By Paula Caligiuri, Ph.D., author of “Get a Life, Not a Job: Do What You Love and Let Your Talents Work for You”

Just as the riskiest financial investment strategy is to have all of your money in one place, the riskiest career management strategy is to have all of your income from one organization unless you are in a critical role and have skills that are difficult to find in the labor market.

To enjoy job security and professional fulfillment in this new employment reality, you should have a “portfolio career” that includes multiple and simultaneous income streams or “career acts.” Career acts can include an eBay business, part-time job, profitable hobby, nonexecutive board seat, franchise, authored book, affiliate links on your blog, weekend jazz trio, etc.

Here are 10 tips for managing career acts in a portfolio career:

Diversify
Start maximizing your talents to generate broad-based income streams. Some career acts can be slow and steady sources of income, while others can be higher-risk with higher potential reward. Professions such as nursing or teaching science are low-risk sources of guaranteed income, whereas starting a small business has a higher risk, with potential for a much higher reward.

Invest intelligently
To build income-generating career acts, you will need to invest in yourself, your business, your network and the like. You may need, for example, to return to school for a degree or training program, to invest in equipment or supplies, or to attend a conference or some other networking event. Manage the financial risk incurred by being realistic about your talents and abilities and making sure you have the tenacity and effectiveness to take full advantage of your investments.

Actively manage your portfolio
Your career acts will need different investments and have different trajectories for growth. Today’s careers are actively self-managed.

Invest prudently
Start protecting your time and your discretionary spending, as you may need both to start a new career act.

Maintain high ethical standards
Do not add career acts that would a reasonable supervisor wouldn’t consider or that would use company time or resources for your private gain. At the same time, remember that you did not take a vow of poverty when you became employed.

Sell high
Many people actively manage how they enter an organization but passively manage their exit, often waiting for a layoff, reorganization or something else to force their departure. If you work for an unsupportive supervisor, have no opportunities for growth or dislike what you are doing, start planning your exit while you still have an income stream.

Know your tolerance for risk
Entrepreneurship is not right for everyone. Find a mix of career acts that do not add anxiety to your life and that align with your talents.

Trust your hunches
Do not let anyone tell you that you lack focus or should get serious about one career. Careers today are moving further away from the traditional 40-hour-per-week employer to more self-directed opportunities for generating income.

Understand the data
Speak with multiple people who occupy any career act you would like to have. There are often different ways to achieve the same career goal. Some ways may take less time and less money but produce the same result.

Seek advice
Often people have a hard time understanding ways they can use their talents and abilities. Speak to trusted friends or advisers who know you well and want to see you succeed about what they see you doing. You will be surprised at how well others can spotlight your talents and give you ideas.

A well-managed portfolio career can provide greater income, personal fulfillment and professional security. What income-generating opportunity can you create for yourself that would use your talents and skills, in a way you would like to work? Make a plan and start growing your amazing portfolio career.

Paula Caligiuri, Ph.D. is the author of “Get a Life, Not a Job: Do What You Love and Let Your Talents Work for You” (FT Press, 2010). She is a work psychologist and Professor in the Human Resource Management Department at Rutgers University where she directs the Center for HR Strategy.

By Renee Martin, co-author “The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success”

Few things can rattle your world more than the loss of a job. But faced with the resultant soul-searching, some recent pink-slip recipients are refusing to be casualties of the latest recession. Instead of quietly joining the ranks of the unemployed, they’re resolving to seize control over their career and become their own boss. They’re pursuing an entrepreneurial dream.

Is launching a business today a high-stakes risk? Of course. But it’s never been easy to build a successful business, in any era or in any economy.

The right business idea at the right time can overcome all manner of obstacles. An ordinary person today still has the potential to catapult a startup company into an industry leader. But reaching that goal requires tireless commitment and sound business strategies.

Here are 10 broad strategies that were used to build multimillion-dollar (in some cases, multibillion-dollar) businesses, taken from the entrepreneurs profiled in my book “The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success.”

1. Go on a treasure hunt and find an underserved niche
Identify and then cater to the particular needs of a market niche that competitors have neglected or ignored. Develop a specialty in which your business clearly excels. Remember, even a huge multibillion-dollar corporation can’t offer everything to everyone. Many niches are too small for them to consider.

2. Spot a new trend and pounce
Look for emerging consumer needs and desires arising from a shift in cultural, economic or technological trends that signal new market opportunities. Act quickly. Don’t be tentative.

3. Just start!
Stop the excuses. The “perfect” time for a business launch will never present itself. Don’t give would-be competitors the opportunity to beat you to the punch. Get moving. Set short-term goals and deadlines that bring you closer to opening for business.

4. Buck the conventional wisdom
Ignore those who say, “It won’t work” or “It’s never been done that way.” Veer away from established formulas and ways of thinking. Look at so-called industry best practices with a hypercritical eye. Dissect them, slice and dice them, contemplate different “what if” scenarios.

5. Exploit your competitors’ weakness and make it your strength
Take a critical look at your competition from the perspective of a customer. Listen closely to the needs and complaints of prospective customers during sales calls. This will help identify competitor vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Find ways to eliminate such deficiencies in your own customer service and products, then go a step further and make sure you excel in those areas.

6. Hit ‘em where they ain’t
Set your sights on areas that your competitors have neglected or ignored. Learn to anticipate new areas where there might be a demand for your services and position your business to be there ahead of your competitors.

7. Save your bucks and get noticed without expensive advertising
Get your creative juices percolating to come up with ways to expose your brand to the masses. Don’t be shy, be bold. Chutzpah often works. Brainstorm with colleagues, friends and family. Have a little fun with this strategy.

8. Trust your gut
Develop and learn to use your intuitive powers. They are valuable business skills, particularly when you’re about to enter uncharted waters and everyone is telling you to play it safe. When the pressure is high and chaos threatens, keep your composure and rely on your gut-level instincts.

9. Never let adversity or failure defeat you
Don’t accept the limits others or circumstances place on you. The ranks of successful entrepreneurs are filled with men and women who refused to stop believing in themselves. As an entrepreneur, you’ll surely experience stressful moments that will test your faith. Just remember, the antidotes are persistence and resiliency. Believe in your business idea and in your own commitment to seeing your business succeed.

10. Never stop reinventing your company
Continually look for ways to introduce new products and services for existing customers and for newly identified market niches. Think of complacency as a genuine threat to your long-term bottom line. Never let your guard down.

Renee Martin is co-author of “The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success” (Vanguard Press). This article is adapted from information in the book. Please visit www.RiskTakersBook.com for more information.

If you’re thinking about entrepreneurship, you’ve probably heard that you should start your business before you quit your day job.

It’s good advice, but not always practical. Depending on how many hours you have to put in at work, you may have very little time left for your business. The catch is that if you want to be a full-time business owner, you have to build up your business so that you’ll still be able to pay your bills. It can be hard to give up the security of a regular paycheck to pursue your dream of being an entrepreneur.

How can you balance being an employee while you’re moonlighting?

For one thing, you might not want your boss to know that you have something else on the side. You don’t want to appear to be expendable or less dedicated. Keep your business under wraps as much as possible. That also means you shouldn’t conduct your business at work, no matter how tempted you may be to bring your side business to your workplace. And with computer use monitoring becoming more pervasive in the workplace, you probably won’t have much privacy if you’re using company equipment for personal use.

Moving from employee to entrepreneur

If your goal is to leave your job and run your business, here are some steps you should follow.

1. Pick a date for when you’d like to make the move into running your business full time. Be realistic when you look at the calendar. The date has to feel comfortable and be something that you think you can do.

2. Check your spending. How much money do you need for your business and for personal expenses? It may be tempting to continue to spend money because it’s regularly coming in, but once you’re no longer an employee, you won’t have that income.

3. Start paying down debt if you can. Set up a payment plan for your credit cards. Create a budget for business expenses as well.

4. Get ready to spend more time alone. If your business is home-based, you won’t have the office co-workers around. Start networking now so that you can have a support system before you leave your job.

5. Get a plan together for what you want to accomplish in your business. Whether you use a business plan or a mission statement, have a clear idea of what your business is about and why you’re doing it. It’s not enough to go into business because you don’t want to work for someone else. Know what you’re getting into before you leave your day job.

Keeping your side business on the side

For some people, having a side business is part of a long-term plan, not an interim step. If you aren’t looking to leave your regular job, it’s less about growing your business than maintaining it. Here are some ways to balance the moonlighting with the “daylighting.”

1. Set boundaries. Your clients may want more of your time, but your priority is your day job. Let them know what your business hours are and stick to them. If you end up working long nights, you won’t have the energy to accomplish what’s required on your job. You don’t want to put your steady paycheck into jeopardy because you’re not getting things done.

