Robert's Careers

Working From Home

2009-10-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Working from home.....the dream of so many people. Imagine getting up in the morning and going to the office in your jammies.....a cup of steaming coffee in hand, smiling at your family as they head off to fight the traffic and weather making their way to school or office jobs....But not you, you work from home, making a living in your living room. It's fabulous isn't it ?

Or is it? There are seemingly lots of possibilities for people to work from home, the internet is full of ads suggesting you can earn a living from home with nothing but a computer, doing surveys for example, or maybe writing a blog, or day-trading penny stocks, selling something, maybe working for a call centre, in your own little home work cubicle. No co-workers, no lunch dates at the restaurant, no inter-office affairs, no gossip, no official break times or lunch. Like I said, "Living the dream"

There are opportunities to work from home, but they take some research and some serious soul searching on your behalf. Are you driven enough to work without a supervisor keeping an eye on you? Can you work independently, without having to ask a lot of questions. Can you afford to work at a job where the paycheck may vary, up and down, depending on the work you do, what you sell or produce. Are you willing to work long into the night to get things finished so you get paid?

Doing surveys.....sounds simple right? Except, most of these survey companies want to pay you in 'points' which you can later redeem for products if you get enough....doesn't pay the power bills.
Writing blogs, and collecting on ad revenue or affilliate sales. Do you know how few people actually make a living from blogging? Don't believe all the hype, it isn't easy money.
Stuffing envelopes....I've known more folks who have gotten into envelope stuffing programs, and find themselves swamped with things to mail, and having to stuff until their arms fall off to make any kind of money, and even that isn't much....it ain't easy.

Sure, there are people, and there are programs that can help you earn a living from the comfort of home. There are jobs where home is your office, perhaps selling something like insurance or real estate, but you do have to go out occasionally, and you do need certifications and you also need to have an ability to meet people and sell them something, both tasks that people who like the idea of working from home, usually don't like....let's face it, one of the reasons why working from home appeals is because you are somewhat of an introvert, and don't really want to be bothered with people.

All I'm saying is that if you are thinking about a career working from home, think it through. There are some programs that can be lucrative, although care needs to be taken before you sign up for anything, and don't go paying the company....remember, they are supposed to pay you.

There are some useful reports you can purchase to give you a background in ways to make money from home, such as Doing Surveys and Making Money From Clickbank and Legitimate Online Jobs

There are others too, such as making money through affiliate sales, The Super Affilate and Sources for Flexible Jobs and a Work From Home Job bank

If you like photography, you might find this site will show you how to make money from home with your camera

There you go, some thoughts about working from home, and some programs that might help you if you decide the work from home life is for you!

Part-Time Jobs

2009-08-31T14:24:00.001-07:00

You know what really sucks in the job market these days? Part-time jobs! While I see the need for parttime work for some folks like students, retirees and others looking to supplement their incomes, I don't agree with the current move among companies, particularly bigger retail companies, to hire only part-time staff.

Companies like big grocery store chains who want us to believe they are great corporate entities, who do the right thing for their communities and society, are hiring part time staff to replace full time workers on a regular basis. These companies have almost no full time staff other than management type positions. The rest, the folks in the trenches, cashiers, inventory personnel are being hired as part-time staff so the company, that corporate superstar, doesn't have to pay benefits like sick leave or medical/drug plans.

It's a beautiful plan, two staff for the price of one, keep their hours low, and avoid paying benefits. These are typically not high paying jobs, and granted, they are suitable for some folks, but there are many people who need a full time job, 40 hours a week, and preferably in one place. They are being forced to work two or sometimes even three jobs to make ends meet, and get enough hours for a week's pay. I don't agree with this at all. Companies, large department stores, large grocery stores, many of whom are important entities in the communities where they are located, are not being corporately responsible when they hire mostly part-time workers. They are being fiscally responsible to their shareholder which is arguably what they need to be, but I believe these companies should have to demonstrate some social responsibility as well. The ratio of part-time to permanent full-time workers should be at least 50-50.

When I was starting out in the work world, I worked for a retail store who had more full time staff than part time staff. The parttimers were used to supplement the workforce, allow some of the full time staff to get a night off, or perhaps a two day weekend occasionally. Now, those types of jobs are almost non-existant, and the store I worked for would have to do some searching to find a full timer on the sales floor.

It doesn't look like it will be changing anytime soon either, as more and more retailers turn to part time staffing models, citing all kinds of reasons, but meaning the bottom line is all that really matters.

Some folks like part-time work, and to be fair, I am not suggesting that it should go away completely, but there should be options, and there should be some full time jobs for qualified people who want them. Part timers exhibit much less loyalty to their brand, or store, and often work in more than one retail location on a daily basis. That means they are ready to jumb ship as soon as full-time employment comes along, often leaving the company on short notice. After all, they only put in what they can expect to get back, and if your family comes first, and for most it does, part-time work is not enough.

Is it time for governments to step in and legislate some requirements for these places, especially the larger square footage stores, like the big box stores, and the large mega grocery stores who are turning huge profits for their owners?

The free enterprise entrepreneur in me says no, but the socially responsible person in side of me says yes....what about you?

Recession Proof Jobs

2009-07-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

Choosing a career is never easy. It gets even more difficult with hard economic times and recessions, which tend to reduce the job opportunites and career choices. Let's face it, as times get hard, jobs and careers get harder to find and then if you do find one, the competition is often fierce for very few positions.

However, despite the recession and the loss of jobs, as companies lose money and shut their doors or lay off workers, there are some jobs that are growing and experts predict will continue to grow in the future. These are jobs in nursing, science and engineering, accounting, security, and the skilled trades, of which there are many different jobs and career choices. I'm sure there are more, if a person gets creative and puts some thought into it as they look for a new career.

Look around, what places are busy, where are things booming, what do your friends who have jobs do? By careful observation of your local surroundings you can probably get an idea of what career fields are needed and will continue to be needed into the next decade.

That means that job seekers and persons thinking about a mid life career change, or those who are forced into a career change would do well to look to some of the employment fields mentioned as opportunities to find meaningful employment as they go through the career planning process.

But don't take my word for it, instead, find out more about each of the above career choices at Recession Proof Jobs

What Job Is On The Rise?

