Finding work in the current economy

By Fred Burns

Unemployment figures in both Europe and the U.S. are still at all-time highs, even though some reports say the problem is getting better. If you are one of the millions of people out of work, and either anticipating or awaiting unemployment payments, there are a number of ways to make ends meet.

Image: Getty Images/SRBichara; royalty free license

Cash in on skills

When you’re out of a job, you can often suffer from a blow to your sense of self-worth. Just keep in mind that you are just as capable as you ever were. There are other ways to make a living. You have a whole host of skills that will apply to careers other than the one you have specialized in.

 Image: Getty Images/Kolobsek; royalty free license

Look beyond your work history, and consider branching out from that narrower focus. For example, if you have been a supervisor, you have the ability to observe and evaluate the work of others. This is a great skill to have in the industry of security. I’m not talking about a night watchman. There are many jobs available in security that never involve being seen by the public. Surveillance is performed in almost every department store, and you are never expected to approach anyone- only report what you are observing. Other places that need this type of surveillance are hospitals, banks, and resorts. You may be the person in the office watching and evaluating what you see on surveillance cameras.

Personal skills

If you have personal skills, it means you are pretty good at reading other people. This is a perfect skill for a security officer at the door of a convention center. You can get training in threat assessment, and that, in combination with your native instincts, can make you a good living in the security industry.

For example, I know a teacher, with a Master’s degree, who has been priced out of the job market. No one wants to pay for someone with 30 years of experience to teach music, when they can hire a fresh-out-of-college grad for one half the salary. They have been out of a job long enough that they can’t get unemployment any more. But, with over 30 years in education, from pre-school up through university, they have a lot of experience in what the security industry calls “threat assessment”. Sure, they had to learn about the more weapon-oriented side of the field, but they can spot a shoplifter a mile away just from the way they are acting.

On the job training

If you are retired military or public service, you already have on the job training for most of the security jobs out there. Maybe you need extra money for your retirement, or just needed out of the pressure of a high risk job. The different levels of security work can provide you with a good living, and you can choose the stress level. Finding a job in this economy is not impossible. Just beef up your resume, and think outside the box.  

About the author: Fred Burns has worked within the security industry for many years. He enjoys writing articles that help people and point them in the right direction. When he isn't writing you can find him working for Crossdeck, a company that provides a jobsearch and access to CCTV training courses.

Business hiring tips: Reasons to hire less educated applicants

Too much education is bad for corporations for a multitude of reasons, but having access to an educated workforce is always good just in case the need arises. Department managers and human resource officials know that hiring people with too much education sometimes leads to more disadvantages than benefits for an employer. Moreover, since businesses are usually in existence for the primary purpose of making employees and employers money, obstacles to that purpose including too much education are to be avoided.

Over-qualification

Overqualified employees get bored, unhappy, annoyed and can disrupt workplace equilibrium with subversive manipulation, underhanded deeds and misplaced professional ambition to the detriment of peers. Such individuals are better off not hired by some employers because they are simply not worth the effort, trouble, and time. This is not to say less educated employees are not capable of the same things. Rather, according to the Harvard Business Review, there is an increased possibility that employee curation decisions will turn bad if more overqualified employees are hired. 

Cost

According to Patricia Schaefer of Business Know How, the Family and Work Institute cites lower education as the dominant factor in lower employee earnings. What if those employees can also do the same job for less though? In some cases including outsourcing, if less educated people can do the same job for a net gain, it is more cost effective to hire them. For example, hiring a 30K per year employee with a Bachelor of Arts with a net profit margin of 21 percent is better than keeping 45K per year employee with a Master of Science. This is especially the case if revenue rises less than the amount needed to offset the higher costs of hiring a more educated employee. 

Turnover

Employees with a lot of education, or higher earnings expectations are less likely to want to stick around a business. The Center for American Progress states employee turnover costs companies because they have to pay for things such as lost productivity in between hires, training expenses for new hires and recruitment costs. If an educated new hire is obviously seeking upward mobility and there is no room in an organization to accommodate that, then hiring a potentially less ambitious or less educated employee is sometimes the solution.

Competition

Educated people know a lot and that is a potential threat to co-workers and managers. In a report published by the InterAmerican DevelopmentBank, it was found that younger employees - some of whom are more educated than those making hiring decisions – are discriminated against in order to preserve the job security of older employees. New hires that have too good a grasp on what is going on, and that are able to out-think both their superiors and colleagues are a job security hazard and put the beloved status quo at risk by rocking the corporate boat. 

Insubordination

The possibility of insubordination is also a potential consequence of hiring an employee with more education than is necessary to work a job. Employees that are overqualified are more likely to become frustrated or disgusted by their work situation thereby raising the probability of an insubordinate act. In "Taming the Difficult Employee", Nancy Aldrich states insubordination arises from "lack of control" and "rewarding negative behavior". Using similar reasoning, being rewarded for getting an education is a negative reward when that reward is a job that is too restrictive and takes away from an employee's sense of control.

