Working in the suburbs vs. working in the city

I write this blog post from a bus shelter in a bucolic corporate office park in the wilds of Chester County, where I have to kill 50 minutes before the next bus back to the city arrives. It's also no place to be if you do not have a car, as I don't.

There is a very convenient bus connection to the city, but if you have time to kill and want to do something nearby, there's nothing nearby unless you have a car.

The one cafe in the buildings on this cul-de-sac has a decent menu but the ambiance of an employee lunchroom, and there's no Wi-Fi. There's a real restaurant in a hotel about a quarter mile away, but the landscaping and the lack of sidewalks certainly doesn't encourage walking there.

Want a cuppa and a place to hang out and surf the Web? For that you will have to visit a casual eatery in a strip mall about a mile and a half away, across a freeway and down a two-lane road (again, no sidewalks).

I guess this establishes me as a city kid once and for all. Which may be a problem for me, for the 'burbs are where the jobs are these days.

The city of Philadelphia may have finally ended its five-decade-long population drain, but its employment base continues to be somewhat anemic and job growth in the city sluggish at best. I can, however, be thankful for our region's extensive mass transit system, which makes it possible for me to get to a lot of those jobs, as well as the interview for which I had come out to Chesterbrook. But once there, there's a real dearth of options if what you are used to is the wide variety of places and activities the city offers within an easy walk of where you are.

It's that variety of options, and the opportunities they provide for chance encounters, that make cities especially appealing to people like me who work in creative professions such as advertising, publishing, the arts and the media. Even though jobs in those fields as well are found all across the region, they remain disproportionately concentrated in the city.

Of course, so many diversions so close by can also be distracting, which may be one reason why corporate campuses and office parks are so appealing to many employers. The fewer distractions, the easier it is for staff to focus on their work.

Still, there must be some sort of happy medium between the hyperstimulation the city promises and the monocultural tranquility of the suburban office park. This region has it in the many suburban downtowns that sprang up around railroad stations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An office park within walking distance of one of those might just be an ideal place to work, for it promises tranquility and focus when you want it and variety when you don't.

What are the qualities of your ideal work location? Do you prefer variety and stimulation, or peace and the opportunity to focus? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Stimulate your job search with the resources available on PhillyJobs.com.

By Sandy Smith Sandy Smith is a veteran freelance writer, editor and public relations professional who lives in Philadelphia. Besides blogging for PhillyJobs.com, he has written for numerous publications and websites, would be happy to do your resume, and is himself actively seeking career opportunities on Beyond.com. Check out his LinkedIn profile and read his other posts on PhillyJobsBlog.com.

Orthopedic Surgical Nurse

Are you a nurse and want to branch out into a specialty? Are you someone who is thinking about a career in the nursing field? A career in Orthopedic Surgical Nursing might be just what you’re looking for! Just what does an Orthopedic Nurse do? Well, let’s check into it and find out.

An Orthopedic nurse cares for patients after arthroscopic surgery to help them regain their strength and mobility. You could also work with patients who have problems with their muscular skeleton systems before surgery. Some of these injuries or conditions could be total hip replacement or spine surgery. You would also be providing pain management, support and educating patients to enable them to perform to their highest function level. Helping provide patient education about using equipment such as braces, prosthetics and other orthopedic equipment also would be part of your job. You’ll learn about various equipment used to make patients more comfortable, improve mobility and help prevent complications. Orthopedic nurses also work with pre-and post operative orthopedic patients that have hand or upper extremity surgery, micro surgery, sports injuries and spine procedures. You can also work with patients who have arthritis, diabetes, fractures and congenital malformations.

Where do Orthopedic nurses work? This type of nurse works in hospitals, including specialty hospitals, extended health care facilities, home health agencies, physician offices and HMO’s. They can also be found in the trauma unit, gerontology, case management and staff education and also sports medicine. As you can see, the field is wide open to a lot of different options.

What qualities are needed in this type of career? For one thing, you have to have the ability to relate well to other people. You have to be considerate of a patient’s condition and be able to talk to patients about their fears and anxieties. You also need to have physical stamina, people skills, be able to work on a team and be flexible. Compassion, determination, patience and attention to details are essential characteristics. You have to be able to work effectively under stress, pressure and be able to make effective decisions in an emergency situation. There also can be difficult patients, stress and lots of paperwork. This career is an excellent choice for those individuals with a strong interest in orthopedics and providing care to a variety of patients.

