Witty Wednesday

Great Places to Work: Interview Horror Stories

The funniest job interview mishaps

 

We asked area recruiters and employees: What's the funniest job-interview mistake you've seen or heard about?
Common themes emerged. Some job candidates answer cell phones during interviews. A surprising number ask the interviewer out on a date. A few too many fall asleep midinterview. Several are so nervous or unprepared that they forget the company name, the position they are applying for, or the interviewer's name.
Some other tales:

Wardrobe Malfunctions

"I was interviewing in the spring and had horrible allergies. I was sitting in front of my prospective employer, and I started to sneeze. The button from my skirt shot across the room. The employer never missed a beat. When the interview was over he walked me to the door, picked up my button, and shook my hand goodbye."
--Deb McDonald, Systems Planning and Analysis

"A guy who forgot dark socks to wear with his suit colored in his ankles with a black felt-tip marker."
--Scott Langerman, Comcast SportsNet

"The candidate was sitting with her legs crossed and swinging one leg. Her shoe flew off and underneath the interviewer's desk. She never said a word about it. The interviewer knew what happened because the shoe hit his foot, but he never said a word. She got her shoe back at the end of the interview."
--Angela McGlawn, Edelman Financial Services

Make Yourself Comfortable?

"The candidate mentioned that she had not had an opportunity to eat and began unpacking a lunch on my desk. She unpacked a china plate, a set of silverware, a cloth napkin, and a beautiful salad."
--Deirdre Appel, Mortgage Bankers Association

"A candidate complained during the interview that she was hot. She then said 'Excuse me' and proceeded to remove her socks. After placing them on the desk, she continued as if everything was normal."
--Wende R. Hoffman Pineda, B.F. Saul Company

"I once had a person clip her fingernails while we were speaking."
--Jackie Rucker, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

Come Again?

"The candidate said that by crossing the Maryland state line he was in violation of his probation but felt the interview was worth risking possible jail time."
--Jim Solomone, Software AG

"Someone was asked what person they would most like to meet, living or dead, and their response was the living one."
--Susan Potisek, Weinberg Group

"I was interviewing someone who took a cell-phone call and asked me to leave my office while they talked."
--William Lyle, Systems Planning and Analysis

Grace Under Pressure

"A friend was being interviewed in a small office, and his chair was flanked by a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. The interviewer asked my friend a question. My friend leaned back in his chair and paused, gathering his thoughts. As he leaned forward, his interviewer's eyes went wide. Books cascaded down, with the crashing bookshelf narrowly missing his head."
--Kevin Keegan, Software AG

"A nervous interviewee came into my office, and in the middle of the handshake he accidentally spit his gum out in my face."
--Yolanda Evans, Project Performance Corporation

In a Jam

"My friend was racing to an interview. She flipped off another driver who blocked her car in the garage. The other driver ignored her, so she started honking and shouting obscenities. She finally got her car parked. She ran upstairs to the interview. The other driver was the owner of the company who was interviewing her."
--Kelley McCormick, Qorvis Communications

"After being interviewed for three hours, I had the office staff search everywhere for my car keys. Come to find that I had left them in the ignition with the doors unlocked."
--Elias Zarkadoulas, HireStrategy

"An applicant had taken a cab from the airport hotel. He had a dispute with the driver over the fare. Unsatisfied with the amount of money he received, the cab driver called the police. The job interview was interrupted by one of our security officers, who had to escort the applicant to the lobby where he was asked by police to pay the cab driver the remaining fare."
--Stacy Murphy, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

No Joke

"One interviewee made a West Virginia joke only to discover the person was from West Virginia."
--Kelly Anderson, Allied Capital

"The applicant spoke very negatively about his previous boss, only to find out that the interviewer for the new position was the daughter-in-law of the old boss."
--Reginald Humphries, Axiom Resource Management

"Someone going on an interview for an administrative-assistant position went to the company next door to the one she was supposed to be interviewing for. She went in and asked for 'the CEO' (she forgot the CEO's name). The CEO was so impressed with her that he offered her a job. She is still working for that company."
--R.J. Jenkins, Tangent Corporation

Is Honesty Best?

"When a candidate was asked about his greatest accomplishment, he replied that it was writing a short novel. When the interviewer said, 'No, I mean something you did while at work,' the candidate replied, 'But I did write it while at work!' "
--Rick Sherman, Mitretek Systems

"At a previous firm, while interviewing candidates for mailroom positions, we met a gentleman who made a very interesting wardrobe choice. What we thought was a pale yellow scarf tied beautifully around his neck was actually his pet snake, Herbie. When asked whether he thought it appropriate to bring a snake to an interview, he said that he was trying to set himself apart. We discussed the possible shortcomings to his decision, and because he was so honest, he ended up getting the job."
--Kristine Barr-Ouedraogo, GHT Limited

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

Five Types of Difficult Bosses

 

Some difficult bosses are completely toxic, while others just have very annoying habits. And sometimes an employee and a boss are just a bad mix. If you’re not happy with your manager, you need to determine if the problem lies with you, your boss, or the combination of your personalities.

The key is to look for patterns. Do you have more problems with your boss than your colleagues do? If so, maybe this manager is just a bad match for your work style. But if you’ve often had trouble with managers, you may have some authority issues. However, if everyone finds this person challenging, then you probably have a difficult boss.

Five difficult bosses are described below: the Micromanager, Procrastinator, Idiot, Dictator, & Abuser. Each may appear in a mild form or a more toxic version. The milder the problem, the more likely the suggested strategies are to work.

§ The Micromanager

Best case: The micromanager is in a new position and having trouble letting go of the job he just left. As managers get more comfortable in a new role, their focus usually shifts from their previous work to current responsibilities.

Worst case: Scenario 1: The micromanager is a highly anxious person (even if she doesn’t appear so on the surface) who fears giving up control and therefore wants to be involved in every detail of your work. Scenario 2: The manager is not happy with your performance and feels the need to closely manage you, but not others.

Possible strategies: The micromanager is afraid of losing control, so you need to make him comfortable with your decisions and actions. Provide your manager with information before you are asked, especially about issues that you know are important to him. Try to anticipate and discuss possible concerns about projects or activities. Reach agreement about which decisions you can make independently and which should involve your manager.

What you should never do: Never withhold information from a micromanager. She will just become suspicious about your intentions and monitor you even more closely.

 

§ The Procrastinator

Best case: The self-aware procrastinator is simply not very organized and recognizes it. These managers are usually open to conversations about how to get things done more quickly.

