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Turkey Tips for Your First Thanksgiving Away From Home: A College Guide

MonsterCollege — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:36:00 -0800

Well that semester flew by- it's already Thanksgiving and sometimes you just can't make it home for the holidays. If you aren't heading home to your family and you need some advice on your first Thanksgiving out on your own then MonsterCollege's got you covered.

Here are 3 articles and a quiz that can help you have a great time amongst friends, no travel required.

Not sure how to make a feast without spending your rent check? DIY cost-cutting Turkey-Tips!

Want to go big without gaining 5 pounds? 10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving!

Mom always made it look so easy, with this culinary guide you can too!

Finally, think you know Thanksgiving better than most pilgrims? Take the Turkey IQ Quiz and find out!

If you are heading home for Thanksgiving how are you traveling? Take the Poll!

Thanksgiving: Cut Costs, Not Flavor

Kayla Baxter | NursingLink — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:16:00 -0800

The holidays are stressful enough without worrying about money, too. If you're a little tight on cash this season (or just want to save a few bucks!) we've researched the top ways to get the most out of your Thanksgiving feast.

Just because you're saving money doesn't mean that you're losing flavor. In DIY Turkey's case, you're actually adding your own flavors and creating a more delectable bird — and at the same time saving yourself some dough.

A DIY Turkey

Premium heritage turkeys can go for $50 and upwards — sure, they’re organic, sustainably farmed and taste heavenly — but you can make your own delicious gourmet turkey by brining it yourself, for less than half the price and just a little bit more effort.

The steps to a great turkey:

• Comparison-shop at your local markets, and remember, the bigger markets will likely have the best prices. Safeway (also known as Vons, Dominick’s, Jewel-Osco, etc), Costco, Smart & Final are good places to look. Remember that the closer it gets to the actual holiday, the cheaper the bird will be – so this is one of those times when waiting until the last minute works best.

Better yet, use coupons to get a free one! Check your Sunday paper the weekend before and look for the specials in your area.

• Brine your own bird — it isn’t difficult, and the benefits far outweigh the effort: the salt changes the texture of the bird, allowing the white meat to stay moist and delicious until the da. You can find delicious brining recipes and techniques here.

Tip: The single biggest challenge in brining your own bird is finding a place for it in the refrigerator. Try a brining bag instead of a container, which can be found at most supermarkets or home goods stores (Bed Bath and Beyond, for instance, has a great brining bag, that comes with recipes!) that will keep the liquid in place as well as free up refrigerator real estate. You can also brine your bird in a regular cooler outside the refrigerator, creating even more space.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you’re brining your own bird, DO NOT buy a bird that's already been plumped with a salted, seasoned solution, such as a self-basting or kosher bird. Check the label for added salt information.

On the next page: Cheap Tricks->

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Cheap Tricks

• Serve a soup to start. It will give those kitchen lurkers something to snack on (therefore getting them out of your way!) and it has the added bonus of filling up your guests early on, so that your likelihood of turkey leftovers increases. We like butternut squash soup, which can be made from dirt-cheap squash (easily microwaved to soften, then blended with warm spices like nutmeg and clove, salt and pepper.) You can find lots of variations on recipes here.

• Make your own stuffing. With a couple loaves of stale bread and some basic veggies, chicken stock and butter, you can create a delicious stuffing for under $10. Cubing bread can be delegated to the little ones, too, reducing your workload and keeping them occupied! Find recipes here.

• Buy canned or frozen veggies. Canned and frozen vegetables are packaged at the peak of their ripeness, so you get maximum flavor without a lot of prep work. Can you imagine cleaning, trimming and chopping hundreds of fresh green beans for the traditional green bean casserole? You’re easily saving yourself half an hour and at least a few bucks, too. Don’t forget about canned pumpkin, which lends itself easily to pies, soups and casseroles. You might even find canned butternut squash!

• Go to farmer’s markets and small local markets for produce. Fresh herbs are especially great to buy at farmer’s markets; fresh rosemary, sage, and other great Thanksgiving herbs can often be found for under $2 a bunch. Russet and sweet potatoes often go for a bargain, too. Look for what’s in season and you’ll always get a better price than the supermarket.

• Create atmosphere with free outdoor finds. This is another task for the little ones: ask them to create a Thanksgiving centerpiece with whatever is lying around the yard — brightly colored leaves, flowers, pinecones, bark. They’ll stay entertained and out of your hair, and you’ll get an adorable centerpiece made with love.

• Make your own pie crust. This one is so easy, and so worth it. Buying a crust could cost you $5-6 dollars, and they tend to be crumbly, hard and grainy. Making your own crust can be done using just flour, sugar, salt and butter which you likely already have on hand, and produces a crust so light, buttery and flaky, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.

NOTE: The recipe (found here) mandates that you use ice-cold water — it’s the secret to getting the flakiness right! You also don’t need a food processor; you can use the same instrument you mash potatoes with to get the right consistency.

• Send for help! There’s no reason not to ask people to chip in and bring at least a bottle of wine. You can’t be expected to do absolutely everything yourself, so entrust the help of your friends and family and assign dishes out.

10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Nina Kim | AllHealthcare — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0800

Ah, Thanksgiving — a time for family, friends, tradition, and most importantly, deliciously indulgent comfort food. From dinner rolls to stuffing to mashed potatoes and gravy, Americans look forward to this holiday as the quintessential day to feast with no remorse and certainly no counting calories!

But did you know that the average Thanksgiving meal will set you back anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 calories and about 250 grams of fat? Considering the daily recommended total intake is 2,000 calories and 65 grams of fat, this one meal can considerably hurt your chances of looking great at the holiday party.

“A 160 lb. person would have to run at a moderate pace for four hours, swim for five hours or walk 30 miles to burn off a 3,000-calorie Thanksgiving Day meal,” said Dr. Cedric Bryant, the American Council on Exercise’s chief exercise physiologist. “Many people start by snacking throughout the day and that combined with the meal can lead to a total caloric intake of 4,500.”

Instead of committing yourself to an impossible post-Thanksgiving workout, follow our expert tips to make your holiday dinner enjoyable, delicious, and healthy. Your waistline will be happy you did it!

First Tip >>

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Portion Sizes

We’ve all been guilty of our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, so stay cognizant of your portion sizes this Thanksgiving. For any side dish, the general rule of thumb is to have your serving size not exceed the size of your fist (equivalent to ½ cup). For turkey, it’s recommended that you have no more than 3 oz. as a serving, or approximately the size of a deck of cards.

The majority of people will have more than one serving of Thanksgiving items at the table, but always keep a mental tab that a fistful is equivalent to one serving. This mindful eating will save you a lot of “I can’t fit into my jeans” heartache later.

Eat your meal slowly, and really take the time to savor each bite, rather than inhaling everything on your plate. Remember that it takes 15-20 minutes for your brain to process you are full, so take your time! Portion control is also much easier if you use a smaller plate.

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Dinner Rolls

Try making whole wheat dinner rolls instead of using a white bread recipe, and by all means, stay away from that butter! There are tons of other healthier butter substitutes that taste exactly the same, like I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter or just plain old margarine.

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Appetizers

Skip the fatty chips and cheesy dips. Instead, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables. You can pair the vegetables with reduced-fat or fat-free vegetable dips, and fruits don’t need any accompaniment at all!

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Cranberry Sauce

Canned ingredients contain tons of sodium and high-fructose corn syrup, so opt for fresh ingredients when it comes to the cranberry sauce. You can make an easy and delicious cranberry sauce by pureeing frozen, dried, or fresh cranberries in orange juice and water.

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Potatoes

Mashed and baked potatoes can be laden with butter, gravy, sour cream and cheese. Try making scalloped potatoes with a bit of olive oil and nonfat milk for a healthier alternative. Sprinkle a little low-fat cheese on top if you’re feeling adventurous!

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Vegetable Casserole

Vegetable casseroles are always a main staple of Thanksgiving dinner, but they don’t have to be topped with bacon or smothered in full-fat butter and cheese. Instead, use low-fat ingredients like 2% milk cheese and nonfat milk.

For a healthier option, skip the casserole part and just prepare the vegetables in a tasty and healthier sauce, like pesto. You can also roast your vegetables in a little bit of parmesan cheese for a delicious, low-cal treat.

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Stuffing

Stuffing is usually jam-packed with carbs, fat, and calories, but it doesn’t have to be. Try using whole grain wheat bread instead of white bread, and substitute fruit, nuts, vegetables, and a leaner meat for red meat.

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Turkey

You can have a juicy turkey without all the oil and gravy by reducing the cooking time. You can do this by butterflying the turkey, or removing the backbone and flattening the bird before cooking.

To avoid exorbitant calories and fat grams, opt for the lighter meat and avoid the fat-laden skin.

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Desserts

If you must have a taste of all those wonderful autumnal pies, think slivers rather than slices. And those pies should be made with nonfat milk, egg substitutes and sugar substitutes, like Splenda or Equal.

