Top 10 Tips for Your 2010 Résumé

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

Top 10 Tips for Your 2010 Résumé

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

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Getting a grip

Yesterday's post was a sad one, one of my "woe is me, my life sucks" posts. Dawn was right when she said it sounded like depression. I was depressed and have been for months. Mild depression, not suicidal stuff, just a feeling that all is not right in my world. Some days are darker than others and yesterday was one of the darkest.<br /><br />This morning I woke up feeling a wee bit better about my life. It's really not quite as bad as I make it sound. It's not perfect by a long shot, but on the other hand, it could be a hell of a lot worse.<br /><br />Christmas always does this too me, makes me sad for the things and people I don't have in my life. I miss my mother a lot this time of year because she always made the holidays so special for me when I was a kid. My childhood Christmases are the stuff of a Norman Rockwell painting. It was perfect, or at least, that's how I remember it.<br /><br />This year I started early on the seasonal depression so by the time the Christmas season came around, I was in a pit of despair and self-pity. I credit a lot of my sadness to all the traveling I've done for work during the past four months. It was a strain on me, my health, my diet and exercise routine, as well as on my marriage.<br /><br />Today I see some light in my life, it's not all darkness. I have a feeling of optimism, like maybe I'll make it through this and everything will turn out okay.<br /><br />My husband and I are talking, laughing, joking around, almost back to our old life. The hateful and spiteful things we said to each other while in Edmonton are still between us, like a wedge trying to drive us apart. We're trying to get back to what we had and what we know we can have again. Marriage takes work, and neither one of us wants to give up on "us".<br /><br />Today I'm cleaning the house and then we're putting up the tree this afternoon. I'm actually looking forward to spending time with my husband. Something I haven't felt for several months.<br /><br />I also have plans to go to the gym, but limit my time there to one hour. The last two days I've gone for two full hours each day. I realize that's utterly ridiculous. No one should spend that much time working out every day unless they're a professional body builder. I just want to be healthy, not spend my life in a gym.<br /><br />I have a better grip on reality today. I feel more like me. The cloud of doom and gloom seems to have lifted somewhat, and I can actually say I feel a flicker of happiness. I just hope I can hold onto this ray of light.<br /><br />~Diana<br />175.4

Getting a grip

Yesterday's post was a sad one, one of my "woe is me, my life sucks" posts. Dawn was right when she said it sounded like depre...

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Nativity Theologizing

I grew up with a brand of Christianity that was heavily centered on Good Friday. We celebrated Christmas along with everyone else. But the meaning of Christmas was confused at best. It seemed like a necessary first step toward the cross which didn’t quite cohere with Joy To The World.<br /><br /> Decades later, now decades ago, I learned that the folks who first shaped the contours of orthodox Christian faith, especially St. Athanasius, the chief architect of the Nicene Creed, taught that the Incarnation was salvific in itself. Something happened in Bethlehem in 4 B.C.E. (or whatever year Jesus was actually born) that changed the relationship between God and humanity, even between Creator and Creation.<br /><br /> How that salvation worked was and still is hard for me to grasp. It is called “assumption.” In a mysterious way, when God assumes human nature, then human nature is sanctified, redeemed, made holy. That feels right to me even though I can’t explain it logically.<br /><br /> There is another way I have been thinking of Christmas as salvific that I can understand a little better. It goes like this: Being human is a precious and wonderful thing precisely because it is so brief an experience, so vulnerable, so frail, such a mix of joys and sorrow, virtues and vices, moral heroism and moral disaster. The beauty of being human is inseparable from the fragility of being human. I say this as one whose youthful pride and certainty are long gone and as one who has seen love at its tenderest in the hours of suffering and death, in the moments of contrition and forgiveness. Being human is insubstantial, ephemeral, fallible, and for those very failings is all the more to be cherished.<br /><br /> Yet the vulnerability of being human – physical, spiritual, and moral vulnerability – is so great that we cannot bear our human condition. It is just too hard. We need to be sustained now and ultimately redeemed by a God who is above all this, beyond “the changes and the chances” of this life. We need to be held by the Serene Center of the Universe, who was and is and ever will be. Our fragility can subsist only in God’s strength.<br /><br /> The problem is the immeasurable distance between God and us. The vastness, the incomprehensibility of Divine Majesty, the namelessness, imagelessness, unutterable wonder of God means God is beyond our reach. And we cannot climb up to God. All religion that purports to elevate us to God merely inflates our egos and thereby separates us all the farther from God.<br /><br /> It was therefore necessary for God to come to us. “Condescend” is a bad word now. But it used to have a good theological meaning -- “to come down to.” God came down to us. God joined us in the mix and muddle of human life. “For us and for our salvation, he sent his only and eternal son to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us.” And therein the basic shift happened and religion has never been the same.<br /><br /> Instead of our trying to climb up out of our human frailty to meet God in the Divine Serenity, God joins us in the stable of mortal human life. It is in this stable of human living that we meet God. It is here we find the seed of peace and joy. The meaning of our frailties – all of them, physical, moral, spiritual – is changed from the wall the separates us from God into the gate that opens our hearts to God. That is the miracle I celebrate at Christmas. However, you understand this Holy Season, I hope you will be touched by grace right where you live, that you will find a light in your darkness, and that you will experience the assurance of God’s love for you exactly as you are.

Nativity Theologizing

I grew up with a brand of Christianity that was heavily centered on Good Friday. We celebrated Christmas along with everyone else. But the m...

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Return Of The Mouse

Mid week the mouse arrived. It is a Christmas ornament -- yes a Christmas mouse wearing green and red trousers and a red sweater -- no doubt left on our door knob by the same people who left the white plastic Christmas tree and ealier ornaments.<br /><br />But this mouse looks familiar. See Night of Reepacheep, blog post May 21, 2009 -- the very mouse who bit my pinkie in Lake Logan, North Carolina last Spring. How much do these people actually know about me?

Return Of The Mouse

Mid week the mouse arrived. It is a Christmas ornament -- yes a Christmas mouse wearing green and red trousers and a red sweater -- no doubt...