Worst case: The procrastinator is terrified of making the wrong decision. As a result, no decision will be made until half the people on earth have been consulted or voluminous amounts of information have been analyzed. 

Possible strategies: Since you know decisions will take a long time, factor that into the timeline for any project. If your boss likes a lot of input, consult his favorite sources (human or informational) in advance and summarize the results before asking for a decision. With major projects or critical decisions, don’t ask for complete approval up front. Get your boss’s okay on the initial action steps, then go back for subsequent approvals as needed. 

What you should never do: Never wait until the last minute for an important decision, then pressure your boss to decide immediately. You may think that this will force your manager to act quickly, but it won’t.

§ The Idiot

Best case: The idiot is in a new field or industry, needs to learn more about an unfamiliar environment, and is open to information, ideas, and suggestions.

Worst case: The idiot doesn’t know that she is an idiot. She makes hasty decisions without the necessary knowledge or information. 

Possible strategies: If your manager is approachable, offer information in a helpful way. Do not be condescending. And be sure to show respect for the knowledge or experience that your manager does have. When decisions need to be made, suggest several good options for consideration. In a non-judgmental way, point out how ill-advised choices might adversely affect important work results. 

What you should never do: Don’t ever try to demonstrate your superior knowledge. Doing so could be hazardous to your career.

§ The Dictator

Best case: The dictator communicates in a direct, authoritative style, but is actually open to input.

Worst case: The dictator genuinely believes that he has all the answers and expects everything to be done his way.

Possible strategies: Acknowledge the value of your manager’s ideas and approaches. Don’t present your own opinions in a confrontational manner. Instead, ask your manager if she is open to hearing a suggestion or considering some different options. When employees take a very direct approach, these managers often view it as the beginning of an argument, so try using questions to keep your manager from getting defensive. Start your sentences with “do you think we might” or “could we consider” instead of “we should” or “we have to”.

What you should never do: Never tell dictatorial managers that they “can’t” do something. That makes them very angry.

§ The Abuser

Best case: The abuser occasionally gets upset and yells, but then calms down, talks rationally, and may even apologize. 

Worst case: The abuser is a toxic person who enjoys verbally abusing others. Or even worse, the mistreatment rises to the level of physical threat or sexual harassment.

Possible strategies: With mild abusers, avoid the natural “fight or flight” reaction and remain in a calm, rational mode. People feel stupid being angry by themselves, so the manager will usually calm down and may be willing to engage in a discussion. For truly abusive bosses, however, there is no good strategy. If the stress becomes too great, polish up your resume and look for a saner place to work.

What you should never do: Never stay in a job where you are verbally abused, physically touched in any harmful way, or sexually harassed. No paycheck is worth that kind of treatment.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Making It Big Monday

How to Deal with a Difficult or Bullying Boss

We've all had bosses who are difficult to deal with. Bosses who are inconsistent or unprofessional, bosses who put you in a no-win situation, backstabbing bosses, or bosses who are downright bullies. Here are four strategies to use to deal with your difficult boss.

1. Be Proactive. In all likelihood, you are frustrated with your difficult boss because he or she consistently displays bad behavior. It is the pattern of bad behavior that drives you crazy (or in some cases, the boss's inconsistent behavior, as in you-never-know-what-you're-going-to-get). The best way to deal with a difficult boss is to have a plan of action in place.
As one client told me, "When the boss calls an ‘emergency' staff meeting, we usually know that she is going to go off on us. She'll either rant and rave or give us the icy and disgusted treatment. But sometimes she's fine, but we always feel like we are walking into a trap."
The key is to anticipate the boss's bad behavior. Have an action plan ready. If the boss behaves badly, put your plan into action. If the boss is on his/her best behavior, reinforce the good behavior ("Nice meeting." "Thanks!").
Be proactive by approaching the situation with a positive mental attitude. Display confidence and stay poised. If your boss is a bully, this will show that you are not intimidated by the bullying behavior.

2. Be Prepared. You likely know the difficult boss's pattern of bad behavior, so anticipate and prepare your responses beforehand. Write them on index cards, and practice delivering them.
"Boss, when you do that, it isn't motivating me..." or "...it only makes us feel like you don't value our work..." or stronger statements, such as "That kind of behavior is unacceptable."
You also should anticipate the bad boss's comeback, and have your response or action plan in place. If the boss begins to rant and rave, you can leave and say, "I'll come back when you are calmed down and civil." Think of it as a chess match, and be prepared several "moves" in advance.
You will also need to be prepared for the fallout of standing up to a difficult or bullying boss. The boss might single you out for even worse treatment or might sanction or fire you. That is why it is important to think things through beforehand. What are you willing to do? What are your options? Can you deal with the possible worst outcomes?

3. Be Professional. This is critically important. Always take the high road. Follow proper procedures for registering complaints with Human Resources, or higher-level superiors. Maintain a calm and professional demeanor in dealing with your difficult boss, and don't get into a shouting match or let your emotions get out of hand. Don't resort to name-calling or rumor-mongering, but be straightforward and professional.

4. Be Persistent. It isn't likely that your difficult boss situation will change overnight, so be prepared for the long haul. Moreover, be persistent in calling out your boss's bad behavior, and putting your plan into action. Your coworkers might follow your lead and start to stand up to the difficult boss as well (although you should be prepared for the boss to try to turn them against you, or for your coworkers' possible lack of support). The key is to not let your boss get away with continuing his/her bad behavior.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Top Job Thursday

Average Starting Salaries for Entry Level Skilled Trades Jobs

A career in a skilled trade offers more than brain work and some light tapping on a keyboard. It requires both a mental and physical investment in a task or a project, and there’s always the unmistakable pride of working at your craft and knowing first hand that you’re doing it well.
The skilled trades are among the best paid careers for young Canadians and they are poised to become even more lucrative due to the rising demand for skilled labour. According to Statistics Canada, employees in the trades earn an average hourly wage that is 6% higher than other occupations: $22.36 compared with $21.02.

The highest earners were electricians ($25.26), crane operators ($24.61) and plumbers ($24.10), and these occupations also had the highest unionization rates and high job permanency rates. In contrast, trades with lower averages – other construction trades ($19.24) and carpenters ($20.43) – had substantially lower unionization rates (32% and 39% respectively).

Within a few years of becoming a journeyperson, some tradespeople can expect to double their starting wage or salary and, with overtime pay, some even earn 6-figure salaries.

Take a peek at a few examples of starting salaries and hourly wages for some skilled trade positions, some of which you can apply to right here on TalentEgg.ca!

