CeeBee: CareerBuilder.com's Job Search SmartyPants

Leaps of faith

I've come across a few articles in the news lately about people taking a "leap of faith" when it comes to their job.

In some cases, people realize their current occupations just aren't doin' it for them anymore. Or sometimes, these folks have had an underlying passion for something unrelated to their current job, but for whatever reason - fear, lack of resources or whatever -they haven't acted on it.

Ditching corporate America to pursue personal passions - anything from animals to quilting to art - can be risky business. It usually requires deep pockets, lots of patience and plenty of determination.

That being said, it can be done.

For example, Jill Lurato changed the face of pet care in parts of New York and New Jersey. She spent 15 years working for a Fortune 50 company, dealing with stressful commutes, downsizings, mergers and other day-to-days in the corporate world. Finally, she developed a "plan B," which included pouring her passion for pets into a lucrative business endeavor by launching an at-home petsitting and dog-walking service. She now enjoys a fun and healthy lifestyle, while gaining financial security and professional independence.

Lurato is one of many examples of what can happen when you take a leap of faith with your career.

Follow these tips if you're feeling like taking the jump:

• Learn more. Research the field or passion you want to pursue. Sign up for classes that will give you the necessary background, education or training you need to excel in that industry. Investigate levels of pay and where your skill level would land you in that spectrum.
• Find a mentor. Find someone else who has taken the same leap of faith you're pondering. Ask them what they did to get there, what obstacles they faced and any advice they have to offer you.
• Track obstacles. Ask yourself what's keeping you from pursuing your passion. Are you lacking financial support? Education and training? Make a plan for how you can tackle each of the challenges you face.
• Seek expert advice. Find a career counselor to help you make a plan to take the leap into a new career. Hire a financial planner to help you budget while you make the financial sacrifices necessary to take the plunge.

Good luck!

Bilingual? You're Valuable

CareerBuilder.com

Spanish has become the country's unofficial second language, and corporate America has responded with diversity initiatives that seek to recruit, understand and attract a Hispanic/Latino workforce, writes Graciela Kenig in her book Best Careers for Bilingual Latinos.

With more than 40 million Hispanics in the US today and an estimated annual growth rate of 4.65, the Latino community will add 1.7 million people to its population every year. This trend is creating a tremendous demand for bilingual job seekers fluent in Spanish and English.

According to Kenig and other experts, the top industries for bilingual candidates include healthcare, financial services, sales and marketing, social services and public service. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that there are a number of emerging occupations in social services such as cross-cultural counselors, bilingual teachers and consumer credit counselors.

"Being fluent in Spanish is a big plus in social services," says Evie Engler, vice president for Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, Ill. "In many of the communities we serve, our licensed clinical social workers, case workers and counselors must be bilingual to serve families in need of our counseling, mental health and financial management services."

Banks and mortgage companies seek tellers and loan officers who can converse with their Latino clients. Insurance companies need claims adjustors and administrative staff to assist in processing claims for their diverse client base. One major insurance company that pays referral fees to employees for candidates who are hired offered an additional $500 incentive if the new hire was bilingual.

Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies are experiencing some of the greatest demand for bilingual employees to better serve patients. "Being able to speak and understand our patients? native language ensures proper treatment. Patients must be able to understand medical instructions and prescription dosages and physicians need to understand symptoms and circumstances related to a patient?s condition," noted Kathy, a nurse at a suburban hospital in Chicago.

To sell goods and services to a multicultural market, corporations must hire people who understand the language and culture of their clients and their vendors. Karen, an inside sales manager in Columbia, Md., needed call center associates to process orders for paint testing equipment from business clients in Latin America. "Finding candidates who were fluent in Spanish and also had strong sales ability were two key criteria in reviewing resumes and deciding who I would interview."

In nearly every field and profession, from financial services to sales, there is a growing need to multi-lingual candidates. In addition to Spanish, companies that have offices and clients throughout the world seek employees who can speak languages from Russian to German, French and Mandarin. "Job seekers who speak Japanese, Chinese and Mandarin are becoming a hot commodity among employers, particularly on the West Coast," says one recruiter from California.

