Finding the Right Job

"If you're going to be working harder, it's even more important to get a job you'll really like-a job that will not only help you meet your financial and career goals, but will also reward your psyche, by stimulating your creativity and giving you that feeling of accomplishment that sometimes only the workplace (and of course, that paycheck) can provide."

"How do you get started?"

- read more

While searching for your dream job, remember to stay grounded and true to yourself. I personally chased my dream job since I was in high school, although the goal of reaching my dream wasn't as rewarding because of my journey. Make sure that you take your time in the journey while you move up the career ladder. Remember, life is about balance. Work hard, but don't forget to reward yourself every now and then. If you keep you mind fresh and strong, when the big opportunity arrives you will be ready.

Looks Matter In the Workplace

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/Careers/02/28/cb.pretty/index.html

"Good looks can have a real impact on workers' bank accounts, according to research by Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle published in the Journal of Labor Economics.
Attractive people earn about 5 percent more in hourly pay than their average-looking colleagues, who in turn earn 9 percent more per hour than the plainest-looking workers.
Plain-looking workers may also receive fewer promotions than those awarded to their more striking contemporaries."



Now, does this surprise you? Be honest. I remember cackling over this very issue with my team during my consulting days. At 11p.m., with no ETC in sight, we'd toss around names of people who we'd rather be stuck working with late at night. A few names that came up- not surprisingly- were Brangelina, the Jessica's (as in, Alba & Biel. Sorry, Simpson, you didn't make this cut), Gavin Newsome. Okay, so what do these folks have in common? Let's see... a killer bod, and an easy-on-the-eyes face! ah-ha! Theory proven right.

Thoughts?

You work hard for your dough, so salary information from fellow co-workers might make you fight for what your worth. Should coworkers talk about pay expectations or their own salary? - respond

stay-at-home dad

John Casey, 43, stay-at-home dad, adoptive father of two, natural father of one
"Quite honestly, when I see men in suits, I feel sorry for them, because I have a rapport with my children that I can't imagine they'll ever have with theirs."
read more - http://men.msn.com/articlebl.aspx?cp-documentid=5013470&page=3&gt1=10321

I'm no rock star

I'm no rock star. It never crossed my mind, the life of a rock star, but it should have. I missed out, and to be honest, most of us missed out. It's not the riches or the glamour of rocking out with crazy big hair on a stage. It's not the free underwear on stage, it's not the life of leisure travel, it's not the excuse to act bizarre or strange, it's none of that. It's the ability to use your musical skills and pour magical words on paper.

"This is great, isn't it? We travel the world, don't have to shoot people, get to play rock'n'roll, and we get paid for it." Bono, U2

And finally, you get to pour your heart out to thousands of adoring fans.
It might only last for a song, a one hit wonder, but to still get that opportunity is amazing. I'll never get it in this life, even if I wanted it. I'm just a dude trying to navigate through the cubicle nightmare. I sit in a cold dark office day in and day out doing a job that I dreamt of doing my entire life. No, I'm no rock star or professional surfer. I'm not even a fireman. For the record, I just listed my top three coolest jobs. Like many of you, I sit in my uncomfortable office chair drilling farts, dreaming of a better life, a better job... I believe this job is out there, and that is what this blog is about. Change. Everyone can change their life. We all have dreams, and if we ignore those dreams, we will live a life of misery and denial. So take this journey with me, the journey of change.

http://www.matkearney.com/
So I've found another new artist to aspire to be in another life. Matt Kearney. There are two amazing things about this musician. 1) he is a Christian rocker who broke into the top 40 charts 2) he didn't begin to seriously pursue being a musician until after college.

