Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The pulse on health care hiring for the second half of 2013

Medical doctor / nurse help wanted sign
By Jason Lovelace, president of CareerBuilder Healthcare
During the back half of the year, employers in health care are looking to add on employees in full-time, permanent positions, as well as part-time employees and temporary or contract workers. In CareerBuilder and MiracleWorkers.com’s latest national survey, health care employers indicated that full-time, permanent hiring in the second half of 2013 will show a gradual improvement over 2012, while temporary and contract hiring is expected to increase 15 percentage points over last year.
While projected additions to full-time staffs have improved marginally from last year, temporary and part-time hiring is expected to grow at a more rapid pace. At the same time, there is an increase in health care employers planning on transitioning temporary employees to full-time roles over the next quarter. These trends reflect the hesitation typical of a post-recession market, along with growing optimism that will continue as employers gain confidence in the economic recovery.
Looking forward to the remainder of the year, there will be a continued boost in temporary hiring activity as well as incremental increases in hiring for full-time and part-time positions:
  • 51 percent of health care employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees, up 2 percentage points from last year
  • 34 percent plan to hire part-time employees, up from 28 percent last year
  • 27 percent plan to hire temporary or contract workers, up from 12 percent last year
Other hot roles in health care
Those who don’t have an M.D. can still find a career in the thriving health care industry. In addition to hiring for health care-specific positions, health care employers are also placing an emphasis on roles involving newer technologies, big data and social media. These hiring trends reflect the growing importance of technology in making patient records, treatment information and other medical data readily available across networks and facilities, as well as the need for strong customer service.
In the remainder of 2013, employers plan to hire in the following areas:
Hiring stable in both big cities & rural areas
When looking at where the health care jobs are, job creation continues in both big cities and outlying towns, where areas are more densely populated and can be accessed by greater numbers of patients. Of health care employers who are hiring in the second half of 2013, 72 percent said they will be hiring for positions in large metropolitan areas, while 42 percent will be hiring in nonmetropolitan, rural areas, similar to last year.
Hiring in the third quarter
Hiring plans for full-time, permanent employees are varied in the health care industry. While the majority of employers (57 percent) anticipate no changes to head count, more than a quarter of employers are looking to add to their staff. Between July and September, 27 percent of employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees, similar to last year.
While the economy continues to improve, the health care industry remains a strong center of employment and job creation. And as technology grows more essential to job performance and patient care, new roles will be added to meet the industry’s demands.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Companies hiring for the holidays

