CB Campus Careers & Jobs Blog

Want to go back to school?

Now, I know most of you just left school - another portion of you are still there. But, a recent article spotlighting the top jobs in education caught my eye and I wanted to throw them your way.

Whether you just left school and kinda want to go back (it happens) or you're still there and never want to leave, check out these 10 jobs in education.

• Teachers (preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary) help students learn and apply concepts in various subjects, depending on the age and skill level of their students. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require public school teachers to be licensed. General education teachers need a bachelor's degree and a completed, approved teacher training program with a prescribed number of subject and education credits, as well as supervised practice teaching. Average salary: $45,205

• School counselors provide individuals and groups with career and educational counseling. In school settings they work with students, including those with academic and social development problems and those with special needs. Counselors are required to hold a school counseling certification and to have completed at least some graduate course work; most require the completion of a master's degree.  Average salary: $52,858

• School nurses give healthcare services to students, plan school health programs, participate in medical examinations and reviews findings to evaluate the health status of pupils and progress of the programs. A school nursing position requires a registered nurses license. Average salary: $51,544

• Principals direct and coordinate educational, administrative and counseling activities of primary or secondary schools; develop educational programs through meetings with staff, review of teachers' activities and providing directives. A master's degree in education plus teaching experience is typically required for carrying out the responsibilities for this job. Average salary: $72,527

• Postsecondary teachers usually include college and university faculty, postsecondary career and technical education teachers, and graduate teaching assistants. They usually teach several different related courses in their subject and give lectures to several hundred students in large halls or lead small seminars. Educational qualifications for postsecondary teaching jobs range from expertise in a particular field to a Ph.D. Average salary: $68,505

• Librarians in the school media center work with students and faculty to help find the information they need; show users how to access information; and may even help teachers develop curricula, acquire materials for classroom instruction and sometimes team teach. A master's degree in library science usually is required; special librarians may need an additional graduate or professional degree. Average salary: $47, 705

• Coaches in high schools are primarily teachers of academic subjects who supplement their income by coaching part time. They teach student athletes the fundamentals of individual and team sports and are responsible for instilling good sportsmanship, a competitive spirit and teamwork. They also manage their teams during both practice sessions and competitions. Average salary: $29.290

• Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities using general education curriculum, or modifying it, to meet the child's individual needs. All states require special education teachers to be licensed; licensing requires the completion of a teacher training program and at least a bachelor's degree, though many states require a master's degree. Average salary: $43,570

• Deans/Administrators direct and coordinate admissions, foreign student services, health and counseling services, career services, financial aid, and housing and residential life, as well as social, recreational, and related programs. Most usually have a doctorate in their specialty and have held a professorship in their department before advancing. Average salary:$ 75,245

• Teacher assistants tutor and assist children in learning class material using the teacher's lesson plans, providing students with individualized attention and allowing teachers more time for lesson planning and teaching. Educational requirements range from a high school diploma to some college training. Average salary: $19,410

Money, money, money, money - MONEY!

Hopefully ya'll recognize the song I 'm referencing in the title - if not, either I'm getting old or I'm making stuff up. Either one is entirely possible.

Anyway...

Many college students choose their major based on what' s going to make them the big bucks versus what's going to make them happy. When asked about their life goals, 81 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds said getting rich is either the most important or the second-most important goal in their lives, according to a Pew Research Center poll.

It doesn't take a genius to know that money doesn't equal happiness - in fact, most of the people I know who have sacrificed their dreams in lieu of making a quick buck, are the same people who are extremely unhappy and unsatisfied with their lives.

However, no matter what I, or anyone else says, there will always be those who want to make a lot of money. More power to ya. Because of that, I've posted 10 jobs that make at least $25 an hour- i.e. $48,000 per year.

I'd say that was a nice chunk of change, wouldn't you?

