Archives for December 2012

Self-Employment Assistance Program Help Jobless Develop Small Businesses

December 22, 2012 by Guest Contributor

The acronym SEA stands for Self-Employment Assistance, self-employment programs that entitle jobless individuals to claim unemployment benefits while receiving access to small business development assistance from the government. In other words, American workers can use unemployment as a springboard to business ownership thanks to the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in early 2012.

SEA programs address the fundamental challenge faced by jobless workers who can’t afford to lose their unemployment benefits simply because they aren’t actively looking for a new job. A White House blog entry from May of this year explained the inflexible system they faced before the new law:

“If they stop looking for traditional work full-time, they will lose their unemployment benefits. Instead, SEA allows an entrepreneur with a viable business plan to receive those same unemployment benefits, as long as they are working full-time to get a new company off the ground.”

Here’s how the Self-Employment Assistance program works

Job Interviews: The Five Most Common Types

December 21, 2012 by Steve Gott

A job interview is ideally the occasion that both you the interviewee and the interviewer use to assess and measure each other to see if the other is the right fit (as the employer or employee). Employers have a number of select methods that they use to conduct effective interviews. The method used may be determined by factors such as the type of job and where the applicant lands in the job selection process. Here are five of the most common types of job interviews you should know about.

1. The Traditional Job Interview

This type really does not require much explanation. It is the most common type of interview and possibly the one most interviewees envision when they are going to an interview. For this interview setting the interviewee would usually meet with one individual for a one-on-one session. The interviewer would use a broad range of questions to assess the interviewee, and then evaluate his or her performance during the interview to determine whether or not they are eligible for the job. The interviewee’s performance would include his or her ability to communicate, as well as how they demonstrated their suitability for the job.

2. Behavioral Job Interview

This form of interview is used to determine how well the interviewee performed in certain work environments. The interview process will most likely entail the posing of questions to the candidate that are meant to get them to demonstrate to the panel their knowledge and abilities that are related to the job or whatever quality they mean to observe. The interviewers will try to gauge the response of the candidate by using specific examples and/or stories from their own past. They will then observe the candidate to see how well he handles himself in such a situation. A behavioral interview is based on the concept that behavior in a past situation is likely to repeat itself in the future.

3. Panel or Committee Job Interview

Another relatively common form of interview, this involves the candidate meeting with several members of the interview panel all at once or in a series of meetings. This type of interview can often prove to be [Read more…] about Job Interviews: The Five Most Common Types

Use Facebook for your Job Search?

December 20, 2012 by Tim McMahon

Need a job? Have you considered using Facebook to find work?

Social networking sites today are not just for sharing informal information. Facebook, can also be a powerful tool that can lead you to a job. Because millions of people use Facebook, take advantage of it and put your job search efforts on a success track. With a good handle on how to use Facebook for your job search, you can gain a competitive edge in your job hunt.

Leverage your Facebook Friends for Job Searches

If you let your Facebook friends know that you need a job, they can refer you to their employers or friends that are in a position to hire you. Or, they can point you to valuable resources. Further, your friends can leverage their Facebook network – friends of friends – and help you land a job. The old saying about 6 degrees of separation applies here. According to Wikipedia, Six degrees of separation is the idea that everyone is six or fewer introductions away from any other person in the world, so that a chain of “a friend of a friend” can connect any two people in six steps or less.

Why Facebook for your Job Search?

A job ad in [Read more…] about Use Facebook for your Job Search?

Becoming a Home Health Care Administrator

December 19, 2012 by Andrina Cagandahan

Patients prefer home care over an extended stay in a hospital or nursing home, and for the elderly, home care can actually be the more affordable option. Home health care agencies provide skilled nurses and medical workers to oversee older patients who need constant care and may be approaching the end of their lives. They also serve people with severe disabilities or patients who are recovering from serious accidents. Home health agencies also employ administrators to be in charge of both the business and the patient wellness aspects of the company. Not every health care administrator works at a hospital – some of them specialize in the best ways to provide this very personal home health care. Here are the steps to pursuing health care administration as a career.