Happy Holidays
CareerBuilder survey reveals more retailers hiring seasonal workers
Every year, it seems as though retailers are prepping for the holiday season earlier and earlier. Before Halloween even arrives, some stores have already started running advertisements or stocking their shelves with gifts for the winter holidays. While, for some, October may be a little early to think about the holiday season, it’s not too early for companies to start hiring for it.
Not only are companies beginning to hire for the holidays now, but they’ll be adding additional staff this year. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 39 percent of retail hiring managers plan to hire seasonal workers this year, up from 36 percent last year and 29 percent in 2011. Employers in information technology (18 percent), leisure and hospitality (16 percent) and financial services (16 percent) also plan to hire seasonal staff.
“Seasonal employment is expected to be somewhat better than last year and can lead to more than just extra income for workers,” says Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America. “Nearly half (49 percent) of U.S. employers who are hiring seasonal workers plan to transition some into full-time, permanent staff. This is up 10 percentage points over last year and indicative of a growing trend where employers are test-driving candidates before committing to a long-term hire. Seasonal work is a good way for job seekers to network, showcase their abilities and secure a permanent position in a variety of industries.”
Hot areas for seasonal hiring
Job seekers interested in seasonal positions should consider looking beyond just retail stores because there is a wide range of opportunities in corporate settings as companies wrap up the year. Popular positions companies will be recruiting for this holiday season include:
  • Customer service — 33 percent
  • Shipping/delivery — 18 percent
  • Inventory management — 17 percent
  • Administrative/clerical — 15 percent
  • Sales (non-retail) — 12 percent
  • Marketing — 9 percent
  • Accounting/finance — 6 percent
How to find holiday jobs
If you’re a job seeker looking for seasonal work, try searching online job sites, going to a company’s website directly or visiting niche sites, such as WorkInRetail.com, that specialize in the types of jobs companies are often hiring for during the holidays.
You can also start your search now by checking out the below list of 14 companies hiring for the holidays:
1. A&R Transport
Industry: Transportation
Sample job titles: Regional truck driver, bulk transport truck driver, local truck driver, owner operator
Location: Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Decatur, Ala.; Greater Chicagoland area; Jeffersonville, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Philadelphia
2. h.h. gregg
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Electronic sales, appliance sales, store manager
Location: Midwest, South, East
3. Hastings Entertainment
Industry: Retail (multimedia entertainment)
Sample job titles: Customer service associate, manager in training, manager
Location: Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming
4. Knowledge Universe (KinderCare Learning Centers, CCLC, Champions)
Industry: Education
Sample job titles: Teacher, assistant, site director, center director, area manager
Location: Nationwide
5. Melrose Family Fashions (United Fashions of Texas)
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Sales associate
Location: Dallas, Houston, Garland and Richardson, Texas
6. Mosaic Sales Solutions
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Merchandising specialist
Location: Nationwide
7. Premier Transportation
Industry: Transportation
Sample job titles: Regional truck driver, local truck driver, owner operator
Location: Atlanta; Chicago; Detroit; Indianapolis; Kentucky; Michigan; North Carolina; Ohio; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia
8. Shasa USA
Industry: Fashion/retail
Sample job titles: Sales associate, assistant manager, store manager
Location: California, Texas
9. Sykes Home Powered by Alpine Access
Industry: Call center, sales marketing, customer service
Sample job titles: Call center — customer service representative (entry level, work from home), bilingual Spanish-English customer service — work from home, video gaming user experience specialist
Location: Nationwide (except Arkansas; California; Hawaii; Massachusetts; Montana; New Mexico; Ohio; Vermont; Washington, D.C.)
10. Talmer Bank and Trust
Industry: Finance/banking
Sample job titles: Senior mortgage lender, bank teller, financial consultant, customer service representative
Location: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
11. Teavana
Industry: Restaurant/retail
Sample job titles: Retail store manager, barista, tea associate, assistant store manager, sales associate, shift manager
Location: Nationwide
12. The Limited
Industry: Women’s apparel
Sample job titles: Store manager, sales associate, stock associate, floorset associate
Location: Nationwide
13. The Select Family of Staffing Companies
Industry: Staffing
Sample job titles: Production, forklift, picker/packer, machine operator/Computer Numerically Controlled machinist, customer service, on-site manager, assembly
Location: Nationwide
14. XPO Logistics Inc.
Industry: Logistics
Sample job titles: Account manager, senior account manager, team lead, sales representative, logistics coordinator, intermodal manager
Location: Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Cincinnati; Dallas; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; Salt Lake City

Friday, October 18, 2013

12 Companies That Will Be Hiring For The Holiday Season

Four in ten retail managers say they plan to hire for holidays


State Unemployment (FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2009 file photo, job recruiters wait at a booth at a holiday job fair at Skyline Coll
AP
It's not even Halloween yet, but this is America, and so that means the holiday season is already underway. And with the unemployment rate still stuck at 7.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many workers will be looking for holiday jobs in addition to gifts. Luckily for them 39 percent of retailers plan to hire seasonal workers for the holiday season this year, a three point jump from 2012, according to a CareerBuilder survey. (CareerBuilder is an AOL Jobs partner.)

The survey was based on interviews with 2,099 hiring managers and was conducted by Harris Interactive. And according to Brent Rasmussen, the president of CareerBuilder North America, the new jobs may provide workers with cheer even after the last tinsel disappears. "Nearly half (49 percent) of U.S. employers who are hiring seasonal workers plan to transition some into full-time, permanent staff," he said.

Not every forecast for this year's holiday hiring has been as bullish. As AOL Jobs reported, a separate study from the Chicago-based employment consulting firm, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said retailers will be hiring 700,000 temporary workers for the Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 holiday season this year, which marks a seven percent drop-off from last year. The Challenger survey found an inability to fully shake off the doubt and uncertainty from the financial crisis.

All studies, however, agree there will be plenty of jobs for the taking. So where will they be? See below for 12 companies that will be hiring.
1. A&R Transport

Industry: Transportation
Sample jobs: Regional truck driver, Bulk transport truck driver,
Locations:Memphis, Indianapolis, Louisville

Find a job now with A&R Transport. Click here.

2. Hastings Entertainment

Industry: Retail (multimedia entertainment)
Sample jobs: Customer service associate, consumer electronics manager
Locations:Amarillo, Tex.,Lubbock, Tex.

Find a job now with Hastings Entertainment. Click here.

