Ten ways to really rev up your career

by ForbesWoman

In these challenging economic times, companies and individuals recognize the importance of differentiating themselves in the marketplace and taking steps to secure their future.

Interested to learn how?

Below are 10 tips from the Inforum Center for Leadership, the education and research arm of Inforum, for anyone looking to take her career to the next level.

(1) Have an Elevator Speech

What do you do, and how do you contribute to the success of your company? When you get that question, you should be prepared to answer it in a brief, compelling and confident manner. Even if you never literally find yourself in the elevator with the CEO, your elevator speech can be the best tool you have when it comes to building your personal brand.

(2) Get Connected at Your Company

If your company has an internal networking or mentoring program, get involved. You enhance your chances of moving up when you increase your exposure to and interaction with the company's decision makers.

(3) Dare to Apply

McKinsey, citing internal research from Hewlett-Packard, found that "women apply for open jobs only if they think they meet 100% of the criteria listed, whereas men respond to the posting if they feel they meet 60% of the requirements." That by itself, if it holds true across the corporate world, could be holding back a lot of talented women.

(4) Network Like Your Career Depends on It (Because it Does)

How many women do you know from your profession besides those who work at the same company as you? If the answer is none, that could be a problem if layoffs hit. Now is the time to start making strategic connections. Professional organizations, alumni groups and networks like Inforum can help you build valuable contacts outside your current sphere.

(5) Have an Online Presence

Online networks like LinkedIn and Facebook can not only make your networking more efficient, they can help you build and maintain your personal brand. For that reason, how you use them is as important as whether you use them. A good rule of thumb is never to post anything you would not want to hear attributed to you in the media.

(6) Get Trained

Are your skills up to date? Do you even know? If your company offers training opportunities or tuition reimbursement programs, use them. If those things are not offered, find other ways to keep your skills sharp and gain new ones. In this economy, knowledge is power.

(7) Boost Your Leadership Skills

Keeping up with the latest technology and industry trends is not enough to get you to the top. Leadership and organizational skills are learned behavior. Find time to hone the crucial "soft skills" that will help you climb the ladder.

(8) Know What You Are Good At

Instead of just focusing on what you are lacking, take time to inventory what you have to offer. Evaluate your potential based on your skills and competencies, not merely the jobs you have held in the past. Many of your skills could be applicable in jobs--or in fields--you have not considered.

(9) Know What Success Means to You and Move Toward It

If you want to get somewhere, it helps to know where you are going. In the book Stepping Out of Line: Lessons for Women Who Want It Their Way...In Life, In Love, and At Work, author Nell Merlino says: "You have to see it before you can devise a plan to get there. Imagine how other people feel or how they might approach the challenge." One good way to start, she says, is by writing down a "strategic outline" describing where you want to go.

(10) Be Flexible

While it is important to know what you want, be ready to alter your plans as your situation--and the world--changes. Opportunities can pop up from nowhere and sometimes evaporate just as quickly. Changes in your personal life also can have a big effect on your priorities. How you adapt to and account for the things life throws at you will have a big impact on your success.

4 Ways Your Eating Habits Can Make You Happier

by Intent.com

Many people seeking help for mental health issues look first to chemical intervention in the form of a medication.  There is another chemical intervention which you can utilize yourself - your diet.  Having a healthy diet is crucial when trying to fight for your mental health, especially where mood disorders are concerned.  How can dietary changes affect depression, anxiety and mood swings?

Good mental health is about maintaining balance, in your thoughts, in your actions and especially in your emotions.  When addressing nutrition for mental health it is important to understand how food nourishes and fuels your body as well as the part it plays in providing your body with necessary nutrients for maintaining that balance that it is important for peace of mind.

1. Complex Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy.  Your body will burn carbohydrates first before turning to protein or fats.  A lack of energy sources in the body will result in the body shutting down and altering activity levels.  People who are chronically tired often feel sad and hopeless as a result.  To keep your emotions on an even keel it is important to have a slow steady stream of carbohydrates broken down and made available in the bloodstream for energy.

People struggling with depression and/or mood swings often rely heavily on simple carbohydrates (sugars) rather than complex carbohydrates (starches).  Simple carbohydrates (candies, table sugar, honey, sodas, fruits, milk products) break down quickly in the bloodstream and hit it with a bang that provides immediate energy.  This is why they are preferred by people with depression.  However, what goes up must come down, usually with the same speed and intensity.  The surge of energy is followed by a crash when the sugar is quickly burned up.  This crash exacerbates depression, fatigue, impaired concentration and memory and irritability.  However, all simple carbohydrates are not equal.  There is a difference between the simplest carbohydrates like table sugar, sodas and candies which are referred to as "empty calories" because they provide so much glucose, an easily broken down form of sugar, and no nutritional value.  Compare these with fruits and milk products whose sugars (fructose and galactose respectively) are somewhat harder to break down, enter the bloodstream a bit more gradually and have a somewhat milder crash and provide significant nutrition such as vitamin C and calcium.  If you are craving something sweet have an apple or orange rather than a candy bar.

Complex carbohydrates (whole grains, starchy vegetables and beans) are even harder for the body to metabolize and provide and slow, constant stream of fuel for the body's energy demands.  This avoids the peaks and crashes of the simple carbohydrates.  Whole grains also provide lots of B vitamins which calm and stabilize the mood and help your body metabolize carbohydrates for increased energy.

2. Proteins

It is important to eat high quality proteins like chicken, fish, turkey, soy, dairy products and beans.  (I am a very big fan of beans.  They are usually high in protein, low in fat and high in fiber.)  Proteins are made of amino acids.  Your body uses amino acids to make neurotransmitters in the brain.  These chemicals (like serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA) are the chemicals which antidepressants and anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) seek to increase to improve your mood and calm you.  Chicken and turkey are also high in tryptophan, which the body also uses to make serotonin, one of the primary neurotransmitters for lifting and calming the mood.  Running short on these neurotransmitters results in depression, irritability, difficulty thinking and remembering, insomnia, fatigue and anxiety.  Having sufficient stores of these neurotransmitters available to the brain helps it regulate emotions and thinking.  Providing your body with the necessary ingredients to manufacture these neurotransmitters is vital for improving your mental health and keeping things in balance.  

3. Fats

The benefits of a low fat diet for fighting weight gain and heart disease have been highly touted.  However, many don't realize that limiting your fat intake too severely of healthy fats can result in serious mood changes, irritability and aggression.  The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish have been found to help stabilize mood swings and decrease stress.  "Good fats" burn clean in the bloodstream compared to "bad fats" which clog the arteries and narrow the blood vessels.  Good fats include olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocadoes and fish.  Exchange that fried chicken for a grilled salmon.  Replace a mayonnaise dressing with an olive oil and vinegar splash.

4. Caffeine

It's always amazing to me to find people struggling with serious anxiety problems who are still drinking a significant amount of caffeine everyday.  Since I don't drink caffeine on a regular basis I have no tolerance for it and it literally makes me shake when I do drink it.  I can't imagine throwing that in on top of an anxiety problem.  If anxiety is the problem, I would eliminate caffeine all together and see if it helps.

For people with mood disorders, caffeine provides a serious rush of energy, but like simple carbohydrates (sugars) you crash when it wears off.  This peak and crash pattern is not good for people trying to stabilize mood swings and the crash will exacerbate depressive symptoms.

The Most Recession-Proof Jobs Right Now

by Helen Coster

October was another dark month for the American worker, as the unemployment rate rose from 9.8% to 10.2%, the highest level since April 1983. More than 15 million Americans are now out of work, and they remain unemployed for an average of 28 weeks.

Not surprisingly, the construction sector has suffered the most, and developers are continuing to wait on the sidelines as the real estate market crawls toward recovery. Manufacturing has also been hit hard; manufacturing companies eliminated 61,000 jobs in October alone.

Forbes has tracked 625,806 layoffs since Nov. 1, 2008, at America's 500 largest companies, including recent cuts at Sprint Nextel, the videogame developer Electronic Arts, and Applied Materials, a semiconductor equipment company. On Nov. 19 AOL announced that it would cut 2,500 jobs, or one-third of its workforce, as it prepares to separate from Time Warner.

But amid the gloom, job hunters can find reasons to be optimistic. Pockets of the job market continue to show growth, especially in the fields of education and health services. Last month those perpetually resilient sectors saw some of the country's highest monthly gains in employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job market's second-biggest gains, after health care, were in temporary help services, as employers who couldn't invest in full-time staffers turned to part-time labor instead. In October, 34,000 employees entered the workforce in new temporary jobs.

Forbes looked to the online job site Vault.com for a clear snapshot of the current job market. Vault.com developed a list of recession-proof jobs by examining all the 1.2 million jobs it aggregates through its partner site simplyhired.com and then determining the ones that were available in the greatest number.

Just as health care is the industry leading in job gains according to the BLS, the specific job at the top of Vault.com's list is registered nurse. They're in high demand thanks to a nursing shortage that will intensify as baby boomers age. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care employment increased by 29,000 jobs in October. Since the start of the recession, the field has added 597,000 jobs. Occupational therapists, who help patients perform daily activities like eating and dressing, rank fifth on the Vault.com list.

Seasonal jobs occupy the second and third spots. Retail work, including store manager and associate, ranks No. 2, and UPS driver helper is No. 3. If you have the courage to face down shoppers on Black Friday, or want to channel your inner Santa while unloading UPS trucks, interview right away.

"These jobs wouldn't have been available in March," says Yazad Dalal, Vault.com's vice president for North American sales. "Companies are both ramping up for the holiday season and seeing their sales gradually increase." The UPS job doesn't include benefits, so if you strain your back unloading a flat-screen TV, be prepared to foot the medical bill yourself. The hourly pay starts at around $9.50.

Despite last year's meltdown on Wall Street, financial specialists are back in demand. Financial advisors rank fourth on the Vault.com list, and financial analysts make the No. 9 spot. "The last year and a half has been devastating to this industry," says Yazad Dalal. "We're seeing job numbers increase just so that these companies can get back to where they were pre-recession."

Companies are still betting on the strength of sheer revenue, so many are ramping up their sales efforts. Sales and marketing reps rank No. 6 on the list, ahead of controllers, No. 8, who direct an organization's accounting functions, typically reporting to the chief financial officer.

Today more than ever, job hunters in every field need to be creative and persistent. "Do as much networking as you can, both offline and online," says Dalal. "Some of the best jobs aren't advertised."

Top 5 Recession-Proof Jobs Today

1. Registered nurse

Job description: Most registered nurses work at hospitals, where they treat patients and provide emotional support and advice to patients' family members. Nurses also help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, record patients' medical histories and symptoms, administer medications and treatment and help with patient follow-up and rehabilitation.
Salary: $55,000 to $90,000.

2. Retail (including store manager, assistant store manager and retail sales associate)

Job description: Run stores and help shoppers through every aspect of the retail purchase process.
Salary: Sales associates earn $15,000 to $30,000, while store managers can bring home as much as $80,000.

3. UPS driver helper (seasonal)

Job description: UPS driver helpers pack and unload UPS trucks during the holiday rush.
Salary: Part-time driver helpers receive hourly rates of $9.50 or more, depending on their locations.

4. Financial advisor

Job description: Financial advisors help businesses and individuals make investment decisions.
Salary: Compensation varies according to the client base. Private bankers, who work with wealthy clients, can earn seven figures.

5. Occupational therapist

Job description: Occupational therapists help patients improve their ability to perform tasks related to all parts of their life, from dressing and eating to typing on a computer. Therapists also help patients use adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs. Some therapists work with infants who show signs of developmental delay.
Salary: $50,000 to $75,000.

Money in the Bank: 5 Careers for $60K+ Salaries

by Patricia Cecil-Reed

While it comes as no shock that everyone would like to make a little more money, it may be surprising to learn that 83 percent of working Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national mean salary was $42,270. Those surveyed in the study said that they would need to make $250 to $1,000 more per paycheck to live comfortably.

But what if you could increase your salary to $60,000 or more per year? If the mean national average just isn't cutting it anymore, consider investing in online education or further career training to shift into a job with a higher income. Below are five diverse career options for those who want more out of their paychecks.

Postsecondary Education Teacher

Shattering the notion that teachers make poor salaries, this career offers a nice salary and much faster than average job growth, with 23 percent growth expected between 2006 and 2016. Postsecondary education teachers instruct in areas related to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, and English as a second language. Some teach exclusively while others do a combination of teaching and research.

Education requirements can vary widely based on specialty. A master's degree will likely be required for university teachers, while those teaching at career institutes will mostly need to demonstrate experience and expertise in their field. If you have an inquiring mind and enjoy instructing others in your favorite subject, this may be a fulfilling career path for you to consider.

Mean annual salary: $60,080.

Registered Nurse

This is the largest health care occupation in the U.S., and the one expected to see the most job growth in coming years. Registered nurses help the sick and assist doctors and other medical professionals, usually in a hospital setting. You may be familiar with the basic duties of a nurse, from treating patients to recording health information to educating and supporting patients and family members. RNs often specialize in a particular area, such as geriatric or pediatric care. This is a vital career within the health care system, and a promising path for those who enjoy helping others.

There are several paths to becoming a registered nurse, from earning an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) to a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN).

Mean annual salary: $65,130.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Network and computer systems administrators can be found in offices, small businesses, and government organizations -- really, anywhere where a computer system is vital to business operations. In today's society, this is just about everywhere, perhaps explaining why this career is expected to see much faster than average growth over the next seven years. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining an organization's computer systems. They usually need a bachelor's degree in an area like computer science or information systems. Without a degree, prior experience in the field is considered essential.

Mean annual salary: $69,570

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

These professionals enforce the rules for health, safety, and environmental regulations in the workplace. Their job description is primarily concerned with keeping workers and the general public safe, and may include designing work spaces, testing air quality, or inspecting machinery. Additionally, they aim to save the organization money by reducing absenteeism, keeping equipment running properly, and lowering insurance premiums.

Training for this career can vary from an associate's to a master's degree. Some employers prefer a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety or a related field like engineering or biology.

Mean annual salary: $63,030.

Technical Writer

Putting technical or specialized information into understandable terms is the main duty of a technical writer. They make technical manuals, catalogs, and assembly instructions easily digestible for the general reader. Technical writers are mainly found in the information technology industry, planning and editing technical materials, and overseeing the layout of these publications.

A college degree is usually desired for writers, and for technical writers, a degree or certification in their technical area is becoming more of a standard in the field. It is common for scientists, technicians, and engineers with good writing skills to transition into technical writers.

Mean annual salary: $64,210.

Now that you have some ideas for exciting, high-paying jobs, consider how you can parlay your interests and talents into a $60,000 or higher paycheck. In addition to the financial cushion, you may find yourself more fulfilled in a career that reflects your true potential.

Jobs to Get Temporary Boost From Census Hiring Spree

by Nooman Merchant

The job market will receive a fleeting jolt next year when the U.S. Census Bureau hires more than one million workers for its 2010 count.

Every 10 years the bureau hires a large number of temporary workers to knock on doors, process data and publicize its once-a-decade headcount. The bureau opened its application process earlier this week and plans to complete hiring by late spring next year. Most will be on the government's payroll for several weeks.

With a weak economy and months of job losses, the Census Bureau has experienced few recruiting bumps. "What we're seeing now is blowing our socks off," said Wendy Button, the decennial recruiting chief for the bureau. "We're seeing a huge response to very little media."

The bureau has already canceled its national advertising campaign for temporary jobs. Most of the jobs will last several weeks and pay between $10 and $20 an hour.

As Census Director Robert Groves put it in a recent interview, "We are, in a strange way, the beneficiary of the recession." The bureau's new employees work harder and finish assignments more quickly than temporary workers hired in the past, he said. The Census hires temporary workers throughout the decade for various projects.

For the 2000 count, when some states' unemployment rates were at historic lows, the Census Bureau had trouble filling positions and ended up raising salaries in some regions to attract applicants.

This year, job losses nationwide have sent a flurry of applicants -- many with advanced degrees and years of professional experience -- to the census. When the bureau hired address canvassers to work this summer, it had to stop taking applications two months early due to overwhelming interest. In Charlotte, N.C., about 40,000 people signed up for a waiting list to take the census' employment test.

Lily Woo said that when she was a recruiter earlier this year for the Census Bureau in Seattle, she met out-of-work real-estate agents, construction workers and lawyers. One man, Ms. Woo said, walked for miles through a January snowstorm to take the test. "It became a little competitive," she said. "It was just very, very challenging for some people, because we've never had so many high-caliber applicants."

The final number of hires will depend on how many U.S. residents return their census forms, which are mailed out early next year. California's census offices plan to hire about 110,000 workers between January and June. In Michigan, which had the nation's highest unemployment rate at 15.3% in September, the Census Bureau plans to hire 23,000.

In some locations, including Indian reservations and some large cities, recruiting is more difficult, especially in places where the bureau needs census takers who speak certain languages.

Economists say the flurry of hiring won't have much effect on the economy as a whole. Temporary employment through the census isn't likely to stimulate real job growth, said Harm Bandholz, an economist with UniCredit Group.

Mr. Bandholz said he figures the biggest impact will be psychological. "Fundamentally, the impact on the economy is rather limited," he said. "Consumer confidence may be lifted a little bit by that, but there is no real hard connection between consumer confidence and consumer spending in the short term."