Employment

Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

November 27, 2017 by Guest Contributor

When you’ve been injured, life can change dramatically, temporarily or permanently. A decreased income can often lead to a lot of financial stress, making recovery more difficult. There are a few things you can do to ease the stress.

Create a Budget

There are two steps to this. First, create a budget that outlines all of your current expenses. Then, create a budget that works for your new, reduced income. Look at the first budget to see which, if any, of your current expenses can be immediately cut.

Refinance or Ask for a Forbearance on Your Mortgage

If you own your own home, [Read more…] about Long-Term Disability Benefits: How to Manage Finances after an Injury

4 Signs Your Personality is Perfect for a Criminal Justice Career

November 8, 2017 by Guest Contributor

Criminal justice programs are common at most universities and community colleges around the country. They are also quite popular with students. But is it the right career path for you to pursue? These four signs might mean that your personality is perfect for a criminal justice career.

You Enjoy Helping People

Every day, across the nation, people have their lives or the lives of loved ones destroyed because of criminal activity. Bringing criminals to justice helps give solace to those affected by crime. Then there is the other end of the spectrum—the criminals themselves. If helping people is your passion in life, there can be nothing more powerful than directly playing a role in the rehabilitation of someone who has gone down the wrong path.

https://youtu.be/upsQ0B0_At4?t=1s

You Are Passionate about Social Justice

It’s no secret that [Read more…] about 4 Signs Your Personality is Perfect for a Criminal Justice Career

Making A Difference: 3 Jobs That Will Satisfy Your Inner Humanitarian

November 7, 2017 by Guest Contributor

If you’re like most people, helping others makes you feel good as well. Why not make it a career? Most careers work to make human lives a little bit easier, although some are more focused on this goal than most. If you have an inner humanitarian who needs satisfying, look into these three jobs.

Health Care Professional

The healthcare industry is growing in leaps and bounds and medical professionals of all stripes are in heavy demand. There is also a lot of variety in the different healthcare roles, so you’ll be sure to find something that interests you, whether that’s being a traditional doctor or a nurse practitioner. Medical professionals often do pro bono charitable work, whether at home or abroad. The nursing field has actually evolved a segment of itself dealing with vulnerable communities called nurse-managed care. At nurse-managed health care centers, nursing professionals provide a number of common procedures such as immunizations, physical exams and cardiovascular checks to people in need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.3 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services. The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (such as registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and dental hygienists) was $63,420 in May 2016, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations in the economy of $37,040.

Healthcare support occupations (such as

Medical Personnel Shortage: How This Vacuum Will Impact the Careers of Health Professionals

October 17, 2017 by Guest Contributor

There’s been quite a bit of discussion lately about the shortage of medical personnel in many areas. This is both a problem and an opportunity. It’s certainly a problem for the healthcare industry and the patients who depend on it.

On the other hand, it’s an opportunity for people seeking careers that are highly in demand. Let’s see how the health professional vacuum is impacting this field and creating new possibilities for careers.

More Opportunities for Nurses

The nursing shortage is frequently discussed in the media and in any discussions of modern healthcare challenges. One aspect that’s not as well known is that there are now many diverse opportunities for nurses. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, in 2014 there were 2,751,000 Registered Nurses in the United States and in 2016 Registered Nurses earned an average of $68,450 per year. From 2014 through 2024 the number of Nurses is expected to increase by 16% resulting in 439,300 new nursing positions. This is much faster than average growth for all jobs projected. According to the BLS “Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses also must be licensed.”

Pharmacy Technicians

There are many choices for working in the medical field. In addition to [Read more…] about Medical Personnel Shortage: How This Vacuum Will Impact the Careers of Health Professionals

September Unemployment Rate Down

October 7, 2017 by Tim McMahon

On Friday October 6^th the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their monthly employment survey results for the month of September. Every month the BLS conducts two surveys one contacts a sampling of households and the other collects data from businesses. Then they massage some of the numbers to “Seasonally Adjust” them and release them to the media.

According to the BLS, the current “Seasonally Adjusted” Unemployment Rate for September (released October 6^th) is 4.2% DOWN from 4.4% in August. The current “Unadjusted” rate is 4.1% down from 4.5% in August.

Seasonal adjustment provides something like a moving average leveling out the bumps due to normal seasonal variations. See: Unadjusted vs. Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate for more information about Seasonal Adjustment.

According to the BLS Commissioner’s report for this month:

“The unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in September, and total nonfarm payroll employment changed little (-33,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A sharp employment decline in food services and drinking places and below-trend growth in some other industries likely reflected the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. “

See: Current Unemployment Rate Chart for more info.

In the very next paragraph, based on the Household Unemployment Survey, he said, “The unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 4.2 percent in September, and the number of unemployed persons declined by 331,000 to 6.8 million. Both measures were down over the year.”

Declining unemployment means more jobs! So which is it 331,000 more jobs? -33,000 fewer jobs? Or 340,000 more jobs? [Read more…] about September Unemployment Rate Down

What’s Costing You the Most in Your Hiring Process?

