Employment

Jobs that Don’t Require a 4 Year Degree

July 30, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Even though you might be willing to go to school so that you can launch a great new career, you might not be able to spend years getting an education. You might have bills and responsibilities that have to be taken care of right now, so you might need to start bringing in an income relatively quickly. Luckily, there are some career options that don’t require a lot of schooling but that can still provide you with a nice income. These are some of the options that you can explore.

CNA or Home Health Aide

If you would like to help others but can’t dedicate the time that is required to earn a nursing degree, then you can consider becoming a CNA or home health aide. People often lump CNAs, Orderlies, and Medical Assistants together but their roles are slightly different. All these jobs are medical-related and involve assisting Doctors, Nurses and patients but CNAs have more specific duties. CNAs must complete 75 hours of state-approved training and pass a competency test. Nursing assistants only need to complete a brief on the job training period. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Nursing Assistants and Orderlies earn about $28,530/yr. or $13.72/hr. and job growth is expected to be faster than average.

Dental Hygienist

Taking good care of your teeth is very important. If you would like to help others with having healthy mouths and smiles that they can be proud of, you can try pursuing a career as a dental hygienist. You can get a specialized associate’s degree and secure a job as a dental hygienist, allowing you to make a good income. The median annual wage for dental hygienists was $74,820 in May 2018 or $35.97/ hour.

4 Tips for Job Searching with Little Work Experience

July 23, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Much like the Hunger Games, corporate America is a dog-eat-dog world. so you must prove your merit in order to get ahead. Without a lot of job experience, demonstrating your value to a company can prove difficult. If you’re new to the world of business, here are some tips on how to get started.

Network, Network, Network

Whether you’re pursuing a lifeguard job for summer break, a warehouse job once out of high school, or your first job out of college, networking is the backbone of good business. According to Payscale.com between 70 and 85 percent of all jobs are found through networking.

Not only does networking help cultivate social skills, but it helps you get your foot in the proverbial door as well. Search online for events happening in your area. You’re bound to meet an assortment of like-minded individuals who match your enthusiasm. After all, it’s not what you know but rather who you know that’ll take you far in business.

Being Unemployed Is Tough… Doing These 8 Things Can Make Your Life Better

July 18, 2019 by Tim McMahon

We hear all the time how good unemployment rates are looking. As of right now, they’re hovering around record lows of just 3.7%. What you don’t hear much about are the people that comprise that 3.7%.

That percentage represents millions of Americans that want to be working right now but can’t find a job that they feel suits their unique talents and sensibilities. If you’re one of the people that are in the midst of searching for a good gig, we want you to know that you shouldn’t treat being unemployed like it’s a permanent problem.

There are a number of things that you can do right now to make the most out of your situation. Here are 8 of the top things that we recommend.

1. Stay on a Schedule

Being unemployed shouldn’t be an excuse for you to stay awake until 3 am and stay sleep until 3 pm. Not only does that schedule make it so you’re not able to fully maximize your time but it also will be hard to transition out of when you do get a job again.

Do everything in your power to manage your schedule the same way that you would if you were working a full-time job. Get up at a reasonable hour, be productive during the day and go to sleep before midnight.

2. Engage With Temp Agencies

If being unemployed is causing you financial stress and you need to earn cash ASAP, head over to a temp agency. Temp agencies are groups that have connections with a variety of companies. When the companies that they work with need jobs filled for limited periods of time, temp agencies send people to fill the need.

That person that gets sent in could be you. Many temp jobs pay rather well. Furthermore, temp jobs have been known to serve as excellent gateways into full-time employment. [Read more…] about Being Unemployed Is Tough… Doing These 8 Things Can Make Your Life Better

4 Degrees to Consider if You Want a Job Right out of College

July 16, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Choosing a major isn’t always about launching a high-income career, but job prospects are an integral part of the degree decision for many students. While there are hundreds of programs in dozens of academic fields that can lead to a rewarding career, there are a few particularly promising paths that degree seekers should consider.