Instrument Technician	Apprentice Electrician
Vancouver: $47,723	Vancouver: $14.13/hr
Edmonton: $48,625	Edmonton: $15/hr
Toronto: $49,123	Toronto: $12.36/hr
Montreal: $45,355	Montreal: $12.43/hr

Heavy Equipment Operator	Welder
Vancouver: $36,286	Vancouver: $38,538
Edmonton: $38,098	Edmonton: $39,827
Toronto: $36,600	Toronto: $38,865
Montreal: $34,647	Montreal: $36,827

Millwright	CAD Drafter
Vancouver: $18.42/hr	Vancouver: $34,936
Edmonton: $20.08/hr	Edmonton: $36,920
Toronto: $16.29/hr	Toronto: $34,179
Montreal: $15.12/hr	Montreal: $33,157

Heavy Duty Mechanic	Machinist
Alberta: $21.90/hr	Alberta: $17.72/hr
British Columbia: $20.25/hr	British Columbia: $16.51/hr
Ontario: $19.54/hr	Ontario: $15.91/hr
Saskatchewan: $19.39/hr To view the original article CLICK HERE	Quebec: $14.91/hr

Witty Wednesday

Top 10 Funniest Job Horror Stories

Everyone has work or job search horror stories to tell. Here are 10 of the funniest job horror stories from around the web.

10. Concerned Employer

From Workrant.com:
“Firing a married couple who had just bought a house and were expecting their first child. The husband was simply fired because they (upper management) figured he’d be mad that his wife was fired.”

9. Honesty is the Best Policy

From The Real World:
“I instantly realize, of course, that there had indeed been a dollar on that table and I tell them that, and that I know that dollar is somewhere deep in the bucket, since that was the first table I had bussed and the bucket was now full, and since I don’t empty the buckets, I obviously wasn’t stealing… They say if it isn’t in that bucket I’m fired.”

8. Job Search Computer Virus

From ResumeEdge.com:
“I sent a digital resume and cover letter via email to apply for a position as a technical writer. Within a few hours, a message from the director in charge of hiring came via email. Full of anticipation, I opened the email to find a terse message: ‘your resume is infected with a virus and has been quarantined.’ A person cannot recover from an infected resume. I did not pursue the position further.”

7. Interview Crashes

From Careerbuilder.co.uk:
“One of my first jobs as a supervisor was to interview candidates for an administrative assistant,” Leigh S. recalls. “We scheduled a full day of screenings. Following a very wet and rainy night, some areas of our office roof were leaking and maintenance had a couple of buckets in the hallway. Not a great first impression, but hey, it was a quaint old office building. Each applicant had to complete a battery of written tests.
As one candidate dutifully sat at a desk outside my office, I heard a “crack,” a “swoosh” and then a huge splash. The ceiling tile just above the candidate had collapsed under the weight of the rain water and drenched her. Wet but unharmed, the experience clearly dampened her spirits and her prized interview suit. She immediately informed me that she was no longer interested in the job.”

6. Owning up in Public

Also from Careerbuilder.co.uk:
“I’d been looking for a different job for several months and after much searching I was finally offered a new position,” Julie N., an administrative assistant, says. “Of course I accepted, but days after I’d given notice to my current employer, my new employer called and told me they had re-evaluated their financial situation. They were rescinding their offer!
“Panicked, I tucked my tail between my legs and went looking for my current boss to tell her I wouldn’t be quitting after all. I made every effort, but she was tied up in meetings all day. The following morning, during a staff meeting she made reference to my upcoming departure. I was stuck. I had no choice but to reveal my predicament and ask for my old job back — in front of the entire office staff. She gave me two months to find a new job.”

5. My Way or the Highway

From WorseThanFailure.com:
“Oh I’m sorry,” the Chief Development Manager barked, callously, “were you guys trying to have a meeting in here? Because, if I was interrupting you two, I can stop. And I’m sure all the fifty-three other developers sitting here have nothing better to do than wait for your little meeting to end…”
“…A week later, the Chief Development Manager approached David and each of the other developers from the Build Process meeting and apologized to them.
I’m kidding. He fired them on the spot.”

4. Creative Job Seeking

From Washingtonian.com:
“A guy who forgot dark socks to wear with his suit colored in his ankles with a black felt-tip marker.”

3. Unfaithful Family

From Helium.com:
“Yes,” I said at last, wanting to be honest, and still not overly concerned, “Anna Wilson’s my sister… why?”
Complete, utter, uncomfortable silence, before my boss pulled the car into a parking space. We were back at work.
“She was dating my husband. My married name was Shrayger.”

2. It’s All an Act

From Tales of Corporate Oppression:
“I once got talking to a guy whose job it was to go into a company, sit alongside the Systems Administrator for two weeks, and write a professional audit on his processes and practices.
Naturally the sys admin would be on his best behavior, showing off all the clever things he did to keep the company’s computer network ticking over.
At the end of the two weeks, the sys admin would be fired. There was never any audit: this was just the method the company used to replace their IT people without disruption, making sure the new guy was trained up and the old guy didn’t cause any damage before he left.”

1. Too Good to be True

From Captain Internet, Ha’aretz (Hebrew):
Aleksey Vayner applied for a banking position at UBS AG with a video job resume entitled Impossible is Nothing. After becoming the laughingstock of Wall Street, impossible became something for him.

Bonus Horror Stories

More from the really funny Washingtonian article:
“The candidate said that by crossing the Maryland state line he was in violation of his probation but felt the interview was worth risking possible jail time.”
“Someone was asked what person they would most like to meet, living or dead, and their response was ‘the living one.’”
“When a candidate was asked about his greatest accomplishment, he replied that it was writing a short novel. When the interviewer said, ‘No, I mean something you did while at work,’ the candidate replied, ‘But I did write it while at work!’

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

When A Co-Worker Takes Credit For Your Work

I can’t believe he presented my work as his own! He didn’t even acknowledge that it was my work. It was even my PowerPoint presentation he used!” moaned a career-coaching client. “Now what am I going to do? And what if he does this to me again?” she added.
Unfortunately, this situation is not unusual if you work in corporate America. Try asking 10 friends who work for large, global companies and I’ll bet at least half of them have had someone else try to take credit for their work or ideas at some point in their careers.

Move up http://i.forbesimg.com tMove down

 

Wondering about the best way to handle it without turning something negative into an even worse issue? How you handle the situation of someone else trying to take credit for your work depends on two main factors: who the person is and how egregious the credit taking that occurred.
Let’s look at two types of situations when a co-worker tries to take credit for your work. The first example provides tips for handling what I’ll call the “low key” situations and the second example includes tips for dealing with bigger issues of credit stealing.

