Ahh, Celebrity.

Remember Knut, the cute little polar bear born in Germany last year? You know, the one who sparked a media frenzy and became a polar bear celebrity? Knut became the center of a media frenzy dubbed “Knutmania” after becoming the first polar bear to survive past infancy in captivity in more than 30 years. Zookeepers became pseudo-parents after baby Knut was rejected by his mom and the public lovingly adored him.

Last week, two more polar bear celebrities entered the world when twin cubs joined the animal ranks at Nuremberg Zoo, also in Germany. While the little twinsies still have an uphill battle ahead of them- they have a 50% chance of survival- the bundles of joy are sure to be just as large an attraction as their counterpart, Knut.

Celebrity is an interesting phenomenon. It has permeated nearly every facet of our world. We follow the sightings and sound bites of movie stars, singers, athletes, business men and women, and even animals like polar bear Knut!

The workplace doesn’t escape celebrity, either. Whether it’s related to an award or special recognition, a degree from a certain school, or even someone’s outward appearance, there is often a “celebrity” at work. And that’s okay. But don’t let it get you down. Don’t compare yourself to them or beat yourself up for something you can’t change. Maybe they are receiving preferential treatment because they graduated from Columbia and you went to the local community college, but there’s not much you can do to change that.

Keep persevering and you will be recognized, too. Whether you are in the entertainment industry (TVCrossing.com), construction industry (ConstructionCrossing.com), or you work on the admin side of things (AdminCrossing.com), EmploymentCrossing can help you find your place in the spotlight.

Maybe it’s time to switch things up and get workin’ on your job celeb status. Our free trial can get you on your way.

Tags: celebrity, columbia, Job Search, knut, polar bear twins

Great Balls of Fire! Targeting your job search, meteor style

The meteor that blazed across the Western Canadian sky last Thursday was, according to some Edmonton, Alberta residents, one of the most surprising, spectacular events they had ever witnessed. A dashboard camera attached to a police car captured what appeared to be a speeding fireball. Immediately afterwards, some people in their cars drove toward the general area where thought the fragments fell, “Twister” style (flying cows, anyone?).

The pieces of this meteor, if found, could yield valuable information about the history of the solar system. Other meteorite hunters hoping to locate these fragments–many of them from nearby University of Regina– aligned search parties to see what they can come up with.  To pinpoint approximate locations of the meteors, these folks will have to gather eye witness accounts and get information from the sky tracking cameras BEFORE they even go looking for anything.

Now here’s where we get all metaphorical–you knew it was coming. When it comes to finding a great job, some folks are like that police officer in little Devon, Alberta. He was just driving down the highway, making the rounds when. . .flash, bang, boom. . .he just happened to catch something on tape. He was just in the right place at the right time. Other people have an idea of the kind of jobs they want and they just sort of veer off into a general direction with no specific plan or guidelines. They might find what they’re looking for, but chances are they’ll be off the mark.

Finally, the job searchers that take time to gather their resources, talk to the right people, and figure out a plan are likely to find something that suits them really well. It may take a little longer, but their extra effort and planning will prove worth it in the long run.

After you’ve gathered your tools (killer resume, great cover letter–both of which you will alter for each new position), signing up for a free trial to EmploymentCrossing will be the first step in your strategic search.  You can browse mucho sites (100+ to be more precise) with so many jobs it’ll make your bowtie spin. Hello, SciencesCrossing! Almost  15,000 science jobs!

Tags: Job Search, meteor, twister, university of regina

You Gotta Know When to Holder

Maybe you know the popular country tune that brought that title to mind: You gotta know when to hold em’, know   when to fold em’, know when to walk way…okay, maybe not.

Regardless, looks like President-Elect Barack Obama has chosen Eric Holder to be attorney general. Maybe you remember Holder? He was acting deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton and became infamous for approving a last-minute list of presidential pardons right before Clinton’s last term was up.

But before the offer is formally extended or accepted, Eric Holder must undergo the oft-heard process of this past election season, vetting. You know, everything about his past, present, and future has gotta go through the ringer; they’re just making sure everything checks out to be truthful and harmless.