"Looking back, Kearney first left Eugene, Oregon to play soccer at Chico State University, the notorious school that was once dubbed the No. 1 party school in the nation. Kearney, who occasionally sold weed in high school, fit right into university's wild ways before eventually hitting rock bottom. "I guess I lived it up and did what everyone said you should do in college," he recalls. "I discovered the depth of depravity, the bleakness of that lifestyle. It just wasn't working. I finally started understanding there must be more to life." It was at this point where Kearney had a life-changing encounter with Christ. "God found me when I was at my lowest point. That was the first time in my life when I really felt like I understood who Jesus was-it was more than just knowing about Him, I felt like He met me in that time and place."
read more: http://www.jambase.com/search.asp?bandID=34948&display=bio

http://www.myspace.com/matkearney

The Simpsons Movie

In light of the succes of The Simpsons Movie
101 Jobs done by Homer Simpson



Compared to Nemo or Shrek, the Simpsons is simple looking, yet very appealing. As one of the longest standing sitcoms ever, the Simpsons is pulling in big numbers at the box office.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=simpsons.htm

TOTAL LIFETIME GROSSES
Domestic: $90,815,727 45.7%
+ Foreign: $107,719,942 54.3%
= Worldwide: $198,535,669

ahhh, Hawaii

I love Hawaii. To be honest, I've only been there once, and the visit there was amazing. The aloha laid back vibe. I've relocated out to California for the entertainment industry, but I must admit, California probably isn't what it used to be in the 1970s. Then again, neither is Hawaii, but the great ocean breeze keeps Honolulu's smog level non-existent. Not to mention you can drive to any beach in 5 to 30 minutes on Oahu. So, I know most industries don't thrive there, and I only think that there are a handful of small entertainment relating studios (mostly gaming). It's definitely one of those places you move to for the lifestyle, not work. Just think, everyday after work, you and your family can enjoy snorkling or surfing. A partial vacation everyday. Now all I do is come home after work and turn on the boob tube.

The first five (Unemplyment rates):

1	HAWAII	2.4
1	MONTANA	2.4
3	IDAHO	2.5
4	UTAH	2.6
5	SOUTH DAKOTA	3.0

see the rest:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/state_unemployment/index.html

Honolulu Job outlook:
http://education-portal.com/articles/Honolulu_Job_Outlook:_Overview_of_the_Fastest_Growing_Careers_in_Honolulu,_Hawaii.html
The tourism industry is the biggest pillar of the Honolulu economy, and even jobs not directly connected to tourism are often affected by it: retail workers, for example, are heavily dependent on money spent by visitors. However, not everyone in Honolulu is fishing for the tourist dollar; the city still needs plenty of workers in practical occupations like construction, education and health care. Here's a sample of some of the fastest-growing Honolulu careers, according to www.citytowninfo.com:

• Tour guide
• Reservation and ticket agent
• Baggage porter, bellhop
• Educator
• Massage Therapist
• Musician
• Nurse
• Financial manager
• Elevator installer/repairer

Hawaii relocation guides:
http://www.hawaii.com/relocation/

Get what your worth...

"I'm right out of school, and I really have no idea what I'm worth. How do I figure out what I should get paid? I don't want to get ripped off!"

Fortunately for all of us, the government hooks us up from time to time. I guess we should get something for our taxes, right? In any regard, one of the most valuable resources I've come across is the FLC data center (foreign labor certification). The site exists to protect foreign employees from getting ripped off in our wonderful country. I got to ask though, where the hell is the slc data center (student labor certification data center)? Students and young employees are getting ripped off all over the place due to lack of information regarding wage expectations. Whatever, the big man is probably hoping that Ma and Pa will hook us up with this valuable information.

So here it is:
http://www.flcdatacenter.com/OesWizardStart.aspx

The site will let you look up a location and position, and it will give you a very detailed summary report regarding the position. For example, I looked up "Computer Software Engineers, Applications" within the Los Angeles area. The FLC data center will then give you a ton of information ranging for position responsibilities to wage ranges. Isn't this freaking great. And since it is the world wide web, even us pure breaded Americans can use it too. Something like this will come up under wages:

Median wages (2005) $37.06 hourly, $77,090 annual
Employment (2004) 460,000 employees
Projected growth (2004-2014) Much faster than average (36+%)
Projected need (2004-2014) 268,000 additional employees

If you click further for state information, the site will take you to:
http://www.careerinfonet.org/

Ahhh, so this is the site for everyone. Very nice, and I apologize to the Man, the big g.o.v. I stand corrected, free salary information for everyone!!!

