Career Coaches: Are They Really Worth the Investment?

Career Coaches: Are They Worth the Investment?
In the current state of our economy, more than 15 million people are unemployed. That's 15 million people who are all looking for a little help, whether it's in the job search, writing a résumé, interview advice, networking or even finding a new career path.


Many times, people who need job-search help enlist a professional. Career coaches and counselors are usually certified professionals who focus on career exploration or choice, changing career paths or helping you beef up your résumé and perfect your interview skills.

In the 2009 International Coaching Federation Global Coaching Client Study, 15 percent of coaching clients said career opportunities are the most important reason to enlist a coach, compared with business management (14 percent) and self-esteem or self-confidence (13 percent). The study, which included input from more than 2,000 coaching clients in 64 countries, also cited more than 80 percent of respondents indicating a positive change in areas such as interpersonal skills, work performance and team effectiveness.

Costly counseling

While career coaches can definitely be a useful resource, good advice doesn't come cheap. In a 2007 study by the coaching federation, which focused on coaches rather than clients, the average fee for a career coaching session was $161 per hour. Depending on your financial situation and employment status, considering you're likely to want more than one session, that's a hefty investment.

See Article: Career Coaches: Are They Really Worth the Investment?

Do you think that Skype Is Changing Job Interviews?

Get ready for a closeup: your next job interview might be on webcam. Looking to save time and money, companies are turning to video-chat software as a cheap, low-hassle way to vet job candidates. That means a growing number of people looking for work are meeting their prospective new bosses not at the office but in the comfort of their own home.

What's the draw? Largely money. Last year, as executives at online retailer Zappos.com looked to cut expenses, they noticed how much the firm spent on travel. In HR alone, it easily cost $1,000 a pop to fly out job candidates and put them up for the night. The firm had used Skype internally, so about six months ago, recruiters started trying it for interviews.

Their opinion: a video link does a pretty good job of replacing an in-person meeting — and in a way that a phone call can't. "If you see facial expressions and body language, you have a different sense of what a person is saying," says recruiting manager Christa Foley. Now, instead of flying out 20 finalists for a job, the company first screens with Skype and then brings in only the best two or three candidates.

Job seekers are hopping on board too. Last spring, after Stephen Bhadran got laid off, he quickly realized there were more openings for computer programmers in Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles than in South Florida, where he lived. So he cast a wide net — and got a bite from the University of California, Los Angeles. The university wanted to interview him but wouldn't pay the airfare. "I was laid off and running out of funds," says Bhadran. "I couldn't fly on my own dime." He suggested interviewing by Skype. He got his request — and the job.
(See the best social-networking applications.)


Things don't always run smoothly. Bobby Fitzgerald, a restaurateur who has been interviewing job candidates by Skype since March, has had his share of amusements. For instance: the candidate who leaned forward while he spoke, giving Fitzgerald an intimate view of his nose. Another, a college senior, didn't bother cleaning up his dorm room before the interview; the mess was painfully visible in the background.

And then there was the dog that wouldn't stop barking. Fitzgerald cut the interview short and said he'd have to reschedule. Did the disruption influence his decision? "Well," he says, "a big part of management is handling problems as they arise."

Source: How Skype Is Changing Job Interviews

Administrative Professionasl Day/Week (A Special Thanks to our Busy Professionals)

What do people do?

Administrative Professionals Day and Administrative Professionals Week are widely observed in many workplaces in the United States and other countries around the world. Many employers and supervisors arrange events to show their appreciation of the work carried out by administrative professionals, to highlight their importance to the organization and to enhance their work-related skills.



Public life

Administrative Professionals Day is an observance but it is not a public holiday in the United States.



Background

During World War II, there was an increased need for skilled administrative personnel, particularly in the United States. The National Secretaries Association was formed to recognize the contributions of secretaries and other administrative personnel to the economy, to support their personal development and to help attract people to administrative careers in the field. The association's name was changed to Professional Secretaries International in 1981 and, finally, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) in 1998.



These changes in name reflected the changing nature of the tasks, qualifications and responsibilities of the members of the organization. IAAP now has an international orientation and continues to provide education and training and set standards of excellence recognized by the business community on a global perspective. The organization's vision is "to inspire and equip all administrative professionals to attain excellence".



The first National Secretaries Week was organized in 1952 in conjunction with the United States Department of Commerce and various office supply and equipment manufacturers. The Wednesday of that week became known as National Secretaries Day. As the organization gained international recognition, the events became known as Professional Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries Day®. In 2000, IAAP announced that names of the week and the day were changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of the modern administrative workforce. Many work environments across the world observe this event.

