When Employers Want To See Your Social Networking Profile - Would you hand over your login and password?

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/x5/ar5d7g26ykm05c0q34x5.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/x5/ar5d7g26ykm05c0q34x5.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Last June, the city of Bozeman, Mont., became notorious when it implemented a policy that required anyone applying to a city job to hand over logins and passwords for any social networking sites they used. We're not just talking about Facebook and MySpace, either. They wanted access to chat rooms and forums frequented by applicants. After people made a fuss about the invasive policy, Bozeman officials backed down and decided to adjust their application requirements.<br /><br />That type of interview requirement doesn't seem to have caught on with other employers. Then again, Victory Christian School in North Augusta, S.C. recently announced it wants its students to hand over the same information if they might be acting in a way not in line with the school's policies.<br /><br />Perhaps job seekers should expect to experience these demands sooner than later. Naturally, questions arise: Is this legal? What if I don't hand over my information? What's the point to all this?<br /><br />How do employers feel about this?<br /><br />Employers have been looking at job seekers' online personas for years now. A simple query in a search engine can reveal plenty of information about you. Go to any networking site and type in your e-mail address or name and see what information is available to the public, because employers are already doing that. But if you let someone log in to your account, your privacy settings won't matter. It will all be on display. But should you be panicking just yet?<br /><br />"As an employer at a PR firm, social networking is a crucial part of our business; hence, it's important our employees are well versed," says Tyler Barnett, CEO of Tyler Barnett PR. "That being said, we always check the public information [candidates] have out, but would never ask for logins and passwords, or access to [such] a very private arena." For Barnett, it's important for both sides to draw a line.<br /><br />"I can't even believe employers would do that, and I find it even harder to believe an employee would give that information up," he says. "What's next, granting access to your sock drawer?"<br /><br />Obviously some companies, unlike Barnett's, do want access. What are they looking for?<br /><br />What digital dirt do they want?<br />Objectionable online content isn't all that different from the usual skeletons that employers want to find before making an offer. Some things employers are looking for are:<br /><br />· Offensive statements, language and behavior<br /><br />· Unprofessional images of yourself<br /><br />· Illegal behavior<br /><br />· Examples of you badmouthing your employer<br /><br />These are the kinds of activities employers have objected to for years, only now the Internet makes them easier to find.<br /><br />Can they do that?<br />Jon Yarbrough, a partner at national employment-law firm Constangy, Brooks & Smith says it's absolutely legal to ask for the information. Beyond that, it's your call.<br /><br />"I've seen a generational gap: The younger employees say employers are invading their privacy, but really they have little to no privacy rights in that way," he says.<br /><br />Of course, where you live and what you've done makes the issue a little murkier.<br /><br />"In some states, there are statutes that address an employee's ability to engage in lawful activities during off-duty hours," Yarbrough says. "You couldn't penalize someone for something they have written in their blog or MySpace or such. And blogging is lawful. Twittering is lawful. You can't fire them just for that. But if a potential employee had 'this company stinks,' or damaged the company's reputation, then of course they can choose not to hire them."<br /><br />That seems fairly clear cut, but when you're not hired for something the employer saw, can you prove that was the reason? Can they prove that wasn't the reason?<br /><br />"The issue becomes what do you do with it and what you see," Yarbrough explains. "In most states, you can refuse to hire that person, except for an unlawful reason. If you saw that I was married to an African-American woman and said 'next,' then that's Title 7 discrimination."<br /><br />That's difficult to prove, but it's an obvious decision that everyone knows would be wrong to make.<br /><br />"If you saw me on Facebook doing beer bongs, and I'm 'Mr. Party Animal,' you'd probably shy away and not want to hire me. That would probably be a legal decision to make," he says. "But keep in mind you have five or six states right now that have laws that say individuals can engage in lawful activities in non-work time. Now I am not sure those laws are broad enough to cover applicants to jobs, but they might be."<br /><br />So what you've got here is uncharted territory, but you can be certain it will be explored in the coming years. In the meantime, the best you can do is clean up your profiles so what's on display to the public won't cost you a job. Also, decide what you'll do if confronted with this situation. Or maybe everyone will just create two profiles for each site: one for employers and one for fun.<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>

When Employers Want To See Your Social Networking Profile - Would you hand over your login and password?

Last June, the city of Bozeman, Mont., became notorious when it implemented a policy that required anyone applying to a city job to hand ove...

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Your Bad Attitude Could Be Hurting Your Job Search

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/kh/ar5c76y62y3ppvs2f5kh.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/kh/ar5c76y62y3ppvs2f5kh.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Imagine you're a hiring manager, and you receive a cover letter from a job seeker that begins: "I am tired of writing cover letters." Rather than pick up the phone and call the person in for an interview, you're likely to discard the application.<br /><br />You may be surprised to learn that the example above is real, and this applicant isn't the only one to inappropriately complain to a prospective employer. Here are some additional examples:<br /><br />· "Argh! I hate job hunting!"<br /><br />· "Life isn't fair. I should get paid for looking for a job."<br /><br />· "I have received zero replies from my résumé. It's not me, though. I know that for sure."<br /><br />While nearly everyone can understand the frustration of a prolonged job search, it's a big mistake to let your negative feelings show. Indeed, remaining positive can help you get hired. Employers want to hire people are passionate about their work, relate well to others and aren't easily deflated by setbacks.<br /><br />Here are some guidelines for conveying the right attitude to hiring managers:<br /><br />When in doubt, leave it out<br />One individual who applied for a job wrote: "I'm not lazy, but given a choice between working for someone else, following orders and waking up to that awful sound of an alarm clock or doing what I want to do -- wouldn't any intelligent human being choose the latter?" Although few would be as blatant as this person, any amount of venting is likely to turn off a hiring manager. Make sure the focus of your résumé or cover letter remains on your qualifications. Specifically, what needs does the firm have, and how can you help fill them?<br /><br />Be a team player<br />Another candidate had this to say: "I have a problem with dress codes. It will be difficult for me if I need to wear a formal button-down shirt for work because I don't have many of those types of clothes since I dress cool." Such candor didn't do him any favors because he was perceived as someone who has trouble following rules and interacting with colleagues who may have different opinions than his own.<br /><br />The simple truth is that people want to hire -- and work with -- people who are easy to get along with and low-maintenance. Don't appear difficult by outlining your pet peeves. This extends to the interview as well, especially if it's over lunch: Don't give an overly complicated order; instead, make your requests simple.<br /><br />Show your enthusiasm for the position<br />One company received a résumé from a job seeker who said simply, "I've never been all that excited about working." With an attitude like that, you can bet the business wasn't too excited about the candidate, either. Employers want to hire professionals with a true desire to work for their firms. Demonstrate your passion for the position by researching the employer before submitting your application and noting how your skills can meet the company's unique needs. For example, you may learn that the company is opening a new office in your area. Your experience helping to launch start-up operations could be valuable to the organization.<br /><br />Impress in person<br />If you're called in for an interview, remember your enthusiasm -- or lack thereof -- will show during the meeting. Simple steps, like offering a firm handshake, sitting up straight, smiling and maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, will showcase your positive attitude. Small shifts in body language, like tapping your foot impatiently, or tone, such as sighing under your breath, can undermine your efforts to make a good impression.<br /><br />Check in with others<br />If you've hit a roadblock in your job search, it might be worthwhile to get an outside perspective about how you're presenting yourself. Ask someone whose opinion you trust to review your résumé, cover letter and any other materials you will be submitting to hiring managers. A subtle negative tone can sometimes seep into your application materials without you noticing.<br /><br />A job search can be challenging even in a good employment market. If you're feeling discouraged and having trouble getting motivated, share your frustration with close friends and family. Not only can they provide a good shoulder to lean on, those you know may have faced similar challenges themselves and be able to provide valuable advice for keeping your head high.<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 <a href="http://www.rhi.com/">http://www.rhi.com/</a>. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

Your Bad Attitude Could Be Hurting Your Job Search

Imagine you're a hiring manager, and you receive a cover letter from a job seeker that begins: "I am tired of writing cover letters...

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Planning de la semaine du 14 au 18 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 lundi 14 septembre de 9h à 12h30,<br />- le mardi 15 septembre de 9h à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le mercredi 16 septembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le jeudi 17 septembre de 13h30 à 17h,<br />- le vendredi 18 septembre de 13h30 à 17h<br /><br /><li><strong><a href="http://www.egee.asso.fr/" target="_blank">EGEE</a></strong> - lundi 14 septembre 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> - mercredi 16 septembre 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> - vendredi 18 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><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2008/12/atelier-parcours-emploi.html">Parcours Emploi</a></strong> - mardi 15 septembre de 9h30 à 12h<br /><br /><li><strong>CV</strong> - mardi 15 septembre de 9h à 12h30<br /><br /><li><strong>Lettre de Motivation </strong>- mardi 15 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> - jeudi 17 septembre de 10h à 12h<br /><br /></li><li><strong>Préparation à l'entretien</strong> - jeudi 17 septembre de 13h30 à 16h30<br /><br /></li><li><strong>Pôle-emploi.fr</strong> - vendredi 18 septembre de 10h à 11h30</ul>

Planning de la semaine du 14 au 18 septembre 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 se...