Not only are bilingual skills helpful for seasoned professionals in the job market, graduates who are fluent in a second language are finding that they have an extra edge during job interviews. While bilingual skills aren't always required to land good jobs, many companies prefer to hire candidates with this added dimension.

If you are truly bilingual, that is you can speak two or more languages with equal or near equal fluency and are able to speak and perhaps also read and write more than one language very well, tell employers up-front that you have this ability. Even if your prospective employer may not have an immediate need for your multiple language capabilities, they are likely to see your fluency as an added benefit and asset in the hiring process.

Consider including this information in your cover letter and in your resume?s career or skills summary. Refer to your skills as "bilingual," or "multilingual" if you speak three or more languages. Then, list each language, including English. Be honest though. If you just had a couple of semesters of a language in high school or college, use the phrase "knowledge of..." Never overstate or understate your expertise.

When you love your boss and hate your job

According to a survey listing the worst employers of television from outplacement firm, Challenger, Gray and Christmas, C. Montgomery Burns of Fox's “The Simpsons,” and Cosmo Spacely of Hanna-Barbera's “The Jetsons,” top the list of terrible employers on T.V.

Everyone who works is likely to have had (or currently have) one bad boss or something negative to say about one of their current or previous employers.  But what do you do when you and your boss get along great but the job itself is the cause of your dissatisfaction?

Here is some advice from a Careerbuilder article on how to deal:

1. Enlist your boss's help to find another opportunity within the company: If you like your company but are just unhappy in your position, talk to your boss about alternative opportunities within the company. Chances are, your boss will be happy to help. Shawn, a travel industry marketing coordinator, loved working for her manager. She was well-compensated, highly regarded and given great projects. But with the birth of her second child, the long hours and off-site photo shoots were causing serious child-care issues. When a position within the company opened that required no travel and more regular hours, she asked her boss to sponsor her for the job posting. She got the new job and was able to negotiate a flexible schedule that allowed her to work from home one day a week.

2. Be a team player: You may hate your job, but you should never leave a good boss in the lurch. Mike, a veteran auto parts sales director, had spent nearly every week of his career on the road making sales calls. He had a great relationship with his boss, but knew that as long as he continued in sales, he would always be away from home.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Mike dreamed of owning his own business. He talked with his boss about his plans to quit his job and start a car restoration shop.

Though disappointed to be losing a good employee, his boss encouraged Mike to pursue his dream. Mike was not only honest with his supervisor, but he was also a team player and stayed on for two extra months until his boss found a replacement.

Five years later, Mike's business is thriving and he's received several business referrals from his former boss.

3. Realize good opportunities can pop up anywhere: You may think that your current job is just a way to pay the bills, but remember that every job is an opportunity to make new contacts. Emma was working her way through graduate school at a record store. The work was monotonous and dull, and she knew that it was not a long-term opportunity. However, she worked hard and was a strong employee.

She kept in touch with her former boss, with whom she had built a good working relationship. Today, Emma is a stay-at-home mom and her boss is running for office in

Colorado

. Emma helps him by editing his campaign materials. This opportunity provides her with experience for her resume, keeps her active in the field of writing and editing and will be valuable when she decides to re-enter the workforce full time.

4. Do a good job -- no matter what -- and earn a life-long ally: It might be tempting to take it easy if you are in a job that you hate. But taking pride in your work -- no matter what kind of work it is -- will help you. Sarah was a recent college graduate who worked as a secretary at a financial services company in order to make ends meet. The work was not challenging and she was frustrated that she had not yet found a job within her field.

She did her job well and her boss noticed her potential. He helped her with her resume, gave her career advice, and was supportive of her aspirations. In the end, Sarah got hired at a public relations firm, a success that was helped by her boss's positive recommendation.

Remember, all experiences are what you make of them. A good boss might not be enough to keep you in one place, but can be a wonderful mentor who will play a positive role in your future.

