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Hi everyone!
In case you haven't noticed, I haven't written anything on this site in awhile. But, I have been writing somewhere else - I got a new Web site!
From now on, for all the latest career news and advice, please visit me at http://careerbuilderblog.wordpress.com/.
There, you'll find a ton of new stuff. Feel free to leave your comments as usual!
Hope to see you there!
CeeBee
Happy Hump Day!
I think just about everywhere in the U.S. (except maybe the South) has gotten hit in the past week with some kind of winter storm. For us, first it was an ice storm on Saturday, and last night we got hit with another 6 inches of white fluff.
I love snow as much as the next person, but I especially like it under the following conditions:
Ok, ok, so those aren't the most likely conditions... I'll deal with it. The point is, whenever there's a winter storm, I always think about those who can't avoid the snow because they work with it. Their job is to keep the streets clean, the sidewalks shoveled and the highways salted.
Do you love the snow and want to help keep others safe during their winter travels?
Here are five jobs that let you do just that:
Snow shoveler: Shovels snow into truck or open sewer from streets and other public thoroughfares. Chops ice and packed snow, using pick or ice-chopper, to clear area around catch basins, fire hydrants and street corners. May spread salt or thawing chemicals onto roadway from rear of moving truck, using shovel. Average salary: $31, 972
Snow removing supervisor: Supervises removal of snow from thoroughfares and public places, such as airports, government buildingsand streets. Average salary: $39,469
Snow plow operator: Maintains highways, municipal and rural roads, and rights-of-way in safe condition, performing combination of following duties: erects and repairs guardrails, highway markers, and snow fences, using handtools and nails, and power tools. Average salary: $39,890
Snow making supervisor: Supervises those who tend artificial snow making equipment of ski resort to produce artificial snow along ski trails: rides chair lift or drives snow-terrain vehicle along ski trails to reach snow equipment. Average salary: $60,614
Snow blower: Operates a snow blower to clear sidewalks and paths. Average salary: $18, 712
Here's this week's latest working news. Have a great weekend!
Colleague, not cell phone, kills man
Graveyard shifts causing cancer?
Grocery store employee gets $15,000 for good customer service
This morning while I was doing some research for an upcoming article, I had a few questions about the information I was finding. I clicked on the "Contact Us" button on the site, and up came the PR contact for the company. I got his name, address, phone, fax and e-mail.
As I picked up the phone to call him, I rehearsed what I would say in my head...
"Hi, I'm a writer for CareerBuilder.com..." no, that doesn't sound right. "Hey, I'm looking for some more information on..." no, not that either.
I hung up. As I clicked on the contact's e-mail address and I quickly typed out my request, I thought about my actions. Why couldn't I just pick up the phone and call the guy? It's not like I was in 6th grade and calling my crush or anything.
And then it occurred to me - I sort of forgot how.
When it comes to the phone, the only people I really talk to are my friends and family - at work, e-mail is my choice of communication. In a time where technology rules, this isn't surprising, so I thought that if I'm having a problem, other's might be too.
Here's a quick lesson in telephone etiquette from Marjorie Brody, author of "Professional Impressions: Etiquette for Everyone, Every Day."
When the telephone rings...
Answer all calls within three rings, Brody advises. When you pick up, smile (she says it will come through in your voice) and identify yourself. For example, "Victoria Smith speaking" or "This is Victoria Smith."
Screening your calls
Everyone is busy - there's nothing wrong with having your assistant screen your calls, or screening them yourself - as long as everyone is getting screened, and not just certain people.
If you use voice mail to answer your calls, Brody suggests keeping your outgoing message up-to-date with the time you expect to return or be available.
Calling back
The sooner, the better, Brody says. Always return a phone call within 24 hours. Even if the call isn't about something you can help with, let the caller know so he or she can look elsewhere for help.
Scheduling a conversation
Scheduling a phone call is the same as scheduling a meeting, Brody says. You wouldn't ignore a meeting or appointment you made, so don't "stand up" someone who is waiting to speak with you.
