Career Desire: Career Change

Showing posts with label Career Change. Show all posts

Sunday, December 19, 2010

30+ Websites to Visit When You’re Laid Off

The worst time to panic is when you are laid off and lose your main source of income. We live in a new and powerful era of communication, one where we can find support, gather news, and network without ever leaving our computers. The following collection of websites has been put together as a comprehensive resource for anybody who has lost their job and is looking to get back on their feet again. Our hope is that this post will be a hub for finding support and financial resources.

Have an important site to add? Please help us out by adding it in the comments.

Step 1: Find Support and Recover

1. eHow: eHow has a massive collection of articles that can help you learn everything from how to support a laid off spouse to how to claim unemployment benefits. It’s tough to find the quality articles, so here is a good starter pack:

2. About.com: Job Searching: About has a similar set of articles, but focuses more on tasks such as acquiring unemployment benefits and how to file for them.

3. LaidOffCamp: LaidOffCamp is a movement to bring anyone who has lost their job or is self-employed together to discuss topics that are important to the laid off – living on tight budgets, becoming a freelancer, and more. The first LaidOffCamp is in San Francisco on March 3rd.

4. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration: The DOL’s first resource for those laid off, it outlines ways to get benefits, provides fact sheets, and gives you contact information for your state. It’s a good resource.

5. I’m in like with you: Seriously, relieve the stress by playing games for a few hours and indulging in the fun.

6 & 7. PlentyofFish and Okcupid: You need to get your mind off of losing your job and get out of the house and meet people. If you’re single, there is no better way than dating. PlentyofFish and Okcupid are both free dating services, making it cheap to find a date. Just make sure to pick an affordable date; I suggest a trip to the zoo.

8. Diddit: Now is the best time to pick up a hobby you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for. diddit is a relatively new social network for finding people who are doing the things you want to do. Use it to learn more or just find partners to go skydiving with.

Step 2: Manage Your Money and Stay Afloat

9. Careeronestop Unemployment Benefits Map: This map will link you to unemployment benefit information for your state.

10. Department of Labor Health and Retirement Benefits Toolkit: Another U.S. government website, this is the DoL’s job loss toolkit. It has fact sheets and publications on COBRA, pensions, and more.

11. Mint: Mint is a free budget management and finance tracking service. After connecting it with your online bank accounts and credit cards, you can see all of your financial activity and set budgets based on categories of spending. When you lose your income source, you need to be sure you are keeping on budget. Mint will even send an SMS if you go over your budget or have unusual charges.

12. Wesabe: Wesabe is similar to Mint in that it can track your finances by linking to your online finance accounts, but it also leverages its community to make recommendations and tips that can help save you money. Users can also share advice with the rest of the community by commenting on items.

13. Employment at SmartMoney.com: SmartMoney is a great resource for investing and managing your money. The Employment section specifically has videos, columns, and articles on starting your own business or surviving a layoff. It’s from the Wall Street Journal – it’s quality information.

14. Slickdeals: The popular deals website allows you to find discounts and freebies on a random assortment of items. When you’re in a crunch, every penny matters.

Step 3: Earn Short-term Cash

15. Craigslist: Even if you’re receiving unemployment checks and have a few months of savings to rely on, earning a couple of extra dollars can mean the difference between making rent and being in hot water. The #1 place to look is the world’s largest classified section, Craigslist.

16. Workstir: A newer website, Workstir allows you to find contract jobs near you. Everything from painting to web design can be requested, searched for, and accepted as work. Its Facebook Connect integration helps you search for gigs geographically.

17. HotGigs: HotGigs is a hub for freelance consultants and staffing firms. You can join, connect with contract firms, and even see information on average market rates for consultants in your industry.

18. Freelance Writing Jobs: Blog and write for some extra cash and get some added exposure as a bonus.

Step 4: Network, Network, Network!

19. LinkedIn: Start at the world’s largest professional network and start contacting everyone who might owe you a favor, be in debt to you, or fear your wrath. It’s time to let the world know that you’re looking.

20. Plaxo: One thing Plaxo does very well is contact management – it’s quick and simple to organize all of your business cards and contacts. Take the time to type them in and categorize them. Then email every contact you’ve got.

21. GarysGuide: Although most of us techies do our work from a computer, networking doesn’t always work that way. GarysGuide lists out tech events and gatherings in metropolitan areas. Start a system of attending at least two of these a week and shake hands with as many people as possible. You’re not going to find your next opportunity sleeping in late.

22. AllConferences: The same deal as GarysGuide; find conferences in your industry and attend them. If you’re low on cash to attend them, talk to the organizers and tell them about your situation, get yourself in as a speaker, or strike a deal to blog about the event with a news blog – you’d be surprised how easy it can be to get free conference passes if you put in some effort.

23. MeetUp: Even more networking homework for you, MeetUp is extraordinarily comprehensive in its listing of events and includes events for non-metropolitan areas.

24. Twitter: Oh yes, our favorite social media darling can also become your favorite networking darling in dire times. Primarily using Twitter, Bostoners were able to quickly organize a pink slip party. Use it to tell your followers you’re looking for a new opportunity, ask them to retweet, and then search twitter for relevant job keywords.

Step 5: Time to Hunt For a Job

25. Mashable’s Career Toolbox: One of my absolute favorite posts on Mashable is the Career Toolbox, a comprehensive listing and description of websites that can help you find a job and then land it. Start here when you’re looking for a job.

26 & 27. LinkUp and SimplyHired: Unlike most job sites, LinkUp and SimplyHired are aggregate search engines that search company and job websites for job postings and openings. This will give you an idea of openings in your industry and the general feel of what companies are looking for.

28, 29, & 30.USAJOBS, DirectGov (UK), and Australian JobSearch: There are a lot of government websites that can help you directly search for a job, I’ve only listed three of the best examples here. With multi-billion dollar stimulus packages flying everywhere, there’s bound to be some government jobs.

31. Mashable’s Job Board: No list would be complete without the Mashable Job Board. If you’re an avid reader of our blog, you’re probably going to find a job that suits you here. You can tell them that I sent you. If only that would actually help you land a job…

Don’t Lose Hope

When you are directly affected by the economic crisis, the most important thing to remember is don’t lose hope! There are jobs out there for hard-working, talented, clever individuals, but you’re going to have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and talk to every person you possibly can. I hope this post helps you or someone close to you get through this crisis. We’re all in this together.

