Moving Forward After a Job Loss

by Marc Hertz, Robert Half International


You've been with your company for a few years and enjoy what you do. Then one day, you get called into your boss's office and are told the organization is making some changes -- you've been let go. What do you do next?

If you've lost a job, the future can feel uncertain, especially in today's economic climate. But with a plan in place and the right attitude, you can increase your chances of finding a new position quickly.

Here are some tips:

Mourn the loss. Take the time you need to recover from the shock, but try not to dwell on the situation. Realize that as difficult as a layoff is, you will get through it. In fact, most people have lost a job at some point in their careers, and some even feel it has led to better opportunities.

Do some soul searching. You may need to find a job immediately and can't afford to be picky about what you do next. But if you have the luxury of time, consider if you want to follow the same career path or veer in another direction. It's possible that you weren't passionate about your former job or that you've thought about other options that you have yet to pursue. Consider your interests and how they align with your skills and experience.

It's easiest to seek something related to what you've been doing so you can take advantage of your transferable skills. For instance, if you've worked as a legal secretary and you're interested in becoming a paralegal, you can utilize your background working in law firms. Keep in mind, though, that you may have to pursue additional training or earn a specialized credential, such as a paralegal certificate.

In addition, if you're in an industry like manufacturing, where downsizing has occurred, you may consider looking into sectors that offer growth prospects, such as health care.

Use your network. This is the time to utilize the network you've built over your professional career. Get in touch with former coworkers and supervisors, business contacts, friends, and family members to let them know that you're looking for new opportunities. Be specific about what skills you can offer a potential employer and what type of position you seek to give people a better chance of helping you. Meanwhile, continue to expand your network. Attend industry conferences and alumni functions, and explore online networking avenues such as LinkedIn or Facebook.

Register with a staffing firm. As the old saying goes, two heads are better than one. When you register with a staffing firm, a representative from the company will look for a suitable full-time or temporary position for you, effectively doubling your job search efforts. You also can build skills and earn money by taking on interim assignments. In addition, a staffing manager can help you revamp your resume, and you may have access to free training so you can fill any skills gaps you might possess.

The ability to maintain a positive attitude has a lot to do with being able to recover from a job loss. Don't overlook the value of getting support from loved ones. Chances are that some of them have gone through similar experiences, and they can offer valuable advice that will help you as you move forward in your professional life.

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 rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.

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Working Vacation: Jobs in a Winter Wonderland

by Kim Ruehl, PayScale.com


Considering the recent economic turbulence, you might have given up on a winter getaway this year. Who can afford the time off work, much less the high price of flights, hotels, and rental cars? Hang on, snow lover! There is a golden path to free lift tickets! Why not work for a season at your favorite ski resort?

Whether you'd like an easy job that lets you ski most days or you're actually looking for career advancement, there are plenty of options for getting away this winter without breaking the bank. Check out these two success stories for some inspiration.

Hard-Core Ski Nut

Does the sight of fresh powder sailing past your goggles make you come alive? Well, you should consider following the tracks of Jeremy Milo. A Stanford University grad planning to get an MBA, Milo decided to take a break before business school and work ski patrol at North Star ski resort near Lake Tahoe. Now working for Google, Milo wistfully recalls the joys and challenges he experienced during that awesome winter.

Great friends. Milo especially enjoyed the interesting folks he met from around the world. He says, "A lot of the people would be seasonal then go to South America or Australia to work during winter there. It was a very international crew."

Paid with perks. Just how much is that season's ski pass worth to you? Hopefully, a lot -- since you're unlikely to find a high-paying seasonal gig outside of waitressing and bartending. Milo recalls making barely more than $8/hour in 2001. But, for him, it wasn't about the paycheck; it was about more moguls. Plus, he says that resorts often work together so that you can ski for free on nearby mountains and trails. This is a great advantage, Milo says, because "sometimes skiing where you work is the last thing you want to do on your day off."

Physically demanding. Whether you drive a snow plow, stand at the lifts all day, or fit ski rentals, mountain gigs can be hard work for your body. If your current job has you sitting at a desk all day, some physical activity might come as a welcome relief. Ski patrol is an extreme example of that, says Milo: "You're an ambulance on skis out there. You feel like you worked hard at the end of day."

Spa Bunny

Maybe you'd like to experience the relaxed mountain lifestyle but don't want to work outdoors. There are always office, retail, and restaurant gigs to choose from. Or, how about working in a spa? Sarah Komyate moved to Big Sky Resort in Montana a year ago to join an independent massage practice.

"When I finished massage school in Seattle," she says, "I found an ad looking for a massage therapist out here. I came on vacation in February 2007, interviewed, and moved out for the job last November."

Plenty of clients. Business really thrives in the winter because demand is high. "Our massage business has a location in the village, a room in one of the hotels, and we do a lot of outcalls to people's homes," Komyate says.

Back to nature. For most seasonal workers the greatest perk of working in a ski town is the natural beauty. "We get to live in a remote, very peaceful place in the world. We rarely drive on the freeway, there is wildlife all around us, and it's beautiful here," says Komyate. She adds that despite the increasingly high amount of clients and busy days on the job, "It's just a low-stress place. If you're looking for some peace, solitude, and a few good people then definitely [try working a season]."

Deep discounts. While working for an independent firm doesn't score you unbridled free access to the mountains, your employer may be able to afford you discount lift tickets. Komyate says, "I would rather work for a small business and make better money." Meanwhile, her employer is still able to afford her a sizable discount on a pass for the whole season: $500 off the retail price.

So, if you find yourself daydreaming of double black diamonds, apply now! Seasonal positions are already filling up for this winter. Just pick your favorite place -- Breckenridge, Jackson Hole, Alta, or Sugarbush -- and make your "working vacation" happen this year.

