Dear JobMonkey, My husband has worked for one of the Big 3 auto manufacturers for the last 14 years. He got his first job out of high school and has worked his way up the ladder. Then in December, he was laid off. He didn’t even get a real severance package. Until September, I had been a stay at home mom to our three kids, but thankfully we saw the writing on the wall and I was able to get a job outside the home. Unfortunately I don’t earn nearly as much as my husband did and I don’t have health insurance benefits with my job. So to say we are struggling would be an understat...

Every Tuesday, we discuss tips and hints for making the most of your job search. We welcome input from our readers and want to hear about your most challenging job hunting issues.  To get a crash course on Career Planning 101, check out JobMonkey’s section on Job Hunting Tools. Whether you are facing a career change or looking for your first job, one of the biggest challenges is writing a resume that truly markets your skills to a potential employer.  If you don’t have a lot of on-the-job experience, or if you want to pursue a career in a new field, then this task becomes even more d...

As promised, Mondays at JobMonkey are now going to be about education and your career. Don’t worry: You probably do not need a Ph.D. to land the job of your dreams; but most professions do require a certain level of education and/or training.  At some jobs, this can take the form of on-the-job training; but for other professions, you will need to show up with a resume that includes course work, a major or even an advanced degree in a specialized field. What all of this means is that no matter where you are at in your career path — from the high school student trying to figure o...

Did you all see that article I posted yesterday from MSNBC.com about how to get a job in the Obama administration?  Whether you are a red voter or a blue one (or none of the above), the salient point of that article still applies: Volunteering and networking are two great ways to get your foot in the door, especially in a hyper- competitive job market. Since we have talked pretty extensively on here about career networking, I thought I would take a look today at the power of volunteering. Now, you may have been motivated to volunteer by your Save the World ideology, but do not let your altrui...

Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) is a rapidly growing field that provides practically limitless opportunities for recent college graduates and other professionals looking to make a career change. In the state of California alone, one in four people is currently learning English as a second language, which makes the state a center for individuals seeking work in bilingual education. If you’d like to learn more about helping people across America and around the world learn English as a second language, start by reading up on career opportunities at JobMonkey’s section on E...