Small business tips: the dos and don'ts of ordering business cards

Business cards are often likened to mini-billboards that you carry around in your wallet, allowing you to advertise yourself and your services while you’re on the go. When making the decision to design and order cards, however, entrepreneurs make the mistake of saying too much or too little in the tiny space allotted. This overview of business card “pizzazz” will assist you in updating your card’s current look or inventing a new one that will yield the most return for your printing investment.

CONSISTENCY

Assuming that your business card is part of a total package that includes letterhead, envelopes, postcards, etc., it’s important that the colors, fonts and imagery be consistent with one another. Whether you choose to purchase a software program that will enable you to custom print everything yourself or if you only supply the artwork and layout to a professional printing service, the key is to go with a line of correspondence tools that complement, not clash.

CHEAP=BORING

Take a moment to pull out the various business cards you’ve collected over the years. Separate the ones that are appealing versus the ones that are blah. The odds are that the latter stack will be black print on white card stock. A lot of people go this route for the number one reason that black and white is cheaper than adding a splash of color. Unfortunately, they may as well not have purchased cards at all if they’re going to be so dull and uninspired. If you want your card to stand out, consider printing it in a different color or adding color to a black and white design. The extra expense will make an enormous difference in making your card memorable to the people who receive it.

The second biggest mistake is to go with a card stock that just doesn’t hold up with time. Many of the do-it-yourself kits fall into this category by using a lighter weight stock that can feed through home printers without jamming. Again, if the card is flimsy or has perforated edges from being torn off an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet, the message communicated to the recipient is that not very much expense was put into this form of one-on-one advertising.

TOO MUCH INFORMATION/TOO LITTLE SPACE

Have you ever received a card that causes you to squint in order to read all of the content? Likewise, do any of the cards in your collection have more content than you really need to know in order to make a decision? By using an itty-bitty font or cramming too much data into the space, it creates too much work on the part of the reader and will probably result in being thrown out.

NOVELTY CARDS

Now and again, entrepreneurs will try to make their cards stand out by deviating from the standard size or shape, affixing glitter or other flaky substances, having them produced in lightweight plastic, or even creating folding cards that allow them to add twice as much text. While the last of these four can sometimes work if the additional content contains useful information (i.e., a restaurant tipping calculator), the added production expense is rarely commensurate with increased sales. What does work, however, is when the card content is printed vertically (as opposed to traditional horizontal) or when it has been cleverly designed to look like something else (i.e., a movie admission ticket). This can be done at a relatively low cost but still be consistent with other wallet-size business cards.

WHAT A BUSINESS CARD SHOULD CONTAIN

At a minimum, a business card should contain your name, your company name, and how to contact you. In addition, if the name of your company doesn’t conjure an easy association with what your company actually does, a color graphic will be beneficial. Clip-art software programs contain thousands of images for this purpose. If you are going with an existing clip-art image, however, be aware that you may not be the only one to think of this.

This is also applicable to the numerous online business card companies which have pre-set designs from which to choose. The prices are far less than neighborhood print shops but you do run the obvious risk of being part of a commercial herd. Let’s say, for example, that you are one of several dozen catering businesses in your community. To keep your business from being confused with another one down the street that just happened to go with the same perky oven-mitt motif, you may want to design your own artwork or utilize a photograph. The online print services do allow for customization; the cost, however, will be higher because of the set-up fees involved.

Should you include a headshot of yourself on your card? Popular wisdom dictates that only if you have a first name that could either be male or female, such as “Lee,” or if your looks are integral to the specific service your provide (i.e., “Perfect Eyebrows by Lenore”), you are better off omitting the visual introduction. If you do decide to go with a photo, this will increase the printing cost since you really don’t want the whole thing to look like a quickie photocopy.

THE FLIPSIDE

Many people don’t think of using the back side of their business card for additional data. While that’s no excuse to cram in extraneous data, it will reduce a potentially cluttered front side. For instance, you could have your spiffy artwork and name of the company on the front and then have the pertinent contact information printed on the back. If you are using your business cards as a tool to get a job, this back space could be used to list your educational degrees, professional certifications, and/or your areas of specialization (i.e., copywriting, speeches and corporate brochures). The back side of business cards can also be used as discount coupons. For instance, “Show this card and get 20% off your purchase.”

The printing costs will be higher for any duplexing that you request in your order but the result will contribute to a calling card that stands out from the norm without being overwhelming.

MULTIPLE ROLES/MULTIPLE CARDS

Did you know that you can have more than one business card up your sleeve? Just as many individuals have separate resumes depending on which areas of expertise they want to accentuate, enterprising entrepreneurs may find it useful to go with multiple cards. Let’s say, for example, that you are a freelance writer who does scriptwriting, corporate newsletters, and commercial advertising. Rather than cram all of these talents onto the face of one card, you can opt to have “Freelance Writer” on the face of all three versions and then specify the individual areas of expertise on the back of three separate orders. This will allow you to keep the same front design for all ventures but replenish and update the respective back sides as you need them. If you have extra money to spend, of course, you can also do different designs for each area of expertise.

HOW MANY CARDS SHOULD YOU ORDER

Print shops and online design companies generally require you to do a minimum order of 250 or 500 cards. My own recommendation is to go with this order initially and gauge the content’s effectiveness over a six month period. This also gives you the opportunity to update the information in the event you change locations or perhaps add a website listing that had not been in place when you first ordered cards for yourself. It also goes without saying that you need to proofread your content thoroughly prior to having your cards printed. The burden of correctness is on the person doing the ordering, as printers will not fix a job for free if the error was not theirs.

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Small business tips: how to write an effective job description for employees

Whether you are hiring a new employee for a home-based business, a retail shop, or a traditional office setting, it's important to have a clear set of job duties written down. These descriptions serve three distinct purposes. During the interview process, they allow you to make the best match of candidate skills and position requirements. Once the employee is hired, the written guidelines provide a framework of expectations on what he or she should be accomplishing each day, week or month. During the employee's tenure--and particularly at the end of probationary periods or on anniversary hire dates--the defined job duties provide a measuring tool regarding performance standards and consideration for an increase in pay or responsibility.

The level and scope of detail in a job description is, of course, contingent on the degree of job difficulty and repetition. A restaurant hostess, for example, is responsible for welcoming the clientele, taking reservations, keeping track of which tables are available, showing diners to their seats, and handing them menus. In some restaurants, the hostess may also be in charge of operating the cash register. These duties, once learned, will not change from day to day.

Contrast this to the job of personal assistant to a Hollywood mogul. This type of job not only involves managing the mogul's calendar and appointments but picking up celebrities at the airport, arranging events, reading scripts, dropping off dry cleaning, taking the dog to the groomer's and--well, you get the picture. Every day in a job such as this is going to be different and calls for a high degree of flexibility in accommodating shifting priorities.

There are three effective ways of writing a job description.