2009-07-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

What do Barrick Gold Corp and Kinross Gold Corp have in common? Well according to an MSN report they are both gold mining companies and their business is booming! That means jobs as gold miners and related occupations are booming too. Unlike jobs in other resource sectors that have cooled a bit during the current recession, the price of gold has risen as well as the demand, resulting in jobs for those who are interested.

There is actually a mining school in Haileybury, Ontario that has a mining engineering technician program that is designed to help students learn the mining business and find jobs from entry level to management. The school is called the Haileybury School of Mining and you can find out about it Here

Career Development Practitioners

2009-07-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

These days careers are hard to come by....and a career change even harder. That is unless you get smart about it and do what thousands of others are doing, which is taking their career planning process seriously.

So how do you do that How do you get a new career or a career change? I think career planning has become a skill unto itself, and like a lot of skills, you need specific training or career coaching. These days even the top executives in high ranking positions obtain the services of a company that offers career development services, these companies specialize in helping you get a new career, develop career life skills and more. They have trained staff, who are called career development practitioners, which is another name for career counsellors.

Career practitioners specialize in helping you develop the skills to get the job you want, keep it and get promoted. They can help with a mid life career change, or a first time, new career. They offer career courses, career counselling and other services like career tests or career aptitude tests. These tests help you determine where your interests are, and help you decide what you might like to do for a new career. Often the counsellors are psychologists and the like, having very well developed people skills and know what it takes to make you the best person for the job any job. Ask any top executive these days, and chances are, they have a career practitioner somewhere helping them out.

It's worth thinking about. You can find them in your phone book under career coaches, career counsellors, career development practitioners.

What To Do If You Get Laid Off

2009-03-14T03:10:00.000-07:00

Employment is getting tough, tougher than normal as the economy, the world economy really, takes a nose dive, thanks to a multitude of factors, not the least of which is probably inept world leaders...but I am digressing.

These days everyone knows at least one person who has been recently laid off from their job, in my case it's my neighbor, a computer programmer with over 20 years service to the company that just let him go. It's proof positive that no job is secure in these troubling financial times.

Some sectors are somewhat insulated from the downturn, but only just, things like healthcare, law enforcement, bankruptcy consultants, most government positions, tend to ride out recessions a little easier than businesses with consumer focused products and manufacturers, factories that are dependent on a booming economy for success.

If you are laid off or about to be laid off, these sites have some good advice about what to do first and after Here and Here and Here

Photography as a Booming Profession

2008-11-22T18:44:00.000-08:00

Photography as a Booming Profession
by Andrew Chan
To click pictures and save them as memories of the past requires lots of skill and creativity. Photography is raising profession in today's world. Where youngsters opt for engineering, medical and other career sides, craze for photography was rare but it is increasing. Now people have less time to spend with their families so they leave no option for enjoying together. In order to save all the wonderful memories on several social and personal occasion photographers are needed.
At the same time, people interests towards wildlife and nature has increased the demand of natural photographers and wildlife photographers, fashion photography is also in extreme demand. Ambitious guys and girls looking for a career in fashion and modeling world search for expert photographer for help in making a powerful portfolio.

With increase in style and trend in fashion, fashion photography is also holding its grip. All wants to once appear in page three journals it also gives time for photography. It is the face that all wants to be recognized by entire world. What they need is the idea and art of clicking photos. There are other popular shades of photography too, wedding photography, baby photography, animal, landscape, natural and manmade disasters photographs.

So many things are happening together in this entire world, which need to be captures from an expert photographers view. To become a good photographer, one can first work with professional photographs and learn the basics in the art of photography. Photography does not require big shop. One nice, feature rich camera with small dark room can be sufficient. What requires is the zeal and patience for working. Photography is an art of creativity. Once the functions are learnt properly then there is no looking back. It is an independent profession, which gives ample time to the photographers to show their talents.

Though photographic instruments are quite expensive but with latest technologies you can change the world. You need to incorporate the skills learnt from seniors, your creativity, and computer skills together to get the best output. No matter, how old you are in this field, very soon you will see yourself picking up the things in this competitive profession. Photography helps in knowing and seeing the world from one's own eye sometimes through the eyes of others. With all this photography is the booming profession of today.

To read more of Andrew's photography career info, see 1st Journal
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Accounting Jobs Are The Thing To Do!

2008-11-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

Accounting jobs are not for everyone, least of all me. I cannot imagine spending a day "crunching numbers" as the expression goes, but...on the other hand, I know that accounting careers can be lucartive and exciting to anyone who has a head for numbers, detail and problem solving. It can also be important for anyone running a business, large or small, to understand something about how accounting works, even in it's most basic form. Accountant careers are usually inside, dry, warm and comfortable, sitting at a desk or workstation, working on a pc, often using specific programs. Accountants often rise to high positions withing companies and organizations, although they tend to be somewhat risk adverse, which may not make them suitable for entrepreurial jobs.

In this article by Chewy Ine, you will get a better understanding about accounting as a job, or accounting as a career.

The Accounting Jobs Are The Thing To Do! By Chewy Ine

If you have a passion for numbers, a keen sense for business, does the word "Accounting" strike you as interesting? This might be the job career for you. Henry Cisneros, the former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development stated, "there is a golden rule in this country: Whoever has the gold control the rules."

Princeton Review lists Business Administration and Management as the number 1 top college major. This major offers training Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Economics, Human Resources, and decision-making. Hopefully after you graduate or during your schooling you will be able to learn how to budge, hire, plan, direct, control and manage organizations. Want more money? Then upgrade yourself to an MBA, which will further your career growth. Although it will take a bit of time to obtain your credentials, however in the long run it will be well worth it.

So you say Accounting is boring! Are you kidding me! Have you watched the ever so watched THE SOPRANO'S? A bit scary however, you have to admit, that accountant is living on the edge. With the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOA) in 2002, (which is the act that holds CEO's and CFO's responsible for any errors made in the financial statements) this has definitely raised the demand and interest for Accountants. Accounting has become the center of small businesses with less than 500 employees. Now how's that! You are the center of attention!