Because sugar substitutes are chemically structured differently than sugar, your dessert might come out different than anticipated (depending on what you’re making). To avoid this, you can use ¾ real sugar and a ¼ sugar substitute, or just use less sugar, and further sweeten your desserts with cinnamon and vanilla instead.

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General Advice

Nonfat and reduced fat ingredients generally taste very similar to the original ingredients, so try to buying the healthier version when choosing cheese, milk, sour cream, and cream.

Egg substitute also works very well for any recipes that require eggs, and the oil can oftentimes be replaced with yogurt, apple sauce, or low-fat sour cream. For sweeteners, try vanilla, cinnamon, or sugar substitutes, like Splenda or Equal.

7 Ways to Make Your Turkey Delicious

Jacky Hayward | Chef's Blade — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:00 -0800

Make your turkey the most delicious ever this year!

When we say turkey, do you think stringy, dry white meat that makes you want to hurl? Well, we hear you. And we're here to change that. We've asked are chef friends, read through all our resources, and scanned the web for the best and latest in turkey tips to bring you seven ways to ensure your turkey actually tastes as good as it looks.

First Tip→

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Choose the Best Bird

A turkey used to just be a turkey. But these days, it's a bit more complicated. There's organic, free-range, natural, kosher, self-basted, heritage, and your traditional ol' "Broad Breasted White" also known as that turkey from the super market. Since you're not looking for a traditional turkey, let's rule out the last one as well as the self-basted varieties, which are just frozen turkeys that have had an ambiguous "flavored liquid" injected into them.

That leaves us with organic, free-range, natural, kosher, and heritage. Organic, free-range, and natural turkeys all taste similarly but are simply raised in slightly different manners. Heritage and kosher birds are the two outliers in terms of taste. Kosher birds undergo a salting process that's akin to brining, but eliminates the effort of your actually having to brine. Heritage turkeys are turkeys raised like your mother's mother used to raise them, as in pre-1920's style. So the birds have smaller breasts and have a richer flavor.

Second Tip→

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Brine for Better Meat

Brining is the process by which you place your uncooked turkey in a salt and water bath from anywhere between a few hours to overnight, depending on the type of salt you use and how much salt is in the bath. Before roasting your turkey, you must rinse your bird. Brining ensures even distribution of flavor and moisture throughout the turkey due to the length of time the bird soaks and the ability of salt to penetrate meat. You must, however, make sure not to brine Kosher turkeys as they have already been treated with salt; if you do, your turkey will be something along the lines of salt with a side of turkey. The other challenge with brining is finding the actual space in your fridge to do it; since it's going to have to be in the bath for a few hours at least, the turkey's temperature cannot dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Third Tip→

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Butter Your Bird

Butter makes everything better. No really. Buttering your bird is one of the easiest ways to moisten up your turkey. You can use unsalted butter, salted butter, or a butter mixture with herbs, lemon, or white wine as well. You should apply the butter mixture all over the surface of the uncooked turkey, including the bottom and underneath the wings and thighs. You may also rub the butter directly onto the meat, underneath the bird's skin. To do this, gently pull up the skin of the turkey and stuff as much butter as you can in between the meat and the skin before you rub the same mixture on the skin. Rubbing butter directly onto the turkey breasts will be particularly helpful in moistening as the butter will penetrate the meat as well as seal moisture in while cooking.

Fourth Tip→

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Inject Flavor, Literally

Worried about your turkey being dry and flavorless? Why not just inject flavor! Usually when you inject flavor, you use a tool that looks a lot like a plastic hypodermic needle but filled with fluids like olive oil, butter, or, for more subtle flavor, lemon or white wine. You insert the needle into the thighs and breasts, which allows the fluid to soak into the meat much more effectively than if you simply spread the liquids across the skin of the bird.

Fifth Tip→

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Cook Your Bird Upside Down

The first time I heard of this technique was when my mother cooked our Thanksgiving turkey for the first time; not knowing which was the "top", she cooked the bird upside down or breast side down, which we only realized when the bird came out and we had to turn the bird over to get to the white meat. What we discovered, however, was the best turkey we had ever eaten, albeit not the best looking turkey there ever was. While roasting the turkey the entire time breast-side isn't going to give you a perfectly crispy and golden turkey on the outside, try roasting it for the first half of the roasting period upside down and then the second half, right side up, to give the skin enough time to brown but also allow the juices to flow via gravity into the breast meat.

Sixth Tip→

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Glaze for a Tasty Finish

Glazes add an extra zing of flavor to your bird as well as crisp up the skin at the end, making your already beautiful bird look even better. Once the turkey is cooked, remove the bird and add the glaze over the turkey and then cook the bird for an additional 10 minutes at 400 degrees, or until the skin starts to brown. You can repeat this process one or two more times depending on how thick you would like the glaze to be.

Seventh Tip→

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Fry, Smoke, or Grill

Less traditional methods, frying, smoking, and grilling turkeys lock in moisture and flavor in ways that traditional roasting cannot. Plus diners and guests will certainly talk about your nontraditional cooking ways. Frying, smoking, and grilling however do require extra equipment that you may or may not have, so this is most certainly a plan-ahead option.

Photo by Cygnus921 via Creative Commons

Bonus Tip→

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Bonus: Don't Make a Turkey

So, we get it. This isn't exactly the best way to cook a turkey as it doesn't even involve a turkey. But really, just because it's Thanksgiving doesn't mean you have to make turkey, or even meat for that matter. There are plenty of fowl and other meats as well as meaty vegetables that make delicious and wonderful centerpieces. Think coq au vin or ham or pheasant or a vegetarian turducken. Really, the possibilities are endless.

Don't Miss This Great Related Content!

Quiz: What's Your Turkey IQ?

More Students to Drive home for Thanksgiving

South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:24:00 -0800

Nov. 19--More Americans will take to the roads but fewer to the skies this Thanksgiving, as travelers control spending amid tough economic times, automotive and travel group AAA predicted Wednesday.

AAA forecast that 38.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the holiday, up 1.4 percent from last year. About 86 percent will drive, up slightly, thanks to lower gas prices this year. But only 6 percent will fly, down sharply because of concerns over airfares, reduced airline capacity and added fees, the group said.

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Last year, Thanksgiving travel plunged 25.2 percent during the depth of the housing and financial crisis. This year's small gain reflects improved consumer confidence from a year ago, better stock market performance and a growing sense for many Americans that the worst of the global economic crisis is behind us, AAA said.

"Although far too many Americans remain unemployed or under other financial stress, AAA's projected increase in Thanksgiving travel.. is another hopeful sign that economic conditions are stabilizing and improving in some areas," AAA's director of Travel Services, Glen MacDonell, said in a statement.

Air travel will be hit hardest, continuing a decade-long trend, AAA said. Since 2000, the number of Americans traveling by air during Thanksgiving has plummeted 62 percent. Recession plays a role, but Americans also are put off by stricter airport security, more frequent flight delays, reduced capacity, added surcharges and higher fees, the group said.

AAA figures the average household will spend $718 on its Thanksgiving trip this year, including 32 percent for transport, 21 percent for food and beverage and just 16 percent for accommodation. Thanksgiving is not a peak time for hotels, compared to Christmas or Easter holidays.

Poll: How Will You Get Home for Thanksgiving?

15 Signs Your Workplace Is Dysfunctional

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:17:29 -0800

8 Money Saving Tips from the Great Depression

MonsterCollege — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:47:00 -0800

The economy is sour and we have yet to see signs of the recovery in our own lives, but there’s no need to hoard every penny you’ve got and live in fear. Why? We’ve been through bad times before. And we didn't just survive — we emerged even stronger and smarter than before. When? The Great Depression of the 1930s, for example!

Even with unemployment hitting 25% (imagine a fourth of your friends and family out of work!), people in the 30s managed to stay afloat, pay their bills, and even have some fun. Sounds impossible? It's not. We just need to re-remember what we forgot. Here are eight ways — big and small — your grandparents kept things together that you can use too!

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Learn how to love used stuff

Instead of buying a brand-new sofa, TV, or car, check out online resources like Craigslist or Ebay for nearly-new big-ticket items. We know you’d rather buy new, but just think about how much money you can save if you buy something that’s just a year old. By putting up with a tiny bit of wear and tear you can save up to thousands of dollars. After all, cars lose a huge amount of their value the second they’re driven off the lot. And do you need the absolute latest TV model? Let some other sucker pay a premium for the most cutting-edge toy and put that money into a savings account instead!

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Stay realistic

We hate to say it, but it could be that things just aren’t going to get better any time soon. While an optimistic attitude is key, put that can-do spirit towards making do with things as they are, not how you hope they’ll be. If you make penny-pinching a habit, it becomes second nature, leaving you to enjoy life to the fullest without worrying about the next disaster. By approaching your finances with a realistic attitude, you’ll be able to weather changes with grace and style.