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Day 14: It's like a weight has been lifted

<div align="center">Angle Lake, WA - about a block from my office.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWIrZowT-Tzt-frCprLqDs7ibjZzhsVEpdaEla5jz7Id1HrQdRfezQRhpXeAaIGHZcb0gAjotEb_fU6aD4UlGVYRf5lwWSpFyeeGyVuE1toPf3APyiESk6hChkWZ1xk8FHeULPZg4kyS0/s1600-h/BestLake.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380109579207416658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWIrZowT-Tzt-frCprLqDs7ibjZzhsVEpdaEla5jz7Id1HrQdRfezQRhpXeAaIGHZcb0gAjotEb_fU6aD4UlGVYRf5lwWSpFyeeGyVuE1toPf3APyiESk6hChkWZ1xk8FHeULPZg4kyS0/s400/BestLake.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center"></a><br />The view looking up at the sky while lying on the grass.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUTRC8xg5Gy75LlM2a8be6Niw2PQxQzUYKkV-O9ApoIzHzTikk57uTnDWXwpDUYeZYV9vCakgzJzAWkSZ5mTHDC1OLzHboSFthb4lx4mQ68PwA0wJKQDQbiuRyBw0se1Z_2juTn7DRbp_/s1600-h/Trees.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380109766336749554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUTRC8xg5Gy75LlM2a8be6Niw2PQxQzUYKkV-O9ApoIzHzTikk57uTnDWXwpDUYeZYV9vCakgzJzAWkSZ5mTHDC1OLzHboSFthb4lx4mQ68PwA0wJKQDQbiuRyBw0se1Z_2juTn7DRbp_/s400/Trees.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </p><div align="center">Roses in the yard of a house on Angle Lake.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijREBlStJn_ngt6k9VhfNIjI_L5eTJ7dHxhJthiYW4KczVgs_Xde2QnCR1MgzFF3E_XjG7m2dCJLsLdpRnL86jNdtkmJ-HwCGQ6OMlNuAODCBdzv6bKTs9oGnxjifj3ciNu3qiDD76o-Kr/s1600-h/Roses2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380107943131671410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijREBlStJn_ngt6k9VhfNIjI_L5eTJ7dHxhJthiYW4KczVgs_Xde2QnCR1MgzFF3E_XjG7m2dCJLsLdpRnL86jNdtkmJ-HwCGQ6OMlNuAODCBdzv6bKTs9oGnxjifj3ciNu3qiDD76o-Kr/s400/Roses2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Thank you so much for your very supportive and sweet comments. You made my heart sing. You encouraged me and flattered me.You have no idea how much each of your comments mean to me. I really don't think I could do this without you. I love you guys!<br /><br />Yesterday was a really good day for me. I ate healthy, but not fanatically. I didn't weigh or measure my food, but I ate modest portions. I know what four ounces of chicken looks like, or a cup of sugar-free jello. If it's not exactly 4 ounces or not exactly one cup, I am not going to gain 80 pounds and the world will not end.<br /><br />My husband told me I looked hot before he left for work. Me...hot? He's not big on giving me compliments, so when he says something like that, it always pleasantly surprises me.<br /><br />I flipped on the TV as I was getting dressed for work and on the Today Show was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Emme</span>, the plus-size model. I love her! I think she's super hot and beautiful and sweet. If I was into girls, well, I'm just saying.<br /><br />The program was about fat acceptance in our culture. The more concerned our nation is with obesity, the fatter we're getting. Really? We need to accept our bodies, but we need to be healthy too, eat right and exercise. The most amazing thing was that it's been proven that people with a little extra fat on their bodies live longer and have less dementia and Alzheimer's as they age. I knew fatter people were smarter!<br /><br />I walked at lunch today and it was wonderful. I wore my heart rate monitor, but I rarely looked at it, and I literally stopped to smell the roses. I walked at a park near my work, that's on a lake. I sat down on the grass, underneath the trees, and in the sun. I relaxed. I can't remember the last time I did something like that. Usually I'm so concerned about keeping my heart rate up that I never slow down and just enjoy my surroundings.<br /><br />I'm going to reset my goal weight. Last night my husband told me I was perfect at the weight I am now. I don't really believe that, but I believe he thinks it's true. My plan is to see where I am on October 31. I'd like to lose at least a few pounds for the Weight Watchers Lose for Good campaign. Then I'll take it from there.<br /><br />What's really wonderful is I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe again. That manic voice in my head that was telling me "Don't eat that! How many Points in that? Walk faster! What are you doing?!" has finally quieted down. I'm sure she'll pop back in once in a while, but right now she's lost her power over me and it feels great!

Day 14: It's like a weight has been lifted

Angle Lake, WA - about a block from my office. The view looking up at the sky while lying on the grass. Roses in the yard of a house on An...

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9 Low Paying Jobs That Are Worth It

Clichés about money aren't hard to come by or roll your eyes at. By the time you're 10 you probably learned that money:<br /><br />· Doesn't grow on trees<br /><br />· Can't buy happiness<br /><br />· Is the root of all evil<br /><br />· Makes the world go round (though this has yet to be proven scientifically)<br /><br />And as much fun as it is to daydream about being rich, most of us will always have to watch our pennies and pay attention to the balance in our checking accounts. In fact, the 2008 national median income was $32,390 per year, or $15.57 per hour. You can safely assume your average American is earning just a little above or a little below that amount, which means we're all in the same boat.<br /><br />Yet, we're often eager to complain about low-paying jobs and eager to move on from them. However, these positions are great places to start a career. Not only are they good forays into the professional world, they also teach you a lot about work ethic, customer service and your own interests.<br /><br />That's why we decided to look at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and CBSlary.com and picked out jobs that consistently earn salaries lower than the national median. We wanted to highlight some jobs that we think often get bad raps and let professionals explain why they valued their time working at these jobs in the past and currently.<br /><br />Note: We realize salaries differ not only from city to city but also from company to company. You might have had a job on this list that paid at a much higher rate, but these figures are based on national averages.<br /><br />Here are nine jobs that earn less than the median salary and why they're good to have straight from the people who've been there:<br /><br />1. Amusement and recreation attendants<br /><br />Annual salary: $25,589<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "I have been a ride operator for almost 3 years. It is a job that has brought me to learn so much about myself. Before I began working at the theme park, I was timid and shy. I didn't want to approach people and I was constantly scared of rejection and what others would think of me if I stood up for myself. I learned very quickly that, when in this industry, you have to put yourself out there. Talk to complete strangers; you never know who you will meet or whose face you can bring a smile to. Also, stand your ground when you need to; most will not think less of you. In fact, many will respect you for it." -- Lori E. Cotton, public relations major<br /><br />"When I was in between colleges, I was a performer at Disneyland for six months. While it was sweltering wearing any of those heavy costumes in the California heat, to see the faces of children (and many adults) feel as though they have met a fairy princess, or Winnie The Pooh, well, let's just say, it's not a feeling money can buy. Sometimes families had saved up all year for a day trip to the park. Knowing that I had such an impact on these people warms my heart." -- Elizabeth Whittemore, founder of Emotion Picture<br /><br />2. Dry cleaners<br /><br />Annual salary: $22,567<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "One of the benefits of working in a dry cleaners is that you get to meet a lot of friendly people from all walks of life; celebrities to sports figures; and you [get] a great feeling of satisfaction by getting stains out which makes both workers and customers happy." -- Rosemary O'Mara, owner of Elite Dry Cleaners, Boca Raton, Fla.<br /><br />3. Hotel, motel and resort desk clerks<br /><br />Annual salary: $19,480<br />Why it's worth it: "I liked working the late shift which allowed me to go to school during the day but still work full-time. I could study during slow times and get paid for it! It also worked well to do that job on a seasonal basis. Once I was trained, they liked it that they could call me up and I could fill in shifts during high season. I liked having the opportunity to make spare cash without having a full-time job when school was more intense. Besides that flexibility, I liked meeting people from diverse places and backgrounds." -- J. Kim Wright, publisher and managing editor of CuttingEdgeLaw.com<br /><br />"I liked I was able to meet interesting people who were there mainly to enjoy a holiday or vacation. I was in a position to help them with activities, events and locations for sight-seeing or local businesses they might enjoy. Some of the guests or members were open with sharing their experiences and stories. Since I worked with a limited staff and odd hours - there was little daily supervision and had to rely on own judgment and was accountable for my actions." -- Michele Fortunati<br /><br />4. Maids and housekeeping cleaners<br /><br />Annual salary: $23,641<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "I learned a lot about people doing that job, but the most long-lasting lesson was that, with certain jobs, people don't care that you did the job perfectly, they just want it done. One of the older maids pulled me aside one day and said, 'You don't need to get every speck of dust. Get their beds made, neaten up, and get the heck out so they can get back into their rooms.' So I now remember that every job does not need to be done to perfection to do it right."-- Mary Westheimer, assistant at Kevin Caron Studio<br /><br />5. Personal and home care aides<br /><br />Annual salary: $19,180<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "I worked briefly for a home-care service assisting the elderly who needed minimal assistance due to injury or health and age. In most cases, they were lonely and had stories to share. I was a theater arts student and this opportunity gave me a door into their characters and a better understanding of others perception of the world. It was physical job and some of the duties were almost Zen like. " -- Fortunati,<br /><br />6. Preschool teachers (excluding special education)<br /><br />Annual salary: $23,870<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "I quite by accident became a preschool teacher while in college to become a writer. I fell in love with the honesty of children, the fast pace of preschool and have spent the past 30-plus years in this field." -- Julie Jenkins Sathe, author of "Enlightened Discipline"<br /><br />"I really enjoyed being a preschool teacher because I had fun teaching the three-year olds in my class. I wanted to be a school teacher and this was a good start for me to see if I really liked teaching. I took a semester off college while I taught this class. I would recommend doing something like this because it let me realize that I really did want to be a teacher before I spent time getting a degree in education." -- Danny Kofke, author of "How to Survive (and perhaps thrive) On a Teacher's Salary"<br /><br />7. Retail salespeople<br /><br />Annual salary: $20,510<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "I worked at a high end retailer who promised the highest level of personal service from everyone. This job gave me the customer service skills that have carried me ever since. I learned to be patient, kind, not judge by appearances, listen well, pay attention to nonverbal cues and much more. If everyone worked in some kind of service job at some point in their life, I'm sure we'd all be a lot nicer to each other in our daily interactions. I use many of those same skills every day in my current job as a marketing director." -- Rhonda Foxworth, marketing manager at Bank of Ann Arbor<br /><br />8. Security guards<br /><br />Annual salary: $23,460<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "In my early years of employment, I took on a position as a security officer. I already had an interest in the security and loss prevention industry and knew that I would need to learn and experience the nuts-and-bolts or how it operated and functioned in order to be successful. While an entry level position at the time, I enjoyed this work as it allowed me to help people and employers. This gave me a strong sense of satisfaction. It also opened the doors to a lifelong career in this industry. Positions span the global marketplace and can be found at hotels and resorts, commercial properties, corporate headquarters, industrial space and even cruise ships." -- Philip Farina, Farina and Associates, Ltd.<br /><br />9. Waiters and waitresses<br /><br />Annual salary: $24,552<br /><br />Why it's worth it: "I worked as a waitress in college, and I believe the job taught me to be outgoing. By working for tips, I learned that no matter how my day was going, I needed to put a smile on my face when I stepped on the restaurant floor, or I wasn't going to make any money. Working for tips taught me to have fun with my customers, and not to fear people. It taught me to be friendly and entertaining." -- Valarie Moody, president of Fodeo<br /><br />"The benefits of waitressing, in my opinion: flexible, learn to manage a lot of tasks (sort of like project management), opportunity to develop strong customer service skills, decent money, if you work at the right place, free (or discounted) food, social, hard work (which makes you feel good at the end of the day) and [you get to] stay trim because of all the walking and being on your feet." -- Jennifer Gleeson Blue, life coach for Get There From Here<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 /><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>

