Welcome to 2011, the year that you will actually stick to your career resolution! Jobacle is here to help. Each day this week I will share a career resolution that has been effective for me. As much as you may hate wearing a skirt and holding pom-poms, like it or not, you are your best cheerleader. Sometimes you are your only cheerleader!Today's resolution requires that you become a parrot.Repetition is one of the main ways we retain information. It's the way we learn a language, improve at math, get six-pack abs, and so on.Your mission is to pick an item that will boost your career "street cred," and repeat it every few days to different people at work.You might want to talk up a skill that you haven't had a chance to tap into. Or remind people of a past accomplishment. The point here is to spread the word about something you have done or something you want to do. You'll be amazed at how being a broken record can pay dividends. … [Read more...] about Career Resolution #4: Become a Parrot
Career Advice Blog
Best Jobs in 2011 (and the worst jobs in 2011)
Software Engineer is the best job in the nation, according to the new CareerCast.com Jobs Rated Report which came out today. Roustabout (someone who works on an oil rig) was ranked as the nation's worst job. If your job made the worst list, grab a copy of How to Quit Your Job!Best Jobs in 2011 vs. How They Fared in 2010:1. Software Engineer (up 1 spot)2. Mathematician (up 4)3. Actuary (down 2)4. Statistician (up 4)5. Computer Systems Analyst (down 2)6. Meteorologist (up 6)7. Biologist (down 3)8. Historian (down 3)9. Audiologist (up 34)10. Dental Hygienist (no change) Worst Jobs in 2011 and How They Fared in 2010:200. Roustabout (no change)199. Ironworker (down 1)198. Lumberjack (up 1)197. Roofer (down 18)196. Taxi Driver (down 2)195. Emergency Medical Technician (down 9)194. Welder (up 2)191. Painter (down 32)191. Meter Reader (up 1)191. Construction Worker (up 2)To see the 2011 rankings of all 200 best and worst jobs, click here.To review the 2011 Jobs Rated … [Read more...] about Best Jobs in 2011 (and the worst jobs in 2011)
Career Resolution #3: Get Updated!
Welcome to 2011, the year that you will actually stick to your career resolution! Jobacle is here to help. Each day this week I will share a career resolution that has been effective for me. By the end of January make a commitment to have your resume updated both online and on paper...even if you are not looking for a new job!You never know when an opportunity will present itself, and it is important to be prepared. Happy at your full-time gig? Congrats, but you're not exempt from this exercise. With the turning of the calendar, many organizations will be beefing up staff and making personnel changes; your job is to be ready. YOU are your brand!January is also a great time to take inventory of all of your social netowrking profiles. From LinkedIn to Pandora - be sure that your information is work-appropriate, consistent, and accurate. … [Read more...] about Career Resolution #3: Get Updated!
Career Resolution #2: Take a January Vacation Day
Welcome to 2011, the year that you will actually stick to your career resolution! Jobacle is here to help. Each day this week I will share a career resolution that has been effective for me. When it comes to vacation days, most people are like squirrels - they hoard their days for the summer and the end of the year. While I can appreciate the pragmatism, I would like to offer a suggestion; treat yourself to a vacation day in January. Even though the winter holidays are a time for family and friends, if we're gonna be honest, they are also a time for stress. Odds are that you did very little during the holiday season for yourself. Rather than do something for someone else, take a vacation day and use it for YOU. I don't know about you, but don't you hate it when you take a day off and later discover your boss was off too? The odds of someone taking time off from work in January are slim (unless they are reading this too!).Use the day … [Read more...] about Career Resolution #2: Take a January Vacation Day
Career Resolution: Why You Should Drink More Water
My name is Andrew and I am here to tell you why you should drink more water. I guess I'm kinda a waterholic. There, I admitted it. You would be hard-pressed to find me at a meeting, at my desk, or in the car without a bottle of water. Heck, there are worse addictions, right? Well that bottle of water replaced a lot of junk in my life, and I'm not only talking about sodas and other sugary beverages. I have used a simple water bottle to help improve my time spent at the office. Along the way I've reduced my anxiety, improved my overall health, and avoided the 3 p.m. crash. And it all started after a lack of water created my biggest work nightmare: a kidney stone. If you have ever had one, you just had a shiver run up your spine. If not, consider yourself lucky. Here are a few reasons why you should drink more water -- especially at work. Water carries nutrients to your cells. Impaired cells lead to lots of nasty stuff, including fatigue, dizziness, and mental confusion. Water … [Read more...] about Career Resolution: Why You Should Drink More Water
The "Let’s Get Real" Career Goals for 2011
