Wednesday, August 10, 2011

how to find a job online

How to Get an Online Jobthumbnail
Get an Online Job
More and more people are looking for ways to provide for their families while staying at home. An online job is the perfect answer, offering freedom and flexibility as well as savings on commuting and the cost of office attire. While online jobs are plentiful, it pays to know where to look and how to avoid the many scams you will encounter.

Difficulty:
Moderate

Instructions

    • 1
      Decide if an online job is right for you. Many people leave their "day jobs" to work at home with the assumption that they're going to become rich. While it is possible to make a living with an online job, you probably won't be rolling in dough. Have a realistic idea of how much money you will need to live on in relation to how much money you will be making. Working at home also requires people to be self-motivated and work unsupervised. Give all these factors thought before deciding that an online job is for you.
    • 2
      Start your search for an online job. Many of the online resources that people use to find traditional jobs like Career Builder or Monster can be used to find online jobs by using the keyword "telecommute." Whenever you come across a telecommuting job that you're interested in, make a note of it and jot down the job's requirements (see Resources below).
    • 3
      Do a little research. There are dozens of scams for every legitimate online job offer you will find. Before making any commitments or paying any money, take some time and investigate what people are saying about the job and company you are considering. The Ripoff Report is a website by consumers and for consumers, and is a great resource to check the validity of your online job opportunities (see Resources below). Keep in mind that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
    • 4
      Update your resume. Once you've weeded through the many schemes and scams to find a real online job that appeals to you, it's time to get ready to apply. Applying for an online job is a lot different than applying for a traditional job. Your interaction with your prospective employer is limited, so you'll be relying a lot more on how you look on paper. Make sure your resume is up-to-date and emphasizes the skills that qualify you for the job you want.
    • 5
      Apply for the job. Make sure to include your resume, a cover letter and samples of your work, if applicable. If your application is accepted, you will be contacted by your new employer. If not, keep trying. There are plenty of available jobs for the hard-working telecommuter.

how to find a job through voulunteer work

How to Find a Job through Volunteer Workthumbnail
Find a Job through Volunteer Work
Finding a job through volunteer work is one of many ways to find a job in a tight market. Full-time jobs, as well as summer and part-time jobs, are harder and harder to find these days. One way of finding employment, and maybe a new career, is to volunteer. This article will discuss the options for volunteer work that may lead to employment.

Difficulty:
Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Access to a computer
  • Time
  • Imagination
  • Willingness to work
    • 1
      How can volunteer work lead to a job? There are many ways. You may be able to turn your volunteer work in to full-time employment with the organization that you are volunteering for. If they see that you are a devoted hard worker, and an opportunity arises, they will think of you first. Let them know your situation and tell them that you ultimately need to find a job so you can support yourself and your family. No hard sell necessary, just do your work. Make yourself indispensable. You may also meet people during your volunteer service who may have jobs available at their companies, or know someone who does. In addition, you are gaining skills, experience, and references that you can add to your resume.
    • 2
      An important point to make from the start is, that although you may be searching for a way to find paying work, you need to commit yourself completely to whatever volunteer opportunity you decide on. This should be a win win situation for both you and the organization that you volunteer for. This is not a path to a job for everyone. In order to do volunteer work, you need to be a person who is tolerant, patient and flexible.
    • 3
      What special skills or abilities do you have, or want to develop? If you are an unemployed professional or skilled laborer, you can use those skills in your volunteer work. You will start looking for charities, or community service organizations, that have special needs for your skill. If, on the other hand, you have very little experience, or want to enter a new career field, you will start looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can get on the job training related to whatever you are passionate about or interested in.
    • 4
      Where can you find these opportunities? They are everywhere. There are probably as many volunteer opportunities as there are minutes in the day. How do you narrow them down to find the right opportunity for you and the organization you are going to volunteer for? First, ask your friends and family if they know of any good opportunities, and think of your church, school or favorite charitable cause. Contact the local United Way or community volunteer clearinghouse to find out what opportunities are available. If you are looking for some life-altering opportunities, and those that might offer tuition assistance or a leg up with future employers, think of AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. Both organizations have fairly strict qualification requirements and require longer term commitments, but you will end up with the significant advantages of on the job training and future hiring preferences by other agencies. In the case of AmeriCorps, they offer a tuition stipend in exchange for your service, and have opportunities located throughout the United States. The Peace Corps is in 74 countries around the world and, after your successful service, you will have hiring and postgraduate advantages because you served. There are many web sites that list volunteer opportunities all around the world, and in your backyard. One site that lists volunteer work, and jobs with nonprofit organizations, is Idealist.org. There are others. I have listed a few contacts in the resources section at the end of this article. Good luck!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

how to find a good quality job

Top Paying Easy Jobsthumbnail
A makeup artist can make big money--after she pays her dues.

