We welcome your suggestions for other resources in which we can help others to make a living too.
Thinking of embarking on a new career in 2010, but not sure where to begin? How about with a job that not only pays well but offers considerable stability? After all, a handsome paycheck isn't worth much if it's in a field that's expected to become the next recession casualty.
Following are eight of our top picks for gigs expected to be both prosperous and abundant in the coming decade.
Cardiovascular technologist
Between the ongoing need for hospital workers and the aging baby boomer population, this is one career that isn't going anywhere, says Laurence Shatkin, author of more than 20 books for job hunters, including "150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs." According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this job is expected to grow by 24 percent through the year 2018. As the BLS reports, most cardiovascular technologists in training earn at least a two-year technical degree. In addition, some get on-the-job training in the necessary equipment (for example, EKGs).
Median annual salary: $60,400
Database administrator
Like health care, information technology remains a hot field with ample opportunity, says workplace expert Alexandra Levit, whose latest book is "New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career." In other words, she says, "Everyone needs these people." Whether you've acquired the necessary tech skills in the workplace or studied information technology or management information systems in college, a solid foundation in computing is essential, reports the BLS, adding that certifications can only make you more attractive to employers.
Median annual salary: $72,600
Gas/electric/utilities strategic planning analyst
Working in the utilities sector remains a wise bet, no matter what the economy's doing, Levit says. "They're just not downsizing at the rate that some other industries are right now. People still have to heat their homes," she explains. As a bonus, the BLS predicts turnover for utilities positions will be high in the coming decade as older workers retire (in 2008, 53 percent of the utilities workforce was age 45 or older). According to the BLS, of all utilities sector support staff, technology workers and analysts will find themselves best equipped to capitalize on job openings.
Median annual salary: $68,700
Accountant
Do you enjoy crunching numbers but worry that the bulk of corporate accounting jobs were eliminated in the wake of the 2008 banking crisis? There's no need, Levit says. In fact, the BLS estimates that accounting jobs will grow by 22 percent in the next decade. Plus, "Accountants make a good living, especially those who work with organizations that have been required to meet certain federal mandates," Levit says.
Median annual salary: $49,100
Marketing manager
With a product branding and business management background, you -- and your bank account -- can go far. Organizations from all walks of corporate America need creative folks who can write and analyze a marketing survey, position a product to consumers and the media, and collaborate with market researchers, product managers, and profit-minded accountants. What's more, the BLS predicts that opportunities for marketing managers will increase by 13 percent through 2018.
Median annual salary: $60,200
Dental hygienist
Of all the jobs that require a two-year technical degree, this one promises the most opportunity in the new decade, boasting a whopping 36 percent growth rate, Shatkin says. Why? Because "dentists try to shrug off more work to dental hygienists so they can see more patients," he explains. As a bonus, Shatkin adds, many of these positions are part-time with flexible hours, making them ideal for parents with young children.
Median annual salary: $57,100
Interior designer
Are you a design blog junkie? The friend everyone calls when they need help sprucing up their living room? Then why not put your artistic flair to work? Although you'll need to invest in a design degree and acquire the necessary budgeting and software skills, the payoff is worth it, says Shatkin: Job opportunities are expected to grow by 19 percent through 2018.
Median annual salary: $46,100
Occupational therapist
Thanks to the country's aging population, occupational therapy remains a high-growth field, with 26 percent more jobs predicted in the new decade, Shatkin says. If you're the patient, nurturing sort who thrives on helping people, this could be the career for you. Occupational therapists help people who've been sick, injured, or otherwise impaired gain the necessary life skills (using a computer, cooking, dressing, and so on) to return to work or their own home. According to the BLS, nearly a third of occupational therapists work part-time, and a master's degree and state license are usually required.
Median annual salary: $69,400
Source: Salary data from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.
Michelle Goodman is a freelance business journalist and author of "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube."
“The jobless rate has jumped to 7.6 percent, the worst since 1974, and economists are now worried this could lead to a resurgence of disco.” –Jay Leno
WASHINGTON – The economic downturn has forced private industry and state and local government to shed jobs, but one major employer in the country is hiring: The federal government.
