Are you in the market for a new job? You may think that a six-figure job is out of your reach, but according to a Western Michigan news station, there are a growing number of jobs that pay top salaries. There are even plenty of six-figure jobs, the report says, that don’t require an advanced degree — or even any degree for that matter. Making the list were plumbers and pipe fitters, police detectives, ultrasound technicians and court reporters. Also on the list was the job of air traffic controller — which also makes our list for high-paying position. Now, I had no idea th...

Every day I write about cool jobs in the United States and abroad. Sometimes we focus in on seasonal jobs, internships and volunteer placements; other times we look at year-round jobs and life-long careers. But today, I want to hear from you. Tell me, what is your dream job? And are you doing it right now? Leave a note in the comments section — I can’t wait to hear from you. ...

The Labor Department released its unemployment numbers for the month of April today and there is a bit of good news. The pace of layoffs slowed down last month to 539,000 jobs cut. More than half a million jobs probably sounds like bad news, not good (and, for those 539,000 people, it no doubt is). But this is the lowest layoff figure we’ve had in six months. Economists had been predicting that 620,000 jobs would be cut, which makes these numbers sound even more hopeful. The buoying was due in large part to the federal government hiring numerous temporary 2010 Census workers. Unfortun...

Each Thursday, I answer readers’ questions about their job search process. I love hearing from you, so please don’t be shy — send me your questions via email or leave a comment in the section below.  Check out past Reader Mailbags, where we have covered everything from how to find a job at Disney World to how to ask for a raise. Dear JobMonkey, I’m interested in a career in law enforcement. I’m 18 years old and have a clean record — never arrested for a felony and only two speeding tickets. Do I need to get a degree in Criminal Justice from a four-year coll...

The ADP National Employment Report was released yesterday, showing a possible slowing in the number of layoffs during the month of April. For April, the ADP is reporting that 491,000 private sector jobs were loss — no doubt a huge number, but a slowing from the predicted 600,000 plus expected to be lost. It’s also a significant improvement over last month, when the ADP reported a loss of 708,000 jobs. An unofficial gauge of the private labor market, the ADP Report typically comes out a few days before the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports its official unemployment numbers for the ...

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for Hot Jobs! If you are a regular reader of the JobMonkey blog, you know that each Wednesday I post a handful of hot new jobs listed over at the JobMonkey Job Center. Have you visited the Job Center lately? The Job Center features thousands of job openings, in dozens of fields, all updated daily. The best news is that the Center is completely free for job seekers. This week, I am featuring international volunteer jobs, including a community outreach coordinator in Rwanda and a volunteer teacher in Nepal. (Do you get the JobMonkey newsletter...

New career sections keep sprouting up at the JobMonkey. On Monday, I told you about fire fighting jobs and on Tuesday, there were law enforcement jobs. Today we’ve got a whole new section on tree planting jobs. Learn how to launch a career in forestry or find a seasonal tree-planting job in the reforestation industry in the United States and Canada. Learn about reforestation jobs, forestry education jobs, urban forestry and forest firefighting employment opportunities. We also have a new Tree Planting Jobs board, which is a great place to start your search for a new career in forestry. ...

I posted yesterday about the new JobMonkey section about fire fighter jobs. Well, along those lines, we’ve got another brand new section I wanted to draw your attention to, this one on Careers in Law Enforcement. Since 9-11, the number of law enforcement jobs at local, state and federal has increased across the board. The relatively new Department of Homeland Security has also created a bevy of security jobs. Come visit the Law Enforcement section to learn more about all these opportunities — from local patrol officer jobs to federal secret service agent careers. We cover everythin...

Hey, did you catch the newest section over on JobMonkey about becoming a firefighter? We cover the different types of fire rescue jobs, the (very involved) firefighter application and firefighter examination process, the life and schedule of a fire fighter and salary information and job outlook. Do you already know you want to be a fire fighter and just need some help finding the right job for you? Check out our new fire fighter job board.  Our user-friendly database lists thousands of openings around the country. ...

Would you change your travel plans because of swine flu?(online surveys) Folks working in the airline industry are none too pleased with Vice President Joseph Biden, who said on the Today Show on Thursday that he was advising his family members not to fly right now due to the swine flu outbreak. Whether the World Health Organization ends up declaring the virus a full-on pandemic or not, a lot of would-be travelers are getting nervous. What about you? Would you change your travel plans because of the swine flu? ...