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You Already Have What It Takes to Be a Manager

How School-Yard Lessons Can Pay Off
by C.J. Liu, PayScale.com


Remember all the advice you got as a kid about playing fair at recess, sharing in the classroom, and doing your homework on time? Being a great manager requires pretty much the same set of skills. The only difference is that this time around you get to be the captain of the kickball team.

Be yourself. As a leader you want to be authentic. Know your strengths, skills, and what you stand for. Your job is then to make your actions, thoughts, and words line up with who you are. Your employees will appreciate your consistency.

Do the right thing. No one wants to follow someone they don't trust. Trust is earned by walking your talk. If you want people to be on time to meetings, do it yourself first.

Be nice to others. Believe it or not, you can treat your employees respectfully and see big profits at the same time. When your team stays late to hit a last-minute deadline, take the time to acknowledge them and offer some comp time as a reward. They'll be more likely to stand by your side and less likely to complain.

Use your words. Clear communication is the key to success as a manager. Make sure that your employees understand the team's goals and what success looks like. Everyone should know who is responsible for which tasks and what the deadlines are. This method keeps finger-pointing to a minimum and reduces the chance that things will fall through the cracks.

Clean your room. There will be times when you have to do things you don't like to do. Saying "no," firing someone and delivering hard feedback are tough tasks for any leader. Before pulling the trigger, make sure you have all of your facts straight and aren't acting impulsively. Instead, act for the good of the whole. That way you'll have better luck sleeping at night.

Follow the rules. Just like the playground, your organization has both stated and unstated rules of conduct. Pay attention so you know which behaviors are considered out of bounds. Is it going to be career suicide if you don't play hoops with the boys on Fridays? Will wearing heels and pearls help or hurt your chance at a promotion?

Pick a winning team. Similar to picking sides for kickball, you want the most skilled group with the best ability to produce results. Choose people who compliment your strengths and make up for your shortcomings. If you're good at staying organized but struggle to come up with fresh ideas, be sure to hire at least one person who is creative and can help you dream big.

C.J. Liu is a certified professional coach, who helps professionals define success on their own terms. C.J. offers leadership training retreats and also has taught for the University of Washington.

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The Secret Technique of Hiring Managers

How to Anticipate and Succeed in Behavioral Interviews
by Jen A. Miller, Experience.com


Let's be honest: Coming out of college, you probably don't have that much real world experience. So how are you going to talk about past experiences in a job interview for a sales position if you haven't sold anything? And how is a potential employer going to gauge whether you'd be a good fit for the company?

Hiring managers have a secret -- it's called behavioral interviewing, a technique developed in the 1970s for employers who were frustrated that the people they interviewed turned out to be much different than the people they actually hired.

What Behavioral Interviews Show

Why the big deal about it? One study showed that behavioral interviews were 55 percent predictive of future job behavior while traditional interviews clocked in at only 10 percent. And behavioral interviewing also cuts through resume exaggerations -- according to the Society of Human Resource Management, 51 percent of resumes have inaccuracies.

If you're being asked open-ended questions that force you to draw on events that have happened in your life to answer, you've got yourself a behavioral interview. The difference between "What's your weakness"? and "Tell me about a time you failed at something" might not seem like much, but it forces you to give a different kind of answer.

"Employers love behavioral-based interviewing because it allows them to see patterns that are often missed when people are answering basic questions," says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, principal of Human Resource Solutions, an HR consulting firm. "Employers can get past what a candidate says and focus on how they respond."

Behavioral interviewing also helps employers get over that hurdle of experience, so any experience you've had is fair game -- extracurricular activities, Greek life, relationships. You can even go back to things that happened to you in Boy or Girl Scouts, or on a sports team.

Simple Preparation Tips

Some employers like behavioral interviews because they think you can't prepare for it. Think again. No matter how many employers say you can't prepare for them, you can still dig deep into your memory before the interview and be ready to talk experiences that could fit situations your potential employer throws at you.

Here are some questions you might encounter, courtesy of Scott Weighart, author of "Find Your First Professional Job: A Guide to Co-ops, Interns and Full-Time Job Seekers":

Tell me about a time you:

* failed at something
* had to take an unpopular stand
* really had to go way above and beyond
* had to show exceptional attention to detail
* dealt well with a difficult colleague/co-worker
* showed that you can multitask under pressure


Make sure you prepare your stories, too -- you might be able to wing it, but you won't give the best answers if you do.

And don't even think of making stuff up. "You don't want to invent stories about yourself that aren't true. Those would be seen through pretty quickly because you need so much detail," says Weighart.


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7 Fun and Frugal Office Holiday Celebrations

by C.J. Liu, PayScale.com


This holiday season you may find your company party budget a bit sobering. While it's tempting to bring forth your Ebenezer Scrooge, remember that the holiday spirit is more about investing in and valuing relationships than spending on an expensive party.

According to an October 2008 survey by Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, Inc., an outplacement consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, 13 percent of all businesses surveyed will be spending less than they did last year on holiday parties, with budget cuts expected to average 53 percent. More than half of the employers holding parties are having them on a workday or near the end of the workday.

To help you appreciate each other without breaking the bank, here are seven, low-cost office celebration ideas:

1. Make music. You can learn a lot about a person through their musical tastes. Have each person on the team share their favorite winter tune for a group CD. Then, host a CD release party, complete with holiday cookies and hot apple cider.

2. Give a pat on the back. You dream of the day that your boss and coworkers will lavish praise upon you. Why not experience it now? Do a Secret Santa exchange where each person draws three different names out of a hat then writes holiday cards to those three coworkers describing what they most appreciate about them.

3. Enjoy festive foods. Share what the holiday spirit means to you -- with food. Have each person bring a traditional family dish accompanied by a story about who usually made it for them, why it's a favorite and the recipe.