While the nation's 11 million unemployed and the millions more who fear losing their jobs may feel Washington should streamline too, economists say a strong federal work force is key to economic recovery. Were President Barack Obama to put any of the nearly 2 million federal civil servants out in the street in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the consequences could be dire.
FedJobs.com, a business that has been helping federal job hunters since 1974, started hearing from 50- to 65-year-olds instead of 25- to 40-year-olds. Here’s who else is hiring.
- Unemployment offices: No, that’s not a typo — yes, the place where you pick up a check for being unemployed needs people to hand out those checks. Unemployment offices across the nation are being overwhelmed by the waves of layoffs. Pennsylvania and North Carolina are hiring hundreds of temporary and full-time workers statewide to help with the crush.
- H&M: The Swedish retailer, which has stores in 33 countries, including more than 100 locations in the U.S., was among the few bright spots on the earnings front last week when it announced “strong” profits and the creation of up to 7,000 new jobs. It plans on opening 225 new stores this year, “most of them in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States.”
Government Job Sites
· To access the federal-job postings, start with www.usajobs.gov, which, as of this writing, lists 47,059 openings. That site has recently added a link for positions created by the stimulus package. Many of those positions will be filled through accelerated hiring procedures. To access that directly, go to http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/
a9recoveryjobs.asp.
· Visit the individual Web sites of your favorite federal agencies. You can access the major ones from http://dcjobsource.com/fed.html. An agency may have special positions and recruitment programs listed only on its site. That means you'll be competing with fewer job seekers. Also, some federal agencies -- for example, the FBI, Federal Reserve, Government Accountability Office and CIA -- don't have to advertise their jobs on www.usajobs.gov.
· An even more under-the-radar source of federal jobs is www.fedbizopps.gov. It lists positions, including many overseas (Iraq or Afghanistan, anyone?), that are filled via personal service contracts. Those jobs are less secure than government jobs but usually pay more.
· Federal agencies, especially the EPA, State Department, FBI, FDIC and Treasury Department, often fill unadvertised openings at job fairs. Some are listed at www.govcentral.com/careers/
articles/1871 and at www.fedjobs.com/chat/jobfairs.html.
· Some private temporary agencies staff federal temp positions. Some of those agencies are listed on www.state.gov/
m/dghr/flo/c21666.htm.
Check out Alison Doyle’s Guide to Job Searching/Blog
http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2009/06/26/find-job-listings-online.htm
Find out when the next job fair will take place in your area by going to:
www.RecruitersNetwork.com/jobfairs.htm
Recent Updated Resources
Like to type? Make Money at it with this free how-to booklet on the world of virtual word-processing
www.VirtualWordPublishing.com
Other Virtual work sites include:
www.HireMyMom.com
www.TigerFish.com
www.AliceDarling.com
Become a customer service agent at home-visit these firms
www.LiveOpps.com
www.West.com
www.WorkingSolutions.com
www.OverflowUsa.com
www.JetBlue.com
www.ACDDirect.com
www.AlpineAccess.com
Serve on a Virtual Jury – law firms sometimes use folks to provide feedback
www.eJury.com
www.OnlineVerdict.com
www.TrialPractice.com
Whether you're a stay-at-home parent returning to the workforce, a college student in need of extra income, or an office worker who's grown weary of the 60-hour-a-week grind, there's probably a part-time job with benefits out there for you.
1. Package handler. Do you have a strong back and an aversion to offices? Then you might get a lot of mileage out of loading and unloading packages at a UPS warehouse in one of the 90 cities the shipping carrier serves. Part-timers must work a minimum of 15 hours a week and wait 12 months before being eligible for benefits. But the company fully funds your health insurance premiums and offers tuition reimbursement for part-timers who take harder-to-fill shifts. Median wage: $11 to $12 per hour.*
2. Barista. Pacific Northwest-based Tully's Coffee serves up some pretty rich perks to the part-time baristas who work in its Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and Arizona retail locations. Employees who put in at least 17.5 hours are eligible for sick pay, a 401(k) savings plan, a limited health plan, dental insurance, legal services, and a slew of discounts. On top of those perks, baristas who work at least 24 hours a week are eligible for medical insurance (including PPO and HSA offerings), disability insurance, and holiday and vacation pay. Median wage: $8.45 per hour.
