Traveling Nurses Enjoy Many Perks

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you enjoy mobility and helping people, you might want to look into becoming a Travel Nurse. Hospitals and clinics often pay premium rates for nurses to fill in for short periods. These nursing positions usually run anywhere from three months to a year. And depending on the duration and distance from your home, employers typically provide housing or a housing subsidy.

As a Traveling Nurse, you'll assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Much like location-bound nurses, you'll administer nursing care to sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. You may also offer advice to patients regarding a variety of health related matters, such as health maintenance and disease prevention.

Depending on their needs and your skills, hospitals frequently recruit traveling nurses into full-time slots if they are pleased with your performance. So you basically get the best of both worlds—an instant high paying job, some travel, and the chance at a long-term position.

Finding a Travel Nursing position is often easier if you go through a nursing recruiter. They can usually present you with several options and a decent benefits package. Travel nursing usually pays $24-$35 per hour, plus the housing subsidy. Pay is higher in high cost-of-living areas like New York, San Francisco or Chicago.

What about licensing? Each state has its own requirements, but most have temporary licenses that, in some states, are valid for up to a year. If you hold an RN nursing degree (as opposed to an LPN or LVN nursing degree), you have a distinct advantage since RNs are nationally licensed.

For an added perspective, check out this video, Today's New Travel Nurse - Not Who You Might Expect.

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.

When to veto your voicemail message

Whether it’s your home or cell phone, a potential employer is likely to reach your voicemail at some point in trying to contact you. It can even be the first impression you make after your resume and cover letter. What you say or don’t say could be the difference between a hello and a hang up.

• It’s tempting to have the anonymity of the standard prerecorded message, “Hello, this is ###-###-####. Please leave a message. BEEP!” But the computerized conversation can be cold and impersonal. You may as well be anyone off the street if you in fact exist at all.



• The opposite tactic of being too personal can backfire too. Avoid messages referring to personal drama or finances. The last thing you want human resources to hear when calling to arrange an interview is, “Hello, this is (your name). I’m screening my calls so if you’re a bill collector or my ex-spouse, don’t bother. Everyone else can leave a message.”



• Steer clear of practical joke messages faking emergencies or fooling the caller like, “Hello (pause) Hello (pause) I can’t hear you because I’m not home.” No one wants to work with someone who goes out of their way to make other people feel dumb.



• While you and your whole family find Junior’s cute little voice absolutely adorable saying “Mommy and Daddy can’t come to the phone now” a potential boss will likely hear it as foreshadowing for calling in when Junior is ill and asking for last minute vacation days.



• Remember that time is money and you’re wasting both for a recruiter if you play an entire song before getting to the beep. Likewise it could be an automatic rejection if your music selection is extremely loud, offensive, or profane. As a job seeker, even if it is clever to use Lionel Richie’s Hello as an intro it’s best to skip the musical messages altogether.

In general it’s best to stick to a simple professional standard like, “Hello, this is (your full name). I am unable to answer my phone at this time. If you will please leave your name, number, and a brief message I will return your call promptly. Thank you.”

Make sure you speak in a clear and even tone. The interviewer will take note of your strong phone skills before you ever speak to them.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Visit PhillyJobs for the latest in area job openings.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer, business owner, annd wor from home mom.

Looking for a Job? Go to Church.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Religious institutions are showing a growing involvement in the economic well being of their members. Now, with so many of their congregation out of work, they're getting involved in helping the unemployed find jobs. Faith-based groups provide fellowship, trust and emotional support during a trying time of job loss. They also provide practical help.

In seminars and workshops conducted in church meeting rooms across the country, churchgoers hear guest speakers cover such topics as search strategies, résumés, interview skills, computer literacy and salary negotiation. Faith-based groups are uniting their resources to help their members wherever they can, urging those gainfully employed to reach out to members who have recently suffered a job loss.

At some meetings, out of work churchgoers are invited to deliver a 30- or 60-second elevator pitch. These pitches often result in members connecting others with department heads they know who may be looking for someone with just those skills. It's a fact of life that today's employers are simply inundated with resumes and would much rather hire someone on a personal referral.

Faith-based job clubs are sprouting up everywhere. They're usually free to join and typically consist of a dozen or so people who meet in church activity rooms. Some have evolved into highly structured programs with hundreds of members headed up by volunteers with HR backgrounds.

If your church doesn't have a job support group, Work Ministry helps faith-based and community organizations develop job support groups. They currently have a listing of 170 groups in 29 states at workministry.com.

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.

Top 6 Employers in Philly

According to Fortune on CNNMoney, the fastest growing jobs in America over the next decade are nurses, network systems analyst, data analysts, software engineers, biomedical engineers, accountants, auditors and veterinarians. Of course this is a general observation and not particular to any one region. Taking that into account, let’s check to see what the top six employers in the Philadelphia area might need.

Career Info net lists the top six employers as:

Philadelphia International Airport: For job openings, check out http://www.phl.org/employment.html. For non-airline specific jobs, the site splits it into three segments: City of Philadelphia, Division of Aviation; Philadelphia Marketplace and Transportation Security Administration. The Division of Aviation only showed one position but the Philadelphia Marketplace currently has openings at many of the stores as well as the Marketplace itself. In addition, don’t forget to check out the TSA site for job openings in the Philly area.

United States Post Office: http://www.usps.com/employment/welcome.htm. Check out the site to see what is available. Remember, if you are prior military you will receive extra points!
ACE International: http://www.acelimited.com/AceLimitedRoot/Careers+at+ACE/. According to the site, openings are available for accounting, finance, underwriters, analysts, managers, VP, Executive Assistants and Data Modelers

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: http://www.chop.edu/careers/index.html. According to the site there are currently 202 open positions covering Healthcare, IT and finance.

University of Pennsylvania Health System: Within the system there are major facilities which include Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medican Center, Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse, Penn Medicine at Radnor and Penn Medicine at Cherry Hill. Depending upon your location and your career avenue, check out one of the major facilities for current job openings.