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Trying to stay positive

Over the past several days I thought of a hundred things to write about but all the topics were downers. Each time I'd even think about writing a post I found myself spiraling down into a self-pity party.<br /><br />My Edmonton trip is over. Having my husband go with me was a huge mistake. Instead of making things better, it made me miserable. When I'm working in a new city away from home, I'm highly stressed. After a day of meeting new people, trouble shooting problems, making endless phone calls to my home office, the last thing I wanted to do is go out and have "fun". I just wanted to crawl to my hotel room and collapse.<br /><br />As a result of me not being fun, we had a huge fight while in Edmonton. Probably one of our all time worse fights in our 21 years of marriage. He left a day early to go home, which was fine with me. I couldn't handle the double stress of my day job and then my night job of being a loving wife.<br /><br />Even though it's been almost a week we're both still mentally bruised from the arguing. We both regret what happened, but what's done is done. We can't take back the hurtful, mean things we said to each other.<br /><br />Now we have the added stress of Christmas, the season of joy. Sorry, but I'm just not feeling it. I want to feel happy and peace on earth and all that other stuff I'm suppose to feel this time of year, but it's not happening.<br /><br />I'm on vacation for the next two weeks. We had plans to travel to Denver and Arkansas to see my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">husband's</span> family, but I think we're putting that on hold until after the new year. I can't bear the thought of getting on another plane. Maybe it's incredibly selfish of me but I need to stay home for a while.<br /><br />We even talked about spending Christmas apart, but we both know that would be the final nail in the coffin of our marriage so we both agreed we're not ready for something like that...since that would really be the end of us as a couple.<br /><br />So much for remaining positive. This is probably just about the most depressing post I've ever written.<br /><br />On the diet front, I'm hanging in there at 175.8. I was at the gym for two hours yesterday, getting back into the swing of things with the exercise. It felt good.<br /><br />My goal is to try and get to 170 by the end of 2009, which isn't too far from where I was on December 31, 2008 - 165.2. That means I'm up 10 pounds from a year ago.<br /><br />Never mind that I dropped down to 152 for a brief period during the past year so technically I'm up 20+ pounds. I just don't want to think about that right now.<br /><br />I'm going eat healthy for the rest of the year and hit the gym every day. That's my goal for the next two weeks. I'll set new goals for 2010, but right now I can't think that far into the future. I'm just trying to get through a day at a time....and stay positive (not doing so good with the positive crap).

Trying to stay positive

Over the past several days I thought of a hundred things to write about but all the topics were downers. Each time I'd even think about ...

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Planning de la semaine du 21 au 24 décembre 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 lundi 21 décembre de 9h à 12h30<br />- le mardi 22 décembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 23 décembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le jeudi 24 décembre 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 décembre de 13h30 à 17h</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 décembre de 9h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation </strong>- mardi 22 décembre 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> - jeudi 24 décembre de 10h à 12h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 21 au 24 décembre 2009

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 21 dé...

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America's Fastest-Growing Salaries

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/hz/ar5c75g60ynzfxs1jfhz.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/hz/ar5c75g60ynzfxs1jfhz.gif" /></a><br /></div>Money isn't everything in a career, but for many people, it's the driving force behind their decision to stay in a current job, search for a new one, or accept or decline a job offer.<br /><br />Looking for a job with an adequate salary is difficult. It depends on the current job market -- which today is not great -- where you live, your skill set, your experience level and, perhaps most importantly, your job duties. <br /><br />Here are 20 jobs projected to have high salary growth this year, according to data from CBSalary.com and SalaryExpert.com. The percentage listed for each occupation is the amount the salary increased compared to last year's salary. The list is based on an analysis of data from the Occupational Employment Statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and ongoing surveys conducted by Salary Expert.<br /><br />1. Oral pathologists study the nature, cause and development of diseases associated with mouth. <br />Current salary: $188,577 <br />Last year: $159,759<br />Percent increase: 6.83<br /><br />2. Social medical researchers conduct research for use in understanding social problems and for planning and carrying out social welfare programs.<br />Current salary: $80,151<br />Last year: $68,480<br />Increase: 6.65<br /><br />3. Pharmacologists conduct experiments to determine how drugs and other substances affect organ and tissues. <br />Current salary: $99,370 <br />Last year: $90,012 <br />Percent increase: 5.35 <br /><br /><br />4. Toxicologists research the toxic effects products and ingredients have on living organisms.<br />Current salary: $70,273 <br />Last year: $63,655<br />Percent increase: 5.35 <br /><br /><br />5. Vocational training teachers teach personal, social and professional skills that meet the needs, interest and abilities of disabled students. <br />Current salary: $57,401 <br />Last year: $52,982<br />Percent increase: 4.93<br /><br />6. Academic deans develop academic policies and programs for college or universities, as well as scheduling courses and making course recommendations for students. <br />Current salary: $100,771<br />Last year: $93,126 <br />Percent increase: 4.9<br /><br />7. Social psychologists diagnose and treat mental disorders; learning disabilities; and cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems using different types of therapies. <br />Current salary: $85, 766 <br />Last year: $79,272<br />Percent increase: 4.9<br /><br />8. Early childhood development teachers use activities to promote social, physical and intellectual growth for children in child development facilities. <br />Current salary: $37,072 <br />Last year: $34,418 <br />Percent increase: 4.8<br /><br />9. Insurance sales agents sell insurance of all kinds to new, prospective and current clients. <br />Current salary: $52,743 <br />Last year: $49,121<br />Percent increase: 4.73<br /><br />10. Credit representatives investigate customer complaints about service, billing or credit rating. They determine the accuracy of customer complaints and the company's responsibility for errors. <br />Current salary: $45,875<br />Last year: $43,092<br />Percent increase: 4.53<br /><br />11. Facilities managers oversee all things concerned with the operation, repair, maintenance and construction of facilities, equipment, buildings and grounds.<br />Current salary: $94,491<br />Last year: $89,262<br />Percent increase: 4.38<br /><br />12. Software quality assurance testers develop and maintain quality assurance testing methods and systems to make sure computer software applications work correctly. <br />Current salary: $75,129<br />Last year: $71,481<br />Percent increase: 4.23<br /><br />13. Financial securities clerks perform duties involving computing and recording data on security transactions. <br />Current salary: $41,464<br />Last year: $39,459<br />Percent increase: 4.2<br /><br />14. Food and beverage order clerks receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads or services, as well as informing customers of payment information and preparing contracts. <br />Current salary: $29,607<br />Last year: $28,213<br />Percent increase: 4.18<br /><br />15. Computer network analysts investigate and control the technical architecture of local area networks and wide area networks, in addition to recommending telecommunications and data network systems. <br />Current salary: $86,402<br />Last year: $82,809<br />Percent increase: 4.05<br /><br />16. Purchasing directors plan and direct the purchase of goods and services, and oversee employees who buy and grade merchandise or services offered for sale. They also develop and implement purchasing policies, procedures and guidelines. <br />Current salary: $126,021<br />Last year: $120,850<br />Percent increase: 4.03<br /><br />17. Public accountants perform general accounting, auditing, tax and consulting activities for their clients, which vary from corporations or governments to nonprofit organizations or individuals.<br />Current salary: $72,607<br />Last year: $69,670<br />Percent increase: 4<br /><br />18. Accounts receivable managers ensure an accurate accounts receivable system, tracing and reconciling errors, correcting billing records, processing final bills, collecting accounts due, adjusting customer claims and more. <br />Current salary: $78,966<br />Last year: $75,797<br />Percent increase: 4<br /><br />19. Government fire marshals determine causes of fires and explosions, especially when arson or other criminal acts are suspected, and enforce fire laws.<br />Current salary: $60,775<br />Last year: $58,336<br />Percent increase: 4<br /><br />20. Retail store managers supervise sales workers in a retail establishment or department, and may perform management duties like purchasing, budgeting and accounting. <br />Current salary: $66,966<br />Last year: $64,998<br />Percent increase: 2.9<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

