LPN - The Right Career Choice?

By Andrea M Jones
LPN stands for Licensed Practical Nurse and is the initial nursing qualification. In order to qualify as an LPN you must undertake a course on a training program which has been approved by the State Board of Nursing. The course is usually 18 months to two years long but can be as short as 12 months.

At the end of the training course, prospective candidates must pass an examination. The licensing examination is called the NCLEX-PN and is essential if you wish to go on and practice as a nurse.

Once licensed the nurse can undertake a variety of both simple and complex medical procedures, but should only do so under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a physician.

Usually, before being admitted to an approved training program you must demonstrate as a minimum that you have a high school diploma and do not have a criminal record, although increasingly, possibly as demand for the qualification grows, there are training courses which will accept you on the course without high school diploma, indeed in some cases students can start LPN programs while still in high school through vocational programs.

There are many approved training schools providing the necessary qualification programs across the country. Indeed in 2006 the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were more than 1,500 state approved training courses in practical nursing. Since that time there have been a significant number of programs that have been designed specifically for learning online.

Most courses still however require a clinical aspect to the training which is difficult to undertake on a distance basis, so it is likely that attendance as some form of organized clinical training events will still be required. There are however many local vocation schools and technical LPN programs that offer complete courses or just specific aspects of the training regime as well as community colleges.

Once qualified LPN's are able to undertake a wide variety of activities, from simple measurements for example taking a patients temperature or blood pressure, through to administering CPR on a patient who is suffering a cardiac arrest. Most of the time however they will be administering basic care to elderly, infirm or recuperative patients in a non-hospital environment.

Andrea Jones provides valuable advice about the background, qualification procedure and opportunities presented to anyone thinking of undertaking an LPN course.

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A Worklife Freedom and Flexibility Manifesto

By Jonathan Pincas
The shackles of a 9-5 job are all too obvious for those who are wearing or have worn them. Need to go to the dentist on Thursday? Get permission from your boss. Fancy a couple of days off in May? No chance. Got drunk on Tuesday? Need to work the night shift on Wednesday? Forget it. Not really into that assignment? Want to ditch it? Not happening. Disagree with the ethical policy of your company? Bite your tongue. Fancy earning double next year? Dream on.

Everybody has their own pet hate about their job or career, but complaints tend to follow a predictable pattern and revolve around a real or perceived lack of freedom: freedom to create your own present and to shape your own future. The Say No! to the Office philosophy is about renouncing the shackles and embracing this freedom.

The aim of the "Worklife Freedom and Flexibility Manifesto" is to present a number of principles which spell out in more detail the freedoms that Non-9-to-5'ers seek. It's not about political or social activism - it's a blueprint for complete worklife freedom to be discussed, reflected upon and honed. Maybe you don't agree with, or necessarily desire, all of these - that's fine - they are tenets, ideals or objectives. If only one or two of them are important to you, strive to make those a reality and ignore the rest. The general idea that underlies the principals is simple: they are based on the notion that in an ideal world, you should control:

* Where to work
* When to work
* How much to work
* Who to work for
* What to work on
* How much to earn

So, without further ado, I give you the "Principles of Worklife Freedom". Read more about each principle in further articles in this series.
The Say No! to the Office Principles of Worklife Freedom

1. Freedom and Flexibility of Residency: The fundamentally important decision of where to live your life should not be made on your behalf, either tacitly or overtly, by an employer or general employment considerations. You live where you want to and work there.
2. Freedom and Flexibility of Mobility: You decide where you will be whilst working at any time. The boredom and restrictiveness of sitting at the same desk every day is unnecessary. Whether you want to work from your kitchen, your relatives house, or a hotel, you should be able to do so whenever you want with the flexibility to change without asking permission.
3. Freedom and Flexibility of Workload: You decide how much work to do during any day, week, month or year. It is not necessary or desirable to do exactly the same amount or duration of work everyday. Work is secondary to life - sometimes life demands more personal time, sometimes less. Work should be flexible enough to accommodate this.
4. Freedom and Flexibility of Working Hours: You decide when to do your work. It is not necessary to work at the same time every day and at the same time as everyone else. Some people may wish to work during the day, others during the evening. Some people may wish to work intensively for 3 days a week, others may prefer to work 2-3 hours a day, seven days a week.
5. Freedom and Flexibility of Client: If you're self employed, you have clients. If you're employed, your employer is just a client buying your labour. You decide who your clients are and are free and able to change clients easily, avoiding total dependence on any one of them. You are not a slave. Whatever type of work you do, the person you really work for is yourself.
6. Freedom and Flexibility of Assignment: You decide which projects to work on based on your own motivation, financial needs, skills and interests. You avoid boredom caused by unsuitable or repetitive work assignments that serve only the corporate purpose. You seek constant stimulation from interesting and challenging projects. Work should be enjoyable.
7. Freedom and Flexibility of Remuneration: You control the factors that directly and indirectly determine your present and future earnings. You are not restricted to the same income month after month. You are not restricted to small incremental yearly increases in income and a predictable financial future. You are not a wage-slave.

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Senior Care Jobs

By Julie Northcutt
What opportunities are available for employment in senior care?

