Use the following website to help you in developing your Business Plan
http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/moyes/bplan/Templates/modern.doc
Here is another website that gives you several places to go for information on your Business Plan.
http://www.khake.com/page31.html
You are to work on your business plans today. Be sure that you have the second part ready to turn in tomorrow. I researched these sites to help you and make it easier. I want these done professionally....NO READING....NO GOOFING OFF...WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS PLANS...the second part is due Friday.
I will be back on Thursday.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tips for saving money on summer camp
The end of the school year is coming faster than most parents would like to think.
So what do you have planned for the kids this summer?
And what can you afford?
Don't get soaked by the price of summer camp.
Here is some advice on saving for summer camp:
LESS IS MORE: Day camps usually cost considerably less than overnight camps. Check whether the camp offers shorter, cheaper sessions, too. Fees vary widely, but day camps can cost around $275 a week, while sleep-away can cost about $780, according to the American Camp Association.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER AID: Ask about scholarships. Members of the American Camp Association gave away $39 million in scholarships last year. Ninety percent of camps also offer some form of financial aid.
NEGOTIATE: If you can’t get any formal aid, it won’t hurt to try and negotiate. For instance, ask if you can get a sibling discount if you’re sending more than one child to the camp.
BROWN BAG IT: If the camp offers a meal program, save by packing your child’s lunch. In this economic climate, your child probably won’t be the only one.
TAX FREE: Check if your employer offers flexible spending accounts for dependent care. You can use this option if you’re sending your kid to day camp.
THINK AHEAD: It’s probably too late for early enrollment this summer, but secure discounted rates by signing up your kids for next year.
Getting started
There are more than 12,000 sleep-away and day camps in the country, according to the he American Camp Association, meaning there’s one likely to suit any budget.
In some cases, nonprofit camps such as the Boys & Girls Club might waive fees for families who can’t afford to pay. Churches, synagogues and social service groups also offer low-cost or free options.
One way to begin your search is through CampParents.org, an ACA-run site that lets families search for camps by region, price and key words like “soccer” or “language studies.”
The site also lets users narrow options to camps that accommodate special needs such as autism, diabetes or attention deficit disorder.
1. What are your thoughts on summer camps?
2. Are they worth the money in this economy?
3. What are some alternatives to summer camp that you can think of?
So what do you have planned for the kids this summer?
And what can you afford?
Don't get soaked by the price of summer camp.
Here is some advice on saving for summer camp:
LESS IS MORE: Day camps usually cost considerably less than overnight camps. Check whether the camp offers shorter, cheaper sessions, too. Fees vary widely, but day camps can cost around $275 a week, while sleep-away can cost about $780, according to the American Camp Association.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER AID: Ask about scholarships. Members of the American Camp Association gave away $39 million in scholarships last year. Ninety percent of camps also offer some form of financial aid.
NEGOTIATE: If you can’t get any formal aid, it won’t hurt to try and negotiate. For instance, ask if you can get a sibling discount if you’re sending more than one child to the camp.
BROWN BAG IT: If the camp offers a meal program, save by packing your child’s lunch. In this economic climate, your child probably won’t be the only one.
TAX FREE: Check if your employer offers flexible spending accounts for dependent care. You can use this option if you’re sending your kid to day camp.
THINK AHEAD: It’s probably too late for early enrollment this summer, but secure discounted rates by signing up your kids for next year.
Getting started
There are more than 12,000 sleep-away and day camps in the country, according to the he American Camp Association, meaning there’s one likely to suit any budget.
In some cases, nonprofit camps such as the Boys & Girls Club might waive fees for families who can’t afford to pay. Churches, synagogues and social service groups also offer low-cost or free options.
One way to begin your search is through CampParents.org, an ACA-run site that lets families search for camps by region, price and key words like “soccer” or “language studies.”
The site also lets users narrow options to camps that accommodate special needs such as autism, diabetes or attention deficit disorder.
1. What are your thoughts on summer camps?
2. Are they worth the money in this economy?
3. What are some alternatives to summer camp that you can think of?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Unemployed strive to ‘find something’
By GINA SMITH - gnsmith@thestate.com
Even when other parts of the state have struggled economically, Midlands residents typically have been able to find steady work. But recession has come to the Midlands, and thousands are unemployed for the first time.
Here are some of their stories:
LOST BOAT, LITTLE HOPE
S.C.'s unemployment rate hit a generational high of 10.4 percent last month. Many never thought they would be in this position, laid off and not having many prospects of employment. Paulette Cunningham is a teacher with 10 years experience. Even she can't find work now. So she's starting a motivational speaking company and Thursday, appeared on a radio show hosted by Don Frierson of WGCV AM. on a radio show.
Steven McDowell of West Columbia relied on his green fishing boat to help him relax.
Every weekend, McDowell and his wife would grab their fishing poles, slide into the little boat and push off into the waters of the Saluda River.
The catfish, bream and bass they pulled into the boat made for a tasty breakfast the next day, served with fried eggs.
But after McDowell, 51, lost his job as a master electrician last month, he sold the boat.
“Now on the weekends, we just sit at the house and watch TV,” said McDowell, who is trying to make ends meet on a $215-a-week unemployment check. “This is the only time I’ve never been able to find work, the only time I’ve ever had to ask for help.”
While McDowell has worked as an electrician for 28 years, he says he would take any kind of work at this point.
“I’ve looked for jobs buffing floors, working in restaurants. I stop when I see people working on job sites and talk to the electricians, see if they need help,” McDowell said. “But no one is hiring. They’ve either got enough help or about to lay people off themselves.”
‘(THEY) DON’T WANT TO HIRE SOMEONE MY AGE’
Regina Boney of Gaston knows she is taking a big chance.
Boney lost her call center job in late 2007 and has not been able to land a new one since. So she has stopped taking her two most expensive medications.
“I had to cut costs,” said Boney, who suffers from emphysema and high blood pressure.
Being unemployed is a new experience for the 61-year-old, who landed her first job as a helper at a mechanics’ shop when she was 14.
Boney said she has worked steadily since, including a stint in which she owned her own dog-grooming company. “But I got to the point I couldn’t pick those big dogs up anymore,” she said.
Even as she rang in her 60th birthday last year and the call center closed, she didn’t anticipate trouble finding a new job.
“But I haven’t gotten any responses even though I’ve sent my resume out everywhere,” she said. “I’m older now. There’s a recession. And with all of the competition out there now, it’s tough. Lots of places don’t want to hire someone my age.”
Boney doesn’t want to retire. But she has almost given up on getting hired in this economy.
She turns 62 next month and will qualify for Social Security.
“I’m going to try and live off of it, but it’s not much,” she said, adding she still will not qualify for Medicare’s health benefits for another three years. “I just can’t go to the doctor until I’m 65,” she said.
‘IT FEELS LIKE I’M STUCK AT A STOP SIGN’
When you’re used to working full time, how do you occupy your time when you get laid off?
Lisa Ross, 47, is struggling to figure it out.
Ross, who lost her job in August, scans the newspaper and Web sites for job postings. She helps her sister with housework and caring for her dogs. She stops by restaurants and clothing stores to inquire about jobs.
“It feels like I’m stuck at a stop sign,” said Ross, who has worked as a cashier for the past 10 years.
The Michigan native is hesitant to return to that state, ranked No. 1 nationally in unemployment.
But staying in South Carolina — ranked No. 2 — isn’t working out either.
“I’ll find something. I’ve got to find something,” Ross said as she waited for her name to be called at the work force center in Columbia. There, the unemployed can sign up for benefits and search a job database.
‘YOU THINK YOU’RE SAFE, BUT THEN ...’
Nearby, Mark Green, 28, also waits to be called, his face hidden underneath a ball cap.
After losing his job as a supervisor in an ice machine factory in Fairfax, he packed up his car and moved to Columbia.
“I’d heard there were more jobs here,” said Green, who is living with his sister and brother-in-law and dipping into savings to make ends meet.
