Entry bubble Find a Job

By: Joanne | May 20, 2008 | Category: Money

help wanted ads

Are you sick of your job? Are you ready to move on to other things? Are you unemployed and wearing a deep groove in your parents’ sofa? A student looking for an internship? It sounds like you need a job.

From time to time, we all need to look for a job, and I don’t know if you find it easy, but most of us don’t. You’ve got to figure out what you want to do, determine if there’s a market for the occupation that interests you, polish that resume, and begin the hunt.

It’s always good to look in the local paper or check an online source for local job listings, but the government’s got some resources to help too. If you’re looking for a job or an internship with the federal government, you’ll find all openings announced to the public at USAJOBS. Check out your state job bank for even more job opportunities in your area. If you need a helping hand, look up your local Department of Labor office and see what services they offer to job seekers in your area. And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of job scams.

p.s. Thanks for all your great suggestions in response to my post last week! This post was inspired by one of your comments, and we'll be using more of your ideas in coming posts.

| Comments [3] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: career   employment   federal   joanne   job   labor   resume   scam  

 

Entry bubble Family Medical Leave Act Basics

By: Sommer | March 28, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

I first heard about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in one of my college classes. Needless to say, my husband and I havepregnant woman talking to a male coworker discussed this little law a lot around the house recently. Since I work for Uncle Sam I don’t get “maternity leave” per se, but I have been able to save up enough vacation to use while I’m off work with the baby. Luckily I won’t have to take unpaid leave under FMLA to spend time with my newborn. My husband isn’t that lucky though; he just took a new job last fall. And, since his company doesn’t offer paid paternity leave, he’ll have to invoke his FMLA rights and take unpaid time off if he decides to take extended leave to welcome the baby home.

Here are some details about your rights under FMLA:

  • The Clinton Administration enacted the FMLA in 1993.
  • The main purpose of the law is to grant eligible employees up to 12 workweeks, per 12 month period, of unpaid family and temporary medical leave under the following circumstances:
    • birth and care of the newborn child;
    • adoption or taking a child into foster care;
    • care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
    • personal medical leave when the employee cannot work because of a serious health condition.
  • Your employer must give you your original job back once you return to work. If your employer has filled your job in your absence or, for some reason it's no longer available, your employer must provide you with a job that’s equal in pay, benefits and responsibility.
  • You’re also entitled to all your employee benefits while you’re out.

| Comments [5] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: employee   family   job   law   leave   maternity   paternity   sommer   work  

 

Entry bubble Finding a Job That’s Right for You

By: Sam | January 02, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

O.K, you may have not made the cut for Celebrity Apprentice, Project Runway, or American Idol.  But there’s still a great job out there for you.  You just have to “make it work” as my favorite fashion guru likes to say.

Take it from me, after my dreams of being a rock star were dashed by the fact I can’t carry a tune, I turned to another passion:  public service.  I always knew with whatever career path I chose, I wanted to have the opportunity to make a difference.  During my job hunt, I saw federal service as a way for me to accomplish this goal.  Thankfully, a search on USAJobs gave me the chance to work with the folks from Pueblo, CO.

Now, I know working for Uncle Sam isn’t for everyone, but the government does have tons of great career resources.  For instance, the “Finding a Job” page on USA.gov connects you to info on choosing a career, building a resume, applying for jobs, and more.  There’s also the “Employment” section of Pueblo.gsa.gov and the “Jobseekers” tab on the Department of Labor’s homepage that are full of useful tips and services.

I’ve also found the followings sites to be a source of really great and sometimes humorous career advice:

Please feel free to suggest other career resources that you’ve found helpful.  Or share a great “You’re Hired!” story.

| Comments [1] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: career   employment   job   resume   usa.gov