Accounting

Accounting has been a go-to degree for many career-minded college students over the last few decades and it’s still a strong choice. There is unparalleled opportunity for specialization and advancement without a high barrier to entry. A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions, while a master’s degree and industry experience can qualify accountants for more advanced certifications. There is a high demand for accountants of all skill levels in both government and private sector positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The median annual wage for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks was $40,240 in May 2018.” A Certified Public Accountant would earn more. Typical Entry-Level Education is Some college, no degree required to become a bookkeeper but is preferred for a career in Accounting.

Information Systems and Technology

Computer science is another strong degree choice for students who want to get a job right out of college. Programming and software design are core skills for almost any profession in the industry, but there are also plenty of opportunities to branch out into other areas. Information systems administration and database management are both useful skills for landing jobs, as is cybersecurity and mobile application development. The following table from the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a variety of Computer related jobs and their median salaries.

The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $86,320 in May 2018, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $38,640.

5 Best Resume Software Programs to Create the Perfect Resume

July 1, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Looking for a new job? Let’s say you’ve researched the companies and now you know exactly where to send your resume. The best resume software can customize your resume to help you finally land that position.

Job markets today are competitive and hiring managers may eliminate the generic resumes from the pile. So you can’t afford to miss out on opportunities because of a poor resume. Here are five best resume software programs you should consider before applying for your next job.

1. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark allows you to create a single-page interactive resume for free! You can choose from over a dozen prebuilt themes to control the style of your page. You can then add text, photos, videos, and links through its easy interface. You can upload an existing resume and use Adobe’s interactive features to spice up your resume.

Surprisingly, there aren’t any templates included in the software for you to choose from. However, there are free resume templates from Adobe Spark that you can download to get you started! [Read more…] about 5 Best Resume Software Programs to Create the Perfect Resume

How to Get a Good Job Fast When Unemployed

June 18, 2019 by Guest Contributor

With unemployment at the lowest level since 1969 it should be easier to find a job than at any point in recent history. But if you have little business experience, are fresh out of college or have poor interviewing skills you might still be having difficulty finding a job.

Unemployment can be a difficult period in any life. Not having a job can lead to all sorts of financial concerns. It can make you feel like you don’t have a sense of purpose in your day-to-day life, too. If you’re unemployed and wish to change that rapidly, then you can try these things out right away.

Attend Job Fairs

Going to career fairs can be helpful to people who are interested in rapid employment. If you attend these events, you get the rare opportunity to meet employers face-to-face. This is your chance to shine. You can hand our your resume, talk about your educational background, and even discuss your strong suits and career aspirations.

Tell People You Know that You Need a Job

Don’t keep your employment status a mystery. Secrecy won’t help your cause in any way. If you’re keen on getting a job quickly, you should make sure everyone you encounter knows that you’re looking around. Tell your neighbor who works at a marketing agency that you need a position. Tell the postman that you’re trying to find a new job as well. You never know what people may be able to do to help you out. A friend may tell you about paid truck driver training opportunities that you might want to look into further. Or you might hear that Mike Rowe testified before congress about the lack of workers available for blue collar jobs.

“Right now, American manufacturing is struggling to fill 200,000 vacant positions. There are 450,000 openings in trades, transportation and utilities. The skills gap is real, and it’s getting wider. In Alabama, a third of all skilled tradesmen are over 55. They’re retiring fast, and no one is there to replace them. Alabama’s not alone.”

Rather than paying for college you can get paid to train as an electrician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricians earn an average of $55,190 but many earn much more.

Could Landscape Architecture Be the Career for You?

May 28, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Landscaping is more than glorified lawn care. It is an artistic occupation that balances beauty with function in a home’s outside property area. This can range from a small section of land that can be cultivated into a garden, to a large yard in the front, side, or back of a home. With numerous styles to offer, landscaping is an exciting career that provides opportunities for creative design and purposeful lawn management. Here are four reasons you may want to consider this career.

Landscaping Exercises the Imagination

While some people may consider physical labor to be mind-numbing or boring, the opposite is closer to the truth. Viewing natural resources like land, water, and woodlands as the tools of an artist, and the lawn or garden as the expectant canvas, a landscaper can unleash creativity to design stylistic elements that fulfill the homeowner’s style preferences. From elegant to fun-loving, there are countless lawn themes to be developed and implemented that will suit anyone’s taste.

