the way, it's OK to ask your clients that question. If [they] expect you to be creative and understand that a little irreverence can spur exceptional ideas, they're likely to be OK with a different look around the office."<br /><br />Etiquette consultant Mary Harris agrees that context is everything.<br /><br />"Your judgment really does have to come into play here. If you're a software developer or graphic designer, most likely the atmosphere is more relaxed in your work environment and an outward creative expression of your personality would not be frowned upon," Harris says. "If you are in investment banking or work in the sales department of a large firm then pink hair, visible tattoos and tongue piercings would not be recommended if you are hoping to land or keep a job. Even subtle piercings like nose rings, which younger workers feel are very tame, are considered inappropriate to their older superiors."<br /><br />When you're already employed, you probably know what's acceptable and what's forbidden in terms of personal style. At least you're already employed, so if you have a question you can ask your boss or refer to the handbook. When you're looking for a job, though, how do you deal with your unique appearance?<br /><br />The interview dilemma<br />Janet Flewelling, director of human resource operations at HR-services company Administaff, suggests job seekers exercise caution during the interview.<br /><br />"One of the primary goals of an interview is to leave a lasting and positive impression," Flewelling says. "When interviewing for any position, most employers are seeking candidates who display professionalism. In many cases, the first impression a prospective employee will make on an employer is often based on appearance."<br /><br />If a cautious presentation isn't in your best interest, at least recognize what you're risking with 11-inch hair spikes or a tattoo of your daughter's name on your forearm.<br /><br />"If a candidate were to arrive at an interview with an uncovered tattoo and the organization is one that prohibits its employees from having exposed tattoos, the chances of that individual landing the job can be reduced," she says.<br /><br />Of course, you could be your own tattooed Trojan horse and play it safe for the interview, only to arrive for your first day with your pink hair and inked arms exposed to the world. But that could be just as bad. Flewelling cautions job seekers that the company could have an explicit policy about visible body modifications, and if you do an about-face, the boss might perceive your conservative interview appearance as dishonesty.<br /><br />One way to prevent the awkwardness of revealing your true, expressive fashionista is to discuss the matter prior to accepting the job -- just don't sound presumptuous with your questions. The last thing you want is to sound like you know you're getting the job, thereby turning off the hiring manger.<br /><br />"One way to approach the subject of the company dress code, without potentially sending a red flag, is to ask about the policy as part of a list of general questions. Try asking the question in an open-ended manner," Flewelling suggests. "For example, instead of saying 'Do you have a dress code?' or 'Can I wear a nose ring?' phrase questions in a manner that leads to a discussion. 'Are there any dress code specifications relevant to this position I should be aware of?' or 'Are there any particular types of dress required for the job?'"<br /><br />The ongoing debate<br />Even after you're hired and have established yourself as part of the company, you can find yourself grappling with work-appropriate appearances as your style changes or career advances. Maybe one morning you wake up and think the Dorothy Hamill haircut you've been sporting since 1976 isn't contemporary enough. Or maybe you get promoted and worry that an edgy look doesn't belong in a senior position.<br /><br />In both cases, Flewelling puts the responsibility to personal judgment.<br /><br />"The best way to proceed in this regard is to look and learn. There is rarely a one-size-fits-all or right and wrong in these matters," she says. Your best bet is to take cues from the people around you to see how they dress and are perceived, she says.<br /><br />Ultimately you need your work environment to suit you, and Penman thinks this is something everyone needs to recognize.<br /><br />"I'd say that company owners and top management need to change their thinking about how people should 'look' in the workplace and instead think about how people 'can look.' One of the most important benefits to staff is freedom of appearance at work. It's a benefit to feel comfortable," Penman says. When you're looking at potential employers, ask yourself if you'll be comfortable going to work every day dressed how they want you to look.<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 /></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

Piercings, Tattoos and Mohawks at Work

Today's workplace doesn't look much like it did 20 or 30 years ago. Typewriters gave way to clunky PCs which are now paper-thin lapt...

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Buzzwords That Can Damage Your Résumé

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/r5/ar5c0nt6qwgj6p1mxfr5.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/r5/ar5c0nt6qwgj6p1mxfr5.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Your résumé is designed to communicate your accomplishments and distinguish you from other job seekers, but there are certain words and phrases that can actually disguise your qualifications. For example, if an applicant writes, "Assisted manager in optimizing marketing campaigns," it's difficult to determine exactly what the person did or how he or she did it.<br /><br />Indeed, peppering your résumé with vague terms can be a red flag to employers, who may feel as though you are trying to exaggerate your qualifications or hide knowledge gaps.<br /><br />Here are some common buzzwords to avoid when writing your résumé and advice for what you should say instead:<br /><br />"Familiar with ..."<br />Using this or similar terms -- "knowledge of ..." and "experience with ..." are close cousins -- can send your résumé to the bottom of a potential employer's pile of applications because your level of knowledge in a certain area can't be accurately determined using these phrases.<br /><br />For instance, an administrative professional who says she is familiar with Microsoft Access may have used the program everyday ... or only twice in several years. Be as specific as possible when discussing the skills you possess. For example: "Executive assistant with thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including daily use of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Working toward Microsoft Office Specialist designation."<br /><br />"Optimize," "leverage" and "utilize."<br />Many applicants insert business buzzwords into their résumés in an attempt to sound more accomplished or sophisticated. But rather than making you sound "in the know," these types of words can make it seem as though you can't communicate in a straightforward manner.<br /><br />Keep things simple: Instead of saying that you "utilized resources to improve company Web site," describe more specifically how you increased the number of visitors to the Web page. As much as possible, quantify your achievements to truly show the impact your actions had.<br /><br />'Responsibilities include ...'<br />One of the biggest mistakes job applicants make is including a long, drawn out list of all of their duties in a previous position. Although it's OK to mention a few basic functions, hiring managers likely know the types of tasks you performed in a previous role and don't need a detailed breakdown. Instead, describe how you helped a previous employer save money or increase efficiencies, your advancement in a past role, or how you changed a job you held for the better.<br /><br />'CFA,' 'MCTS,' or 'CPS.'<br />What do these letters stand for? They are all acronyms for common professional certifications (Certified Financial Analyst, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and Certified Professional Secretary, respectively). If you didn't know that, you can rest assured that many hiring managers won't either. This is especially true because the first person to see your résumé is often a human resources professional or internal recruiter, not the person who directly supervises the open position. As a result, try to avoid industry jargon so anyone reading your résumé can understand your unique selling points.<br /><br />Although it's best to steer clear of buzzwords in your résumé, you should use keywords to stand out from other applicants. Keywords are terms that appear in the job description. They describe duties, qualifications or certifications, for instance, and may be used by résumé-scanning software to determine which applicants best meet the qualifications of the job. Including phrases from the job description is a good idea, but only if the terms accurately describe your background.<br /><br />If you're wondering whether or not to use a word or phrase in your résumé, ask yourself if it helps convey the value you can bring to a prospective employer. If a term is used to cover for a lack of experience or make it sound as though you're a sophisticated insider when you're not, leave it out.<br /><br />Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com </div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

Buzzwords That Can Damage Your Résumé

Your résumé is designed to communicate your accomplishments and distinguish you from other job seekers, but there are certain words and phra...

Read more »