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| The average Social Security retiree benefit Source: Economic Policy Institute and U.S. Social Security Administration, 2009 more... |
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Julie Legred, a certified veterinary technician (CVT), has been in her job for 25 years. "I still learn new things daily," says Legred, now a special projects coordinator for LSG Health Systems, Brice more... |
| As a professional, I am extremely embarrassed by my writing skills. My background is in accounting, and I have serious problems trying to put words on paper. I need to build my confidence and recaptur more... | |
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Lots of questions can pop up in a job interview. No. 1 most dreaded may be this deceptively simple probe: "Tell me about yourself." Some job seekers view it as the "killer" question. Few questions put more... |
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Rare is the worker who relishes the moment when the alarm clock goes off on Monday morning. In the film "Office Space," cranky, unmotivated employees are playfully accused by an annoyingly perky temp more... |
| A 51-year-old father of two who worked in a French call center threw himself from a highway bridge in late September. He was the 24th employee of Franc Telecom to kill himself in the prior 19 months. more... | |
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Percentage salary increase for the average U.S. worker in 2009 Hewitt Associates survey of 1,156 large organizations more... |
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"Employers have to provide parking for their workers! Mine didn't, so I just quit. Now my eligibility for unemployment compensation is being questioned. That's not right," the indignant woman at my de more... |
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Average number of weeks it takes unemployed workers to land a job, up from 19.1 weeks in September 2008. more... |
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"I know an employer has a right to ask if I have a conviction. They can't ask about arrests. Can an employer refuse to hire me just because of my conviction?" asked a young woman at a support group fo more... |
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Entry-level position. Experience needed: 1-2 years. Sound familiar? Michele Wahlder, Dallas-based life and career coach for Life Possibilities LLC, knows first-hand what it's like to attempt the balan more... |
| As the economy becomes progressively more disconcerting, we tend to abandon the idea of ever holding a dream job. But they are still out there. If you're having trouble imagining them, here's a small, more... | |
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The proportion of college graduates under age 25 in jobs that do not require college degrees, the highest in 18 years Source: National Assoc. of Colleges and Employers more... |
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Sure, the light bulb so many students hope for after graduation can shine like a floodlight for some. For many students, though, leaving school to enter the job market can mean a bewildering number of more... |
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Rites of passage. Every society has them. In contemporary American society passing your driver's license test, a first kiss, graduating from high school and having the first alcoholic drink at 21 were more... |
| "I spent all afternoon arranging flowers on your tables. We set aside that small dining room for you and while we were waiting for you to show up, we turned other customers away!" Dear Readers, My mot more... | |
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We may take for granted that important national security issues such as nuclear disarmament require the skills of people with some technical knowledge and expertise in foreign languages to review and more... |
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Matt Horne and Kevin Costello are both in business in the Chicago area with their families. Along with his wife, Kitty, of 34 years, Horne makes a zesty, gluten-free cocktail mix called Longbranch Blo more... |
| Q. I'm unemployed with an accounting degree, but I don't see why anyone would hire me because I really don't enjoy doing that kind of work. If I cannot convince myself I want a job in the field, I don more... | |
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Percentage increase in productivity and morale among employees granted the freedom to "make their desk their home," controlling the look and feel of their office environment. Source: Online survey of more... |
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Number of years a Goodyear Tire plant in Alabama paid Lilly Ledbetter less than her male co-workers. She sued. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law in Jan. 2009. more... |
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An interview is a two-way street. Many jobseekers mistakenly view an interview as a situation in which the employer has all the options. They see the jobseeker as a piece of meat waiting to be chosen. more... |
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Against the backdrop of a high, unyielding national unemployment rate, many jobseekers are more willing to apply for and accept positions on lower rungs of the job ladder than they might like. But aft more... |
| Q. After graduating from college in May, I have found a full-time position at a plant nursery near my home. I am the receptionist. Unfortunately, the closest I have gotten to using my B.A. in English more... | |
| Dear Readers, As a talk show host on Wisconsin Public Radio station WPR, Ben Merens listens for a living. Whether he is interviewing education critic Alfie Kohn about his opposition to homework or ene more... | |
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Phrases such as "Work from home" and "No experience necessary" may sound promising, but they are words that should strike fear in the hearts of jobseekers looking for honest employment. The risk of en more... |
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Average starting salary for 2009 college graduates with bachelor's degrees, down 1.2 percent from last year. Source: National Assoc. of Colleges and Employers survey of 140 college and university care more... |
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Jobseekers often hear advice to pack their resumes full with impressive details that may swing an employers vote toward "hire." But we often waver when it comes to the other side of things: what to le more... |
| Dear Readers, Has this ever happened to you? A new department is expanding and your department has to accommodate the new employees by doubling up on office space. That’s the news I got a few we more... | |
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For more than 20 years, Lemmietta McNeilly, PhD, helped infants and young children with swallowing and speech disorders as a speech and language pathologist. She founded an academic department and wor more... |
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It’s common now for workers to change jobs every three or four years. But leaving companies after a year or two of employment is still seen as a liability. Perfectly qualified candidates often d more... |
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The percent of first-time U.S. mothers back at work six months after giving birth in the years 2001 – 2003. That's a 41 percent increase from the early 1960s. Source: Census Bureau more... |
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I was doing breathing exercises to relax prior to a job interview when I heard a strange sound. I looked up to see a middle-age man in a dark suit, white shirt and tie pacing the floor. He was hitting more... |
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Putting yourself “out there” is perhaps more critical than ever for finding or keeping a job. So what’s an introvert to do? Quiet and reserved by nature, introverts in the workplace more... |
| Q: I read your column about the value of creativity at work with great interest. I have read Daniel Pink’s “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future,” (Riverhead, 20 more... | |
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Tom Daly, managing principal at Hartwig Moss Benefits in Austin, Texas, knew he needed human resources help but that he didn’t need it full-time. So he networked with peers to find just the righ more... |
| Q: My boyfriend makes more money than I do but seems to have less fun. He’s quite successful by any professional measure but always being in overdrive seems to have quite a cost. He doesn’ more... | |
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The percent of U.S. workers who expect to have the same employer for more than five years Source: Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 557 employed adults conducted July 17-18, 2009 more... |
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Going paperless is good public relations. Anyone with a reasonably sophisticated cell phone has the means to store a person’s full contact information on the spot. Does that mean business cards more... |
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Remember the old days of résumés – standard objective sentences (“To get a job utilizing my strong interpersonal and communication skills); lots of bullet points about what your jobs entai more... |
