Archive for the ‘jobs’ Category

« Older Entries

Going Green: The New Industrial Revolution

Friday, June 25th, 2010

[Credit]

Last week we posted about green jobs and the general excitement and interest this sector is experiencing and we thought we’d follow up with some further discussion about the state of green.

Overall the unemployment rate is continuing to creep downward and currently standing at around 9.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.  Oddly enough, manufacturing is seeing a surge in its numbers, although the industry-wide rate of unemployment is about 10.3%, compared to that of the Info/Tech Industry which is around 9.8%, about the same as the overall national average.  BLS is planning to release unemployment numbers on the green industry in September of this year to help solidify our look at the state of things.

In the meantime it looks like, while there may be an increase in green job training, the opportunities do not extend equally across the industry.  According to a recent article in the Dallas Morning News, the wind power industry is experiencing a nationwide slowdown due to the escalating cost of wind farm construction and components.  The reasons are various but in Texas it appears to be heavily linked with the recent performance of natural gas on the market, which has seen consistently low prices.  However, over in West Virginia it may be a different story:  a recent report suggests that West Virginia’s coal mining industry, which accounts 9% of the state’s workforce may actually be costing the state money.  Some groups have campaigned for constructing wind farms on the tops of W. VA.’s mountains instead of the environmentally harsh mountaintop removal.

[Credit]

Solar power, though struggling in the United States, is seeing an increased interest as well.  In Europe, already well ahead of the U.S. in terms of solar energy production, a massive solar farm project was recently announced (read about it here, and here) that would entail the construction of vast numbers of panels and piping the produced electricity north.  Solar panels have come a long way since their first boom in the 70’s and 80’s, they’re much more efficient and more readily available now, making it easier for small businesses and households to obtain at least some of their energy needs from the sun.

Given the recent Gulf tragedy and the increased scrutiny of the oil industry perhaps we are beginning to see the shift in thinking that United States so desperately needs in order to address its present and future energy needs.  What are your thoughts on the green energy industry and its prospects here in the U.S.?

If you know an environmentally conscious company that’s hiring, use our client registration link to let us know!

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Green Jobs | No Comments »

Pursuing The Career Of Your Dreams

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

(Source)

As children we all probably had dreams of growing up to become doctors, or lawyers, or astronauts but as we grow older and begin to learn a bit about ourselves and the world, our careers dreams can and often change.  Sometimes that’s good, because we come to realize that some of  the hopes and dreams of our childhood were just fanciful dreamings, and that growing older has given us the time and wisdom to discover new, more fitting dreams for ourselves.  But it must be said that sometimes we hold on to those childhood dreams throughout life only to find that somehow they keep eluding us.  Some people give up and settle for less.

But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way.  No one should really have to settle for less in life, and the same applies to work.  Many people, if asked, would probably say that they really don’t enjoy their jobs and often wish they could do something else.  There is nothing more satisfying that working in a field you truly enjoy, but many people either despair of ever getting a chance to do such a thing, or they just don’t take the time to truly learn about themselves and what they really want out of life and work.

[Source]

Our education system, whatever its present flaws, does a pretty good job of preparing us, perhaps, for college or a trade.  We fill our minds with facts and figures and processes so we can pass the tests and get the grades, but it seems all too rare that someone sets us down and tells us that life is more than just getting a huge paycheck, or heaps of accolades and status.  All too rare it is that someone—a teacher, a parent, a mentor—cautions us to look into our hearts to find that which truly excites us.  Many of us do not even see a career assesment until college, nor do we seriously consider what work we could approach with passion and sustaining interest.

Of course it not one of life’s requirements, or even possibilities that each of us can figure these things out early.  Many people, well into adulthood continue to struggle with the question of what to do with their lives.  These people are not failures, anymore than someone who perhaps chose the wrong career.  It is a cliche perhaps, but life is a journey, not a destination, and it’s meant to be enjoyed along the way.  Some argue that as humans, we need work to help give life meaning, and if so, we owe it to ourselves to choose that work wisely.