What kind of schooling is required? Orthopedic nurses must be registered nurses with a diploma in nursing, associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. All registered nurses must become licensed by passing the National Council Licensure Examination-registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) certification requirements. Many orthopedic nurses gain voluntary professional certifications from the Orthopedic Nursing Certification Board. Certification requirements include minimum work experience and passing a written exam. You also must complete regular continuing education to maintain your licenses and certifications. You need to keep your skills up to date and stay on top of advancements in your field. You would be participating in seminars, workshop and conferences to advance these means.

With the Baby Boomers aging, there will be an increased need for orthopedic care in the near future. Job prospects are expected to be great for orthopedic nurses, especially those with extensive experience. A lot of job opportunities will open up from the need to replace orthopedic nurses that retire, transfer, or leave the field for other reasons. So if this is the type of nursing career you would be interested in, then check into how you can become an orthopedic nurse today!

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and Healthcarejobsite. You can read more of her blogs on Healthcarejobsite blog.

Posh Rehab Center Caters to Celebs like Lindsay Lohan

by Alex A. Kecskes

Lindsay Lohan has been in and out of a number of rehab centers after her inability or unwillingness to successfully deal with her alcohol addition. Therapists have been working with the star to help her confront her problems.

Mental health specialists define addiction as a chronic illness characterized by relapses during recovery. Managing addiction requires a sustained lifestyle change, and most rehab centers strive to bring about that change through counseling, education and community service.

One rehab center that's been getting a lot of publicity and visits from celebs like Lindsay Lohan is the Promises center. Here rehab therapists combine treatment with unabashed luxury. Appearing more like a resort spa than a rehab center, Promises comprises five ocean-view homes in the Malibu hills. It features three swimming pools, several whirlpools and a private tennis court (with a professional instructor on call). Patients live six to a house, with each person having their own bedroom and even their own bathroom. An onsite chef works with a staff nutritionist to prepare healthy meals for the guests.

A rehab facility like this isn't cheap. A month of residential treatment at Promises runs a wallet-emptying $54,500. For that, you get all of the above mentioned amenities, plus personalized treatment plans designed specifically for each patient; plans that include individual and family counseling, group therapy, 12-step meetings, physical exercise and community involvement.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs at healthcarejobsite.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

Do You Yearn for More Workplace Flexibility?

According to the US Department of Labor, over 80% of the workforce in the United States would prefer flexible workplace arrangements. Further, as more and more people believe that a proper work-life balance is important; this figure will surely rise in the future. However, just what constitutes flexible working arrangements?

Flexible working arrangements mainly include the ability to:

Choose Your Own Work Arrangements:

Some corporations may allow people who are retiring to work fewer hours if they choose to do so. Additionally, flexibility with respect to how you work can refer to unique situations such as job sharing and temporary work. Additionally, some employers also offer choices with respect to what benefits you want to receive – for instance, some businesses allow you to choose from benefits – depending on which ones are applicable to you and your current situation.

Choose Your Own Work Location:

Some employers are quite flexible when it comes to where you actually complete your work. For instance, if you work for a larger corporation, they may have a variety of office locations for you to choose from. Additionally, an employer may let you telecommute from home either on a full-time, part-time, or on an as-needed basis.

Choose When You Work:

Often employees can choose different start and stop hours during the work week as long as they work a full work week. Additionally, this type of flexibility can include working a full time work week once again – but choosing to work four ten hour days – instead of the more traditional 9 to 5 five day work week.

What do Businesses Get Out of it?

Companies that offer flexible working arrangements are more likely to retain employees. As the cost of retraining new workers is high, retaining workers is an excellent way for a company to save money. Moreover, it is much more efficient to work with someone that is already familiar with a company versus hiring a new person who is unfamiliar with the company processes as there is often a steep learning curve.

It seems that more workplace flexibility offers a win-win situation for both employees and employers. What do you think?

Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues for PhillyJobsBlog.com and other topics for a variety of international websites and magazines. Please visit her other blogs at PhillyJobsBlog.com and view job posting at Beyond.com.

Thinking Of A Career Change? The Top 7 Reasons Why People Switch Their Career Fields

Thinking that it's time to change careers? You aren't the only one. Here are the top 7 reasons people switch their career fields.