CIGNA Group Insurance:  Check out the site – many jobs posted from Finance to IT to Legal.

These are just the current top six companies in the Philly area. It was quite exciting to see that many of the top employers had open positions. Maybe this truly is a sign that we are moving out of the recession!

If you are seeking a new job, check out these sites AND visit PhillyJobs.com to find a job in Philly. If you know of other companies in your local area who are hiring, please let me know in the comments section and I will be happy to post them for the benefit of other job seekers.

By: Nancy Anderson, Staff Writer

Thinking of completing a Masters of Business Administration (MBA)?

Are you thinking of obtaining an MBA degree? If so, you probably know that obtaining an MBA can increase yourchances of getting a good paying job. In fact, without a doubt, an MBA degree designation can make you stand out from the crowd in today’s economy. Besides making you a more desirable job candidate, an MBA degree can also put you in a better position to obtain promotions, command a higher salary, and experience a satisfying work/life balance in the future.

What are some of the types of jobs that you can expect to obtain when you graduate from this degree though? MBA graduates can obtain management careers in commercial, legal, media, engineering, government, academic and other areas. For instance, MBA grads can become Product Managers, Sales Managers, Executive Managers, Marketing Managers, Technical Managers and related areas.

If you do decide to complete an MBA, you can expect to complete courses in business management, economics, marketing, accounting, communications and related areas. Often, there is also an emphasis on team-work throughout the course of your MBA program as well – so as to prepare you for real world work situations.

An MBA program is also an excellent way to create a large professional network of contacts. As you most likely will be working closely with your classmates on a number of different topics, you likely will develop relationships with these classmates. In turn, these classmates will most likely turn into valuable contacts when you launch your professional business career. For instance, this network can be well help you with job searches, references, and mentoring in the future.

Moreover, you do not need to have a business background to apply to business school. Thus, this degree is perfect for individuals who want to obtain practical business knowledge.

Overall then, while obtaining an MBA is a very serious – and potentially expensive – endeavour, going the MBA route can also prove to be one of the smartest decisions that you ever made.

Ready to supercharge your job search? Visit PhillyJobs.com.

Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues and other topics for a variety of international websites, magazines, and businesses.

How to Find And Keep The Best Office Staff

In today's job market, employers are receiving hundreds more resumes than they have openings to fill. This makes the entire hiring process stressful for both the employers and the job seekers. If you are the person in charge of finding and keeping good employees, it can be difficult to not feel overwhelmed by the options. Capable employees are the backbone of any office, so choosing the right person is important.

Once you have narrowed down your list of applicants, conducted interviews and found the person you want to add to your team, you have still only won half of the battle. The other half is making sure that they will stay with your company. Training a new employee, no matter how experienced they are, can be a time consuming and expensive undertaking. If you are lacking a clear plan on how to keep your best employees from leaving as soon as they get a better job offer, then you are setting yourself up to keep repeating this cycle.

Here are some tip for finding and keeping good employees:

• Try to attract a better qualified group of applicants- By instituting some sort of reward program for current employees who recommend qualified candidates, you can limit the amount of resumes you will need to sift through. Anytime a job opening is posted, invariably about 2/3rds of the resumes you receive will be from applicants who aren't at all qualified for the position, are very over qualified or maybe they have had long standing careers in completely unrelated fields or are just looking for temporary work until they finish school or are able to find a suitable job in their preferred field. These are not applicants that you need to seriously consider. Be careful about hiring someone who is very over-qualified even if they tell you that they will be happy working in a lesser skilled job. Very often, once the reality of doing a job that is not challenging sets in, they start to become very unhappy and begin to look for a job that better suits their skill sets.
  
  
• Be honest about what the job will involve- It is tempting to try to “sell the job” to the candidate you like the best, but it will do you and them a huge disservice. Be honest when you describe the position. Let the applicant know what sorts of challenges they will face in the job. If you prepare the new employee ahead of time, you have better odds that they will be able to deal with the initial frustrations without getting discouraged.
  
  
• Look at things other than job experience- Think about who the person is and how they will fit in with your corporate culture. Every company and every office is different, the job seeker who is the most capable and the most qualified, may be the worst fit for your office. If you hire them in spite of it, they will probably not be happy at your company for long and will be leaving your employ as soon as they are able to secure a job in a company that is a better fit for their goals and personality type.
  
  
• Develop a plan on how to integrate the new employee into the company- When planning out new employee training, be sure to set realistic goals for different milestones. For example, if you have a one week goal, one month goal, three month goal and finally a six month goal for total integration into the office, you will give the new employee a clear idea of what is expected. You will be giving them a blueprint of what they will be responsible for doing independently by what time. The lack of a formal training plan is one of the most common reason employees give when they leave a job within the first year.
  
  
• If you have to discipline an employee or let them know that they are under-performing- This is a difficult position for any employer. It is always hard to know that you are going to have to deliver bad news and possibly hurt someone's feelings. It is a good idea to write out what you want to say and memorize it. This will prevent you from backing out. If you think that the employee is saveable, offer additional training, the option of working with a mentor or even listen to suggestions the employee may have about changes that could be made in order to make them more productive. Whatever you chose to do, if you aren't letting them go, be sure to make a clear timeline for what sort of improvement you are expecting to see and by when. Be sure to plan and schedule feedback sessions at regular intervals during the allotted time. This will allow the employee to be updated on what progress (or lack thereof) is being made. It is always better to try to work with them as an ally, rather than just being the person who is judging them. Giving them the tools, help and encouragement they need to succeed will make them even more loyal to you and the company.
  
  
• Try to foster an attitude of fun in the workplace- Many companies try to do this, but most of them fail miserably. Having a wacky shirt day once every quarter does nothing to make the office a more enjoyable place. Try greeting employees with a smile each day and attempt to keep the energy in the office upbeat and motivated with a focus on reaching the company's goals. If you foster an atmosphere of fun and success, your employees are less likely to adopt negative attitudes and habits. Negativity can spread through an office fast, and before you know it, many of your best employees are considering jumping ship.