9 Low Paying Jobs That Are Worth It

Clichés about money aren't hard to come by or roll your eyes at. By the time you're 10 you probably learned that money: · Doesn'...

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30 Jobs that Earn $80,000

Let's be honest: Sometimes you don't care about the job -- you just care about the salary.<br /><br />But, it's awfully hard to look for a job that fits both your salary requirements and your skill set. Not to mention that we always tell you that your work and career should be something you love. Ideally, money is just an added benefit.<br /><br />That being said, we're also realists. We know that times are tough and at this point, some people just need to get paid. Fortunately, there's a new salary tool available that can help you do just that.<br /><br />Jobs by Salary, a new salary tool from CBSalary.com, allows you to search for jobs by salary based on where you live or work in the United States. Do you live in Phoenix and want to make $50,000? No problem. Plug in your data, and you'll get a list of jobs that pay that much in your area, plus the necessary requirements.<br /><br />Because our readers live all over, we thought it unfair to provide a list of jobs that earn a certain dollar amount in one place or another. Plus, we all know that different markets pay different salaries based on a variety of things such as cost of living.<br /><br />Instead, we went to the Bureau of Labor Statistics to look at the latest (May 2008) salary information for the United States. From there, we found out which occupations earn in the $80,000 range based on national averages.<br /><br />Here are 30 jobs that earn at least $80,000:<br /><br />1. Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers<br />Do this: Conduct hearings to rule on government-related claims; determine penalties and liability, and compromise settlements.<br />Get paid: $80,870<br /><br />2. Biomedical engineers<br />Do this: Design and develop devices and procedures to help solve health-related problems. Projects might include information systems, artificial organs or artificial limbs.<br />Get paid: $81,120<br /><br />3. Chiropractors<br />Do this: Diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions of the spinal column to prevent disease and alleviate imbalance, pain and pressure believed to be caused by interference with nervous system.<br />Get paid: $81,340<br /><br />4. Atmospheric, earth, marine and space sciences teachers, postsecondary<br />Do this: Teach and research courses and topics in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics.<br />Get paid: $81,470<br /><br />5. Agents and business managers of artists, performers and athletes<br />Do this: Represent and promote your client's business while handling business matters and contract negotiations.<br />Get paid: $81,550<br /><br />6. Materials scientists<br />Do this: Study the chemical composition of various materials and figure out ways to develop new materials and improve existing ones; also determine ways to use materials in products.<br />Get paid: $81,600<br /><br />7. Physician assistants<br />Do this: Perform health-care services and provide treatment plans under a physician's supervision.<br />Get paid: $81,610<br /><br />8. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists<br />Do this: Research and investigate human diseases and how to improve human health.<br />Get paid: $81,870<br /><br />9. Physics teachers, postsecondary<br />Do this: Teach and research courses and topics pertaining to the laws of matter and energy.<br />Get paid: $81,880<br /><br />10. Atmospheric and space scientists<br />Do this: Study the effects the atmosphere has on the environment, most commonly through weather forecasting.<br />Get paid: $82,080<br /><br />11. Management analysts<br />Do this: Figure out best practices of management by conducting studies and procedures to help companies figure out how to operate more effectively.<br />Get paid: $82,920<br /><br />12. Producers and directors<br />Do this: Produce or direct, and make all creative decisions for stage, television, radio, video or motion picture productions.<br />Get paid: $83,030<br /><br />13. Biological science teachers, postsecondary<br />Do this: Teach and research courses and topics in biological sciences.<br />Get paid: $83,270<br /><br />14. Materials engineers<br />Do this: Develop new uses for recognized materials, and develop new machinery and processes to make materials for use in specialized products.<br />Get paid: $84,200<br /><br />15. Transportation, storage and distribution managers<br />Do this: Oversee transportation, storage or distribution activities in accordance with governmental policies and regulations.<br />Get paid: $84,520<br /><br />16. Financial analysts<br />Do this: Assess the financial situations of an individual or organization.<br />Get paid: $84,780<br /><br />17. Electrical engineers<br />Do this: Design, develop and test the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment.<br />Get paid: $85,350<br /><br />18. Education administrators, elementary and secondary school<br />Do this: Oversee all activities of public or private elementary or secondary level schools.<br />Get paid: $86,060<br /><br />19. Industrial-organizational psychologists<br />Do this: Work with companies to solve problems within the company. You may help with policy planning; employee screening, training and development; and organizational development and analysis.<br />Get paid: $86,460<br /><br />20. Computer software engineers, applications<br />Do this: Build computer applications software and code; ensure that all software projects adhere to a company's technology and business standards.<br />Get paid: $87,900<br /><br />21. Economics teachers, postsecondary<br />Do this: Teach and research courses and topics in economics.<br />Get paid: $88,330<br /><br />22. Biochemists and biophysicists<br />Do this: Study the chemical composition and physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena.<br />Get paid: $88,450<br /><br />23. Art directors<br />Do this: Create design concepts and presentation in artwork, layout design and copy writing for visual communications media.<br />Get paid: $88,510<br /><br />24. Electronics engineers, except computer<br />Do this: Design, develop and test a wide range of electronic equipment, from CD players to GPS systems.<br />Get paid: $88,670<br /><br />25. Medical and health services managers<br />Do this: Supervise medicine and health services in hospitals, clinics and similar organizations.<br />Get paid: $88,750<br /><br />26. Chemical engineers<br />Do this: Design chemical plant equipment and create processes for manufacturing chemicals and products.<br />Get paid: $88,760<br /><br />27. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers<br />Do this: Study the composition, structure and other physical aspects of the earth.<br />Get paid: $89,300<br /><br />28. Veterinarians<br />Do this: Provide health care for family pets, livestock and zoo animals. Provide check-ups, treat diseases and advise caretakers on how to best raise their animals.<br />Get paid: $89,450<br /><br />29. Construction managers<br />Do this: Oversee all activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities and systems.<br />Get paid: $89,770<br /><br />30. Sales engineers<br />Do this: Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.<br />Get paid: $89,770<br /><br />Want know which jobs earn $80,000 or more in your city? Check out Jobs by Salary.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.<br /><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>

30 Jobs that Earn $80,000

Let's be honest: Sometimes you don't care about the job -- you just care about the salary. But, it's awfully hard to look for a ...