The first way is to identify the tasks on a percentage basis. This gives the job applicant/employee an estimate of how much time per day will be given to each task. For example, an office assistant who will be answering the phones for you during the morning hours and doing product inventory during the afternoon would have a job description that something looks like this:

Receptionist: 50%

Supply Inventory: 40%

Other Duties as Required: 10%

The "other duties" designation is the catch-all for minor activities that take only a few minutes a day (i.e., making coffee) or on an irregular basis (an emergency run to the post office). This block of time should not exceed 5-10% of total duties and should be commensurate with the individual's skill level and knowledge.

The second type of job description applies to those positions which don't follow a daily routine. Let's say, for example, that you are advertising for a litigation secretary for your law firm. The various tasks, plus a short description of each, would be listed as follows:

Preparation and filing of court documents: Familiarity with standard court correspondence and briefs. Knowledge of court filing procedures and docketing of cases.

Liaison with clients, applicants' attorneys, doctors and judges: etc., etc., etc.

Such a description communicates that, although these activities don't occur every day and are predicated on the ebb and flow of the attorney's caseload, the candidate still needs to possess the requisite skill and knowledge in order to perform them whenever they are required.

The third job description applies to future performance/production objectives and primarily applies to individuals involved in sales and marketing. Since the assumption is made that the applicant already knows how to sell products or services, the spec sheet addresses the company's expectations of increased business as a result of that expertise. For instance:

Attract 20 new clients per quarter.

Conduct 3 trade shows per year.

Decrease team members' absenteeism by 10%.

The exact allocation of time to perform these objectives is, thus, vested with the employee rather than defined by the hiring authority.

For a job description to be a useful management tool, of course, it needs to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Oftentimes what is set forth on paper isn't always a mirror of the actual job. The introduction of new equipment, the hiring of more employees, or the implementation of streamlined procedures by the incumbent will impact the time commitments and scope of activities. In addition, the expansion and successful performance of "other duties" could justify a salary increase or promotion.

In concert with an accurate job description for each position, you should also encourage your staff to put together desk manuals that address the particulars of each task. For instance: where certain forms are kept, what to do if a piece of machinery jams, how to contract a vendor, etc. This will not only assist in ensuring that the tasks will still get done during extended illness or vacation but that there will be a much shorter learning curve for the next new hire.

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Tips on how to appear professional

Whether you are interested in landing a job, maintaining a job, opening your own business or building a better relationship with your current clients, looking professional and coming across as professional are essential to your career. Even if your speech and mannerisms are well-polished, if you look like you just got out of bed, you can easily lose the respect of your managers or clients. Appearing professional not only makes you look better, but it gives your managers and clients the impression that you take your job or business seriously and that you respect and value them, as well.

Starting from the head down, simplify your hair-do. Great hair does not mean that you have to spend hours trying to tame it. If you find that you are spending upwards of an hour trying to get your hair in place, you may start getting lax in this department, so find an easy to maintain hair cut that will allow you a professional look without all the fuss. Also, while it was fun to dye your hair unnatural colors like red and orange and blue during high school and college, refrain from experimenting on your hair in terms of colors and cuts.

While tattoos and body piercings have become almost commonplace in society today, that does not necessarily mean you should be flaunting them at your place of work or business. Do your best to keep these tattoos and piercings under wraps while working. They may come across as juvenile or unprofessional to your more conservative managers or clients, which is definitely not an image you would like to portray.

Appearing professional does not mean that you have to chunk down hundreds of dollars to revamp your entire wardrobe. Simply go through your closet and get rid of or store any clothes that are falling apart, too tight, too loose or simply not appropriate. While you may love those 7-inch stilettos you purchased on sale last month, they have no place in your office. That shirt you love that has that small hole on the sleeve may be okay to wear on the weekends, but it may pose a problem at the workplace. If you have to, invest a few dollars in buying key articles of clothing like slacks, skirts and solid colored blouses or dress shirts.

Now that you have your hair, clothes and shoes all situated, what about the rest of you? If you are a man, keep your fingernails short and clean. If you are a woman, you can either do the same or keep your nails a reasonable length. Nails that are too long or very colorful, especially if you are doing a lot of typing, can become distracting. For women, while make-up can help enhance the face, do not overdo it in that department. You do not want to distract your managers or clients with the amount of makeup you wear. Remember there is a time and place for everything, so use your common sense and gut instinct on these matters.

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New business basics: 5 important tips for establishing a partnership

There is no more important decision you will make in starting your new business than the form under which your business will operate. For new business owners who are considering whether to establish a partnership, here are five important things to take into account in making your decision.

1. A PARTNERSHIP IS NOT JUST A PARTNERSHIP. So you want to form a business partnership? Well, all you have to do is find a partner, share the work and divvy up the profits, right? Sounds simple. However, while a partnership can be the simplest form of business for many people, it is also more complicated than it sounds. Accordingly, the first step is to make sure that you select the form of business that is most appropriate for your particular situation. There are many things you need to consider, including most importantly the protection of your personal assets against liability and the tax consequences of each particular form of business. An attorney will be able to tell you whether a partnership will provide you and your assets with adequate protection from liability in the event of a lawsuit. Consult with your accountant to determine what the tax consequences to the business and to each individual partner will be if you operate as a partnership.

Once you decide that a partnership is the best business form for you, your work is not over. A partnership can take many forms. It can be organized as a general partnership, a limited partnership or a limited liability partnership. Each form offers different protections, advantages and disadvantages. Investigate each partnership form and decide which is the best form for you and your partner(s).

2. GENERAL PARTNERSHIP. You may choose to set up your business as a general partnership. If you do not choose a business form, under most state laws, a general partnership is the default partnership form. In other words, if you do not make a selection as to which type of partnership yours will be, the government will choose for you, and basically, a general partnership is the form the government will choose. Essentially, there are no formalities that are required to be followed to form a general partnership. No written partnership agreement is specifically required. Oral partnership agreements may be enforceable, although, as discussed below, it is highly recommended that a written partnership agreement be prepared.

With a general partnership, absent a formal agreement, all partners are considered to be equal partners. This means that each partner owns an equal interest in the partnership, is equally entitled to participate in operating and managing the business and is entitled to an equal share in the profits of the business. This also means that each partner will share equally in paying taxes on those profits. Unless there is an agreement that specifies otherwise, disputes are settled by a majority vote of the partners and changes to the partnership agreement must be by unanimous vote of the partners. If this is not the agreement you want to have with your partners, it is especially important to spell out in writing the agreement you and your partners will have with respect to managing the business and sharing in its profits.

While a general partnership can be the most simple partnership form, it does have some disadvantages. For example, under a general partnership, each of the partners is exposed to unlimited personal liability. This means that each partner is liable for the debts, obligations and losses of the partnership. Each partner is also liable for the actions of the other partners. By law, if a general partner makes a decision associated with the partnership’s business, the other general partners are bound by that decision. The remaining partners may also be held liable for the tortious conduct of one of the partners committed in connection with the partnership’s business, e.g., fraud or misappropriation of funds. Such liability is “joint and several,” which means, for example, that if there are five general partners, liability will not necessarily be apportioned five ways. For instance, if a judgment is entered against a general partnership made up of five partners, the judgment creditor can go after the personal assets of all five partners in an attempt to satisfy the judgment. If only one of the general partners has personal assets, then one hundred percent of the judgment may be satisfied from that partner’s assets. He or she will not be able to argue that only one-fifth of the judgment should be satisfied from his or her assets.