Senior care jobs are available in retirement communities, senior home care agencies and nursing homes. Retirement communities employ managers, sales, support and care staff, usually consisting of a Registered Nurse and a few Certified Nursing Aides to support the community. Senior home care agencies employ managers consisting of registered nurses and social workers along with office and field staff including schedulers, recruiters, bookkeepers and receptionists or in-take coordinators. Field staff consists of Certified Nursing Aides, Home Health Aides and Certified Personal Care Assistants (all states in the U.S.A. certify nursing aides and additional senior care certfications vary by state).

What training is required? Some positions do not require training beyond a caring personality. Other positions require experience in that area of expertise. Non-medical senior home care agencies are able to staff companion caregivers in most states. These caregivers receive caregiver training through the senior care agency and the only requirements are dependablility, compassion and experience interacting with seniors.

What certifications are required? Retirement communities and nursing homes usually require caregivers to be certified as a nursing aide. Senior home care agencies are considered non-medical and may require some caregivers who are working in nursing facilities or reimbursed by long-term care insurance to be certified nursing aides or certified home health aides or certified personal care assistants if these certifications are offered in the state where care services are provided.

What are the job duties? The caregiving job duties will consist of: companionship, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation (and planning), assisting with personal care and safe transfers, exercise coaching, medication monitoring and errands. Mental and physical exercises along with social activities may be included in the senior's plan of care.

How do you become certified as a nursing aide? You should check the certification requirements in your state. Many community colleges offer nursing aide certification programs and some hospitals and nursing homes may also offer the nursing aide certification. You are usually able to obtain certification within 6 to 12 weeks, depending on if you attend a full-time or part-time program. After finishing a certification program, you will be required to take the state exam. Usually your program will provide you with practice tests. Skills learned include proper emotional interaction with the senior, along with how to bathe, transfer and maintain cleanliness in the patient's environment. Feeding tube and colostomy maintenance are also taught.

Are positions full-time or part-time? Both full-time and part-time positions are available as often seniors will only need part-time services in their home when additional care is first needed. Many times senior home care agencies will need to staff morning or afternoon or evening caregivers in order to meet a senior's care needs, which means a wide variety of part-time schedules are available. This makes companion care an attractive opportunity for both seniors and students.

How do you find available senior care positions? It is always a good idea to obtain some experience through volunteering at a senior center, nursing home. Opportunities also exist through associations for age-related diseases such as Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's Disease. You may also explore senior caregiving jobs through career centers for caregivers where one application will reach all the senior care companies in your area.

Julie A. Northcutt, CEO of Caregiverlist, Inc., works to connect seniors and their loved ones with quality senior care options and caregivers with employment opportunities and has been working in the senior care industry for more than 10 years. http://www.caregiverlist.com provides information on elderly care and assists in finding premier senior home care agencies by qualifying your care needs and required services.

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FedEx Careers - Lots of Pros and Very Few Cons

By Will Stone
In today's world and in today's economy it is tough to find a good, well paying career. FedEx Careers offers many well paying jobs with tremendous benefits for people in all aspects of life. Whether you start out on the ground floor as a package handler or high up on the managerial ladder FedEx takes great care of you. FedEx is one of the best known shipping and receiving companies in the world and is proud of its reputation.

When you get a job at FedEx you can rest assured that the benefits they offer all employees are second to none. They treat all of their employees as if they were the CEO of the company. With benefits like discounts on items through the FedEx website for employees to health benefits to discounted airplane tickets. Factor in a competitive wage and a fun environment to work in where people get along and look forward to going to work everyday you experience with FedEx Careers will be a memorable one.

Along with all of that, factoring in today's tough economic times and inevitable layoffs companies all across the country are facing, FedEx managers across the board agreed a few months back to take pay cuts so they could minimize layoffs nationwide. It showed just how much the company cares about their workers and how important truck drivers, off loaders and package handlers are to them. These people who took pay cuts could have very easily declined the pay cut and let go of workers, it wouldn't have affected them too much if they work in the Atlanta office and someone who drives trucks in Boston got laid off. But they were willing to help everyone out throughout then entire company.

You can see that with all of the positives going on at FedEx it is tough to find many negatives. They serve multi-billion dollar businesses ship packages overnight across the world, they ship for small businesses across North America and they also cater to people sending packages to family and friends. With millions of people working for them around the world and billions of people relying on them to ship packages, the people who work for FedEx take their job very seriously and professionally.

Will Stone has offered employment tips and company background information for years to those that are looking to improve their lives. Click here for some more information on FedEx Careers or to learn more about what Will Stone offers take a look at his Employment News Site. It has always been important for one to be a productive member of society and one way is to have a positive impact as either an employer or employee and Will does all he can to offer aid to those with the same though process.

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What They Don't Teach You in School About Getting a Job - 5 Things You Need to Learn Right Now

By Lynn King
Many of us spend a lot of time and invest significant amounts of money in our education. Unfortunately, most high schools and colleges do not teach us key skills we need to survive in the real world. There are 5 things you need to know before you try to find a job - and they don't teach you this in school!

1. Where should you look?
Gone are the days when searching the Classifieds of the local paper is the best way to find a great job. Many companies no longer advertise their positions in newspapers. To start your job search, look at key web sites on the internet like monster.com or career builders.com. Posting your resume and/or building a personal website is a great way to get your name in front of employers. You should also network with family and friends to find out about opportunities with local companies.

