Making It Big Monday

The Interview Checklist

The goal of a selection interview is to predict the on-the-job performance of each applicant in order to select the best person for the available position. A handful of "on-paper" qualified candidates are interviewed to clarify their skills and experience and to assist their personal suitability to the position.
An interview should be viewed as an opportunity to show an employer what you have to offer, rather than as a nerve-racking ordeal.

Use this list to help with pre-interview planning.

Be Prepared

• Know where the office is and how you are going to get there on time; getting lost will only add to your anxiety level.
• Take time to choose appropriate attire (preferably the day before) and groom carefully -- appearances are important!
• Learn about the organization; the employer will want to know why you want to work there and how you think you can contribute to the organization's overall goals.
• Identify the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the job.
• Prepare two or three questions to ask the interviewer; avoid asking about benefits until you have been offered the job.

Demonstrate Good Manners

• Arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment time.
• Shake hands firmly with the interviewer when you are introduced and again when the interview concludes.

• Do not smoke, chew gum or drink tea or coffee -- even if you are invited to do so.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer; otherwise, you will give the impression that you are disinterested or untrustworthy.
• Try not to fidget; it will distract the interviewer from what you are saying.
• Allow the interviewer to take the lead; do not interrupt when she/he is talking.
• Answer questions clearly and concisely; do not ramble.
• Pause to construct a thoughtful answer; do not blurt out the first thing that comes into your mind.
• Attend to the interviewer's body language and other cues to sense when the interview is concluding; do not linger.
• Thank the interviewer for her/his time before leaving.

Be Yourself

• Convey your strengths and abilities without appearing boastful or conceited; do not exaggerate your qualifications.
• Answer the questions honestly, rather than telling the interviewer what you think she/he wants to hear; you do not want to succeed in getting hired for a job for which you are not suited!
• Do not hesitate to show your (genuine) enthusiasm and engaging personality and... remember to smile.

In General

• Volunteer information only if it is positive and pertinent.
• Watch for opportunities to sell your skills.
• Avoid using negative terms. Substitute the words "challenge" or "opportunity" for the word problem.
• Never forget that your objective is to get a job offer.

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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

The Ten Happiest Jobs

In my article on the Ten Most Hated Jobs, there were some surprises. There are also some surprises in the ten happiest jobs, as reported a General Social Survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago. (I am indebted to Lew Perelman for drawing my attention to the Christian Science Monitor article.)

1. Clergy: The least worldly are reported to be the happiest of all

2. Firefighters: Eighty percent of firefighters are “very satisfied” with their jobs, which involve helping people.

3. Physical therapists: Social interaction and helping people apparently make this job one of the happiest.

4. Authors: For most authors, the pay is ridiculously low or non-existent, but the autonomy of writing down the contents of your own mind apparently leads to happiness.

5. Special education teachers: If you don’t care about money, a job as special education teacher might be a happy profession. The annual salary averages just under $50,000.

6. Teachers: Teachers in general report being happy with their jobs, despite the current issues with education funding and classroom conditions. The profession continues to attract young idealists, although fifty percent of new teachers are gone within five years.

7. Artists: Sculptors and painters report high job satisfaction, despite the great difficulty in making a living from it.

8. Psychologists: Psychologists may or may not be able to solve other people’s problems, but it seems that they have managed to solve their own.

9. Financial services sales agents: Sixty-five percent of financial services sales agents are reported to be happy with their jobs. That could be because some of them are clearing more than $90,000 dollars a year on average for a 40-hour work week in a comfortable office environment.

10. Operating engineers: Playing with giant toys like bulldozers, front-end loaders, backhoes, scrapers, motor graders, shovels, derricks, large pumps, and air compressors can be fun. With more jobs for operating engineers than qualified applicants, operating engineers report being happy.

It’s interesting to compare these jobs with the list of the ten most hated jobs, which were generally much better paying and have higher social status. What’s striking about the list is that these relatively high level people are imprisoned in hierarchical bureaucracies. They see little point in what they are doing. The organizations they work for don’t know where they are going, and as a result, neither do these people.