As you can see, it is extremely important to actively select the appropriate business form for your partnership. If you do decide on a general partnership, it is crucial that you spell out the rights and responsibilities of the partners in order to avoid being subjected to the default general partnership rules. If you and your partners do not want to be saddled with the obligations and liabilities imposed by a general partnership, then you should consider the other partnership options available to you.

3. LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. A limited partnership is a statutory form of partnership. In other words, each state has specific statutes regulating the conduct of limited partnerships. A limited partnership has one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. Basically, the general partner or partners take on all of the responsibility for running the business. They also take on the partnership’s liabilities, as well as the responsibility for any debts and obligations of the partnership. The limited partners are essentially financial backers. Their interest in the partnership is financial only. They put up the capital to operate the business of the partnership and share in the profits of the partnership. Their liability is limited to the amount of their contribution of capital to the partnership.

Limited partners do have the right, as investors, to access and review the records of the partnership. However, in order for the limited partnership form of business to be legally effective, it is crucial that the limited partners stay out of the day-to-day operations of the business and the decision-making process. If a limited partner becomes involved in those aspects of the business, he or she may expose himself or herself to the same liabilities as a general partner. He or she may also lose the tax advantages afforded to a limited partner.

To further reduce exposure to personal liability, a limited partnership may be formed with a corporation or corporations as the general partner(s). Under this scenario, the corporation(s) would bear the responsibilities and liabilities of the general partner and the individual shareholders would under most circumstances be afforded protection from personal liability.

4. LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP. A very popular form of business today is the relatively new limited liability company form of business. This business form is considered a hybrid business form because it offers many of the protections from liability that forming as a corporation provides, while retaining much of the favorable tax treatment that a partnership offers. However, statutory law in many states prohibits certain entities from forming as a limited liability company. For example, in the state of California, attorneys, accountants and architects are prohibited by law from forming as limited liability companies. These entities can, however, form a limited liability partnership.

The limited liability partnership form of business developed only recently. It resembles a general partnership, but with the added liability protections of a corporation or limited liability company. In general, this business form is available only to those professions that are precluded by statute from forming as a limited liability company, e.g., attorneys, accountants or architects. By following certain steps, members of these professions can obtain protection from liability. For example, in the state of California, a law firm organizing as a limited liability partnership must register with the Secretary of State and with the State Bar. It must also provide evidence of liability insurance or sufficient net worth to satisfy judgments against the partnership in order to qualify for limited liability status.

5. GET IT IN WRITING. Whatever form your partnership takes, it is crucial that you have a written partnership agreement. This is true even if your partner has been your best friend since day one of kindergarten. In fact, this is ESPECIALLY true if your partner is a close friend. The best way to protect your friendship is to make sure that each partner understands exactly what is expected of him or her from the very beginning. Believe me, this will save you disagreements and misunderstandings down the road. While you do not want to go overboard, generally speaking, the more detailed your partnership agreement is now, the better off you will be in the long run. Try to plan in advance for any and every contingency. There is any number of good books available at your local bookstore that set out sample partnership agreements. Look at these and see which provisions pertain to your particular partnership.

At a very minimum, your partnership agreement should spell out exactly what is expected of each partner in terms of both financial contributions and contributions to the work of the business. For example, will one partner be putting up the financial capital while the other partner’s contribution to the equity of the business takes the form of work, labor and other efforts? If so, I guarantee there will be times when the financial partner will think that the working partner is not working hard enough and earning his or her share of the business. And vice versa—there will be times when the working partner will feel that his or her labor and efforts are worth far more than the financial value placed on them. For this reason, it is extremely important that the partners have an understanding from the beginning as to how much and what type of work is expected of the working partner(s).

The agreement should also specify whether additional compensation would be paid to partners who perform work in excess of the required number of hours or outside the scope of the agreement. For example, if one partner is an accountant and performs accounting services for the partnership, will he or she receive additional compensation? If so, how much will he or she receive and when will he or she be paid? Or will such services be considered a part of that partner’s capital contribution? If so, how will the value of those services be calculated and credited to the partner?

Finally, the agreement should spell out in great detail when and how the profits of the partnership will be split. Also, make sure your agreement conforms to and meets the requirements of your state. Be aware that, in most states, any agreement is construed AGAINST the party who drafted the agreement. What this means is that, if you take it upon yourself to put together a partnership agreement for the formation and operation of your partnership, and a dispute arises at some point in the future, many courts will take the position that you had an unfair advantage because you wrote the agreement. For this reason, the most important step of all is to make sure that each partner has his or her own, separate attorney participate in the drafting and review of the agreement. Rather than get into arguments with your partner(s) over the details, let your attorneys hammer it out. They will make sure that each of you is protected and that the agreement is fair to everyone involved.

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Small business tips: accounting policies that prevent embezzlement

Internal Control over accounting procedures is one of the most important aspects of running a business. It helps to ensure that embezzlement and mistakes are detectable and the company’s money is correctly accounted for. The basic premise behind Internal Control in an accounting environment is to ensure that no one person is in a position to embezzle funds, no matter how trustworthy that person. At each stage of the accounting process, from original monetary transaction, incoming or outgoing, to documentation, to financial statements, a state of affairs prevails that ensures all procedures are monitored for validity. By segregating accounting duties, no one person is responsible for transactions that could be vulnerable to abuse.

Very small companies, of course, are not usually in a position to hire more than one bookkeeper; indeed, it would be impractical and wasteful to do so. Double entry bookkeeping is in itself a good tool for the prevention and tracking of mistakes. If the books balance and the cash account reconciles to the bank statement(s), it’s a good indication that things are running smoothly. An eye should be kept on actual money coming in and the disbursement of that money. Random checks and an annual audit by a reliable outside accounting firm will be of great value.

For larger companies, some procedures are in order for Internal Accounting Control:

1. No company should allow an employed bookkeeper or accountant to have total responsibility for all monetary transactions, or the recording of those transactions.

2. Actual Cash Receipts should be recorded on the books by someone other than the person who takes physical deposits to the bank.

3. Disbursed checks should require more than one signature, and should not be signed by the same person whose responsibility it is to prepare payments.

4. Documentation is of prime importance in an accounting department. The recording of void or destroyed invoices is as important as keeping track of void check numbers. Originals, or copies, of these papers should be kept on file, in numerical order, along with valid documents. If this is impossible (a check stub or invoice physically mangled in the printer, for example), then a sheet with the number, the date, and a clear explanation of what happened should be kept. Any case of a missing check, invoice, or voucher number in the files is cause for concern.