Globalization of businesses has strengthened the need for more broadly educated accountants, as well as the proliferation of services offered by accounting firms, such as tax advice, management consulting, compensation surveys and many more services. Now that computers handle the bulk of the (as Wall Street infamously calls it) "bean counting" functions of Accounting, professionals spend more time working on in-depth analysis and again serving major role in decision making.

Accounting can be divided into four major categories (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor):

Auditors and Internal Auditors (N/A no updated information has been given)

Government Accountants Salary is so varied, however the average starting salary now would be anywhere between $36,000 and $50,000.

Management Accountants The average starting salary for a management accountant is between $40,000 and $55,000.

Public Accountants The salary range for an associate accountant is $32,000 - $45,000; for a senior public accountant it's between $48,000-$55,000; and a manager averages anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000.

Within these categories are great deals of fields for accountants to get into. Although the competition is still holding high there will be no shortage of these positions. So Again is Accounting boring and dull? Nonsense. If money is attractive to you, then Accounting just might be your playmate.

About the AuthorChewy Ine is a Business Entrepreneur holding an MA in Mass Communication. Her writing provides valuable tips and information for those that are interested in "Bonafide" Telecommuting and Home Based Employment Info & Tips along with Career Guidance Opportunities". For more information please visit Jobs In Clerical and Jobs In Clerical Spaces

Boost Job Search Success with Strategic Self-Marketing

2008-11-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

If you are having trouble to find a job or career, the problem may be your strategy. Yes, like everything these days, including finding a job, you need a strategic plan. All that really is consists of a plan of action, documenting how you will approach your job search. It might sound kind of fluffy, but it will work, and in many cases, make the difference between finding a job or not finding a job. In the following article, written by Author and Job Search Coach, Roxanne Ravenel you will learn about a strategic self-marketing plan. Because that is what you are doing, marketing yourself.

Boost Job Search Success with a Strategic Self-Marketing PLanAbstract: How are you faring in your current job search? If you're not getting the results you'd like, it's time to boost your job search success by getting off of the path of least resistance and employing a strategic self-marketing plan.

The rules of the job search have changed considerably in recent years. It's not enough to be the most qualified candidate for the job. Successful job candidates understand that in addition to "having the goods," they need to know their "buyer," and how to sell to them. Think it sounds crass to compare a job candidate's skills and experience to consumer goods? It isn't. Rather, it accurately reflects the reality of the current job market.

Positioning Yourself to Get Noticed in a Crowded Job Market

The current job market is far more favorable for employers than it is for the average job hunter. An employer may receive hundreds of resumes in response to a single ad. The employer can then cherry-pick applicants with the experience, education, and skills they are seeking. So, how will you get noticed in a crowded job market? A strategic self-marketing plan will position you to get maximum exposure and boost your job search success, even in a highly-competitive job market.

Think about the last time that you walked into a grocery store. The top name brands with big budgets occupy the shelves at eye-level. The store brand sits right next to them with labels that proclaim that they are comparable to your favorite brand. On the lower levels you'll find the bargain brands. Which are you?

The top brand that commands top dollar?
The generic store brand that promises to do everything the top brand does, but for a lot less?
Or, the unknown, discount brand that easily goes unnoticed?

Before you respond, consider the quality of your current marketing efforts in your job search and how you are presenting yourself to potential employers in your resume and during interviews. A well-constructed, well-executed plan will position you to get noticed by potential employers, much like those national brands which occupy an optimal position on the shelf at the grocery store. Your strategic self-marketing plan should take into account all aspects of your job search - from the strategies used to the information included in your cover letter, resume, and other job search marketing documents. Taking a proactive approach to your job search can help you avoid many of the pitfalls that job seekers encounter:

A prolonged job search - now averaging more than four months.
The frustration of pouring endless hours into minimally effective job search methods.
Time wasted pursuing jobs that aren't a good fit.
An aimless job search that yields minimal results.

Job hunters typically favor the path of least resistance. Countless hours surfing online job boards and replying to newspaper ads coupled with the occasional job fair is a common theme for many of the frustrated job hunters I encounter. Unfortunately, these preferred job search methods are not the way that employers prefer to hire. Employers prefer to find new employees much the same way that we, as consumers, would look for a plumber, dentist, real estate agent, or hair stylist: through referrals.

A successful strategic self-marketing plan will take into consideration how employers prefer to hire; your unique career profile; your industry; and your personal situation. It will typically employ a mix of job search strategies rather than rely solely on a single method. This mix should allow you to tap into both the published and unpublished job market - where the vast majority of available jobs can be found.

Tapping into the Unpublished Job Market

'But how am I supposed to apply for these jobs if they aren't published?'

Fair question. You'll need to tap into your current network and work to expand that network. It requires diligence and a willingness to put yourself out there. Many job seekers quickly rule out networking because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Reliance upon others makes us feel vulnerable. Then, there is the fear of rejection. So, why should we step outside of our comfort zones and engage in networking? Because some figures put the percentage of jobs that get filled without ever being published as high as 80%.

Hiring a new employee represents a substantial investment for an employer. The employer wants some assurance that their investment will be well spent. Hiring through networking and referrals also yields a higher quality job candidate. Since employers prefer hiring through networking and referrals, it is important that job seekers integrate networking into their strategic self-marketing plans.

It is just as important to build a strong personal brand. Your personal brand is a consistent image that is distinctly you. It creates your perceived value and distinguishes you from your competitors. Whether youâ€™ve consciously created a personal brand or not, you already have one. It is basically your reputation with co-workers, bosses, teachers, clients, etc. Work to build a consistent professional image that is authentically you and will attract potential employers.

Thoughtful networking and the ongoing process of building a strong personal brand can significantly boost your job search success. Networking and personal branding can:

Catapult you to the status of the name brand items that first come to mind when we have a headache, get a cold, or are in need of new sneakers.
Make potential employers aware of you and want to work with you.
Put you on the short list for jobs before they become available.
Boost your job search success by creating a strategic self-marketing plan that incorporates a strong personal brand and a strategic self-marketing plan. To learn more about creating your strategic self-marketing plan, visit SavvyJobseeker.com and download an excerpt of The Savvy Jobseeker's Guide & Workbook: Five Steps to a Simply Successful Job Search.

