Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Work Buzz's Latest News: The best careers for your zodiac sign

Posted: 13 May 2011 01:34 PM PDT

Believe Lady Gaga when she says she was "Born This Way." As an Aries, she's a fire sign, making her naturally inclined to be high energy, very creative and fiercely independent.
Whether or not you actually accept that Lady Gaga's career success is a result of her zodiac sign, you've got to admit that it's interesting to see what astrology says about personality and career path — because sometimes, like in Gaga's case, it's eerily correct.
"Many high school students take an aptitude test to guide them on a path that they would enjoy. Astrology works the same way — it’s like a blueprint of your personality," says Katherine Metcalf, a professional astrologer from Phoenix, Ariz. "We all come into this world with likes and dislikes, natural talents and areas where we need to learn and grow."
A Gemini, for example, is totally comfortable networking and socializing, Metcalf says. "Put her in marketing or sales and she’s happy. Stick her in a cubicle with no human contact and she will wither."
Want to know if your career is on the right track for your Zodiac sign?
We got a chance to talk to two longtime astrologists, Metcalf and Stacey Wolf — author of "Never Throw Rice at a Pisces" and resident astrologer for Cosmopolitan magazine — about the career paths best suited for each sign.
According to Metcalf, the most general way to identify your natural career strengths is by your element, of which there are four in the zodiac: Fire, Earth, Air and Water, with three signs belonging to each element. Here's what she says your element reveals about you:
(Not sure what your sign is? See below or click here)
Fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius): All Fire signs are natural leaders. They are high energy, very creative and independent. Like a flame — they get inspired quickly and can motivate others. However, they may burn themselves out by having too many irons in the fire.
Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn): All Earth signs are practical and grounded. They like having a plan and taking steps to achieve success. They do best in the corporate world where structure is needed.
Air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius): Air signs are the thinkers of the zodiac. Don’t expect them to get their hands dirty — they prefer working on a computer or brainstorming ideas with others.
Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces): The Water signs are the touchy, feely people of the zodiac. Water is related to our emotions and many excel at counseling. They are highly empathic and each sign has its own unique energy.
Looking for a more in-depth analysis of what the cosmos hold for your career? Wolf pinpoints the key traits, and best and worst careers for each sign, below.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Key traits: Enthusiasm, creativity, warmth — a short attention span. As a leader, you have great ideas but dislike getting mired in the tiny details.
Best careers: Entrepreneur, sales, film/TV, stockbroker, military, rescue worker.
Careers to avoid: Any mundane, detail-oriented desk jobs.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Key traits: Determined, hard-working, loyal, stubborn. You enjoy accomplishing tasks from big to small.
Best careers: Engineer, computer programmer, technician, administrative assistant.
Careers to avoid: Any job that involves taking too much financial risk.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Key traits: Quick-witted, clever, adaptable, indecisive. You multi-task well and get bored easily so it's hard to focus on the same project for long periods of time.
Best careers: Media, advertising, marketing, journalist/writer, delivery/driver.
Careers to avoid: Serious or mundane jobs that are extremely detail-oriented.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Key traits: Caring, intuitive, creative, persevering, moody. You love to support and nurture people but can feel burdened by this responsibility, too.
Best careers: Real estate, interior design, psychologist, teacher, therapist (occupational, speech, etc)
Careers to avoid: Isolating Jobs that involve constant oversight and no creativity.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Key traits: Confident, ambitious, creative, generous and domineering. You shine in careers that show off your dynamic personality. Plus you need to be in charge of something.
Best careers: Entrepreneur, entertainment, politics, public relations, maître d.
Careers to avoid: Any job where you are out of the spotlight.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Key traits: Detail-oriented, analytical, hard-working, yet fussy. You love to cross things off your to-do list.
Best careers: Editor, accountant, engineering, graphic design, florist.
Careers to avoid: Jobs that deal with a variety of people, who may not be as fastidious and perfectionist as you.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Key traits: Diplomatic, artistic, intelligent yet prone to indecision. Because you are graceful under pressure, you work best in partnerships with other people.
Best careers: Architect, designer, lawyer, counselor, behind-the-scenes in the arts.
Careers to avoid: Conventional jobs that lack creativity and independence of mind.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Key traits: Dynamic, creative, resourceful, strong willed. Outspoken and self-starting, you can only work in a career that you feel very passionate about.
Best careers: Psychologist, designer, law, humanitarian organizations or charitable foundations.
Careers to avoid: Anything you perceive as shallow or materialistic.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
Key traits: Philosophical, optimistic, straightforward. You enjoy your freedoms of movement and self-expression and do best working in a field that allows you both.
Best careers: Entrepreneur, airline pilot, sports industry, police officer, flight attendant.
Careers to avoid: Any full-time desk job.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Key traits: Ambitious, resourceful, patient and authoritarian. Driven and competitive, any project you take on, you'll do what ever it takes to be the best.
Best careers: Finance, business development/management, doctor, trainer.
Careers to avoid: A financially risky jobs or a career where there is no room for advancement.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Key traits: Analytical, clever, inventive, and obstinate. Friendly and autonomous, you get along with most people, yet you have no problems voicing a divergent opinion.
Best careers: Apps developer, veterinarian, scientist, engineer, alternative care practitioner.
Careers to avoid: Any conventional job that discourages independent thinking or differing opinions.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Key traits: Compassionate, intuitive, flexible and overly sensitive. A visionary like Albert Einstein and Dr. Seuss, you work best in a situation where you can actualize what you see in your imagination.
Best careers: Artist, designer, psychologist, entertainment, charitable foundations, dog walker.
Careers to avoid: Any job that has a physically or psychologically grueling schedule or deals with the harsh realities of life.
So what do you think? Do you epitomize your sign, or are you the complete opposite? Let us know in the comments section, below.
Want to know more about choosing a career path? Check out the CareerPath.com color test.

