The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that the United States has reached its highest unemployment rate in 25 years: 8.1%. More than 4.4 million jobs have been lost since December 2007, including the 651,000 lay-offs in February. Even worse news, say some economists, is the fact that so many of these jobs are in […]
In the News: Economic Recession by County
How bad is the job market where you live? If you have not seen this cool interactive map from the New York Times, you should definitely check it out. Now, if you listen to news at all, you know that unemployment is at a decades-high level, just over 8%. Economists will tell you that if […]
Seven Tips for Landing a Summer Job
Are you a high school or college student looking for a summer job? You might be feeling overwhelmed right about now with all the news that summer jobs are hard to come by in ’09. It’s true that tough economies equal fewer jobs and more competition for them. But that doesn’t mean you are doomed […]
Top Recession Proof Careers
Newsweek online has a great piece this week about ten recession-proof careers. Here’s a look at four of the job fields that are still hiring (Halleluyah!) and links to corresponding sections about these career options from JobMonkey. 1) Security Jobs with the Defense Department and America’s Homeland Security are on the rise. According to a […]
Reader Mail Bag: How to Write a Boilerplate Cover Letter
Dear JobMonkey, I read your letter from a nursing student a few weeks ago (If you missed it, check out the nursing cover letter) question here. I guess I have a similar question. I keep hearing about having a cover letter template, but I can’t quite figure out what that means. I end up rewriting […]
Nine Ways to Make (or Break) a Job Interview
Perhaps the most nerve-racking part of the job search process is the job interview. Despite the nerves, though, you still need to be able to set the right tone and make a great first impression – all the while deftly answering questions about your experience, skills and “best and worst” qualities. Interviewing can be quite […]
Tuesday Tips: How to Find a Green Collar Job
ABC News ran an interesting story late last week about a green retraining program for blue collar workers in California. The students were learning all about green fuel options in preparation for a possible career change. The spotlight on the growing green economy has grown a lot brighter since President Obama was sworn into office. […]
Bloody Monday: How to Shore Up Your Finances In Anticipation of a Job Loss
The news hasn’t been good for weeks, but today America’s job market reached an all-time low. CNN reported this afternoon that 71,400 jobs were lost today. That’s the single highest job loss day since 1945. The companies affected include: – Catepillar, which is cutting 20,000 jobs – Drug-maker Pfizer, which is reducing its workforce by […]