Archives for March 2019

Putting Your Best Foot Forward: How to Make Sure You’re a Good Candidate for Hire

March 26, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Applying for a new job can quickly become stressful and overwhelming when you are unsure of how to go about the process to increase your chances of receiving an additional interview request. When you want to put your best foot forward, there are a few tips and tricks to implement into the process of preparing for an upcoming job interview and filling out available applications.

Tweak Your Resume for Each Individual Position You Are Interested In

Submitting the same resume for each job you are interested in is not advisable, especially if each individual position requires different skills and talents. Always update your resume for each new application you intend to submit to increase your chances of getting noticed and receiving a follow-up email or phone call. Consider the skills, talents, and responsibilities of each position you are interested in to make the appropriate tweaks and changes to your resume prior to submitting your application.

The most important part of your resume is the initial profile that is at the top since it is the first thing a potential employer sees. It should be brief with only about 3 bullet points. The first bullet point should highlight your experience.

So if you are a CPA it might look something like this: [Read more…] about Putting Your Best Foot Forward: How to Make Sure You’re a Good Candidate for Hire

Starting a Restaurant Business?

March 25, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Being a fan of cooking and preparing three healthy meals for your family every day of the week is one thing, but doing that professionally for dozens of people all the time is something completely different. But, if you think cooking is your true calling, this is something you have to invest all your time and money into. Starting a restaurant business can be hard and challenging, but it’s probably the most exciting thing you’re ever going to do, so here’s what you need to look into and how you can become the best restaurateur you can be.

Why are you doing this?

There are lots of reasons why people open restaurants – from wanting to be in a charge of a successful business and trying to invest their money into something lucrative, to actually trying to make a difference in their community and sharing their passion with the world. So, you need to understand what you’re doing and why you’re looking into this idea in the first place.

Once you define this, all the other crucial things – the scope, the size, the location, the menu, the design, etc. – are going to come to you naturally. In the end, if you don’t know what you’re doing and what you’re trying to achieve, your restaurant won’t be successful and you’ll just waste your time and money.

How big a restaurant do you want?

Depending on your ideas and desires, you can either start a small restaurant that’s going to prepare only a handful of different meals daily, or a huge place that might be able to accommodate dozens and dozens of hungry guests. Ultimately, it all depends on your level of skills and dedication to your new career. [Read more…] about Starting a Restaurant Business?

Considering a Career in Trucking?

March 19, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Truck driving can be a very rewarding and fulfilling career if you are passionate about getting out and sightseeing. It can be fairly well paid career path and only requires a limited amount of training. This makes it an ideal choice for someone who wants to learn a new skill but isn’t quite interested in dedicating several years towards completing a degree. The following information provides a more in-depth look at four advantages associated with truck driving positions:

Benefits

Typically, most truck driving companies offer their employees great benefits. This includes different types of insurance, such as life, medical, and dental. They may also offer retirement plans, which can really help you later in life.

Flexibility

Usually, truck drivers are able to determine how far they would like to travel. If you are interested in traveling long distances, this is definitely a career option that will give you that opportunity. You may also get to choose to drive locally as well, which means you won’t be away from home for extended periods of time.

4 Tips for Avoiding a Workplace Accident in a Blue Collar Environment

March 12, 2019 by Tim McMahon

If you recently got hired to work a blue-collar job, there are some things that you should know if you want to stay safe at work. Industrial environments are known to have additional hazards that you’ll likely not find in office jobs, so it’s especially important to be diligent when it comes to looking after your well-being. These four tips can help you avoid a workplace accident in your blue-collar environment.

Use All Safety Equipment

If hardhats, safety goggles, and other types of safety equipment are available at your work, you should use them. Many job sites require that you wear a hardhat and not doing so can result in your termination. Your work environment may also have earplugs or headphones that can protect your hearing if you work in a noisy environment. Some employers even give employees the option of using back supports when lifting heavy objects. Your employer should provide instructions on how to use the safety equipment properly so that you can keep yourself better protected.

