Work
How to Find a Good Résumé Writer
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
If you’re searching for a job but hiring managers aren’t exactly jamming your phone line, you may benefit from having your résumé written by a pro. However, with a growing number of writers pitching their services for anywhere from $100 to $2,000, which one should you choose? A recent Wall Street Journal article offered some ... [Read more]
Five New Financial Normals
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Writing about the “new normals” brought on by the Great Recession has become, well, a new normal for many media outlets. Adding to the conversation, Fortune magazine has come up with five new normals that it believes really will stick. Here they are, along with my thoughts. 1. Long-term unemployment. For those who have jobs, ... [Read more]
Two Steps to a Better Job Search
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Are you out of work or looking for a better job? WalletPop recently offered some helpful advice that can be summed up in two words: concentrate and connect. Job search author/coach Gordon Curtis said many job hunters make the mistake of believing that sending out lots of resumes will improve their odds of success. A ... [Read more]
How to Decode a Job Posting
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
If you’re looking for work, Forbes.com offers some helpful advice about tailoring your résumé for each opening you pursue. Jerome Young, founder of AttractJobsNow.com, said there are three basic but essential ways to use information from job postings to your advantage. First, make sure that your summary statement and areas of expertise are in line ... [Read more]
The Price of Getting to Work
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
While plenty of people would like to get back to work, many of those who are working may be damaging their health just getting to and from their jobs. According to a new IBM global commuter study, over half of all commuters says roadway traffic has negatively impacted their health. A Mainstreet.com story about the ... [Read more]
The Best Corporate Job Sites
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
In a still-tough job market, here’s some good news. Job openings are at a 16-month high. And, numerous forward-thinking companies are investing in their job sites, making it easier for job seekers to search for opportunities and even providing job-hunting advice. As highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, here are the ten best company career ... [Read more]
Building Your Networking Skills
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
One of the recession’s harshest lessons is just how fragile a job can be. A related lesson is the importance of continuous networking. Forbes.com recently presented a handful of networking essentials, including: Be more interested in others than you are in yourself. Learning to ask good questions and take a genuine interest in others will ... [Read more]
Worker Sentiment Sours
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
In an era of high unemployment, it’s not very wise to complain about your job. However, there’s a lot of dissatisfaction out there. According to a survey by the Conference Board, just 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs. That’s the lowest rating in the 22 years that the organization has been surveying ... [Read more]
Keeping Your Economic Engine Tuned
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
USNews.com recently shared 10 career resolutions for the New Year. All were worthwhile ideas, but three really stood out. First, look for something new to learn every day. The “every day” part might be a bit lofty, but I agree with the importance of continuing to learn. Most large employers offer some form of tuition ... [Read more]
Do You Work Too Much?
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Marriages involving a workaholic are twice as likely to end in divorce, according to a study done by Bryan Robinson, a University of North Carolina researcher and author of Chained to the Desk. In an ABCNews.com story, Robinson makes a distinction between workaholics and hard workers. While workaholics, of course, work more hours than others, ... [Read more]
Disability Insurance Disconnect
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Your ability to earn income is among your most valuable assets, and yet very few people have disability insurance. According to a recent survey by Northwestern Mutual, less than half of all adults age 21 or older have disability insurance. The non-profit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education provides helpful information about disability insurance, ... [Read more]
No Holiday for Those Who Long to Labor
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
The three-day Labor Day weekend provided a much-needed respite for many people. But for many others, such as the 24 million people who are unemployed or underemployed, it may have been a painful reminder of their situation. An article on WalletPop encouraged those who are gainfully employed to reach out to those who are not ... [Read more]
New Ways to Pay Off Student Loans
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
For those struggling under the weight of too much student loan debt, some new forms of relief are now available. Those working in low-income fields may be eligible for an Income-Based Repayment Plan, which became available the first of this month. An article on Kiplinger.com used an example of someone making $20,000 per year with ... [Read more]
Best Advice Ever
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Fortune magazine and CNN.com recently asked several famous people about the best words of wisdom they ever received. For Tiger Woods, it was his father’s advice when Tiger was just 6 or 7 to keep things simple – to pick a spot on the golf course where he wanted to hit the ball and focus ... [Read more]
Amish Money Management
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
There was an interesting post on the Houston Chronicle’s web site about the money management habits of the Amish. According to the story, Amish children all learn a trade such as farming, welding, or woodworking. Money earned through apprenticeships goes to their parents, who give the child 10 percent for spending and put the rest ... [Read more]
When Getting Away Isn’t
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
The summer vacation has been downgraded – again. First it became a staycation, with people opting for local entertainment as a way to save money. Now, according to a Consumer Reports article, tight finances and fears over job security are prompting 35 percent of workers to say they don’t plan to take a vacation at ... [Read more]
Easing the Financial Pain
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Just about everyone is feeling the pain of our troubled economy. The extreme manifestations make headlines – suicides and murders that are somehow tied to financial problems. For most people, there’s just a nagging sense of financial anxiety. An ABC News article mentioned a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site dedicated ... [Read more]
The Power of Gratitude
Monday, February 2nd, 2009
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Every day of our lives, we are the unwitting recipients of countless messages designed to foster ... [Read more]
Controlling What We Can Control
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
Eight in ten Americans feel stressed about money, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. Nearly 60 percent of respondents say they are concerned about job stability, while 50 percent say they are increasingly concerned about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs. How are people responding to the stress brought ... [Read more]
TGI…M?
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” – Colossians 3:23 More than half of all U.S. workers are dissatisfied with their jobs. That’s the conclusion of a recent Conference Board survey. And which aspect of their work do you think people are most unhappy ... [Read more]
Labor Pains
Friday, September 1st, 2006
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” – Proverbs 23:4 The many Biblical warnings related to wealth do not mean that the Bible discourages hard work. To the contrary, we’re told that we are to work with all our heart (Colossians 3:23) and that those who do not ... [Read more]