5. Payroll is a matter for confidentiality, but more than one person in the company should have access to payroll information. Payroll tax compliance is also an area that requires monitoring.

6. Petty Cash vouchers should be signed by more than one person (perhaps above a ceiling amount), and receipts should be matched to the vouchers, which should also be numbered and filed in numerical order.

7. The bank reconciliations(s) should be handled by someone other than the persons who deal with Cash Receipts and Cash Disbursements.

All this may seem overly-cautious, but it will preclude an employee stashing incoming checks in a draw to later stamp with their own personal bank account number. It will prevent a salesperson from using unrecorded invoices to sell goods for their own personal gain. Mistakes, too, are more readily uncovered and resolved with a reliable Internal Control system in place.

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How to Decode a Job Posting

It gives you much more valuable information than you may realize.

by Jerome Young, Forbes.com

During your job search you will review hundreds of job postings. Some will be very well written and provide quality information, while others will tell you little about the employer's needs. The majority of them have a similar format and characteristics, and they provide insight into what the employer wants--if you know what to look for.


As the founder of AttractJobsNow.com, I have conducted extensive research on the job market and the recruiting process employers use to find and choose candidates to fill open requisitions. In the process I've learned a lot about what you can divine from a simple job posting.

Postings can be written by a hiring manager or a recruiter, but it's usually the recruiter who receives and screens the applications. With this in mind you should be sure that your resume will make a recruiter feel confident that you are qualified. By making the most of the insight you can glean from the following three sections of a typical job posting, you can better position yourself to impress recruiters and get interviews:

The job title
Every job posting includes a job title. It is often what first piques your interest in the posting, and it's the first thing the hiring manager thought of when he or she decided to create the position. Most job seekers overlook the intelligence the job title provides and suffer for it. The job title gives you the most likely keywords that will be used to find qualified candidates for the job, and because of that you can use it to your advantage.

At AttractJobsNow.com we use the job title as our guide in creating effective customized resumes by ensuring that each candidate's summary statement and areas of expertise are in line with the job title. We ensure that the words in the job title appear prominently throughout the resume, so that our clients will appear at the top of candidate searches. As a result, more than 95 percent of our candidates succeed in getting job interviews at their companies of interest.

Responsibilities
The responsibilities section describes what will be expected of the employee in the position. You'll often find that there are five to 10 bullet points in this section, but in our research with recruiters and hiring managers we've found that the first three responsibilities are the most important. Job postings are usually based on a primary business need to which additional responsibilities are added to create a full-time position. Your resume should focus on your experience, results, and accomplishments in the tasks outlined in the first three bullets in the responsibilities section. Also you'll find keywords in those first three bullets that recruiters will use in searching for qualified candidates.

Qualifications
The qualifications section provides insight into the experience, skills, and education the hiring manager has in mind for the person they feel will be capable of excelling in the role. As in the responsibilities section, the first three qualifications are usually the most important. If you meet those top three qualifications, you should directly say so in the summary section at the top of your resume, to instantly inform the hirer that you're qualified and to persuade them to read the rest of your resume. If you don't meet the top three qualifications but have others strengths that qualify you to excel, definitely mention them in your summary section.

Taking the time to analyze job postings and customize your resume based on their job titles, responsibilities, and qualifications is often the difference between receiving interviews and being screened out of the recruiting process.

Jerome Young is the founder and president of AttractJobsNow.com, a job search and recruiting consulting firm.

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Medical Professionals Still Among Highest Paid in America

When it comes to earning power, having a medical degree still pays off.

by Joseph Pisani, CNBC.com

The highest-earning jobs in 2009 were mostly in the health care field, ranging from surgeons to pediatricians, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released its annual wages report Friday.

Specialists, in particular, earned the most. Surgeons took the lead spot, making an average of $219,770 last year, the highest average salary in the country, according to the government data.

Following them were anesthesiologists, who made an average of $211,750 last year; oral and maxillofacial surgeons, at $210,710; and orthodontists, at $206,190.

Obstetricians and gynecologists rounded out the top five, both raking in an average of $204,470 in 2009.

Pay cuts ahead?
Specialists, however, could see a pay drop in the next couple of years as the health care reform bill, signed into law this year, begins to kick in.

"The bill shifts the money from specialty to primary care," says Paul Keckley, the executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "The bill says that primary care has been underpaid, and money is being shifted towards them."

The changes may encourage more medical students to go into primary care instead of the more lucrative specialist fields, Keckley says.

While primary doctors will most likely see their pay rise, specialists and doctors with their own practices are likely to see about a 2 percent decline in their salary, Keckley says.

"It doesn't sound big, but if the costs increase like business costs at 3 percent or 5 percent a year, and Medicare pays them less, the doctor has to make that up with commercially insured patients or raise co-pays or find other sources of income, like wellness or nutrients, depending on their specialty," said Keckley.

Other High-Paying Fields
Outside of health care, the only job that cracked the top ten was chief executive, with an average salary of $167,280 last year.

Further down the list: lawyers, $129,020; petroleum engineers, $119,960; and engineering managers, $122,810.

Those with their eyes on the skies also made big bucks last year. Airline pilots, including copilots and flight engineers, earned $117,06, while air traffic controllers pulled in $106,990. Astronomers just made it into the six-figure range, with $102,740.

In case you are wondering, the lowest-paying jobs were all in the food service industry.

Food-preparation workers and servers earned the least in 2009, at just $18,120. Outpacing them were fast-food cooks, who earned $18,230, and dishwashers, at $18,330. All were way below the national average of $43,460.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career

How to Find the Perfect Job

1. Step 1
   Take a career personality quiz to determine what job would be perfect for you. These tests aren't perfectly accurate, but it should put you in the right direction in terms of what fields you'd excel in.
   
2. Step 2
   Develop a cover letter and resume based on your perfect job. Highlight your strong points and experience. Make sure you get about three solid references who are in the field you're interested in.
   
3. Step 3
   Check the classifieds for openings of your perfect job. If you're in school, look at the career office's job board.
   
4. Step 4
   Talk to friends and family members to see if they are aware of any openings of jobs that pertain to your perfect job.
   
5. Step 5
   Contact a recruiter to help you find your perfect job. This is extremely helpful for careers that are of high pay and high profile.
   
6. Step 6
   Sign up on Internet career job listings that will email you when a job matches your profile.
   
7. Step 7
   Go to job fairs that pertain to your perfect job. Job fairs are a great way to meet potential employers face to face. Again, if you're in school, your campus will hold a job fair at least once a semester/quarter.
   

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The Number-One Way to Get Recruiters to Call

by Mike O'Brien, Climber.com

Recruiters just aren't picking up the phone anymore.

According to a recent poll of some of the nation's top recruiters, who network both through career-management sites and directly with job applicants, recruiting departments simply don't have the time to make personal connections the way they used to. For most of them, it's a simple matter of supply versus demand--the number of job applicants is, for many sectors, still far higher than the number of available positions.