America's Fastest-Growing Salaries

Money isn't everything in a career, but for many people, it's the driving force behind their decision to stay in a current job, sear...

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Icons Or Golden Calves

I just read a great blog post reviewing Martin Thornton's The Rock And The River. I have not read the book, but the blog post is great. http:/en.wordpress.com/tag/holisticregular-life/<br /><br />Thornton's point seems to be that the Christian popularizers today attack ideas that they represent as orthodox Christianity. They are not orthodox. As the blog puts it, they are not icons but golden calves. The result is too many of us take the theologically light arguments of the popularizers as the only alternative to fundamentalism. They confuse fundamentalism with the orthodox teachings of the Christian tradition and so lose the spiritual depth of centuries.<br /><br />Thank you Dean Nick Knisley for posting a link to this review on your FB page.

Icons Or Golden Calves

I just read a great blog post reviewing Martin Thornton's The Rock And The River. I have not read the book, but the blog post is great. ...

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The Conspiracy Widens

The tin box came by mail to my office all the way from Carson City. It contained two red dice Christmas ornaments. They will go on the white plastic tree tonight.<br /><br />The tree itself and the other ornaments were a local job. Someone rang the doorbell and ran away. But this is from afar. The plot thickens as the conspiracy widens. Or does it?<br /><br />Do the Carson City culprits know the Las Vegas vandals? Can North and South be in league, consort, conspire, collude? Or is this some secret serendipy of Christmas magic?

The Conspiracy Widens

The tin box came by mail to my office all the way from Carson City. It contained two red dice Christmas ornaments. They will go on the white...

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A fat rant

by Joy Nash<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yUTJQIBI1oA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yUTJQIBI1oA&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

A fat rant

by Joy Nash

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5 Books That Will Help Your Career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/lv/ar5c58g6f0js3bfqgxlv.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/lv/ar5c58g6f0js3bfqgxlv.gif" /></a><br /></div><br />These days, many of you could use some good career advice. Whether you're unemployed, just out of college, looking to increase your paycheck or in need of résumé advice, the market is saturated with information. While we do our best to give you the most accurate information, we also know that there are several other experts out there with some great advice.<br /><br />Of course, we're big fans of the books we've written ourselves, "Cube Monkeys: A Handbook for Surviving the Office Jungle," and "Career Building: Your Total Handbook for Finding a Job and Making It Work," both from the editors here at CareerBuilder. But, if you want to add more literature to your professional library, here are five other books to check out:<br /><br />1. "Knock 'Em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2010," by Martin Yate, CPC<br />Topic: Job search<br />Why it helps: "Knock 'Em Dead" covers all the job-search basics and then some, whether you're looking for your first job, returning to the work force or you've just been laid off. KED 2010 is a series of parts, from building and customizing your résumé to effective networking tools and negotiating the best salary and benefits. <br />The best part: This latest edition to the series offers a new section, "Where the Jobs Are," which shows you what industries are showing the most growth.<br /><br />2. "101 Toughest Interview Questions ... And Answers That Win the Job!" by Daniel Porot and Frances Bolles Haynes<br />Topic: Interviewing<br />Why it helps: Interviewing is the most stressful part of the job search. Thinking about what to ask, how to answer, what questions mean and what hiring managers want to hear are enough to drive one person crazy. This book is the secret to every interview you have from here on out. It features the toughest and most commonly asked questions, featured in a flashcard-like format, as well as several different possible responses, which you can tailor to your own experience.<br />The best part: It fits in your purse or bag, so you can freshen up on questions before the interview. <br /><br />3. "Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck: A Conversation About Income, Income, Wealth, and the Steps in Between," by Michael B. Rubin<br />Topic: Salary <br />Why it helps: With 61 percent of workers living paycheck to paycheck, according to a CareerBuilder survey, it's about time for everyone to learn a few monetary lessons. "Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck" is a comprehensive book that will help anyone struggling to make ends meet. It runs the gamut from simple-saving strategies to taking advantage of your benefits to retirement planning.<br />The best part: It's easy to read and funny, neither of which are commonly used to describe a finance book.<br /><br />4. "Am I the Only Sane One Working Here? 101 Solutions for Surviving Office Sanity," by Albert J. Bernstein, Ph.D.<br />Topic: Workplace culture<br />Why it helps: One paragraph in the introduction sums up this book perfectly: "Each day, you try your best to get some work done, but the woman in the next cube is screeching at her kids on the phone, and the guy behind you keeps popping his head up to tell you what he saw on TV last night. Another staff meeting starts in 10 minutes. Meanwhile, you have 736 unread e-mails in your inbox, 700 of which have nothing to do with you. You stare blankly at your screen and wonder, 'Am I the only sane one working here?'" This book offers 101 types of people and situations you likely have or will encounter at work, and best way to respond to each one.<br />The best part: Each scenario stands alone and offers clear, concise explanations about what is going on and what you should think, do and say to survive.<br /><br />5. "Strategies for Successful Career Change," by Martha E. Mangelsdorf<br />Topic: Changing careers<br />Why it helps: Today's economy has an increasing number of workers changing careers these days, whether they want to or not. In "Strategies," Mangelsdorf features dozens of in-depth interviews with real people who have successfully changed careers. The book gives you helpful information about finding a new career path, testing out a new job, pitfalls to avoid and steps to take, and how to do it all financially.<br />The best part: The real-person interviews are inspiring and show you that even though it's hard work, finding the right career can improve your happiness.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

5 Books That Will Help Your Career

These days, many of you could use some good career advice. Whether you're unemployed, just out of college, looking to increase your payc...

