Tim McMahon, Editor of UnemploymentData.com

My grandfather lived through the Hyperinflation in Weimar, Germany--to say he was an original “gold bug” would be an understatement. I began reading his “hard money” newsletters at the age of 16 and the dividends from gold stocks helped put me through college. I began publishing the Financial Trend Forecaster paper newsletter in 1995 upon the death of James Moore editor of Your Window into the Future and the creator of the Moore Inflation Predictor©. FTF specializes in trends in the stock market, gold, inflation and bonds. In January of 2003, I began publishing InflationData.com to specialize in all forms of information about the nature of Inflation. In 2009, we added Elliott Wave University to help teach you the principles of Elliott Wave analysis. In January 2013, we began publishing OptioMoney. Connect with Tim on Google+.

How To Get Back to Work After a Long Illness

December 19, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Very few people are healthy 100% of the time, so everyone has to take time off work every now and then. However, a sick day here and there, because you have a cold or the Flu, is entirely different than needing to take many weeks or even months off work due to a chronic condition, accident or due to having to recover from surgery.

When this happens, it can be hard to return to work. Depending on how long you have been away, things can change, and you might be worried that your job won’t be the same anymore. Or you might be concerned that the job you once did will be too strenuous for you now. Whatever your concerns, it’s a good idea to have a plan to deal with them so you can more easily return to work after an illness.

Use The Time Wisely

Being sick is never any fun, and it can be extremely boring, especially if you have had surgery and feel fine but still need to rest. If this is the case, then make the most of the time you have off to ensure that by the time you get back to work you are entirely ready. You can read up on any new company policies, or research industry news to see what changes might be coming,

Alternatively, you might use your time to think about what it is you want to do with your life, and this could be the ideal time to take a class or gain an additional qualification that will benefit you. You can work on additional certifications to keep your skills up to date for instance if you are in the IT industry you could work on getting your MCSE certification. If you are working in healthcare you can obtain an MS in healthcare analytics, or if you work in business/Management you can work on an online MBA.

Have Your Paperwork Ready

Not all roles are going to require paperwork when you go back to them, and not all company policies demand it. What about yours? If you’re not sure, check your contract and the terms of your employment, or ask your manager about what you need to bring with you on your first day back. Usual paperwork includes medical clearance from your surgeon or doctor to prove you are fit for work again.

If you don’t have the right documents when you go back, then your first day may be a slog of finding the right paperwork and getting it authorized, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

Work with Your Doctor

Your doctor will be best equipped to determine when a reasonable date is for your return to work. He/she will probably ask what type of work you do and how strenuous it is. Depending on your injury even sitting might be a problem but your Doctor should be able to determine when it is safe for you to return to work. Your doctor might have to coordinate with your HR department on some accommodations they will have to make for your return.

Arrange A Phased Return

The mistake that a lot of people – employers and employees alike – make is to assume that the person who has been away is going to come back as though nothing has happened and will be able to fit right back in where they left off. Although this would be great and maybe the case for you, it isn’t always this way, and for many, the return to work can be a strain if you have been seriously sick.

If you need to arrange a phased return to work, speak to your boss and/or your HR department about it. You might start on part-time or reduced hours, or you might only work three days a week, to begin with. Gradually, as you get stronger and your confidence grows, you can go back to full time.

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Would You Like a Career as a Cardiac UltraSound Technician?

December 18, 2019 by Tim McMahon

We’ve all heard of pregnant mothers using ultrasound to see their baby before it is born. But ultrasound can be used for much more than that. According to Better Health “An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to make an image of a person’s internal body structures. Doctors commonly use ultrasound to study a developing fetus (unborn baby), a person’s abdominal and pelvic organs, muscles and tendons, or their heart and blood vessels.”

When ultrasound is used to look at the heart it is called “Echocardiography”.

A How-To Guide to a Career in Echocardiography

Your heart is about the size of a human fist and it’s the hardest working muscle in your body. On average it beats 115,000 times a day pumping 2,000 gallons of blood throughout your body. The heart’s rhythms are controlled by an electrical system called the cardiac conduction system.

But when something goes wrong with your heart Echocardiography is an important tool for Doctors to diagnose the problem.

