Werdna Yug

 What if everyone in the country had to spend one week of the year living on minimum wage?On July 24, 2007 The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 will become law - raising the federal minimum wage in 3 increments: to $5.85 per hour 60 days after enactment (July 24, 2007), to $6.55 per hour 12 months after that (July 24, 2008), and finally to $7.25 per hour 12 months after that (July 24, 2009).$5.85 an hour.$205 a week before taxes.$12,000 annual gross.Sure, 13 states already have it set higher then the federal rate - but c'mon!Respect the people who make the world move.  If we try living on their salary for just a week, I guarantee we'll have a new respect for the minimum wage employee.Are you ready for the Jobacle.com Minimum Wage Challenge?We don't want to make this overly complicated. So if you decide to participate you can still live in your house and pay your mortgage.  You can still get behind the wheel of your SUV.  And yes, if there's a medical emergency, you can … [Read more...] about Bloggers: Take the Minimum Wage Challenge

 We're hours away from the official release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" - and quite honestly - I could care less.  I've never read a single Harry Potter sentence, though I do believe, that should I eventually jump on the bandwagon, I'll enjoy the series. One thing I have read has to do with the immense success of J.K. Rowling.  Every career is different, and what works for one person might not work for the next.  Let's look at some of the things that sets Ms. Rowling apart.  After all, she has sold 325 million books in under 10 years!Use Delays to Your Advantage.  It was during a four-hour train delay between Manchester and London that Rowling first put pen to paper about a young boy attending a school of wizardry. This is a reminder that whether you're stuck on a train, jammed in traffic or sitting alone before a meeting - use this "idle"  time to your benefit.    Never Accept Rejection.  This is a … [Read more...] about 5 Career Reminders From J.K. Rowling

Our pals over at Freelance Switch have set up a great survey for freelancers.  Take it here.  The goal is to gather information from those in the freelance space to understand more about how the market is evolving. Since freelancers operate independently, it's not everyday you get this kind of insight.The survey takes about five minutes to take.  Aside from helping your fellow freelancers, you'll be entered into an awesome prize draw that includes a Nintendo Wii console.As a fan of the site, I commend them on putting together a great survey.  I look forward to analyzing the results. … [Read more...] about Take Freelance Survey – Win Nintendo Wii

The Gnats That Keep on GivingAfter a full seven months of writing the Jobacle blog, who would have thought that a simple post on how to kill gnats would be the biggest traffic generator.   There's clearly a demand for eliminating these pesky buggers, especially at the office, so here are 13 things you need to know about gnats.1) Simple recipe to kill 'em2) Remove fruit and plants from "infected" vicinity3)  Most gnats live up to four months4) Females may lay up to 300 eggs5) Pheromones are a non-toxic agent that lures gnats to their death.  Normally used on the sticky sticks that can be hung.  It works for months, is poison free, and sells for about a buck a stick.6) Gnats are attracted to light - so shut that desk lamp!7) Spraying hair spray at them will freeze their wings and cause them to suffocate.  Not very kind, but neither is flying up your nose. 8) While many "filth" gnats do not bite, be sure to look for any excess itching or … [Read more...] about How to Kill Gnats – 13 Facts

"Nobody should have to work with a jerk."  That's a great slogan for eBossWatch.com, a new Web site that aims for full disclosure when  it comes to supervisors.  As you already know, you could have the dream job, but if your boss is a miserable human being, odds are, your experience will be too.While the service has several flaws, I certainly have a soft spot for the site's creator Asher Adelman.  After a harrowing experience with an abusive and hostile boss (who seemed like a pussycat during the interview process) Asher knew that something had to be done.  And we salute him for taking "positive" action!The site simply has users anonymously answer six questions about their current or former manager.  No rants, no raves - just facts. Anyone can can add anyone, which is problem number one.  A boss can make themself look sweet as sugar.  Or a vengeful employee can make a mouse look like a lion.The second problem I have with the … [Read more...] about Rate Your Boss – Payback's a Cinch

You're cheap. Especially at work.  I guarantee it.  I'm not talking about financially, but rather, with words of praise.Why do so many of us hold back kind words and encouragement when it comes to co-workers?Given that we all need strokes (the fundamental unit of a social transaction according to Transactional Analysis) we sure are stingy when it comes to spreading the love.Instead of viewing Friday the 13th as a day of bad luck, why not use it as a turning point for some on-the-job GOOD luck?  Here are some surefire ways to to show your co-workers that you care about them - not only as associates - but as human beings.-Show genuine interest.  When a colleague talks, be a a good listener. The first step is to tune out everything else around you and shut down your inner chatter.  If you're thinking about whether or not you remembered to record Top Chef tonight, you are not being a good listener.  Be sure to follow up with thoughtful, detailed … [Read more...] about A Guide to Encourage Your Colleagues

The world eagerly awaits (not!) Amy Polumbo's fate as a panel of pageant officials sweat over the difficult decision of whether or not to strip her of her crown.  The issue at hand?  "Revealing" photos that Miss New Jersey was forced to reveal after being blackmailed.  After all they were "private." The schmuck only had them on Facebook.  Look, she's a kid.  And the now infamous Miss New Jersey photos aren't even that bad.  They are a pretty girl in her early 20's having a good time. In fact, I think she represents the Garden State perfectly.  I mean we're talking about a place where smoke stacks are a-plenty and Bon Jovi could sell out 365 nights a year at Giants Stadium.  They certainly can handle a girl holding up pumpkins as fake boobs.Do people really expect these pageant girls to be robots?Let's take this a step further.  How would you feel if you lost your job over similar photos?  As we've discussed many … [Read more...] about We Are ALL Miss New Jersey