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Build a Digital Footprint You Can Be Proud Of

Just like Vegas, what happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet. How that affects your job search is up to you.<br /><br />Gone are the days when all you were concerned with was whether or not your résumé and cover letter were error-free. Now, you've got bigger things to worry about -- like what kind of personal information is floating around online.<br /><br />Job seekers should not only manage how they come across in person, but on the Web, too. We often forget that everything you post online, from your Facebook profile to your Amazon book reviews, is out there for others to see and judge.<br /><br />"Most employers nowadays hop on Google to search a name as a preliminary step, either before or right after the interview," says Monique Tatum, author of "Jumping Off the Curb and Into SEO Traffic." "A positive and strong online presence can play a tremendous part in the employer's first impression."<br /><br />In 2009, 45 percent of employers used social networking sites to research candidates, according to a CareerBuilder survey, a 23 percent increase from last year. Thirty-five percent of employers said that what they found caused them not to hire the candidate.<br /><br />"Hiring someone is scary," says Zack Grossbart, a virtual team coach and author of "The One Minute Commute." "You're paying them to represent your company and your reputation affects theirs. No company wants a newspaper headline with their name in it because of an embarrassing employee."<br /><br />Times have changed<br /><br />Not only has the use of the Internet, social networking sites, blogs and other new media skyrocketed in recent years; all of these things have revolutionized the job search. It used to be that if a hiring manager dug around online and couldn't find anything, it was a good thing. Today, however, if you have no online presence, it could be more of a career killer than if an employer found some digital dirt.<br /><br />"If you have an established career and no online presence, it is a big red flag for employers," Grossbart says. "Employers expect to find blogs, forum posts, LinkedIn profiles and many other sources of information about you. If you haven't been mentioned by other people in a professional context, employers will wonder why not."<br /><br />Digital dirt<br /><br />Of course, the flip side to creating an online presence is that nasty stuff can make its way into your Internet space. As Marian Merritt, online safety advocate for Symantec, says, "One man's trash is another man's treasure and that's true online as well." And she should know.<br /><br />"Early in my career, I said some things to an interviewer that didn't come out as eloquently as I'd like and they live forever on the Internet," she says. "There's nothing I can do about that, as it was a news piece. That is permanent 'digital dirt.'"<br /><br />Although it can be hard to cover your tracks on the Internet, experts say it is possible to get rid of those skeletons that have found their way from your closet to the Web.<br /><br />Sweep the dirt under the rug<br /><br />First, Merritt suggests using your name in search engine queries to see what is out there. Use every variation of your name and review every subcategory, from "Web" to "images" to "video." Use multiple search engines and click on everything, since thumbnail images might not represent what is actually posted.<br /><br />It also depends where your dirt is posted. If it's something on your social networking page or blog, you can delete it and it will eventually disappear. But, Tatum says that if it's on a highly regarded site, it could remain out there for years.<br /><br />Luckily, one of the easiest ways to get rid of your digital dirt is to create more of it -- except the good kind. Tatum suggests developing your own positive content by creating articles, starting a blog or posting to forums. As long as you can smother any negative information about you, you should be OK in an initial employer search.<br /><br />Something to be proud of<br /><br />If you want to build a digital footprint that won't scare away future employers, here are five tips on how to do it:<br /><br />1. Make your content useful<br /><br />Help people get something done or teach them something, Grossbart says. Respond to forum posts, answer questions or comment on blogs. Helping people is the perfect way to showcase your talents to potential employers.<br /><br />2. Join social networks, both for career purposes and social purposes<br /><br />"Tell people in your network you are actively seeking a job. Even if you use online job boards, it's more likely that your real-world network of people will help you find the job of your dreams or at least move your application to the top of the pile," Merritt suggests.<br /><br />3. If you can't delete it, smother it<br /><br />"Potential employers are far less likely to find something if it is on the 10th page of your search results," Grossbart says. "It can also be worthwhile to post more content to the same site. If your dirt is on Facebook, then posting more good professional content right there is likely to replace your dirt."<br /><br />4. Avoid joining groups or engaging in online activities that could embarrass or restrict opportunities<br /><br />Of course, during a job hunt you should consider your overtly controversial activities such as political, religious or social movements, Merritt says. It's all part of the online picture of you, so make sure it is the most accurate and flattering view. And, it sounds obvious, but travel tips, book reviews and online gaming advice might not paint the picture of a "nose to the grindstone" kind of person, Merritt says.<br /><br />"For example, one applicant was a fan of romantic novels, and I found myself reading her reviews on Amazon.com. There was no impact on her job application, but I did waste oodles of time."<br /><br />5. Beware the cyber twin<br /><br />Be wary of people out there on the Internet with the same name as you, Merritt says. "What if your cyber twin is in prison or owns a racist Web site? Find out who is out there with any variation of your name and be prepared to discuss and explain."<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.<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>

Build a Digital Footprint You Can Be Proud Of

Just like Vegas, what happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet. How that affects your job search is up to you. Gone are the days when ...

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10 Jobs for Math Whizzes

In elementary school, there are classes you always look forward to -- gym, home economics and choir -- and classes you don't -- like English, science and geometry.<br /><br />But, as you grow up, you realize different likes and dislikes, and strengths and weaknesses in the classroom. Maybe you recognize that you really do like to read and write, or that the periodic table makes more sense than you thought. For some people, math was this way. Formulas, fractions, square roots and perimeters came easily, and a calculator and compass were always found nearby.<br /><br />To many, these kids were considered "math geeks" and were sometimes chastised for their love of crunching numbers. But, while we were poking fun and sleeping during math class, we should have paid attention -- because those who did are just plain getting paid.<br /><br />In 2008, mathematicians earned an average annual income of $94,960, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mathematicians were also rated the No.1 best career, based on a January 2009 study of the best and worst professions by JobsRated.com. The study evaluated 200 professions based on work environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress. The second and third best professions, actuaries and statisticians, are also in the mathematics arena.<br /><br />If you consider yourself a math whiz and are ready to put in a few extra years of school, check out these 10 jobs and what you'll need to succeed in them:<br /><br />1. Actuary<br /><br />Actuaries deal with risk. They analyze statistical data like mortality, sickness, injury, disability and retirement rates to figure out their probability of happening and the costs associated with each event. In turn, they create policies for people and companies that minimize the risk and financial impacts of these given situations.<br /><br />Education: An undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics or actuarial science, or a business-related field such as finance, economics or business.<br />Average annual salary: $95,980<br /><br />2. Cost estimator<br /><br />Cost estimators figure out how much future projects or products will cost, and also determine which current endeavors are making a profit. They analyze factors like cost of materials, labor, location and duration of the project to help companies decide whether or not to pursue a project.<br /><br />Education: Construction employers prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree in construction science, construction management or building science. Employers in manufacturing prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics or engineering.<br />Average annual salary: $60,903<br /><br />3. Economist<br /><br />Economists identify problems and solutions within the distribution and production of goods and services like land, labor and raw materials. They research, analyze and monitor economic trends, and use math models to answer economic questions.<br /><br />Education: A master's degree or Ph.D. in economics is typically required.<br /><br />Average annual salary: $93,898<br /><br />4. Electrical engineer<br /><br />Electrical engineers design new and better electronics. They work on high-tech assignments for products like cars, robots, cell phones, and radar and navigation systems, for example.<br /><br />Education: A college degree in electrical engineering, along with courses in mathematics and physical and life sciences.<br />Average annual salary: $89,268<br /><br />5. Physicist<br /><br />Physicists study the natural world. They perform experiments and conduct research to develop theories and laws of nature, energy, motion and matter.<br /><br />Education: You usually need a doctoral degree (Ph.D.).<br />Average annual salary: $92,537<br /><br />6. Market researcher<br /><br />Market researchers examine market conditions to determine potential sales of product or service. They usually conduct polls or surveys to assess factors that will affect the sale of a product.<br /><br />Education: A bachelor's degree is the minimum educational requirement for many market research jobs, but a master's degree may be required for technical positions.<br />Average annual salary: $70,410<br /><br />7. Mathematician<br /><br />There are two types of mathematicians: theoretical and applied. Theoretical mathematicians develop new principles of math and look for new developments in existing principles. Applied mathematicians use theories and techniques to solve economic, scientific, engineering, physics and business problems.<br /><br />Education: A Ph.D. in mathematics usually is the minimum educational requirement.<br />Average annual salary: $94,960<br /><br />8. Statistician<br /><br />Statisticians apply statistical and mathematical theories to collect, analyze and interpret numerical data to provide usable information. Some statisticians, for example, may collect data to learn how safe new products are before the products can be sold.<br /><br />Education: A master's degree in statistics or mathematics is the minimum educational requirement, but research and academic jobs generally require a Ph.D.<br />Average annual salary: $70,891<br /><br />9. Surveyor<br /><br />Fighting with your neighbor about where to put the fence in your background? Ask a surveyor for help. Surveyors measure and draw what the earth's surface looks like, determining official land, air and water boundaries. They write descriptions of land for deeds, leases and other legal documents; define airspace for airports; and take measurements of construction and mineral sites.<br /><br />Education: A bachelor's degree in surveying or a related field; every state requires that surveyors be licensed.<br />Average annual salary: $54,140<br /><br />10. Mathematical science teacher, postsecondary<br /><br />Postsecondary mathematical science faculty teach university and college students. Typically they teach several courses within the mathematics field, like calculus, statistics and algebra.<br /><br />Education: Four-year colleges and universities usually require candidates to hold a doctoral degree.<br />Average annual salary: $68,130<br /><br />Salary information provided by CBSalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.<br /><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 Jobs for Math Whizzes

In elementary school, there are classes you always look forward to -- gym, home economics and choir -- and classes you don't -- like Eng...