According to Medical News Today:

During an echocardiogram, a doctor can see:

the size and thickness of the chambers
how the valves of the heart are functioning
the direction of blood flow through the heart
any blood clots in the heart
areas of damaged or weak cardiac muscle tissue
problems affecting the pericardium, which is the fluid filled sac around the heart

Echocardiography 101

Echocardiography is also referred to as cardiac sonography, it refers to the use of sound wave technology to make real time images of the heart.

There are two types of imaging associated with the heart.

The first is known as an echocardiogram (echo), and it lets physicians gain an inside look at the heart’s valves and chambers. Echos prove useful, especially when determining damage from a past heart attack.

The second type of imaging is known as an EKG, and it lets you assess the rhythm, rate, and overall electrical activity going on in a patient’s heart.

Who Benefits from Echocardiography?

A wide variety of patients need echocardiography, including individuals who have experienced heart attacks, strokes, or unexplained chest pain.

They are also used to diagnose people with a history of heart murmurs, congenital heart defects, or even those who have experienced rheumatic fever.

Echocardiography technicians specialize in different types of patients. In other words, there are specific technicians who work with adults, children, and in a fetal setting. Technicians can even earn certifications in these specialized areas.

There are also a wide variety of types of echocardiograms performed. These include:

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
Stress echocardiogram
Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
Dopple echocardiogram

Each test deals with particular parts of the body or certain conditions under which the body is placed. For example, the most common type of echocardiogram is the TTE, which creates an image of the chest wall to the heart.

Echo Techs are well paid. According to Salary.com “The average Echocardiograph Technician salary in the United States is $75,178 as of November 25, 2019, but the range typically falls between $67,635 and $83,405. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.”

How to Become an Echocardiography Technician

If you’re passionate about helping people and have an innate fascination with the human body, then you could make a fantastic echocardiography technician. It all starts with education. Find out more information about sonography and echocardiography training.

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Fun Jobs for Tech-Savvy People

December 13, 2019 by Tim McMahon

If you enjoy working with technology, you may be interested in pursuing a career in the tech sector. These careers don’t have to be bland, either—many of them are fun and engaging. If you are tech-savvy, here are four fun jobs you can consider.

Machine Learning Engineer

Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing by leaps and bounds, with nearly every device seeming to have a “smart” variant. AI is only possible through the efforts of machine learning engineers, who create and program these devices to perform their expected function while automatically adjusting to the behaviors of humans. Getting a job in this field may require a degree in electrical engineering or computer science as well as knowledge about data science. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t have a specific category entitled Machine Learning Engineer they do track Computer and Information Research Scientists. They say “Computer and information research scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, science, medicine, and other fields… Creating and improving software involves working with algorithms, which are sets of instructions that tell a computer what to do. Some computing tasks are very difficult and require complex algorithms. Computer and information research scientists try to simplify these algorithms to make computer systems as efficient as possible. The algorithms allow advancements in many types of technology, such as machine learning systems and cloud computing.”

“Employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Computer scientists are likely to enjoy excellent job prospects, because many companies report difficulties finding these highly skilled workers.”

The median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $118,370 in May 2018.

Video Game Designer

The video game industry has been growing by leaps and bounds for over thirty years. Many people of all ages, cultures and walks of life greatly enjoy playing video games and some may consider turning their passion into a full-time career. This is certainly possible, especially if you think you might want to make and publish your own video game. You can also look for jobs at both large and smaller video game studios. Roles you could pursue include [Read more…] about Fun Jobs for Tech-Savvy People

Find a Good Job by Updating Your Resume

December 10, 2019 by Tim McMahon

If you’re in the process of hunting for a job and haven’t had any luck getting an interview, the problem could be your resume. Here are some ways you can update your resume to find a much better job.

Quantify More

Using numbers to quantify your achievements where possible, adds more substance to any resume. For example, instead of just saying “managed employees and brought on new clients,” you can instead state that you managed a team of eight employees and grew your company’s client base by 20%. You can also add numbers in a range or frequency to give your achievements more impact.

Give More Examples

You’ve probably heard to “show, don’t tell” in a lot of different areas of life. Your resume is no different. The strongest resumes give tangible examples of your skillset, past achievements, and experiences you have had. This is [Read more…] about Find a Good Job by Updating Your Resume

November Unemployment- Another Banner Month

December 7, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its employment / unemployment report for November on December 6^th.

