Archives for 2018

Hard Day’s Work: 4 Ways to Prepare for Working a Construction Job

February 7, 2018 by Tim McMahon

Working a construction job is a great way to apply your skills, stay fit, and enjoy a solid income. But it can also be dangerous if you aren’t properly prepared. Here are a few easy preparations, so you can be sure that the time you give to your trade will be safe, worthwhile and effective.

Have the Right Gear

A construction site offers a unique set of physical characteristics that require the right gear to effectively accommodate. For you, this may mean a pair of steel-toed boots to protect your feet, a hard hat to protect your head, or rain gear to ensure you stay dry and comfortable in case it starts raining. An interesting quote from Ben’s Cleaner Sales says “When your job requires you and your employees to work with pressure washers or outside during the rain, you want quality rain equipment to keep you dry. When you are dry and comfortable, you are more productive… Plus, most of our rain gear is brightly colored and equipped with reflective stripes for safety.” So it is important to remember that when the weather is bad visibility is also lower, so the addition of bright colors and reflective materials can also improve your safety.

You must keep in mind that you may be exposed to the elements up to your entire workday, so you need to dress to ensure you remain comfortable if that ends up being the case. If it’s cold, dress in layers so you can shed layers as you heat up while performing work. If it’s warm, wear clothing that will wick sweat away from your body so you don’t end up with wet, uncomfortable clothes all day. Two critical pieces of personal equipment you should have are construction boots and a reflective vest. Simply by wearing these to a construction site you show the job foreman that you are serious and ready to work.

Study up

If this is your first time working in the construction industry, being able to understand what’s being asked from you, right from the start, will help you reach greater heights in the industry. Know specific terminology that is used in your field, and understand how to use the tools of your specific trade. Two certifications that you can easily get are your OSHA 10 certification and your “Flagman” certification as you’ll see in this video these two certifications will take you a total of 14 hours to get and will go a long way toward getting your foot in the door of the construction industry.

Over time you will certainly improve in all these areas through daily exposure and hands-on learning, but if you don’t know much when you show up to a job site, the learning curve is going to be difficult and potentially dangerous.

Get Enough Sleep

Since your safety and the safety of others on the job site depend on [Read more…] about Hard Day’s Work: 4 Ways to Prepare for Working a Construction Job

Hardhats Required: 4 Things to Do after an Accident at Work

February 5, 2018 by Guest Contributor

Those who have gotten hurt at work may find that their lives are permanently altered. For instance, they may experience chronic pain, experience changes in mood or find themselves unable to walk or talk. Let’s take a look at what injured workers should do in the aftermath of a workplace accident.

Notify Your Employer of the Injury

The first thing an injured worker should do is notify their employer about the injury. In the event of a severe injury, it may be possible to have someone else get in touch with a manager while the injured party seeks treatment. A representative from the company should file an accident report and take note of if, when and where an individual was initially treated.

See a Doctor

Even if an injury is minor, it is important to see a doctor after a workplace accident. This is because symptoms may not present themselves right away. For instance, a concussion or whiplash may not be apparent immediately after a fall or motor vehicle collision. Cuts or lacerations could become infected if they are not treated properly. Additionally, a doctor’s evaluation may be beneficial when applying for workers’ compensation benefits.

Hire a Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Typically, anyone hurt in a workplace accident is entitled to have [Read more…] about Hardhats Required: 4 Things to Do after an Accident at Work

January Unemployment Almost “Record Setting”

February 3, 2018 by Tim McMahon

January Unemployment is almost record setting… but not for the reason you might think.

On Friday February 2^nd the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their monthly employment survey results for the month of January. According to the BLS the Seasonally Adjusted U-3 Unemployment Rate for January is unchanged for the almost record setting 4th month in a row. That’s right from October through January the Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment rate has been 4.1%. This is a very low level and we really don’t expect it to get too much lower but the interesting part is that the unadjusted U-3 was 3.9% from October through December (resulting in the adjusted rate being 4.1%) but then in January the unadjusted rate jumped to 4.5% (a 0.6% increase) and the adjusted U-3 remained the same at 4.1%. This is because typically January sees an uptick in unemployment as all the seasonal employees get laid-off. So we would expect some sort of uptick in unadjusted unemployment rate. But because the Seasonally Adjusted U3 was unchanged for the month the current increase in the unadjusted U-3 was actually no greater or less than normal. See Current Unemployment Chart for more info.

U-6 Unemployment

Over the same period, Unadjusted U-6 unemployment which is a broader measure of Unemployment including discouraged workers, climbed steadily.

