Tip Tuesday

How to Prepare for a Job Fair

Job Fairs are an excellent way to meet a large number of potential employers at one time. Job Fair attendance is useful because it gives you an opportunity to network, pass out copies of your resume, and improve your communication and interview skills.

JOB FAIR TIPS

1. Research Companies – Do your homework. Visit the Career Services Career Fair website for a list of participants to find out in advance who will be attending the Job Fair. Visit the organization’s web sites or read current business articles to learn more about their products, missions, annual budgets, and organizational structure. This will enable you to ask better questions of the company representatives.
2. Prepare Your Resume/Portfolio – Bring lots of copies of your resume. Have your resume reviewed prior to the Job Fair. Bringing a few selected work samples can make a positive first impression on a prospective employer.
3. Present a Professional Appearance – Dress up. Conservative, tailored, business-like clothing is best. Pay close attention to personal hygiene and grooming. Minimal make-up and jewelry. Avoid perfume and/or cologne. Recruiters are watching and listening to determine if you act professionally. Smile.
4. Check Your Attitude – Be optimistic, but have realistic expectations. You will meet employers who are interested in hiring in your field. There may not be immediate vacancies, but when openings occur, the employer will think of you because of your first impression.
5. Practice Your Introduction – Is your handshake a “floppy fish” or a bone-crunching experience? Practice your handshake. Rehearse a brief introduction. Be able to tell the employer about your immediate career goals.
6. Have strategies – Make an “A” list (favorites/must meet) and a “B” list (nice to meet – if time permits). Go to a few “B” list employers first to practice your introduction and questions. Then you’ll be warmed up and feel more confident when you will meet your “A” list recruiters.
7. Avoid long lines – Don’t stand in long lines. Check out the companies without a lot of people lined up. Try to meet the recruiters during down times (especially in the morning or lunch time). You’ll get more of their attention and be able to learn more about the company and hiring opportunities.
8. Gather information - Request a business card from each employer or ask for their name and title. Pick-up all company literature so you can review it after the job fair.
9. Follow-up After the Interview - Follow-up within a week with a letter to each employer that you met. Include the date and time you met, a review of one or two of your primary qualifications with a reference to your knowledge of the company and a request a formal interview.

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Tip Tuesday

How to Land A Job BEFORE You even Graduate - 34 Tips and Resources

1) Figure it out. The first step in landing that job is figuring out what it is that you want to do! It may seem heavy, but you got to start somewhere. If you're already in school, you have a sense of what industry you'd like to work in (or your hopelessly lost!). Start with that and explore what options you'll have working in that industry at the entry level position.
2) Know the job. After you figure out the kind of job you want, you need to know what the job entails. Learn as much as possible about the job so you can focus on learning and obtaining the skills needed to fulfill the duties required. If know exactly what an employer will be looking for, then it'll be much easier to have it come interview time.
3) Make sure you're qualified. Now that you know what the duties are, it's time to assess your skills. Do you have what it takes to get the job done? Will you be qualified at the time you graduate for this position? There's no point in preparing yourself for a job you can't even get. Know what you're capable of doing and find a job that fits.
4) Take the right classes. The earlier you figure out what kind of job you want, you'll have the opportunity to take the right kinds of classes while in college. It's never a good idea to spend tens of thousands of dollars on your education if it's not focused on a specific end. Plan in advance and take courses that fit into your job description.
5) Take your education seriously. Again, don't waste your money on education if it's not going to be put to use. While you're there, pay attention as much as possible to what you are learning; it not only will prepare you for the job you'll soon have but also give you a taste of what you'll be doing, and will show when you start your career.

