When faced with unemployment or a less than satisfactory job, many professionals are pained with the question of whether to take a lower paying position. It’s a tough decision to make, and one which depends on many factors for each unique situation. However, no matter what the scenario, there are a few constants you should keep in mind: Here are a few things to consider if you have to answer that question yourself.

Job Satisfaction VS Salary

If your choice is between a lower paying job and extreme unhappiness in the job you’re currently in, regardless of if it’s higher pay, it’s usually best to put yourself first. If your happiness and overall emotional well-being is at stake, chances are that the higher salary isn’t worth hanging onto your current job for.

Additionally, your productivity, attitude, and general work ethic could be significantly and negatively impacted by your unhappiness. This puts you at the risk for bad reviews, worsening work conditions, and even termination. If your emotional well-being isn’t enough to convince you, then this resulting situation should be a clear sign that you should move on from your current positions, even if it’s for a lower paying job.

Living Expenses and Skills Maintenance VS Salary

If departmental layoffs have left you jobless, a reasonable pay cut may initially be necessary to keep up with your living expenses. Additionally, while you may not want to settle for less, it’s important to minimize that employment gap on your resume and keep up to date on your technical skills.

When faced with this scenario, your best game plan is to look for a job that can cover your basic essential expenses while also giving you a similar level of responsibility.

Career Advancement VS Salary

If you’re looking for a new job purely for advancement purposes, then taking a lower paying job is typically not going to cut it. The exception to this rule is if taking one step back will give you the opportunity to take two steps forward. If you can guarantee that a pay cut now will lead to a higher salary and career advancement in the the near future, then the opportunity may be worth it. If not – and assuming your advancement goal is not on a deadline – focus on your job search to help you find the right position.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that pay cuts can be temporary. Depending on your situation, taking a lower paying job may be the smart thing to do until a better job or promotion comes around. Avoid the mindset that pay cuts are always negative, and make sure you weigh both the pros and cons before throwing the job offer for a lower paying job out the window. Good luck!

-By Layla Nourahmadi

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There are many investments a company must make to stay operational. Your employees, the building blocks and foundation of any organization, are generally the biggest of those investments. When trying to decrease overhead and spending, a business owner may turn to internal finance as a means of reserving resources. Generally personnel compensation is not something that can by trimmed down. However, their insurance costs are a whole other story! Employers can lessen their overhead, by encouraging healthy lifestyles, while not compromising employee medical benefits or compensation!

Health insurance is another area where, like employee salaries, companies cannot skimp. To keep competitive benefits while saving money, many companies are moving toward Employee Wellness Programs to earn insurance incentives. Employees are able to participate in everything from on-site exercise facilities and in office Pilates, to weight loss and smoking cessation classes which in turn puts health insurance premiums on the steady decline.

Encouraging a healthy workplace is not necessarily a new idea. Rather, it has been an ongoing struggle for employers to prove statistically to insurers that the implementation of wellness programs will actually save them money. More recently, it seems, the insurance companies are starting to come around, admitting that wellness programs do have merit, and are even starting to create programs of their own. At this stage in the development of Employee Wellness Incentive Programs, insurers are more apt to lower premiums when employees participate in programs that they sponsor, rather than programs created by their clients. For instance, Blue Shield of California offers “Healthy Lifestyle Rewards” to its client’s employees. The program offers cash and prize incentives to participants who fill out health questionnaires and display a healthy behavior.

Even if your medical insurance provider does not offer an incentive plan, there is still money to be saved by encouraging healthier lifestyles. Several studies have shown that companies save about three dollars for every one dollar spent on health and wellness programs. It is also common knowledge that daily exercise and a healthy diet, create a more active, energetic and focused person. Offering fruit in the break rooms, free fitness programs and in-office incentives for healthier behavior will improve over all employee performance and morale. Healthy employees will get sick less often, which means less absenteeism and more productivity for your company! Increased employee morale will generate a lower turn-over rate and higher employee retention, which will cut valuable resources spent searching for replacement personnel!

