Multiple Jobs - The New Norm?

An emerging phenomenon in today’s economy is the growing number of multiple job holders. While some people work two jobs out of financial necessity, others aim to develop skills in different areas. As noted in an article from Helium.com, sometimes one job will complement the other and produce a stronger skill set. Holding multiple jobs will also create a more diversified resume, offering a competitive edge that will be helpful in today’s job market.
Of course, there are potential downsides to having more than one job. Clocking so many hours can result in fatigue, sleep deprivation, and ultimately burnout. Productivity may suffer. One will also have less time to spend with friends and family, which may increase an already heightened level of stress.
And while some are employed in satisfying jobs, still others are, as referenced by The Wall Street Journal, “Working Two Jobs and Still Underemployed.” In a downturned economy, many who have been laid off have returned to the labor force, only to find themselves underemployed. That is, they hold part-time jobs when they would prefer full-time work, and/or they work in jobs that don’t employ their skills.
As always, we love to hear what our readers think. Do you work more than one job? If so, what are your motivations for doing so? What do you find are the benefits and the detriments to holding multiple jobs?

Social networking – the new job search tool?

According to a recent article from msnbc, marketing company BFG Communications landed a new hire based on a single Twitter post. The post linked back to a blog and mock magazine cover designed by the applicant. Facebook, the popular social networking website, offers many applications to assist in a job search. These include a CareerBuilder application, another for creating online business cards, and one called “Testimonials,” which is used to compile personal, professional, and academic references. Payscale, the owner of the largest database of online employee salary data in the world, is also present on Facebook, providing an immediate and precise snapshot of the job market at any given time. CEC Associates, Inc., has joined in the movement by establishing our own Facebook page, which is geared toward career counseling services. As we have done for more than 25 years, we continue to offer career services, including vocational assessment, counseling, help with résumé preparation, and interview skill enhancement. For employees, the potential downside to social networking is that the line between one’s personal and professional lives is becoming blurred. There have been several reported instances of people being fired for posting negative comments about their jobs on Facebook or for posting improper photos and offensive remarks. The moral of the story: if using a social networking site as a job search tool, and particularly if “friending” one’s co-workers or boss, one must be careful about what personal information is posted online. We would like to hear what our readers think. Have you used a social networking website to assist in your job search? Are traditional paper résumés and cover letters becoming a “thing of the past?” And where does one draw the line between their personal and professional lives in the online world?

A Question for 51% of American Workers

A report on flu by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued in late October 2009 has some sobering facts on flu in America. Seasonal flu reportedly kills about 36,000 Americans, hospitalizes more than 200,000 individuals, and costs the U.S. economy more than $10 billion in lost productivity and direct medical expenses annually. A recent online survey focuses on the workplace. It found: - 69 percent of workers had not received workplace communications about flu policies through September 2009, - 84 percent of workers said the recession creates more pressure to show up for work even if ill, - 80 percent of workers reported they feel knowledgeable about precautions to take if flu were to hit their workplace, - 47 percent of workers said they would still engage in public activities (e.g., bus riding, shopping, etc.) if hit by the flu, and - 49 percent of workers plan to get vaccinated if a vaccine is available. What is so startling about these statistics is that ostensibly 51 percent of American workers do not plan to get vaccinated if a vaccine is available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in late October 2009 that the H1N1 flu has resulted in more than 4,000 deaths nationwide so far this year. (Information and analysis is available from www.factcheck.org.) So our question is, “What do 51 percent of the American workforce know about the vaccine that the rest of us don’t know?” Even though the availability of the vaccine will be greater for those of us who do want it, we are acutely interested in what those who will not take it if available know that we all should know. Please help us to understand this phenomenon. Have you taken the flu vaccine? Why or why not?