4. Do a favor. Wouldn't it be a treat to have your own personal assistant? Have everyone in the office create a wish list of ways they'd like to be pampered, from having copies made to lunch delivery. Next, put the lists in a hat, have everyone pick out one and then enjoy both giving and receiving.

5. Give to others. How about some office competition for a cause? Divide coworkers into teams and have each team pick a charity they want to support. Then, go bowling and let each team donate a certain sum of company money based upon their bowling record.

6. Relive your childhood. Isn't the best thing about the holiday season reliving your childhood? Have a game day where you play favorite childhood games like pin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs. You'll feel like a kid again.

7. Play truth-or-dare. Create a bunch of work-friendly, holiday-related truth-0r-dare questions. Find out when your boss first learned about Santa Claus or laugh as the finance group serenades the front office staff with "Jingle Bells."


C.J. Liu is a certified, professional coach who helps professionals define success on their own terms. C.J. offers life, business, and career coaching and can answer your questions at cjliu@mywholelife.net.

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6 Unusual High-Paying Careers

by Gabby Hyman, FindTheRightSchool.com


American job titles and responsibilities are constantly morphing to suit the economic and cultural transitions of our madcap age. Euphemisms are often the way recruiters dress up old job titles to narrow the field to specialists. A "hash slinger" is now termed a "culinary resource professional." Kidding aside, today's workers are often forced by marketplace realities to undergo at least one rapid job change over their adult lives. Many enroll at online colleges and trade schools to garner fresh skills that fit their experience and previous training.

Some of these hot new careers you may have never heard of are "green-collar" jobs. These jobs are on the rise as the business world responds to dramatic increases in energy costs and environmental regulation. And while disposable income seems threatened by a roller-coaster economy, other new careers are springing up to suit those who have cash to spend.

Here are six hot career fields you may not have heard of:

Eco Tourism Director

Traditional hospitality careers are increasingly marching to the ecotourism drumbeat. According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is growing at three times the rate of traditional vacationing, increasing annually up to 30 percent. If you're just preparing for the field, seek an associate's degree in hospitality, travel, or tourism. If you're already aboard, why not train to manage a hotel, bed and breakfast, spa, or resort with a graduate degree in business or hospitality? The majority of lodging managers are self-employed professionals. Top earners in 2007 averaged $83,240 for the year.

Professional Hacker

Ever hear of a certified ethical hacker? That's the professional IT certification for a computer scientist that works as a security specialist, forensic investigator, or network defense architect for corporations, the government, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent hacking or to track down perpetrators. To get into the field, you'll need more than the hacking skills you tweaked together in your garage. Begin by earning a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology. You can get additional online college training in network security. The top 50 percent of computer scientists earned between $97,970 and $123,900 in 2007.

Pet Psychologist

Don't be so shocked. Even Sparky sometimes needs help to keep from gnawing through the neighbor's bed of prized roses. Once the local vet has ruled out physical ailments that can contribute to rude pet behavior, people who love their animals may need to call in a trained, certified behaviorist or pet psychologist. As with human patients, pets can be analyzed and taught to act contrary to destructive impulses. There are even certified applied animal behaviorists. To get into the field, you'll need a master's or doctorate degree in psychology, preferably with additional work in zoology and animal behavior. Salaries vary greatly by locale, but can be upwards of $90,000 a year.

Conservation Consultant

There are companies who are greatly concerned with increasing energy efficiency. And there are those with a conscience, striving to reduce their carbon footprint. When Yahoo! decided to go carbon-neutral by 2007, they hired a director of energy strategy and climate change. Combine your thirst for conservation with an engineering degree to prepare for this thriving field. The U.S. Labor Department predicts a hefty 25 percent increase in environmental engineers during the 2006-2016 decade. In 2007, the top 50 percent earned between $70,000 and $106,000.

Fashion Consultant/Personal Shopper

Among those who care about their appearance, many are born with amazing taste; some have to work for it. Fashion designers and consultants help those who can afford personal attention to transform their image. You can be the one to consult on hair, makeup, and fashion--and then be the one to take your clients shopping. Get career training through an associate's or bachelor's degree program in fashion design. Top earners in the fashion design trades in 2007 took home $121,640 on average.

Mobile Experience Architect

The cool streaming videos and eye-popping CD covers that get delivered to the screens of millions of cell phones and PDAs each hour are designed to make you spend money. Information architects create the structure and mind-manipulating patterns (site maps) of each mobile delivery. You'll need to learn about marketing, strategy, and user testing through a degree program in computer science, Web design, or business. There's even an IT certification for professional mobile architects. Salaries range into six figures.

As our world rapidly evolves, it's no surprise that the work landscape is evolving as well. You can prepare for and keep up with the changes by updating your training and credentials.


Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.

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Choosing Your Resume Strategy

Should You Be a Specialist or Generalist?
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


In a buyer's (and increasingly picky buyer's) market, you may be tempted to throw all your skills on the resume, praying that the sheer variety of your experiences will overwhelm an employer. After all, you wouldn't want a potential employer to overlook that one gem in your background that could really set you apart.

But does the generalist resume work best today? Not necessarily. Recruiters say emphasizing the breadth of your experience depends on what you're looking for.

The Generalist's Advantages

Positioning yourself as a generalist could be effective if you:

Target small companies. "A company with than 500 employees may see a job seeker with a broad base of skills as giving them more for their money," Dave Upton, founder and CEO of ExecuNet, tells Yahoo! HotJobs. At tiny companies or start-ups, a broad array of skills is often essential due to the need to wear different hats, Upton added.

Target downsizing companies. Organizations that consolidate functions will often want someone who can do many things, such as a single HR generalist who can handle compensation and benefits as well as recruiting functions, says Stefanie Cross-Wilson, co-president of recruitment and talent management at Hudson.

Will take any job. Recruiters agree that the scattershot approach yields scattershot results even in the best of times. But if you simply want a foot in the door of a company -- any company, doing anything, anywhere -- selling yourself as a jack-of-all trades could pay off.