Holding a conversation
Keep your full attention on the person you're talking to , no matter what else is going on around you, Brody says. Concentrate on listening - not on checking your e-mail, not doodling on a notepad - listening.
When you are the caller
Before calling, get organized. Know what you want to say and accomplish, Brody says. (This was my problem earlier!) Identify yourself immediately.
Oh, and never make any comments in your work area until after you've hung up, Brody says. Even then, make sure it's on the hook - you don't want the other person to hear anything you say if they're still on the line.
Speakerphones
Plain and simple, unless you're on a conference call, using speakerphone is rude - don't do it, Brody says.
Voice mail
You want your voice mails to be professional, Brody says. Keep the message brief; speak slowly and enunciate; and give your name and number at the beginning and end of the message.
From the past couple of weeks... Happy Thanksgiving!
Secretary fired for being too young
Goldmach has $20M to hire new employees
No, I'm not cheering for my favorite football team - I'm referring a trend that's moving beyond citizens, lawmakers and environmentalists and moving into small businesses and corporations around the country.
"Going green" - preserving the earth’s natural resources and improving our standard our living - is becoming increasing important to job seekers around the country. More and more workers are interested in scoring a job that has a positive impact on the environment and are more inclined to work for a company that’s environmentally friendly.
Companies are listening to this demand and are responding by developing eco-friendly policies - not only to attract talent, but also to increase productivity and decrease absenteeism.
Companies are implementing recycling and community effort programs. Some employers are going as far as reimbursing employees for purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles or finding other means of commuting. With these changes and more, finding an eco-friendly environment has never been easier.
Not studying science but still looking for a “green” career? No worries - Education, communication, business and most other lines of work all have jobs that let you go green. Science teachers and professors educate the public about environmental well-being. Public health officials look out for health and environmental safety. Eco-friendly interior designers and architects create buildings and spaces that save energy without losing style. Housekeepers and dry-cleaners are ditching harsh chemicals and processes in favor of more energy- and air-friendly means of cleaning. The list goes on.
Here are just a few careers to steer you in the green direction:
Here are my picks in working news from this week and last. Enjoy!
Mobile cubicle keeps workers moving
Employee stress takes its toll
Famous female wrestler passes away
Chrysler cuts thousands of jobs
Company pulls tainted toy off shelves
Substitute teacher's plans enrage parents
Parking agent writes 10,000 fake tickets
'Tis the season alright... for calling in sick. Along with the holidays, the cold and flu seasons are upon us. You know what that means - workers are sick.
Or are they?
Thirty-two percent of workers said they have called in sick when they were well at least once in the last year, according to CareerBuilder.com's annual survey on absenteeism. Most (75 percent) employers said they believed employee's excuses, but 35 percent have checked up on an employee who called in sick.
Of those 35 percent, 67 percent said the employee had to show a doctor's note, 59 percent called the employee at home, 16 percent had another worker call the employee and 14 percent went so far as to drive past the employee's home.
Have you ever called in sick to work when you were feeling fine and just didn't feel like going to work? Or you just wanted to relax, catch up on sleep or make plans with family and friends? Don't feel bad - plenty of us feel that way.
Next time you call in sick, don't try these excuses at home. But for a good laugh, check out the most unusual excuses employees gave for missing work, according to employers from the survey:
Halloween is here and thrill-seekers in offices around the
country are crafting creative costumes to wear to work, spooky cube
décor and ways to frighten their co-workers while they're chained to
their desk on their favorite day of the year. The
biggest "scare factor" of most people's jobs is merely the simple act
of coming to the office everyday. But some workers don't have to look
farther than their own occupation to get their Halloween fix.The
following jobs deal with matters from corpses to violence to death to
the supernatural. They're not for the faint of heart, but if you wish
Halloween was year-round, consider one of the following 10 spooky jobs
to keep you looking over your shoulder every day. Coroner
Why it's spooky: Coroners observe corpses and investigate the cause, time and manner of death, mostly when it happens under unusual circumstances.