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Percentage of adults who say they do not save any of their annual household income for retirement. Source: National Foundation for Credit Counseling March 2009 survey of 1,000 U.S. residents ages 18 a more... |
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Paying for a personal coach seems like an unconscionable extravagance in a recession. But by most accounts, demand is high for these professionals who offer direction on life and work. “The prof more... |
| Dear Readers, Job-hunting expert Richard Bolles, author of the bestseller “What Color is Your Parachute?” has long considered doing a thorough self-assessment as a prelude to a successful more... | |
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For thirty years as an employment counselor I spent a lot of time getting jobseekers to write résumés that would capture the attention of a human reader. Occasionally, companies would assign initial more... |
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Percent of employees who answered No to the question, Do you want to be a manager?Source: Randstad 2009 World of Work survey of 2,199 workers more... |
| Dear Readers, A parade of 10,000 workers organized by the New York City Central Labor Council marked the first Labor Day in 1882. It soon became a national holiday. More than 125 years later, we stil more... | |
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Employers generally are impressed when job candidates make the interview a two-way street by posing questions of their own - that is, unless the questions reveal a basic lack of knowledge about the c more... |
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The top-paying job for women: pharmacists, with a median salary of $86,000 per year. Source: Forbes magazine rank of women's median weekly earnings, based on U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau 2 more... |
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In a difficult economy, many people have turned to temporary work for additional employment opportunities. But rather than simply filling the gap from one full-time job to the next, a temporary posit more... |
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A caravan walking through the Brooklyn Crown Heights neighborhood fascinated New Yorkers. ultra-Orthodox Jews were giving a group of Amish from Lancaster, Penn. a tour of their neighborhood. The grou more... |
| Q: I’m on the verge of quitting my job. My boss and I do not get along. If I quit, would I be eligible for unemployment insurance? I am tempted since the federal government has extended benefits more... | |
| Q: I’ve got a disability that’s not obvious to anyone but that can occasionally make it hard for me to work. It is usually controlled by medication, but that’s not 100 percent reliab more... | |
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Is there anything more important in life than breathing? For 25 years, Geri Bernacki, MHA, RRT, has been helping people breathe as a respiratory therapist. It's a job that involves everything from in more... |
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Last fall, Crystal Stafstrom, 24, thought she could breath a sigh of relief when she was offered a job on the retail analysis side of a consumer packaged goods company. She was given specifics on the more... |
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Percentage of adults who believe they've been denied a job or promotion because of their stuttering. Source: The National Stuttering Association (NSA) survey of 1,235 people in May 2009 more... |
| Q: I need a full time job but the U.S. job markets seem closed. I hear that working internationally is the way to go but the change is so huge that I don't know what to think of first. Pointers? A: Ma more... | |
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Martha Finney finished writing her guide to surviving a layoff months before the book’s February 2009 release. And while the economy has slide precipitously since then, Finney is sticking with more... |
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The number of jobseekers per available job Source: Economic Policy Institute and BLS research for June 2009 more... |
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"I am bummed out," said Victory, one of the participants in a job search class I led at the job center. He had received a rejection letter after an interview in which he thought he'd done well. He co more... |
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Earnings last year of rapper and businessman Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, the biggest take of all male hip-hop musical artists. Source: Forbes' annual ranking based on income June 2008 - June 2009 more... |
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Emily Trimble, 22, was just hoping to connect with friends when she signed up to use Twitter, the online social networking site, in March. Finding a job was the last thing on her mind. But as she swa more... |
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When Alan Mater found himself laid off from the lens grinding company where he worked near Lewiston, Pa., he didn't waste a lot of time looking elsewhere for work. Instead, he pursued a new gig as an more... |
| Entrepreneur or Employee? Q: I'm out of work and thinking about starting my own business, but I'm worried that I'm not entrepreneurial enough. I'm used to having a boss and the security of having a re more... | |
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Many career advisers warn that in today's oversaturated job market, filling out an online application and waiting with fingers crossed to hear back is tantamount to hurling your resume into a black h more... |
| Bad Interview Behavior I am a director of a college-level educational service who routinely spends much time hiring new employees. Standards are high and hiring is competitive. Applicants can find ver more... | |
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You're 59 years old and just lost your job; and retirement is not an option. Suddenly, after 20 years at one firm, you're in the ranks of thousands of job seekers, most of who are fresh out of colleg more... |
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The percentage of adults with MySpace or Facebook profiles Source: Harris Poll survey of 2,220 adults more... |
| I have worked for a “big box” retailer for five years. The job started as a source of temporary income, and I have been very successful, staying much longer than I intended. It’s tim more... | |
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Percentage of married-couple families with both husband and wife employedSource: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008 more... |
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Employers looking to hire cooks and food servers were always the quickest to call. "What is with these applicants?" they'd demand, referring to job hopefuls referred to them by our job center. "Some more... |
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Christie Joy goes to work every day in jeans and a T-shirt and works with some real animals. "The best part of pet-sitting is it's something you can be proud of and passionate about," says Joy, of Tr more... |
| Dear Readers, Those highly anticipated, often-dreaded annual performance reviews can take on even more significance nowadays, when jobs are harder than ever to keep. If you've got one coming up, think more... | |
| Minutes the average cell phone user spends texting per week. Average time spent talking on the cell phone is 44 minutes Source: Frank N. Magid Associates survey of 4,000 cell phone users more... | |
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Recent surveys of employers consistently show that what they look for in job candidates - and seldom find - are strong communication skills. As the work force increasingly diversifies and organizatio more... |
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Who hasn't been obliged to reread an e-mail in an attempt to understand the writer's message? Or encountered an e-mail with a subject line so dubious they're reluctant to open it? Or flinched through more... |
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It is true that the age-old Help Wanted section has taken a hit from the Internet. Used in conjunction with other methods of finding a job, though, there's a lot to recommend classified job listings more... |
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Imagine this: a woman works for the world's largest enterprise software company. A recession hits, she loses her job and the only work she can find in her field is halfway across the country. Rather more... |
| Co-author of "The Good Girl's Guide to Negotiating" I never thought having 25 years of experience would be a liability, but that seems to be the case when you are looking for a new job. Is there any w more... | |
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Percentage decline in the number of new college grads that employers expect to hire from the class of 2009 compared to class of '08 Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job O more... |
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Base salary increases for 2009 are expected to drop below 3 percent, the lowest in 32 years of tracking. Source: Hewitt Associates Dec. 2008 survey of 640 large companies more... |
