Should you sacrifice love for work?”

I recently read this article on CNN.com ( http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/10/22/cb.sacrificing.love.for.work/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail )and the question is simple, “Should you sacrifice love for work?” Simple question…simple answer-NO! I can answer this question without hesitation because I know something about work life balance or the lack there of, and of all things love is the last thing you want to sacrifice for work. The reason I say NO is because when things go bad at work, in life or with friends it’s that special guy or girl who will help you through and hopefully give you some good advice.

Now I worked in Lima for two years and during that time I went on count them TWO dates. I will take some of the blame because I was so focused on doing a good job, and being focused on the next step I didn’t take the time to date or even look. What I learned is being focused or good at your job doesn’t mean things will work out, and when thing go bad it is helpful to have someone around to talk to about the roses and thorns of the day.

Maybe it’s because I am getting older and my friends are getting married but I think we all realize that with proper planning and compromise “having it all” can be obtainable. Yes you can have a job you like and a great guy, take my friend Megan for example. Megan met a great guy at work, dated, and they are now engaged. Had she said dating was off the table until she was in a top ten television, would she be dating loser after loser when what she really needed was already there in front of her? Luckily she won’t have to worry about that because the wedding is in August!


End of story if you like someone and your work schedule suck, pencil that person in he/she may be the best part of your day.

Ash

Will Work for Presents

If you’re anything like me you are probably a “Holiday Whore” but short of going all Kwanza on people and making gifts this Christmas I may be looking for work at the local mall. I know it's early to be thinking about Christmas but I figure if QVC is selling prelit trees it's time to get myself into Christmas gear. The good news is that unlike the television news industry, retail may be hiring and that means you can expect a nice Christmas sweater from yours truly.

Don’t believe me-take a look at this press release below!
Ash

CHICAGO, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The outlook for seasonal hiring in the fourth quarter of 2009 is projected to be similar to 2008, according to a new CareerBuilder survey. Eighteen percent of hiring managers plan to hire seasonal workers to meet business needs associated with the holidays and end-of-the-year wrap-ups, on par with 17 percent in 2008. At the same time, competition for holiday work is heating up. In addition to unemployed workers pursuing seasonal employment, 12 percent of employed workers plan to take on a seasonal job to help make ends meet. The survey, "Seasonal Hiring 2009," was conducted from August 20 to September 9, 2009 and included over 2,900 hiring managers across all industries nationwide.
Popular Seasonal Positions
Seasonal positions may prove to be the break job seekers are looking for as three-in-ten (31 percent) hiring managers indicate they are likely to hire a seasonal worker for a full time position. The most popular positions identified for seasonal recruitment include customer service, retail sales, administrative/clerical, hospitality, shipping/delivery, inventory, technology and accounting/finance. Of those hiring seasonal employees in Q4 2009, 41 percent will hire 1 to 10 employees, 17 percent will hire 11 to 20, 17 percent will hire 21 to 50 and 25 percent will hire more than 50.
Seasonal Pay
While some hiring managers (12 percent) say they plan to increase pay for seasonal workers, 15 percent are planning a decrease. Forty-four percent of hiring managers expect to pay $10 or more per hour and 12 percent expect to pay $16 or more per hour. Thirty-four percent of hiring managers plan to pay between $8 and $10 per hour and 20 percent expect to pay between $6 and $8.
"Competition for seasonal positions will be intense as the job market is flooded with qualified candidates vying for a smaller number of open positions," said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America. "Employers tell us they are accepting the majority of their seasonal applications during October and November, meaning job seekers need to identify and apply for those opportunities now."
Rasmussen recommends the following tips for those seeking seasonal employment:
Start applying early - Seventy-seven percent of hiring managers do not plan to accept applications for seasonal workers beyond November. Especially in a competitive job market, getting your resume in early will help your chances of securing a position.
Do your homework - Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of hiring managers say that having no knowledge of the company or products deterred them from hiring a seasonal candidate in the past. Check out the company's Web site before the interview and familiarize yourself with products, services, press announcements, etc so the hiring manager knows you're serious about the opportunity.
Show enthusiasm -- Nearly half (48 percent) of employers say they were turned off by a candidate who lacked enthusiasm during their interview. Convey that you're excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of the organization and stay away from saying the primary reason you want the position is for the employee discount.
Dress the part -- If you are interviewing for a job in a retail clothing store, it's a good idea to show up dressed in an outfit from that store. One-in-ten (11 percent) hiring managers said candidates who interviewed for a job in a competitor's ensemble were ultimately not considered for the open position.
Be flexible regarding your schedule - Forty-seven percent of hiring managers said they were turned off by a candidate who refused to work certain hours. Seasonal hours tend to fluctuate; you need to be open and flexible to alternative schedules.