As an employer, when you make a clear plan for employee retention and hiring, you raise your odds of keeping your best employees. Well trained, successful employees are the backbone of any office's culture. When you bring in a new hire trainee, you want them to work with and get to know your most productive, experienced and upbeat staff. Positive peer pressure works wonders. So, before you hire the next addition to your office staff, make sure that you have considered these things. This way you can find, and more importantly, keep the best employees. Because without them, you can't succeed.

What challenges have you faced when trying to retain employees? If you aren't an employer, what problems have you faced when trying to assimilate to a new office environment? Are there some mistake that you have seen employers make that causes new hires to leave the company after just a short time? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the exciting world of Health Care? Take a look at HealthCareJobSite.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, 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.

How to Get the Most Out of a Healthcare Recruiter

by Alex A. Kecskes

A healthcare recruiter can help you find that ideal job. The good ones will keep their ears to the ground for job openings that aren't widely advertised. They can also offer some career guidance about hiring trends and are often more in the know about salaries for certain positions.

Of course, not all healthcare recruiters are alike. And there are times when a recruiter may not be of much help. If you're starting out and just looking for a basic staff-level position in a hospital, a recruiter may only be marginally helpful. On the other hand, if you're an MBA grad eager to move up to a management or administrative post, a healthcare IT spot, or sales position, you may want to consult an experienced healthcare recruiter.

When evaluating recruiters, get referrals and do some due diligence. Find a healthcare recruiter in The Directory of Executive Recruiters. Send a few of them your resume, then follow up with a phone call and see if the "chemistry" is right. Give them your "elevator pitch" and note how they respond. Don't be hard nosed about salary; leave this open. Recruiters know what the going rate is for most positions.

Arrange to meet with the recruiter that best matches your career goals and personality. At the meeting, discuss your career objectives in more detail. Listen to any suggestions the recruiter may have about improving your pitch, your resume, and advice on how to answer some of the tougher HR questions.

Finally, keep the pressure up on your end. Continue your aggressive job search by networking. Do some online research of hospitals you'd like to work for and apply to advertised job openings.

For some added insights, check out this interesting video on Medical Device Sales: Recruiter Goes through Resumes.

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.

Where Do You "Like It" Goes Viral to Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As many of you know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In order to show support once again this year, women on Facebook have participated in a meme to raise awareness and to help bring attention to the very serious cause. Last year, women were describing their bras and posting their bra color as their Facebook status. The trend caught on, and it very quickly went viral. Pretty soon, people who were not in on the joke were trying to figure out what their wives, girlfriends and co-workers were talking about. Even the National News covered the story, explaining to the public that the colors where in reference to the color bra the poster was wearing at the moment, and that it was all part of plan to raise awareness about Breast Cancer and the help celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This year, women have been posting very suggestive statuses stating where they “Like it”. Just like last year, this one went viral very fast. Men were left scratching their collective heads wondering what on earth their partners were talking about. It gave rise to some very interesting posts, and it wasn't uncommon to see grandmas, professional women, younger women and even nuns posting statuses like “I like it on the counter”, “I like it on the bar.” , “I like it anywhere I can get it” and even “I like it on the dash where I can see it.” I even had a friend who posted “I like it on the freezer.”. Her husband commented on her status to say, “No, you don't. What are you talking about?”.

I have to admit, when I first started seeing these crazy statuses on my Facebook feed, I wondered what was going on. Not being one who handles not beint in on the joke well, I immediately went on a hunt to find out what was going on. It seems that the game was to say where you like your purse or bag. The idea was to keep the men guessing about what they were referring to. It was all in good fun and made many people aware that it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it also garnered a great deal of media attention, even more than last year.

Although these memes are grassroots efforts and not affiliated with any organization, last years bra color campaign brought 140,000 new Facebook Fans to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Facebook page. So, even though it may be a bit silly, getting women to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness is a good thing. Whether it is a silly Facebook status, T-shirts that say “Save the Ta-Tas”, Pink packaging on products and food labels to show that companies are donating to the cause or even rocking rubber bracelets that say “I <3 Boobies”, anything that gets the word out and brings our attention to this disease that affects so many women across the globe is a positive thing. Even though critics says that it would be more helpful if women would remind their Facebook friends to do a monthly self exam, I think that getting people to feel comfortable talking breasts and breast health is a huge step in the right direction.

And as for me, well ... I like it pressed up against the bar.

Where do you like it? What do you think about these memes to bring attention to a cause? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Visit PhillyJobs for the latest in area job openings.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, 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.

How to prepare for your health career in high school

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you're Dazed and Confused or enjoying your Fast Times at Ridgemont High, you might want to think about more than just getting a diploma. In fact, if today's economy doesn't pick up, you may just be flipping burgers till you're 30—unless you start thinking about your career right now. And one of the most promising careers in the next decade will be healthcare.

The good news is that there will be many openings in this field. The sobering news is that the competition will be fierce. High-paying healthcare career training programs and the jobs that follow will go to those who have a strong working knowledge of math, science and English. If you're a senior, don't just take easy courses and "party" toward graduation.

Whether your goal is to become a surgeon, an occupational therapist, or a hospital administrator, health career training programs at community colleges and four-year universities require 2 to 4 years of math and science, 4 years of English, and 1 to 2 years of computer science. To stand head-and-shoulders above your competition, you should take Advanced Placement (AP) classes, visit the websites of schools and colleges for their specific academic prerequisites, and do some volunteer work in a healthcare facility.

A study reported in Harvard’s Review of Economics and Statistics found that students who take advanced math have higher incomes ten years after graduating—regardless of family background, grades or college degrees.

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.

It's Flu Season Again- Everything You Need To Know To Be Prepared!