The 5 best high paying jobs for introverts

By Joan Garrett

An introvert is a very shy person. Generally speaking, introverts perform best on jobs that do not require a lot of interaction with other people. Below are five of the best occupations for introverts:

Software engineering

A software engineer is a professional who is responsible for coming up with programs and games for computers. Software engineers spend almost all of their day working by themselves, which is why this is a great choice for solitary people. The vast majority of software engineers have a degree in computer science or a related field.

The median salary for a software engineer is around $92,000 per year. However, software engineers can potentially make over $140,000 per year. Years of experience is one of the main factors that determines a software engineer’s salary. People who are interested in becoming a software engineer should be prepared to work long hours. A 2010 survey showed that 25 percent of software engineers work more than 40 hours per week.

Accounting

Accountants are professionals who are responsible for making sure that financial records are correct. They also make sure that taxes are paid on time. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum education that is required to become an accountant. The median salary for an accountant is around $61,900 per year. However, there are some accountants who are making over $106,000 per year.

Most accountants work a standard 40 hour week. It is estimated that 20 percent of accountants work more than 40 hours per week. Accountants are very likely to work long hours during tax season.

Graphic design

Graphic designers spend nearly their entire day at the computer. That is why graphic design is a great career choice for introverts. The specific job duties of a graphic designer may include creating images that illustrate a message, developing graphics for websites, logos and products and reviewing designs for errors.

Almost all graphic design jobs require that a person have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. People also have the option of earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field and then receiving extra training in graphic design. The average pay for a graphic designer is around $43,500 per year. Graphic designers who are in the top 10 percent salary range are making over $76,910 per year.

Market research analysis

Market research analysts teach companies how to sell products. They also help companies find good places to sell products. This profession requires a lot of focus. Market research analysts are required to have a degree in business administration, marketing research or another related field. It is important to note that a master’s degree is required for some of the more lucrative jobs. The average salary for a market research analyst is around $60,570 per year.

Translator

Translators are responsible for translating text from one language to another. They are required to spend hours looking over texts just to make sure that everything is correct. Translators are required to possess a bachelor’s degree. They are also required to be fluent in English and one foreign language. The average salary for a translator is $43,300 per year.

About the author: Joan Garrett is a career counselor and guest author at Top Counseling Schools, where she contributed the guide to the Highest Paying Counseling Jobs.

* Image license: Creative Commons image source

5 qualities all employers look for

By Chris Mayhew

In this tough economic climate there are thousands of people in this country who are still looking for work. Speaking from experience, the most frustrating part of not being able to find a job or being unsuccessful in an interview is the fact that you know full well you would have been great at that job.

Sometimes you just need someone to take a chance on you and give you a break but for them to be willing to do that you need to display some impressive qualities. Here are five main attributes that any employer will find hard to resist if they see you display them.

1. Confidence – This is a tricky one to get across in an interview situation but if you can show that you are confident it will be well received. Confident people are more likely to be able to work under their own initiative and won’t require constant babysitting. Showing this involves nothing more than a good initial first greeting, a strong handshake and an ability to present well worded answers without too much hesitation. There’s no need to overdo it.

2. Resilience – A lot of jobs will involve dealing with a certain amount of failure so it is important that you show a desire to carry on and learn from your mistakes. Failure is part and parcel of life but it’s the way you react to this that employers will be impressed by.

3. Creativity – How creative we are often determines the ability we have to set ourselves apart from others. In any interview situation there are sure to be other candidates vying for the job so it is important to stand out. Employers will love to hear about the new and inventive ways you approach your work and the problems it may throw up. Creativity is also linked to team work. Creative people are more likely to be able to throw ideas around amongst a team and use other peoples’ input as well as their own to nurture an idea from conception to finished product.

4. Attention to detail – This is another good way of standing out in comparison to other candidates. There will always be a large number of people that are good at the obvious, core techniques that will mainly be used for the job, they wouldn’t have gotten to the interview stage otherwise, but there will be significantly less who display a sense a detail. Use examples from previous jobs or other areas of your life to show that you take notice of the finer areas resulting in great success.

5. Loyalty – Believe it or not most employers don’t enjoy having to conduct regular interviews. They would much rather have a loyal work force and not have to waste time by constantly having to hire and train new staff. Show them that you are a loyal person who will be committed to the course even if it gets tough. Give relevant examples of when you have shown loyalty in the past and let them know how important getting the job is to you.

Chris Mayhew writes here on behalf of Now Go Create. They specialise in improving creative thnking and brainstorm facilitation for businesses by offering a range of training exercises and workshops.

3 reasons why you should consider an accounting career

By Linda

Accountants are individuals that help a business by compiling financial data, analyzing the financial information, and creating consolidated and organized financial statements. For people that are interested in accounting, pursuing an education in accounting could be a great option. There are three key reasons why you should consider learning accounting.

 

Career opportunities

The first reason why you should learn accounting is that it could provide you with many different career opportunities. Due to the complexity of the tax code and the importance of having a strong financial system established, accountants are frequently in high demand by employers. Those that complete an accounting program will always have an easy time finding a job, and the compensation provided to accountants is typically much higher than those in other professions. Accountants that further their education to get a master’s in accounting and to qualify for the CPA exam will find that they will have even more opportunities available to them. Accountants are frequently hired by accounting firms, consulting firms, and individual businesses that are looking for in-house accounting help.