3. Knowledge Universe

Industry: Education
Sample jobs: Teacher, assistant, site director, center director, area manager
Locations:Houston, New York

Find a job now with Knowledge Universe. Click here.

4. Melrose Family Fashions (United Fashions of Texas)

Industry: Retail
Sample jobs: Sales associate
Locations:Houston, San Antonio

Find a job now with Melrose Family Fashions. Click here.

5. Mosaic Sales Solutions

Industry: Retail
Sample jobs: Merchandising specialist
Location:Chicago, Los Angeles

Find a job now with Mosaic Sales Solutions. Click here.

6. Premier Transportation

Industry: Transportation
Sample job titles: Regional truck driver, local truck driver, owner operator
Locations:Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis

Find a job now with Premier Transportation. Click here.

7. Sykes Home Powered by Alpine Access

Industry: Call center, customer service
Sample jobs: customer service representative (entry level, work from home), bilingual Spanish-English customer service
Locations: New York, Tampa

Find a job now with Sykes Home Powered by Alpine Access. Click here.

8. Talmer Bank and Trust

Industry: Finance/banking
Sample jobs: Senior mortgage lender, bank teller, financial consultant
Locations: Troy, Mich., Chicago

Find a job now with Talmer Bank and Trust. Click here.

9. Teavana

Industry: Restaurant/retail
Sample jobs: Retail store manager, barista, tea associate
Location: Greensboro, N.C., Seattle

Find a job now with Teavana. Click here.

10. The Limited

Industry: Women's apparel
Sample jobs: Sales associate, stock associate, floorset associate
Location:New Albany, Ohio

Find a job now with The Limited. Click here.

11. The Select Family of Staffing Companies

Industry: Staffing
Sample jobs: Production, forklift, picker/packer, machine operator
Locations:Buena Park, Calif., Memphis

Find a job now with the Select Family of Staffing Companies. Click here.

12. XPO Logistics Inc.

Industry: Logistics
Sample jobs: Account manager, logistics coordinator, intermodal manager
Locations: Chicago, Salt Lake City

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The 10 Best Places To Retire On $75 A Day

Never too early to think about life beyond your career.

Restaurants on The Riverwalk San Antonio Texas USA
Getty Images/AWL Images RMRestaurants on The Riverwalk San Antonio, Texas.
By Emily Brandon

You don't need a huge nest egg to retire well, especially if you're willing to move to a place with a low cost of living. Relocating to one of these places could help you to get by on a combination of Social Security and a small amount of savings, or allow you to retire younger or maintain a better lifestyle than you could in a more expensive city.

To find places where retirees can live well on less than $75 per day, U.S. News analyzed recently released 2012 Census Bureau data. We looked for places where people age 60 and older spend the least on housing, including rent, mortgage payments and other housing costs, and places where retirees spends less than a third of their income on housing. Among the most affordable cities, we selected places with amenities retirees will need, such as medical facilities, services for seniors and recreation options.

Here are 10 places where it's possible to live well in retirement on less than $75 a day:

Akron, Ohio
City of Akron
Getty Images/Flickr Open
Once known for its rubber production, Akron is now home to the world's largest concentration of polymer research and development, thanks to The University of Akron's College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. Seniors can get discounts to the Akron Art Museum and Akron Symphony Orchestra, or enjoy the 6,600 acres of metropolitan parks for free. The Akron General Medical Center and Summa Akron City and St. Thomas Hospitals are ranked as high-performing medical centers in a variety of specialties including geriatrics. These amenities are coupled with low housing costs. People age 60 and older pay a median of $1,087 per month with a mortgage, $646 in monthly rent or $420 per month if they own their homes debt free.

Augusta, Ga.
USA, Georgia, Augusta, Golf Course in autumn
Marvin E. Newman/Getty ImagesAugusta, Ga. golf course in autumn.
The best golfers in the world come to Augusta each spring for the Masters Tournament. The low home prices will tempt you to stay. The median monthly housing cost for people age 60 and older is $1,057 among homeowners with a mortgage, just $329 for those who have paid it off and $616 monthly for renters. Located along the Savannah River, this college town is the home of Georgia Regents University, which includes the Medical College of Georgia. Seniors can get discounted admission to the Augusta Museum of History, the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson and on boat tours of the Augusta Canal.

Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Memorial to the Battle of Chattanooga overlooks the
Getty Images/National GeographicChickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Chattanooga, Tenn. Memorial to the Battle of Chattanooga overlooks the Tennessee River.
Chattanooga is nearly surrounded by mountains, and the Tennessee River flows right through it, offering ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Retirees can take in these views for a median of just $644 in rent, $1,023 in mortgage payments or $353 monthly without a mortgage. The city operates a fleet of zero-emission electric buses that seniors age 65 and older can ride for just 75 cents each way.

Des Moines, Iowa
Wikipedia CommonsLocust Street looking east from 4th Street toward the Iowa State Capitol in East Village.
Burl Pierce, 74, a retiree in Des Moines, has season tickets to University of Iowa football games and volunteers three days per week at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. "This is my means of helping to expand my knowledge of horticulture, but it's also become rather personal in that you enjoy the camaraderie of the volunteers that you are with," he says. It costs retirees a median of $1,134 in monthly mortgage payments to live in Iowa's state capital. Renters who have paid off their mortgages pay $456 in other monthly housing costs and renters are charged $678. If you're so inclined, you can meet the U.S. presidential candidates when they descend on the state for the Iowa caucus.

Greenville, S.C.
Wikipedia CommonsThe Waterfalls in downtown Greenville.
There's no shortage of free things to do in Greenville. You could take a stroll over the Liberty Bridge that curves over and around Reedy River Falls, ride on the Downtown Trolley or visit the Greenville County Museum of Art, all with no admission fee. Housing for people age 60 and older costs a median of $1,027 with a mortgage, $673 in rent and just $290 monthly for older homeowners without mortgages. "Part of the reason we were able to retire as young as we did is because the general cost of living is so much less in South Carolina than it was in California," says Linda Barnett, 57, a retired financial analyst from California who moved to Greenville in 2012. "The townhouse we have here would have cost three to four times that much in California." Barnett now spends her time volunteering for Meals on Wheels and hiking at nearby Jones Gap State Park.

Little Rock, Ark.
Beautiful East Arkansas farm
FlickrEast Arkansas farm
Little Rock's Riverfront Park provides 33 acres of parkland along the Arkansas River. Other free things to do include visiting the Arkansas Arts Center and the Historic Arkansas Museum. Retirees who rent pay a median of $627 monthly to live here. Senior homeowners pay a median of $1,064 monthly or $355 without a mortgage. "It's definitely a lot cheaper to live here in Little Rock on the same amount of income than it would be in San Jose," says Cynthia Conger, president of Conger Wealth Management in Little Rock. "An $800,000 home in California would be equivalent to a home that costs $200,000 or less here."

Louisville, Ky.
Sparkly Epidemic
Getty Images/Flickr RFA night time view of Louisville Kentucky reflecting into the Ohio River.
For a median of just $1,052 in monthly mortgage payments or $595 in rent, you could retire in the hometown of the Kentucky Derby. Costs are even lower – a median of $375 monthly – for people age 60 and older who have paid off their mortgages. Louisville's museum row has institutions dedicated to history, sports, art and science where retirees could spend a relaxing afternoon or find interesting volunteer opportunities. And Kentucky residents age 65 and older can take classes at the University of Louisville tuition free.

Pittsburgh
Skyline with Allegheny river
Dennis Flaherty/Getty ImagesSkyline with Allegheny river
Pittsburgh's many professional teams make this city a sports fan's paradise. "I see almost every sport there is around," says Phil Coyne, 95, a retired machine shop worker who now ushers at 60 to 70 Pirates games each year. "I never miss a game. I try not to." There is also a ballet, symphony and enough museums to occupy everyone who prefers other forms of culture. People age 65 and older ride free on the bus, T or Monongahela Incline, thanks to a program paid for by Pennsylvania Lottery proceeds. Another perk of the city includes access to the UPMC-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which is ranked 9th in the nation in geriatrics. Monthly housing prices for seniors are just $1,072 for retirees with mortgages, $422 among people with paid-off houses and $608 for renters.

San Antonio
Restaurants on The Riverwalk San Antonio Texas USA
Getty Images/AWL Images RMRestaurants on The Riverwalk San Antonio, Texas.
There is no state income tax in Texas, and housing is often more affordable than in other parts of the county. Renters age 60 and older paid $671 monthly in 2012. Older homeowners paid a median of $1,184 each month toward their mortgages, which drops to $395 among those without housing debt. But watch out for the property taxes. "We do not have a state income tax, so a lot of the income is derived from property tax, which generally is going to be higher," says John Eaton, a certified financial planner for Cypress Wealth Advisors in San Antonio. "We have a very low cost of living, but if you come here and buy similar-cost housing, your taxes could be much higher."