There are many options for exploring one’s internal landscape, for identifying our true needs and wants, and learning what, in the end, we truly want out of life.  There are professional career coaches, such as CareerOyster, but there are also tons of free online career assessment tests to be found.  If you’ve never taken one, or if you’re just curious and have been thinking about finally finding your dream job, we’ve provided a few links for you below.

Good luck!

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , ,
Posted in jobs | No Comments »

Long-Term Unemployment: You Are Not Alone

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Last week we wrote about the apparent trend of avoiding hiring unemployed applicants, which has been trickling through the blogosphere and sparking quite a discussion.  According to this article on a blog at bnet.com, however, the original source of the ad has removed the requirement.  The article goes on to make several good points, both for the reasoning behind why companies might make such a move, and for not overreacting to such a seemingly extreme measure.

[Source]

The economy is no doubt improving—although slowly—but unemployment numbers are still high and those in the ranks of the out of work are likely to have been in a state of unemployment for a longer than usual period of time.  On June 2, the Wall Street Journal published an article on chronic joblessness and the effects it can have on the workforce, and the individual.  Along with the psychological implications of increased anxiety, loss of self esteem and depression, long term unemployment can be damaging to one’s potential for finding work.  Everyone who has ever changed jobs or been laid off knows that gaps in employment history can raise eyebrows, but today’s job market is seeing more people with this problem than in times past.  According to the WSJ article, unemployment rates, and duration have not been this bad since the 1980’s.

The news is not all bad of course, and it’s important to stay positive.  There are things you can do to minimize the damage that an extended period of joblessness can exact.  Writer, and journalist Anita Bruzzese wrote a great blog post on what one can learn in an economic climate like today’s.  Networking remains as one of the best ways to maintain working relationships and get back into the game when between jobs.  The days of pouring over the want ads section when looking for new employment opportunities seems to be behind us, although it is still a viable tool in the belt of the job seeker.

Both Bruzzese’s and the bnet.com article also mention that it’s important to stay busy during longer bouts of unemployment,  whether that means doing some volunteer work, or staying up to date on your skill set by taking classes or attending seminars.  Many people, of course take on part time work not only in order to help pay the bills, but to simply stay active in the work force.

Though we are seeing signs of improvement in the economy and the job market, we also know that it will simply take some time to iron out these wrinkles.  What are some of your strategies for dealing with the longer periods of unemployment that we’re seeing today?  Have you been negatively affected by being out of work for an extended period, and how have you dealt with the setback?

[Hire Me image via Ms. Career Girl]

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in jobs | No Comments »

Don’t Even THINK About Applying to This Job

Friday, June 4th, 2010

It’s bad enough to find oneself unemployed in good times—and everyone knows these are not such good times—and even worse to be out of work in an economy that’s taken a nose dive.  We came across an article so outrageous we simply had to put up a post about it.  Can you imagine an employment ad claiming unemployed applicants will not be considered?

[Source]

This article posted on Tuesday, June 1st details the shock of an Atlanta resident upon finding a hiring ad posted by Sony Ericsson for a position at their new headquarters which is moving to an area just outside of Atlanta.  The shock came from the rather bold—and capitalized—statement in the ad that the company would not consider any applicants who were not already employed.

According to Labor Buzz, Jill Spoffard, a recruitment manager for Pitney Bowes, hiring managers may see the presently unemployed applicant as having some inherent flaw, and wonder why, exactly, that they’re unemployed.  Gaps in employment history and long stints of unemployment have always been a thorn in the side of any job seeker, but considering the current economic climate, can this type of hard-nosed stance be justified?

Job applicants who have never been laid off and/or still have a job while looking elsewhere are often viewed as superior to someone with large gaps in work history, but considering the present economic downturn, how many currently unemployed applicants are unemployed due to circumstances beyond their control?  To automatically rule these workers out when considering new positions seems a bit short sighted when this is considered.