Have you been unhappy at your job? Are you thinking that it might be time to look for a job in another career field? For the past couple of years, most people who are lucky enough to have full time employment have felt stuck in their jobs. Now that the job market is showing signs of recovery, those same people are starting to think more seriously about making a change.

Here are the top 7 reasons that people switch career fields. If any of these sounds familiar, you may want to begin taking steps now to be more prepared, get more training or just have all of your “ducks in a row” when you finally make the switch.

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  It isn't what you thought it would be like – This happens to the best of us. We decide what type of career we want, and get the necessary education to get where we want to be. This should be a happy ending, right? Sometimes, once we start working in the field, we discover that it isn't as exciting as we thought, or we find that we don't have the desire to really make this job our career. Career disappointment isn't the end of the world. With some creative thinking, you can use your skills and talents in a field that suits you better.
  
  


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  Becoming interested in an evolving field – As technology changes, new careers form. Today, there are many industries that didn't exist 10 or 15 years ago. If you have a passion for a new field, it may be the best time to get in on the ground floor.
  
  


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  Declining jobs in your industry – Some industries are moving jobs overseas, while others just aren't in as big of demand anymore. If you think your industry is declining and you career path isn't looking as bright as it once was, planning for a career change before you end up without a job is key.
  
  


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  Your life and needs change – As you grow and your life changes, you may find that your job doesn't meet your needs as much now as it once did. For example, a fast paced job that requires tons of travel may have been exciting and fun several years ago, but now that you have a family and children, all of the time away may not be working for you.
  
  


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  It's never too late to follow a dream – If you have a dream that you never had a chance to chase, sometimes there comes a time when you just have to go for it. Many people leave jobs because they feel the need to follow their passions.
  
  


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  Reducing stress – That high stress job that gave you such a rush before might be causing so much stress that it is negatively impacting your personal life and your health. It might just be time for a vacation, but it could be time for a bigger change.
  
  


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  You just aren't challenged anymore – A lot of the time it is just about not being challenged. If you spend most of your time wishing for a chance to be more creative, to try new things and reach for new goals, it might be time for a change.

Do any of these sound familiar? Have you ever changed your career field? If so, why? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia are job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Keep On Walking

Spring has finally arrived! The air is fresh, clean and everyone and everything is invigorated after the long winter. But before you step into your walking sneakers and head out the door, here are some things to keep in mind. First, as always, talk to your healthcare provider before starting any exercise program and if you feel there’s any cause for concern. So out the door you go!

You’re walking along at a good pace and get a pain on the side of your big toe. What the heck? This could be the beginnings of a bunion. A bunion develops when the bones in the joint on the outer side of the big or little toe becomes misaligned which then swells. Wearing wider shoes or cushioning the bunion with over the counter bunion pads can help. You can also ice it for 20 minutes after walking. Also something as simple as an ingrown toenail can cause problems. Your toe can become painful when the corners or sides of your toenail grow sideways rather than forward. This causes excess pressure which could cause bleeding and loss of the toenail. Preventing this is as easy as using toenail clippers and cutting straight across the toenail.

You’re eyeing up the hill on your walking route even though you haven’t walked it yet this year. You decide to just go ahead and book up it. Near the top, you feel a soreness in your shins. Uh oh, shin splints! This is caused by overworking the shin muscles. The strain and leg pain is caused by strong calf muscles pulling on weaker muscles near the shin. You need to cut back on your walking for 3 to 8 weeks so the tissues can heal. You may need ibuprofen or other OTC drugs to relieve pain. Cold packs can be used to reduce swelling. When you’re in shape to walk again, find a dirt path and walk about 20 minutes at a moderate pace. Increase distance and speed slightly over the next couple of weeks. If it acts up again, rest it a day or two and start up again even more slowly.

You’re walking at a good pace and feel pain in your foot or lower leg. If you press on it, it feels tender. You may have a stress fracture. These are most common in the lower leg. Your leg muscles become over loaded from repetitious stress. If you ignore a shin splint this can happen because the strain on muscles and tissues will eventually shift to the bone. If you walk too long without building up to it this also can cause stress fractures. Let your foot or leg heal for several weeks. When you start walking again, stop before you feel any symptoms start up.

As you can see, overdoing it can cause injury that will cut back severely on your exercise program. Use common sense when first starting out. Remember to replace your walking shoes when the cushion inside has worn down. Don’t go too fast and pace yourself. Best of all, enjoy the spring and the summer to come, safely!