If you have some other websites you think will help those who are laid off, make sure to leave them in the comments.

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By Ben Parr for Mashable

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Moonlighting in America: Strategies for Managing Working Multiple Jobs

Are you one of us? Are you thinking of joining us? By us, I am referring to the one in 17 Americans who are working more than one job. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 7 to 8 million of us about 5+ percent of all workers work multiple jobs (which is often referred to as moonlighting and dual or multiple jobholding). Interestingly, after years of decline, the number of workers holding multiple jobs again appears on the rise. And as we listen to various workplace futurists, there is a sense that we will become more increasingly a workforce of independent contractors working for multiple employers.

Who are we? Why do we do it? What are some strategies for finding and surviving a second job or a third? You'll find the answers to these questions i n this article on moonlighting in America.

Moonlighting Statistics

People working multiple jobs come from just about every demographic group across all ages, races, genders, marital statuses, geographic locations, and education levels from the very young to the highly educated. More men moonlight, though the number of women doing so has risen dramatically over the last decade. The majority of moonlighters are married, most in their late 30s or early 40s… and the vast majority (at least of reported moonlighters) are white. And interestingly, the highest percentage of people working multiple jobs are located in Midwestern states, such as Nebraska and North Dakota, while some of the lowest are in the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama.

Here are some statistics:

Demographic Characteristic

Percent of all Multiple Job-Holders
Age 16-24

14.6
Age 25-34

23.5
Age 35-44

29.8
Age 45-54

22.7
Age 55+

9.5

Men

53.9
Women

46.1

White (Caucasian)

86.5
Black

10.0
Hispanic

6.4

Single

27.2
Married

55.4
Widowed, divorced, separated

17.4

While not listed in these Labor Department statistics, most moonlighters come from low-income and medium-income households. Those workers at the bottom of the wage scale (barely earning a so-called living wage) do so to sustain a basic standard of living, while those in the middle-class range often moonlight to achieve a higher standard of living. Higher-income workers hold multiple jobs more often for professional growth or enjoyment.

Why Moonlighting?

People have all sorts of reasons for taking a second job. Some do it as the beginning of a career-change move, gaining experience in a new career field before making the full switch. Others work multiple jobs to simply meet living expenses. Still others do it (usually on a temporary basis) to earn extra money. Finally, others do it because they simply enjoy the second job.

While the reasons vary somewhat by demographic profile, here are the overall numbers for why they work more than one job:

Reason for Multiple Jobs

Percent of all Multiple Job-Holders
Meet expenses; pay off debt

27.8
Earn extra money

35.4
Get new experience; build up a business

4.6
Enjoys work of second job

17.4
Other reasons

12.5

Although not listed as a reason in the Labor Department statistics, another reason cited for working multiple jobs is the need for a flexible or non-traditional work schedule.

Strategies for Finding and Surviving a Second Job

There is no question that holding down multiple jobs is stressful. A moonlighter needs excellent time management skills, otherwise job burnout is quite likely. Considerable anecdotal evidence reveals that marriages and relationships suffer for those working multiple jobs. Expect to spend much less time with your family and friends. Some moonlighters work up to 75 hours per week.

On the other hand, some of us need to work multiple jobs simply to survive. And there is no question that having multiple income streams provides you with more money. Of course, there can be other rewards from working multiple jobs.

Here are some strategies for finding and surviving a second job:

1. Check your main employer's policies. Before you even consider looking for a second job, take the time to check your current employer's policies about holding outside employment.
2. Understand your reasons for taking a second job. If your reasons are purely monetary, you may be able to talk to your current employer to pick up extra shifts rather than take a second job.
3. Consider a trial basis. Moonlighting in short doses to accomplish some short-term goals usually works better than working multiple jobs for long stretches of time. (The majority of moonlighters are short-termers.)
4. Find a job that interests you. Perhaps your main job is a boring office job. Try something fun like being a tour guide or other more unusual job for your second one. Or start your own business.
5. Consider second jobs that are less stressful. If your first job is a pressure-cooker, find a second one that is relaxing to you, such as pet-sitting or tutoring.
6. Find jobs that are geographically close to each other or to your home. Your time will be limited enough without adding a long commute to your second job.
7. Seek out new opportunities with new employers. If you are contemplating a career change, but are not sure of your next career, use second jobs to test out some of your career ideas.
8. Reduce your load. If you are working multiple jobs, it's probably time to cut some of those extracurricular activities.
9. Carve out time for significant others. You must find a way to schedule some time with your family and friends or those relationships will suffer… and if you have a partner, be sure s/he is okay with your plans.
10. Know when it's time to quit. Whether it's when you reach your financial goal or when you are beginning to mentally or physically break down, you must reduce your load... though that does not necessarily mean quitting your second job (if it has become your new career passion).

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, a certain group of American workers will always need to work multiple jobs just to sustain some basic standard of living, but whatever your reasons for moonlighting, just be sure to go into it with your eyes open to the benefits and risks. Second jobs can be professionally and financially rewarding, but if you are weak on time management, be sure to brush up on those skills before tackling the multitasking involved in multiple jobs.

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Where the Jobs Are: Growing States (Like Michigan -- 27,800 jobs, Columbia 17,800 jobs, New York 10,500 jobs …….) and Booming Industries

If you're looking for something, anything that might indicate a recovery, the latest US Department of Labor Statistics might give you a little hope. In essence, last month more states showed unemployment decreases than increases. To be exact, eighteen states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate declines, while 14 states registered rate upswings. Eighteen states had no change at all. A full twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while only 20 states posted increases, and 3 states had no change.

But wait...there's more good news: Initial unemployment claims decreased by 31,000 last week, and in July, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 37 states and the District of Columbia and only declined in 13 states. The states that added the most jobs in July will probably surprise you.

Where the Jobs Are

1. Michigan -- added 27,800 jobs
2. The District of Columbia -- added 17,800 jobs
3. Massachusetts -- added 13,200 jobs
4. New York -- added 10,500 jobs
5. Minnesota -- added 9,800 jobs

North Dakota continued to register the lowest jobless rate at 3.6 percent, followed by South Dakota and Nebraska, 4.4 and 4.7 percent, respectively.

