Employment

Life Insurance Benefits

July 30, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Company Life Insurance

One of the most essential parts of financial planning is buying the right types of insurance policies. Some companies provide employees with life insurance as a benefit. Usually, it is Term Life insurance and it is based on a multiple of your annual salary. For example, it could be as much as five times your annual salary. Theoretically, this would allow your family to survive for 5 years without you… giving them time to get prepared financially.

So, if you have a spouse or children to worry about, life insurance is a must. But there are disadvantages to employer-provided life insurance. Why would you choose to pay for something you can get for free?

What’s the Difference Between Term and Whole Life Insurance?

The biggest difference between term and whole life insurance is what you get for the premiums you pay. With term life insurance, you or your employer, is paying specifically for a death benefit and nothing more. The insurance company gets a certain amount of money for premiums, and then they give your loved ones a death benefit if you die while the policy is in effect. This usually means while you are employed there. So if you become disabled and can’t work you could end up losing your life insurance just when you need it most. At that point, you may not be eligible for coverage from a new policy.

With a whole life insurance policy, that you own, you get permanent life insurance coverage. This type of policy is going to pay out a death benefit as long as you keep paying your premiums. With a whole life insurance policy, you will be able to provide your family with some kind of financial benefits when you die as long as you keep paying the premiums, even if you aren’t employed. [Read more…] about Life Insurance Benefits

Why Businesses Should Retain Older Workers

July 26, 2012 by Simon Rattray

Retaining Older Workers

The UK is suffering one of the longest recessions on record and the U.S. has one of the highest unemployment rates in decades. Although unemployment has come down slightly in past few months, one of the main problems is long-term youth unemployment. The main reason behind the sustained level of youth unemployment is a lack of jobs generally, but particularly a lack of apprenticeships.

However, another reason that has been put forward by some is that older workers are staying in the workplace longer than they have in the past and are thus preventing the younger generation from getting a foot on the employment ladder. This may or may not be true and correlation does not prove causation of course. That is to say just because more older workers are staying in their jobs does not mean that younger generation are being held back. In any instance, retaining older workers can yield many benefits for a business, some of which are outlined below…

Experience

Older workers by virtue of their age have more experience than younger workers. This not only includes actual work experience but also older workers have more life experience. This can prove invaluable in a huge number of situations including how they interact with other staff, how they handle customers or clients and how they conduct themselves within the business. In addition, life experience can often be readily translated into work skills. For example a Mum returning to the work place can apply skills used in managing a family to managing an office. [Read more…] about Why Businesses Should Retain Older Workers

Job Profile: Russian / English Translator

July 24, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Translators have a tough job to do. Mastering two or more languages is not an easy task. Moreover, it is even more difficult if the language is as tough as Russian. Russian language is considered to be a very significant part of high class literature. It is believed to have a tradition of its own. Translating English to Russian and vice versa is also a very difficult task because of the use of Cyrillic letters, which makes it look like Latin at times. About 150 million people speak Russian in Russia. Although, people in other parts of USSR are also familiar with this language.

Russian dictionary Russian translation—quinn anya (Flickr.com)

Problems while translating English to Russian

A lot of difference between the two languages – When an English to Russian translator tries to translate one language to another, the differences between the two languages cause a major problem. Spelling, grammar and sentences in English are very different from that in Russian. Almost everything about these two languages is different from one another. However, since a lot of people want to learn these two languages, the demand for translators is very high these days. Russian is widely used in the whole world and has a different dialect, lexis and writing style.
Culture – The difference between the culture of Russia and English speaking countries is a major obstacle for a translator. A simple phrase in English may mean a totally different thing for a Russian because of the cultural contexts. Moreover, there are a lot of words and phrases in Russian that are associated with the current status and condition of the country. In order to learn Russian language and efficiently translate it, a translator should gather knowledge about the culture and tradition of Russia. [Read more…] about Job Profile: Russian / English Translator

Choosing a Professional Resume Writing Service

July 13, 2012 by Guest Contributor

A Professional Resume Writing Service

Hiring an executive resume writing service can often result in more positive application responses than if you write your resume yourself. However, choosing such a service can be a daunting task. Hundreds or more of such services are available online, and it can be difficult to select the right one. Deciding on your hiring criteria before you work with a resume writer will help cut down on the potential stress of paying someone else to write your resume.

