Our friends over at HRWorld.com recently posted this article detailing 20 jobs that are (much) better or worse than you think they are. Not only is it funny, but it's got some great insight into jobs you wouldn't normally think of during your New Year, New Job! job search. Here are some highlights from both lists.

#3 from the Top Ten Worst Jobs: Spy.
A sexy spy might make a great Halloween costume, but unless you're seriously ready to dodge real (not plastic) bullets and are willing to sacrifice your identity for a mission no one will ever hear about, enlisting in the CIA to get your kicks isn't a good idea. Officers take a pledge of confidentiality that goes way beyond sharing trade secrets with competitors: Your entire identity is fake, and even if you manage to pull off a blockbuster-worthy performance on your next mission, you won't receive any recognition for it. In addition to jetting off to other parts of the world and keeping your life a secret from friends and family, spies can find themselves in extremely dangerous situations involving prison time, assassins or worse.

#7 from the Top Ten Worst Jobs: Personal Assistant.
Can you imagine what it's like to be Lindsay Lohan's personal assistant? Besides Lindsay's car-chasing escapade involving the mother of her personal assistant just before being arrested for a DUI, the personal assistants of celebrities have likely seen it all. From babysitting to shopping (not always as glamorous as it sounds) to car maintenance, we the daily chores that an assistant has to dignify quickly overwhelm any initial starstruck fantasies.

#6 from the Top Ten Most Overlooked Jobs: Consultant.
Consultants often get to specialize in several different areas, including "working as a speaker, trainer, and writer as well as providing" basic industry information for their clients, according to Job Profiles. If you run your own consulting company or are a partner in a small firm, you may get to dictate your own hours, choose your own projects and work hard to build up a reputable profile in your field as a go-to industry expert. Once you're known around town, other opportunities could open up, like blogging, hosting seminars or even snagging book deals.

#9 from the Top Ten Most Overlooked Jobs: Nanny.
The nanny appears on our list of the most underrated jobs not because it's actually the perfect career, but because many people still don't understand the heavy workload and long hours that nannies face. Thanks to the book-turned-film "The Nanny Diaries," college girls may now understand that getting any old job as a nanny isn't as easy as it sounds. Live-in nannies have it especially hard, as they are required to be arts and crafts experts, tutors, nutritionists, fitness instructors, counselors and more. Depending on their employers, nannies may also find it hard to have a personal life of their own, as last-minute meetings and parties come up, canceling the poor nanny's plans. On an up note, however, The New York Times reports that "as affluent employers have faced growing demands on their own time, many nannies are starting to oversee the parents' lives as diligently as they do (or once did) the children's. And some now say their work has almost as much potential for career development as that of the doctors, lawyers and bankers they work for." So you see, nannies don't just babysit.

Even if you don't want to be a spy or personal assistant, it's good to consider all of your options. Which is why this article is so great - it focuses on 20 jobs that aren't often thought of, but 10 of which (at least) are very viable options to job seekers. A great way to get that cornucopia of jobs sent directly to you is by signing up for The Employment Guide's Job Alerts! Head over to our home page and click "Sign Me Up!". If you've got more questions, head over to our recently updated Job Alerts FAQ page.

What kind of creative jobs are you finding out there?

Jeff Derenthal went live on television to talk about an Employment Guide job fair that was taking place in Tampa this past January 23rd. He shares some great tips for job seekers. Check it out!

Don't forget to check out The Employment Guide®'s Career Advice section for more tips!

And for more on Florida jobs, visit the Tampa and Orlando Employment Guide blogs.

Background story

This fall, I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from The Employment Guide through the American Hotel & Lodging Association. I am now a senior Hospitality Management student at Ashland University, a mid-sized liberal arts school located in Ashland, Ohio. I will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration this December.

It took me awhile to make the decision to major in Hospitality Management. I actually spent a year at a large state school before transferring to Ashland, when I decided on the major. I had always seen the major written in college brochures, and thought it sounded interesting. However, it never seemed like an option. I think that I, like a lot of people, didn't see the hospitality industry as such a great opportunity. There is much more to it than just hotels and restaurants--any business where the primary focus is customer service is in the hospitality industry.