1. Director of Information Technology
2. Director of Sales and Marketing
3. Product Manager
4. Senior Web Developer
5. Technical Specialist
6. Electronics Technician
7. Law Clerk
8. Technical Support Analyst
9. CNC Machinist
10. Marketing Manager

The meaningfulness of lives

Why were these jobs with better pay and higher social status less likely to produce happiness? Todd May writing in the New York Times argues that “A meaningful life must, in some sense then, feel worthwhile. The person living the life must be engaged by it. A life of commitment to causes that are generally defined as worthy — like feeding and clothing the poor or ministering to the ill — but that do not move the person participating in them will lack meaningfulness in this sense. However, for a life to be meaningful, it must also be worthwhile. Engagement in a life of tiddlywinks does not rise to the level of a meaningful life, no matter how gripped one might be by the game.”

This is what underlies the difference between the happiest jobs and the most hated jobs. One set of jobs feels worthwhile, while in the other jobs, people can’t see the point. The problems in the most hated jobs can’t be solved by job redesign or clearer career paths. Instead the organizations must undertake fundamental change to manage themselves in a radically different way with a focus on delighting the customer through continuous innovation and all the consequent changes that are needed to accomplish that. The result of doing this in firms like Amazon, Apple and Salesforce.com is happy customers, soaring profits and workers who can see meaning in their work.

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Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 5 of 5)

Are you looking for a better job? A better Career? Recently laid off? No matter what the reason for your job search there are plenty of traditional—and not so traditional ways to find a new job. Here is part five (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks. Take time each Tuesday and read the twenty tips given. No matter how common they sound, a little tweaking always goes a long way.

81. Be nice to everyone you talk to: Be especially nice to the “gatekeepers”, those people whose job it is to protect the higher ups from unsolicited calls. They have the power to put your call through, or dump you to voice-mail.

82. Be prepared for delays: Don’t schedule an interview just before a doctor’s appointment, jury duty, or school car pool time. You will be too antsy to leave to be able to concentrate on the interview. Interviews before yours can run overtime—or yours could run long.

83. Show up early: Leave your house a bit before you need to and make sure to arrive on time.

84. Have a lunch interview? Brush up on your table manners—and pass on the alcohol, even if your host takes a drink. Order something that is easy to eat is a good idea as well—a job interview is not the best time for a messy burger and chili fries.

85. Have a second interview? If you did a great job on your first go–round, take the time to do some more in–depth research—the questions may be a little harder for this round.

86. Send a thank you note: After you have had an interview, follow up with a brief “thank you” note. Not many applicants do and it will keep you at the front of the pack of applicants.

87. Expect more than one interview: Companies have many applicants to weed through and you may need to interview with more than one person before securing a new position. Don’t be surprised if you need to meet with several people, on several different occasions before the offer comes in.

88. Offer references—and check them in advance! Ask someone if they are willing to be a reference for you before adding them to your resume.

89. Make sure your references will represent you well: A reference that gives you a “so–so” review will hurt your chances of getting that great new job!

90. Research pay rates for the job you want: Search online to get an idea what others in your field make. You should have an idea of what to expect, so you will know if an offer is a good one or not.

91. Read the materials you have been given: If you have been given information about the companies benefits program, or other job details, read through them after the interview.

92. Review benefits packages: A good benefits package can add thousands in value to your compensation package—and a poor one can cost you in the long run.

93. Labor Union: If you are in a skilled trade, look to your local group for job support. You may be able to get advanced notice of job openings and even get some apprenticeship or job training.

94. Waiting for the right offer? Consider freelancing while you wait. You will earn some extra money—and freelance jobs can easily convert to regular, fulltime positions!

95. Teach what you know: Colleges often hire “adjunct professors”, people who are experts in their chosen fields, or who excel in a particular area. You do not need a teaching degree to work as an adjunct and doing so can allow you to earn some extra money while increasing your networking potential.

96. Look in to a “recession proof” job: Certain positions are not affected by a recession—teachers, security people, police officers, IT and legal support teams are in demand even during a recession.

97. Look for “special interest” help: Are you a Veteran, or do you fall into a special interest category? If you do, there may be help available to you via your local employment commission or Veteran’s Affairs office. Be sure to check these avenues if you qualify.

98. Create your own job: Consider starting your own business. With your own business, the next time you use a job search engine you may be looking for employees of your own!

99. Consider a seasonal position: Some seasonal jobs convert to fulltime positions as well, so keep your eyes open for year round openings with your seasonal employer.

100. Don’t give up: It may take a while to find the right job—but the perfect job for you is out there and you will find it.

101. Don’t get discouraged and don’t stop trying to find the right position for you.

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Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 4 of 5)

Are you looking for a better job? A better Career? Recently laid off? No matter what the reason for your job search there are plenty of traditional—and not so traditional ways to find a new job. Here is part four (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks. Take time each Tuesday and read the twenty tips given. No matter how common they sound, a little tweaking always goes a long way.