Next: Get Your Hands Dirty →

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Turn down the thermostat

Ever have your grandmother tell you to put a sweater on? That’s because the lady really knew what she was talking about. Give up the idea that your house is always going to be toasty-warm in the winter and refreshingly chill in the summer. By learning to live with a more moderate amount of artificial temperature regulation, you’ll be saving lots of money in the long run and be doing a great deed for the planet. Don’t forget to put this into practice in the car, too! Running the air conditioning at full blast noticeably lowers your mileage.

Get back to gardening

From Depression-era kitchen gardens to WWII Victory gardens, Americans have always gotten through tough times with green thumbs. By growing certain fruits and vegetables yourself you can save yourself a bundle at the grocery store and provide your family with super-tasty and ultra-fresh produce. Don’t have a lot of space? Don’t worry! You can grow a little herb garden in a window box, a planter, or even just a pot in your home. And gardening can help you with another money-saving tip you really should be using — eating out as rarely as possible. Even take-out can add up! Cooking for yourself is tasty and fun.

Don’t buy things you just want

Yeah, yeah, this one sounds like a bit of a no-brainer, but it’s time to start evaluating which things you really need and which ones you just want. We’ve been conditioned by decades of wall-to-wall, 24/7 advertising to believe we require the newest, the fanciest, and the shiniest anything you can think of. How many of these must-have toys are just collecting dust right now? Try to imagine a world without ads telling you what you need. Listen to your common sense and see if you notice a change. You’ll probably find you can make do with what you already have or buy smaller amounts of cheaper things. Do you think that on your deathbed you’ll wish you’d bought more designer clothing or faster cars? No, we didn’t think so either.

Be open to relocating

We're not talking about riding the rails like a Depression-era hobo, of course. We’re just saying that job growth tends to be concentrated in certain areas, and if you’re serious about getting a new or better job you may want to consider moving to an area with more opportunities. Like a modern-day Joad family, only not as depressing. People that stay mobile are more able to pick up jobs where they’re growing fastest rather than having to scramble for scarce jobs in a depressed part of the country. With a little research, you might find a region that’s booming and attractive to you and your family. And who knows — it could be an adventure!

Next: Do It Yourself! →

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Do it yourself!

People in the Depression learned this one quickly: don’t pay somebody else to do what you can do yourself. Your time is valuable, but in rough times so is your paycheck. And we’re not just talking about obvious services like gardeners or maids. How many of you pay someone else to change your oil? Or to roast your chicken for you? Or deliver your groceries? Sit down with your family and see how much of your lives you can take over for yourselves. And, don’t forget, children can be a helpful work force with the right rewards and motivations!

Find lots of ways to make money

To follow up on our “Do it yourself” tip, don’t think of your day job as the only way you’ve got to make money. Putting your talents to work part-time is a smart way to make money, and possibly a stepping stone to a lucrative entrepreneurial career. Great cook? Try selling your delicious cakes and cookies to family and friends. Got some extra time on your hands? Run errands for cash. You’d be surprised what you can do. Just make sure you’re not running afoul of any local laws (particularly if you’re selling food) and the sky’s the limit!

Got some money-saving tips of your own? Share what you’ve learned!

Find internships for college students on MonsterCollege!

3 Ways Green Companies Can Clean Up Their Hiring Processes

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:57:00 -0800

As companies emerge from recession-induced hibernation, shake off hiring freezes, and start to cautiously advertise job openings again, they're finding an entirely different landscape than when they did their last round of recruiting.

The holy grail for jobseekers? A meaningful, green job.

Many factors have swirled together to create this phenomenon: unemployment rates around 9.5 percent; buzz about green jobs has caused everyone to see opportunity and want to get in; venture funding is moving increasingly towards green tech, cleantech, and other enviro-initiatives; and stimulus money being promised for green companies and green jobs training.

With all the hope tacked on to green companies and jobs, the stakes are high for green companies that blunder. The green world is still relatively small and vigilant, and word travels fast if companies are struggling, laying off, not living up to environmental goals and promises, or faltering in any other way. What's more, people equate "environmental" with "ethical," "responsible," "triple-bottom line" and lots of other warm and fuzzy adjectives, so they expect these companies to be extra nice and thorough in the hiring process.

1. The Mountain of Resumes

The problem: Jobseekers who've been haunting job boards for months have started to dive on any vacancy that they come across. Companies are seeing floods of barely-if-at-all qualified resumes come through and have found themselves trying to tackle the hiring process when they're still hesitant about hiring, understaffed in their HR and other departments, and with vastly reduced recruiting budgets.

The outcome: Increased time spent on reading through resumes, decreased percentage of quality applicants, and a strain on those in charge of the hiring process (HR and recruiters). Those who are high-quality, relevant candidates are wondering why they're never contacted and start to form negative perceptions of the company. More people call up demanding to know what's happened to their resume. Lots of time and energy is wasted.

Solutions:

• Write a tighter job description that gets into the nitty-gritty specifics of what a candidate has to have done (not "could do") in order to qualify for an interview. Some applicant tracking systems allow you to create these applications online and will sort the responses according to whether the job seeker fits your description -- this will automatically sort the "best fits" to the top where you can read them and get back to them promptly.
• Require more documents for your application -- such as a cover letter, two writing samples and a resume, or a couple mini-essay questions built into your website application. Creating a slightly higher bar will make jobseekers reconsider as they "spam out" their resume -- and as people are asked to communicate why they're a good fit for the specific job, they'll make your determination easier as you read through their application.
• Encourage employees to use their networks to get referrals. A lot of companies are hiring quietly right now without posting a public job description simply due to lack of time and money to put toward a full-blown process.
• Hire a third-party recruiter to read through all the resumes and present you with the strongest fits.

2. The Lack of Communication

The problem: We often joke with our candidates that applying for jobs online seems like dropping a resume into a black hole -- unfortunately, this joke has lost some humor in recent months as the majority of our candidates say they have 10+ applications out that they've never heard any indication on.

The outcome: Again, bitterness. Candidates pin the unresponsive company as lacking humanity or basic etiquette and spread that impression. They won't apply for positions in the future because they feel like their application is falling on deaf ears.

Solutions:

• Reject people, early and often. After meeting lots of folks who've told us they applied online for one of our positions and never heard back, we've started a strict policy of rejection when we don't see a fit for a role. We go through every few weeks or month and shoot a batch note to the candidates we've reviewed and deemed not a fit to let them know that their qualifications aren't quite right. You wouldn't believe how appreciative people are to just know what their status is -- they often thank us for rejecting them. If they're talented and just not right for this role, they're more likely to keep applying for other positions because they know it's a dialogue and not a black hole.
• If you don't want to send a note every few weeks, at least send a blast to all applicants when the position has been filled to close the loop.
• For less personalized updates, have your CEO or someone in the company write the occasional blog post on the state of the hiring process, whatever it may be -- still looking, reviewing applications, rethinking the role.

3. Dragging Out the Hiring Process

The problem: Candidates are telling us that they've been through five, six, seven rounds of interviews with an organization before being told they're not the right fit -- or worse, a couple have simply just never heard back from the company after such extended dialogue.

The outcome: We know that companies are unsure of budgets and anxious to actually take a step towards growing out their teams, but the risks of these messy processes are serious. Candidates get very emotionally tied up in the prospect of potentially getting an offer, and the more they get to know everyone in the office, they more angry and hurt they are when after several months of interviewing, they're turned down or told the company has decided not to fill the position. Your champions -- people so passionate about your company that they wanted to work for you -- may now perceive your company as disorganized and unclear on goals. Word from the disenchanted interviewee spreads, and the negative effects on brand can be serious. You may also inadvertently lose great candidates because you can't get your act together -- and it will take time and resources to woo them back after they have a bad experience.

The solution:

• Figure out if you are in a place to hire. Then check twice. Do you have the money for salary? Is it a priority for the company, or do you just want to see who's out there?
• Sit down with your team ahead of time and carefully design the metrics against which you'll measure candidates.
• Clearly define the hiring process--who candidates will talk to, for how long, in what context, and in what order. Set deadlines, and do your best to meet them.

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College Freshman Makes Triumphant Return To High School

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:02:44 -0800

5 Best (and Worst!) Things About Moving Back in with Your Parents

Excelle — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:34:00 -0800

Sweet? Not always...
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By Juliet Perrachon | Excelle

So you’ve just been laid off. Or maybe you're a recent graduate who hasn't found an entry-level job yet.

As if joblessness weren’t enough of a blow to your self-esteem, you find yourself with no other choice but to move back home – back to the place you thought you'd managed to escape from forever.

Let’s be honest, moving back home is nothing to brag about, especially if you've been independent for a while.

But you take the good with the bad. And there's plenty of both.

Here are the best – and worst! – things about moving back in with the 'rents.

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#1 Best: The Price is Right

This one is a no brainer. It’s probably the reason you moved home in the first place (and if it’s not, what's wrong with you?). Not only is living at home rent-free (at least we hope!), but the perks tend to be hard to turn down. Need to borrow $20? Most of the time, parents can't resist lending a hand.