2. What do you need to apply for a job?
Resumes are important and there are a lot of reference materials you can use to learn how to write an effective one. Invest some time in how to write a good resume and keep it brief and error-free. In addition to the resume, most companies now want to hear about your personal experiences. Be prepared to provide specific examples of how you've learned something or used a skill. Prove that you are good at something by explaining how you succeeded in that area in the past.

3. What about the interview?
Preparing for an interview is critical. You need to know as much about the company you are meeting with as possible. Find someone willing to partner with you to practice so that you are actually answering questions in a conversation with someone. Get feedback so that you can improve how you come across. Be comfortable with yourself so that others will feel comfortable around you. Confidence is important, and so are sincerity and credibility. Consider talking with a professional coach to get guidance on effective communication skills.

4. How should I leave the interview?
Be prepared with a sentence or two that sums up why you are a good candidate for the position. Focus on your strengths and reasons you want the job. Explain what you can bring to the company that may not be common with other employees. What is different about you? Do not leave the interview before you've made a clear statement about why you should be hired. Ask when you should expect to be contacted and if it's ok if you contact them for an update on their decision. There is no reason that you should be left in the dark.

5. What should I do after the interview?
A lot of things have changed about the interview process, but neglecting to send a thank you note or e-mail is a mistake. Take the time to write a sincere note of appreciation for the chance to talk with them. A personal note will stand out with a potential employer. You never know when you might cross paths again, even if you don't get a job offer this time.

Find help now getting the job you really want. Contact Lynn King, Coach/Trainer, Access Coaching & Training at lynn@accesscoaching.com. Click on Access Coaching & Training now for a free initial consultation!

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Jobs at Kohl's Despite the Economy

By Will Stone
Kohl's department store based out of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin offers a wide variety of jobs, from management, to retail to loss prevention to modeling! With department stores like Linens and Things and Talbots closing their doors, it's an understatement to say that the economy has had a negative effect on retail. However, Kohl's continues to keep their locations all over the country open, and by all accounts, in the grim economy, the outlook is good for people looking for jobs at Kohl's to find what they are looking for in the upcoming year.

As with any job, the interview process requires preparation and professionalism. The interview process for jobs at Kohl's differs from position to position and is going to be more involved, the higher the position. If modeling is the desired position, the company mainly works with talent agencies in Wisconsin.

Applications are available online or in the store, again as with most jobs, it is recommended to apply in-person and to pick up an application in-person that you can ask to speak with a manager. It is important to look professional at all times, even if you are only going into the store to pick up an application.

In retail, it is important to maintain a high level of attention to customer service, and this is especially true at Kohl's, a company that prides itself on having a reputation for great customer service. A simple search on the internet will find you any amount of blogs about the high quality of the customer service at Kohl's.

However, if you are not a person who is known for your ability to work with many customers at any given time, there still may be jobs at Kohl's for you. When looking for a job, always stay positive, maintain your professionalism, and don't let the economy get you down. You can find a great job, and you can find it at Kohl's.

Will Stone has offered employment tips and company background information for years to those that are looking to improve their lives. Click here for some tips on how to fill out an Online Job Application that gets results or to learn more about what Will Stone offers take a look at his Employment News Site. It has always been important for one to be a productive member of society and one way is to have a positive impact as either an employer or employee and Will does all he can to offer aid to those with the same though process.

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Skills Required to Be a Transcriptionist

You might be surprised to learn all the things required to be an efficient and effective transcriptionist. It is not merely a matter of having excellent typing skills. So many other factors go into the world of a transcriptionist. While computer keyboard skills are indeed important, accuracy and speed are a must.

Language skills are needed so that the transcription reflects what has bee said in the setting it was recorded. Along with that, it is imperative that they have a good grasp on pronunciation. The tone in which words are spoken can be an important part of the transcription. Being able to capture the moment is the key to being a good transcriptionist.

It goes without saying that listening skills are more than important. A transcriptionist must be able to focus and stay on task while transcribing.

There are meeting, courtroom and medical transcriptionists to name a few. With not only the language skills needed to be a transcriptionist in the first place, those doing medical transcription need to have a firm understanding of medical terms and abbreviations.

Research can be a large part of the job as well, for there will always be an occasion that something someone has said will not entirely make sense. By doing the research and finding out the context in which it was meant, a more accurate depiction can be recorded.

Often times, transcriptionists that record in business meetings need to turn over the transcription within a very short time frame. This makes it critical that accuracy, speed and understanding have all come together so that the best possible transcription can be handed over to clientele.***

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By Heidi Ball
For more information on what someone in the medical transcription field does, visit Oracle Transcription, Inc (http://oracleti.com/). Heidi Ball is a freelance writer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heidi_Ball

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Royal Caribbean Employment - Important Tips to Help You Get the Cruise Job

This information is important if you're seeking a Royal Caribbean employment. You are making the right decision if you want to work with the Royal Caribbean cruise company. It's a well established cruise company known for its years of great service to passengers.

Lots of people desire to secure any of the numerous positions aboard any of their cruise ships. There are many reasons why people desire these jobs so much. Some include the fact that you can get to see many beautiful holiday spots around the world. For people who love to travel, this brings a wonderful feeling.