“You think you’re safe, but then something like this happens,” he said. “More and more people who’ve never been in this spot before are here now.”
‘SEARCH OUT MY CALLING’
When Barack Obama entered the presidential race, Eastover’s Paulette Cunningham knew she had to help get him elected.
“There was no way I wasn’t going to work for the first African-American (presidential) candidate,” said Cunningham, 38.
She quit her job of 10 years as a teacher at Southeast Middle School in Columbia and became an Obama field director in Orangeburg, speaking on college campuses, registering voters and manning the office.
Obama ascended to the White House.
But Cunningham couldn’t return to the classroom.
State budget cuts meant school districts were not hiring.
So Cunningham got creative.
She pulled money out of her retirement nest egg and started a motivational speaking company for youth.
It’s not paying the bills yet, but Cunningham is hopeful. She’s making contacts and has twice spoken on the “Urban Scene” radio program on WGCV.
“A lot of people go to work and they hate it,” she said. “But getting laid off can be a good thing, a time to tap into your passion.
“I don’t regret what’s happened to me,” she said. “It’s made me search out my calling.”
1. Are these people doing the right thing to gain a job?
2. What could they do to make themselves more appealing to prosepctive employers?
3. If you became unemployed, how would you go about finding a job?
4. Are those with degrees more able to get a job or is the economy so bad that it doesnt matter?
Even when other parts of the state have struggled economically, Midlands residents typically have been able to find steady work. But recession has come to the Midlands, and thousands are unemployed for the first time.
Here are some of their stories:
LOST BOAT, LITTLE HOPE
S.C.'s unemployment rate hit a generational high of 10.4 percent last month. Many never thought they would be in this position, laid off and not having many prospects of employment. Paulette Cunningham is a teacher with 10 years experience. Even she can't find work now. So she's starting a motivational speaking company and Thursday, appeared on a radio show hosted by Don Frierson of WGCV AM. on a radio show.
Steven McDowell of West Columbia relied on his green fishing boat to help him relax.
Every weekend, McDowell and his wife would grab their fishing poles, slide into the little boat and push off into the waters of the Saluda River.
The catfish, bream and bass they pulled into the boat made for a tasty breakfast the next day, served with fried eggs.
But after McDowell, 51, lost his job as a master electrician last month, he sold the boat.
“Now on the weekends, we just sit at the house and watch TV,” said McDowell, who is trying to make ends meet on a $215-a-week unemployment check. “This is the only time I’ve never been able to find work, the only time I’ve ever had to ask for help.”
While McDowell has worked as an electrician for 28 years, he says he would take any kind of work at this point.
“I’ve looked for jobs buffing floors, working in restaurants. I stop when I see people working on job sites and talk to the electricians, see if they need help,” McDowell said. “But no one is hiring. They’ve either got enough help or about to lay people off themselves.”
‘(THEY) DON’T WANT TO HIRE SOMEONE MY AGE’
Regina Boney of Gaston knows she is taking a big chance.
Boney lost her call center job in late 2007 and has not been able to land a new one since. So she has stopped taking her two most expensive medications.
“I had to cut costs,” said Boney, who suffers from emphysema and high blood pressure.
Being unemployed is a new experience for the 61-year-old, who landed her first job as a helper at a mechanics’ shop when she was 14.
Boney said she has worked steadily since, including a stint in which she owned her own dog-grooming company. “But I got to the point I couldn’t pick those big dogs up anymore,” she said.
Even as she rang in her 60th birthday last year and the call center closed, she didn’t anticipate trouble finding a new job.
“But I haven’t gotten any responses even though I’ve sent my resume out everywhere,” she said. “I’m older now. There’s a recession. And with all of the competition out there now, it’s tough. Lots of places don’t want to hire someone my age.”
Boney doesn’t want to retire. But she has almost given up on getting hired in this economy.
She turns 62 next month and will qualify for Social Security.
“I’m going to try and live off of it, but it’s not much,” she said, adding she still will not qualify for Medicare’s health benefits for another three years. “I just can’t go to the doctor until I’m 65,” she said.
‘IT FEELS LIKE I’M STUCK AT A STOP SIGN’
When you’re used to working full time, how do you occupy your time when you get laid off?
Lisa Ross, 47, is struggling to figure it out.
Ross, who lost her job in August, scans the newspaper and Web sites for job postings. She helps her sister with housework and caring for her dogs. She stops by restaurants and clothing stores to inquire about jobs.
“It feels like I’m stuck at a stop sign,” said Ross, who has worked as a cashier for the past 10 years.
The Michigan native is hesitant to return to that state, ranked No. 1 nationally in unemployment.
But staying in South Carolina — ranked No. 2 — isn’t working out either.
“I’ll find something. I’ve got to find something,” Ross said as she waited for her name to be called at the work force center in Columbia. There, the unemployed can sign up for benefits and search a job database.
‘YOU THINK YOU’RE SAFE, BUT THEN ...’
Nearby, Mark Green, 28, also waits to be called, his face hidden underneath a ball cap.
After losing his job as a supervisor in an ice machine factory in Fairfax, he packed up his car and moved to Columbia.
“I’d heard there were more jobs here,” said Green, who is living with his sister and brother-in-law and dipping into savings to make ends meet.
“You think you’re safe, but then something like this happens,” he said. “More and more people who’ve never been in this spot before are here now.”
‘SEARCH OUT MY CALLING’
When Barack Obama entered the presidential race, Eastover’s Paulette Cunningham knew she had to help get him elected.
“There was no way I wasn’t going to work for the first African-American (presidential) candidate,” said Cunningham, 38.
She quit her job of 10 years as a teacher at Southeast Middle School in Columbia and became an Obama field director in Orangeburg, speaking on college campuses, registering voters and manning the office.
Obama ascended to the White House.
But Cunningham couldn’t return to the classroom.
State budget cuts meant school districts were not hiring.
So Cunningham got creative.
She pulled money out of her retirement nest egg and started a motivational speaking company for youth.
It’s not paying the bills yet, but Cunningham is hopeful. She’s making contacts and has twice spoken on the “Urban Scene” radio program on WGCV.
“A lot of people go to work and they hate it,” she said. “But getting laid off can be a good thing, a time to tap into your passion.
“I don’t regret what’s happened to me,” she said. “It’s made me search out my calling.”
1. Are these people doing the right thing to gain a job?
2. What could they do to make themselves more appealing to prosepctive employers?
3. If you became unemployed, how would you go about finding a job?
4. Are those with degrees more able to get a job or is the economy so bad that it doesnt matter?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Upstate restaurateurs hope to grab piece of pizza business
Four Upstate entrepreneurs opened their American Pie Factory restaurant Wednesday, with hopes that it may be the first of many.
Ron Mueller, Joe and Laura Mahaffey, and Bob Armstrong began operations at 103 Beacon Drive, near Pelham Road and I-85.
The group said the 6,000-square-foot restaurant, which specializes in New York-style pizza, wings and homemade desserts, is the prototype for possible future expansion.
According to Joe Mahaffey, president of American Pie Factory of Greenville LLC, the restaurant’s concept stems from a favorite pastime — going out for pizza after Little League ball games.
Mahaffey said the idea is to create a restaurant with a family-friendly environment that caters to today’s sports teams like the restaurants of childhood days.
Later into the night, the restaurant atmosphere is transformed into an upscale sports-type bar for the mature crowd. It offers 24 different types of beer on tap.
Mueller, the group’s vice president, said, “We want to be a family restaurant first and a bar second. I don’t think we ever want to confuse ourselves in that.”
Mueller and Joe Mahaffey owned a finance business before deciding to sell it and open the restaurant. Mahaffey and Armstrong, who has 18 years of restaurant experience, played Little League baseball together in the Greenville area.
The former Tony Roma’s restaurant site was “completely gutted” and remade for the American Pie Factory, Mahaffey said
Armstrong, managing partner of the group, believes the restaurant will do well in this economy.