So when it all gets to be a little too much, think about how much money you're saving. Even if you've been asked to chip in a few hundred dollars a month, it's a whole lot better than spiraling debt.

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#2 Best: Roommates—Better the Devil You Know

We've all endured a horrible roommate experience at one point or another. Remember that uncomfortable feeling of not wanting to return to your dorm or apartment for fear of seeing your roommate who's been hogging your food, trashing the place, or letting her terrifying drug-addict boyfriend all but move in? Not fun.

At least at home, you know what you’re getting yourself into. You’ve known these people your whole life. They may trash your bathroom and steal your clothes, but yelling at them is perfectly acceptable. Moving home is also a chance to reconnect with your family members as an adult.

You may be spending a little too much time with them right now, but when you do move out, you'll be happy you had this quality time to ground yourself.

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#3 Best: Housekeeping? My Mom Does It All!

We’ve all gone through that messy college phase. And perhaps that phase is not quite over? For me, moving back home has brought it back, full force. Why? Because mom does all the cleaning and laundry (lucky me!). She roams the hallways armed with Windex and the laundry bag to make sure everything is spick and span.

Admittedly, she's a little intense about the cleanliness. But I'd rather have that than a disgusting pile of dishes or a roach-infested kitchen.

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#4: Best: Mom’s Home Cooking

We’ve all craved for that home cooking when far away. Nothing feels more comforting than the aroma of a pot roast simmering in a garlic wine sauce. Well guess what – now I get that every day. And if you’re lucky (like I am), not only is it delicious and free, but it’s also healthy!

Coming home is a chance to start eating right and getting back in shape. No more binging on pizza every night while watching "So You Think You Can Dance" — instead, it's a sit-down dinner with the fam. Sure, it might get a tad bit annoying as arguments erupt over everything from politics to cleaning the closets, but it sure beats lonely dinners on the couch.

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#5 Best: A 24/7 Support System

Speaking of lonely... In college, you were surrounded by your dorm mates. But when you graduated and moved into a little studio in New York City or LA, it was a whole different story.

Move back home and you can kiss loneliness goodbye. Your support system is always there, whether you want it or not (and trust me, sometimes I don't!). Your mom's nagging might be annoying at times, but enjoy it while you have it. These people love you and will support you no matter what. Maybe home is sweet after all.

And the Worst →

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#1: Worst: Community Living = Zero Privacy

Ah--the romanticized notion of living "en famille." It’s all fine and dandy when your family does things for you, but what about when you have to do things for them? You just got used to your independence, and suddenly you're coerced into contributing to the family? Did my mom just ask me to do chores? I'd forgotten about those!

Pick up your sister here, buy milk there, drop this letter off on your way to wherever it is you're going... the list is endless! What ever happened to me time? Even showers -- which should guarantee at least a little alone time -- don’t when your siblings are pounding on the door demanding urgent use of the bathroom.

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#2 Worst: Regression

Moving back home can undo all those years of personal growth — at least temporarily. No matter how old you are, you'll always be your parents' baby. And if your parents are anything like mine, you'll be expected to report to them on your whereabouts. Suddenly you find yourself in the same vicious pattern of immaturity you haven't been in since high school. Lashing out on your parents after you thought you’d finally reached a mature and civilized relationship with them? Yikes! Parts of your personality that you thought were deeply buried may now be resurfacing.

Soon enough you'll be on your own again, and your grown-up self will come back. But in the meantime, get used to being 24 going on 14.

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#3 Worst: Sibling Rivalry Resurfaces

You thought you were passed fighting with your siblings? That's kid stuff, right? Wrong. Your annoying siblings are back and the nightmare continues – but worse. Now the little brother whom you used to bully is bigger, taller, and much stronger than you are. The little sister, who was the cutest little baby, is now an angst-ridden teenager.

Pretty soon, you find yourself throwing cake in your brother’s face. You know you don’t actually care (it was a petty argument!), but you fight for the sake of fighting. Welcome home.

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#4 Worst: You Lose Control over the Remote Control

Remember the good old days when you could come home after work and just veg out in front of TV watching your favorite show? Not anymore!

Your father probably refuses to miss his CNN nightly report, your mother insists on watching her Masterpiece theatre program, and your sister is obsessed with “Gossip Girl.” There goes your must-see TV. Here's hoping it's on Hulu!

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#5: Worst: Dating Might Be on Hold Until You Move Out

You can probably kiss your dating life goodbye. Despite having to report your whereabouts to your parents while trying to seduce someone (embarrassing!), quite honestly living at home is just not sexy. If you’re really unlucky, you might even have meddling parents or siblings who grab your phone and respond to all incoming text messages. I don't know about you, but my overprotective brother and father seem hell-bent on keeping my romantic interests away. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in the Middle Ages—and it's not picturesque.

Turned off by moving back home? It's not ideal but it won't be the worst thing that ever happened to you. And you will move out at some point. So take it for what it's worth and enjoy the perks. Pretty soon, you'll be out in the world on your own again, longing for the restful, rent-free days of yore.

Find Internships for College Students

Living with your parents? Take the poll!

15 Companies Hiring Now

Excelle — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Times are tough.

And these days, it seems like everyone is looking for an entry-level job. But don't be discouraged by all the depressing news.

Work smarter not harder. How? You just need to know where to look.

Luckily, MonsterCollege's done the research for you. We've identified fifteen companies that are hiring near you -- even now! Read the descriptions then click on the links at the bottom to apply!

FIRST COMPANY

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Brown-Forman Corporation

Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Sonoma-Cutrer, Korbel and 31 other alcohol brands

Brown-Forman employs 4,440 people worldwide with about 1,300 located in Louisville. Brown-Forman, one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies and among the top 10 largest global spirits companies, sells its brands in more than 135 countries and has offices in cities across the globe. In all, Brown-Forman has more than 35 brands in its portfolio of wines and spirits.

Industry: Wine and Spirits

Corporate Offices: Louisville, Kentucky

Other Major Office Branches: North American branches include Versailles, KY; Braintree, MA; Dallas, TX; Lebanon, TN; Lynchburg, TN; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Hopland, CA; Newport Beach, CA; San Rafael, CA and Windsor, CA

How They've Handled the Recession: There hasn't been much of a hit to Brown-Forman and its brands. Last quarter sales jumped 4.6%, posted higher earnings, and raised its fiscal year earnings. In a Reuters report, chief executive Paul Varga said “Thus far we are doing fine. These results also reinforce our belief that premium wines and spirits are an affordable luxury in both good times and bad.”

Working at Brown-Forman: At Brown-Forman, we focus on developing the people who build our brands. We begin by recruiting and hiring people of the highest quality and character and then help these talented people grow through formalized professional development programs, such as our award-winning Brand Building University. Less formal training, such as peer-to-peer coaching and our mentoring program, reinforces our guiding philosophy to constantly encourage and enable our employees to grow, learn, and realize their full potential.

Career Opportunities at Brown-Forman

NEXT COMPANY

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Kraft

Cool Whip, DiGiorno, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Oscar Mayer, Maxwell House, Nabisco, Planters, Ritz, and over a hundred more

Kraft has approximately 103,000 employees worldwide and more than 180 manufacturing and processing
facilities worldwide.

Industry: Food and Beverage

Corporate Offices: Global Corporate Headquarters in Northfield, Illinois

Other Major Office Branches: Glenview, Illinois; East Hanover, New Jersey; Madison, Wisconsin; Tarrytown, New York

How They've Handled the Recession: Kraft products are present in more than 99% of U.S. households, and even in a recession, that type of figure isn't likely to change. More now than ever, people are turning to convenient and affordable groceries, over the previously fashionable organic and high-cost foods. The Business Mirror reports, "Sales of Kraft’s boxed mac-and-cheese rose to $193.1 million in the first quarter, 10 percent over the previous year, according to Information Resources Inc., a Chicago-based market-data company." Economist also cite Kraft's cutting of food costs, rather than increasing prices like their competitors, as driving more sales for the company.

Working at Kraft: Each location offers extensive convenience services, including fitness facilities, banking centers, on-site dining, on-site dry cleaning, some office locations even have car oil changing services. Also, all sites observe an "appropriate attire" policy, enabling employees to choose to wear traditional business attire or less formal alternatives.