Others desire these cruise jobs because of the opportunity it provides to meet other people. Such meetings and new friendships could lead to better job opportunities off the ship.

It's a wonderful opportunity to network with diverse people from different parts of the globe. A Royal Caribbean employment opportunity also provides an opportunity to earn a tax free income while traveling around in style.

All types of professions are required by this cruise liner and other popular cruise companies. You shouldn't limit yourself just to work on the Royal Caribbean. You should seriously think about applying for work with the other cruise liners.

Now, many people make the mistake of simply posting their job applications and CV's all over job sites on the internet. This is the wrong approach. It's also wrong to simply visit online cruise ship recruitment sites and submit an application.

This usually never works out because many of these so called agencies are only interested in collecting your hard earn cash without delivering the promise they make of helping you get that job. This is the simple reason why most people never get these jobs.

A Royal Caribbean employment can only be secured when you get the right information about how to apply for these cruise jobs, where to apply to, when to apply e.t.c. You need the right information to help you apply correctly.***

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By James M. Carter
To read more about Royal Caribbean employment and to get a detailed resource that would guide you on what to do first, to succeed quickly with getting any cruise job, visit http://www.raljo.com/cruise-ship-jobs-review.html

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Developing Your Career From the Ground Up

If you're just graduating from college, or deciding to enter the workforce after spending your adult years involved in other projects, then you have the benefit many others don't: building your career from the ground up.

For some, this prospect may sound scary - especially if they're in the midst of a career that has been rocky all along the way. But if you take your time to plan your prospective career - as well as alternatives - before you get started, you should be able to make rather smooth transitions along the way until you reach your ultimate goal. Let's look at how you can get this done ...

Decide What You Like

One of the most important ways to obtain fulfillment in your career is by first deciding what it is that you like. Many people have no idea what they would like to do with their lives, and this is totally understandable. Some people have always obediently followed the decisions of their parents. Others may have been forced to choose a path in college after too many years being "undecided." Luckily, no matter the predicament, it is never too late to choose.

The easiest way to decide what you like is by creating a list of the things you love to do for no money at all. If you're having a hard time coming up with a list, you can complete personality tests like the Ansir Self-Perception test, through which you will answer questions to help you determine your strengths. It will also offer careers you may be best suited to take on.

Choose Your Career(s)

Once you've created a list - or completed a personality test - your next step is to see what careers fall in line with your passions. For instance, you may absolutely love math and find that being an accountant, bookkeeper, or even math teacher may fall in line with what you love. Or you may love animals and find that you may be able to work in the veterinary world, on a farm, or even as a zookeeper. If your college degree is not compatible with your passion, that's okay. It will just be your job to determine what steps you'll need to take to make your dream a reality.

Create Your Plan - Get Where You Want to Be

Once you have determined more than one option for your career path, your next step can be to look more thoroughly at each one then create a plan that determines how far you want to get on each path (Director of Public Relations, Vice President of Sales, etc.). Next you would look at potential routes you can take to achieve your goal, including the number of years you would invest in each position along the way. You can research the strongest employment opportunities and history of economical strengths with each option. And of course, make room for flexibility in the event that you become dissatisfied with your career or want to make plans around your family.

Developing your career from the ground up can require a lot of soul searching. But it's a great way to find yourself - and your career. So don't be afraid to tackle this task. You'll find that your career success will likely be much easier to obtain with a plan in place.***

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By Heather Eagar
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

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Opportunities of a Traveling Nurse

Nurse shortage is rising tremendously every year, a lot of people who needs health care of a nurse are desperately looking for a nurse from different health care centers and health care providers. Some agencies that offer nursing assistance are also all over the country just to provide the demand of a nurse. That is why lots of nurses all over the world are traveling from one country to another just to get the job done.

Indeed travelling nurse is really a booming industry now days. Every year many nurses are retiring due to old age or shift of a career and the sad thing about this is that less people are in to nursing courses that causes shortage of nurses. Country like places like Canada, London and America are just some of the countries that most nurses are in demand.

The industry of nurses is really a growing business because of demand that is increasing every year. And as a nurse, you may have to look for a company that can offer you good deal in terms of compensation and benefits. There are lots of companies that offer high compensation and benefits just to lure nurses to join them. But of course nurses are really overwhelmed with the number of choices that they can have.

Nurses should be provided allowances when they travel by their agencies, some of the basic allowances that they should have are food, transportation, board and lodging. And usually salary varies according to the skills and years of experience of the nurse. And most of all nurses do have different skills and capabilities. If they are tasked to do tough responsibilities that require specialization the compensation must be quite higher than normal salary of a nurse.***

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By Channer Hewitt
For more information visit: Nursing Guide and Nursing Agency.
Channer Hewitt. A writer for How to Start a Nursing Agency and Starting a Nursing Agency.

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Where Do You Find Writing Jobs?

From freelance writing jobs to technical writing jobs, there are many different kinds of writing jobs in the market. It can be hard to find some of them, and many of these jobs you have to create for yourself. To obtain an actual, full-time writing job is tricky, and there is a lot of competition, but if you apply yourself and have a strong resume, there are many opportunities and openings if you know where to look.