[Source]

This whole talk about unemployed people need not apply flies in the face of the HIRE Act, a new benefit to employers that gives a tax incentive for hiring those that were unemployed.  An avoidance of long-term, or chronically unemployed job applicants could possibly be justified in a less hostile job market, but one has to wonder if these companies are not, in the end, hurting themselves in the current economic climate.

What are your thoughts on this potentially frightening trend?  Are companies which take this attitude ultimately hurting the economy by keeping employment rates high?

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , ,
Posted in jobs | 1 Comment »

5 Bad Work Excuses

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Yeah, everyone’s done it:  called in to work on some day when you weren’t really sick.  For whatever reason, you just didn’t feel like going to work that day.  Maybe your kid had a soccer tournament, or your wife was near-death’s-door-sick, or maybe you just couldn’t put off getting those extra five levels in World of Warcraft.  We have all had days that we just couldn’t bear to face going into the office and we found some, more or less, creative way to explain our way out of it.  Work excuses are a dime a dozen, and managers have no doubt heard them all so this is by no means a comprehensive list, this small collection might be enough to whet the appetite of any potential taker of random sick days, provide some future inspiration, or perhaps key you in on what not to say when you call your boss.

[Source]

The Vague Family Emergency

We’ve all probably used this one at one time or another.  Your Uncle Pete has just been rushed to the hospital and you’re the only one who can be there for him, or your mother fell, breaking her hip…again.  Questionable family emergencies are an all time favorite excuse for missing work because they ring with just enough potential truth that coworkers and bosses are hesitant to question it, at least for very long.

If you’re fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough, depending on your world view) to have children then you’re practically assured a lifetime of potential family disasters any of which could get you at least one get-out-of-jail-free card.  Everyone knows kids are always getting sick, falling and breaking something, or inadvertently puncturing their bodies with foreign objects so wary bosses can’t be too incredulous and even better if they have kids themselves.

The House Catastrophe

Another commonly used excuse.  Some terrible event has caused some damage  or a major malfunction for your home and your presence is required to right the wrong.  Solid explanations here are flooding or fire damage, it’s hard to argue with water or flame.  Anything involving electricity is also relatively dependable because everyone knows that electricians simply cannot be aloud access to your home and all your possessions without proper supervision, and that means someone has to be there to keep an eye on them, all day.  Who can argue with logic this solid?

The Pet Death

Well, Fluffy unfortunately met his/her end unexpectedly and you have to take care of things, not to mention it left a little furry hole in you heart.  Pets have an uncanny knack for worming their way into our hearts and our families, no joke.  Most of us have experienced the loss of a four-legged friend and we all know it can be every bit as traumatic as losing a human loved one.  Bosses and managers who also happen to be human will no doubt understand tragic losses like this, but many may be cold, heartless automatons with the emotional capacity of gravel dust.  It’s a 50-50 shot here really.  If you truly have just lost a furry loved one then it might be wise to provide some photographic evidence even though this seems harsh and insensitive.  What we must realize is that not everyone values animal companionship on the same level.

[Source]

Disgusting Ailments No One Wants to Hear About

Probably one of the most common work excuses in the history of human work experience.  The sickness no one really wants details on:  it usually involves the forced exit of formerly digested material from the body in one or two most unpleasant ways.  Depression and mental torment have been described as the worst possible form of human suffering by Dr. David Burns, author of the popular book, Feeling Good:  The New Mood Therapy, but from the very short term outlook of several hours of a few days of your life, nothing really tops intestinal trouble for some of the more horrific experiences of life as we know it.  It’s often enough to claim stomach problems when using this excuse to get out of work, but sometimes you might feel the need to provide some detail in what exactly your issue is.  Don’t go overboard is the rule of thumb here.  And honestly, you probably won’t have to if you start explaining, in detail, what exactly you’re dealing with for the day.  Let imagination do most of it’s work for you in this case and you’ll be better off.