Work Experience
6) Get a part-time job. Employers will want to see at least some experience. Even if mommy and daddy are taking care of you like the spoiled little brat that you are, consider having a part time job while in school. The pay might not be great, but at least you'll show some responsibility to any future employers.
7) Make it relevant. Now that you've decided to get off your butt and get a job, think about getting a job that will teach you skills you can use in the future. Don't get a job working in a warehouse doing physical labor if you plan on having a career in sales. Know what basic job principals you need work on and find a job to help strengthen them.
8) Don't get fired. It's bad enough that you only have so little experience up to this point. What's even worse is not having good responsible experience. Getting fired from a job that anyone can do (including a monkey) just shows how irresponsible and immature you are. If you're going to get a job, take it as seriously as possible.
9) Leave a impression. Be the best you can be! Every part time job you have, no matter how insignificant it may seem, plays an integral role in how you develop as a worker and employee. As you succeed in small doses, you grow more confident in your abilities which in turn makes you do an even better job. The cycle of confidence will show later on in the job hunt.

References 
10) Get to know your teachers. Leaving an impression with your teachers is just the same as making nice with an employer. Teachers are experts in their field, and if you can get in on your teacher's good side (or even befriend one), they'll prove to be a great personal reference later in the hiring process.
11) Find a mentor. Take the time to seek out those in your community who share similar interests or even more so work in the same industry that you are trying to get into. You're bound to find someone who you can grab coffee with here and there who's willing to share some tips and information on how to get your foot in the door.
12) Connect with your peers. Make sure your fellow students and friends are aware of your job plans. You might connect with a few that are interested in getting a similar job and can assist you in the process. While you my face some competition, use it to your advantage by keeping an eye on their moves; you can learn a lot from them.
13) Network with everybody. That being said, get out there and start networking! It's kind of a sad truth, but much of life is not based on how smart you are or what it is you know; it's who you know that gets you the good job. Locate places where people of similar interests hang out (happy hours are a good start) and make your face a familiar one.

Activities
14) Have a hobby. You've got to do something with yourself other that working and sleeping that you enjoy (and no getting drunk is not a hobby as much as we all tell ourselves it is!). Try to take your hobby to the next level and compare it to the job or industry you're getting into. Can you find any similarities?
15) Join an organization. There are many organizations and associations located in your area. Find one that you can enjoy being a part of or better yet, find a club that people with influence frequent. Use these events to find common ground with people and plant the seeds for possible job opportunities in the future.
16) Play sports. Almost any job you'll ever get will deal heavily with your ability to work with others. What better way to showcase these abilities than to excel at a team sport? You don't have to be some amazing athlete to play in a sport, and don't always worry about being the all-star. Become an unsung-hero type and it will build character.
17) Share Your Talents. Are you an artist or musician? What kind of gifts do you have to bestow upon the world? Put your artwork in galleries or play a concert at the local coffee house. It will shine on your resume the next time you have an interview, and show potential employers that you have multiple talents and aren't afraid to use them.

Reputation Management
18) Know your criminal record. Have you had any tickets or violations in the past? Know what your criminal record is in case someone checks you out and brings it up in front of you. Never try to hide from any law-breaking you may have committed, but rather be aware of your past and prepared to discuss any details should someone bring them up.
19) Use Google Alerts. A great way to keep on top of what is being said about you online is to use Google Alerts. What happens is, anytime someone blogs about you or mentions your name, Google will know about it. They'll send you emails once they find something! It's also a great way to keep updated about news and events in your industry.
20) Be aware of social networks. We all have MySpace and Facebook accounts; be wary of what pictures of you there are or anything else that may prohibit you from getting hired at a future job. Most of these networks have options to close pages off so only "friends" can view your personal profiles.
21) Get Published. A fantastic way to show your expertise in your industry is to get published either online or in a magazine. Do some research and find out who hires freelance writers; or, you may be able to get published by donating an article. Either way, it's a great tool that any employer would be impressed with.
22) Pay Your Bills. Many employers don't run credit checks on you, but in today's day and age, there's bound to be all kinds of snooping around into your personal life. Make sure you don't have any outstanding tax liens or collections agencies chasing you down for debts you haven't paid.