It was 7.6% in October, then 7.7% in November, then 8.0% in December, and finally 8.9% in January.

This is still significantly better than a year ago when in November 2016 Unadjusted U-6 was 9% and had climbed to 10.1% by January 2017.

See Unadjusted U-6 unemployment for more info.

Employment

Over the last month, the actual number of people working (not seasonally adjusted) has decreased by [Read more…] about January Unemployment Almost “Record Setting”

5 Common Master’s Degrees

January 30, 2018 by Guest Contributor

In today’s professional and economic climate, it is becoming more difficult to enter a profession without obtaining a higher education. In recent years there appears to be a significant amount of “degree Inflation”. The term degree inflation refers to the practice of requiring job candidates to possess a college diploma when the job type did not traditionally require a four year degree. And now jobs that once required a 4 year degree are now requiring a Master’s degree. The irony of the situation is that earning a master’s degree is a large financial investment in and of itself. Here are 5 common Master Degree programs.

Master of Business Administration

A master of business administration (MBA) prepares you to turn anything you enjoy into a lucrative business if you are adequately trained to properly open and maintain one. As this Rutgers University article explains, business is still primarily a brick-and-mortar-only industry, however higher education is not. For all of the master’s degrees listed in this article, online programs can be just as beneficial as traditional programs. Although most people seeking an MBA do so for monetary reasons Forbes recently published an article citing The 10 Most Under-Rated Reasons Why You Should Get An MBA and none of them are monetary. A CNBC article listed the following reasons for getting an MBA. 1) Hiring of MBA’s is up. 2) Even in the depths of a recession “A 2014 study that surveyed 21,000 business-school alums found that the majority of them would enroll in business schools if given the opportunity to do it all over again.” 3) Networking Opportunities. (So don’t just keep your nose in the books while you are there).

But the CNBC article also listed two “Cons” of getting an MBA. 1) Rising Costs- Top schools can cost $200,000 for the two year program. 2) Fewer CEO’s hold MBA’s so getting an MBA may not be the “route to the top”.

https://youtu.be/RWSiGEhsq_E?t=1s

Master of Psychology

A master of psychology is [Read more…] about 5 Common Master’s Degrees

Will Your Degree Choice Lead to a Great Career?

January 25, 2018 by Guest Contributor

Choosing your college degree program is a serious decision that requires a lot of thought. Not only do you have to think about what you want right now, but also what you want from your career ten years from now. Here are five degree options many High School grads consider. However, when choosing a career you need to look beyond the subject you will be studying and see what career they can lead to. A great resource from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is called their Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). It lists jobs and what they entail and the average salary you can expect. When you look at the career in the OOH you will find the average salary, don’t get too excited yet this is the average of all the people working at that position. You will be starting at the low end of the scale and working your way up (not at the average salary). Next you want to look at the outlook for the job over the next ten years. Will they be needing more or less of them? If more, then it will be easier to find a job, if about the same then the only open jobs will be if someone retires. If less it will be very difficult to find a job and you should probably choose a different career.

So for instance suppose you enjoy reading so you think you should major in English Literature.

English Language and Literature

Book-lovers, poets, authors, all consider joining an English language and literature degree program. This program requires reading and analyzing large amounts of literature, as well as accessing your creativity and critical thinking skills. College brochures tell you, “With an English degree, you can become a journalist, author, lawyer, publisher, or basically any other career that requires writing.” However you will be competing with those who majored in Law, Journalism, Creative Writing or some other degree program perhaps more specialized to the chosen field. If you search English Literature in the OOH they don’t list a single job called “English Literature”. Instead they list things like Postsecondary teachers, Writers and Authors, Editors, Interpreters and Translators, and Librarians. So when considering a Major be sure to look at the end result (career) you are looking to get and not focus on a subject you like to study.

In the following video Dave Ramsey discusses how to choose between career options:

Business

Do you want to make a name for yourself in the corporate world? If so, [Read more…] about Will Your Degree Choice Lead to a Great Career?

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water”…

January 24, 2018 by Tim McMahon

When Jaws 2 came out in 1978 the tagline was “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water”… well today I’d like to change that to say “Just when you thought it was safe to work at a desk” and look at 4 common injuries due to working at a desk. ~Tim McMahon, editor

Know the Risks! 4 Common Injuries Your Desk Job Could Give You

In recent years, more and more desk jobs have been popping up. Whether it be working in an office-type environment, or in a call center, office jobs seem to be the future. What many don’t realize, however, is that the number of injuries a desk job can cause. In order to educate you on the potential injuries that a desk job can give you, here’s a compiled a list of things to consider:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The first, and most obvious, injury is carpal tunnel syndrome. If your office job involves a lot of typing, you can easily develop carpal tunnel over time—an unpleasant numbness caused by a pinched nerve. Many people might not realize it, but according to ninds.gov, carpal tunnel syndrome is more than 3 times as common in data-entry personnel.

