Whether you plan your life around your horoscope (“The sun is in my commitment house! I am SO finding love this month”), or you think the Zodiac is utter nonsense; you’re probably still somewhat familiar with your Western Zodiac sign. You know whether you’re a Scorpio or an Aries, and you might even be familiar with the personality traits, relationship patterns and career preferences your sign predisposes you to.

Chances are, though, you’re a lot less familiar with Chinese astrology.

The Chinese Zodiac makes the same sort of generalities and predictions as the Western Zodiac, but is based on the year you were born in instead of the month. With the Chinese New Year happening on January 23 (welcome, year of the dragon!), we thought it’d be interesting to see what astrology has to say about the career and work preferences of each of the 12 signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

“Sometimes in choosing a career we just don’t know where to start,” says Donna Stellhorn, an astrologer and author of “2012: Year of the Water Dragon.” “Many people in the world look to their Chinese Zodiac sign to find their talents, strengths and weaknesses. And this helps guide them in their career choices.”  

What does your sign say about your career choices? Stellhorn weighs in, below.

Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)
Stellhorn says: “Rats are better suited to highly-active jobs, where making more effort and taking chances yields higher material rewards. Owning their own business or doing outside sales — especially of luxury items — is great for them. Rats should avoid jobs that isolate them or that are routine (things like night watchman, toll booth operator, etc.). On the other hand, they should avoid jobs where gambling is a main focus (such as working in a casino) because they may end up giving their paycheck back to the house.”
Personality traits*: Imaginative, problem solver, magnetic, observant, selfish, motivated by money and status.
Other possible job matches*: Manager, counselor, lawyer, broadcaster, writer 

Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009)
Stellhorn says: “The ox is better suited to jobs where they can bring in a good income and still work at home. They also excel at jobs that have a steady amount of work throughout the day (like medical transcription, editor/writer). They should avoid jobs that call for cutting-edge technical knowledge (Ox likes to wait and see before jumping into a new trend), or jobs that require a lot of travel.”
Personality traits: Determined, reliable, detail-oriented, hardworking, loyal
Other possible job matches: Mechanic,  painter, banker, real estate agent

Tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)
Stellhorn says: “Tigers can be both territorial and restless. They need periods of intense action and then quiet reflection. They do well in emergency rooms or as firefighters. They also make good musicians who put all their intensity into their live shows, or event planners who pull off parties without a hitch.”
Personality traits: Competitive, confident, good leader, likeable, adventurous, hasty
Other possible job matches: Writer, pilot, ad sales, office manager

Rabbit (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)
Stellhorn says: “Rabbits are patient and even-tempered. They thrive in calm workplaces where there is interaction with co-workers and customers. And Rabbits have an eye for value so they do well in jewelry sales, clothing design and real estate. They make good tour guides.”
Personality traits: Outgoing, sincere, compassionate, avoids confrontation
Other possible job matches: Public relations, writer, therapist, teacher

Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)
Stellhorn says: “Dragons need space to grow and gain recognition. They can’t be trapped in closed-in cubicles without breathing fire. They understand trends and see the direction to take to be successful. They do well as pilots. They excel in advertising and television. They also enjoy careers where they can be outside, like environmental researcher or hiking guide, for example.”
Personality traits: Ambitious, free-spirited, innovative, enthusiastic (sometimes overly so), independent, can be tactless
Other possible job matches: Architect, sales representative, manager, lawyer

Snake (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)
Stellhorn says: “Snakes are the wisest but they often keep their opinions to themselves. Their emotions are under the surface and they guard their privacy. They make good writers, artists and composers. They also are excellent at scientific and medical research.”
Personality traits: Smart, intuitive, decisive, easily bored
Other possible job matches: Sociologist, analyst, investigator, dietician

Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and 2014)
Stellhorn says: “Horses love their freedom. They are social yet competitive (though they are always a good sport if they lose). Horses are usually very talented at something. They do well in careers that deal with cars, roads and bridges. They also make good lawyers. And they often thrive if their career can include sports.”
Personality traits: Energetic, attention-seeking, team-oriented, adventurous, effective communicator
Other possible job matches: Journalist, publicist, bartender, librarian