2. Be careful about how you use social media. In some cases, employers are checking up on what their employees are doing online. Depending on what type of business you have, promoting your side business on your social media profile may raise red flags. For instance, if what you do on the job is similar to what you’re doing in your business, you don’t want to appear to be in competition.

3. Extra money coming in from a side business can be a great supplement to your income. Resist the temptation to spend more because you’re making more money. Unless your business income is targeted for a specific purpose, you can end up spending it as fast as it comes in. Don’t put yourself in a position where the money is going out faster than it’s coming in — you may have to work harder at work and in your business to keep up the momentum.

Deborah A. Bailey is the author of “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life” and a sought-after expert to discuss today’s most pressing workplace issues. Bailey helps clients to shift their thinking and connect with their personal power in order to move forward in their transition from employee to entrepreneur. www.dbaileycoach.com.

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

“When the cat’s away, the mice will play,” is a term most people can relate to. When the manager is gone — be it on vacation or just away from her desk — some employees act like a teenager whose parents are out of town.

They sneak out early or come in late. They chitchat with co-workers more frequently, usually about nonwork-related things. They make personal phone calls, take extra-long lunches — heck, maybe they’ll even enjoy a cocktail with their meal.

Many employees do it — but why?

“The answer is simple: It’s a direct reflection of the boss’s leadership. When a workplace isn’t compelling to people — where employees lack the desire and ability to be accountable for their own success — misbehaving or slacking in the boss’s absence is merely a mask for boredom. It’s also important feedback for the boss: “Raise your game,” says Linda Galindo, a consultant specializing in individual and leadership accountability and the author of “The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success.”

We asked employees what they do when the boss isn’t looking. They had some very entertaining stories:

“At the time I was an assistant manager at Publix Supermarkets of Florida. Not content with the absolute misery of the hourly employees I was responsible for, I tried to inspire and entertain them. It worked; those under me had the highest productivity rate, got the best raises, were promoted faster and would do just about anything in the world for me because they knew I would do anything in my power for them. While this usually meant me working alongside them or personally training them for continuous quality improvements, it occasionally took on a slightly wilder side. Riding a motorcycle through the store aisles after closing, bowling for two-liter soda bottles with frozen turkeys, baseball in the stockroom, laser tag on the roof, contests to see who could catch the most shoplifters, hide and seek, a chess tournament, foot races, pizza parties, karate training, book club and a few hundred practical jokes.” - J.Olson*

“I’ve been building my life-coaching business for over a year while I’ve held down an executive assistant job from 9-6, Monday through Friday. The boss works across the street from the office that I’m at, and I spend the majority of my day (at least four hours, maybe more) building my coaching business — posting to my blog, tweeting, communicating with clients, writing newsletters, even doing sessions during my lunch break — you name it!. Thankfully it’s paid-off — I’m giving notice in about a month to coach full-time.” – M.W.

“When I worked at this pizza shop, myself and two fellow employees would try to make each other laugh by making faces behind the boss. For example, I would be running the oven and the boss would be right next to me, so if I laughed I was screwed. So my friend X would be at the cook line, about 2 feet behind my boss so I can see him and the boss couldn’t. And the facial expressions and motions he would make were hilarious. I must say I never [saw] him get caught.” — M.W.

“[My] story has more to do with a colleague who always has some very important thing to do at home/with the baby/his elderly mother-in-law, or has a sudden urgent need to deliver something to one of our member organizations that takes him out of the office for long stretches of time when the executive director is away. Recently, when the boss went on an extended holiday around Christmas/New Years, I and another colleague kept a spreadsheet of this slacker’s arrivals, lunch breaks and departures, and then averaged out the numbers. All told, he was in the office an average of 5.5 hours a day while the boss was away. And, given all the adorable postings I see on Facebook from him every night, I imagine there’s at least another hour in there taken up in Facebook upkeep and Web browsing.” — D.C.

“To be honest, before I became a boss and I worked for someone else, I did some of everything when the boss was a way. From surfing the Internet to making personal calls and paying bills [to] taking an extra hour at lunch [to] going home early to sleep. I’ve even made out with a woman or two at the office.” — J.D.

“I know what one of my employees was doing when I was out of the office or at meetings. She was on Facebook! A few vendors told me about it privately, so I set out to bust her in the act. I invited her to become my Facebook friend, and she took the bait. Then, I wrote her up and attached the summary of the days and times she was commenting on her Facebook page, which was during business hours, while I was away. I don’t particularly like writing up employees, but I loved this write up with the Facebook evidence attached!” — K.P.W

“When our bosses aren’t looking or even better when they walk away and leave their computers unlocked, someone sneaks in and sends a short e-mail to someone else in the office. These e-mails range from the quirky to the flirtatious to the potentially insulting, but they are always good for a laugh. At least as long as the boss still isn’t looking.” –T.D.

“I work in a small doctor’s office with only one doctor. My office manager is very cool and participates in our slacking. When the doc or his wife are not around and we don’t have any patients … we make fun of the doc and his wife. When we make fun of our bosses, we really make fun of them and create scenarios that we act out, we raise our voices to impersonate them, and when we laugh, we laugh really loud. We also order food during lunch and eat it in the waiting room where we have a TV, computers and Internet (something that is not allowed during work hours). We snoop on the doc’s computer. We always catch him on the Internet so we like to see what he does on the computer all the time. Needless to say, we found porn in his favorites! Also, his wife forgets to sign out of her e-mail (don’t ask me why) but everyone uses the computers so we saw in her e-mail a message that read ‘Thank you for signing up to lesbian porn.’” — Vanessa

“For the past two years I’ve been self-employed, but before I started my company I always enjoyed reading news articles on the Internet during the day. My project managers often frowned upon us surfing the Internet during the day, but I found a creative way around this. At the beginning of the day I’d find interesting articles online and copy and paste the text into a word document. The word document had the company logo in the header, so if somebody walked by my cube it would appear that I was reading an official work-related document rather than the top sports news of the day.” — S.M.

“I have a co-worker who is two completely different people when our boss is out of the office. When she is in, he makes sure to get to work before her and leave after her, even though he is just messing around on Skype and YouTube all day long. She took a one-week vacation in August, and he worked 9-5 every day (our hours are 8:00 to 6:30). Then, he put the icing on the cake in the week after Christmas. Most of our team was out of town, including our boss. Apparently he thought he was going to be the only one in the office, and didn’t even come in to work. He’d occasionally send out an email to make it seem like he was there. Finally, on the Wednesday after Christmas, he strolled in around 11:00 am. When he saw another team member was here, he turned beet red, and stammered how he thought she was out for the week. No one has said anything to our boss yet, but we are dying to.” –J.J.

“I placed an online order to American Apparel to restock my underwear supply. Instead of shipping them to my house, I had them shipped to the office — more reliable. When the package arrived, I couldn’t wait to see what the panties looked like ON. Literally, I couldn’t wait. I didn’t even take time to close my office door. I pulled out the first pair (light blue thong), lifted up my skirt, and pulled the panties over my leggings. They were cute! Unfortunately, just at that moment my boss arrived at my door — a 60-year-old man face to face with a 28-year-old female employee. It wasn’t good. Next time I’ll wait until he’s out of the office to try on my undies.” — K.H.

Courteous. Trusting. Good-natured. Cooperative. Tolerant.

These are the traits your mother told you — repeatedly — to embrace. “They’ll make people like you.” “You’ll always have friends.” “You’ll go far.”

Mom was wrong, at least as far as business success is concerned.

My colleagues and I studied the careers of more than 1,500 people over a 20-year period. Sorry, Mom, we found that being too nice won’t boost you up the corporate ladder.

Our findings didn’t just hint at it, either. The evidence was overwhelming: Being too nice can deter your career progress and muddle your effectiveness as a leader. The degree to which a person is trusting of others as well as likable (good-natured, cheerful, gentle) hurt his or her salary level and number of promotions.

How about nurturing, sympathetic and supportive? These qualities impede management potential. Agreeable? Research indicated it was negatively related to salary, occupational status, involvement in work and whether an individual stood out as a leader.

It’s not all bad news. Being affable relates to job and life satisfaction, and people with that quality tend to engage in less counterproductive behavior — vital in jobs requiring cooperation.

Why being nice hurts your career
So, why is it a problem for career success? One reason: People with this natural personality trait may be less likely to face confrontation or other difficulties at work.

I once worked with a hospital’s vice president for marketing, a truly likable person. Successful in her early career, she started having trouble when she reached the vice president level. She faced significantly more power struggles and conflicts in situations where she needed to be firm or take a stand. Many times for harmony, she deferred to others. Over time, more assertive executives ended up simply ignoring her, making decisions without her. Frustrated, she eventually left the hospital.

A leader must be able to perform in ways challenging for someone who is hard-wired for cooperation. “Let’s all get along” just doesn’t work in the workplace.