If you're interested in creative writing jobs, then you can begin anywhere at anytime. You can just start writing a short story, a book, a blog entry, a review, etc. and post it online. There are hundreds of websites that allow you to post your work for people to read. You can post it on your own blog and hope to gain a readership through regular posts or through some creative marketing. If you already have a small fan base through your blog posts, then you have a much better chance at getting published. Recognition often comes from other recognition. If the public already recognizes you as an entertaining author, then so will publications and publishing houses. So if you're interested in creative writing jobs, this is one way to begin your writing career.

As for technical jobs, such as editing jobs, you start by going to school. The better the university, the more likely you'll get a job in this field. If you find the right school, you can contact your professors to see if they have any contacts they'd recommend. You need to impress them first, however. This can be difficult if they're hard to please and most of them are. It's hard for some of these professors to truly distinguish the great from the average, and many writers might often feel their professor favors a student with average writing skills over their own. This is common in all creative fields and departments. However, if you do manage to impress one of your professors, they might have a good connection that will get you started. There are also classified ads posted all over the paper and the Internet for companies looking for technical writers. If you take any and every job you can until you have an impressive resume, then you can work your way into the better jobs in technical writing.

Online writing jobs are the easiest to come by. Partly because you can start with your own blog and gradually build your own readership. The more readers you gain, the more exposure and attention you'll receive. You can start using your writing skills and readership to advertise certain products. This is how many bloggers get paid and make their living. You could also continue to write fictional stories until you gain a loyal following and hope to get these stories published. If you come up with a great character or storyline that people can grab onto, then you might just create another epidemic like Twilight or Harry Potter. These are obviously dream writing jobs and not quite so practical. If you're looking for a practical writing job, then you should simply start at the bottom and look for every small writing job available. There are magazines that need reviews written for music, film, or entertainment. You could begin by finding some of your favorite independent bands and writing reviews about their albums. There are many music websites where you can post these reviews. You can do the same with films and hope that newspapers catch wind of your movie reviews. All the major papers have jobs for film critics who write reviews every week. This is a hard job to get because there are so few of them, but it is still worth a shot.

Technical writer jobs require a completely different approach, on the other hand. You need to appeal to businesses who need manuals written about their products. Or you need to contact other writers who need editors. There are a lot of different technical writer jobs, and their approach has nothing to do with your own following or readership. They are more about efficiency and accuracy. They are about perfection. If you are an editor, the quicker you can go through a book and fix all the errors, and the fewer the errors, the better qualified you'll be for the next job. These are more tedious jobs with more minute tasks. But there are many openings for these jobs, and you could always start with some local author who is trying to get his or her book published. If you offer to edit his/her book and correct all errors, it could be a start for you. If the book gets published, perhaps you'll get published with it. When he/she writes the next book, you'll be his/her editor.

Breaking into the writing and publishing industry can be difficult and is very competitive. But there are many different kinds of writing jobs, so be sure to check the classified ads online, especially on craigslist, and check out all the job offers listed. You're bound to find something that you're qualified to do, and that is where it all begins. If you're willing to do the job you don't really want to do to get to where you want to get, then you'll reach your goals in no time!

So get your resume filled out and peruse the classifieds. Take whatever you can get to build up your resume. Then approach the companies you want to work for, or the publishing companies you want to publish your work, and start building that relationship. The more you get to know them, the better. And if you're aiming for creative jobs, then start building your readership right away. Write blogs every day and market your blogs until you start getting hundreds, and then thousands of readers every day. Figure out what topics will best appeal to a niche demographic and write about it, again and again. That is how it all begins!***

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By Harrison Barnes
Freelance Writer Jobs & Online Writer Jobs

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Service Industry Woes Will Affect Teenagers Seeking Jobs

Teenagers are going to have a difficult time in the coming year finding jobs for many reasons. As teens have little to no job experience, they will either be the first to get laid off or never hired. Teens are usually in the bracket of minimum wage earners and employers will have to cut more of that group first.

The service industry is where many teens get their first employment opportunities and that area is being hit just as hard or harder as any other sector. People are cutting back in all areas of their spending and especially so in areas such as eating out and entertainment. With fewer people willing to spend money, restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and other such service industry businesses are being hit hard. People are choosing and will continue to choose to stay in instead of go out for that evening on the town.

Other areas where teenagers traditionally get jobs are in a similar situation. Babysitting jobs will be fewer and more people will choose to mow their own lawns just because they don't have the money they once did to have the teens in the neighborhood do it. Everybody will be holding back and unfortunately teens are going to find it rough going in the job finding departments.

If there was ever a time to get creative to find ways to make money and find a job it is now. It seems that those who work the hardest to get that job will have the upper hand. No one is going have a job handed to them as the demand for jobs is too high. Teens who are willing to do something extra and/or work a little harder than the next guy will be first in line to get hired. Those that are lazy in nature will be the losers and that may be one of the first life lessons they get.***

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By Joseph Palmer
Are you a teen and hoping to find jobs for 16 year olds? Please check out my money making ideas where you will find some good ways to make money online.

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Top Jobs For Felons - Felons Working Legitimately

If you are a convicted felon, finding conventional employment can be one of the most challenging tasks to undertake. Having a criminal record will cause you to be purged from the lists of prospective employers at every job you apply for, and you will probably feel desperate about where to turn to in order to make an honest living.