Landscape Architects

If you want a career that is high tech but gets you out of the office part of the time you might enjoy being a landscape architect. It involves creativity, computer design work and some onsite activity so you get the best of both worlds.

Meaningful Outdoor Work Enriches Body and Soul

Working in fresh air and sunshine, surrounded by grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers, a landscaper’s work often [Read more…] about Could Landscape Architecture Be the Career for You?

9-to-5 Freedom! 4 Careers that Don’t Keep You behind a Desk

May 21, 2019 by Guest Contributor

For years, you’ve been told that working a sedentary job is bad for you. In fact, it can increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease and even depression. But in a world where plopping down in front of a computer for eight hours is still considered the norm, what do you do when you want to get moving?

The answer is simple: find a job that keeps you on your toes and stimulates your mind.

Whether you’ve got ants in your pants or simply are looking for a career change, here are four jobs that take you from cubicle potato to an active working professional.

Digital Marketing Manager

Online advertising is a booming industry and even the smallest of startups are always looking for new talent.

Although you still need a computer to work, becoming a digital marketing manager, SEO specialist or even paid search expert allows you to work from anywhere. Even as a full-time employee, you still have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to flexibility.

Landscaper

If you’ve always had a green thumb, swap your pencils for potting soil and become [Read more…] about 9-to-5 Freedom! 4 Careers that Don’t Keep You behind a Desk

Art Not Paying the Bills? 4 Tech Jobs for Highly Creative Individuals

May 7, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The arts carry a stigma of a dead-end, useless degree to pursue. Don’t believe it. While art isn’t paying the bills for most people, don’t’ sacrifice your passion for money. Marry passion and profit by finding the right occupation to feed the soul and the wallet. Four career paths will change the way you view art.

Work as a Web Designer

The internet changed the way we interact and communicate, and part of the reason is the fantastic web design. It is the first impression for companies to attract web traffic and generate sales. A web designer develops that first impression, creating web pages, websites and website templates for individuals and companies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics web designers/web developers earn an average of $33.38 per hour. Employment of web developers is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be driven by the growing popularity of mobile devices and ecommerce.

Work as a Graphic Designer

The graphic designing industry is vast, offering a comfortable salary and room to evolve within the occupation. Create graphic T-shirts, company logos, personal logos, album covers, and packaging design based on individual and company ideas. Work in the branding, packaging, and advertising department at several companies. Choose to work for a graphic design company. A third idea is starting a graphic design business for more control and flexibility. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Graphics Designers earn an average of $24.21 per hour but Employment of graphic designers is projected to grow slower than the average for all occupations. Graphic designers are expected to face strong competition for available positions so you may need to think outside the box and create your own niche.

Work as a Multimedia Artist

A career combined with animators, multimedia artists create [Read more…] about Art Not Paying the Bills? 4 Tech Jobs for Highly Creative Individuals

Why You Shouldn’t Lose Sight Of Your UK Pension

May 6, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Whether you’re currently unemployed, hunting or just starting a new job, it’s easy to forget the idea of a pension ticking over in the background. Saving for your retirement is vital for ensuring security in old age. While it might seem insignificant at the moment, it’s worth considering what options you have when it comes to saving for it and looking after it. Luckily, the pension experts at Portafina have created a list of crucial reasons why you shouldn’t lose sight of your pension.

You’ll be Automatically Enrolled

If you’re currently employed in the UK, over 22 years of age and earning over the threshold of £10k, then you will have automatically been enrolled on your workplace pension scheme. When you factor in your contributions, your employer’s and the tax relief you’ll receive as a bonus, it totals to 8% of your annual salary. There’s also no reason to stick to the minimum amount – adding more will only do more to boost your overall pension pot. By not even investing in the minimum, or not automatically enrolling yourself, you could be losing out in thousands of pounds to support yourself after employment.

As mentioned, tax relief is something you are entitled to, so ensure you are receiving the full amount. This is claimed back from the government by both employers and personal pension providers. If you’re enjoying a higher or additional tax rate, you may need to claim this back yourself via HMRC’s self-assessment form.

Advice Could Earn You Much More

Those who are receiving professional advice on their pension savings could be earning much more. Investing in a [Read more…] about Why You Shouldn’t Lose Sight Of Your UK Pension