Where the Jobs Are NOT

1. The states that lost the most jobs are:
2. North Carolina -- lost 29,800 jobs
3. New Jersey -- lost 21,200 jobs
4. Illinois -- lost 20,200 jobs
5. California -- lost 9,400 jobs
6. Kentucky -- lost 8,000 jobs

But the state with the absolute worst unemployment rate is Nevada which reached 14.3 percent in July. That rate also set a new series high. The states with the next highest rates were Michigan at 13.1 percent, and California at 12.3 percent.

Should You Move?
If it looks to you like you're living in the worst possible state to find a job right now, don't go packing your bags just yet. "You can search for a job anywhere online these days," says employment expert Doug Arms, SVP and Chief Talent Officer of Ajilon, a specialty staffing firm owned by Adecco. He notes that at certain levels, companies are still paying for recruiting and interview trips, and they still have budgets to help you relocate.

But even if you're not at that lofty level, Arms advises against permanently moving. "A lot of people moved out the California during the Gold Rush, and to work on the Hoover Dam, when it was being built. When they got there, they found things were not what they expected."

Booming Industries
Rather than basing your job search on geographic indicators, Arms suggests searching within the professional sectors that are flourishing. For example, if you're an accountant, bookkeeper, IT expert or transportation worker, instead of looking at traditional accounting, high tech or public transportation companies, try looking for a job in the private education sector (trade schools and private institutions) and in ambulatory health care (the baby boomers are aging, and increasingly need health care specialists to come to them). Both these industries need accountants, bookkeepers, IT specialists and transportation workers, in addition to educators and health care practitioners.

So, whether you're living in a state like Michigan, which is finally adding jobs again, or North Carolina, which continues to lose them en masse, consider widening your job search to cover the industries that are flourishing everywhere. It's estimated that there are more than three million jobs open right now, and someone's got to get them, so why not you?
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By Lisa Johnson Mandell

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Highest Paying Jobs In The U.S.

Hi Friends,

You think that in order to make the big bucks, you have to get involved in the glamour professions, such as acting or professional athletics. You might be surprised to learn, however, that none of those professions made the top 10 or even the top 25 list of highest-paying jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

It should be noted that, according to the Department of Labor, 8 of the top 10 highest-paying professions were in the medical field. To avoid monotony, we excluded most of the medical professions and included the U.S. Department of Labor’s official list at the end of this article. Here are the top 10 highest-paying jobs in the U.S.

Number 10

Natural Sciences Manager

Highest salary: $97,560
Training time: 6 years

Natural science managers oversee the work of other scientists, such as agricultural scientists, chemists, biologists, and geologists. Natural science managers are commonly employed in the research and development field and work in pharmaceutical and environmental consulting or municipal organizations. Natural science managers often own their own consulting or testing firms, and can serve as expert witnesses in court hearings.

A bachelor’s degree is absolutely required, and to work your way up the ladder, an MBA or doctorate is strongly encouraged. Fortunately, many employers will pay for educational costs. The best and highest-paid natural science managers have an aptitude for key business functions, such as marketing, sales and finance. This is common, as it often takes a combination of business acumen and specialized knowledge to present and communicate ideas and concepts in a sophisticated sales environment.

Number 9

Marketing Manager

Highest salary: $100,020
Training time: 4 to 6 years

Marketing managers, like CEOs, span all sorts of industries and levels of responsibility. A small accounting firm may have a marketing manager to help coordinate Yellow Page advertisements and chamber appearances, while this marketing manager's Fortune 500 peer is responsible for the complete tactical execution of a multimillion-dollar marketing budget that encompasses a plenitude of marketing media. Marketing managers can be expected to handle items such as public relations, brand development, media buying, collateral and promotions development, and even the financial metrics and analytics.

The responsibility scope is a function of the organization’s size and the outward focus of the company. For instance, a marketing manager at a Fortune 500 company serving the consumer audience will have a far larger task than the marketing manager at a small, niche business-to-business consulting firm. Communication skills, marketing prowess, and basic management skills all come into play. In most cases, marketing managers have a four-year degree, and an MBA will definitely help in higher-level executive marketing positions.

Number 8

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Highest salary: $100,110
Training time: 4 to 8 years

Computer and information systems managers are responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the company’s information technology (IT) and systems plan. Many start out as programmers or data analysts, but as experience and conceptual knowledge is acquired, one can become capable of overseeing the information systems management of an entire enterprise. In today’s technological environment, most companies regard this as a highly valued position and pay accordingly. Elements of the job include overseeing a company’s IT security, information management, information technology deployment, software and application selection, revenue assurance, and compliance.

When the field was relatively new, there were stories of incredibly gifted programmers who rose to top positions without any formal training or education. Today, however, with the wide corporate acceptance of information technology, more of an emphasis is placed on new candidates having a four-year degree in computer science, computer engineering or mathematics, and even advanced degrees.

Number 7

Air Traffic Controller

Highest salary: $100,430
Training time: 9 years

Employed almost exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), air traffic controllers are responsible for the safe operation of private and commercial aircraft. Responsibilities include coordinating movement of air traffic to keep planes at safe distances from one another and to minimize traffic delays. Typically, a team works together to help planes position for takeoff and landing, taxi to the gate, and to communicate with pilots and warn about weather patterns.

To become an air traffic controller, you must enroll in an FAA-approved program and pass an aptitude test. Exceptions may be made for those with military or aviation experience. A four-year degree and three years of work experience are typically required, and you must apply to take the exam. If you are selected and you pass, you’ll have to attend a 12-week training session before working as a development controller for two to four years, and after that, you’ll be ready to be hired as an air traffic controller.

Number 6

Lawyer

Highest salary: $110,590
Training time: 7 years

The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society and there is no shortage of attorney classifications that you can aspire to. We are all familiar with the personal injury and criminal attorneys, but the scope goes far beyond that. Environmental law, entertainment law, family law, real estate law, intellectual property, and civil law are a handful of the fields that need legal representation. Some attorneys choose to specialize in a particular industry, such as construction, waste management, securities, or insurance, while others will review agreements, represent the court or mediate.

The industry is highly regulated and adheres to a very stringent code of ethics. Lawyers must pass the bar examination offered by the state they wish to practice in. However, in most cases, to be eligible to sit for the bar, you must have a four-year degree and have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, which takes about three years.