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The Worst Interview Faux Pas - Hiring managers give their worst experiences

Most job seekers have a case of the jitters before going on a job interview. Anxiety's normal, but almost always those butterflies were in your tummy for nothing. The interview goes well, you don't make any serious mistakes and you exhale the moment you walk out of the room.<br /><br />Sometimes, however, the interview goes terribly wrong. We're not talking about little mistakes, like spilling coffee on your shirt while you're in the waiting room. No, we're talking about the odd behavior that 99 percent of us wouldn't commit. Hiring managers have given us some examples of the worst missteps they've seen in interviews, and we've compiled the best.<br /><br />Here are eight interview faux pas hiring managers have witnessed and that you should avoid if you want to get hired.<br /><br /><br /><br />1. Bad manners<br />"A cell phone goes off -- which you should just apologize for and turn off promptly, but I've had candidates look at the number, which really ticks off an interviewer." - Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, co-founder of SixFigureStart Career Coaching<br /><br />"[The candidate asks,] 'When can I start?' Presumptuous and inappropriate." - Will Robinson, co-founder of VirtualJobCoach<br /><br />"'Do you have something to eat? I am hungry.'" -- Robinson<br /><br />"One candidate opened his briefcase and started snacking on crackers while interviewing." - Kent Johnson, partner with Davinci Search<br /><br />2. Being weird<br />"Strangest thing ever -- a [University of Chicago] MBA student was doing very well during an interview, when a tape recorder spilled out of his briefcase. Very, very odd. He would have gotten a call back for a second round, but not after we saw that tape recorder. We still don't know what that was about! But we stayed away -- big time!" - Thanasoulis-Cerrachio<br /><br />"I've heard some interesting ones, but the most bizarre was a prospective hire asking me if I was Jewish. Any religion would have been weird to inquire about in that situation ... maybe she was trying to form a bond?" - Justin Seibert, president of Direct Online Marketing<br /><br />3. Giving a bad reason for wanting the job<br />"One answer to a question about why the applicant was looking to change jobs left me speechless. The candidate, a 20-something with about five years of work experience, said, 'Well, I've been twiddling my thumbs for six months.'" - Dana Byrne, manager of talent acquisition and professional development at RMJM<br /><br />4. Letting nervous tics control you<br /><br />"You shouldn't repeat a phrase over and over again. I had one candidate say 'There it is' at the end of about seven or eight responses. Very annoying and not impressive." - Thanasoulis-Cerrachio<br /><br />"Nervous leg bouncing syndrome: I once had a candidate who rocked her leg so much that she was physically moving during the interview. We ended up hiring her, which was a huge mistake -- one of the worst hires ever." - Thanasoulis-Cerrachio<br /><br />5. TMI<br />"I once had a candidate tell me her last boss was a drug addict and did cocaine regularly. Talk about inappropriate disclosure. I am sure there was a much more tactful way to talk about why she left the job." - Raquel Garcia, president of Silicon Valley Human Resources<br /><br />"[One candidate said,] 'I'm a little worried about the background checks. Do you guys do background checks? Because my credit is terrible. I'm trying to get it fixed, but the credit agencies are a joke.'" - Brett Coin, vice president of business development for Resume Donkey<br /><br />"In response to, 'We'd like to offer you this job. When can you start?' [the job seeker] replied, 'I don't know what to say. I've been through 16 interviews and no one has offered me a job.' This came from the mouth of my junior designer, who was referred to us by one of our clients. Tip: Be ready to accept a job. Like the Oscars, you might want to practice your speech. Not every employer is as forgiving as we are." - Nance Rosen, CEO of Pegasus Media World<br /><br />"[I was asked,] 'What is your drug-testing policy?'" - Robinson<br /><br />6. Poor presentation<br />"Another candidate wore a skimpy sequin dress and fedora hat to an interview claiming she just came from a photo shoot. We all guessed it was a bit more of an X-rated photo opp." - Johnson<br /><br />"Candidate: Hi, I'm [so-and-so]." (leans in towards us).<br />Recruiter: (leans ever so slightly away to minimize the odor)." - Mary H. Roome-Godbolt, HR recruiter for Cox Communications Northern Virginia<br /><br />"I once had a recent graduate who looked fantastic on paper, but showed up wearing flip flops. During the interview, he would lean back in his chair, flex his hands over his head and he even said several curse words in his responses. It was so bad I e-mailed him afterwards to point out his most obvious blunders!" - Nickie Doria, marketing director for Emmer Development Corp.<br /><br />"One huge pet peeve is when an applicant comes in smelling like a smoke stack! It is a free country, and I realize that there are no laws against smoking cigarettes in the workplace, but that is no reason to come in reeking of smoke. People get nervous and might want to puff a quick cigarette before the interview, which is understandable, but when they arrive smelling like smoke, it is a real turn off." - Doria<br /><br />7. Coming unprepared<br />"I happen to be hiring right now. One line that is a definite door-closer, that I have surprisingly heard several times: 'No, I haven't really had time to look at your Web site yet' or words to that effect. How interested should I be in a candidate with such a low level of interest in and knowledge about our company?" - Alexander Seinfeld, executive director at Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc<br /><br />"In response to the interview question, 'So what do you want to do next?' The worst answer of all is to say, 'I'm totally open ... I'll do anything,' or 'I'm completely flexible ... I can go wherever the company's greatest needs are.' This answer leaves the hiring manager with the burden of figuring out where the candidate belongs in the organization, and no hiring manager has the time or energy to do that kind of work. And with the economy the way it is today, candidates are feeling the need to be flexible and keep their options open, and I am hearing from hiring managers [frustrated] over this kind of answer." - Jeanne Knight, career and job search coach<br /><br />8. Forgetting to clean up digital dirt<br />"Of course, for those who are MySpace and Facebook junkies, make sure your pages are set to the private setting. We actually had a girl apply for a leasing position with one of our companies, and she did very well during the interview. Later, the manager wanted to learn more about her, and found that her MySpace name was ... well somewhat promiscuous at best! Needless to say, she never even got a call back! - Doria<br /><br />Anthony Balderrama is a 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 /><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>

The Worst Interview Faux Pas - Hiring managers give their worst experiences

Most job seekers have a case of the jitters before going on a job interview. Anxiety's normal, but almost always those butterflies were ...

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12 Jobs Suited for Home-based Work - How technology makes it easier

For years now, steady advances in mobile communications technology -- including smartphones, high-speed Internet and wireless laptops -- have boosted personal productivity, both at work and at home. But for home-based employees, these handy gadgets have completely transformed their work-life balance, according to findings reported from the June 2009 Kelly Global Workforce Index.<br /><br />The ranks of home-based workers have grown in step with every new development in technology. Let's face it: We'd all rather commute down our own hallways than across town in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But are you actually set up for it?<br /><br />While some types of work, and some types of employees, are better suited to remote working arrangements -- there are also some essential technologies you'll need to have in place to be truly effective. Contemplate these key points as you set your remote career in motion:<br /><br />Jobs and skills that fit home employment<br /><br />Before anything, consider the nature of your existing job skills, or of the home-based position you'd like to attain. Some types of work are especially well-suited for work in the home environment, including:<br /><br />1. Administrative or clerical<br /><br />2. Consulting in fields such as engineering, finance, HR, IT or science<br /><br />3. Contact / call center<br /><br />4. Customer service<br /><br />5. Creative services<br /><br />6. Field sales<br /><br />7. Professional services like accounting, tax or legal<br /><br />8. Research<br /><br />9. Telesales / telemarketing<br /><br />10. Translation<br /><br />11. Writing and editing<br /><br />12. Web design and development<br /><br />Of these categories, customer service and call center jobs in particular will continue to present options for workers seeking a home-based lifestyle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2,062,900 customer service representatives were employed in the United States in 2004. That number is expected to rise 23 percent to 2,534,200 by 2014 -- all while more companies are expected to employ more home-based agents, for related savings on their infrastructure and other cost efficiencies.<br /><br />Technology drives how and where we work<br /><br />Recent findings from a 2009 Kelly Global Workforce Index survey, conducted by global workforce solutions leader Kelly Services indicate that the explosion of mobile communications technology is driving big changes in employee behavior, and a shift in our work-life balance. A large majority, 84 percent of respondents, said technology has boosted their personal productivity.<br /><br />Another 75 percent of respondents agreed that the opportunity provided by devices such as smartphones and laptops to remain in contact with work is a positive development -- even though almost one third are working longer hours as a result. In deciding where to work next, 87 percent reported that a policy for working remotely would be an important factor.<br /><br />Kelly Services executive vice president and chief operating officer, George Corona, confirmed that the spread of mobile technologies is transforming the way that people interact with their work and their attitudes towards employment. "There is an overwhelming view that the technology provides greater flexibility in working arrangements, and a better balance between work and personal life," Corona noted.<br /><br />The survey showed that globally, while Gen Y workers (aged 18-29) are at the forefront of the technology-driven lift in productivity, Gen X (aged 30-47) and baby boomers (aged 48-65) are each experiencing significant efficiency gains as well.<br /><br />Technical job requirements for at-home work<br /><br />A number of personal skills are commonly expected of home-based employees, like exceptional motivation, time management, self-discipline and the determination needed to succeed without much direct supervision.<br /><br />But many capable applicants often overlook the common technical aspects required in working from home including a host of basic necessities, depending on your desired assignment:<br /><br />· A dedicated work space free from household distractions<br /><br />· A desk, chair and work station<br /><br />· A filing cabinet, drawers, shelving and office supplies<br /><br />· A personal computer or laptop, with speakers and sound card preferred<br /><br />· A reliable high-speed or broadband Internet connection<br /><br />· A dedicated phone land line, printer and fax machine<br /><br />· Windows 2003 or higher, plus office, data security and email software<br /><br />· A quality headset<br /><br />The good news? Preferred employers often make home-based workers eligible for a wide range of employee discounts to help obtain this required equipment. Responsibility for installing and maintaining all equipment usually falls on the employee, with IT support.<br /><br />Time well spent<br /><br />"The revolution in personal communications has improved work-life balance through flexible work practices, working from home, and other family-friendly arrangements, while delivering a significant boost to organizational efficiency," Corona concludes. And with technology marching ever forward, these seem like improvements that are here to stay.<br /><br />Without a doubt, the convenience of working from home can allow you to eliminate the time, hassle and expense of commuting. Save gas. Spend more time each day doing the things you enjoy. But like any good idea, just be sure when you're ready to make the switch to home-based employment -- you have the right skills and technology in place to thrive.<br /><br />Kelly Services is a world leader in workforce management services and human resources solutions, providing employment to nearly 650,000 employees annually -- with skills including office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, creative services, light industrial, education, and health care. For more information on home-based employment through Kelly Services, please visit www.kellyworkathome.com. For additional information, please visit www.kellyservices.com.<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>

12 Jobs Suited for Home-based Work - How technology makes it easier

For years now, steady advances in mobile communications technology -- including smartphones, high-speed Internet and wireless laptops -- hav...

