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Job hunting is a process more people are having to go through as companies undergo big layoffs in the face of a challenged economy. It's competitive out there and the little details matter more with crowded applicant pools. Make your case stronger by showing up prepared — check for these five items before you head out the door.
Even if you've allowed plenty of time for traffic the unexpected can always happen, like an accident that prevents you from getting to your interview on time. Have the phone number handy so you can call and discuss timing, and possibly reschedule your interview over the phone for another time.
Reference Sheet
Bring a sheet separate from your resume that lists your professional references. It's usually a good sign when the interviewer asks for references, so eliminate any hesitation by providing your reference list on the spot.
Resume
Print several out on nice paper and carry them with you in the same portfolio where you keep the reference sheet. Interviewers are usually prepared with their own printed version, but what if the printer ran out of ink just before you arrived? Eliminate hassle by supplying a copy of your own.
Notebook With Prepared Questions
It is inevitable the interviewer will ask if you have any questions for her. As long as you've remembered to bring the notebook where you outlined prepared questions, this part of the interview will be a breeze.
A Pen That Works
You'll need something to write down notes during your interview, for your own information and if there's anything that triggers questions you may want to save for the end. Just be sure to scribble before you leave the house so you're not stuck with a useless pen.
Don't be afraid to fantasize about earning six figures. Doctors and lawyers aren't the only professionals in the $100K club. In fact, there are quite a few well-compensated professions that are open to bachelor's degree holders. Even if you don't quite reach those elusive six-digits, the following careers can offer a hefty paycheck without the decades of student loan payback that can come with a master's or doctoral program. Best of all, if you're open to relocating, each of the five professions below holds the possibility of hitting that magic number--if you're willing to choose your zip code with care.
Police Supervisor
The Job: As a supervising police officer you'd be in charge of overseeing subordinate officers, keeping records of your force's activities, and assigning duties to station personnel. The ability to exercise good judgment in intense and high-pressure situations is crucial for this job. You'll also have to be willing to work overtime as well as weekends and holidays to ensure the round-the-clock police coverage your community needs.
The Debt: The minimum requirement for police supervisors in many states is simply a high school diploma. Since you're new to the field, get a jump on competition by earning an associate's or bachelor's degree in criminal justice or law enforcement.
The Zip Code: Check out 12123, Nassau, New York, where first-line supervisors of police officers made an average salary of $113, 810 in 2007, close to $40,000 more than the national average.
Registered Nurse (RN)
The Job: All RNs, regardless of their focus, are responsible for providing medical care and education to patients and their families. If you're an adrenaline junkie, you could thrive as an emergency room nurse. Can't get enough of newborns? Consider a career in neonatology nursing.
The Debt: Take your pick from an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), or a diploma program in nursing.
The Zip Code: While median earnings of RNs nationwide are nothing to sneeze at (close to $60,000 in 2007), nurses in San Jose, California (95101), banked an average of $95,580.
Computer Software Engineer
The Job: Software engineers focus on designing and developing computer software to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population of computer users worldwide. In addition to being one of the fastest-growing careers in the nation, this profession lends itself to telecommuting, an added perk if you don't want to leave home to find a higher-paying position.
The Debt: In 2006, eighty percent of all software engineers had at least a bachelor's degree. If you're an aspiring computer software engineer, check out degree programs in computer science or software engineering.
The Zip Code: Average wages for professionals in this field in Haverhill, Massachusetts (01830), were $106,270 in 2007, while nationally the average was $85,660.
Dental Hygienist
The Job: It may not seem glamorous, but keeping people's mouths clean is a practical career choice offering job security, high wages, and even some flexibility in scheduling. Strong interpersonal skills are a must for these professionals, who spend their days up close with their patients.
The Debt: At the bare minimum you'll need an associate's degree or certificate in dental hygiene to practice in a private dental office or clinic. Earning a bachelor's degree could help you compete for higher-paying jobs.
The Zip Code: Most hygienists earn a comfortable living regardless of their location -- the national average was just over $64,000 in 2007. Zip code 98221 (Anacortes, Washington) tops the list of high-paying cities, however, where hygienist salaries average $97,600.