If you search some more on this site, you should be very well armed the next time you need to ask for a big fat raise.

I'm a bit disappointed in the new search engine they added to this site, and I don't know if this is still hidden somewhere on the site, but you could actually search by company. When you would search by company, it would actually show you the registered employee salaries for the company. I remember when I went armed with this information into one of my meetings; my boss almost crapped her pants. What can you say to that. Check it homey, the government says you pay this and your competitor pays this. PWNED!
Search a bit for that information, because that really will make your argument solid. The data could still be on the FLC data center's site.

Gamers beware.

Warning to all those who aspire a career in game development. Gamers beware, a career developing games might not be as fun as playing them.

So I'm playing the game Oblivion, and I think to myself what every teenager thinks, why not make video games for a living. It's not much of a stretch for me, since I do film, so why not? It must be as fun as playing games, right? Hell no, and I'll tell you why you might not consider such a career. Take this from someone who is in entertainment and has close ties to the gaming world. For one, the market is now pretty flooded with graduates. Comparitively to other industries, such as design or advertising, there really aren't a lot of thriving gaming studios.

Rule number 1: enjoy where you work and be willing to relocate to the West Coast.
Like the film industry, most of these thriving companies are on the West Coast of the United States. There are exceptions to the location, and there are several successful pockets outsided of California and the West Coast. Most big studios are in L.A.. So you should consider L.A. or the West coast first. If almost all of your work is in one location, then it will be inevitable for you to consider that location eventually. Make sure you like the West Coast. You can thrive for awhile in some locations, but if you want job stability, then the West Coast is where it's at for entertainment. If you lose a gig in L.A., another one is waiting for you five minutes down the street, no big woop. If you loose your gig in Deleware, then your #@$&ed.

Rule number two: Like video games more than sleep or food.
You need to enjoy playing video games to make them. You not only have to enjoy playing them, but you have to live and breath video games. Production will require your heart and soul, and you will need to be passionate about video games to last in the industry. Making video games is a lifestyle, and if you aspire for a moderately normal life, then the industry might not suit you. Many companies require you to pull excessive hours in the name of making video games. It is not unheard of to work 70-100 hours a week in the gaming industry. Now this may not deter you at first, especially if your a gaming freak of nature, but you might desire a family down the road. Remember, your priorities will change over time. You might sit in your under-roos playing Oblivion into the wee hours of the night, but in the future, believe it or not, you might desire other things; like a social life.

Rule number three: be really f'n good
So we established that the industry is becoming oversaturated with new graduates, but we must also consider the quality of artists and technicians currently in the industry. This is true of any high demand career. The people who get there are super duper talented. So not only must you be very persistent in your application process (this may take years), but you must also develop your eye for detail. If you want to work on a game like Oblivion, then you must already be able to create content as good as the people already doing it. There is no time for on the job training.

So, if the top three rules don't scare you away, by all means go for it. Just remember, you need to want to make games more than live a normal life. If you think your lifestyle will be games for the rest of your working career, then by all means, go for it. I'd bet though, your priorities will change after some time.

Start here to learn about the gaming industy and search for gaming jobs:
http://www.gamasutra.com/

work/life balance

What is your work life balance? Take the quiz below. You don't need to fill in the email. To find out your score:
Scoring: Give yourself 1 point for each “true” response. Note that each “true” response is a sign that you probably need to make changes in your life -- and the higher the number, the more critical it is for you to make changes in your lifestyle.

Take the work life balance quiz

I got a 12 on the test; I guess my work/life balance is screwed big time...