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Day 12 - Day 13: I'm not Einstein but I know insanity when I see it

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNGY372Nrfgel1DPR1ikmzKiux2klAXHqa14PttiryyVlUgKLakAgRJni34iGdgemiv-EVaK0ojZujW5-bSjYuCZGiAeZ0YE6kiSJKix41oojyyyQ_8tC-ClRJWaRPnD4vrpeyS9VLN9i/s1600-h/Diana1%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379830413466233618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNGY372Nrfgel1DPR1ikmzKiux2klAXHqa14PttiryyVlUgKLakAgRJni34iGdgemiv-EVaK0ojZujW5-bSjYuCZGiAeZ0YE6kiSJKix41oojyyyQ_8tC-ClRJWaRPnD4vrpeyS9VLN9i/s400/Diana1%5B1%5D.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>158 pounds<br /><br /></div><div align="left">What I'm doing just isn't working, same thing over and over, same shitty results.<br /><br />Sure, I lost 80 pounds, but I can't seem to get this next 23 pounds off of me. It's like it's superglued to my body.<br /><br />My workouts are insane, I've been doing 50 minutes of cardio a day and 45 minutes of strength, usually six days a week. I've been trying to eat 19 Points a day this week because I screwed up last weekend with two 40-Point days. That's totally insane.<br /><br />Not only is the 19 Points insane, I've decided for me, it's impossible. I simply cannot live by eating 19 Points a day. I mean, we're talking around 1,000 calories. I burn about 600 calories during my workouts. Besides the fact I can't do it, I don't want to do it.<br /><br />Have you ever been so hungry when you go to bed, that when you finally go to sleep you have dreams of food? I've actually been waking up in the middle of the night with my mouth moving because I'm dreaming of chewing food.<br /><br />I need to eat to live, not eat so I can be skinny. Screw skinny. Maybe my husband is right, maybe my 135 goal is too low for me. Just because I thought it was a good weight for me 20 years ago doesn't mean it is now.<br /><br />As my husband told me last night, I'm in the best physical condition of my life. It's true. My blood pressure is 110/68, my resting heart rate is 48, my total cholesterol is 117. I'm healthy as a horse.<br /><br />So my thighs aren't stick thin. Were they ever thin? Even at 127 pounds ten years ago I thought my thighs were fat. I'm 5' 6 1/2", and I was wearing size 7 jeans. And I thought my thighs were fat? Maybe it's more about my body image issues than the number on the scale.<br /><br />I'm rethinking my whole goal weight, and this deprivation path I've been on. I've got to stop it. It's insane, it's making me and everyone around me insane. It's become an obsession and it isn't healthy.<br /><br />So, in my best Susan Powter imitation, it's time to STOP THE INSANITY! </div>

Day 12 - Day 13: I'm not Einstein but I know insanity when I see it

158 pounds What I'm doing just isn't working, same thing over and over, same shitty results. Sure, I lost 80 pounds, but I can't...

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When Your Friend Becomes Your Co-Worker - True tales of the good, the bad and the ugly

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/tr/ar5d2y568wn1gcbylbtr.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/tr/ar5d2y568wn1gcbylbtr.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>There's a time in most people's lives when working with their friends seems like a dream come true. Seeing each other all day, every day; exchanging horror stories about the boss you share; multiple lunches, happy hours and company events -- what could be better?<br /><br />For some people, nothing. But for many, nothing could be worse.<br /><br />What happens when your friend becomes your co-worker? Perhaps a better starting place is asking the question of how your friend became your co-worker. What happens when you recommend a friend for a job?<br /><br />Recommending a friend or family member for a position at your company is tricky. On one hand, if your friend does a great job, it reflects positively on you. On the other hand, if his or her performance is less than exemplary, that reflects on you, too. Not to mention the effect recommending (or not recommending) an acquaintance could have on your friendship and your reputation at work.<br /><br />"If your friend does a good job, it can help your reputation at work. You will be seen as having excellent judgment, because this is your friend and you suggested [her] for the job," says Jan Yager, author of "Who's That Sitting at My Desk? Workship, Friendship, or Foe?" "If you recommend someone and your analysis is a mismatch with that individual's abilities or with how he or she fits in with the company, it can negatively impact on the one doing the recommending."<br /><br />We asked our readers about a time when they recommended a friend for a job. Here, they share their stories -- the good, bad and the ugly.<br /><br />The good<br />When I first crossed over into PR, friends from my TV days marveled at how lifestyle-friendly my job is. I decided to share the wealth, getting my good friend Krista hired as a publicist. I knew I was taking a big risk -- if it didn't work, how could our friendship handle her being let go? Would she blame me? I took the risk. It's been almost two years now and Krista is one of our leading publicists. It's also been great for our friendship because now that we don't have TV news in common, we have PR. It's felt so good to help her get a mom-friendly job and in return, she has wowed our CEO.<br /><br />--Valery Hodes, vice president, Orca Communications Unlimited<br /><br />I have an Internet marketing company, Market Conversion. I hired my best friend about a year ago as a consultant. It has been such an amazing experience, that she is now my business partner. I know she is special. She cared about our business as much as I did from the beginning. Because of our close relationship, we are able to talk openly and honestly, even when it's not pretty. I appreciate that when either of us say or do something, the other is able to offer constructive criticism without emotional backlash. It is truly a great relationship.<br /><br />-- Denalee Bell, Market Conversion<br /><br />I have a friend who I babysat for several years when I was in high school. After she graduated from college, she decided she wanted to move to the Washington D.C. area, which happens to be my residence. Her father reached out to me and asked that I take care of her if possible, keeping my eye out for any jobs. I reached out to my top client and called in a favor with one of the managers. He looked at her résumé and said "Greg, she really doesn't fit our position, however if you're 100 percent confident in her abilities, I'll sneak her in." She's now been with that company for five years, and she's in a position that takes most people at least 10 years to reach. Recently I had dinner with that manager, and within 20 minutes, he mentioned how thankful he was that he took a chance on her, and said if ever I need another favor, he'd be more than happy to oblige.<br /><br />-- Greg Gary, managing director for Technisource<br /><br />The bad<br />One day, at the end of class, a student asked to speak to me privately. As she spoke of her divorce, her children and her low-paying job, tears streamed down her face. Sympathy overtook me and I tried to comfort her by saying that a good friend of mine, in the movie industry, was looking to hire a secretary. Salaries tend to be higher in the industry and my student was thrilled. Unfortunately, she did not perform well during the interview. The experience led my friend to forestall all future referrals.<br /><br />-- Marlene Caroselli, Ed.D., keynoter, corporate trainer, author<br /><br />I had a friend I'd known for 25 years -- someone who'd lived with me for free after she relocated, whose wedding invitations I addressed for her, who I'd traveled with -- who I got a job for at the small company where I worked. I was the director of conference management and she ended up as the director of operations, at a company of about 20 employees. After being there for a year, she engineered a "reorganization" that resulted in the elimination of my position. She never said a word leading up to it, and I was given only 24 hours notice that I was being laid off. She never bothered to follow up with me to see how I felt about it. I'll definitely think twice before I recommend another friend for a job at the same company where I work.<br /><br />-- Michelle J. Taunton, CMP<br /><br />The ugly<br />A friend asked me to get her a job in the [modeling] business. Although she had no experience, she was very beautiful and spoke Spanish as well as English, so I thought that with training, she would work well with our Latin accounts. What I did not count on was that she needed no training in sleeping her way to the top. Within months, she had been "promoted" past me and a company vice president was getting a divorce.<br /><br />-- Beverly Solomon, creative director, musee-solomon<br /><br />I did get a friend a job once and will NEVER do it again. I was a program manager for a defense contracting agency and we needed a new administrative assistant in my department. I was told by a congregation member that our mutual friend was in need of a new job and she was very qualified on paper, so we brought her in for an interview. I agreed that I could be a personal reference for her and based on my reputation, it was enough to get her the job. They never checked her other references.<br /><br />It was a nightmare from the first day when she showed up two hours late without calling and then left to go to lunch an hour early. Over the next few weeks she got progressively worse. Her supervisor spoke with her to no avail, so I stepped in. I told her that she had two weeks to make noticeable improvements or she would not be kept after her probationary period was up.<br /><br />She called my Father (yes, she told my daddy on me) and several congregational elders to tell them that I was threatening her because I was jealous, and that she didn't feel safe. When the time came to let her go, I made sure that I sat in on her exit interview, in which they enumerated the many times that she was late to work, her poor job performance and her general attitude. When asked if she had any questions or wanted to say anything, she looked at me and said, "I thought you were my friend and had my back on this."<br /><br />To this day, I will not hire people that I know. The only people who have a personal relationship with me that are in the company are my children -- and they know that I will fire them quicker than any other employee.<br /><br />-- Andrea Frayser, founder/CEO, ANDE Cosmetics & Natural Products<br /><br />I got my sister a job and now we work more closely together (I'm her boss's boss). I've been very careful at work. I never hired her or protected her job. In fact, twice I had to tell her manager I thought they were giving her too generous a raise and lowered it. But it has impacted our personal relationship. Work is always there. And right now is the worst ... she is ghost-writing a book that will come out in my name -- and she's the big sister. It also affects family time. At Thanksgiving, she was telling our dad she was worried about job security and hoped "they" didn't fire her. I, of course, am part of "they." She also doesn't take feedback from me like she does from her direct boss or other editors. People do tell me I'm tougher on her than others. I guess I worry too much about favoring her and the pendulum swings the other way. It is tough but we're both committed to it and we talk about the issues as they come up -- and try not to involve anyone else.<br /><br />-- Jenny Thompson, chief operating officer, Health Subsidiaries, Agora Inc<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: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ. </div><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

When Your Friend Becomes Your Co-Worker - True tales of the good, the bad and the ugly

There's a time in most people's lives when working with their friends seems like a dream come true. Seeing each other all day, every...