Unemployment returns to 50-year lows. The “Seasonally Adjusted” Unemployment Rate for November fell from 3.6% in October to 3.5% despite the media’s narrative that many employers are either delaying hiring until a breakthrough in the U.S.-China trade war is reached.

November Jobs Report Smashes Expectations Again

Unadjusted U-3 was Unchanged at 3.3%!
Adjusted U-3 was down slightly from 3.6% to 3.5%!
Unadjusted U-6 was Unchanged at 6.5%!
Labor Force Participation retreated slightly from 63.3% to 63.2%.
Unadjusted Employment Up by approx. 660,000 jobs.

According to the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in November, and the unemployment rate, at 3.5 percent, was little changed. Notable job gains occurred in health care and in professional and technical services. Manufacturing employment increased as workers in motor vehicles and parts returned from a strike. Employment in health care increased by 45,000… Employment rose by 31,000 in professional and technical services… Employment in leisure and hospitality +45,000… Employment in transportation and warehousing +16,000… Employment in financial activities +13,000…

Of course, he is talking about “Seasonally Adjusted Jobs” from the “Current Population Survey (CPS)”
rather than looking at the results reported by actual companies in their “Current Employment Statistics survey (CES)”
Originally the BLS reported 152,962 million jobs for October and they added 40,000 jobs to that estimate. Currently they are estimating 153.624 million jobs for November which is an increase of 662,000 jobs over what they originally reported last month. So what he is actually saying is that there were 266,000 more jobs created in November than is normal for this time of year!

Returning striking General Motors autoworkers added about 30,000 jobs in November, a one-time bounce-back that followed a 30,000 decline in October, when the GM strikers weren’t counted as employed. But even without that 30,000 Manufacturing still added 24,000 additional jobs!

Just days ago, the media and Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi were trying to paint a grim picture for the economy. Zandi told CNBC there was trouble brewing in the jobs market “Manufacturers, commodity producers and retailers are shedding jobs. Job openings are declining, and if job growth slows any further unemployment will increase.”
Instead of a Decrease in jobs we got a massive INCREASE. And the futures market spiked upward on the good news.

For more info see our Current Unemployment Chart and Current U.S. Employment Chart commentary.

Tips For Making Yourself More Employable

December 5, 2019 by Tim McMahon

If you’re getting interviews but no offers in today’s low unemployment environment something needs to change. Here are some tips to make you more employable.

Work On Your Interview Technique

It can take hard work, effort and stepping out of your comfort zone, but this is what you have to do to make yourself more employable. You may know you can do the job but there is more to it than skill and unfortunately it is necessary to be able to present yourself appropriately in the eyes of others. And hopefully, this will put you on the path to happiness in a career that interests you.

One of the biggest reasons that people struggle to land a job is their interview technique. This is understandable because it is a highly stressful situation and one which causes many people to feel overly anxious. This is why you need to practice your technique, read advice online, prepare for each interview and always ask for feedback.

Network Constantly

It is a smart idea to [Read more…] about Tips For Making Yourself More Employable

Things to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business

December 3, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Starting a business is a popular dream among those who wish to break from the day to day drudgery their current job. If you’ve reached a point in life where you’re interested in taking a chance on your entrepreneurial dreams, there are many factors to consider. Here are some things to think about before you quit your day job.

Ideas are “a Dime a Dozen”

Only 1-in-60 people who dream of starting their own business actually follow through. Many of the other 59 ideas are good but good ideas aren’t the only key to starting a successful business. More important than a good idea is dedication and “follow-through-ability” i.e. persistence. Starting a business is hard work. Do you have the persistence and dedication necessary to get it done… no matter what? Your “million-dollar idea” isn’t worth anything until it actually makes a million dollars. A good idea with mediocre execution won’t get anywhere… BUT a mediocre idea with great execution will still yield a viable business. Execution is everything.

Start Slow

No matter how profitable your business may eventually be, it pays to start slow. Trying to get big too quickly can result in problems. Start small and use that time to work out processes and systems that are scalable. Although early months or years with little cash flow can make things tough, they are a time for learning when the consequences of mistakes are small as well.

A safe route is to start slowly in your spare time. This way you can learn the ropes, build clientele, and you still have your income to fall back on. Once you are earning as much part-time as you are full-time you can easily tell your old boss good-bye.