“We’re giving a great value for the typical middle-class family to be able to eat and relax in a middle-tier type of restaurant,” he said.
A lunch buffet, featuring pizza and wings, will be available Monday through Friday. During that time, customers still have the option of ordering from the full menu.
American Pie Factory is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
1. Do you believe that the owners did a good job of market research?
2. Do you feel as thought this business can be successful or are there too many sports bars and pizza places to go to?
3. With the economy, how can they make sure this business survives?
4. How would you markt this business to possible customers? Give your bets sales pitch!!
Ron Mueller, Joe and Laura Mahaffey, and Bob Armstrong began operations at 103 Beacon Drive, near Pelham Road and I-85.
The group said the 6,000-square-foot restaurant, which specializes in New York-style pizza, wings and homemade desserts, is the prototype for possible future expansion.
According to Joe Mahaffey, president of American Pie Factory of Greenville LLC, the restaurant’s concept stems from a favorite pastime — going out for pizza after Little League ball games.
Mahaffey said the idea is to create a restaurant with a family-friendly environment that caters to today’s sports teams like the restaurants of childhood days.
Later into the night, the restaurant atmosphere is transformed into an upscale sports-type bar for the mature crowd. It offers 24 different types of beer on tap.
Mueller, the group’s vice president, said, “We want to be a family restaurant first and a bar second. I don’t think we ever want to confuse ourselves in that.”
Mueller and Joe Mahaffey owned a finance business before deciding to sell it and open the restaurant. Mahaffey and Armstrong, who has 18 years of restaurant experience, played Little League baseball together in the Greenville area.
The former Tony Roma’s restaurant site was “completely gutted” and remade for the American Pie Factory, Mahaffey said
Armstrong, managing partner of the group, believes the restaurant will do well in this economy.
“We’re giving a great value for the typical middle-class family to be able to eat and relax in a middle-tier type of restaurant,” he said.
A lunch buffet, featuring pizza and wings, will be available Monday through Friday. During that time, customers still have the option of ordering from the full menu.
American Pie Factory is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
1. Do you believe that the owners did a good job of market research?
2. Do you feel as thought this business can be successful or are there too many sports bars and pizza places to go to?
3. With the economy, how can they make sure this business survives?
4. How would you markt this business to possible customers? Give your bets sales pitch!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Dora makeover
Can't a cartoon character at least be ageless? Answer: No. Nor can she just be a cartoon character. Next fall, Dora the Explorer may be trading in her androgynous bob and shorts for big hair, pumps and a miniskirt.
An actual doll will be part of the new version that Mattel says it will create for tweens. The younger, more innocent version will still be around, however. (Search for "Dora grows up.")
The only early evidence of what the new Dora would look like was a silhouette Mattel released as a teaser. That was all some needed to raise their voices. (Search for the silhouette.)
But just this week, the new Dora was revealed. (Search for more.)
Parents are PO'd. And a petition is circulating to pressure Mattel and Nickelodeon to reconsider. In it, petitioners ask, what's next: "Dora the fashionista with stylish purse and stilettos?"
It might not be so troublesome if the little Latina weren't seen as such a role model for kids. (Search for more.)
Among Dora's new features are some contemporary skills: shopping and makeovers. Plug her into the computer to change her hair length, jewelry and eye color.
Let's just hope Dora doesn't show up on one of those sites about bad plastic surgery.
And don't forget, Dora isn't the only doll trying to enter the modern world.
An ageless Barbie celebrated her 50th by getting tattoos. (Search for more.)
Strawberry Shortcake ditched the candy for fruit and a cell phone for a makeover described as "berry disturbing."
1. Why is this such a problem for parents?
2. Do you believe that Mattel and Nickelodeon are trying to stay with the kids that have grown up with Dora?
3. Would you be an upset parent?
4. Is this just another marketing campaign for Mattel and Nickelodeon? Are they helping or hurting their program and Dora goods?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Extreme dollar-stretching
Amy VanDeventer has always been a cheapskate. The recession is taking her to new extremes.
Before the economy tanked, she was still wearing maternity clothes from her last pregnancy, clipping coupons, and using hand-me-downs to dress her daughters, ages 2 and 3. Now, the Colorado mortgage loan underwriter salvages bagel scraps left on their plates for pizza toppings and cuts lotion bottles in half so she can scrape out the last drops.
If you thought those cheapskate friends and relatives couldn’t pinch pennies any tighter, think again. The recession is making tightwads like VanDeventer cut back even more. They’re going way beyond sharpening their coupon scissors, replacing already cheap store-brand fabric softener with vinegar and even making their own detergent. VanDeventer was drying her hair in front of a fan after her portable hair dryer broke — until her friends bought her a new one.
The recession is radically changing behavior among many different types of people, from the Wall Street bankers who are now waltzing into Wal-Mart for the first time to buy their groceries to teens who are now thumbing through the piles of status jeans at secondhand shops to save money. And experts say that such behavior could linger long after the economy recovers.
What surprises frugality bloggers is that many cheapskates such as VanDeventer haven’t lost their jobs and are not in danger of losing their homes. Many have stashed a good chunk of cash away. But the economic uncertainty is catapulting them to new levels of thriftiness.
“I do it out of fear, because I would rather put that money in the bank or purchase something we really need,” said VanDeventer, who now saves about 50 percent of her take-home pay, up from 25 percent before the recession began more than a year ago.
The trend is disturbing for merchants, who are already reeling from the sharp pullback by spenders. Such extreme miserly behavior could only worsen the decline in consumer spending.
“Frugal people are now looking at more ways not to spend money,” said Lynnae McCoy, who runs a blog called beingfrugal.net, which attracts seasoned penny pinchers. In January, her site received 110,000 hits, up 30 percent from a year ago. What intrigued McCoy was the interest among frugal folks to save even more money by making their own detergent and other household goods.
Jeff Yeager, author of The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Roadmap to True Riches, sees a silver lining to the economic downturn.
“Whatever you do to simplify your life is a good thing,” Yeager said. A self-proclaimed cheapskate, he has spent no more than $100 over the past five years on clothing for himself and won’t throw anything out until it literally falls apart.
But he’s found ways to cut back even more now, such as eating more lentils — which are cheap and nutritious — and biking more to save gasoline. His mantra for buying food? Buy not what you want, but what’s affordable at the time.
Many people are embracing the new challenge of squeezing the most value out of every last penny. Who knew you could make household products such as detergent? McCoy says it’s not hard: mix borax with half a bar of soap, baking soda and its relative washing soda, which cuts grease and can be found in the laundry areas of many supermarkets.
“If you have vinegar, Dawn soap and baking soda, you can pretty much make any cleaning product,” McCoy said.
1. Is this too extreme at this time in the recession?
2. Do you or your family do any saving to this extreme? If so, What?
3. Do you think that eventually we will all have to save 50% or more of our income each month?
4. What are other methods that you may know of to save more money?
Before the economy tanked, she was still wearing maternity clothes from her last pregnancy, clipping coupons, and using hand-me-downs to dress her daughters, ages 2 and 3. Now, the Colorado mortgage loan underwriter salvages bagel scraps left on their plates for pizza toppings and cuts lotion bottles in half so she can scrape out the last drops.
If you thought those cheapskate friends and relatives couldn’t pinch pennies any tighter, think again. The recession is making tightwads like VanDeventer cut back even more. They’re going way beyond sharpening their coupon scissors, replacing already cheap store-brand fabric softener with vinegar and even making their own detergent. VanDeventer was drying her hair in front of a fan after her portable hair dryer broke — until her friends bought her a new one.
The recession is radically changing behavior among many different types of people, from the Wall Street bankers who are now waltzing into Wal-Mart for the first time to buy their groceries to teens who are now thumbing through the piles of status jeans at secondhand shops to save money. And experts say that such behavior could linger long after the economy recovers.
What surprises frugality bloggers is that many cheapskates such as VanDeventer haven’t lost their jobs and are not in danger of losing their homes. Many have stashed a good chunk of cash away. But the economic uncertainty is catapulting them to new levels of thriftiness.
