Posts Tagged ‘ Jobs ’

What makes one job good and another one bad? Is it true that some jobs are really bad and should be avoided or is it just that some people are better suited to one kind of job while others are to some other kinds? When we evaluate jobs, various factors are taken into account such as the economy and changes in the market trends. Other factors include evaluation on the basis of which jobs have less stress, better job environment and better career prospects along with good paying capability.

Every year the entries in the list of best and worst jobs change. According to the publisher of 2012 Jobs Rated Report of CareerCast, “The jobs that continue to fare very well are those that fare the best in a tough economy – primarily information technology and health care”. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have compiled a list of the best and worst jobs in America.

Top 5 Best Jobs in America

1. Biomedical Engineering is considered to be one of the best jobs in America as it includes various areas of specialization and the job prospects are very bright at about 72%. The average pay ranges between $43,097 – $120,335. It is considered to be the best job of 2012 as there is a growing demand of advanced medical equipment and devices. Graduates need to have in-depth knowledge of both engineering and biology.
2. Information Technology includes jobs like software developers, software architects, computer application engineers, data communications analysts. The job growth rate for these fields is about 24-53% and the average salary ranges between $40,800 – $134,838. There is an increased demand for IT professionals as they are trained to set up networks and check the performance of these systems. There is also demand for programming and systems analysis skills.
3. Nursing is also a very popular field which has a job growth of about 16 – 39% and the average pay ranges between $21,440 – $79,992. This is considered to be one of the best jobs as the demand continues to increase due to increase in elderly population and an expansion of healthcare industry leading to increase in clinics and a consequent increase in nursing staff.
4. Finance jobs related to finance like bankers, auditors, financial analysts, accountants, credit analysts continue to grow with a job growth projection of 41% and average pay of $73,150. These jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with can be either through traditional education or online learning.
5. Forensic Psychology involves jobs like social work and counseling and is one of the best jobs as its job growth projection is about 13% and the average salary is between $36,920 – $138,086. Forensic Psychologists are capable of performing various psychological testing and diagnosis. To work as a professional in this sector, you need to have a doctorate degree. You also need to have license to work as a social worker or a counselor .

5 Worst Jobs in America

1. Lumberjack is considered to be one of the worst jobs as you need to work outdoors irrespective of the weather conditions and the pay is also quite low.
2. The next worst job is that of dairy farmers. This is also a low paying job with tough working conditions. Farmers need to work in the dairy even in the worst weather conditions.
3. Enlisted military personnel are also climbing up the list of worst jobs. This is because it has a lot of stress and physical strain along and the pay is very bad.
4. Oil rig workers are entry level workers who have high stress jobs which are dangerous as they need to work on oil rigs in tough weather conditions. Though this field overall is well-paying, this job position is paid the lowest.
5. Newspaper Reporting is the 5th worse job as it is stressful and low paying. However with the advent of online and mobile reporting, the job conditions are expected to improve and this job might not be in the worst job lists in the next year.

So if you are looking for low stress, high paying jobs that are expected to grow in the following years go for the top 5 jobs.

If you are a fresh graduate, you can consider a variety of summer jobs to improve your skills and get better jobs. Summer jobs are a perfect opportunity to not only gain experience but also to add in qualifications to your CV.

Most people think summer jobs are exclusively meant for teenagers and college students, which is a misconception. With the slowdown in economy, experienced professionals looking for a career change or people getting reduced salaries should all make use of summer jobs to ease into a new career or to make use of additional income.

Looking For Summer Jobs

As competition increases, finding an appropriate summer job has become quite a challenge. It is better to develop a plan and prepare in advance as that improves your chances of getting a suitable summer job. Some tips to start searching for such a job are:

• Start Early

Most employers start looking for their candidates in spring, so you should start early to search for a summer job. Start dropping your resumes to the companies you are interested in working for by spring which is when the recruiting process starts. You can even suggest working for a short duration even before the summer sets in to your prospective employer. If you are a new grad, you can work for about 12 to 15 hours a week and get the necessary training and experience and also earn money to take care of your education expenses.

• Prepare Your Resume

You should prepare for your summer job search prior to looking for a suitable job. If you are a fresh graduate and are looking for an internship, you should create your resume specific to the new job you are interested in and put all details regarding your achievements and qualifications. You can also give details of the awards won, leadership roles and other special skills acquired. Also include a few references to add value to your resume.

