How To Get The Job Promotion You Deserve
Tips For Climbing The Corporate Ladder
In these tough economic times, it's sometimes a challenge to hang onto your current job, much less get a promotion. However, with all the layoffs taking place, if you’re still employed, you could have more bargaining leverage than you think. Organizations value their best people in difficult times, and you could be just the leader they are looking for. Here are some tips for your advancement.
1. Make yourself indispensable. Make them unable to live without you. You don't have to be an expert in order to demonstrate simple strengths like solving problems and being a peacemaker. Find a way to make the office environment better through diplomacy, optimism and reliability.
2. Learn to get along with everyone. Organizations value people who can coexist with coworkers, whether it's the mailroom staff or the CEO. Volunteer to help out, go the extra mile to be cheerful and optimistic. Being an even-tempered employee can go a long way to make you memorable to your boss. Don't skip out on voluntary events like picnics or parties. Make yourself a part of the people you work with and bring with a positive attitude.
3. Show them your willingness to learn more. Commit to learning one or two new job skills every week. Expand your network, educate yourself on your industry, or talk to an expert in your field to advance your knowledge and experience. Ask senior people if there are projects you can be a part of, as a way to demonstrate that you are ready to make a step up.
4. Watch your timing. Wait until you have accomplished a major achievement to approach your boss. Even if promotions are handed out in spring, don’t be afraid to bring up your intentions to get ahead in summer. You never know when the opening might unexpectedly arise, and you want your boss to know you are ready now.
5. Save the company money. Even if you aren't in sales or responsible for bringing in direct revenue, you can be proactive in finding ways to streamline systems and then write a proposal about how to do it.
6. Excel at what you do. As simple as this seems, it isn't always the first thing people think of. Come in early, stay later, volunteer for tasks not on your job description or take on extra projects. Then keep a record of your success. It’s easier to showcase your reasons for the promotion if you have a clear record of all your successes. Highlight loyalty, innovations, and commitment to your organization.
7. Ask for help. Getting a mentor is a great way to climb the ladder of success. Now your mentor has a stake in your advancement as well, as you will reflect positively on them, too. You might even be grooming yourself to fill in their shoes when they retire or take a promotion themselves.
Read More»List of Jobs on the Rise in 2010
2010 Jobs That Are on The Rise
With unemployment numbers continuing to rise, many people are giving up on the job hunt altogether. If you have sent out stacks of resumes, and scoured every online want ad, but cannot seem to get the position that you need, wait until you see what the year 2010 has in store for you! Here are a list of jobs on the rise in 2010 in terms of demand. You may be surprised at the industries and sectors of the economy that are growing, rather than shrinking right now.
Here is a List of Jobs on Rise in 2010:
• Physical Therapists
• CPA Tax Professionals
• Occupational Therapists
• Retail Managers and Assistant managers
• Family Practice Physicians
• Anesthesiologists
• Nurses
The Internet Promises to Show Increase Job Opportunities
The internet is a great place to get whatever information you're currently looking for. We tend to use the internet for social networking, research and online shopping. Right now there are plenty of ways to make a killing online, and web marketing fields are booming! With many businesses outsourcing creative and marketing talent, most freelancers are finding that they have plenty of clients. SEO, affiliate marketing, and copy writing are all hot jobs right now, but they have a high learning curve, and they take some serious dedication to bring in steady income.
Green Jobs Show Increase Job Opportunities
Jobs that have to do with conserving energy, or creating new "green" technology will be on the rise in 2010, for certain. Because of all the tax incentives and money saving benefits of green technology, many businesses are trying to implement it as quickly as possible. For those who have training, it's a rapidly growing sector. Air Conditioning and HVAC workers are especially in demand as they work to bring older buildings up to code, and install green air conditioning systems and efficient ductowork.
Medical Industry Jobs Show Most Increased Job Opportunities
Demand for medical industry jobs has often been cited as the fastest growing sector, and for good reason. With the aging population of the world post baby boom, the need for medical care workers is growing dramatically every year, and won't be slacking any time soon. This includes nurses and doctors, but it also involves technicians that are needed to operate X-ray and MRI machines. With many of these professions, the amount of school required is minimal, with only a two year degree required.
During rough economic patches, there is always a rush of people heading back to school in order to learn the current skill sets in demand. For universities and community colleges, this means a huge increase in demand for teachers and adjunct professors. This also trickles down into the public school system. As families move to put their children in high performing schools, need for teachers grows.
For more great articles on career advice & much more please visit the career section on GKBusiness.
Read More»2010 – Best Companies to Work For
Top Companies to Work For in 2010
The recession still seems to have a strong hold on Americans, but many people do have hope for the year 2010. With the New Year approaching fast, you may want to think about a career change. The list of the top companies of 2010 has arrived, and you can be the first to take a look.