“I do it out of fear, because I would rather put that money in the bank or purchase something we really need,” said VanDeventer, who now saves about 50 percent of her take-home pay, up from 25 percent before the recession began more than a year ago.
The trend is disturbing for merchants, who are already reeling from the sharp pullback by spenders. Such extreme miserly behavior could only worsen the decline in consumer spending.
“Frugal people are now looking at more ways not to spend money,” said Lynnae McCoy, who runs a blog called beingfrugal.net, which attracts seasoned penny pinchers. In January, her site received 110,000 hits, up 30 percent from a year ago. What intrigued McCoy was the interest among frugal folks to save even more money by making their own detergent and other household goods.
Jeff Yeager, author of The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Roadmap to True Riches, sees a silver lining to the economic downturn.
“Whatever you do to simplify your life is a good thing,” Yeager said. A self-proclaimed cheapskate, he has spent no more than $100 over the past five years on clothing for himself and won’t throw anything out until it literally falls apart.
But he’s found ways to cut back even more now, such as eating more lentils — which are cheap and nutritious — and biking more to save gasoline. His mantra for buying food? Buy not what you want, but what’s affordable at the time.
Many people are embracing the new challenge of squeezing the most value out of every last penny. Who knew you could make household products such as detergent? McCoy says it’s not hard: mix borax with half a bar of soap, baking soda and its relative washing soda, which cuts grease and can be found in the laundry areas of many supermarkets.
“If you have vinegar, Dawn soap and baking soda, you can pretty much make any cleaning product,” McCoy said.
1. Is this too extreme at this time in the recession?
2. Do you or your family do any saving to this extreme? If so, What?
3. Do you think that eventually we will all have to save 50% or more of our income each month?
4. What are other methods that you may know of to save more money?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Myrtle Beach hopes expanded summer activities will draw more tourists
Downtown Myrtle Beach businesses are gearing up for the tourist season by sprucing up their properties and planning new activities for the area, including a carnival for children and more concerts.
The Oceanfront Merchants Association presented its plans for the season to the Downtown Redevelopment Corp. at Wednesday’s meeting and asked for an extra $35,000 in this year’s budget to make them happen.
The corporation usually gives $50,000, but board members voted unanimously to give the merchants $85,000 for entertainment.
The city of Myrtle Beach promised the merchants $85,000 this year, and the group will request $60,000 from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
As vacationers start trickling to the Grand Strand, area leaders have said that the economy could put a dent in the tourism season. But downtown merchants remain optimistic, saying they’ve seen positive signs so far.
They are planning new activities, including the carnival and more concerts, to give the downtown a festive feel to lure visitors.
The new carnivals will feature bounce houses, a bungee-cord run, obstacle courses, street performers and perhaps a scavenger hunt, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each Monday of the summer season at Plyler Park.
In addition, the merchants want to add a night to the free concert series, said merchants association member Jonathan Staton, who owns Dagwood’s and made the budget presentation to the redevelopment board.
Staton said local hoteliers have been calling the merchants association making sure there will be the same activities for visitors as last year, because, they’ve said, their repeat customers are requesting them.
They’ve also been advertising the Wednesday-night fireworks shows in their hotel brochures, he said, because they are so popular.
“The area just felt livelier last year,” Staton said. Those who run parking lots downtown reported increased demand on event nights, which prompted the merchants association to prioritize adding the Monday-night carnival and Thursday concerts to the regular Tuesday-and-Saturday lineup to draw more people downtown.
Buz Plyler, who owns the Gay Dolphin gift shop, said he thinks this summer could be “a relatively good season. People have been holding back, not spending, and they’ll be ready to go,” Plyler said. “People will want to enjoy themselves when they get a break.”
He said he has seen “20 times more foreign visitors” recently, which he never would have anticipated for the Grand Strand, and sees as promising.
Part of the reason for that is advertising. Myrtle Beach is being introduced to new markets through marketing, and the merchants are trying to do the same, though in a more local way.
They are planning a new circus-themed campaign advertising “Hot Summer Nights,” the peak season between the beginning of June and Labor Day, and Staton said they hope to put up banners on lightposts in the downtown area, as well as billboards around the county letting families know there are free activities in downtown Myrtle Beach.
“It looks like, if all this comes to fruition, it could be the biggest and best year yet,” board member Doug Martin said.
Vice-chairman Jay Bultz said he appreciated the merchants association’s efforts, as well.
“You all have done a lot of work to make this happen,” he said.
1. Could this be a good idea?
2. Did it hurt Myrtle Beach that they are going away from students and bikers and push more toward families? Why?
3. What would you do to encourage tourists to MB during this recession??
4. Are free activities what MB needs to do to gain tourists?
The Oceanfront Merchants Association presented its plans for the season to the Downtown Redevelopment Corp. at Wednesday’s meeting and asked for an extra $35,000 in this year’s budget to make them happen.
The corporation usually gives $50,000, but board members voted unanimously to give the merchants $85,000 for entertainment.
The city of Myrtle Beach promised the merchants $85,000 this year, and the group will request $60,000 from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
As vacationers start trickling to the Grand Strand, area leaders have said that the economy could put a dent in the tourism season. But downtown merchants remain optimistic, saying they’ve seen positive signs so far.
They are planning new activities, including the carnival and more concerts, to give the downtown a festive feel to lure visitors.
The new carnivals will feature bounce houses, a bungee-cord run, obstacle courses, street performers and perhaps a scavenger hunt, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each Monday of the summer season at Plyler Park.
In addition, the merchants want to add a night to the free concert series, said merchants association member Jonathan Staton, who owns Dagwood’s and made the budget presentation to the redevelopment board.
Staton said local hoteliers have been calling the merchants association making sure there will be the same activities for visitors as last year, because, they’ve said, their repeat customers are requesting them.
They’ve also been advertising the Wednesday-night fireworks shows in their hotel brochures, he said, because they are so popular.
“The area just felt livelier last year,” Staton said. Those who run parking lots downtown reported increased demand on event nights, which prompted the merchants association to prioritize adding the Monday-night carnival and Thursday concerts to the regular Tuesday-and-Saturday lineup to draw more people downtown.
Buz Plyler, who owns the Gay Dolphin gift shop, said he thinks this summer could be “a relatively good season. People have been holding back, not spending, and they’ll be ready to go,” Plyler said. “People will want to enjoy themselves when they get a break.”
He said he has seen “20 times more foreign visitors” recently, which he never would have anticipated for the Grand Strand, and sees as promising.
Part of the reason for that is advertising. Myrtle Beach is being introduced to new markets through marketing, and the merchants are trying to do the same, though in a more local way.
They are planning a new circus-themed campaign advertising “Hot Summer Nights,” the peak season between the beginning of June and Labor Day, and Staton said they hope to put up banners on lightposts in the downtown area, as well as billboards around the county letting families know there are free activities in downtown Myrtle Beach.
“It looks like, if all this comes to fruition, it could be the biggest and best year yet,” board member Doug Martin said.
Vice-chairman Jay Bultz said he appreciated the merchants association’s efforts, as well.
“You all have done a lot of work to make this happen,” he said.
1. Could this be a good idea?
2. Did it hurt Myrtle Beach that they are going away from students and bikers and push more toward families? Why?
3. What would you do to encourage tourists to MB during this recession??
4. Are free activities what MB needs to do to gain tourists?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship: Response to Midlands Biz Blog
At Riley Communications, we are avid readers of MidlandsBiz.com, so much so that we have come to expect the prompt 6:01 a.m. delivery of the latest Midlands Business news every morning to our Blackberries (and one iPhone) just as regularly as our morning coffee. The latest e-mail newsletter edition featured a less routine, but still enjoyable element: a new blog from creator Alan Cooper.