Ram (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)
Stellhorn says: “Rams are sensitive and diplomatic. They are generally homebodies and like to surround themselves with like-minded people. They make good scientists and programmers. They do well in medical fields. They also often are the actors who really become the character they are playing.”
Personality traits: Team-player, creative, calm, intelligent, sensitive
Other possible job matches: Editor, illustrator, pediatrician

Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)
Stellhorn says: “Monkeys are filled with energy and like to do multiple things at once. They get nervous or bored if things move too slowly. Monkeys are very intelligent and so they have a lot of career choices. They really thrive when they have a mentor, someone they can copy. They’ll do well in high-energy careers as a restaurant manager, building contractor or stock broker. They also do well in public relations and advertising.”
Personality traits: Intellectual, quick-witted, curious, adaptable, playful
Other possible job matches: Film director, trader, engineer, jeweler

Rooster (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Stellhorn says: “Roosters are always busy. They throw great parties and are always available to give their friends a hand. Because they are so in-tune to the energy of the people around them they do best in social careers, like customer service, entertainment and teaching. But they need rewards for their service too, so job titles like doctor or school principal fit well.”
Personality traits: Motivated, honest, confident (sometimes overconfident), hard-working, organized
Other possible job matches: Bookkeeper, dentist, insurance agent

Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Stellhorn says: “Dogs are loyal and hardworking. They are resourceful and very inventive especially when challenged. They are good at careers related to sports, food service and hospitality management. They work well in teams and in project oriented businesses, like software development (especially gaming software).”
Personality traits: Loyal, kind, adaptable, stubborn, strong morals
Other possible job matches: Nurse, police officer, scientist, interior designer

Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
Stellhorn says: “Pigs are caring and take their responsibilities seriously. They love their homes and their families and don’t like to be away from them. For Pigs, home-based businesses can thrive. They have a good eye for design and do well in the advertising, clothing and accessories industries. They also have a talent for cooking so they make good caterers.”
Personality traits: Diligent, sincere, creative, detail-oriented
Possible job matches: Veterinarian, doctor, retail

*Personality trait and additional job match information from ChineseZodiac.com.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/VmOd1M6m0js/

I consider myself a true Midwestern girl, having never lived in another region of the country. So there have been numerous times when I’ve had the itch to shake things up and move somewhere else, even if just for a few years.   

Relocating to another city or state can present some challenges, but it also provides opportunities, especially for job seekers continuing to hit dead ends in their current job market. In fact, a recent CareerBuilder study found that 44 percent of workers would be willing to relocate for a career opportunity. And employers are willing to help, especially those that are struggling to find workers to fill skilled positions. Thirty-two percent of employers surveyed said they would be willing to pay to relocate new employees in 2012.

The top areas for which employers are most likely to pay

For those workers willing to consider making a move, they now have an easier way to find markets with the greatest demand for their skills and assess costs of moving to and living in a particular area. CareerBuilder just launched a new website, CareerRelocate.com, where workers can:

• Run a simple keyword or category search and view a map detailing where the most and fewest opportunities are for their line of work.
• View actual relocation opportunities in different cities.
• Learn what they would need to earn in order to maintain their current standard of living in another city.
• Research homes, property values, mortgage quotes, moving and storage costs.
• Tap into articles and advice on relocating and hiring trends.

Do workers who’ve relocated in the past regret it, or are they glad they made the move?

Now that I’m settled in Chicago, I don’t foresee myself relocating any time soon. But for job seekers who do have that itch, it’s good to know sites like CareerRelocate exist to help take some of the stress out of such a life- and career-changing move. 

Check out the full infographic on relocation.

For more on relocating, including stories from workers who’ve made a move for their career, see: True story: I relocated for a job.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/93ERGJKqvNs/

We’ve got a big weekend coming up. So big that it’s only Tuesday and we’re already going to talk about it.

First up is South Carolina’s presidential primary on Saturday. Will Mitt Romney solidify his position as the Republican Party front-runner? We should have a clear picture of the GOP’s leaderboard by the end of the weekend.

