The Economy: Labor Statistics

February 21, 2010 by

New jobs are higher-paying

New evidence from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the growth in high-wage jobs has been quite healthy. Some economists and some politicians claim that new jobs created in the last year are mainly lower-paying jobs. The median pay for U.S. workers, ranked by occupation and industry group, is $559 a week. Of that number, 408,000 jobs were created from July 2003 to June 2004. At the same time, there were 744,000 higher-paying jobs created.

The bureau divides all workers into 11 occupations, then assigns every job to one of 14 industries, meaning that the workforce can be sliced into a total of 154 groups. Managers in some categories have higher salaries than managers in others. And average pay in some parts of the country is higher than in others.

According to a Business Week analysis, 48 percent of new hires earned a median pay of $559 per week. Many more workers were hired for higher-paying jobs. The long-run outlook for real wages is positive for a reason economists and politicians can’t take credit for: increased productivity.

Posted in economy statistics; economy state; labor statistics; american economy | Leave a Comment »

"Dirty Jobs" Brings a Message

February 20, 2010 by

Mike Rowe, the host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” show, will do any job his two million viewers ask him to do, like hauling garbage, cleaning solid-waste tanks, or crime scene cleanup. He recently did his 150th show, which attests to its popularity .

Rowe says people think our lives have become too easy. But when a ditch digger finishes, there is a ditch. A guy at a desk just has his desk. People with dirty jobs have their own philosophy. He says: “They have that quiet knowledge that comes from knowing that even though your contribution may not be understood or appreciated, it matters.” They feel secure in that.

Something to think about, if you’re job searching.

Posted in find job, job hunting, job searching, purpose of job, work for college grads | Leave a Comment »

Find Your Mentor

February 18, 2010 by

Recent college graduates and new hires are often assigned a mentor, someone usually arbitrarily selected as guide to get them started in their jobs. Then two problems can come up. First, the mentor doesn’t have the time or inclination to give advice. Second, though mentors may have held the same job sometime in the past, the job is now different and their advice is meaningless.
If the new worker looks around for a friendly face and tries out one or two, an unofficial mentor may be found who will be willing to answer questions and advise on projects.

Posted in college graduates, mentor for college grads, work for college grads, work mentor | Leave a Comment »

Not Wanting to Be the Boss

February 17, 2010 by

Getting promoted is not what some workers dream about today. Being a middle manager may be viewed as a hard job with long hours and the same lack of the flexibility as their current job.
As baby boomers head to retirement, companies are worried about where to find the next leaders. Some are taking steps to make middle-management jobs more attractive.
Many employees continue to covet middle-management positions and thrive in them once achieved. Some, however, would rather spend more time at home.

Posted in management, promoted, promotion, work promotion | Leave a Comment »

How To Find a Job in Tough Economic Times

February 16, 2010 by

Searching the help-wanted ads may be one of the least-effective ways to find employment. Putting your resume online is not much better. The golden methods, experts say, are headhunters, employment agencies, and your own contacts. Always check with familiar companies to determine whether they have an opening. Knowing a person who could actually help you is a plus. Most will say there is no opening. At that point, ask if you can submit an application and be considered when something opens up. Most positions are never advertised, but filled with someone the company already knows.

Get the word out. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Network in person, by phone, by email, and on social networking sites. Salesmen can check Salesman.com. Headhunters may be able to help, but know who pays for the service and how much it is.
Some say looking for a job on Twitter is a good move. They recommend making a Twitter bio (140 characters) and Tweeting about your job search.

Establish yourself as an expert, but be honest. If you are skilled in a specific occupation, the state employment office will notify you of openings. If you are a young person or someone returning to the workforce and willing to take any job you can find, there is no substitute for the walk-your-shoes-off job hunt. That means going into every type of business from supermarkets and department stores, to banks, offices, and restaurants. Even if assured that no help is needed, you should ask to fill out an application. You could be surprised at who calls in the next week or two.
Job seekers can check listings at findajob.com and snagajob.com, which claim to have full and part-time jobs, some of which could be nearby.

Posted in find job, job hunting, job searching, networking | Leave a Comment »

Get Regular Reviews from Your Boss

February 7, 2010 by

If you’re currently working at a job you love (or just like), that’s great! In this challenging economy, it’s certainly great to be a part of a solid company, to receive a steady paycheck, and to have benefits for your family. In order to continue on your career path, it’s always a good thing to check in with your boss regularly, in order to find out how you’re doing in your role.

Career Rating allows you to set up a regular evaluation with your supervisor, so you can gauge what he/she thinks of your job performance. You can arrange a monthly, quarterly, or annual evaluation, create a few questions for your boss to answer, and our site will automatically email your survey to your superior. It’s really easy and once you set it up, the system does everything for you. Your boss will only have to click a few buttons in order to give you a rating. Nothing to it! Your ratings will show up in your Career Rating account automatically. Give this fantastic tool a try!

Posted in boss evaluation, career evaluation, career rating, job rating | Leave a Comment »

While You’re Job Searching

February 3, 2010 by

If you’re searching for a job, you’ve probably already tried all the conventional methods. All browsed through all the popular job websites, you’ve sent your resume to all your contacts, you’ve reached out to professional organizations and mingled with former colleagues. You may be thinking about what else you can do.

Being between jobs is a great opportunity to get creative with your skills. This is a wonderful time to try freelancing and contract work. Yes, it does not necessarily provide a stable paycheck. But it gives freedom, experience and references. So if you’ve ever thought about picking up some side projects, now is obviously a great time to do so.

Another great thing about job hunting is the fact that this may be a great time to pursue more education. Whether it’s an advanced degree or a certification program, now you have the time to actually do it! (You may think, I got the time, but I don’t have the money, right? That may be true. Look into programs offered by less expensive community colleges.) When thinking about more schooling, you have to weigh what the degree/certificate will get you vs. what you’ll pay for it (in terms of time and money).

Certainly, while you’re job searching, be sure to try out www.CareerRating.com as a way to get confidential ratings/evaluations from your former colleagues and bosses. Nothing can entice a potential employer like a TRUE rating from your previous job. Definitely, give it a shot. Good luck with the hunt!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Welcome to Career Rating Blog!

January 29, 2010 by

Greetings and welcome to our blog! We’re so excited you’ve chosen to spend a few minutes with us. Of course, you’re already familiar with www.CareerRating.com and all the wonderful things it can do for you and your career.

The purpose of this blog is to keep you up to date on the various news and enhancements our site may undergo. Simultaneously, we also want to discuss things in the news that may be of interest to career-minded individuals. Once in a while, we’ll even post a joke or two. Pretty much anything goes, as long as it’s related to work, employment, advancement, and so on. We welcome and encourage your comments and feedback. Thanks for visiting!

Posted in blog, career rating, job news, news | Leave a Comment »

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