The blog focused on something our office is entirely based on: entrepreneurship. Our own company, as well as our office-fellow Human Resource Dynamics, began as an entrepreneurial endeavor. Among other aspects of going out on a limb with a new business, Alan points out “44% of new startups are created by people between the ages of 18 and 34. To me, that says that the majority of new creations are made by people over the age of 34 and that it’s never too late.” A solid truth, considering Human Resource Dynamics founder JoAnn Moss started her firm as a second career. But don’t forget the fresher entrepreneurs out there are still fierce — Riley Communications was born in this young, yet experienced brain.
No matter what age entrepreneurs may be, though, Alan insists there are two types: “the ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’ entrepreneur, and the serial entrepreneur. The former start their own businesses out of necessity or because they never again want to put their fate in someone else’s hands. The latter do it because it is in their DNA. They have never worked for someone else a day in their life.”
Now that we can attest to — some of the best businesses are formed in response to some of the worst. Most inspiring of all, though, is that Alan, despite his attempts to appear squeamish about branching out into a new business, is a die-hard entrepreneur. After getting fired from his own family’s business (proving that job security is a dreaded myth), Alan pushed himself out of the nest and actually flew!
1. What are your thoughts on the comments on this article?
2. Visit this blog and give your comments on what is said about entrepreneurship?
At Riley Communications, we are avid readers of MidlandsBiz.com, so much so that we have come to expect the prompt 6:01 a.m. delivery of the latest Midlands Business news every morning to our Blackberries (and one iPhone) just as regularly as our morning coffee. The latest e-mail newsletter edition featured a less routine, but still enjoyable element: a new blog from creator Alan Cooper.
The blog focused on something our office is entirely based on: entrepreneurship. Our own company, as well as our office-fellow Human Resource Dynamics, began as an entrepreneurial endeavor. Among other aspects of going out on a limb with a new business, Alan points out “44% of new startups are created by people between the ages of 18 and 34. To me, that says that the majority of new creations are made by people over the age of 34 and that it’s never too late.” A solid truth, considering Human Resource Dynamics founder JoAnn Moss started her firm as a second career. But don’t forget the fresher entrepreneurs out there are still fierce — Riley Communications was born in this young, yet experienced brain.
No matter what age entrepreneurs may be, though, Alan insists there are two types: “the ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’ entrepreneur, and the serial entrepreneur. The former start their own businesses out of necessity or because they never again want to put their fate in someone else’s hands. The latter do it because it is in their DNA. They have never worked for someone else a day in their life.”
Now that we can attest to — some of the best businesses are formed in response to some of the worst. Most inspiring of all, though, is that Alan, despite his attempts to appear squeamish about branching out into a new business, is a die-hard entrepreneur. After getting fired from his own family’s business (proving that job security is a dreaded myth), Alan pushed himself out of the nest and actually flew!
1. What are your thoughts on the comments on this article?
2. Visit this blog and give your comments on what is said about entrepreneurship?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Assignment for Friday, March 6th (DO NOT COMPLETE UNTIL FRIDAY!!)
1. Research the three types of risk (economic, natural, and human) Writing down what each part represents and give an example.
2. How do they protect against each risk from the aspect of a business owner or entrepreneur.
3. Have them find the website for About Retail Industry. It is part of the About.com network. And answer the specific questions here:
a. How much money per year do businesses lose through theft and employee error
b. What is the majority age of shoplifters
c. What is the average theft amount per incident
d. What is source tagging
e. What are the three major retailers that are using source tagging
f. Find another article on retail theft and name it. Also, write a short paragraph summary of the article illustrating the main points.
g. Why do you think people shoplift?
h. What are the advantages for a retailers using source tagging?
i. Do you think About retail industry would be a good source for information for a business owner. Who or why not?
2. How do they protect against each risk from the aspect of a business owner or entrepreneur.
3. Have them find the website for About Retail Industry. It is part of the About.com network. And answer the specific questions here:
a. How much money per year do businesses lose through theft and employee error
b. What is the majority age of shoplifters
c. What is the average theft amount per incident
d. What is source tagging
e. What are the three major retailers that are using source tagging
f. Find another article on retail theft and name it. Also, write a short paragraph summary of the article illustrating the main points.
g. Why do you think people shoplift?
h. What are the advantages for a retailers using source tagging?
i. Do you think About retail industry would be a good source for information for a business owner. Who or why not?
Richard Branson, Founder Virgin > Richard Branson was born in 1950 and educated at Stowe School. It was here that he began to set up Student Magazine when he was just 16. By 17 he'd also set up Student Advisory Centre, which was a charity to help young people.In 1970 he founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer, and not long after he opened a record shop in Oxford Street, London. During 1972 a recording studio was built in Oxfordshire, and the first Virgin artist, Mike Oldfield, recorded "Tubular Bells" which was released in 1973.This album went on to sell over 5 million copies! Since then many household names, including Belinda Carlisle, Genesis, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson and The Rolling Stones have helped to make Virgin Music one of the top six record companies in the world. The equity of Virgin Music Group - record labels, music publishing, and recording studios was sold to THORN EMI in 1992 in a US$1billion deal.The Virgin Group has now expanded into international music Megastores, air travel, mobile, financial, retail, music, internet, drinks, rail, hotels and leisure, with around 200 companies in over 30 countries. Yes, we've been busy!Virgin Atlantic Airways, formed in 1984, is now the second largest British long haul international airline and operates a fleet of Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 aircraft to New York, Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Delhi, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Shanghai and the Caribbean. The airline is based on the concept of offering a competitive and high quality Upper Class, Premium Economy and Economy service. The airline has won many major awards, including Airline of the Year Award several times.During 1997 Virgin took over Britain's two most run-down rail franchises, CrossCountry and the West Coast Main Line. Virgin is currently engaged in a £2billion fleet replacement programme.In 2002, the combined sales of the different Virgin holding companies exceeded £4billion. In addition to his own business activities, Richard is a trustee of several charities including the Virgin Healthcare Foundation, a leading healthcare charity which was responsible for the launch of a health education campaign relating to AIDS in 1987.
Virgin > Virgin - one of the most respected brands in Britain - is now becoming the first global brand name of the 21st century. We are involved in planes, trains, finance, soft drinks, music, mobile phones, holidays, cars, wines, publishing, bridal wear - the lot! What tie all these businesses together are the values of our brand and the attitude of our people. We have created over 200 companies worldwide, employing over 25,000 people. Our total revenues around the world in 2002 exceeded £4 billion (US$7.2 billion).We believe in making a difference. In our customers' eyes, Virgin stands for value for money, quality, innovation, fun and a sense of competitive challenge. We deliver a quality service by empowering our employees and we facilitate and monitor customer feedback to continually improve the customer's experience through innovation.
1. What do you know of Virgin?
2. What are your thoughts on beginning a business from scratch and making it into a multi-billion dollar corporation?
3. What kind of marketing techniques did he use?
4. Do you think that you are bron to be an entrepreneur or become one through schooling and learning?
Virgin > Virgin - one of the most respected brands in Britain - is now becoming the first global brand name of the 21st century. We are involved in planes, trains, finance, soft drinks, music, mobile phones, holidays, cars, wines, publishing, bridal wear - the lot! What tie all these businesses together are the values of our brand and the attitude of our people. We have created over 200 companies worldwide, employing over 25,000 people. Our total revenues around the world in 2002 exceeded £4 billion (US$7.2 billion).We believe in making a difference. In our customers' eyes, Virgin stands for value for money, quality, innovation, fun and a sense of competitive challenge. We deliver a quality service by empowering our employees and we facilitate and monitor customer feedback to continually improve the customer's experience through innovation.
1. What do you know of Virgin?
2. What are your thoughts on beginning a business from scratch and making it into a multi-billion dollar corporation?
3. What kind of marketing techniques did he use?
4. Do you think that you are bron to be an entrepreneur or become one through schooling and learning?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Entrepreneurship
If you were to start a brand new business all from scratch, What would it be?? Who owuld be your target market?? And What types of strategies would you use to bring in your customers and get them to stay??