Be Honest with Yourself

Many people attempt to start a business without carefully considering their strengths and weaknesses. Their friends encourage them but don’t honestly believe in the idea. They tell you “Yeah, I’d buy that but then when the time comes they have nothing but excuses. Like ideas, opinions are worthless unless they are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Get advice from unbiased parties before committing money to the project. That is why programs like Kickstarter and GoFundMe are so valuable. They show how many people are really willing to buy your product because they have committed real money.

Is There a Market?

Before any business can succeed, it must have [Read more…] about Things to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business

Tips for Finding a Job after Serving Jail Time

November 16, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Even a short jail sentence can be a disaster for someone’s personal and professional life. On top of the legal costs associated with exiting the penal system, most people who end up behind bars lose their job before they get out. Finding a new job can be challenging for those with an official record, but there are a few basic tips that can make the search a little easier.

Be Honest

Not all jobs require a background check, but it’s important for applicants to be honest with all the information you submit on official forms. That means you should answer truthfully when asked about a criminal record but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should volunteer the information if not asked directly. According to Joy Morrison who answered this question on Quora (and all the responses might be helpful) but she said, “I found I was by far harder on myself than what anyone else was. Some people may have questions about your crime and if you don’t mind answering them , do it. And be as honest as possible. Don’t sugar coat what you did and don’t try denying it either, they probably already know But just want to hear it from you. Also be prepared , people are curious about prison life and want to hear stories about it.”

It’s easy to get discouraged by frequent rejections, but there are plenty of employers who can and do hire people with imperfect criminal records.

Consider Contracting

Whether you need extra cash to catch up on rent, pay court costs or compensate for bail bonds, contracting work can be a great opportunity. Skilled and professional workers can find many opportunities for side gigs and self-employment in the right areas. It can be easier to find clients or customers without the need for a background check when working as a temporary contractor. Contracting on the side also allows for the potential of earning extra income on top of a full-time job.

Increase Your Hiring Value

Certification, training, experience and academic education are all ways applicants can [Read more…] about Tips for Finding a Job after Serving Jail Time

Industries Begging for Applicants

November 15, 2019 by Tim McMahon

It often feels like the job market is stagnant. You can send out hundreds of applications and never hear anything back. If you’re looking for a job, though, you might do better by looking into these four fields that are begging for new applicants.

Education

There is a definite shortage of teachers in the United States, with some schools turning towards long-term subs just to fill gaps in their scheduling. Depending on the school district, there are even bonuses offered for teachers in hard-to-recruit subjects like Math. While teachers have significant workloads, the field is fairly stable and there are plenty of chances to move within districts and even to new locations. This is one career that’s sure to be around for many years to come, but applicants are still in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median salary for a high school teacher was $60,320 in 2018. Middle School teachers made $58,600/ yr. and Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers averaged $57,980 / yr.

https://youtu.be/wth4CiF9i9M

How to Become a Vet Tech: A Simple Career Guide

November 11, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Today, 84 million millennials house at least one pet. That makes it so almost 7 out of every 10 American homes own an animal.

In a lot of ways, a love for animals is what inspires people to pursue a career working with them. Do you know what one of the most emotionally rewarding animal-oriented careers is that you start pursuing today?

Becoming a veterinarian technician!

Thousands of people find themselves wondering how to become a vet tech annually. In this brief guide, we break down the steps that you’ll need to take to realize your dreams of working with animals in a medical setting and whether or not those dreams are a good fit for your sensibilities.

Step 1: Understand What a Vet Tech Does

You may have seen a vet tech at your local veterinary office and felt inspired to walk in their shoes. Before investing thousands of dollars in your education and hours of your time achieving that end, you must understand what a vet tech actually does.

Vet techs manage several important responsibilities in a veterinary setting. Core tasks that they handle include:

Taking X-rays
Giving vaccines and medications
Providing first-aid services
Restraining animals during treatment
Keeping records on animals
Educating pet owners on proper care
Preparing instruments for surgery
Administering anesthesia

There more tasks that a vet tech may be asked to tackle in the office. What’s important to note is that just about every task that a vet tech does could cost animals their lives if performed incorrectly.

Step 2: Weigh Responsibilities Against Compensation

Vet tech responsibilities carry a lot of pressure. Becoming a vet tech also requires a considerable amount of time and money since attaining a formalized education is a requirement.

Given those facts, before you figure out how to become a vet tech, you should decide if the job versus the compensation offered strikes you as acceptable.

A veterinary technician makes about