October 3, 2017 by Guest Contributor

What’s Costing You the Most in Your Hiring Process?

Hiring the right personnel is one of the most important tasks of an HR Manager. If the wrong person is hired, you can expect poor performance, frustrated Managers and higher costs when trying to do damage control. However, the hiring process, done correctly, is not easy or cheap as there are a lot of measures and steps that have to be taken before you can give out that offer letter.

Costs Associated with the Hiring Process

Recruitment costs. These include hiring a recruitment firm, defining the position, advertising the position and test scheduling.
Selection costs. Selection costs range from shortlisting, interviews, communication with applicants, security checks, and the job offer.
Productivity costs. When a position is vacant, other employees are forced to do the work of that position which means they put less effort into their job. The hiring team also takes a lot of time away from their regular duties during the hiring process to do all the recruitment and selection meaning there is work that is not being done, and that is a loss of revenue.

5 Old-school Careers That Still Bring Success and Fulfillment

September 27, 2017 by Guest Contributor

In a time when technology has such a strong presence, you may wonder if old-school careers still matter. While some of them have faded, plenty are still popular and can provide you with a fulfilling career.

Teaching

Although online schools and courses have become more popular, the traditional classroom still has a major role in society. Furthermore, instructors are needed to facilitate these online learning channels. If you decide to pursue teaching, you could opt to teach in a special field or to teach at any grade level. From children who are toddlers to learners who are adults, students are eager to learn. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) teaching positions of all levels (Elementary through High School) should grow about 6% from 2014-2024 which is about average. To become a teacher requires at least a Bachelor’s degree to start. Teachers salaries average $55,490 per year for Kindergarten through Elementary School. Salaries for Middle School Teachers average $56,720 per year and High School Teachers average $58,030 per year.

Librarian

The end of books and the growth of the internet has put a damper on the need for Librarians [Read more…] about 5 Old-school Careers That Still Bring Success and Fulfillment

How Much Should a Commute Influence Future Employment?

September 26, 2017 by Guest Contributor

There are many considerations to take into account when looking for a new job and salary is obviously a major factor since you need to be able to afford to live. Location is definitely another major consideration. When both of these factors are taken together they can cause a “make or break” situation. Surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau have found that even though California is one of the richest states in the country it has the highest poverty level due to its higher cost of living.

In addition to salary and location, another point that many people forget to look at is the commute. This is a major expense many people tend to ignore, that could really end up changing the way you see and do your job. Here are some things to think about when it comes to future employment and the commute.

Vehicles Cost Money

The first major cost that’s related to a commute is the cost of a car, truck, or SUV. These modern-day chariots cost many thousands of dollars initially and are definitely not cheap to maintain either. There is also the need for insurance and maintenance, which adds to the overall cost of operating a vehicle. A 2015 article by AAA says that the average cost of owning a car is just under $9,000 per year. This is one reason some people prefer city life where they can rely on public transportation (you can buy a lot of subway tokens for $9,000). If you live close enough to work you can “Bicycle Commute” and save a ton of money.

Gas Costs Money

Another major expense that arises from driving to and from a job is [Read more…] about How Much Should a Commute Influence Future Employment?

Soaring Professions: 5 Career Fields That Have Secure Futures

September 18, 2017 by Guest Contributor

The U.S. unemployment rate has been gradually declining, but good jobs are hard to come by for millions of Americans. When business setbacks occur, companies usually try to slash the payroll first, even if it means losing experienced workers. Skilled positions require higher education, but also typically pay higher wages. It’s important to establish your career path early and get the training you need. Here are some dependable careers that are in demand now.

1. Teacher

You’ve probably heard there’s a crisis in teaching. Stricter guidelines, demands for higher test scores, and under-funded facilities are only making things more difficult for those educating children. But if helping young people learn and grow is more important to you than politics, you should easily find a rewarding, life-long career with a master’s degree and a state teaching license.

2. Accountant

Establishing and keeping to a budget is never as simple as it sounds. Every business, organization, and many private individuals need an accountant to balance the books, meet legal requirements, and determine profit-and-loss returns. If you like numbers and finance, and can earn [Read more…] about Soaring Professions: 5 Career Fields That Have Secure Futures

Today’s Most In-Demand Medical Jobs

September 4, 2017 by Guest Contributor

One of the professional fields that continue to hire personnel at consistently high rates, despite economic downturns, is the medical profession. It is projected that by 2018, the opportunities for healthcare jobs will multiply by over 3 million. Experts in healthcare will more than ever be in-demand has the Generation X become parents in the age of baby boomers. In this article, discover which the most popular fields are, what qualifications are required, and who hires the much-required experts needed in the medical industry.

Paramedic and EMT

Expected to handle many of stressful situations in many different settings such as emergency evacuations using ambulances and helicopters, EMT & paramedics are dependable for their rapid response and reaction times. The field hardly shows employment slumps because the personnel are always the first to appear on an emergency scene. It is projected that for the next eight years, the employment for EMT & paramedics will exceed average growth.

Registered Nurse

Estimated to generate [Read more…] about Today’s Most In-Demand Medical Jobs