To be a successful manager, you have to manage controversial issues as well as provide constructive (and not always positive) feedback. You’ll have to make difficult decisions and help correct poor performance. Added to this, you’ll have to be able to deal effectively with conflict and take less popular stands when needed — challenging for those who want to be liked.

If you are that type of person, you may also be much less likely to stand up for yourself because you don’t want to rock the boat, or be less assertive in asking for raises, promotions and career opportunities. Thus, others may take advantage of you or you might not get recognized for your accomplishments.

It has been proved that when “nice” leaders fail to manage conflicts, make hard decisions or deal with problem subordinates or areas, they are often accused of not providing strong leadership, lacking courage or just frankly needing to be tougher.

Being mean is not the answer
Does this mean you have to be mean? Absolutely not. Going to the other extreme and being abrasive, or a toxic co-worker or leader, is equally damaging to your career, as well as to others in the organization. Let me repeat: The evidence is overwhelming that being abrasive, disrespectful, abusive and mean will also derail a career.

Overall, being trusting, cooperative, forgiving and tolerant are all good things. But it’s critical to recognize that any trait used in excess or inappropriately can become a weakness.

How do you change a personality trait? While traits generally drive a person’s behavior, they don’t necessarily dictate behavior. Your behaviors should be aligned with your work role and goals. Some of these behaviors may actually be counter to your natural predispositions, but most people want to help their organizations succeed.

Your next steps to success
First, you should determine what traits are preventing you from accomplishing goals or engaging in behaviors important to your job, or are creating negative perceptions of you as an employee and leader.

Next, be flexible in your personality and business styles. While the natural tendency of the vice president of marketing for the hospital was to be cooperative and flexible, she needed to speak up and take a firm stand on major decisions. However counter this was to her natural tendency, she needed to be versatile in her leadership style to handle new responsibilities.

Finding a balance
Can being too nice hurt your career? Yes. Can being too mean also kill your promotion chances? Yes.

I have facilitated many talent management reviews for major corporations. As individuals were reviewed by other senior executives, phrases such as “won’t make the hard decisions”; “doesn’t manage conflict”; “not sure he can lead us through the hard times”; “too much of a pushover”; “nice person but never gets anything done” ended up hurting individuals being considered for promotion.

Equally, phrases such as “gets results, but mows over people”; “can’t manage a team”; “smart but has an abrasive interpersonal style”; “creates conflict”; “adversarial and doesn’t solve problems in a productive fashion” ended up on the negative side of the review.

The keys are balance and versatility — to apply the most appropriate behaviors as necessary for organizational goals. At times, it may be counter to your natural personality and outside your comfort zone. Keep this in mind: Remain authentic to who you are, but take the most appropriate actions needed for your leadership situation.

Dr. Christine Riordan, Dean of the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, leads a global network of over 33,000 faculty, staff, students, and alumni in providing business education, grounded in ethics and dedicated to transforming lives. She has a national reputation as a leadership development and workplace diversity expert and consults regularly with corporations on strategic planning, leadership development activities, diversity management, and team performance.

Congratulations! Despite daily news stories of layoffs and companies folding, you have managed to hang on to your job.

So why don’t you exactly feel like celebrating?

While you may be grateful for employment, the fact is that corporate restructuring, budget cuts and a general air of uncertainty take a toll on all workers. What can you do if you are feeling underpaid, overworked, unrecognized or burned out?

Money matters
From waitresses expected to serve additional tables because of staff reductions to account executives putting in extra hours to land new clients, many employees are working longer and harder than ever before. Yet while demands on workers may be rising, their paychecks often are not.

Blame the employer? Joseph Grenny, co-author of the New York Times bestseller “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High,” cautions against doing that.

“You are responsible for your income — not your employer,” Grenny states. He thinks that if you believe you are underpaid for the amount of work you do, you’ve got three options:

· Persuade your employer
“Evaluate your contributions to the company and determine if the value you add to the company warrants a raise. If you think a raise is merited, make sure to adequately prepare for the crucial conversation with your employer, and be prepared to share specific examples of how you have benefited the company.”

· Supplement your income
“If you do not think your company is in a position to give you a raise, consider supplementing your income with consulting in your area of expertise, a side business or another source of income.”

· Shop around
“If you feel that you are underpaid and under-appreciated, it might be time to start looking for a new job.”

Is “rocking the boat” dangerous in this economy? As Grenny sees it, “Employers these days realize that if today is a soft labor market, it will be tight again sometime in the future. Consequently, you can have more confidence than you might realize in approaching your boss. The key is to build mutual purpose — to let the employer know you care about the needs of the company while wanting to be fairly compensated yourself.”

Beyond a paycheck
Being happy in a job isn’t solely about pay. Employees want to know that their talents and efforts are recognized and appreciated by those around them.

Janet Flewelling, director of human resources operations for Administaff in Houston, Tex., notes that in many cases when an employee feels he is being overlooked by management it has nothing to do with length of tenure or even job performance. “During a tough economy, when many companies have experienced layoffs, tensions are high and it is often the case that management is consumed with other concerns such as reducing operating costs or retaining clients.”

Flewelling gives the following advice for workers looking to get noticed:

· Take a proactive stance
“Provide your supervisor with regular status updates of your work and candidly discuss projects and the milestones achieved before he or she requests the information. Taking the initiative to openly communicate with management will not only assist in keeping you top-of-mind, it demonstrates your drive to succeed, which is something no smart manager can overlook.”

· Focus on career development
“Successful companies know retaining employees who want to constantly learn and develop their skills are the best investment they can make and therefore these employees are rarely overlooked.”

· Support your company
“Employers look to employees to support leadership in an economic downturn. Employees should clearly communicate their support to management and let them know that they are ready and willing to pitch in and assist wherever necessary to help make management’s vision a reality.”

Getting out of the dumps
Irritability, headaches, stomach aches, fatigue and problems sleeping are some ways that job stress can manifest itself. When feeling burned out becomes the norm instead of the exception, it may be time for action.

Try a walk at lunch to clear your head. Skip hanging around the water cooler if office gossip is getting you down. Try a power nap after work instead of more coffee, and be sure you’re eating something other than junk food from the vending machine.

Finally, consider utilizing services of employee assistance programs, which are typically available through insurance providers at no additional cost to the employee. “Oftentimes, workers do not take advantage of these programs because they do not know they are available or they worry the information will be made accessible to the employer,” Flewelling states. “However, that is not the case. EAPs offer confidential counseling and referral services from trained professionals to help employees with problems at work or home, financial concerns, stress, depression and substance abuse, to name a few.”

Fifty-seven percent of U.S. workers don’t like their job enough to take it seriously, according to a 2008 study by Taleo Corp., a California company that provides talent management software. How can you do a great job if you don’t give your career 100 percent? Moreover, when you despise the day-to-day workplace grind, you’re not focused on how to better yourself. No wonder studies have shown that when you love your work, you’re more successful, even less stressed. That’s exactly why it’s so vital, before you invest time and money, to research your best career matches.

From 1,000 occupations, in addition to CEO, this evaluation by Dewey Color System recommends your top 75 careers. You’ll get answers, even if you’re clueless about the job market. Instead of asking questions like, “Do you want to be a writer, engineer or farmer?” and then essentially giving your own answer back to you, you will be directed toward the occupations you should find most enjoyable. Each listing also contains career investment facts.

The color preference methodology matches career-specific occupations to your personality. The system:

· Evaluated 750,000 CareerBuilder online users
· Asked users from 1,000 occupations if they enjoy their current career
· Choosing “strongly agree” placed them in a “career sample base”
· Evaluated all 1,000 samples by color preference in order to predict your best career.

Below find the framework of a “career business plan.” Use it to find a career that you will love.

1. Set a goal
· First-time job seeker: You need experience. Be concerned only with getting it. Discount higher salaries or even somewhat unpleasant duties. Investigate where you can best get on-the-job training. Visualizing opportunities ahead is energizing.
· Career experienced: Expand your list of available jobs and their descriptions. Based on your current experience, explore which recommended careers are best-suited to your career path. Look for a niche that’s not saturated with other applicants.
· Student: As you read about each career, answer the question, “What would you love to do?” Transfer your idea into both a long-term and a short-term plan. Then, choose a curriculum that will land that first job.

2. Create a success-driven mindset
It all starts with you. When you feel confident about your future, others respond with positive offers of opportunity and support. Here are ways to create a successful mindset:
· Say no to ego-driven goals: Avoid status-driven self-proclamations. View each career in the light of how much you would enjoy day-to-day tasks. If you choose a glamorous career, be aware that it’s very competitive.
· Link careers: Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years? Create a career growth plan. For example: secretary → executive administrative assistant → office manager. Success in the real world is a step-by-step process. Build your step-by-step résumé with enthusiasm and doors will open.
· View career choices as an investment: Don’t snub the low-wage occupations or take the highest-paying career choices. Instead look at the long-term training benefits. Where will it take you?
· Seek work that looks fun: Job enjoyment creates competency, and that translates into success and further opportunities. Ask yourself, “Would this career be fun?” Even if you’ve already worked at a particular job and it didn’t pan out at the time, it might still lead to a great career with another employer.