The Specialist Positioning

Selling yourself as a specialist is preferable if you:

Know exactly what you're looking for. If you're sure about what you want and know how your skills match up to the requirements, make the case that you're the one they need and don't muddy your resume with a variety of unrelated skills.

Work in a competitive industry. These days, employers who used to receive dozens of resumes for a position may see hundreds or thousands. The person who fits the job best, particularly in a competitive field, is more likely to get the job than someone who can do a bit of everything, recruiters say.

Seek a job requiring specialized skills. An employer filling a job that requires deep knowledge of industrial automation, forensic accounting, or video game design, to name a few, can usually find a candidate with the exact skills to match the job. If you don't have the specific skills, your knowledge of gardening, accounting, or music theory, while nice to have, won't make up that deficit.

The Best Approach

Still not sure which approach is best? Recruiters recommend playing it safe by positioning yourself as a "specialist, with breadth." To do this:

* Research a job opening and the company to find out exactly what skills are needed, and what other skills might be useful.
* Emphasize the depth of your expertise in the most necessary job skills -- the ones that actually match the job description -- and add your compatible skills at the bottom of the resume.
* Don't send out a hodgepodge resume. You're more likely to confuse the recruiter or the hiring manager, who may think of you as a dabbler without depth.

This tactic, recruiters say, will cover your bases by showing the breadth and depth of your skills, and that could be a winning combination in a tight job market.

"When more people are vying for the same jobs it's even more important to show your skills fit well," says Lindsay Olson, partner and recruiter, Paradigm Staffing. "If you are a generalist, then you should be able to tweak your resume to fit the position. A resume should show me how you fit the requirements, not make me guess."

Cross-Wilson agrees: "If you possess the 'nice to have' skills, then show them, but not at the expense of the 'must have' skills. In most cases, if you are not competitive on the must-haves, you will not get the job."

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8 Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


The economy is shaky -- and it may feel like your job is, too.

Whether you're already job hunting or believe you may need to soon, there are steps you can take to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. Here are eight tips from the experts on increasing your marketability:

* Use your name as your brand, especially in email. Don't confuse potential employers by using your maiden name on your resume and your married name in your email. And the nickname your friends find funny may not look professional.

"Manager jobs don't go to people with cute email addresses," said Marianne Adoradio, a recruiter and career counselor.

* Meet an employer's need. Employers "want a round peg for the round hole," said Kathryn Ullrich, a career expert and executive recruiter.

You may want to stretch yourself by trying a job you've never done before, but there's not much in that for the employer. Any time you apply for a job, make sure you can tell a story about your career that shows why you would be the best person for the job. "It's really about what the employer is looking for," Ullrich said.

* Maintain a smart online profile. "All that stupid stuff you put on Facebook -- take it off," said Richard Phillips, owner of Advantage Career Solutions. At the same time, find industry blogs and forums and start contributing comments.

* Ask for help. "Ask everyone for one thing they would suggest you do if they were in your shoes," Adoradio said. "It seems to reveal things that you wouldn't have thought to ask."

* Become active in a professional association. This means doing more than paying dues and showing up for meetings. Find a way to help: For example, perhaps you can organize expert speakers in your field to be on a panel. It will boost your resume, build you self-esteem and give you valuable connections. "You're building up relationships with people who are going to hire you," Ullrich said.

* Take a class or get a certificate. This is especially helpful if it teaches you a skill -- new technology that's being used in your field, for example -- that you don't already have.

* Take on a new project at work. It should be "something that lets you add something new to your resume," Phillips said. "Think in terms of the resume that you're going to be writing. What do you want to have on there that isn't on there now?"

* Be flexible. You may not want to commute more than 10 miles, but being willing to bend a bit will open up more opportunities. It will also make you a more attractive candidate because it signals to employers that you're able to handle change.

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8 Bad Work Habits (And How to Break Them)

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


When you're considering goals for yourself, don't forget to examine your work life. What changes could you make to become a more productive and pleasant colleague?

Experts offer this list of common bad habits at work -- and how to break them:

* Planning poorly. Do you spend your first hour at work wondering what you should work on today? "So many people, when they leave their office at 4 to 6 p.m., really have no clue what they're going to do first thing the following morning," said Glenn Davis, president of the Next Step Group, which recruits sales and sales management professionals for software and other companies. It's more efficient to plan your next day before you leave work.

* Spending the day in "email reaction mode." Answering every email message as it comes in may make you seem responsive, but it's not productive. "You feel like you're being a hero because you're dealing with all your email," said Valerie Frederickson, CEO & founder of Valerie Frederickson & Co., an HR executive search and consulting firm. "But it has nothing to do with achieving your goals."

* Abusing work-from-home privileges. Yes, you save time when you work from home by not commuting. But too many people are easily sidetracked by the laundry, their kids, a quick errand. "People like to say, 'I get so much more done'" working from home, Davis said. And some do -- but not everyone. If you work from home, make sure you're putting in a full day's work -- and that you're accessible to your colleagues during the workday.

* Putting personal life before work. Everyone has emergencies from time to time. But it's annoying to have to repeatedly fill in for the colleague who is late every morning because he's checking on his home remodeling project, or who misses an entire afternoon because she scheduled a routine dentist appointment for 1:30 p.m.

* Being late for meetings. People who show up 5 or 10 minutes late for a meeting cause a "domino effect," Davis said. Meetings later that day may be thrown off schedule because the earlier ones ran late. And people who show up on time feel their time is being wasted.

* Not taking care of health and hygiene. Leslie G. Griffen, an HR consultant and career coach, is sometimes hired by companies to approach an employee who doesn't bathe and ask them to improve their hygiene. The problem is twofold, said Griffen, principal of The Griffen Group. A sloppy appearance will cause a poor first impression. Also, "if your hygiene is bad, your health is probably bad," Griffen said. An added benefit of eating well and exercising: You'll have more energy.