There are other options you can take, however, to be able to earn money legitimately. You don't need to settle for jobs that pay minimum wage just because you have had a shady past, either.

Some of the recommended top jobs for felons include driving trucks. You can apply for a job as a delivery person for mail services such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS, or you can hire yourself out as a truck driver delivering cargo across several states. You will find that a good number of trucking companies will hire you even if you have a criminal record so long as you hold a current driver's license.

Working at grocery stores and fast-food restaurants are also popular options. If you are a good worker, you can even get promoted to a higher position. By far, one of the most recommended top jobs for felons can be found online. You can work freelance, start an online business, or sign up with "get paid to" sites to complete surveys, answer questionnaires, or complete various free offers to get paid for your time and opinions. "Get paid to" sites offer the best way to start earning money quickly and easily.

While making a living after life behind bars can be difficult, there are legal ways around it if you are resourceful enough to find them.***

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By Greg Mascetani

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Brand Yourself For Career Success

In today's world, a successful career will go through many unexpected twists and turns. Being laid off or even fired doesn't mean much if you can keep coming back stronger than ever. Branding yourself helps you stay in touch with what is happening and attract offers when you need them.

Your personal brand is all about how you establish and guide your reputation. If you haven't thought about it, start with these five steps to create an effective and successful brand.

1. Decide how you want to be perceived.

People don't have a lot of time to get to know others these days. Help them along by presenting an attractive, concise picture of who you are, what you can do for them, and why they should work with you. Catch their attention in 25 words or less and most people are willing to spend some time developing a relationship and exploring options.

2. Find your "neighbors. "

In the old days, people operated with their neighborhoods, towns, or cities. Today you can go global sitting at your computer. Remember that people still judge you by the company you keep. Be selective about what groups you join and who you link with online. You may find potential clients, employers, competitors, and partners. It's all good as it all helps to establish who you are.

3. Be active.

Networking and relationship-building is a great way to get known and to stay current. Think about joining fewer groups and doing more with each one. Ask and answer questions, start your own conversation, volunteer for a leadership position. Remember that "givers get." Helping someone else when things are going well for you can pay huge dividends later on.

4. Start now.

If you haven't already started developing your personal brand, do it now. Create your 25 word summary and sign on to some of the online social networks like LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) or Facebook (www.facebook.com). It's free. It's easy. And opportunities will open up as you go.

5. Build your brand as your go.

Worried that branding will take too much time or that you won't get it right immediately? Don't be. Start now with your best effort. Make changes and tweaks as you see what works and what doesn't. Whenever you do something that fits with your brand, make sure you let all of your new friends know about it.***

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By Judy Downing
Personal branding can be an amazing tool for helping you navigate the career you deserve. Managed properly, it can also be great fun and immensely rewarding.
Judy Downing is a speaker and freelance writer. She can be reached at judy@customerapproach.com or 909-855-7467.

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International Work Assignments - The Importance of Getting it Right

The news media aren't exactly in business to cheer us up. After all, their stock in trade is doom and gloom.

But even by their standards the economic news is depressing stuff at the moment, with every week bringing another round of bad tidings, including a flurry of announcements around the world of firms culling jobs.

Certainly these are uncertain times for the workforce at large. And while in former years companies have often taken a Last In First Out approach to redundancies, this time many employers appear to be getting rid of some of their most experienced staffers, since these are the ones that get paid the most!

With so little job security at the moment it's understandable then why many employees are prepared to do whatever it takes to get or stay in a job, including hauling themselves and their families around the world on expatriate assignments, whether they want to or not.

And given the need for many companies to find new and more lucrative revenue streams by targeting opportunities in markets around the world, it seems mobility in the global workforce will continue to rise.

For example, according to the 2008 Global Assignment Policies and Practices Survey conducted by the International Executive Services practice of KPMG, 83% of the human resources executives polled expected the number of people their organizations send abroad for work to increase or stay the same in the next five years*.

However, the survey also revealed serious concerns about the practice of international assignments, with 49% of organizations saying assignees take too much time to administer.

Meanwhile, an article in the New York Times highlighted the difficulties the families of expatriate workers often face when they are assigned abroad**. It noted that such problems are an important reason why many overseas job postings are not successful, sometimes at enormous cost to the firms that sent them.

In short then, it's crucial that the issue of working overseas is handled correctly from the start, for everybody concerned: the employee, their family, and the companies involved.

And that means the worker and their family understanding what the assignment will mean for them in terms of the lifestyle they can expect, and assessing with frank honesty whether they are in fact suited to it - and more importantly whether they are likely to enjoy the experience.

Knowledge and preparation are crucial here:

• Speak to the employer about the work expectations and what assistance they provide with the relocation (including if there are any programs on offer for the trailing families).
• Talk to other expatriate employees within the company if you can to get some color on what to expect, and how their families have coped.
• Do research into the country and specific location you'll be in, to get some idea of the climate, geography, leisure opportunities, culture and traditions, to discover what life for you might be like there.

Now, we may all feel a degree of apprehension at the prospect of a change, which can cloud our judgment and lead to fear. Plus it's not always easy to know how you'll cope with a life abroad until you go and see.