Interior Designer
The Job: Although reality TV shows have created a generation of amateur in-home designers, professionals in this field work in spaces ranging from airports to schools. In addition to combining paint colors, fabrics, window treatments and light fixtures, interior designers must also be able to read blueprints, understand fire codes, and collaborate with architects and contractors.
The Debt: You'll need at least an associate's degree to land an entry-level position as an interior designer. In 23 states designers must be licensed.
The Zip Code: Average earnings for interior designers were just over $50,000 in 2007. Head for Grand Rapids, Michigan (49501), however, and you could make double that.
You don't have to spend the next 10 years in school to make a comfortable salary. Choose your field of study and your future home with care and you could soon find yourself working your way to a six-figure paycheck.
Researching a company can only tell you so much about how your experience would be if you made the transition from candidate to employee. But there are things you can do during the interview process that will help you determine if the opportunity is truly right for you.
Career expert Deborah Brown-Volkman has six questions every job seeker should ask themselves when pursuing a position.
1. Who's the Boss?
If you're in contention for a job, you'll meet your future supervisor at some point. Pay close attention to how well you get along with this individual, as he or she will hold the key to your success -- and happiness -- in that position. Says Brown-Volkman, "If you notice on the interview that your boss does not get you or you do not get him or her, this will not change once you start working there."
2. Do You Click or Clash With Future Coworkers?
Some people hate their jobs but love their colleagues so much that it overrides any unhappiness they have about their daily duties. However, just as these folks can make your work life great, they can also make it miserable. Ask to meet your potential teammates before accepting an offer. Brown-Volkman, based in New York, says, "If you sense there is a problem with someone you will be working with, listen to what your inner voice is telling you." First impressions are often correct impressions when it comes to future coworkers.
3. Who Are You Trying to Convince?
"Wanting to be selected by an employer sometimes makes us talk ourselves into a situation we might not have taken if we were thinking more clearly," says Brown-Volkman, author of several books, including "How to Feel Great at Work Every Day." But as much as employers are trying to determine if you're a fit, you should be trying to determine if the organization is a fit for you. Forget your ego, and focus on why, and how much, you really want any job.
4. What Matters Most to You?
Just like people, every company is different. What is permissible at one may be verboten at another. Before you get too deep into the interview process, understand your priorities. Do you require flexibility with your hours? The opportunity to work autonomously? The ability to telecommute from time to time? Know it and own it during a company courtship. "Deciding what you want ahead of time will give you the opportunity to ask questions to assess whether you really want the job," she states.
5. Is This Job Just Right, or Right Just for Now?
Your personal finances may dictate that you have to accept something less than your dream job. Brown-Volkman says, "I work with many clients who agreed to less-than-perfect positions believing they would stay for just one year. But that one year frequently became two, and then more, even though the jobs were not satisfying." If you're taking a job just for now, plan your exit strategy. She adds, "An interim position is just that. Don't sell out for the long haul."
6. Who Are You Fooling?
Don't put on airs or make promises you can't keep when going after a job. Ultimately, you and your career will pay the price. Concludes Brown-Volkman, "You may fool the people with whom you interview to get the job, but you will only be fooling yourself once you get there and you have to be someone else."
It's easy to veer off course when you're managing people: Get too involved and you're a micromanager who misses the big picture. Back off too far and you're out of touch and disorganized.
More bosses these days fear being labeled a micromanager and compensate by allowing too much distance between themselves and their employees, according to Travis Bradberry, author of "Squawk! How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results."
While this might not present an immediate problem in the day-to-day operations of any organization, it can create a hornet's nest when something goes wrong.
When that happens, the hands-off boss often transforms into a micromanager — just in time to drive everyone crazy, but too late to fix anything.
Believing he or she is the hero, a manager like this comes swooping down from the sky to save the day.
But this isn't reality. Employees more than likely resent loud and boisterous attempts to save them, especially when, up until now, their manager has been MIA.
The futile swooping resembles a squawking seagull more than a dashing superhero, according to Bradberry.
He calls this type of boss a seagull manager. And all of the squawking a seagull manager does by coming in at the last minute and making rash decisions usually ends up making a bigger mess.
