Why Is Volunteering Important? Advice for Job Hunters

Posted by Bridget Quigg

The search for work continues. At the end of December 2009, our nation’s jobless rate still hovered around 10 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) labor force statistics. Besides rubbing more polish on your resume, what can a work-hungry American do to get a job? If you know which career interests you, you could consider volunteering in your chosen field. From networking and skill building to resume improvement, the benefits of volunteering seem endless.

Job Relocation? Salary Calculator and More to Support You

Posted by Bridget Quigg

As the ice begins to thaw – just slightly - on our frozen, recession-era job market, opportunities are popping up in some cities at a faster rate than others. A recent article written for Yahoo! Hotjobs by PayScale titled, “10 Great Cities for Salary Growth” offers a list of cities that, against all odds, saw a growth in job opportunities in 2009, some at a rate of nearly 10 percent.

Are you open to living in Orlando, FL, McAllen, TX or Salt Lake City, UT? If you’re having trouble finding work in your town, you might want to consider places like these, where jobs in hi-tech, health care and telecom are available.  The next questions to ask are: what kind of money could you make in your line of work in that town and how does the cost of living compare to where you live now?

Another Bloody Monday? Job Loss Figures Make It Unlikely

Posted by Bridget Quigg

We are one month away from the one year anniversary of Bloody Monday. On January 26th, 2009, 65,400 job cuts were announced, according to a CNN article, “Bloody Monday: Over 65,400 Jobs Lost.” Up until that point, an alarming 200,000 jobs cuts had been announced nationwide for the year but on this one day the total job losses jumped by 33%, thus earning the day its gory title.

Career Path Suggestions for Midlife Career Changes

Posted by Bridget Quigg

This down economy has brought one thing to most everyone’s career path: change. Whether it’s learning new skills for the same job or searching for a different one, these added work pressures can be especially hard on people who have been in their job for 20+ years. Rather than wind down or hit their stride, they have to start over or take it up a notch.

Want a Job? Get Skills for the Jobs Most in Demand

Posted by Bridget Quigg

No matter which way you slice the bad news about the economy, and the especially sad news about unemployment, there’s always one choice that makes sense. If you can, get skills for the jobs in high demand. There are quite a few out there. Even though people are tighter with their spending (tough on retail), the housing market is unstable (less real estate work) and fewer new building projects are happening (so long construction jobs), other industries have opportunities. You just need the job skills to get started.

Executive Pay Limits: Introducing “Government Executive Pay”

Posted by Bridget Quigg

They’re happening. The oft spoke of, much debated, feared, and cheered executive pay limits are in motion. While they’ll most likely target only companies that received bailout funds, executive pay limits are still a significant shift in where government’s hands can go.

Get a Glamorous Job at QVC: Host Salaries and More

Posted by Bridget Quigg

Cooing at the sparkle of a diamond bracelet, answering questions about holiday flatware and pushing laptops designed for the whole family – are these job skills? Absolutely. Welcome to the wild, live world of a QVC TV host.

These bright-smiled folks seem to fascinate viewers. Could they have one of the most fun jobs around? It’s likely that plenty of people have watched QVC (I’m raising my hand. You can, too.) and thought, “Heck, I could do that. I wonder what it’s like and how much they make?” So, I decided to do some investigative reporting and look into QVC host salaries, job duties and what other jobs are available at QVC.

Jobs for English Majors: They Do Exist

Posted by Bridget Quigg

The butt of every cocktail party joke – the English major. “Oh, that’s nice that you read Shakespeare. But, how does that get you a job?”

Well, it turns out that wordsmithing just might be the ticket in to today’s job market. According to a survey of HR professionals by global outplacement agency Challenger, Gray and Christmas and quoted in a New York Times article, “Young Workers: U Nd 2 Improve Ur Writing Skills,” the number one skill missing amongst entry-level job applicants is “writing skills.” Huh, sounds like that business degree may not do the trick for getting started in a new career.

Women Snapping Up Government Salaries

Posted by Bridget Quigg

On Sept. 3, USA Today published an article on women’s soon-to-be majority in America’s workforce, “Women Gain in Historic Job Shift.” Rosie the Riveter may have her day.

Due to the significant job loss suffered by men in the manufacturing and construction industries over the last year, compared with the job security found in health-care and government where women dominate, women may soon be the steadier breadwinners for the first time in America’s history. The question is, how well are they faring, compared to men, in their health care and government salaries?

Your Salary and the Obama Equal Pay Bill

Posted by Bridget Quigg

Since January, many HR managers and company owners have been shaking in their boots. Why? They have some research to do about how they pay their employees.

If you haven’t heard of it yet, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, often referred to as the Obama equal pay bill, was signed into law this year. This law makes it easier for employees to sue their company if they discover that they have been paid a lower wage than other employees doing the same work because of their minority or protected status – e.g. race, gender, disability, etc.