* Using inappropriate humor. Your coworkers may not appreciate your sense of humor. Skip the off-color or "racially targeted" jokes, Griffen said. And be careful about sensitive subjects such as politics and religion.

* Not caring about your work. People like coworkers who are enthusiastic about what they do. Show that you take pride in your job by presenting yourself well, communicating clearly and doing your best work.

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5 Ideal Jobs for Work-Life Balance

Career Paths With Plenty of 'Me Time'
by Grace Chen, FindTheRightSchool.com


Training for a triathlon. Knitting. Playing in a rock band. Growing heirloom tomatoes. We each have preferences when it comes to using our precious hours of free time. Whether you choose to work on your political blog or lose yourself in a book, there's no denying that we all could use time to pursue whatever hobby or interest helps us feel more alive.

Sadly, leisure activities usually can't pay the rent or even cover the grocery bill. All too often, personal rejuvenation gets put on the back burner because career demands leave us with little time or energy left to devote to ourselves. Being employed doesn't have to lead to a life dominated by work, however. In fact, there are careers out there that can offer you the freedom to use your "me time" to do exactly what you want.

1. Teacher, K-12

These days, newcomers to the teaching force include twenty-somethings just beginning their career as well as middle-aged workers who are switching to teaching after working in another field. Average earnings for elementary school teachers were just over $50,000 in 2007.

Prepare Yourself: If you have a bachelor's degree, becoming a teacher can be as simple as enrolling in a year-long master's teaching program which can make you eligible for certification as a teacher. Some schools even offer employment in conjunction with a training program, allowing you to earn your credentials while working in a classroom.

Me-Time Potential: Although the workload for teachers during the school year is often intense, extended winter and summer vacations can allow you time to reconnect with yourself and loved ones.

2. Emergency Room Nurse

The fast pace and high intensity of emergency room nursing is not for the faint of heart. However, for registered nurses who perform well under pressure and want a position that will keep their critical thinking skills sharp, ER nursing is an attractive option. The median salary for RNs was $60,010 in 2007.

Prepare Yourself: To become a registered nurse you'll need at least an associate's degree in nursing, available from vocational schools, community colleges, and even online institutions.

Me-Time Potential: Although working as an ER nurse could keep you challenged while on the job, many professionals in this field enjoy at least several days off a week.

3. Administrative Assistant

Offices of every size, in nearly every industry, rely on administrative assistants with strong communication and organizational skills to keep them running efficiently. Average salaries in this field were nearly $30,000 in 2008.

Prepare Yourself: Online diploma, certificate, and associate's degree programs can prepare you for an administrative career, or allow you to specialize as a legal or medical secretary.

Me-Time Potential: Punch out at the end of the day and you should be able to leave most of your work behind, allowing you to spend evenings and weekends as you please.

4. Computer Support Specialist

Maintaining hardware, upgrading software, and keeping a network online are just some of the duties of computer support specialists, whose median earnings were $42,400 in 2007.

Prepare Yourself: Although some support specialists are self-taught, most employers look for candidates with at least an associate's degree in a computer-related field. A bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems could offer you more career options, however.

Me-Time Potential: While unexpected tech problems sometimes arise at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, computer support specialists for the most part enjoy a 40-hour workweek, with few out-of-the-office responsibilities.

5. Retail Sales Associate

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that over 500,000 new salespeople will be hired through 2016. Earnings in this field, while low overall, top $40,000 for sales professionals in the insurance and auto industries.

Prepare Yourself: No formal training is required for entry-level sales positions, but if you would like to be eligible for management jobs or promotions, a bachelor's degree in sales and marketing is suggested.

Me-Time Potential: Hours for salespeople rarely follow a 9-to-5 workday, as most consumers make purchases on evenings and weekends. If your hobbies are best pursued during daylight hours, however, the schedule of a career in sales could be a perfect fit.

The Bottom Line on Making Time for Yourself

Social obligations, family activities, and household tasks can easily eat into the hours you hope to spend doing your thing. While you may find yourself feeling guilty carving out time for yourself, remember that in order to be an effective worker, friend, or family member, personal time is essential. Plan me-time into your weekly schedule and honor that commitment as you would any other. You deserve it!

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10 Well-Paid Gigs That Risk Your Life

by Bridget Quigg, PayScale.com


When it comes to your career, you may worry about your commute time, benefits and your company's chance of surviving. But, do you ever worry about your own survival?

Believe it or not, a good number of folks risk their lives each day with occupations that place them close to high-speed traffic, in front of bullet-toting criminals or high atop shaky structures.

So, which workers put their lives on the line and how well are they paid for that risk? Take a look at this list of 10 life-threatening jobs:

1. Construction laborer. What do you see when you look at a construction site? Lots of activity. Cranes move heavy loads, backhoes push huge piles of dirt, and concrete trucks unload as quickly as possible. You can bet that the people in this environment move very carefully.
Annual salary = $36,329

2. Structural steel worker. The world's soon-to-be tallest building, Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is expected to rise over 2,650?feet in the sky -- just over half a mile -- when it's completed. How would you like to be at the top, soldering the last bits of rebar?
Annual salary = $34,388

3. Horticultural farmer. Getting hundreds of acres of crops to grow year after year requires some large, dangerous machinery and exposure to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Annual salary = $29,500

4. Ranch worker. Whether forcing a herd of unruly cattle into a pen or trying to brand them, ranch workers constantly expose their arms, legs, heads and hands to crushing forces.
Annual salary = $31,343

5. Police / sheriff's patrol officer. While the rest of us run from trouble to save our lives, these brave souls head straight for it. They may be well trained, but the people they face are unpredictable and very dangerous.
Annual salary = $46,467