1. Researching Health Care Administration

The duties of a home health care administrator can vary wildly based on the kind of agency they work for. The first step in getting involved in the home health care industry is finding out which kinds of agencies are near you and which services they provide. Some agencies specialize in hospice care, which can mean involving a person’s family in their end-of-life treatment. Others provide help with dressing and bathing for the elderly or disabled. Some agencies specialize in physical therapy, and others provide nurses who can administer medications and help patients with their diet. Every kind of home health care has different licensing requirements, and it’s important to know what kind of education or certification you need to pursue.

2. Gaining Health Care Experience

Before you can become the boss, you need to have a good grasp of medical practices. Many health administrators are also registered nurses, and even more have spent years working in hospitals and interacting with patients. Even if your knowledge and experience lean more towards the business side of things, you might want to look for work as a healthcare administrative assistant. This is a valuable way to [Read more…] about Becoming a Home Health Care Administrator

5 Best Male Nursing Jobs

December 14, 2012 by Tim McMahon

Are Male Nursing Jobs Different?-

You may think that men enjoy different jobs than women when it comes to nursing. In reality, people love the different nursing careers because of their personality, not because of their gender. If you’re a man and are considering entering the nursing profession, there is no better time than now. The demand for male nurses is at an all-time high; here are five of the best careers in nursing currently available:

1.Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)-

While less than ten percent of the nursing profession is made up of men, only about 50 percent of CRNAs are women. As a CRNA, you will help provide anesthetics to people undergoing a wealth of procedures; from major surgeries to minor tune-ups. As a male CRNA you may find work in a bustling hospital in the city or in a small, quaint hospital in the country. CRNAs are well-respected in the medical profession, working in conjunction with anesthesiologists and doctors.

2.Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners-

Male psychiatric nurse practitioners work in a wide variety of settings, including mental health clinics, hospitals, prisons and even for themselves in their own practice. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you can reasonably expect to make up to $85,000 per year helping people deal with various mental disorders and diseases. In your professional life, you’ll be asked to [Read more…] about 5 Best Male Nursing Jobs

5 Qualities of a Great Police Officer That May Surprise You

December 9, 2012 by Andrina Cagandahan

Police Officers Job Description-

What kind of person is cut out for a career in police work? You might have an idea of who you imagine the perfect officer to be – strong, fit, authoritative, and able to face the most dangerous situations. But it takes more than physical qualities to be a police officer. Police are meant to be leaders, no matter what duties they perform from day to day, and to be successful at such a harrowing job, you also have to have a certain emotional strength and integrity. You might think police work is rigid and structured, but you’d be surprised how often policemen and women must think outside the box, keep their cool, and be able to inspire and motivate others. If you’ve ever considered police work, you’ll want to assess your mental qualifications as well as your physical ones. This is what you need to be able to do.

1. Treat Everyone Equally

It almost goes without saying that a good police officer isn’t prejudiced. But police officers need to be open to everyone in the community, regardless of both ethnic group and social class. Anyone can be a victim of crime, even the homeless or someone addicted to drugs. And anyone can be a criminal, no matter how affluent or seemingly normal they appear. Studies have shown that after their first year on the force, police officers can develop stronger prejudices against certain marginalized groups in society due to their negative experiences. A great police officer will be able to look past these experiences and adhere to the presumption of innocence in every case. Everyone’s a suspect, but nobody is automatically guilty.

2. Control Your Emotions

As a police officer, you never know when [Read more…] about 5 Qualities of a Great Police Officer That May Surprise You

Does Usage Based Car Insurance Offer a Route to Lower Rates?

December 5, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Usage-Based Car Insurance

For most American drivers, car insurance is not only legally mandated but is a real necessity. However, it’s now becoming possible to sign up for as pay-as-you-drive, or usage-based car insurance. If you don’t drive very much, it can give you lower rates. However, there are certain things to know before you decide that this is the best option for you.

Wireless Transmission Devices will Monitor Car Usage

As with traditional insurance programs, your driving habits will still play a large role in your rates. Unfortunately, if you had a habit of occasionally driving recklessly in the past, usage-based insurance programs won’t let you use the honor system to prove that you’ve changed your ways for good.