• Make Use of Social Media

When you are looking for a summer job, mention this on your social media profiles so that your family and friends are aware that you are on the lookout for a new job. You can even make calls to a few businesses to check if they are hiring new grads. Even if they are not hiring, they can help you get a new job in the future.

If you really want to work for a firm but they are not recruiting for the post you are interested in, apply for some other post or work at the reception just to gain experience and make connections. If all else fails you can still work in movie theaters, restaurants, recreation facilities or even landscaping companies.

How early do you start looking for your summer job? Do let us know.

If you are interested in pursuing an online degree in specific area but are worried about your existing commitments and do not want to discontinue your current job, you need to learn to balance both. You can easily balance your job, family obligations and higher education by planning a little and being focused. Online degree programs help you to use technology and be more flexible in terms of pursuing higher education even while juggling a job.

Suggestions for balancing your new job and an Online Degree

• Pace yourself as it is not very easy to accelerate your online degree and plan according to the time and energy you have to spend every week. You can start off with just a few classes and develop a plan to include studying in your hectic schedule.
• Be organized and plan accordingly. You should follow a calendar for the class requirements, assignments and deadlines based on the syllabus provided by your online school.
• Rearrange your schedule as you need to devote the same amount of time to pursue an online degree as a traditional class. Try to spend at least 10-15 hours weekly for each class and compromise on your leisure activities.
• Avoid procrastinate: Though you are allowed to work at your own pace and schedule, you should not delay your submissions and should stick to the deadlines.
• As you can study from anywhere and at anytime, you need to plan and restructure your workspace. You can even check with your employer on whether you can study during your free time in the office as well.
• Though you are pursuing an online degree program at either a graduate or post-graduate level, it does not mean that your classes are anyway easier than the traditional classes. All the assignments will be of college level so you need to be more focused and put in extra effort.
• You should stay focused and complete the course as early as possible by having weekly review session. You should have a positive attitude towards your course to make it more effective.
• You can set your own goals and create milestones for the topics you are pursuing. You should strictly follow your course calendar and the detailed schedule of all assignment deadlines and test dates.
• You should have access to technology and understand the technical aspects of online learning as most of your mode of communication will be through technology only. You should advanced technology at home to pursue your course with good backup and internet service.
• You can manage your online degree program well if you focus on your schedule and avoid last minute stress. You should be proficient in balancing between your family time and job as well as higher education effectively.
• You should communicate effectively with your family and friends so that they can assist you with the online degree program. You can discuss with them your course and project details so that they can support you and give you valuable inputs and guidance.

Therefore, to balance your new job and an online degree program, the most important aspect is that you need to be self disciplined as these courses come with a lot of flexibility. You need to be committed and self-discipline to avoid defaulting.

Facebook is the second most popular website, just after Google. There are over 800 million active users out of which 300 million daily spend at least twenty minutes per day on Facebook. It is very popular and users tend to spend a lot of time on it as compared to other social networking sites. Therefore, the U.S. Department of Labor expects that Facebook may soon become a strong tool for job search.

Finding a job through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin is a great idea. Online college students prefer to use Facebook for job search as it is a convenient way to search for a job from the comfort of your home. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Online students should consider a few things while using social networking sites for job search.

Here are 5 smart tips for recent graduates and online students to use Facebook strategically to get hired.

1. Improve Your Online Reputation

Prospective employers and HR managers will view your profile and can see all your status updates, photos, videos and groups. Therefore, if you want to make a good impression on recruiters, remove any inappropriate pictures or content that can potentially hinder your prospects of getting hired. Make sure that your current profile is such that it makes a positive impression on potential employers.

2. Network and Interact with Companies

Students who have successfully completed their online degree programs and are looking for employment opportunities at a specific company should join their page on Facebook. This will give them a great opportunity to interact with the company. All corporations want candidates who are passionate about their organizations and grads can show their passion by being active on those Facebook pages. Students can also use Facebook to professionally contact recruiters, HR managers, and employers.

3. Participate and Get Active in Facebook Groups

After completing your online education, you can join professional groups on Facebook which discuss and post news about particular topics, or industries that you are interested in. By joining such professional groups you can actively participate in discussions, post links and other resources to the wall, moderate or manage sections of the group and so on. Participating in professional groups will create a positive impression on the minds of recruiters and prospective employers. Facebook groups can be used to network with and get noticed by professional corporations and could lead to you being considered for future job opportunities.