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L'insertion des jeunes sortis de l'enseignement supérieur

<BR><br />Le 10 décembre 2009, le groupe de travail présidé par Henri PROGLIO a remis son rapport « Promouvoir et Développer l’Alternance ». <br /><br />Selon le groupe de travail, la dégradation de la situation de l'emploi depuis deux ou trois ans ne touche plus seulement les jeunes sortant de l'école avec un faible niveau de formation initiale mais aussi ceux qui sortent de l'enseignement supérieur. <br /><br />Constatant que le diplôme, quoique nécessaire, ne suffit pas toujours à assurer une bonne insertion professionnelle, le groupe de travail propose d'une part "<strong>une revalorisation de l'engagement de long terme entre l'employeur et le jeune qui débute sa carrière professionnelle</strong>" et d'autre part suggère aux partenaires sociaux "<strong>d'examiner un système de modulation des cotisations au régime d'assurance chômage selon la nature des contrats</strong>". <br /><br />Redéfinir "le rôle et les missions qui incombent aux structures universitaires et celles qui incombent plus directement aux entreprises pour conduire les jeunes à la maîtrise de leur métier ou de leurs missions", tel est l'objectif des auteurs qui proposent par ailleurs l'intégration de l'orientation et de la préparation à l'insertion professionnelle dans les cursus universitaires ainsi qu'une <strong>meilleure coordination des dispositifs d'aide à l'insertion dans l'emploi</strong>, à l'issue des études. <br /><br />A l’occasion de la remise du rapport, Laurent WAUQUIEZ, Secrétaire d’Etat chargé de l’emploi auprès du ministre de l'Économie, de l'Industrie et de l'Emploi , a annoncé le <strong>lancement d’ateliers de l’apprentissage et de l’alternance</strong>.<br /><br />Ces ateliers, dont les conclusions sont attendues en février 2010, devront permettre d’atteindre l’objectif fixé par le Secrétaire d’Etat : <strong>1 jeune sur 5 en alternance à l’horizon 2015</strong>.<br /><br />Le <a href="http://lesrapports.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/BRP/064000162/0000.pdf">Rapport Proglio</a> est téléchargeable.<br /><BR>

L'insertion des jeunes sortis de l'enseignement supérieur

Le 10 décembre 2009, le groupe de travail présidé par Henri PROGLIO a remis son rapport « Promouvoir et Développer l’Alternance ». Selon le ...

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Want Job Security? Work on Your Education

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/vw/ar5b4dt6wvxxtv2q4lvw.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/vw/ar5b4dt6wvxxtv2q4lvw.gif" /></a><br /></div><br />Job security has become a bit of a professional artifact. It existed at one time, and your parents or grandparents can attest to it. You probably didn't witness it firsthand, but the stories they tell are fascinating. If you showed up on time, worked hard and delivered results, you didn't worry about your job. And if you had a college education? Well, you could pretty much bronze your nameplate because you weren't going anywhere.<br /><br />Then the world changed and workers realized they could be gone tomorrow. It sounds a bit like a disaster movie, but it's the truth. You might think your job's pretty safe, and chances are your hunch is right, but you probably wouldn't bet your life savings on it.<br /><br />No one can guarantee you a sure-fire way to keep your job forever. What I can tell you is that a proven asset for professionals is education. Not just a degree in business if you want to go into sales, or in accounting if you want to be a CPA. While both are good paths that work for many people, you should also consider other educational credentials that augment your experience.<br /><br />A bonus degree<br />A relevant college education is often a prerequisite just to land an interview, but that alone won't guarantee you the job. You need skills, experience and the right qualities for that position. Once you have the job, you still need to pile on the qualifications. That's what financial educator Christine D. Moriarty did. Moriarty, president of MoneyPeace Inc., earned her credentials as a certified financial planner, which gives her a strong foundation for financial planning. She still went on to earn an M.B.A.<br /><br />"I knew years ago I wanted to be a certified financial planner," Moriarty says. "I am glad to have that credential. It is limiting as opposed to the M.B.A., which is broader and allows me more exposure to other careers if I wanted. When I considered an M.B.A., I was told by many people that I did not need an M.B.A. to be a CFP. However, I found it to be my best credential for job security, insight and flexibility."<br /><br />Moriarty had to weigh the cost of earning her M.B.A. against the benefit of staying in the professional world with just her CFP credentials. There's no easy way to measure the true expense of getting the degree, and no single piece of advice can tell you what the right decision is. <br /><br />"There are endless studies on whether getting an M.B.A. is worth it, mostly in the financial lingo of opportunity cost, which includes missing [out on] employment for two years compared with increased salary," Moriarty explains. "The ones I have seen say it is not worth it. However, my experience says what you get along with the credential that does impress people is confidence. You have been exposed to many more situations and reviews of industries, which make you better in a host of analytical situations."<br /><br />Because she's self-employed, the business know-how has helped her navigate the fluctuating economy.<br /><br />Confidence builder<br />When consultant Helen Cooke decided to pursue a master's degree in organizational development, she was looking for a way to reinvigorate her career, or at least interest in her career. At the time, she found her job lacked the challenge it once had.<br /><br />"By taking advantage of the company's tuition reimbursement, I was intellectually stimulated and able to contribute at higher levels while making my job more interesting as I applied new concepts and models," Cooke says. "It was a win/win and ensured I was contributing as a high performer with new innovations rather than sitting around bored, disgruntled and complaining."<br /><br />The job security was less about showing her qualifications and more about stepping up her performance. Not only did she break out of her rut, but she actually became a better worker, which is perhaps the best way to stay employed. Cooke also says part of improving your performance comes from confidence in knowing that you are a better worker because of your educational endeavors. <br /><br />"[Educated workers] know that they are extremely capable of learning and applying new information; comprehend that ongoing development is critical to not losing ground in the workplace; possess the foresight to invest the time and energy (and money if they don't have an employer who supports ongoing education); and have the fortitude to stick with it despite the usual competing priorities," she says. <br /><br />Whether you're bored at your job or you're looking to increase your odds of landing a new one or to increase job security, you can choose from a variety of educational endeavors: <br /><br />· A new degree (or a first one)<br />If a degree exists to complement your existing one, or you if haven't yet earned one in your field, now's a good time to enroll.<br /><br />· Certification<br />Depending on your industry, various certifications might be available to help you qualify for new positions. Some certifications, such as the ones you can get at CB Institute, improve skill sets that are transferable to any industry.<br /><br />· Training<br />Training courses don't get you a new abbreviation to put after your name, but they do keep you current with industry trends and findings. If you want to show an employer that you're proactive about your job and you're not just going through the motions, training courses or seminars will do the trick. <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