Resource: Administrative Professionals Day

Employers are Looking for Candidates...(see details for opportunity)

SPOTLIGHT EMPLOYER
H and R Block is "Hiring"

Tax Preparers/Tax Professionals

We need people who want to provide the best experience possible to our clients. To become a Tax Professional you will need to successfully pass H&R Block's Income Tax Course. You will learn everything you need to know to prepare tax returns for H&R Block. Those with tax preparation skills may attempt to "test out" of the Tax Course and go directly to the interview phase for this position.

Source: H and R Block (see details)

Looking for a job? Here's a tip, Try a sandwich board...

Looking for a job? Try a sandwich board
Posted by lisacullen Monday, October 13, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Submit a Comment • Trackback (0) • Related Topics: Getting a Job, Interviews, Stupid Workplace Tricks, careerbuilder, job-hunting
Seven years ago, I reported a piece about white-collar unemployment for which I interviewed a man who advertised his availability by wearing a sandwich board in midtown Manhattan. Seems we're back to those bad old days. Here are some drastic measures some job hunters are taking, according to CareerBuilder:

• Candidate advertised on a billboard.

• Candidate carried around a sign that said, "Will work for paying bills."
• Candidate brought a broom to the interview to "clean up the waste and corruption in the office."
• Candidate wore a shirt to the interview that said, "Please hire me."
• Candidate showed up with breakfast for the employer every day until hired.
• Candidate approached the hiring manager in a restroom.
• Candidate sent a giant cookie with "Hire Skip" written in frosting on it.
• Candidate parked outside of the office building with a sign that said, "Seeking employment."
• Candidate wrote a poem about why she wanted the job in her cover letter.
• Candidate promised to give the employer a foot massage if hired.
• Candidate noticed the employer wrote a blog about a particular restaurant. She persuaded the restaurant to put her name on the menu so the employer would see it the next time he ate there.
• Candidate created an electronic resume with flash animation and musical score.
Read more: http://workinprogress.blogs.time.com/2008/10/13/looking_for_a_job_try_a_sandwi/?iid=sphere-inline-bottom#ixzz0UXUC6Y9w

Surprising Jobs that Pay $25 an Hour

Career websites typically compile a listing of jobs that pay $25 an hour. The list of professions -- and the career training you need to pass the muster of recruiters -- can be daunting. But you don't necessarily need a post-graduate degree to qualify for a job that pays several hundred dollars a day.


While it may be true that helicopter pilots, high-tech administrators, and civil engineers earn $25 an hour or more, so do many other professionals in careers that require only an associate or bachelor's degree to leap onto the playing field.


Of course, you add to your hourly earnings by continuing your education, taking certification courses or advanced degrees that ultimately boost on-the-job responsibilities along with earnings.


Seven careers you might have overlooked paid workers $25 an hour in 2008, meaning you may be able to earn more performing the same role today. These 2008 salaries may also rise by the time you complete an online degree or career training program to pursue future job openings. Let's look at the education you'll need to land a job:


Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technician

Companies that design, test, and sell electrical and electronics devices need professionals to staff their labs. You won't need a master's degree in engineering to earn good wages. Most engineering technicians complete associate degrees in engineering at trade schools or community colleges to prepare for the field. In 2008, the mean hourly wage for engineering technicians was $25.96, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).


Human Resources Recruiter

In many cases, you can earn more an hour placing people in jobs than the salaries they'll receive when hired. That's what you call economic irony. And, if you remain in your human resources (HR) job, you may be able to build a hefty network and open your own personnel consulting company. To get going, enroll in an associate's or bachelor's degree program in business or human resources. In 2008, HR recruiters took home $25.90 an hour.



Paralegal or Legal Assistant

Attorneys that represent clients in local, state, and federal courts are swamped with research and paperwork duties. Hence, jobs for paralegals are expected to grow by 22 percent during the 2006-2016 decade. You can prepare by attending an online associate's or bachelor's degree program in paralegal studies. In 2008, paralegals earned just below $25 an hour ($23.46). However, top earners took home $73,450 for the year, making this a solid investment in a two-year education.


Respiratory Therapist

Breathe easy. Depending on the employer, many a respiratory therapist can land a job with as little as a two-year degree. More often, however, hospitals are looking for a bachelor's or master's degree to advance in the profession. All states require licensing. Job openings are projected to grow by 19 percent from 2006-2016. In 2008, respiratory therapists earned $25.55 an hour.


Police Officer

The physical requirements for a police officer's job are now legendary, thanks to the entertainment media. But with most agencies requiring new recruits to take departmental training, the baseline classroom training provided by an online associate's degree in law enforcement or criminal justice can greatly improve your chances of landing a job. In 2008, police officers and sheriff's deputies earned $25.39 and hour. And that's not counting shift differential compensation or overtime.