3. Make a plan
Imagine you are actually working in each listed occupation that’s of interest. Ask yourself, “Would this job be fun and easy to do or learn?” If so, it could be the best path for you.
· Select five short-term jobs: Be realistic. Which five occupations can you competitively interview for right now, based on your education and experience?
· Select five long-term careers: Think big. What five careers can you qualify for in five or 10 years? Don’t form an opinion until you have reviewed all of your options. Assign the highest rank to those job descriptions that are most appealing.
· Select only the high-growth occupations: Getting that perfect career is something of a gamble. Increase your odds of winning by selecting only the high-growth job descriptions.
· Get the facts: Read about each occupation that “appears” to be enjoyable. Then, be totally honest with yourself. Which day-to-day career lifestyle would really suit you best? One place to start is http://www.bls.gov/soc/.

4. Just do it
Get disciplined and don’t allow self-doubt to keep you from moving forward.
· It’s not personal: Don’t let false pride slow you down. Get your face or résumé in front of every friend or prospective career opportunity.
· Run the numbers: Get as many interviews and résumés sent as possible. Make it fun! Run up the numbers.
· Be proud of every “No“: Don’t fret over rejections; it will only diminish your self-confidence.

Dewey Sadka, author and inventor of The Dewey Color System’s Color Career Indicator 4.0, owned and operated one of the country’s largest staffing companies for more than 25 years.

Many workers have been tackling large workloads for months and slowly but surely losing their get-up-and-go. If routine assignments have taken on mammoth proportions, you may be suffering from burnout. Long work hours and seemingly relentless deadlines can lead to low morale and reduced productivity — not to mention decreased job satisfaction. Following are additional warning signs that you may be running on empty:

· You have trouble getting out of bed when you have to go to work.
· You frequently arrive to work late.
· You feel bad about your performance.
· You feel withdrawn.
· You watch the clock excessively.
· Work stress spills over into other areas of your life.
· You get into frequent disagreements with your manager or co-workers, which you didn’t in the past.
· You think you aren’t making progress, despite your best efforts.

If these symptoms sound familiar, it may be time to make some changes. Here are some strategies to help you renew your enthusiasm and get your career back on track:

1. Evaluate your role
If your company has experienced layoffs or has a hiring freeze in place, you might be shouldering more responsibility than in the past. Although taking on new assignments can be a good career move, doing so can lead to burnout if the scope of your responsibility has expanded beyond what you can reasonably manage. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t try to tough it out. Instead, meet with your supervisor and be honest about your situation. Work with him or her to reprioritize projects or look for ways to delegate some of your work.

2. Look at your schedule
The way you manage your time also can affect your ability to rebound from job exhaustion. If you are overbooked or expending too much energy on noncritical initiatives, you may be creating additional pressure at work. Try keeping a simple record of your activities for a week and divide the findings into categories such as “researching,” “reviewing proposals” and “responding to e-mails.” Are you devoting adequate time to the highest priorities?

3. Identify your stressors
Understanding the factors that contributed to your decline in motivation can help you move in a more positive direction. Think about what has contributed to your burnout: Is it the feeling that projects are out of your control? Have your own actions exacerbated the problem? For example, you may have set an overly ambitious time line for completing an assignment, creating unnecessary stress and obstacles to its success. Even small changes to your routine, such as seeking assistance from your manager when you have too many projects on your plate, can help brighten your outlook.

4. Ask for help
A common symptom of burnout is a feeling of isolation. You may think you’re the only one who can review a particular document because you understand the project best, but someone else might bring in a fresh perspective — not to mention relieve some of the burden. It’s OK to let others know that you’re facing difficulties and request their assistance. Keep in mind that you won’t be perceived as a complainer if you objectively outline the specific issues you’re trying to address and ask for guidance.

5. Take a break
Make sure to allow time to periodically recharge. Even if you’re working long hours, you can counteract stress and maximize your performance on the job by taking five- or 10-minute breaks throughout the day. Stand up and stretch or go for a short walk. Instead of eating lunch at your desk, try the break room or outside courtyard. When you’re able, try to use your vacation days, as well. Getting away from the office, even for a day or two, can give you a fresh perspective on your situation and allow you to return with new focus and energy.

A certain amount of stress is inherent in any job, but when the pressure gets out of hand, it’s important to act quickly. Burnout can hurt not only your overall job performance but also your personal life. By taking measures to reduce the amount of stress you’re facing, you can regain your motivation.

Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com/. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/roberthalf.

If you turn on the TV, you’re probably going to see a character who has one of the following jobs: lawyer, doctor, criminal investigator or generic business professional who must wear a suit.

Not that we don’t love those jobs (and those shows), but the media in general seem to forget about the millions of workers who are in other fields. To give some coverage to other occupations, we decided to highlight 40 jobs that are in one of these industries: construction, maintenance, operations, production and material handling. These careers are typically considered blue-collar jobs and are some of the top-earning in each field.

Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and CBSalary.com, here are 40 top-paying blue-collar jobs and their mean annual salaries:

1. Aircraft mechanics: $54,506
2. Aircraft service technicians: $41,604
3. Boilermakers: $50,091
4. Brickmasons: $48,439
5. Carpet installers: $42,682
6. Chemical plant and system operators: $51,464
7. Construction and building inspectors: $51,815
8. Electricians: $55,188
9. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation and equipment: $44,450
10. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment: $49,260
11. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse substation and relay: $60,700
12. Elevator installers and repairers: $66,642
13. First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers: $61,280
14. First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers and repairers: $59,160
15. First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators: $53,960
16. Gas plant operators: $64,608
17. Line installers and repairers: $54,300
18. Locomotive engineers: $70,116
19. Machinists: $49,626
20. Millwrights: $54,969
21. Mining machine operators: $45,570
22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines: $44,300
23. Model maker, metal and plastic: $44,700
24. Nuclear power reactor operators: $73,510
25. Numerical tool and process control programmers: $46,360
26. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers: $54,950
27. Power distributors and dispatchers: $58,401
28. Power plant operators: $74,061
29. Plumbers: $49,169
30. Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers: $52,650
31. Rail car repairers: $44,981
32. Railroad brake, signal and switch operators: $49,400
33. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators: $44,870
34. Ship and boat captains and operators: $67,730
35. Ship engineers: $50,754
36. Stationary engineers and boiler operators: $50,098
37. Structural iron and steel workers: $47,170
38. Subway and streetcar operators: $55,318
39. Tool and die makers: $48,180
40. Transportation inspectors: $46,984

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

With some companies beginning to emerge from the recession and pursue growth plans again, moving up the corporate ladder could be on your mind. Taking on a higher-level position — and, ideally, the corresponding bump in pay — could be especially appealing if you’ve assumed added responsibilities or put in longer hours during the downturn. What can you do to ensure you’re on the short list of candidates for a promotion? Here are some tips:

1. Talk to your manager.
Your supervisor has a large say in your chances of earning a promotion. Don’t assume he or she is aware of your desire to grow your career. Speak to your boss about your long-term plans. Your manager may know of opportunities within the department, or elsewhere in the company, and be able to help you evaluate and prepare for the opportunities. Your boss also has a more objective view of your professional strengths and weaknesses than you do and can provide an honest assessment of what steps you may need to take to assume a new role.

By involving your boss in your quest for a promotion, you can discuss with him or her any questions or challenges you face. For example, if you are an administrative assistant in the marketing department and are interested in a position as an account executive, your supervisor’s feedback could help you determine if such a transition would be right for you.

2. Upgrade your skills.
There’s a good chance you may lack some of the necessary skills or qualifications for a higher-level role. The supervisory position you’re eyeing, for instance, may require knowledge of budgeting procedures or recruiting techniques. In some cases, you may even have to earn a new certification, license or degree.

You also need to consider if you have the necessary soft skills. A promotion may require you to do less hands-on, technical work and instead manage people, oversee projects, help various groups reach consensus or negotiate with vendors. If you lack experience in these areas, work with your manager to identify the appropriate training opportunities. Also, volunteer for projects that allow you to build skills in essential areas.

3. Expand your network. Being connected at work has multiple benefits. Most obviously, you could learn of opportunities you might not have otherwise been aware of. You also may meet someone who can provide insight into the job or type of position you seek. A manager, for example, could outline the steps he took to move up from a staff-level role and warn you about any stumbling blocks he faced.

Perhaps most importantly, networking with others allows you to boost your visibility within the company, increasing the likelihood that someone considers you when a position becomes available.

