No one wants to go through the painful experience of losing a job or being unemployed. For most of us, our jobs mean more than just a way to make a living. They define who we are and how we feel about ourselves, and most importantly, how others see us. This is why being unemployed can be extremely stressful. Take a look at 5 hard-to-ignore truths!

1. Unemployment can change your life

Losing your job allows you to refocus. It provides an opportunity for you to look at your life and make changes where necessary. It also allows you to pay close attention to your career choices and to rethink your professional goals.

2. Losing a job is stressful

There’s no question that losing a job can add a lot of stress to your life. Losing a job can be one of the most stressful things you experience. But it is how you choose to handle the situation that makes all the difference in the world.

3. Unemployment is difficult to face

You can lose your self-confidence, self-esteem and your purpose in life. You might even feel scared at times. But only you can turn a bad situation into a good one. How you choose to handle the situation will determine whether the outcome is good or bad. It’s really all up to you.

4. Our jobs give us purpose in life

Many of us equate jobs with our purpose and without a job , sometimes life can seem meaningless. But it is not the end of the world. You still have time to pick up the pieces and move forward – hopefully to something better.

5. The sooner you get over the loss of a job, the better

Most people go through a period of feeling depressed due to being unemployed, which is normal, but for how long do you continue with it? It is best to focus immediately on finding another job, even if it’s something you are not really excited about. This way you can still have a source of income while you continue to look for something you really like.

No one wants to be unemployed. But how can you prepare for something like this? Is there a way to avoid unemployment?

If you’ve experienced job loss or unemployment I would like to hear from you. Please share your story and tell us how you managed to cope with the stress of unemployment.

The job market looks gloomy right now. The question is, Will it ever pick up? One thing’s for certain though; some industries will recover, while others may not. Have a look at the 8 industries that are thought to be doomed.

Struggling Industries in the United States

These industries are some of the worst hit industries in the United States right now. They have seen a decline in revenue over the past 10 years and the decline is expected to continue that way for some time. It is suggested that you should avoid these industries, at least for now until they show some signs of recovery after the recession.

The industries are deemed doomed due to various reasons like:

• Decline in revenue
• Greater competition
• Technological change
• Lack of innovation
• Not current with market trends

The Top Eight Doomed Industries in America

1. Video Rental
We’ve all seen several video rental stores make drastic changes to stay in business. But how can they compete with the Internet? These days it is so easy to get your favorite movies online, you can even order anything you want on cable TV, so why take a trip to the video rental store?

2. Record Stores
The same goes for record stores. Why go to the store when you can get what you want over the Internet? It is so convenient and so much easier online. This industry could not keep up with the competition and that’s the main reason why it has seen a decline in revenue.

3. Newspaper
Do you still read the newspaper? Most people feel that since they can get the most current news 24/7 online, there is no reason to wait to read it the other day. This is what’s sending the newspaper publishing industry into extinction.

4. Photofinishing
Digital cameras have changed the photo shop industry. No need to wait a few hours or days for the film to be developed anymore.

5. Costume Rental
Why rent a costume when you can buy one at a cheap price and reuse it year after year? Most people choose to buy rather than rent these days because it’s cheaper in the long run.

6. Apparel Manufacturing
Cheap labor overseas keeps the costs down at home. Therefore apparel manufacturing has moved overseas where labor is cheap.

7. Manufactured Home Dealers
This industry will not recover as there are more innovative competitors. The drop in revenue over the past decade is also due to the decrease in the price of traditional homes.

8. Wired Telecommunications Service Carriers
Everyone is going wireless these days, so goodbye to wired telecommunication carriers.

These are the 8 doomed industries to watch out for. They have seen better days, but it’s time for them to say goodbye!

Networking is extremely important when job searching. Social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can help you connect with other career seekers, professionals, and recruiters. If you want to know the top 6 social media sites that can help you gain visibility in your job search, look no further!

However, don’t use these sites as a crutch for not finding a job. There are other avenues that you can take to help manage your career. These social media sites are an additional way to network effectively by posting useful information, links and comments, while getting the word out and might just land you the career of a lifetime.