Co-worker/low key situation

• If a co-worker took credit for your work but what they took credit for was fairly low-key (such as leaving your name off the list of project participants or not including you on the email distribution list for work they completed with you), then the solution may be as simple as sitting down with the co-worker to understand what happened and why they behaved the way they did.
• In this type of situation it is best to go immediately to the person and resolve the situation directly with them because sometimes it can be a simple oversight on their part. Gain their agreement that this will never happen in the future.
• Depending on how your co-worker reacts to the discussion, you may also want to let them know that, if it does happen again, you will need to escalate the situation to your manager.

Co-worker/bigger issue

• If the co-worker took credit for something that is a big deal (such as presenting your ideas for a new product or promotion and passing the ideas off as their own, or, using a presentation, report, or business plan you had created but changing your name to theirs and taking credit for your work), in addition to immediately speaking with the credit stealer (as mentioned above), it’s important to also have a confidential discussion with your manager about the situation.
• Remain calm and avoid whining or finger pointing when you speak with your manager. You are there to make them aware of what happened so they can help prevent this situation from occurring in the future. Be prepared to rationally explain what happened and how you handled the situation with your co-worker.
• In addition, try to come to the meeting with your manager with evidence that demonstrates you were the person with the idea or who did the work so your manager will have concrete information to work from when they deal directly with the credit stealing co-worker.

I can personally attest to the fact that it’s not fun to be caught in the situation of having to deal with a credit stealing co-worker, but it’s imperative that women in business deal with the issue immediately after it has occurred.
Dealing with it may be difficult, but it puts the person on notice that you know what they did and lets them know you won’t stand for that type of behavior in the future. Not dealing with it gives free reign for the co-worker to continue their unethical behavior – and they could potentially end up sabotaging your career. So ladies…no matter how hard it is, stand up for what is right and protect your work and your ideas.
If you’ve successfully dealt with a credit stealing co-worker, please share your tactics in the “Comments” section below.
Co-workers aren’t always the only ones who can be credit stealers. Stay tuned for my next blog, “When A Boss Takes Credit For Your Work.”

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Making It Big Monday

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: How To Earn Respect At Work

Someone I was coaching recently wrote in their development plan that one of their goals was to “earn the respect of more people at work.” I thought that was an interesting goal and asked her to tell me more about her comment. She said, “I just don’t feel like people respect me so I want to earn more respect.” When I asked her specifically what behaviors she thought she needed to exhibit in order to earn respect, there was a long pause and she gave me a blank stare.

You’d be surprised how many times I go through this same “respect” discussion. So here’s the deal…respect is something you have to earn – it’s not something handed out free on a silver platter. If you want to earn respect then you need to ask yourself this question, “How can I change my behavior to earn more respect from others?”

Here are some of my personal suggestions for earning respect:

• Use active listening skills – really listen and hear what people are saying.
• Treat others with dignity and courtesy at all times.
• Keep all your commitments – and never make a commitment you can’t keep.
• Be patient with people; realize that most people want to do what’s right.
• Treat others as they would like to be treated; in other words, learn to flex your social style so you can work better with others.
• Don’t state your opinions unless you can back them up with data. And be sure you fully understand the situation before you comment on it.
• Be sincere.
• Be generous.
• Be humble.
• Be confident, but exhibit confidence without arrogance.Sometimes I think we speed through life so quickly that we don’t take enough time to really hear other people. To do so takes the ability to be patient, generous with your time, and sincerely care about others. These are all behaviors that will lead to earning more respect from co-workers.

Now it’s your turn. What do you believe are behaviors that help earn respect at work? Share your thoughts with other readers in the “Comments” section below

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Top Job Thursday

Hate Desk Jobs? Great Careers for Energetic People

Does the idea of sitting at a desk all day sound like torture? Are you an active person who likes to be on their feet and on the move? Then here are some great career choices for you!

Creative Careers

• Cooking/Catering – Spice things up with this energetic career. Whether you’re cooking or catering, you’ll be on the move in the food service industry.
• Florist/Floral Design – This budding career could be yours. Combine your creativity with your energy to create stunning designs for customers.
• Interior Decorating – Get on a ladder to test some drapes, then compare fabrics for a sofa. Learn design skills that will have both your brain and body in motion.
• Photography – Develop a creative new career. From capturing wedding memories to landscape portraits, photographers enjoy busy days.

Education Careers

• Teacher Aide – Shaping young lives takes time and energy. A teacher aide assists teachers with classroom and clerical duties and more.
• Early Childhood Education –Enjoy the contagious fun of educating preschoolers in this lively and rewarding career.
• Child Day Care Management – A day care is about as energetic as you can get! If you love kids, you’ll love burning off energy through playtime and more.

Healthcare Careers

• Fitness & Nutrition – Like staying in shape? Inspire others to get up and moving just like you with this career field.
• Nursing Assistant – No sitting on this job! Nursing assistants interact with patients all day and are always on the move.
• Pharmacy Assistant – Pharmacy’s are increasingly busy places. Help pharmacists locate medicines, cash out customers, stock the pharmacy and more.
• Physical Therapy Aide – Assist physical therapists by keeping the treatment area clean and well organized, help escort patients and more.
• Veterinary Assistant – Between feeding, bathing, administering medicine and helping with exams, your day will fly by. Plus, you get to enjoy being around the animals.

Law Enforcement Careers

• Criminal Justice/Security – Keeping the public safe requires a lot of energy and can keep you out of an office and out with the public.
• Private Investigator – Investigating often requires you to be on your toes-figuratively and sometimes even literally!

Technical Careers

• Auto Mechanic – Learning the tricks of the trade might help others stay seated in their cars, but you’ll definitely be on the move.
• Electrician – It’s not shocking to learn that an electrician has a physically demanding job. Between wiring, circuit breakers and more, you’ll feel the curren of this exciting career.
• Gardening/Landscaping – Get physical in this career while you also enjoy the outdoors. Enjoy the hands on work and beauty you create.
• Locksmith – The key to a happy career is enjoying what you do. Get fulfillment by helping people to keep their homes and businesses secure.
• Plumbing –From doing pipe-fittings to creating detailed plumbing systems, you’ll flush out all your energy!

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Witty Wednesday

Office Humor: Funny Things To Try At Work

Is work getting you down? Tired of same ‘ol stuff — day in and day out?
Here are some FUN ideas to lighten things up a bit around the office.
Some are flat out crazy. But others might be worth a try …so long as the people in your office have a good sense of humor!

 

This post could be subtitled: How to keep a healthy level of insanity at work.