6. Fishing vessel deckhand. If you haven't seen Discovery Channel's reality TV show, "The Deadliest Catch," just imagine trying to hold on to a slippery, ice-covered deck while 40-foot waves crash over you in a Bering Sea storm -- frigid and frightening.
Annual salary = $46,978

7. Roofer. Since over one-third of fall-related deaths involve roofs and ladders, it's easy to understand why these nimble-footed folks are at great risk every day they're on the job.
Annual salary = $42,116

8. Coal miner. Sadly, because of several tragedies in recent years, most Americans are well aware of the dangers present in this line of work. Fortunately, the number of deaths in private mines decreased by 43 percent between 2006 and 2007.
Annual salary = $53,500

9. Highway maintenance worker. We get frustrated when they slow down our morning commute. But, the truth is, this group of essential laborers -- from asphalt layers to sign holders -- gets closer to distracted, speeding drivers than any of us ever should.
Annual salary = $33,685

10. Journeyman lineman. In the cruelest storms and snowiest conditions, these tough and highly skilled people scale electrical poles to help us keep our lights on. With risks ranging from falls to voltage, they must move quickly but cautiously to stay safe.
Annual salary = $53,461 per year

Here are some more facts about fatalities on the job in the U.S. from a 2008 Bureau of Labor Statistics study.

• Men make up 54 percent of the workforce but experience 92 percent of work fatalities.
• Women die more often from highway incidents and homicides than men.
• Latinos are the ethnic group most often killed on the job.
• Construction has the highest number of fatalities total, but agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining have the highest rates of fatalities per 100,000 workers.
• Highways incidents alone accounted for nearly one out of every four fatal work injuries in 2007.
• Workers over 65 years of age are over twice as likely to die on the job (9.9 per 100,000) than the national average (3.7 per 100,000).

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.

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Jobs That Will Never Go Away

by Romy LeClaire Loran, FindtheRightSchool.com


Choosing a career path can be challenging. Half of all college students change their majors at least once as they travel the sometimes bumpy road that will lead right degree. If you want to follow your dreams as well as provide for a certain future, take heart. As long as human beings continue to inhabit the planet, there are many worthwhile and fulfilling jobs that will never go away.

Accountant
As long as there are taxes, there will be a need for skilled accountants to work with clients, helping them keep their books in order. While accounting technology becomes more sophisticated, many accountants also assist clients with the technological aspects of record keeping and tax preparation. An online degree can prepare you for this field by providing accounting coursework and career training. Many assistant accountants begin with training and an associate's degree. Armed with a bachelor's degree in accounting, you could make an average annual salary of $63,180, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Computer Support Specialist
If you thrive on helping your friends and family solve their computer woes, consider becoming a computer support specialist. With computers playing such an important part of daily life, computer support specialists provide their clients much needed technical assistance. As a computer support specialist, you will meet with clients in person or answer questions remotely, via Internet, or on the phone. Many computer support specialists either have a bachelor's degree in computer science or an associate's degree in a computer-related program. In 2007, computer support specialists made an average annual salary of $45,300, according to the BLS.

Entrepreneur
To be an entrepreneur you need to be an independent, outgoing risk taker as you establish your own business or company. Although it may be hard to know whether a business will succeed, there will always be a need for a variety of goods and services and businesses to supply them. An online degree in business can help make your dreams a reality, as you earn your associate's or bachelor's degree. Although salaries can vary greatly with the self-employed, small business owners made an average annual wage of $36,000 to $75,095 in 2008, according to Pay Scale.

Mechanic
As anyone who commutes or runs to the store knows, we live in a nation of automobiles. If you know the make and model of every automobile that zips by and have an interest in what's under the hood, consider becoming an automotive service technician or mechanic. Automotive service technicians and mechanics diagnose problems with cars and light trucks and fix them. Mechanics need to be analytical, good problem solvers, and willing to work with computerized diagnostic tools and programs as well as traditional tools. You can also specialize in an area such as brakes or cooling systems. Online career training can get you started. Programs range from six months to two years. Mechanics made an average annual salary of $36,480 in 2007, according to the BLS.

Paramedic
Paramedics make life and death decisions, assessing injuries and providing emergency medical care. To be a paramedic you have to be agile, strong, and be willing to work under pressure. Although the hours can be long, many paramedics find great satisfaction in helping others. An EMT paramedic has usually taken courses in anatomy and physiology and completed a one-to-two-year program -- or the equivalent of an associate's degree. Basic and intermediate certification can get you started in this fast paced, much needed career. According to the BLS, paramedics earned an average of $30,870 annually in 2007.

Teacher
As long as human beings continue to have children, there will be a need for teachers. If you enjoy working with young children and want to teach, you can make $50,040 on average annually if you are an elementary school teacher, and $52,450 annually if you are a secondary teacher, according to the BLS. Elementary teachers have the pleasure of teaching all subjects. Secondary teachers also get to follow their bliss. By focusing on specific certification areas, secondary teachers specialize in the subjects they want to teach. Many online programs can get you started towards a bachelor's degree in education and certification.

Whatever your calling may be, with the right degree and career training, your career prospects for these much-needed jobs can help keep you from becoming outsourced or even worse, obsolete.

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How Flexible Should You Really Be?

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


In tough times, job-seekers are often advised to be flexible about issues from commute length to salary to job title. But while it's true that you have to be realistic, some compromises may end up hurting you more than they help.

"I don't believe that you just cave and take anything," said Mary Jeanne Vincent, a career coach in Monterey, Calif., and owner of WorkWise. "I have an underlying philosophy that you always sell value."

Steve Levin, CEO of Leading Change Consulting & Coaching in Portola Valley, Calif., draws a distinction between what he calls "healthy resiliency and begrudging compromise." One is a reasonable response to a challenging market. The other is a self-defeating trade-off.