61. Go to a job fair: Any time you see a job fair advertised, make sure you show up with resumes in hand, and ready to interview. You may be able to secure a position or a solid lead on the spot.

62. Do some research on the hottest new job fields: Find jobs that are in the highest demand—and see if your skill set is a good match. If they do, apply.

63. Make sure your certifications are up to date: Be sure to list any relevant information on your resume. Potential employers may be looking for particular professional affiliations or achievements.

64. Keep a record: When you send out a resume or an application, make sure you keep a record of where you sent it and to whom it was addressed. When you get a phone call for an interview, you will be able to refer back to your records and see exactly what resume and cover letter version you sent.

65. Follow up on your resume or application: When you send in a resume, make sure you follow up by phone in about a week. Sometimes a phone call can lead to a conversation—which can lead to an interview.

66. Brush up on your interview skills: Take the time to work on your interview skills before you are in front of a prospective employer. Even just thinking about some of the things you want to discuss will help you prepare.

67. Role Play the Interview: Do some role playing with a partner prior to your interview on questions that may be asked.

68. Turn the tables on your interviewer: You can be sure the person interviewing you will research you online—and you should do the same for them. If you know the name of the person you are interviewing with, you can do a quick search to get a sense of what they are about.

69. Be confident: If you have had a string of “no responses” to your resumes—or outright rejections, it is easy to lose confidence. Make sure you approach every application and interview as a new, fresh opportunity. Don’t be afraid to let your confidence and enthusiasm show.

70. Be prepared for common interview questions: Interviewers seem to ask the same sort of questions, so be prepared for the most common ones. Queries like “Where do you see yourself in five years” or “What are your strengths and weaknesses” come up pretty often—so be prepared with answers.

71. Be prepared when you answer the phone: If you have caller i.d., you will be able to tell when a potential employer is on the line. If you don’t, make sure you answer your phone in a professional manner and be prepared to talk. The interview starts the second you pick up the phone.

72. Turn the cell phone off: Never have your cell phone on during an interview.

73. Make a list of questions: Come up with a list of questions you would like to ask about the company.

74. Have a skeleton in your closet? Be prepared to talk about the 6 month gap in your resume, or the reason you left your last position. Being prepared in advance allows you to focus on the new skills you acquired as a result of your time off…and not the reason for your dismissal.

75. Be positive: Even if your last boss was an absolute ogre, say something nice. Even “It was a wonderful learning experience” will work. Prospective employers don’t want to hear how horrible your last job was—save that info for your friends and family to laugh over later.

76. Be truthful: Don’t claim to have degrees or experience you don’t. Getting caught in a fib can cause you to lose out on a great position—or to lose a job once you have been hired. Presenting your experiences in the best light possible is okay—outright lying is not.

77. Dress for success: Make sure you dress for the job you want to have. Presenting well can make the difference in whether or not you are hired—or even the salary you are offered.

78. Use professional language: Even if you feel a connection with your interviewer, don’t slip into slang, or use coarse language. You are still being evaluated by the person doing the interviewing, no matter how casual the environment.

79. Find a mentor: A mentor can not only help you navigate the professional waters with ease, he or she may be able to steer you in the right direction career–wise. Most mentors are established professionals that have great contacts. If you don’t have a mentor now, start searching for one today!

80. Remember your interviewers’ names: Commit your interviewers’ name to memory—forgetting someone’s name is bad…calling them by the wrong name is worse!

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Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 3 of 5)

Are you looking for a better job? A better Career? Recently laid off? No matter what the reason for your job search there are plenty of traditional—and not so traditional ways to find a new job. Here is part three (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks. Take time each Tuesday and read the twenty tips given. No matter how common they sound, a little tweaking always goes a long way.

41. Be old fashioned: Social media, twitter and related technologies are great—but sometimes simply submitting your application and following up by phone is the best approach. Do your homework and find the job online, then mail in a hard copy resume—you will stand out as someone who took the time to do it right.

42. Apply for jobs that may not exist: Even if you don’t see a want ad or job posting, consider sending your resume to any company that hires workers in your field. You may get lucky and find an opening that simply is not being advertised.

43. Apply at unconventional places: You may think your local hospital doesn’t have any jobs for you if you aren’t a doctor, nurse, or health-care worker. You would be wrong! A large organization, like a hospital, has a full staff of marketing, PR, IT and administrative positions. The same is true for other large employers that may seem like they are not a good match for your skills.