1-POINT OFFICE DARES:
1. Walk sideways to the photocopier.
2. Ignore the first five people who say ‘good morning’ to you.
3. Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave your name and say, “Just called to say I can’t talk right now. Bye.”
4. Shout random numbers while someone is counting.
5. To signal the end of a conversation, clamp your hands over your ears and grimace. (Or, give the casino dealer’s hand signal for “I’m out.”)
6. Leave your zipper open for one hour. If anyone points it out, say, “Sorry, I really prefer it this way.”
7. Make a face like somebody beside you farted.
8. While riding in an elevator, gasp dramatically every time the doors open.
9. While sitting at your desk, soak your fingers in Palmolive.
10. No matter what anyone asks you, reply, “Okay.”

 3-POINT OFFICE DARES:
1. Say to your boss, “I like your style” and shoot him with double-barreled fingers.
2. Babble incoherently at a fellow employee then ask, “Did you get all that, I don’t want to have to repeat it.”
3. Page yourself over the intercom (do not disguise your voice).
4. Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink directly from the nozzle (there must be a ‘non-player’ within sight).
5. Grow mold in your coffee cup.
6. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
7. Don’t use any punctuation. Or, use, too…much; punctuation!
8. Put your waste basket on your desk and label it “IN”.
9. For an hour, refer to everyone you speak to as “Bob.”
10. When in conversation, no matter where you are in the office, mutter, “I think my phone is ringing” and leave.
11. Hang a 2-foot long piece of toilet paper from the back of your pants and act genuinely surprised when someone points it out.
12. At sensitive moments, blow your nose raucously. Apologize for your sinus condition.
13. Wear a disposable paper face mask. Tell the group: “Hey, you don’t want to catch what I’ve got!”
14. Bring a noisy electric pencil sharpener to the meeting. Sharpen your pencil every few minutes.
15. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them if they want fries with that.

5-POINT OFFICE DARES:
1. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them to sign a waiver.
2. Walk into a very busy person’s office and while they watch you with growing irritation, turn the light switch on/off 5 times.
3. Take donuts to the morning meeting, and poke your finger into each one “testing for freshness”.
4. Announce to everyone in a meeting that you “really have to go do a number two.”
5. After every sentence, say ‘Mon’ in a really bad Jamaican accent. As in “The report’s on your desk, Mon.” Keep this up for 1 hour.
6. At the end of a meeting, suggest that, for once, it would be nice to conclude with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner (5 extra points if you actually launch into it yourself).
7. While an office mate is out, move their chair into the elevator.
8. Put those hole-reinforcing circles on the center of your eyeglasses.
9. In a colleague’s Day Planner, write in the 10am slot: “See how I look in tights.” (5 Extra points if it is a male, 5 more if he is your boss)
10. Carry your keyboard over to your colleague and ask, “You wanna trade?”
11. Repeat the following conversation 10 times to the same person: “Do you hear that?” “What?” “Never mind, it’s gone now.”
12. Come to work in Army fatigues and when asked why, say, “I can’t talk about it.”
13. Posing as a maitre d’, call a colleague and tell him he’s won a lunch for four at a local restaurant. Let him go.
14. Speak with an accent (French, German, Porky Pig, etc) during a very important conference call.
15. During the course of a meeting, slowly edge your chair towards the door.
16. Arrange toy figures on the table to represent each meeting attendee, move them according to the movements of their real-life counterparts.
17. Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, “Rock Hard.”
18. Suggest that beer be put in the soda machine.
19. Send e-mail to the rest of the company telling them what you’re doing. For example, “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the bathroom.”
20. Rubberneck at the notes of the person next to you. Copy them word for word. Subvocalize as you do. Tell them that they “understand these things better than you do.”

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Tip Tuesday

6 Things New Hires Should Do in the First 30 Days

The first weeks on the job for any new hire are overwhelming. There is often an avalanche of introductions, orientation meetings, training sessions, and new hire paperwork and administrative tasks. While these are all important, here are six things new hires should do on their own within their first 30 days to set themselves up for success.

1. Craft your elevator pitch.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. So, before you start introducing yourself to everyone, figure out what you’re going to say when you meet them.
Prepare succinct responses for anticipated questions about what you were hired to do, what company or school you’re coming from, and what your professional qualifications are. Give the people you meet a reason to continue building a relationship with you.

“This allows you to focus on the relationships you’re trying build as opposed to the tasks right away. It’s about getting to know people and letting them get to know you,” says Evelyn Walter, VP of Human Resources at Inspirato.

2. Understand your role and how you will be evaluated.

The responsibilities of the job you were hired for could change by the time you start work. Reach out to your manager about what may have changed, and make sure you have a clear understanding of your current role, responsibilities, and authority before you take on any projects.
In addition, understand how your performance will be evaluated. Lisa Quast, career development consultant and CEO of Career Woman Inc., advises, “Find out what criteria you will be judged against to determine if you are successful in your job. When it comes time for your performance appraisal, you don’t want any surprises, so don’t be afraid to ask your manager to define the requirements for success in the job.”

3. Learn the business.

Before you can begin to contribute to an organization, you need to figure out how the company works. What are the business objectives? What’s the organizational makeup of the company? How does your company do business?
Taking the time to explore the business will help you understand how your work supports departmental and corporate objectives. According to Tracy McCarthy, Senior VP of Human Resources for SilkRoad Technology, that’s the biggest difference between average and exceptional employees.
The exceptional ones are trying to understand before they make decisions or assumptions about what’s going on in the business,” she says.

"The people who ask questions and really seek to understand the business and where they fit in end up being the best employees. The employees who wait for all the information to come to them are going to be average at best.”

4. Interview your boss.

According to Quast, the key to being a successful new employee is helping your boss be successful. Find out what keeps your boss up at night and come up with creative ways to alleviate those worries.
Moreover, you need to establish a positive working relationship with your manager. Find out how he or she wants to communicate with you. For example, does your manager want to meet in person every week for project updates, or would he or she prefer to receive updates less frequently by email?
Also, ask your boss about goals and objectives for the team. Determine how you can use your skills to help the team accomplish those goals.

5. Be ambitious, but have restraint.

You might be eager to start contributing right away and fixing everything wrong you see with the organization. That intention is good, but tread lightly. As a new hire, you won’t have the historical context about why a policy or process may or may not need fixing.
As McCarthy notes, “If you come in and try to make a change and don’t understand why, you might be trying to change the wrong thing. Or you might be giving ‘new’ ideas that have already been done. Ask the questions to seek to understand and then you can be more effective.”
Walter adds, “Be willing to make suggestions, but be careful not to come in guns blazing, calling out all the different things that are broken within your department. You want your team to come to the conclusion of ‘what would we have done without you’ without you sending that message.”