Self Promotion
23) Build a website. Trust me, if you start a website now that describes your career and accomplishments, you'll definitely reap the benefits once interview time comes around. Many employers are using the web to do background checks on prospects; use your website to make a name for yourself online.
24) Blog as much as possible. Add a blog or use blogging software to maintain updates on your website. Discuss your targeted industry as much as possible. Provide helpful information or talk about how a certain task could be done better or in a different way. This will prove your passion for the job in addition to your knowledge.
25) Create a podcast. Record a podcast every now and then that takes your discussion further. Much like getting published, you could have your podcast published on other sites and blogs and keep track of how many times the podcast was downloaded. Interviews with others in your industry provide great content for a podcast.
26) Shoot a video. Grab a friend and a video camera and shoot a quick introduction to yourself and your website. Amid the hundreds if not thousands of paper resumes an employer has to go through in their lifetime, you're bound to make a big impression by hosting a welcome video on your site.
27) Have business cards. Remember those networking events we discussed earlier? Joined an organization? Have a friend of a friend who knows someone at the place you're trying to work at? Get some business cards printed with your contact information and web address to show everybody you mean business.
28) Run and advertisement. Take the business card to the next level and purchase a small advertisement in your local paper. You could offer a service that plays into the career you're about to get into and maybe even get some freelance work you can use to build up your resume.
29) Use pay-per-click. Anyone can run an affordable advertisement using Google or Yahoo. Target specific keywords that are used often in your target industry and raise some eyebrows online. You could even target your ads geographically if you had different locations in mind.

Find the Job
30) Join Linked-in. Think MySpace for professionals. The more people you meet using Linked-in that already have a presence in your industry, the more chances you have to landing that dream job right off the bat. Simply another way the Internet is changing the way employees get found and hired.
31) Search Online. Start using Monster.com and other online job search services. Post your resume with your targeted graduation date. You never know when a potential employer could be out looking for you, and it doesn't mean they won't give you a shot just because school's not over with.
32) Grab the Yellow Pages. Search the Yellow Pages for companies in your area that you'd consider working for. Contact them and send the your resume, letting them know what your intentions are in the future. They might offer you an internship which you can turn into a full time gig once you graduate.
33) Check out Craigslist. New job listings are posted every day on Craigslist; take advantage of it. Try to find opportunities whenever you can, just to see if someone will bite. Try to get as many interviews as possible; even if you don't get hired, each one will prepare you for the next.
34) Pick up the paper. Lots of employers still use the classifieds to find employees. Don't rule it out when looking for a job opportunity. Get out there, pick up the phone, and get that big job before you even graduate!

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Making It Big Monday

5 Ways to Get the Job You Want -- in Any Economy

With all the bleak economic news and reports of massive layoffs, it's easy to lose sight of an exciting fact of work: There have never been more opportunities and possibilities for talented people than exist today. The rate of new business formation in the United States has passed more than 1 million new companies per year. Employers everywhere are looking for bright, resourceful and committed people to help their businesses grow. The best way to help the best companies find you is to become a self-directed job searcher.

Regardless of your employment experience, your target industry or the economic climate, you can get a job -- a great job -- if you are willing to work hard and know how to work smart. Here are some of the very best ideas, strategies and methods for putting your career back on the fast track.

1. Take control of your career
The average person starting work today will have 11 full-time jobs and as many as five different careers over the course of his or her lifetime. To weather the storms of lifelong career change, you must be proactive, not reactive.
Begin by seeing yourself as self-employed. See yourself as the president of a company with one employee: you. See yourself as having one product to sell in a competitive marketplace: your personal services. You are completely responsible for research and development. No matter who signs your paycheck, you are always on your own payroll. This attitude is the starting point for getting the job you want for the rest of your career.

2. Take stock of yourself
Before you go out and look for a job, do some self-reflection. Make a list of all the things you can do for which someone would be willing to pay. What have you done especially well at your previous jobs? What sort of activities in your work and your personal life do you most enjoy? The good news is that you will always do the very best at something that makes you the happiest. To help yourself follow the right career track, describe your ideal job. The greater clarity you have about exactly what it is you want to do and how much you want to earn, the easier it is for someone to hire you.

