Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Ten Jobs for Extroverts

When it comes to finding work, most extroverts are eager to land a job that doesn't actually feel like one. To find the perfect fit, think about the job qualities that are most important to you. Whether it's a collegial working environment, teamwork possibilities or an informal office atmosphere, there are many positions that can interest an extrovert.
Not sure where to look? Here are 10 jobs that are a fit for outgoing personalities.

1. Human resources specialist

Average annual salary*: $63,176
Some extroverts may thrive in a busy HR department. The job requires plenty of mingling with job candidates and dealing with day-to-day staffing needs. Making hiring decisions also requires a keen sense of emotional intelligence, which is common for those with top-notch people skills. Human resources specialists also get the chance to delve into the inner workings of other departments like finance or marketing.
-- Find human resources jobs



2. Actor
Average annual salary: $51,293
Many extroverts crave an approving audience and that's exactly what acting entails. Actors are drawn by the energy of their fellow actors and need to work hard at maintaining a network. Some actors end up pursuing more lucrative careers while maintaining their valuable people skills.
-- Find acting jobs



3. Public relations specialist
Average annual salary: $59,970
Responding to media requests or working on press campaigns requires an outgoing personality. Extroverts can easily build the long-term relationships required for the job and will enjoy the constant energy of working with people. Maintaining a large network of contacts also helps public relations specialists succeed at their jobs.
-- Find public relations jobs



4. Sales manager
Average annual salary: $107,475
A sales-related position is almost entirely customer-oriented and a perfect fit for extroverts who crave constant interaction. Anything from organizing in-store promotions to educating customers and running the sales floor are part of the job. Extroverts who enjoy taking risks will also like the commission pay structure of some sales manager positions.
-- Find sales manager jobs



5. Emergency medical technician
Average annual salary: $39,303
Looking for an adrenaline rush? Being an EMT is a physically and mentally demanding position. EMTs frequently use their interpersonal skills to excel in stressful situations.
-- Find EMT jobs



6. Physical therapist
Average annual salary: $73,235
Working in health care and seeing direct results from the work can be great fit for those with outgoing personalities. Interacting with patients can create a fun atmosphere that's also rewarding. Physical therapists must also possess a great deal of patience during the healing process and understand how to deal with setbacks and frustrations.
-- Find physical therapist jobs



7. Financial adviser
Average annual salary: $81,072
Financial advisers who love working with people may have an easier time getting clients because of the communication skills required for the job. At the same time, advisers need to understand each client's threshold for risk, along with the unique financial demands. Being able to explain the different financial instruments in simple terms is another part of the job.
-- Find financial adviser jobs



8. Mediator
Average annual salary: $53,550
Solving conflicts between parties can be a great job for extroverts. Looking objectively at both side of a disagreement and helping individuals or companies come to one conclusion can be a position that's both challenging and fulfilling.
-- Find mediator jobs



9. Education administrator
Average annual salary: $93,298
Working in elementary and secondary education, an education administrator deals with policy, staffing and student behavior. Administrators must know how to communicate with parents, staff and other members of the local community. Working in a field that has so many moving parts, successful administrators frequently lean on their communication skills.
-- Find education administrator jobs



10. Dental hygienist
Average annual salary: $73,031
Communicating directly with dentists and patients, dental hygienists help to promote good oral health. Hygienists enjoy working with different people and know how to meet their unique dental needs. Extroverts appreciate the ability to build long-term relationships with patients and the flexibility of the work environment.
-- Find dental hygienist jobs

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

10 Best Fortune 500 Companies to Work For

CNN Money recently published a list of the 27 companies that were not only among Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For but also made the Fortune 500. The resulting list is their Best Big Companies to Work For.
We decided to make our own list by organizing these companies by their Best Companies to Work For rank, to give you the Top 10 Best Large Companies to Work For. Taking a quick look at this list, it's obvious that the energy industry is represented in a big way.
With three of the top 10 spots, energy is not only a growth field, but evidently one with several large firms dedicated to providing a positive work environment for their employees.
best companies
1. Google
The world's most famous Internet company got its start back in 1996 when then-graduate students Larry Page and Sergey Brin built their first search engine, called "Back Rub." Now in addition to touting the world's most used search engine, Google has ads, aps, browsers, and a mobile OS in its product lineup.
Most common salaried job: N.A.
Avg. pay in that job: N.A.