About the Author
Resource Box: Roxanne Ravenel is a Job Search Coach; the author of The Savvy Jobseeker's Guide & Workbook: Five Steps to a Simply Successful Job Search; and the host of The Savvy Jobseeker weekly podcast. Visit SavvyJobseeker.com for tips on getting better, faster results in your job search.

What To Do If You Are Laid Off

2008-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

It seems like we are moving into troubled times in economic terms, and that can mean searching for a career, or even a job can be more difficul than ever. It can also mean losing your job, layoffs will become more common as companies cut resources to try and stay solvent during tough times. I was going to write a post about what to do if you are laid off from your job, but have found one much better than I could write. This is from Lou Clark, a Career and Interview Coach and founder of Être Coaching based in NYC. Lou has some very useful advice for someone who has recently been laid off. So without further adieu:

Been Laid Off? What Now? by Lou Clark
In this economy I am sure everyone knows someone who has been laid off as organizations downsize, close down or re-organize. Not everyone will react to being laid off in the same way with some seeing this as a blessing in disguise and others suffering from a crisis of confidence. Whatever the comfort level there are a number of recommended steps to take to regain control and confidence and develop successful job search strategies.
Step 1

Take 2/3 days off. This may sound strange as all you think you should be doing is getting out there and finding reassurance that you have work but what you actually need is time to refuel and re-energize and get yourself back on track. Searching for a new position or career can be an emotionally and physically challenging time so take time out to be prepared.

Step 2

Check in with your confidence levels. Being laid off can be a blow to your self confidence even if you know that it wasn't personal. Even if this isn't immediately obvious, low self confidence can affect the quality of your resume, your ability to deliver a good interview and ultimately your success in the job market. I recommend using a simple resume review technique to test your personal and professional confidence levels.

Exercise - Read through your resume and write out 2 or 3 success stories for each position you have held. Make sure your success stories include the challenge or problem you faced, the actions that you took, the results / successes that you had and finally note the skills and strengths that these success stories show that you have.

How easy did you find this? If this was more difficult than you thought then seek out a friend, mentor or professional career coach to brainstorm with you to identify your key success stories.

Step 3

Clarify your next steps, set a realistic timeline (e.g. how long will for finances support you out of work) and finally be realistic in your choice of next steps. Easy? I didn't think so!

When you have been laid you really have 3 main paths to take -

A - Stay in the same industry doing the same job B - Stay in the same industry doing a different job C - Do something completely new and different

Whatever decision you make you will need to check in to review how realistic that option is. For example, if you worked as a Trader for Bear Sterns and wanted to do the same job in the same industry I would recommend doing some research into how realistic it would be to get a trading position within your required timeline. Or another example, you worked as a Trader for Bear Sterns and now want to set up your own business as a plumber - you again would need to review how realistic this is. What resources, training, funding would you need? How soon can you be working and does this fit my timeline? Be realistic.

If this process becomes overwhelming then contact a qualified career coach to help you sift through your thoughts and brainstorm about the next steps.

Step 4

Now you have assessed your decision, know your timeline for success and feel confident you are on a realistic path toward your ideal professional life, you need to set an action plan and stick to it! Here are 7 questions to get you started.

• What marketing materials do you need? (resume, website, biography?)

• Who do you know who you need to re-connect and network with? (old school friends, teachers, bosses, former colleagues)

• Who do you not know who you want to connect or network with? (review linked-in and identify companies to want to work for or businesses you want to align with)

• Who is doing what you do and how did they get into it? (competitors)

• What resources are available to help you? (recruiters, networking companies)

• What obstacles do you see might get in your way and how can you plan ways to overcome them now? (time, family pressures, job market)

• How will you know you have been successful? (I will have a job, I will have met 20 new people)

If this process becomes overwhelming then contact a qualified career coach to help you sift through your thoughts and brainstorm about the next steps.

About the AuthorLou Clark is a Career and Interview Coach and founder of Être Coaching based in NYC. With a successful background in Human Resource Management, formal coach training & accreditation with the ICF, Lou is experienced in providing interview, resume and career coaching. Visit Etre Coaching!

How To Land Computer Programmer Jobs by Taranjit Singh

2008-11-22T07:20:00.000-08:00

If you work in the computer programming field, you know that competition for jobs can sometimes be fierce. It can be hard looking for your dream job knowing that many other applicants are looking for the same thing. However, doing a few simple things can dramatically increase your chances of getting the computer programmer job that you want.
Upgrade your education

If it has been a while since you graduated from your degree program in computer science, it may be time to take a refresher course or two. Many employers are looking for programmers who are proficient in new programming tools such as Java and C++. If you don't have solid training in tools such as these, now may be the time to get some training.

You may also wish to get certified in a new computer programming language. This demonstrates to employers that you are competent in a language, and can give you an advantage over the competition. Check into certification if you haven't done so recently.

Another way to boost your chances of being hired is to take courses in business. These types of courses help you learn how to work directly with customers and can be very beneficial if you are looking to land a management position in computer programming.

Clean up your resume and cover letter

When is the last time you looked at your resume? Now is the time to make sure your resume has been updated with your most recent work experience and add any new programming languages and tools that you are proficient in. If your resume looks dated, take time to update the look and feel of your resume. Have someone else look it over as well and get good feedback on your resume.

A good cover letter is also essential to getting computer programmer jobs. Make sure to customize your cover letter to each specific job you apply to. Your cover letter should highlight your relevant experience and training.

Be proactive

It is vital to be proactive in today's market. Don't wait for job opportunities to come to you. Seek them out. Be bold and don't be shy about letting potential employers know why they should hire you.

Job seeking can be tough and discouraging, but it doesn't have to be. You can beat out the competition by following the above tips for making yourself stand out. Potential employers will see your outstanding training and skills and it won't be long before you are working in the job of your dreams.

Those look for computer programmer jobs or other careers else in the IT field need to visit Smart Jobs 4 Me Visit now before someone else nabs your dream job!

This article was written by:
Taranjit Singh

Start A Cleaning Business

2008-11-21T20:09:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a career where you can work for yourself, own your own business and not have to get up early every morning and go to work? Or perhaps you are looking for a part-time business that you can run from your own home, make money and gain some financial independence. Well, starting your own business takes a good deal of work, and usually a fair investment of capital to get started. That may not be necessary with some home business opportunities, like an office cleaning business.