There is no arguing that wellness programs are a good investment. Whether your intentions lie in attaining lower insurance premiums, increasing employee retention or simply encouraging healthy behaviors, the benefits of a Well Workplace are limitless!

-By Megan Oldag

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Your resume is the first impression you give a recruiter or hiring manager. Even things as little as the name of your document to the length of the resume are things you can be sure they’ll notice. To increase your chances of landing an interview, make sure you follow these three resume rules.

Avoid Embellishments – It may be tempting to exaggerate just how many years you have of a particular skill, but fabrications like this would be a big mistake. Many companies have practical tests to see how advanced your skills are, so any embellishments will catch up to you in the end. Make sure all your information is current and correct, from your address to your skill sets.

Do not write a book – Your resume is supposed to be a summary of your skills and experience. It is not supposed to be a play by play commentary of each position you have held since high school. On the other hand, details of the important tasks in your previous positions are essential. While a ten-page resume will barely be glanced at, being too vague does not give the hiring managers a good idea of what you did at your last jobs.

Multiple methods of contact – Many people list their email addresses on their resume as the only form of contact, and then only check their emails every couple days. Unfortunately, the chances of them missing a great opportunity this way are very high. Make sure there are at least two ways someone can contact you on your resume, preferably a phone number in addition to your email address. Do not let lack of communication be the reason you don’t get an interview.

Let your first impression be flawless. Proofread your resume and follow these rules to create the best representation of your successes. A well constructed resume should get your foot in the door, and then you can knock them dead with your personality in the interview. Good Luck!

p.s. If you join us on Facebook from now through January 31, 2012, you could WIN a Kindle Fire! Just like our page and sign up on the Happy New Year tab! Thanks for helping us build our online community!

-By Layla Nourahmadi

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There are over 100,000 IT companies in the United States and over 2 million people working in IT. Every year, this industry continues to grow. According to SelectUSA.gov, the industry has been increasing revenues by four percent the past 10 years. There are many benefits in working in Informational Technology.

Always a need/ High Demand

There is no doubt that there will always be a need for IT professionals. They keep the company going smoothly and are the only people who really know the ins and outs of technology. Whether it’s a Network Engineer who looks at the company’s network or a Web Developer who designs and develops website and applications, these jobs are always in demand and growing.

Constant Change

In the technology world, everything is constantly changing. This makes your job more interesting. You will always be updating your skills and changing with the industry, which allows you to always be learning and discovering your strengths.

Good wages

IT is so important to maximize productivity and efficiency in a company, that many are willing to pay well to build a great team. Entry level positions can often start at $45,000 to $50,000. As you grow in the industry and gain more experience, the more firms are willing to pay. Senior .Net Developers can go up to $100,000 in salary depending on experience.

Great opportunity for growth

There are many different facets of an IT department, which often provides people with a lot of growth opportunities. Whether it’s moving up to a higher position, or going from one area of IT to another, there’s a range of interesting career paths you could take. As long as you’re working for a company that allows for growth, moving to different positions or getting promoted in IT is rarely a problem.

Information Technology is the new “it” industry. It’s constantly growing and changing, making it exciting every day. With the right skill sets and the right passion, this can be the industry for you. Good Luck.

p.s. If you join us on Facebook from now through January 31, 2012, you could WIN a Kindle Fire! Just like our page and sign up on the Happy New Year tab! Thanks for helping us build our online community!

-By Layla Nourahmadi

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According to a survey conducted by careerbuilder.com, more than one in five employers search social media networking sites for candidate screening purposes. Although lawyers advise against it, as it could open doors to discrimination lawsuits, the proof is the pudding. Employers are doing it anyway, and the question is: What are you doing to ensure a positive impression?

Career Builder also asked employers which internet behaviors took the most potential candidates out of the running.

