Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

By Rachel Zupek, PrimeCB.com writer

For many people, working part time is a necessity — not a choice. Perhaps they have to work part time in order to make ends meet, but did you know that almost 1.5 million people are working part time because they were unable to find full-time jobs?

In November 2008, the number of people who worked part time for economic reasons, meaning that they would like to work full time but couldn’t because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to, rose to 7.3 million. That number is more than a 2 million-person increase over the past 12 months.

Whether you’re looking for part-time work to supplement your current income, you can’t find full-time work or you just don’t want to work 40 hours per week, here are just 10 companies in a variety of industries that hire part-time employees*:

1. 24 Hour Fitness

What it is: A fitness center chain headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., and operating more than 425 clubs in 16 states. The club has more than 3 million members and more than 20,000 employees.

Available part-time positions: Personal trainer; group exercise instructor; facility technician; kid’s club attendant; membership counselor and more.

2. Aegis Therapies

What it is: A geriatric rehabilitation center that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy services to older adults. It currently has more than 1,000 locations around the United States.

Available part-time positions: Physical therapist; speech pathologist; home health occupational therapist; occupational therapist; occupational therapist assistant and more.

3. AMF Bowling Centers Inc.

What it is: Headquartered in Richmond, Va., AMF is the largest bowling company in the world, owning and operating more than 350 bowling centers in the United States.

Available part-time positions: Bartender; counter desk attendant; birthday party host; entry-level mechanic; lane server and more.

4. Bayada Nurses

What it is: A home health-care company that treats patients of all ages in their homes to provide them with comfort. Bayada Nurses has more than 130 offices in 17 states.

Available part-time positions: Home health aide; pediatric nurse; registered nurse; nursing assistant; medical social worker and more.

5. Central Payment Corporation

What it is: A national credit card processing company that encourages businesses to accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards as a form of payment. In conjunction with Wells Fargo Bank, CPC also offers companies check systems, gift cards, wireless solutions and other forms of payment.

Available part-time positions: Outside sales representatives; outside account representatives and more.

6. CVS Corporation

What it is: A Fortune 25 company, CVS is a retail drug and pharmacy chain. It fills or manages more than one billion prescriptions per year and has more than 6,200 operating CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.

Available part-time positions: Beauty consultant; pharmacy technician; shift supervisor; cashier and more.

7. David’s Bridal

What it is: A bridal retail chain with more than 280 stores across the nation. More than 2,500 trained consultants provide head-to-toe dressing, on-site alterations, special financing options, gown preservation services and coordinating attire for the entire bridal party.

Available part-time positions: Retail sales associate; alterations; seamstress; bridal consultant; wedding consultant; customer service representative and more.

8. NHS Human Services

What it is: A community-based behavioral health-care provider that focuses on the special needs of adults and children in the following areas: behavioral health; intellectual and developmental disabilities; juvenile justice; addictive diseases; elder care; autism; special education; and early intervention and therapeutic foster care.

Available part-time positions: Mobile therapist; behavioral specialist consultant; therapeutic staff support; psychiatric technician and more.

9. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

What it is: A casual dining chain headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo. It has more than 300 restaurants in the United States and Canada, plus a selection of more than 22 gourmet burger recipes with unique toppings like chili, guacamole or even a fried egg.

Available part-time positions: Server; host and hostess; dishwasher; busser; bartender; cook and more.

10. H&R Block

What it is: A tax services company that provides tax, financial, accounting and business consulting services and products. It has operations in three business segments: tax services; business services and consumer financial services.

Available part-time positions: Tax preparer and tax professional.

*Please note that some positions require extensive training and certification; others do not qualify as a part-time position that you could work in addition to a full-time job. Select companies are hiring for both full- and part-time employees.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

By Rachel Zupek, PrimeCB.com writer

Do you ever find yourself using a fancy word when you talk just because you like the way it rolls off your tongue?

When I’m teasing a co-worker, for example, I like to say, “I’m just being facetious,” instead of, “I’m only joking.” Or, when my little sister is picky about food, it’s more fun to say, “You’re so persnickety,” than, “Stop being difficult.” Almost always, there’s a simpler way to say something; but sometimes, for whatever reason, we just can’t find the words.

