Sometimes the key to remaining gainfully employed is by choosing a job that can easily weather the ups and downs of the economy. (Easier said than done, I know.)

I caught this list of “Five Careers That Sail Through a Bad Economy” and one thing that really caught my attention was the inclusion of education information. Even if you didn’t start out in one of these careers, it is possible to get the schooling you need in a fairly short time in order to make a move.

However, in my opinion you should never switch careers just because you think there is more demand for it. You have to enjoy what you do. Don’t you agree?

Post from: Blisstree

Careers That Remain Strong in a Bad Economy

Many of you responded with fears for your own job, your children’s future, and questions about the economy. Several of you were self-employed, and concerned about what the new year will bring. Kathy S. said:

“I have a bookkeeping business that I run from home. I have 5 clients two of which are construction. My business has declined by 40% because the construction clients are not working.”

Kathy’s comment was a good example of how interconnected we all are. When we hear of an industry that is doing poorly, it begins to affect other companies and industries down the line. Even if our business is doing well at the moment, you never know how that can change due to troubles in other areas.

Cara reiterated this thought by saying:

“I am a communications consultant who works from home and while I currently have solid employment, I’m worried about where to find my next project.”

Certain areas tend to decline first in a poor economy. As our reader Teresa G. put it:

“I have concerns about being kicked off my team at work. People are just not spending money on luxury items which is what we sell. I don’t blame them with the cost of food and gas being so high.”

Quite a few comments we received were not about finding work, but about finding quality work. It can easy to find a job – but will it pay enough? Offer enough opportunities? Our reader Dave said:

“I lost my full time job almost two months ago and immediately set out to find part time work. It didn’t take too long to find something, but the pay is so low I would actually make more money if I had stayed on unemployment. But I’d rather be working, even though I am losing out on money. I hope the economy picks up soon, and perhaps I will be able to return to my old job.”

Sito brought up the issue of “underemployment“:

“I was laid off and took several “underemployed” positions to help work through. This actually hurts, since potential employers see it as a lack of ambition when, in fact, it was the opposite. I didn’t want to collect unemployment and do nothing.”

Several of you said you had been laid off, and worried about things getting worse. Still others wondered how secure their jobs will be in the next few months. Many of you showed concerns for your kids. Our kids need our guidance and with a changing economy like this it can be hard to give them direction. Anne said:

“I worry about my children, who are young and finishing their high school education. What direction should they go in? Where will jobs be?”

Quite a few folks commented that with any down cycle, an up cycle is around the corner. An optimistic yet pragmatic approach is always a great strategy. Many of you talked about faith and in knowing that whatever happens, you will stay strong and deal with it. Isaak’s comment echoed many others:

“I recently relocated to Adelaide, Australia from Singapore. And it has been a little tough looking for work as the job market is a little soft at the moment. I’ve spoken to some recruitment agencies and even they say the market is weak at the moment. But I’m sure things will look up in the new year.”

I hope you’re right, Isaak. Thanks to everyone who commented. I wish you all great opportunities in 2009!

Post from: Blisstree

Readers Share Fears and Hopes for Economy

We talk a lot about telecommuting jobs here, but how do you GET them? If you’ve ever applied for telecommute jobs, you know that the competition is TOUGH. It’s tougher than non-telecommuting jobs. Why? Because a lot more people will apply to a telecommuting than they will an office job.

To get a telecommuting job, you have to make yourself stand out. If you were to interview for an office job, you’d put on your best suit or outfit and prepare a portfolio. But for a telecommuting job, the way you put your best self forward is with an awesome resume that stands out. There are some awesome tips here on making your resume stand out.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

Answer the specific requirements outlined in the job posting

Telecommuting jobs may have different requirements. Employers are looking for specific things with a telecommuting position, and if you don’t answer their exact requirements your resume could get thrown out.

Make sure your resume is error-free

This is always one of those basic things, but it’s ESPECIALLY important if you’re applying for a telecommuting gig. Sometimes when you’re sending out a lot of resumes, you might get so busy that you don’t spell check or read over what you wrote.

It would be bad enough to have errors on your resume while you are in a face-to-face interview. But at least with that situation the interviewer can overlook it if they meet you and like you. When you send your resume in for a telecommuting job, you don’t have that luxury.