Nevertheless, your gut instinct is normally a good barometer. If, once you've clearly understood what the assignment entails, your predominant sense at the prospect of relocating is one of excitement - or alternatively it fills you with dread - then you have as good an answer as you're likely to get.

And then, if you do decide to make the jump, determine to embrace it! If you're going to go, you may as well make the most of the opportunity.***

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By Paul M Allen
Paul Allen is a freelance journalist and writer who has lived in northern Spain since 2003. He is the author of "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The Truth About Moving Abroad And Whether It's Right For You," a comprehensive e-book guide for people seeking advice on whether or not to move abroad. For more details about the book, and to get lots of free information and advice on moving and living overseas, visit his website at http://www.expatliving101.com/

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Traveling Nurses - Great Benefits and Learning Experience

Traveling nurses have one of the most enviable jobs available. You are doing a job you love, traveling to locations you are dying to see, all the while enjoying better benefits than when you were a staff nurse. What's not to love?

It's easy to see why nurses are constantly looking into this exciting profession. You can enjoy yourself while you work and learn. You have the best of both worlds.

Travel nurse benefits are outstanding. This is one of the main reasons travel nursing is so popular.

* Free housing
* Free health insurance
* Above average pay
* License reimbursement
* Unlimited travel to the places you want to see
* Work in some of the finest hospitals in the nation
* Learn new techniques and keep up to date with the latest trends in nursing

The list can go on and on. There are so many advantages for traveling nurses that it has been a consistently growing career choice, year after year.

This is not to say there aren't any drawbacks.

* You must have at least one year of experience in the specialty you will travel in
* You must be comfortable with new surroundings. Not only in your personal life, but in work, as well. Everywhere has different policies and procedures.
* You will need to hit the ground running. Orientation is very limited, if at all.

For most traveling nurses, they often feel that the benefits and perks far outweigh any negatives they may encounter. Be flexible, be prepared, go with the flow and you will have an incredible travel nursing experience!***

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By Brenda R.
If you are considering becoming a travel nurse come over to http://www.travel-nursing-resource.com/travel-nurse.html for a free 5 part e-course that will have you ready to find your exciting travel nursing job.

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Interview Preparation - Looking Versus Seeing

A lot of people look at the world around them, but don't really see it. We all know there's a big difference between careful observation and a passing glance.

When preparing for an interview, be thorough when it comes to your appearance. Take a close look at your reflection in the mirror. This is not the time for a superficial "once over." You should be meticulous about the presentation.

Pay attention to details. Your shoes should be polished. Make sure labels are tucked away and hidden. Keep jewelry to a minimum. You get the idea.

Think that sounds like nit-picking?

Make a mistake here, and you could regret it.

One of my clients was ex-military; as such, he was a real stickler about shoes. Though they were unaware of it, he always put candidates through a bit of a mini shoe "inspection" during interviews. Were they scuffed? Were they worn out? Were they shined?

For him, this was one item he factored into his overall evaluation of a candidate's suitability.

This type of scrutiny is not unusual, especially if the position for which you're interviewing is one that will put you in front of the public.

Appearances matter. Like it or not, you're judged within the first few seconds you meet a person, sometimes before you ever open your mouth. (This is true for all of us, of course.) The way you look is a key component of how you're going to be perceived.

You've got one chance to make an impression when you meet someone - and in this case, that someone is the hiring manager. Once he's formed that impression, it's very hard (if not impossible) to change his mind.

Particularly in a hyper-competitive job market, you need to attend to every item that impacts how you're perceived - down to the smallest detail.

The fine points are important.

Don't be the candidate everyone remembers for the wrong reason...like the guy who purchased a new jacket for the occasion, but walked around the hiring company's office all day oblivious to the fact that the manufacturer's label was still affixed to the sleeve.

Scrutinize your reflection in the mirror carefully before you walk out the door for that interview.***

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By Rebecca Metschke
Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive career guide for those who are serious about their careers. Gain a professional advantage using proven tips, tools and strategies that will help ensure you're as marketable as you can be. http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com

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Get Your Career Back on Track - Improve Your Employability

With rapid advances in technology, keeping up with career developments in your chosen profession involves continuing education. This can be quite difficult - especially if you have put in years of hard work to get your degree or professional qualifications in the first place. How many people do you know who, once they graduate, swear they will never study again?

However, the pace of change in the world today is so fast, that you'll soon be left behind if you don't keep up with new developments. So if you are struggling, now is the time to get your career back on track. This is particularly important in times of economic uncertainty.

But it's not just the threat of redundancy which should make you consider ongoing training. For a long time, the job for life has no longer been the norm. In the past, it was enough to get your qualifications, get started in your chosen profession and work your way up to the level you wished to reach.

But nowadays, contracts are often short term and moving to a new company or even a new career is not unusual. In fact, most people can expect to change careers several times.

So how can you make sure you keep on top of things?

Once you have established yourself in your job, you should look out for opportunities to enhance your skills and develop additional ones. There are a number of ways to do this.

You can look at what the company offers in terms of training. Most organizations will have a training budget, but unfortunately this is often the first thing to be cut when times are hard. However, you shouldn't assume that this is the case. Forward thinking employers know that training is critical and will keep their schemes in place.

So the first step is to find out what is on offer. Training doesn't have to involve long hours in the classroom or in front of a computer. The company may provide training in office hours, which is naturally a very attractive option.