Number 5

Dentist

Highest salary: $132,660
Training time: 8 years

There are quite a few specialties orthodontics, oral surgery and pediatrics to name a few within the dental field, although many opt to become general practitioners. Dentists in private practice will commonly oversee business operations, including administration and bookkeeping. All states require dentists to be licensed, so candidates must graduate from one of the 56 dental schools accredited by the ADA. Graduates must also pass both written and practical exams. While most dental schools require only two years of college-level education, most candidates obtain their bachelor’s degree. Dental school for general practitioners takes three to four years, and if you wish to specialize, you can plan on an additional two to five years of training.

Number 4

Airline Pilot

Highest salary: $134,090
Training time: 5 to 10 years

A pilot can not only captain a commercial airliner, but he can also fly helicopters, test aircraft, serve as an aviation director, crop dust, monitor traffic, and pilot cargo planes.
While everyone has heard of the grand benefits enjoyed by commercial airline pilots they fly only 100 hours per month due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations it is not easy to obtain that status. Becoming certified as a pilot is not too stringent you need to be at least 18 years old and have at least 250 hours of flight experience to obtain the basic licenses. Commercial airline pilots need to be at least 23, have at least 1,500 hours in the air, and pass an array of FAA tests (written, flight and instrument).

A four-year degree is not necessary; however, the increasingly competitive landscape is making many airlines require a bachelor’s degree. Due to the number of required -- and generally expensive flight hours, many airline pilots have earned their experience in the military. There are, however, many private flight training schools. After being hired by an airline, it can take 5 to 15 years to become a captain and reap the rewards in terms of pay, benefits and choice of routes.

Number 3

Engineering Manager

Highest salary: $140,210
Training time: 6 to 7 years

Engineering managers are responsible for plans, coordination, research, design, and production activities. Frequently, engineering managers oversee natural science managers and information systems managers two professions that also made this list.

Typically, engineering managers determine specific technical or scientific goals, provide broad outlines, plan the execution and, in some cases, are responsible for the financial viability of a project. For example, engineering managers may be actively involved in the development of a real estate community, or they may work in the manufacturing space to solve technical problems. However, managers who deal with semiconductors and electronic components manufacturing are among the highest paid.

Most engineering managers have bachelor’s degrees, and many will pursue post-graduate degrees, such as an MBA, a Master of Science or a doctorate.

Number 2

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Highest salary: $140,880
Training time: Varies

A CEO is the highest ranking official within a company (and often the highest paid), and they’re responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operational performance of the company. The CEO usually answers to the board of directors, which is elected by the shareholders. In smaller companies, however, the CEO is not only the Chairman of the Board, but he can also be the entire board of directors.

There are many paths to becoming a CEO. In large Fortune 500 companies, you are just as likely to see an employee with more than 30 years become the head honcho as you are to see the company hire a seasoned executive manager. It is also possible to form your own company and simply name yourself CEO and build your company until you are actually overseeing many levels of management and development.

In the corporate world, a bachelor’s degree is almost ubiquitous and it is encouraged to obtain an MBA, though it’s not necessary we all know that Bill Gates is an inspirational dropout.

Number 1

Surgeon

Highest salary: $181,850
Training time: 10 to 15 years

While many medical professions are high on the pay scale, those who perform surgery are the highest paid specifically, surgeons who specialize in the treatment of illness or injury. As such, most surgeons opt to specialize in a specific area, like the heart or the brain.

Even for general surgeons, the very granular knowledge required to effectively perform an operation can only be obtained through additional formal training and many years of hands-on experience. Of course, a four-year degree is required to go down this path, and biology or other sciences are preferred because these provide access to basic knowledge that will be applied in medical school. After college, plan for four years of medical school the first two years will be in classrooms, and the last two will involve working with patients under the direction of physician educators. A residency is the next step, and this can last from three to seven years, depending on the candidate’s desire to specialize. A candidate must also pass a licensing examination.

While the profession can be lucrative, it is certainly not easy or cheap: More than 80% of medical-school graduates carry a debt.

earning six digits

To make the most money, your best bet is to go down the medical path, provided you are willing to participate in the many years of required training and education. Also, before getting too green-eyed, realize that one year in school is one year taken away from building your career. Overall, to do well, note the specialization of each of the top 24 highest-paying careers per the U.S. Department of Labor -- finding your niche and becoming the best certainly pays dividends.

The top 24 according to the U.S. Department of Labor:

Surgeon: $181,850
Anesthesiologist: $174,610
OB/GYN: $174,610
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon: $169,600
Internist: $156,790
Prosthodontist: $156,710
Orthodontist: $153,240
Psychiatrist: $151,380
Chief Executive Officer: $140,880
Engineering Manager: $140,210
Pediatrician: $140,000
Family or general practitioner: $137,980
Physician/surgeon, all other: $137,100
Airline Pilot: $134,090
Dentist: $132,660
Podiatrist: $111,130
Lawyer: $110,590
Dentist, any other specialist: $106,040
Air Traffic Controller: $100,430
Computer and Information Systems Manager: $100,110
Marketing Manager: $100,020
Natural Sciences Manager: $97,560
Sales Manager: $96,950
Astronomer: $96,780

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By Terence Channon

Monday, June 21, 2010

Building Your Career Portfolio: Four Career Investments for a Purposeful Lifetime

"When I was laid off, I was shaking so badly that I didn't know whether I could drive home," said Kristin, 32, a mother of three who lost a public relations job. "My heart was pounding and I felt disassociated, like the whole thing was a bad dream."

After working at the same company for five years, David, 36, was escorted out of his building after being informed that the company was heading in a new direction and no longer needed his type of skills.

Shock, rootlessness and anger are just a few normal responses many feel when they lose their jobs to corporate downsizing. Since the national crisis on Sept. 11, the U.S. Dept. of Labor states that jobless claims are approaching 700,000 across the U.S. the highest in nearly a decade.

How can you mitigate career risk -- otherwise known as the pitfalls of marketplace change, economic turndowns, downsizing, personal health and life changes, and distasteful company politics that can wreck havoc with one's life?

The answer lies in building a CareerPortfolio™, a career risk management approach, similar to building a financial portfolio, that can help you develop four, specific career assets, or "investments." Why four? Because these four ingredients offer a well-balanced opportunity for you to earn, learn, and help others throughout the rest of your life. And, like a financial portfolio, you can diversify risk so that you always have a number of career options on tap.

