Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Why You Should Work For The Government- Job Hustle

Numerous people avoid working for any type of government-related agency; which is a shame. The idea of working for a state or federal institution is disregarded by many. Large numbers of people dislike the government and working for them is strictly not allowed. A large segment of the populace is ignorant of the fact that there are good reasons to consider a job with the government.

Find the Merchandising Secret
Putting personal gripes to the side may be worth it to get a job with good perks. Consider what you can gain from a position with this ‘entity’ and not enter political references.
Top Reasons to Work for the (State or Federal) Government
  1. Job Security – Government workers are overwhelmed with work that is never completed. Even those that attempt to stay on top usually fall behind due to lack of staff or large workloads. For the prospective employee this equals to a secure job position.
  2. Cost of Living Increments- In prosperous times, federal employees receive an additional amount to their salaries noted as cost of living. This event happens after congress has agreed on and passed the budget. This pay is not guaranteed and many not happen during a recession.
  3. Education Pay – Various state and federal employee programs pay for college classes taken. Different departments may have specific rules, but at least a partial amount of tuition may become paid from an employee program.
  4. Low Termination Rate – A ‘myth’ with government employment reflects how difficult it is to get fired. In some situations, this may be true, because as long as you show-up then you keep your job. The unwritten rule is that many state and federal departments are used to complacency (laziness) among their employees.

Federal Government Job examples

Federal Jobs http://www.usajobs.gov/
District Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court http://www.uscourts.gov/Careers.aspx
Immigration Office
Social Security Administration http://www.ssa.gov/careers/


State and Local Government Job examples

Welfare offices
Community Programs
State college and universities
Public Defender
Child Support Office

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Coping With A Job You Hate


Everyone at one time or another find themselves at a job they hate, but can not leave. Either it is a bad time to leave or you have contractual obligations. i.e.: they paid for your education or you took out a 401k hardship loan.

You could be angry and make everyone else angry but let’s not. Instead find a way of diversion from thinking of this place you want to leave but can’t. A few coping exercises can help you make the best of a bad situation.

Find options to avoid the misery of staying at a job that is not the best fit. Keep yourself and those around you in good spirits; although this may take some practice. Search for the right distraction or muse to keep yourself at least somewhat satisfied.

  • A unique special something - Find an item or some peculiar whatever... and leave it at the job. Therefore, you only see that special item while you are at the workplace. Look for an interesting place near your job to visit during lunch breaks. Is there a special coffeehouse? Nice store or park you can look at to rejuvenate during the week.
  • Switch-up environment – Park in a different spot for a change in scenery and walk around spots that make you smile or relax. Find other people to hang out with; someone you think is interesting but haven’t made that friendly gesture yet.
  • Do something - Look into transferring to a different department or position. Make sure it is a good change for you; snoop around and find out about the atmosphere and people. Do some research about wage information; money should not be a surprise.

  • Get some class – Most large companies offer computer, human relations or other classes for free to employees. Take a few classes to learn a new skill or meet new people. If the company pays for college classes, then go for it but don’t forget the fine print. You may need to retain employment upon the company paying for education.

Find the Merchandising Secret

Sunday, November 7, 2010

The Secrets of Seasonal Work

Now is the time to look for temporary seasonal employment. You may ask why bother with a short-term work assignment? The reason is that even in a tough economy people will shop.  A benefit of living in the United States is that we are a people of commerce; we shop when we have money and when we do not.

What is Seasonal Employment?

Seasonal or holiday work is when companies hire extra workers for the holiday season. Companies start hiring mid-October and work continues for up to a week after Christmas. An added bonus is that many companies offer holiday workers employee discounts.

Top 3 Reasons to Try Seasonal Jobs
  1. Access to an abundance of hours. Retail stores and other businesses have extended hours during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. Places open earlier and stay open later which equals to more opportunities to earn money.
  2. Plentiful work available. Many types of job industries hire for the holiday season. No one who is looking for work should limit themselves to just retail. Think outside of the box for places to find work.
  3. A money making opportunity. The most important of all reasons to try seasonal work is that it provides a means to pay bills. Earning an income represents the goal of obtaining any type of work.

Where to find seasonal employment

If you don’t know where to look for holiday employment, then look at the section below for a starting point. Don’t limit your search to just these; expand on the types of businesses these examples represent.

·        Retail- Job prospects include cashiers, the sales floor and overnight stocking positions. Every store from Toys R Us and Target to Walmart and Dollar Tree need workers for the increase of shoppers.

·        Delivery/Logistics – The increase of packages sent and delivered equates to hiring more people to ensure the task is completed. The United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express (Fed Ex) and the U.S. Postal Service all hire seasonal workers during their peak season. Positions include clerks, package handlers, drivers and drivers’ assistants.

·        Work from Home- The under the radar at home job market employs holiday workers, as well. Customer Service Representatives at home work assignments at large companies like West At Home (http://www.westathome.com/) that employ for ShopNBC and Toys R Us. Another business that employs work from home workers for the holidays is Meijer stores (toll free number (800) 619-0111). 
 








In Closing

I hope that my secrets of seasonal work can help you in finding a job. Remember to look in places besides stores to find the right position for you.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Nonprofit Job and Its Secret

non profit worker
If you want to work for a company that helps others, then working for a non profit agency is a great option. Fight the burnt -out hippie image of the nonprofit worker to look at this overlooked job sector. The hidden secret is that they have perks that you can benefit from.

What is a nonprofit?

A not for profit agency is one that is set-up for a purpose and not to make money (profit). Think about agencies whose aim is to help the community or a particular segment of the population. Example: Children – YMCA, YWCA

Places to Find Nonprofit Job Leads

computer keyboard
Start looking at the areas in your community of places that are hiring. Look on the internet, but don’t expect large ads due to limited funs. Search for places that specialize in nonprofit job postings similar to idealist.org, opportunityknocks.com and notforprofitnews.com.


The Job Secret

Many places offer free or reduced services to employees. An example is if you need after-school care for a child, then work for a company that provides that service. In the example, you achieve two goals: making money and child care.     

The secret is not limited to those with children. Many nonprofit agencies receive donations of food, free event tickets, gift cards and other valuable items. Some YMCA’s give employees free memberships. Another classified tidbit to working for a non-profit agency is paid training. They pay you to attend seminars, certification and educational classes that you reap all the profit.


Pay Information

Wages for these types of employers vary with location and type of position. No longer is the moniker that all not for profits pays low.  Find out if the perks make up for a lower wage. Investigate a bit to find out their pay scale.


Good luck on your job search and include non profit job boards!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Learning Skills For and Finding Office Work Secret

Are you tired of warehouse work or maybe want to leave retail?  Office or clerical work definitely has benefits – indoors, computers, and normal hours. If you have never worked in a office before, then you may need to learn some clerical skills. I did a post  awhile ago that can help with where to look for office work.


Office positions can be an advantage if you are looking for a salaried job, paid holidays and health insurance. Even those without computer experience can work in file or mail rooms as a starter position.

Good Luck!

Acquire Office Skills Article

Search for Clerical Jobs Article

The Purpose of This Blog

I'm the go-to person in my friends circle regarding finding jobs. At times, it has been something just to meet my immediate needs and pay bills or a place to stay a while. Regardless I am good at telling people what to do to keep a little change in their pocket or a house over their head.

This is not about going back to school (done that) or finding the perfect job (though you might). I will give no fluff advice on getting your paper.