4. Tap into your Network to Find a Job

Facebook provides inexhaustible resources and connections for job seekers. College students and recent grads are advised to approach networking on Facebook as a way to get more information about an industry by messaging and engaging with employees and industry leaders. Building a strong personal network on Facebook platform will help you in your job search.

5. Build Strong Online Relations

It is important to build a strong online relation with relevant industry players who can advise you about your job search and will remember you for future career opportunities. Using Face book as an online platform for job hunting will show prospective employers and recruiters that you have interest and knowledge in your chosen field and are eager to improve your skills.

The social network can be a strong medium for finding employment. Did Facebook help you get hired? Please share your experience with us.

Are you looking for a career that is personally satisfying and financially rewarding at the same time? Do you know how to get the career you want? Pursuing your dream job is not easy especially if you don’t have the right degree and experience. In these tough economic times where many people are competing for the same jobs – only the most qualified wins!

Pursuing a Career with an Online Degree

The key to finding the career you really want, and one that will give you the most job satisfaction is to do a self-assessment of your skills, education, interests and personality. By doing this assessment, you will learn more about who you are and what you want to do. This way you can find a career that is a perfect match for you and one that you will enjoy doing for a long time. Once you have decided which field is best suited for you, you should search for an accredited online college with the degree program of your choice.

Job Searching Tips to Get the Career You Want

Doing a job search can be very intimidating and frustrating, but it is part of the job hunting process. The only way that you will find a career you want is by going through the process. Don’t give up. Keep looking until you get the job you want. Don’t waste too much time on careers that you know are not a good fit for you. Invest your time wisely by looking for career opportunities that you will enjoy doing. Finding a job is easy, but getting a job in the field you want to make a career in can be challenging.

Here are some extra tips for career success:

• Determine your professional goals
• Develop a plan of action
• Be persistent
• Stay positive
• Update your skills by using online degree programs
• Network with family, friends and networking groups
• Don’t give up

Do you have what it takes to get the career you want?

Employers prefer to hire candidates who have a degree that is compatible with the job they are applying for. So, before you go job hunting make sure you have what it takes to get the career you want. If you realize that the job you want requires further qualifications that you don’t have, opt for online degrees in the field of your choice.

How did you get to the career of your choice? Have you faced any hardships or it was smooth sailing for you? We would love to hear your success story. Use the comments section to share your opinions on the topic.

Don’t be surprised if you get asked for an online interview when you apply for a job. Online job interviews are common today, especially if the job that you are applying for is out-of-state or if the head of the department is in another country. Follow the 8 steps given below to ace your online job interview.

Steps to Ace an Online Job Interview

Think of an online job interview as any other interview, regardless of whether you are applying for an online job, or are seeking a career with an online degree. It is really not that different from a traditional interview. The only difference is that instead of doing the interview face-to-face, you will be doing it over the internet. A virtual interview is the equivalent of a face-to-face interview. Therefore the same techniques apply to both.

1. Prepare For A Virtual Job Interview

An online job interview is the most important part of the application process. This is where you can never be over prepared. Prepare the most asked questions for the interview just as you would for a face-to-face interview.

2. Learn About The Software Requirements

Find out the software that the company would use to conduct the online interview so that there are no problems during the interview. Make sure your microphone, web cams connections are in place.

3. Learn About The Online Job Interviewing Process

If you still feel intimidated, join an online forum and get to know about how online interviews are conducted. Learn as much as you can about doing online job interviews and the process involved.

4. Get Ready For The Online Job Interview

If something is not clear, make sure you call or email the company to get clarification before the interview.

5. Make Sure You Know The Exact Time Of The Online Interview

Also, if there is a time difference, make sure you know the exact time the online job interview will take place.

6. Find A Quiet Place For The Online Job Interview

Find a quiet place that is free from distractions and noise. This way you are not distracted and can concentrate on the interviewer. Background noise or children walking in and out of the room can ruin your chances of getting the job. So look for a quiet place in your home to do the interview.

7. Ask Job-Related Questions

Create a list of questions to ask the interviewer about the company. This will show hiring managers, recruiters, or potential employers that you are interested in working for the company.

8. Maintain A Professional Attitude During An Online Job Interview

Always maintain a professional attitude while answering questions, but do show the interviewer your personality so they can determine if you’re a good fit for the position and the company.

These are the 8 steps to acing your online job interview. I would love to hear about your online job interview experience.