44. Apply for jobs that are beneath your current level: If you are out of work, or desperate to make a change, consider applying for a job that is a small step down from your current position, as long as there is some improvement to your current situation. A new position that is closer to home or has fewer hours or better benefits can make it worth taking a small cut in pay or title.

45. Apply for jobs that are above your current level: Don’t feel limited by the most recent job you have had! If you see a job that would be a bit of a promotion for you, apply for it—you may be more ready than you think!

46. Apply for jobs that are listed as part-time: A part time job can sometimes extend into a full-time position over time. If you secure a part time job, you will also be on hand to apply for any in–house job openings that come up as well.

47. Create an “elevator speech” about yourself: An elevator speech is a quick one or two sentence spiel about who you are and what you do. If you have one prepared in advance, you won’t stumble around the next time someone asks what you do for a living.

48. Use your social contacts to find work: If you are on one of the large social media sites, make sure you let everyone know you are looking for a job.

49. Share your contacts with other job seekers: If you know others who are seeking work, share your resources. You will both expand your horizons if you share.

50. Target organizations you would like to work for: Do some research online. Visit their sites and look for employment information—you may find jobs listed that don’t appear in search engine listings.

51. Think locally: While many large employers utilize the internet to find employees, many small businesses do not. Use your local paper to keep an eye out for jobs with businesses in your hometown.

52. Join your local business association: Join the Chamber of Commerce or any other local business group you can. The contacts you make may be able to point you in the right direction for your next job—and you may hear of openings before they are even advertised in the paper.

53. Don’t overlook the government: The government is a huge employer, encompassing federal, state, local and civilian jobs with the military.

54. Use your local resources: Even if you aren’t a college student, you may be able to use the college library to research jobs or even work on your resume. No college access? Use your local town library instead.

55. Go back to college: Check in with your Alma Mater to see if they offer any type of alumni job placement services—a number of them do.

56. Belong to a church or house of worship? Let your fellow friends know that you are looking. They may know of a job opening, or be able to give you a personal referral.

57. Take some classes: Brush up on your skills, especially if you have been in the same job for a long time. Taking a semester of night classes in the latest computer technologies, or getting a new certification may give you an edge over the competition.

58. Subscribe to your alumni newsletter: Many colleges offer an alumni newsletter or magazine and they often have job listings with local companies looking for specific degrees or skills. If you don’t receive the publication, you won’t get these leads.

59. Join a professional trade organization: If your field has a trade group, make sure you become a member. Check the trade group’s website and newsletter for targeted job leads.

60. Become known as an expert in your field: Contribute to trade journals, speak at conferences and post to relevant websites and blogs. The more people who know you and your work, the more chances you have to make a new contact when you are seeking a job.

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Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 2 of 5)

Are you looking for a better job? A better Career? Recently laid off? No matter what the reason for your job search there are plenty of traditional—and not so traditional ways to find a new job. Here is part two (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next couple of weeks. Take time each Tuesday and read the twenty tips given. No matter how common they sound, a little tweaking always goes a long way.

21. Behave yourself online: If you have a profile on a social site like Facebook or Myspace, make sure that you are presenting yourself in the best light possible. An employer may not be able to see your full posts…but they can see your profile picture and other personal tidbits, so make sure nothing you post will hurt your chances.

22. Use your blog or site as a platform: If you blog about something related to your work, make sure you include your blog on your application, if it establishes you as an expert in your field.

23. Create an online portfolio: Writers, artists and other creative types can create an online portfolio or gallery of sorts to showcase their best work. Using an online portfolio allows prospective employers to see a variety of your samples and get a real idea of the type of work you are capable of.

24. Put your friends and family to work: Let your friends and family know you are looking for a job—they might have a friend, in–law, or business associate that is hiring. A personal recommendation gives you an edge over any other applicants.

25. Know someone who is planning on leaving a great job? Get a jump on the competition by asking for a referral. If you know someone who is leaving a job due to relocation, the birth of a new baby, or any other reason, ask for a referral. You may be able to apply for their position before the company has time to post the job opening!

26. Have a job already. It is easier to find a new job when you still have a job—even if it is a job you don’t like. Actually receiving a paycheck takes some of the pressure off of you. When you are not worried about your bills, you can take the time to concentrate on finding the right job for you.

27. Use any resources your former employer offers: Your employer may offer some resources for your use, like resume help, retraining, interviewing, or career counseling. Make sure you take advantage of any services they offer, as you may have to pay for these things on your own otherwise.