3. Test prep tutor. Do you enjoy working with students? If you have some teaching experience and know your way around standardized tests, working as a classroom instructor or private tutor can be a great way to parlay your skills into a part-time job with flexible hours and health benefits. Companies like Kaplan regularly hire instructors and tutors to guide teens and adults through the test preparation process -- from the SATs to grad school admissions testing to professional certification exams. Median wage: $12.22 per hour.
4. Customer service representative. If you're a people person who's good on the phone, working as a call center rep might be the gig for you. Not only do many of these jobs lend themselves to flexible, part-time shifts, more and more companies are hiring customer service reps to work from their own home. U-Haul hires telecommuting E-Hotline Agents who are eligible for health benefits their first day on the job. After 90 days, they're eligible for the company's 401(k) savings plan, and after a year, they're eligible for the employee stock purchase plan. Note: Home-based customer service reps must have a reliable computer and Internet connection. Median wage: $11.16 per hour.
5. Computer software test/quality assurance analyst. Are you the person everyone comes to when their latest software purchase has them stumped? Then why not put your tech savvy to work? Software companies -- notorious for their flexible schedules (including part-time hours) and generous benefits -- always need people to test their creations before they ship. Note: A two-year or four-year computing degree or prior programming experience likely will be required. Median wage: $18.84 per hour.
6. Sales clerk/cashier. If you think working for a grocery store takes you out of the running for subsidized health care, you're wrong. Employees of Whole Foods who work at least 30 hours a week and have put in at least 800 hours with the supermarket chain benefit from the company's fully funded health care plan. Plus, the longer they're with the company, the more paid days off employees receive for vacation, holidays, and personal time. And after a year with the company, part-time employees are eligible for a 401(k) plan and a 20 percent discount on all store items. Median wage: $8.16 per hour.
7. Bus driver. Don't want to work in an office or a retail location? With a valid driver's license and a squeaky-clean driving record, you can try your hand at driving a bus for a living. Not only are the schedules flexible, healthcare benefits and paid-time off are frequently included. In King County in Washington State, after completing a 26-day paid training program, drivers who work at least 12.5 hours a week are eligible for the county's healthcare package, paid vacation days, and sick leave. And after seven months on the job, part-time drivers are eligible for the county's retirement plan. Median wage: $12.80 per hour.
8. Medical assistant. Not only is health care one of the most recession-proof fields out there, it's known for offering more than its share of part-time employment options -- complete with health benefits and paid time off. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks medical assistants as one of the fastest growing careers today. Sixty-two percent of medical assistants work in doctor's offices, performing a variety of administrative tasks. While some medical assistants learn on the job, many come to the field with a one-year or two-year degree. Median wage: $11.26 per hour.
9. Domestic worker. Like the general public but don't like the hustle and bustle of public places? Then you might like working in a private home as a part-time nanny or house cleaner. In Seattle, the agency A Nanny for You places domestic workers with families, some of whom provide monthly health-care stipends that workers can apply to their own health insurance costs. Plus, the pet waste removal franchise DoodyCalls, which boasts 40 U.S. locations, offers health coverage to employees who have been with the company 30 days and work at least 30 hours a week scooping Fido's backyard droppings. Median wage: $13 to $17 per hour.**
10. Temporary office assistant. As companies struggle to operate with leaner budgets this year, they're more likely to hire temps to handle pressing projects than add another staff member to their payroll. And while you won't catch any company doling out benefits to its temps, the agencies that hire these project-based workers frequently offer such perks. Case in point: Express Employment Professionals, a temp agency with 600 offices in four countries that offers its administrative, industrial, and professional temps health coverage the moment they're placed on their first assignment. After working the requisite number of hours (varies from branch to branch), Express temps also are eligible for holiday pay, a 401(k) program, and computer and job skills training. Median wage: $10.50 per hour.