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“It’s a good time to start a business,” claims Rhonda Abrams, syndicated columnist, author and speaker who specializes in small-business topics. No, Abrams has not been asleep for t more... |
| Dear Readers, This year, my summer reading list focuses on creativity. Instead of exploring art in a literal way - how to quilt, how to paint - why not look into upping your creative quotient for use more... | |
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In today's saturated job market, your résumé should not only stand out, but it must also practically sprout wings, take flight and make a perfect landing on the decision maker's desk. Then, it should more... |
| Q: I’ve heard that job interviewers size up applicants within the first seven seconds of meeting them. Is that true? Dear Readers, When top television executive and Republican strategist Roger A more... | |
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Number of U.S. workers who won’t use all their earned vacation days this year, up 3 percent from 2008Source: Harris Interactive survey of 1,530 adults in March 2009 on behalf of Expedia more... |
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Is the economy giving you gray hair and sleepless nights? You’re not alone. But not only is it possible to reduce your stress level, learning to keep your cool may be just as important as findi more... |
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At age 35, Glenn E. Stevick, Jr., had a master’s degree in psychology, a teaching background and two boys at home. He wanted to make more money so he answered an ad offering sales positions for more... |
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The percentage of kids who are certain they’ll work in the jobs of their choice when they grow up. Seventeen percent of girls want to be veterinarians, 11 percent of boys want to be in the mili more... |
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Have you ever received a great introduction to a stranger and felt, within moments, at ease and with lots to talk about with your new acquaintance? Contrast that with a hasty, name-only exchange: &ld more... |
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The search was long, but finally everything has fallen into place. You rocked the interview, the company made an offer and now you can finally take a moment to breath. But don’t relax for too l more... |
| Q: I’ve read about job fairs where thousands of people apply for dozens of jobs. There’s one scheduled nearby in a few weeks. Is it worth going? Dear Readers, The latest word on job fairs more... | |
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There he is, across the room. He’s wearing a polka dot tie – the same one he wore at the last convention. The time before that, his tie was blue with pinstripes. He uses the word “s more... |
| Q: What do you do when a co-worker dies suddenly? Weeks later, some employees still feel like crying, but managers may feel the need to push past the grief. What’s best? Dear Readers, With the r more... | |
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Percent of the U.S. private sector workforce that is unionized. Source: Union Membership and Coverage Database, www.unionstats.com more... |
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“Now you’re talking, if I worked out of my home, I wouldn’t have to worry about child care,” said Betty, a single mother, after hearing a presentation about business startups. more... |
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Percentage of companies that plan to trim the value of long-term incentives awarded to top executives. Source: Watson Wyatt Worldwide March 2009 survey of 145 large U.S. companies more... |
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Nursing is a great career and much in demand. Some nurses are finding greater satisfaction and more opportunities caring for a special population. Older adults use at least half of all hospital care, more... |
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When Chicago-based Northern Trust, a recipient of government bailout money, was chastised for lavish parties and entertaining in conjunction with its sponsorship of a country club golf tournament in more... |
| The other day I was at an interview and one of the questions was, “What are your weaknesses?” I consider this a depressing, senseless question. How does one answer this? I said, “Cho more... | |
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“I must have résumé-writer’s block,” sighed one entry-level jobseeker. “It doesn’t seem that difficult but I just don’t know where to start.” At the job cent more... |
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Median number of leisure hours available to adults each week in 2008, down from 26 hours in 1973 Source: Harris Poll of 1,010 adults more... |
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If the economy begins to recover in 2010, as some experts suggest is likely, the unemployment rate – which hit a 25-year high of 8.5 percent in March 2009 – will begin to decline. Another more... |
| Dear Readers, This column is dedicated to all the newly minted college graduates who do not yet have a job offer in hand. What is a highly educated, unemployed person to do? Try to stay energized and more... | |
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Percent of the U.S. civilian labor force in 2008 who were foreign-born, some 24 million people. The percentage was down slightly from 2007. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics more... |
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Everyone prizes “work-life balance” these days, but the term is problematic. It implies that work and home life are separate realms positioned at opposite ends of a scale. In fact, family more... |
| Dear Readers What’s your confrontation style? Are you a “conflict antagonist” who likes to argue and win? A “conflict avoider” who would rather not argue with anyone abou more... | |
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With the end of the recession still not in sight, many companies are struggling, managers are tightening budgets and employees are simply happy just to have a job. Asking for a raise in tough economi more... |
| South Dakota 10.2 Nebraska 9.7 Vermont 9.4 Kansas 8.9 Iowa 8.8 U.S. Average: 5.2 States with the highest percentage of multiple jobholders as a percent of total employment in 2007 Source: Bureau of La more... | |
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Long months of fruitless searching can leave a jobseeker emotionally exhausted. From all signs, there are lots of tired folks out there. Some 90 percent of Americans surveyed said it’s a bad ti more... |
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If it’s not online shopping or paying bills electronically, then it’s viewing the newest YouTube phenomenon, ‘tweeting’ on Twitter or writing on a pal’s wall in FaceBook more... |
| Dear Leslie, I am a college student about to graduate this month. As I begin my job search, I have found that even hourly positions require a cover letter now. I have not needed to write a cover lette more... | |
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Percentage of "involuntary part-timers" in the workforce, those who would prefer to work full-time jobs but can't find them. The figure was 2.7 percent a decade ago. Source: BLS more... |
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In politically correct circles they might be called, euphemistically, "strong personalities." Among co-workers, though, irritating individuals are called, simply, jerks - and jerks in the workplace ca more... |
| Dear Readers, What do you know about the people you need to please at work? How can you use that information to your advantage? Before you can successfully answer those questions, think strategically more... | |
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"I was there every day," said the successful job hunter with pride. "First thing in the morning. When they opened their doors, there I was. Maybe they hired me to get me out of their personnel office! more... |
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One mouse click lasts a fraction of a second. But could it stop you from sealing the deal in your job search? This year, according to The Radicati Group, an e-mail archiving company based in Mill Val more... |
| Dear Readers, “No one should have to choose between the job they need and the family they love.” “When our lease comes up for renewal, we will strongly consider other locations outsi more... | |
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Number of minutes of non-work-related Web-surfing deemed permissible in the workplace each day. Source: survey of 250 advertising and marketing executives by The Creative Group, Menlo Park, Calif., a more... |
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When big investment firms teetered on Wall Street this fall, business schools mobilized so quickly to counsel affected alumni that, in some cases, career assistance arrived before graduates fully rea more... |
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Between the gyrations of the economy and the rapid downshifting of many businesses, it's not easy to stay calm and collected in today's workplace. If you're looking for a job, you probably wonder, Wh more... |