Want Job Security? Work on Your Education

Job security has become a bit of a professional artifact. It existed at one time, and your parents or grandparents can attest to it. You pro...

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On The Third Week Of Advent

It is Advent III, Rose Sunday. The Secret Santa struck again -- this time in broad daylight while we were at the Feast of Guadalupe service. They know our schedule.<br /><br />When we got back from church, there was a bright pink Christmas ball hanging from our door knob. Perfect for Rose Sunday. They know liturgy too.<br /><br />It has snowflakes cut into the sides. We have hung it on the white Christmas tree.

On The Third Week Of Advent

It is Advent III, Rose Sunday. The Secret Santa struck again -- this time in broad daylight while we were at the Feast of Guadalupe service....

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Are You Ready for a Promotion? - How to let the boss know

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ld/ar5b5146cd9sgsnhylld.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ld/ar5b5146cd9sgsnhylld.gif" /></a><br /></div>You're probably due for a promotion, right? I don't know you, but if you're like most other workers, you think you deserve a promotion. You are the glue that holds the entire organization together. Everybody knows it. Everybody except your boss, that is. She doesn't seem to realize that you're ready for and deserving of bigger things.<br /><br />On top of doing your job (and the jobs of several other colleagues, undoubtedly), you have a new task at hand: proving that you should get a promotion. It's not just going to land on your desk one day; you need to be proactive. Your perfect opportunity for making your case is when performance review time rolls around, but you should start preparing ahead of time.<br /><br />Start with a job description<br />Steve Moore, a team manager with HR outsourcing company Administaff, recommends looking at your job description before you do anything else.<br /><br />"Using a current job description, assuming one is available, honestly examine your strengths and weaknesses. Devise a plan to make your strengths work in your favor, to not only meet but also exceed expectations," Moore says. "Then develop a strategy to improve your weak points. It might also be a good practice to work with your manager to set performance objectives based on the job requirements and your personal evaluation."<br /><br />If you don't have a job description, Moore suggests asking your manager for one. Not only do you get the information you need, but you also display initiative to your boss and prove you're taking an active interest in your career.<br /><br />Once you get a look at the role's description and possibly consult with your boss, you should have a good idea whether or not you're performing the duties and at what level. Whether or not you deserve a promotion is still another issue. Workers who deserve promotions are workers who redefine their roles.<br /><br />"Focusing only on the tasks necessary to fulfill the role is the strategy to implement if an employee wants to keep his current job," Moore advises. "Employees who go above and beyond and add more value to the organization are truly poised for a promotion." Only then will management understand that you've taken the position as far as you can and are ready for new challenges.<br /><br />How to perform well at your review<br />Annual performance reviews happen in many organizations, and some companies even offer them on a quarterly basis. During these reviews, the boss assesses how an employee has fulfilled job requirements, shown progress and demonstrated areas for improvement. It's also when conversations about raises and other important career decisions take place. If you want to discuss a promotion, you need to walk into the meeting ready to make your case.<br /><br />"Start by compiling a file with evidence that displays your ability to perform your current roles and responsibilities," Moore suggests. "In addition, take time to document all achievements above and beyond expected tasks and provide solid examples of how the company has benefited from your drive to excel."<br /><br />The more specific you can be, the better, says Moore. "For example, have your contributions in your current role increased profits or sales, added new clients to the roster or grown the business of existing clients?"<br /><br />Nevertheless, Moore cautions against putting all of your hopes and energy on just an annual review. The timeline for receiving a promotion might not align with the performance review schedule, so don't get fixated on the review as the only opportunity you have to get what you want.<br /><br />"Putting everything on paper and only evaluating it once a year during a performance review can be futile," Moore says. "Supervisors and employees should work together to create a plan and review it periodically throughout the year. Adjustments should be made when appropriate, but more importantly, supervisors should help employees determine the best approaches to reach milestones." Feel free to take the initiative to ask your boss for these conversations if he or she hasn't approached you about it.<br /><br />Confidence above all else<br />Workers get understandably nervous and even bashful when discussing their goals. Like salary talks, discussions about promotions might cause you to doubt yourself. Are you deceiving yourself by thinking you deserve a new title? Is your boss going to laugh you out of the office? If you do get what you want, will your colleagues scoff at your step up?<br /><br />If you have a specific role in mind, learn from the person who currently has or previously had the position. You can set yourself up to get the position by not only exceeding your job duties but also by demonstrating that you have the knowledge and ability to fulfill the requirements. Moore also recommends understanding how the performances of the people in that position have been measured. You'll have more confidence if you learn as much as you can about the role.<br /><br />As for the fear that your colleagues and current co-workers might not embrace you with open arms upon your promotion, Moore says to stay focused on your concerns, not theirs.<br /><br />"As an employee now in a higher position, it's important to display the abilities your manager rewarded by promoting you," Moore says. "The skill sets and character traits that make you worthy of this position may have already been noticed by your former colleagues. If not, you will have the opportunity to earn their trust as your talents are revealed over time."<br /><br />Ultimately, confidence informs all aspects of a promotion, from the early talks to your first days in the role. And that confidence has to come from you, otherwise no one will take you seriously.<br /><br />"When seeking a promotion, confidence is key and an employee should not be shy when discussing his goals with a manager or supervisor," Moore says. "Let the supervisor know your intentions, ask him or her what is needed to reach a higher level, and request consistent advice and guidance. Even if you aren't granted a promotion this time around, you will have constructive feedback that can help prepare you for the next review."<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.