You won't know until you try

Many students fail to take advantage of scholarship opportunities outside of their schools. You can find them by looking at professional organizations within your concentration. I received my scholarship through the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Each state has their own hotel & lodging association which may offer scholarships. Keep in mind that if you don't apply for the scholarship you will never get it. I am by no means a straight-A scholar. I get decent grades and participate in clubs that relate to my major on campus. All I did was fill out a form with my information, and wrote a one page essay on what I can contribute to the hospitality industry. Many scholarships don't receive a large number of applicants. Take the time to apply for them; these organizations want to give out the money. Tuition is way too high to not seek any assistance other than your school's financial aid office.

Hospitality Management as a career path

I've always loved traveling, eating out, and staying at hotels. I think that is where my initial interest in the hospitality industry started. My only employment experience is in the hospitality industry, and I've decided I want to make a career out of it. I can't just sit in an office doing the same thing all day. The industry is fast-paced and always changing, as customer needs change over time. I love managing people, and think it's a great challenge to keep everything running smoothly in the eye of the customer, no matter what things look like behind thing scenes. The hospitality industry can be found all over. You can work in any state, any country, and any city. I performed an internship at a hotel in Denali National Park in Alaska, and it was run by a leading hospitality company, Aramark. The industry is wide open, and there are so many components of it. I feel like if I don't like one aspect of it, I can try something entirely different within the same industry.

Personally, I'm very interested in hotels. Long term I'd like to be the general manager of a large hotel and resort. I'm looking to get a second internship in this summer, preferably with a major hotel company. Upon graduation in December, I'd like to get a job as a manager for one of these companies, hopefully entering a manager training program. I'll check in with some people I've met in the industry and try and use my resources at The Employment Guide.

The Job Fair this past week was a huge success! We had over 1000 professional candidates and the companies that attended couldn't be happier. Just take a look at some of the testimonials we received from some of the companies that attended:

"I have to say this was the best event I've ever attended in the country!"
-- AT Systems

Another testimonial:

Q. What did you like about the event?

A. Quantity & quality of applicants.

Q. What would you change if you could?

A. Nothing - Excellent event!

--Integrity Staffing

More testimonials to come!

Below are pictures of some of the companies that attended our fantastic job fair.




Excellent job Tampa! Our Job fair continues to be one of the greatest job fairs held in Florida! I hope to see you at our next Employment Guide Job Fair coming in the next few months!

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

The Tampa Employment Guide went on air with our own Jeff Derenthal giving tips to job seekers to attend our recent job fair. If you missed seeing us yesterday morning you can view us today right here on the Tampa Job Spot. These tips can be applied at the next job fair if you plan to attend in the next couple months. Remember the following:

• Dress Professionally
• Leave your bad attitudes at the door
• Don't bring you're children to the job fair.

Sadly a few job seekers didn't apply these important concepts which can dramatically reduce your chances of landing a great job. I know job hunting is rather stressful, but it doesn't help you at all if you have an attitude because employers will pick up on this and not consider you for the position.

Wearing jeans, midriff exposing shirts, flip flops, etc. will make it seem like you're not committed to your job search therefore employers will gather the notion that you won't be professional or committed to the position they are offering either.

Do not bring your children. Bringing your children to a job fair is just as bad as bringing them to work. Please find childcare or seek out a responsible baby sitter to watch your children while you're at the job fair. Please job seekers take these tips into consideration to improve your job search.



Please tune in tomorrow to read about how successful our job fair was and to see pictures of some of the companies that attended.

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

200GREAT is in full swing. Resolutions are being kept (for now), bank accounts are being restocked, and your new job is just around the corner. Hopefully you gained some great insight into preparing for a job search and executing it from our Holiday 5 Series, which focused on helping you polish your resume, focusing your search, and, of course, what to wear on interviews and in the work place. Chances are that you may have a position you have to leave for your new one after you've put all that good advice to use. So how do you go about it diplomatically, without burning your bridges? After all, networking is key.

Your first step would be to write a succint exit letter to your supervisor, indicating your departure from the organization, and your projected date of departure. This is usually better known as your two week's notice. Why two weeks? You've been a valuable part to the company, and you'll need to be replaced.

Here's a sample letter to get you started.

Henry Jones
2345 Any Street Drive
Norfolk, VA 23510
757.555.1234

February 16, 2007

Mr. Frank Jones
ABC Company
6789 Springfield Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23523

Dear Mr. Jones,

The purpose of this letter is to give you my resignation as Assistant Store Supervisor. I have accepted the position of Store Manager with the High Tech Market, and my last day of work at ABC Company will be Friday, March 2, 2008.