In the long run, the seagull manager loses the respect of his or her employees.
To make matters worse for today's bosses, many organizations — in an earnest effort to cut costs — seem to be cutting back on managers.
"In this flattened economy, more and more companies are gutting management layers and leaving behind fewer managers, each of whom has greater autonomy, greater responsibility and more people to manage," Bradberry said.
"That means these managers have less time and less accountability for focusing on the primary purpose of their job — managing people," he said.
While it may be necessary to cut budgets, it's essential for organizations to protect their most valuable asset — their workers.
Sufficient management staff is critical to success. So are leadership programs. They exist to mold leaders into better leaders, which ultimately makes employees better at what they do.
That translates into progress, productivity and profit.
If your employer doesn't have a solid staff and training programs in place, you should do what you can to try to make these higher priorities.
As for employees, you must communicate with your managers. Perhaps they do have too much on their plate. Perhaps they don't know exactly what you need.
Help them help you by taking the initiative.
And if your manager doesn't listen, try slipping a copy of "Squawk! How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results" into their inbox.
You have an interview or two for a position you really want, and everything goes well. It's a regular love fest between you, the hiring manager, and your future boss. Your heart skips a beat when you're told, "We'll have an offer to you by the end of the week."
But what happens when a week goes by and you don't receive an offer? Should you sit by the phone and wait or throw in the towel?
"Neither!" says career counselor Robin Ryan, author of "60 Seconds & You're Hired!" She believes professionals should continue their job searches until they receive and accept a formal job offer. "Even if you're certain an offer is coming, do not stop job hunting. These things have a tendency to fall apart."
Take Action
Don't wait too long to follow up after an offer fails to materialize. Ryan advises, "Contact the person who said you'd be getting an offer no more than a few days after you were to receive it." Ask leading questions about its status. She suggests, "Ask your contact, 'Where are you at with this?' or 'When will this come through?'"
Ryan adds, "If you're told that the process is going to take a bit more time, ask, 'Are you talking weeks or months?'"
Know that if you are being stalled, Ryan feels it is risky business to idly wait on an offer. "If it doesn't come through and you haven't been searching elsewhere, you're going to get really depressed," she states.
Poof! There It Isn't!
There are a number of things that can delay a job offer. Some are tied to how large a corporation is and how elaborate the hiring chain of command is. If you're applying to a Fortune 500 company, the process as a whole may take longer than at a small business. However, job offers can fall apart at anytime -- and at any size company.
Reveals Ryan, "A hiring manager may be stalling you while an offer is out with someone else for the same position. You also may be promised a job only to learn that the funding for the job is no longer there." She reminds job searchers that mergers, too, may kill a position's creation or eliminate an established job altogether.
Hold or Fold?
If you feel that your job offer is stalled indefinitely, you may be tempted to try to force a potential employer's hand by saying that you have another offer (when you don't). Best-selling author Ryan says, "Never bluff! Many companies -- especially bigger ones -- will call you on it and tell you take the other offer."
Rather, says Ryan, inform the recruiter, "I'm continuing to interview, but I'm still very interested in this job." She urges candidates to try to find out what is really happening with the position and get a commitment from the company.
If the offer does vanish, Ryan reminds workers to remember, "There's more than one dream job out there."
Yes, they do exist. Just ask Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., author of "150 Best Low-Stress Jobs," and he'll immediately find a match based on your personality type, skill set, and interests. "We all know that stress has very bad effects on your health which lead to a lot of problems," he says.
"People should look for a job situation or niche that's less stressful than the norm. For instance, stress levels are related to the impact of your decisions in life-or-death situations and consequences of your actions on the job."
Read below about several jobs that can enable you to experience low stress along with job satisfaction and career growth.
Mathematician
Although the most stressful aspects of the job are the importance of being exact and a level of competition, in essence it's all good. Shatkin explains, "Mathematicians are not under pressure as this isn't life and death; they're dealing with theoretical realms."
According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Ph.D. in mathematics is usually the minimum requirement for entry into the field. BLS indicates the average salary in May 2006 was $86,930.