Make sure to use thought and cut out the one line answers. Grading will get tougher on the one line answers starting this week!!
Make sure to use thought and cut out the one line answers. Grading will get tougher on the one line answers starting this week!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Frito-Lay tries to enter minds, lunch bags of women
Sorry, men: Baked Lay’s are no longer meant for you.
Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, is overhauling all of its calorie-conscious snacks to make them appeal to women, including the baked versions of Lay’s, Fritos, Ruffles, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos; Smartfood; Flat Earth; and its 100-calorie packages of snacks.
It has researched women’s feelings about snacking and guilt to produce new packaging, new flavors and a new ad campaign, all in an effort to get women to eat Frito-Lay snacks.
Women are snacking more than men but are not eating as many Frito-Lay snacks, said Jill Nykoliation, the president of Juniper Park, the advertising agency that handled the Frito-Lay women’s project. “So if it’s, you’re snacking two times as much, but you’re not snacking with us, why, and what can we do for you?”
Frito-Lay is also trying to replicate its success with its good-for-you message on its SunChips brand, which is one of its fastest-growing, said Gannon Jones, the vice president for portfolio marketing at Frito-Lay North America.
Sales at Frito-Lay are strong: Frito-Lay North America posted 8 percent revenue growth and 7 percent profit growth in 2008. However, men’s growth in salty snacks is far outpacing women’s, Jones said.
According to Frito-Lay research, women snack only 14 percent of the time on salty foods. Women snack 25 percent of the time on sweet foods; the other 61 percent of snacking includes drinks, fruits and vegetables.
1. Will this new strategy work for women.
2. Men, or think like a man, would this hurt your consumption of baked goods?
3. Is frito-Lay making the right move here?
4. What could they do for men?
Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, is overhauling all of its calorie-conscious snacks to make them appeal to women, including the baked versions of Lay’s, Fritos, Ruffles, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos; Smartfood; Flat Earth; and its 100-calorie packages of snacks.
It has researched women’s feelings about snacking and guilt to produce new packaging, new flavors and a new ad campaign, all in an effort to get women to eat Frito-Lay snacks.
Women are snacking more than men but are not eating as many Frito-Lay snacks, said Jill Nykoliation, the president of Juniper Park, the advertising agency that handled the Frito-Lay women’s project. “So if it’s, you’re snacking two times as much, but you’re not snacking with us, why, and what can we do for you?”
Frito-Lay is also trying to replicate its success with its good-for-you message on its SunChips brand, which is one of its fastest-growing, said Gannon Jones, the vice president for portfolio marketing at Frito-Lay North America.
Sales at Frito-Lay are strong: Frito-Lay North America posted 8 percent revenue growth and 7 percent profit growth in 2008. However, men’s growth in salty snacks is far outpacing women’s, Jones said.
According to Frito-Lay research, women snack only 14 percent of the time on salty foods. Women snack 25 percent of the time on sweet foods; the other 61 percent of snacking includes drinks, fruits and vegetables.
1. Will this new strategy work for women.
2. Men, or think like a man, would this hurt your consumption of baked goods?
3. Is frito-Lay making the right move here?
4. What could they do for men?
Monday, February 23, 2009
When Interviews Go Wrong.
Resumes are due today. Please make sure that we get those done.
Going through the motions of a bad interview is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Sally learned this lesson the hard way, hands-on during an interview that should have been a piece of cake. Sally applied for a position that fit her qualifications perfectly. When she received an invitation to interview, Sally believed she was a shoo-in for the job. Feeling confident, she approached the interview in a lax manner. She didn’t prepare and prematurely celebrated an offer she was convinced would be extended.
The day of the interview, Sally was surprised by the level of anxiety she felt. Her apprehension began to build and she began to prepare for the interview at the last minute. By the time she arrived at the interview, she was visibly shaken.
Lesson learned: The time to collect your thoughts is prior to an interview, not on your way to one. If you arrive to an interview bewildered, the recruiter will take notice and you run a high risk that you will be not get the offer.
The interviewer entered the waiting area and introduced himself. To ease the tension, he asked a common icebreaker question, “Did you have trouble finding us?” Sally has never been a smooth small talker and she answered the question candidly. She confided that she doesn’t have a good sense of direction and coupled with the fact that she was anxious, she passed the building entrance quite a few times. The interviewer smiled politely and proceeded to walk towards the interview room. Realizing she goofed, Sally hesitantly followed the interviewer.
Lesson learned: Everything you say and do during an interview is scrutinized; from the instant you walk in, to the moment you walk out. An innocent question doesn’t exist during an interview and a careless misstep is seldom forgotten. Choose your responses carefully.
When Sally was escorted to the interview room, she was surprised to see a panel of interviewers. She was only familiar with the “it’s just you and me, kid” type of the interview – the one-on-one. At the start of the interview, she quickly realized that it was going to be a challenge to manage that interview.
Lesson learned: Interviews are unpredictable. One never knows the broad range of topics that will be covered and the type of formats that may be presented. Familiarize yourself with all interview settings.
Because she was not ready for the series of questions, Sally tripped over her answers. She focused on issues that weren’t relevant and provided little information on what was pertinent. She began to ramble and appeared under-qualified for the position.
Sensing that she was interviewing poorly, Sally began to lose patience with the process. She failed to maintain eye contact and began to fidget. The enthusiasm she felt for the position and the company slowly diminished as she witnessed the blank looks on the faces of the panellists. She withdrew mentally from the interview, and as a result, appeared disinterested.
Lesson learned: Most interviewers expect candidates to be nervous during an interview, and they rarely will forgive you if you fail to demonstrate a sincere interest in working for them. Most hiring decisions are based on whether the interviewer feels a connection to you. The failure to establish a bond immediately is usually beyond repair.
After the interview Sally realized that the questions she had been asked were not difficult. She had been overwhelmed by nervousness and that had clouded her ability to communicate clearly and to the point effectively.
Lesson learned: Even if you have the “right stuff,” nothing is guaranteed. Don’t get caught off guard; prepare for interviews; do your homework.
Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers’ Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.
1. Post what you thought was interesting about this article.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Resumes
Continue woking on your resumes. They are due at the end of the block. If you did not get a sheet from Coach Williams then do so before you begin.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Top Jobs for 2009
By Chris Dannen
Courtesy of fastCompany.com
In 2009, the job market will be full of contrasts: some industries will be eviscerated while others face shortages of workers. The good news is that despite the recession, there are still real jobs to be had. The bad news is that you may have to change fields to find one.
The trick to job hunting in 2009 will be to figure out how your skill-set can translate across industries, says Elaine Varelas, a managing partner at Boston-based outplacement firm Keystone Partners, so that you're not confined to searching one sector of the economy. "People are frustrated because it's taking them a while to assess the job market," she says. "They'll have to figure out other things they can Ð and want Ð to do." Successful job-seekers will be the ones who can figure out how to take skills learned in one kind of job and translate them into assets in others.
Here are the top eight areas where work can be found in 2009:
1) Nursing & Medical Services
Perhaps the best bet in 2009: Becoming a registered nurse or medical technician. With over 50,000 new nursing jobs to be created this year alone, med techs and nurses will have their pick of jobs and salaries, the latter averaging about $57,000 per year.
Social services jobs will see a boom too, as a swelling number of retirees check-in for medical care, says the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. But not all health care jobs will see equal growth. "The growth here will be more about the services and delivery people--nurses and technicians--than administrators," Varelas explains. "Hourly workers interested in changing roles should get into any role that services the elderly," she suggests.
2) Computing & Engineering
Computer-related jobs are projected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade, and 2009 will be no exception. Software engineering is particularly in demand, with network systems and data communications analysis also booming. These jobs also had some of the highest median salaries in 2006, according to the BLS, with computer software engineers earning a median income of $79,000 a year.
These positions are expected to grow at nearly double the rate of other types of jobs, but that won't last forever. "As the software industry matures, and as routine work is increasingly outsourced abroad," fewer computing jobs will be available in the next decade, the BLS notes.
