Changing Careers A Common Occurrence in Today’s Workplace It’s a long journey from the 1960 newsroom of a small daily newspaper to the present chambers of Benton County Circuit Judge Tom Keith — six jobs, two careers and possibly soon a third; Judge Keith understands why people change careers. "I started out as a young
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How to give a dull job new luster I used to like my professional job, but it has gone flat. It has become monotonous and repetitious. Now I know what an actor must feel like who repeats the same role in a play over and over. How have others dealt with the problem? H.J. Some
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Job Hunting Wars in Old Age Aside from personal or family trauma, the loss of a professional job is the most challenging life-hazard facing men and women who are older than 40-years of age. Job loss itself quickly turns into a ‘personal’ trauma. You are powerless over the employer’s decision. For the years you toiled
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High times for the headhunters Go out and mingle with top headhunters — those gregarious talent scouts who are constantly scouring the world in search of managers to fill the top executive jobs — and these days you’ll find some most happy people. In the rising U.S. economy, jobs are plentiful, demand for take-charge executives
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Do mothers make better leaders than women without children? Most employees think so. Most employers don’t. A survey last Mother’s Day by the professional women’s networking organization WorldWit found that 69% would rather work for a mother than a non-mother, and only 2% prefer a non-mother. They say mothers have patience and listening skills, and
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Subtle changes can help older job applicants get in the door Managers and professionals in their 50s who get downsized increasingly don’t opt for early retirement. Many can’t afford to stop working — and even if they can, they often want the camaraderie and stimulation of a job. But finding a new position means they
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The squeeze for talent The war for talented workers is heating up in corporate America. Managers face competing pressures in recruiting: the upcoming retirement of the baby boomers, low unemployment and the high costs of training new workers. The pressures are forcing companies to spend more energy on making the right hiring decision from the
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Job hoppers build skills but hinder resume Vincent Krug has washed cars, painted houses and cleaned offices. He’s worked in a liquor store, a plant nursery, an organic wholesale bakery and a local luncheonette. Bicycle messenger, head chef for a sorority house, a private contractor fighting forest fires? Krug has done that, too – all
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The 10 hottest job sectors in US Big and small employers alike created some 2.1 million jobs in the US in the last year alone, averaging nearly 200,000 new jobs per month since December, according to the Department of Labor. At that kind of breakneck pace, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects total employment
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Get recruiters to call you with great jobs Q: After 12 years as a finance manager (three promotions, consistently excellent performance reviews), I think I’ve gone about as far with my current employer as I can go, and I’d like to explore opportunities elsewhere. Yet the only calls I get from recruiters are for jobs
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Networking, persistence key in job hunt Millions of high school and college students around the country are engaged in an annual rite of spring – the search for a well-paying summer job. For some, it’s a chance to get experience in a field that eventually may become a vocation. For others, it’s a way to
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Resumés & Interviews Robbie Massey says two things are vital when looking for a new job — the resumé and the interview. “Winning resumés lead to job interviews,” Massy said. “Understanding the interviewing strategies used by employers leads to landing the job.” Massey is an extension specialist for the Raleigh County West Virginia University Extension
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Four Ways to Impress the Interviewer in 10 Seconds The opportunity to make a good first impression is very small. In fact, most people know if they like you or not within 10 seconds of meeting you, according to published reports. And, if you’re interviewing, that first 10 seconds is vital. In order to make
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Changing Jobs? Try The ‘Non-interview’ Strategy What in the world is a "non-interview" strategy? OK. You’ve made the tough decision to change jobs with its tasks of rewriting your resume, distributing it to various outlets, prepping for interviews. But have you ever heard of the "non-interview"? Maybe you’ve already started to upgrade your resume and
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Turning Gatekeepers into Greeters Correct technique and good manners turn interactions with corporate gatekeepers from frustrating to fruitful. Gatekeepers are not meanies; they are their boss’s designated agents charged with limiting unnecessary, potentially wasteful interruptions and unexpected interference that may negatively affect the boss’s workflow or productivity. Any unsolicited—meaning uninvited—inquiry requires screening. If you don’t
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