To tell the difference, experts suggest asking these six questions:

* How badly do you need money? If you're about to lose your home or are having trouble putting food on the table, you may need to take whatever job is offered.

* Will the job make you miserable? Taking a job that's not right for you increases the risk that you'll be laid off again within a few months -- something that can make it even harder to find the next job. If you will feel resentful rather than excited about the job, you might be better off continuing your search.

* Can you explain why you're taking it? If you take a job that's less than your previous one, you'll need to be able to explain this apparent step backward the next time you're looking. Saying you couldn't find anything else is not likely to impress an interviewer.

But if you have a good reason for taking a position -- to gain experience in a new industry, for example, or to learn a new skill -- a step down doesn't have to hurt you.

* What's most important to you? Perhaps you'd be willing to take less money as long as you got the title and authority you wanted. A longer commute may be more palatable if you can telecommute some of the time.

"You really need to do all this thinking -- what are the tradeoffs you are willing to make in order to be employed?" said Libby Pannwitt, principal of the Work Life Design Group in San Carlos, Calif.

* Will this job help in the long term as well as the short term? Consider what you'd like to be doing several years from now -- and whether this job could help you get there.

"I really believe that a lot of people panic and get anxious about short-term needs and forget all about their long-term goals," Levin said. If a job will give you an important new skill, for example, it may be worth making other trade-offs to take it.

"In a knowledge-based job market, learning is your quickest pathway, your best investment," Levin said.

* What is the alternative? To know how flexible to be, you have to know the market. Long-term unemployment is hard on both careers and finances.

If you decide to wait for a better job, "What are you doing with your time while you're waiting?" Levin said. "If you aren't working for someone else, then work for yourself - by treating your job search as a full-time endeavor."

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Common Boss Blunders in a Tough Economy

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! Hot Jobs


If you're a manager in this economy, all eyes are on you. It can be a little terrifying.

"In troubling times, some managers don't know how to react," says Bill Treasurer, author of "Courage Goes to Work" and founder of Giant Leap Consulting, which develops leaders. "In the past they had the answers, but now they don't. And that kind of pressure can amplify bad habits."

Those bad habits are worse than irritating. They can kill your team's morale and take your professional reputation down with it.

Consider these manager no-no's, and their fixes:

Don't Join the Pity Party

"When a leader expresses his doubts, he may do it at decibel level six, but it will be received by the staff at decibel level nine or 10 because of his position," says Treasurer. "As managers, we've got to stop talking about what keeps us up at night and start talking about what gets us up in the morning, what we're passionate about."

Your staff may want to know you feel their pain, but all it does is confirm what may have been just a nagging anxiety before. Instead, express your concerns to trusted mentors, work out anxiety at the gym -- and come to the office with a sense of calm and focus.

Don't Use the Economy to Bully

Resist the urge to allude to the economy when someone asks for vacation or complains about added workload, warns Brian Brandt, president of Summit Solution Group, a strategic planning and consulting firm in Texas.

"The increased stress is certain to not only add to staff uneasiness, but also impact their performance," he said. "Now is a great time to build a stronger bond with your staff by instilling confidence and providing them with the opportunities to develop into an even more valued employee."

Don't Pretend It's Business As Usual

The economy is out of whack, says Julie Morgenstern, author of "Never Check Email in the Morning." So don't pretend your staff can function the way it used to, either.

"In the current economy, there's paralysis --'What do I do? What do I spend my time on?'" she explains. "The truth is, a lot of companies aren't really sure. It's hard to make a long-term plan right now. But what you can do is come up with the key priorities for the next eight to 12 weeks."

Find a revenue line your department can improve and lay out the top two or three things your staff should aim for: retain clients, close two new accounts. Give them clear guidance on how to be successful, and keep them focused on work, not the economy.

Don't Hide or Hover

Do you deal with stress by shutting your office door or hovering over employees? Both will stress out employees and reduce productivity. Recognize those urges, and then refocus on the task at hand.

"Ask yourself if you're going to let this environment run you," advises Treasurer, "or if you're going to show up as the leader and the manager you're called to be."

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! Hot Jobs


If you're a manager in this economy, all eyes are on you. It can be a little terrifying.

"In troubling times, some managers don't know how to react," says Bill Treasurer, author of "Courage Goes to Work" and founder of Giant Leap Consulting, which develops leaders. "In the past they had the answers, but now they don't. And that kind of pressure can amplify bad habits."

Those bad habits are worse than irritating. They can kill your team's morale and take your professional reputation down with it.

Consider these manager no-no's, and their fixes:

Don't Join the Pity Party

"When a leader expresses his doubts, he may do it at decibel level six, but it will be received by the staff at decibel level nine or 10 because of his position," says Treasurer. "As managers, we've got to stop talking about what keeps us up at night and start talking about what gets us up in the morning, what we're passionate about."

Your staff may want to know you feel their pain, but all it does is confirm what may have been just a nagging anxiety before. Instead, express your concerns to trusted mentors, work out anxiety at the gym -- and come to the office with a sense of calm and focus.

Don't Use the Economy to Bully

Resist the urge to allude to the economy when someone asks for vacation or complains about added workload, warns Brian Brandt, president of Summit Solution Group, a strategic planning and consulting firm in Texas.

"The increased stress is certain to not only add to staff uneasiness, but also impact their performance," he said. "Now is a great time to build a stronger bond with your staff by instilling confidence and providing them with the opportunities to develop into an even more valued employee."

Don't Pretend It's Business As Usual

The economy is out of whack, says Julie Morgenstern, author of "Never Check Email in the Morning." So don't pretend your staff can function the way it used to, either.

"In the current economy, there's paralysis --'What do I do? What do I spend my time on?'" she explains. "The truth is, a lot of companies aren't really sure. It's hard to make a long-term plan right now. But what you can do is come up with the key priorities for the next eight to 12 weeks."