Office cleaning is one of the last business opportunities that you can start with little upfront money, and do while you keep your day job. There are several ways to get into a cleaning business, not the least of which is purchasing a franchise from someone like Jani-King. They offer a pretty decent affiliate package, training, and will even get you some work, usually enough to earn back what you paid for the franchise. Hard to beat a deal like that. I personally know a couple of fellows who have a Jani-King franchise and they are doing well.

But starting a cleaning business doesn't necessarily require you to buy into an existing franchise business. You can start your own and still do very well. Of course to be successful there are some things you need to know. They aren't rocket science, but knowing them can be the difference between owing a successful money making business, and not....

If you are thinking about getting a cleaning business started, I would like to recommend to you two e-books that you will find very helpful. In fact, these books are really mini-affiliate training courses, designed to help you achieve success in the office cleaning business.

The first, Starting A Cleaning Business Start Up Guide Kit will set you back about $30 and it might turn out to be the best $30 you ever spent. This kit will take you from the beginning, deciding on a name to providing you the forms you will need, as well as a great deal of information written to help you succeed.

The second, is also an excellent resource, and it too will help you become a success in your small business. It's chock full of info and covers topics like starting your own house cleaing biz, as well as office cleaning, carpet cleaning and window cleaning. Like the above e-book Start A Cleaning Business will get you going and well on your way to running your own successful cleaning business.

I personally believe either one of these e-books is worth what it costs to download one. You will learn so much, including what you really need to know to be successful in your own business.

Order yours today and get started:

1.Cleaning Business Start Up Guide Kit
2. Start A Cleaning Business

i can't say enough about these books and the valuable information you will learn.

Secrets To A Successful Job Interview

2008-11-05T17:18:00.001-08:00

There are three keys to being successful in a job interview, research, research, research.....OK that's really only one thing, but it should be three things.

The first research is to find a job that you are qualified for. There is not much chance of you winning a job interview if you aren't qualifed for the position. In fact, without the necessary qualifications, it's unlikely you will even get an interview, let alone win it. That means you need to read the job postings carefully, find out what the qualifications required are, and see if they match your existing qualifications. Do you have the education, training, physical ability, apprenticeship requirements etc. These are almost always in the body of the job listing, telling prospective applicants what is needed for the position.

The second research is the about the actual job, and the company or organization where the employment is located. Call ahead and ask the company HR department if there is a written job description you could have a copy of. If not, prepare a list of questions and ask to speak to someone who can give you a little information about the position. Find out as much as you can without being a nuisance. If it is a company that is open to the public, like a store, or government office, go there and have a look around. Familiarze yourself with the layout, the products, the staff, paying attention to their ages, sex, and dress attire. Are they dressed casually or business casual, or more formally? Are their any brochures or catalogs that you can have? This stuff is gold. Check out the outside of the building, parking facilities, bus routes etc. In other words, become somewhat of an 'expert' on the company and it's facilities. But you're not finished. Most companies have websites these days. Find theirs and read it, carefully, making notes of things like the company mission statement, type of business, names of the management team etc. Now have a look for other companies in the same area that are in the same business. For two reasons, one, you want to know a little about their competition for the interview incase an opportunity presents itself for you to mention it, and two, you never know, the competition might be hiring too....

The third research is the perhaps the easiest. Research yourself, take the information you now have about the company, it's business, it's competitors, staff, hours of operation etc and try to decide if you will be a good fit for the company, and if it will be a good fit for you. This is particularly useful for the interview, when you can bring out some of the points you have discovered about yourself. Some research into yourself compared with the company requirements etc, will make it much easier for you to answer job interview questions intelligently, and with an air of knowing what it is you can offer as well as what they offer you.

There you go...three keys to a successful job interview.....

Do You Need A Job or Want A Career?

2008-11-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

If you are a young person considering your career options, wondering what to do with the rest of your life in terms of finding employment, you need to consider if you are looking for a job or a career. There is a difference. Jobs are generally viewed as short term things, something that you decide to do to make money, perhaps tide you over until something else comes along.

The problem is, sometimes jobs can become careers. Now that is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be. Many people find themselves in a job turned career only because they become complacent and don't try hard to find another job, or finding a career doing something they really enjoy. But what can happen in these jobs-turned-careers situations, is that you find yourself in a "career" that you don't like, but often when it is more difficult to get out of it. Life goes on, and it doesn't take much to find yourself with financial commitments like a car loan, rent, etc, or personal commitments like a spouse and even children. That's when you realize that getting out of the career you have fallen into, is going to be much more difficult than you anticipated. You may not be financially able to quit working and go back to school or not willing to take a risk and leave a sure thing for something new.

So it's important, particularly when you are starting out, to explore all your career options, look carefully at what you might like to do, what skills you need to develop, education requirements etc. Move around some when you are younger, try working for different companies or in different industries if possible. Consider where you see yourself in 5-10-20 years, is it doable? Is it even feasible?

You can stay in a company 40 years trying to become a "whatever," and never get there if "whatevers" need some kind of professional designation you don't have...for example, you might get a job as a helper for a construction company, but you will never become a plumber for that company unless you get the training and the trade designation. It's a little harder to go for that when you are 45 years old with commitments.

Consider carefully, are you looking for a job? Or are you looking for a career? What are the opportunities for advancement? Do you want advancement, or would you be happier to work in a good paying job with less responsibility. Do you have a talent that you need to exploit to get the job satisfaction you need to work for the next 30or 40 years?

Remember, jobs are and should be considered shorter term opportunities, careers are for the longer term. Make sure you pick one you like.....

Job Interview Answers

2008-09-15T04:04:00.001-07:00

So you found your dream job, applied and now you've got an interview scheduled. What next? Well, smart job seekers do their homework and prepare for the interview. If you are new to the workforce, or re-entering after a long absence, you are going to be surprised if you are not prepared.

Job interviews are tougher these days, mainly because the compeition for jobs is so intense. The questions have changed somewhat over the years, and if you don't arrive prepared, you might be caught with your pants down, unable to answer the questions.

That why you need to prepare. One of the best ways is to read a book like this e-book, Job Interview Answers - Click Here! Written by a guy who really knows this stuff, Bob Firestone, he'll guide you through the best answers and in addition, he'll teach you what not to ask yourself, which is very important. Interviewers often base their scoring on the questions you ask during the interview.