Career Opportunities at Kraft

NEXT COMPANY

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Philip-Morris

Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Merit, Parliament, and 14 other cigarette brands

PM USA has five regional sales offices, 22 sectional sales offices and a field sales force of approximately 2,700 employees located throughout the U.S. and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Industry: Tobacco Products

Corporate Offices: Richmond, Virginia

Other Major Office Branches: Cabarrus County, North Carolina and 22 Sales offices across the country including Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Seattle, Washington; Bedminster, NJ; Mandeville, Louisiana; Berwyn, PA; Tampa, FL; Milford, OH; Wixom, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Chicago, IL; Overland Park, KS; Denver, CO; Pleasanton, CA; Los Angeles, CA

How They've Handled the Recession: Hermann Waldemer, chief financial officer at Philip Morris International, calls the tobacco industry "very recession-resilient." People are willing to sacrifice a lot of luxuries during tough times, but most have a hard time cutting back on this vice. Shares of Philip Morris have fallen nearly 30% from the year’s highs, but continue to outperform the S&P 500. On December 8th, the The Montley Fool, put PMI on the top of the list "5-Star Stocks Poised to Pop." Plus, the foreign demand for cigarettes remains strong, keeping the bottom line afloat.

Working at Philip-Morris: For three years in a row, BusinessWeek put PM USA in its list of the 50 best places to launch a career. PM USA jumped 11 spots to No. 32 in the 2008 rankings. Richmond Magazine named PM USA to its annual "Great Places to Work" list in November 2007. The magazine featured various company benefits and amenities, while highlighting "an average tenure of 17 years for salaried and hourly employees and a one-year retention rate of 97 percent in 2006."

Find Career Opportunities at Philip-Morris:

CantBeatTheExperience.com

PMI Career Opportunities Search Page

NEXT COMPANY

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Abbott Labs

15 popular prescriptions, 15 popular medical products, 9 nutritional products including Ensure, Pedialyte and ZonePerfect

Abbot Labs is a 120+ year-old company. They employee 68,000 people worldwide and have more than 100 facilities worldwide. Their products are sold in more than 130 countries.

Industry: Pharmaceutical Health Care

Corporate Offices: North suburban Chicago, Illinois

Other Major Office Branches: Parsippany, New Jersey; Worcester, Massachusetts; Ludwigshafen, Germany

How They've Handled the Recession: Medical care is an essential area for people to spend money in, regardless of a downturn in the economy. People will still get their prescriptions, hospitals will still need equipment, sick kids will still need Pedialyte. "Our products are the kind that people rely on and need, regardless of economic conditions," CEO Miles White says. Furthermore, Abbot Labs' products are sold internationally. USA Today reports, "Abbott's third-quarter sales this year soared 18% to $7.5 billion, boosted by autoimmune disorder drug Humira and drug-coated metal stents for heart-related surgery. About half of Abbott's third-quarter sales were international."

Working at Abbot Labs:

Abbott has been named to DiversityInc magazine's annual "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" list for the fifth consecutive year.

Named one of America's Most Admired Companies every year since 1984 by Fortune magazine

Ranked 96 on "The Fortune 500" list of the largest U.S. based corporations (based on 2007 earnings)

Ranked 167 on the Forbes 2000 list (based on 2007 figures)

Ranked No. 23 in 2007 ranking of world's 100 most respected companies by Barron's

Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Listed among world leaders in economic, environmental and social performance four straight years (2005-2008)

Career Opportunities at Abbott Labs

NEXT COMPANY

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Home Away

HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, OwnersDirect.co.uk, FeWo-direkt.de and Abritel.fr.

The HomeAway website has more than 122,000 vacation rental homes, condos, guesthouses, cottages, and cabins in 118 countries. Travelers can search vacation rental listings for free and find accommodations by the night, week or month. For calendar availability and reservations, HomeAway.com directly connects travelers with private homeowners and property managers who know their vacation homes best. Property owners who rent their vacation homes can gain valuable marketing exposure by listing their property on the website for an annual fee. HomeAway is No. 1 in the online vacation-rental sector — a $48 billion market in the USA and Europe, according to research firms PhoCusWright and Illuminas.

Industry: Travel and Hospitality

Corporate Offices: Austin, TX

Other Major Office Branches: New York, NY; London and Ashtead, Surrey in England; Kassel, Germany; Marseilles, France.

How They've Handled the Recession: HomeAway.com's service is attractive for both home renters and property owners and managers, especially in a credit-crunch and mortgage crisis. Property owners and managers that would sell their vacation homes under normal economic circumstances now are stuck with their space. Utilizing a site like HomeAway.com, they can now rent or lease their travel homes to interested travelers for cheaper than the cost of a hotel. This business model has proved profitable with sales up 58% over 2007. Keeping their sights ambitious, HomeAway is aiming for annual revenue of $500 million within five years.

Working at HomeAway: The company cites one of its strongest selling points to potential employees as its awesome location in Austin, TX. Austin was ranked in CNN Money's Top 100 Places to Live."

Career Opportunities at HomeAway

NEXT COMPANY

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Costco Wholesale

Costco Warehouses: 400 locations in 40 U.S. States

Costco Wholesale is a multi-billion dollar global retailer with 526 warehouse club operations in eight countries. Membership sales jobs and marketing jobs abound. They employ 104,000 full and part-time workers in the U.S.

Industry: Supplies and Goods Warehouse

Corporate Offices: Issaquah, Washington.

Other Major Office Branches: Regional offices located in each warehouse in 40 States

How They've Handled the Recession: At the end of their fiscal year on August 30, 2008, they made $72.5 billion in revenue. By selling things in bulk at discounted prices, Costco is the go-to store for small to medium size business and individuals that have lots of mouths to feed and clean after. But the bargains come at a price: businesses and people become members to shop at Costco and must pay $50 - $100 a piece. And although stock prices dropped steadily through September and October, the company is on the rise again in November and December. With office supply chains like Office Depot and technology stores like Circuit City closing shop, Costco will remain (with Wal-Mart) a discount-retail leader.

Working at Costco: Costco's career site asserts "Today, we have accountants, lawyers, buyers, and human resources personnel who began their careers as stockers or cashiers in our locations. We believe that Costco's future officers are currently working in our warehouses, depots, and business centers, as well as in our Home and Regional Offices." Costco was named by Washington CEO Magazine as one of the top three companies to work for in the state of Washington. According to an MSN Money report "(Employees) are paid well and enjoy generous health-care benefits."

To find a job at Costco, look for warehouse in your area. Each one has a regional office and "Most of them are located near or inside a Costco warehouse for additional convenience" according to the Costco Employment website.

Career Opportunities at CostCo:

Costco Career Homepage

Home and Regional Office Jobs

NEXT COMPANY

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Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart stores, Wal-Mart.com, Sam's Club, Sam'sClub.com

Wal-Mart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide, including more than 1.4 million in the United States. Wal-Mart is not only one of the largest private employers in the U.S., but the largest in Mexico and one of the largest in Canada as well.

Industry: Retail

Corporate Offices: Bentonville, Arkansas

Other Major Office Branches: More than 4,100 facilities in the United States. Walmart.com's office are located in Brisbane, CA

How They've Handled the Recession: Wal-Mart is a company meant to thrive during a time when people's wallets are thin. Plus, their brand is well recognized as a store that offers low prices and deep discounts. This brand-recognition brings cash-strapped people flocking to buy from stores all over the country. Additionally, Wal-Mart sites conservative financial and operational practices, such as tight inventory control as contributing to their current success. According to USA Today, "During an analysts' meeting in October, CEO Lee Scott said that Wal-Mart is doing "extraordinarily well," and that founder Sam Walton built the company to thrive during downturns...At the analysts' meeting, even cautious Wal-Mart executives couldn't resist a little crowing. "How many companies," said Chief Financial Officer Tom Schoewe, "could stand before you today and say that their balance sheet is stronger today than it was a year ago?"

Working at Wal-mart: The average, full-time hourly wage for Wal-Mart associates is $10.83 and is even higher in urban areas. The average full-time hourly wage is $11.62 in Atlanta, $12.57 in Boston, $11.52 in Chicago, $11.26 in Dallas, $11.49 in San Francisco and $11.48 in New York City. (All metro figures based on MSA). Additionally, associates receive performance-based bonuses.

Career Opportunities at Wal-Mart

NEXT COMPANY

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McDonald's

McDonald's franchise restaurants, Ronald McDonald House Charity

Is the leading global food service retailer. McDonald's employs 1.6 million people in more than 30000 restaurants worldwide; it serves 52 million people in more than 100 countries each day.

Industry: Chain Restaurant

Corporate Offices: Oak Brook, Illinois

Other Major Office Branches: Bethesda, Maryland

How They've Handled the Recession: When times are tough, it is hard to resist the prices of a Dollar Menu. CEO Jim Skinner says the hamburger giant is "recession-resistant." Additionally, with their expansive reach across the globe, McDonald's is still as popular as ever with global sales up 7.7% increase in Europe and up 4.5% in the U.S. in November. Because of the international boost, third quarter earnings rose 6% from last year's. There's even a term called the "Big Mac Index" coined by The Economist magazine: "the comparison of a Big Mac's cost in various world currencies can be used to informally judge these currencies' purchasing power parity."

Working at McDonald's: McDonald's trains its franchisees and others at Hamburger University in Oak Brook, Illinois.

McDonald's Named One of 100 Best Companies for Working Moms

2001, LATINA Style Magazine recognizes McDonald's Corporation As One Of The Top 50 Best Companies for Hispanic Women to Work for in the USA.

