metro.us - Careers and Wealth http://www.metro.usen-us Do you have an app for slave labor? Do you use an iPod, or iPhone? Have you ever gotten a Dell? How about Motorola or Nokia? http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/18/05/0706-82/index.xml Making your way into in-home repair If you could only have one maintenance person in your home for a year, the best choice would be an air conditioning and refrigeration technician. That may sound like a narrow expertise, but these mechanics have the widest skill set of any in-home repairmen. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/16/07/5841-82/index.xml When ho-ho-hos become no-no-nos Typically considered a lighthearted time of year, the holidays can pose difficulty for those celebrating in a workplace setting. “A new economy and changing corporate culture has left people so terrified about holding onto their jobs that they often won’t partake in any kind of holiday festivities at all,”  says Amy Epstein Feldman, co-author of “So Sue Me, Jackass!” “The unfortunate part is needlessly losing all that positive office spirit.”            http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/16/07/1729-82/index.xml It’s time to get LinkedIn LinkedIn.com is a professional, online network that boasts about 50 million users. Some are using the popular site as a job-search locator, while others are trying to build their businesses one contact at a time. Although a LinkedIn profile appears to just be your résumé, in reality it’s so much more. Here are my tips on how to make the most of your experience.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/16/07/1108-82/index.xml Become the office’s first doodle dandy If long, boring conference calls and office meetings make you want to press pen to paper (in drawings, not note taking), illustrator Staffan Gnosspelius’ book “Doodle While You Work: Erase the Tedium” — which is filled with pages of half-finished drawings for you to fill in — is your new muse. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/09/08/0402-82/index.xml Understanding your gray matter Dozing off at your desk? You’re just one of many burnt out, overtaxed workers who could benefit from leadership coach David Rock’s latest book, “Your Brain at Work.” By advising on how to prioritize and better manage distraction, Rock helps his reader survive and excel in today’s work environment.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/09/07/5640-82/index.xml The ability to learn is your greatest skill When employers talk about desirable skills they look for in new hires, they usually mean things like marketing, IT, budgeting, and project management. But what about the ability to learn?http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/09/05/3238-82/index.xml Surge in temp jobs good news for the market U.S. temporary staffing — historically one of the first areas to show evidence of a jobs recovery — surged in October, adding about 34,000 jobs in a positive sign for the overall economy. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/09/05/2925-82/index.xml Don’t sweat the small stuff This year one of our own Smart Cookies wanted to kick it up a notch and get a personal trainer. In true Smart Cookie fashion however, she did have to take on additional work to cover the cost.  http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/04/08/3807-82/index.xml Green bringing in the gold for Gore No one doubts that Al Gore is sincere in his belief that the world faces a catastrophic threat from so-called climate change.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/04/06/5708-82/index.xml Need a change? Just take the plunge Cecilia Figueroa works at The Chelsea Garden Center in Red Hook, Brooklyn. She loves to work outdoors in all weathers, advising people on how to landscape their yards, or which plants and flowers they should buy to brighten up a place.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/04/06/3247-82/index.xml Human resources getting you down? If there’s something more detrimental to your job than working in an office where someone in human resources dislikes you, then Vicky Oliver doesn’t know about it.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/09/2134-82/index.xml Preview pushes used with variant: Large Wide Tweet your way to a job Twitter is a micro-blogging service, a worldwide phenomenon and a medium that is embraced by almost 20 percent of Internet users. It’s also a place where people form relationships and do business in an open environment. Although when you first register, you will be greeted by such personalities and brands as Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and CNN, your focus should be on people in your industry. My Career Tweet your way to a job Twitter is a micro-blogging service, a worldwide phenomenon and a medium that is embraced by almost 20 percent of Internet users. It’s also a place where people form relationships and do business in an open environment. Although when you first register, you will be greeted by such personalities and brands as Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and CNN, your focus should be on people in your industry. My Career Tweet your way to a job Twitter is a micro-blogging service, a worldwide phenomenon and a medium that is embraced by almost 20 percent of Internet users. It’s also a place where people form relationships and do business in an open environment. Although when you first register, you will be greeted by such personalities and brands as Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and CNN, your focus should be on people in your industry. My Career Tweet your way to a job Twitter is a micro-blogging service, a worldwide phenomenon and a medium that is embraced by almost 20 percent of Internet users. It’s also a place where people form relationships and do business in an open environment. Although when you first register, you will be greeted by such personalities and brands as Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and CNN, your focus should be on people in your industry. Twitter is a micro-blogging service, a worldwide phenomenon and a medium that is embraced by almost 20 percent of Internet users. It’s also a place where people form relationships and do business in an open environment. Although when you first register, you will be greeted by such personalities and brands as Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and CNN, your focus should be on people in your industry.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/09/1608-82/index.xml New Jersey job woes to persist to 2019, Rutgers says New Jersey, with its jobless rate at a 32-year high, will take a decade to get back to pre-recession employment levels, according to economists at Rutgers University.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/09/1216-82/index.xml Quit selling yourself short Dear Debra: My boss singled me out for praise I deserved. To be humble, I “shared” the glory with a co-worker who did only a fraction of the work. Now he, not me, is joining my boss at a department briefing on my project. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/09/0752-82/index.xml How to smite down your doofus ex-boss Who hasn’t dreamed of putting a curse on those who fired them? If you want revenge, author Dawn Rae Downton was kind (or evil) enough to share with us her “Flush-a-Bye” curse, which is used to ensure your ex-boss also becomes unemployed. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/09/0321-82/index.xml Finding your way into the digital media field According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are a select few jobs available for television, video and motion picture camera operators and editors. They also predict that, while the number of jobs in this field should grow over the next 10 years, there won’t be more jobs available, due to the tremendous amount of candidates entering the field. But there’s still plenty of reason for excitement if you’ve got a gift for camerawork and editing. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/08/5959-82/index.xml ’Tis the season for seasonal work Around the holidays, many companies hire temporary workers to meet the demands of increased foot traffic. These seasonal jobs are attractive to anyone looking to make an extra buck, even those who already have full-time jobs (after all, Christmas shopping doesn’t come cheap.)http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/26/04/3902-82/index.xml What next When a goal flops? Have you ever pursued a goal only to eventually realize it’s just not working out? This has happened to me, and I can tell you there’s nothing more frustrating. After all, we usually don’t achieve goals because 1. we purposely set them aside to focus on something more important or 2. we get too busy (or lazy) and don’t give them the time and attention they deserve.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/26/04/2738-82/index.xml What to do when you’ve lost your job If you’ve recently been laid off, or if you wonder what you are meant to accomplish in life, Sue Frederick has some advice. Frederick is a career intuitive and author of the new book, “I See Your Dream Job,” which uses the ancient system of numerology — as well as her career know-how — to help guide you to your true calling. “This is your great opportunity for reinvention,” says Frederick. “Think new thoughts about your work.” Here are her tips to get back on track:  http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/26/04/2014-82/index.xml