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Team Builder or Time Waster? - Five Signs Your Meeting Is Sapping Productivity

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7n/ar5c5qc77715sbdp7c7n.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7n/ar5c5qc77715sbdp7c7n.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Anyone who has worked in an office environment knows that meetings are inevitable. They also know that many of these gatherings seem to serve no purpose. In fact, executives surveyed by Robert Half said that 28 percent of meetings are a waste of time.<br /><br />Often, you'll be the person in charge of leading a meeting, so it's important to be able to distinguish between a gathering that's necessary and one that's taking time out of everyone's day. Here are a few signs that your meeting could be a time-waster -- and suggestions for how to correct that:<br /><br />1. You've left nothing out.<br />While it's a good idea to have a meeting agenda, it shouldn't start to look like a follow-up to "War and Peace." The onus is on you, as the organizer, to determine what must be covered and what can be left out. Ask yourself if each person who's attending has a stake in the majority of items on the agenda. If not, then you either need to trim the list of invitees or revise the plan. Also, just because you've set aside a certain period of time for the get-together, that doesn't mean you need to fill every minute. Look through the agenda for repetitive items, which can be combined, or topics that can be left for another meeting.<br /><br />2. You've invited everyone you can think of.<br />Look through your list of attendees to determine if everyone must be included in the discussion. Often, people are invited as a courtesy instead of out of necessity. A lengthy participant list also may indicate that you are trying to accomplish too much in a single meeting. For instance, say you've been tasked with scheduling a meeting about your company's Web site redesign. You decide to invite all the Web designers, software engineers, writers and editors. The problem is the technical jargon may go over the heads of those on the editorial team, while the discussion on types of content and article lengths won't be relevant to the IT group. In that instance, it's best to plan two separate, shorter meetings, both of which will be much more targeted.<br /><br />3. The meeting runs longer than an hour.<br />Time is a precious commodity, especially in a recession, when everyone is being asked to take on more work. So having people sit in a meeting for longer than an hour is asking a lot. Plus, it's likely that attendees will start to lose focus as the gathering runs on. If you must schedule more time, try to get people to interact, offer them snacks or vary the speakers to help everyone remain engaged. For very long meetings, schedule a break so people can stretch their legs and check their messages.<br /><br />4. There are too many visual elements.<br />Visuals, such as PowerPoint slides, can be effective for simplifying more complex ideas or reinforcing information. But they can also bog down the discussion. Instead, distribute the visual elements to attendees before the get-together, so everyone has time to review them. Because participants will be familiar with the information when they get to the meeting, you can simply highlight the most important parts, and move through the agenda more quickly.<br /><br />5. They're becoming a habit.<br />If you have regularly scheduled meetings, you may want to step back and determine if it's necessary to continue doing so. For instance, if you're having a difficult time coming up with enough agenda items for each gathering, or the meetings are getting progressively shorter, you may need to adjust the frequency.<br /><br />By paying attention to the various dynamics of the gatherings you schedule and making adjustments as necessary, you'll know that the get-togethers you organize are successful and that the participants will find them valuable as well.<br /><br />Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.rhi.com/. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></strong></div>

Team Builder or Time Waster? - Five Signs Your Meeting Is Sapping Productivity

Anyone who has worked in an office environment knows that meetings are inevitable. They also know that many of these gatherings seem to serv...

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How to Be Indispensable at Work

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gf/ar5f4gn622tl3yvpw1gf.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gf/ar5f4gn622tl3yvpw1gf.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>The global economy has taken a big hit, and millions of Americans have lost their jobs. All of us, it seems, are vulnerable. How can you increase the odds that you won't become a grim statistic of company downsizing?<br /><br />The answer? Create your own personal brand. In today's uncertain financial environment, if you're just another face at the water cooler, you run a far greater risk of ending up in the unemployment line. Branding yourself is one of the best preventive strategies to make sure you survive and even thrive in the workplace. Think of your personal brand as a bankaccount that will only increase in worth the more effort, thought, imagination, and resources you put into it. Here are a few tips on how to get started.<br /><br />Define who you are (and who you aren't)<br />Ask yourself what makes you different from your colleagues at work. Your punctuality and sense of responsibility? Your ability to juggle multiple tasks without losing your cool? One of the best ways to create a personal brand is to take two everyday tasks and combine them in an extraordinary way. For example, let's say you're a cashier in a big-box store and you enjoy sitting in its fast-food emporium during your breaks. Is there anything you've observed that might be valuable for management to know about -- for instance, that customers wish there were more prepackaged sandwiches and salads? Let management know. By sharing your observations, you'll set yourself apart from the competition.<br /><br />Real People, Real Salaries: Check out what everyday Americans are making across the country<br /><br />Become well known for one thing<br />Think for a moment about the high-profile brands that surround us every day. They each have a single phrase you can instantly apply to them: Google (search engine), Volvo (safe car), Coca-Cola (all-American), Marlboros (cowboys -- hey, sorry, but it's the truth).<br /><br />Now, what's the one adjective or phrase you imagine comes to mind when your co-workers think about you? Listener? Mentor? Funny? Dependable? Captain Crisis? If there isn't one, then create it. Next, begin to live it. Why just a single word? Because as a culture, we are flooded with too much information, whether we're tweeting, e-mailing, juggling cellphone calls. Amid this barrage of white noise, individuals who can attract attention via a simple association have a decided advantage.<br /><br />Communicate your brand<br />Once you've decided on the phrase that best sums you up, consider making an impression online. I can hear you now: "I can't start a website! What on earth would I put on it?" C'mon -- the Internet is the most influential medium in the world, and creating a personal website is easy and inexpensive. Ask yourself: What do I have to say that's fresh and provocative? If you can come up with some intriguing observations or a new angle or point of view, then you're well on your way to creating a solid online presence.<br /><br />For example: A young guy was working at the Gap when he got an idea for a video blog: a gay man giving advice about fashion trends. Hundreds of thousands of hits later (not to mention increased traffic across Gap stores nationwide), the employee had made his mark. By doling out free, useful, tongue-in-cheek advice from a novel perspective, he succeeded in creating an indelible personal brand.<br /><br />Create a signature look<br />Now that you've figured out what sets you apart from the other faces in the crowd, make sure you keep at it! Most famous people, for example, have one component or element that makes them instantly recognizable, appealing, or mysterious. It could be Clint Eastwood's squint, Barack Obama's cool intelligence, or Will Ferrell's goofiness, just to take three examples. Believe me, these elements aren't going anywhere soon.<br /><br />Sneak a peek at celebrity paychecks<br /><br />For most of my career as a global-branding expert, I've dressed head-to-toe in black. Apart from my work, it's how people recognize me, occasionally even in the streets. Every now and then, I mix things up by wearing other colors. And guess what? People walk right past me, completely oblivious. So, without being flamboyant about it, find a signature look that works for you, then stick with it. You'll become the equivalent of a celebrity in your office -- and ensure you keep your job long after the recession has become a distant memory.<br /><br />Leave a personal mark behind<br /><br />Most business cards bore you silly, right? You tuck them inside your wallet or purse, then promptly forget about them. My advice: Create a distinctive mark or "signature" that other people can't get out of their minds. It can be a logo, a symbol, or a saying you affix to the end of your personal e-mails. Once again, combine two elements that have nothing to do with each other -- flying monkeys, for example. Whenever I think about The Wizard of Oz, those horrible flying monkeys spring immediately to mind. Why? Because as we all know, monkeys don't have wings (at least the ones I know). If you create an equally dramatic mark or signature, I guarantee no one will ever overlook you.<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>

How to Be Indispensable at Work

The global economy has taken a big hit, and millions of Americans have lost their jobs. All of us, it seems, are vulnerable. How can you inc...

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Difficult Co-Workers Getting You Down?