1998, Fortune Magazine Global Most Admired Companies, "McDonald's Corporation was named the most admired company in the food services category".

ComputerWorld Magazine 1997 recognized McDonald's Corporation As One Of The Top 100 Places To Work In Information Systems.

ComputerWorld Magazine 1997 recognized McDonald's Corporation As One Of The Top's In Training.

Career Opportunities at McDonald's Corporate

APPAREL AND COSMETIC COMPANIES

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Avon Products

Industry: Cosmetics

Avon Products generated $9.8 billion in revenues in fiscal year 2007, with a gross profit margin of 60%. The stocks have been on the rise in December after a deep lull in November.

Career Opportunities at Avon

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lululemon and Urban Outfitters

These two wardrobe powerhouses are far outperforming their competitors, even in tough times.

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Career Opportunities at lululemon

Career Opportunities at Urban Outfitters

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES

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Other companies with decent earnings this quarter that continue to hire include:

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Procter and Gamble

Industry: Consumer Goods (products include Pampers, Tide, Ariel, Always, Pantene, Bounty, Pringles, Charmin, Downy, Iams, Crest, Actonel and Olay.)

"In October, Procter & Gamble said it earned a nearly 9-percent higher fiscal first-quarter profit because of growth in emerging markets and higher prices" in a report by Forbes.

Career Opportunities at P&G

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Johnson and Johnson

Industry: Health Care Products and Pharmaceuticals

Like Abbot Labs, health care and pharmaceutical companies will continue to perform well in a recession. Furthermore, their recognizable name brand goes far with babies' hygiene products.

Career Opportunities at Johnson & Johnson

MORE COMPANIES

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Novartis

Industry: Health Care Products and Pharmaceuticals

The range of medical products - including vaccines, over-the-counter medication, and animal health tools - will keep productions from this company in high demand.

Career Opportunities at Novartis

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Silicon Valley Bank

Industry: Banking

One of the few banks that's weathered "the storm better than most," CEO Kenneth Wilcox said to USAToday. How? By using a different business model that requires any loans to have either a) backup from the company's assets or b) be a long-term, 5-10 year technology or life science project, which are not as effected by a struggling economy. The USAToday report states "Silicon Valley Bank's total loans hit a record $4 billion last year, and third-quarter deposits grew 18% to $4.8 billion from the same quarter last year."

Career Opportunities at SVB

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Hartford Financial Services

Industry: Insurance

According to BusinessWeek, Hartford Financial Services "actually raised profit expectations, saying it expects to earn between $4.70 and $4.90 per share, up from a range of $4.30 to $4.50 previously. (HFS) has... More than $12 billion in cash and other liquid investments means “the Hartford is well-capitalized and has ample liquidity,” chairman and chief executive Ramani Ayer said in a statement."

Career Opportunities at Hartford Financial Services

Find entry-level jobs
and internships on MonsterCollege!

College Grads Must Work Even Harder to Find Jobs

The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:31:00 -0800

ALLENTOWN, Pa. _ College students graduating in December and May are likely to be the first in a generation to enter a job market featuring double-digit unemployment. That has colleges and universities across America scrambling this fall to revamp their career-placement offerings to help new grads land entry-level jobs.

Autumn is one of the crucial recruiting seasons, especially for students who want to find employment at Fortune 500 companies.

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But the outlook for coming college graduates is decidedly grim. On top of a 22 percent decline in college-grad hiring last year, employers expect to chop those entry-level hires by an additional 7 percent this year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

"What we're seeing is they're really being cautious," said NACE spokeswoman Andrea Koncz.

That dismal hiring forecast is even worse than hiring plans following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when hiring came to a virtual standstill. Average starting salaries for 2009 grads dropped 1.2 percent from the year before, to $48,633.

Those facts are why career counselors across the Lehigh Valley have worked to shift the mind-set of soon-to-be grads entering the work force. The basic message: You'll have to bust your butt to land a job in this lousy job market.

"What students did years ago isn't enough today," said Amy Saul, director of career development at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa. For example, today's students are encouraged not only to participate in an internship program, but in two or three to boost their chances of being hired.

"Competition is much more fierce than it has been in the past for entry-level candidates," she said.

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And the tough economy has created a distressing paradox. Just as students most need career-placement services, many colleges are cutting budgets in their career centers as part of their own belt-tightening.

About 55 percent of college career centers nationwide are cutting their 2009-10 spending plans, according to preliminary results of a survey being conducted by NACE. Lehigh Valley college career centers haven't made sharp cuts, but some are running leaner.

Worse yet, career-services departments are now catering to more than just current students. Recent grads who haven't found work or were laid off are returning for help. In fact, some alumni are returning decades after graduation to use job-placement services.

For Kate Hunter, director of career services and internships at DeSales University, that meant she had to brush up on techniques to help people land mid-career jobs. "Sometimes, we're combing through 20 years of experience on an old resume to find skills that are transferable to the current job market," Hunter said.

To cope with the bad job market - unemployment is 9.8 percent nationally - local colleges are launching new programs, revamping old ones and tapping alumni for help.

At Lehigh University in Bethlehem, job postings dropped off a cliff in the spring. The career center started e-mailing alumni who might help. That doesn't sound extraordinary, except that for the first time it e-mailed every single living alumnus it had an address for _ an estimated 10,000, said Donna Goldfeder, director of career services. Goldfeder corresponded personally with every alum who offered a job lead. The result? Some 300 job opportunities for Lehigh grads, she said.

"We broadened our net with employer outreach too, but to be honest, that didn't have nearly the effect of reaching out to the alums did," Goldfeder said. By the spring semester, the career center plans to have a new online database to help students contact alumni directly.

A sampling of new efforts:

Moravian started a pilot program this fall called Career Connections. It matches students with advisers based on their interests and targeted professions. It also has "Lunch and Learn" events, including recent and upcoming ones with recruiters from Major League Baseball and Mars Inc., maker of M&Ms and Juicy Fruit.

Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., is tapping more than 600 volunteer alumni and parents to participate in mock interviews over the phone and in person. Students are using InterviewStream, an interviewing practice tool that allows students to record mock interviews using a webcam for later critique.

Northampton Community College has launched a job club that will offer advice on such topics as entry-level resumes and job fairs, networking and interviewing techniques.

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Muhlenberg College plans a new program on effectively using the online professional networking site LinkedIn, said Cailin Pachter, career center director. Muhlenberg ramped up efforts to help students apply for entry-level jobs with the federal government, a notoriously arduous process. The Allentown college also puts together an electronic book for employers and alumni that contains seniors' resumes. Usually assembled in the spring, it is being assembled now.

DeSales adjusted its one-year-old Senior Success Series, which contains eight programs. Changes included starting job searches earlier and incorporating a strong networking component, Hunter said.

While new efforts and programs are more newsworthy, many colleges are re-emphasizing tried-and-true job-search techniques: writing entry-level resumes and cover letters, making contacts and developing a firm handshake.

"It's career searching 101," Goldfeder said.

Using such high-tech resources as MonsterCollege and online job postings are important, but you also must focus on old-fashioned face-to-face networking, career counselors say. That has college students throughout the Valley practicing their elevator pitches- describing their value in the time it takes to ride an elevator.

Muhlenberg even hosts "speed networking" events to practice those 30-second spiels, followed by an alumni networking reception where they use those networking skills for real.

"It's not about simply going online and looking for entry-level jobs anymore," said Hunter of DeSales. "It's about getting your face out there and getting your entry-level resume into the right hands. It's going to take a lot more legwork."

While some strategies can be taught in groups, there is increased demand for individualized advice, counselors say. Lehigh University dramatically expanded the number of hours it offered for one-on-one career counseling, Goldfeder said.

Sometimes, part of that counseling is adjusting expectations. The reality: Some students might not get the ideal job in the ideal location right now. "We're telling them there are opportunities out there, but you might have to reshape what you're thinking," Saul said.

With the rough job market, Muhlenberg has seen an increase in student interest for non-traditional entry-level jobs, such as the Peace Corps and Teach for America. And, of course, a dearth of entry-level jobs always makes graduate school more attractive.

For those with time before graduation, internships are among the best foot-in-the-door tactics to land work. In 2009, 23 percent of students who interned had a job in hand at graduation. For those without internships experience, just 14 percent left college with a signed-sealed-and-delivered job, according to NACE.

But in 2009, employers cut college internship positions by 21 percent, NACE says.

Career counselors say today's college students understand what they're up against, and they're generally willing to work harder-to-land employment.

"I do sense an anxiety," Pachter said. A recent program at Muhlenberg, Job Search for Seniors, had twice as many students attend as last year. "Our students understand how tough it is going to be this year, and they're trying to get an early start."

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While on-campus recruiting has waned, the number of job postings recently has come back toward normal levels, counselors say.

"I take that to be a very good sign _ that we've gotten over the worst of it," Goldfeder said. "We had a tough spring, but I think we're back in the game. I'm very optimistic, actually."