It's a Womans World

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Attention men: if you want to meet women, go to work. For the first time in our labor history, women will soon outnumber men in the workplace. Two factors are responsible for this landmark statistic: not only are more and more women choosing to work, even while having and raising children, but once in the workplace, fewer women are getting laid off than their male counterparts. According to the latest Bureau of Labor statistics, 10.3 percent of adult men are now unemployed, compared to 7.8 percent women.
Are glass ceilings being shattered here? Probably not. The reason for women's stronger hold on jobs is not because their economic contribution is finally being fairly and fully valued. Rather these new statistics reflect the kinds of positions women typically choose: "safe" jobs in sectors that have not been as hard hit by the current recession, namely government, education, and health care. Studies have shown that women are drawn to jobs in these fields because they are friendlier to flex- or part-time arrangements which women often require in order to balance work and families.
To catch up financially, women need to take more risk. Both in their career choices as well as in their investments, women are often too risk averse for their own good. Their fear of loss means they rarely win the race for financial security. And the ground is far from even in this race: because women live longer, they need more financial resources than men. They need to invest for growth both in their portfolios and in their professions.
Here's a risky move with a big potential pay-off for employed women to consider: ask for a raise. Not just at the moment, perhaps, given the current economic storm clouds, but when the weather clears, as it certainly will. The failure of women to ask for more money, or to negotiate for better perks and promotions, is legendary among human resource professionals.
Whether because of nature or nurture, men rarely have the same problem with the ask. They know what they're worth, and don't hesitate to ask for a bit more.
Ladies, you now have the employment numbers at your backs. You're taking charge of the labor force. Now you need to use this advantage to take charge of your financial destiny. Ask for (and expect) more - more money, more flexible schedules, more benefits, more upward mobility. And while you're at it: more stalls in the women's rest rooms. There are now too many of you to be waiting in line.

Paging The Doctor

When I began this blog, I stated that it is my intention to always stay positive. Today I am going back on my word and I must admit, unemployment sucks. Not because my funds are limited but because it sucks when you’re sick and you don’t have any health insurance.


I don’t know if it was being on an airplane or the change in temperature coming from DC to Ohio but I’m sick. At first I thought it was just a normal scratchy throat but then the body aches kicked in. So since I can’t afford to go to the doctor, and I don’t want to be one of those people who go to the emergency room I need your help. What’s the best way to kick a cold and scratchy throat? I’m already on a liquid diet and sitting in bed as I type. But if your grandmother or mother passed along some of those great home remedies I want to hear them.

Ash

September employment numbers

According to this link, if you want a job you should be able to find one. I think she may be talking about a job at Taco Bell working the night shift.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-of-us-secretary-of-labor-hilda-l-solis-on-september-employment-numbers-63274122.html

We ALL Hope So!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following a meeting at the White House with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss ways to stimulate job creation:
"Today's meeting with President Obama reaffirmed our top priority as a nation: getting Americans back to work. The President, Leader Reid, and I all agree that we must respond to the urgent need to promote the creation of good jobs, rebuild our workforce, and restore stability to our neighborhoods. Congress stands ready to partner with the White House to keep our economy moving in the right direction and lay the foundation for growth long into the future.
"Our recovery efforts have brought our economy back from the brink. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Cash for Clunkers, and a series of other steps have halted the freefall and have begun put us back on the path to long-term prosperity. The House has passed measures to invest in the clean energy jobs and to extend unemployment benefits to workers hardest hit by the recession.
"We are beginning to see signs that the economy is turning around. But we are committed to take further action on behalf of the millions of Americans out of work or at risk of losing their jobs, their savings and their homes."