best companies
2. USAA
United Services Automobile Association (USAA) provides a range of insurance and financial services to its members. The company is member-owned and therefore has no stockholders. While some of USAA's products are available to the general public, USAA's primary client base is active-duty and retired military, and their families.
Most common salaried job: Software Developer and Integrator I
Avg. pay in that job: $92,853

best companies
3. Cisco Systems
The company specializes in providing router and network solutions, which drive a variety of corporate and consumer communications platforms. Covering not only email and data, but voice and video as well, Cisco's products and services enable a wide range of communications solutions.
Most common salaried job: Software Engineer IV
Avg. pay in that job: $131,716

best companies
4. Goldman Sachs Group
Providing investment banking and financial services to consumers and institutions, the company is a global leader in mergers and acquisitions consulting, as well as securities underwriting. The company also manages a collection of private equity funds, making it one of the largest companies in the field, in terms of assets-under-management.
Most common salaried job: Other Exempt (Analysts, Program Analysts, Associates and Professional Non-Exempt)
Avg. pay in that job: $160,000

best companies
5. Whole Foods Market
Based in Austin, Texas, the supermarket chain specializes in organic and minimally processed foods, and focuses on providing fresh foods sourced from sustainable agriculture. The company has grown from a single store in 1980 to more than 300 locations.
Most common salaried job: Associate Store Team Leader
Avg. pay in that job: $72,372

best companies
6. NuStar Energy
The San Antonio based limited partnership is also a publicly traded company. The company operates 8,417 miles of pipeline, as well as two asphalt refineries and a fuel refinery. NuStar's three refineries have a combined maximum output of 118,500 barrels per day and the company has the capacity to store 94 million barrels.
Most common salaried job: Terminal Manager
Avg. pay in that job: $97,097

best companies
7. Chesapeake Energy
The company is the second largest producer of natural gas in the U.S., as well as a leading driller of new natural gas wells. The company's headquarters is based on a 50-acre campus in Oklahoma City, featuring three restaurants, a fitness center, and an auditorium/theater, with a second theater to be complete later this year.
Most common salaried job: Toolpusher
Avg. pay in that job: $114,084

best companies
8. Qualcomm
The company pioneered the commercial application of CDMA technology used in a variety of wireless communications across North America. Qualcomm licenses its CDMA semiconductor technology and software products to cell phone makers such as LG Electronics and Samsung.
Most common salaried job: Engineer, Staff
Avg. pay in that job: $134,211

best companies
9. Devon Energy
The Oklahoma City-based energy company produces about 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day. Devon produces both natural gas as well as so-called natural gas liquids, such as propane, butane and ethane. The company is the largest producer and largest leaseholder of the Barnett Shale area in North Texas.
Most common salaried job: Engineer
Avg. pay in that job: $172,575

best companies
10. Intel
With 80 percent of the market share for the microprocessor industry, Intel is the top semiconductor company in the world, in terms of annual sales. Not surprisingly, the company's two biggest customers are PC giants Hewlett-Packard and Dell. In addition to microprocessors, Intel also produces a host of other products, including motherboards and solid state drives.
Most common salaried job: Component Design Engineer
Avg. pay in that job: $106,430

Friday, 22 July 2011

Interview questions to use in your next job interview

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make during a job interview is not asking questions of the person conducting the interview.  You should not be asking questions about salary and benefits at this point in the process – your interview is a chance for the hiring manager to meet you and see if you can do what you say you can do on your resume.  Asking about money is a mistake because it makes you look like you are only interested in the dollars.
Having a list of questions to use during a job interview will give you an advantage over other candidates.  The more questions you have ready the better, since some of them will be answered during your interview.  Some questions should be specific to the company (since you will be doing research on the company) but some can be more generic and apply to any job interview you have.  Here are some suggestions:
  • Why is the position open?
  • How long has the position been open?
  • Where is the person who had this job before me?
  • What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this job?
  • What are the three most important duties and responsibilities of this position?
  • What is the culture of the company?
  • What is a typical day in the life of the person in this job?
  • Does the company offer training and education programs for employees?
  • Is there room to grow in this position and the company?
  • Why do you like working at this company?
  • How long have you been at this company, and how long have you been in this position?
A little bit of research will help you stand out from the crowd of applicants and having some well thought out questions will definitely give you an edge over everyone else.