So I went on an interview the other day. It's very empowering. Although I'm not any closer to leaving the industry I've worked so many years to get into. I work in the entertainment industry within Los Angeles, and unfortunately it's not as glamorous or exciting as it seems when you ten years old. I've known what I've wanted to do since I was a freshman in High School, and I have had a very persistent attitude in chasing my dreams. I'm not exceptional at what I do, but I've become accustomed to hearing "no" or "your work just isn't good enough" a thousand times. And each time I hear those words, it makes me work 10xs harder. The problem is, during the process of chasing my dreams, I somehow got lost along the way. I focused on the goal and not the journey. Remember, if your chasing your dreams, it's more about the journey than the final destination. To appreciate the final goal and your dream fully, you need to stop and smell the roses every now and then. I did not do this, and once I arrived at my dream, I was exhausted and burnt out. On top of that, I discovered that the entertainment industry was extremely competitive and exhausting. There isn't much time for friends and family, and unfortunately this seems to be the case for many other industries out there. It shouldn't be this way, and I am searching for a career that provides good work/life balance.

I walk into a dark studio, people are friendly and casual, although there is a pit of artists grinding away on the latest and coolest artwork. All young, mostly single, men working there. In fact, I even caught one of the interviewers eyeing my wedding band. Not because it was your typical entertainment executive (gay), but because I'm sure they were noting that this guy had a personal life. In any regard, everyone there was much more friendly than most studios, and ultimately I was impressed by the professionalism displayed. Everyone was honest about the 10-12 hour workdays, and the 6-7 day work week; WTF! This is precisely why I'm looking into other careers. Don't get me wrong, what I do is fun, although the industry I'm in doesn't leave any room for family and friends. And that's not good...

Make a living contributing to society???

Say goodbye to dog-eat-dog

http://money.cnn.com/2007/07/30/pf/dog_eat_dog.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2007073014 - CNN Money

"Salaries at nonprofits vary depending on the size of the organization, but it's still hard to earn the same level of compensation as at for-profit companies. A CFO at a mid-size nonprofit earns an average of $83,000 a year, according to a 2007 survey by the NonProfit Times."

So is it possible to make money and contribute to society. I've read and heard that the most fulfilling jobs are those that contribute to society. Jobs that help others; fireman, professor, librarian, and so forth. It would be very gratifying to contribute to society and bring home a paycheck for your contributions. Only thing, everyone knows that non-profit doesn't pay well. You don't exactly get into non-profit to get rich.

I think there isn't a kid that doesn't dream of being a fireman. How did so many of us go wrong:) I suppose many of us aren't risk takers. Although there is a high level of risk as a fireman, it must be insanely rewarding to save lives. Not to mention, firemen get to put out fires. Such a great job, and they get to be heroes. You really have to wonder what makes a job rewarding. I taught for several years, and teaching has it's ups and downs. Teaching can be very rewarding if you have people or students that are mostly interested in what you do. Although I hold a high respect for all teachers, and any calculus teacher that can make that shit interesting gets mad props from me. Not to mention, teachers are paid like shit. What's up with that. Not only are teachers pillars of society, we trust them with our kids, and they need to be extremely knowledgable of one or many disciplines, but we decide to give them little respect and under pay them. Insanity!!!! What is this world that we have become.

Most excellent careers - US News

"Firefighter. All the firefighters I've met like their jobs. Disadvantages such as irregular hours and living in a firehouse are usually outweighed by the exciting, rewarding work of responding to emergencies and helping people. Plus, typically only a high school diploma or perhaps a two-year fire science degree is required. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, firefighting ranks 14th in likelihood of dying on the job. That sounds daunting–but Nos. 1 and 2 are truck driver and farmworker, careers most people don't think of as inordinately dangerous. "

Workplace Fairness.org

Workplace Fairness.org
http://www.workplacefairness.org/sc/

This site is great, and I would suggest everyone take a quick glance. There are some broken links, although the menus on the right side seem fully functional.
"Millions of Americans are asking these questions as they struggle to make ends meet and worry about the future. They're playing by new rules that, far from giving them a fair deal, leave them feeling short-changed. In fact, the evidence that the vast majority of Americans are giving more and getting less from their jobs isn't just clear, it's overwhelming." - Workplace Fairness
It is amazing what the world tolerates. Most of the world's wealth is owned by 1% of the world's population, and most of us tolerate this due to fear and lack of education.

do woman get short changed?

Salary, gender and the social cost of haggling - MSNBC

"Research shows men are more aggressive than women in asking for a raise."