3. Understand the job market
All labor, including your own, is subject to the economic law of supply and demand. The only way to ensure you get a rewarding job is by doing something important for which there is a demand in the marketplace and in which you are difficult to replace. A change in technology, consumer preferences or the economy can make a particular talent or specialty obsolete almost overnight. You must continually upgrade your knowledge and skills and adjust your efforts so that they conform to the needs of the current job market. In a free society such as ours, everybody works on commission.

4. Don't mistake unemployment for a vacation Look at your job search as a full-time job, taking 40 to 50 hours a week. Get up and get dressed each weekday morning as if you were going to work, eat a light, high-energy breakfast and then get going. Looking good and staying productive not only improves your attitude, but also impresses other people, both those inside your own house and those on the outside. Remember, you should never see yourself as unemployed. You are a fully employed person in a temporary state of transition.

5. Sow seeds everywhere Most of the jobs available are not advertised. They are hidden and waiting for you to discover them. Along with regularly surfing Internet job sites, be sure to list your qualifications and interests on every site that might attract employers seeking someone like you. Visit community job fairs and talk to exhibitors. Keep an eye out for news of new product releases and then seek out key people in the company. A business expansion represents job opportunities. Gather information about a prominent individual in an organization you would like to work for. Ask that person, by phone, by e-mail or in a letter, to grant you a 10-minute informational interview. Almost invariably, your interest, knowledge and gratitude will pay off in a job offer.

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Making It Big Monday

Advance Your Career: Tips To Help You Stand Out In Your Profession

During the course of my career I was able to compile tips, techniques, and strategies which I feel can serve to advance one’s career and help you to stand out at work. I have to admit it was only through trial and error that I was able to put these things into practice. You make plenty of mistakes but you never give up you always want to try and move forward. It’s only through perseverance and determination that you are able to accomplish those things that seem impossible at times. Here are some attributes that have served me well in my pursuit of success.

Number 1. Know yourself – your strengths, abilities and limitations. Once you know your major characteristics you will be able to pin point the career path you should take and put all of your energy attention and passion into that endeavor. There is nothing worse that giving something your all while you are speeding along on the wrong career path, putting all your talent and ability to work doing things that you can never be the best at.

Number 2. Be a prudent risk taker – Think Big. To stand out at work and get ahead of the times calls for you to take risks. You should take risks only when they have been well thought out and planned. Never go hap hazard into any venture will out giving it some thought and developing a plan of action to get there. You also have to think big. When you develop a plan of action it should encompass the entire organization, or an entire department. It should never be just about you. Think big and try to develop win/win situations whenever possible. Think in terms of impacting the entire organization.

Number 3. Set Goals that Stretch You. You have to get out of your comfort zone. Establish some goals that are attainable with effort. When you have goals that stretch you chances are you’re excited, enthusiastic, passionate, and energetic in the pursuit of those goals. Goals that are easily attained don’t ignite any type of fire within.

Number 4. Keep your horizons and interest broad. Never limit your career perspective and outlook. There are always other possibilities and different roads to travel. Learn new things at every opportunity because you never know when your increased knowledge base is going to enable you to take on greater responsibility in the form of a promotion.

Number 5. Learn from failure and mistakes. It’s okay to fail and have set backs. Every person that has achieved any type of note worthy success will tell you that they have failed not only once but sometimes three or four times. Use your failures as learning experiences that catapult you forward to take on the next challenge. Make amendments and adjustments based on the lessons learned from
past failures. Never let failures impede your progress.

Number 6. Remember the first person plural – think in terms of we. Share your best demonstrated practices with your co-workers, teammates, department, and the entire organization if possible. When you help another person meet their goals and objectives it in turn helps you achieve the career advancement you seek. Always look for ways to help others.

Number 7. Keep your sense of humor. Never get characterized as a person who can never have fun or is always serious. You can be perceived as unapproachable and this can limit your career advancement and keep you from getting ahead and standing out.

Number 8. Develop your interpersonal skills – communicate well. It is imperative that you enhance your ability to communicate. Look for ways to improve your presentation skills. If you are able to communicate with every level of employee within an organization, including upper management, this will do more to help you stand out.

