Do you care about making a difference as much as you care about your career? "Green" jobs -- defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as jobs that produce goods or services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or jobs that use more environmentally friendly processes or fewer natural resources -- have outpaced jobs in other categories by almost 250 percent over the last decade, and growth doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The 12 in-demand jobs profiled in this article show how you can make some green -- while going green. Organic farmer As consumers bec... view article details
Because more than a hundred applicants often respond to each online job posting, recruiters are rethinking their traditional practice of posting positions on career websites.Rather than posting the jobs and dealing with an onslaught of random resumes, they've started proactively seeking skilled workers. And Twitter is fast becoming the top tool recruiters use to scout this top talent. This article shows you how to master key features of Twitter to attract recruiters' attention.Begin with your bio The first thing someone will see when they hit your Twitter feed is your picture, then yo... view article details
When Your Work Is Done, Get Out of There Pamela Selle wants you to go the heck (we softened up her original language) home. Seriously. If it is 6 p.m. or if you are done with your projects for the day or your brain is just burned out from the last eight hours of staring at a monitor, Selle says, just get out of the office. It's tough to be the first one to leave the office for fear it makes you look bad, but going home when your work is done does have benefits. It's better for your productivity, it's better for your employer, and it is most assuredly better for you. In February, Phila... view article details
Last week we reviewed 'The 7 Deadly Sins of the Workplace' and what behavior to avoid in the office. This week we are taking a more positive approach by reviewing 'The 7 Noble Virtues of the Workplace'Is it true that 'no good deed goes unpunished' or is there such a thing as good karma in the office? Do selfless deeds hurt your career or help it? This week we discuss 'The 7 Noble Virtues of the Workplace' and review the results of our recent survey on good behavior in the office.Prudence Knowing when to keep quiet about something Readers who believe they practice this virtue: 88.5% Yo... view article details
These 5 Simple Steps Will Significantly Improve your Culture of Accountability Accountability is a topic covered in basic management courses. Unfortunately, there seems to be a burgeoning gap between theory and practice when it comes to this concept. Recent surveys suggest 40 percent of employees in US organizations are not held accountable for results. This is a dismal statistic, especially considering issues to do with accountability in the workplace can negatively impact employee morale. There are five strategies organizations can use to ensure accountability is instilled as a core element ... view article details
Patagonia, the popular outdoor retailer, is providing its employees paid time off on November 6th so they are able to vote in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. Following the same initiative for the 2016 presidential election, the company will close all its stores nationwide, its support center in Nevada, and its headquarters in California to give personnel uninterrupted time to travel to the polls. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, 35% of eligible voters said they were not able to vote in that year’s elections due to scheduling conflicts with work or school. In her own, candid word... view article details
Adopting a pet is a big commitment. When it comes to bringing a new friend home, it’s important to make the transition as smooth as possible so your pet feels secure in their new environment. Setting up a routine for your new roomie is key, but it can be hard to do so if you’re at work for eight hours a day. According to a Nationwide/HABRI survey of 2,002 full-time workers in the U.S., 90% of employees in pet-friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company's mission, engaged in their work, and are willing to recommend their organization to others. This may be a big part of why somet... view article details
Many employers will be conducting their annual “focal” reviews over the next few months, which in layman’s terms means the time in which you sit down with your boss and go over your achievements against goals. For most people, it is an uncomfortable conversation that produces as much anxiety as going to the dentist or asking for a raise.For the majority of companies, the annual review is the only formal conversation employees have with their boss about their performance and usually ends with an overview of an employee's new compensation package such as merit increase, bonus payout and stock gr... view article details
A federal program designed to help jobless veterans find work is proving very popular with its target audience, according to numbers released this week by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.The VOW to Hire Heroes Act, signed into law in November 2011, calls for the creation of a program that pays for unemployed veterans to receive training in fields where skilled workers are in high demand, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. The resulting Veteran Retraining Assistance Program, or VRAP, began accepting applications on May 15.In the six weeks since VRAP launched, the program has... view article details
Q: Do I have a right to view the compensation band for my title?I've just been promoted to MIS manager and I know my new base salary is $22,300 less than the minimum starting salary for my title. Online market surveys support this claim. I can't admit that I have seen the comp band for my title because it would aversely affect the person who showed me.My boss refuses to discuss my salary, except to say I don't have enough experience and he doesn't expect as much from me as others with my title. What are your thoughts?A: I'm not an attorney, but I don’t know of any law that requires a company t... view article details