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and Healthcarejobsite. You can read more of her blogs on Healthcarejobsite blog.

7 Ways To Get Rid Of Clutter and Get Organized

Spring is in the air, and as the weather starts to warm up, it's time to start thinking about getting rid of clutter and getting organized.

Spring is the time for renewal and new beginnings. As soon as the weather starts to warm up, I start thinking about getting organized and getting rid of the clutter I have accumulated over the winter. Spring cleaning is a tradition of mine, and it is a great way to get a fresh outlook on your life and your space.

Even though this isn't really a blog about finding a job, when you feel stuck in a rut and want to change your perspective or just want to jump start your motivation, getting rid of the clutter can help. Here are 7 tips to banish clutter and get organized:

1. Start at the source – If you are always buying new things for your house that you aren't sure you need, stop it. If your family members or neighbors are always bringing you bags of stuff, ask them to stop. Everytime you bring something into your home, be sure that you have a use for it. Anything else, is just more stuff to clean.
   
   
2. Break it down into small jobs – When it comes to large projects, it's easy to become overwhelmed. If you have this problem, break it down into smaller jobs and just focus on one job at a time.
   
   
3. Free can be expensive – If your family and friends are always giving you hand me downs and you can't turn down free stuff, you might want to consider the high cost of free. If you aren't going to use it, if you don't love it and it is just going to take up space, don't take it just because it's free.
   
   
4. Organize your office – Consider changing some of your accounts to paperless billing, that way you won't have to deal with piles of mail. You can also scan your important papers and file them away on an external hard drive or other storage device.
   
   
5. Clean out the small spaces – If you're like me, you probably have the most clutter in those small spaces like under the sink, the medicine cabinet and the extra drawers in the kitchen. Once you get started, you'll be surprised at how much space you were using to store things that really needed to be thrown away.
   
   
6. Don't fight your bad habits – If everyone in your house likes to throw their coats all over the place, get a coat tree. If you always throw your mail on the table when you get in the door, put a small bin for mail on the table. If you look for ways to stay organized in spite of your bad habits, you'll have a greater success rate than if you tried to change your habits.
   
   
7. Don't beat yourself up – Remember that spring cleaning and getting rid of clutter are meant to make your daily life easier and more organized, not to give you another thing to beat yourself up over. Take it in small steps and keep working a little at a time and don't take the clutter personally.

What are your best clutter fighting tips? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia are job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Holistic Health Careers Require Specific Training

by Alex A. Kecskes

The American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) helps individuals who want to pursue a career in holistic healthcare. Their goal is to give people a general idea of holistic care and to align their interests and passions with the information on training, legal requirements, and career opportunities they will need to succeed in holistic health.

For those who want to help critically ill people through diagnosis and recommendations for treatment, the AHHA recommends training that includes supervised clinical experience. For those who wish to advise healthy individuals on how to enhance their level of wellness, AHHA suggests they take a variety of home study courses or weekend workshops, which will provide a broad understanding of healthy lifestyle options.

Helping to guide students is The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine by William Collinge, Ph.D. This tome offers a comprehensive overview of eight alternative healing traditions.

The practice of alternative medicine calls for different levels of training and expertise, depending on which subfield you choose. Some subfields require years of extensive training much like the training imposed on medical doctors; others may call for only a one- to two-year home study course. Regardless of which path you choose, you must be trained in the specific method of delivering healthcare--like acupuncture, chiropractic, psychology--that can be licensed or certified and gives you the authority to deal with patients.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Teacher Learns About 1st Amendment

In the aftermath of an anonymous blog post gone viral, a Philadelphia area teacher may find herself looking for a new job soon. Caught in a case of blurred interpretation of free speech as it pertains to the internet and social media, Central Bucks East High School teacher Natalie Munroe is still waiting for the schools next action. She was suspended with pay over a week when students started circulating a blog she wrote more than a year ago that they say slanders them and their school.

The 10th - 12th grade teacher wrote in one post "My students are out of control. They are rude, disengaged, lazy whiners. They curse, discuss drugs, talk back, argue for grades, complain about everything, fancy themselves entitled to whatever they desire, and are just generally annoying." Other writings included profanity and characterized students with comments like "rat-like" or "dresses like a streetwalker."