In today's career market, recruiters can focus on a robust list of local candidates for any given job, rather than consider applicants from across the country. Candidates with master's degrees are now being hired at salaries that used to be for candidates with bachelor's degrees. And email communication has become the norm, further depersonalizing what used to be a high-touch, in-person process.

To stand out to recruiters, job seekers must take advantage of every connection opportunity:

Don't skimp on your resume: While highly qualified candidates are always going to get phone calls, they still have to present themselves effectively via their resumes. A clearly written, keyword-optimized resume that showcases your unique skills is critical. In addition, plan to target your resume to each specific job, highlighting relevant content and explaining how you're a clear match for the opportunity. (Read articles about crafting a great resume.)

Be everywhere: You've heard it before, but networking is a key skill for job seekers. If you can get personally referred to a recruiter, you will tremendously increase your chances of a personal callback. Whether you work with a career-management site or network via online tools or in-person events, those connections count.

Don't rule any job out: "Stretch" jobs (that is, jobs you might not be qualified for) are still worth seeking out, but don't necessarily expect a callback for your application. However, if you find a job that you love but that you feel overqualified for, don't be afraid to apply. Your passion for the position will come through, and you may at least gain a new contact.

And what's the number-one way to get a recruiter to call you? It's something you probably do every day with your business contacts but may not have thought of for your job search:

Be of service: Relationships with recruiters shouldn't be just about what they can do for you. Networking is critical to a recruiter, and most candidates know people who might be good fits for the types of positions a recruiter is trying to fill. Simply offering to refer friends, coworkers, or associates for these opportunities--particularly positions that aren't right for you--can help you make a meaningful, personal contact with a recruiter.

Part of what will make your search successful is realizing that the process doesn't end when you get your next position. For savvy job seekers, your next position is simply another step in building the career of your dreams. So take the time to get to know recruiters' needs, and how you can help them. By creating a win-win scenario where you both gain value from the relationship, you'll become a recruiter's go-to contact--both now and throughout your career.

Mike O'Brien is an innovative entrepreneur dedicated to helping others create breakthrough success, and is the founder and CEO of Climber.com, one of the nation's leading online career-management sites. For more information about how to find your perfect career, visit www.Climber.com, or connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

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How to Stretch an Entry-Level Salary

by Susan Johnston, PayScale.com

For the class of 2010, finding a job is only half the battle. In addition to competing with more-experienced workers who were laid off during the economic downturn, recent grads face the challenge of surviving on an entry-level salary. For instance, administrative assistants with one to two years of experience earn an average of $29,200, and teaching aides with the same experience earn around $17,800, according to online salary database PayScale.com.

Anya Kamenetz, a staff reporter for Fast Company and the author of "Generation Debt," says high unemployment and student loan debt add to these harsh financial realities. "Student loan debt is upwards of $22,500 dollars on average," she says, adding that "students may find themselves working part-time or short-term jobs or being asked to intern at low to no salary."

What's an overworked, underpaid worker to do? Get creative! Here's how to stretch that entry-level salary.

1. Adjust your housing expectations.
Forget what you saw on "Friends." Most recent grads who move to someplace like Manhattan don't land in spacious apartments. Many live with Mom and Dad, many settle in less-desirable neighborhoods, and some even take live-in jobs like nanny (average salary with one to two years' experience: $21,400) to cut housing costs. Others double or triple up with roommates.

2. Beg or borrow. Buy only if you must.
Need a new date outfit? Swap clothes with your roommate or ask to borrow one of her purses to punch up an outfit you already own. Instead of getting your own Costco membership, share one with your roommates, ask your parents to use theirs, or request membership as a birthday gift. Also ask for samples from the cosmetics counter or fill out online surveys so you can try out new products for free. And if you must buy something, make it last. For instance, Ryan Ribstein, a recent grad working as a communications account executive in Los Angeles, CA, says he mixes his conditioner with water to make it last.

3. Plan your meals.
Convenience foods like vending machine snacks or lunches from the corner deli will cost you, so if you learn to cook (or befriend someone who's a good cook), you'll save a lot. Alternatively, you could steal this strategy from Rachel Doyle, an Atlanta-based marketing coordinator who says she'll "go to supermarkets that offer samples (like Whole Foods) and walk up and down every aisle tasting a little bit of everything that is out there." By the time Doyle finishes her grocery shopping, she's filled up on samples.

4. Don't drink away your paycheck.
Alcohol certainly adds up, but so do other beverages like soda, juice, energy drinks, and bottled water. Consider cutting them out of your diet or ordering only when someone else offers to pay (company-sponsored happy hours, anyone?). David Roth, a bartender and musician in the Boston area, vowed to go from January 1 to March 1 without paying for alcohol, and it saved him a bundle. The recent grad adds that you can often score free food or drinks (not to mention entertainment) by attending art gallery openings or friends' music recitals.

5. Consider moonlighting.
There's only so far you can stretch $23,200 (average salary for bank tellers with one to two years' experience) or even $34,000 (average salary for lab technicians with one to two years' experience), so many recent grads work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Some do it out of necessity, and others have more-social reasons. As Kamenetz adds, you can sometimes "combine entertainment with work, for example by moonlighting as a bartender or event promoter, or volunteering at summer festivals." Check with your employer first to make sure they don't have a no-moonlighting policy.

Boston-based freelance writer Susan Johnston has covered career and business topics for The Boston Globe, Hispanic Executive Quarterly, WomenEntrepreneur.com, and other publications.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com, a leading online provider of employee compensation data. Unless otherwise noted, the salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.

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10 Well-Paid Nursing Niches

by Carol Tice, PayScale.com

Not all nurses work 12-hour shifts in hospitals. Once they're in the field, many nurses pursue additional training to become what's known as an advance practice nurse. In fact, after about five years, most nurses either leave the field or move up, says Michele Kunz, director of nursing education at Mercy Medical Center in Long Island, N.Y.

While median annual pay for experienced registered nurses is $56,100, according to online salary database PayScale.com, earning additional credentials often leads to higher salaries. And some of these specialties offer the added benefit of work outside of a hospital, such as in schools and emergency helicopters (or cruise ships). For all nurses, a bachelor's of science degree lays the groundwork for moving up, and a master's degree in their specialty usually follows. Overall, demand for nurses is forecast to rise 22 percent by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Here's a look at some of the best-paid nursing specialties:

Nurse anesthetist ($144,821): Nurses with critical-care experience may go back to school for this lucrative specialty, Kunz says. Nurse anesthetists combine nursing skills with knowledge of how to safely administer anesthetics.

Nurse practitioner ($86,774): With the ability to treat patients and prescribe medications, nurse practitioners work in pharmacies, doctors' offices, and emergency rooms, says Kunz.

Clinical nurse specialist ($82,117): Clinical nurses may care for patients or offer expert consultations in areas such as psychiatric health.

Nursing informatics analyst ($80,596): The economic stimulus bill passed last year requires that hospitals have the ability to share patient records online. As a result, Kunz says, "There's tons of opportunity" for nurses who can combine medical knowledge with computer training, in work for medical-records software vendors or hospitals' records departments.