Archivists
While this occupation focuses on planning and overseeing the arrangement of exhibitions of collections, there's a certain degree consistency and low stress levels. Stuart Sidle, Ph.D. and assistant professor of psychology and I/O (industrial organizational) psychology program coordinator, University of New Haven, says, "When people have control over how they organize their tasks, how they behave, the predictability of their job, and the freedom to make a mistake where no one's going to die as a result, they experience low stress."
People typically pursue a bachelor's degree in history or library science prior to entering this field. According to BLS, in May 2006 the average earnings were $40,730.
Foresters and Conservation Scientists
Foresters and conservation professionals typically work outdoors in seasonal activities (think: putting out forest fires and maintaining recreational facilities). They also select and mark trees for thinning or logging, manage forest protection activities and patrol park areas to prevent damage.
Least stressful aspects of the job, as pointed out by Shatkin, are the low level of competition, rarely dealing with unpleasant or angry people, and the lack of time pressures which are normally embedded in higher maintenance occupations. According to BLS, the average earnings were $54,970.
Travel Agents
Some aspects of this profession include computing costs of travel and accommodations, booking various tours, and selling travel packages. Although accuracy is paramount to success on the job, least stressful aspects include a comfortable pace and low frequency of conflict situations.
BLS notes the average earnings are $29,210 and Shatkin points out this job affords flexibility to be self-employed or work part-time.
"Stressors of any job include the duration of the work week, dealing with angry people, confronting situations and competition. People should look for a job situation where normal work hours are
Do you find yourself glued to the tube every Wednesday night to catch the latest episode of Top Chef? While it's entertaining to watch talented cooks at work, what could be more fun than getting in on the action yourself? Instead of staging your own Quickfire Challenge or preparing Tre's signature bacon-wrapped shrimp for your dinner guests, give your cooking skills a boost with culinary arts courses.
When you read the bios of this season's "Cheftestants," you'll find that many of them have at least an associate's degree in culinary arts. Why not follow their lead? If you have a passion for cooking, combine it with the right training to help you launch a career in the food industry. With the wide variety of culinary arts programs available, there's never been a better time to earn a culinary degree.
A Cornucopia of Degrees
Maybe you already make a delectable marinara sauce or a risotto to rave about. But do you know the public health regulations that govern commercial kitchens or the industry standards on portion control? Culinary arts courses can teach you these technicalities as well as how to handle knives like a pro, store food in a safe and hygienic way, and plan a balanced menu. If you think your sauces pack a punch now, imagine how great they could be after you take a course on spices and seasonings!
Whether you're interested in taking just a couple of culinary courses or would like to earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in culinary arts, you should have no trouble finding a culinary school close to your home that can meet your needs. If you hope to work as an executive chef or head cook someday, you'll benefit from getting as much training as possible. Getting a job as a chef in the most exclusive restaurants is almost as competitive as the elimination round on your favorite show, and the skills you could learn from culinary school can help you avoid the chopping block as you search for work.
Educational Opportunities
A number of top culinary schools with campuses nationwide provide programs in almost every aspect of the culinary arts from cooking and baking to food and beverage management to catering to restaurant ownership. In addition to food preparation, many schools also offer courses in nutrition, marketing, entrepreneurship, and cost analysis as well as adjunct classes in math, computers, and communication.
Culinary schools use a mix of hands-on practical classes and demonstration classes, which often showcase famous guest chefs. Many schools offer classes in the preparation of different styles of cuisine as well as table service training and wine service. They seek to fuse the art of cooking with critical business management knowledge. A number of schools place their students in internships with top restaurants and resort casinos and others hold culinary competitions, which provide their students with opportunities to be mentored by top name chefs. Whatever your learning style or passion, you can find a culinary arts program that provides the education you need to succeed.
Work Your Way to the Top
When you graduate from culinary arts school, you'll probably have to put in your time as a sous chef or food preparation worker before you can expect to be the big boss in the kitchen. If you are knowledgeable and have a natural talent and interest in the field, however, advancement possibilities should present themselves. While you might not be sitting at the Judges' Table with Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio right away, if you set your mind to it you could be slicing and dicing with the other Top Chefs by Season 7.