4. Gauge your interest. The most crucial part of preparing for a promotion is determining if you truly want it. While it’s safe to assume that you want any additional compensation or perks the job offers, do you also want the additional responsibilities? After you’ve learned more about a role you’re interested in assuming, ask yourself if you can do everything the position requires. Take into account not only your skill set and qualifications but also your life outside of work. If you have young children, for example, will your work/life balance suffer? Will a higher-level position require you to play office politics? Are you comfortable transitioning from peer to manager if you take a supervisory role?

A promotion is a great way to advance your career, but remember that it isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. You’re unlikely to jump multiple rungs on the corporate ladder in a single move. So keep your eye on the position you want to assume eventually and focus on the steps, even if they seem small, that will allow you to get there.

Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com/.

Everyone has a different idea of what’s a good or bad salary. Some people are happy just to make ends meet. Others won’t settle for less than six figures. A lot of factors go into what makes a salary seem reasonable.

Therefore you can’t really classify any single salary as high or low without bringing in your own bias. That said, sometimes salaries just don’t seem large enough. We put together a list of 10 jobs that have salaries we thought would be bigger. Don’t mistake these jobs for having salaries that are impossible to live on; instead, these are salaries that seem too low for the amount of work, time or risk they involve.

Here are 10 jobs we thought would pay more:

1. Court reporters transcribe arguments during trials, mediations and other legal proceedings.
What they earn: $48,968/year
Why it’s surprising: Legal matters are important, and having an accurate record of what occurs is vital to almost any proceeding. Court reporters have to be attentive, speedy and accurate. That’s not easy.

2. Dry cleaners get those stubborn stains out of our clothing when at-home scrubbing just won’t do. Plus, they press our work clothes and formal attire so we look presentable in public and not like we’re wearing wrinkled tissue paper.
What they earn: $22,641/year
Why it’s surprising: Have you seen how much laundry your average dry cleaner is dealing with? Not to mention the fact that most people take their garments at the last minute, so the turnaround is usually very quick.

3. Maids and housekeeping cleaners are responsible for cleaning up the messes we make at hotels and homes. They empty the trash, replace the linens and do other chores that make homes and workplaces livable.
What they earn: $23,922/year
Why it’s surprising: It’s common knowledge that maids and housekeepers don’t earn as much as other occupations, but we’d probably expect someone whose job involves so much labor to be paid more.

4. Middle school teachers instruct children in grades six through eight. They sometimes specialize in one course, but often teach several.
Salary: $50,963/year
Why it’s surprising: Have you spent any time with an adolescent or teenager lately? Could you handle being trapped in a room with dozens of them, much less trying to keep them focused so you can teach them? A Nobel Peace Prize should be included in their compensation. Not to mention the amount of education most teachers are required to have, and they are usually required to take development courses every few years.

5. Paramedics respond to emergencies and provide medical care on-site. They also transport patients to health-care facilities if necessary.
What they earn: $46,184/year
Why it’s surprising: Although putting a price on saving a life seems impossible, you would expect a paramedic’s salary to be a bit higher.

6. Police officers protect citizens from criminals and help enforce laws that keep us safe.
What they earn: $53,428/year
Why it’s surprising: Their lives are on the line and they never know what they’re getting into. It’s hard to imagine many jobs that deserve better pay.

7. Rehabilitation counselors work with patients to treat disabilities, which can range from social to physical ailments. They work closely with the patients’ other health-care specialists to ensure they’re making progress.
What they earn: $27,617/year
Why it’s surprising: Rehabilitation workers are dealing with important issues that affect patients’ lives in a significant way and often have irregular work hours.

8. Security guards keep watch over businesses, merchandise and buildings. They make sure no one steals items or breaks into closed offices.
What they earn: $33,195/year
Why it’s surprising: Security guards have to be on the lookout at all times, and may be standing for their shifts. Their jobs involve little relaxation.

9. Teacher assistants do just what their title says — they help teachers. They often help students with some basic tasks or grade papers and prepare materials so teachers can focus on more demanding issues.
What they earn: $24,448/year
Why it’s surprising: Although these are assistants and not teachers, and therefore their education and experience requirements are less demanding, they are still highly involved in educating students and not paid as competitively as expected.

10. Veterinary assistants help veterinarians with caring for a variety of animals, which includes helping with examinations and treatments.
What they earn: $32,584/year
Why it’s surprising: Animals aren’t the easiest patients to deal with. They’re finicky, often dangerous and definitely not something just anyone can handle.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

With the national unemployment rate in double digits, people lucky enough to be employed are focusing on how to keep their jobs. For some, that means spending longer hours at the office, volunteering for new assignments, or enrolling in continuing education programs to gain additional skills that can add value in their current position.

For others, this is a time of deep, personal reflection about their job choice and career path. Many people are re-evaluating their careers, and they are looking at how they can make a greater impact on the lives of others.

As the director of career services for Walden University, I have been privileged to hear the success stories of hundreds of working professionals who found ways to make a greater difference in their communities. Here are three important lessons they taught me:

1. Expand your current role
The answer to making work more rewarding may be right in front of you. Before switching jobs and companies, first look inside your organization for opportunities to make an impact. With many organizations short-staffed right now, it might be possible to gain experience in a new field and shift careers with your current employer.

One of our public health doctoral students did just that. Julie*, who works in public health for a federal agency, sought projects to lead, and she became involved in two research initiatives outside her usual job description.

She updated her résumé to reflect her newly acquired skills, experiences and education, proving to her supervisor that she was qualified for a higher-level position. As a result of her resourcefulness, Julie received a promotion and a raise.

2. Spearhead a new initiative
Sometimes finding more meaningful work comes from exploring novel ways to use what you already know to make a difference in a new arena.

Maria* was completing a practicum in nursing at a local college. In conversations with the college’s dean, she learned that the curriculum had not yet been developed for the college’s new community health nursing course.

Capitalizing on her 20 years of experience in home health care, Maria offered to develop a syllabus and lesson plan for the course, and she was given the opportunity to do so. Her initiative paid off — the associate dean offered her a faculty position as the community health nurse educator.

3. Share your expertise with colleagues
When I talk to students who are successful in their jobs and their lives, I learn that they often go the extra mile in their professional roles, especially in their interactions with others.

There are plenty of opportunities to make a difference for individuals within your organization. Newer staff members need more experienced advisers to help them navigate difficult work scenarios or simply to grab lunch with them once in awhile.

Co-workers in other departments may be looking to better understand the work you do — and these connections will help strengthen ties between individuals and work groups within your company.

Check with your human resources department to see if you can sign up for a mentoring program, or simply invite a junior employee to lunch. Sometimes there is no greater reward than helping someone else succeed.

Now is a vital time to find ways to make current jobs more fulfilling, while also building skills for future achievement.

*Last names have been withheld for privacy purposes.

Lisa Cook is the director of career services for Walden University, an online university with a curriculum tailored to meet the needs of working professionals who strive for greater social impact. For more information, go to www.WaldenU.edu.

Everyone wants to earn a hefty salary in their careers, and it’s no secret that some of the highest-paid people are doctors, dentists and lawyers. It’s even less of a secret that those careers aren’t easy to come by. They require years of schooling — something that not everyone can (or wants to) handle.

But don’t despair. If you want to earn a lot of money, but don’t necessarily want to earn and advanced degree, check out these 20 careers. Although you won’t start out earning six figures, with your bachelor’s degree in tow, you can easily work your way up.

Here are 20 high-paying jobs that require only a bachelor’s degree:

1. Chief executives
Salary: $160,440
Education: Many top executives have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, liberal arts or a more specialized discipline.

2. Natural sciences managers
Salary: $123,140
Education: Natural sciences managers usually move up to management positions after starting out as scientists. They may have a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline.

3. Engineering managers
Salary: $120,580
Education: Engineering managers usually move up to management positions after starting out as engineers. Nearly all engineering managers have at least a bachelor’s degree in some specialty of engineering.

4. Petroleum engineers
Salary: $119,140
Education: Engineers usually earn a bachelor’s degree in an engineering specialty.

5. Computer and information systems managers
Salary: $118,710
Education: A bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field such as computer science, information science or management information systems is usually required for management positions.

6. Marketing managers
Salary: $118,160
Education: Employers often prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in marketing, or in business administration with an emphasis in marketing.

7. Financial managers
Salary: $110,640
Education: A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or business administration is the minimum academic preparation for financial managers, but many employers now seek graduates with a master’s degree.

8. Sales managers
Salary: $110,390
Education: A wide range of educational backgrounds is suitable for entry into sales manager jobs, but many employers prefer college graduates with experience in related occupations. Most sales managers start out as sales representatives with a bachelor’s degree in business.