For Love or Money

The age old debate of doing what you love or doing what makes money always produces a variety of responses, but according to a recent survey by Men’s Journal, more workers would be willing to take a pay cut if it meant a better balance between their work lives and personal fulfillment.

The survey, set to be featured in the October issue of Men’s Journal, found 55 percent of surveyed readers would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for job satisfaction.  If the annual income was upped to $100,000, 57 percent would reconsider, with sentiments that all of their hard work would be worth the trouble, but six percent felt no amount of money could make up for their amount job frustration.

While money is one of the major factors, it’s not the only element of a job that can make or break it.  Benefits, quality work conditions, relationships at work, opportunities for growth and advancement, acknowledgement and the job itself all play a part in whether a job will be satisfying or a cause for continual stress and frustration.

So the next time you are considering a job offer, remember that a little less can go a lot farther if you’re putting in your 39-and-under or 40-plus hours in at a job that promotes a positive work environment.  But even if you find the right place, don’t rely solely on the company to make or break your work scene.  The effort shouldn’t be a one-way street.  You’re still the only one that can really make yourself happy, but having a positive work environment to start with will certainly help.

By: Candace Corner CareerBuilder.com

Work and Your Daily Dozzze

Before you head downstairs and chug down your seventh cup of coffee or another triple-shot latte to overcome your post-lunch drowsiness, you may want to take a walk outside.  According to a recent study, the boost your brain needs may just be a dose of daylight. 

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The report notes the work of Gilles Vandewalle of the University of Liege, Belgium, and his colleagues, who tested the effects of daytime light exposure on the human brain and found that it impacts human regulatory systems at the behavioral and cerebral levels. 

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What all of this means for us is that if you’re job is high demand, and you’re exhausted, a little more natural daylight may be an aid to help you refrain from falling asleep at your desk.

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Of course, there are other elements that factor in to your after-lunch slump. Getting a good night’s rest is equally important.  And if you’re replacing a full night’s rest with power naps, make sure it’s making you feel refreshed afterwards.  If you’re using your lunchtime for naptime and waking up grouchier than you were before, you’re just messing with your body’s natural sleep rhythms and will keep yourself awake at night.  Watching what you’re eating will also leave you feeling less sluggish.

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It may seem like a pain to regulate your down time, but when you’re a little more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning, you’re work performance will show it.

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By: Candace Corner

CareerBuilder.com

Five Ways to Get a Bigger Paycheck

You wrote a flawless résumé, applied to what seemed like thousands of jobs, networked 'til you were blue in the face, dazzled them in the interviews and got an offer for the perfect job. All that hard work has paid off... well, almost.

Don't sign the dotted line just yet -- if the salary figure on your offer letter seems too low, it probably is. Fifty-eight percent of hiring managers say they leave some negotiating room when extending initial offers, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com.

Most hiring managers are accommodating when a candidate asks for a better offer, the survey found. Nearly six-in-ten say they will extend a new offer once, and one-in-ten will extend a new offer twice or more if they really want the candidate. Thirty percent of hiring managers say the first offer is final.

Attempting to negotiate a better offer is almost always in a candidate's best interest. In fact, nearly one-in-ten hiring managers say they think less of a candidate who accepts the first offer. Salary negotiations demonstrate a candidate's determination, persistence and recognition of the value he/she brings to an employer.

Here are some ways you can negotiate a better job offer:

Prove your worth.
Highlight specific accomplishments and results; 34 percent of hiring managers say this is the most convincing way for candidates to negotiate a better offer. Don't just say you managed major accounts, instead name specific clients and quantified results.

Have strong references.
A candidate's references are the first thing nearly one-in-three hiring managers say they consider in salary negotiations. Be sure the former employers and co-workers on your reference list are prepared to give glowing reports of your work. Provide them with a "cheat sheet" -- a brief rundown of your projects they're familiar with.

Know the market.
For one-in-ten employers, the best way to get a bump in your offer is knowing average salaries for your position and market. Online salary sites, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry Web sites are great places to start. Educate yourself on industry averages and those around your metro area.