Doubtful Car Trouble

Here in America, if you don’t live in a major city you probably have a car which you use to get, well, anywhere, including work.  And cars, being the complex machines that they are, have a tendency to malfunction from time to time and this can affect our lives in unexpected ways.  If not used too often, meaning maybe once or twice, car trouble can serve as a viable excuse for missing work.  If you can’t get there, or you have to spend your afternoon sitting in the mechanic’s waiting room, how can you be expected to go to work?  In terms of stress inducement, car trouble ranks only slightly lower than moving on the scale of hair pulling, blood pressure increasing human travails so it’s no wonder this modern day malady is so often resorted to in times of dire work-dodging need.

Go ahead and share some of your great excuses for missing work, or, if you’re a manager-type feel free to tell us about the best or most unusual work excuses you’ve encountered.

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , ,
Posted in jobs | 1 Comment »

How to Win at Your Business Through Summer Interns

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Summer is just around the corner, which means it is time to evaluate and hire summer interns for your business. In a down economy, interns can make a whole lot of sense – you can evaluate and groom interns to be permanent full-time employees with little risk (read: low wages or even free, school credit based internships) to your company.

Here are our top tips for hiring and managing summer interns:

1 – Choose wisely. Sure, a summer intern might not cost you much, but at the same time, they could end up costing you a lot. Check out the social media presence of interns to be – you don’t want someone badmouthing your company.

2 – Pay them. Many will argue that there is no such thing as free. If an intern gets paid, chances are they will take the opportunity more seriously. I would argue that “free” interns that are either simply getting work experience or college credit will not put their heart into the position.

3 – Look at the big picture. Summer intern help offers much more than cheap part time summer help. You should consider that you could be earning an employee for years to come.

4 – Be selective. We’ve heard the job fair stories out there – some locations have up to an 8 hour wait just to get in the door. This means that you have the ability to be very selective on who you believe is the best fit for your company.

5 – See what your University Alumni services has to offer. You may not have thought about your alma mater in a long time, but this may be the perfect time to reconnect. Contact your University’s career services department to see their internship programs. Get approved for college credit internships. Participate in their job fairs. The University scene is still a powerful network of opportunities – plus it gives you the chance to pay it forward to those that once helped you.

6 – Own up if things aren’t working out. Not everyone will be a perfect fit. The key is to make sure you are documenting the whole way through and communicating with the University/agency from which you got the intern in the first place.

Here is a great post about summer internships from an intern’s point of view.

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , ,
Posted in jobs | 3 Comments »

4 Tips for the Unemployed

Monday, May 10th, 2010

According to a report issued by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics on May 7, the unemployment rate increased a bit to 9.9% from 9.7% where it had hovered for the first part of 2010.  Oddly, the report also stated that some industries were adding jobs such as government, manufacturing,  leisure and hospitality.  Regardless of the difficulty in making sense of some of the numbers that constantly fly at us concerning the job market, it’s important to try to stay positive if you find yourself among the unemployed.

[Source]

Stay Social

This post over on tinybuddha.com offers several great tips for the unemployed.  As we’ve written about before here on ChumBonus, it’s important to maintain a positive outlook, and one of the best ways to do that is not to isolate yourself.  Maintain your connections with friends and family during this troubling time and you may find some much needed support and encouragement.

Stay Physical

Enduring unemployment can be difficult and trying, but your physical health is as important as your mental state during this down time.  If you’ve kept up a regular workout routine now is not the time to lapse into inactivity.  And if you look on the bright side, now you have even more time so you can devote some additional time and effort into maintaining a healthy you.  Research has repeatedly shown that physical exercise has a marked influence on our mental health so keeping to an already established workout routine can help you fend off the blues that inevitably accompany losing one’s job.  And if you’ve found yourself slipping in the physical activity department now is a great time to get back on track.

[Source]

Watch Your Finances

It goes without saying that belts will have to be tightened during any stretch of unemployment, but we found a great guide from msn.com on financial survival for the unemployed.  Many of the tips are common sense, but some are things you may not have thought of.  Setting up a garage sale, for instance, or finding items to sell on eBay might be a way to raise some much needed cash in an emergency.  Prioritizing your bills and contacting creditors for leniency is an option many people forget about or don’t realize they have when times are tough.

