Four Ways to Aim for the $100k Stars

With so many people looking for a job—any job—I wondered if somehow the unemployed population has lost faith altogether. Boomers who feel they are too old or out of step, college grads caught between too much education and little work experience, and industrial or construction workers caught in the collapse of their main source of jobs. What happened to aiming for the stars, going for the gold, reaching for the brass ring?

Those phrases are a bit trite, but if you look at job postings, like those on phillyjobs.com, you’ll find there are all types of jobs listed. People who are already employed leave jobs for various reasons, creating opportunities for others. Companies create a number of new jobs each month. Some of these jobs come with a six-figure salary.

An article in the May, 2011 issue of Forbes Magazine, “The Best and Worst Paying Sales Jobs,” listed Securities, Commodities and Financial Services Agent as the highest paying sales job, at about $100k per year. I have to confess I’d never heard of that position, but I wondered if there were any jobs in that field in Philadelphia. If you’re going to reach for a star, why not target one in your geographic region of the solar system?

I found a list of financial jobs in Philadelphia, and one job, Audit Manager of Financial Services, paid a whopping $100k to $150k a year! This is not an entry-level job, but worth a look if you are a CPA, familiar with public accounting and external audit procedures, and have knowledge of a whole bunch of acronyms—GAAP, FASB, IFRS, ERP and SAP. If you are one of the many highly educated, experienced and credentialed job seekers with a sales and financial background, why not spruce up your résumé and throw your hat in the ring. My favorite quote is, “They can only say no.” You haven’t lost anything by trying, and you may be pleasantly surprised when you get a call because something on your résumé stood out.

It doesn’t cost any more to apply for a $100k per year job than it does for one paying $30k per year. It’s even easier online. The problem is we tend to lower the expectation bar the longer we’re out of work. If your goal is to someday qualify for a job at that level, researching job openings for qualifications can help get you on track:

1. If you’re out of a job and never got around to taking the CPA exam, you can use the time to study and sit for the exam.

2. If you’re already working and keep getting passed over for promotion, watch for opportunities to gain experience in those areas required for that next level position. The job description will give you specific things to look for.

3. Leverage your current job to gain the knowledge and experience you need for your next job. Take advantage of tuition reimbursement, or use your vacation leave to attend some classes or seminars on subjects or technology needed for the next level.

4. Attend a conference in your field, attend educational sessions and network with as many people as possible. Introduce yourself to the conference speakers and ask for their views on the future of the profession and industry.

You can settle for a job below your current salary and experience level or you can fill in the gaps, raise the bar and keep competing. You just might win the prize.

What strategies are you using to get to the next level? Share your tips in the Comments section below.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

Region's businesses optimistic, but...

The Federal Reserve has released its April Beige Book - the periodic informal survey of business conditions in the 12 Federal Reserve districts - and the news from the Philadelphia Fed is good news for the economy, but guarded for the region's job market. Businesses in the region are optimistic that the recovery now under way will continue and strengthen - optimistic enough that demand for workers has risen, but not so optimistic that they are ready to hire on a large scale yet.

As in much of the rest of the country, manufacturing has rebounded in the Philadelphia district, which includes eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. More than half the manufacturers the Philly Fed contacted said shipments and new orders increased in March, an increase in activity from February. Retail sales also improved, but not as strongly, and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has disrupted shipments of electronics, autos and auto parts, also affecting sales.

On the construction front, activity remains depressed thanks to weak home sales and a languid commercial real estate market. But home sales are showing signs of picking up, and some builders told the Fed that they are seeing an uptick in remodeling jobs.

Service firms also reported increased business in March, but again, gains are modest. The Beige Book cited one respondent's response as emblematic of the sector: "The cycle has turned up, but our customers are being very cautious about increases in spending."

In sum, the economic recovery continues to gain steam in Greater Philadelphia and its surrounding hinterlands, but not enough steam to produce an explosion in hiring. Job seekers should expect continued stiff competition for available openings in their fields.