Leverage your position with care.
Thirteen percent of hiring managers say showing an offer from another company and a willingness to walk away is an effective way to negotiate. But be careful with this tactic. It has serious potential to backfire and cost you the job completely.

When all else fails, ask for a six-month review.
If the job is everthing you've been looking for, but the hiring manager won't budge on salary, don't walk away. Ask if your new employer would be willing to conduct a review six months into your employment -- with a possible salary boost contingent on your performance.

Are You Weighing in from Work?

If the waistline on your workpants seems a little snug, you’re not alone.  According to our recent “Work and Health” survey, forty-six percent of workers reported gaining weight since starting their present jobs.  One-in-five workers say they are more than 10 pounds heavier, while nearly one-in-ten workers have packed on more than 20 pounds.

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The industries people work in also play a big role in whether or not they gain weight. Retail workers reported the smallest weight increase at 35 percent.  Sales workers had the second smallest with 39 percent reporting a weight gain.  Accounting/finance workers saw a 53 percent increase and IT workers saw a 54 percent increase.  Government workers topped the list at 57 percent.

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With long work hours and office vending machines on-hand for easy snacking, company wellness programs would lead to significant improvement, but 80 percent of workers report their companies don’t offer incentives to help them stay healthy.

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In addition, the state you live and work in could be playing a part in gaining weight.

Here are some tips Careerbuilder offer for keeping control over the battle of the bulge:

• Use your commute. If you drive to work, park farther away from the office. If you use public transportation, get off the bus or train a stop or two early and walk the rest of the way.
• Stock up on brown bags. One-third of workers say they buy their lunches instead of bringing them at least three times a week; 12 percent eat out Monday through Friday. By packing your own lunches, you can control portions and lessen the strain on both your waistband and your wallet.
• Put in some face time. Instead of relying on instant messaging or e-mail when you need to chat with a colleague, walk over and talk to them face-to-face. Those extra steps will add up.
• Only eat when you’re hungry. Many workers turn to food to ease their boredom and stress. Keep a bottle of water at your desk and drink it throughout the day to curb your urge to chow down.

Snack smart. One-third of workers say they snack at least twice a day at work, and 40 percent eat more unhealthy snacks at work than they do at home. Skip the vending machines and start packing healthier snacks like crackers or raw veggies.

By: Candace Corner CareerBuilder.com

Getting Down to Business

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard or read some advice on what limits “casual” has in your workplace, but did you know that for every company that allows it, there are a few more that favor the formality of traditional business garb?

A few recent surveys state that more employees are in favor of a more formal dress code, and that the workplace is seeing a decline in business casual dress codes. The argument is that a relaxed workplace equals a decrease in productivity.  Another concern is that business casual gives too much room for interpretation, or that people take advantage of relaxed dress codes by dressing inappropriately, which ruins their business image.

If you disagree, let us know. 

If you favor business casual and want some advice on what you should wear to work, go here. 

And if you don’t want to do either of those, but like reading about dress codes, check this out. 

By: Candace Corner

CareerBuilder.com

Going Up? How to Master Your Elevator Pitch

You’ve updated your resume, collected your references, dry-cleaned your power suit and are ready-to-go…

…or are you?

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If your job-interview and networking presentations are packed with long pauses or sound more like unstructured ongoing rants, no amount of ironing and editing will help you make the impression you’re trying to make.  That’s why you need to map out your elevator pitch before you head over to a networking event or answer the dreaded, “tell me a little bit about yourself” question at an interview.

Wikipedia defines an elevator pitch as a brief overview of an idea for a product, service or project that can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride, or within about thirty seconds.  The focus is on promotion, which is exactly what you’re doing when you’re trying to sell someone on the idea of hiring you or keeping you in mind for future job opportunities.

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There are a variety of online articles, experts and books with suggestions on how to perfect your pitch, but here are some common guide lines:

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Figure out your top accomplishments

Think back to the personal and professional events in your life and write them down.  Ideally, you should come up with situations that reflect a balance of the two.  Construct a brief summary of how you handled those situations and what you learned from them.