Using Online Job Search Tools to Connect With Prospective Employers

Check out these top 6 social media sites to gain visibility in your job search and take your career to a whole new level.

1. Twitter – Twitter is a very useful and simple social media site that is increasingly becoming popular every day as a social networking service also. Build a network of professional contacts and get the visibility you want by inviting and joining others.

2. LinkedIn – This is a great online social networking tool for business professionals. Register and you’re good to go. Here you can immediately start making contacts, get recommendations from them and find leads to career success.

3. Google+ – Google+ is fast emerging as the forerunner in social media websites, and is gaining ground on Facebook as it offers greater privacy settings and allows for targeted networking.

4. Facebook – Access is very simple and free. Join and create a social media profile and begin connecting with other professionals and prospective employers.

5. MySpace – This is a great place to socialize while networking. Create your online profile and immediately connect with others and be part of a professional network circle.

6. Hi5 – Can I get a Hi5? Connect with a whole new online community and be a part of a growing community of professionals in over 199 countries and close to 61 million members.

Friends, which of the other social media sites are you using to search jobs? Also we would like to know how do you rate above mentioned sites on scale of 1-6 for their effectiveness & usefulness for new employees?

A career in academia isn’t one that will rake in the big bucks, at least not right away. That is why educators need to have a strong desire to teach, be committed to the profession and love what they do before they see a great financial reward. Most educators pursue their careers in teaching because they truly love the profession. Then if they become rich and famous, so be it. Here’s a brief roundup of the 8 wealthiest academics in the world.

Wealthiest Academics in the World

There are some educators who have become wealthy off their desire to learn, teach and make a difference in the world. They have turned their passion for educating others into a profitable career. Their commitment and dedication to their professions is an inspiration to college students all across the world.

Henry Samueli - Henry Samueli did not start out in the business industry. Samueli earned his doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering from UCLA, but today he is the co-founder, CTO, and senior vice president at the Broadcom Corporation. His net worth is approximately $2 billion. Not bad for an initial $5,000 investment.

Cyril Taylor - Taylor and a few partners started the America Institute for Foreign Study back in 1964. He plays a major role in higher education both locally and internationally. His estimated net worth is over 6 million dollars. He also serves as Chancellor and Founder of Richmond, The American International Univesity in London.

James Stewart - James Stewart is a retired mathematics professor. He became well known for his textbook series which can be found in high schools and universities all across the U.S. Stewart is a multi-millionaire with an estimated net worth at over $20 million.

David Cheriton - Since 1981 professor David Cheriton has taught computer science at Stanford University. However, he is most famous for his investment in technology companies that made him over $1.5 billion. He was ranked by Forbes as the 19th wealthiest Canadian and 692nd in the world.

Robert S. Langer - Langer is one of the top academics in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. He has a number of patents under his belt that have contributed to his fortune. Langer is a prolific inventor and holds more than 760 granted or pending patents. He has also authored more than 1,100 scientific papers and has participated in the founding of multiple technology companies.

Stephen Hawking - Hawking’ career in Cosmology and Theoretical Physics and the popularity of his books has helped make him one of the wealthiest academics today. He is worth around $20 million. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21. Stephen was awarded Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

David Silvers - A great professor and researcher in Dermatology at Columbia University. Silvers owns homes worth over 2 million and makes more than the president of the University. His skin cancer research is a source of inspiration to future professors and researchers.

Adi Shamir - An inspiring educator who worked at MIT as a researcher. He also taught classes at École Normale Supérieure, Paris. Shamir helped in the development of cryptography algorithms that brought him most ofhis wealth. He earned his doctorate degree in the late 70s. After a year postdoc at University of Warwick, Adi Shamir did research at MIT from 1977–1980 before returning to be a member of the faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Weizmann Institute.

This is a great reminder for all teaching enthusiasts out there that one can make money through this profession. There is always room at the top!