List and percentages courtesy of careerbuilder.com

• Information about alcohol or drug use (41% of managers said this was a top concern)
• Inappropriate photos or information posted on a candidate’s page (40%)
• Poor communication skills (29%)
• Bad-mouthing of former employers or fellow employees (28%)
• Inaccurate qualifications (27%)
• Unprofessional screen names (22%)
• Notes showing links to criminal behavior (21%)
• Confidential information about past employers (19%)

Employers are looking at everything from Facebook pages and groups, to general message boards, and in this realm you really are “guilty by association.” Something as ostensibly insignificant as slang or improper grammar can convey a negative image to your potential employer. Generally, people (not just employers) stick to the old adage, “birds of a feather flock together,” so be sure to keep your website clear of any inappropriate comments or pictures, whether or not you are the author!

For these reasons, some may wonder why job seekers don’t just avoid social media altogether. The answer is, simply, because social media is not all bad! Social networking sites provide an excellent opportunity to play up your positive attributes and showcase your skills. So make social media work for you by using an employer’s interest in your internet persona to your advantage!

As a job seeker, the most important thing you can do for your digital image is display yourself in the most positive light imaginable. Update your statuses frequently, even casually mentioning your latest accomplishments, i.e., “It feels so good knowing that I built that software from the ground up, and saved the company millions of dollars!” Let your friends and family in on the deal too! A simple “good job on that last project…” from a friendly commenter will shine light in your favor. There’s no such thing as too many positive comments. Another resource which can be used in your favor are professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. Create a profile there, and link with other professionals in your same field. Professional networking sites are designed to make you look good, so be sure to take advantage of that!

If you already have a few spots on your digital image that don’t seem to want to disappear, don’t stress! There are a few things you can do to lessen the chances that a potential employer may stumble upon them. The most recent and relevant postings will always show up at the top of a traditional search engine results page. By increasing your recent internet presence, you in turn push the older (and possibly negative) search results to the bottom of the page. If you follow the steps above, the only thing a hiring manager will set eyes on is what you want them to: positive Facebook statuses, professional networking sites, intelligent conversations in IT forums, and complimentary comments from friends and family.

Think of social media as a fluid resume, of sorts. It enables you to express a more casual and personal impression, while still delivering your skills and qualifications in a neat little package. You can only win half the battle when you do not maintain a spotless digital image. Be sure to land your next big role with the help of a perfectly manicured message board!

p.s. If you join us on Facebook from now through January 31, 2012, you could WIN a Kindle Fire! Just like our page and sign up on the Happy New Year tab! Thanks for helping us build our online community!

-By Megan Oldag

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In the technological community, the value of IT Certifications has long been a topic of debate. In an effort to resolve the question of whether certifications play an integral role in career advancement or if they are of limited value, the job search website Dice, which services only the IT field, conducted a survey.

Dice polled 17,000 IT professionals to see which certifications proved to have the most “bang for your buck”. With many certifications staying current only a couple years, Dice wanted to know if the expense of recertifying would be an investment, with the return reflected as a salary increase, or if your recertification efforts would be in vain. The findings illustrate that certifications do not generate a guaranteed advancement up the company ladder. Employers want the entire package. Neither experience nor certifications alone will be enough to achieve your compensation goals. It’s the combination of both qualities which makes a successful employee. The Director of Dice Learning, Evan Lesser confirms, “When you combine in demand skill-sets and proven salary impacts, specific certifications become valuable to individual tech professionals.”

There are thousands of certifications available in the technological field, and some will have very little effect on your value to a company. “Not all certifications are created equal in terms of paycheck impact.” states Lesser. Additionally the survey noted that while many IT professionals possess certifications, few of them found a correlation between having multiple certifications and pay increases. So which certifications are the most beneficial to acquire and maintain throughout your career? Dice has created a comprehensive list of the Top 10 in demand certifications, and the certifications most likely to sky rocket your salary and career!