28. Apply for unemployment: If you are eligible to do so, apply for unemployment benefits right away. Even if you think you will land a new job immediately, you should apply, just in case. Most unemployment offices offer job placement and training help to job seekers in addition to the monetary benefits.

29. Treat your job search like a full time job: Out of work? If you are, you have plenty of time on your hands. Make finding the right job at the right salary your new full-time hobby—and spend your time perfecting your resume, finding new places to submit applications and researching potential employers.

30. Get out of bed and off the couch: It sounds crazy, but getting up each morning like you are going to work will help keep you productive—and help keep your job search on track. Vegging out in front of the television or bringing on donuts at 11am is not going to land you the job you want!

31. Make a “to–do” list for each day: Writing down a firm plan for the day will help you be productive and get things done. Decide on a target goal for each day and cross each item off your list as you complete it. Having goals will keep you from wandering aimlessly and keep your job hunt on track.

32. Make sure you are easy to contact: Make sure the phone number you put on your resume is one that you can either answer immediately, or one that has voice-mail.

33. Create a professional sounding email address for your job search: Yourname@gmail.com is much better than a handle like “hotchick” or “beerdude” if an employer is trying to reach you via email.

34. Look online for great resume samples: Need resume help? Search online for some free resources and you will find everything from templates to sample resumes you can use as a great starting point for your resume.

35. Hire a pro: If you are just totally stuck and unable to produce a great resume, consider hiring a professional to do it for you.

36. Create a DIY marketing package: When a company rolls out a new product, they make sure everything associated with it sends a strong message. Review your resume, cover letter—and even your envelopes and stamps to be sure they are sending the message you want.

37. Include a cover letter with every resume you send out: You can make a simple template letter and modify it to suit your needs. Including a cover letter allows a little more of your personality to shine through and gives you additional opportunities to sell yourself as the ideal person for the job in question.

38. Search online for opportunities: Make sure you search by both area and job title, and repeat your search every day—doing so ensures you will be one of the first applicants when a new job appears. You can find over 100,000 open jobs at http://www.findajobalready.com/jobs/browse.

39. Consider working at home: Some employers allow you to work from your own home in a variety of capacities. A work at home job can be a great opportunity, but be very careful, there are a lot of scams out there you will need to avoid. True work at home jobs do exist, but you will need to seek them out…the “jobs” that show up in your inbox unsolicited are not the ones for you.

40. Make sure your home phone and cell phone have voicemail: And make sure your outgoing message is professional and to the point.

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Top Job Thursday

10 Dream Jobs

Go ahead, enjoy your coffee. Appreciate the coziness of your cubicle. Be grateful for all of the little things that make your day more pleasant.

After all, we can't all spend our work days jetting off to Africa or ordering every dessert on the menu in the name of research.

While the rest of us are cramped into cube farms, a few lucky people earn their livings by shopping for designer duds, eating ice cream or traveling the world. The following jobs, envied by people everywhere, are almost too good to be true:

Ice Cream Creator
Tempting ice cream flavors -- like lowfat cookie dough and brownie in one carton -- don't just appear on the shelves. It takes teams of workers to turn a great idea into a mass-produced product.

Derek Spors knows a thing or two about ice cream. As an "ice cream scientologist" and senior product developer for Ben and Jerry's, he's responsible for creating (and tasting) new flavors for the ice cream company, including "Marsha, Marsha, Marshmallow" and "Karamel Sutra."

"When you develop flavors for Ben and Jerry's, there's no shortage of ideas," Spors said. The company gets 1,000 to 1,500 new flavor ideas submitted to its Web site each month. But he still needs to do some research -- for example, hitting trendy new restaurants and ordering every dessert on the menu for inspiration.

Although he can work long hours on his feet under deadline pressure and eats loads of ice cream, Spors says he hasn't gained much weight since starting at Ben and Jerry's six years ago. His secret: He just eats a taste of the frozen treat -- not the whole bowl.

Salary: Average annual salary for food scientists is $56,600, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Video Game Designer
Video games can make colossal amounts of time seem to fly by -- which is a good thing, if that's your career. Jon Paquette is in the business of video games: He's the design director and writer for the Medal of Honor Airborne game for EA Los Angeles.

Paquette works with the company's development team, overseeing all design ideas and implementation. Sometimes this means days of meetings. Other days, he'll be at a desk reviewing level designs. "The best days are when I get to play our game and see all of our design decisions in action," he said.