Begin with a Personal Purpose
To build a CareerPortfolio, start by developing your personal purpose. Your personal purpose is your investment strategy that guides all of your career decisions.

Begin by answering the following questions.

How would I like to be remembered 100 years from now?
What am I passionate about?
Two projects when I made a difference in recent years are (list them):

Now think about the big picture and write down the purpose of your life by filling in the blank: The purpose of my life is to____________________________.

You can revise your personal purpose statement as needed. It will help you decide what types of opportunities are worth pursuing. You will become purposeful rather than just "busy."

Develop Your CareerPortfolio™
Now, it's time to assess the kinds of career assets you either may want to develop. If you have two or more of the following career assets working in your life, you will be building optimal career wealth over time.

Primary Income Investment -- your job, or business that you own, where the majority of your financial income is earned.
Secondary Income Investment -- an optional, alternate source of income that allows you to gain additional knowledge, career options, income, and sense of purpose. Not everyone is destined to own a business. However, those who choose to develop a business or occasional side project can start out small, and grow the business over time.
Volunteer Investment -- finding one or more ways to reach out to your community in a way that is meaningful to you. When volunteerism supports your personal purpose, you can gain new skills and meet valuable new contacts, all while making a difference in your world.
Lifelong Learning Investment -- including mentorship, focused reading and education.

Once you identify your desired career assets, you can put together a step-by-step plan for building your CareerPortfolio. Your overall life goals, available time, the ability to balance work and family, and stage of your life all should factor into your decision-making.

A CareerPortfolio in Phoenix
Pam Overton, partner in the national law firm of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Attorneys at Law, has built a CareerPortfolio comprising three major career investments: Primary, Volunteer, and Lifelong Learning.

Pam's personal purpose is to excel at her career, while supporting her family and placing them as her No. 1 priority. Her purpose includes having a strong charitable and spiritual life to add perspective and balance.

Her Primary Income Investment is her litigation practice, which focuses on complex litigation, business torts, breach of contract and condemnation matters. In this role, Pam won the Golden Heart of Business Award in 2000. She also was recognized by Today's Arizona Woman Magazine as one of the "Top 10 Business Women in the State of Arizona" for two consecutive years.

Pam's Volunteer Investments include serving on the board of directors for Fresh Start Women's Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping women who need assistance in career, financial and life skills to better their futures. This board of powerful community movers and shakers provides Pam an opportunity to learn leadership skills, provide value to the organization, and learn more about community issues.

Pam's additional Volunteer Investments include supporting cancer and heart research and development. She has dedicated many fundraising hours at All Saints' Episcopal Day School where her children attend school, integrating volunteer service with family life.

For Lifelong Learning Investments, Pam is a member of several lawyer's professional associations and has served on the Arizona State Bar's Ethics Committee, sharing and gaining insight which ultimately benefits her clients.

"All of these career investments add valuable perspective to my career and bring opportunities to learn and build lasting friendships," Pam said.

Pam reviews her career investments periodically to ensure balance, as she and her husband raise their three children.

If you have two or more CareerPortfolio assets in place, you will be far more flexible and confident to face future career changes. Regardless of your age or place in life, it's never too late to build a purposeful and rewarding CareerPortfolio.

by Carol A. Poore

What employers want from you

These days, your academic excellence is almost taken for granted by potential employers. More and more they are looking for hard skills such as writing, literacy and leadership and soft skills such as the ability to communicate effectively.

As well as academic requirements, the jobs mentioned above all emphasizes the other skills that the employers want from Science and IT graduates. And time after time, it’s the same ones:

* Good communication and presentation skills, both oral and written
* Self-motivation
* Team worker
* An interest in and an ability to pick up technical concepts quickly and competently
* Analytical mind
* Imagination and inquisitiveness
* Ability to learn new skills and implement them quickly
* Sound decision making and problem solving skills
* Ability to manage own and others’ time

Remember, too, that many employers require quite a high level of mobility today. This is especially true of the larger recruiters who have graduate training programmes that involve extensive national and sometimes international travel.

A typical example of this is pharmaceutical giant GSK, which is a major recruiter of both Science and IT graduates (www.gsk.com/careers/uk-stud-grad-prog.htm).

Science opportunities are offered within analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology and chemometrics. The development programme involves three 12-month placements in at least two business areas, in different sites mostly within the UK and the Republic of Ireland but occasionally further abroad too. Training and development is divided into four areas: business execution and understanding, technical and specialist expertise, self and high performance behaviors. Note that the latter concerns those all-important soft skills such as working with others and communication skills that every employer is looking for today.

IT graduates at GSK must be prepared to move around, too. Over three years, a series of different IT rotations are conducted, each lasting a year. These can include business analysis, project management, service analysis and systems architecture.

It’s a similar story with BT (www.btplc.com/Careercentre/), whose regime involves IT graduates getting early experience in design and consultancy, software and platform engineering, IT systems engineering, IT technical operations, security and more. As one graduate trainee sums it up on the BT website: “I actually chose BT because it’s so big, and there’s scope to work in so many different areas.”

By Your Career Guide

How to Find Unadvertised Jobs

Having trouble finding a job? Tired of looking through the local newspaper and being one of hundreds of applicants who are applying for the same job?

You might have better success if you focused a part of your search on applying for unadvertised jobs.

It's estimated that roughly 75% of job openings are unadvertised, and even in this poor economy, there are still thousands of excellent jobs out there waiting to be filled. In fact, many of the best jobs never make it to the classified advertisements they're filled by those who knew about them before they were advertised.

Instructions:

Step 1
Networking is the process of building and maintaining personal and business contacts that can help you find job opportunities before they're advertised. Having access to a diverse group of professionals can give you the inside track on a plethora of job opportunities as well as valuable information that can help you move on to a better-paying position after you land a job.

Step 2
Companies often advertise job openings and have career information posted on their website, and checking company websites can open up a world of open positions that aren't advertised in the classifieds. You can use internet search engines, such as Yahoo! or Google, to identify companies in your area or expertise that are of interest to you.

Step 3
If you're a college student and even if you aren't-you can browse graduate school publications in your major/field to find jobs that may be of interest to you.

Step 4
Companies sometimes publish information open jobs and detailed information about themselves in industry related publications. If you're looking for a job in Biology, for example, you could check scientific journals for job openings exclusive to your field.