Nurse educator ($71,292): Nurses need ongoing training throughout their careers, notes Kunz, and must re-certify regularly in some specialties. An emerging workplace for nurse educators is mobile simulation labs that tour hospitals to provide specialized training.

Nurse case manager ($68,032): "A lot of nurses who want to get away from the bedside get into case management," says California-based health care recruiting expert Nadia Gruzd. "Here, they're dealing with the families--someone could be running out of insurance, or they need a plan for who will pick the patient up. They're managing the patient's case." Some case managers also work for insurance companies.

Certified dialysis nurse ($63,500): Dialysis nurses love the 9-to-5 schedule they can work at dialysis clinics, says Gruzd--it's a breeze compared to hospital shifts. Dialysis nurses are also in demand on cruise ships--a far more desirable workplace than a hospital.

Flight or transport nurse ($63,246): In rural areas, a helicopter, small plane, or lengthy ambulance ride may be required to get patients to a hospital. A nurse needs to accompany the patient to see to their medical needs en route. Gruzd says some hospitals offer higher pay to transport nurses who work night or weekend hours, or who have Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification.

Certified legal nurse consultant ($62,100): This niche gets nurses out of the hospital and into lawyers' offices, where they provide medical expertise for legal cases.

Registered nurses looking for more pay can also forgo specialized training if they're willing to relocate--at least temporarily--to an area where their specialty is in short supply. Known as travel nursing, it's popular with younger nurses and nurses who don't have families they'd have to leave behind, Kunz says. Pay varies depending on the distance traveled and conditions where the nurses will work.

"You can go to Hawaii for a couple months and be a nurse," says Kunz, "plus get a great salary and room and board."

Business reporter Carol Tice contributes to several national and regional business publications.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.

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Layoff Secrets You Need to Know

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer

In an ideal world, layoff decisions are made in a systematic, objective way. Review committees (or, in smaller companies, managers) look at qualities like employee performance, skill set, and tenure, as well as whether or not a position is really necessary.

But layoff decisions are not always so neat and neutral, say experts.

"Layoffs are sort of like making sausage," says Dan Bowling, senior lecturing fellow at Duke Law School, specializing in labor and employment issues. "You don't want to see what went into the process, even if it looks tidy at the end."

With the recession still causing job casualties at companies large and small, knowing what goes into layoff decisions can be useful. Here are five layoff secrets you need to know, as revealed by top employment experts:

Challengers face a challenge. Employees who question the status quo can be good for a company. But do it too often, and you could be on the chopping block. "Those who challenge management generally have big targets on their backs," says Linda Pophal, corporate communications specialist with Strategic Communications.

Grade inflation can be deflating. Even when trying to be objective, companies are often hobbled. "If you've ever wondered why a company kept a perceived laggard and laid off a superstar, it's because the review committee couldn't find a way to justify retaining the stellar, often younger employee," says Paul Falcone, the author of "101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees." He says this often happens because managers engage in grade inflation during annual performance reviews. Substandard employees end up getting good scores, and this limits management's ability to oust them when layoffs loom.

It helps to have friends in high places. "It's the old country-club mentality, where the senior execs, along with their cronies, sit around a table selecting who gets to stay on the team based partly on friendships and alliances," says executive coach Scott Ventrella, adjunct professor at Fordham University's Graduate School of Business. "It's a popularity contest, and good people often get chopped."

High salaries are high on the list. "During difficult financial times, the first thing that happens is accountants come in and look at the books. The highest salaries in large public companies typically get cut first," says Elizabeth Lions, the author of "Recession Proof Yourself." "They don't look at work performance."

Little things mean a lot. All else being pretty equal, layoff decisions can end up being based on really oddball details. "Everyone's on the razor's edge these days," says Frances Cole Jones, the author of "The Wow Factor." "There are no insignificant actions." She recalls a layoff decision coming down to the employee who was known for leaving dirty dishes in the sink in the common kitchen. And Brad Ellis, of recruiting firm Kaye Bassman International, says he has seen a close decision come down to the food an employee cooked and ate, which some considered "smelly or offensive."

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How to Keep from Dozing Off in Your Next Meeting

by Glassdoor.com

You've been sitting in the conference room for two hours now while a couple of your colleagues discuss "long-term strategy." And while you know you should be absorbing more of what they have to say, you can't stay focused--you feel like you could lay your head down on the conference table and catch a few winks.

So we're here to offer some helpful pointers on how to stay awake and get back in the game:

Prepare: One way to fight that sneaky tired feeling in your meeting is to plan ahead. Hopefully, your colleagues have sent around an agenda that gives you a heads-up of what to expect. Review the agenda and outline what questions you need to ask during the meeting, to help you meet your company and project goals. Sure, it may be dry stuff in meetings sometimes, but there's a reason they invited you to participate. Don't rush in at the last minute without your own game plan; if you plan ahead, you may get more out of the meeting than you expected.

Map out the objectives: Assuming you feel comfortable around the meeting attendees, see if you can ask the meeting organizer to kick off the meeting by outlining the intended goals of your time together. That way, if the meeting veers off course, each team member can feel comfortable jumping in to help refocus the topic of conversation and use everyone's time efficiently.

Reduce your lunch portion size: Don't let all your energy get sucked away by a big lunch. If you eat a large lunch, your energy is focused on breaking that food down, not on helping your brain power through your meeting. It's all about moderation. Save that big meal for dinner--you'll probably enjoy it more anyway.

Manage your caffeine intake: Sure, it may feel great to have three consecutive cups of coffee in the morning and then feel that burst of motivation. But once you crash, it can feel like someone sucked the life out of you. Drinking too much coffee too fast can inhibit how successful you'll be throughout the duration of the work day. Instead, focus on slow and steady--pace your caffeine intake so it's more likely to help you coast along from project to project.

Take notes: If you're in a meeting where it's more about being talked to than talked with, keep a piece of paper and pen or your laptop at the ready so you can jot down meeting highlights; this may help you stay in sync and actively engaged with the presenter's discussion.

Open a window: If you have the benefit of windows that open in your conference room, see if your colleagues wouldn't mind if you opened a window or two to let in some fresh air and hopefully get everyone's juices flowing again.

But try as we might, we all get caught in these meetings at some point in our careers. By taking some of these measures either before or during your meeting, hopefully you won't get caught for having missed a vital piece of information. And who knows, if you're motivated to stay focused, it could just be contagious!

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4 Career Networking Tips That Work

by Amy Fontinelle, Investopedia.com

Many of us look at networking the way we look at going to the dentist. We know we're supposed to do it, but we really don't want to. So we put it off until, one day, something goes wrong and we have no other choice.

The way networking is usually presented makes it seem incredibly unappealing. It defies our natural tendencies: it seems insincere and sycophantic, and for introverts in particular, it seems to require becoming a whole new person--one who is fearless and gregarious, and who never encounters an awkward silence.