I have gained valuable experience while working at ABC Company, and appreciate the opportunity to grow in the retail management field.

Sincerely,
Henry Jones

It's important to be polite in your notice, and not to include negative comments. Should you have any negative comments, request an exit interview with your HR Department. This will give you the opportunity to voice any concerns about business practices, pay, and other issues that may have led to your departure and decision to find another job.

It's best not to accept counteroffers should your current employer offer it. You've already made the decision to accept another position, and once you've given your two week's notice, your loyalty could be in question.

Hopefully this will help you enter into your new position under the best circumstances possible, and you'll retain a great resource with your old company in the process.

Stay tuned for part 2 in our New Year, New Job! series next week.

With the past, current and projected future growth of the Cranberry Township area north of Pittsburgh, Dick’s Sporting Goods, with corporate headquarters only a half-hour drive away and over 250 stores nationwide, has agreed to pay $2.2 million dollars over the next 10 years for the naming rights to a new 150 acre outdoor sports complex located in Cranberry adjacent to the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76). The complex will include 3 full size football fields, 5 baseball fields and additional fields for soccer and lacrosse.

Westinghouse announced last year it will build a new corporate headquarters in Cranberry, bringing over 3,000 jobs with it. This is in addition to Cranberry already being one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Pennsylvania due to it’s location at the intersection of I-76, I-79, state Routes 19 and 228 and 20 minute access to downtown Pittsburgh.

If a multi-million dollar traffic improvement program can be approved in the next year or two, Simon Properties, owner of three major malls in the Pittsburgh area, is planning an additional 900,000 square foot retail and office complex almost directly across the road from Westinghouse, bringing a projected 1,000 to 1,500 additional jobs to the area.

As reported in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Dick's Sporting Goods Inc., based in Findlay, reached an agreement with Cranberry officials to pay $2.2 million over the next 10 years for the naming rights to the proposed Graham Park along Rochester Road, Cranberry supervisor John Skorupan said Tuesday. "It's a great initiative," Skorupan said, adding that the township is growing so fast that it needs the new park. The township hopes to begin building the park this spring and have the three football fields ready for the fall season, with baseball and soccer fields available in the spring of 2009. The Cranberry board of supervisors has scheduled a special meeting Thursday to approve the agreement, Skorupan said.

Now the difficult part is deciding on the name…Field of Ah, Er…

Networking--everyone will tell you it's a great way to connect with employers. Yet, I get more questions and complaints from readers about networking than almost any other employment topic. Why is that?

Here's an example. Russ, in Minneapolis, writes:

I am looking for a job. The problem is that I have not the foggiest idea where to network. I am looking for a management position, possibly in manufacturing, but I don't know who to talk to. Do you know of gatherings, clubs or user groups where I could start?

Let's see if we can help Russ--and you--network smarter, and get hired faster. First, Russ should tap the latent value of his existing network. Think about this: If you're, say, 40-years-old with friends dating back to college, you've built up 20 years of "relationship equity" with those people over the years. What a huge asset that is! I suggest you send an e-mail inquiry to everyone you know, like this:

Hi! I hope this e-mail finds you and your family well. Would you do me a quick favor? I'm in the job market, looking for a manufacturing management position, with a company like Caterpillar, Honda or Toro. Who do you know that I should be talking to at those companies, or one like them? If you could send me their name and contact information, I would really appreciate it!

Better still, pick up the phone and call the 20 most-connected people you know and use the above message as your script. Second, Russ should add new people to his network. Start by visiting Hoovers.com, a treasure trove of corporate data. Here, I searched for "manufacturing" under the Industry/Keyword option and found 63 different industries.

I narrowed it to "Construction, Mining & Other Heavy Equipment Manufacturing," which returned 10 company names on the first page, including Deere, Komatsu, and Caterpillar. Clicking on the Caterpillar listing returned such data as what they manufacture, news and financial links, a list of top executives, and the heading, "Latest Caterpillar Jobs." Clicking that jobs link brought up a page of openings nationwide, including one for a Warehouse Associate in St. Paul. Now, Russ wants a management job, so this opening looks unsuitable at first glance.

But here's where Russ--and you--can get creative.

We know that Caterpillar is hiring for a location in St. Paul. Why not connect with an employee there using a service like LinkedIn.com? If you know someone on the "inside," they can tell you of any plans to hire management positions. Your target employer may even create a new position just for you. But you'll never know unless you ask someone who works there.