Video game design is a great job for creative, fun-loving people. "There's not much of a downside, other than the fact that there is often not enough time to get everything you wanted to into the game... Most of the time, though, even that is OK because you have fresh ideas to incorporate into the next game you work on," he said.

Salary: Starts around $25,000 with high growth potential.

Concert Promoter
It's hard to get bored when you're a concert promoter -- it's your job to create the entertainment. Concert promoters bring concerts to cities around the country, selecting the cities and venues, selling sponsorships and working out all of the logistics from the number of police officers needed to the Porta Potty locations.

Concert promotion has obvious benefits -- including seeing major concerts and partying with the bands -- but the perks don't stop there.

"My favorite part is that it's ever-changing," said Grace Bouldin, a partner for Sound Events who has worked with high-profile artists including Sister Hazel, Hootie and the Blowfish and Norah Jones. "The industry reinvents itself all the time, and there are unlimited things you can do."

But concert promotion is not for the faint of heart. Bouldin says she works 70-hour weeks during the concert season between March and October, which can affect her personal relationships, and her salary depends on how well her company's shows perform. "The concert business is as risky as a game of blackjack," she said.

Salary: Varies widely, depending on experience and show performance.

Hollywood Wardrobe Stylist
Wardrobe stylists rely on their keen fashion sense to create outfits for on-screen characters in commercials, TV shows and movies. This means staying on the cutting-edge of fashion and plenty of shopping.

Jessica Replansky, a freelance assistant stylist who has worked on productions that include "Sex and the City" and the soon-to-be-released "The Devil Wears Prada" movie, has had duties ranging from shopping and setting up fittings for actors to handling payments. Even her shopping assignments are diverse: Sometimes she's sent to Prada for a specific pair of silver shoes, and other days she is told to pick out whole outfits that fit a certain style.

While the job is glamorous, it can be inconsistent. "The downside is you never know where your next job is coming from," Replansky said. Wardrobe stylists can be offered multiple assignments at the same time, or could go through long stretches without work. Still, you'll always be fabulously dressed: Wardrobe stylists get to keep some of the clothes.

Salary: Ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 per week, depending on duties, experience and type of production.

Comic Book Guru
With their bright, dazzling colors and epic superhero stories, it's easy to get engrossed by a comic book store. Some people, however, have found ways to turn their penchant for comics into a profitable career.

Josh Blaylock, founder and president of comics publisher Devil's Due Publishing, loved comics as a kid -- and had chosen his career around the same time his classmates were getting their drivers licenses. "(Going through) high school and art school was just waiting to get out into the real world," he said.

After working as a comic book writer and artist, Blaylock started Devil's Due Publishing in 1999 and put the company on the map two years later when he resurrected the GI Joe comic series. Now he spends his days managing the day-to-day operations of his company, traveling to acquire new licenses, and, of course, reading comics.

Blaylock says he loves being involved with something he was passionate about as a kid, but it's not all fun and games -- he's responsible for everyone's payroll, and that means "incessant, never-ending accounting."

Salary: Entry-level pay in comics starts around $20,000 and varies based on position and experience.

Doll Fashion Designer
Doll designers create miniature fashions to be produced on a large scale. Like other designers, they study fashion trends, sketch clothing designs, pick out fabrics and colors and oversee productions of their designers.

Even as a youngster, Mattel designer Lily Martinez had an eye for fashion. "As a girl I would design one-of-a-kind outfits for my Barbie dolls using my ruffled socks that I lost the mates for because my parents couldn't afford to buy me fashions," she said.

While studying for her fashion design degree, Martinez was hired by Mattel as an assistant designer for Barbie. Eight years later, she is the head designer for My Scene, a doll brand designed for older girls, and is responsible for working with the company's design management and marketing teams to determine the aesthetic direction of the dolls.

"I guide the designers on identifying trends that are relevant for our dolls and customers as well as making sure the doll's aesthetic is followed throughout in the production process," she said.

Martinez credits her success to hard work, perseverance and passion. "Always listen to your heart and to your gut instinct," she said. "Do what you really love because that's what's going to make you happy."

Salary: Average annual salary for fashion designers is $68,430, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Brew Master
Jonathan Cutler likes beer -- he has to, since he's around it all the time. As the resident brewer for Chicago-based pizzeria Piece Pizza, Cutler acts as pretty much a one-man show, creating recipes and brewing the restaurant's beer selection.