| TITLE TALES Dear leslie, I'm about to launch a new business and I need a new title. I want something more interesting than president or CEO. While my main strength and skills run to the financial side more... | |
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Percent of polled adults who say they're uncomfortable when introducing themselves to strangers at a party Source: survey of 1,005 adults by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media on behalf of PrimaLoft (c more... |
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With the private sector a scary place in this market, more and more people are considering federal jobs. The evidence is in the hits. The number of daily visits to the federal government's jobs Web s more... |
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Dear Readers, "You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." - Henry Ford That's a quote recently posted on www.esteemedwoman.com, a Web site devoted to women's empowerment. I learned ab more... |
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Submitting a job application online, from the comfort of your own home, seems almost too good to be true - less time, less hassle, less stress. But how do you stand out from the crowd when hundreds o more... |
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Percent of U .S. employers polled in May 2008 that had not made formal contingency plans for an economic downturn. Of those with plans, the most common was layoffs (52 percent) followed by restructur more... |
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Layoffs are never easy. At a time of severe economic downturn, when floundering companies hit the panic button, they can be especially traumatic. Job cuts took an ugly turn in 2001, when employers re more... |
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Lights, camera... upload. These days even a novice computer user can publish a video in a matter of minutes. On social networking sites, YouTube and all manner of personal and commercial Web sites, pe more... |
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Employees who get downsized or fired leave behind their computers, co-workers and keys to the office. However, they generally do not give up their right to take advantage of the company's group health more... |
| Dear Readers, If you have a boss, do you count on her to solve the big problems that plague your company? If you are the boss, do you do your best to reassure everyone, even when things are heading so more... | |
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Percentage of workers ages 65 to 74 in the U.S. labor force, up from 20 percent in 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2007 American Community Survey more... |
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The Phelps Group marketing agency, Santa Monica, Calif., recently “greened up” its building by crowning the roof with the largest commercial solar-panel system in the city. The company al more... |
| Dear Leslie, I work in public relations at a small company and am searching for a new position. I’m targeting large but innovative companies. Do my résumé and cover letter have to be s more... | |
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Percent of U.S. managers who think casual dress hurts productivity Source: Online poll of 9,105 employees across all industries in July 2008 by FPC, an executive search firm based in N.Y. more... |
| Charging money for information that is readily available at no cost is an enduring scam. Gullible job seekers who hunger for a regular paycheck too easily fall prey to these bogus offers. I once saw a more... | |
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Percent of the U.S. population that speaks a language other than English at home, up from 13.8 percent in 1990. Source: Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey more... |
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In hindsight, Joan Friedlander recognizes that she could have done more to prevent getting a pink slip when her former employer restructured. She'd just started to battle an autoimmune disease and ha more... |
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Networking is one of the best ways to find a job, but it can be tricky. Here are some tips to help you get started and avoid the pitfalls. Sharpen your focus A major cause of networking failure is la more... |
| SLIGHTS DON'T ADD UP Dear Leslie, You are right about the shortage of African-American accountants. I happen to be one. But you did not touch on the discrimination we face even after being hired. I ha more... | |
| Dear Leslie, When I found out that you read “Who Moved My Cheese?,” in your column was about your father (bless his heart), I felt compelled to relate this story. I worked in a business th more... | |
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As the old saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for!" Not every promotion or new job leads to happiness. In some cases a job seeker may discover that a seemingly promising promotion ends up being a more... |
| Dear Leslie, When I was younger, I foolishly walked out on a bar tab with some friends and was charged with theft. As many people do when they are young, I made a mistake. I never expected this incide more... | |
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Average pay of a manager of a top 50 hedge and private equity fund manager in 2007, some 19,000 times more than a typical U.S. worker. Source: "Executive Excess 2008," 15th annual CEO compensation sur more... |
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9 to 5: It's more than cleaning teeth. Dental hygienists help prevent and treat oral disease to protect teeth and gums. "We know that prevention saves money, leads to better oral health and to better more... |
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For most jobseekers - early in the hunt, anyway - a callback after an interview is a time for rejoicing. The first interview went well! The second callback may be more perplexing. Didn't you talk to e more... |
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Whether you utilize them or not, one thing's for sure: you've got people. A network, when cultivated and taken advantage of (in a good way) can further your career, teach you all kinds of new things a more... |
| Dear Readers, Eleven-year-old Rachel Cole of Oak Park, Ill., had a great time playing with Princess, a beautiful black Labrador retriever, when her Girl Scout troop volunteered at the local animal she more... | |
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Number of laptops lost in the 36 biggest U.S. airports each week. Nearly 70 percent of them are never reclaimed. Source: 2008 survey of 106 major airports conducted for Dell by the Ponemon Institute, more... |
| ALL CRIME AND NO PAYDear LESLIE, When I was younger, I foolishly walked out on a bar tab with some friends and was charged with theft. As many people do when they are young, I made a mistake.I never e more... | |
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The percentage raise working women voted as the change they most desired in their work lives. A raise was followed by high-quality heath care and childcare. Working America, Washington, D.C., sixth a more... |
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You've heard it said often: Avoid discussion of sex, money, religion and politics. So, why do so many people love to broach these controversial topics in the office? "Politics, in particular, is hard more... |
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Doing business in the 21st century means riding the cutting edge of technology, seeking out innovation and embracing the new. There are some free thinkers who believe that the ancient study of astrol more... |
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Why do clashes between co-workers occasionally erupt into screaming and scuffling? Many times, news coverage of workplace aggression reports that the answer is obvious: it's the economy, stupid. "Stre more... |
| Dear Readers, In a recent column, I compared Sarah Palin’s candidacy for the vice presidency of the U.S. to an applicant for a more ordinary job. Several readers took issue with my critique and more... | |
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Three things in life are certain: Death. Taxes. And employment scams. In my years as a job counselor, I saw too-good-to-be-true self-employment job offers dupe innocent job seekers time after time. "I more... |
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Proportion of large companies that accept video résumés from job candidates Source: 2008 survey of 150 U.S. senior executives by Robert Half International, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based staffin more... |
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Number of workers who died from injuries on the job last year. Fishing was the most dangerous occupation, followed by logging, aircraft pilots and flight engineers and structural iron and steel worker more... |
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Robert Chambers went from being a car salesman to starting a nonprofit that provides low-interest loans and fuel-efficient cars to the rural poor living in New Hampshire. He's one of a growing number more... |
| Dear Readers, Does your firm have a suggestion box? Whether your answer is Yes or No, unless it means employees' ideas are regularly solicited, it's time to think outside that particular box and insta more... | |