It's Fall, time for jumping in piles of leaves, carving pumpkins and trick or treating. But that crisp feeling in the air and the wonderfully cool evenings also mean the beginning of flu season. Every October, the flu season kicks off with people getting cold chills, fevers, body aches and fatigue. But don't panic, there are still ways to protect yourself against this virus.

Here are some tips for flu prevention

• Get a Flu Shot- Experts aren't expecting there to be a shortage this year, but getting yours early is a good idea. It generally takes a couple of weeks for your body to develop strong antibodies to the virus, so you won't be fully protected until about two weeks after your shot. This year, the vaccine will guard against H1N1, which made the rounds last year, as well as two other strains of flu virus. It is possible that you could catch a different strain of the flu, but even still, your symptoms will be less severe and you should have a shorter recovery time.
  
  
• Find out if you are in a high risk group- If you are in a high risk group for getting the flu, getting the flu shot is even more important. It is also a good idea to up your intake of Vitamin C and get plenty of rest to keep your immune system as strong as possible. The groups with the highest risk of contracting a severe flu are:
  • Pregnant women
  • Caregivers of small children or the elderly
  • People over 50
  • Children under age 5
  • People with chronic illnesses
  • Anyone who lives with or cares for any of the above
    
    
• Wash your hands- It is always good to make hand washing a habit, but be particularly vigilant if you are around anyone who has the flu. Remember that flu germs can survive for over 8 hours on hard surfaces. Some people find it helpful to carry around hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. Wiping down a table in a cafeteria or restaurant before using it can cut down on your chances for picking up the germs.

Taking care of yourself is important. When you get sick with something as contagious as the flu, missing work can be difficult and look bad to your boss and co-workers. But, if you were to go in to the office and try to solider through it, you can risk spreading it around the office. Prevention is the best way to go, so wash your hands, get your flu shot and take your vitamin c!

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, 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.

Emerging Healthcare Careers for "Encore Workers"

by Alex A. Kecskes

The demand for mature and skilled workers in the healthcare industry continues to rise. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Health Workforce Studies warn of a nationwide shortage of nearly 100,000 physicians, one million nurses, and 250,000 public health professionals by 2020. This doesn't count the shortages in ancillary health professions, which may climb to 82,000 by 2014.

If you're an older worker interested in pursuing a healthcare career, there are many local and state programs that can help you find training and re-enter the workforce. One cheerleader for the concept of an "encore career" is founder and CEO, Marc Freeman of Civic Ventures. His vision is to help workers find a calling in the second half of life.

Civic Ventures and MetLife recently awarded $25,000 Community College Encore Career Grants to 25 community colleges to help older workers prepare for encore careers in education, health, and social service. Also supporting the cause in promoting age 50+ workers in service, learning, and leadership is the Philadelphia-based national initiative called Coming of Age. And in 2002, Temple University’s Intergenerational Center partnered with the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PBS/NPR station WHYY, and AARP of Pennsylvania to promote similar encore efforts.

By choosing an encore career in healthcare, you'll not only survive the current recession but "give something back" in a meaningful way that helps others.

Check out these possible healthcare careers available to encore workers:

• Community Health Worker
• General Aide
• Health Administrator
• Health Services Administration
• Home Care Assistant/Aide
• Medical Assistant
• Nurses Aide/Nursing Assistant
• Occupational Therapy Aide
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Physical Therapist

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

Reflections on the Economics Nobel, I: Jobs, jobs everywhere, but none for you

There's a company here in Philadelphia that is constantly advertising openings for copywriters and other writing- and editing-oriented positions. That's my specialty. So why haven't I gotten a job there?

Because I'm not the type of writer they're looking for - and judging from their constant posting of positions, including some that have been open since March, they're having a hard time finding the type of writer they're looking for.

This sort of "friction" in the functioning of labor markets is the focus of the research that won the economists who conducted it the 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Peter Diamond of MIT, Dale Mortensen of Northwestern University and Christopher Pissarides of the London School of Economics shared the prize for developing a theoretical framework for understanding how "search markets" work. "Search markets" - the labor and housing markets are the biggest and best known examples - don't function with the efficiency of other markets because the buyers and sellers can't always find each other easily. In the example I give above, the company wants writers who have prior experience writing pharmaceutical marketing copy. That company probably gets thousands of applications from writers who lack that qualification. Some other sources of inefficiency in the job market include geographic mismatch - the job seeker is in Philadelphia, but the dream job is in Minneapolis - and limited or imperfect information - as we all have heard, many available jobs are not even advertised, and job seekers cannot tap into all the possible sources of information about available jobs and thus may miss advertised jobs they qualify for.

The net result, as the prizewinning economists' mathematical models demonstrate, is that high unemployment can exist in labor markets with lots of available job openings, because the job buyers and job sellers both can't find what they're looking for.

In the next installment in this series: Unemployment compensation keeps people jobless longer - and that's a good thing.

Improve the odds of finding what you're looking for at http://www.philyjobs.com/

By: Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.

A Look Back At The First Wonder Drug

It seems like every few months, big pharmaceutical companies tout a new “wonder drug”. Some of these so-called wonder drugs do little more than line the pockets of the drug industry. But, a new exhibit at the New York Historical Society is saluting the world's first true Miracle Drug. Insulin.

Injectable insulin was first isolated in 1931 by a team of Canadians. With the advent of insulin, dying children were suddenly cured. It turned a deadly disease into a treatable chronic condition that patients struggle with throughout their lives.

In addition to the exhibit, a new book called “Breakthrough” by Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsbert also covers the invention of insulin. The book deals with the complicated questions that arose along with the miracle treatment. Questions like, who will get the medicine first? Who will pay for it and who will make enough for everyong?

Without insulin, the body isn't able to use glucose, which is the body's main fuel. Children who develop diabetis lack insulin completely, while adult onset diabetes are primarily resistant to insulin's action in the body. Whichever it is, sugar and starch turns into poison in the body of a diabetic, building excess amounts of glucose in the blood stream. The glucose is passed in the urine and the blood cells starve because they aren't able to use the fuel. The first tell tale symptoms of the disease are extreme thirst and a never satisfied appetite, caused by the body reacting to the lack of fuel.