What Would You Do? Monster's Worker-Integrity Survey.

The Monster Blog

What Would You Do? Monster's Worker-Integrity Survey.

Posted: 13 May 2011 01:59 PM PDT

What would you do if you witnessed a workplace crime or ethics infraction? Companies worry about this all the time -- they don't take employees' honesty for granted, and they sometimes implement very expensive policies and technology to catch people misbehaving.
But we have good news for them: U.S. employees have are mostly quite trustworthy when it comes to common concerns like theft -- more trustworthy, perhaps, than you might expect. Here are the results of Monster's Worker-Integrity Survey:

We asked, "If you knew a colleague had embezzled a small amount of money, what would you do?" And 85 percent of respondents said they'd turn that colleague in (70 percent would do it because "stealing is wrong"; the other 15 percent just didn't want to risk being perceived as an accomplice). Ten percent said they would turn a blind eye (3 percent said this was because they didn't want to be called a snitch, while 7 percent said it was more a matter of the issue being "none of my concern"). A small minority -- five percent -- would base their decision on whether they liked the colleague in question.
We asked, "How much company property (office supplies, etc.) is it OK to take home per month?" And 66 percent said none -- that "even a paperclip is stealing" -- however, a full 4 percent did say that they think pretty much all company property can rightly be taken home -- that is, "if it's not nailed down, it's up for grabs." Of the rest, 26 percent said $1 to $10 dollars' worth per year (a few pens here and there) was OK, while 4% were in the $11-to-$75-dollars'-worth-per-year range.
And we asked, "If you had proof that a work friend was promoted because he or she was having a secret affair with a manager, would you report it to HR?" And it seems that relationships might make "right" and "wrong" a bit more ambiguous for people: 50 percent of respondents answered with an unequivocal "Yes," while 18 percent were firmly in the "No" camp. The rest were on the fence, saying it depended on whether the promotion affected their own career path.
What do you think of these results? Are any of the numbers higher or lower than you would've expected? Join the conversation in the Comments section, or find us on Twitter or Facebook to share your thoughts.

5 Thank You Note Mistakes You’re Making and How to Avoid Them | Career Rocketeer

5 Thank You Note Mistakes You’re Making and How to Avoid Them

Posted: 13 May 2011 03:30 AM PDT

Once you've landed an interview opportunity, you may be breathing a sigh of relief when it's over. However, you're not out of the woods just yet—how you treat the post-interview experience is just as important as the interview itself.
Have you been properly following-up after an interview? How about sending a thank you note to the hiring manager?
Here are a few mistakes you may be making during this part of the hiring process and how to avoid them:
Mistake #1: Not sending a thank you note following an interview.
You might think that sending a handwritten thank you note via snail mail is outdated. But it's not—who doesn't like to receive real mail, since it's so rare these days? Because so few job seekers forget or fail to do this, it can help you stand out among other candidates and will certainly impress a hiring manager. It's also a perfect chance to mention something else about yourself that you forgot to talk about during the interview.
Be sure to include the following statements:

A statement thanking the employer for their time
A statement reiterating your interest for the position and organization
A reminder about your qualifications and anything additional you failed to mention during the interview
A statement including anything additional the employer asked you to provide after the interview

Mistake #2: Following up too often.
The job search is a frustrating process for a lot of people, hiring managers included. Although the manager may have told you they would get back with you by a certain time, sometimes other things get in the way of their plan, and the hiring process is stalled.
Be patient; it's okay to follow-up once per week (up to three times total), but no more than that. (Hiring managers are busy people, too!) Bombarding the hiring manager with phone calls and emails about the opening will not help you get the job. In fact, it might put you out of the running altogether.
Mistake #3: Not following up at all.
On the flip side of following up too much is not following up at all. Some people rationalize their lack of follow-up with statements such as, "I don't want to bug them," or "They'll call me when they're ready."
Actually, failing to follow-up can hurt your chances at receiving a job or interview offer. I recently read that a company didn't follow-up with job candidates at all and instead waited for them to follow-up about the position—essentially weeding out those candidates who weren't that interested in the job. Lack of follow-up can indicate to the employer that you don't care or aren't interested in the position. Don't forget about this important step in your job search—it might make the difference!
Mistake #4: Missing the opportunity to provide additional details in your thank you note.
During an interview, you can get nervous and forget to mention important details about yourself, such as skills or accomplishments from former experiences that could help you in this job. Don't fret—this is perfect information to mention in your thank you note. After thanking the employer for their time, tie in additional information with what you already talked about during the interview.
Mistake #5: Failing to ask about the timeline.
Ideally, at the end of an interview, you should ask the hiring manager what the timeline for the open position looks like. When will they make a decision? Will they call all of the candidates to let them know their status? This can give you a good idea of how soon it will be appropriate to follow-up with the hiring manager.
What other thank you note or follow-up mistakes do you see job candidates making?

Guest Expert:
Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010) and writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

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Are You Above Office Politics?

Posted: 13 May 2011 10:00 PM PDT

One of the dumbest things we hear smart people say is, "I do good work, and that should be enough — I refuse to play office politics."

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

blogging4jobs

Your Candidate Anti-Engagement Strategy

Posted: 13 May 2011 05:17 AM PDT

Earlier this week, a good friend of mine interviewed for an HR Director position for a multi-location long-term health care business. It was Tammy’s second interview, and when I talked to her she felt positive about her chances. She even inquired confidently about next steps and the time line for the decision making process. The management team assured her that they were still in the beginning of the final decision making process with no concrete decision deadline.
And yet they weren’t completely honest.
Less than twenty-four hours later, Tammy walked to her mailbox and was surprised to receive a standard form turn down letter addressed to her from said company. And while I applaud the company for getting back to her since 50% of companies admittedly don’t engage candidates in any form, it was a slap in the face.
I call tactics like these candidate anti-engagement strategies. These are seen as a snub in the face of the candidate. Second class citizens who are the junk mail of the employment and applicant tracking world. Companies are conflicted and uncomfortable to deliver bad news so instead they employ a common managerial tactic — avoidance, aloofness, and unavailability. You know what I mean — ring twice and go to voice mail. And it’s treatment like these that leads candidates to fill the grapevine with candidate experiences that are angry, bitter, and hurt. This anti-engagement strategy leaves the candidate with one too many unanswered questions.
It’s similar to that sales person who I contact asking them for a quote on marketing materials. We chat for a few minutes, promise to return my calls, and I never hear from them again. Except I’m the one paying the marketing company. And the candidates are the ones receiving payment. It’s like dropping off my dry cleaning never to pick it up.
Tammy is more than qualified to be the senior human resource position at the company in question. Often times in situations like this where there are multiple candidates who meet the minimum qualifications, it comes down to subjectives like culture fit, personality, and gut feelings. So why do these intangibles give us an excuse to treat our remaining candidates like second class citizens?
Companies should be building relationships with their candidates regardless of their status. It’s piss poor customer service, an anti-engagement strategy that eventually will lead to a company with egg on their face. Companies should always:

Send an email at minimum. Failing to do so is like going on a first date and then never calling back. It’s rude and ridiculous.