These companies are paying decently and offering benefits, despite the hardships that most employers are facing. If you or someone that you know is hurting for a job right now, take a look at these top companies that are going to do a lot of people a lot of good in the future.
1. Starbucks
Starbucks has recently been pointed out as a symbol of American excess. Now that they've faced hundreds of store closures, however, they seem to have their house in order. Not only that, they have excellent benefit programs for their employees and many other outreach and charity programs that they work with as well. This is definitely a company that anyone should be proud to stand up and work for.
2. Google
We all use the widely known search engine on a daily basis, sometimes without even thinking about it. There are plenty of other reasons to work with the Google Company though, like the creative freedom Google gives its employees. Add a lot of great benefits, and it makes for a very inviting atmosphere.
3. Qualcomm
Most of us already have a variety of Qualcomm products in our homes, including cell phones, internet modems and other electronics. Despite all of the other electronic companies sinking in this recession, this company is still hiring as we speak, and many people are taking advantage of the offers. The innovative team working there is especially creative, and they're always thinking up new ways to make technology easier for you.
4. Whole Foods Market
This is a grocery store that literally has everyone on its toes. In the past few years since opening, the store has done billions in business. Their foods are all natural and much of it is locally grown. You can start out as a cashier and work your way up, or see what the corporate based offices have in store for a health driven individual like you.
While you may be biting your nails and praying for a job to come through, the fact of the matter is there are still plenty of decent jobs and companies out there to work for. These are just a few companies that have been listed as the top companies that are thriving, as well as accepting applications.
For more great articles on career advice & much more please visit the career section on GKBusiness.
Read More»How People Use Social Networking Sites For Job Searching
Using Social Networks to Find People in Your Field
Social networking is one of the newer buzzes to hit the business world. At first limited to people keeping track of their friends, sites like Facebook have spawned numerous copies and imitators. Now there are social networks set up for nearly any purpose. One of the more popular business social networks is LinkedIn.
How to Use Linkedin For Job Hunting
LinkedIn is a network where you “link” with people who you are friends with. You only need know your friend's email address to request to link with them. Once you are linked with your friend, you can view their profile and see their links as well. Links go out to the third degree, so you can see friends of your friends of your friends. LinkedIn also features an extensive search interface, so you can search for specific people in your network. If you pay to use LinkedIn, you can search anyone in their entire database.
Since its inception, LinkedIn has spawned multiple customization options. You can join groups to meet even more people in your field; groups range from “Real Estate Professionals” to “People in Austin Who Work at Target”. They have also introduced the ability to put up a profile picture, as well as extensive profile customization options. Many people who use LinkedIn post their entire resume into their profile. A user can also post recommendations about the work they performed with another person.
How to Land Your Dream Job Using InMails
InMails are how you send messages to other users. To prevent rampant spamming from free accounts, you must supply the reason for which you are contacting the person, and their email address if they are not already connected to you. This is a popular way to get your message forwarded onto someone else. If your friend has an opening in their department, you can send them a message asking them to recommend you to their boss – this allows a warm introduction and is more like a job referral than sending your resume in through the company's application system.
Other features include indicating what you are looking for – if you're looking for job opportunities, if you're open to giving advice, or if you're a power connector. Recruiters have jumped on this like hotcakes, since having a bigger network gives you more opportunities to reach out to people with job opportunities.
Jigsaw.com and Spoke.comOnline Contact Sharing
Another site that isn't so much a social network as a service is Jigsaw.com. This company offers people ways to “purchase” contact information about people they want to find, in exchange for either real money (offering as many searches as you pay for), or on a free basis. To look up people's information for free, you must first supply unique data about other people. It's a one-for-one exchange of contact information. This is popularly used in conjunction with LinkedIn. People will find names and companies on LinkedIn, and then take that information to Jigsaw and look up names.
Another company that is similar to Jigsaw.com is Spoke.com. Spoke instead pulls information from publications and web articles. This is the least like a social network you can get, but will still provide you contact information if you need it. Spoke is usually charged via a monthly subscription.
For more great articles on career advice & much more please visit the career section on GKBusiness.
Read More»Ten Highest Paying Jobs
The Highest Paying Jobs of 2009
Everyone likes money, and knowing who makes the most is often an influential aspect of what people choose to do with their lives. Of course, the list changes from year to year, and being a wealthy socialite is usually high on the list of desired jobs. However, for those of us who have to go out and earn our money every day, here are the top paying jobs of 2009.
1. Anesthesiologist - $292,000/year – The high pay anesthesiologists make is often reflected by the fact that they have to pay for obscene amounts of malpractice insurance. They get paid to make sure that people live through the surgeries that would ordinarily kill them. This job also involves 12 plus years of extra schooling and certification.
