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

Latest Working News

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

Dennis Rodman accused of harrassing employee

Hollywood's highest paid actresses

Can you hear me now?

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.

Latest Working News

From the past couple of weeks... Happy Thanksgiving!

Secretary fired for being too young

Female wrestler dies at 84

Nanny hits children

Goldmach has $20M to hire new employees

Actors twin babies get overdose

81 year-old woman punches cop

GO GREEN!

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:

 

1. Hydrologist: The median annual income is $51,080.*

2. Environmental Engineer: The median annual income is $50,000.

3. Pest Control Technician: The median annual income is $30,500.

4. Conservation Biologist: The median annual income is $52,480.

5. Science Teacher: The median annual income of kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers ranges from $41,400 to $45,920.

6. Toxicologist: The median annual income is $79,500.

7. Pollution Control Technician: The median annual income is $32,000.

8. Fund-raising Director: The median annual income is $45,000.

9. Ecologist: The median annual income is $68,950.

10. Camp Counselor: The median annual income is $19,320.

11. Business Manager: The median annual income is $50,000.

12. Economist: The median annual income is $72,780.

13. Forester: The median annual income is $48,230.

14. Environmental Attorney: The median annual income for attorneys specializing in construction, real estate and land use is $70,000.

15. Community Affairs Manager: The median annual income is $56,000.

16. Environmental Health and Safety Technician: The median annual income is $35,500.

17. Landscape Architect: The median annual income is $53,120. For landscape architects in nonsupervisory, supervisory and managerial positions for the federal government, the average annual income was $74,508.

18. Waste Disposal Manager: The median annual income is $35,000.

19. Environmental Chemist: The median annual income is $51,080.

20. Corporate Waste Compliance Coordinator: The median annual income is $39,000.

21. Urban and Regional Planner: The median annual income is $45,250.

22. Agricultural Inspector: The median annual income is $35,000.

23. Wastewater Water Operator: The median annual income is $35,000.

24. Wildlife Biologist: The median annual income is $42,000.

25. Air Quality Engineer: The median annual income is $66,000.

* Salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and SalaryExpert.com.

Latest Working News

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

Bull rider stomped by bull

Writers strike

Company pulls tainted toy off shelves

Substitute teacher's plans enrage parents

Parking agent writes 10,000 fake tickets

 

'Tis the season for calling in sick

'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:

• Employee said he was crabby and it wouldn't be good for business
• Employee got whiplash from brushing her hair
• Employee said her psychic told her to stay home or something awful would happen to her
• Employee said he wasn't feeling well and wanted to rest up for the company's holiday party that night
• Employee said her chickens' feet were frozen to the driveway
• At her sister's wedding, the employee chipped her tooth on a Mint Julep, bent over to spit it out, hit her head on a keg and was knocked unconscious with a mild concussion
• Employee claimed to have met a movie star and was spending the day with him
• Employee was injured while getting a haircut
• Employee tasted dog food because the dog was not feeling well and now the employee is sick
• Employee's roommate locked all his clothes in a shed for spite
• A groundhog bit the employee's car tire, causing it to go flat
• Employee had been up all night because their favorite "American Idol" contestant was voted off