Number 9. Work hard – very hard. Be the first one to work and the last one to leave. When you work on a project try to get it done efficiently and effectively. Make working hard a habit. Become known as the person who works harder and smarter than all others within your department.

Number 10. Be committed to the vision. Find ways expand on the company vision or mission. Be exceptionally committed to the cause.

Number 11. Share the responsibility and the credit. Look for ways to recognize your peers, and upper management. Be quick to praise others for their accomplishments.

Number 12. Keep your word. Develop a reputation for integrity and honesty. Do what you say you will do. Others will begin to trust you and look to you for answers and you will become known as a person with a good reputation.

Put these things into action consistently and you will begin to stand out at work in the sight of all involved.

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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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Top Job Thursday

The Happiest Companies For Young Professionals

Do you envy those who go to work every day truly cheerful and eager? You can be that happy, too. Just land a job at Nordstrom, GlaxoSmithKline or FedEx.

Of course you’re not guaranteed to be satisfied at these places—but the odds are in your favor. These are three of the happiest companies for young professionals, according to career website CareerBliss.com.

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

 

CareerBliss compiled a list of the 10 companies where young employees are happiest, based on analysis from more than 223,500 employee-generated reviews between March 2011 and March 2012.
“As college graduates make the transition from academic to work-life, the transition can be scary and intimidating,” says Heidi Golledge, chief executive of CareerBliss. “Knowing which companies have ranked well with recent graduates can help others identify what companies might be best for their new career path.”

Young professionals, defined by CareerBliss as employees with less than 10 years’ experience in a full-time position, were asked to rate the company they work for, in terms of happiness, on a five-point scale.

GE Energy, a division of General Electric, leads the pack as the happiest company for young professionals. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the firm has over 100,000 employees in more than 100 countries. It earned an index score of 4.528.

“I believe strongly that people want to work at GE Energy because being here means working with highly motivated, highly talented colleagues–and that brings out the best work in each of us,” says Sharon Daley, vice president of Human Resources there. “From next generation wind turbines, solar panels, engines that run on biogas, smart grids and the latest subsea oil and gas technologies, GE Energy employees are working on things that matter to the world.”

Why are young employees at that company so contented? “With GE Energy one of the largest parts of GE, our employees know they are working at a company that has the size and scale to change things,” Daley says. “At the same time, we run the business as if we were a small company or a start-up. That means that young professionals joining GE Energy have high levels of responsibility early. They are actively encouraged to think and act like entrepreneurs. And they are out there talking to customers and working to understand and anticipate their technology needs. That mix of freedom and accountability means our employees can see the effect their efforts are having immediately. Each person sees that they are making an impact – and that’s rewarding. So, yes, there is a lot to be happy about when we walk into work each day.”

No. 2 Nordstrom, the Seattle-based upscale department store, earned an overall index score of 4.441. “We are humbled to hear that our employees think we offer them a great workplace,” says Tara Darrow, a Nordstrom spokesperson. “We have a great group of hard-working, talented and diverse employees and we appreciate that they’ve recognized us in this way.”

Darrow says Nordstrom believes in empowering its employees and creating a competitive environment. “We want our people to have the ability to solve problems and be heroes to their customers, and we want them to treat the business as if their name were on the front door,” she says. “We spend a lot of time listening, but we also strongly believe in taking action. Our success is dependent on bringing each person’s thoughts, ideas, suggestions and perceptions to the table, and we value that collaboration. And we believe in recognizing success. We encourage fun and camaraderie, and we have a longstanding tradition of recognizing hard work and strong performance. This culture of empowerment, respect and competition creates an environment that our employees thrive in. Everyone enjoys being part of a winning team, and the company’s recent performance can certainly be attributed in large part to the contributions of our people.”

Fluor, United Space Alliance and AstraZeneca round out the top five.
“What we see for young professionals is a desire to find a company culture that fits with their personal work-style,” says CareerBliss’ chief technology officer, Matt Miller. “They want a company that values their ideas and provides the growth opportunities and leadership to help shape their career.”