Highlight your knowledge of online social networking and technology

Telecommuting jobs often rely on communication via email, phone, instant message, and in some cases, social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. Showcase your mastery of various communication methods to let your future employer know that you will be available any time at the touch of a button.

Mention any past experiences with telecommuting

If you successfully worked from home with a home business, a two-day a week arrangement with an employer, or once in a blue moon when your kids were sick, mention your experience. You don’t have to get into the details (”My daughter had ear aches for the first year of her life so I worked from home often”) but you should mention that you have had experience with working remotely. As we’ve talked about recently, you need to have a plan before you work at home. If you have successfully pulled this off before (whether in a full time, part time, or occasional arrangement) let your future employer know this. It might set you apart from your competitors.

Post from: Blisstree

Applying for Telecommuting Jobs

I loved this article about “10 Things Never to Ask on a Job Interview,” and the this point really caught my attention. Never ask: “What does your company do?”

At first I thought, that’s a GREAT question to ask! But as the article pointed out with today’s technologies, if you don’t look up whether the company is on the web or on Twitter, then you haven’t properly prepared for the interview.

Now here’s the flip side of that. I remember interviewing for a job a while back. I looked up the company on the web but they had a HORRIBLE website. Since I was interviewing for a marketing position, this really worried me. I didn’t want to work for a place who thought their entire web presence should be one or two pages that get updated once every six months.

I brought this up in the interview (with the marketing manager) who said the web looked fine to her and “people don’t really look at it much anyway.” This was only a couple years ago, so folks should have been drawn to their website. The fact that they were so clueless about a vital part of their marketing presence told me a lot. Not only were they behind the times, but they didn’t want to grow as a company (and marketing effort) should. I didn’t take the job when it was offered to me.

This brings up the point that in an interview you should be checking out the company to see if it is a good fit as much as they are checking out you.

Post from: Blisstree

What Does This Company Do?

There’s been a new phenomenon with woman and careers the last few years called the “work at home mom.” The gist is usually this: the family needs her income, can’t afford daycare, and so she manages to make some money to help the family while also being the caretaker for her children. Even if the family can afford daycare (and doesn’t “need” the woman’s salary), there are still moms who choose to work at home because of the flexibility it provides for their family.

But it’s not an easy thing. I know some women who are great at multitasking and they make it all work… but I know there are days they want to SCREAM.

I know a lot of women who do the WAHM (work at home mom) thing, but not that many guys who are doing it. So I was interested by this story from CNN, in which a new dad explains why he is trying to stay at home with his children.

His story of being on a conference call with his boss is hilarious, because OF COURSE as soon as he is on the phone, the baby starts crying… LOUD. Right into the phone. He makes the valid point that working at home is a difficult thing. It takes practice. You often have to work in spurts, focused on your work one minute but ever aware of your kids at the same time.

Or, if the kids are down for a nap, you have to focus and work while you have the quiet. Josh Lubin, the guy who wrote the article, also says that working from home takes practice. Very true! The more you do it the better able you will be to switch gears.

It should also be said that not every employer will be okay with working from home. I worked with a very professional woman who worked at home two days a week. You could always get her when you needed her, she was knowledgeable, great to work with, but our boss was not having it. Our boss would roll her eyes every time someone would suggest calling our work at home counterpart. One time I heard her say, “We could call her, but she’ll probably have a kid on her hip so how much help will she be?”

(Our boss, incidentally, was a real piece of work.)

Let me throw a question out to you all. If you’re a guy who works at home now, please comment. Let us know how you’re doing, if you’re in the same job, and if you’ll keep staying at home or go back when the kids are older. If there’s a lesson you’ve learned a long the way – please share!

Post from: Blisstree

Tales from a Work at Home Dad

If you need a part-time telecommuting gig, we have two openings here at b5 in the Lifestyles channel. One is for the Dating Dames blog and the other for Autism Vox.

Pay varies depending on the blog. I can tell you that if you want, you can blog from the comfort of your garden (just like the lady in this picture! LOL) Or you can do it in your sweatpants, or PJs…. or if you really want to get radical you could always get dressed. Up to you.

Many people are finding that blogging is a great way to make some extra cash. If you have a passion for your subject, it won’t feel like work at all.

Post from: Blisstree

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