Resume Writing Credentials

First, find out whether the resume writer you work with has been certified by a recognized professional organization, such as the Career Management Alliance, Career Directors International, National Resume Writers Association, or the Professional Association of Resume Writers. Several types of certification are available, from basic to master-level.

Additionally, some resume writers possess personal branding certifications, which is important if you want more than just a resume revamp. A personal branding specialist can help you create a professional online presence that can establish you as an expert in your field and help you land your next position.

The Resume Writer’s Background

In addition to having the credentials necessary to write a professional resume, your resume writer should be familiar with your industry. If possible, work with a resume writer who has some work experience in your field.

Resume writers with experience in human resources can also be very helpful. They know what hiring managers want to see. If your resume writer does not have an HR background or experience in your field, it does not mean that your resume will not be accurate, precise or well-written. If you can find one that has one or both of these qualities, however, your resume is more likely to possess just enough of a unique edge to put your resume on the top of the pile. [Read more…] about Choosing a Professional Resume Writing Service

Start Your Career as a CNA?

July 4, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Nurses Aide Certification (CNA)

Pursuing a career as a Certified Nurses Aide (a.k.a. Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA) is a quick way to get into the field of nursing and health care. Any individual after completing their high school diploma or GED is eligible to take CNA certification classes and then the certified nurse assistant certification test, which is the first step in getting a job in a medical organization. For CNA certification, it is necessary to enroll in a certified nurse assistant program either at a bricks and mortar institution or in an online certified nursing assistant program. Certified nurses aides are always in demand and the pay scale is good compared to other professions at the same educational level. Along with this, it has career advancement possibilities, as you can become a license practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN), with additional education.

CNA salaries vary by state, ranging from $15,600 to $31,200. Another important feature of CNA salary is that it is paid on hourly basis. Currently, the highest wage offered is in the state of Alaska, paying $15 per hour. The second best states are California and New York, as both pay $14.5 per hour. CNAs earn the least in the state of Louisiana at $7.5 an hour. You can learn more CNA salaries at the ecnasalary.com website.

What Certified Nursing Assistants Do

In order to be a good nursing assistant you should have compassion and care for people. CNA’s help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. They are constantly dealing with sick and elderly patients who may be uncomfortable and even disagreeable.

Certified Nursing Aides will typically perform the following tasks: [Read more…] about Start Your Career as a CNA?

What Managers Want When Hiring Public Relations Specialists

June 30, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Public Relations Specialists

America’s biggest corporations are currently seeking exceptionally skilled public relations specialists with histories of exemplary performance. As many industry-leading companies reinvent themselves for the new millennium, public relations executives inspire employees, shareholders, clients and communities to support new corporate initiatives. The person who can use “the message” to turbo-charge the machinery quickly will rise to the top of the corporate pyramid. “PR is not sales,” one prominent CEO reminds his PR staff. “It is lightning in a bottle—a volatile, potent mix of inspiration and meaningful action in service of our mission.”
Employers Seek Strategic, Tactical Public Relations Professionals.

The Right Stuff For A Tough Market for Public Relations Specialists

Canny, insightful public relations executives teach their protégés the single most powerful secret of effective boardroom performance. One Fortune 100 PR miracle worker schools her staff, “The PR guys are the most powerful people in the big top-floor conference room, because they take command of the managers’ messages; they put the magic words to the managers’ goals, numbers and procedures. PR guys create the company’s story, take it out into the world, and always enjoy the privilege of the last word.” CEOs frequently regard their PR leaders as their most valuable allies precisely because they understand how to translate strategies and tactics into the company’s best practices. Therefore, prospective employers will scrutinize your application and resume in search of… [Read more…] about What Managers Want When Hiring Public Relations Specialists

Making a Decision: Individual or Group Life Insurance Policies?

June 28, 2012 by Guest Contributor

Individual or Group Life Insurance Policies?

These days it seems everyone is planning for their future. From choosing the right career, to when is the right time to have a family, there will be choices that will ultimately reflect things to come. One of these choices is choosing the right life insurance option for you and your family. Many choose to enroll in their employer-sponsored group life insurance, while others feel they need more. Here are the pros and cons of choosing your employer-sponsored life insurance and finding your own coverage.

Employer-Sponsored Coverage

There are many benefits to choosing life insurance offered by your employer, there are also a few cons that cause people to strike out on their own and find their own coverage.