6. Be proactive about your onboarding.

One day of orientation and a meet and greet with your team may be the extent of your company’s onboarding program. If so, be proactive with your managers about their training plan and what you need to accomplish in your first three months on the job.

“Be appropriately aggressive about meeting with your manager, discussing your projects, training, and responsibilities, and creating a meaningful 90-day plan,” says Walter. “Then, be proactive about following up at the end of your 30, 60 and 90 days to review and gauge your success.”

All of these things will require extra time and energy on your part, maybe extend beyond the first 30 days on the job. But asking the right questions, building the right relationships, and learning the ins and outs of the business will help you earn credibility and give you the opportunity to add value to your organization faster.

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Making it Big Monday

Starting A New Job -- What You Need To Know To Succeed

In a recent article, 6 Things New Hires Should Do in the First 30 Days, author Jennifer King provides recommendations on what new hires can do to set themselves up for success. For example, King warns, “You only get one chance to make a first impression. So, before you start introducing yourself to everyone, figure out what you’re going to say when you meet them.” Other suggestions include…

• Understand your role and how you will be evaluated
• Learn the business
• Interview your boss
• Be ambitious, but have restraint
• Be proactive about your onboarding

I enjoyed reading Jennifer’s article because the first 30 days on a job are stressful for just about everyone. While some companies provide highly structured and well thought out onboarding processes, other companies handle this fairly loosely with new employees realizing they will need to fend for themselves.

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To Be Successful – STUDY

I have found the key to being successful when starting a new job is to remember the acronym, “STUDY”:

• S = Survey your surroundings.
• T = Take the time to analyze and learn the most important things; this includes the company’s and your department’s strategic plan, goals and objectives, structure, processes, current projects, and your role and key responsibilities.
• U = Understand the people situation: Who are the key resources? Who’s doing what? Why are they doing them? Be sure to introduce yourself to each person in the department individually to make a personal connection.
• D = Do not make hasty decisions. Being new means you will not yet understand the current situation, facts, or internal politics – this is not a good time to make hasty decisions.
• Y = Yes you can! No matter how overwhelmed you feel in your new position – feel like you’re drinking from a fire hose? – just take a deep breath, remain calm, stay focused, and prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.

Overcome 3 Common Mistakes
The three most common mistakes I see newly hired employees making are: (1) not creating a game plan for their first 90 days on the job, (2) not sitting down with their new boss to determine how they can best work together, and (3) not taking the time to understand the company and department’s strategic plan.
To avoid these mistakes:

• Create a 30/60/90 day game plan. This is a document (usually in Excel or Word) that you break into 30-day time increments to capture what you plan to accomplish. Your 30/60/90 game plan should include the key tasks, projects, and initiatives you need to complete, prioritized over your first 90 days on the job. Meet with your manager to ensure he/she shares the same performance expectations and relevant timelines/deadlines.
• Ask your boss, “How can we best work together?” Establish a positive working relationship by learning your manager’s leadership style and preferred method of working and communicating – and then flex yourself to work with their style.
• Ask for key information about the company. Sit down with your manager and have them explain: The company and department’s strategic plans along with strategic goals/objectives, the department’s organization chart and the roles/responsibilities of each person, and the key department projects.

Get Organized
Getting started is all about getting organized. Taking the time to carefully think through and plan out your first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job will help you decrease the stress normally felt when starting a new position. It will also help you earn respect and credibility faster, and, ensure you become as efficient and effective as possible in the shortest amount of time. You can do it!

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Top Job Thursday

10 Jobs for Quiet Workers

You can't help it -- you like your alone time. If you had it your way, you'd be at home most of the time, alone with your thoughts, your computer and your DVR. The time spent actually talking to anyone but your cats would be minimal.

Unfortunately, the real world exists -- one in which working from home is sometimes an option, but more than likely, you have to go to work.
If talking, socializing and general forms of human interaction aren't your thing, you probably loathe the idea of working in a cube where the chatter never stops, or in an office where your primary duty involves using your voice.

If you'd rather hone your quiet skills than your voice box, here are 10 jobs that let you work how you do best: alone.

1. Automotive service technician Why it's quiet: Automotive service technicians have an intimate relationship with one thing: cars. Aside from a short conversation with clients on "what seems to be the problem," service technicians spend most of their time under the hood of the vehicle.
Salary*: $37,622/year

2. Cost estimator
Why it's quiet: Cost estimators keep to themselves as they analyze everything from blueprints to proposals to determine the cost of a potential project from start to finish. They do their best to nail down costs on things like materials, labor, location and duration of the project to determine if business owners or managers should make a bid for a contract.
Salary: $53,413/year

3. Interior designer
Why it's quiet: Though interior designers need to initially meet with their clients to determine their wants, needs and budget constraints, most of their time is spent alone as they focus on decorating. They choose styles and color palettes; and pick furniture, artwork and lighting. Many interior designers work as consultants or are self-employed.
Salary: $45,524/year

4. Librarian
Why it's quiet: It might seem obvious, but given that librarians work in a mostly "no talking zone," it makes sense that a librarian position suits quiet workers. Most of your time is spent organizing and maintaining library publications and materials, and the rest you'll spend directing people to whatever they may need.
Salary: $48,025/year

5. Medical transcriptionist
Why it's quiet: These guys don't talk; they listen. Medical transcriptionists copy recordings made by physicians or other health-care professionals into medical reports, correspondence or other materials. They usually listen to recordings on a headset and use a foot pedal to pause the recording when necessary. Many medical transcriptionists telecommute from home-based offices.
Salary: $31,251/year

6. Network systems analyst
Why it's quiet: Network systems analysts don't consult much else except their computers as they design, test and evaluate computer systems like local area networks, wide area networks, the Internet and intranets. As networks expand, telecommuting is common for computer professionals because more work can be done from remote locations.
Salary: $40,827/year

7. Survey researcher
Why it's quiet: The primary role of survey researchers is to find out what people think. Rather than interviewing people face to face, they design and conduct surveys via the Internet, mailed questionnaires or telephone interviews. Typically, they work alone writing reports, preparing charts and sifting through survey results.
Salary: $27,478/year

8. Translator
Why it's quiet: Translators read written materials and translate them from one language into another. Because this position requires so much reading, writing, editing and analyzing, translators usually work alone. Many translators work from home and 22 percent of interpreters and translators are self-employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Salary: $42,229/year