It is a widely held dream to find a well-paid job that is also easy. For the most part, this is wishful thinking. However, there are jobs that pay well and are quite enjoyable, which can make performing the work much easier. In many instances, these jobs require talent, training, physical gifts or a combination of all three. For those individuals who have the proper attributes or background, along with a bit of luck, these jobs are entirely attainable.

  1. Jobs That Require Talent

    • Many people dream of writing the Great American Novel or blockbuster nonfiction book. Best-selling book writers can make millions of dollars. Screenwriters for movies and television can also make very high salaries, as can entertainers, especially singers and actors. Television and radio announcers can also earn very lucrative salaries. The work involved with these careers can be quite rewarding and even fun, which can make the effort seem easy. Successful figures in these fields almost always possess some innate talent. In addition, it is often necessary to work or train for years to develop talent to a level that makes it possible to compete with others aspiring to the same careers.

    Jobs With Specific Physical Requirements

    • Athletes, dancers and models can earn very lucrative salaries. The work is often glamorous and enjoyable in addition to being well-paid. Professional athletes must have some level of physical prowess. For example, runners always have strong legs, football players have overall body strength as well as quickness and speed. Basketball players require good eye-hand coordination and a taller-than-average physique. Dancers are required to be flexible, graceful and thinner than average, especially female dancers. Models are also very fit and often quite thin and much taller than average. While it is possible to achieve success in these fields without fitting the physical requirements, it is not very likely.

    Jobs That Require Training or Education

    • Some high-paid jobs that are enjoyable require extensive training or education before it is possible to be hired. Airplane pilots are highly paid, but also highly skilled. Many musicians complete rigorous training in college or in specialized academies before entering the field. Culinary artists, such as chefs and sommeliers, can make excellent salaries, but the training for those fields is demanding. Personal trainers, hairstylists, makeup artists and personal assistants can also make high salaries once they achieve a certain level in their careers. They may obtain training before entering the field, but certainly must work a number of years in the field before hoping to earn high salaries. Editors can also earn good salaries, but it is almost always required that they work up through the ranks and entry-level publishing jobs are very low-paid. In many cases, interns are required to work without pay to gain experience.

    How To Obtain Top Paying Easy Jobs

    • A certain amount of luck is always required to obtain a good job. This is especially the case with glamour jobs such as those described here. Having good contacts and networking is the key to finding these positions, as they are almost never advertised in newspaper advertisements or online job boards. In many cases, it is necessary to begin at a low level and work up the career ladder. Many aspiring actors work as waiters or in similar jobs while waiting for their big break. Writers often have "day jobs" as well.

    Cautions

    • Many people aspire to make a living from "power selling" on sites such as eBay. While it is possible to make a living from doing so, it requires diligent effort to find the right merchandise and sell enough to make a profit. Late-night "infomercials" often feature various pitches for real estate, stock trading and related programs that promise vast wealth for minimal effort. As with "power selling," it is possible to make a lucrative salary from these programs. However, the effort required is almost always much more demanding than the infomercials imply. Most quick-money programs are outright scams. The adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," definitely applies in such cases.

jobs to get that are recession proof

Recession-proof jobs provide services or goods essential to everyday life. They can also protect society from harm. Not every recession-proof job requires candidates to have a college degree. In fact, there are quite a few jobs to get without a degree that are recession-proof. Qualifications vary depending on the job.

  1. Public Relations Specialists

    • With many companies reducing their advertising budgets, public relations specialists have the recession-proof job of promoting company brands. They dispel rumors regarding layoffs, bailouts and bankruptcies. Some companies have in-house public relations teams, while others rely on private outside firms. Public relations specialists arrange speaking engagements, press conferences and fundraising campaigns in addition to working with different media experts. Many public relations specialists have degrees in journalism or public relations, but this is not necessary. In lieu of a degree, candidates with excellent communication skills are also considered for the position. According to PayScale, annual public relations specialist salaries range from $34,661 to $51,917 (as of 2011). CareerBuilder.com predicts industry growth of 18 percent by 2016.