Michelle Goodman is author of "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube" and "My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire."
$$$$$$
Avoid a company phone computer system & speak with someone
To find out the right code to speak with a live persion use the following sites:
www.nophonetrees.com
www.get2human.com
Work at Home Resources
Scam-Free Work-From-Home Resources
- Write greeting cards with smaller firms such as Blue Mountain Arts and Oatmeal Studios – earn $10-$500 per verse or drawing. Get started by reviewing writers guidelines at SPS.com/help/greetingcardwritings.html or OatmealStudios.com
- Answer infomercial calls – good for nightowls. Check LiveOps.com (click on ‘Become an Agent’)
- Rating search engines & earn cash. Companies will pay you to search certain phrases and then review the text, Web pages and ads. Choose your own hours & make up to $25 per hour. Go to: LionBridges.com & click on Careers.
- Customer Service Rep at home. Visit HirePoint.com/athome
Other sites you might visit for advice and resources include:
www.Undress4Success.com
www.FlexJobs.com
www.WorkatHomeSuccess.com
www.WorkAtHomeCareers.com
now has an international work at home
section that can be found at: www.WorkAtHomeCareers.com/international
I hope this email was helpful for your readers Bruce… Eddy Salomon
Excerpt from Reader’s Digest
What Work-at-Home Jobs Are All About
If you're willing to do your homework and use common sense, you can find real toil-from-your-dining-table jobs, ranging from telemarketing and virtual assistance to software development and graphic design. It will also take you only a few clicks to see scams worthy of a loan-seeking Nigerian prince. "Any kid in his basement can make a decent-looking website," warns Alison Southwick of the Better Business Bureau. Indeed, one industry observer put the ratio of scams to legitimate jobs at an astonishing 54 to 1. (Check out BBB guidelines.) And no matter what, don't send anyone money, account numbers, or your Social Security number until you're well along in the hiring process and know exactly whom you are dealing with.
Arise.com, workingsolutions.com, liveops.com, alpineaccess.com, and westathome.com specialize in outsourced call center jobs that can be done from home and generally pay $7 to $14 an hour. Read the fine print, though, and you'll find that some pay only per minute you're on the phone (like LiveOps, which takes calls for infomercial customers), while others guarantee an hourly rate. There can be charges for a background and credit check (not unusual in this industry) as well as training, incorporation, and equipment fees: a headset ($75 or so), high- speed Internet access, a dedicated landline, and current software.
Then there are sites such as virtualassistants.com and tjobs.com, which are in effect job boards that charge a fee for access to listings. The trade-off is that you don't have to weed through postings to find ones geared toward home workers and there are fewer scam listings. But anyone willing to do the work can generally find the same listings on free job boards, then do the due diligence him- or herself.
Momcorps.com is a free job board geared toward stay-at-home mothers as well as a staffing service that lets you post a detailed profile. Pay $9.95 a month and your profile jumps to the top of an employer's search.
Virtual marketplace sites—like elance.com, odesk.com, and guru.com—link up freelancers who have specialized skills (like video editing, blog writing, or Web developing) with employers by having candidates bid for jobs. Grumblers complain that they're competing with offshore workers who give lowball figures to win assignments. Sometimes the better listings cost extra-from $9.95 per month to $129.94 per quarter, depending on your field and the site.
Some of the most attractive work-at-home jobs can be found at vipdesk.com, which hires virtual personal assistants for clients. The catch? You need to submit a résumé and writing sample, agree to a background and credit check, interview by phone twice, train for ten days, provide references, and be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays. And you may have to wait. Hourly pay is $14 to $20.
www.homejobstop.com
www.workathomecareers.com
www.jobvertise.com
http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/always-know-whos-hiring/article123837.html?trkid=RINL2006
A very current how-to advice series on getting a job from Reader’s Digest
Consider a web portfolio in addition to a resume…
If you’re in a high tech field especially, having your own personal website is a good idea. In essence, you’re building your own brand. There are many sources for securing a low cost or no cost website including yahoo.com and Godaddy.com
(www.careerjet.com), an employment search engine for the USA. In one simple search, Careerjet gives the job seeker access to a massive selection of jobs that are compiled from various internet sources, saving the trouble of having to visit each site individually.
Links to Making Money at Home
You can always look through your local classified ads and/or Craigslist.org to find groups who will pay you for your opinion…or check these legitimate sites. Remember, never pay anyone a fee to get listed.