Syracuse, N.Y.
Wikipedia CommonsOnondaga Lake with the Syracuse skyline in the background.
While summer and fall can be beautiful in upstate New York, Syracuse is famous for its prolific snowfall, which pelts the city each winter. Snow removal and heating bills can be significant. What you won't worry about are other aspects of the cost of living, which are among the lowest in the county. Renters age 60 and older pay a median of $641 monthly, and homeowners pay $1,119 with a mortgage or $472 monthly once they have paid it off. Once you no longer need to worry about getting to work in the morning, you're free to have a second cup of coffee, look out your window at the pillowy snow drifts and think about all the money you're saving by not retiring in a more expensive area.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

9 surprising jobs that have been around since 1850

Americans who worked as daguerreotypists or matchmakers once upon a time might have difficulty finding stable work today, but there are plenty of jobs that have passed the test of time, surviving tidal waves of economic change.

In some ways, consumers have become nostalgic for ways of olde. Just take a look around Brooklyn; its artisanal vibe harkens back to the 19th century, with a culture that supports homegrown, hand-crafted, limited-edition products, as Benjamin Wallace depicts in New York magazine. Whether it's 1850 or 2013, this scene shows that there will always be a place for certain niche occupations.
To find the jobs that have survived for more than a century, we combed through the U.S. Census of 1850, which is the first year the government collected data on what Americans do for work. We then compared it to today's Census list of the Standard Occupational Classifications, which is revised every decade and identifies 31,000 occupations in America.

Several jobs make the cut. While some have shown predictable stability -- dentists, bankers, engineers -- others are more unexpected. Here are nine surprising jobs that have been around since 1850:

1. Armorers: In the past, an armorer was someone who made personal armor. Today, it is someone who maintains and repairs small arms and weapons in the military or police force.

2. Charcoal burners (2012 median annual pay is $35,530): Someone who makes charcoal.

3. Cotton ginners (2010 median annual pay is $18,970): An agriculture worker whose job consists of
operating machinery and doing physical labor to produce cotton.

4. Cordwainers (2012 median annual pay is $24,310): A worker who operates and tends machines used in the production of shoeware.

5. Cork cutters (2012 median annual pay is $31,430): Someone who operates cutting machines to cut roles or slices of materials.

6. Enamellers: An artist who uses enamel paint to make jewelry and other decorative pieces.

7. Gold beaters: Someone who hammers sheets of gold into gold leaf.

8. Map makers (2010 median annual pay is $37,900): A technician that assists surveyors and cartographers in collecting data and making maps.

9. Riggers (2012 median annual pay is $42,660): A person that specializes in lifting and moving heavy objects with a crane or derrick.


This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Want To Get Promoted Fast? These Are The Best 25 Companies For That

Some have great company culture and travel opportunities, too.


euthman, FlickrH-E-B employees at a holiday parade.


By Vivian Giang

Aside from high pay and competitive perks offered to attract talent, companies that provide regular feedback, advancement, and mentorship programs are better able to keep younger workers.

So where are the employers who support promotion from within? Based on company review surveys, career site Glassdoor.com put together a list of the top 25 companies that provide the best career opportunities.

"When employees share a company review on Glassdoor, we ask them to rate several workplace factors, including how they believe their employer is when it comes to offering career opportunities," says Scott Dobroski, a spokesman for Glassdoor. "If career advancement and growth opportunities are important for a job seeker, this rating provides insight into what employees have to say about the career opportunities at a specific employer."

Many companies that made it on last year's list, such as Bain & Company, Edelman, and CareerBuilder, reappeared on this year's list. Newcomers this year include Fluor, Chevron, and the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

To break any ties, Glassdoor calculated ratings to the thousandth decimal. Company ratings are based on a 5.0 scale, with 5 being the best possible score.

25. Fluor
Photo: Fluor Corporation celebrates its 100-year anniversary and rings the NYSE Opening Bell.
Career opportunities rating: 3.9
What employees think:
"High priority is placed on employee development. A great place to work if you are a self motivated individual. If not, also a great place to work. Lots of resources for development whether it is technical or non technical. Lots of opportunity to advance your career." —  Fluor Process/Specialty Engineer III (Houston, TX)

24. Chevron
Photo: Oil rig workers sink more pipe on the Chevron Texaco drilling platform January 15, 2003 near the Saudi Arabian border, Kuwait.
Career opportunities rating: 3.7
What employees think:
"Plenty of room to advance and apply for jobs internally rather than look outside. 9/80 work schedules with great bonus plan and annual salary raises." — Chevron Drilling IT Professional (Houston, TX)