And then there is Sunday. The New York Giants play the San Francisco 49ers. The New England Patriots take on the Baltimore Ravens. Who will win? Who knows, but I’ll speak for everyone here at TheWorkBuzz when I say, whatever happens, I hope it  leads to a Super Bowl win for the Giants. (But really I can only speak for myself on that one. Go G-men!).

Anyway, all this anticipation is almost too much to take. To take our minds off it, let’s check out this list of companies hiring now.

1. American Diabetes Association
Industry: Non-profit
Sample job titles: Manager – Fundraising and special events, director – programs, associate manager – community initiatives

2. American Management Services
Industry: Sales/marketing
Sample job titles: Field sales manager, inside sales, business coordinator

3. AmeriLife
Industry: Insurance
Sample job titles: Mortgage protection specialist (experience not required), sales consultant, sales representative, sales manager trainee, financial services representative, insurance sales representative

4. Apex
Industry: IT
Sample job titles: Java, .net, ERP, EMR, project manager, business analyst, desktop/helpdesk support, epic, systems, network engineer, SQL, QA

5. Greatwide Logistics
Industry: Transportation
Sample job titles: CDL A driver, carrier procurement/carrier management manager, logistics/transportation supervisor, call center reps — fleet logistics/part-time

6. Plymouth Auctioneering
Industry: Sales/fine art/entertainment
Sample job titles: International fine art sales consultant, art auction sales associate

7. Senior Helpers  
Industry: Home health care
Sample job titles: Caregiver / companion, certified nursing assistant, scheduler, registered nurse, personal caregiver

8. State Farm
Industry: Insurance
Sample job titles: Insurance and financial services agent

9. Titlemax       
Industry: Consumer services
Sample job titles: Store manager, district manager, bilingual customer service representative, commercial construction field estimator, customer service representative, general manager trainee, store manager trainee, regional manager

10. Visiting Angels  
Industry: Home health care
Sample job titles: Caregiver / companion, certified nursing assistant, home health aide, scheduler, registered nurse

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/sZLDLctREOA/

I’m a big fan of Ricky Gervais. I like his sarcastic, biting humor, and I thoroughly enjoy watching both the British version of “The Office” and its U.S. spin off. Yet even I found myself turning red, unable to look directly at the TV, as he offended one A-list celebrity after another during last year’s Golden Globe awards.

So I was pretty surprised to learn that, for the third year in a row, he was picked to be the award show’s host. I guess they say the third time’s a charm, right?

What’s interesting is that after receiving mixed reviews for his hosting chops in 2010, he vowed never to do it again. After the controversy surrounding last year’s run, he swore he was done with the show for good. Yet something keeps pulling him back in again and again.

Gervais recently sat down with Matt Lauer of the “Today” show to talk about his decision to step up to the Golden Globes plate once more. In the interview, which was broken up into two segments, he confessed that after people said he’d never be invited back, it became a challenge to him to prove them wrong.

This got us thinking about how his situation could apply to a “real” job. It’s not altogether uncommon for someone to leave a job for a new one, only to find himself eventually back at his old job. Perhaps his new role wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. Or he followed a manager, only to have that person leave shortly after. Maybe it’s because he missed the comfort and security of his old gig.

Whatever the reasons, there’s no doubt that new jobs can be tough, regardless of whether you’re staying in your current field. You don’t know anyone; you have to learn about new clients, processes and responsibilities; and you have to prove yourself all over again. It’s no fun feeling like you don’t know what’s going on, and during particularly trying times, it’s easy to look at the time spent at your old company with rose-colored glasses.

But going back to a past position likely won’t solve your work-related problems and if anything, only provides a short-term solution. Chances are you’ll end up right back where you started — unhappy and wanting to escape.

“I used to work for [a fitness company] and left because I thought I had found a better opportunity,” says Morgan B., a social media specialist. “Soon I felt overwhelmed [at the new job] and began second-guessing myself and wanted to return to what I knew best. But I returned to a whole new [company]; the old one I used to work at had already filled my position, so it wasn’t the same at all. The procedures were kind of the same, but it didn’t make me happy at all.”

