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JobMonkey
Volume X, Issue #14
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Part Time Jobs You Can Do From Home &
How To Ask For a Pay Raise
Who among us doesn't want to earn more money? I know I do! In this edition, check out our spotlight on part-time job options that you can consider to bring in a little extra money in the evenings - and without sacrificing time with your family. If a second job isn't for you, you can also check out the Advice Spot, where we'll talk about how to ask for a raise so you can earn more money in you current job.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) Career Adviser: Learn Little Things - Like CPR
2) Spotlight: Part-Time Jobs From Home
3) How To: Asking For a Pay Raise
4) Hot Jobs from the Job Center
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CAREER ADVISER: Learn Little Things - Like CPR
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by Amy Lindgren
Sometimes in the rush to be certified, accredited, degreed, and just overall employable, we forget to learn the important things, like how to change a tire or bake a cake without a mix. In some ways, we seem to be growing more helpless as a society, even while our literacy rates and degree completions inch upward.
As a job seeker, you may think you don't need to be concerned with the practical aspects of life, as long as you know your profession. In fact, you may be right, at least for a huge number of jobs. The more specialized we become in our professions, the less we need to know about anything else. Until we get laid off, that is - but that's another story.
If you're not in one of those highly-specialized professions, however, or if you'd just like to be a little more self-reliant, now's a good time to pick up a few more practical skills. For example, here are just a few things almost anyone would be better off for knowing:
- CPR and basic first aid
- Basic car maintenance
- Use of simple power tools, such as a drill
- Elementary Spanish, or another broadly spoken language
- Bike repair
- Placing an international call
- Making and editing a video
- Building a dog house
Once you pick up a few of these skills, consider putting some of them on your resume. True, for an accountant, as an example, or a software programmer, they won’t be very impressive to a new employer. But for a tour guide or someone else who could face a dozen surprising problems in a day, these skills could clinch the offer.
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SPOTLIGHT: Part-Time Home Based Jobs
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One of the best ways to make more money in any industry is to take on a part-time job in addition to having a full-time day job. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to become a server or bartender (though these are certainly options). Let's take a look at some other part-time jobs you can consider - and as an added bonus, these are all things you can do from home, so you don't have to sacrifice time with your family to make more money.
At one time, freelance writing meant penning the next Great American Novel or sending submissions to magazines. While these certainly are still ways to earn money as a writer, you can also check out online freelance writing jobs, which are more stable since you'll work on contract rather than just hope that a publisher wants to use your piece. In this type of career, you'll work with clients to create ebooks, blog posts, email newsletters, and other types of web content.
A completely different type of online business you can consider is selling on eBay. With this type of job, you can sell a specific type of product, or you can sell lots of different stuff - whatever makes sense for you. Having a business selling items on eBay isn't just about clearing out your attic (though you can start out this way). Rather, you'll do some research to see what is selling well for higher prices than the amount you can pay for it elsewhere. It's like being an antiques shop or collectibles dealer online.
If you like teaching, online tutoring might be the perfect part-time job for you. This is an especially good job for teachers or others who already have teaching certificates, though not all online tutoring agencies require tutors to be certified.
Want more advice about finding a part-time job you can do from home in the evenings? Check out JobMonkey's Work at Home Guide!
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How To: Ask For a Pay Raise
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A few months ago, we featured some newsletter advice on asking for a raise. In case you missed it, here's some more advice to help you make more money in your current job! This is always an awkward conversation, and no one likes to have it, but if it's been 12 months or longer since your last raise or if you've been taking on more responsibilities and doing an especially good job, you're definitely justified in asking for a higher salary. Check out How to Ask for a Pay Raise on the JobMonkey blog to learn more.
One key to ensuring that you get the pay raise you want is to make sure it is justified. Here are a few tips help you be the type of employee that deserves a pay raise:
- Show up on time (or early). It might be difficult to rush kids out the door to get to the office on time or to battle rush-hour traffic to get to your 5 PM shift, but showing up on time every single day - or even coming in a few minutes early - will definitely not go unnoticed.
- Be a can-do person. You don't want to let others walk all over you, but when you are asked for favors or to take on responsibilities outside your job description, do them with a smile on your face whenever possible.
- Don't wait to be asked to complete a task. The less you have to be supervised, the better. For example, if your boss regularly asks you to make coffee, just start brewing a pot every morning so it's ready when he/she walks in the door.
When you ask for a pay raise, don't be shy about bringing up these points - your boss may have not noticed that you helped Jane with her big project or are picking up Joe's slack every time he's traveling for business. Point out your accomplishments (in a tactful way), and your boss will realize that a pay raise is justified.
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