2. Physician (OBGYN) - $222,000 – Not only does this job come with a great pay rate, but people are not going to stop having babies any time soon. With many pregnancies stipulating a doctor's visit once per month, escalating to once per week in the month prior to birth, it's easy to see how these professionals rake in the cash.
3. Psychiatrist - $177,000 – Mental health care can sometimes be spotty, which leads many patients to pay for the psychiatrists' services out-of-pocket. Like other doctors, heavy duty school requirements fuel the high fees they charge. Oddly, these doctors generally don't require as much malpractice insurance as others.
4. Nurse Anesthetist - $157,000 – These people work under the anesthesiologists, and like them, they get paid to make sure they never make a mistake. Since mortality rates due to anesthesia have fallen dramatically since the 1980's, it's heartening to see that the high pay is warranted.
5. Sales Director - $140,000 – Salespeople bring in the big money for their companies. Often required to meet quotas, which can be anywhere from thousands to millions per quarter, depending on the product, this stressful job often carries a high volume of commission work.
6. Actuary - $129,000 – Number crunchers in the extreme, actuaries help price products, determine if making a product can even be profitable, and put prices on just about anything. Actuaries also enjoy one of the lowest-stress jobs, due to high demand for their services. Becoming an actuary requires extensive schooling, certification, and constant learning.
7. Finance Director - $121,000 – Money makes the company function, so the people who decide where to get it and how to spend it make a lot of it. This is a job held by people with a lot of business experience and expertise, because mistakes can take the whole company down the tubes.
8. Software Architect - $117,000 – These people are the orchestrator of the products we use every day. Good ones are in very high demand the world over, which leads to very competitive salaries. This position requires much less education than the other ones on this list, since a competent architect may only posses a bachelor's degree.
9. Attorney - $115,000 – Attorneys of all stripes make a big buck. They get paid to know the minutia of the law, and to influence people to see things their way. The job also comes with high stress, and the impact that if you don't win for your client, you don't see much of this money.
10. Insurance Broker - $114,000 – Like sales, insurance brokers focus on the quota and commission to make money. Those who focus on high-liability industries, such as oil, construction and pharmaceuticals, can make a lot more than those who focus on personal liability.
For more interesting articles on careers and and career advice please visit the career section on GKBusiness.
Read More»Job Skills That Are in Demand
Job Skills That Make You Marketable
You go to a job interview, and the interviewer asks, “What sets you apart from the other people we have applying for this job?” You should never be without an answer to this question, since it's so popular amongst interviewers. The question is trying to decide what qualifies as a skill that is highly attractive to employers. You should try to develop a skill that will answer the question, while still being applicable to the position. Typically, the skills that you cite are ones that are “soft” - things that fall into communication and personality.
For example, you may have “good computer skills”, but what does that mean? Perhaps you can create dynamite presentations. Or, maybe you use Photoshop on your off time, but are really excellent at it. Or, maybe you are a whiz at Excel due to the summer you spent working as a bookkeeper. Regardless of what it is that you can do, if you're good at it, highlight it. Other software packages that are not as heavily used, such as Visio, may prompt an interviewer to ask what it is. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase that not only are you computer literate, but you are well rounded as well.
Computer Certification Program Helps
Computer certifications are one way that an IT professional can make themselves stand out. While a degree is sometimes required for an IT position, much of the emerging technology hasn't filtered down into the college curriculum yet. Also, some certifications are very in depth and require real dedication over years of work to master what's going to be on the exam. Everything from an A+ Certification to the CCIE looks great. If you're going for positions in IT, pick your niche, and go for it. You won't be sad that you did.
Useful Second Language
Learning a second language is pretty tough, especially if you didn't grow up speaking multiple languages. Showcasing this on your resume will often pique an employer's interest because it shows a high level of dedication to claim fluency in both English and Japanese. Being bilingual or even trilingual opens an array of jobs in the international sector, as well as opening new avenues.
Effective Communication Work
While many people don't think of it, being an effective communicator is a learned skill. We are not innately born with the ability to communicate well, and learning these skills takes time and practice. There are a number of ways for you to learn how. Taking a class in communications can be a huge benefit to you, and give you a concrete example of how you have bettered yourself.
Measuring Soft Skills
One of the catches of soft skills is that it is often difficult to demonstrate that you have them, even after having taken a class. Be sure that if you take the time and money to put it on paper, you also practice it in your everyday life. Employers love to see their instincts about an interviewee be correct, so don't give them a reason to regret hiring you.
For more information about job interviews and career development please check out our careers advice section on GKBusiness.
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