So how do you avoid a situation like Morgan’s? Lynne Sarikas, executive director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University in Boston, offers the following key considerations if you’re unhappy at your current job or second-guessing your move to a new one:

• Conduct an honest assessment: You need to honestly assess your personal strengths and weaknesses. Be honest about what skills you possess and what skills are needed in the roles you hope to pursue. Identify opportunities to develop the missing or weaker skills. Be very honest about what you like and dislike about your current employer and your current role. 
• Have a plan: While it can be tempting to quit in a moment of anger or frustration, it is rarely a good decision. Be thoughtful about what you are looking for in a new opportunity and a new company. Define a plan to do research on the industry and key companies. Network to learn more about the companies and the positions that interest you. 
• Avoid “buyer’s remorse”: Carefully consider what is truly bothering you about your current role. Is it the day-to-day work? Your co-workers? Your boss? The company? Its products or ethics? Knowing what the real issue is can help you identify possible solutions. Maybe a move to another group internally would be much more rewarding and would retain your years of service. Don’t rush to abandon ship without analyzing the issue and the possible solutions.
• Remember the grass isn’t always greener: All companies have some issues, and not all managers are perfect. Don’t be so anxious to make a change that you jump from the frying pan into the fire. Do your research and networking to learn as much as you can about the other company to make an informed decision. Don’t leave your current company without assessing the problem.
• Don’t make hasty decisions: Don’t jump to quick judgment. If there are issues with the current job, talk to your current manager to see if any changes are possible. Utilize human resources to share your concerns. Be sure you have a plan for moving forward before making a hasty decision you may regret.

Sarikas also says that bouncing back and forth between jobs may give off a bad impression and put your loyalty into question. “[They may be thinking that] if you were ready to leave once, who says you won’t do it again … You need to consider the potential negative impact on your career in doing this.”

So before jumping ship and running back to your old job, make sure you’ve given your current position a fair chance and you’re leaving — and going back — for the right reasons.

And as for Gervais, he insists this is the last time he’ll host the Golden Globes, at least for a while.

We’ll see you again in 2013, Ricky.

Have you returned to an old job and regretted it? Or did you have a better experience the second-time around? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/HXrUQLTem14/

If you’re like me, there are days when you hit the snooze button on your alarm or phone at least 27 times. Eventually you get up, throw on some clothes without the pretense that it’s actually an outfit and slink into work, as if you’ve been there the last hour.

Sure, we’ve all had rough mornings, and sometimes the weirdest things do happen that prevent us from getting to work on time. I’ve walked all the way to the train station, only to realize I didn’t have my fare card. That was an extra 20 minutes lost. But never have I blamed my tardiness on my cat’s hiccups, but apparently some people have. Poor kitty.

A new CareerBuilder survey revealed that sixteen percent of workers reported arriving late to work at least once a week or more, up slightly from last year. In addition, more workers said they arrived late to work at least once a month, with 27 percent admitting to being tardy.

So what were some of the other crazy excuses that hiring managers shared with us? Read on, faithful The Work Buzz follower:

• Employee thought she had won the lottery (she didn’t).
• Employee got distracted watching the “Today” show.
• Employee’s angry roommate cut the cord to his phone charger, so it didn’t charge and his alarm didn’t go off.
• Employee believed his commute time should count toward his work hours.
• Employee claimed a fox stole her car keys.
• Employee’s leg was trapped between the subway car and the platform (turned out to be true).
• Employee said he wasn’t late, because he had no intention of getting to work before 9:00 a.m. (his start time was 8:00 a.m.)
• Employee was late because of a job interview with another company.
• Employee had to take a personal call from the state governor (turned out to be true).

Traffic, sleep schedules and weather conditions are the top three causes for late arrivals to the office, according to workers:

• Traffic – 31 percent of workers
• Lack of sleep – 18 percent
• Bad weather – 11 percent
• Getting kids to school or daycare – 8 percent

Other frequent reasons that were reported had to do with public transportation delays, pets, spouses, watching TV and Internet usage.

In today’s workplace, most employers are flexible with worker schedules and start times, but it’s still important to remember that excessive tardiness can lead to termination. More than one-third of employers said they fired an employee for continuously showing up to work late.