Are You Ready for a Promotion? - How to let the boss know

You're probably due for a promotion, right? I don't know you, but if you're like most other workers, you think you deserve a pro...

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Brand or BE Branded: Are You Willing to Risk It?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/tk/ar5f0xv6kd4hhh0zxftk.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/tk/ar5f0xv6kd4hhh0zxftk.gif" /></a><br /></div>Several people have told me lately that they don't care about their career identity online. "I should be able to do what I want," they say, or, "My life shouldn't be judged by employers based on what they see on the Web." <br /><br />I say this: Brand or be branded. You can either make sure people perceive you in a way that boosts your credibility or you can ignore your online presence and be seen as, A) nonexistent and unimportant or B) someone who shouldn't be contacted for a job -- ever.<br /><br />Let me explain.<br /><br />A young woman reached out to me recently, supposedly "desperate" about her job search. Having graduated from college last spring and yet to land an interview, she claimed to have tried everything. I looked at her résumé. It had some things that could be improved, but her academic achievements were solid and in a specialized field. Then I checked her cover letter. It was pretty standard, which then made me wonder if her online identity was the issue. <br /><br />I decided to complete an Internet search on her -- just as four out of five hiring managers do today. I put in her name and the school she graduated from. What popped up in the results shed some light. The first item in the results was her Facebook picture. It was a blurry photo of her in a sweatshirt and her eyes were closed. OK, so it was nothing terrible, but it also wasn't a powerful first impression.<br /><br />And besides, what followed was much worse:<br /><br />You see, her Facebook photo was the only thing about her that popped up. There was nothing related to school, nothing related to volunteering, nothing related to her field of study ... absolutely nothing. In fact, the next 10 entries were for someone with the same name but different middle initial who currently writes an open and direct blog about a controversial, inappropriate-for-the-workplace subject.<br /><br />Now, is it frustrating to think she might be getting discriminated against because of an online search? Of course! This recent grad doesn't have a lot of experience, which means her career identity is being branded as sub-par (and maybe even being misinterpreted) because of a lack of solid, professional online content. Yet that doesn't mean a person with this problem should sit in the sandbox and pound her fists. Any person, at any age, at any time in her career can build a strong online career identity. <br /><br />The reality is that you only need five to six good things to come up in a search so the top fold (the uppermost portion of the computer screen that shows the top search results) is filled with positive items about you. Why? Because people rarely, if ever, bother to scroll down or click on the next page of a search. They usually assume what is in the top fold is the most relevant.<br /><br />So, how do you create and/or improve your online career identity? <br /><br />Step 1: Identify your brand's keywords<br />Do a search on yourself and see what comes up. You may find that someone with your name has dominated the top fold. From there, identify what keywords you can use to differentiate yourself from this person. Should you be using your full name? Your middle initial? Your affiliation with an organization or a type of work? Figure out how you want people to find you so you can build your brand around these keywords.<br /><br />Step 2: Become a blog reader and commenter<br />Begin reading career-related blog content for 10 minutes each day. This will help you stay up-to-date and in-the-know. Then, start posting thoughtful, well-written, professional comments on these blogs to enhance your credibility as a knowledgeable member of your industry or profession. Take two extra minutes to post a comment on five blogs each week and you'll be on your way.<br /><br />Step 3: Ask to guest post and become an expert<br />Once you've got commenting down, it's time to consider writing a guest blog post on a subject related to your career. After you've become a regular commenter on a particular site and think you relate to its readership, contact the site's administrators and ask if they would accept a guest post from you. Give them an overview of the topic you would write about. If they are interested, you can write the whole article, submit it, and -- voila -- you are a published author on the Net.<br /><br />Step 4: Get social<br />Facebook isn't the only social networking tool that will come up in a search on your name. LinkedIn, Twitter and others all offer you a way to build a strong top fold. <br /><br />I am a particular fan of Twitter. Twittering is micro-blogging. Better still, it's like instant messaging for professionals. It is an easy, fast way to connect with hundreds of like-minded people in a short time. You can be connected to hundreds of people in a matter of weeks. Better still, you can tweet (post short, 140 character comments), which a hiring manager can read if he does a search on your Twitter account name. It's like inviting an employer to see what you are like to converse with -- a great way to brand yourself.<br /><br />In summary: Why risk having a lack of any career identity or having a bad online presence just because you didn't take control of the situation? Yes, getting your top fold to look good takes a little effort, but it can provide an incredible return on your investment.<br /><br />By J.T. O'Donnell nationally syndicated career expert and author of "CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career." She can be found at www.CAREEREALISM.com, her career advice site for professionals ages 18-40, which aims provide readers with tools and resources to navigate the new rules to career development.

Brand or BE Branded: Are You Willing to Risk It?

Several people have told me lately that they don't care about their career identity online. "I should be able to do what I want,&qu...

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Planning de la semaine du 14 au 18 décembre 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 lundi 14 décembre de 9h à 12h30<br />- le mardi 15 décembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 16 décembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le jeudi 17 décembre de 13h30 à 17h<br />- le vendredi 18 décembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://www.egee.asso.fr/" "target=_blank">EGEE</a></strong><br />- lundi 14 décembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/solidarits-nouvelles-face-au-chmage.html">Solidarités Nouvelles face au Chômage</a></strong><br />- mercredi 16 décembre de 10h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/11/boutique-de-gestion.html">Boutique de gestion</a></strong><br />- vendredi 18 décembre 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 15 décembre de 9h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation </strong>- mardi 15 décembre 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> - jeudi 17 décembre de 10h à 12h<br /><br /><li><strong>Préparation à l'entretien</strong> - jeudi 17 décembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 18 décembre de 10h à 11h30</ul><br /><h2><strong><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 113%;color:#005c9b;" >Information collective</span></strong><br /></h2><br /><ul><li><strong>RSA - Conseil Général</strong> - mardi 15 décembre à 10h</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 14 au 18 décembre 2009

Permanences Le Conseil Général du Loiret sera présent dans les locaux de la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans - le lundi 14 dé...