Even if stardom isn't in your future, as a graduate of a culinary arts program you could look forward to other benefits. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that overall employment for chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers is expected to grow between 9 and 17% through 2014. Once hired, the size of your paycheck can vary depending on your position and where you're employed. Median hourly earnings of chefs and head cooks in 2004 were $14.75, but chefs at the most exclusive restaurants can make over $26.75 an hour, according to BLS. All the more reason to get some training!
Turn Up the Heat on Your Career
Next time you're searching for recipes from last week's episode, take a few minutes to look at culinary schools. You may be surprised by the flexibility and ease with which you can earn your degree--and by the opportunities that a professional credential in culinary arts could create for you. While you may decide not to audition for Top Chef, a culinary degree could provide you with the skills and confidence you need to bring your career in the food industry to a boil.
Think you either have to be a celebrity or endure years of medical or law school to pull down six figures? Think again. These top careers approach and exceed six figure salaries, and they're easy to train for online.
Career Training for $100,000 Salaries
Check out some of these six-figure jobs for the rest of us, most with online career training opportunities. Salary statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Career Spotlight: Medical and Health Services Managers
The complex organization of a doctor's office is no challenge to trained medical and health services managers, who use their targeted health care administration knowledge to navigate patient records, equipment outlays, and medical research databases.
§ Recommended Training: While a master's degree is standard credential for health care managers, smaller facilities may hire graduates with bachelor's degrees. Health care administration, office management, and health care management are all popular degrees.
§ Earn Six Figures: While mean annual wages for the career were $84,980 in 2007, medical and health services managers working in the state of
Career Spotlight: Actuaries
Mathematics, statistics, and business combine in this career, which has trained professionals working with insurance companies and private business to determine and minimize the cost of risk. Top actuaries are trusted to explain their complex formulations to business executives.
§ Recommended Training: A strong background in both mathematics and general business is desirable for top actuaries. Some may hold degrees in finance, economics, or business. Regardless, a bachelor's degree is recommended.
§ Earn Six Figures: Mean annual wages for actuaries nationwide were $95,420 in 2007. Those working as consultants earned $107,080.
Career Spotlight: Computer Applications Software Engineers
One of the fastest-growing careers in the nation is also one of the most lucrative. Computer applications software engineers create the applications used every day in business and personal computing. With over 226,000 careers expected to enter the field through 2016, demand for these IT pros is expected to be high.
§ Recommended Training: A bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering is suggested by hiring managers in the field. Additional certification programs may be necessary to keep skills current.
§ Earn Six Figures: While mean annual earnings across the nation were $85,660 in 2007, computer applications software engineers working in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing earned $101,100.
Career Spotlight: Personal Financial Advisors
Personal financial advisors work on a one-on-one basis with their clients, recommending investments and products for wealth management. In another career expected to see a lot of growth, about 72,000 jobs for personal financial advisors are projected to enter the field through 2016. About a third are self-employed, often working from home.
§ Recommended Training: Bachelor's degrees in finance, business administration, accounting, statistics, or economics are recommended for personal financial advisors. Those looking to make six figures in their work may be encouraged to earn an MBA.
§ Earn Six Figures: Mean annual wages across the occupation were $89,220 in 2007. Personal financial advisors working in
Career Spotlight: Sales Managers
Acting as both masters of human psychology and logistical gurus, sales managers use their infectious charm and top-notch people skills to close the deal. Top-level managers may interact with high-profile clients while they organize a team of lower-level sales representatives. This fast-paced job may require high levels of travel.
§ Recommended Training: A bachelor's or master's degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing is recommended by hiring managers in the field. Sales managers should be confidant with the technology of their profession, including presentation software like PowerPoint.
§ Earn Six Figures: Mean annual wages for sales managers nationwide were $106,790 in 2007. Those working for automobile dealers earned $114,650, while top earners in the financial investment industry earned $151,070.
Your mileage may vary, but training for six figure careers like the ones above can be the smartest way to get your foot in the door. Hiring managers look for the best, and a degree program can prove your worth among even the toughest competition.