9. General and operations managers
Salary: $107,970
Education: Just like their responsibilities, the formal education and experience required by general and operations managers vary. Most of these workers have at least a bachelor’s degree and considerable experience.

10. Human resources managers
Salary: $103,920
Education: A bachelor’s degree is typical to break into the human resources field. It should be noted, however, that many colleges and universities don’t offer degree programs in personnel administration, human resources or labor relations until the graduate degree level. This particular salary applies to human resources managers other than payroll and timekeeping, labor relations managers and training managers.

11. Public relations managers
Salary: $101,220
Education: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in public relations or journalism is preferable for public relations management positions.

12. Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates
Salary: $100,450
Education: A bachelor’s degree and work experience are usually the minimum requirements for judges and magistrates. Many have law degrees and some are elected.

13. Computer hardware engineers
Salary: $100,180
Education: Engineers usually earn a bachelor’s degree in an engineering specialty.

14. Political scientists
Salary: $99,320
Education: Political scientists with a bachelor’s degree usually qualify for entry-level positions as a market analyst, research assistant, writer or policy analyst.

15. Actuaries
Salary: $95,980
Education: A bachelor’s degree and a strong background in mathematics, statistics and general business are needed to be an actuary. They’re also required to pass a series of exams in order to become certified professionals.

16. Advertising and promotions managers
Salary: $94,720
Education: Employers often prefer a bachelor’s degree in advertising or journalism, along with related courses.

17. Computer software engineers, systems software
Salary: $94,520
Education: A bachelor’s degree is normally required for software engineering jobs, although a master’s degree is preferred for some positions.

18. Purchasing managers
Salary: $94,300
Education: Most employers hire applicants who have a college degree and who are familiar with the merchandise they sell and with wholesaling and retailing practices. Workers may begin as trainees, purchasing clerks, junior buyers or assistant buyers.

19. Personal financial advisers
Salary: $92,970
Education: Personal financial advisers must have a bachelor’s degree. Many go on to earn a master’s degree in finance or business administration or get professional designations.

20. Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents
Salary: $92,050
Education: Most positions require a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or economics. An MBA or professional certification is helpful for advancement.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

By Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

President Barack Obama gets a nice little salary. Certainly some CEOs, entrepreneurs and movie stars are earning millions (and in some cases billions) of dollars, so he’s by no means the richest person on the planet with his $400,000 annual salary. And he gets some pretty sweet perks — a fancy plane, an amazing chef and one of the most famous addresses in the world.

But if you stop to think about all his job entails, he’s never really off the clock. Although he takes vacations, he can’t completely clock out as long as he is in office. Regardless of where he is, the Secret Service is monitoring his every move and he must respond to any crisis that arises. The only other job that requires you to be on call 24 hours a day without fail is that of a parent, and no one’s paying you to do that, unfortunately.

We took Obama’s salary (not including his perks) and divided it by the 8,765 hours in a year, to figure that he earns $45.63 per hour. Again, not too shabby, but considering what a president has to put up with — constant danger, huge responsibilities, graying hair, people throwing shoes — it’s a tough gig.

Here are 10 jobs that, while important and demanding, probably don’t have the same pressure as that of Obama’s, and they pay more than he gets:

1. Computer and information systems managers are involved in technology administration for a company or organization. They work with leaders to ensure the company is meeting all goals and standards they have set for technology.
Hourly pay: $49.90

2. Dentists perform routine maintenance on your teeth and gums, ranging from preventive treatment to certain types of procedures. In other words, they allow you to smile with confidence.
Hourly pay: $66.54

3. General internists care for and treat adult patients for diseases or ailments relating to internal organs, such as heart or gastrointestinal issues.
Hourly pay: $55.61

4. Judges and magistrates preside over various legal and civil proceedings in order to assign awards or punishment based on the law.
Hourly pay: $59.95

5. Lawyers perform a wide range of legal duties, ranging from acting as counsel in a trial or working on behalf of organizations and corporations to ensure they are abiding by the law.
Hourly pay: $54.35

6. Marketing managers coordinate the promotion and marketing of a product or service for a company. They are involved in all marketing aspects for the company, from the initial brainstorming to the execution of the plan.
Hourly pay: $51.26

7. Post-secondary business teachers teach business courses in college and universities. Their students are typically working toward an MBA, although they might be studying any number of fields.
Hourly pay: $60.92

8. Post-secondary physics teachers teach post-secondary physics courses at universities and institutions and often perform research, as well.
Hourly pay: $57.76

9. Psychiatrists work with patients to diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders or conditions.
Hourly pay: $71.93

10. Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents sell stocks or bonds to investors in exchange for a commission. They are in constant contact with customers to see what stocks or bonds might interest them and find out how they want to proceed.
Hourly pay: $53.54

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

In addition, about 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force last December, an increase of more than half a million from the previous year. Marginally attached persons are defined as those individuals who were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed, however, because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. Have they simply given up?

“Unemployed people are facing some historic numbers and formidable competition. However, they need to pinpoint those areas they may be able to change, make a difference and increase their chances for success. Despite the odds, people are still landing jobs every day. Job seekers need to continually make adjustments, learn to run a focused campaign and never give up,” said Bob Wilson, managing partner of OI Partners-High Potential Inc. in Chicago.

If you are feeling the stress of long-term unemployment, here are some tips from Wilson and his colleagues at OI Partners:

Double-check your references: “Make sure that your references are telling potential employers what you think they are, and they are up to date on your skills and accomplishments. We suggest that our clients ‘groom’ their references constantly and determine in advance exactly what their references will say about them. Finally, use only those that will ’sell’ you the best to potential employers,” Wilson says.

Be sure you are targeting the right industries: The health care industry has added 630,000 jobs since the recession began. Also, the financial services, manufacturing, and professional service industries are the most likely to re-hire people they have previously laid off, according to an OI Partners survey, indicating they may have cut back too deeply.

Increase your face-to-face contact: “Some long-term unemployed may be spending too much time looking for jobs and posting resumes online, and have not had enough face-to-face contact. Join networking groups, and increase your networking contacts by volunteering your services with civic, charitable, and religious groups. Continue attending professional association meetings, as well as finding out from your network what your target companies are doing in the marketplace,” Wilson says.

“You want to become knowledgeable in the areas of your interest. The often used term ‘networking’ is so very important. When you meet a contact and are able to tell your story, you don’t know who or how many that contact will be sharing your story with in the days and weeks to follow your meeting. That is why face time is key – be sure to keep your network up to date and informed. It is how jobs are being filled today,”  Wilson adds.

Use social networking Web sites to identify contacts within targeted companies and possible jobs that have not been posted or advertised: Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter are particularly helpful for finding inside contacts. “Work these electronic networking media to identify fellow alumni, friends, and former colleagues who may be internal contacts who can be helpful in getting your resume reviewed,” Wilson says.

Focus on the immediate value you can bring to an employer: “You may not have clearly communicated to potential employers what you can do for them right now and within your first three months on the job. Be sure to clarify your value proposition, including a performance pledge and a timetable for achieving results,” Wilson says. ” Employers want to find people who can help with one of three things: increase revenue, decrease costs, or mitigate risk.”

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The current economy has kept many employees stationed for the past couple of years, not because they love what they do — but because they are too scared to pursue other opportunities. But, according to a recent Gallup Poll, 71 percent of employees feel disengaged from their jobs. So what should you do? Continue to stay in a job where you are unhappy? Or start looking for somewhere where you’ll be happier?

People quit their jobs for many reasons. Maybe you don’t like your co-workers or your boss drives you crazy. Maybe there’s nowhere for you to move up in the company. Maybe you’re overworked and underpaid. Maybe you’re all of the above.

While the choice to move on to greener pastures is up to you, here are 10 signs that should tell you if it’s time to start thinking about moving on:

1. Your co-workers drive you crazy.
Co-workers can be a curse or a blessing in the workplace. When you work with people you love, it’s one thing. But how are you supposed to get any work done when your colleagues are irritating you, offending you, distracting you, coming in late, leaving early, talking loudly on the phone, procrastinating or coming to your desk to gossip? If you find that you want to tear your hair out at the end of each day because of your colleagues, it might be time to look for more tolerable people.

2. You hate going to work.
When Sunday night rolls around, are you dreading going into the office the next morning? As soon as you arrive on Monday morning, are you already thinking about Friday at 5 p.m.? I think all of us have had to go to job that we hate at least once, and if you haven’t — you’re the exception, not the rule (not to mention extremely lucky). When you’re spending 40+ hours at work, the last thing you want is to hate every second you’re there. If you do, it might be time to start thinking about your next career move.

3. You’re bored.
Most people like to feel challenged at work. If your work has started to seem too easy or repetitive, it’s a sign that you need more responsibility or extra a change in roles. But, don’t confuse boredom with slacking off. There’s a vast difference between watching YouTube videos all day long with work piling up next to you and watching YouTube videos all day long because you’ve completed all there is to do.