Mind Your Rituals

Maintaining some order and sense of regularity can also be helpful when you find yourself jobless and searching for employment.  Rituals often bring us comfort because they can inject a much needed element of solidity and dependability into a world that is constantly changing and full of uncertainty.  It could be something as simple as going out to fetch the morning paper and sitting down to read it with your first cup of coffee in the morning, or as elaborate as an hour dedicated to exercise and meditation first thing in the morning.  During unemployment, many people swear by the regular act of getting up and dressing as if they were going to work.  The regular actions of showering and getting dressed to meet the day head on help keep them centered and feeling professional even in the face of unemployment.

If you or someone you know is unemployed, help them out by pointing them to a job here on ChumBonus using our search function.  You just might make somebody’s day by helping them find their next dream job!

Do you have any tips for enduring a bout of unemployment, leave them in the comments section!

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: ,
Posted in jobs | 1 Comment »

Are You a Candidate for Telecommuting?

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Imagine waking up in the morning and not having to rush out the door with your clothes half on, your hair still flattened against your head from sleep, getting in your car and fighting traffic all so you can make it to the office on time.  Imagine instead that you could shuffle into the kitchen for coffee then head down the hall to a back bedroom, or some free space in the basement, or just a little corner of the living room to get to your office.  This scenario sounds pretty good to a lot of people and the concept of telecommuting is gaining popularity in the work world.

[Source]

Proponents of telecommuting cite potentially huge savings for the company, the individual, and even the nation at large should telecommuting continue to gain acceptance.  According to this article on WebWorkerDaily, author Kate Lister claims billions of dollars could be saved if more of the workforce that is eligible for telecommuting took up the practice.  The massive savings would come from decreased operating costs for companies (less office space to maintain), lower fuel costs for workers who are driving less which also translates into fewer cars on the road and that itself could result in a lessening of oil consumption, few sick days, and lower overhead.  Both employer and employee win.

Of course, not all jobs lend themselves to telecommuting.  Most factory work is out because, well, someone has to be there to run the machines since they can’t quite run themselves.  Yet.  Face to face customer service would present a problem as well.  And there are many other industries that are just not suited to telecommuting.

But, if your job involves a lot of computer work, or you find yourself making phone calls and dashing off emails then you might be a candidate to shake off the old office blues.  An article written for careerbuilder.com offers some great pointers in evaluating whether you might be a telecommuting candidate.  One of the more important requirements being that you are a self-motivated individual who is disciplined and can work with little supervision.  These types of individuals tend to make better telecommuters than those that perform better in a more controlled office environment.  Also some people require the camaraderie and human contact the traditional office setting provides.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

[Source]

This article written by Sylvia Marino for the New York Times details her ten year stint as a telecommuter and dispels a few of the myths surrounding it.  For instance, many people (read: bosses) think that if you work at home you must spend the day napping and surfing the internet.  Not so, says Marino.  That’s where the self-discipline and ability to motivate yourself come into play.  Marino also says that it’s very helpful to be able to draw a line between work and, well, not work, which can be difficult when home is the office.

Telecommuting is changing the way companies operate on a daily basis, revolutionizing the way we think about work, and life.  We like to think ChumBonus is revolutionizing the job search.  In this economy many of us know someone in need of a job, and with a few clicks of the mouse you can recommend your unemployed comrade for a position.  If they’re hired, they get a job, and you get a bonus.  Everyone wins!

If you’re interested in exploring a telecommuting option for yourself, check out the articles linked above and another article recently published on WebWorkerDaily which does an excellent job of laying the basic plan for evaluating your telecommuter suitability.

If you’ve recently made the switch to telecommuting, we’d love to hear about your experiences.  Let us know in the comments.

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: ,
Posted in jobs | No Comments »

Featured Employer: Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Company

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

NOW HIRING:

Property, Casualty, and Life Insurance Agents


Refer a friend and earn an $800 referral bonus

Great Company to work for!