I’ll be straight up with this – I think New Year’s resolutions should be renamed, “Set Up to Fail.” And setting career goals for the New Year? Hmm, not sure about that one either, especially in today’s job climate.If you’ve read my posts, you know I tend to be in the “glass is half-empty” camp. But there’s nothing wrong with setting some realistic goals. Last year, I wrote, “Set 2010 Career Goals, Then Be Flexible,” which was just a reminder that sometimes “life happens when you’re busy making other plans.” And Andrew’s “6 Cures for the Post Holiday Work Trauma” is a good way to ease yourself back into work after the hols.So, how about setting some let’s-get-real career goals for 2011?· Get Over Yourself – It’s highly unlikely that even though you believe you were a shining star in 2010 and deserve some … [Read more...] about The "Let’s Get Real" Career Goals for 2011
8 Most Promising Careers for 2011
The economy has not completely recovered - not even close. But there are some bright spots in the job market. Some skills are still in high demand and jobs are easy to come by for properly trained professionals. Here are eight in-demand careers for people who are looking for a career change or who are about to enter the job market for the first time. Employees in these fields should be on the hunt for companies that provide 360 feedback so that they can develop and improve while on the job. Interpreter/translator. As more and more businesses begin to adjust to the international marketplace, they require the services of people who are skilled in languages other than English. Translators have job security and solid earning potential whether they work with a translation service or are hired to work directly with a multi-national company. Medical technicians. This field has two advantages. First, it does not require extensive training. Most medical technician jobs (from an … [Read more...] about 8 Most Promising Careers for 2011
Sitting Kills! 5 Jobs That Let You Move Around All Day
It is no secret that sitting down all day at a desk is going to be detrimental to your health over the long run. New studies are performed all the time that further cement our knowledge of this fact that it may seem there is little hope for so many people who work at a desk for a living. Even if you exercise regularly outside of work, it will not reverse the debilitating effects of sitting for a living. Quite simply, people were meant to move around. It wasn't always the case that we could just go to Wal-Mart and get every single good and service a human needs to survive. No, we used to have to hunt for food ourselves and use our bodies to keep our families and ourselves alive. Today in America, it seems that we have gotten far from what made us great. We used to be a nation that made things and now we're just a nation thst buys things. And with 30% of Americans being obese, it is plain to see that our health is failing. So, if you have to spend your life doing something, why not do … [Read more...] about Sitting Kills! 5 Jobs That Let You Move Around All Day
3 Music Jobs You Probably Never Thought Of
For most of us, our short-lived music careers started long before we ever dreamed of making any money. Spending our youth, much to the dismay of our parents, plucking away at guitar strings, conjuring up what would be the newest music revolution; we never gave a second thought to what would truly become. For the vast majority, these dreams slowly melted away and evolved into what could be called a “respectable” career ambition. For some of us, however, we clung to the dream, held true to the passion, and found, surprisingly, that there are a great many careers available within the music industry that can be obtained by nearly anyone. While most of these jobs do not involve “rocking out” to a jam-packed stadium of fans every night, there are many unique and challenging careers to be had within the music industry. Finding your dream career in the world of music requires nothing more than the right education and a love of sweet melodies; the latter may be a matter of debate. One … [Read more...] about 3 Music Jobs You Probably Never Thought Of
7 Tips to Work Away From the Office
This post is supported by leading CRM software. Working away from the office is increasingly becoming the norm. As technology improves, there is less need for staff to come into an office on a regular basis, especially if their work involves travelling to meet clients. Likewise, working from home (remote working or telecommuting) is becoming easier to achieve thanks to technological improvements. It also saves money for companies, as they do not have to expand office space to take on new staff – and some don't even bother having any central office space at all. Here are a few ways to ensure you work effectively:1. Online calendars: Cloud computing means that all the information and documents you need are held on virtual servers on the internet, rather than on a single computer. Facilities such as online calendars held this way means staff can access such information, wherever they are. It enables them to make instant decisions, based on the schedules of … [Read more...] about 7 Tips to Work Away From the Office