Munroe’s lawyer says her case is clearly within the bounds of freedom of speech. She wrote without naming names or mentioning the district. The only identifier she offered was her byline of NatalieM. Munroe describes her blogs as a caricature of certain types of students that she had taught over several years and was not meant to be taken as generalization about the student body or the school as a whole.

Students at Central Bucks East see it as an attack on their credibility however. Along with angered parents, they have protested at the school hoping to show just how engaged they are. When asked what should happen to Munroe as far as the school was concerned on student said, "Right now it's not about her, it is about the image of our school.”

While many people support her comments and tough-love take on education, Munroe echoes over again, "I wasn't trying to take a stance, I was writing privately to no more than seven friends.” The students spreading the comments that she says are taken out of context and the media attention that followed are what elevated the situation to out of control.

Now it’s just a waiting game to see what the school district will do next and what precedent will be set because of it.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for PhillyJobsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Beyond.com blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.

Are You Stuck Eating Lunch At Your Computer? Here Are Some Ways To Keep From Making A Mess

No time to take an actual lunch break? Here are some tips for eating at your desk, without ruining your computer.

With companies asking their employees to take on more work, most of us are stuck trying to work harder and get more accomplished in less time. And, not wanting to be forced to look for a new job, you have to do what you have to do. Sometimes, that means eating lunch at your desk.

Eating lunch at your desk while working on your computer is tricky. One slip and you could end up ruining your keyboard, or worse, your laptop. But never fear, there are some computer friendly options you could select. In fact, this problem is so common that LifeHacker offered some tips from their community to help us have our lunch and eat it too – all while getting some work done.

Here are some computer friendly lunch ideas:

• Wraps or Burritos – Wraps aren't just a low carb option, they also make fewer crumbs than their sandwich brethren. If you buy pre-made wraps or burritos, be sure to keep the wrapper on the end, that way you won't have to be worried about sauces or dressings spilling out of the end.
  
  
• Steak or Chicken – If you prefer to bring lunch from home, meats like steak or chicken are fairly computer safe. As long as you don't dip them in a sauce that can make a mess on your keyboard, you should be fine.
  
  
• Salads – Many people can eat a salad at a computer just fine. Sure, some pieces might fall, but they tend to be larger veggie pieces that won't fall between the keys. For me, however, salads aren't a good idea because I like my salad with a lot of dressing, and that always makes a mess.
  
  
• Foods that act like “glue”- When you are bringing lunch from home, you can minimize the risk of making a mess on your keyboard by throwing in a sticky side like mashed potatoes or refried beans. Pretty much, anything that is sticky enough to keep smaller foods like rice or steamed veggies on your fork, and off your desk.
  
  
• Drinks in travel mugs – Sugary drinks sitting next to your computer is a disaster waiting to happen. If you like to have soda or juice when you work, put it in a travel mug to avoid any big spills.

If you are eating at your computer often, you might want to consider investing in a plastic keyboard cover to make cleaning up easier. If you are in a pinch and have to eat something less than ideal at your desk, a good tip is to just put a piece of Saran Wrap over your keyboard while you are eating.

What strategy do you use to keep from ruining your computer? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in Healthcare, visit Healthcarejobsite for the best Healthcare job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Why we're still #5 - and Phoenix isn't

The official 2010 Census returns are now in for Philadelphia, and they contain news everyone expected and a surprise few did. The expected news was that the city's five-decade-plus slide in population finally came to a halt: there are 8,456 more Philadelphians than there were ten years ago, an 0.56% increase. (Yes, it's small, but hey, we'll take it - a gain is a gain.)

The unexpected news is that we are not, as the Philadelphia Daily News article reporting the gain said we would be, staring up at Phoenix. To the surprise of Philly boosters, we remain the fifth largest city in the country, as the actual census count showed Phoenix with only half the population gain the Census Bureau had estimated in the previous year.

The news gives our municipal ego a huge boost, for there is a big difference between being in the top five U.S. cities and sitting just below those five, psychologically speaking. But it does raise an interesting question, given that Census estimates are usually not so far off: Why were they? How did we end the decade still bigger than Phoenix?

I would like to suggest it's because we still have a real, diverse economy and they don't.

Some years ago, I would regularly read a magazine published in Phoenix for that city's gay and lesbian community but distributed well beyond it. (To get people to move there, is my guess why.)

I couldn't help but notice that just about every ad in the magazine was from someone selling real estate.

Now, this periodical and those ads may have offered a skewed view of what makes Phoenix tick, but I suspect not. And there's nothing wrong with selling real estate; lots of folks do that around here too.