Ivan Misner was at a church function recently and spotted a local business leader he wanted to meet. During the ensuing casual chat about their jobs, the businessman mentioned that he was having trouble finding a way to create a foundation to do charity work. Misner recommended a local organization, even offering a contact there who could help. The businessman gave Misner his card and told him to keep in touch.
"If I can help other people, I can build a relationship and then a network," says Misner, author of the forthcoming book "The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies."
Misner is a pro when it comes to networking, but there's no reason you can't be just as good at it. When you've landed your first job and are busy learning the ropes, that's no time to put your network building on the back burner. The minute you get your first paycheck is when you should start thinking about building up your contacts, because getting ahead in your career is directly tied to whom you know.
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"Your network is the most powerful resource you can have, and it's free," says Jan Vermeiren, author of "Let's Connect!: A Practical Guide for Highly Effective Professional Networking" and founder of the Networking Coach website. "People from your network can connect you with the people you need to reach your goals."
One Relationship at a Time
Building a network, though, is a skill. Handing someone your business card at a cocktail party and asking him or her to look at your resume is not networking. Cultivating a relationship over time, however, is.
"Networking is like gardening; don't expect instant results," says Janet White , author of "Secrets of the Hidden Job Market."
Successful networkers make themselves visible -- they put themselves out there. And they back up that ubiquity with credibility.
Start With Professional Groups
The first step toward gaining that credibility is by joining your industry's professional or trade organization. That's where you'll meet your peers from around the country. Once you're on the inside, ask senior-level co-workers what organizations they belong to and join those as well. But it's not enough to pay your dues and attend the monthly meetings. Get involved by joining one of the committees or run for a board position.
If that's not quite your speed, consider volunteering to do a presentation on your area of expertise at the group's annual conference, or perhaps write for the group's publication. From that point, meeting a wide range of people will be a breeze, since your peers will come to you to ask for advice.
Keep in mind, however, that the people in your network are not necessarily the ones who will ultimately help you land a job. The trick is to find out who they know by asking the simple, obvious question: '"Who do you think I should be talking to?"
Plan for Self-Marketing
Once you make contact with that particular person, it's important to have a short, snappy description of your job when you're asked, invariably, what it is that you do. Think about it and refine it, since it's your main hook that will get a potential employer interested in asking you more questions. When people ask Misner, author of several books on networking, what he does for a living, he has a unique response.
"I tell them that I help people create referrals for life," he says. "Their next question is, 'What's that?' "
Don't forget to return the favor. Helping other people meet professional contacts builds your credibility. Plus, they're more inclined to introduce you around too.
Value the Coworkers
Also remember to network with your coworkers, especially the ones who started their careers around the same time you began yours. Those people are as likely to become future decision-makers as you are, so stay in touch with them after you leave your current job. Just a simple e-mail every few months asking how things are going will suffice.
"Those people can be your ambassadors to other people," says Vermeiren. "The real power in the network is in the second degree -- not your people, but the people they know."
Get to know colleagues across departments too. Most professionals deal with a range of people they never actually meet because they communicate via phone or e-mail. Instead of maintaining that phone/Internet relationship, invite them out to lunch. You never know when having a support network in another department might come in handy.
Using Web sites like LinkedIn is useful, but the best way to network is to do it in person. Says Misner, "Until we're living in a 'Star Wars' world where we have meetings in a holographic circle, meeting face to face is still the most powerful way to do it."
The good news: Fewer people are dying on the job in the
Last year work-related fatalities dipped 6%, to 5,488 (or 3.7 per 100,000 workers), according to the
The bad news: Workplace safety experts say the decline in fatalities was due in part to lower employment nationwide, particularly in the construction and manufacturing industries. (Construction-related deaths, still the highest among any profession on an absolute basis, dropped to 1,178 from 1,239.) Improved safety standards have helped stanch the bleeding, too, they say.