Jobs and job titles are a perfect example. In my line of work, I research a lot of different occupations. Most of them I’ve heard of, some of them I haven’t — but recently, I noticed that many of them I couldn’t even pronounce.

Curiosity got the best of me and I went on a quest to learn about some of these jobs. Are they as fancy and complex as they sound? (The answer is no.) Don’t get me wrong — the following jobs aren’t simple or dull; it’s just that there might be an easier way to explain that you operate on the mouth, jaws, head and neck than by saying you’re an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (even if that’s your proper title).

Here are 15 job titles that can be a mouthful, phrased in a way we can all understand:

1. Proper title: Adjudicator

Pronunciation: \ə-’jü-di-,kā-tər\

Simply put: Also known as hearing officers or administrative law judges, adjudicators rule on government claims like Social Security or employment discrimination suits filed against individuals or groups.

Salary: $41, 156/year*

2. Proper title: Cryptanalyst

Pronunciation: \krip-’ta-nə-list\

Simply put: A cryptanalyst is a type of mathematician who studies secret coding systems and decodes messages for military, political and law enforcement outfits.

Salary: $66,357/year

3. Proper title: Cytotechnologist

Pronunciation: \,sī-tə-tek-’nä-lə-jist\

Simply put: Cytotechnologists examine slides of human body cells to detect abnormalities that may signal cancerous growths, hormone imbalances and other conditions.

Salary: $52,806/year

4. Proper title: Entomologist

Pronunciation: \,en-tə-’mä-lə-jist\

Simply put: Entomologists examine the relationship among insects, plants and animals. They help manage and eliminate pests by creating new, safer and friendlier methods of pest control.

Salary: $47,038/year

5. Proper title: Gerontologist

Pronunciation: \,jer-ən-’tä-lə-jist\

Simply put: A type of social scientist, gerontologists specialize in the physical and mental aspects of the elderly and aging, as well as the economic and social issues older people encounter.

Salary: $149,433/year

6. Proper title: Hostler

Pronunciation: \’häs-lər\

Simply put: Hostlers are essentially truck drivers who move or park trucks and trailers when they’re parked in a docking area. Additionally, if the vehicles need to be serviced, loaded or connected to other vehicles, hostlers are the ones to do so.

Salary: $36,967/year

7. Proper title: Electroencephalographic technologist

Pronunciation: \i-,lek-trō-\in-,se-f(ə-)lə-’gra-fik\\ tek-’nä-lə-jist\

Simply put: Using an EEG instrument, these technologists measure brain activity by placing electrodes on the patient’s head to help diagnose brain and nervous system disorders.

Salary: $37,630/year

8. Proper title: Foundry metallurgist

Pronunciation: \’fau̇n-drē\\’me-t^əl-,ər-jist\

Simply put: These people study to improve the methods of molding, melting, alloying and pouring metals and their alloys into final products.

Salary: $67,813/year

9. Proper title: Immunohematology technologist

Pronunciation: \,i-myə-’nä -,hē-mə-’tä-lə-jē\ \ tek-’nä-lə-jist\

Simply put: These specialists typically work in blood banks collecting, classifying and preparing blood for transfusions.

Salary: $63,731/year

10. Proper title: Prosthodontist

Pronunciation: \,präs-thə-’dän-tist\

Simply put: A type of dentist, prosthodontists maintain, fix and replace teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures or other permanent fixtures.

Salary: $162,388/year

11. Proper title: Otolaryngologist

Pronunciation: \,ō-tō-,la-rən-’gä-lə-jist\

Simply put: These medical practitioners are essentially ear, nose and throat doctors, though they can also diagnose head and neck disorders.

Salary: $221,744/year

12. Proper title: Perianesthesia nurse

Pronunciation: \’pir-ē-,a-nəs-’thē-zhə\ \’nərs\

Simply put: This registered nurse specialty provides pre- and postoperative care to patients undergoing anesthesia during surgery or other procedures.

Salary: $69,957/year

13. Proper title: Phlebotomist

Pronunciation: \fli-’bä-tə-mist\

Simply put: Phlebotomists draw blood from patients and donors in medical facilities and blood banks, and prepare it for screening and analysis.

Salary: $24,986/year

14. Proper title: Stenocaptioner

Pronunciation: \stə-’nä-’kap-shən-ər\

Simply put: Stenocaptioners are court reporters who use a special machine to document statements made in official proceedings. The machine allows them to hit multiple keys at once to record combinations of letters representing sounds, words or phrases.

Salary: $36,224/year

15. Proper title: Stratigrapher

Pronounced: \,stra-tə-grə-fər\

Simply put: These geoscientists study fossil content and formation of sedimentary rocks to understand the environment.

Salary: $59,705/year

*National average salary according to CBSalary.com

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues

By Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Depending on where you work and whom you work with, the words “sexy” and “job” shouldn’t share a sentence. Even if you check all romantic notions at the door when you punch your time card, not everyone does.

Plenty of people are just as attractive as — or more attractive than — the profession they choose. Not just the obvious picks, such as athletes, doctors or models, but also some whose attractive quotients rise when they’re on the clock.

Here are 10 careers that have more sex appeal than you probably realize:

1. Administrative assistants

When you visit almost any workplace, a smiling administrative assistant greets you. Very often you don’t know if you’re in the right place, whom you need to speak with or even what you need to do. Administrative assistants know the answers and, because they’re your first points of contact, they have to be well-groomed and kind to visitors. Knowledge, good looks, a nice personality and helpfulness? Yes, please. And since they frequently work closely with high-level executives who value their opinions, they often possess a hidden but large cache of power. Administrative assistants pretty much have the whole package.

2. Baristas

If you’re one of those coffee drinkers who don’t speak to anyone and whom nobody wants to speak to until you’ve had your morning cup, is any occupation more attractive than barista? Before the sun rises, baristas are hard at work and ready to serve you with a smile. They understand your special ordering language and don a uniform, even if it consists of only casual clothes with an apron and cap. And no cologne or perfume they buy will ever be more alluring than the aroma of coffee that blankets them even after they leave work.

3. Hairstylists

Getting your hair cut is an intimate affair: The stylist’s hands are all over your head, and your face is fairly close to his or her torso at all times. In any other circumstance, you’d consider such proximity a violation of personal space. But stylists have an ability to make you feel comfortable enough to talk about your personal life, and when you find the perfect one, you don’t want anyone else touching your hair. Throw in a scalp massage and you’re putty in their hands.

4. Disc Jockey

Clubs are teeming with sexy people (or at least people trying to be sexy), which means you’ve got a room full of perfumes, colognes, too much makeup, bad hairstyles and stumbling drunks. It’s enough to make you turn around and walk away. But once you catch a glimpse of the stylish guy or gal in the booth who’s spinning records (or hitting buttons on a laptop) and making the crowd dance, you suddenly want to stay. DJs possess one of those quirky talents we all wish we had and they look cool doing it. Bonus points if you catch his or her eye and get a song played for you.

5. IT workers

Although IT workers have earned a bad reputation for not understanding the plight of the computer-illiterate worker, they aren’t the office villains some people have made them out to be. And if power is sexy, then these men and women probably outrank everyone. Whether you’re low on the totem pole or an executive, if you can’t open your e-mail account or figure out why your monitor is flickering, you call IT. In many offices, IT workers have the most lax dress code of all the departments, so you can’t help but envy them.

6. Mail carriers

Mail carriers spend their days walking from house to house to deliver letters and packages, guaranteeing their legs look nice in those signature navy blue shorts. You know carriers are determined and trustworthy, seeing as they come to your house regardless of the weather and (hopefully) none of your letters are ever opened. Wouldn’t most of us rather stay home on cold days and read personal letters and magazines from our bags?

7. Personal trainers

Personal trainers are in better shape than any of us will ever be, and that alone is sexy. What’s more attractive is their determination to help their clients reach a goal. Whether you’re excited or terrified when you hire a trainer, you’ll be ready to keep the spare tire after a few weeks. Trainers are there to help you ignore that burning pain in your abs and the sweat stinging your eyes. Sure, you want to punch them when they call you a quitter, but their tough love helps you take that long, sweaty journey to fitness.

8. Photographers

Artsy types get a boost in the sexy department for having a strong sense of style and a unique perspective on the world. Even among artists, photographers stand out because they stay behind the camera, finding beauty in unconventional and overlooked places. Their willingness to stay out of the spotlight and focus their attention on someone else is endearing.

9. Psychologists

Whether or not you find your psychologist sexy is a personal matter that you might want to take up with him or her. But as a rule, people want to be heard and they like to talk about themselves, and psychologists make a living listening to people talk about themselves. They also help you solve your most pressing issues and you can rely on them for support (for a hefty fee, of course). What more could you want?

10. University professors

Behold the power of intellect: Someone who wasn’t even on your romantic radar suddenly becomes the target of your affection when you find out he or she is intelligent — or at least could be. Being a professor doesn’t make anyone an automatic genius, but chances are these academics have expertise in at least one field, can speak a second or third language and have ambition (seeing as they spent a hefty portion of their time earning a few degrees). Plus, if anyone can make glasses go from nerdy to sexy, they can.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

The normal way to ring in the new year is by creating a list of resolutions that results in you eating straight from the fridge at midnight so you’re not technically cheating on your diet. If you received a good performance review at work, you might be fortunate enough to get a raise (to offset the cost of the gym membership you’ll never use).

As you’re undoubtedly aware, businesses are operating with caution these days and watching their bottom lines more closely than ever. Accordingly, employees are feeling the pinch. Maybe year-end bonuses and holiday parties were smaller or nonexistent this winter. Expect lean operations to continue for a while longer, but don’t assume you have no chance of receiving a salary boost.

Whether you’re already employed or negotiating a job offer, all hope for bumping up your compensation is not lost. With the right amount of flexibility and good timing, you can end up getting what you want.

Prove your worth

Don’t expect to earn a hefty paycheck based on your merits if you have no proof of your accomplishments. Specificity is the best friend of job seekers and employees. When budgets are already tight, employers won’t be willing to hand out more cash than necessary. Businesses are always trying to do more with less, but these days they are forced to.

If you’re already employed, your boss might not notice your accomplishments. Smooth operations mean no hiccups or need for finger-pointing; therefore your good work might go unnoticed. You should be able to list specific achievements during your time at the company to be a reminder of your accomplishments. Did you increase sales, make operations more efficient or receive positive feedback from clients? If so, have proof and use it. Quantifiable numbers and direct quotes make a better case than pretty phrases.

For job seekers, the story is the same, except your highlights should span your career. A strong track record throughout your work history gives a hiring manager good reason to expect more from you … and do more for you.

Know the market

Although you might think you’re worth a seven-figure salary, your boss isn’t likely to agree, so don’t walk into negotiations thinking you can start at $1 million in order to negotiate your way to an $80,000 salary. Your boss probably knows how much other workers in similar positions earn and so should you. Go to salary sites, such as CBSalary.com, and see what the standard rate is for your job title in your city or across the country. Putting your salary in context gives you realistic expectations and helps you bargain effectively.

Ask for a six-month review

Sometimes, getting more money right now is not an option. Your boss or hiring manager might not have the authority to negotiate higher salaries for anyone if the budget is frozen. In that case, you can ask to revisit the topic in six months when the company’s financial situation could be better.

The other advantage of having a review down the road is that you have six months (or however long) to make good on your promises. All those specific achievements you highlighted are good talk, but this is your last chance to put your words into action. As frustrating as working hard with no financial bonus can be, stay motivated by the idea that you might get an even better reward at the review.

Ask at the right time

Even if you know your worth and have the facts to prove it, you won’t get any more money if you don’t ask for it. If the company’s in the middle of a financial crisis and half of your department’s been laid off, however, you might want to wait awhile. Ask at the wrong time and not only will you not receive more money, but your boss will wonder if you’re paying attention to your surroundings or if you even care about the company’s welfare. If you work in an industry that’s still booming and your company’s thriving, then you can broach the subject.

Think outside the box

Bosses love to challenge their employees to “think outside the box.” When you’re looking to stretch your paycheck this year, don’t forget the nonmonetary perks. Frozen company budgets might not thaw much this year or at least not for a few more months, so why not negotiate other benefits?