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Well-prepared job applicants have answers to every conceivable question an interviewer might ask. Too often, though, they fail to pose incisive questions of their own. An interview is not a one-way st more... |
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Percent of U.S. workers who are confident in their ability to find a new job. Seventy-six percent believe they are unlikely to lose their job in the next year. Source: June 2008 Harris Interactive pol more... |
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Traditionally, a college degree opens the door to respect, a new chapter in life and the first "real" job in a much-dreamed-of career. However, with today's difficult economy and rising unemployment r more... |
| Dear Leslie, I am the office secretary (and then some) in a 50-person office and I work with a great group of people. Several co-workers, including men, will talk to me for a half hour at a time, walk more... | |
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"There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept," said Ansel Adams, the photographer known for his majestic images of the American West. It is not likely Adams was talking about failed e more... |
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Average weekly wage in Santa Clara County, Calif., highest among the nation's 328 largest counties Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, third quarter of 2007 more... |
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In tough times, companies focus on the bottom line. That's the right strategy for employees, too, says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, a career coach based in Manhattan. She's not just referring to contributi more... |
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All job seekers should network. Most of them know full well they should. It's taking the first step - picking up the phone - that frequently trips them up. By some estimates, each of us knows about 50 more... |
| Dear Readers, Pundits and politicians have hailed Sarah Palin's surprising selection as John McCain's running mate as a sign that the end of discrimination against women in the workplace is here. Even more... | |
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They’re crunching numbers to Mariah Carey. Creating a powerpoint to Vampire Weekend. Or polishing off a competitive analysis to The Clash. A generation of workers accustomed to carrying the sou more... |
| Dear Readers, What’s more important, how you start or how you finish? That’s a key question in any career in which you measure results, whether by the season or the quarter. Professional b more... | |
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Percent of hiring managers who say they’ve caught a candidate lying on a résumé Source: 2008 Careerbuilder.com survey of 3,000 hiring managers more... |
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Drew Stevens, 46, can empathize with the thousands of employees who will be laid off from Starbucks as the coffee chain shutters 600 stores in a rolling series of closures through early 2009. While i more... |
| Dear Readers, It may be September, but summer is still on our minds. You can probably call up the most memorable moments fairly easily, whether wonderful or traumatic. For young people who were unempl more... | |
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“I think I’m going into business for myself. Doesn’t matter what it is. I’ll just take out a home-equity loan – maybe buy a franchise,” a dislocated worker told me more... |
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Percent of U.S. employees who say they feel obligated to check work e-mail while on vacation Source: AOL Mail’s 2008 E-mail Addiction Survey of 4,000 of its members more... |
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As an executive search consultant, Sally Stetson, a principal with the Salveson Stetson Group in Radnor, Pa., helps match people to jobs. She’s also a mom who hears people repeatedly ask her da more... |
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With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, who wouldn’t want to join the growing number of U.S. employees whose route to work is just a few short strides from the bedroom to a home-based offi more... |
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The Labor Day holiday is here. For anyone out of work and looking for a job, it’s time to kick the job search into high gear. You wouldn’t be wasting an ounce of energy if you began your more... |
| Dear Leslie, I worked in a local church office for 10 years. I got sick and had to take a leave of absence. During my leave, the church hired another person permanently. I was told when I returned I c more... | |
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Percentage of workers 16 and older who work more than 40 hours a week. Eight percent work 60 or more hours a week. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 more... |
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Number of commuters who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m., some 13 percent of all workers Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2006 American Community Survey more... |
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Self-expression is human nature. Some people express themselves through painting, writing or dancing. Some people play music. And some people express their individuality via body art – tattoos more... |
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Aaron Ludin’s summer earning improved dramatically from one year to the next. He went from earning $6.20-an-hour retail gig to netting $31,000 selling knives for the summer. That salary grew to more... |
| Dear Readers, Labor Day is one of transition, a time to switch gears from the lazy days of summer to the fertile fresh start of fall. Established as a legal holiday by Congress in 1894, Labor Day also more... | |
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Dear Readers, When my father retired in 1982 at age 56, he was the senior minister of First Church of Christ, Congregational, in New Britain, Conn. The church building, built in the 1960s, still seem more... |
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Percent of U.S. employers offering incentives to lure employees to sign up for company health and wellness programs in 2008. Gift cards were No. 1. Source: 2008 survey of 225 major employers by the N more... |
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Sometimes, dream jobs appear to be just around the corner. College grads with newly minted diplomas or workforce veterans with glowing recommendations eagerly pursue the glittering prize they’v more... |
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“This summer we had our family reunion. I saw my 80-year-old Uncle Fred there,” said Jason, a jobseeker. “He is the retired manager of Lunches from a Vending Machine. So I go up to more... |
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No sooner had Lynne Klippel discovered that her company would eliminate her position as it downsized that she learned her husband’s company had also cut his job. “I was shocked at how int more... |
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We’re doing lots of activities online that we once did in person. Shopping? Sure. Paying bills? Of course. But professional networking? You bet – and with some great advantages. Finding a more... |
| Dear Leslie, I am a college student entering my junior year. When I applied for internships in the spring, I interviewed with a marketing company and was not offered the job because another candidate more... | |
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Percent of employees who say work/life balance is a very important aspect of job satisfaction, down from 62 percent in 2002 Source: The Society for Human Resource Management 2008 Job Satisfaction Sur more... |
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Percent of executives who deem cover letters sent with résumés as “not valuable at all” Source: Survey of 150 executives at large corporations by OfficeTeam, a staffing firm in more... |
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Uncle Sam is looking for more than a few good men and women, and not just to serve in the armed forces. From cemetery workers to nuclear physicists, the federal government has tens of thousands of jo more... |
| Dear Leslie, I have an ethical dilemma at the doctor’s office where I am the receptionist. After working here for three months, I was instructed to start taking payments from patients. While lea more... | |
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Any sensible job seeker knows that employers receive countless applicants for any given job opening. Each of these applicants has a résumé, of course, which means that if you want yours to more... |
| Dear Readers, Accounting ranks among the country’s most segregated professions. Only 1 percent to 3 percent of all Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are African-American, depending on what sou more... | |
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Percent of undergraduates who name Google as their ideal future employer. Runnersup: Walt Disney (13 percent) and Apple Computer (10 percent.) Source: 2007 survey of 43,313 students by Universum USA, more... |