Pros of Group Life Insurance Policies:

• Cost: This is often the number one reason to choose a group life insurance policy. As your employer is given a group rate, the savings are passed on and you pay less (or even nothing)
• Acceptance: With a group policy, the risks are spread over everyone who has opted into the policy. This means you are guaranteed coverage in most cases. If you choose to raise your coverage, you may be asked to undergo a questionnaire or doctor’s exam to determine your ability to be covered, but in many cases this is rare.
• No Increased Rates: One of the benefits of group life insurance is that it is not individually underwritten. This means you can have the worst health at work but still pay the same rate as the healthiest employee in the company.

Even though guaranteed coverage and low rates are good reasons to choose group life insurance, there are also cons that may make you think twice.

Accounting Trends Creating Jobs

June 27, 2012 by Tim McMahon

Accounting Jobs

A recent article in Financial Trend Forecaster talks about a new trend in the world of accounting. Increasingly more companies are hiring accountants to work on staff as full-time employees to manage corporate budgets, accounts payable and receivable, to present financial reports to investors and to negotiate corporate tax laws. Companies are also looking for accounting professionals to protect investors’ money and company assets. At the same time, more businesses are looking to hire accountants, the jobs are becoming harder to fill. In addition, companies are becoming more global in nature and adopting the global standards called International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

More Accounting Jobs Available

This is creating a demand for more accountants, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is projecting a 16% growth rate in the need for accountants between 2010 and 2020 which they consider to be “average growth rate”. According to the most recent Occupational Employment data published by the BLS (May 2011) for Accountants and Auditors, the mean annual wage is $70,130. While those in Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services have an annual mean wage of $75,060. A recent U.S. News survey ranked Accounting among their 25 Best Jobs of 2012.

What Accountants and Auditors Do

According to the BLS: “Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants and auditors assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.”

May Unemployment Statistics by State

June 25, 2012 by Tim McMahon

U.S. Unemployment Rate by State

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released their Unemployment rates by State. So we can see how the various states compare. From the chart below we can see that California, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Rhode Island are all doing worse than the national average. New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington and Oregon are all average in their unemployment rates while the remainder are above average.

How the Unemployment Rates of Various States Compare

Nevada continued to record the highest unemployment rate among the states at 11.6 percent in May. Rhode Island and California posted the next highest rates, 11.0 and 10.8 percent, respectively. North Dakota again registered the lowest jobless rate, 3.0 percent, followed by Nebraska, 3.9 percent.

South Dakota, 4.3%, Vermont 4.6%, and Oklahoma at 4.8% were all below 5%. While New Hampshire, [Read more…] about May Unemployment Statistics by State

Why Your Small Business Needs an Accountant

June 21, 2012 by Tim McMahon

Small Business Accountant

Many people who start their own small businesses do so as a means of determining their own destiny. They are their own boss, operating the business their own way and planning for the future with their own ideas. There are, however, certain laws and regulations legislating aspects of any business. For this reason, and more, it is a good idea for any small business to have an accountant.

Small Business Accountants Can Handle Payroll

Small business owners often wear many hats: boss, lease negotiator, inventory specialist, decision-maker, payroll, shipping and receiving, IT, HR, and occasionally even custodian. In the midst of all of that, they also manage employees, even if those employees are contracted. State and national law dictate what forms those employees need to fill out, how much of their paycheck is deducted for taxes, benefits, and Social Security. Business owners are forced to either learn the tax laws (and the changes to said laws each year) or hire an accountant to help. Just managing payroll can be time-consuming, as an owner your time is valuable and should be spent growing your business.

Small Business Accountants Can Handle Taxes

Even contract labor requires certain documentation. If a company pays a contractor more than $600 over the course of the year, a 1099 must be filed. Keeping track of the various tax amounts for various employees as well as which contracted employees earned how much can easily become a full-time job. Small business owners have plenty of other details to manage without adding that to their plates. If only for personnel purposes, an accountant will save time as well as headaches.

In addition to managing tax issues for employees, a small business accountant will help navigate tax concerns for the business itself. Capital improvements, profits, loss, depreciation, and potential write-offs may exist. Some small businesses pay taxes quarterly rather than annually, requiring an ability to understand and follow additional tax laws. An accountant can save you money by avoiding government penalties and late fees but also by pointing out deductions, monitoring for “slippage” or missing funds, and other ways to save money. [Read more…] about Why Your Small Business Needs an Accountant