Company	CareerBliss Rating
GE Energy	4.528
Nordstrom	4.441
Fluor	4.419
United Space Alliance	4.393
AstraZeneca	4.319
Centex	4.341
GlaxoSmithKline	4.322
Wipro	4.312
FedEx Express	4.304
Kaiser Permanente	4.300

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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.

To view original article CLICK HERE

Top Job Thursday

10 Jobs for Social Butterflies

Your whole life, you've been told you are a "people person." You smile at everyone and can talk to anyone, and social gatherings are your favorite pastime.

Indeed, you are no stranger to group interaction; in fact, you thrive on it. Your worst nightmare is sitting in a cubicle, talking to no one but yourself all day long, in a job that utilizes only your typing skills. So why let your fantastic people skills go to waste in a job where you can't be yourself or make use of your strengths?
So which jobs are best suited for social butterflies? Here are 10 jobs that will accommodate your personality:*

1. Public relations specialist
Annual earnings: $41,549
Socially friendly because: Every day, PR folks respond to the media, whether it's to a request, an accusation or simply making a public statement. They also establish and maintain relationships with clients, reach out to new ones and, depending on whom they work for, they act as the face and voice behind people and organizations.

2. School counselor
Annual earnings: $47,262
Socially friendly because: Their job depends on interaction with students, parents and other faculty. They need to be able to relate to students, whether it's discussing bad behaviors, academic conduct or more intense issues like sex education and drug awareness. On the same token, counselors need to maintain a healthy relationship with parents, approaching conversations about their children with honesty and tact.

3. Mediator
Annual earnings: $48,840
Socially friendly because: Mediators are the neutral party in legal disputes for people who would rather settle their cases outside of court. You must be able to keep conversations amicable, listen attentively and keep your patience. Most importantly, it is your job to offer suggestions on how to settle a dispute, but it's up to the involved parties to resolve it. Therefore, you need to make sure you're communicating openly and honestly in order to do your job effectively.

4. School administrators, elementary and secondary school
Annual earnings: $74,092
Socially friendly because: You meet with parents and faculty to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavioral or learning problems. In addition, when issues go beyond a teacher or school counselor, you must be able to advise students about personal, academic, vocational or behavioral issues.

5. Employee training director
Annual earnings: $84,145
Socially friendly because: Training directors not only develop and implement training programs for new employees at an organization, they also educate the trainers who instruct new workers directly. If they can't interact successfully with these trainers, you can bet the new employees won't be around for long.

6. Demonstrator
Annual earnings: $34,457
Socially friendly because: Your sole responsibility is to engage with customers by demonstrating, sampling and explaining products to increase sales. Something tells us that you won't make it far if you can only offer a sweet smile and attractive face.

7. Instructional coordinators
Annual Earnings: $62,528
Socially friendly because: They need to be able to talk easily with educational committees and advisory groups to learn about certain subject areas and curriculum. Then, they need to know how to communicate that knowledge to others by conducting teacher training programs and conferences dealing with new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids.

8. Recruiter
Annual earnings: $48,657
Socially friendly because: To be successful, recruiters must actively seek out candidates to fill job openings. Once they do, they must interview and screen applicants, as well as contact them discuss employment possibilities, consideration and selection. Once they have a relationship with the job seeker, they also coach them on interview skills and about the company.

9. Employment interviewer
Annual earnings: $48,657
Socially friendly because: They're responsible for matching job applicants with the appropriate openings in companies, so interviewers better be a good judge of character. They need to use their people skills to detect genuinely strong candidates from those who just interview well.

10. Life coach
Annual earnings: $64,523
Socially friendly because: People from all walks of life, from desperate housewives to struggling careerists are enlisting the help of life coaches to determine and achieve personal goals. Since most life coaches are self-employed, you can't be shy about getting your name out there; you must be able to successfully market yourself and your practices.

To view original article CLICK HERE

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.

To view original article CLICK HERE

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.