At LinkedIn.com, I searched for "Caterpillar St. Paul" and found three people listed who work at Caterpillar in St. Paul. Bingo. Here's how to contact these folks by e-mail, according to Jason Alba, author of "I'm On LinkedIn. Now What?" Alba suggests you send them something like this:

Dear Joe,

Sally Smith recommended that I get in touch with you. I'm a manufacturing manager, an area in which Sally said you have a lot of experience. She also said you are very well connected and would know some of the best networking opportunities. Would you have time this week or next for me to treat you to lunch?

There are four key elements in this e-mail, according to Alba:

1) Drop a name (first and last). This has to be real. If Joe contacts Sally, your story must add up, or you're sunk.

2) Give your bio. Don't ask for a job, but do tell who you are and what your field is.

3) Find common ground. Describe how your job search coincides with Joe's interests, and state how Sally recommends Joe as an expert to learn from.

4) Invite them to lunch. "I find the best relationship building is face-to-face, over lunch. You'll have more of their attention this way than if you simply exchange emails," says Alba. Just remember: You invited, so you pay!

So there you have it. Two ways to network smarter: Tap your existing network, and reach out to new people using Hoovers.com and LinkedIn.com. You can get hired either way. Why not try both and find your next job even faster?

Kevin Donlin is creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 11,000 people. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio and others. His free report, The Simple Job Search Manifesto, is found at www.TheSimpleJobSearch.com

Below is the list of companies attending the job fair on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008. This list will be updated periodically as more companies decide to attend the job fair. If you need resume help please click on the resume link in the categories menu. There is also a help article about job fair preparation available on the site.

The job fair will be located at Raymond James Stadium 4201 Dale Mabry Hwy N. Tampa, FL 33607. To enter the Stadium for the job fair into on the Himes Ave side.

Attending Companies:

Mental Healthcare
Franklin Templeton
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
Integrity Staffing Solutions
Keiser University ~ Tampa Campus
Massey Services, Inc.
Metro PCS
Racetrac Petroleum SSC
Strayer University
Volt Workforce Solutions
Hardrock Casino
U.S. Army
A.T. Systems
Aflac
Avon
Walgreens
Middleton
Digital Reception Services
Drivetime
Certificate Associates
Gulf Coast College
DeVry University
USAA
Brinks Home Security
MaryKay
Eco Quest

If you have any suggestions regarding a company you are interested in please post that company in the comments, if you are a company and are interested in attending the job fair email me at samara.bowling [at] employmentguide [dot] com and we will get you a spot at the event.

Happy Hunting Tampa and I hope to see you at the Job Fair!!

Samara Bowling

In other word have you ever been fired. Your answer to this question:

No.

According to Robin Ryan in the book "60 Seconds and you're Hired" you can honestly say no to this question. Regardless of it you were laid off, fired, or chose to quit for whatever reason you were still presented with the option to leave and you chose to leave.

Too many lawsuits have been initiated over this issue. Your former employer would not likely admit to forcing you out Therefore, honestly say "no."

Now that you have the answer to this question you can also apply this information to completing job applications as well.

Happy Hunting Sarasota!

Samara Bowling

Pittsburgh, along with Seattle, St. Louis and Houston were the Monster Local Job Index’s highest growth markets for 2007 in online job postings. Although down from the hot November level, December’s reading was still up 25 points from December of 2006.

"Approximately half of the Index’s decline in December 2007 from November can be attributed to seasonality as employers naturally scale back their hiring activities during the final month of the year,” said Steve Pogorzelski, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Customer Development at Monster Worldwide. “The Index has consistently shown a seasonal slowdown every December since its inception, which is usually followed by a sizable rebound in the months that immediately follow.

For a complete industry by industry run down for Pittsburgh, click here.

The above title is an interview question that almost all job candidates will be asked at their interview. It's best that if you have an upcoming interview then you should prepare a good acceptable answer for the famous "Why did you leave your last job?" question.

Never say anything negative about the job or your employer. In any question that you answer at your interview even if you do hold some sort of grudge with your previous employer do not let that be known. Your potential boss will not want someone negative or "grudge holding" because this to them can interfere with your work abilities, show that you will be incompatible or difficult to work with, and it also can bar you from the job you are seeking completely.