Find Internships on MonsterCollege!

Recession Over? Kinda Sort of, Economists Say

The Herald-Sun — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:56:00 -0800

Oct. 31--DURHAM -- Economic experts weighing in on some Friday morning pronouncements that the recession likely ended this summer agreed with the assessment, but said high unemployment and job losses will also likely continue.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that gross domestic product increased by an estimated 3.5 percent in the third quarter on Thursday largely a result of productivity in the automobile industry, which added 1.66 percentage points.

"Technically, yes, the recession is over," said John Graham, a professor of finance at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Mark Vitner, a senior analyst for Wells Fargo in Charlotte, said -- with just a touch of facetiousness -- that the recession probably ended right at midnight, June 30.

Meanwhile, Campbell Harvey, an international business professor at the Fuqua School, said, "It technically might be over, but that's not the point. We don't want the exact date. We want a healthy economy."

The National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit research group, is in charge of determining cycles in the U.S. economy. It had stated last year the recession began in December 2007 but did not officially call an end point on Friday.

Still, one of the officials on the bureau's Business Cycle Dating Committee was quoted by The Wall Street Journal on Friday as saying the recession is likely over: "My best guess is that we will end up declaring the trough [of the recession] was in the middle of the year sometime," said Jeffrey Frankel, a Harvard University professor.

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The bureau defines a recession as a period of contraction in the economy, starting with the last peak in the current cycle to the trough. In other words, once the economy has reached the bottom and begins to grow again, the "recession" has ended.

By that technical definition, the experts all said that yes, the recession is very likely over.

The problem though, is that unemployment is still high, consumer confidence is still shaky and much of the boost to the economy in the third quarter could be attributed to government spending in the Cash for Clunkers program, which increased auto sales significantly.

That raises the question of whether the private sector has been pumped up enough by government resources to maintain growth through the fourth quarter and into next year. The first time homebuyers tax credit, another important consumer spending catalyst throughout the summer, will expire at the end of November.

Harvey said what would provide for long-term growth is if the federal government would turn its focus to small and medium-sized businesses, in particular making it easier for such businesses to get loans.

"They are the driver of revenue and employment," he said. "You want to get the most bang for your buck. To do that, we should be focusing on small to medium-sized businesses, not putting money into the black hole of GMAC."

Gross domestic purchases increased 1.6 percent in the third quarter, compared with an increase of 0.5 percent in the second. However, personal income decreased by 0.5 percent in the third quarter, in contrast to a gain of 0.6 percent in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate remained high, at 9.8 percent for September.

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Like the previous two recessions earlier this decade and in the early 1990s, this recovery will likely be a "jobless recovery," the experts concurred.

"I think we're actually probably in worse shape this time around," said Graham. "There's an old rule of thumb that if the GDP picks up above the long-term trend by a couple points that unemployment should fall, but... I think [companies] are going to strive for as much productivity out of their current workers as they can."

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23 College Presidents Paid More Than $1M

United Press International — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:28:00 -0800

U.S. college presidents making more than $1 million are becoming more commonplace, a Chronicle of Higher Education survey indicates.

In the 2007-2008 academic year, 23 private college presidents earned more than $1 million in pay and benefits, The New York Times reported Monday.

In 2002, there were four U.S. college presidents earning more than $800,000 and none earning more than $1 million, the Times said.

Last year's top salary for a college president was $1,598,247, paid to Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. The second highest compensation package went to David Sargent, president of Suffolk University in Boston.

Sargent was paid a total of $1,485,275. For the year, the annual survey found the median compensation paid to college presidents was $627,750.

"I think the answer you'd get from the governing boards that set these salaries is that it's a market and it's increasingly hard to find these people," said Jeffrey Selingo, editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

"That said, almost every year, presidential salaries have gone up faster than inflation, and faster than tuition, which rankles some people on campus," he said.

Should College Presidents Make Over 1 Million Dollars if Their Student's Can't Even Get a Job? Take the Poll

Are College Professors Intruding on Students' Facebook Accounts?

Las Vegas Review-Journal — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:17:00 -0800

Nov. 2--College professors who want their students to be engaged and informed are turning to social networking sites to stay connected.

"I find it's easier for me to distribute the information where they are. And where they are is Facebook," said Rebecca Wood, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Wood is UNLV's prelaw adviser and counsels students who are considering law school. She created a Facebook page for posting information for prelaw students. She figures it's a whole lot easier to do so on Facebook than it would be to e-mail or call every student who would benefit from the information.

And, she said, the social site is more effective than posting information on UNLV's Web site or pasting notices to a bulletin board. Facebook's news feed feature keeps them informed in real time, even if they aren't actively seeking out the information.

Facebook, which has become nearly ubiquitous in recent years, constantly updates users on the status of their friends and the organizations they follow as fans.

The prelaw Facebook page that Wood created has more than 200 fans. Her prelaw Twitter page, a micro-blogging service, has nearly 100 followers. Unless a user specifically opts out, their Facebook and Twitter home pages record every new post from Wood.

"It lets me give complete information to a large number of students, as opposed to doing it one on one," she said.

She also has produced a podcast -- an audio program posted to the Internet -- that explains the ins and outs for prelaw students.

Thomas Scott, the faculty training manager at the College of Southern Nevada, said the trend is catching on, albeit slowly.

"Students are already using these tools," he said. "They're on Twitter. They're on Facebook, MySpace. They watch YouTube more than they watch TV."

He encourages faculty to connect with students on those sites.

Karen Laing, a CSN English professor, said she is all for using the social networking tools in class. Last semester, she experimented with Twitter, which is similar to Facebook, but without the pictures or video. It's a text-only tool.

"My students didn't find it as exciting as I did," Laing said.

She believes that's because she used it in an introductory class. The students were all new to college and might have been overwhelmed.

"It just felt like too much," she said.

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Still, she plans on trying again in other classes. She likes the idea of keeping students updated on what's going on.

There are other ways of doing that. At UNLV, many professors use Web Campus, an online course management system. It is closed to the public and password protected. Professors use it to post everything from assignments and class syllabi to grades.

Mary Hausch, a journalism professor, said she uses Web Campus. She also has a Facebook page, but she's careful not to mix Facebook with class.

She generally won't be Facebook friends with current students, she said, though she will accept their friend requests once the semester is over.

"I want to keep some distance there and not think of them as friends," Hausch said. "And I don't want to see all their pictures and things out there anyway."

There are several Facebook pages related to UNLV's journalism courses, including an alumni page and one for all communications students.

Jake Thompson, a communications professor and coach of the debate team, said he uses Facebook as an information and recruiting tool for the debate team. He's created three groups on the site: one for team members, one for alumni and one for recruits.

For classes, he still likes Web Campus.

"It's very popular with the students," he said.

And, as always, so is Facebook. Wood, the prelaw adviser, credited the site for helping to produce a great turnout at a recent law fair for students, where representatives from dozens of law schools were on hand to answer questions.

Just about the only publicity Wood gave the event was through Facebook.

About 200 students turned out.

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Cool Holiday Jobs

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, Monster Contributing Writer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:13:00 -0700

Working in retail doesn't necessarily mean that every day is the same. If you're looking to add some excitement to your retail career or earn some extra cash with an out-of-the-ordinary job, there are plenty of seasonal opportunities that go beyond ringing cash registers and stocking shelves.

While all positions are not the same, consider one of the following cool temporary jobs. You may even decide to make seasonal work your career.

Characters and Entertainers

For years, people have told you that something about you seems familiar. Perhaps it's a twinkle in your eye or a laugh that reminds them of something from their childhood. Maybe it's time to put that special something to use.

Many retail organizations hire seasonal characters to help bolster holiday sales. A good Santa or Easter Bunny can have a significant effect on store sales.

To successfully play a character, you need to love children, have a good sense of humor, be flexible and have a strong back. Only dependable candidates need apply. Retailers don't want to have to tell little Joey that Santa is off tending to a sick Rudolph.

Secret Agents

Picture yourself incognito, skulking through the aisles of electronics as shoppers scurry through the store. Suddenly, you spot a shoplifter and radio for backup. Sound intriguing? Undercover security or loss prevention might be the ticket you need to exit your 9-to-5 job.

Stores increase security personnel during peak buying times. Candidates with police backgrounds or security experience are encouraged to apply. Before you fill out your application, be sure your background is pristine. Security personnel usually undergo extensive background checks prior to being hired.

This job is not for the faint of heart. You also will need to be agile, because you may have to chase down shoplifters.

Store Ambassadors

Have you ever walked out of a store because you couldn't find a sales associate? If so, you're not alone. Large retailers and specialty retailers are recognizing the importance of greeting customers at the point of entry, particularly during peak shopping times. Store ambassadors are strategically placed at the front of the store to welcome and direct customers to the appropriate department or salesperson.