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So much to do, so little time

I have a lot of stuff to do today to get ready for our trip to Edmonton tomorrow. I say "our" because my husband is accompanying me on my business trip for the very first time. It should be interesting. Hopefully we won't wind up in divorce court when we get home. He's never seen me in full work mode crazy on one of these trips. Sometimes it's not a pretty sight.<br /><br />I spent the morning with hubby at the urgent care clinic. He's been sick for 12 days with flu, cough, and now a bad sinus infection. Funny thing, I almost gave him my antibiotics last night. I went to the doctor yesterday for my cough syrup and the doctor insisted on giving me antibiotics even though I protested that I wasn't "that" sick.<br /><br />I filled my prescriptions (including my codeine cough syrup, the nectar of the Gods), but I was determined not to take the antibiotics. Then I woke up this morning feeling sicker than I did when this all started and coughing up all kinds of nasty stuff.<br /><br />Last night I read several articles on phlegm. Yes, I lead an exciting life, reading phlegm articles on a Friday night. The different colors mean different things. Yellowish-green means I'm fighting an infection. I decided maybe the doctor was right and I'm a little sicker than I originally thought, so I took my antibiotics. Hubby had to get his own medicine, thus the urgent care clinic.<br /><br />While I was at the clinicI read a 2008 Good Housekeeping and came across an interesting article. <a href="http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articleghmatch.aspx?cp-documentid=14163239" target="blank">Let Your Heart Break</a> by Geneen Roth. A must read for those of us living under the illusion life will be grand when we're skinny.<br /><br /><br />After the clinic we went out to eat. My husband was starving so he wanted to go to the Blackbear Diner. This place serves massive servings of really good comfort food. It's usually torture for me, but I had eaten a Luna bar while at the clinic and a ton of water. I wasn't really even hungry, which is so odd for me (more proof I must be sick).<br /><br />Here's what my husband ordered, the Southern Scrambler, 1130 calories and 71 grams of fat! It was a concoction of giant biscuits, two eggs, two big sausage patties and smothered in gravy. Honestly, it didn't even appeal to me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ4TFoOnZp9b1m4LUZcSabSGWqzeAjkHKLekbRRGSThUwXnqkeU9ifxAJtjdY0E20A0vUhCJ6ceDKQdfxyxqzAui4E5d0Z1zC0ffXyxMBPeiGHJLw0au5s5w5ZfbwF6s1hYVvrNdjyadj/s1600-h/Big+Bear+Diner.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414488180003252482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ4TFoOnZp9b1m4LUZcSabSGWqzeAjkHKLekbRRGSThUwXnqkeU9ifxAJtjdY0E20A0vUhCJ6ceDKQdfxyxqzAui4E5d0Z1zC0ffXyxMBPeiGHJLw0au5s5w5ZfbwF6s1hYVvrNdjyadj/s400/Big+Bear+Diner.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />Here's what I had, on the "Light" menu. They didn't have the calories for it on their website, my guesstimate is maybe 350. I ate most of the chicken breast which was prepared without oil, but left a couple ounces on my plate. A little of the cottage cheese, about 1/4 cup, and all of the fruit, with black coffee for my beverage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-EuM9i35fTU2Q5k5urk_TqJdx_-gzhBAKGneyjDiSyv4QEiUyfRiieLKlN3gA9Tq_vBnLjL4Be9B2B1eXzGl61CBmmyqAx7bY_cbDlxPXgInDMazbikOZ1CAB77hx7ZH8vpgOP2Zdjjv/s1600-h/Diana_Lunch.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414488192448207714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-EuM9i35fTU2Q5k5urk_TqJdx_-gzhBAKGneyjDiSyv4QEiUyfRiieLKlN3gA9Tq_vBnLjL4Be9B2B1eXzGl61CBmmyqAx7bY_cbDlxPXgInDMazbikOZ1CAB77hx7ZH8vpgOP2Zdjjv/s400/Diana_Lunch.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><p>Well, I'm off to do the zillion things I need to do before we leave tomorrow morning. Among those things is the gym even though I'm not feeling very Superwomanish today. :)</p>

So much to do, so little time

I have a lot of stuff to do today to get ready for our trip to Edmonton tomorrow. I say "our" because my husband is accompanying m...

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Remembering Names and What to Do When You Forget