Badge-wielding types took a serious hit. Of all occupations, protective-service occupations suffered the greatest relative increase in workplace fatalities in 2007, jumping 20% to 314. Nearly one-half of those were police officers; indeed, enough men in blue perished in the line of fire to earn a spot on the list of
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* In Pictures: America's Most Dangerous Jobs
* In Pictures: Deadliest Jobs For Men And Women
* In Pictures: America's Highest-Paying Blue-Collar Jobs
* In Pictures: The 15 Top-Paid Young CEOs
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In 2007, 143 sheriffs and patrol officers died on the job -- a rate of 21.4 per 100,000 workers -- making police work the 10th most dangerous job in
Topping the most-dangerous list: fishers and their staff. Thirty-eight fishermen -- 112 out of 100,000 -- died on the job last year, mainly off the frigid coasts of
Larry Simns -- co-founder of Commercial Fishermen of America, a San Francisco-based nonprofit representing
"They all know the risks," says Simms. "There's a chance of getting killed, but you don't put a lot of emphasis on that. You're just extra cautious because you know you can't just get off the boat and walk home if something goes wrong."
Next on the list is logging, which yielded 87 deaths per 100,000 employees. In this profession, many workers perform their jobs 100 feet in the air. Other deadly obstacles include high winds, falling branches, hidden roots and power saws.
Rounding out the top five are aircraft pilots and flight engineers (in third, with 67 deaths per 100,000); iron and steel workers (fourth, at 45); and farmers and ranchers (fifth, 3
.
Not surprisingly, far more men than women die on the job. Of the 5,488 who died at work, 5,071 were male and 417 were female. For men, the deadliest occupations involve transportation and material-moving (pilots, bus drivers, crane operators and sailors), while administrative-support duties (couriers and stockers) claimed the most working women.
Will the death toll keep shrinking? Some experts think so as more employers enforce and emphasize safety to avoid harsh penalties, lawsuits and productivity losses. "We like to think that it's altruism and in some cases it is," said Frank Kenna III, president of The Marlin Company, a safety-consulting firm in
The old adage says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and its wisdom is applicable to job seekers. It is usually far easier to find another job if you're already employed. But how can you ensure that the worst never happens to you -- that you're never left without a job and possibilities for your next opportunity?
Here are five suggestions from career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman:
Keep thinking positive.
It sounds deceptively simple, but try embracing the power of positive thinking when you're thinking about your career. Says Brown-Volkman, "When you tell yourself something bad will happen to your job, something bad will probably happen. If you tell yourself that you are marketable and confident and that you will always be working, your words can make this true."
Keep thinking ahead.
If you're not following trends within your particular industry, you could be caught off guard by a layoff. Is your position or division vulnerable to outsourcing, further automation, or elimination? Brown-Volkman, whose practice is based in New York, says, "If your job is being eliminated or outsourced, you will want to know about it before you are in the room with the human resources person telling you that your job is going away."
She urges professionals, "Look for trends and then train yourself in growth areas. Having the right skills at the right time ensures that no matter what is happening around you, you will be needed and employable."
Keep your resume ready.
Having your resume at the ready gives you confidence. You always know that if opportunity casually knocks, you're prepared to answer. Brown-Volkman reminds her clients, "Even if you are not looking for work, your resume reminds you of the contributions you make on a regular basis, something you can easily forget when you are immersed in the day-to-day. Whether you are looking for a job, or you already have one, an updated resume is essential for your career."
Keep cultivating your network.
Brown-Volkman, author of "Don't Blow It: The Right Words for the Right Job," believes networking should always be a part of your professional life. She states, "If you start to network only when you need something, you will have a lot of catching up to do." Instead of waiting until the 11th hour, she advises workers to network in some way every day.
"Wherever there are people, there is an opportunity to network." She also urges workers to network within their own workplaces. If coworkers understand what you do and your value, this could help safeguard your job in dicey times.
Keep your eyes and ears open.
You're up on the trends. You're networking. You've got a current resume. You're thinking positive thoughts. Now it's time to get creative -- by creating your own opportunities.
Read up on what your peers are doing and what you aren't. Consider how you might strike out on your own -- or on the side. Brown-Volkman adds, "Rather than thinking, 'It cannot happen,' believe that what you want is possible and is within your reach. Then, make it happen."
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