Advertising Sales Agent

With Americans becoming more cautious about their spending, companies are relying more than ever on well-placed advertising. Advertising sales agents take jobs with agencies, media companies, and corporate promotions departments. If you love closing a deal and being compensated for it, then enroll in an undergraduate degree program in advertising, journalism, public relations, business, communications, or new media. In 2008, advertising sales agents took home $25.56 an hour.


Interior Designer

More than 25 percent of all interior designers are self-employed. You're the boss and set your own hours. Jobs for the other 75 percent of working interior designers are predicted to rise by 19 percent during the 2006-2016 decade. You can prepare for the role by enrolling in an associate's or bachelor's degree program at a college or professional trade school. Or shoot for the stars and take classes in interior set design to work in the entertainment industry. Hourly pay for interior designers in 2008 averaged $24.53, just below the $25/hr mark.

Source: Surprising Jobs that Pay $25 an Hour

Are there more jobs out there than we think? Looking for a job, here is an idea...

British graduate scores in sandwich-board job hunt

LONDON (Reuters) - In a pinstripe suit, silk tie and polished shoes, David Rowe has all the trappings of a successful London city worker, except for one stark difference -- he is wearing a sandwich board that says "JOB WANTED."
As he walked down Fleet Street, home to legal firms and investment banks, the 24-year-old history graduate showed the human face behind the "lay-offs" and "recession" headlines.
"The first 20 paces are the hardest, you feel very conspicuous, but you just steel yourself to get on with it," he said, starting a slow trudge toward the Law Courts before turning toward St Paul's Cathedral.

In previous economic downturns it was manufacturing and heavy industry that were worst hit. Now in Britain, and much of the West, white collar jobs have been culled in the financial crisis -- marketing directors on six figure salaries, IT specialists with 20 years experience.

That makes it especially hard for young men and women like Rowe trying to start professional careers. For many the corporate ladder has been pulled away.

They are left with the prospect of low paid unskilled work, if they can find it, and large debts.

"I have debts of about 20,000 pounds ($32,400), and that's not excessive compared with how much some students owe when they graduate," Rowe told Reuters as he took a break from his one-man advertising campaign.

"My dad bet me I wouldn't do this (walking with a sandwich board), that I wouldn't have the guts."

GRADUATE NUMBERS

Rowe was facing a tough market even before the downturn. Britain has seen explosive growth in the number of university and college students, but there has not necessarily been a comparable rise in graduate-level jobs.

Twenty years ago about 17 percent of 18-30 year-olds were in tertiary education against a figure of 43 percent in 2008, according to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The Higher Education Statistics Agency said about 220,000 graduates joined the job market in the 2007-2008 period.

Add that mix to an economy in trouble and it makes uncomfortable reading for people like Rowe.

Latest figures from High Fliers Research Ltd, an independent market research company, found graduate vacancies at one hundred leading employers in 2009 had been cut by 28 percent against 2008 and more than 5,500 vacancies canceled or left unfilled.

Rowe is one jobseeker who is not downhearted. Just hours after he started wearing the sandwich board that offered his services free for a month with the option to then "hire or fire me" he struck lucky.

Gavin Walker of international recruitment firm Parkhouse Bell liked Rowe's initiative and decided to interview him.

"I liked the fact he had thought out of the box. I was impressed by that. I was even more impressed after the interview. He's very employable, so much so I offered him a job to work with me."

Rowe, who has amassed a growing collection of business cards, says he will think carefully about the job offer.

"I told myself I'd do the sandwich board for five days and I will follow through on that."

Read Original Article: British graduate scores in sandwich-board job hunt

Lies that Can Cost You Your Job

Every day individuals fib, lie and embellish their way through the work day, not realizing that there are repercussions. The consequences may not always be as severe as termination, but it can be a reduction in bonus, a permanent mark on your record or a poor score on your yearly review, not to mention the damage done to your reputation among fellow colleagues. What follows are 4 frequent fibs that every single should avoid in the workplace.

Pulling the Healthy Sick Card

If you call in sick when you’re feeling perfectly fine you better be smart about it. Taking off one too many hangover Fridays, or regularly turning the day before calendared holiday 3 day weekends into your personal 4 day long weekends, will no doubt cause suspicious minds. So come clean to your supervisor and ask that these be reported as vacation days, or try to schedule your healthy sick days on less conspicuous days during the week.