4. The company — or your job — is in trouble.
It’s no secret that many companies are still struggling as a result of the economy. There continue to be layoffs and budget cuts. While we don’t suggest quitting your job in a panic without having some sort of plan as to what your next step is, we do think you should pay attention to what’s going on at your company. If you’re concerned about the state of your job or the company, approach your manager with any concerns before taking other actions.

5. You don’t feel at home.
Sometimes we forget how important it is to feel comfortable at work — that is, until we don’t. If competition seems far from friendly, your colleagues steal your ideas, your ethics or values conflict with the company, or even if your casual style clashes with the buttoned-up policies of management, you might try to find a company where you feel more at home.

6. You can’t stand your boss.
Just because someone is a manager or boss doesn’t give him free reign to be a jerk. Whether you realize it or not, your relationship with your boss has a huge impact on your overall professional happiness and success. After all, even the best job can be terrible if your boss is lousy. If you don’t see eye-to-eye or your manager is untrustworthy or unwilling to help you succeed, it might be time to look for a new job — with a new supervisor.

7. Your career is at a standstill.
Maybe you’ve been doing the same job for several years and you’re ready for more responsibility. Maybe you’ve lost your passion for what you used to love. Maybe you work at a company where there’s no other role for you than the one you’re currently in. Start by talking to your boss about taking on more work, or trying different tasks. Express to him or her that you want to continue to develop your skills and reach your goals. If no alternatives are available, it might be time to start looking around.

8. You’re not valued.
Recognition is important — you need to feel as though you’re making a contribution and like other people will give you credit for your successes. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you get bonuses, perks or positive feedback? If your boss has never heard of positive reinforcement, it might be time to find company that will value your talent.

9. Your work environment sucks.
State of the economy aside, every job and every company experiences highs and lows. It doesn’t take a psychiatrist to know that working in place with negative energy or low morale is draining on even the happiest soul. If you find that you’re always feeling stressed out, depressed or having a negative attitude, it might be time to explore more positive options.

10. You’re exhausted.
Everyone says they’re stressed. But some people are really stressed. Too many projects and not enough help equal a heavy workload and job burnout. We don’t advise quitting when the going gets tough once in a while — let’s be honest, everyone has to take one for the team at some point. But, if there’s no end or reprieve in sight, do yourself (and your sanity) a favor and see what else is out there.

Every so often, you meet someone with a job title that makes you go, “Huh?” Either it’s too technical to understand, too hard to describe or in some cases, people just may not have heard of it. But, why would someone not have heard about a job’s existence?

Simple: All the changes that have come about in the past 10 years, from environmental policy to emerging technologies to the recession, have contributed to the creation of careers that never could have existed before.

Dom Sagolla, co-creator of Twitter, for example, recently made the switch from working in research and development at Adobe to creating iPhone applications with his company, DollarApp. Sagolla is also authoring a book, “140 Characters,” which demonstrates the effect of hypertext on literature by redefining the concept of “the book” using Twitter and iPhone to start, he says. Could he have done this 10 years ago? Doubtful.

“I’ve noticed that the best-of-breed iPhone apps incorporate Twitter and social networks, and the best Twitter apps seem to be on iPhone,” Sagolla says. “That is no coincidence: The two came to prominence at roughly the same time. I’ve worked hard to position myself at intersection of those two industries, which form a vortex of attention and zeal that is unmatched.”

Here is a little information about 10 careers that didn’t exist a decade ago:

1. Bloggers
What they do: Bloggers research and write blog posts in a conversational style to engage readers online. They work for themselves or for corporations, but their goal is the same: to develop and maintain blogs to promote a brand, mission or objective. Jimmy Moore, owner of “Livin La Vida Low-Carb,” started his blog in April 2005 after losing 180 pounds. He wrote about it while still employed in a customer service position. He began blogging full time in October 2006.

“My annual income increased from about $25,000 a year to nearly $60,000 now. I get to work out of my home, I’ve written two books, host my twice-weekly health podcast show on iTunes, do YouTube videos and so much more. This is literally my dream job,” he says. “[It] didn’t even exist a decade ago.”

2. Community managers or content managers
What they do: Community or content managers are an extension of a typical marketing role, but on a more personal level. They serve as a liaison between the company and the public, managing a Web site that allows them to engage with community members and spread the word about the company.

Erin Bury has been the community manager at Sprouter, a Toronto company that enables collaboration and networking among entrepreneurs, for almost one year. She says, “A community manager is a nontraditional role, so it requires some unique traits: the ability to adapt quickly, the ability to juggle a multitude of tasks while still keeping a smile on their face, and an innate passion for what they do. This isn’t a 9-to-5 job; it’s one that involves being an extension of the brand almost 24/7, which is why loving the company and the job is a prerequisite.”

3. Green funeral directors
What they do: Green funeral directors incorporate environmentally friendly options to meet the needs of families who want a green service.

“A green funeral may include any or all of the following basic options: no embalming or embalming with formaldehyde-free products; the use of sustainable biodegradable clothing, shroud or casket; using recycled paper products, locally grown organic flowers, organic food; car pooling; arranging a small memorial gathering in a natural setting; [or a] natural or green burial,” says Elizabeth Fournier, a funeral home owner who works as a green mortician. “It’s a fabulous opening for an individual who is green-minded in all aspects of their work.”

4. Interior redesigners
What they do: Instead of spending $500 on a new couch, why not use that money to hire an interior redesigner who will find new ways to decorate with items you already own? Interior redesigners remodel your home using the things you already have, either repurposing them for other uses or putting them in other rooms, etc.

Jennifer Schweikert, owner of Just My Style by JMS, says, “In a time of ‘less is more,’ people streamlining possessions, baby boomers and seniors downsizing, and the green movement of reduce, reuse and recycle, interior redesign is an up-and-coming field of work that addresses these needs in today’s lifestyle and economy.”

5. Patient advocates
What they do: There are several types of patient advocates, and although their services vary, all of them want to make sure that the patient and family are informed and to make things easier on everyone. Advocates can go with patients to appointments; ensure they’re visiting with the right specialists and taking the right medicines; sort through medical bills and negotiate fees with health-care providers and insurance companies; they can even educate family members on proper care for their sick loved one.

6. Senior move management
What they do: Senior move management companies help older adults and families with the physical and emotional demands of downsizing, relocating or modifying their homes.

7. Social media strategists
What they do: Social media strategists use social media tools to help companies interact with customers, increase brand awareness, create buzz, increase traffic and provide information.

8. User experience analyst
What they do: User experience analysts look for ways to make using a Web site easier, more pleasant and more engaging for consumers. They want to figure out how to keep you on their site and how to make your experience while you’re there memorable and useful.

9. Video journalists
What they do: In the 1960s, reporters had to shoot and edit their own stories because of lack of manpower and resources. Now, almost 50 years later, this role is back, but now it’s called video journalism. To save money, large-market news groups hire small-market reporters as video journalists at a fraction of the cost. They are usually assigned stories to produce for the station Web site, finding content to drive Web traffic.

10. Virtual business service providers
What they do: Many people are forming their own companies by way of telecommuting, offering such virtual services as customer service, concierge services or even public relations from their homes.

“Thanks to the birth of the Internet and the rise of new industries because of it, my company was born. The rise of virtual companies like ours has provided jobs for lots of people,” says Deborah Sittig, owner of Green Room Public Relations.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

The past can teach us many things. We can see how unjust our society was to some people before major Supreme Court cases were decided. We can imagine how simple some aspects of life were before cell phones tethered us to work.

It’s also fun to look back and see just how much further a dollar seemed to go back then. Undoubtedly you’ve heard some relative reminiscing about the days when a nickel would buy you four movie tickets and you’d still have some change left.

For fun, we thought we’d see what some of today’s salaries would translate to in 1958 dollars. We’re not saying you would’ve made that exact amount 50 years ago, because many professions were quite different then and not all salaries increased at the same rate. Also, salary surveys weren’t conducted as extensively as they are now, so you can’t find some financial data from more than a few decades ago. And keep in mind that many of today’s jobs didn’t exist 50 years ago. Social media consultants and IT administrators weren’t job titles anyone had.

Measuring Worth is a Web site that compiles historical salary data from various sources and allows users to calculate different monetary figures such as inflation or purchasing power for specified periods of time. We found today’s average salaries and then used Measuring Worth to calculate the monetary equivalent in 1958 based on Consumer Price Index data, which include figures from 1774 to 2008.

Here are 25 contemporary jobs and their current salaries* compared with their monetary equivalent 50 years ago**:

Accountants
2008: $54,440
1958: $7,313

Administrative assistants
2008: $44,471
1958: $5,973

Automotive mechanics
2008: $34,565
1958: $4,643

Chefs
2008: $54,143
1958: $7,273

Construction workers
2008: $36,214
1958: $4,864

Dry cleaners
2008: $22,429
1958: $3,013

Elementary school teachers
2008: $53,020
1958: $7,122

Emergency medical technicians
2008: $35,609
1958: $4,783

Fast-food workers
2008: $19,833
1958: $2,664

Firefighters
2008: $52,293
1958: $7,024

Flight attendants
2008: $63,913
1958: $8,585

Grocery store managers
2008: $55,629
1958: $7,472

Commercial painters
2008: $41,120
1958: $5,523

Hospice workers
2008: $46,191
1958: $6,204

Janitors
2008: $25,725
1958: $3,455

Newspaper journalists
2008: $21,963
1958: $2,950

Personal trainers
2008: $46,049
1958: $6,185

Pianists
2008: $64,348
1958: $8,643

Plumbers
2008: $48,591
1958: $6,527

Police officers
2008: $52,801
1958: $7,092

Public relations representative
2008: $72,575
1958: $9,748

Registered nurses
2008: $66,427
1958: $8,923

Sales clerks
2008: $26,844
1958: $3,606

Surgeons
2008: $322,281
1958: $43,289

Veterinarians
2008: $93,685
1958: $12,584

*Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com
**Past salary figures based on data from Marketing Worth’s calculator for relative value of the U.S. dollar.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

By Rachel Zupek, PrimeCB.com writer

If the economic climate did anything in 2009, it served as a scapegoat for everyone’s problems. While most of the people who are unemployed, never got a raise or who went bankrupt last year legitimately suffered because of the economy, there are also plenty of people using it as an excuse.

Now, at the beginning of 2010, employees face performance reviews and talks of prospective raises and promotions. When your boss tells you that it’s just not going to happen this year, you may feel inclined to shrug and tell yourself it’s because of the economy — but that might not be the case.

Here are 10 reasons you might not receive a promotion any time soon — and they’re not because of the economy.

Reason No. 1: You are unprepared — and clueless

Just because your boss or other decision-makers in the promotion process may know you, it doesn’t mean that you don’t still have to prove yourself to them. Highlight your skills, knowledge and strengths, and show how you can improve the company’s bottom line. Convince them that you have new ideas and that those ideas will help the company achieve and surpass its goals.

Reason No. 2: You’re a slacker

So what if you’re always late to work and you’re the first one to leave? And, like anyone has noticed that you call in sick on Mondays and Fridays. And it’s not your fault you’ve missed a few deadlines or turned down a few projects. You had things to do like (insert most recent excuse here).

Reason No. 3: You don’t go above and beyond

No one can say you’re a slacker. You show up on time, you leave when you’re supposed to and you meet your goals. But that’s the problem — just meeting goals or doing work that is “adequate” or “OK” will probably allow you to keep your job, but it’s not enough to get you promoted. Arrive early, stay late, offer innovative ideas, beat deadlines and do excellent work. If you don’t go the extra mile for your employer, don’t be surprised if your employer doesn’t go the extra mile for you.

Reason No. 4: You haven’t shown leadership

You can’t follow others and do a good job; you need to lead others and be the example. Do what you can to get noticed by the people who have the power to promote you. Take on a project that is outside of your job duties; volunteer to lead committees or organize group outings; or head up your department’s holiday gift-giving program. All of these things will throw your name into the mix of people who always step up and increase your chances of a promotion.

Reason No. 5: You think you’re entitled

Think you’re above making coffee, stapling reports, writing bylines or making presentations? Well, you’re not. Many employees think that doing such tasks is “beneath them” and that if they could start doing more meaningful work, they would care a little more about their jobs. We’ve got news for you: You aren’t going to get that chance if you don’t pay your dues first. Show your employer you’re willing to do whatever is asked of you, and you’ll be much more likely to be given more responsibility.

Reason No. 6: You don’t dress the part

Do you come to work dressed sloppily or inappropriately? Does “casual Friday” mean shorts and flip-flops or jeans and a sweatshirt? If so, it’s no wonder you aren’t being seen as management material. Take a cue from those working in the position that you want to be promoted to and dress similarly. If you look the part, it will be a lot easier for decision-makers to see you in that role.

Reason No. 7: Your boss doesn’t want to lose you

You know you’re great at your job — and so does your boss. If you’re the best associate your boss has ever had, is it any wonder he doesn’t want you to go anywhere? Make sure your boss knows that you want to move up in the company. Offer to help him find an equally great employee so that you both get what you want.

Reason No. 8: You have a bad attitude

No one likes a poor sport — especially in management. If you don’t have a positive attitude at all times, even when times are tough, it will be hard for decision-makers to support you. Also, do you have any enemies at work? Anyone who doesn’t like you can make it more difficult for you to get ahead; especially if those people have the ear of the person who can promote you. Make nice with the right people and your chances of getting that promotion are greatly increased.

Reason No. 9: Your co-workers are superstars

The reality is that some industries are more competitive than others, and a promotion is going to be harder, no matter what. In such a field, you are going to have to do a phenomenal job instead of just a good one. Do more of the things we’ve mentioned, work to separate yourself and show that you’re management material, too.

Reason No. 10: It’s all about you

Your supervisors want to know what you can do for them, not the other way around. So, in a discussion about a promotion, don’t overuse the terms “my career” or continually talk about taking your career to the next level. Instead, talk about how you are committed to doing everything you can to help the company grow and succeed.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

A strict schedule where you clock in at 9 a.m. and clock out at 5 p.m. is ideal for some professionals. You can schedule events easily when you know that you’re busy for only those eight hours.

Not everyone can do that or even wants to. Routine doesn’t sit well with some people who like a little variety in their lives. For other people, that particular eight-hour block of time conflicts with other plans. School, family obligations and part-time jobs often mean working 9 to 5 is impossible. Of course, just because these jobs have different hours than most others, don’t think they’re easy jobs.

If you’d prefer to have a schedule that offers different hours, here are 10 jobs to consider:

1. Chefs and bakers
You might not eat lunch until noon, but someone had to start preparing it long before you sat down. Chefs get up early to get the freshest ingredients from local markets and to start chopping vegetables and marinating dishes so they’ll be ready for you. Bakers also need time to make all those delicious baked goods you scarf down in a few seconds. While you were still snoozing, a baker was making those pastries you picked up on the way to work. The next time you pass by a restaurant or bakery that is closed in the middle of the day, realize that they were working long before you were.

2. Construction workers
Construction work is tough for many reasons, one being the weather. Imagine wearing protective gear while building a skyscraper on a hot summer afternoon. To avoid spending their entire day in dangerous heat, construction crews often start working before the sun rises so they can be done early. It’s safer for them and means they’re heading home before most 9-to-5 workers call it a day.

3. Emergency room nurses
You can’t schedule an emergency, so we’re glad ERs are open around the clock all year long. Naturally, no single nurse can cover every shift alone — and they’re often long shifts — so someone needs to be there during the day, late at night and in the morning.

4. Firefighters
Fires don’t just occur during normal business hours. Firefighters need to be available 24 hours a day, so they have different shifts to ensure someone is ready to help out when a call comes. Certain departments have schedules that require firefighters to work for a certain set of days but then be off for the following three days. You’re still working a lot of hours but you’re not sticking to a standard workday.

5. Hair stylists
Hair stylists need to be available to clients when it’s convenient for them, and not everyone can sneak away for an hour or two during the day to get a haircut. And you probably don’t want a groggy stylist holding a pair of scissors at 6 a.m. just so you can get an appointment before work. That’s why many salons don’t open until late morning but then stay open until late evening. As a result, they’re working when many other people aren’t, so you can make an appointment.

6. News reporters
The news might last only 30 minutes, but a lot of work goes into those stories. The reporters you see on morning shows get up at absurdly early hours just to be able to give you a story while you get ready for work. The reporters on the evening news when you get home were gathering information all day while you were at work.

7. Pilots
Try to imagine how difficult traveling would be if you could fly only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Not only are pilots flying planes at various hours, they’re also crossing time zones and datelines on flights that can go well beyond eight hours.

8. Professors
Some professors teach only day courses, so their workday might not look that different from yours. But others teach in the evenings as well, so they might have a six-hour gap between their morning class for undergraduates and their evening class for grad students. Plus, grading papers and holding office hours mean work well beyond the hours they spend in a classroom.

9. Retail sales clerks
When you buy clothes, groceries or even a car, you probably don’t do it during the middle of a workday. Retail salespeople work evenings and weekends so you can buy what you need without having to leave the office.

10. Security guards
When everyone leaves their 9-to-5 jobs, someone has to make sure the office is secure all night. Security guards patrol the grounds to ensure that no one gets in the building and they alert the police if something goes wrong. Of course, you can find security guards at banks and stores that are open only during standard business hours, too.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.