Before insulin was available to patients, doctors understood the disorder but the treatment was just a band aid. Diabetics were put on strict diets of salad and eggs, along with no sugar or starch and the bare minimum amount of calories they need to survive. The patients became emaciated. It was only by keeping this strict diet that they were able to keep from having excess glucose in their blood and urine.

It is interesting to look back and see how a medical advance that we tend to take for granted, changed the fates of millions of people. The exhibit “ Breakthrough: The Dramatic Story of the Discovery of Insulin” is running from Oct 11^th to Jan. 31^st at the New York Historical Society, 2 West 77^th street, New York.

Are you looking for a job in the Healthcare field? Take a look at HealthcareJobSite.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, 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.

Is online education the way to go?

So you are thinking about going back to school so that you can advance in your job but your schedule is jam packed. What do you do? Do you just put off going to school until you have more time? What about your career? Do you put it on hold until you have more time, too?

The answer to both, in my opinion, is NO. If advancing your career is based upon increasing your education and knowledge, it would be best to find time in your schedule to do it. Maybe you will have to give up one or two things but you can always pick them back up after you complete school.

Okay, so now you have decided to open up your schedule so that you can go to school. What is next? Most colleges offer both traditional and online classes. Some schools allow you to complete courses on your own schedule as long as they are completed within a certain timeframe. Others require you to stick to a schedule whether in a traditional setting or online. This sounds really good, doesn’t it? You could take courses online and never have to step into a classroom! However, as great as this might sound, it is not for everyone.

I earned my Master’s Degree through distance education (basically online). I completed one course every eight weeks while working and traveling. Typically, in a master’s program, the college assigns you to a “work group” – a peer group if you will and these are the people you spend the next 18 months to 2 years with. However, if you choose an online option, you have to do all of the work on your own. In my case, this included having to write a minimum of one report every week plus reading and exam preparations. I had to create my own fictitious company including creating a product. Then I had to design my five year business plan and find a way to fund my company. Even though the company was fictitious, it was not easy to do this on my own. There was no one there to prod me along; no one to come to my aid when I had to brainstorm for ideas. Yes I was able to complete my education without stepping into a classroom but it was a very lonely and tough road.

Online education truly is not for everyone. If you need the socialization or camaraderie of others to stimulate your learning experience, then I would suggest that you stick to traditional education. If you do choose online education just remember that you will have to motivate yourself to get the work done. No one is going to be standing over your shoulder to see that you do it.

If you are not sure what type of education is right for you, try both traditional and online. Take one course in each and see which one you like better. Either way, if you need to increase your education for your position, don’t put it off. Get started today!

Are you looking for a job in Philadelphia? Check out Phillyjobs to search jobs and start a new career.

By: Nancy Anderson, Staff Writer

Top 4 Nursing Careers

by Alex A. Kecskes

In the old days, a nurse was simply a person who took your pulse and gave you the meds your doctor ordered. Today, nursing is highly specialized with some nurses taking on the responsibilities of a physician and earning almost as much in pay. Who are these specialized health care professionals? A brief rundown of the top four:

Nurse Anesthetist. Among the highest paid nurses in healthcare, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are licensed RNs with at least a year of experience in acute-care, plus two years in an anesthesia education program. In addition to having a four-year nursing degree, they must pass a rigorous certification exam. CRNAs administer 30 million anesthetics to patients annually. And they practice in surgical suites, dental offices and plastic surgery centers.

Certified Nurse Midwife. These healthcare specialists are RNs who have been midwife certified and typically hold a master’s degree in midwife studies. Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) attend an estimated 300,000 births per year in hospitals as well as homes. CNMs also provide a variety of services to female patients--like family planning, as well as prenatal and postnatal care. CNMs often work with OB/GYNs to provide many gynecological services.

Nurse Practitioner. Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) usually need a master's degree in a specialty area. While most states require nurse practitioners (NPs) to work under the supervision of a physician, some states allow NPs to open their own clinics. Nurse practitioners provide a wide range of health services--including women’s health or pediatrics, nursing home care and private practice. The highest salaries go to ER and pediatric NPs. In some states, NPs will even diagnose and treat acute illnesses, injuries and infections.

Clinical Nurse Specialist. Typically requiring a master’s degree and five years experience, clinical nurse specialists (CNS) often engage in research and evaluate data arising from that research. These specialized nurses may also evaluate a hospital’s procedures, processes and personnel. They're typically involved in patient/family care, nursing personnel/practice and system/network organization.

For more information, check out The American Nurses Association (ANA).

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.

Facebook Dos and Don'ts

These days, more and more people belong to the social networking site, Facebook , for professional networking purposes. As such, it is essential that your Facebook profile exudes professionalism as well:

Ensure that your profile photo is a tasteful one. After all, the last thing that you want to do is offend viewers when they look at your profile. In other words then, you should use discretion when you post a Facebook photo as you do want to maintain a respectful reputation.

Use your Facebook privacy settings in an appropriate manner. For instance, if you do not want your business contacts to see all of your “oh so witty” comments on your Facebook profile, it is a good idea to ensure that your privacy settings are adjusted accordingly. For example, you can adjust your privacy manners in such a way that only your close friends have access to your political and religious information. Along similar lines, you may also not want to disclose your birth year to professional colleagues.

Keep your Facebook status updates to a minimum. We all know people on Facebook that are guilty of “over reporting” via their Facebook statuses. For instance, it is never necessary to discuss what you are up to on a 24/7 basis. In fact, before writing any type of status update, you should ask yourself if your “Facebook friends” will find that potential status update interesting and informative.

Do not post unflattering digital photos. Although it may be fun for you to post all of your photos from last Saturday night on Facebook, it is essential to ask yourself whether or not these photos “paint” you and your friends in a professional light. You can also ask your friends – that appear in the photos- whether or not they would mind their photos being posted up on Facebook. Along similar lines, your friends may not appreciate you tagging photos of them that reveal them in an unfavorable light.