It's pretty easy to recognize when working with a difficult co-worker has gotten the best of you. Just consider the warning signs:<br /><br />You routinely "roast" that person with others over lunch.<br /><br />You have to unwind with a glass of wine at the end of the day.<br /><br />You've even devised an elaborate path to the restroom to avoid passing that co-worker's cubicle.<br /><br />The time to ditch these tactics has arrived. After all, has venting about co-workers or avoiding them entirely ever made them any more pleasant to be around? Chances are they're just as moody, emotionally-draining or as high maintenance as ever -- and you're still miserable around them.<br /><br />Robert Orndorff and Dulin Clark know your plight and have written an entire book, "The PITA Principle," on how to deal with difficult co-workers. They've even developed a nickname for these people -- PITA -- which stands for "pain in the ass."<br /><br />"We were drawn to the PITA expression because it says it all in a few simple words. It's a language spoken in private office chats, in whispered exchanges in mailrooms, at happy hours, during dinner-table discussions, or through self-talk in the most private recesses of our own minds," Orndorff and Clark say.<br /><br />They acknowledge that the world of work is made up of all kinds of difficult co-workers. From the whiney and the pompous to the prima donnas and the slobs, every workplace has at least one -- if not several -- employees who alienate others on a daily basis. In their book, Orndorff and Clark group these types of co-workers into various types of PITAs, such as "Overstuffed PITA" and "Crusty PITA", and outline unique coping strategies for each.<br /><br />"You might wonder why understanding a difficult co-worker is an important part of coping with them. Why not just act or respond? We believe that by understanding a difficult person or a specific interaction with them increases your likelihood of having a more desirable outcome. This way you can tailor your approach to them based on a reasoned strategy, rather than reacting emotionally," Orndorff and Clark say.<br /><br />Another important concept in dealing with difficult people is to avoid becoming one. In addition to "pain in the ass," Orndorff and Clark use the PITA acronym to stand for "professionals increasing their awareness." These types of PITAs are able to maximize their experience in the workplace because they work to evaluate themselves, accept others' differences and improve their behavior and attitude in the workplace.<br /><br />"PITAs of the pain in the ass variety do exist in a variety of types and behaviors. It's equally, if not more important, to understand that the only way to avoid this colorful label is to work on being more self-aware, less defensive and more willing to take an honest look at how well you are relating to others," they say.<br /><br />Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. 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>

Difficult Co-Workers Getting You Down?

It's pretty easy to recognize when working with a difficult co-worker has gotten the best of you. Just consider the warning signs: You r...

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Are You Burned Out?

Almost anyone who has held a job knows the twinge of dread on Sunday evenings as the countdown to the workweek nears its final hours. Friday afternoon becomes the light at the end of a dark, five-day tunnel.<br /><br />For most people, this is a momentary feeling that comes along when work is particularly stressful or when it's been too long since a vacation. Unfortunately, that feeling doesn't disappear for many workers. If you can relate, then you might be burned out on your job.<br /><br />"Most people will experience temporary periods of burnout or imbalance," says Jim Bouchard, author of "Dynamic Components of Personal Power." "Long periods of imbalance can be dangerous to your health, destructive to your relationships and can endanger your job."<br /><br />How do you know when you've crossed from a rough patch into a burnout?<br /><br />Burnout creeps up and you don't know until you're in the midst of it, says Dr. Todd Dewett, author of the book "Leadership Redefined."<br /><br />"It does not happen overnight. It happens in tiny little chunks slowly. This is why it is difficult to read any given instance for what it is, let alone judge where you are in the process of becoming burned out."<br /><br />If you're not sure whether you're just having a bad day or are experiencing something worse, here are some signs that you're burning out, according to Dewett:<br /><br />Your professional relationships don't matter anymore.<br />If the breakroom chats and hallway conversations with your colleagues went from fun diversions to nonexistent, your heart is obviously not in the job anymore.<br /><br />The quality of your work isn't what it used to be.<br />When you're disillusioned with your job, you're not going to perform to your best abilities. Maybe you don't notice the drop in quality or maybe you do notice but just don't care.<br /><br />You're no longer goal-oriented.<br />When your motivation is getting to the end of the day instead of getting that new job title, something's not right.<br /><br />Recognizing that you're burned out is a good first step, but it won't mean much unless you take action to change the situation. Talk about it, both to yourself and to other people, Dewett suggests. When you share your newfound realization with the important people in your life, you make a strong commitment to doing something about it, he says.<br /><br />Here are some other ways to beat burnout:<br /><br />Spice up your routine. Figure out what new responsibility you are capable and willing to assume and ask that it be given to you. "You may have to apologize and/or show a rejuvenated effort at work in order to get what you are asking for," Dewett warns, "but do it because new variety and stimulation is vital to overcome burnout."<br /><br />Rediscover your motivation. "Goals work. Be specific and set deadlines," Dewett recommends. Analyze each goal and figure out what skills you will gain, what new experiences you will have and whom you might meet. "Make the goals at least modestly challenging, and feel free to share them with others to increase your commitment," Dewett encourages.<br /><br />Have a plan. Create a list of skills you need to obtain, people you need to network with, financial items to take care of, and overall steps you need to take to get into a job or business that you are passionate about.<br /><br />Sometimes you need to remove yourself from the situation if you want to make any progress. If your boss has written you off entirely, if you don't have the resources to improve your skills or you were never a fit for the job, Dewett says there's no way to work from within the system. For example, if you're an accountant whose passion has always been photography and not numbers, you can't make yourself love your current job. So don't be afraid to make the jump to a better career.<br /><br />Anthony Balderrama is a 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>

Are You Burned Out?

Almost anyone who has held a job knows the twinge of dread on Sunday evenings as the countdown to the workweek nears its final hours. Friday...

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What Do You Do When the Boss Isn't Looking?

"When the cat's away, the mice will play," is a term most of you can relate to. As employees, when your manager is gone – be it on vacation or just away from her desk – you're like a teenager whose parents are out of town.<br /><br />You sneak out early or come in late. You chitchat with co-workers more frequently, usually about nonwork-related things. You make personal phone calls, take extra-long lunches – heck, maybe you'll even enjoy a cocktail with your meal.<br /><br />Perhaps the most frequent misbehaviors that occur when your boss isn't looking happen on the Internet. Whether you're surfing the Net, checking your personal e-mail, paying bills, shopping or updating your personal blog – it's all happening under your boss's unsuspecting nose.<br /><br />Or is it?<br /><br />Fifty percent of all employers report they monitor employees' Internet usage, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Eighteen percent of employers have fired an employee for using the Internet for nonwork-related activities.<br /><br />Another survey by the American Management Association and The ePolicy Institute shows more than one-fourth of employers have fired workers for misusing e-mail and nearly one-third have fired employees for misusing the Internet in general.<br /><br />When the boss is gone, the world of technology is a worker's oyster. Here are the most common things we do when our bosses aren't looking.<br /><br />You "research"<br /><br />Sixty-one percent of workers use the Internet for nonwork-related research and activities while they're at work, according to CareerBuilder.com. On average, 20 percent of these workers spend more than an hour of their workday on nonwork-related online activities and 9 percent spend more than two hours.<br /><br />With those stats, it's no wonder employers are concerned with employees searching inappropriate Web sites from work computers. Sixty-six percent of companies monitor employees' Internet connections, while 65 percent use software to block connections to inappropriate sites, according to the management association. Employers who block content are concerned workers will visit sexual or pornographic sites (96 percent); games sites (61 percent); social networking sites (50 percent); entertainment sites (40 percent); shopping sites (27 percent) and sports sites (21 percent).<br /><br />Of the 30 percent of bosses who've fired employees for Internet misuse, 84 percent did so because the employee was downloading, viewing or uploading inappropriate or offensive content; 48 percent because of a violation of company policy; and 34 percent due to excessive personal use.<br /><br />You e-mail<br /><br />Many workers use e-mail as their only form of communication – not only with co-workers but also with friends and family. Sixty percent of workers say they send non-work related e-mails at work, with 20 percent saying they send six or more e-mails per day, according to CareerBuilder.com. Twenty-two percent of those workers spend more than 30 minutes during the workday doing so.<br /><br />The 28 percent of employers who have fired workers for e-mail misuse did so for the following reasons: violation of company policy (64 percent); inappropriate or offensive language (62 percent); excessive personal use (26 percent); and breach of confidentiality rules (22 percent), according to the management association.<br /><br />You instant message<br /><br />Everyone engages in a little chitchat now and then, but workers are using methods other than their mouths to do so. Twenty-one percent of workers say they send instant messages while at work and 45 percent of those people say IMing makes them more productive, according to CareerBuilder.com.<br /><br />You socially network<br /><br />Instead of opening your Outlook first thing in the morning, do you update your Facebook status? You aren't alone – 37 percent of employees surveyed by CareerBuilder.com have a social networking profile and one-third of them spend time on their social networking page during the workday. Nine percent spend 30 minutes or more doing so.<br /><br />Fifty percent of employers surveyed by the management association block social networking sites.<br /><br />You talk on the phone<br /><br />Are you calling Mom every morning from the office to check in? Start using your cell phone instead – 45 percent of employers monitor the time you spend on the phone and the numbers you're calling, while an additional 16 percent record phone conversations, according to the management association. Six percent of employers have fired employees for misuse or private use of their office phone.<br /><br />You blog<br /><br />The "blogosphere" is taking over the Internet and becoming a "must have" space for employers and employees alike. Twelve percent of workers have a personal blog and 20 percent of them update it at work, according to CareerBuilder.com. Of those people, 6percent spend 30 minutes or more blogging.<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: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>

What Do You Do When the Boss Isn't Looking?

"When the cat's away, the mice will play," is a term most of you can relate to. As employees, when your manager is gone – be i...

Read more »