    Police Officers

    • Two factors make law enforcement careers recession-proof. First, police officers are employed by the government, which provides job security. Second, crime will always be an issue, especially during economically unstable times. Police officers must be in good physical condition, display excellent communication skills, have good decision-making abilities and be good listeners. A background in accounting, weapons or foreign languages is also helpful to police officer candidates. PayScale indicates annual police officer salaries range from $35,593 to $61,104 (as of 2011). A degree is not required; however, candidates are encouraged to obtain law enforcement-related education after high school. Smaller police departments accept candidates with high school diplomas. Police officers are in high demand, but positions may be limited due to budget cuts. CareerBuilder.com predicts industry growth of 11 percent by 2016.

    Insurance Sales Agents

    • With so many losing their jobs and health care coverage, insurance sales agents have a recession-proof career. Insurance sales agents typically sell multiple types of insurance including property and casualty, life, health and disability. Agents help potential customers select an insurance policy that fits their needs. Many agents offer clients additional services such as retirement and estate planning. Insurance sales agents must take a series of classes and exams to obtain state licensing. Candidates are not required to have a college degree. PayScale indicates annual insurance sales agent salaries range from $27,066 to $43,448 (as of 2011). CareerBuilder.com predicts industry growth of 13 percent by 2016.

    Fast Food Workers

    • The fast food industry is home to many recession-proof jobs. Fast food workers take customer orders and inform the kitchen of food shortages and special orders. They may also assist in food preparation, serve customers and clean eating and serving areas. College degrees are not required and on-the-job training is provided. PayScale indicates the average fast food worker makes $7.25 to $8.22 per hour (as of 2011). CareerBuilder.com predicts industry growth of 17 percent by 2016.

how to find a job

You may think it's impossible to find a job during a recession--or at least a good one. Not so! By following these tips and focusing your job hunt where it will be most productive--you can find a good job regardless of the economy.

Difficulty:
Moderately Challenging

Instructions



Things You'll Need


  • Computer with Internet
  • Business Cards
  • Resume and Cover Letter
  • Regional Newspapers

    • 1
      Focus on an industry. Obviously, some industries are doing better than others--and growing. Health care, education, government and food services are all great sectors to enter. So what happens if you're in a field like public relations, where things are a bit more bleak? Focus your job hunt on public relations for an educational institution or a hospital. With a little creativity and flexibility you can slant your job hunt where it will be more well-received. Don't dig those fields? Consider something temporary in any field that will hire right now--and remember, it doesn't have to be a long-term thing. If you need a job, you can get one--it just may not be your dream job, but that's OK for now.
    • 2
      Rebrand yourself. Jot down some of your best skills and areas in which you are best skilled. Think of a new slant to market yourself. For example, do you have a technical background, but a passion for all things creative? Consider blending the two. I have a degree in science, yet an aptitude for writing, so I market myself towards technical companies that may have personnel smarter at collecting data than reporting on it. Being that I know the industry, but focus on communications, I can pick up where their crews leave off--and that works for me. Figure out what slant works for you. And remember, you can have more than one slant if you're looking at multiple jobs in various industries.
    • 3
      Try every avenue. Don't rely solely on the want ads in your local paper. Expand your job search to include online job boards, head hunters and old connections. You'd be surprised how accomplished and optimistic you'll feel about your job hunt knowing that you're covering all avenues. Here's where it's useful to pull out old business cards or revisit your networking group--you never know when the connection you need will pop up.
    • 4
      Go out of your comfort zone. In these tough times, a job is a job. So if you can find a decent one that offers at least some of what you need, take it. Remember that no job is forever and you can always get something better when the economy rebounds--because it will. This is only temporary--and not every company is about to file for Chapter 11. In fact, many are weathering the storm just fine.

Tips & Warnings

  • Stay on top of the news. Companies that are laying off workers may need some specialized workers, but your employment odds are better at companies that have not grabbed media attention for layoffs, financial woes or sales declines.
  • Tailor your marketing collateral. Slant each cover letter towards the job you want and make sure that the documents are error-free.