But networking isn't really about forcing yourself out the door to attend networking events where you'll present your elevator speech and hand out your business card to as many people as possible. It's about developing genuine relationships with people who will be there for you even when you don't need them. So how do you do that?

1. Become the type of person other people want to meet.
This is the key message of "Guerrilla Networking," by Jay Conrad Levinson and Monroe Mann. This strategy may be particularly appealing to introverts, who can be put off by traditional networking tips that seem to require being outgoing.

"Why work your butt off to meet people when you can put that same energy into becoming an interesting person within your field, and then benefit again by having the same people you want to meet ... come up to you?" the authors ask in their book.

"Meeting people can do nothing for you if you yourself have nothing interesting to offer," they add.

Some of their networking tips take time to achieve--you can't become an expert in your field or attain media exposure overnight--but others you can implement immediately. Offering to help people, smiling, and sending an email are easy for anyone to do.

2. Be more interested in other people than you are in yourself.
Almost everyone is much more interested in themselves than they are in you. And almost everyone, given the chance, will talk about themselves rather than really listening to you. So set yourself apart by following Dale Carnegie's time-tested advice from "How to Win Friends and Influence People": become genuinely interested in other people.

There's something truly interesting about everyone. That being said, what do you do if you can't find that something about the person you're talking to? Move on. The beauty of effective networking is that quality is more important than quantity. You don't have to click with or be friends with everyone.

3. Be more concerned with collecting business cards than with handing them out.
If you think handing out your business card is a great way to make new contacts, you're dead wrong. When you hand someone your card without getting theirs in return, the ball is in their court. You have no way of contacting them again.

In "Guerrilla Marketing," Levinson recommends that when you get someone else's card, you jot down notes about what you talked about on the back and follow up the next day. With your quick follow up, that person will be more likely to remember who you are. Remind them what you talked about and show them that you were actually paying attention to what they had to say, and you'll really make a great impression.

4. Join clubs.
Don't just join clubs for the sake of meeting people for networking--people will see right through your insincerity. Join clubs that do things you are genuinely interested in. You'll already have at least one thing in common with everyone else in the group, and you'll have a much better chance of developing a relationship that could one day lead to a job than you will by attending random networking events. New people are always visiting and joining clubs, and there are plenty of clubs to join, so your network will never get stale. Best of all, you will probably have fun and make friends, so building your network won't feel like drudgery.

The Bottom Line
It's not a bad idea to always have your elevator speech in mind and a business card in your wallet, but those strategies alone aren't going to get you very far. The same goes for staying in touch with people even--or especially--when you don't need something. Yes, you should do this, but you should do it because you really care about those people, not because you hope that your investment in birthday cards and postage will pay off one day when you're unemployed. The real secret to networking is to be sincere and to be the best version of yourself.

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Career Tips: Effective job search strategies

It is difficult to conduct an effective job search. Many people consider reading the classified employment adds as a genuine effort in finding a job. Although these ads can lead you to job leads, they are certainly not the only place to look, and are not the most effective way of finding a job. There are many things to explore when seeking employment. Knowing the resources available, where the job openings are listed, networking skills, volunteer opportunities, and other aspects of job hunting can be valuable as you look for the perfect job for you.

The Michigan Occupational Information System (MOIS) offers some ideas about job search strategies. Initially it is important to know yourself. You might consider taking an inventory that will help you understand your interests skills, abilities , work values, personality traits, and learning styles. Knowing these will help you determine which job best fits you and your specific situation. You might be able to take these inventories through a high school guidance center, community college, university placement centers, area technical training center, private career counselors, or a public employment job service. Many of these will offer these inventories at no cost, especially community colleges that are interested in enrolling individuals in career training programs.

The want ads in the Sunday paper will give you a good indication of what your local market is. Trade magazines, high schools, bulletin boards, job placement internet sites, community centers are other places to look for job postings. You may not feel qualified to work in a hospital or professional setting, but consider this. These places still have needs for clerical help, food service, maintenance, cleaning, and other support staff. If you have an interest in ultimately working as a lawyer, doctor, architect, etc. Consider taking a menial job in the environment where these professionals work. In this way, you will make important contacts, and pave the way for getting into the field of your choice. When on staff at a large company, you may find paraprofessional positions in interesting fields that offer valuable insights and experiences. It is still a normal practice for companies to hire from within, so when you do obtain the needed credentials it may be possible for you to walk into the job title of your choice.

You may also seek volunteer positions in organizations that are not presently hiring. If you prove yourself as reliable, prompt, and hardworking you will have made contacts that can help you procure a position when one is available. Through volunteering you may find that what seemed like the perfect career path is not what you expected at all. You may save yourself a great deal of time and training through your volunteer excursions. Volunteering also looks great on a resume.

The greatest asset in job searching really is the people you know. Networking is the route that most often gets people the job. The old adage that states: It is not what you know, but who you know.” is a truism in most job markets. Because of this, it is important to tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. It may sound corny, but really this is how people make the right connections. You may not be aware that a little old lady at church has a son with a machine shop, but if you express your need for a welding job, the subject may surface. It is quite possible the perfect job is waiting for you within your circle of friends and influence. It is up to you to let people know what you are looking for. This is not whining; this is asking for what you want and being open to the possibility that your perfect job is just waiting to be found.

The job market right now is quite open in many areas. With the unemployment rate at less than 2% in many states, jobs are waiting for the right people to fill them. It is imprint that you seek the right places, and let people know what you are looking for. Through expanding your methods, and marketing your needs to the people you know, your career path can become smooth and filled with potential.

www.essortment.com

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Career Tips: Finding A good Job

So you want to find a job or change jobs, but you don't know where to start? Looking for a job can be a very long and discouraging task. Here are a few resources you want to consider in your search for employment.

The first resource, and one that is often overlooked, is your friends, family members and acquaintances. Listen carefully to what people say. You'll be surprised at how often someone you know is talking about someone they know that just got a new job. Is it something you're interested in? Maybe, maybe not. But keep your ears open. Also ask these same people if they know of any openings where they work, or anywhere else for that matter. Sometimes people are embarrassed to let others know they are looking for work. Don't be. Letting other people know you are looking will invite them to search with you. Sometimes it's not what you know, but who you know.

The next resource is a fairly obvious one, the newspaper. In general, Sunday's paper should have the most local listings in your area. You can browse through them fairly quickly and find the ones you are interested in. Then you can follow the directions in contacting the company at your leisure.

Another good idea is to check the local branch of Work Force Services. This is a state run organization that not only has a job board you can look over, but you can also register with them and have them send you information on jobs that meet your criteria.

Of course, as with almost everything now days, the internet is another great way to find a job. There are several companies on the web to help you find a job. Most of these site will let you place a resume on the site for potential employers to see, browse their job boards, and even send you emails about positions they think will interest you. There are several such websites, including monster.com, hotjobs.com, and many more. If you don't like any of those, try punching in "employment" or something similar into a search engine and you'll have plenty of different websites to check out.