Step 5
Staffing agencies can be a great resource for job opportunities that aren't posted anywhere else. Some employers contact staffing agencies directly about job openings, and reaching out to these staffers can give you a unique edge in landing a job in your field.

Step 6
You can look up companies in a directory such as the phone book or Yellow Pages, and reach out to them by sending a resume or a letter of interest. This method won't guarantee you a job, but it will get your name out there to several companies and can help you establish a good rapport with employers in your area. For best results, tailor your cover letter/letter of interest to the company you're contacting and emphasize your specific talents-your customer service skills for a telephone answering service, salesmanship for a marketing film, etc.

By swedishdemocrac

10 Essential Social Media Tips for B2B Marketers

When we write about how companies or individuals are using social media in their marketing strategies, it’s usually in the context of a business to consumer relationship. However, business-to-business (B2B) marketing is really getting a boost from social media as well. According to a recent study, 60% of B2B marketers plan to increase social media marketing spending this year.

Non-B2B-centric services like Twitter and Facebook can still offer great opportunities for B2B shops. Sometimes, the approach is the same as it would be in non-B2B marketing, sometimes it can be very different.

Figuring out how to best implement and harness social media in the course of B2B marketing can be difficult but we’ve put together ten tips to help get you on the right track!

1. Use Twitter Effectively

This may seem like a no-brainer, but plenty of businesses and even B2B marketers aren’t on Twitter. Get an account on Twitter and start engaging. While having profiles on other social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn can be equally important, Twitter remains one of the best ways to find and engage with others.

How do you do that? Start by searching for phrases relevant to your business and by monitoring those searches regularly. Look at what people are saying and join in the conversation. If people aren’t necessarily looking for your business offerings right away, start joining other conversations of interest. The more you build bridges, the more likely you are to be noticed.

Second, use hashtags. The #B2B hashtag, for example, will connect you with several other like-minded businesses who are also trying to leverage Twitter to build an online presence. Don’t overdo it, though. There are some people #who #tweet #like #this.

We’ll discuss this in the next point, but consider Twitter to be an informal medium. With social media, businesses can (and should) be human again. That’s why it’s safe to use Twitter not just for pure self promotion but to build a meaningful relationships with those who you are likely to do business with you in the future. If you feel comfortable using your business Twitter feed to talk about what makes you tick (versus purely promoting your business), you might be pleasantly surprised to see that your audience might very well be receptive to that messaging.

What’s great about Twitter, especially from a B2B perspective, is that you can follow just about everyone. Take advantage of the opportunity to follow your industry influencers, connect with potential customers, and keep a heads up on the competition.

A great example of Twitter usage from a B2B perspective is @salesforce. Salesforce has used its Twitter feed to share relevant news, to empower current customers, and to offer customer support.

2. Figure Out Your ‘Social Voice’

Social media works best when it is personal and authentic, and thus, it’s important to make sure that the way you communicate when using social media tools comes from a personal and authentic place.

Kevin Dugan, the Director of Social Marketing for Empower MediaMarketing recently wrote a blog post about finding your social voice. I spoke with Dugan about establishing a social voice, and he had this to say:

“It is critical that brands understand a social voice is different from brand voice. Social voice reinforces the brand voice indirectly. Social voice doesn’t follow communication guidelines or identity standards. That’s because a social voice equates to a person. A brand voice is anonymous while a social voice can be found on Google. They must also have an understanding of the brand and a passion for it.”

Social networks are now helping to put the “human” back in businesses again. The traditional messaging of yore has been replaced by businesses who actually appear to show that they care about their customers. With a social voice, informal is perfectly acceptable. Having a social voice, as opposed to just a generic “brand voice,” is an important step when connecting with potential customers. Prospective customers want to connect with businesses who think just like them.

Just because your clients are other businesses doesn’t mean that the “social” aspect of social media needs to disappear.

3. Take Advantage of Opportunities on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is continuing to get bigger and bigger and it continues to be a great resource for businesses and employees to connect with one another.

One of the best things about LinkedIn is the Shared Connections feature. This feature makes it possible to find people like potential clients and then see what connections you have in common. Shared Connections then makes getting a virtual introduction that much easier.

building up a strong LinkedIn network and being willing to introduce others (in good faith, of course always use your best judgment) can also increase what opportunities you can get in the future.

B2B marketing is often built through trust and word of mouth. Having a shared connection is a great way to start establishing some of that trust from the very beginning.

LinkedIn also has a community of active participants. LinkedIn Answers serves as a knowledge base where business representatives can establish authority and expertise by participating in the ongoing discussions. LinkedIn Groups is an opportunity for business professionals to interact with other topics relevant to his/her interests. One business successfully used LinkedIn Groups as a way to build business leads. This business opted to engage in relevant industry discussion and offered business services when requests were made, thereby bringing in a highly targeted business lead. Actively participating in LinkedIn is often one of the best ways to not only help people out, but also to make a connection for your service and even generate leads.

Answering questions across LinkedIn Answers and LinkedIn Groups doesn’t mean to simply put out the marketing blurb, but to really engage and offer feedback and solutions. Again, social media is most effective when it is genuine.

4. Start a Blog

Social media provides the opportunity for companies to promote themselves but also to welcome commentary from a community of peers. By starting a blog, you give your readers an opportunity to see you with your social voice outside the typical corporate website’s newsroom. Blogs become platforms where you can announce new product releases, share personal company stories, answer any specific questions from your customers, and empower customers to achieve success with your products and service offerings. Blogging can also establish business professionals as thought leaders in their field, thereby aiding with client acquisition.

Blogs can build up qualified prospects through search engine rankings too. Be sure to update your blog regularly with valuable content and follow up with the comments written on each individual post.

5. Monitor Your Industry

Social media means that content is being posted everywhere, and businesses have a unique opportunity to gather intelligence to make well-educated and informed business decisions. Google Alerts is a great tool to keep up with what’s happening in relation to your company, your industry and your competitors. You can get updates via e-mail or in RSS (and even in real-time) about new search results or news stories for a certain query or topic.

Further, free tools like Social Mention and YackTrack will monitor the social sphere for other mentions of your business on social sites, especially. BackType will take that a step further and monitor phrases in comments on blog posts. All of these aforementioned services can be emailed to you in a daily digest format which your team can evaluate to find opportunities.

If you don’t already have alerts set up on these services for your company name, do it now. Also set up a more generic alert for your industry as a whole to see what people are talking about. If you want to see what your competition or other big industry players are doing, add those to the mix as well.