You can download this book and be reading it in minutes, which is important if your interview is scheduled soon. I'm a believer in preparing. You'll learn how to answer some of the trickier job interview questions, especially behavioral questions which can fool you.

In my years as an job interviewer, I have seen so many applicants fall flat trying to think of answers to behavorial questions, and not being able to come up with anything close to a good response. With Job Interview Answers you will have great answers ready before you go into the interview, and feel confident and prepared, which will make all the difference in the world.

Job Interview Answers was updated in September 2008, so don't worry, it's current information, with the questions interviewers are asking now. Dowload your copy of Job Interview Answers by Bob Firestone click here!

Amazon Prime

2008-08-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

I like to promote some Amazon products on Robert's Careers. In fact, over the last year, I have become convinced that Amazon is one of the best shopping experiences that the internet has to offer. There is almost nothing you cannot find on Amazon...they have it all.

Of course, one of the things to consider with any online purchase are the shipping charges that apply to whatever product you order. Well, those charges can be significantly reduced and eliminated if you sign up for Amazon Prime! This is a fantastic offer from Amazon.com that gives members unlimited free two-day shipping on millions of eligible items. What's even better, all new members are being offered a free trial to give you a chance to experience the convenience of shopping with Amazon Prime. The free trial lasts for one month, you get the entire benefits of Amazon Prime free for one month - no charge.

So what are the benefits of joining Amazon Prime? Well, for starters, it's fast delivery, and there is free two-day shipping on millions of items and you can upgrade to one-day overnight shipping for the low price of just $3.99 an item.
There is no minimum purchase required and you have members only 1-click buttons on product pages.

But wait...there's more...members can share benefits with up to four family members living in the same household. That is a great deal.

So here is the deal, you can try Amazon Prime free for one month. After the free trial period you will be automatically charged a $79.00 annual fee unless you choose not to upgrade to a regular membership at or before the end of the free trial period.

Why not signup for the free trial now, just Click Here for Amazon Prime You've got nothing to lose!

Careers With Benefits

2008-06-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

When you are considering a new career or job offer, it's easy to get caught up in the salary, and to some extent the type of work. However, a lot of job seekers overlook the benefits package or lack of one, and that can be a mistake. It's particularly easy to ignore the lack of a benefit package if the job pays well, or more than similar jobs in the same industry. It's also something that doesn't necessarily mean much if you intend to stay in a job for a short time.

When I refer to benefits I am talking about the extras, anything but the salary and bonuses. Benefits mean things like health and dental insurance, vacation time, hours of work, retirement or savings plans, stock sharing, company cars, paid vacations, travel allowances etc.

Depending on the job and the offer, you need to take these things into consideration.One of the best ways to do that is to translate it into dollars, figure out what it would cost you without the benefit. Health plans for example, sure you are healthy right now, but what if you get sick sometime later in life. A health plan can mean the difference between surviving when you are unable to work, and being on social assistance. For example, one of my daughters and I both have a medical condition that requires two kinds of daily medicine. The medicine costs about $60 a month for each one. That means that if I didn't have a plan, I would be out about $240 a month, with it, I am in about $220 a month. (I have to pay a small percentage of each prescription.)

It's the same with pension plans etc, if your employer is making contributions to a pension plan on your behalf, it may not seem like much when you are 23 years old, but when you are 53 years old and you realize you can retire and live quite well on your pension, well...that means a lot, trust me. I'm close to that age now and if I didn't have the penison plan I have, I would be working well beyond age 53.

Depending on the job, a car or car allowance can mean a lot. If you have to use your car for business, you either need to be making a hell of a lot of money, or you need a company car, otherwise, it's like losing a big percentage of your salary to repairs, fuel, tires, insurance, and today with the price of gasoline...well....it's worth a small fortune.

Of course, if you are a student, or working in a job with a set ending in sight, you may not be too worried about benefits, especially if you are young, and know you will not be staying in that line of work, maybe you can negotiate for a bigger salary and no benefits, but be careful of that. Sometimes short term jobs become long term careers and you don't want to end up closing in on retirement age without a pension plan and a health plan for you and your family.

If you do take a job without benefits there are a couple of things you need to do. One is talk to an investment counsellor and get yourself a private pension/savings plan that you pay into each month as soon as you start working. In fact, I recommend you do that even if your job does have a pension plan. The other thing you need to do is sign up for a private health and drug plan. Hospitals and medicines are very expensive, and if you come down with something serious, and I hope you don't, you will be glad to have a health plan. Imagine my bank account if I had to pay the $240 a month for my prescriptions and my daughter's....

As far as vacations and time off is concerned, you want paid sick leave and decent vacation time. You work hard for your money and a vacation every year is important. I don't know how people do it that end up in jobs that either don't offer vacation, or only give their employees two weeks off a year. That's better than nothing, but these days, I suggest you don't settle for anything less than three weeks paid vacation a year to start, increasing after a set number of years etc.

Careers with benefits....something to consider.....

Home and Building Supply Sales

2008-06-13T02:12:00.000-07:00

The retail home and garden business is booming these days. Stores like Home Depot are busy, and busy stores need staff to run them. That's where people who have an interest in building supplies come in to action.

These are retail jobs, but they are typically much better paying than a run of the mill retail job because you need specialized knowledge to work in this field. Many of the building supply stores only hire skilled tradespeople to work on the retail level selling to customers. That's because you need to know something about the products you are selling as many of the do it yourself customers rely on you for information.

These stores make good places for retired trades people, like plumbers, electricians, carpenters to work. They also hire people who have taken a course in home renovation / building supply business and there are trade schools and some universities that offer this type of specialized training.

You have to like dealing with people if you want to be in this line of work. It's not that much different than any other retail store job other than the pay is better. Otherwise, it can be long hours on your feet, heavy lifting, lots of walking, and reaching, even climbing ladders. The other problem is that a lot of these stores hire a lot of part time employees, which of course means you need two jobs to survive unless you have another source of income like a pension.

You'll also be dealing with people, men and women, some of whom are attempting jobs they shouldn't be, or have the dumbest of questions. You have to be able to work past that, and explain how it should be done, convincing them, explaining not only construction type advice but also safety advice.