Cutler started home brewing back in college, and completed a brewer training program after graduation. He refined his skills by going to as many beer tastings as he could -- and his efforts have paid off. This year he was crowned the small pub brewer champion at the World Beer Cup.

Brewing is fun, but it's far from glamorous. "Right now I'm drenched in sweat, I've got malt all over me and I'm wearing coveralls -- and the brewery is about 100 degrees," Cutler said.

Still, despite the heat and constant cleaning involved, he says it's worth it to watch customers when they take their first sips and enjoy his beers. "You get immediately validated," he said.

Salary: $30,000-$60,000 per year

Toy Creator
After a certain age, spending all day playing with toys isn't a wise career move -- unless you're creating them. Toy designers -- also known as industrial designers -- combine their artistic talent with research to create the most appealing, fun and functional toys possible.

Hot Wheels project designer Fraser Campbell's days are devoted to the miniature toy cars. At any given time, he's working on three to six projects in various stages of development. Sometimes he's creating control drawings or designing the vehicles, and other times involve administrative work like e-mails, commenting on designs and scheduling meetings. And, of course, he gets to test the cars.

Campbell said he always knew he wanted to be a car designer, and he planned his educational path accordingly -- attending an art foundation, getting a bachelor's degree in product design and earning a master's degree in industrial design.

Designing cars has its drawbacks, Campbell says, but the positives outweigh them. "If something really gets you down, it's quite easy to just take a deep breath, look around and see that you're surrounded by toys," he said.

Salary: Commercial and industrial designers earn an average salary of about $57,000, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Casino Host
The only sure-fire way to make money at a casino is to get a job there. But casinos can't bring in cash without attracting and keeping patrons. Casino hosts are there to keep their customers happy -- taking care of details like making (sometimes complimentary) dinner reservations, booking hotel rooms and scoring tickets to shows.

At Connecticut's Mohegan Sun casino, there is a casino host on duty 24 hours per day. Eleftherios "Lefty" Mastorakis, executive host at Mohegan Sun, comes in at noon each day and spends the next eight hours or so checking messages from patrons and monitoring the gambling floor to deal with any requests that come up.

Mastorakis, who entered the casino business after high school and has held a variety of roles over the last 10 years, doesn't gamble much -- but he still has fun. "You meet a lot of really good people and have some really good times," he said.

He said he loves being able to accommodate people, but he has to be prepared for days that present some challenges -- like when there's a big convention in town that limits hotel availability. "We try to do whatever we can, but sometimes our hands are tied," he said.

Salary: $15 per hour and up.

Vacation Tour Director
Tour directors get paid for planning and taking vacations -- albeit for other people. Typically employed by travel clubs, tour directors are in charge of arranging dream vacations for their guests by handling details like the hotel accommodations and tours. Then, when it's time for the trip, they accompany their groups to serve as liaisons and ensure everything runs smoothly.

"It was wonderful because we got to travel around the world," said Julie Bardach, who traveled to places as exotic as Tanzania during her seven years working for Ambassadair Travel Club.

While working as a tour director, Bardach estimates she spent about half of each month traveling. "It's a perfect job when you're young and single," she said, but the travel schedule is hard to balance with a family. And don't expect go get rich -- the job is heavy on intangible rewards (seeing the world and meeting plenty of interesting people, for example), but low on pay.

Salary: Typically $20,000 per year or less. Tour directors also receive a per-diem for their food and related expenses while traveling.

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Make it Big Monday

How to find a job you’ll love

Is your new years resolution to find a new job? Congratulations, you’re not alone! According to statistics, around 15% of the population switch jobs annually. At any given time, over half of the workforce are more or less actively looking for new work.
This means that many, many people are facing an interesting question: How do I pick my next job? Which factors should matter? Which should I forget about?
Many make the decision based mostly on salary, titles and responsibilities. That’s a mistake.
Instead ask yourself this: Will your next job inspire you, energize you and allow you to do great work? Will you be working with nice, talented people and managers? Will your job help people out and make the world a better place?
In short, make sure that your next job is one that will make you happy at work. Here are the steps you should take to make sure that your next job will be just that amazingly great!

1: Decide to switch sooner rather than later
No one has ever told me “I quit Company X in June, that was a mistake. I should’ve stuck around longer.” The vast majority of people who quit, only wish they’d done it sooner.
It’s highly tempting to hang around in the old workplace waiting for things to get better. Don’t! If it’s time to go – make that decision and start actively looking for something else. The longer you stay in a bad job, the more it eats away the energy and self-confidence you need to find a new one.