Usually, the amount of miles that you drive in a particular period is automatically calculated and transmitted to your insurance company through a device that resides in your car. However, Allstate and Progressive are just two companies that also monitor driving behavior such as the number of times that a policyholder drives at speeds over 80 miles per hour or the way that they use their brakes. A member of Progressive’s usage-based insurance program notes that unusual braking patterns can point the finger at aggressive drivers.

Understandably, some drivers are concerned that [Read more…] about Does Usage Based Car Insurance Offer a Route to Lower Rates?

Shortcuts to a Good Job: Online Certificate Programs, Career Training or Community College?

December 3, 2012 by Jorgen Rex Olson

Attending a big University may seem like the American dream. But there are many obstacles to completing college. For some, it could be the cost while for others, they simply don’t have the time to sit through four years of school.

Someone with small children who desperately needs a better income may not be able to attend a traditional college to get the education they need. And if you’ve been making decent money but abruptly lost your job, you may not have four more years to upgrade your skills. There are many reasons why a four-year college may not be the best fit for some students.

The good news is that there are plenty of career training options that can be completed in a shorter period of time, that will still give you, the graduate, the opportunity to upgrade your skills and earn a higher wage.

Here are some options that you should consider if you are looking for a decent job in a shorter timeframe.

Online Certificate Programs

There are several schools that offer certificate programs that will not earn the student a diploma. These courses simply help the student pass the certification test for a certain field, so they can begin work immediately. Depending on the course chosen, these programs may take from a few weeks to several months to complete. These courses are usually offered online, although classroom learning may be available or required for certain programs. Some of the most common certificate programs are Information Security, IT technology such as Linux, Paralegal, Medical Coding and Billing, and various art and design certificates. A student pursuing Online Certificate Programs, however, should [Read more…] about Shortcuts to a Good Job: Online Certificate Programs, Career Training or Community College?

7 Tips for the Newly Unemployed

December 2, 2012 by Karen Schweitzer

Newly Unemployed?

Losing your job can be devastating–especially if you weren’t expecting it. Searching for another job can be time consuming in 2012 the average duration of unemployment was 40.2 weeks. So you need to put your finances in order immediately. If you are newly unemployed, the following tips will help you keep your head above water.

Newly Unemployed Tip #1 Reduce Expenses

If you find yourself suddenly unemployed, one of the first things you need to do is find ways to cut your expenses. There are some things that may be set in stone, such as your rent, but there are many other things that are negotiable. Start by making a list of your bills. Flag things that can be reduced–electric, water, gas, telephone, internet. Get your entire family in on the plan so that you can brainstorm money-saving ideas and put cost-cutting measures into action right away. Finally, reduce your other bills. Contact various insurance companies for better rates. Call your credit card companies to ask for a reduction in interest or payments. Refinance your loans (if you can do so cheaply) to get a lower rate and a lower monthly payment; If you can’t refinance, request an extension.

Newly Unemployed Tip #2 Eliminate Expenses

There are many things we enjoy when our lives are in good financial order. These things aren’t necessities and should be [Read more…] about 7 Tips for the Newly Unemployed

Becoming an International Business Manager

December 1, 2012 by Guest Contributor

A Career in International Business Management

can be a great way to learn more about different cultures, speak new languages or meet a variety of different people. In addition to great leadership and communication skills, international managers will need background knowledge in business and plenty of cultural sensitivity. In order to become an international manager, the right level of education is required. A bachelor’s degree in international management or even a Master of Business Administration might be a great way to prepare. Read on for more information on what it takes to become an international manager.

International Business Management Requires-

A Willingness to Relocate and Travel

Perhaps one of the most exciting characteristics of a career in international business management is the willingness to travel internationally or to move abroad. While many business managers start out with domestic careers, they will often need to travel to meet with suppliers, partners or potential customers around the world. If new markets emerge in places like Beijing, Hong Kong or Paris, you might be required to relocate. If you aren’t willing to relocate for your career, then a job as an international manager will not be for you. By volunteering for overseas assignments whenever possible you will gain experience and let upper management know that you are available for overseas assignments and perhaps be considered for an international business management position when one comes available.

Cultural Sensitivity

International business managers, whether they are working at home or abroad, will likely need to deal with individuals from a range of different nationalities, culture and ethnicities. More than one corporate executive has ruined a deal for his or her company by [Read more…] about Becoming an International Business Manager