So this post holds two valuable pieces of information for you in your job search.

Numero Uno: Just like the lyrics of the song, you have to know when to fold em’. In other words, know when to cut your losses. If your job search just isn’t working quite like you imagined, it’s time to fold your hand and get some new cards. And we’re the perfect place to start. Not a public job board, EmploymentCrossing can offer you a lot more than those other job sites and we can offer you a free trial to see the arsenal of jobs we’re packing.

Numero Dos: Vetting. It’s sort of like an extended interview process. Just as Eric Holder has prepared himself for becoming attorney general and taken all the appropriate and necessary steps, so too should you concentrate on doing everything you can to ace your interviews. After all, if you really want the job, it’s imperative that you put your best foot forward and brave the often long and arduous interview process.

It’ll be worth it, though.

Tags: cards, employment crossing, eric holder, interviews, Job Search, vetting

Who’s in Your Top Five?

You know how us girls and boys these days have a ‘top five’ list? If you don’t know (you should), it’s a list comprised of your fave five dudes or chicks you’d like to…well, you know. It’s almost always made up of celebrities, athletes, or public figures– the kinds of people you can’t actually have, otherwise your significant other would be H-U-R-T

Just like having your ‘top five’ of people you’d like to rendezvous with, so too should you keep a little list handy of those employers you’d really LOVE to work for. Really think about it. Choose the ones that make you weak in the knees and feel warm and fuzzy.

In the meantime, while you’re scoopin’ ice cream down at the Baskin Robbins or taking orders at a job you despise from someone you’d highly enjoy hitting upside the head with a frying pan, get a free trial to EmploymentCrossing and search for the dream job at your dream company. You’ll feel better for taking positive steps in your career search and you can browse mucho sites (100+ to be more precise) with so many jobs it’ll make your head spin. Hello, LawCrossing! Almost 142,000 legal jobs! Wowzers.

So before, during, and after the masterful creation of your employer ‘top five’, let EmploymentCrossing help. We are employment gods — so to speak

Tags: changing careers, Employment, job hunt, Job Search

Transitions: Movin’ Out, Movin’ Up

We start learning about transitions as soon as we set foot into school. Winter changes into spring, cocoons open up, and before you know it–the boys and girls are separated in gym class to watch an instructional video about that kind of transition. Many years after the butterflies (the literal ones from 8th grade science class and the figurative ones from your first school dance), transitions still make us a little nervous–especially when it comes to our careers.

President-Elect Barack Obama’s move to the White House is perhaps the most prominent example of someone faced with a huge job transition. He’s got a whole team in place to help him make the switch from Illinois Senator to Commander-In-Chief: but what about you?

When you are in the midst of a job transition, there are a few key ‘action items’ you need to remember (now there’s a corporate phrase if I’ve ever heard one! Maybe I should go on ConsultingCrossing!).

1. Do your homework. Get up to speed on the company even more so than you did before your interview. You may cover a lot in training, but go the extra mile to learn not only about your position, but also about the overall structure of the organization AND who the key players are. EmploymentCrossing also has tons of articles and features to help bring you up to speed on your industry–and for even more access try our free trial.

2. Demonstrate class and candor. If you don’t like something–keep it to yourself until you’ve figured out the key players and how best to communicate it effectively. Presuming you understand why everything is like it is is, well, presumptuous. Speak up and ask lots of questions if you don’t understand something.

So even though you may not have ‘people’ to do your research and help you strategize your next job move, don’t be afraid of change.

Tags: consulting, Employment, industry, Job Search, transitions

It’s Election Day, but Did You Vote?

Today was a big day: Americans went to their polling places and cast votes in a historic election for the man, or woman in the case of the Green party, they believe best suited to run this country of ours. So who’d you vote for? Was it Obama or McCain? Or maybe you went a different direction and voted for the Libertarian candidate, Bob Barr, or maybe the oldie but goody, Ralph Nader? Seriously, how many times has he been on the ticket? Maybe one day, Ralph…

Who ever you chose to vote for, someone is going to be out of a job tomorrow… and need a new one. If your chosen candidate doesn’t win today’s big race, what ever will they do, hm? Well, let’s discuss.