NEVER give out a credit card number to any site!
Scams abound – so in addition to not giving out credit card numbers, don’t give out your Social Security Number either.
Interested in outsourced call center jobs…try these legitimate sites.
www.arise.com
www.workingsolutions.com
www.liveops.com
www.alpineaccess.com
www.westathome.com
www.momcorp.com
A job board geared to stay-at-home moms; also allows you to post a detailed profile (they have a paid feature which posts your listing at the top of the page too).
If you’re a free-lancer, try these proven sites:
www.elance.com
www.odesk.com
www.guru.com
To be a virtual assistant, go to:
www.vipdesk.com
www.marketsdirectory.com
Click on Focus Group Facilities, then select your state.
http://www.tryvindale.com/VKq6IV7kb
I really made nearly $15 from this site in about 15 minutes – you can too!
www.greenbook.org
Includes survey and focus groups in your area.
www.mysurvey123.com
Lists firms which pay plus scam sites.
http://www.acop.com/Default.aspx
Doesn’t pay a whole lot (rarely more than $5) but it’s legit.
www.teleworkrecruiting.com
606-526-8880
Legit employment opportunities in the US & Canada
Job Resources for the Over-50 Worker
****NOTE****
Over-50 folks are launching more new businesses currently than any
group in the United States & their odds of success are
better than most other age groups!
Over the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of workers over age 55 to grow at five times the rate of the overall workforce. The demand is already here. At RetirementJobs.com more than 30,000 jobs are listed, with more than 500 employers actively seeking older adults. The Web site also includes advice on résumé-writing, interviewing and online learning opportunities to retrain or update your skills
STAFFING COMPANIES
You may not think of temp agencies as employers, but companies like Manpower, Robert Half International, Kelly Services and Adecco offer some of the highest paid professional and managerial limited-duration contract work.
Workers with relevant experience and background can expect $30 to $70 an hour for project work in accounting, engineering, human resources, law, information technology and project management. Clerical and administrative jobs can pay from $9 to $16 an hour for entry-level to skilled administrative positions. Computer skills are a must, but companies often provide training.
GOVERNMENT
From 2000 to 2007, more than half of senior-level federal executives left their jobs or retired, and many workforce experts predict labor shortages in the federal workforce. State and local governments face a similar challenge.
Federal jobs are scattered all around the country and cover a huge range of professions. Jobs listed recently on our Web site ranged from management analyst to translator to summer playground leader. Pay depends on qualifications and experience, but many openings are expected from entry-level to managerial and professional. Agencies such as the IRS, Peace Corps and US Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance are seeking age 50-plus adults for seasonal, part-time and full-time work.
http://www.usajobs.com/
http://federalgovernmentjobs.us/
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/
TRANSPORTATION
Got a good driving record? There are nearly 3,000 openings for drivers posted at www.RetirementJobs.com
-- for example, with Schneider National, Inc., the nation’s largest truckload carrier. Just type in your zip code and the keyword “driver” to see what’s available. Drivers are needed for limousines, school buses, medical transport vehicles -- even tractor trailers. Training is often provided, although special licenses may be needed. Expect $10 to $15 an hour for small vehicles and $12 to $24 an hour for larger trucks.
Additional Over-50 Job Sites
www.aarpworksearch.org
www.azmatureworkers.com
www.boomerzwork.com
www.wiserworker.com
www.encore.org
www.retiredbrains.com
www.retireeworkforce.com
www.seniorhelpers.com
www.seniorjobbank.org
Resources gathered from AARP, Boardroom Reports and the US government. Bookmark our site as we update this page frequently.
JOB CLEARINGHOUSES
Clearinghouses gather valuable information which you can use…here are links to some of the better ones…
www.job-hunt.org
www.careerjournal.com
www.quintcareers.com
Bigger job boards include:
www.indeed.com
www.careerbuilder.com
www.simplyhired.com
Smaller sites include:
www.jobfox.com
www.oodle.com
A job search can be frustrating and it remains true today that networking among friends and family often produces the best results. Polite persistence is a virtue you’ll need to develop!
Add our site to your list of favorites as we’re always adding new information.
www.poormansurvival.com
All information is deemed accurate at time of publication.