Overall then, while Facebook can be a powerful tool to utilize when you are actively pursuing a job search, it is advantageous to keep the previous tips in mind if you use Facebook professionally.

Ready to supercharge your job search? Visit PhillyJobs.com.



Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues and other topics for a variety of international websites, magazines, and businesses.

Why Go Organic?

So why eat organic foods anyway? Why are they better than your average grocery store fare? Well, for one, organic foods are foods that aren’t covered in chemicals such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. I, for example, am violently allergic to a lot of chemical preservatives and a lot of these spray chemicals trigger the same reaction: sore stomach, headache, nausea, blurred vision… I could go on. And it can be a bad scene for those who aren’t even allergic to any chemicals, too!


Plenty of EPA-approved pesticides were approved a long time ago –before research linked these chemicals to cancer and other debilitating diseases. Currently the EPA considers 60% of all herbicides, a whopping 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all insecticides to be potentially carcinogenic.

Taste is an individual matter, but many gourmet chefs are choosing to use organic foods in the recipes, due to the superior flavour and quality of these products. A growing number of consumers — including yours truly — are also claiming that organic food tastes better.

I mean, doesn’t it make sense to you that foods grown naturally in well-balanced soils and ripened by the big, happy summer sun will be healthier and tastier than products raised on a diet of smelly, wildlife and bug-killing chemicals? Then they’re sprayed with preservatives that allow them to sit for months in storage. What are these chemicals and preservatives doing to your insides? Do you think it’s possible that they’re strong enough to kill pests, make plants grow faster/bigger, and last for weeks on a shelf without having a negative affect on your insides? I don’t know first hand, but I’m sceptical at best.

Try organic food for yourself and see what you think — is it tastier? Does it smell better?

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

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.

Toxic Attitudes That May Be Poisoning Your Job Search and Your Career

As a whole, humans are very hesitant to change the way they do things, even when it is clear that the way they are doing it isn't working. Changing your attitude about things is one of the first steps in making changes that are lasting and productive. If you were to ask the most successful people in your career field, you will find that they tend to all have an attitude of willingness to make change and do whatever is necessary to be successful.

(Take a look at 5 Rules For Making A Change Today!)

Here are some toxic attitudes that may be poisoning your job search or your career

• I don't need a professional social network. It just seems phoney. I don't want to be one of “those people”- Actually, you do. And, of course you want to be one of “those people”, if by “those people” you mean successful people. Creating a professional social network is not very difficult to do, and it allows you to keep up to date with what is going on your field. Creating a dynamic online presence is one of the best ways to make yourself important in your career path, and it raises your value to your employer and to other potential employers.
• If they will just give me that promotion, I will show them how awesome I am- This rarely ever works. You have to show them how awesome you are before you can expect to be promoted. When you demonstrate your value, people notice much sooner than they would notice your untapped potential. Don't strive to be a diamond in the rough, show them your sparkle.
• I am going to stick with this until it is successful- I think it was Kenny Rogers who said “You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.” This advice, while great for poker, is still true in life. When you are working at something that isn't succeeding, there is a time when you need to just walk away. Sometimes that can mean handing a project off to someone else or taking a different path. Persistence is certainly a virtue, but you have to know when drop something that is draining your time and talents.
• I don't need people skills, I have (business/ technical) skills- No matter what field you are working in, you always need people skills. Even in highly technical fields, being able to deal with co-workers, bosses and the people who work under you is a huge plus.
• I updated the resume I have had since college. I don't need to use keywords or tailor my resume into a marketing tool. I have years of experience and training that speaks for itself- Yeah, about that...you do. This is one of the things that still amazes me, when you are looking for a job, try anything. This isn't the time to get stuck by thinking that they way you do things are the best, and any attempt to change it is missing the point. The job market has changed, and employers don't care so much about your years of experience and training. They want to know why they should hire you and what are you capable of doing for the company today.
• I just want to be sure that I get it perfect- This is always a challenge for me. Especially when I am working on a deadline. I had to realize that they don't want it perfect, they want it by Thursday. Being a perfectionist is great, but there is a time when you have to let go and get it done the best that you can in an allotted time frame.
• I don't have the time or inclination to “schmooze”- Well, you better find some. Making professional connections is important. Nurturing those relationships, even more so. Never underestimate the power of a professional network. When you are given the chance to attend business conferences and other events, get to know the people in your industry. Get their contact information and add them to your social network. Get to know them. They can be the single most important source for job leads and information.

When you change your attitude, you can change your world. So think about some of the attitudes and beliefs that you cling to, and see where you can make a change.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, 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.

Only 40% of Canadians received an H1NI shot

According to some self-reported data shared by Statistics Canada today only four in ten Canadians were vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. For those of you trying to do the math -- that's only about 16.5 million people in Canada.

This relatively new influenza strain reared its ugly head in April of 2009 and caused quite the wide spread panic.

So why such a low vaccination rate? The most common reason -- at 74% -- given by Canadians who did not receive the shot was that they did not think it was necessary. Second most common reason, recorded at 13%, was that they had not gotten around to it yet. And finally, in third place, is fear. Many of those surveyed, however, hesitated to explain the nature of their fear of being vaccinated with the H1N1 shot.

Interestingly enough 66 of the health-care workers in Canada said they received the H1N1 shot, compared with the mere 35% who did within the rest of the population -- only 3% (on average) higher than the percentage of the population that get seasonal flu shots.

A final statistic to note here is from Public Heath Agency of Canada: 428 Canadians have been documented as dying from H1N1 and thousands more were infected. The pandemic was declared over in August by the World Health Organization.

Want to help fight the spread of H1N1? Get a job in healthcare today. Visit http://www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com/

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By: Bambi Blue

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.