To view original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

101 Job Tips To Land Your Dream Job (Part 1 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 one (five part series) of 101 of the hottest job tips in town. There will be 20 new tips released every Tuesday for the next 5 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.

1. Proofread your resume: Have some trusted friends read over your resume and give you some feedback. Someone else may pick up mistakes you missed—and an error on your resume can prevent you from getting that important first interview.

2. Make a list of your skills: Make a list at the things you are good at and the things you enjoy doing. Chances are there is some crossover between the lists. Use these lists to help identify the types of jobs and industries you are most interested and suited to working for.

3. Buy quality paper and envelopes: Invest in good quality, heavy weight resume paper—and don’t skimp on the envelopes! Spend a little extra to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

4. Send your resume via priority mail: Or use Fed Ex or UPS. Those brightly colored envelopes just scream “I am important! Open me first!”. You can send your resume in a flat rate priority mailer for about $4.00, a small price to pay for guaranteed attention.

5. Don’t try too hard to stand out: Having an attention getting resume and application is great—having a sparkly, over the top one is not. Hot pink stationery with bunnies on it will attract attention, but it won’t land you an executive position.

6. Put a P.S. on your cover letter: Our marketing friends must be onto something—just about every good sales letter ends with a P.S. If any part of your letter gets read, it will be the postscript at the end.

7. Include a resume with every application: Even if a position requires you to fill out an application, attach your resume as well—it gives you a chance to stand out from the crowd and present yourself in the best light possible.

8. Consider a video resume if you are in a technical field: A powerpoint presentation or short video of your skills sounds over the top—and for some jobs, it is. For others, a video resume may be just what you need to get your foot in the door.

9. Customize your resume: Once you find a job you are interested in, take the time to customize your resume to better match the job description. If you are applying for a managerial description, for example, make sure your resume reflects all of the management duties you have performed, and highlights your achievements in that area.

10. Search for a job using unconventional spellings and terms: If you are an engineer, search for “Engineer”, but also check out “Engeneer” and “Engineering”—either a misspelling or different phrasing can pop up different listings (not all employers can spell well!).

11. Be willing to drive a bit: If you currently work five minutes from home, consider expanding your search to the next town, or the closest large city. Driving a little further each day may be a good trade off for a higher paying position.

12. Focus your search: If you are looking for a job in a large field, try focusing your search a bit to eliminate results you can’t use. If you search “Sales” you will pull up plenty of jobs that won’t suit your needs if what you really looking for is “Pharmaceutical Sales”…and the jobs you do want may get buried in the massive amount of listings.

13. Use the newspaper: Use the classified listings in your local paper and search online for other papers you may not receive. Most have an online classified section you can refer to, complete with a help wanted section.

14. Brainstorm to find other jobs you can do: If you are a teacher, apply for teaching jobs, but don’t overlook coaching, tutoring, and administrative jobs in the education system either.

15. Consider all of your skills: If you are great at selling cars, you may also be great at selling office equipment, medications, or business services. Don’t limit yourself to the field you are currently in if you have skills that can be applied elsewhere.

16. Use a Search Consultant: Job search firms aren’t just for top level executives anymore. Talented people of all levels are in demand, so register with a job service. Just make sure the prospective employer is footing the bill.

17. Don’t fall for scams: There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there waiting to take advantage of the unwary. Make sure you don’t fall for any of the common scams—everything from “work at home” to “pay for a list of available jobs”. You shouldn’t have to pay to find a job, or a legitimate lead.

18. Write some articles about your field: If you can, do some writing for a trade journal or other organization. If you don’t know of any, write about your field for an online article site like ezinearticles.com. Doing so will help build your reputation, give you published credits to refer to on your resume and help to establish you as an expert in your field.

19. Send your resume to a person: Instead of addressing your cover letter to a company, or worse to “whom it may concern”, take the time to find the name of the person actually doing the hiring, and send your resume to that person directly.

20. Make sure your online profiles are accurate: Check networking sites like LinkedIn to be sure that the information there is accurate and up to date. Don’t have a networking profile yet? Take the time to make one. Web–savvy employers will check you out via Google and other outlets!

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