The article basically infers that woman get short changed compared to men in the work place, because men are more aggressive when it comes to new opportunities. I personally don't think this is entirely true. This may have been the case in the late 80s or the 90s, although woman in the workplace now seem to be more aggressive than men. While many men do not want to deal with the complications of office politics, I see many woman navigate past all the sharks with their passive aggressive nature (this is a generalization, but it is a compliment). Most men are outwardly aggressive in the office, and often this can cause outward conflict among team members, and ultimately the conflict makes it difficult for men to advance. I think woman who are in higher management roles often find a way to chart the waters a bit easier than men.

Monster slashing jobs

Monster slashing 800 jobs Online job site's restructuring plan, which includes centralizing of finance, human resources, to cut expenses $150 million to $170 million a year.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/07/30/news/companies/bc.monster.results.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007073008

"NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Monster Worldwide Inc., parent of jobs Web site Monster.com, reported lower-than-expected quarterly earnings Monday and announced a restructuring plan that includes cutting 800 jobs, or 15 percent of its full-time staff."

Dirty Jobs

"These are the happiest people I know." - host of Dirty Jobs, Mike Rowe talking about septic tank cleaner Les Swanson.

If you haven't seen the television show Dirty Jobs on TV, then you really should. Watching the show will give you a better respect for having a job. And if you work in a desk job, seeing the show will give you a new respect for having a clean job. It is one of the most popular shows on the Discovery channel now, and I would highly recommend it. It's a lot of fun to watch. The show is about people who work in very dirty jobs. From tar roofers to septic tank cleaners, the show covers many difficult jobs. The most important thing is that the people on the show have an appreciation for what they do. Watch the video below, it's Larry King interviewing the host, Mike Rowe, and a septic tank cleaner. The septic tank cleaner seems to enjoy and appreciate his work. How can I even complain about my job? That's the great thing about this show, because it makes you ask that question.

Dirty Jobs website

HR is there to help, right?

I keep hearing human resources is there to help the employee. And it should be that way, right? I would imagine that the individuals in human resources are passionate about helping people get ahead in their careers, although I've come to learn over the years that human resources exists to help the company get ahead. Now this is not always the case, although it seems to be the case in most large companies. I personally have become friends with many HR representatives at companies within small or mid-size companies, and many HR people DO care about people and their careers. Although, fair warning, be very careful talking to HR, and if you can help it, never get on their radar. They can be very dangerous. I recently read in an article that informs us to contact HR if we are having problems with our job. This is crazy talk people, and I'm sure many of you are aware of it.

"Are long hours conflicting with child care? Ask about flex time. If you need more training, find out how you can get that. Is a position less glamorous than you thought? Ask for some additional, more compelling responsibilities."

the New Job Is a Letdown - hotjobs

If you work for a large company or a company driven by a strict corporate culture, do not inform human resources with your feelings. Especially do not inform human resources that your unhappy. Keep it to yourself. See if you can open up opportunities within the company. If moving to another group or position isn't encouraged by the company, then it will be very difficult for you to make this happen. Get the experience and money you need from the company and move on. Remember, these companies are using you, so you should use them for everything they are worth. If you have time at work or during down time, work on your skills or personal projects. Use your time at work to get ahead in your career. Remember, you were hired to fill a position of need for your boss. If you express to your boss and HR that you might not be perfectly content helping them, then they will probably begin to look for your replacement; behind your back!

What to do when work hurts your hands, wrists and arms.

http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100166569&GT1=10212

8 month vacation, lucky bastard

How often do we reward ourselves. Is 2-3 weeks a year really enough? I think if our employer gave us more time off, we all would be more productive. I personally need a vacation, and I know my productivity at work is slipping due to not getting time off.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/03/technology/fbvacations0803.biz2/index.htm
"SAN FRANCISCO (Business 2.0 Magazine) -- We've reached the balmy days of August, but for a growing number of workers chained to their jobs, it might as well be January.
U.S. employees are taking less time off than ever: Not only is the average number of annual vacation days granted to them a mere 12.4 - less than that of the average medieval peasant - but more than a third of us don't even use all of our allotted time off.