On the other hand, the building supplies retail industry is huge these days, and there are jobs to be had. It can be very satisfying work, and perhaps not as difficult as working in the actual trade. Say you are a carpenter by trade but have discovered that you don't like heights, which of course limits your job opportunities. You could parlay your skills and knowledge into a retail job in the building supply industry, you won't be working on a roof, but you will still be working with wood and the related tools and equipment. It's a trade off, but it might not be a bad one.....

Jobs In The Oil Fields

2008-05-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

If there is one business that is always looking for good people, it's the oil business. I am talking about careers with large oil companies. These companies usually require a tremendous number of staff. They also typically pay very well. Of course a lot of the careers are located in the far north, or the middle east, although there are careers closer to home.

The big money usually comes to those willing to accept a little hardship, and be away from home for extended periods of time. These companies look for people from a lot of the various trades and university educated applicants. It depends on the job you want. For example, Statoil Hydro, is currently looking for recent graduates looking for a little adventure, willing to work in places like Tripoli, Lybia. Right now they have positions advertised for administrative assistants, procurement supervisors and for those with a higher education, researchers are needed. I don't know what the remuneration is, but I am sure it's quite substantial.

There are lots of entry level jobs in the oil patch as the oil business is often called. These are usually laboror type jobs, but still they pay well. Again, a willingness to travel or relocate is likely a pretty important asset for these types of jobs.

Except for the labor positions, where the competition is pretty tough, the best jobs are those that go to university grads, especially those who have specialized training in related fields.

Choosing A Career and a Cushion

2008-04-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

I'd like to talk about choosing a career for a moment if that is OK with you....Speaking from direct experience, I know that choosing the right career early is one of the most important life choices you can make. Choose the wrong career and your life will not be as good as it could or should be, instead you will find yourself always looking for something else, wishing your life away as you pray that retirement comes quick.

Trust me...it's no way to live.

It's easy to fall into a trap of a job when you are young. Not a career, a job. Especially if it pays well. The time will slip by, and life will go on. You go from being a young carefree person, to an older person with a mortgage, family, commitments that you cannot walk away from, and a job that is not only a deadend, it's also miserable.

Things change over time, both your own ideas, and the ideas of those around you, including your employer. Companies get sold, governments change administrations, most of the time, these changes are outside of your control. One day you are hamstering along, doing the same things you have done for the last 20 years, when suddenly it all changes, and those 20 years of employment don't mean much. It's new stuff now, new ways of doing things, new rules, new challenges. You need to be prepared to step up to them, or at the least, have a backup plan.

I have not only lived this myself, I have witnessed it in others, including my father-in-law, my buddies and aquaintences. You end up close to retirement age, in a job that you hate, wishing you could pack it in, but you can't. By this time in your life, you have commitments, perhaps a kid in University, car payments, and so on.

So what can you do about it? Well sometimes not much. You can plan for it a bit, expect it to happen, and if it does, you will be ready. Have a backup plan, a trade or a skill you can parlay into another job. Have some money saved. Every young person starting out in life should be putting aside a portion of their paycheck each week, not just for retirement, but also for rainy days, and for emergencies, like job loss, or bridging yourself between jobs should you have to leave a job for whatever reason.

I think a person should have at least the equivalent of at least six months salary in the bank before leaving a job. More would be even better. I kick my ass for not doing just that when I started working 34 or 35 years ago. I probably would have enough to get me through until my pension kicks in, in two or three years. So, save at least 10% of your salary. When you start working, start setting aside your cushion money, and add to it regularly. You will never be sorry you did...even if you end up with a career you love and never want to leave, just think of the sports car you can buy when you hit your middle aged crazy years....

I started this post talking about choosing a career, and kind of went off track, on my own little tangent. Sorry about that. However, I was hoping to demonstrate the importance of choosing a career you love and will continue to love 20, 30, even 40 years later...like me...I plan to blog until they pull the keyboard from my cold dead fingers....

Careers That Pay Over $100,000 Per Year

2008-04-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of posts ago I wrote about some careers where you can earn over $50,000 per year

Well, now that you are making over $50K lets ratchet that up a bit and see what kind of job you are going to need to make over $100,000 a year. That's not chump change, and trust me, bloggers are not on the list....the best part about the jobs on this list, you don't need a professional designation to land the job.

According to an article from Yahoo here are the top jobs with salaries over $100,000....better get yours today they are probably going fast...

1) Marketing Manager
2) Health Services Manager
3) Information Systems Manager
4) Financial Systems Manager
5) Human Resources Manager
6) Fashion Designer
7) Court Reporter
8) Computer Application Development Manager
9) Nursing Supervisor
10)Education Administrator

Wow...with the exception of court reporter and possibly marketing manager, the rest of those careers sound kind of boring to me....well, maybe fashion designer, I could design bikini's I'd like that....

Although these jobs may not need a professional designation, don't be fooled, they do need quite a bit of education, or some kind of raw talent and a lot of luck. You might make marketing manager if you are a fantastic sales person for example, or fasion designer if you get really lucky or have a super talent or both. Otherwise, most of them would likely require some time on the ground, learning the business and developing the skills that will lead you to a job as a manager of your respective career.

Tools For Career Searching and Resume Writing

2008-03-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

I thought today on Robert's Careers we might look at some of the products available to help you with your career search. Regardless of your career choices, you are going to need a resume, and a professional resume is more important today than ever before.

These days the competition for good jobs is tough, and the best jobs attract hundreds if not thousands of applicants. That usually means you have to submit a resume along with everyone else and hope that the Gods are watching yours and somehow get it to the top of the pile. Of course the Job Gods are very busy too, so it's a good idea to make sure your resume looks as good as possible so it stands out from the crowd.

That's where some of the products listed below come in to play. For example this ResumeMaker Career Edition software has everything you need to make a professional looking resume.

For just a little bit more money, you can also get the Resume Maker Professional 14 This CD-Rom includes easy, step-by-step wizards, examples for over 13,000 careers - with 150,000 recommended phrases and 1,000 professional resumes & letters.

With Resume Maker Professional 14 you will also be able to search through 5 million job openings, in 20 million companies! Wow that's impressive...you would have to be out of work to have enough time to search through 5 million jobs....You can also create a PDF resume & burn your portfolio to CD/DVD.