23. H-E-B
Career opportunities rating: 3.7
What employees think:
"They train you for management positions. The pay and flexibility. The opportunity to transfer anywhere throughout Texas and the U.S." – H-E-B Deli Associate (Missouri City, TX)

Read more  Want To Get Promoted Fast? These Are The Best 25 Companies For That

Source: Glassdoor


Friday, October 11, 2013

Middle-wage jobs that are on the rise

Midwage jobs on the riseThe makeup of the workforce has changed over the past few decades. The impact of recessions, along with technological advancements, offshoring and other factors, have caused some industries and job types to strengthen while others have declined. In fact, research from the Federal Reserve shows that the share of middle-skill or middle-wage jobs in the U.S. workforce has dropped from 25 percent in 1985 to just above 15 percent today.
“Middle-wage positions sustained heavier hits during the recession than other wage groups,” says Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. “This is further indication of a hollowing effect economists have warned about, where middle-wage jobs are thinning out — creating a greater concentration of either high-wage or low-wage positions.”
Yet despite the hits middle-wage occupations have taken, a new study by CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. shows that there are various fields and states where these positions are thriving*. “While this trend [of middle-wage jobs declining] has become more pronounced in the last decade — and has broader implications for the U.S. economy — there are still areas of manufacturing, health care, energy and other fields where employment for middle-wage workers is stable and growing at a healthy pace,” Ferguson says.
Middle-wage occupations that are growing
According to the study, 25 percent of all new jobs added in the U.S. since 2010 fall in the middle-wage range, trailing the share of both high-wage jobs (29 percent) and low-wage jobs (46 percent). While various factors are driving the declining share of middle-wage jobs (defined as those jobs that pay between $13.84 and $21.13 per hour for the purpose of this study**), a variety of occupations in this segment have performed well post-recession, listed below. Most of these occupations typically require on-the-job training, work experience or short-term certificates and degrees that community colleges specialize in.
States fostering middle-wage growth
Wyoming leads the nation in the percentage of middle-wage jobs added in a state post-recession, according to the study. Forty-five percent of new jobs that were created in Wyoming since 2010 have been middle-wage, well ahead of other high-performing states: Iowa (37 percent), North Dakota (36 percent) and Michigan (35 percent).
Texas (25 percent) and California (23 percent) have created the largest total number of new middle-wage jobs in the nation, but they’re in the middle of the pack in terms of the share of all new jobs.
At the bottom, Rhode Island is the only state that’s lost middle-wage jobs over the past few years. Mississippi (10 percent) and New York (13 percent) have the lowest share of new middle-wage jobs among states that have seen job increases.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

4 Retail Jobs That Pay Surprisingly Well

Good paying retail jobs can be found at Costco stores.  Retail salesperson is the most common job in America. The sector is still growing, but most of the jobs come with lousy compensation. The average salary? Just $25,310 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There's no great mystery as to why companies keep salaries low -- it's an easy way to keep profit margins up. But Zeynep Ton, a professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management, argued in an article in the Harvard Business Review that the tactic usually backfires. By cutting back on manpower, companies experience a drop in performance, which, in turn, leads to a dip in customer satisfaction, and then the ultimate corporate problem -- a drop-off in sales. Home Depot is a case in point:
When former GE executive Robert Nardelli became CEO, at the end of 2000, he cut staffing levels and increased the percentage of part-timers to reduce costs and boost profits. Those moves achieved both goals immediately, but they eventually caused Home Depot's excellent customer service -- the company's claim to fame and, arguably, primary source of competitive advantage -- to suffer, customer satisfaction to plunge, and same-store sales growth to drop and even go negative in some years.

Treating workers well pays off in the long run, Ton argues. She says that four employers, Costco, Trader Joe's, QuikTrip and the Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona, are prime examples. Here's why:

1. Trader Joe's

The Trader Joe's Company has more than 365 stores in more than 30 states, and offers upscale grocery fare such as health foods, produce and nutritional supplements. It has some 10,000 employees.

Starting salary: $40,000 to $60,000. Managers also have the potential to earn six-figure salaries.
Benefits: Trader Joe's contributes an additional 15.4 percent of your gross income each year to your retirement account.

2. Costco

Costco Wholesale Corp. has more than 590 membership warehouse stores in 40 U.S. states and Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan and the U.K. It has roughly 174,000 employees.