But if selling real estate is just about the only economic activity anyone engages in, then you have a problem. Not only is basing an entire economy on the sale of real estate something akin to basing it on taking in one another's laundry, but when the market goes kablooey, so does the whole local economy.

In case anyone forgot, the real estate market went kablooey in 2009 and has yet to truly recover, especially in those areas where everyone was trying to cash in on real estate. Areas like metropolitan Phoenix, to name one.

Were other things going on in Phoenix, that city might indeed have passed us in population. But what else is going on there? Here, we manufacture drugs. We write software. We refine crude oil. We make cakes, cookies and crackers. We still even make clothes and build ships. And we educate scores of thousands of college students. Do they do any of this in Phoenix? (Well, there is a university in Phoenix. But you don't have to go there to attend it; in fact, it probably has a campus in an office park near you.)

Put bluntly, people move to Phoenix because it has lots of sunshine and no cold weather, while people move here because we have opportunity. There, you can find a nice house; here, you can find a nice job. There, the boom ended in a bust; here, the bust didn't matter all that much. Our resilient and diverse economy, and the jobs it generates, is what kept us one step ahead of Phoenix.

By Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is a veteran freelance writer, editor and public relations professional who lives in Philadelphia. Besides blogging for PhillyJobs.com, he has written for numerous publications and websites, would be happy to do your resume, and is himself actively seeking career opportunities on Beyond.com. Check out his LinkedIn profile and read his other posts on PhillyJobsBlog.com.

Nutritionists to the Stars

by Alex A. Kecskes

There are nutritionists and then there are nutritionists to the stars. The difference, of course, is that those serving the needs of stars are highly paid and they are expected to get results—fast.

Nutritionists like Christine Avanti, for example, tell the fabulously rich and famous what to eat and what to stay away from if they want to maintain their youthful, healthy appearance. She has worked one-on-one with over 1,000 people, helping them achieve the balance of weight loss and nutrition that seems so elusive for many in the public eye.

The problem is that eating the right foods can be difficult for stars who have the income to order virtually any food or snack they desire no matter where they may be. In other words, they could eat the most healthy food money can buy. That said, many stars succumb to rich, unhealthful foods that are nutritionally empty. They indulge at parties and other soirées, eating foods that wreak havoc with their weight, complexion and energy level.

Avanti's first book Skinny Chicks Don't Eat Salads came out in stores worldwide last year and quickly hit the Amazon top 25.

Unlike some hard-nosed nutritionists, Avanti combines weight loss science with the art of gracious living to integrate nutrition with the way people really live. She has been teaching private chefs to cook healthy for nearly 10 years now (stars often have their own chefs, who may or may not be nutrition savvy). Her more recent endeavor, Flat Belly Food System, is a downloadable healthy nutrition plan on audio (CD or MP3) that combines inspiration and healthy food.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Enjoy a Career as an App Developer

Are you technologically-inclined? Perhaps then you may be well-suited for a career as an app developer.

As an Application Developer, your job will be to create programs that run on handheld devices, operating systems, and/or online. According to Zack Anton, CEO of Euriska Gaia, an app developer “transforms a concept or idea into a consumer-oriented product.”

He continues, “With the ever-growing advance in web-based, mobile and social networking technologies, developers must follow-up evolving 'trends', best practices and preferences of their targeted market segments.”

Educational Requirements

While it is possible to be an app developer without a Computer Science degree, individuals with formal educational qualifications will be likely to be hired first and command a higher salary in today’s competitive economy. That said, if you do not have proper hands-on experience, you will not be successful in this career. Of course, app developers also have the option to go the entrepreneurial route and work for themselves.

Who Should Become an App Developer?

Since a career in app development involves analytical thinking, Anton suggests that any curious person with the innate ability to creatively and logically tackle industry-specific problems can consider a career as an app developer.

However, Anton cautions that in order to be a successful developer, a person needs to constantly update their technical know-how in order to optimize successes and minimize any potential problems.

Future Job Prospects

A career as an app developer looks to be a promising one. Why? Well, Anton explains that the ever-increasing need to "computerize business processes and automate activities are contributing factors. Further, the ever increasing popularity of mobile devices and smart phones directly affects the expansion of the app market.

“Moreover, the wide coverage of mobility in almost every business and every corner of the world implies that mobile apps became a crucial need instead of an optional luxury. This career choice is here to stay,” explains Anton.