But for now, technology workers are still in high demand, says Varelas. Most of the open positions will be found at smaller companies, where employers will be looking for a versatile, multi-faceted worker that can fill more than one role. "You have to be a business person who's also a tech person," to be an ideal candidate, Varelas explains. That could give an advantage to seasoned workers over recent grads.
3) Education
"To a great extent, education is recession proof," says Roy Krause, President and CEO of recruiting and staffing company Spherion. In 2009, roughly 38,000 of our economy's new jobs will be created in colleges and universities nationwide. As more students wait out the recession in college and graduate programs, the need for teachers, administrators, assistants and other staff will expand.
The demand for primary and secondary-school teachers will be booming as well. "There always seems to be a shortage there," says Krause. Some of the most in-demand teaching roles will prepare workers for the most in-demand jobs. "There are literally not enough educational programs to generate the volume of health-care workers we'll need," Varelas explains. As high schools and universities expand to meet demand for nurses, computer engineers and teachers, the demand for teachers and professors will grow commensurately.
Post-secondary teachers can expect a media salary of about $56,000, according to the BLS, while kindergarten through 12th grade teachers can expect between $43,000 and $48,000.
4) Green Jobs
So-called "green" jobs haven't been measured in BLS reports to date, but some experts have predicted they'll shake up the list of the fastest-growing jobs before the end of the decade. "More and more companies are adding dedicated staff to focus their environmental efforts," says Alison Doyle, About.com's Guide to Job Searching. Green jobs are arriving in two breeds, she explains: some will be at specialized firms that reduce human environmental impact, like environmental consultancies; others will simply be jobs at environmentally-friendly companies looking to improve their eco-image by hiring specialized "green" officers to audit and improve the company's environmental impact.
But the recession might slow the corporate world's eco-makeover, as many companies' transition to green-hood is delayed by financial problems. To see any growth in green job demand, we'll also need to see some "very creative new organizations," Varelas explains. Upstart green-services companies may be hiring, she says, but otherwise this sector will be what she describes as a "slow-growth industry: high demand but high competition."
Companies that can afford to go green will hire staffers like Traceability Managers, who will examine global supply chains and check for suppliers that might be excessively pollutive or carbon-costly to buy from. Environmental consultancies will seek to hire engineers or architects who are LEED-accredited, understand HVAC systems and can help guide developers through the LEED approval process for their buildings.
5) Energy
"There's a big buzz on campus about renewable energy," says Chris Higgins, Senior Associate Director of Career Management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Outgoing students are particularly interested in startup companies, he says. "Biofuels seem to be the biggest area of investment." Those venture-backed businesses should still be in good shape to hire in 2009, since they are more insulated from the broader economy.
"Obama's talking a lot about green initiatives, so alternative fuels are going to be big," agrees Spherion CEO Krause. But those renewable energy jobs might also see a glut of interest from workers in traditional energy, thanks in part to increasing volatility and competitiveness in the market for oil and gas jobs that has resulted from wild oil-price fluctuations. "We're seeing a slowdown in Texas and Canada," Varelas says of North America's two biggest oil-producing areas. Workers in the energy industry have very specific skill-sets and knowledge that don't translate well to other industries, she notes. She predicts that many of these workers may "be jumping at a green energy job" if they have the opportunity.
6) Infrastructure
With the president-elect vowing to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on internal improvements like roads, bridges, broadband infrastructure and financial oversight, some experts are predicting niche job booms. "We work with a couple of companies that build bridges, and they're expecting a lot more business." says Krause.
Financiers might also find new lives as a part of the government's new regulatory apparatus, which will need auditors, accountants and compliance officers. Obama's energy-independence programs will also require electrical and mechanical engineers, grid managers, biofuel chemists, and civil engineers. Electrical, mechanical, chemical and civil engineers made median salaries of about between $68,000-$79,000 in 2006, according to the BLS Median salaries for power plant operators were about $55,000, or about $70,000 for operators at nuclear power facilities.
7) The New Finance
Financiers should prepare to be especially flexible in 2009. "Those people will need to take a look at reinventing themselves. They'll have to figure out where else they can use their skills, and move into other industries," Varelas says. For many bankers, that will mean applying their middle or back-office operations knowledge in other businesses. How long before they can move back into their former careers? "This consolidation is going to be long Ð at least three-to-five years," Varelas says.
But don't discount finance yet. "We'll simply see shifts. There will be a shift from originating mortgages, for example, to collecting on them," Krause explains. "If interest rates go down to 4.5%, you'll also see a lot of refinancing." This will require underwriters, actuaries, and administrators.
For financial workers switching fields, an initial pay cut may come with the transition. A financial analyst who made the median 2006 income of about $66,000 and decides to become, say, a commercial loan officer will probably net about $10,000 less in 2006 dollars. However, after three years of experience, that loan officer's salary would jump to between $61,000 and $100,000, according to the BLS.
8) Self-Employment & Small Business
Replacing farmers in the self-employment demographic are growing numbers of people "who don't want to be employees anymore," says Katy Piotrowski, a career counselor and author of The Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers. "I'm seeing a lot of people buying franchises, or setting up arrangements that involve multiple online businesses," she says.
As a career counselor who assists adults interested in mid-life career switches, Piotrowski reports growing numbers of workers "trying to escape the desk job format." Experienced career jumpers are also wary of taking new positions that promise little job security Ð jobs Piotrowski likens to "black holes" of employment. Top prospects for small businesses will be Internet companies that can get funding while the venture market is still well capitalized, as well as green consultancies and international sales, which could benefit from the volume generated by a weak dollar.
The BLS does not calculate income estimates for self-employed workers of any kind.
9) Retirement, Reconsidered
The BLS says that over the next ten years, "the need to replace workers who leave a field permanently is expected to create more openings than growth will." But with retirement accounts losing value, many baby boomers could postpone leaving. Could this affect turnover?
"This recession will delay retirement, but not the traditional way," says Krause. "Retirees will come back into the workforce on contract or part-time basis, but not keep their old positions." Because longevity means larger salaries and a lower cost-basis, companies will still pressure older workers to retire, but will also need their experience to weather a recession not equaled in decades. If retirement is your next stop, look for firms where your wisdom could be useful on retainer.
10) Telecommuting
The first quarter of the year will be rough for job-seekers. But the upside will be more employer flexibility. "Candidates will have to market themselves," says Krause, "but more employers are open to job sharing and telecommuting as gas prices fluctuate and there is more emphasis on getting the candidate with the right suite of skills." Which means that it's wise to expand your geographical search, and inquire about whether working from home on a part-time basis is an option, regardless of the job you are seeking.
"What's heartening," Krause says of the incoming administration, "is that there's a recognition that there's a problem." If the president-elect's stimulus package works as intended, American job-seekers could see the creation and preservation of about 2.5 million jobs before 2010.
1. Of these 10 jobs, which grab your attention the most?
2. Is your desired career field listed, if not, then research it and find out where it stacks up in today's economy.
3. What skills would you need to have to pursue the career you are looking for?
Courtesy of fastCompany.com
In 2009, the job market will be full of contrasts: some industries will be eviscerated while others face shortages of workers. The good news is that despite the recession, there are still real jobs to be had. The bad news is that you may have to change fields to find one.
The trick to job hunting in 2009 will be to figure out how your skill-set can translate across industries, says Elaine Varelas, a managing partner at Boston-based outplacement firm Keystone Partners, so that you're not confined to searching one sector of the economy. "People are frustrated because it's taking them a while to assess the job market," she says. "They'll have to figure out other things they can Ð and want Ð to do." Successful job-seekers will be the ones who can figure out how to take skills learned in one kind of job and translate them into assets in others.
Here are the top eight areas where work can be found in 2009:
1) Nursing & Medical Services
Perhaps the best bet in 2009: Becoming a registered nurse or medical technician. With over 50,000 new nursing jobs to be created this year alone, med techs and nurses will have their pick of jobs and salaries, the latter averaging about $57,000 per year.