 

Understand tax code

Another reason why you should learn accounting is that it could help you to understand the current tax code. If you are a small business owner, you will find that there are many different tax deductions and credits available to you. If you have studied accounting, you will have a better understanding of what these deductions and credits are. This will not only help you to take advantage of these when you are submitting your taxes, but will also help you to better plan for the future as you will know how each decision you make could impact the tax status of your business going forward. Another advantage is that you will receive education on where to study changes on the tax code, which could continue to provide you with benefits going forward as the tax code continues to change.

 

Save money on staffing

If you run a small business, there is a strong likelihood that you will need to take out a loan at some point. Almost all banks will require that you provide them with accountant-prepared financial statements on a regular basis. To do this, you will either need to outsource the accounting work to another company or hire an employee to perform this work for you. In either situation, you will end up investing a lot of money just to have your financial reports completed as accountants tend to be well-compensated employees. If you have a background or education in accounting, then you will be able to avoid most of these costs as you will be able to complete these financial reports on your own if you have the time to do so.

Linda is one of the leading Accountants in Sydney, Australia. She believes Accounting is a great option for students who are good with numbers and looking for an exciting career with strong job security. Linda writes for many leading business and finance news sites and is currently in the process of writing her first book on how to start your own business.

Guest post: ND tops list of states with fastest growing economy

By Paul Moore

The state of North Dakota is doing very well economically, thank you, and there are jobs up there for those willing to relocate.

While the Unites States’ economy is barely crawling ahead with a 1.5% GDP increase for 2011, North Dakota leads the growth rate in the country with 7.6% GDP growth, according to figures reported by 24/7 Wall Street. Some analysts point to North Dakota’s oil production as the source of this growth, but others believe there is a deeper root.  Let's look into some of the factors.

Facts of Growth

Not only does North Dakota boast the country’s fastest growing economy with GDP figures, it also lays claim to the lowest unemployment levels: a mere 3%. In fact, for every month since July 2008, North Dakota has either had the lowest unemployment rate or been tied for that honor. In addition, North Dakota has not seen a 5% unemployment rate since 1987. A small problem has arisen in the state because many people are moving into the rapidly growing and highly lucrative oil and gas job arena, leaving many other North Dakota businesses struggling to find employees. These non-oil based businesses are thriving as a result of the good economy and growing population. This has turned out to be an opportunity for those who are not directly employed by the oil industry to benefit from the growth in the area, as sectors across the board are in need of employees.

USA Today reports that population figures are also rising in North Dakota, with Fargo topping the 100,000 mark in the latest census, up 15,000 from previous reports. This trend is repeated in a number of other North Dakota towns, including Minot, Grand Forks, and Bismark. It reflects a continuing migration from the rural countryside into larger communities, but also demonstrates an influx of new North Dakota residents.

Contributors to the Economy

Without a doubt oil has been, and will continue to be, the biggest boon to North Dakota’s economic strength. It is part of the Bakken oil field that stretches across Montana as well. But Montana’s numbers are not quite as rosy as North Dakota’s. Yes! Magazine reports a 7.7% unemployment rate in Montana, which also had one of the slowest growing economies in the country in 2010, with only 1.1% GDP growth.

However, if oil is not the single magic economic innoculant for North Dakota, what is? North Dakota has long depended on agriculture for its income, with 90% of the state’s land in use for both farms and ranches. Well-known for its wheat exports as well as other crops, North Dakota brings in a whopping $1 billion per year in agricultural subsidies from the U.S. government. Obviously, agriculture plays an important role in the state’s economic stability.

An Overlooked Factor

While oil, agriculture, and manufacturing are certainly important contributors to the success of North Dakota’s bustling economy, some analysts point to a secret that makes North Dakota completely unique when compared to the other 49 states; its state owned bank. While most states turn to outside banks to deposit their tax revenues, North Dakota keeps theirs at home, allowing a portion of the Bank of North Dakota’s (BND) earnings to go back into state coffers, encouraging investment in the state, and supporting a bustling economy. It is the BND that has provided funding for many of the agricultural and oil-field endeavors, and is responsible for the state’s continual surplus. In fact, North Dakota has made significant reductions in both property tax and individual income taxes in recent years.

Good management and keeping the money at home seems to be paying off for North Dakota. Perhaps other states would do well to take a look. Of course, great natural resources help as well, making North Dakota a great state to live in.

Paul Moore writes for a North Dakota company in the Bakken Oil region.   North Hill Suites offer long-term housing stays and are the perfect solution for the housing needs of companies with an influx of workers to the oil fields.

Successive Job Interview Survival Tips

Image attribution: Ambro; standard royalty free license

Multiple job interviews are a way for employers to screen candidates via a process that requires endurance. Surviving these interviews involves knowing which jobs to apply for in the first place, but also knowing what to do before, during, between and after the interviews. The tips and techniques in this article are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Data, the Connecticut Department of Labor and other sources, and indicate preparedness, professionalism and persistence are key in the successive interview process.

Complete article link: http://www.helium.com/items/2322022-interview-preparation-tips-for-successive-job-interviews