Tips For Getting Back Into The Job Market

Many people who are finding themselves back in the job hunt, are people who have been working for the same company for a decade or longer. Re-entering the job market can be really, really hard. And the tried and true ways of finding a job no longer apply. So much has changed in the last 5-10 years, that it can feel like finding your way in a whole new world.

So, here is a helpful guide to the ways the job search process has changed over the past 5-10 years.

• Don't count on a resume to get a job- It used to be customary for a job seeker to print out many copies of their resume along with a cover letter to any company they thought would be a good fit. Then, the hiring manager for that company would look over the resume and give the applicant a call to schedule an interview. This doesn't work anymore. Blindly mailing out copies of your resume hardly ever gets you a job. It is a waste of time and energy.
  
  
• A resume is no longer a summary of your work experience and education history- Employers are not interested in reading through a detailed list of every job you have ever held. They want to know who you are, what you know and what you can do for their company today. Where you worked 10 years ago really isn't very important. Resumes now should be an advertisement including your relevant work experience and education. Emphasis your recent accomplishments and training.
  
  
• Don't expect to hear back from the company- Unless they are planning to ask you to come in for an interview. Occasionally, you may receive a form email saying that the position is filled, but don't count on it. Expect to apply for jobs and never hear anything back.
  
  
• Resumes have to be digital- 99% of jobs applications are going to be online. Because of this, your resume needs to be in a digital format. Having a typewritten, paper copy is not going to do the job. The best bet is to just start over using a computer word processing program. Make sure that you add keywords to your resume to make it stand out to employers. A digital, scanner friendly resume is invaluable to your job search.
  
  
• Computer literacy is a must- If you aren't comfortable with using a computer, find a friend or relative to give you a crash course. Almost any employer is looking for employees that are familiar with using a computer to at least access the internet and email.
  
  
• Your experience matters less than you think- It used to be that employers were looking for the most experienced, most highly trained employees they can afford. Not any longer. Employers are looking for dynamic people who can make a difference for their company today. They aren't very interested in what you did back in the day. To impress them, show them what you bring to the table and how you can help their company rather than trying to impress them with your years of experience.

• Develop a social network- If you don't have one already, sign up for an account on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter. Play around with them and figure out how to use them. Ask your friends or family member to help you out. Developing a strong online presence is very important. You can use your social network to find out about job openings and get recommendations from friends.
  
  
• Many interviewer and hiring managers may be younger than you- Often, recruiters and hiring managers are people who are fresh out of college, or have only been working in a professional capacity for a few years. You are going to have to get used to it. If you don't want to be judged by your age, don't do it to them. It is easy to talk down to people younger than you without even realizing it, so be careful.

Getting back into the job market is hard, but it can be very rewarding to. Don't get discouraged. Changing is just a part of growing, it is uncomfortable and can hurt a little, but it's worth it.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, 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.

Career Fair Advice for Healthcare Professionals

by Alex A. Kecskes

Times are tough. And you've sent out resumes, made phone calls, and even gotten a few interviews—but no job. You've put off going to a career fair because you heard they were mob scenes. Many of them are, especially these days. But some are actually a good place to meet companies who are looking for talents you may have. But before you brave one of these mass meet 'n greets, there are a few things you should know.

Get a list of Participants. Find out what companies will be represented at the career fair (you can get this from the fair's organizing committee). Make a list of who you'll be meeting and do some online research about the company. If the HR reps are in a social network, find out what you can about them.

Match Your Qualifications. Update your "elevator pitch" (and your resume, if need be) to match your skill set with the needs of those on your list.

Prepare a Stellar Resume. One that shows that you're determined to maintain your various healthcare and people skill sets. Include several references who can vouch for your professional knowledge and professionalism.

Dress to Impress. Even though the fair may be in a tent or giant ballroom, you must dress professionally. Women should wear suitable business attire, including modest skirts and button-down blouses. Men should don formal attire--shirt and tie.

Stay Fresh and Alert. Career fairs can be exhausting with long lines and often no air conditioning. If the line to see one employer is too long, move on to other employers on your list and return to the busier booths later.

Follow up. Send each person you meet a short but courteous "Thank You" letter.

Check out this interesting video on Job Career Fairs.

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

Living The Laid-Off Life No More, Part II: Electric Boogaloo (The Conclusion)

"I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition."

Read Part One here.

Last week I announced to you that I was leaving the Laid-Off Life for greener pastures, or at least to go work the fields. It’s been a long, hard road from Laid-Off to Newly-Employed. By government definition, the 'long term unemployed' is anyone who has been out of work and looking for new employ for over a year. I outdistanced that statistic by nearly 150%, having been 'In Search Of...' for 16 months. And, in some strange way, I am taking all of you with me into the land of office chairs, coffee makers, and casual Fridays. The thing I can hang my hat on the most is that as I was sitting here alas these last 25 weeks doling out advice is that truly following the advice I’ve meted out is what got me to where I’m going. And that comes as validation of the work I’ve done to share with you what I know.

But that’s a misnomer. I haven’t been sharing with you what I know. I’ve been sharing with you what I’ve experienced. I’ve said time and time again that I’m no expert; that’s what the actual experts at PhillyJobs.com are for. All of the guidance I’ve divvied out comes from what I’ve learned rolling down the Laid-Off Life Expressway, truths and realizations I’ve come across both through research and from my own Adventures in Wonderland. And the lesson I impart to you is that if I can do it, so can you.

So, previously on '24', I spoke about all the things you can do to get your résumé noticed and be considered worthy of the next step: the interview. That’s when the real work starts.