Monitoring can also be useful because you can then highlight the big stories on your own social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz, etc.

6. Be Consistent and Don’t Be Afraid to Follow Up

While you don’t want to be creepy, it’s important to not let potential opportunities slip by when using social media. If you’ve answered someone’s question on LinkedIn or on Twitter, don’t be afraid to reach back out to that person to ask if they have any follow-up questions or if you can send them more information. There’s an abundance of opportunity to strengthen a business relationship but it starts by initiating and then making sure that your business is fresh in your prospects’ minds.

Staying engaged and staying communicative is really important. Social media is not about setting it and forgetting it. It’s about being social, so don’t be afraid to reach out and check back in with potential leads you meet using social media. Similarly, don’t be afraid to direct message your followers on Twitter when an opportunity presents itself. They followed you because they want to hear from you. Use that opportunity to your advantage but don’t overdo it. Auto-DMs are a no-no.

If you’re going to blog, don’t leave that blog stagnant. Provide valuable content on a regular basis. Give employees of your company an opportunity to help build your brand. You can get a lot of great blog content by involving many company employees in the process. Similarly, get many employees of your company to utilize the social networks and to be continually responsive to customer inquiries. Remember, the more visible you are on the social networks, the more likely you are to be remembered when another business actually needs to utilize your services.

7. Leverage Your Analytics for Business Metric Measurement

After you’re involved enough in the social space, you’ll likely see tweets, retweets, traffic, and social network links that point to various parts of your company website. Take a look at your website analytics and start seeing where you’re making a difference, especially as it relates to ROI measurement. Don’t lose sight of your business metrics and start considering practical social media measurement to assess clickthroughs, popularity of links, and other important metrics.

As part of measurement, consider using URL shorteners. Not only do they make links more manageable (and limit the number of characters in a Tweet or Facebook message), they also can be a great way to track data as many URL shorteners provide valuable statistics about the performance of each individual shortened URL. Monitor this data throughout the process with your main website analytics package to see if your message attached to the shortened URL resulted in conversions.

When looking at conversion trends or successful tools in building leads with social media, reviewing analytics data is crucial. It gives you insight into content that performs very well in the social space but also through other marketing techniques, such as search engine optimization. Use the data as an opportunity to improve your content or your social media/search marketing efforts.

8. Find and Follow Industry Influencers

B2B social media marketing is often about connecting with the right people and about building relationships. Social media makes both of these actions simple and painless. Being aware of who the influencers in your industry are and then following them, whether it’s on Twitter, Facebook or their own blogs, is the first step to building a connection with those influencers. With a genuine relationship, these influencers may be able to help you make your mark in the social media marketplace. This is especially true of influencers who may already have your target audience at their disposal.

This doesn’t mean you need to retweet every tweet or share every blog post on Facebook, but it does mean that you should be aware of who the movers and shakers are. By following them and then reaching out when appropriate or just to get to know them further, you have a much better shot at getting some attention.

Even if you’re not necessarily connecting to influencers, social media affords the opportunity to connect with other people in your industry and your customers. Use the various social media platforms as an opportunity to connect with these industry colleagues and peers and build upon each other. Consider celebrating your colleagues’ or customers’ success. Make it known that you’re here to help them not just yourself. Repeat this process with anyone of interest and you’re bound to attract eyeballs.

9. Use Social Media for Giveaways and Promotions

Sometimes, the hardest part of social media is sticking out from the sea of other users. Giveaways and promotions are a great way to help differentiate yourself and your business. Using Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, you can target your desired customer base and then let them know (if appropriate) about different promotions or giveaways related to your product. If you offer a service, consider giving a free year to a loyal customer. If you manufacture products, give some away.

Offer a coupon on your company’s Facebook Page and pair it with a lead-generation form for future contact. Let people know on Twitter about specials or contests that are going on and follow-up with those that show an interest. Perhaps you can have a retweet contest where you can monitor responses or host some trivia on your Facebook Page. You can also open an online survey to get feedback about your offerings and reward participants. The possibilities are endless. Creativity in this capacity breeds success.

Companies like Wildfire make it really easy to build these sorts of promotions directly inside your own social media channels.

10. Don’t Be Creepy

If you use social media like a keyword searching robot, you are going to come across as creepy and turn off potential clients. Don’t be creepy.

Use best judgment and common sense when approaching people using social networks. If you wouldn’t want to be approached the way you are approaching another user, don’t use that approach. It’s as simple as that. Social media etiquette isn’t much different than real life relationships, so what won’t work in “real life” probably won’t work online.

Respecting boundaries doesn’t mean you can’t still answer questions, engage and follow-up with potential leads, it just means that if it’s clear that the other party isn’t interested, or more importantly, if the context of their communication really doesn’t involve or seek out input from your company, don’t do it.

Context is really important in social media and it is something that is very, very easy to overlook. While we think that using keywords and Google Alerts are good methods for keeping atop of your field, that doesn’t mean you can automate your responses or just go into autopilot based on those alerts.

By Christina Warren

Friday, June 18, 2010

How Can You Take Advantage of Opportunities on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is continuing to get bigger and bigger and it continues to be a great resource for businesses and employees to connect with one another.

Building up a strong LinkedIn network and being willing to introduce others (in good faith, of course always use your best judgment) can also increase what opportunities you can get in the future.

B2B marketing is often built through trust and word of mouth. Having a shared connection is a great way to start establishing some of that trust from the very beginning.

Refer : http://thecareerguide.blogspot.com/search/label/Future%20Jobs

10 New Jobs for Men in 2010

The jobs report may be improving, but we've still got a ways to go. So whether you just like drinking Absinthe all day, or tend to hijack your son's Tonka trucks too often, these creative career ideas could be just right for you.

1. Forensic Accountant:

If men like Bernie Madoff are national villains, then forensic accountants might be considered heroes. Large corporations and the government have increasingly trained regular old accountants for these positions in the wake of Enron; now, graduate programs like the one at the Rutgers Business School are gaining traction. Your job is simple: make sure everything adds up (in a legal sense), and hope you uncover a huge scandal.