Starting salary: Stockers and cashiers make on average between $11.84 to $12.61 an hour. The average starting salary for a full-time employee is $45,000 a year, compared to just $17,000 for Sam's Club.
What the CEO says: "At Costco, we know that paying employees good wages makes business sense."

​3. QuikTrip

QuikTrip Corp. operates more than 600 gasoline/convenience stores in 10 states, mostly in the central U.S. It has roughly 9,600 employees.

Starting salary: An entry-level clerk earns an average of $8.66 an hour, but most store managers are promoted from within and are paid relatively well. The overall salary average for all staff is $32,966.
Happy employees: Fortune magazine has named QuikTrip one of the 100 best companies to work for in every year since 2003. It has robust training programs for workers -- even low-level employees receive two weeks of training. Employees also like working here -- staff turnover is 22 percent, the lowest in the industry.

​4. Mercadona

Mercadona S.A. has 1,419 stores throughout Spain. It has roughly 70,000 employees and is expanding, having hired 6,500 employees last year alone. It is known for offering consumers the lowest prices in Spain.

Monday, October 7, 2013

20 companies hiring in October

DefaultRGBDid you make it a goal to find a job or switch careers by the end of the year? Are you panicking because it’s already October?
Never fear, we’re here to help. Take a look at this list of 20 companies hiring this month. If you find a job that suits your abilities and interests, and you apply soon, you may very well be starting a new career before 2014.
1. A+E Networks
Industry:
Television
Sample job titles:
Fall intern — Lifetime scripted series programming, vice president — non-fiction programming, manager, ad sales systems — information technology
Location: Chicago; Los Angeles; New York; Stamford, Conn.
2. Alcon
Industry:
Eye care/medicine and device manufacturing
Sample job titles: Manufacturing engineer, human resources manager — plant, ERP eCompliance manager
Location:
Fort Worth, Texas; Irvine, Calif.; Washington, D.C.
3. Ascendo Resources
Industry:
Accounting and finance, IT
Sample job titles: Senior accountant, controller, financial analyst, tax manager, senior systems engineer
Location:
Atlanta; Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, Fla.
4. Bally Technologies
Industry:
Gaming/IT
Sample job titles:
Quality assurance engineer, software engineer, communications, marketing, security officer, game artist, field service technician
Location:
California, Iowa, New Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma
5. Cash Store
Industry:
Retail, banking/financial services, credit/loan/collections
Sample job titles:
District manager, assistant store manager, store manager
Location:
Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin
6. DCS Corp.
Industry: Defense
Sample job titles: Program engineer, .NET developer, test engineer, weapons technician, contracts specialist, security analyst
Location: Aberdeen and Lexington Park, Md.; Alexandria and Virginia Beach, Va.; Beavercreek, Ohio; Nashua, N.H.; Ridgecrest, Calif.; Warren, Mich.
7. Flextronics
Industry:
Engineering and manufacturing
Sample job titles:
Systems programmer, quality engineer, test engineer, Computer Numerical Control machine operator, quality control inspector, project engineer, mechanical engineer   
Location:
Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; San Jose, Calif.
8. Ivie & Associates
Industry:
Marketing/IT
Sample job titles: Graphic designer, media team lead, Web developer
Location: Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
9. LEGOLAND Florida
Industry:
Entertainment
Sample job titles: Attractions supervisor, creative services coordinator, attractions manager, financial analyst, F&B executive chef, costume character, park medic (EMT/paramedic), entertainment team lead, rides mechanic, retail warehouse associate, entertainment technician, project manager
Location: Florida
10. Main Event Entertainment
Industry: Entertainment
Sample job titles: Department operations manager, general manager, sales manager
Location: Atlanta, Ga.; Tempe, Ariz.; Texas
11. Pace Analytical Services
Industry: Environmental/scientific
Sample job titles:
Analytical chemist, regulatory specialist, lab technician
Location:
Minneapolis/St. Paul
12. Pathways Home Health and Hospice
Industry:
Health care
Sample job titles:
Hospice aide, registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse
Location:
Oakland, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, Calif.
13. Readerlink Distribution Services LLC
Industry: 
Distribution services
Sample job titles:
Merchandiser, senior Windows developer, HR generalist
Location:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey,  Ohio, Virginia, Washington, D.C.
14. Sunstate Equipment
Industry:
Rental equipment
Sample job titles: 
Driver, line mechanic, field service mechanic, washrack/yard attendant, inside sales representative, outside sales representative
Location: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah
15. Talagy
Industry:
IT, sales, accounting and finance
Sample job titles:
IT project manager, outside sales representative, senior internal auditor
Location:
Nationwide
16. UHY Advisors
Industry: Public accounting
Sample job titles: Tax and audit professional (all levels)
Location: Albany, N.Y.; Atlanta; Chicago; Columbia, Md.; Dallas; Farmington Hills and Sterling Heights, Mich.; Houston; New York City; St. Louis; Washington, D.C.
17. UniTek Global Services
Industry:
Engineering and construction management
Sample job titles:
Alarm installer, wireless technician
Location:
Nationwide
18. Vector Marketing
Industry:
Direct sales
Sample job titles:
Sales/customer service — entry level/part time
Location:
Nationwide
19. Waste Connections
Industry: Solid waste services
Sample job titles: Staff internal auditor, diesel mechanic, maintenance manager, residential driver, garbage truck driver, route supervisor, assistant controller
Location: Anchorage, Alaska; Belle Fourche, S.D.; Denver; El Paso and The Woodlands, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; Oklahoma City; Omaha, Neb.; Rosemount, Minn.; Vancouver, Wash.
20. Wells Fargo
Industry:
Banking/finance
Sample job titles:
Analytics consultant, personal banker, computer systems engineer
Location:
Nationwide