This list of top tech certifications, along with descriptions, courtesy Dice :

PMP
By earning the Project Management Professional certification, technology professionals prove they have the knowledge and skills necessary to shepherd projects to a successful conclusion, on-time, on-budget, and using the resources allocated. It’s a particularly important job today, when companies are beginning to resurrect projects they’d shelved during the downturn, but want them completed as cost-efficiently and quickly as possible. There are currently 1,400 jobs on Dice with PMP certification requested.

MCSE
Microsoft’s Certified Systems Engineers have shown they can design, implement and administer technology infrastructures using Microsoft 2000 Windows Server and other Windows server platforms. Sought by systems engineers, technical support engineers, system analysts, network analysts and technical consultants, the MCSE is for professionals who spend their time maintaining the basic platforms on which so much business is conducted. Nearly 1,000 available career opportunities request this certification.

A +
This vendor-neutral certification from the trade group CompTIA is a standard for tech-support technicians. By earning it, they’ve shown they can install networks, conduct preventative maintenance, secure them and troubleshoot them.

CNA
Cisco Certified Network Associates demonstrate their ability to install, configure, run and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks. They’ve also proven themselves with security and wireless basics, and their ability to work with a number of protocols. Slightly more than 650 available job opportunities request the CCNA designation.

MCP
Microsoft Certified Professionals include developers, trainer, system architects and other tech professionals who want to spotlight their expertise with a range of Microsoft technologies.

Network
Another certification from CompTIA, the Network+ proves a technician’s competency in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing and configuring basic network infrastructures. It’s included in certification programs of tech leaders like Microsoft, Novell, Cisco and H-P.

CISSP
Security is a growing concern for businesses around the world, and this is the certification anyone truly interested in field wants to earn. Globally recognized as a standard for expertise, five years of experience in information security are needed before a professional can earn this certification. Nearly 750 open available career opportunities request this certification.

MCSA
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certification allows tech professionals to show off their expertise in systems administration and troubleshooting networks that use the Windows Server operating environment. It’s earned by systems administrators, network administrators, information systems administrators, network operations analysts, network technicians, and technical support specialists, among others.

ITIL
The three-tier ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) certification demonstrates the expertise of professionals in tech management. Public and private organizations use the ITIL as compendium of IT operational best practices. The Foundation Certificate shows a basic knowledge of ITIL terminology, Service Support and Service Delivery. The Practitioner Certificate demonstrates an understanding and ability to apply specific processes within IT Service Management. The Manager’s Certificate is obtained by demonstrating expertise in overseeing service management functions.

Security +
The CompTIA Security+ certification demonstrates knowledge of system security, network infrastructure, access control and organizational security – all important areas at a time when companies are investing real money to keep their technology platforms safe from cybersecurity threats.

p.s. If you join us on Facebook from now through January 31, 2012, you could WIN a Kindle Fire! Just like our page and sign up on the Happy New Year tab! Thanks for helping us build our online community!

-By Megan Oldag

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Although the recent recession officially ended back in 2009, signs of positive turn around have only really become apparent during the past year. The unemployment rate has slowly been creeping back down as news of companies hiring has been bombarding us from all angles.

From big name corporations like Google, Microsoft, Boeing and Dell, to small businesses across the nation, hiring efforts are clearly on the rise. These sure signs of recovery, along with many others, leave us set to end 2011 on a high note and ready to kick off 2012 with a bang.

The big question is, however, as this slow and steady recovery picks up pace, what new hiring and workplace trends will begin to show their faces?

Job Seekers Turn to Contracting

The downturn of recent years has left many employees wary of the job market. Scared away from the potential instability of the traditional career path, many people are starting to see the benefits of contracts, whether short or long term.

What these people have found is a new kind of flexibility and job satisfaction that they couldn’t achieve as a permanent employee.