The New Year is just around the corner and it’s time to get a fresh start on several levels. Get serious about investing in yourself, your career and of course your future. Be prepared and hold yourself responsible for a fresh start. As a college student, start your new year with a resolution to achieve your academic goals over the course of the year. Set a plan to ensure that you’re going on the right path to success. Here are a few tips and advices that help you become a successful college student in 2012 and help turn your wishes, goals and ideas into a reality.

1. Get Organized

In order to achieve your academic goals, it is advised to stay organized. Managing your space, work, family and social life will surely keep your college student life clutter free.

2. Don’t Procrastinate

Time is the most precious possession we have. Being an online college student, it is essential to learn good time management skills as online learning requires a lot of self discipline, motivation and commitment. Promise not to procrastinate, manage your time and increase your student efficiency. It will help you complete all your online courses within the given time frame.

3. Balance Work and Family life

Another important way to become a successful online student in 2012 is to manage your time in such a way so that you will be able to create a balance between your professional and family life together. Devise your work schedule in a manner that is most convenient to you and will not affect your family and social life.

4. Develop Good Study Habits

Students pursuing online college degrees are always advised to develop good study habits to make their learning style more effective. Try to begin your semester on the right foot as well as try to meet your projects and assignments deadlines.

5. Set Your Academic and Career Goals

To become a successful college graduate you need to set your personal, academic and career goals and learn how to improve your goal setting. As, goal setting is indeed the key to career success. Try to keep your expectations high.

6. Prepare for a Successful Career

Pursuing an online degree program from top online colleges will help online students to prepare for a successful career. Studying top online degrees helps students build professional skills and core competencies that are required for pursuing a successful career. Find the right degree program and make your career in that particular stream.

7. Manage Your Stress

Don’t let your stress get the best of you this year. Keep your stress level under control. Managing your stress is one of the most important ways that help you succeed in college life. In order to better cope with stress, spend more time with family and friends this year.

8. Have Fun

It’s critically important to have fun in your life. Stay connected with friends, maintain balance and avoid burnout. Listen music, go to the dance parties, participate in sports and paint are a few ways to cheer yourself up.

Following these tips and trick will surely help you become a successful online student, help you achieve your goals as well as accomplish your New Year resolution for 2012.

The New Year is about to start and you are all set to rock the world with your talent and passion. However the recent economy seems bent on not letting you succeed. How to checkmate it? One strategy to employ is to go for the degrees that will equate career success in the following years. Since we can’t foretell the future, we will place our bet on online degrees that find work in a variety of fields and that allow you to adapt yourself to change and to be flexible. We feel the following degrees will lead you to career success in the 2012.

Business Degrees Online

A Bachelor’s in Business Administration has been one of the most in demand degrees for the last couple of years and this trend will continue for some time. A BBA degree offers many specializations like accounts, finance, human resource, marketing, supply chain, operations and logistics, and entrepreneurship. The average starting salary for graduates with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration is $35,000-40,000.

Education Degrees Online

While a Bachelor’s in Education may not lead you to the highest paying jobs out there, it almost always guarantees employment, and can lead to a very satisfying career. This degree teaches career knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a teacher. If you really have the aptitude for it and are ready to advance your education and specialize then the career prospects are very bright. You can find a niche, such as secondary education and special education or you can even work as an administrator or join text book companies. The starting annual salary for graduates with an Online Bachelor’s in Education is $33,000.

Communication Degrees Online

Communications is a general liberal arts degree that equips you with skills that can be employed in almost any industry from social media to journalism to advertising, management, public relations, politics and journalism. Although the salary varies widely in the field of Communications, graduates can expect a median starting salary from $35,000-55,000.

Computers Science Degrees Online

That this degree will lead to success in the future is a no brainer. Every business today depends upon technology to grow and prosper and this dependence is likely to continue. A Bachelor’s in Computer Science equips you to use this technology in the real world and to help others use it as well. Computer science grads learn to code languages and solve problems and get jobs as software engineers, software developers, programmer analysts and networking specialist. The BLS predicts that it will grow at 37% till 2016 and their median starting salary is $56,400.

In order to succeed in this constantly changing technological landscape you need to either “Adapt or die!” Choose one of the above online degrees and guarantee your seat for the future.