For time’s sake, we’ll just go over the big two: John McCain and Barack Obama. So what could possibly be in store for them next? There are the two most obvious careers for each: law for Obama, military for McCain, and the senate for each. But maybe they want to try something different?

Obama has a lot of past experience in community organization and advocating on behalf of the proletariat. If Obama doesn’t grab enough votes to be our next presidente, I would suggest he check out PublicInterestCrossing.com, DiversityCrossing.com, or EducationCrossing.com. These are just a few of the EmploymentCrossing.com job sites dedicated to finding THE MOST jobs.

Should McCain not succeed in becoming our next Commander-In-Chief, he’s got options, too. His past experiences are rather involved with his military career (MilitaryCrossing.com), but a couple things do stand out: his time as a naval aviator, his time as a POW, and the large number of children (seven) and grandchildren (four) he has– sheesh, that’s a lot. That said, I think McCain could greatly benefit from a free trial to AviationCrossing, CounselingCrossing (using his POW trauma to counsel other vets), and WorkAtHomeCrossing…I’m sure he’d like as much time at home with the grandkiddies as possible!

Just as their backgrounds and experience are diverse, so are the offerings of EmploymentCrossing. Check it out and see what you could do with your life experience.

For those of you who haven’t done your civic duty yet, hurry up before the polls close and happy voting!

Tags: career change, Employment, Job Search, voting

Getting Over the Hump: Answering the Big Question

In honor of ‘Hump Day’, each Wednesday we’re going to single out a ‘hump’ you might have to roll over on your way to sweet career success. The answers aren’t always simple and easy, but hopefully we’ll give you something to marinate on.

So, do you guys remember the “When I Grow Up” segments from Saturday morning cartoons? These were fun little stories that helped kids know what the heck they were saying when they answered The Big Question: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ They always featured a cute little ginger who seemed 100% certain that he wanted to be a veterinarian.

If you’re one of those people who’ve known your career path since you were eight years old (yes, Mr. Redheaded Animal Doctor, I’m talking to you), then congrats. If not, you’re not alone. Lots of people still don’t know what they want they want to be. Or do. Sometimes the best way to figure things out is to learn as much as you can about the industries that interest you. You’re probably a wee bit past the guidance counselor days–so be your own guidance counselor and figure out where you want to go.

At EmploymentCrossing.com, there are over 90 industry-specific websites that allow you to explore all types of jobs. Some of these jobs aren’t really the ‘cool’ jobs that you may have rattled off when answering The Big Question–no one says they want to be an actuary (ActuarialCrossing.com) or a class action attorney (LawCrossing.com) unless they’re Alex P. Keaton. (‘Family Ties’ not ‘Family Guy’). But one of them might be the perfect job for you.

It’s worth a look at our free trial.

Okay, we started off with a big hump for our Hump Day posts. But if you work really hard to refine your answer to The Big Question, a lot of the other career challenges will be a little less daunting.

Tags: career challenges, career path, Employment, Job Search

Need More Green??

To get this blog post rollin’, here’s our starter–a sweet little tidbit from Mr. Quirky himself, famed film director Woody Allen: “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.” Well, duh.

Most certainly a little money is better than no money and a lot is better than a little, and in the current economic tornado, dough is def muy importante. You don’t want to lose any of those fantastic material goods (not to make too light of the situation, you obviously wouldn’t want to be kicked to the curb of your own neighborhood street because your home was foreclosed, either) you’ve acquired in your twenties because you gotta sell them for ramen noodles, do you?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, EmploymentCrossing can help you snag a bigger paycheck! We have this really awesome method of scouring the interwebs and rounding up THOUSANDS of jobs and magically organizing them so you can find what ya want in a snap. Whipya!…that’s my snap noise, btw.

So if you’d like to purchase brand-name TP, instead of the stuff that chafes your naughty bits, you better get a move on with our free trial. Better paying jobs await

Tags: better paying jobs, economy, job board, Job Search