2: Give yourself time to find your new job
The very first job you look at may be just the right one… or it may be the 20th.
Give yourself time to actively look for something better and don’t let economic pressure, peer pressure or uncertainty force your hand.

3: Focus on what you like at work, not on what you hate
Many people switch jobs to get away from a bad situation. However, when you’re picking a new job, it’s not enough to look at all the things you want to avoid. Partly because there are an infinite number of things to avoid. But mostly because even if you avoid every single bad thing, that can only guarantee that you won’t be unhappy. To be happy at work, you also need good things, not just the absence of bad.
The best way to find out what you want at work, is to look at what has previously made you love your job. Here’s how you do it:

1. Think back to some specific situations, where you’ve been happy at work.
2. Ask yourself what made these situations possible.
3. Find out what will give you more of these great experiences in the future.

4: Ignore salary
Most people think that having a higher income would make them happier. They’re wrong! That is the conclusion of a study by Two Princeton professors, economist Alan B. Krueger and psychologist and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. They say this:

The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory. People with above-average income are relatively satisfied with their lives but are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities.

I don’t mean to ignore the economic necessities we all face but they should not determine what work we take. What is a 25% raise worth, if it means being stressed, frustrated and unhappy 40/60/80 hours a week?

5: Ignore other irrelevant details
Some people choose their new job because of:

• The title. “They want to make me First Assistant Manager.”
• Perks. “They’re giving me a new car and use of the executive bathroom.”
• Status. “I get 8 direct reports. Today I only have 5.”
• Peer pressure. “If I take this job my husband/wife/friends/dad will be really impressed.”

None of these factors will make you happy! Forget about them.

6: Ask for what you want
It’s a lot easier to get what you want if you actually ask for it. In your job interviews, let them know that being happy at work matters to you, and tell them what it takes to get you to love work.
It’s true that asking for these things may mean not getting the job, and that’s precisely the point! If that job won’t make you happy, you don’t want it!

7: Make that job great
It’s up to you to find a good job, and then it’s up to you to make it a great job!
You can sit passively on your butt and wait for your co-workers and your manager to make you happy – but that means nothing will ever happen. It’s your responsibility to:

1. Know what makes you happy at work
2. Tell others about it
3. Do something about it

8: Make yourself free to leave
A bad job is bad. A bad job that you can’t get out of is excruciating. In fact, knowing that you’re free to leave can make it easier to make a job great.
Also, reducing your expenses can be a great way to give yourself more leeway at work.

The upshot
Forget about salary, perks, titles and status. Choose your next job based on one, single consideration: Will it make you happy? Will it make you go “Yes, it’s Monday, I get to work!”
Do this and you’re sure to enjoy your job more, enjoy life more AND be more successful at work.

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Making it Big Monday

Some Tips to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer

You have made it through the job search and interview, now you are being offered a job; here are some things to consider before you accept the role. Your initial reaction might be to accept the job offer straight away in the excitement of the moment. However, take some time to consider the offer and understand what it entails.

• Get the job offer in writing. This will outline the obligations of the role, the salary on offer, your benefits and entitlements to annual leave. Ensure that all items comply with your expectations. Do ask questions about items you are unsure of or were not aware of from the initial job description.
• Make sure you understand the role you will be playing in the company. Ensure that you understand how you fit into the company. 
• Find out why the job is vacant, is it a new position, did someone leave and if so, why did they leave. Make sure that the job is not flawed.
• Consider the company and its people. You do not always know what kind of people you will be working with; think of the person/people you were interviewed by. Did you feel comfortable with them? Do they have the level of professionalism and type of personality that you would be comfortable working with?
• Make sure you find out what types of hours are expected from you. You may think that the hours are set, but may find out later that you are expected to work longer. Be aware whether you will be paid overtime or not, if it is included in your salary or if it is extra. You have to be happy with the job hours and the commitment it will take before you accept a role.
• Another aspect to consider is your vacation days as well as sick and personal days. Ensure you are aware of the policies. If you need different holidays due to your religion etc, ensure you will be able to take them without penalty.
• You must be able to see yourself working in the company. Consider how long your commute will be, the dress code and the atmosphere of the company.
• Research the company culture and their values; this will help indicate what type of workplace you will be entering.

Once you are offered a role, you are in control. The company wants you, so effectively the ball is in your court. If you are sure it is the job you want and are excited to start in the company, then go ahead and accept the offer. However, if you feel the job is not what you are looking for or does not suit you, then decline the offer in a gracious manner.

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