Contract hiring is typically a more popular option during economic recovery in the first place; but now, more than ever, it is becoming an appealing and long-term choice on both sides of the table.

Baby Boomers are Ready to Retire

The first of the Baby Boomers were eligible to retire during 2011, but as the economy had yet to really pick up, the number of those actually retiring tapered off. During 2012, however, it is expected that this generation will be more ready to pack up their desks and say goodbye.

This trend not only results in the obvious need to hire new people, it will also force employers to re-evaluate just who they need to hire. The Baby Boomers were a unique generation, and newer generations couldn’t be more different, especially in their work styles. Now is the time to really look at the roles and culture in your workplace and how they will evolve with this change.

90’s Babies are Ready to Work

2012 marks the first year of college graduates who were born in the 1990’s. These will be people whose prime childhood years were immersed in budding new technology.

What does this mean for workplaces? At some point or another, employers will have to start hiring this generation to replace gaps left by retiring Baby Boomers. To really attract and retain these youngsters, you may need to be looking at both your policies and resources in regards to technology.

If your office is chugging along on decade-old computers while restrictive rules about social media are in full force, you might have a hard time adjusting to this onslaught of nineties babies.

Hiring Meets Social Media

The buzz about social media and its importance in business and hiring has become old news. However, the real-world impact of this buzz is only now becoming apparent. More companies are slowly taking action and putting a social media plan into place.

In today’s job market, social media is taking on a large role. It creates a unique impression for job seekers who research companies they’d like to work for.

A company’s online presence shows just how up-to-date they are with current trends. Beyond that, social media shows how interactive a company is with their employees, customers and job seekers. It gives a glance into the company’s value and interests, and ultimately, it creates a “personality” for your company. Employers that pay attention to all these things will understand how social media plays a role in the hiring process.

Branding Gets Bigger

Speaking of the portrayed “personality” of a company, employer branding is now more important than ever.

As the economy recovers and the job market frees up, job seekers are afforded the luxury of being picky about where they work. Their choices will be based on various factors, just one of these being the aforementioned social media aspect.

Other aspects include things like your website, especially if you have a dedicated career page, reviews your company may have received on web sites like glassdoor.com, any press coverage you have, your hiring process and how job-seeker-friendly it is, and the impression of your company given to a job seeker in the interview.

Are You Ready for 2012?

Clearly, the traditional hiring process is ready for a big upheaval. Contractors, younger generations, social media, and more are all factors that are basically forcing companies to re-evaluate the way they hire. Are you ready?

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A plethora of online tests claim a link between our personalities and our preference of snack foods, animals, and even colors. Those kinds of tests consist of questions that only you would have the answer to. There is a less conspicuous personality marker that many employees may not be aware of. One that shouts loud and clear to your co-workers, prospective clients, and bosses about what kind of person you are. With most Americans spending longer days at the office, and more time away from home, it’s easy to see why the desk has become such a magnet for self-expression.

The picture someone’s desk paints can also be an important clue into how your office and team members function together in the workplace. When an employer can deduce their team’s personalities from their desks, they can get a better idea of how to increase performance and productivity.

As innocent as family photos and bobble head frogs may seem, you need to be certain of what your desk is saying to the people around you. We subconsciously judge a person within the first thirty seconds of setting eyes on them. See which category below you fall in to, and what you can do to rid yourself of the “Detrimental Desk”!

“Post-It-Palooza”
Desks covered in post-it’s show a certain level of disorganization. But don’t get discouraged, it also shows that you’re trying! Rather than advertising that you don’t have the best memory, try using a task list or another digital equivalent of a string around your finger.

“Photo Frenzy”
Pictures of family and friends can convey that this person is more of a “people’s person,” and is motivated by relationships in and out of the office. Photographs of yourself and your significant other from last summer show the viewer that you have a stable work-life balance. While pictures of your children show that you have roots. It is possible, however, to over document the happenings of your personal life. Too many family photos could look like you are distracted and would rather be at home than at work. Even if you’d rather be, it’s best that you don’t flaunt it!