9. Undertaker
Why it's quiet: With all due respect, your closest company in this profession is dead. Other than communicating with the family of the deceased to direct the funeral, you are pretty much guaranteed silence most of the time you work.
Salary: $42,278/year

10. Writers, authors and technical writers
Why it's quiet: In the movies, we always see writers escaping to their beach houses, lodges in the mountains or sometimes a haunted hotel -- remember "The Shining"? -- for one purpose: to write a novel. It's not just a stereotype that writers and authors need peace and quiet to work (trust me, I know).
Technical writers are particularly quiet and concentrated, as they focus on putting industrial and scientific information into layman's terms. Remember that simple five-step instruction manual to put together your dresser? A technical writer made those directives as basic as possible, which was probably not an easy task in itself, but was made easier by solitude.
Salary: $42,786/year and $55,707/year, respectively
*National average salary according to CBSalary.com

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Witty Wednesday

43 weird things said in job interviews

"I'm not wanted in this state."
"How many young women work here?"
"I didn't steal it; I just borrowed it."
"You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!"
"I've never heard such a stupid question."

Believe it or not, the above statements weren't overhead in bars or random conversations -- they were said in job interviews.

Maybe you were nervous, you thought the employer would appreciate your honesty, or maybe you just have no boundaries. Whatever the reason, you can be certain that you shouldn't tell an interviewer that it's probably best if they don't do a background check on you. (And yes, the hiring manager remembered you said that.)

We asked hiring managers to share the craziest things they've heard from applicants in an interview. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are jaw dropping -- the majority are both. To be sure, they will relieve anyone who has ever said something unfortunate at a job interview -- and simply amuse the rest of you.

Hiring managers shared these 43 memorable interview responses:

Why did you leave your last job?
"I have a problem with authority." - Carrie Rocha, COO of HousingLink

Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it
"The resolution was we were both fired."- Jason Shindler, CEO, Curvine Web Solutions

What kind of computer software have you used?
"Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it." - Greg Szymanski, director of human resources, Geonerco Management, Inc

What are your hobbies and interests?
"[He said] 'Well, as you can see, I'm a young, virile man and I'm single -- if you ladies know what I'm saying.' Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, 'I particularly like blondes.'" - Petri R.J. Darby, president, darbyDarnit Public Relations

Why should we hire you?
"I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time." - Bill McGowan, founder, Clarity Media Group

Do you have any questions?
"If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?" - Megan Garnett, Articulate Leadership Team, Articulate Communications Inc.
"What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it's raining? Can you pick me up?" - Christine Pechstein, career coach
"I was a Chamber of Commerce Executive once hiring a secretary. [The candidate asked] 'What does a Chamber of Commerce do?'" - Mary Kurek, Mary Kurek, Inc. Visibility Consulting
"Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go." - Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing, Clare Computer Solutions
"What is your company's policy on Monday absences?" - Campbell
"If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?" - Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching
"How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it's some serious cash." - Bolzan
"[The candidate asked,] 'Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I'm not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him.' The dad did call. Then that dad's friends called and I ended up doing a conference call with a group of concerned parents ... long story." - Bolzan
"If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?" - Bolzan
"When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?" - Bolzan
"Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don't plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast feed and would want to use that room."- Bolzan
"So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?" -- Jodi R.R. Smith, Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting

Why are you leaving your current job?
"Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building." - Abbe Mortimore, Human Resources Manager, True Textiles, Inc.
"I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes." - Smith

Why are you looking for a job?
"Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job." - Pechstein
"My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here." - McGowan

Why do you want to work for us?
"Just for the benefits." - Jennifer Juergens, JJ Communications
"My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!" - Matt Cowall, communications manager, Appia Communications
"I saw the job posted on Twitter and thought, why not?" - Rebecca Gertsmark Oren, Communications Director at The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

What are your assets? (as in strengths)
"Well, I do own a bike." - Pam Venné, principal, The Venné Group

What are your weaknesses?
"I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you." - Pechstein
"I had a job candidate tell me that she often oversleeps and has trouble getting out of bed in the morning." - Linda Yaffe, certified executive coach
"I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job." - Deb Bailey, owner, Power Women Magazine & Radio Show
"I'm really not a big learner. You know ... some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that's just not me. I'd much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn't change a lot." -- Michaele Charles, Voice Communications

When have you demonstrated leadership skills?
"Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that." - Rachel Croce

Is there anything else I should know about you?
"You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends." - Venne

When can you start?
"I need to check with my mom on that one." - Bolzan

Use three adjectives to describe yourself
"I hate questions like this." - Katrina Meistering, manager of outreach, National Fatherhood Initiative

Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it
"I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement." - Meistering

Have you submitted your two weeks' notice to your current employer?
"What is two weeks' notice? I've never quit a job before, I've always been fired." - Meistering

Random responses
"One guy [said] 'it would probably be best' if I didn't run a background check on him. Of course, I did, and learned all about his long, sordid past of law-breaking. Our client actually offered him a job as a staff accountant, but quickly retracted the offer when I had to tell them all about his recent arrest for a meth lab in his basement." - Charles
"[A] guy said he did not have a mailing address, as he was living in a gypsy camp at the airport." -- Sandra L. Flippo, SPHR
"I went into the lobby to pick up a candidate. As he stood up, his trousers fell to the floor! [He said] 'Oh, my gosh -- they told me I needed a suit for the interview. I've got no money -- so I borrowed this thing. It's too big!'" - Beth Ross, executive and career coach
"Wow -- I'm not used to wearing dress shoes! My feet are killing me. Can I show you these bloody blisters?" - Bolzan
"May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night." - Smith
(During a telephone call to schedule the interview) "Can we meet next month? I am currently incarcerated."- Smith

"[A candidate] was asked whether he could advocate impartially on behalf of the various universities he would be representing since he had attended one of them. He responded, 'Well, I don't like to poop where I eat, but I thought my education sucked, so I certainly wouldn't put that school above the others.'" - Darby

 

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Tip Tuesday

10 things to do after a job interview

The interview may be over, but your chance to make an impression is not. Here are 10 strategies to continue boosting your candidacy.

1. Show that you're still interested

Leave no doubt in the interviewer's mind about where you stand. Ask for the job at meeting's end with a phrase such as, "I would really like to contribute to this company and am hoping you select me."

Also, don't leave the room without a clear idea of what will happen next in the hiring process. Will select applicants be invited back to meet other people? By what date do they hope to fill the position? Such questions demonstrate enthusiasm for the job, and knowing the hirer's timeframe will help keep you from panicking if a week has passed without a phone call.