Now Hiring in These Locations:

Alachua / Levy County

Bunnell, FL

Crestview, FL

Deland, FL

Ft. Myers, FL

Lake County

Lakeland, FL

Monticello, FL

St. Lucie County

Tampa, FL

Florida Farm Bureau has an independent contractor opportunity available for a qualified licensed or licensee candidates throughout the state of Florida. The Agent would exclusively market our Life and Property/Casualty products to the Farm Bureau Membership.

The Florida Farm Bureau Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Group. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company began over 50 years ago with a group of Farm Bureau leaders, who shared a vision for better member service and lower insurance rates. Today, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty is a $2 billion company and is in the top of its class with an A.M. Best “A+” Superior rating. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty has become a leader in the insurance industry through innovative services and competitive products for its policy holders and an extensive training program for its claims adjusters, underwriters, and independent agents.

The Florida Farm Bureau Group consists of two domestic property and casualty insurance companies, Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company and Florida Farm Bureau General Insurance Company. The group specializes in writing automobile, homeowners, dwelling fire, farm and business owner’s lines of insurance for members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. The Florida Farm Bureau Group maintains an A.M. Best “A” Excellent rating, the last remaining A-rated Florida domestic company.

Business is marketed and serviced by a network of exclusive agents located in each county of Florida.

Compensation:

Renewal base plus commission. Extensive training in all product lines will be provided.

Required Skills:

Fully licensed Agent, preferably with both a 220 and 215 license.

Desired Skills:

We are looking for a candidate with entrepreneurial spirit, driven by achievement and financial rewards. They should have the ability to adapt to flexible work schedule and focus on sales and customer service.

EOE

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in jobs | No Comments »

Why Companies Should Take Care of Their Employees

Monday, May 3rd, 2010


Referring back to last week’s post about why not to be a job hopper, we look at Jason Calacanis’ point of view regarding job loyalty.  He enumerates some employees that have been with him for years and explains that he would go to great lengths to support them in any way: meeting them whenever/wherever, joining their board, putting them in management/partner positions at new ventures, and the like.

It is good to see Jason supporting those that are loyal, but it fails to address another important factor. How did everyone get the job hopping mentality in the first place? Before we put on a blanket argument of an entitlement generation, I would argue that often it is the fault of the employer.

What’s in it for the Business, Anyway?

Employee loyalty for a business goes beyond giving its workers a paycheck.  In this ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ economy, employers can’t afford to lose top talent all the time.  Retention rate is extremely important.

So, how do you get employees to stay? Just offer them more money, right? Not really.  Money isn’t the sole motivator in your workforce.  Rather, people enjoy other benefits such as flex-time, telecommuting and other office perks.
Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big by Bo Burlingham of Inc. Magazine makes some outstanding arguments to companies that actually choose to walk the talk.  Some of the companies he details go beyond what you may have thought possible in today’s economic climate.  Some companies choose to be great instead of trying to grow as fast as possible.  This is not to say that companies choosing to be great aren’t interested in money and profits – they are still highly financially successful in their own right – it is just that they see profits as a means to an end.  This end usually results in superior customer service all the way around: both internal (employees that feel cared for by the companies) external (suppliers, clients, the community around them).  It isn’t easy to run a company with such mojo: in fact it becomes difficult over time to sustain the mojo for different reasons: the company might need to adapt quickly to new competitors, shifts in technology, acquisitions,  or even succession of the original founders.

Whatever their story, the small giants have found the magic it takes to get there and have left a profound impact on the world around them.  I for one value the quality of my work/life as I do not want to “switch off” simply to work.  I’ve seen too many people that are seriously unhappy in their jobs, chugging along for a paycheck.  I’m not suggesting that you don’t need to work, but there is simply so much more out there.  Once you have that rhythm, you’ll see the benefits of finding a company with mojo and sticking with them for the long haul.

…and this is what we seek to hold as a quality for Chumbonus.  You are never alone out there when you have a tight network of friends and colleagues – looking out for each other and referring each other for jobs – make your own mojo!

Buzz This     Tweet This Tweet this

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in jobs | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries