Now that it’s 2012, it’s time to make some resolutions for the upcoming year! In addition to setting goals for a shrinking waistline and giving up the cigarettes, it’s also time to make some resolutions about your career. Last week, Amy wrote about challenging yourself in the new year. Today, I want to talk about some specific goals you can set to start off 2012 on the right foot.

• Resolution #1: Exploring educational options to learn more about your career
  

Whether you like your current field or not, I think a lot of us fall into a pattern of being complacent and just doing a passable job at work with the least effort possible. This isn’t going to help you get a raise or promotion, though, and if you look for a new job in the new year, it isn’t going to give your boss much to say as a reference for you. Consider going back to school for more career education so you can do a better job in your current position, even if it isn’t required. When you’re educated beyond your position, people will start to take notice and you’ll have a better change at advancing in your industry.

• Resolution #2: Taking an interest in the new media world

It doesn’t matter what industry you work in – new media (social media, blogging, etc.) is taking over! You can use social media to find a job, but it goes a lot farther than that. Many employers are interested in seeing social media skills on your resume, and helping your company understand this new frontier in advertising, marketing, product development, and customer service can help you get on the fast track for promotion. You don’t have to be an expert – just take an interest and learn as you go.

• Resolution #3: Checking out some cool jobs

If you aren’t happy in your current job, don’t get stuck in the mindset that you won’t be happy in any job in your industry. There are a lot of really cool jobs out there! Did you know that you can become a crime scene photographer if you want to combine law enforcement and art? Or how about working as a travel writer if you enjoy putting pen to paper and going on vacation for free? There are even clown jobs available for those who want to constantly laugh and have goofy fun on the job, and if you always wanted to drive the zamboni when you were a kid, maybe now’s the time to check out open positions in that field! The bottom line is that there are tons of unique job opportunities out there – you just have to look for them!

Do you have experience in the military? There are some awesome open positions out there, and many companies value the skills you’ve acquired during your training and service. A recent article by CNN Money outlined the best jobs available for former members of the military; here are the top ten:

1. Intelligence Analyst
2. Management Consultant
3. Logistics Analyst
4. Aviation/Aerospace Program Manager
5. Pilot (learn more about becoming a pilot here)
6. FBI Agent
7. Systems Analyst
8. Training and Development Specialist
9. Security Manager
10. Senior Policy Analyst

As you can see, the best positions for former military members are, in most cases, leadership positions. These jobs are often high-paying, and are available at some of the top companies in the world!

If you’re ex-military and looking for a job, here are a few tips:

• Take advantage of all the job hunting resources provided by the military.
• List your military experience on your resume just as you would a civilian job. Just because it isn’t a traditional “job” doesn’t mean it isn’t relevant.
• During your job interview, remember to explain in easy-to-understand terms what you did in the military. Avoid using abbreviation and other terms that civilians may not know.
• Go back to school! Through military programs, you likely qualify for free or discounted tuition.

The job market is tough for everyone, so even if you have military experience, you might find it difficult to get a position. Luckily, new government initiatives will help members of the military and their families find jobs. You can read more about this plan here.

The White House recently published their annual salary report as part of a commitment to transparency while Obama is in the presidency. According to the report, they’ll pay $37 million in salaries in 2011 – which sounds like an enormous number until you realize just how many people actually work in the White House.

The average salary at for a White House worker is $82,000 annually, which is down slightly from 2010. About a third make between $100,000 and $200,000, though a number of workers make under $50,000 annually. Some of Obama’s advisers actually don’t take a salary at all, while others are in the highest pay grade, making $172,200 annually. Among the top earners are the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterrorism, the Chief of Staff, and the Press Secretary.

Though the $37 million in salaries is split between 454 employees, it’s indisputable that these workers still earn a lot of money! Are you interested in earning a White House salary? Here are a few steps to help you get to the White House:

• Go to school. A good education to help your career will make you eligible for jobs that pave the way down Pennsylvania Avenue.
• Work in government positions outside of the White House to gain experience. You can start at the local or state level, but eventually, it helps to gain some experience at the federal level with a government job in Washington.
• Stay out of trouble! If you have a record, it can be next to impossible to hold a government position, especially in the White House.
• Network, network, network. In Washington, it often isn’t about what you know, but who you know, so make an appearance at parties and fundraisers, meet as many other government workers as possible, an keep in touch with your contacts.
• Specialize in your education and experience. It’s easier to find a top-level government job if you have a specialty, such as working in homeland security, rather than just having a general political science degree and bouncing from industry to industry.