Scary salary: $35,866*Ghost hunter
Why it's spooky: Ghost hunters use scientific tools to measure and collect evidence of paranormal activity in areas that are said to be haunted. Teams of these people are called paranormal investigation teams.
Scary salary: Salary information is not availableMystery writer
Why it's spooky: Mystery writers
need the creative mind to develop scary plots, suspenseful story lines
and twisted characters to comprise compelling novels for their readers.
Scary salary: $45,442Mortician
Why it's spooky: Morticians (also known as undertakers or funeral directors)
oversee all funeral arrangements for the deceased, including details of
body preparation for viewing and preparing the body itself.
Scary salary: $42,284Witch doctor
Why it's spooky:
Witch doctors are healers through magic and witchcraft. They believe
illnesses and injuries are caused by magic and witchcraft and so they
are best treated that way.
Scary salary: Salary information not available.Embalmer
Why it's spooky: Embalmers
prepare corpses for burial or cremation by washing, drying and
disinfecting the body; releasing excess air from the lungs; draining
blood from the circulatory system and replacing it with embalming fluid
and applying cosmetics to create a more lifelike appearance.
Scary salary: $34,791Crime scene cleanup
Why it's spooky: Crime scene cleaning crews sanitize and clean the aftermaths of crimes on all levels, from murders to domestic violence.
Scary salary: $35,000 average starting salary; can increase to $75,000 or $80,000 based on markets with higher violent death rates.Grave digger/Cemetery worker
Why it's spooky: Grave diggers work in cemeteries
digging graves before funerals, oftentimes working late into the night
or early morning hours. Cemetery workers assist in the upkeep of grave
and memorial sites.
Scary salary: $33,601 for grave
diggers. Cemetery workers' salaries are determined by whether the
individual is working for a distinguished cemetery and whether the
location is non-profit, according to the International Cemetery and
Funeral Association.Obituary writer
Why it's spooky: Obituary writers are responsible for writing summaries of the lives of the deceased for such publications as newspapers, magazines and Web sites.
Scary salary: $42,150Crematorium technician
Why it's spooky: These technicians incinerate corpses and collect the ashes to give to family and loved ones.
Scary salary: $35,000*Salary information from Salary Expert, International Cemetery and Funeral Association and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since I was out sick last week, I wasn't able to post the latest working news, so I've included them in these week's picks.
Stress at work linked with heart attacks
Pepsi worker attacks Coke worker
Study shows swearing at work benefits employees
A few weeks ago, I commented on mental health in the workplace, specifically how companies can benefit by providing workers with mental health coverage.
On the same note, according to the most recent report by the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), combined data from 2004 to 2006 indicate that an average of 7 percent of full-time workers aged 18 to 64 experienced a major depressive episode (MD) in the past year. The highest rates of MDE were among full-time workers in the personal care and service occupations (10.8 percent) and the food preparation and serving related occupations (10.3 percent).
Here is a full list of the depression rates among full-time workers, according to the report.
Today is National Boss's Day, a day for employees to show their appreciation to their supervisors for their kindness and fairness throughout the year (that's the hope, anyway). Not feeling like your boss deserves anything for his antics? Suprisingly, your co-workers probably don't agree with you.
In a recent study by Robert Half International and CareerBuilder.com, most of workers surveyed said they are satisfied with their boss's performance. Six-out-of-ten respondents said their supervisors are trustworthy, while only 25 percent said they would do a better job if they were boss.
The day was initiated by Patricia Bays Haroski with the Chamber of Commerce in 1958. She chose October 16 because it was her current boss's (who happened to be her father) birthday, because she thought he was an exemplary boss.
Looking for a way to show your boss your appreciation? Try the following methods to say 'Thanks, boss!'
Sort of a slow week in the world of working news. Here's what I've got...
Unemployment rate increase, so does job creation
Etiquette seems to be the word of the day today - at least in the workplace.
So far, I've seen an article on MSN about cubical etiquette and then on the way to work, I came across an article in the Red Eye, an edition of the Chicago Tribune. It was titled, "Oh, Behave! Etiquette Training Helps Employees Mind Their Manners."
The article, written by Alison Shipley, discusses how companies are sending employees to etiquette workshops and seminars. The piece cites Advanced Equities, an investment bank in Chicago, which required its employees to attend an etiquette training session intended to increase business and create better relationships with clients. The course focused on how to speak professionally on the over, how to deal with difficult clients . Employees of the company said they were grateful for the training because the lessons learned can flow into their personal lives too.
Lori Ann Robinson, the corporate etiquette expert cited in the article, offered the following five etiquette rules when mingling at networking events or dining with executives:
This week's news is a mixture of this week and last - Happy Friday!
New Facebook feature challenges LinkedIn
Licensing rules might loosen for casino workers
Firms biased against pregnant workers?
Wal-Mart sued for worker abuse
Workers killed in chemical fire
Wal-Mart workers win $62 million
U.S. payrolls rose in September
I recently returned from a short vacation in a small, coastal town in Oregon. It was one of those places that is breathtakingly beautiful - but at the same time, it's so small that it makes you wonder, how do people make a living here?
As the days went on, I answered my own question. Roseanna's Cafe, Lex's Cool Stuff, Bernie's Grocery - everyone owned something in town. Then it hit me: this is the kind of town that will always have places for people to work.
So, I decided I would give those folks who want to get out of the city for a bit and explore something new, a few ideas.
Here are 10 jobs you could pursue in a small, coastal town:
An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
That's a lot of people.
What most people don't realize is the burden of mental illness on health and productivity in the United States - and how it's affecting our workers.
Depression affects about six percent of employees every year, costing more than $30 billion annually in lost productivity. Many of these depressed workers are untreated or inadequately treated.
While cost-of-illness studies show that depression is among the most costly of all health problems to employers, a new study shows that investing in depressed employees can cut absenteeism while improving workers' health.
Despite many employers' view that mental health coverage is a financial black hole, the study, funded by NIMH and reported in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, shows spending money on depression is a smart business move, says researcher Philip Wang.
Workers involved in the year-long study were given treatment and even received telephone psychotherapy. Employees who got this intervention worked about two weeks more on average during the study than those who got the usual care - advice to see their doctor or seek a mental health specialist.
At the year's end, 93 percent of workers from the intervention group were still employed, compared to 88 percent of workers not in the group, which helped employers avoid hiring and training costs, researchers said.
Plus, the "intervention employees" were almost 40 percent more likely to recover from depression.
Have you ever sat at your desk and wished you were doing something - ANYTHING - else? Perhaps you wish you were off fighting a fire? Playing a live concert? Pitching for your favorite baseball team (that happens to be playing right now!)?
Workers and job seekers alike now have the opportunity to work cool jobs - with the potential to lead to real jobs - and earn pay in Second Life's virtual world - and CareerBuilder.com was the first of the major job boards to offer the opportunity.
In Second Life, a three-dimensional online community where people can live out digital experiences mirroring real life, companies have begun posting jobs and hosting career fairs as additional way to market their company as well as recruit new employees.
For example, CareerBuilder has 50 branded kiosks in locations across Second Life, where users can use the kiosks to search for real jobs on CareerBuilder.com. They can also search for virtual jobs they can instantly, without applying or interviewing.
In addition to job kiosks, CareerBuilder has 'Buzz Agents' who are dressed CareerBuilder clothing as an additional branding tool for CareerBuilder. Other companies hosting job fairs have hiring managers, dressed to the nines, that are looking for potential candidates. The job fairs even allow candidates to find recruiters and major companies and drop off their resume.
So, if you're looking for a new way to change up your job search, log into Second Life (basic membership is free) and start getting creative.
Cee Bee's picks for this week's working news. There are some strange ones!
Carpenter allowed to work nude
U.S. employers hiring at same pace
Burger King employee almost killed in drive-through dispute
In-home nurses get workers comp for car accidents
Firefighter impersonator jailed
U.S. payrolls fell 4,000 in August
McDonald's employee jailed for salty burger
Airline made second passenger cover up