“Fanatical Fan”
Sports paraphernalia may be one of the most “dangerous games” you can play in an office environment. By plastering images of your favorite sports team on everything from mugs to mouse pads, you could be inadvertently creating an instant office rivalry. A sports background does show an inherent ability and understanding of how to work on a team. But sporting mascots from a different city can cause tension in the workplace. If you choose to personalize your space with sports teams, just be sure you represent the city you are in!

“The Sweetest Thing”
Employees whose desks are laden with overflowing bowls of candy are generally very giving. They like to make people happy and are conscientious of others. Candy bowls can also show that you like to socialize, and the negative connotation of socialize is the “office gossip.” If you genuinely like to have “visitors” swing by and chat while picking up their sweets, just be sure to keep it professional. Don’t talk about other co-workers or confidential business practices. You don’t know who is privileged to what information, and more importantly who is not. When someone spills the “jelly beans” that you are the information source, it could be disastrous to your career!

While personality analysis via Desktop Décor is a fun and fascinating topic, it actually proves to be quite a serious way for employers to gather information of who we really are. By following the tips in each category and making small adjustments to your surroundings, you will be able to maintain a positive work station portrayal, and still express your individuality.

- By Megan Oldag

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Let’s face it, you go job hunting for several reasons. Often times, it may be that you fall into the unemployed, underemployed and unhappily employed category, which serves as the engine that kick starts your hunt for the “perfect” or “almost perfect” job opportunity.

Armed with the tools for your hunt (including your well penned resume) you are about to stir the interest of what could be your next boss. From the moment you get that call for the interview, you must immediately become an award winning researcher/investigator gleaning all the vital information you can find on the company.

The big day is here and the interview is going greater than you expected. You have connected all the dots regarding your skills set and the job description. From your interviewer’s description of the company, you’re loving the company’s culture, the scope for growth, salary package and their flexible hours.

Well, what are you waiting for? Seize the moment and ask for the job now! According to Karen Burns (author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use), here are two great ways to ask:

1. “I’m very interested in this job. Is there anything preventing you from offering me the job right now?”

2. “I am truly interested in the job. What is the next step for consideration? When will you be making a decision? Are there any questions I have left unanswered?”

You may feel a little forward in asking these questions, but they let the employer you’re definitely interested, which is important because they won’t want to extend a job offer to someone they don’t think is interested. Plus, asking about the next step shows your confidence and forward-thinking.

After all, you went job hunting for a reason. The hunt itself can either be long and frustratingly painful or very efficient, depending on the psychology of the hunter. Which route will you choose?

p.s. If you join us on Facebook from now through January 31, 2012, you could WIN a Kindle Fire! Just like our page and sign up on the Happy New Year tab! Thanks for helping us build our online community!

-By Betty Scott

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Social networking is growing each and every day, but there are still a lot of job seekers out there who are avoiding it, saying it’s confusing, a passing fad, or not worth the time. But the truth is, there are so many opportunities in this world, and social networking helps us to reach a larger audience and make the world a smaller place. And ultimately, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Meetups, and more can really make a huge difference in the job search.

But why? Why put the time into social networking during your job search?

Simply, because there are a lot of hidden opportunities out there that only surface in the world of social media. Surprisingly, very few companies actually advertise their open positions on typical online job boards. Instead, they may tweet about it, or post it on another social network.

The fast paced world of social media caters perfectly to an employer’s sense of urgency in filling a position. Plus, those job seekers who effectively and efficiently use social media in their job search are typically more tech-savvy than their job-board-dwelling counterparts.

For these reasons, it’s important to stay on top of your social networking sites. The world is constantly changing and growing, and social networking is becoming more and more useful and common. Who knows, maybe your next opportunity is only a tweet away.

-By Tina Lopez

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