Collectively, American workers give a whopping 1.6 million years' worth of unused vacation time back to their employers every year. We may like to think of ourselves as charitable, but this is ridiculous.
Even worse, at least 20 percent of us admit to sneaking some work along with us during our paltry vacation time, according to the New York-based Families and Work Institute. The American Management Institute puts the figure at closer to 50 percent. Either way, the trend appears to be increasing. An Intel (Charts) survey last month found that 53 percent of us would like to take laptops on future vacations, mostly so we can sneak a peak at our work email."

I was living in New York City as a burn out, because I had previously worked around the clock in the Philippines. When I say around the clock, I mean it. I was working the night shift in the Philippines. I'll get into my industry later, but let's just say that there isn't much room for a social life. I've slowly been obtaining balance in my life, and that is really why I am looking to find another job. Ohh ya, so I was in NYC as a burn out. After my crazy job in the Philippines, I decided to try and live in New York City as an artist. Not the best idea. New York City isn't that supportive of the art world. Welp, there is a hint. I'm a form of an artist. So you might ask, "how can this guy hate his job, he is an artist. I'm jumping into sewage waste everyday, and he's complaining about making pretty pictures." Trust me, you'll fully understand later. So I'm in NYC, and I get invited to this posh party in the Upper East Side. The Upper East Side is mainly rich uptight professionals and old money. It's an amazing neighborhood, and I once read that the median income there is 200k (this was in 2000). In any regard, the party was hosted by a co-worker of mine. She lived in this huge 2 bedroom condo with her roommate. Her roommate wasn't there at the time though, because he was in Nepal for 8 months. Okay, let's stop there! Who can take a friggin vacation to Napal for eight months. I think I need to plan one of these vacations soon. That reminds me of a guy my wife and I met in French Polynesia.


Our tour guide for the Skark Lagoonarium was a computer programmer from France. One day, he just decided that his life wasn't fulfilling in France sitting in a dark cubicle everyday. Isn't that awesome!!! Just imagine that. He just up and left his family and home to move out to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. And what a good decision that was for him. This guy seemed so relaxed, and he was tan as the natives. In fact, he was so tanned, when we first began talking to him, we thought he was a native.
These are the tour guides in the picture to the left. What a great life. Sure, they don't make a boat load of money, but who cares. They live in French Polynesia. The way of life is so fulfilling there. It's about nature, people, and ripping of stupid honeymooners. I don't blame them ripping us off. I would be doing the same if I lived out there, but I don't. I live back in Los Angeles. Could you imagine; just up and leaves his job in France to be a tour guide in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I really need to figure out how to convince my wife to make such a leap of faith. Man ohh man, I really hate working the 9 to 5'r...

The lagoonarium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnnKndoHuDU

assimilate

I worked Saturday. Can you believe that? Now I shouldn't really complain, because I am fortunate to have a job. I can't help it though, because work isn't fun for me. I should be having fun all throughout my life, because I might only live once on this planet. I'm trying to be rational about my job situation. Really I don't feel like I have a choice now-a-days, because I have bills and other obligations to assimilate into organized society. WTF! Now that is an interesting word, assimilate. I'm not big on vocabulary, and like much of my vocabulary, I learned this word from television. I'm sure many Star Trek geeks know what assimilate means. I don't watch too much Star Trek, although I can actually tolerate it in small doses.


The Borg are an enemy in Star Trek that absorb humans by making them cyborgs and assimilating them into the larger brain washed robotic unit. Like a huge evil robot comprised of millions of assimilated humans. The Matrix movies played with these ideas. Sci-Fi right? Well sometime I feel like I'm being assimilated into the corporate world.


From: http://dictionary.reference.com/
as·sim·i·late (ə-sĭm'ə-lāt') v. as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing, as·sim·i·lates v. tr.
Physiology
To consume and incorporate (nutrients) into the body after digestion.
To transform (food) into living tissue by the process of anabolism; metabolize constructively.
To incorporate and absorb into the mind: assimilate knowledge.
To make similar; cause to resemble.
Linguistics To alter (a sound) by assimilation.
To absorb (immigrants or a culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture.