Introducing: CeeBee! Careerbuilder.com's Job Search Smartypants

Happy Halloween!

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 available

Mystery 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: $45,442

Mortician
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: $42,284

Witch 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: $34,791

Crime 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: $42,150

Crematorium 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.

                               

Latest Working News

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

AOL makes major job cuts

Study shows swearing at work benefits employees

Is your job making you sick?

University employee beats woman

Arby's employee skims $14,000 in coupons

Depressed at work?

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.

• Personal care and service, 10.8 percent
• Food preparation and serving-related, 10.3 percent
• Community and social service, 9.6 percent
• Health-care practitioners and technical, 9.6 percent
• Arts, design, entertainment, sports, media, 9.1 percent
• Education, training and library, 8.7 percent
• Office and administrative support, 8.1 percent
• Building/grounds cleaning, maintenance,7.3 percent
• Financial, 6.7 percent
• Sales and related, 6.7 percent
• Legal, 6.4 percent
• Transportation  and materials moving,  6.4 percent
• Mathematical and computer scientists,  6.2 percent
• Production, 5.9 percent
• Management, 5.8 percent
• Farming, fishing and forestry, 5.6 percent
• Protective services, 5.5 percent
• Construction and extraction , 4.8 percent
• Installation, maintenance and repair, 4.4 percent
• Life, physical and social science, 4.4 percent
• Engineering, architecture and surveyors , 4.3 percent

Happy National Boss's Day!

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!'

• Give he or she a greeting card. Or, if  the holiday slipped your mind, go online and send an E-card. Make sure to write a sincere message.
• A funny book, such as "The Worst Case Survival Handbook: Work," or "Cube Monkey's, a handbook for surviving the office jungle."
• A bottle of wine or basket of gourmet food.
• A desktop gift set, like a picture frame or a new planner.
• Treat he or she to lunch.
• Something that he or she can enjoy outside of work, like a gift certificate to a restaurant.

Latest Working News

Sort of a slow week in the world of working news. Here's what I've got...

Unemployment rate increase, so does job creation

Lovesick priest loses job

Chrysler goes on auto strike

Study reveals 10 most terrible office offenses

Mortgage industry experienes layoffs

Etiquette: The Word of the Day

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:

1. Your appearance is a visual extension of your business card. Robinson suggests that for business casual events, women should pair a sweater or knit cardigan with dress pants.
2. Don't give 'em the dead fish. Potential clients consider handshakes and body language; don't just hold their little fingers, Robinson says. Also avoid crushing any bones.
3. Lay off the Crackberry. Put the Blackberry away at meetings and networking events. Pretty simple.
4. Get your hands out of your mouth. Don't put your hands in your mouth in public, especially at a business function, Robinson advises. Just excuse yourself and go to the bathroom.
5. If you're going to be late, call. Be respectful of other people's time, Robinson says. Making someone wait and not giving them an estimated time of arrival is rude and unprofessional.

Latest Working News

This week's news is a mixture of this week and last - Happy Friday!

73,000 workers in GM strike

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

$200M fast-food strip search

U.S. payrolls rose in September

Recession fears ease

Small Town Jobs

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:

• Hotel front desk   Every tourist town needs a place for its guests to sleep.

• Grocery clerk   There will always be a demand for guests to have snacks,water and soda while they entertain themselves and others.

• Wait staff  Eating out on vacation is a must - everyone will need a waiter/waitress to recommend the town favorites.

• Coffee shop barista  Unfortunately, not every town has a Starbucks, so out-of-towner's depend on the local coffee shop and bakeries for their morning fix.

• Postal worker  Forget to leave the keys under the mat for your housesitter? Stop by the local post office and have this guy/gal help you out.

• Bartender   My family was ecstatic to find that the local watering hole was showing the NFL Sunday Ticket... a townie tavern is a must on any vacation.

• Gift shop sales associate  Who else will help you purchase the trinkets to remind you of your trip?

• Parks & recreation employee   Every small town has something to see - whether it's the state park or the state flag, these workers can help you find it.

• Forestry technicians   In coastal towns, vegetation is abundant - these guys must tame it to keep it beautiful and under control.

• Seafood manager   Another coastal specialty, seafood managers need to sort and select all of the best sea creatures to wow your taste buds.