Avoid Taking Shortcuts

You might be tempted at some point to take shortcuts to finish your work quicker, but doing so may prove to be dangerous as you can see from the video below. If you try to complete a certain task while skipping important steps, you run the risk of causing an accident that could result in bodily harm. It’s important that you take the time to follow each process correctly, even if it means falling behind in your schedule. If your employer tries to pressure you into working faster and causes you to suffer an injury, you may have legal grounds to file a lawsuit. If you can’t work and need money there are now companies that offers settlement advances until a settlement has been reached. But be cautious, some companies offer lawsuit loans, or pre-settlement loans which you might have to repay if you lose your case. You should seek a non-recourse lawsuit settlement advance. That way, you owe nothing if you lose your case.

https://youtu.be/CfaozYDFxdY?t=15

February Unemployment- Only 20,000 New Jobs?

March 9, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their monthly unemployment survey results for February on March 8^th and it has the market pundits wringing their hands over the mere 20,000 jobs created after projections were for 175,000 jobs. Optimists are blaming the government shutdown combined with the weather causing a lack of construction jobs in the Seasonally Adjusted jobs numbers.

But if job creation is only 20,000 why is Unadjusted U-6 Unemployment down from 8.8% in January to 7.7% in February? Why has the unemployment rate for Hispanics dropped to another mega low of 4.3%? And why is the unemployment rate for Women 3.6%?

The non-seasonally adjusted jobs number is up by 827,000 jobs from January to February compared to an increase of 1.237 million during the same period last year and an increase of 1.03 million from January – February 2017. So, yes the increase is considerably smaller but as we near full employment it becomes progressively harder to find new employees even if you have jobs available. The problem shifts from a lack of jobs to a lack of qualified employees.

Key February Employment and Unemployment Numbers

Adjusted U-3 Unemployment- 3.8% down from 4.0% in January, 3.9% in December and 3.7% in November.
Unadjusted U-3 Unemployment- 4.1% down from 4.4% in January, 3.7% in December and 3.5% in November.
Unadjusted U-6 Unemployment- 7.7% down from 8.8% in January, 7.5% in December and 7.2% in November.
Unadjusted Employment (Establishment Survey)- 149.133 up from 148.201 million in January, 151.190 million in December and 151.244 million in November.
February Labor Force Participation Rate- Unchanged at 63.2% up from 63.1% in December and LFPR 62.9% highest since 2013.
101st straight gain in Seasonally Adjusted Employment- (Household Survey) 156.949 up from 156.694 in January

Current Seasonally Adjusted U-3 levels are hovering around the lows of 2000. Prior to that we have to go all the way back to 1969 to see better unemployment levels than we have currently. Current levels are rising a bit from a cyclical low not seen since 1969. Also noteworthy is that levels do not stay this low for very long. The longest low like this was the seven month period from October 1968 through April 1969. Prior to 1969 was a one month low of 3.7% in 1957. On the plus side, [Read more…] about February Unemployment- Only 20,000 New Jobs?

3 Options to Consider When You Can’t Go Back to Work

March 7, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Life can be a real struggle when you are suffering from chronic pain from an injury or other serious medical problems that won’t go away. If you have chronic conditions that prevent you from working your previous position, that doesn’t mean that you are out of options for you to regain the fullness of life that you once experienced. It may not be easy but with dedication and perseverance you can change your lifestyle and still have a productive and fulfilling career.

File for Disability or Unemployment

If you are disabled or injured and unable to earn money, now is the time to file initially for worker’s disability and later Social Security disability payments if your condition does not improve. Additionally, speaking with unemployment advisors in your area will help give you a better idea of what your plans can be realistically. Although it is probably not a permanent solution to your financial limitations, it can help while you work on figuring out how to start a new career or other long term plan.

Some careers can be started by simply investing the time and effort into certification or learning certain skills. Filing for disability or unemployment could help give you the time and money you need to invest in bigger and better plans for your future.

Consider a New Career or Industry

No matter what kind of injuries that you may have, it is [Read more…] about 3 Options to Consider When You Can’t Go Back to Work