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Find your main points

Narrow your experiences to around five main points that are relevant to your current career path/job search.  These accomplishments should range from how you got started (i.e., breaks after graduating college) to your most current goals.

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Focus on your strengths

Now that you’ve figured out what points you want to include, you’ll want to make sure that your experiences are a reflection of your personal and professional mannerisms and ethics.  Are you trying to demonstrate your ability to handle pressure? Are you trying to demonstrate your ability to use teamwork to the company’s advantage?  Make sure your accomplishments clearly suggest what points you’re trying to highlight and how those qualities match up with the company’s values and needs.

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As mentioned previously, you’ll want to keep this personal pitch around thirty seconds, especially for networking events.  Interviews allow a little extra time, but you still want to keep it concise as possible lest you risk ranting on endlessly.  The listener is looking for key points that will tell them why you’re a good candidate for a job, so save the life story for your memoirs.

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By Candace Corner

CareerBuilder.com

Rural Food Animal Veterinarians Wanted

I recently came across an article by Mikel Alderman describing the increased need for vets in rural settings. Alderman’s article includes reported findings by The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association stating that while the demand for veterinarians is increasing, few graduates are setting off to work in these areas. 

The job fill shortage is bad for the animals, but it can also have a potentially deadly effect on all of society.  While most people are not aware of it (as I wasn’t before reading this article) the secondary role of vets is to report early detections of unusual diseases.  With a large number of veterinarians currently up for retirement and a lack of qualified veterinarians available for replacement, there is an increased risk of eating contaminated foods.

Before a lot of people make a career decision, they want to know if the job will be a good fit for them. I’ve listed some animal-work related jobs to get you started.  Maybe they’ll be the experience needed to inspire filling some of our country’s rural vet needs.

Animal Behavioral Trainer:

What they do: Teach animals how to act in response to different conditions or stimuli.  Training is conducted for entertainment, protection, detection or companionship.

What they earn: *$36,000 is the median salary with one to four years of experience.

Animal Caretaker

What they do:  Assist in grooming, training and companionship for animals staying in pet spas, kennels and similar temporary locations.

What they earn:  A median salary of $30,000 when working for a company.

Marine Biologist:

What they do: Study and interact closely with the lives of species that spend all or most of their lives in water.

What they earn:  $45,000 is the median salary.

Park Management:

What they do:  Oversee daily park maintenance and operations.  They are in charge of preserving and protecting wilderness areas.

What they earn:  $40,000 is the median salary for state and local government positions.

Secondary School Science Teacher

What they do:  Educate students on the methods of observation, experimentation and study of different topics in science, including animal life.

What they earn:  A median salary between $41,400 and $45, 920.

Animal Groomer

What they do: Maintain the appearance and hygiene of animals.

What they earn:  A median salary of $30,000 when working for a company.

Veterinary Pathologist:

What they do: Study the scientific causes, development and results of diseases in animals.

What they earn:  A median salary between $120,000 and $160,000 for industry work.

Animal Welfare Lawyer

What they do: Practice law with special focus on how it deals with animals.  Cases can range from veterinary malpractice to anti-cruelty issues.

What they earn:  The median annual earnings of all lawyers are $94,930

Zoo Director:

What they do: Organize and direct zoo operations.  This position includes everything from analyzing the annual budget to organizing the special care of animals.

What they earn:  The average starting salary for zoologists is $28,000, increasing to $36,000 after five years.

Animal-Assisted Therapist

What they do: Study behavioral patterns in animals and apply techniques to improve mental, social and physical issues within humans through animal/human companionship.

What they earn:  Median annual earnings of physical therapists are $60,180, but the concentration of animal-assistance may increase or decrease earnings.  Some animal-assisted therapy is considered volunteer work. 

* Salary sources: Payscale.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),

American

College

of Veterinary Pathologists (AVCP), The Princeton Review

By Candace Corner

CareerBuilder.com