Cool Apps

With respect to some of the more interesting apps out there, Anton’s team is currently working on some pretty cool apps. For instance, his company will soon be launching an interesting Green Social Network called Eurisko Gaia™. - which appropriately means “I discover Mother Earth” in Old Greek.

Built as a Facebook app, the environmentally-friendly application allows users to locate pre-defined "green-targeted" regions in the United States and pay to plant a real tree in these locations. Moreover, a multi-platform mobile app (for instance, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile) also allows users to tag regions, check notifications (for instance, nearby trees planted by friends) and promote green tourism – such as photographing and tagging natural landscapes - using advanced geo-locating capabilities.

All in all then, the evidence is clear – for those people who are willing and able – a career as an app developer looks to be a promising one.

Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues for PhillyJobsBlog.com and other topics for a variety of international websites and magazines. Please visit her other blogs at PhillyJobsBlog.com and view job posting at Beyond.com.

The Best 8 Tips For Getting a Job When You Have Been Unemployed for a Long Time. Part 2

Getting back on the job market after having been unemployed for a long time can be tough. Here are some tips to help.

When you have been unemployed for a long period of time, trying to find a new job can feel a lot like clawing your way out of a hole. The longer you are out of work, the bigger the hole seems. Climbing out takes strength, determination, a whole lot of help from friends and some hard work. Here are some things that can help you get a leg up on the climb. Last time we covered tips 1-4, and here are tips 5-8:

• Find a your passion, start a project – Even if you haven't had luck finding a full time job, think about what your passions are, and get involved volunteering. There are many places that could really use help, and volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, get back into the swing of working and will give you an amazing opportunity to meet new people and build your network. Also, when you interview for the job you really want, it is better to have something to point to when you are talking about what you did while you were unemployed. Employers want to see that you are still working, even if it isn't paid work.
  
  
• Hone your interview skills – Now that the job market is starting to look up, it is even more important to practice for your interview. When you have been out of work for a long time and are feeling discouraged, it is hard to show up to an interview and “wow” them. Sharpen your skills and practice your interview skills.
  
  
• Sell yourself and your skills – When you get a chance to interview with a potential employer, use your unemployment period to your advantage and sell yourself as someone who will work hard to prove themselves. Use your desire to never be unemployed again to fuel your determination and enthusiasm.
  
  
• Work hard on acting positive – Even if it is hard, get rid of any bitterness. Trust me, I know how hard it is when you have bills piling up and kids to feed. The desperation of not knowing what is going to go wrong next can be hard to set aside. But the truth is, the bitterness and stress will make you less attractive to a new employer. Even if you have to act hopeful and happy, when you aren't feeling it, it will start to become second nature. Having a positive attitude is one of the things that makes you successful in all parts of life, even finding a job.

Getting back into the work force after a long being unemployed is a challenge, but not impossible. As the job market continues to improve, it is essential that you work on being ready for the next big opportunity to knock on your door.

What do you think is important when you are trying to get back into the work force? Let me know in the comments.

If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia area job listings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Hands On!

There are many different jobs in the field of Health care. Within the health care field are physical therapy jobs. One of the more specialized jobs is being a Hand Therapist. A Hand Therapist rehabilitates a patient’s upper extremities that have become impaired. This can happen through an injury or a physical disability. Some of the injuries or chronic problems that are treated by a hand Therapist are the following:

*Arthritis

*Carpal Tunnel syndrome and other nerve compressions

*Fractures or dislocations

*Ligament injuries or repairs

*Sprains and strains

*Tendon injuries, repairs or grafts

*Tendon transfers

*Traumatic injuries

A Hand Therapist would do a typical evaluation that would be an assessment of range of motion, coordination, strength, edema, skin/wound conditions, sensation and functions in daily living activities such as work, self care and leisure activities. The treatment for such conditions and injuries could be any or all of the following: exercise, therapeutic treatments (heat, ultrasound, etc), customized splinting, adaptive techniques and devices and/or management of pain and swelling.

So what type of training requirements would you need for this type of job? Well, a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy is the minimum requirement but a master’s is preferred. Most employers would want at least one year of experience, a valid driver’s license, and CPR certification. If you have experience with hand, splinting and wound care experience that would put you higher on the employment scale. Occupational and physical therapists, including hand therapist, must earn state licensure. Employers also look for job candidates that have worked in schools, hospitals, or private physical therapy practices. Some hospitals and medical centers also offer postgraduate fellowship in hand therapy. To remain competitive in this field, a hand therapist may consider specializing in pediatrics, mental health or gerontology.