Find a revenue line your department can improve and lay out the top two or three things your staff should aim for: retain clients, close two new accounts. Give them clear guidance on how to be successful, and keep them focused on work, not the economy.

Don't Hide or Hover

Do you deal with stress by shutting your office door or hovering over employees? Both will stress out employees and reduce productivity. Recognize those urges, and then refocus on the task at hand.

"Ask yourself if you're going to let this environment run you," advises Treasurer, "or if you're going to show up as the leader and the manager you're called to be."

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

10 Companies Hiring for Work from Home

by Molly Hallman, Payscale.com


Can you imagine how simple your life would be if you never had to drive to work? If you have the self-discipline to work from home, the right opportunity could help you get back those commute hours and gain some extra time each day to do whatever you want.

Wondering where to start? Here are 10 companies hiring for work from home right now:

1. Alpine Access
Website: www.alpineaccess.com
Job Title: Customer care professional

This forward-thinking company plans to hire 1,200 new employees in the first three months of 2009. "We look for people who are self-motivated, self-reliant problem solvers who have a strong work ethic," says Remi Killeen, Recruitment Manager at Alpine Access. Besides offering the flexibility to work from home, Alpine Access, a virtual call center, provides health-care benefits, 401K, flexible work schedules and opportunities to grow. Each worker is an actual company employee with regular work hours and assignments.

2. HireMyMom.com
Website: www.hiremymom.com
Job Titles: Virtual assistant, professional blogger

HireMyMom.com is a Web-based job service designed especially for professional working mothers. Founder and President Lesley Spencer Pyle says the two most popular positions HireMyMom.com fills are professional blogger and virtual assistant. Bloggers write about their employer's company, products, or services, often in response to user inquiries or industry discussion. They use specific "keywords" in their responses to get favorable Web search engine rankings. A virtual assistant is a professional office administrative assistant who can work from anywhere.

3. Sylvan Online
Website: www.sylvan.com
Job Title: On-line certified teacher

Do you have experience teaching but aren't interested in managing an entire classroom? Sylvan Online may work for you. It's a Web-based tutoring service that seeks certified teachers to tutor various subjects and levels. Job requirements include a current teaching certificate, a Windows-based PC and high-speed Internet access. Sylvan offers paid training on-line and opportunities range from 8 to 29 hours per week.

4. National Shopping Service
Website: www.nationalshoppingservice.com
Job Title: Mystery shopper/researcher

Do you love to shop? Do you like to share your opinion? You can make money doing both. A mystery shopper earns perks or a paycheck for helping companies learn about their products and customer service. Paycheck amounts range from "$5.00 to $25.00 for a 15- to 60-minute engagement," says Matt Wozniak, president and CEO of National Shopping Service. "The vast majority of mystery shoppers do not mystery shop for a living, although we have had a few earning over $40,000 a year. It's a great way to pick up a free pizza on your way to get the kids from soccer or get some free gasoline."

5. oDesk
Website: www.oDesk.com
Job Title: Various professionals

If you have experience in software development, Web design, language translation and other computer-based careers, oDesk can help you get hired for work at home. Recently featured on "Good Morning America," oDesk lets job seekers apply for contract jobs, large and small. Job seekers search job listings which include the job requirements, pay and estimated time commitments. "Our business has three components -- hire, manage and pay," says Gary Swart, CEO of oDesk. Plus, you don't have to submit invoices for your contract work, which saves time.

6. Working Solutions
Website: www.workingsolutions.com
Job Title: Transcriptionist, customer service representative

Are you a speedy and accurate typist? You might be interested in a contract position as a transcriptionist, someone who types down information from a recording, live reading, or conversation. Established in 1996, Working Solutions hires independent contract agents for various transcription and customer service assignments. You can earn up to $30 an hour if you have the right skill-set and experience.

7. Language Lab
Website: www.languagelab.com
Job Title: Teacher, actor, customer service representative

The best way to learn a language is to go someplace where you can practice with native speakers. Why not travel via the World Wide Web? Using a computer and Internet connection, Language Lab lets at-home students visit "English Town," a virtual city where teachers help them learn English as a second language. Language Lab is looking to hire more English teachers. Shiv Rajendran, director of operations at Language Lab, says, "Teachers need to be native English speakers, Celta or Delta certified with five years of teaching experience." Celta and Delta certifications are not college degrees, but post-high school certifications. The company also plans to hire actors and part-time customer service reps.

8. 1-800-FLOWERS
Website: www.1800flowers.com
Job Title: Customer service representative

If you have a phone headset, a way with people and, hopefully, a love of flowers, consider working for the long-established 1-800-FLOWERS. The company expects to hire temporary, full-time customer service representatives this year. It even promises competitive hourly rates plus a bonus at the end of the temporary assignment.

9. Aetna
Website: www.aetna.com
Job Title: Account manager, negotiator, customer service representative, nurse and more

From nurses to contract negotiators to account managers, Aetna is a nationwide company with a variety of telework-friendly jobs to offer. Whether you are medically savvy or are simply good with people on the phone, you could find a position with this reputable company that offers benefits and a possibility of a bonus. Even better, Aetna has been ranked 48th by BusinessWeek in its 2008 "Best Places to Launch a Career."

10. Elance
Website: www.elance.com
Job Title: Legal, Web design, engineering, admin, marketing or writing professional

Elance creates a space where skilled professionals and would-be employers can bargain, haggle and place competitive bids for all sorts of projects. Elance works well for people who can provide video production, Web design, software engineering and other home-office-friendly services. If you have a computer-based skill, get yourself onto Elance.com and let the opportunities start rolling in. Plus, Elance does its best to ensure that the employers on their site are trustworthy and pay on time. And, employers rate workers so, the better work you provide, the better your chance of getting more gigs.

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