Saturday, October 5, 2013

15 jobs that pay $15 an hour

Woman working as nurse at reception desk in clinic

Besides researching job opportunities and working on your résumé, one of the most important parts of a job search is knowing the needs of your budget and the types of jobs that will meet those needs.
If a job that earns $15 an hour is the right fit for your budget and lifestyle, check out these 15 jobs, all of which earn about $15 an hour and require varying levels of work experience and education.

1. Agricultural and food science technician*
Job description: Under the supervision of scientists, agricultural and food science technicians measure and analyze the quality of food and agricultural products.
Typical education level: Associates degree
Median hourly pay: $15.75
2. Bill and account collector
Job description: Bill and account collectors, sometimes called collectors, try to recover payment on overdue bills. They negotiate repayment plans with debtors and help them find solutions to make paying their overdue bills easier.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.05
3. Dental assistant
Job description: Dental assistants have many tasks, ranging from patient care to record keeping, in a dental office. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $16.09
4. Dispensing optician
Job description: Dispensing opticians help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists. They also help customers decide which eyeglass frames or type of contact lenses to buy.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.84
5. Fitness trainer and instructor
Job description: Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercise (exercises for the heart and blood system), strength training and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $14.95
6. Home entertainment equipment installer and repairer
Job description: Home entertainment equipment installers and repairers set up and fix household audio and video equipment, such as televisions, stereo components and home theater systems.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.84
7. Medical records and health information technician
Job description: Medical records and health information technicians organize and manage health information data by ensuring its quality, accuracy, accessibility and security in both paper and electronic systems. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median hourly pay: $15.55
8. Medical transcriptionist
Job description: Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings that physicians and other health professionals make and convert them into written reports. They interpret medical terminology and abbreviations in preparing patients’ medical histories, discharge summaries and other documents.
Typical education level: Postsecondary non-degree award
Median hourly pay: $15.82
9. Metal and plastic machine worker
Job description: Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape and form metal and plastic materials or pieces.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.34
10. Painting and coating worker
Job description: Painting and coating workers paint and coat a wide range of products, including cars, jewelry and candy.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $14.99
11. Printing worker
Job description: Printing workers produce print material in three stages: prepress, press and binding and finishing. They review specifications, identify and fix problems with printing equipment and assemble pages.
Typical education level: Associates degree
Median hourly pay: $15.94
12. Quality control inspector
Job description: Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from manufacturers’ or industry specifications.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.88
13. Rehabilitation counselor
Job description: Rehabilitation counselors help people with emotional and physical disabilities live independently. They help their clients overcome personal, social and professional effects of disabilities as they relate to employment or independent living.
Typical education level: Master’s degree
Median hourly pay: $15.55
14. Small engine mechanic
Job description: Small engine mechanics inspect, service and repair motorized power equipment. Mechanics often specialize in one type of equipment, such as motorcycles, motorboats or outdoor power equipment.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.29
15. Travel agent
Job description: Travel agents sell transportation, lodging and admission to entertainment activities to individuals and groups who are planning trips. They offer advice on destinations, plan trip itineraries and make travel arrangements for clients.
Typical education level: High school diploma or equivalent
Median hourly pay: $15.32

Multiplex