Along with the above, this CD-ROM has over 500 virtual interviews to help you advance your career. If you are serious about finding a new career, a tool like this is invaluable.

If you don't want to wait for something in the mail, here are a few e-books that you will find useful. You can download these immediately and start working on your job search and resume today!

Career Coach - 5 Premium Career Manuals Reveal Fastest Career Change Method. Includes 27 Resume Samples, 23 Cover Letter Templates, Newly Revised Top Interview Answers E-Books Plus How To Find Hidden Jobs And Build ConfidenceClick Here!

Take a four minute personality test, it might help you decide on the type of career that you are suited to. Click Here!

How to write the best Resumes and Cover Letters Click Here!

The Resume Builder Click Here!

Guerrilla Resumes. Gets You Hired For The Job You Want, In Less Than 45 Days. Or Your Money Back! Written By 2 Employment Pros With 31 Years Experience.
Click Here!

Remember, there is more to landing a job that sending in a letter expressing your interest. You need a professional looking resume, you need a great cover letter that will get prospective employers to look at your attached resume and call you for an interview.

As an employer, I know the importance of a great resume and cover letter. You need to remember that in many cases that is the first impression of you. Employers are looking for professional people who will benefit their company or organization. Your resume is your one chance to get noticed, make sure your first impression is a good one.

Privacy Policy

2008-03-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

As part of Googles terms for sites featuring Adsense, I am required to post the privacy policies. Here they are...

Privacy Policy for www.robertscareers.com

The privacy of our visitors to www.robertscareers.com
is important to us.

At www.robertscareers.com
, we recognize that privacy of your personal information is important. Here is information on what types of personal information we receive and collect when you use visit www.robertscareers.com
and how we safeguard your information. We never sell your personal information to third parties.

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We also use third party advertisements on www.robertscareers.com
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You can chose to disable or selectively turn off our cookies or third-party cookies in your browser settings, or by managing preferences in programs such as Norton Internet Security. However, this can affect how you are able to interact with our site as well as other websites. This could include the inability to login to services or programs, such as logging into forums or accounts.
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Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.

Top Paying Careers

2008-03-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

I came across and interesting article on Yahoo about the some entry level jobs that pay salaries of more than $50,000 a year. I think the article is more or less an advertisement for various online education programs you can take to increase your employment opportunities or to increase your salary from your existing employment. However, it was interesting and no doubt accurate, although I am sure it isn't all inclusive as I know there are other entry level careers that pay as much or more.

According to the report, the entry level careers that pay at least $50,000 are:

Marketing and Sales Managers - $80,000
High School Teachers - $59,269
Education Administrators - $80,000
Registered Nurses - $63,803
Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts - $53,000
Computer Software Engineers $58,900
Physical Therapist - $61,478
Restaurant Managers - $53,255
Web Designer - $53,931
Financial Analyst - $84000

Wow! Those are pretty substantial salaries, especially when you consider they are for 'entry level' careers. However, I think that one thing you have to consider is none of the above mentioned careers is possible without formal education, usually in the form of a degree, except restaurant manager and marketing and sales managers, and to get to those positions you probably will require a good deal of experience in the fields, especially if you don't have the education.

Otherwise, this is probably a pretty accurate idea of the kind of salaries available for anyone with some education in the above fields. Before you get too excited though, remember that the two top paying jobs listed, Marketing and Sales Management and Finaincial Analysts are both very much performance related when it comes to salaries. Sales commissions usually figure high in the compensation packages for those two careers, which means, if you don't produce you don't get paid, and in many cases, if you don't produce you get fired....something to think about....
You can read the full article: Entry Level Jobs That Pay More Than 50K
The other thing to remember is that salaries vary depending on where you live and the size of the company or organization that hires you, it also depends on the demand for your particular education and skills. Although a snowplow driver might make pretty good money in Maine, the job doesn't pay well in Florida....LOL

One way that a lot of people are making lots of money these days involves working in jobs that present a bit of hardship, (sometimes a lot of hardship) but pay big returns. For example, working on oil rigs in the middle of the ocean, or in Northern and Western Canada, where lots of jobs exist for skilled and sometimes non-skilled workers willing to spend weeks at a time in the North, living and working outdoors in freezing cold conditions. It's a rough life, but one that usually pays excellent wages if you can stand the islolation, being away from home, or in the case of ocean going oil rigs, if you can stand being at sea for weeks at a time. Many of these positions pay very high wages, in excess of $50,000 a year. It's not for me, but there are lots of men and women who love it.

Careers Careers becomes Robert's Careers

2008-03-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Astute and frequent readers of CareersCareers will notice that the name of this blog has changed, and it's now called Robert's Careers. That's because of a recent change of domain for our blog, and we felt it was time for a new name. Along with the new name, we are planning some changes to the blog, ones that we hope you will find useful.

Here at Careers Careers...oops...Robert's Careers, we are bringing you information on various career choices, which will hopefully assist you if you are wondering what would make a good career choice for you, or if you are just curious about jobs and what different kinds of employment opportunities are available.

We have and will continue to provide information on career choices that are current, as well as some that might be a little odd. We are also firm believers in self-employment and so will always emphasize careers that have a self-employment, work at home aspect. You'll notice we usually try to point out whether or not a specific career lends itself to self-employment, or starting your own business.

Of course there are still lots of careers and jobs that really don't have an outlet for someone who wants to work for themself. There is nothing wrong with a career in one of those fields, especially if you are not particularly entreprenurial in nature. Not everyone is suited to their own business. I am not sure I am to tell the truth. I do like the structure of a permanent workplace, and not having the responsibility for everything to do with my income relying completely on me.

Having said that, I also know that the best way to earn money, and gain some financial independence often lies in becoming self employed, either by starting and running a full time business, or by starting a parttime small business that you can manage in your spare time. This is often the best way to get started. You maintain the security of a regular paycheck, while earning some extra money, and learning if your small business is viable, and if you really enjoy managing your own business.

Our plans for future posts include information about careers and business opportunities as we do today, as well as some tips and information about starting and running your own small business. We're also planning to investigate some franchise opportunities.

Sure hope you will come back!