Before you even look up the directions of how to get to the interview, you must do all the research you can on the company again. Make sure you know as much as you can. Do research on your interviewer. Find out where they went to school and learn something about the strong programs-of-study or the football team. Find out what their interests are and casually slide them in to conversation. Find them on Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn (but don’t contact them, just glean information). Try to get a feel of what kind of person they are so you know what to expect. Do the same for anyone you may interview with. Be up on what the company does and where they fit in within their industry. Be able to answer simple questions from your interviewer like "Tell me in your own words what you feel like we do here at Strickland Propane." Dress appropriately, and shake hands professionally. And make sure you leave the room with an outstanding final impression. After the interview, do your own post-mortem, figure out what you did good and not so good, and email your interviewer a thank-you note. Want a great way not to get the job? Don’t follow up with a thank you. For a second or third interview, lather-rinse-repeat. Keep on the company if you don’t hear back and make sure they know just how much you want the job, and more importantly, why they should want you.


And when you finally get that job offer, congratulations. It’s hard out there, and you should be very proud. Just make sure it’s where you want to be. Crunch the numbers, petition for opinions. Talk it over with your family. Make sure it’s right for you, and not just better-than-nothing (if you have the option). Often being depressingly-employed can be worse than unemployed. You don’t have to jump at the first job that comes your way if something just doesn’t feel right about it. Be sure it’s what you want. The funny thing is always that as soon as you find one opportunity, several more can be right behind it, so other options may soon be available. When I accepted this new job of mine, I got three more phone calls that same week about job opportunities and freelance work. The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but there is always a different lawn right in the next yard. And if you currently have a job you are unhappy with, there is no shame in looking for a better – or even just different – one. The economy is still tough even though the recession apparently ended last year. Don’t feel like just because you have a job and eight million or so fellow Americans don’t, that you’re obligated to just sit down shut up and be happy with what you have if you are not happy with what you have. Be smart about it, but if you don’t like your job, find another one. Don’t settle for something that’s killing you inside little by little.

The job hunt, as I’ve mentioned, is about selling yourself. That’s one reason they say it’s a full-time job in itself. Everything you do, everything you present as part of yourself – telephone conversations, job applications, résumés, cover letters, portfolio – are all pieces with which you sell yourself and promote the brand of 'you'. Always remember that anything that people see is what they judge you on. Be professional. Write professionally. Speak professionally. Don’t be stupid with the things you post on Twitter and Facebook; they may come back to haunt you. And make sure you have a professional sounding email address. No one who replies from HelloKittyLover@hotmail.com gets a job (unless you’re applying at the Hello Kitty store). You are constantly selling 'you' to the potential employers out there. Make sure they’re interested in the commodity known as 'you'. The sooner you realize your job search is really just a PR campaign with the goal to market 'you' and get 'you' a job and make an employer want to be in the business of 'you', the better off you’ll be.

For many, including myself, the job search is long, tedious, difficult, and depressing. I’ve said many times in my columns that the one thing you need to remember is that you are not alone. Millions of Americans are also unemployed, with millions more underemployed or 'marginally employed'. It’s hard out there. The best and brightest among us are in the same shaky boat. I know they are just words, but try to stay positive and try to stay upbeat. The search can beat the strongest of us down. Work hard when you can, and take time away from the search when you can. Consider looking for work in another city: the change of scenery may do you some good. Lean on your support system, whether it’s family or friends or even former co-workers. There are so many of us out there looking that you must come to the realization that your unemployment situation is often not of your own fault. The right opportunity just hasn’t presented itself yet. It will, with patience and work. And take rejections with several grains of salt. Keep your chin up and remember that there are a lot of people going through the same things you are. Try to keep from spiraling down an unemployment depression cycle. You are not alone. Unemployment – for the time being at least – is the new normal.


So how did I do it? How did I finally find my next position after 16 months of long-term unemployment? Patience, of course. Good fortune. Serendipity. Hard work. And doing the smart things. I found this particular job through a listing on PhillyJobs.com (Srsly. I’m not just saying that because they’ve been allowing me to keep the lights on for the last six months). I applied through the website’s application, but what got me the job was doing more. I found the company on LinkedIn, and found the President. I googled his name and the company name and found his work email address. And then emailed him directly. I told him I applied for the job online, but that I wanted to contact him to tell him how interested I was in the job and what hiring me would do for them. They were impressed by my initiative (see how easy?) and asked me in for an interview. A good first interview (using all the tips I mentioned above including the research and preparation with the appropriate thank-you emails and follow-ups) led to a second interview which led to a job offer. And it all came about because of using very simple extra effort to show them that I was really interested in the position and found a way to stand out from the crowd. It’s not a huge secret a lucky few are privy to; but the sad fact is that only a very few take the time to make the effort. It’s not rocket science people, just do it. And keep doing it.

So, I guess that’s the end of the chapter entitled 'Laid-Off Life' for now. I started writing this column weekly around the start of the baseball season, and here we are nose-deep in the playoffs. I’ve been imparting my tidbits of wisdom for 25 weeks, and I thank you for allowing me this soapbox from which to speak. I’ve said over and over that I’m no expert, just a guy with experience over expertise, sharing my stories with an audience of fellow travelers. My job was to tell you what the search has been like for me, and hopefully within that you’ve found some scraps of advice to which you can relate and use successfully in your own search. If I found a job worthy of 'yes', so can you. Patience my friend, patience.

I’ll leave you with a bit of sage wisdom I wrote in a previous column: "Prepare as best you can to walk out the door and face the world, adjust to challenges as they come at you, and do the best you can. And sometimes, on those worst of days, when you feel you’ve tried your best but failed nonetheless, someone will point at you and say 'That’s my guy'."

Good luck, keep in touch. And I’ll be back from time to time to impart more wisdom your way, if the powers that be allow me to do so. Thank you, friends.

Michael Hochman, employed person.



Michael Hochman
LaidOffLife@yahoo.com ◙ Laid-Off Life on Twitter ◙ Laid-Off Life on Facebook

Michael is a Copywriter, Creative Marketer, and Broadcasting Professional who has finally found a full-time job after 16 months of full-time job hunting after an "involuntary career sabbatical". A Philly native and Syracuse graduate, Michael is happy to be rejoining the rat race as a slightly older, slightly smarter rat.

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"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar." - Drew Carey