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/70/ar5f54f791315q8g0s70.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/70/ar5f54f791315q8g0s70.gif" /></a><br /></div><br />Remembering names is a challenge for many; therefore, most of us need to work a bit harder at being more proficient. Most people tend to forget names because, typically, we are thinking about what we are going to say, rather than listening and concentrating. <br /><br />Try this exercise: As soon as someone makes an introduction, either a self-introduction or paving the way for another, use the person's name immediately and say, "Dr. Doyle. It is a pleasure meeting you, Dr. Doyle." Do this with each person you meet. <br /><br />Next, look closely at this individual. Make an association, perhaps with another person you may know with the same name. Then, make a visual association; visualize him or her as the person with the white teeth or who wears pearls. Ask him to say or pronounce his name again, particularly if he has a challenging or unusual name. In a business situation, ask for a business card. Look at the card, then back at the individual and make another visual association with the individual and his name. Finally, say the person's name again and use it frequently in conversation, which will also make him feel special.<br /><br />People like to hear the sound of their own names. Think about it -- when we hear our name, we perk up, right? You are also sending a message to this individual that you care enough to remember his name, which is a positive reflection on you, personally and professionally. The business tie-in is, what else do you take the time for, go to the trouble of, make the effort to learn about (in advance)? Bottom-line: I trust you; I want to do business with you; I want you to represent my firm.<br /><br /><br />What to do when you forget a name?<br /><br />Here are seven steps to take when you forget someone's name.<br /><br />1. Confess<br />"What's your name again?" would not be appropriate. Try something like, "I am so sorry, I have completely blanked on your name." This said, with sincerity, is appropriate and speaks volumes about you while also demonstrating your genuine interest in knowing who she is and remembering her. As always, it is not what you say, but how you say it.<br /><br />2. Ask 'What is your full name?'<br />The person will respond saying his first and last name. At which point you might say, "Yes, I knew it was 'Bill,' but 'Bill Flynn'"; now you have both. <br /><br />3. Go to a respected third party <br />Ask, "What is the name of the woman in the blue dress?" You may then approach her, greet her by name and be a hero, suggesting you remembered her name.<br /><br />4. Ask for a business card or calling card. <br />Take this opportunity to make yet another visual association.<br /><br />5. Ask him to spell his name. <br />Be careful here. He could say, "J-O-N-E-S. In other words, exactly the way it sounds." This can happen from time to time. It's OK. Others understand and appreciate your effort in trying to know their name. <br /><br />6. Introduce yourself. <br />Approach the other person and say your name, first and last. In business, we should all be conditioned so that when we hear another person say her name, we respond by saying our name, slowly and clearly, so it can be understood and remembered. <br /><br />7. The 'setup'<br />Sending over a trusted friend, colleague or spouse to introduce himself so the individual in question will respond by saying his name is frequently done and is effective. The person who designed this "setup" is then free to confidently approach the person, calling him by name. <br /><br />Finally, knowing that most of us are challenged remembering names, it is everyone's responsibility to be aware of this situation. Recognize the opportunity to help others when it comes to remembering names and using them for introductions and in conversation, which makes others feel valued and special. Everyone's help and participation in making the name game seamless is not only appropriate, but required in order to be an active participant at any event. It will go a long way in terms of being noticed and appreciated. <br /><br />Faux pas<br />Be sure to avoid these common faux pas when remembering someone's name.<br /><br />1. Assuming the familiar<br />Calling someone by her first name without being invited can be detrimental. Err on the side of being more conservative and ask, "How do you prefer to be addressed?" It is an expression and a gesture -- always acceptable and appreciated and never wrong.<br /><br />2. Assuming that 'Suzanne Smith' prefers to be called 'Suzie' or that 'Cristiana Jones' prefers to be called 'Christy.'<br />Once again, "How do you prefer to be addressed?" helps you to earn the right to advance and learn that Elizabeth Jones prefers to be called "Lizzy" or Dr. Jones.<br /><br />Bing: More on how to remember names<br /><br />Video: How to never forget a name<br /><br />By Judith Bowman author of "Don't Take the Last Donut: New Rules of Business Etiquette"and the founder of Protocol Consultants International. She is experienced in protocol education and works with small and midsize companies, offering training, seminars and personal coaching.

Remembering Names and What to Do When You Forget

Remembering names is a challenge for many; therefore, most of us need to work a bit harder at being more proficient. Most people tend to for...

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What Everyone Ought to Know About Nontraditional Education - 4 options for you

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/dd/ar5c3b568j6h5jfqy5dd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/dd/ar5c3b568j6h5jfqy5dd.gif" /></a><br /></div>When you hear the phrase "nontraditional education," you might not know what to make of it. You might immediately think of unaccredited diploma mills that don't offer much in the way of quality academics, but that's not what nontraditional education is.<br /><br />Traditional education typically refers to community colleges and universities. Nontraditional education is any education that caters to adults or students who choose to earn credit in a manner other than a standard course.<br /><br />The two worlds aren't that far apart, as many nontraditional education opportunities occur in traditional colleges, universities and trade schools. The difference is that these students take a different path to reach their degrees or credentials, and they don't go straight from high school to the dorms to the graduation stage four years later. Some students simply choose different educational avenues, while others are sidelined due to personal circumstances.<br /><br />These students aren't just a tiny fraction of school-goers, either. According to the U.S. Department of Education, an estimated 90 million Americans "participate in some form of adult education each year, including training and basic education offered outside traditional higher education." The department also states that 40 percent of American college students are 25 or older.<br /><br />If you don't fit the mold of a "traditional" student and you want to know what other options exist outside of traditional courses, nontraditional education might be the best choice for you. To help you understand what's available, we've put together a list of nontraditional education options and given you some food for thought on each one.<br /><br />Here is what you should know about nontraditional education:<br /><br />Distance learning<br />What it is: Perhaps one of the most widely used forms of nontraditional education is distance learning, which has gained popularity due to the wealth of online courses available. <br />Why you should choose it: Distance learning doesn't require you to be in any specific location as long as you have a computer and the time necessary to complete assignments.<br />Why you shouldn't choose it: The freedom to work at your own pace or on your own time works only if you're a disciplined student.<br />Who offers it: Traditional four- and two-year colleges, online universities.<br /><br />Credit for experience<br />What it is: When adults have spent years working for a business or organization, they can sometimes earn college credit at a university for their experience.<br />Why you should choose it: If your experience translates into lessons taught at a university, and you can prove that you've learned something more than just the task, you could save yourself classroom time and tuition.<br />Why you shouldn't choose it: The chance to opt out of certain courses could mean you lose out on other valuable lessons that you didn't learn at work.<br />Who offers it: Many universities and colleges, although they have a strict set of guidelines for granting credit, so discuss it with an adviser.<br /><br />Standardized exams<br />What they are: Universities offer standardized exams that allow students to skip certain courses and get credit for them if they achieve a certain score.<br />Why you should choose them: For some students, a course in Spanish might be redundant if they are fluent (in both written and spoken forms), so testing out of it would be a wise move.<br />Why you shouldn't choose them: If you know you're proficient in a language or on a certain topic, but also know you have plenty to learn in that area, you might be shortchanging yourself by testing out of the class.<br />Who offers them: Most universities offer a form of test placement, but for which courses and for how much credit varies.<br /><br />GED® Tests<br />What they are: GED (General Educational Development) Tests allow nontraditional students to exhibit command of the subjects and skills found in high school courses.<br />Why you should choose them: GEDs are an excellent opportunity for individuals who did not receive their high school diploma and need one, or the equivalent, either to qualify for a job or to continue with higher education.<br />Why you shouldn't choose them: If you have received your high school diploma, GEDs are not a necessary step toward advancing your education.<br />Who offers them: GED Tests can be taken only at authorized testing centers, but there are testing centers in every state and throughout the world.<br /><br />GED® and the GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education® and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the American Council on Education.<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

What Everyone Ought to Know About Nontraditional Education - 4 options for you

When you hear the phrase "nontraditional education," you might not know what to make of it. You might immediately think of unaccre...

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