2. Set the stage for further contact

Nobody wants to be a pest, but could your silence as days pass be misinterpreted as indifference? Avoid the guesswork by finding out before heading home what the employer prefers in terms of checking in. Lizandra Vega, author of "The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want," suggests asking the recruiter about her preferred method of follow-up communication and whether it would be okay to touch base again.

3. Be punctual

If you tell the interviewer you'll send a list of references tomorrow morning, make sure you do it. Keeping your word and answering requests in a timely manner speaks volumes about the type of employee you might be.

4. Know when to sit tight

If an interviewer requests that you follow up by phone in a week, respect her wishes. Calling the next day can be construed as pushy and desperate.

5. Send a prompt thank-you note

A positive, nonintrusive way to stay on an employer's mind is to send a thank-you note. Vega recommends emailing one within 24 hours of the interview, then following up with a handwritten note that arrives one to three business days later.

6. Send each interviewer a personalized, powerful follow-up letter

This piece of communication is another chance for you to shine, so don't waste space with generalities. Ford R. Myers, a career coach and author of "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring," recommends including specific references to each person you met and tying your accomplishments directly to the company's stated challenges.

You also can use the letter to introduce achievements that didn't get discussed and to elaborate on interview answers that you felt lacked punch.

7. Address one of the company's needs

Another effective way to follow up is to act more like a consultant than an applicant. "During the interview, you learn a lot about a company's weaknesses and/or areas where the company wants to expand," states Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides.com and author of "201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions."

"Consider creating a proposal on how you would address one of those areas. Doing so will demonstrate that you have the knowledge and also the enthusiasm to make a significant contribution."

8. Keep thinking and learning about the company

Be prepared for additional interviews or follow-up phone calls by continuing to research the organization and the field. Gain new information about a topic brought up in conversation. Think of additional questions you'd like answered. These actions show the hirer that you didn't stop caring about the company after the interview was over.

9. Leverage outside resources

Networking should never stop. "If you have contacts and connections with anyone who might influence the hiring decision, or who actually knows the interviewer, ask her to put a good word in for you," Myers says.

10. Accept rejection with grace

Finally, keep emotions in check and don't burn bridges if someone else gets hired. One never knows what the future might hold. The accepted candidate may not work out, or a different position may open up.

"If you are rejected, the first thing you should do (ironically) is send a thank-you note," Myers says. "This will help distinguish you from other rejected candidates and put you in a positive light."

 

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Top Job Thursday

9 Jobs For Creative People

 

Ever since you were allotted a blob of Play-Doh to build anything your kid-size imagination could come up with, you've always had a bit of a creative side. But even if you can't commit to the lifestyle of a starving artist or don't see yourself as becoming the next Brad Pitt, there are plenty of creative jobs that keep your right-brain in shape and allow you to think differently.

With the help of career-portal Glassdoor and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, AOL Jobs has compiled a list of nine jobs that have creative potential. The list is subjective and isn't meant to be definitive. As Glassdoor notes, there are certainly dozens more jobs that have a creative component. Still, these nine careers cover a range of aptitudes in the hope of providing something for everyone. There may be a few you haven't thought of:

1. Teacher
What could be better than being a kid again and working with children whose imaginations are limitless? Teachers deal with this every day, including finding creative ways to keep kids engaged. Even physical education teachers are challenged to be creative every day, working increasingly within funding constraints and kids who are increasingly strapped to computer screens and mobile devices.

• Median annual pay: $51,380 (kindergarten and elementary); $53,230 (high school).*
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree.*

2. Fashion Designer

You've seen the wild ride on Project Runway. Breaking all the rules with risky colors, mixing and matching, and over-the-top accessorizing -- all leading up to seeing your gallery of sketches come to life as it walks down a bright runway. In fashion, you take a sewing machine, some thread and create a masterpiece.

• Median annual pay: $64,530.
• Typical education: Most fashion designers have some formal education, but a college degree isn't required.

3. Chefs/Cooks
Don't let your failed 10th grade art class crush your dreams of being an artist. At Subway, sandwich preparers are actually referred to as "sandwich artists," who thoughtfully craft a palate of ingredients and flavors into one big mouth-watering snack. Really, though, all chefs lead incredibly creative lives, as all the steps from preparation to presentation are truly a careful blend of art and science.

• Median annual pay: $19,100 (food preparation workers); $40,630 (chefs).
• Typical education: Less than high school and high school graduates, though additional education in the culinary arts is common.

4. Software Engineer

Think engineers aren't creative? Think again. Though not traditionally thought of as a creative job, many engineers actually do think of themselves as artists creating content, design, animation and interactive sites out of thin air. As they say on WordPress, "Code is poetry."

• Median annual pay: $90,530.
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree.

5. Management Consultant

Yes, business, but definitely not your cog-in-the-machine type of business. Consultants are actually some of the most creative thinkers out there, as their job is to think outside-the-box and offer creative solutions where conventional ones have failed. As a matter of fact, questions such as, "Give me 20 things you can do with a paper clip," aren't uncommon for consulting firms to ask and test your creative thinking in a job interview.

• Median annual pay: $78,160.
• Typical education: At least a bachelor's degree, but certification may boost employment chances.

6. Landscape Architect

As a landscape architect, your job is to paint color into a city or space and bring it to life. Bringing a breath of nature into more urban areas, keeping sites environmentally friendly, and beautifying the concrete jungles of the world are all part of your job.

• Median annual pay: $62,090.
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree.

7. Public Relations Specialist

In public relations, you're there to tell a story. How do you give depth, color and personality to a company and help it communicate its message and values to its customers? Brainstorming ways of engaging fans in events and putting company funds to good causes also allows you to be imaginative and resourceful. On the flip side, dealing with bad press and crisis situations require quick problem solving and creative approaches.

• Median annual pay: $57,550.
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree.

8. Human Resource Specialist
If you work at a competitive company like Google Inc. or Mitre Corp., you have a lot of human capital to attract, and a lot of different ways to do it. Many companies offer family events and company parties, while some even deck out the office with pool tables, slides, and graffiti-filled walls. Whatever your company's culture, you can let your entire office be a blank canvas on which to express it.

• Median annual pay: $52,690.
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree.

9. Game Designer

Right -- is that even allowed to be a real job? Not only do you get to spend your days playing games for "testing" and "research," but you actually get to come up with all the big ideas about what is going to be fun and entertaining in the next generation of games you've always been passionate about.

• Median annual pay: $58,510.
• Typical education: Bachelor's degree.

*Median annual pay and education information are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2010, the most recent available. 

 

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