Social services jobs will see a boom too, as a swelling number of retirees check-in for medical care, says the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. But not all health care jobs will see equal growth. "The growth here will be more about the services and delivery people--nurses and technicians--than administrators," Varelas explains. "Hourly workers interested in changing roles should get into any role that services the elderly," she suggests.
2) Computing & Engineering
Computer-related jobs are projected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade, and 2009 will be no exception. Software engineering is particularly in demand, with network systems and data communications analysis also booming. These jobs also had some of the highest median salaries in 2006, according to the BLS, with computer software engineers earning a median income of $79,000 a year.
These positions are expected to grow at nearly double the rate of other types of jobs, but that won't last forever. "As the software industry matures, and as routine work is increasingly outsourced abroad," fewer computing jobs will be available in the next decade, the BLS notes.
But for now, technology workers are still in high demand, says Varelas. Most of the open positions will be found at smaller companies, where employers will be looking for a versatile, multi-faceted worker that can fill more than one role. "You have to be a business person who's also a tech person," to be an ideal candidate, Varelas explains. That could give an advantage to seasoned workers over recent grads.
3) Education
"To a great extent, education is recession proof," says Roy Krause, President and CEO of recruiting and staffing company Spherion. In 2009, roughly 38,000 of our economy's new jobs will be created in colleges and universities nationwide. As more students wait out the recession in college and graduate programs, the need for teachers, administrators, assistants and other staff will expand.
The demand for primary and secondary-school teachers will be booming as well. "There always seems to be a shortage there," says Krause. Some of the most in-demand teaching roles will prepare workers for the most in-demand jobs. "There are literally not enough educational programs to generate the volume of health-care workers we'll need," Varelas explains. As high schools and universities expand to meet demand for nurses, computer engineers and teachers, the demand for teachers and professors will grow commensurately.
Post-secondary teachers can expect a media salary of about $56,000, according to the BLS, while kindergarten through 12th grade teachers can expect between $43,000 and $48,000.
4) Green Jobs
So-called "green" jobs haven't been measured in BLS reports to date, but some experts have predicted they'll shake up the list of the fastest-growing jobs before the end of the decade. "More and more companies are adding dedicated staff to focus their environmental efforts," says Alison Doyle, About.com's Guide to Job Searching. Green jobs are arriving in two breeds, she explains: some will be at specialized firms that reduce human environmental impact, like environmental consultancies; others will simply be jobs at environmentally-friendly companies looking to improve their eco-image by hiring specialized "green" officers to audit and improve the company's environmental impact.
But the recession might slow the corporate world's eco-makeover, as many companies' transition to green-hood is delayed by financial problems. To see any growth in green job demand, we'll also need to see some "very creative new organizations," Varelas explains. Upstart green-services companies may be hiring, she says, but otherwise this sector will be what she describes as a "slow-growth industry: high demand but high competition."
Companies that can afford to go green will hire staffers like Traceability Managers, who will examine global supply chains and check for suppliers that might be excessively pollutive or carbon-costly to buy from. Environmental consultancies will seek to hire engineers or architects who are LEED-accredited, understand HVAC systems and can help guide developers through the LEED approval process for their buildings.
5) Energy
"There's a big buzz on campus about renewable energy," says Chris Higgins, Senior Associate Director of Career Management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Outgoing students are particularly interested in startup companies, he says. "Biofuels seem to be the biggest area of investment." Those venture-backed businesses should still be in good shape to hire in 2009, since they are more insulated from the broader economy.
"Obama's talking a lot about green initiatives, so alternative fuels are going to be big," agrees Spherion CEO Krause. But those renewable energy jobs might also see a glut of interest from workers in traditional energy, thanks in part to increasing volatility and competitiveness in the market for oil and gas jobs that has resulted from wild oil-price fluctuations. "We're seeing a slowdown in Texas and Canada," Varelas says of North America's two biggest oil-producing areas. Workers in the energy industry have very specific skill-sets and knowledge that don't translate well to other industries, she notes. She predicts that many of these workers may "be jumping at a green energy job" if they have the opportunity.
6) Infrastructure
With the president-elect vowing to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on internal improvements like roads, bridges, broadband infrastructure and financial oversight, some experts are predicting niche job booms. "We work with a couple of companies that build bridges, and they're expecting a lot more business." says Krause.
Financiers might also find new lives as a part of the government's new regulatory apparatus, which will need auditors, accountants and compliance officers. Obama's energy-independence programs will also require electrical and mechanical engineers, grid managers, biofuel chemists, and civil engineers. Electrical, mechanical, chemical and civil engineers made median salaries of about between $68,000-$79,000 in 2006, according to the BLS Median salaries for power plant operators were about $55,000, or about $70,000 for operators at nuclear power facilities.
7) The New Finance
Financiers should prepare to be especially flexible in 2009. "Those people will need to take a look at reinventing themselves. They'll have to figure out where else they can use their skills, and move into other industries," Varelas says. For many bankers, that will mean applying their middle or back-office operations knowledge in other businesses. How long before they can move back into their former careers? "This consolidation is going to be long Ð at least three-to-five years," Varelas says.
But don't discount finance yet. "We'll simply see shifts. There will be a shift from originating mortgages, for example, to collecting on them," Krause explains. "If interest rates go down to 4.5%, you'll also see a lot of refinancing." This will require underwriters, actuaries, and administrators.
For financial workers switching fields, an initial pay cut may come with the transition. A financial analyst who made the median 2006 income of about $66,000 and decides to become, say, a commercial loan officer will probably net about $10,000 less in 2006 dollars. However, after three years of experience, that loan officer's salary would jump to between $61,000 and $100,000, according to the BLS.
8) Self-Employment & Small Business
Replacing farmers in the self-employment demographic are growing numbers of people "who don't want to be employees anymore," says Katy Piotrowski, a career counselor and author of The Career Coward's Guide to Changing Careers. "I'm seeing a lot of people buying franchises, or setting up arrangements that involve multiple online businesses," she says.
As a career counselor who assists adults interested in mid-life career switches, Piotrowski reports growing numbers of workers "trying to escape the desk job format." Experienced career jumpers are also wary of taking new positions that promise little job security Ð jobs Piotrowski likens to "black holes" of employment. Top prospects for small businesses will be Internet companies that can get funding while the venture market is still well capitalized, as well as green consultancies and international sales, which could benefit from the volume generated by a weak dollar.
The BLS does not calculate income estimates for self-employed workers of any kind.
9) Retirement, Reconsidered
The BLS says that over the next ten years, "the need to replace workers who leave a field permanently is expected to create more openings than growth will." But with retirement accounts losing value, many baby boomers could postpone leaving. Could this affect turnover?
"This recession will delay retirement, but not the traditional way," says Krause. "Retirees will come back into the workforce on contract or part-time basis, but not keep their old positions." Because longevity means larger salaries and a lower cost-basis, companies will still pressure older workers to retire, but will also need their experience to weather a recession not equaled in decades. If retirement is your next stop, look for firms where your wisdom could be useful on retainer.
10) Telecommuting
The first quarter of the year will be rough for job-seekers. But the upside will be more employer flexibility. "Candidates will have to market themselves," says Krause, "but more employers are open to job sharing and telecommuting as gas prices fluctuate and there is more emphasis on getting the candidate with the right suite of skills." Which means that it's wise to expand your geographical search, and inquire about whether working from home on a part-time basis is an option, regardless of the job you are seeking.
"What's heartening," Krause says of the incoming administration, "is that there's a recognition that there's a problem." If the president-elect's stimulus package works as intended, American job-seekers could see the creation and preservation of about 2.5 million jobs before 2010.
1. Of these 10 jobs, which grab your attention the most?
2. Is your desired career field listed, if not, then research it and find out where it stacks up in today's economy.
3. What skills would you need to have to pursue the career you are looking for?
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