Employers might be willing to offer more vacation time, flexible work hours or the ability to work from home now and then. Logging on to your computer from home means you’re still doing your work, but you didn’t pay a dime in transportation or lose any time commuting. The numbers on your paycheck might not change, but how you spend those dollars and hours can improve.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

By Rachel Zupek, PrimeCB.com writer

Unfortunately, not many people are a stranger to the downward spiraling economy that began in December 2007 and continued to deplete throughout 2008.

In fact, November 2008 marked some of worst numbers in decades in terms of job loss: The unemployment rate, for example, hit a 14-year high this November at a rate of 6.7 percent. That month also counted 1.9 million jobs lost throughout 2008 alone; two-thirds of those losses occurred in the last three months. The number of unemployed people increased from 10.1 million in October to 10.3 million in November, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Since 2007, the number of unemployed people has increased by 3.1 million, and the unemployment rate has gone up by 2 percent. For the 10.3 million currently unemployed people, however, there is hope for some reprieve in 2009.

The labor force is expected to increase by 12.8 million workers over the 2006 -2016 period, according to the BLS. Total employment is expected to increase by 10 percent to 166.2 million over that period as well, while an estimated 15.6 million jobs will be added by 2016. While that year seems like a long way off today, a certain number of new jobs will be added each year leading up to 2016 — including in 2009.

It should be noted, however, that the jobs that will be added won’t be evenly distributed across industries and occupational groups. It goes without saying that changes in consumer demand, technology and the like will continue to affect the economic structure.

Industries that have seen growth since 2007 (according to the most recent data from the BLS) include management, business and financial operations; professional and related occupations; service occupations; sales and office occupations; and installation, maintenance and repair occupations.

Looking for a job in 2009? Here are 25 of the best jobs to look for in the New Year, defined as jobs that saw growth in the second half of 2008.*

Industry: Management, business and financial operations occupations

Total employment: 22,425,000**

Best jobs:

1. Public relations manager: $72,452/year***

2. Purchasing agent: $49,401/year

3. Claims adjuster, appraiser, examiner and investigator: $58,219/year

4. Human resources, training and labor relations specialist: $63,577/year

5. Budget analyst: $56,924/year

Industry: Professional and related occupations

Total employment: 30,370,000

Best jobs:

6. Computer programmer: $59,628/year

7. Electrical and electronics engineer: $70,706/year

8. Writer and editor: $42,405/year and $47,386/year, respectively

9. Pharmacist: $88,009/year

10. Audiologist: $57,779/year

Industry: Service occupations

Total employment: 25,114,000

Best jobs:

11. Private detective and investigator: $38,656/year and $34,810/year, respectively

12. Chef and head cook: $44,047/year and $40,794/year, respectively

13. Tour and travel guide: $22,917/year

14. Recreation and fitness worker: $15,101/year and $22,440/year, respectively

15. Grounds maintenance worker: $22,407/year

Industry: Sales and office occupations

Total employment: 35,180,000

Best jobs:

16. Cashier: $22,931/year

17. Telephone operator: $25,165/year

18. Hotel, motel and resort desk clerk: $19,926/year

19. Cargo and freight agent: $30,143/year and $54,804/year, respectively

20. Statistical assistant: $30,921/year

Industry: Installation, maintenance and repair occupations

Total employment: 5,165,000

Best jobs:

21. Computer, automated teller and office machine repairer: $41,614/year, $34,509/year and $36,077/year, respectively

22. Electric motor, power tool and related repairer: $29,865/year

23. Security and fire alarm systems installer: $35,648/year

24. Telecommunication line installers and repairers: $45,458/year

25. Locksmiths and safe repairer: $32,111/year

*Data reflects figures based on the second- and third-quarter employment numbers according to the Current Population Survey released by the BLS.

**Third-quarter employment numbers.

***Salary figures according to CBSalary.com

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Does your morning routine typically include hitting the snooze button and scrambling to get out the door? A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found that 20 percent of workers said they arrive late to work at least once a week, up from 15 percent in last year’s survey. One-in-ten (12 percent) said they are late at least twice a week.

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