Acceptable answers are:

• Downsizing - "The company was downsizing so that is why I am open for a new opportunity."
• Layoffs - "The company laid of a lot employees do to a financial crisis so that's why I'm available."
• Relocation - "We relocated to explore new job opportunities in the area."
• More Challenge - "I wanted more challenging opportunities with a chance to grow with the company and I could not accomplish this is a small company."

For the rest of the week Sarasota Job Spot will be going over various interview questions and interview related topics so tune in this week to Sarasota Job Spot.

Happy Hunting Sarasota!

Samara Bowling

When attending a job fair do you A) Go there to look around, say hello to employers and friends, get a free soda, and go home still unemployed or B) You go there to get a job? If your answer is "B" then read on to see how to properly prepare for a job fair and leave successfully gaining an interview for a new job.

1. Dress professionally, but remember to wear comfortable shoes. Don't dress for the job you currently have if you have one, but for the job you want. You will have the opportunity to obtain an interview at the job fair so first impressions are essential.

2. Bring at least 30 skillfully written resumes carried in a professional portfolio or brief case. Make sure your resumes are on resume paper and are only one page long. Bring change in case you need to make more copies.

3. Obtain a list of the employers that will be attending the job fair and do your research on the companies. Most companies have websites that you can visit to get a brief overview of what their mission, purpose, and goals are.

4. Prepare a 60 second introduction explaining your skills and what your career objectives are. Practice this small speech before the job fair to perfection.

5. When you arrive to the job fair get a list of all the locations of the companies and choose at least 5 companies of interest. Introduce yourself to these employers with a firm hand shake, eye contact, and a smile. Let them know you are interested in a position with their company, ask questions, get a company business card, and leave them your resume. Don't forget to network with other job candidates at the job fair. This could help you in the long run.

6. You will have a very brief time with each employer so make every minute count. Ask questions that will give you the opportunity to sell yourself. For example ask questions like "What skills and experience are you looking for in a [position title]?" When they answer then go into a statement like "Well, I have experience in...". Have a set of at least 3 targeted questions (ex. daily routine, qualifications they are looking for, programs they use, etc.)

7. After the interview follow up with a thank you letter. If the company recruiter said they are interested in interviewing you get a specific time when they will contact you and if they don't contact you when specified be sure to contact them.

I hope you don't miss out on our job fair in Tampa next Wednesday on January 23rd. For people who are already employed we will also be having business opportunities for you to earn extra income or you can start your own business.

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

At the ribbon cutting ceremony for Medrad’s new manufacturing facility located on the former site of a U.S. Steel sintering plant in Victory Road Business Park, a state Keystone Opportunity Zone, which grants job-creating companies lower business taxes, located in Clinton Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Governor Ed Rendell Said “Medrad will create at least 500 jobs at its new $44.7 million, 120,000-square-foot plant, The plant's 20-acre site is in the Victory Road Business Park which will produce disposable syringes and specialty tubing used in medical imaging procedures. This is an exciting day and an important win for the commonwealth. The company conducted a worldwide search for a location for this plant and the 500 skilled manufacturing jobs it will generate. By choosing Pennsylvania, MEDRAD is sending an important message about the strength of our economy and the quality of our workforce”.

In June 2006, Governor Rendell announced a $4.4 million state investment package to help MEDRAD build its new disposables plant on the former 20-acre U.S. Steel site in the Victory Road Business Park in Clinton Township.

Medrad President and CEO John Friel said “The Saxonburg facility went from groundbreaking to start-up in just 10 months and is critical to meeting the demand for imaging procedures that enable earlier, more accurate, diagnosis and improved treatment. It provides us with needed additional plant capacity in the short term and its phased growth design gives us the capacity to add production lines in the future".

Victory Road Business Park is also home to an Aldi Foods distribution center, R.A.M. Transit Lines, an over the road trucking firm and Castcon Stone, a wholly woman owned precast concrete manufacturer.

MEDRAD is an affiliate of

Bayer AG.

From reading NBC2 News online the job market for Sarasota isn't looking too great. People are losing jobs and looking for new ones for months with no avail. Experts state that retail and restaurant jobs will be strong in 2008 with all the retail locations opening everywhere in Sarasota.

According to the experts:

"You can find a job, it just may not be what you want, or what you are making," said Beth Barger of the Lee County Career and Service Center.

With technology improving each day, jobs using computers or in a computer related field is becoming the norm so computer skills are a must and can help you in the long run within your job search. More and more jobs are using computers such as retail, food, customer service jobs, etc.