“Punctuality – or lack thereof — can impact how your commitment, reliability and performance are perceived by your employer,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “One of the best ways to make sure you get to work on time is to get organized and plan ahead. Lay out whatever you’ll need for the workday the night before, plan to be at the office early, account for expected commute delays and eliminate distractions in your morning routine.”

So, tell me: what’s the worst excuse (or weirdest TRUE story) you’ve used when you were late to work?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/fyjiTDaMKA8/

If you’re like me, there are days when you hit the snooze button on your alarm or phone at least 27 times. Eventually you get up, throw on some clothes without the pretense that it’s actually an outfit and slink into work, as if you’ve been there the last hour.

Sure, we’ve all had rough mornings, and sometimes the weirdest things do happen that prevent us from getting to work on time. I’ve walked all the way to the train station, only to realize I didn’t have my fare card. That was an extra 20 minutes lost. But never have I blamed my tardiness on my cat’s hiccups, but apparently some people have. Poor kitty.

A new CareerBuilder survey revealed that sixteen percent of workers reported arriving late to work at least once a week or more, up slightly from last year. In addition, more workers said they arrived late to work at least once a month, with 27 percent admitting to being tardy.

So what were some of the other crazy excuses that hiring managers shared with us? Read on, faithful The Work Buzz follower:

• Employee thought she had won the lottery (she didn’t).
• Employee got distracted watching the “Today” show.
• Employee’s angry roommate cut the cord to his phone charger, so it didn’t charge and his alarm didn’t go off.
• Employee believed his commute time should count toward his work hours.
• Employee claimed a fox stole her car keys.
• Employee’s leg was trapped between the subway car and the platform (turned out to be true).
• Employee said he wasn’t late, because he had no intention of getting to work before 9:00 a.m. (his start time was 8:00 a.m.)
• Employee was late because of a job interview with another company.
• Employee had to take a personal call from the state governor (turned out to be true).

Traffic, sleep schedules and weather conditions are the top three causes for late arrivals to the office, according to workers:

• Traffic – 31 percent of workers
• Lack of sleep – 18 percent
• Bad weather – 11 percent
• Getting kids to school or daycare – 8 percent

Other frequent reasons that were reported had to do with public transportation delays, pets, spouses, watching TV and Internet usage.

In today’s workplace, most employers are flexible with worker schedules and start times, but it’s still important to remember that excessive tardiness can lead to termination. More than one-third of employers said they fired an employee for continuously showing up to work late.

“Punctuality – or lack thereof — can impact how your commitment, reliability and performance are perceived by your employer,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “One of the best ways to make sure you get to work on time is to get organized and plan ahead. Lay out whatever you’ll need for the workday the night before, plan to be at the office early, account for expected commute delays and eliminate distractions in your morning routine.”

So, tell me: what’s the worst excuse (or weirdest TRUE story) you’ve used when you were late to work?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/fyjiTDaMKA8/

Today, New Hampshire will host the nation’s first primary. As New Hampshire voters make their way to the polls, one issue surely to be top of mind when casting their votes is job creation.

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment dropped to 8.5 percent in December, and 200,000 jobs were added. This is good news, but there’s still plenty of work to do, and the Republican candidates have made the economy and job creation focal points of their campaigns.

While we wait to see the outcome of today’s primary, take a look at this week’s round up of companies hiring.

1. American Management Services
Industry: sales/marketing
Sample job titles: field sales manager, inside sales, business coordinator

2. Astellas Pharma US Inc.
Industry: pharmaceutical, health care
Sample job titles: senior medical director, regional sales manager, pharmaceutical sales, associate director, senior scientist

3. BrightStar Care
Industry: health care
Sample job titles: certified nursing assistant, caregiver, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational nurse, director of nursing, sales, branch manager, staffing

4. Charming Shoppes Inc. (Lane Bryant, Lane Bryant Outlets, Fashion Bug, Figis, etc.)
Industry: retail, clothing
Sample job titles: payroll analysts, merchandise planners, replenishment analysts, product developers, director level IT positions