What about certification? Educational programs for hand therapist are available as fellowships that can be finished within one year. You do have to be a graduate of an accredited physical or occupational therapy program and be licensed to practice in your state. The purpose of the fellowship program is to help occupational or physical therapist specialize in rehabilitation of the upper quarter of the arm. Through a fellowship, your education will be divided between patient care and academic experience. Specific coursework in treatment planning, upper extremity disorders, surgical; recovery, biomechanics and splinting are usually covered. You may also participate in surgical observations and could be expected to complete projects or presentations on special topics in hand therapy. In order to become certified through the Hand Therapist certification Commission, you need 5 years of on-the-job hand therapy experience. You will also need 4,000 documented hours of on the job hand therapy. Cerification is valid for 5 years and requires continuing education courses to recertify.

So if this is a field you’re interested in or you’re already an occupational or physical therapist, the jobs are out there. It will give you a true hands on experience.

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and Healthcarejobsite. You can read more of her blogs on Healthcarejobsite blog.

The Best 8 Tips For Getting a Job When You Have Been Unemployed for a Long Time. Part 1

Getting back on the job market after having been unemployed for a long time can be tough. Here are some tips to help.

When you have been unemployed for a long period of time, trying to find a new job can feel a lot like clawing your way out of a hole. The longer you are out of work, the bigger the hole seems. Climbing out takes strength, determination, a whole lot of help from friends and some hard work. Here are some things that can help you get a leg up on the climb:

• Stop blaming yourself – The past few years have been tough for everyone, and especially those of us who are out of work. Not being able to find a job doesn't mean that you are broken and not worth hiring. The more you beat yourself up, the harder it can be to muster up the enthusiasm necessary to impress an interviewer.
  
• Stop wasting time – When you have been job searching for an extended period, it's only natural to stop giving it your best and just start applying for every job opening you see that is even close to being within commuting distance. Don't let the desperation win. The best way to find a new job is to target openings that are a match for your skills and experience. Then, customize your resume and cover letter to target that particular job. You know this, but when you are feeling beat down and think that it is a waste of time, it is hard to remember.

• Get out and make friends – When you are feeling desperate and start thinking that you need to “beat the streets” until you find something, stop and start looking for networking opportunities. The best use of your time is to make new friends, connect with other professionals and build your network. Getting out and talking to others in your industry will help you get re-energized and can lead to recommendations and insider news about new openings.
  
  
• Talk to your previous employer – The job market is starting to make a rebound, but many companies are hesitant to take on new employees, opting for freelance and temp workers. If you were downsized or laid off at your previous job, it may be a good idea to get in touch with your previous boss or co-workers. If you are willing to take on freelance work, they may be interested in having someone who is already familiar with the company.

Getting back into the work force after a long time of being unemployed is hard, but not impossible. Stay tuned for the next installment, and find out tips 5-8.

What do you think is important when you are trying to get back into the work force? Let me know in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Matt Damon, Kate Winslet to Star in New Film Featuring the CDC

by Alex A. Kecskes

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is starring in a new film with Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Laurence Fishburne.

The movie, “Contagion,” is filming on the campus of the CDC. Billed as a bio-med drama, where a team of doctors must race to find a cure for a deadly epidemic, the film is the second recent project to feature the CDC in its plot line.

The CDC collaborates to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health. Its many programs include health promotion, disease prevention, injury and disability prevention, and preparedness for new health threats.

If you're interested in working for the CDC, there are a number of exceptional careers available at this world-class medical institution. Their goal is to hire the best, the brightest, and the most committed people to help carry out their mission. Some of their most common positions include:

• Behavioral Scientists
• Biologists
• Emergency Response Specialists
• Epidemiologists
• Health Education Specialists
• Health Informatics Specialists
• Health Scientists
• Medical Officers
• Microbiologists
• Public Health Advisors
• Public Health Analysts

If you are in college, have recently graduated, or are currently working in the public health arena, learn more about the public health training and Fellowship Opportunities at CDC. Student Internships are also available for college graduates eager to make a contribution to the health and well being of the American public.

For an added perspective on more student opportunities, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.