James Matthew Barrie said, “Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else. ”

Can you imagine the joy of getting up each day and going to work…but it didn’t feel like work?

It felt like an adventure? A fulfillment of your life’s dream? Or just good ol’ fashioned fun?

Even in these tough economic times, it’s possible to really, truly enjoy your work if you follow your heart. That’s why JobMonkey created a whole new section devoted to cool, unique and unusual jobs. These are the jobs that dreams are made of!

With more than two dozen cool jobs to chose from, you are sure to find something that inspires you to want to do that — over anything else. Here are my favorite five from the list:

Tattoo Artist Jobs
I never knew until reading this how intense the training process was to become a tattoo artist. Did you know that the only truly legitimate way to get trained is to work as an apprentice for three years or longer? Of course, if body art is your life’s dream, those three years will probably fly by!

Avalanche Forecasters
Now this is one seriously unusual job! Every day, avalanche forecasters head into the mountains before sunrise to examine the snow pack. They use shovels, probes, rulers, magnifying glasses, thermometers, and their own personal experience. Their results, broadcast on news reports, email lists and radio spots, help skiers, backpackers, and back-road travelers to stay safe.

Magician Jobs
Talk about a magical job, eh?! Not everyone can be Penn or Teller, but even working as a magician for children’s birthday parties can be a great way to earn extra cash. Other potential venues include restaurants, cruise ships, weddings, bars, company events, and traveling fairs. The average pay rate is $500 – $1,000 per performance.

Studio Glass Blower Jobs
Glass blowing has been around for more than 2,000 years, but today the job is categorized as studio arts. Like most struggling artists, glass blowing doesn’t pay a ton. The average is just $25,000 to $37,500 a year.

Snake Milker Jobs
Okay, this is one seriously insane job! Snake milkers ‘milk’ snakes for their poisonous venom. Your fingers are just millimeters away from the deadly fangs of vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes and others. Why do milkers do this death-defying work? Because snake venom is important for science. It is used in antivenoms and other medications, including for stroke patients and those suffering from malignant tumors! That’s right – not only do snake milkers get the rush of a lifetime every time they go to work, they also get the satisfaction of knowing they are helping to save lives!

Do any of these jobs-that-don’t-feel-like-a-job appeal to you? Have they gotten your creative juices flowing, try to figure out how you can work without feeling chained to the job?

Have you checked out Apple’s new iPad? Coming April 3, it’s been called “magical”, “revolutionary” and “seriously cool”. You can use the iPad to surf the Web, stay in touch with your contacts, keep track of your calendar, listen to your iTunes, browse your photos, watch videos and even read books. Plus, there are hundreds of awesome apps you can download and use — including some seriously useful job-searching applications!

Think an iPad isn’t in your budget? Well, how about winning one?! You could probably afford that! All you have to do is visit the new JobMonkey Facebook Page and click on the Become a Fan button. The drawing will be help on May 14, 2010, but you must have become a fan by the time of the drawing. Don’t put it off, click on over to the JobMonkey Facebook Page right now!

Like this blog, the Facebook Page will give you the inside scoop on job search advice, recommended employers and services, Q&A from our fans & expert editorial staff, work-abroad tips, discount travel tips and more!

On May 14th, we’ll draw for five winners — one who will get a suh-weet iPad, and four more of you who will win $25 Amazon gift certificates to put toward buying your own iPad or a bajillion other gadgets you can buy on Amazon.

What are you waiting for? Become a Facebook fan today!

As you no doubt know by now, shortly before sunset last night, the Caribbean nation of Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake. The epicenter of the 7.0 quake was just 10 miles from Port au Prince, the nation’s capitol and home to 2 million residents. Today and tonight, rescue workers, family members, neighbors and strangers struggled to extract survivors from the rubble of the “flattened” capital city. Government officials say the death toll may exceed 100,000.

The Presidential Palace was destroyed, as was the headquarters of the U.N. mission in Haiti and the national cathedral. There is no electricity. The airport was decimated. The central hospital was badly damaged and clinics are inoperable. Potable water is the next major threat, then food, shelter and medical care. The destruction of infrastructure and the loss of life is staggering. The future needs are unimaginable.

I struggle to turn off the news to get back to work, but am unable to shut off the images. I feel compelled to watch, to try to comprehend the magnitude of the loss. And I feel that burning feel in my gut — to do something, anything. It’s the same feeling I had on 9-11, the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. But what can one person do?