Provide your candidates job search resources. Want to build a community that supports you even if they don’t land the job? Provide them with resources like a job seeker toolkit or a best practices check list. (See my Job Search Jump Start Guide for an example.)

Keep your promises. If you promise to follow up, then do it. It could be in the form of an automated email sent directly from your ATS or a quick phone call. The things that we avoid are often the most important.

Treat your candidates like human beings. Because they are and they deserve to be treated as such. Showing some basic human decency shouldn’t be the minimum expectation. Imagine how impressive you’d look in the eyes of the candidate. Rockstar company. . . with very little effort.

If you are a corporate recruiter, hiring manager, or human resource professional, I know what you are saying, “Jessica, I get 500 applications for one single job. I don’t possibly have time.” And to you I call bullshit. Providing your candidates an engaging experience doesn’t to be time consuming. It is in fact just good business.
With the economy improving good candidates will once again be in short supply. Older workers are counting the days and months till their retirement, but the younger workforce are like elephants — they never forget. Treating your candidates like second class citizens may not hurt you today but it will in the future, and with sites like Glassdoor, JobVent, and the SimplyHired Forum, it’s really only a matter of time.
Never heard of Glassdoor, JobVent, or Simply Hired? Here are a list of more employment venting sites to get you started. Want to know more about candidate engagement? Kevin Wheeler (@kwheeler) has a great article from 2008 on ERE.
Think I’m full of crap or maybe you agree with me? I encourage you to leave a comment below.
Photo Credit Business Week.

Moola Days

How to Make Money Online with Flixya

Posted: 12 May 2011 06:46 PM PDT

Nowadays, it seems practically anything you do on the web, as long as you have something interesting to say, whether it be in the form of a video, picture, or a blog entry, there is always large communities out there reaching for these types of individuals. One of these communities in particular is Flixya. Similar to other large networks on the web like YouTube, Flixya functions in the same similar way, with the exception that Flixya has more functionality for the end user and enables the original content providers, whether it be in the form of a picture, video, or a blog entry, to earn 100% of the revenue that their content generates.
If you have been in touch with popular social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, you can pretty much see how much online activities your friends already have on the web. You’d be shocked at how some friends may already have a blog like a Tumblr, Blogspot, or a WordPress, while others are obsessed with uploading loads and loads of photos everyday. The fact that Flixya.com rewards the content provider all 100% of the profit generated, opens doors for people to earn money just by doing the same casual things they already do, is simply unheard of. The idea that being interesting is all that it takes, which isn’t a hard feat if you ask me, to earn money on Flixya, is simply out of the ordinary.
How to make money with Flixya
So the question is, how do you make money with Flixya? In order to generate revenue, Flixya requires that you have a Google Adsense account. Now you may be saying, Flixya isn’t technically paying you. That may be true, however, because their site incorporates ads from Google Adsense, once you insert your Google Adsense account information, all the ads that show up on the content you published, are all yours. What this means is that these ads will generate you revenue as long as visitors stick around to read your content, whether it be in the form of a video, picture, or a blog entry. And if you don’t have a Google Adsense account, don’t worry because Flixya makes the sign-up process seemingly easy, and all it really takes is a few minutes to sign-up for an Adsense account. In most other revenue sharing networks, content providers typically receive anywhere around 30-60% of the revenue. Sometimes publishers don’t get any of the pie at all. What makes Flixya stand out between all the other revenue sharing social networks out there is its generosity towards their publishers and their simplistic social networking site that has all the forms of entertaining content bundled all into one site. Read more about Flixya’s Case Study with Google.
Flixya.com prides it self for being a social network for the people. One of the best things about Flixya from this blogger's point of view is that it offers the opportunity to monetize video, photos, blogs and other kinds of content while most revenue sharing sites are focused only on articles. As you add content you are also building up an asset that will provide passive income for years to come. This can be interpreted as an opportunity to earn some extra income. How much you earn, depends on the quality and how much people like your content.
Flixya is a great match for individuals who do not have a website and installs easy ways to make money. The fact that all the content is hosted on Flixya, enables publishers, in a sense, be able to use Flixya as means to showcase their work. The fact that the visitor also saves on the cost of hosting and time they would normally have to spend constructing a website, enables users to focus more on what they are passionate about, while being able to earn all 100% of the income.
What more could you ask of a social network? And did I mention it was free? Try out Flixya yourself and see how much you can earn. The opportunities are simply endless.
How to Make Money Online with Flixya is a post from: Moola Days