The bottom line is if your looking for a job in the new year you need to follow the following steps to make your impression as strong as possible:

• Update and rewrite your resume to work effectively
• Update your computer skills
  
• Brush up on your interviewing skills
• Strengthen the areas in which you are weak in
• Attend Job fairs
• Learn how to stay positive and optimistic
  

If you have a job do your best to be productive, stay at the top of your game, and don't do anything to jeopardize your job because their are plenty of people out there that will love to have your job.

Happy Hunting Sarasota and Good Luck!

Samara Bowling

Ever wonder what it would be like to work at the nation's leading guide to hourly, skilled, part-time and full-time jobs? Here's the answer: The Employment Guide® invites you to take a peek into our little world here in Norfolk, Virginia.

The internet has a seemingly endless list of resources available to job seekers. There are job boards, powerful search engines, and even major companies list available positions directly on their own Web sites. We here at The Employment Guide® like to step our game up, though. That's why we've created the Job Alerts Program. This simple tool is a huge help with your job search.

How does the program work? When you point your browser to EmploymentGuide.com®, you'll find an icon at the top center of the page that says "Job Alerts". All you have to do is enter your e-mail address into the field and click "Sign Me Up!". The best part is that the program is free, and all we ask you for is your e-mail address. From there, just hold down your control button and click on as many industries as you wish to receive information about.

I can only imagine how big of a help this would be in your New Year New Job job search. Things are often so hectic at the beginning of each year, as people are coming fresh out of the holidays, that they don't have the energy or time to devote to their job search all that they should. Signing up for Job Alerts means that those jobs can come to you - straight to your e-mail - saving you a lot of time to focus on polishing your resume and writing killer cover letters. With Job Alerts, finding a job really is as easy as pie.

Have you signed up yet?

Next week I'll be starting the New Year New Job series. What made you decide to make the transition to another job? If you've got a funny story about a job that made your mind up for you, send it to us! It might get featured on the blog in the next few weeks. Click here to e-mail your stories.

As you're making your resolutions for what will surely be known as two-thousand and great, you're likely to start thinking about what you could do to make your professional life work better for you. Whether you're a nurse, an electrician, an IT expert, or a shift manager at your favorite restaurant, there is always room for improvement - nobody is perfect, you know.

Here are some good resolutions that you as a jobseeker should commit to, to keep your work at it's best throughout the New Year!

I will keep my resume updated with the most recent information possible. Revisit your resume every few months to list more recent accomplishments or accolades you may have received in your current position. This will help keep your resume beefed up in the event you make the jump to another position or company.

I will improve my skills. This is especially important if you work in a skilled position, like computer work, painting, designing, or even many trade positions. Take a class - most local universities and community colleges offer trade courses and specific classes that will enhance your skill sets to keep you in high demand.

I will be more involved in my organization. Do you have any large company-wide meetings coming up? Departmental presentation? Throw yourself into the mix, and the limelight, and offer to speak on a topic. Show your employer you have the initiative and drive to be a self-starter, and you're sure to go far in the work place.

I will make sure my organization is a good fit for me. When you're happy and in line with the goals of your organization you want your organization to succeed, so if you're looking for a new position make sure it's with an organization that shares your beliefs and ambitions.

I will network. I can't stress the importance of networking enough. The business world is expansive, but not so much that if you were to burn a bridge somewhere it might not effect you down the line. Everyone you meet is a potential connection and asset.

I will devote at least 15 hours per week to my job search. If you're in the process of searching for a job, cut back on your TV time in the evenings, shorten your lunch break - do whatever you can to give yourself more time to put in those resumes and applications. The more time you spend searching now, the more time you can have later to enjoy job satisfaction and the rewards that come with it.

This is just a start! What are some of your resolutions?

According to the Pennsylvania State Department of Labor and Industry the 7 county Pittsburgh Metro Area created a seasonally adjusted 1,100 new jobs in November. However, over 5,000 fewer people were looking for them, as the unemployment rate dropped from 4.6% to 4.2% which was down from 4.7% one year ago. Over the past year the Pittsburgh Metro job count has increased by 3,000 which translates into a .25% (that’s a ¼ of a point) increase year over year.

Strength in the Pittsburgh area came from the service sector including retail, education and health services, although hospitality saw another overall decrease. The drop in the number of people looking for employment was unexplained in the latest report. Historically it has meant fewer people thought a job search would pay off and partially due to a continued outflow of people living in the metro.