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You eat breakfast together. You share financial responsibilities. You offer each other advice and support. Why not work together, too? Your life and your partner’s are inextricably intertwined. more... |
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Aspiring globetrotters who dream of working and living overseas might regard Debi Yohn as a role model. A psychologist who hails from Miami, Yohn has held jobs in Saudi Arabia, France, China and Mexi more... |
| Dear Leslie, I recently participated in an interview with an airline for a flight attendant position. I agreed to participate at my own expense, since the company did not provide transportation or cov more... | |
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Nearly a third of Americans seem to be ignoring some important signs – or perhaps slept through them. According to the 2008 “Sleep in America” poll, 29 percent of respondents said t more... |
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Average amount students in 2008 expect to earn five years after graduation Source: Survey of 43,313 undergraduates by Universum USA, a Philadelphia-based research and consulting service more... |
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Your company has just been bought out and rumors are flying. The top brass says there’ll be no immediate changes. Colleagues tell you not to worry because highly paid upper management positions more... |
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“I’m aimless no more!” declared Susie. “I am going to open a convenience store of my own! I made hoagies faster than anyone else at the church fundraiser. If the Sheetz can do more... |
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Percentage of men who wear ties every day to work in 2007, down from 10 percent in 2002 Source: Gallup Poll more... |
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Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, newly graduated college students step off the stage, diploma in hand, ready to take on the world. With years of hard work preparing for this moment behind them, they dre more... |
| Dear readers, I’ve recommended many books but this one is among the best I’ve found, “Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive” (Free Press, 2008). Just published, t more... | |
| When she graduates from college in December, Whitney Plumendahl most likely will limit her job search to employment opportunities in the nonprofit sector. “It’s not that I’m not open more... | |
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Dear Leslie, I left my previous employer in April, 2007. I have a Simple Retirement Account. My employer put in my employee contributions but it never deposited the employer match for 2007 ($200.00). more... |
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By 2016, more than three-quarters of US workers will be in service, rather than goods-producing, jobs Source: 2008-2009 Occupational Outlook Handbook more... |
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Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., hosts a statewide job fair twice a year for Michigan colleges and employers that attracts 166 employers and 1,000 candidates. Organizer Lavonda Robine more... |
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Percentage decline in U.S. footwear prices in the last 10 years Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics more... |
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I had studied all the standard questions likely to be asked in job interviews. To be sure, interviewers selected by Pennsylvania Labor and Industry tended to use the same questions, so I practiced my more... |
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Dear Readers, “To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.” -- Confucius When the weather gets warm, I cannot resist suggesting a summer reading list. With one of the h more... |
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Grandmothers have always advised not to count your chickens until they hatch. In today’s economy, the wise among us have a new pearl of wisdom: don’t assume that you have a job just becau more... |
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Schoolteachers know the syndrome well. Friday rolls around and the kids stop hitting the books and start hitting the road – mentally, anyway. The same is often true of the workplace. When many more... |
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Carol Gerrish looks around her third-floor office and is instantly inspired to work. “This is a professional office, a serious space,” says the life coach in Troy, N.J. It’s a space more... |
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Dear Readers, When I lived in Philadelphia after college, I had a good friend who lived nearby who said she was thinking of moving back in with her boyfriend. Then she bought a piano. That seemed to more... |
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Percentage of men who say they never wear a tie to work. Source: American Magazine/Gallup Organization survey more... |
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Remember the expression about the grass being greener? When it comes to jobs, it may not always be true. Perhaps it may be more common than many would like to admit, but more employees are returning more... |
| Dear Leslie, I recently submitted my resume and a cover letter for a job I would love to have. I believe I’m qualified, but I haven’t worked in my field for about 13 years. Instead I&rsquo more... | |
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Percentage of organizations that have an official definition of workplace diversity. Source: Society for Human Resource Management/American Institute for Managing Diversity Inc. more... |
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Job searches can be reminiscent of our first days of school—scary. Will they like me? How can I get them to like me? Any job search can tap into our fears of rejection, but in a job market that more... |
| Dear readers, In the political world, lots of jobs are lost and careers ruined because people say or do something that angers the public and embarrasses their superiors. If they could turn back the cl more... | |
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Percentage of women business owners who are trying to make their businesses greener Source: 1,200 respondents of a member survey conducted by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) more... |
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Data-entry to Destiny’s Child? Spreadsheets to Santana? Windows to Wyclef’s latest? According to a Spherion Workplace Snapshot survey conducted by Harris Interactive, almost 32 percent of more... |
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Ideally, a job interview should feel like a conversation, not an interrogation. But when you and a prospective employer hit it off, there’s a risk you’ll both become too chummy — th more... |
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Let’s face it - the news is full of talk about the tough economy and home foreclosures. While official, national unemployment has not increased much in recent months, employee wages and hours a more... |
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Age country singer, Gretchen Wilson graduated from high school. Wilson dropped out of school in the ninth grade Source: Associated Press and CBS News more... |
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Andrea Kay signed on as a non-paid board member of a non-profit downtown improvement group because she truly wanted to help revitalize the heart of Cincinnati. Little did she know that her stint as a more... |
| Dear Leslie, I was recently terminated. I feel strongly that my termination was unjust and due to discrimination. I sought an attorney's advice and was told that I have a very strong discrimination la more... | |
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Are you hoarding your vacation time? Not if you work for Chrysler. In March, the company told its nearly 71,600 workers that most of them would be taking vacations during the weeks of July 7 and 14 w more... |
| Dear Leslie, I have worked for a major insurance company for 11 years. Although I am not a manager, I have made a name for myself in the company, and I am very happy with my job. Now, due to downsizin more... | |
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Expected growth of ice cream and frozen desserts market by 2012 Source: Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md., “U.S. Market for Ice Cream and Related Frozen Desserts” report more... |
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Baseball season is now in full swing. Fishing too. But I am going to talk about another important season: the summer job-hunting season for teenagers and college students. Many first time job hunters more... |
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Looking for bok choy, organic barley, or Alaskan crab? You’ll probably find these or other specialty ingredients at one of the increasingly popular niche supermarkets springing up across the co more... |
| Dear Readers, Of the respondents to a 2000 Gallup poll, 25 percent said they felt like screaming at work. The reason? Stress. Another survey found that 42 percent of workers reported that yelling and more... | |
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Expected global spending for operations support systems in 2008 Source: Insight Research Corp., Boonton, N.J. more... |
