Federal Jobs: Easy to Spot, Hard to Get by WSJ

“The federal government’s “help wanted” sign is up. The problem, applicants are finding, is getting in the door.

More than a quarter-million federal workers are expected to be hired in the next three years, which makes the government attractive to job seekers at a time of 9.8% unemployment and shrinking private payrolls. But the government, it turns out, isn’t very good at hiring. Its screening process has been making it hard for applicants…”

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“Learning From a CEO” by wsj

“Stick to It

It hasn’t always been easy. “Sometimes you have to go backward in order to go forward, and the market is not very forgiving,” Mr. Conant says. “You have to be open minded and willing to learn, and you have to persevere.”

What does Mr. Conant recommend for people who are interested in becoming the business world’s future top executives?

First, be a student of leadership and great leaders. Read all the books you can get your hands on. Also, make an effort to get to know senior leaders in your organization, inside and outside your department. Note who is most …”

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“Financial Mistakes That Could Haunt You Forever” by yahoo.com

“After the sudden drop in the Dow this time last year, many investors were left to wonder what else could happen to deflate their savings and investment portfolios. We came up with a list of some of the scariest — and potentially most costly — financial mistakes you could make. Take steps now to ensure that you don’t lose money by making some of these big, bad choices.

Not Rolling Over Your 401(k) Savings

If you leave a job and opt to take the savings you have accumulated through your employer’s 401(k) plan, you need to roll it over into a qualified investment vehicle (i.e. a new employer’s 401(k) or 403(b) plan, an IRA, etc.) within 60 business days or …”

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“Five Secrets of a $75k Salary” yahoo.com

“Does the possibility of earning $75,000 feel completely out of your grasp? You’re not alone–the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports median earnings of less than $40,000 in this country. But if you’re reaching for more, don’t give up now. With hard work, a commitment to career training, and these five secrets, you could find that $75k just around the corner.

Secret #1: Get an advanced degree

Earn a college degree and you’ll earn more…”

 

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“9 small money steps that pay off big” by cnn.com

“… list of small moves that yield big dividends:

1. Save a bit at a time

I get so frustrated when people tell me it’s unrealistic to create an eight-month emergency savings fund, or have money saved for a home down payment, or pay off their $5,000 credit card balance. I am not suggesting that you can snap your fingers and have everything taken care of.

What I’m telling you is to move toward your goals in steps. Rather than get lost in the big picture — “Eight months? Are you crazy, Suze? I can never do that!” — focus on what is within your power: the sums you can sock away every week or month to get closer to what you’re trying to achieve.

Put $50 a week into a bank savings account earning 2 percent interest, and in three years you will have saved more than $8,000….”

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“An Internship From Your Couch” by WSJ

“Natalie Ann Roig completed a marketing internship last spring—while riding the bus, sitting on her parents’ couch and lounging at home in pajamas.

The internship, in which she worked 15 hours a week researching and blogging about corporate workplace benefits, was virtual—she needed only a computer and Internet access. Ms. Roig, a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, never even met her boss, in Atlanta.

“I didn’t have to dress up. I didn’t have to sit at a cubicle for hours,” says Ms. Roig, a senior studying graphic design. “It was more like work at your own pace and get the work done.”

Virtual internships, while relatively rare, are becoming more common…”

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“The Next Youth-Magnet Cities” by yahoo.com

…. “The recession has brought migration to a grinding halt: Fewer people moved across state lines in 2008 than at any time since 1950, when the population was smaller by half, says William Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit Washington research organization.

Here’s a look at our survey’s top five cities:

 

First Place (Tie): Washington, D.C.

The 2008 election touched off a youthful pilgrimage to the capital that most panelists say won’t end soon. “In the eyes of some young people, Barack Obama is America’s coolest boss,” says Richard Florida, author of “Who’s Your City?” and a professor of business and creativity at the University of Toronto’s…”

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Web 2.0 Careers: Making Money by the Click by yahooHotJobs

… “ From writing and graphic design to software development and social media marketing, countless creative types are hanging their own virtual shingle, often with a minimum of overhead, sometimes even surpassing the salary they made as an employee.

Seven successful web workers share how they did it, how you can follow in their footsteps, and what pitfalls to watch out for:…”

 

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“10 Tips for the First-Time Business Owner” entrepreneur.com

“… 10 pieces of advice that I wish someone had given to me before I launched my first venture. 

1. Focus. Focus. Focus.
   Many first-time entrepreneurs feel the need to jump at every “opportunity” they come across. Opportunities are often wolves in sheep’s clothing. Avoid getting side-tracked. Juggling multiple ventures will spread you thin and limit both your effectiveness and productivity. Do one thing perfectly, not 10 things poorly. If you feel the need to jump onto another project, that might mean something about your original concept.  
   
2. Know what you do. Do what you know.
   Don’t start a business simply because it seems sexy or boasts large hypothetical profit margins and returns. Do….”

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101 Essential Freelancing Resources by freelanceswitch.com

I found this web site while doing research online. it seems to be very useful. 

“The web is such a big and wonderful place, packed with tools and resources which you all too often don’t know about. So to help all you freelancers out there we have compiled a gigantic list of resources, categorized up for your benefit. If you know a resource that we’ve missed, let us know as we’re always looking to grow this list!

Timing
These are tools to help you time and track your work. Some of them plug into invoicing programs and some even come with them built in:

 

1. SlimTimer – A Start/Stop little timer that tracks jobs on a main web interface
2. Tick – Timetracking application focused on keeping track of your budgets
3. Time Assistant – Professional timesheet …”

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