Gird yourself for battle. Use the educational and support resources on PhillyJobs.com to maximize your marketability.

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.

Making it - again - in Philly

The latest news from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is hardly a sign that this region is on its way back to becoming "The Workshop of the World" once again, but it is encouraging: the Philly Fed's index of current manufacturing activity in the three-state region covered by the bank rose much more than expected in February, climbing from last month's 19.3 to 35.9, its highest level since January 2004.

It seems that demand for things made in the larger Philadelphia region has picked up dramatically, and manufacturers are reporting more unfilled orders and longer delivery times for finished products.

The upswing in manufacturing activity is bringing with it an upswing in employment as well. According to the Philly Fed, 29 percent of firms surveyed in its territory report increasing employment this month, while only 5 percent report falling employment - the sixth straight month in which manufacturing employment increased in the region.

All this is good news for the region and for the job-seeker. I've long believed that we as a nation cannot have a truly healthy economy without a healthy manufacturing sector; anything else would be trying to grow rich by taking in one another's laundry. A surge in manufacturing, then, is a harbinger of stronger economic growth ahead - and stronger hiring can't be far behind that.

By Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith has been blogging for PhillyJobs.com since 2010. In addition to launching award-winning newspapers and newsletters at the University of Pennsylvania and Widener University, Sandy is a veteran writer whose articles and essays have appeared in several local and regional media outlets, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, and PGN, and on several Web sites. He is also an active participant on several discussion boards, including PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com, where he posts as “MarketStEl.” He has been supporting himself through a combination of freelance and part-time work and unemployment compensation since early 2009 and is himself an active job-seeker. Read more of his posts on PhillyJobsBlog.com and follow him to Beyond.com for more job opportunities.

Making Your Valentine's Day Special When You Are On A Budget

As busy as we all are, finding time to relax and have fun with our partner is certainly difficult. With Valentine's Day on the horizon, everyone is starting to think about romance. The problem is, the whole point of the day has been lost to commercialism. For most people this year, with so many people out of work and looking for jobs, there just isn't a whole lot left in the budget for grand gestures. But, a lack of money shouldn't stop you from making your Valentine's special.

There are many things that you can do for your partner this year that are either free, or inexpensive. Here are a few ideas from 500 Romantic Ideas, that can give you some inspiration for how to make your Valentine's Day one to remember:

• Go to an arcade. They may be a little harder to find, but they are still around. And, for less than the price of dinner, you and your partner can feel like kids battling each other with Dance Dance Revolution or go head-to-head with a racing simulation game.
  
  
• Check out the bowling alley. Bowling is fun and not as expensive as you would think. Check with your local bowling alley to find out times when they offer discounts or other programs.
  
  
• Board games can be fun. Pull out some old board games, light some candles and just enjoy each other. A bottle of wine and a game of Twister can be very romantic.
  
  
• Write messages on their fridge with magnet letters. You can pick up magnetic letters at almost any dollar store, and if you have kids, there is a good chance you already have plenty.
  
  
• Go to the park and play Frisbee or fly a kite. Even if you haven't done it in years, it can be a lot of fun.
  
  
• Make a pizza together from items you bought at the grocery store and watch old movies.
  
  
• Play 20 questions with your partner. A no rules game can lead to a great night of conversation and closeness.
  
  
• Request “your song” from your favorite radio station, ask if they will dedicate it to your sweetie.
  
  
• Rainy-day puddle-jumping can be a blast. Just make sure you both have appropriate footwear.
  
  
• If you are both book lovers, take turns reading short stories or love stories out loud.
  
  
• Volunteer together.
  
  
• Spend the afternoon in a coffee shop that offers live music.
  
  
• Go ice skating or even roller skating.
  
  
• Try networking – Ask your friends for ideas, and they may know of, or have access to, low cost adventures in your area.

Being on a budget doesn't mean that you can't still find a way to romance your partner. With a little bit of creativity and some planning ahead, you can enjoy the day with your Valentine.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobs and Beyond 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. You can read more of her blogs on Phillyjobs blog.