In an interview earlier today,  Special Envoy to Haiti and former U.S. President Bill Clinton made the answer clear: “We’ve got to save lives.” Absolutely! But how do we help with that effort? Again, according to President Clinton, the answer is straight-forward: Send cash. Now. A CNN story from earlier today concurs: “Most organizations are asking for monetary donations. They are not seeking material items, like clothes or food, or volunteers at this time.” See the disaster relief donations page on JobMonkey for several reputable organizations to whom your donation can go.

And there are many other worthy organizations too. Check out these lists of charitable organizations  (here and here),  which have been vetted by CNN journalists for credibility. You also can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to relief efforts in Haiti through the American Red Cross.  Or text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.

How are you planning to respond to the Haitian earthquake? What will you do to help?

Have you seen JobMonkey’s newest section on franchise opportunities? A franchise is a national or regional chain, in which each storefront is owned individually rather than by the national office.

A franchise agreement gives the individual owner (the franchisee) the legal right to sell the franchiser’s products or services.

If you are interested in starting your own business, but would prefer to minimize some of the risk of having to develop your own business plan, the franchise model is a good option — especially during this recession when financing for unproven businesses has all but dried up.

And that’s not just my opinion. The Boston Globe recently ran a profile piece of a number of new Boston-based franchise owners. In listing the benefits of owning a franchise, the article stated that:

Franchises are attractive for some entrepreneurs because they can offer opportunities for those with an appetite for some risk – just not as much as starting an entirely new venture, new owners and industry observers say. Depending on the type of business, franchises offer different levels of training and support.

If you are serious about buying a franchise, there are a few key questions you need to research first:

• Is the home company financially healthy?
• Does the home company it helps franchisees find and develop a location?
• How does a franchisee get inventory and supplies once they are up and running?
• Does the franchisee have control over pricing, or is that determined solely by the franchiser?
• What is the cost of purchasing a franchise? Does the franchisee owe royalties or a percentage of sales on top of the initial cost?
• If a franchisee wants to end the franchise agreement, what is the process?

For more information on opening a franchise, check out this week’s edition of the JobMonkey newsletter, which featured the pros and cons of buying a franchise. (If you don’t currently subscribe to the free weekly newsletter, you can do so here.)

Also, check out this recent article from the Lakeland (FL) Ledger, Own It Yourself: Franchisees Don’t Regret the Decision.

Have you thought about buying a franchise?  What companies have you looked in to?

I just had coffee with an old friend. We see each other pretty frequently, which is probably why some of the things she said struck a sour note for me. "I think we’re going to have to give up health insurance," she said at one point. Then later, "They won’t give me more hours at my job; I’ll have to quit the only job I’ve ever loved."

Ordinarily those kinds of comments would be cause for sympathy, empathy, pity, charity – almost anything except exasperation, which I have to admit is what I felt when I heard them. I do remember feeling the softer emotions when she first raised these points – oh, say six or seven years ago.

The thing I realized over coffee today is that my friend has been struggling with the same issues and career questions for the better part of a decade.

Man, enough already. It’s time to make peace with the situation as it stands, or to make a plan to change it, or to pick up more jobs or … something. But to be sitting on the same problem for several years? That shouldn’t even be a fallback option.

So what did I say to my friend? "Pass me the cream, please." I couldn’t bring myself to challenge her, partly because I’d been down that path before. When I suggest solutions – and honestly, they’re not all lame ideas – she always provides reasons why they won’t work. My conclusion is that she doesn’t really want to solve these problems, or at least that she’s not ready to right now, for reasons she’s not sharing with me.

Fair enough. So my role is not to provide solutions or to challenge my friend, but to give her a chance to express her fears out loud. Done. My other job? To be sure that I’m learning more from this situation than how to bite my tongue. Which, by the way, is not a bad lesson to learn.

Walking home from our coffee date, I decided to take an inventory of my own struggles, to figure out which ones had become companions instead of problems to solve. I hate to admit it, but I think I’ve probably been doing the same thing as my friend, only with a different set of issues.

Excuse me, but it’s time to go do a little spring cleaning in my complaint closet.

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 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 previous month. You can read the whole ADP Report here. Be sure to stay tuned for Friday, when I will let you know how the federal government says we are doing in terms of unemployment.

What do you think? Are you seeing an upswing in the job market out there? Or is it still too soon to tell?