5. Mattress Firm Inc.
Industry: retail
Sample job titles: sales manager in training, sales associate, store manager, assistant store manager, operations manager, warehouse associates

6. Smith Transport
Industry: transportation
Sample job titles: class A CDL truck drivers

7. State Farm
Industry: insurance
Sample job titles: insurance and financial services agent

8. Therapy
Industry: Health care
Sample job titles: physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist assistant, certified occupational therapy assistant

9. Town Sports International (New York Sports Club, Boston Sports Club, Philadelphia Sports Club, Washington Sports Club)
Industry: fitness
Sample job titles: personal trainers, membership sales consultants, fitness managers, general managers, assistant general managers

10. Visium Resources
Industry: IT/engineering
Sample job titles: architectural designer, C++/embedded Linux developer

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/PcKqncLZLn0/

There’s no question that job searching gets harder after the age of 50. Although age discrimination is illegal, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Many employers have pre-conceived notions about older workers. Among the most common: Their salaries are high, their energy is low and they’re not up-to-date on the latest technologies.

“Recruiters and companies are definitely less interested in hiring people – regardless of how strong their career has been — when they reach the age of 50,” says Tucker Mays, co-author of the book “Fired at 50: How to Overcome the Greatest Executive Job Search Challenge.” “Many are considered, by this age, to be inflexible in their management style — that they’re not going to be able to adjust to, say, smaller companies if they’re coming from a larger company. Or if they’ve been with a company for a long period of time and are  now leaving, that they’re just going to be doing things the way that one company had trained them for all those years.”

If you’re over the age of 50, the key to a successful job search is not only to disprove the negative stereotypes that exist, but to show employers the benefits your extra years of experience can bring to the table.

Countering the age bias
There are a number of ways job seekers over 50 can mitigate employers’ subconscious, age-related stereotypes says Bob Sloane, Mays’ “Fired at 50” co-author.

Foremost, he says, it’s essential to make a good first impression. “It’s so important for [job seekers over 50] to keep in shape, both in order to make that really great first impression and to demonstrate that they have the energy which is often unfairly expected that they won’t. They have to exude that energy.”

If you don’t already, Mays and Sloane suggest exercising regularly. “Walking, jogging and weekend athletic activities have been proven to increase metabolism, cognitive ability and physical appearance,” they write in “Fired at 50.”

Also important is emphasizing a flexible management style, technological proficiency, ability to learn new skills and the willingness to work for a younger boss. “Very often today it’s going to be likely that somebody over 50 will be interviewing with a prospective boss who is considerably younger,” Sloane notes.

Before going into an interview, come up with concrete examples of how you’ve mastered new technologies, how you’ve worked with and for younger generations, and how your management style has developed through the years.

Proving your worth
After decades in the workforce, older workers possess life skills, talent and abilities that younger workers don’t have. Emphasizing these strengths can set experienced job seekers apart.

“We cite four great strengths that you develop over time that give 50+ job seekers a superior advantage over younger individuals,” Mays says. “They are problem solving skills, people management ability, good judgment and leadership. Experienced workers are usually able to solve problems faster by identifying them quicker and finding the right ways to solve them, for example. They can use their success stories in these four key areas to help prove their age is an asset.”

Conducting a successful job search
Many 50+ job seekers are finding themselves in a job search for the first time in years – even decades. If you fall into this category, and are unsure how to go about your job search, consider the following.

Expand your network
Job seekers over 50 often have well-developed professional networks. Leveraged correctly, your network can drastically reduce the time you spend looking for a job.

Sloane and Mays believe that your network is best used not to find connections to jobs, but to find connections to other people.

“[Finding a job] is really a matter of time management and how job seekers spend their time, and our advice is to spend the most time on productive job search methods while de-emphasizing less-productive channels,” Sloane says. “What that really means is they need to spend 80 percent of their time networking to individuals they did not already know, prior to their search. It is all a matter of getting referrals — you want to get through the people you already know to get their help to meet people you’ve never met before.”