But if they don't, there are many short courses available, which will help you move forward in areas directly related to your career and also in what are known as soft skills, that is, things like communication and time management.

If there is no budget, consider investing some of your own money. Make sure the skill you are working on is in demand, not only in your current place of work but in other companies and industries as well. This will give you an advantage over other applicants if you find yourself out of work and looking for a job.

If you can't afford to fund your own training, look around you and see if there is anyone at work who can give you some on the job training. This can be informal and doesn't necessarily have to involve a large time commitment on the part of the trainer. You can learn a great deal just by watching or shadowing someone at work.

Also consider which skills you can work at when you are at home. If you have a home computer with internet access, there are many ways in which you can gain new skills or expand existing ones. Search for free course online and you'll be sure to find something which will help your improve your employability.***

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By Waller Jamison
Get your career back on track with our tips and advice.
And stay on target with your job applications - download our free software Track Your Job Applications at http://www.coolercareers.com/tracker.html
Waller Jamison is a qualified teacher and careers advisor, who knows how difficult it can be to achieve your dreams.

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Career Spotlight - Graphic Designer

If you want a graphic designer career then you are in luck because it has become more and more popular in recent years. No longer are graphic designers just people who sit in a dark room at home working for pennies. No way! These days graphic designers can be highly paid and working for large corporations. Because every company spends considerable money on advertising and websites, a graphic designer is a vital link. Graphic designers can work on print material or on websites, among other things. They may also design company letterheads, logos and other necessities.

Although it is not necessary to have qualifications if you wish to take up a graphic design career, it can help when you are competing against many other designers for the same position. However the most important thing to have with you when applying for any job is a quality portfolio and as much experience as possible. The more software programs you can use, the better. However it is always wise to research the company you are applying for to discover which programs they use as you can then display your skills in that particular program. Some common programs that graphic designers become experts in include:

-Adobe Photoshop
-Adobe Flash
-Adobe Illustrator
-QuarkXpress
-Director
-Fireworks
-AutoCAD
-CorelDRAW
-Macromedia Freehand

There are so many different and varying paths for a graphic designer. You can master the art of web design, or Flash development. You might choose to become a multimedia designer or an animator. CAD designing is another field that is considered separate from regular graphic designing but one that can potentially very lucrative.

Becoming a graphic designer is very rewarding as you can take your skills to just about any company and part of the world and adapt them to the existing systems and business model.

You will be up against some stiff competition but as long as you can prove that you have the skills and sense to do the job right, you will have no problem becoming employed in this dynamic field.***

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By Jennifer Charleston
Thinking about becoming a graphic designer? Request free information from graphic design schools. Learn about a career in graphic design from http://www.careertoolkits.com

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Practice Interviews

There are a number of articles about this subject floating in cyberspace across a variety of blogs and interview advice forums. I wait with anticipation the article that I will read that tells of the flip side of this practice. Unfortunately to date, there is little I read that offers much more than the approval of the practice interview. The practice interview is defined as an interview in which someone applies for a role in which they are not interested, however qualified, in an attempt to get an interview with the employer for purposes of sharpening their interview skills.

Well let me start with this is a complete waste of time and one of the most annoying practices I am familiar with. To see someone openly displaying their intent to practice on an unwilling manager, entering the time with an alternative purpose and agenda is wrong. The manager is looking for someone, has screened countless resumes, and has selected yourself as a potential fit not knowing you will be wasting their time by simply cleaning up your interview game, thus getting the dust off in their office. I am certain that if the manager did not know, they would not have been open with their schedule to provide you the opportunity. Consider some of the negatives here:

Obvious, wasting of the manager time Misleading, lying to the manager by submitting your resume thus showing interest in their role when there is none Competing against other candidates who might very well want or need the job more than yourself Jamming the process if you are the lead candidate, causing the company to spend untold time and effort to convince you to take the position when you could care less

These are some of the fundamental issues with this sort of practice. Look at the above and one would truly see where this can cause untold damage well after you leave the office. These issues can lead to more complicated ones, such as searching for a replica of yourself. They find the perfect candidate (you) and now begin looking for a replica thinking that person exists, and much less would be interested in the role. Time and money wasted. Then there is the character part that speaks more to oneself and internal than the others. You are entering in there, knowing full well there is no interest, only to waste their time. There is nothing that can be said to turn that around. Bottom line: WRONG.

Friends, current or former bosses, HR professionals and outside agencies can all be sources of interview practice and advice. With the number of professionals in the field, there are suitable options offering real life scenarios and practice to ensure your success when the real time comes. In addition, there are groups of job seekers that work together, having mock interviews and allowing for Q&A time - providing a more valued time than a single interview. These sessions show different styles, success and failure points, from a variety of perspectives. The experience equals 20 interviews.

Keep it real. Interview for the jobs you want and have interest in. Enough said.***

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By Jason Monastra
Jason Monastra is a 10 year veteran in the recruiting industry and current partner with United Global Technologies, http://www.ugtechnologies.com, a leading recruiting and consulting firm serving the IT and engineering vertical based out of Charlotte NC.
Jason Monastra maintains a major career advice and job search blog at http://www.lambentpath.com, making it easy to access key informational points to better help navigate your search for your next position.

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