Looking for a job and feeling like no one is hiring? Good news from our nation’s capital is just around the corner. According to a report released late last week, the federal government is poised to hire 273,000 new workers by the end of 2012. This 41% hiring bump is being necessitated by a combination of factors, including retiring baby boomers, an increased demand in areas such as homeland security, and an influx of Stimulus Bill funds. The agency expecting the largest increase is the Department of Veteran Affairs, which is expected to bring on an additional 48,000 workers over the...

Are you currently looking for a job? Maybe you can’t find a full-time job in your field. Maybe you are a college student need a seasonal job during the summer or over winter break. Have you considered working in retail? Retail jobs are not the most glamorous, nor do they pay top dollars. And the hours aren’t the greatest either (think: nights and weekends). The advantages of a retail job, however, are that they are readily available — yes, even in this economy. And with night or weekend shifts, you will still have plenty of time to go on interviews and send off resumes for...

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last 18 months, you know that our country is in a major recession. What that means for you, whether you are 16 or 66, is that your job is less secure — and a new job is going to be harder to come by. For teenagers looking for a summer job, the pressure is especially intense. There are fewer jobs than normal, and each one is being fought over by a far greater number of applicants. There is some good news in this whole mess: There are a growing number of programs, many of which are funded by the federal government, to aid 14 to 24 year olds ...

Early figures were released today indicating that private sector job loss rose in March to 742,000. Official tallies from the U.S. government will be released at the end of the week (and we’ll be sure to report on them), but the numbers coming out today from the payroll firm ADP indicate that the recession is far from over. Analysts had been predicting that layoffs would slow this month to around 633,000. In February, job losses stood at 706,000, so March’s numbers are a clear climb. I’m geeky enough to whip out the calculator and try to compare apples to apples. In the 28-da...

Yesterday, I delved into the sometimes scary subject of employment background checks and credit reports. You know, the ones that potential employers will likely run on you before making you a job offer. Gone are the days when an employer would half-heartedly check your references. Today, employers are going gangbusters to make sure that they have the best fit for their company… and part of being the best fit means being low-risk. You may be worried that past indiscretions or poor judgment could cost you dearly. What can you do to protect yourself? Here’s a look at some advice from t...

Let’s say you just got back from a stellar interview. You made the perfect impression. Knocked the interview questions out of the park. In short: You killed it, you’re sure of it. The only thing standing between you and the job of your dreams, now, is the dreaded background check. According to some estimates, as many as 40% of job applicants lie or exaggerate about their background on job applications or resumes. That sobering statistic, combined with a rise in on-the-job violence and security concerns in the post 9-11 era, have convinced 9 out of 10 employers that they need to ...

With the ranks of unemployed growing, and the number of available jobs shrinking, many of America’s jobless are considering freelance careers. We have talked about freelancing many times here at the JobMonkey blog, including posts about the benefits and challenges of working for yourself. (Do you read, for example, this recent post about how to avoid Work-at-Home scams?) The Green Bay Press Gazette ran a great little advice column today with tips for freelancers, including ideas for marketing your services, handling the accounting red tape, and making sure you have adequate health ins...

Salon.com ran a great piece this week with advice for teenagers looking for a summer job. The article acknowledges that Yes, it is tougher than ever before to find a summer job if you are a high school or college student. You are suddenly competing with recent college grads and the growing ranks of unemployed workers, whose experience will likely trump your enthusiasm. That doesn’t mean, however, that you throw in the towel and resign yourself to watching soap operas all summer-long. The bottom line: You need to get creative and think like an entrepreneur. If you want an internship wi...

Volunteering has become a popular theme here lately at the JobMonkey blog. The New York Times reported earlier this week on the burgeoning ranks of volunteers in New York City. Laid-off workers are turning in droves to volunteer organizations to help them fill their time and contribute to people in need, while still aggressively looking for a new job. Remember this post from last week about how to volunteer your way into a new job? I’m thinking some of those New York volunteers might be hoping to network, too, while serving up soup or rescuing stray animals. Nothing wrong with that! I...

Apropos to my post yesterday about following your dreams despite the recession, the USA Today just ran a review of a new book about the very same topic. Career Renegade by Jonathan Fields is a guide to teach you how to make money while doing what you love. After you figure out what you want to do (i.e. what you love doing), you have to work out the finances. Fields says you do not need to earn top dollars, but there is no reason that following your heart should leave you destitute. The book is filled with personal vignettes from others who have left the rat race to follow their dreams ̵...