Where are all the Jobs?

Friday, April 8, 2011

Moola Days

Can Balance Transfer Offers Really Save You Money?

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 05:22 PM PDT

Credit card companies have been handing down some tough financial lessons to account holders in recent years. These lessons, after decades of consumers having a love affair with their credit cards, came as a shock to many. This love affair is partly responsible for the mess many consumers find themselves in today. Unfortunately, when things get tough for consumers, credit card companies get even tougher. The actions taken by credit card companies, some of which pushed consumers even further in debt are seared in our memories. Why then would anyone consider getting yet another credit card which claims to help reduce debt? The answer is simple; when used correctly, balance transfer offers really can save you money.

What’s the Deal with Balance Transfer Offers?

You may be wondering where these offers have been in recent months when millions of people needed help managing their overgrown credit card balances? The truth be told, these offers which were abundant a few years ago, simply vanished from the mailboxes of many. As more and more people defaulted on their credit card agreements, the banks responded by pulling credit card offers, including those to transfer balances. This move was made in an effort to reduce further risk of default. With the economy showing some signs of recovery, consumer confidence is growing. As a result, people are spending more money. Naturally, the credit card companies want to get in on this and have responded by bringing back balance transfer offers.

Why Should You Consider a Balance Transfer Offer?

Your first instinct might be to refuse any “alleged” help from a credit card company, however in doing so you may only hurt yourself in the long run. Balance transfer offers were popular because they allowed those with credit debt to move balances from high interest accounts to one with a lower interest rate and more favorable terms. Of course, the key factor in saving money is knowing which balance transfer offers to accept and which to pass over.

How to Save Money With a Balance Transfer Offer

Once you have opened your mind to transferring your high interest balances to a new account, the next step is learning how to do so properly. Keep in mind that the lending environment is much different today than just a few years ago. Your credit score will determine the accounts for which you are eligible. Also, you must understand that at the end of the day, credit card companies really do need your business. As such, you should hold out until you find the best offer which will save you the most money.

Look for accounts with lower interest rates, minimal fees and long 0% introductory periods. Also pay close attention to the terms and conditions associated with the account. Where a lower interest rate may lure you in, high fees could offset the potential savings. It is your responsibility to understand the contract to which you agree to be bound. By paying close attention to the terms of balance transfer offers, you can compare several offers and find the right one: this can save you hundreds of dollars in interest, since you can get a year or more to pay off your credit card debt without spending a penny on interest.

Can Balance Transfer Offers Really Save You Money? is a post from: Moola Days

U.S. Department of Labor Jobs Update

Economic Assistant
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Description:

This position is located in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bosie, ID. The initial average hours per week will be 24 hours and may fluctuate based on workload and training requirements. This is a mix...

Agency/Subagency:

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Location:

US-Idaho-Boise

Salary:

From $15.00 to $19.00 USD per hour

Closing Date:

4/20/2011

Who may apply:

Public

Pay Plan (series/grade):

GS-0119-05/05

Appointment Term:

Permanent

Job Status:

Part-Time

Economic Assistant
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Description:

This position is located in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lafayette, Louisiana. The initial average hours per week will be 24 hours and may fluctuate based on workload and training requirements. Thi...

Agency/Subagency:

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Location:

US-Louisiana-Lafayette

Salary:

From $15.00 to $19.00 USD per hour

Closing Date:

4/20/2011

Who may apply:

Public

Pay Plan (series/grade):

GS-0119-05/05

Appointment Term:

Permanent

Job Status:

Part-Time

Questions? Contact Us

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Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Work Buzz's Latest News: 10 tweets that could get you fired

10 tweets that could get you fired

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT

As long as people both have jobs and Twitter accounts, we will have something to blog about. That's because, no matter how many ill-fated tweeters go before them, there are still people in the world that don't seem to realize that Twitter is a public forum until their boss reads their "My boss is an idiot" post.
As an exercise in how to kill your career in 140 characters or less, we decided to search the words "job" and "boss" on Twitter, and see what came up. We didn't have to look too hard to find these 10 tweets, all of which appeared in our first 50 search results, and all of which have pink-slip potential.

On the bright side, at least that last tweeter got cut off before he could really "elaborate," should his business-challenged boss ever stumble upon the above tweet. On the not-so-bright-side, the fact that it was so easy for us to find all of these messages means that there are a whole lot of people out there risking their jobs on Twitter.

Just in case you've forgotten how perilous Twitter can be, here are five examples of tweets that got people canned.

1. Aflac: The ongoing disaster in Japan is no laughing matter … unless you're Gilbert Gottfried. The comedian — who is also the voice behind a decade's worth of Aflac commercials — thought the catastrophe would make good material for some new jokes, which he then told to his Twitter audience. (Example: "What do the Japanese have in common with @howardstern? They’re both radio active.") Aflac, which does 75 percent of its business in Japan, was not impressed and Gottfried was fired.
2. CNN: In one of the more controversial and highly publicized Twitter firings, CNN senior editor Octavia Nasr was let go in July of 2010, after she tweeted her opinion on a controversial Muslim leader. Following the death of Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Fadlallah — a Muslim cleric who was a known supporter of suicide bombings, but whom Nasr considered progressive for his stance on women's rights — she tweeted "Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah… One of Hezbollah's giants I respect a lot.” Her message sent the media into an uproar, and CNN subsequently fired her on the grounds that her credibility had been compromised.
3. Cisco: In an incident now known simply as "Cisco fatty," 22-year old Connor Riley tweeted the following after receiving a job offer from the IT company: “Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” A Cisco employee saw the Tweet and responded "Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.” Needless to say, Riley did not end up working at the company.
4. Chrysler: On March 9, 28-year old Scott Bartosiewicz suffered every social media manager's worst nightmare. He sent out a ranting Tweet while stuck in traffic, thinking it was coming from his personal account, when in fact, he sent it from the account of his client, Chrysler. Shortly after sending out the Tweet: "I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to F—-ing drive," Bartosiewicz was fired from his job at New Media Strategies, the company Chrysler had hired to manage its Twitter account.
5. The State of Indiana: In February, Jeff Cox, an attorney for the state of Indiana was fired for suggesting via Twitter that police officers should "use live ammunition" to dismantle union protestors in Wisconsin. The tweet, directed at nonprofit news magazine Mother Jones, ignited a back-and-forth between Cox and Mother Jones reporter Adam Weinstein, in which Cox called the protestors "thugs" and "political enemies." Upon learning that Cox was a public official, Weinstein published the details of his Twitter encounter with Cox in an article the following week. Cox was terminated from his position.
So, the moral of the story is, think before you tweet. If you wouldn't want your boss to see it or if it might offend someone, you probably shouldn't share it with the world.

8 Straightforward Tips for Moving Up the Corporate Ladder

8 Straightforward Tips for Moving Up the Corporate Ladder

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 11:00 PM PDT

Positive work behaviors is by far one of the most straightforward tips I can give you when it comes to moving up the corporate ladder.

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

Do You Really Want to Use THAT LinkedIn Photo?

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Job hunters, PLEASE! It's time to think carefully about the image you're projecting online. Are you practicing good LinkedIn etiquette?

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

Mastering the Art (and Science) of Thank-you Letters

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:00 PM PDT

To ensure your thank-you letter stands out from the competition after an interview, it's important to rethink how you approach writing it.

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

‘Wicked Smaht’ – Accent Hurting Your Professional Credibility?

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 09:30 PM PDT

An accent can misrepresent you, and possibly even hurt your chances of getting hired. Is it fair? Nope. Is it reality? Yes. Here's why...

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