You can also look for job specific websites. Whatever it is that you do, or want to do, find websites about that field. Often, there would be employment resources and internet links at these websites as well.

A final idea is to check with the local universities and community colleges. These school usually have job boards where they post jobs for students and alumni. Some schools charge you to register with them to use their resources such as the job boards, but this is rare. And no one ever asks when you apply for these jobs if you were sent by the school, they just want the position filled.

Looking for a new job can be difficult, but it can also be rewarding. If you don't get frustrated and use all of the available resources, you are bound to find what you’re looking for.

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Workplace Checklist: How Toxic Is Yours?

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Nobody loves going to work all the time--but there's a difference between routine workplace hassles and a working environment that stresses you out to the point of illness, according to Linnda Durre, the author of "Surviving the Toxic Workplace."

Durre suggests that hostile working environments typically have one or more types of dysfunction--how many symptoms does yours have?

Unfairness

_ You do the work of two or three people and receive little or no appreciation.

_ Coworkers steal your ideas and take credit.

_ Some workers get away with things that others don't.

_ Bosses or team members deflect responsibility or project blame for failures onto others.

Immoral and illegal activities

_ Coworkers ask you to cover or lie for them.

_ You are asked to falsify data, reports, or documents.

_ A coworker uses sexual favors to get ahead at work.

_ Someone is having an affair and asks you to lie for him or her.

Abusive bosses and poisonous coworkers

_ You or others suffer sexual harassment.

_ Coworkers miss deadlines and affect your productivity.

_ A coworker or boss routinely tells lewd, racist, or sexist jokes.

_ Bosses and peers rely on fear and intimidation.

Physical danger

_ You or others are at risk because of unsafe conditions.

_ You or others have ever been threatened or assaulted.

Just plain annoying

_ Coworkers interrupt your work, invade your space, and help themselves to your files.

_ Constant gossip, political games, or spying.

Any one of these issues indicates a toxic environment and should not be tolerated, according to Durre. And if you've got check marks next to items in more than one category, your workplace may be dangerously poisonous. Unfortunately, employees often believe that these problems are the cost of doing business and must be endured. "Many workers believe they are helpless to change the situation and suffer devastating physical problems from the stress and anger," Durre says.

Detoxifying your workplace
How you respond to any of these problem areas depends on you, on the level of threat the situation poses, and on the supportiveness of the company.

Confront, politely. You should be able to resolve many interpersonal problems--gossipers, time wasters, and game players--without intervention, according to Hilka Klinkenberg, founder and managing director of Etiquette International.

"If someone's always invading your space, for example, you can say you need to work and you'll speak with them later," she says. "If someone is talking loudly, you can say, 'You have a good, strong voice, but it's hard to concentrate when you speak at that volume.' When teammates waste your time, tell them what will help you meet your deadline. But don't vent and don't blame. Present every issue in terms of a solution, not a problem."

Do not confront. Situations where you're in physical danger should be handled as if you're meeting a bear in the woods: back away slowly and don't antagonize. But don't let it go. Report the problem to HR or to your supervisor if there is no HR department. If your supervisor is the threat, seek the next higher level--or in extreme cases, the police.

Go higher. If your boss won't resolve the problem (or is the problem) and if HR doesn't resolve the problem (or is part of the problem), you still have options, according to Durre.

"You can get an attorney or even hire a lawyer to write a letter merely threatening to sue, and you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to do it," she says. If you are part of a union, let them handle it. If you are part of a professional organization, tell them about it and recommend that the offending party's license be revoked." If it's an illegal or unethical situation, you can threaten to bring the situation to the media," Durre adds. "Companies hate bad publicity."

Have back up. When HR becomes involved, you'll need documentation to prove your case. Keep scrupulous records by writing down who said and did what, and when. It's even better if you have other coworkers who witnessed the situation and are willing to go to bat for you.

Plan your exit. Some companies have a culture of dysfunction. If the toxicity is coming from the top down, and it bothers you a lot, you're better off coming up with an exit strategy, according to Marie McIntyre, author, columnist, and creator of YourOfficeCoach.com.

"You can't change a corporate culture on your own," McIntyre says. "Give yourself a timeline for leaving, and start working on it. Just focusing on a more positive future will help your stress level while you're still in that negative environment."

You shouldn't have to leave just because of a bad boss or insufferable coworkers. But if the situation prompts you to start the company you've always dreamed about, that's not such a bad thing. The bottom line is, you don't have to suffer in silence. "The workplace shouldn't have to be nasty," Durre says. "It should be and can be a win-win for everyone."

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Outside the 9-to-5 Routine: Top-Paying Off-Hour Jobs

Earn $25 or more per hour in these jobs that leave your days free.

by Lydia Dishman, PayScale.com

Ever fantasized about a job that didn't lock you away in a cubicle during the prime hours of the day? Or maybe you're interested in a part-time evening job because your day is full with other responsibilities (such as kids--or another job).

Whether you want to enjoy summer sunshine or you're looking to moonlight, there are plenty of non-9-to-5 jobs that offer mainstream pay rates.

Room to grow: Speech-language pathologist
A speech-language pathologist's work may involve treating children with stutters, adults who can't make sounds or speak clearly, or even people who want to modify their accents. It's a burgeoning field, one that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects will grow faster than average for the next decade. With a master's degree and state certification, speech-language pathologists can earn just north of $36 an hour for full-time work, according to online salary database PayScale.com.

Work from home: Tutor
If you're a math wiz or you excel in English, you can put your skills to work part-time by helping elementary, middle, or high school students make the grade. Depending on your background, specialized training, or advanced degree in a particular subject, you could charge students $25 per hour and up for your services, and you may not even need to leave your home. With an online tutoring job, you can schedule as many hours as you want--and the most popular times are between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., when most kids are not in school.

Night owl: Radiologic technician
If you're not much of a morning person, you may enjoy working nights as a radiologist. Hospitals are staffed 24-7, and patients' needs for diagnostic testing such as MRIs, X-rays, and CAT scans don't keep regular hours either. With proper certification (usually an associate's degree), an MRI tech can earn just over $33 per hour.

Get physical: Personal trainer
Make your own hours, work with people, and stay in shape. Sound like a dream? It doesn't have to be. As a personal trainer, you'd have all that--provided you earn the appropriate certifications to work with clients. Whether yoga, pilates, spinning, or step aerobics is your thing, the BLS says you'll be in demand in the years ahead, and your earning power is at $25 per hour for a part-time gig.

Relax: Massage therapist
Licensed massage therapists work by appointment, which means they call the scheduling shots, whether they see clients at a day spa or at a health care facility. Masseurs and masseuses can specialize in any one of many modalities including sports, neuromuscular, or deep-tissue, and many choose to be self employed--which puts even more flexibility at their fingertips. Working part-time, massage therapists can expect to make over $40 per hour.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com, a leading online provider of employee compensation data. The salaries listed are median, hourly salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.

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