Sloane suggests building up your networking efforts until you’re meeting or connecting with 100 new contacts per month, and to continue at that level until they find a job. “I know that sounds like a very lofty level, but with the use of some social networking tools, like LinkedIn in particular, it is easier nowadays to accelerate your networking because you can get to new people on a broader basis faster,” he says.  

Focus on small companies
The best place to look for jobs if you’re over 50? Small companies, Mays says.

“The reasons [to focus on smaller companies] are first,  that there are 20 times as many small companies – those with sales of under $100 million — in America as there are above $100 million, which means there are many more opportunities in that space. Secondly, those companies seem to be far less concerned about age, and in many cases they really prefer and like individuals with great experience who can help them with their business.”

Hang in there
In today’s economy, the job search is taking longer for people of all ages, so it’s important not to give up hope. As Sloane and Mays point out in their book, “There are over 13,000,000 companies in America. You only need one, and one always needs you.” Hang in there.

 For more on job search after 50, see:

Proving your age is an asset in your job search

“Overqualified”: Should you leave things off your résumé to avoid the label?

6 career moves for older workers

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/JAxHkVGtWxM/

Finally, some great news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly employment report. Not only did unemployment drop to 8.5 percent last month – the lowest it’s been since February 2009 – but the economy added about 200,000 jobs in December, close to the monthly growth rate economists say is needed to begin bringing employment back to pre-recession levels.

And the good news doesn’t stop there. Here, five more bright spots from the employment report which give us reason to believe the economy is getting back on track.

1. The number of people employed part-time for economic reasons (or the underemployed) dropped by 371,000 in December.

2. December is the sixth straight month that the economy added at least 100,000 jobs.

3. The number of discouraged workers – unemployed people not currently looking for work because they believe there are no jobs available – fell 373,000 year-over-year (December 2010 – December 2011).

4. While seasonal hiring played a part in the large number of jobs added in December, employment in industries not affected by seasonal hiring (like health care, mining and manufacturing) also rose in December.

5. Over the past 12 months, workers’ average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent.

For more insight on the monthly jobs report, check out analysis from:

The Washington Post

The Wall Street Journal

The New York Times

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/theworkbuzz/posts/~3/Ou3DwMQ1X7U/

If you’re on a quest to find a new job this year, you might want to start by searching for a temporary position.

While less than a quarter of employers reported plans to hire full-time employees in 2012, 36 percent said they planned to hire contract and temporary workers this year, a new survey from CareerBuilder and the American Staffing Association reports.  

Looking for a permanent home? Getting a foot in the door could turn into a full-time role. Of the employers who plan to hire temporary workers in 2012, 35 percent say they eventually plan to make the roles permanent.

“Temporary jobs from staffing and recruiting firms are playing an increasingly important role in the economic recovery,” says Eric Gilpin, president of CareerBuilder’s Staffing & Recruiting Group. “Our studies have pointed to a rise in these positions post-recession as companies address growing market needs. Employers are relying on temporary and contract workers to support leaner staffs, and in many cases, will transition those workers to permanent roles.”

The benefits of taking on a temp job extend beyond the possibility of transitioning into full-time employment, too. If you’re unemployed, a temp job could help you close the gap on your résumé, afford you the chance to learn new skills and provide opportunities to network with people in your industry.

“Candidates [who accept temporary jobs] will find good pay, flexibility, opportunities to change careers, valuable skills training and a bridge to permanent employment,” says Richard Wahlquist, president and CEO of the American Staffing Association.

Opportunities for contract and temporary jobs can be found in any industry. According to data from CareerBuilder’s Supply & Demand Portal, the following staffing and recruiting positions are in-demand.

Health care
1. Occupational or physical therapist
2. Speech language pathologist

 Industrial
1. Maintenance technician or mechanic
2. CNC (computer numerical control) machinist

Information technology
1. Java or .Net developer
2. Network engineer

Office-clerical
1. Administrative assistant
2. Customer service representative

Professional-managerial
1. Business analyst
2. Marketing assistant

Check out the following articles for tips and advice on turning a temp job into full-time employment:

 Turn a temp gig into a full-time job

Looking for a permanent job? Consider starting with seasonal work

True stories: “I went from temporary worker to full-time hire”

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