If you enjoy putting together puzzles, this might be the job for you. Ambassadors need to assess quickly who can best service each customer's needs. Individuals with strong problem-solving skills and friendly, outgoing personalities are prime candidates for these types of jobs.

Troubleshooters

Wanted: Someone who can make angry shoppers happy while they wait in long lines the day after Christmas.

Joyful holiday shoppers often return to the store as tired, worn-out customers. They have bags of items to exchange or return, and the last thing they want to hear is a company policy read to them. A calm personality and the ability to multitask will make you an ideal candidate for this type of customer service representative.

In-Store Demonstration Personnel

Are you glued to the TV when "Iron Chef" is on? Do you know how to perfectly fold an omelet? You may be ready to take your show on the road. All great chefs have to start somewhere. Why not as an in-store demonstrator?

Such people are in high demand throughout the year, particularly during peak buying times. They do more than just prepare and hand out free samples. They engage customers and create interest in the products they represent. They are in the business of sales.

Don't worry if you can't boil an egg. Stores need people to demonstrate technical products, such as computer printers and sewing machines, too.

This is a great way to get some hands-on sales experience. Candidates with an outgoing personality are encouraged to apply.

The list of cool seasonal jobs goes on and on. Professional seasonal workers know this is a great way to try out new things, make some extra cash and have time off to pursue other interests.

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Gary's lack of planning got him into serious problems

Tamica ollivierre — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:16:44 -0700

After two months of job searching , Gary finally came across the perfect job. it was at a huge

Manhattan building. He was reaxed to know his hard searching paid of well. it was monday morning, the

day of Gary's interview. He has to get there by 8:00clock aand it will take him an hour and 20 minutes of

gazing . Sunday night he was at his friend's 21st biurthday parth and he came home 1:am . He is

disturbed from his sleep by his arlam clock. "its 6:am Gary " said his clock. he turns and said " shut up

ypooou sound as my mom" and he shut the clock off. thta morning gary got up 7:00am ,only because

his girl friend called him, then he remembered his interview. 'Oh CRAP'! he shouted . "im dead late' . he

franticly washed his mouth with listering , put on deordarant and a rumpled suit. he called upp a taxi

cab. Gary told the driver that he was very sick and gave him the adress of the company . the cab triver

maxed the speed up and hurried to get gary to the location , meanwhile gary is pretenting to be a

patient . in twenty miinutes the cab arrived at the destination . "ir there is not a hospital here", said the taxi

driver. in a split second Gary paid the taxi and he gave a dynamic leap and landed on the pavement.he

quickkly got into the elevator and arrived at his prospective employer' suit. It was exactly 8:02am . Juust imagine what Gary looked like?\

PLEASE ADD TO THIS fRICTION . TAKE OUT WORDS REPLACE , MAKE UP THE ENDING , DID HE GET THE JOB OR NOT ? DO WHAT YOU LIKE AND REPOST IT .

Will There Be Jobs For The Class Of 2010?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:03:39 -0700

GameStop Announces Plans to Hire More Than 15,000 Part-Time Seasonal Game Advisors for Fall 2009

Business Wire — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:06:00 -0700

GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, announced it is planning to hire approximately 15,000 seasonal part-time game advisors between now and Dec. 24, 2009, to fill open positions at its 4,300 stores in the United States. This number will increase the company's total headcount by approximately 46 percent and the in-store game advisor headcount by approximately 78 percent. These numbers are consistent with GameStop's seasonal hiring efforts in 2008 and 2007.

"The end of the year historically represents a large part of our company's annual sales, and 2009 is not expected to be any different," said Marissa Andrada, GameStop's senior vice president of human resources. "The launches of several highly anticipated blockbuster video game titles such as Call of Duty/Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed II and the Wii Fit Plus combined with the recent price reductions for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii gaming consoles are expected to create a lot of store traffic from customers seeking out GameStop's unparalleled customer service, value and selection."

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Interested applicants 16 years of age or older should pick up applications at their neighborhood GameStop store. Previous retail experience is preferred, but not required. Training will be provided, but applicants should be knowledgeable about video games and video game equipment in order to fulfill their role as valued customer advisors. Game advisors should be available to work flexible hours, thrive in a fast-paced retail environment and enjoy helping people find fun and affordable holiday gift solutions. Benefits include an employee discount on software purchases as well as the ability to try out new games in order to better assist customers.

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and read more about holiday jobs for college students and seasonal jobs in retail.

Three Reasons Green Jobs Are Back

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:59:00 -0700

1) Federal Stimulus injection of over $1bn.

This, coupled with private efforts like Khosla’s $1bn+ fund are stimulation innovation across the board.

2) Return to Corporate Values

Industry leaders agree that green is good: for brands, for economies of efficiency, and for shareholders. Jobs in the CSR and environmental fields are blossoming at every level and location across corporate America — and the rest of the world.

3) Labor Markets got Engaged

Best-in-breed corporate citizens realize that going “green” is more than just a marketing proposition. Employees are driving change from the inside of organizations, pushing out new products and services that maximize the value in building lasting brands that invested in environmental sustainability.

The Bottom Line: Green Jobs are back, and poised to explode in a big way.

We see this in San Francisco, where for the first time in nearly 9 months, we see multiple jobs posted, firms calling inbound, and the pace of placement picking up.

We hope you’ll join as we build this green movement, and help 2010 be the year of the environmental leader.

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college

Turkey Tips for Your First Thanksgiving Away From Home: A College Guide

Here are 3 articles and a quiz that can help you have a great time amongst friends, no travel required.

Not sure how to make a feast without spending your rent check? DIY cost-cutting Turkey-Tips!

Want to go big without gaining 5 pounds? 10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving!

Mom always made it look so easy, with this culinary guide you can too!

Finally, think you know Thanksgiving better than most pilgrims? Take the Turkey IQ Quiz and find out!

If you are heading home for Thanksgiving how are you traveling? Take the Poll!

Thanksgiving: Cut Costs, Not Flavor

A DIY Turkey

Cheap Tricks

10 Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Portion Sizes

Dinner Rolls

Appetizers

Cranberry Sauce

Potatoes

Vegetable Casserole

Stuffing

Turkey

Desserts

General Advice

7 Ways to Make Your Turkey Delicious

Choose the Best Bird

Brine for Better Meat

Butter Your Bird

Inject Flavor, Literally

Cook Your Bird Upside Down

Glaze for a Tasty Finish

Fry, Smoke, or Grill

Bonus: Don't Make a Turkey

Don't Miss This Great Related Content! Quiz: What's Your Turkey IQ?

More Students to Drive home for Thanksgiving

Poll: How Will You Get Home for Thanksgiving?

15 Signs Your Workplace Is Dysfunctional

8 Money Saving Tips from the Great Depression

Learn how to love used stuff

Stay realistic

Turn down the thermostat

Get back to gardening

Don’t buy things you just want

Be open to relocating

Do it yourself!

Find lots of ways to make money

Got some money-saving tips of your own? Share what you’ve learned!

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3 Ways Green Companies Can Clean Up Their Hiring Processes

The holy grail for jobseekers? A meaningful, green job.

1. The Mountain of Resumes

Solutions:

2. The Lack of Communication

Solutions:

3. Dragging Out the Hiring Process

The solution:

Will Your Cover Letter Land An Entry-Level Job or Internship?

College Freshman Makes Triumphant Return To High School

5 Best (and Worst!) Things About Moving Back in with Your Parents

Here are the best – and worst! – things about moving back in with the 'rents.

#1 Best: The Price is Right

#2 Best: Roommates—Better the Devil You Know

#3 Best: Housekeeping? My Mom Does It All!

#4: Best: Mom’s Home Cooking

#5 Best: A 24/7 Support System

#1: Worst: Community Living = Zero Privacy

#2 Worst: Regression

#3 Worst: Sibling Rivalry Resurfaces

#4 Worst: You Lose Control over the Remote Control

#5: Worst: Dating Might Be on Hold Until You Move Out

Living with your parents? Take the poll!

15 Companies Hiring Now

Brown-Forman Corporation

Kraft

Philip-Morris Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Merit, Parliament, and 14 other cigarette brands

Abbott Labs

Home Away HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, OwnersDirect.co.uk, FeWo-direkt.de and Abritel.fr.

Costco Wholesale

Wal-Mart Wal-Mart stores, Wal-Mart.com, Sam's Club, Sam'sClub.com

McDonald's

Avon Products

lululemon and Urban Outfitters

Don't Miss This Great Related Content!

Quiz: What's Your Turkey IQ?

Will Your Cover Letter Land An
Entry-Level Job or Internship?

Philip-Morris

Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Merit, Parliament, and 14 other cigarette brands

Home Away

HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, OwnersDirect.co.uk, FeWo-direkt.de and Abritel.fr.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart stores, Wal-Mart.com, Sam's Club, Sam'sClub.com

Find entry-level jobs
and internships on MonsterCollege!

Find entry-level jobs
and read more about holiday jobs for college students and seasonal jobs in retail.