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Acing a job interview involves more than simply demonstrating your skills and making a good first impression these days. Employers are paying more than ever in health and liability insurance and lost more... |
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The warm weather finally is arriving and you’re itching to get outside. Wouldn’t it be great if you could pack your lunch and head outside to work every day? Outdoor jobs are among the fa more... |
| Dear Readers, Networking is the most efficient way to find job openings, whether you are a new college graduate or an aging baby boomer, especially in a tight labor market. To hone your understanding more... | |
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Expected growth of the gift card market in the next five years Source: Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md., “U.S. Market for Prepaid Cards with a Focus on Gift Cards” report more... |
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Losing one’s job is a major life crisis. As a counselor I have seen some people bounce back from a job loss in several weeks, others are still not themselves after several months and some never more... |
| Dear Leslie, What direction should one take when an employer does not resolve an issue regarding sexual harassment by someone in upper management? I know of several women who have taken the proper ste more... | |
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Expected size of U.S. market for personal safes by 2011 Source: SBI Reports, Rockville, Md. more... |
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That job you’ve been dreaming about is finally within reach. The hiring manager you interviewed with has made an appealing offer, but there’s a catch: This gig is not “gung ho&rdquo more... |
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Even 10 years ago, says Minneapolis resume writer Vicki Bacal, one resume was all that most professionals needed to land a great job. Not so today. “You need to customize each and every resume more... |
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Percentage of contract or temporary employees who say they would refer a relative or friend to the job. Source: American Staffing Association, Alexandria, Va. more... |
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When it comes to striking career gold, the “Hitch” of the job world is Shawn Graham. Like Will Smith’s character, in the romantic comedy, “Hitch,” who helps seemingly ho more... |
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“I’ve never had a job before; I never even looked before. Someone told me just go to the job center. So what do I do?” asked a scared young man. Jason had just graduated from high s more... |
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Artist Lara Lepionka sees beauty in the everyday tasks we may take for granted: the waitress pouring a cup of coffee, an attendant answering phones at the YWCA, a librarian shelving books at a local more... |
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Percentage of women who believe brunet is the best hair color for making an impression during a job interview. FYI: Blond came in at 12 percent and red at 3 percent. Source: P&G Beauty more... |
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At a time when the job and economic picture looks bleak and company and personal budgets are in the red, there’s one plus: green-collar jobs are in more demand than ever. Jobs in the green indu more... |
| Dear Readers, Last week we celebrated National Small Business Week by interviewing marketing communications expert Karin Abarbanel, co-author of “Birthing the Elephant: The woman’s go-for- more... | |
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“It must have been a miscommunication.” How many times have you heard that phrase in a meeting, on a conference call or in the boardroom? Chances are, too many to count. Peggy Klaus, a co more... |
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When can a teenager first have a job? How many hours can my daughter work? Are the hours different when she is in school, or on weekends or during vacation times? How late can they make my son work o more... |
| Dear Readers, Small businesses play a big role in this economy. The 25 million small businesses in the U.S. employ half the private workforce in the U.S. and create three out of every four new jobs. N more... | |
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Percentage of employees who say they come to work sick because they don’t want to use vacation time Source: CCH, Chicago, 2007 Unscheduled Absence Survey more... |
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It’s the career dilemma that’s as ubiquitous as mocha or latte for your mid-morning coffee break. Should you relocate for a career opportunity? Two career experts, Beverly Daniel, preside more... |
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Number of a people employed as IT professionals in 2007, an all-time record. Source: National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses, Alexandria, Va. more... |
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You wake up to check your blackberry in the middle of the night, e-mail under the table at dinner parties, and haven’t taken a vacation in three years. Then again, you are just like everyone el more... |
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Randi Bussin didn’t give it a second thought. When she decided to abandon a 20-year career in high-tech sales and marketing and start a new life as a counselor, she had no intention of going ba more... |
| Hello Everyone, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself as the new Graduate Studies Program Assistant, replacing Shawn. My desk is in CRT 433 (back in the corner), so please stop by and intr more... | |
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When Lenli Corbett isn’t playing kickball, intramural flag football or training for a half-marathon, she’s probably at her desk. But her desk job also is all about sports. Corbett is dire more... |
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Percentage of U.S. workers that said winning money was their primary reason for participating in an office pool. FYI: 45 percent cited camaraderie as their main reason. Source: Spherion, Fort Lauderd more... |
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Any way you slice it, the employee-employer relationship has potential for volatility. One person is in charge, one person isn’t. When egos collide and misunderstandings occur, friction is immi more... |
| Dear Readers, Here are two inspiring stories about employee-employer relationships from fellow readers: I met the World’s Best Boss on an assignment as a temp when he was a busy university vice more... | |
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In his final year at Rowan University, Jeff Murza decided it was time to get a part-time job. After taking an internship position at South Jersey Magazine, the communications studies major now spends more... |
| Dear Leslie, I have a question on behalf of a young friend. She has been employed for four years by a small company in a job that requires lots of physical work. She got along great with the owner, wh more... | |
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Percentage of young women ages 25 to 29 who held a bachelor’s degree or more education in 2007. FYI: 26 percent of males in that age group had the same education. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Wa more... |
| “Keep a detailed log of your job-search activities,” I often told job seekers during my 37 years as an employment counselor. Job hunting can be expensive in addition to the burden of being more... | |
| Dear Leslie, I saw that you are having a contest for The Best Boss Award and immediately thought of my two bosses. Here are the benefits of working for Connie and Michelle: 1. Even though they employ more... | |
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Amount teenagers age 12 to 17 earned in 2007. Source: Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md. more... |
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The new job isn’t working out and you’re not sure whether to stay or bolt. If you choose to leave, you’re not alone. A survey from Boston-based consulting firm Novations Group in 20 more... |
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“Networking” often conjures the image of someone sleazy making everyone feel manipulated or used. It’s no wonder the word has a serious ick factor. But networking guru Ann Baber, co more... |
| Dear Leslie, Since when were Bill and Hillary Clinton ever co-workers? Did they ever work for the same law firm? Did they ever have a formal reporting or job duty relationship in their governmental du more... | |
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People expected to own satellite or HD radios by 2012, up from approximately 25 million in 2007 Source: Parks Associates, Dallas more... |
| A disgruntled job seeker came to the job center with a complaint: “My welfare worker told me something about some welfare tax credit, but I don’t remember getting anything out of it.&rdquo more... | |
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If it hasn’t happened to you, thank your lucky stars. For countless others, the dread that comes from sending the wrong e-mail to the wrong person is a feeling they know all too well. But while more... |