2. Mobile Business Entrepreneur:

Every time you turn a city corner (or magazine page), there's another mention of the Kogi Truck, a dumpling delivery service, or one of the hundreds of food trucks crowding our city streets. But you don't need a truck. And you don't even need food. That's what retailers across the country are realizing: just use the Internet. Make pizza and deliver it from your house; sell neckties on Etsy.com. This job, unlike others, isn't so specific it just takes the balls to execute that idea you've always had. And, hey, no interview.

3. Independent Insurance Salesman:

Looking for a way to make the health care debate make sense for you? Don't worry about it too much just profit from it. These independent contractors help people who aren't offered health insurance through work or who can't afford premium private plans find an option that matches their circumstances. And, as health care becomes mandatory for all Americans, now's a good time to get certified.

4. Ethical Hacker:

Want your identity stolen? Probably not. And neither does your bank, which is why financial institutions have started finding computer experts the non-criminal type to give their Web sites a workout. The best of the geeks crack the computer systems before the crooks do. So, basically, it's just like being a real hacker, only with up to a hundred grand instead of the jail time.

5. Bike Lane Engineer:

In cities, especially, biking's a great way to avoid those subway-car crowds that can be more awkward than a Ben Stiller sex scene. But those lanes zigzagging their way through Chicago, Paris, and New York aren't coming from the will of the people; they're carefully orchestrated by these new engineers. The gig sounds simple build lanes where riders won't get hit but unfortunately for bikers, that's easier said than done. And as all cities become bike-friendly (which they will), the field will only grow.

6. Algal Field Monitor:

Sure, it doesn't sound too exciting you would, in fact, be monitoring microscopic, funny-looking, water organisms as they grow but the implications are important: at some point, the country will run out of fossil fuels. We'll be turning to things like these weird-looking water organisms. Plus, this is your chance to tell women who love the environment that you're involved in "alternative fuel research." Sorta.

7. Marijuana Lobbyist:

The right to get high has been a states' issue for several years now, but as pot reform becomes a larger part of the national debate, these are the people at the forefront of the movement to de-stigmatize the drug. Just like other lobbyists, they glad-hand with politicians and policy wonks about why the drug should be legal, and get involved in fundraising for the cause. Of course, this requires charisma in addition to sketchiness a potential roadblock for your typical burnout.

8. Marijuana Lobbyist:

9. Housing Bulldozer Operator:

The field itself isn't new, but it's definitely been re-ignited by the country's housing crunch. And yeah, it's a bit of a downer no one wants to have to tear down abandoned homes and buildings, really but we're willing to bet a real bulldozer's a helluva lot more fun than those Tonka ones.

10. Barter Trade Broker:

Since not everyone has so much cash on hand these days, these brokers work as a middleman between companies who might want to trade goods and services. Say a new wine store needs some fresh paint? This guy will decide how much French red is worth four freshly coated walls. No day's ever the same, as you can imagine, plus you get to find out what weird shit people are willing to trade. Just like Hoarders, only without the cluttered house.

http://www.quintcareers.com/recession_job-hunting_articles.html

25 best-paying jobs for women

When you look at Forbes magazine’s most recent list of highest-paid CEO’s (chief executives of the 500 biggest companies in the United States), you won’t see a woman until No. 48: Irene B Rosenfeld, CEO of Kraft Foods. In a country where women make up 47 percent of the workforce, 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEO’s are female. In addition, women who worked full time earned an average of just 80 percent of what men earned in the same positions in 2008, according to the BLS.

But is salary disparity between genders the issue or is it something else?

In the Harvard Business Review blog, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox wrote: “Women represent one of the world’s biggest and most under-reported opportunities. The business world has been so focused on stories like the rise of China that it has not been invited to see that, much closer to home, business could be reaping the benefits of the rise of women. Companies and their business school feeders have been slow in adapting and profiting from this shift, and part of the reason is that media too often focus on small, sensational and misleading parts of the story, including aspects like the wage gap.”

Catalyst’s February 2010 Pipeline’s Broken Promise report examining high potential graduates from top business schools around the world found that, even after taking into account experience, industry and region, women start at lower levels than men, make on average $4,600 less in their initial jobs, and continue to be outpaced by men in rank and salary growth. Only when women begin their post-MBA career at mid-management or above do they achieve parity in position with men - a situation that accounted for only 10 percent of the women and 19 percent of the men surveyed.

Whatever the cause, the BLS reports there are only a handful of occupations where women’s earnings are equal to or exceed men’s including construction and extraction occupations; special education teachers; installation, maintenance and repair occupations; life, physical and social science technicians; and counselors.

We wanted to know, what jobs pay women the most money? Here are 25 jobs where women earn $1000 a week or more, according to the BLS, and how those wages compare to their male counterparts’.

Pharmacists

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,647

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,914

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 86.1%

Chief executives

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,603

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,999

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 80.2%

Lawyers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,509

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,875

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 80.5%

Computer software engineers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,351

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,555

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 86.9%

Computer and information systems managers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,260

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,641

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 76.8%

Physicians and surgeons

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,230

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,911

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 64.4%

Management analysts

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,139

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,391

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 81.9%

Human resources managers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,137

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,433

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 79.3%

Speech-language pathologists

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,124

Men – Median weekly earnings: *

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: **

Computer and mathematical occupations

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,088

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,320

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 82.4%

Computer scientists and systems analysts

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,082

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,240

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 87.3%

Physician assistants

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,077

Men – Median weekly earnings: **

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: **

Medical and health services managers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,066

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,504

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 70.9%

Physical scientists, all other

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,061

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,535

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 69.1%

Postsecondary teachers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,056

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,245

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 84.8%

Marketing and sales managers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,024

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,601

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 64%

Physical therapists

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,019

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,329

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 76.7%

Occupational therapists

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,016

Men – Median weekly earnings: **

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: **

Registered nurses

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,011

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,168

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 86.6%

Managers, all other

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,010

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,359

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 74.3%

Psychologists

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,004

Men – Median weekly earnings: **

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: **

Computer programmers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,003

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,261

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 79.5%

Architecture and engineering occupations

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,001

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,286

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 77.8%

Advertising and promotions managers

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,000

Men – Median weekly earnings: **

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: **

Education administrators

Women – Median weekly earnings: $1,000

Men – Median weekly earnings: $1,398

Women’s earnings as percent of men’s in same occupation: 71.5%

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Are males and females paid the same at your organization?

*No data or data that do not meet publication criteria.

** Data not shown where the male employment base is less than 50,000.

By Kate Lorenz