The Monster Blog

Looking for the Economic Green Shoots

My yard is abloom with spring color. Everywhere I look, I see buds, flowers, green grass and new life. This is a welcome sight following the devastation of last year’s ice storm, which left my area without power for four days and tons of tree limbs down everywhere.

And it’s kind of the same thing with the economy. Sure, unemployment has hit double digits in many metro areas, and layoffs still abound. One economist is saying we haven’t even hit bottom yet. But there are bright spots, which economists are calling green shoots. Here’s a collection of a few I’ve seen lately:

·         We’re Buying Again, Despite Economic Contraction: Specifically, we’re still shelling out for big-ticket items like cars, furniture and appliances. Since consumer spending makes up about 70 percent of the economy, according to the article, that can mean only good news for a rebound -- and jobs.

·         The Housing Market Is Showing Signs of Life: Last month marked the first time in 16 months that housing prices didn’t plunge dramatically. Hey, it’s something, and it’s good news for both those who work in the industry and for homeowners tired of watching the value of their homes sink.

·         Teach for America Applications Are Up, Especially Among Ivy League Grads: Can’t find a job? Go teach. In a staggering statistic, more than 11 percent of Ivy League seniors applied for Teach for America, which sends teachers who’ve signed on for a two-year commitment into urban and rural schools. That’s a boon for both the grads and the kids.

Know of any more green shoots? Leave them in the comments below. And if you’re having a hard time staying positive in economic negativity, check out this article.

How Livable Is Your City?

Forbes’ recent list of the top 10 most livable cities in America was based on quality of life data, including five-year income growth per household, cost of living, crime, leisure activities and unemployment. Here are the top 10:

•         Portland, Maine

•         Bethesda, Maryland

•         Des Moines

•         Stamford, Connecticut

•         Tulsa

•         Oklahoma City

•         Cambridge, Massachusetts

•         Baltimore

•         Worcester, Massachusetts

•         Pittsburgh

If this list has prompted you to think about your own situation and possibly moving to more livable (and lucrative) pastures, check out these articles on negotiating your relocation. And happy moving!

Here’s to Those Who Do Dangerous Jobs

What do you consider your occupation’s hazards? For most of us office workers, these include stale air and sometimes repetitive stress injuries from poor ergonomics.

In contrast, merchant marines like Richard Phillips have to deal with rough seas and Somali pirates taking hostages off the east coast of Africa. Fortunately, Phillips was rescued, but his story could have easily had a darker ending.

Indeed, working on the ocean tops Forbes’ list of the most dangerous jobs, by number of deaths per 100,000 workers. Here are the top five:

·         Fishers and their staff

·         Loggers

·         Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

·         Iron and steel workers

·         Farmers and ranchers

Other dangerous jobs include police sheriffs and patrol officers, refuse and recyclable material collectors, and drivers (truckers and salespeople).

Think of some of the people who do these jobs. There’s Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who landed his disabled airplane safely in the Hudson River back in January, meaning everyone on board survived. Or the myriad, nameless police officers who face down danger every day and help keep our communities safe. What about the people who collect your trash? Their occupational hazards are in your garbage can right now.

As thankless as these dangerous jobs are, make no mistake -- they are necessary. It’s time we salute the men and women who do them. To them I say: Thanks for a job well done. And better you than me.

Know of more workers who do dangerous jobs and deserve a shout out? Leave a comment below.

From the Snack Bar to ‘Saturday Night Live’: Celebrity Career Paths

What was your first job? Mine was working at McDonald’s at age 15. As it turns out, many celebrities had a similar first introduction to the world of work. Famous former food service workers include singer Seal, who also worked at the Golden Arches, and actress and “Saturday Night Live” alum Tina Fey, who worked at a swimming pool snack bar at 14.

Curious about how other celebs started out? We’ve compiled this list of former jobs of the famous. You’ll learn about the first jobs of stars like Simon Cowell, Judd Apatow and Jennifer Hudson (another fast-food alum).

Start mapping your own path now using Monster’s Career Tools, such as Career Mapping, as well as Career Snapshots and Career Benchmarking. And if you have a juicy celebrity first job that you think we should know about, leave it in the comments below.

4 Ways to Help the Unemployed

When times get difficult, I find the best way to cope is taking action. And times are certainly hard for many of us nowadays -- 13.2 million Americans are now unemployed as of March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So I compiled this list of ways those of us in a position to help the unemployed can do so. Read it and get going:

 

·         Make a Donation: It doesn’t have to be money (but it never hurts). Organizations like Dress for Success help disadvantaged women get the proper clothes and skills for interviews. Got a suit you never wear or time to mentor someone? Here’s how to help.

 

·         Reach Out to Alumni: People you graduated college with are great networking contacts, whether you’re employed or not. If you know of fellow alums in your industry who are out of work, keep your eyes and ears open for them, and stay in touch. You may even want to take them to an industry networking event they may not have been aware of.

 

·         Listen: When any loss happens, from death to a layoff, platitudes don’t help -- being there does. Let your friend or relative know you’re available to talk about anything, not just their work situation. This is especially important when your partner or spouse has been laid off.

 

·         Patronize New Businesses: Some people start their own companies when their corporate jobs don’t work out. You can help by giving your business to someone you know who’s just starting out. It’s a win-win for you and for them.

 

Here are some more ways you can help the unemployed. And if you have other ways to be of assistance, let us know in the comments below.