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Big employees don’t cry, at least if they want to get ahead on the job. When Sen. Hillary Clinton got teary-eyed on the campaign trail, political pundits went crazy with in-depth analyses of the more... |
| Over the past few weeks your entrees for the “Best Boss Award” have lent credence to something CEO of SRC Holdings Jack Stack said in a 1989 interview with Inc. magazine: “I’ve more... | |
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The amount of money it takes to be considered “rich,” according to a study of affluent households with assets of at least $500,000. FYI: 25 percent defined rich as $25 million, while 8 per more... |
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Though many Americans currently are fretting about the “R” word, it appears that college students are sitting pretty. With many baby boomers – who comprise an estimated 30 to 50 perc more... |
| Dear Readers, As we watch the presidential race unfold, not only do we wonder who will be the nominee for each party, but who the nominees will choose for their running mates. Which team will morph in more... | |
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The year Caitlin Friedman got the big promotion of her career she did what most people who get promoted do: She performed extremely well, but then she did something else. She figured out how to make more... |
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Percentage of senior executives who believe baby-boomer retirements will have the greatest impact on the work force over the next decade Source: Robert Half International, Menlo Park, Calif., survey more... |
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“What do you do here anyway?” What do you think of that as a question for a job seeker to ask an employer in a job interview? One employer told me, “When an applicant shows me they more... |
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Percentage of shoppers who walked out of retail stores this holiday season either because it was difficult to find assistance or the lines were too long Source: Motorola, Inc., Shaumburg, Ill., 2007 more... |
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Fish or fowl, ferret or gerbil, dog or cat - whatever the species, a pet is part of the family. And everyone knows that sometimes family makes demands on your time at the office. When a pet gets sick more... |
| Dear Readers, Did you know: Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont-based premium ice-cream maker, appoints environmental coordinators who compile monthly reports covering progress toward environmental perfo more... | |
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Saying goodbye isn’t always easy. But when it comes to resigning from a job, think twice about how you part with your employer. “It’s critical that employees resign gracefully,&rdqu more... |
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Amount of online spending during the 2007 holiday shopping season, a 19-percent increase over 2006 Source: comScore, Inc., Reston, Va. more... |
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Losing one’s job is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a person. Only death of a spouse, going to jail, serious illness or divorce are worse. The stress of dislocation can immob more... |
| Dear Readers, Go for the goodnight kiss. Is that wise job-hunting advice? If you are of dating age and are having trouble scoring a job, it just may be. Of course, Shawn Graham, the dispenser of this more... | |
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Mark Nagler has studied issues related to disabilities in the work force for more than three decades, and he’s still torn about a pivotal issue: Should people with a disability openly discuss th more... |
| Dear Readers, As you may have noticed, this space has a new look. From this week forward, the column has a new picture and a new name: “Working Class.” Why the makeover? With dawn of 2008, more... | |
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Percentage of executives who turn to spouses or significant others first when seeking advice about a potential job change Source: Accountemps, Menlo Park, Calif., survey of 150 senior executives from more... |
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While this might sound totally outlandish – what with Valentine’s Day right around the corner – but it’s time to cancel your online-dating subscriptions. Why? Because chances more... |
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Some jobs are hot and some just are not. Technology and the aging of the population have changed the job market, creating big openings in some industries but raising red flags in others. Being a trav more... |
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There are times to be flexible with recipes and other times to follow the instructions exact. Yesterday, I made pot roast. I included onion soup from one recipe, parsnips from another, and made gravy more... |
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After Sept. 11, Angela Williams held an ecumenical service for her law firm. But wait, a lawyer holding a service? That sounds down right strange. Williams, a lawyer for the general counsel of the YM more... |
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Percentage of advertising and marketing executives who said they search online for information about prospective hires at least some of the time. FYI: Among those, 14 percent have decided not to hire more... |
| Dear Good Girls, Associating the term “stigma” publicly with anything is base prejudice. I’m referring to a letter from a reader in response to your column about hiring people who ha more... | |
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Percentage gap in the work force between working people with and without disabilities. Source: Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability more... |
| “I have just been offered a job, but the employer tells me I would be an independent contractor not an employee. What does that mean? Is the employer right?” I received many calls about th more... | |
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Dear Good Girls, I enjoyed the lengthy but accurate letter describing the lowly life of support staff at Harvard. All too true! If you hung in there, as I did, the pension and health benefits for lon more... |
| Let’s face it, work is a social event. If you’re employed full time, you spend at least 40 hours a week thrown together with a group of people – not of your choosing but with a commo more... | |
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Have you ever felt like you were you own worst and most insurmountable obstacle? The voices in your head telling you to not get ahead of yourself, don't ask for that raise, or to pipe down because no more... |
| Dear Readers, We have two winners in the "Worst Boss" contest - one for the most disturbing story, the second for the funniest. Both winners will receive a signed copy of my book, "The Good Girl's Gui more... | |
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Estimated amount of renewable-energy and energy-efficiency jobs that will be created by 2030 Source: American Solar Energy Society, Washington, D.C. more... |
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Financial woes following a job loss are common: “All this talk of saving up three to six months’ income as a safety net – I did that in reverse.” said Mary, a recently disloca more... |
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What potential employers don’t know about your past experience can’t hurt them, but what they can discover about it has the potential to destroy any chance you had at landing that new job more... |
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Being the “new guy” ain’t easy. Everyone else on the job knows what you don’t know – and everyone knows it. Lacking the confidence that you thought you had, feeling nerv more... |
| As a teenager, my neighbor worked one summer for a landscaping firm run by a guy so mean his fellow employees called him “Mussolini.” The boss “would drive around in his Cadillac whi more... | |
| Percentage of American companies that offer tax-exempt payroll deduction programs to help employees save on things like commuting, medical and child-care expenses. Source: 2007 "Getting Paid In Americ more... | |
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Marilyn Greist knew she needed to slow down as she approached retirement age. Although she wanted to spend more time with her 80-year-old husband, who is 18 years her senior, she hoped not to have to more... |
| Dear Readers, Have you ever been moved by the way light strikes your computer keyboard? Or the artful stacks of papers, file folders, and books that litter your office floor? Some day you may be, if a more... | |
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The amount of money that shoppers are expected to spend on themselves this holiday season. FYI: The average consumer plans to spend an average of $817 on holiday-related shopping – before the p more... |
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“The most difficult financial decision I had to make when the mine shut down was to let my wife go to work,” said Ralph, a career coal miner. This memorable conversation with Ralph occurr more... |
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