The Faux Appointment/Emergency

Leaving work under false medical or other emergent pretenses is asking for trouble. Take it from Kristine who played hooky to get prepped for a date and was spotted getting her hair blown out at the salon by one of her co-workers. All it takes is one sighting or slip and you can lose your credibility, especially when medical or family issues are used as an excuse.

Pointing the Finger

When people’s jobs and egos are at stake, blaming others when you’re at fault can lead to war in the workplace. Remember, it’s a politics game and you’ll lose if you try to dodge the bullet by feigning innocence. Folks, the only way to keep allies and integrity intact is to play fair and take ownership of your conduct and work in good times and in bad.

Fudging Hours & Fudging Expenses

Working to make sure you get in those all those billable hours is seriously stressful. You may hit your targets by rounding up to the nearest hour but don’t press your luck. This is a serious offense, and companies’ billings are increasingly being examined by their clients and their clients’ audit units or accountants. If you’re a certified professional, lying here may not cost you just a client, but your license.


Read More: 4 Lies that Can Cost You Your Job

Business to Business Bartering Group

Business to Business Bartering Group

B2B South Florida Bartering has been created with the purpose of bringing together businesses to barter their goods and services. In today's economy this is a perfect time to revisit the concept of bartering. This group is for business professionals who have goods and services to offer for trading. I have started it with yahoo because I strongly believe yahoo can unite and give a voice to this group.

B2B South Florida Bartering is a great place to be a member simply because we help each other strive through these tough times. With this group you will find information being shared, deals to take advantage of, free to low cost advertising opportunities, etc.

This group is going to grow and grow fast, so get in on this while you can. We are here to help each other survive in the business world. You are able to become a member no matter if you have a Home Based Business or a Fortune 500 Company.

So let's work together and help each other out as much as possible.
Looking forward to sharing information with you as a new member ;-)

Join: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/b2bsouthfloridabartering/
Email: Email Me Here

Click to join b2bsouthfloridabartering

Google Hiring Workers

The New Face of "Mr. Dad"

Visit msnbc.com for

Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Struggle no more, Find a Fresh Start!

Struggle no more, Find a Fresh Start!

Looking to start over? Find a new job? A new house? Here are U.S. markets where jobs are available and real estate is affordable.

Thousands of Americans across the U.S. are wondering if they would be better off somewhere else. The question is where?

As unemployment and foreclosures continue to rise, stocks keep fluctuating, and cash-strapped state and city governments move to increase taxes and trim services, many people are finding that careers and communities they once believed secure are no longer dependable. Either they have lost jobs, are in fear of losing a job, are stuck paying more mortgage than their homes are currently worth, or have seen their family's quality of life evaporate. For those troubled Americans who are willing to relocate, the U.S. can still be a land of opportunity.

No state is totally buffered from the downturn, but several have gotten a boost from energy, military, and agricultural sectors. The healthiest states include Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. In the Washington area, federal government and defense jobs have given the economy a boost. And Iowa, which has seen its economy somewhat deteriorate, has also benefited from agricultural and alternative-energy jobs.

Fargo, N.D.: jobs, safety, schools

Moving isn't an option for many Americans tied down by family responsibilities and houses they can't sell. Others are reluctant to leave relatives, friends, churches, and school districts to make a fresh start in an unfamiliar place.

For job-seekers with some flexibility, relocation can open up opportunities, said Ernie Goss, professor of economics at Creighton University in Omaha. Some of the best job markets, such as Omaha and Fargo, N.D., are also places with low crime, decent schools, and a low cost of living, Goss said.

"If people are looking for a job and they're in Detroit, they're in the wrong place," Goss said. "They need to be considering geographic mobility."

BusinessWeek.com, working with survey results from Milwaukee staffing firm Manpower, came up with the best places to start over. These are areas where the greatest proportion of employers said they planned to hire in the next quarter, based on a survey of 28,348 U.S. employers that Manpower conducted in April.

Urban Alaska Needs Qualified Workers

Anchorage, Alaska—where 28% of employers said they planned to do some hiring in the third quarter—topped the list, which also included such metropolitan areas as Provo-Orem, Utah; Omaha; Washington; and Amarillo, Tex. (The resort town of Barnstable, Mass., on Cape Cod topped Manpower's survey with 32% of employers saying they planned to hire in the next quarter, but BusinessWeek did not include it in the ranking because of the likelihood that many of those hires will be temporary seasonal workers.)

Alaska's unemployment rate, which fell to 8% in April, might not suggest that the state has a great job market. But the state's urban employers are hungry for educated, skilled workers. Alaska's tourism industry has been hit but its military bases, hospitals, and oil industry have stayed strong.

Read More: Struggle no more, Find a Fresh Start!