In order to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome in your office job, ensure your posture is good and maintained throughout the day. You should also take occasional rests from typing when possible.

Eye Strain

For those working an office job with a computer, [Read more…] about “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water”…

Unemployment By State

January 18, 2018 by Tim McMahon

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent data broken down by state (released in December for the month of November), Hawaii had the lowest unemployment at 2.0% followed by several Western States including North Dakota (2.6%), Nebraska (2.7%), Colorado, Idaho and Iowa all at 2.9%. Somehow New Hampshire managed to also be among the lowest also at 2.7% with Vermont at 2.9%.

Although California has been touted as having the fastest growing labor force it ranked number 35 in unemployment rates with unemployment at 4.6% well below the national average of 4.1%.

The following table lists the [Read more…] about Unemployment By State

5 Things to Know about a Career in Behavioral Analysis

January 16, 2018 by Guest Contributor

If you’re interested in a career that offers security, variety, and a chance to help others, behavioral analysis is an exciting and dynamic field worth considering. With high demand in a variety of professional settings, working as a behavioral analysis expert will place you in one of the country’s fastest growing industries, making it well worth the investment needed to earn the necessary qualifications. According to Indeed.com the average Board Certified behavioral analyst earns $67,491/year.

Career Paths

The most popular and accessible career path for behavioral analysts is counseling. This can be done in a hospital or clinic setting, public schools, a drug or alcohol treatment facility, as part of a private practice, alongside a human resources team, and many other settings. Another growing career branch for behavior analysts is within the education field, where you can work as a special education assistant, giving you the opportunity to work with students who struggle with disabilities or have other unique needs. There are also some unique jobs that benefit from a behavioral analysis background. Since your schooling will provide you with communication and listening skills, behavioral analysts often make excellent motivators in positions like personal trainers and life coaches. The areas of focus among behavior analysts today are wide-ranging, they include everything from developmental disabilities and autism, to cultural psychology, clinical psychology, and verbal behavior.

Job Security

As diagnostic criteria have improved, specialists have [Read more…] about 5 Things to Know about a Career in Behavioral Analysis

How Companies Can Monitor and Anticipate Financial Trends

January 10, 2018 by Tim McMahon

Current and future financial trends play a massive role in the success or failure of businesses. Unless a company can accurately predict financial trends, it can be difficult to manage many aspects of a company, from sales to supplier sourcing. Imagine a company embarking on a new adventure to rehab and flip houses in 2008. The banking crisis that ensued would have guaranteed their failure. On the other hand it might have been a good time to open a business to help retrain laid-off workers for new positions. The following guide explores some of the methods that companies use to monitor and anticipate financial trends.

Internal Analysts

Large companies often have analysts that monitor a variety of market conditions. [Read more…] about How Companies Can Monitor and Anticipate Financial Trends

Keys to Advancing in Your Chosen Career

January 9, 2018 by Tim McMahon

Whether you work for an organization or run your own business, there are some skills that you can master to improve your chances for success. Interestingly, there are a few skills that no-matter what your industry, sector, or position, mastering these skills will help you to advance in your career.

1. Learn How to Network

People who want to succeed in business must learn how to network. Develop strong relationships with others to work your way up the ladder and take advantage of opportunities. However, the relationship must never seem forced or transactional. If you only reach out to people when you require something from them, they may feel as if they are being used and may cut ties with you altogether. The old adage that it is “better to give than receive” may sound like it has nothing to do with business but if you give first people are much more likely to reciprocate. Find out what they need and try to find ways to help them get it. Keep up with your contacts, it only takes a few minutes to send an email to say hello to a connection and ask how they are, and they’ll be more likely to help you when you need it, as a result.

2. Improve Your Presentation Skills

Presentations are a natural part of most businesses. You may have to undertake some form of public speaking at some point in your career. A public speaking course might, therefore, be the ideal solution to refine your delivery and pitches, so you appear to be a knowledgeable presenter and more confident in your approach. You should also use the best online presentation software to capture your audience’s attention and create engaging presentations.

3. Find a Mentor

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