1. Market analyst - $27.18/hour. Market analysts work in government agencies, consulting firms, financial institutions or marketing research firms, where they research and predict the sales potential of a particular product or service. Annual salary: $56,541
   
2. Chemist - $25.16/hour. Chemists search for and use knowledge about chemicals to discover and develop new and improved products, processes to save energy and reduce pollution, and advances in fields like medicine and agriculture. Annual salary: $52,333
   
3. Civil engineer - $25.29/hour. Civil engineers plan, design and oversee engineering for building projects like airports, bridges, buildings and irrigation systems. Annual salary: $52,605
4. Social worker - $25.06/hour.  Social workers work for places like community centers, hospitals and penal institutions, where they develop programs to help individuals and groups enhance their personal relationships and social development. Annual salary: $52,119
5. Human resources generalist - $26.90/hour. Human resources generalists work to improve working conditions within an establishment by identifying, evaluating and resolving problems in employee relations and work performance.  Annual salary: $55,959
6. Architect - $26.41/hour.  Architects apply their knowledge of design to plan and supervise the construction of building projects according to their clients' needs and financial resources.  Annual salary: $55,060
7. Speech pathologist - $25.05/hour.  Speech pathologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders and study the science of human communication.
   Annual salary: $52,105
8. Budget analyst - $26.71/hour.  Budget analysts review financial plans and help institutions prepare budgets, improve efficiency and lower costs. Annual salary: $55,579
9. Detective - $27.02/hour.  Detectives carry out investigations to prevent crimes or solve criminal cases. Annual salary: $56,197
10. Physical therapist - $25.68/hour.  Physical therapists plan and administer medically prescribed treatment for patients suffering from injuries or certain diseases to restore function, relieve pain and prevent disability. Annual salary: $53,410

New graduates: Conducting your first job search

It's been a few months since this year's past graduates finished school, and hopefully you've been looking for a job during that time - even better, hopefully you've FOUND a job.  But, on the off-chance that you haven't and instead have just been enjoying your time off (totally fine), then read on.

Job hunting can be a long, arduous, tedious task - but it doesn't have to be. Here's an example of you can break up your week, according to "The Everything Get-a-Job Book."

Sunday: Look through the classified ads.

Monday: Follow up on these ads by sending out your resume and cover letter.

Tuesday: Focus on contacting companies directly.

Wednesday: Do more research to find listings of other companies to contact.

Thursday and Friday: Spend the day networking as you try to set up appointments to meet with people and develop more contacts.

If you don't have a job secured after you've been job searching for a few months, consider looking for a part-time job to keep yourself busy, help you make some money and gain experience. Even if the job isn't in your field, you can surely apply basic skills from one job to another.

You're probably frustrated with your lack of a full-time job and working part-time will also break up your routine, keep you motivated and show future employers that you have initiative and good work ethic.

Good luck on your search and keep checking back for more advice!

Social Networking vs Employers

I know I just posted about Facebook last week, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to have this week's post follow closely on the same subject. Especially because as a fellow Facebook and MySpace user (and working for a company where half the staff has an account as well), I know the implications of  having  a profile that companies can look at.

I know this topic has been blogged about before, but especially now that Facebook has opened it's doors to people of all ages, including companies, I just wanted to reiterate some important points:

• Be selective about your privacy settings. Select your profile to be seen only by your "friends" on the site.
• Be selective about your pictures. Only allow to be seen by friends. If you're friends with your co-workers, maybe you should consider blocking them from seeing your pictures.
• Don't delete, just clean it up. Don't delete your account altogether; social networking sites are not only a good way to keep in touch with friends (and waste some time before class), but they are good for what their name implies: social networking. Use these sites to your advantage to promote yourself in your profile and make career contacts.

On a totally different note, I was remembering some job titles that I wished I had when I was in college - you know, fun/flexible/social jobs...and I found some on the site I'd like to share: 

Magazine production
Travel companies
Bartender
Marketing and Events promotion
Nursing assistant

CBcampus on Facebook

I bet you're too busy Facebooking to be looking for an internship, right? (Or maybe that was just me...) If that's the case, I come bearing good news: CBcampus.com will look for you.

The new CBcampus Internships application, launched this week, sends users continuously updated internship listings based on the information found in your profile. It will scan your Facebook profile for your major in school, hometown and network and match it with the most relevant internships available in the database. You can apply to internships directly, or access a link to find more internships on CBcampus.com.

You can view  opportunities in your current town and/or other locations. You can also invite friends to add the application and share opportunities you find with your Facebook friends.

You can also search for full-time positions by adding CareerBuilder.com's 'Find a Better Job' application, which applies the same processes as CBcampus to find you relevant postings.

"Building a job matching application on Facebook Platform enables CareerBuilder to interface with a large, highly interactive community dominated by users who are choosing and building career paths. We are making the job search process easier and more convenient for Facebook users while providing employers with a unique way to market their job openings," says Richard Castellini, Vice President of Consumer Marketing at CareerBuilder.com.

So keep on Facebooking, and look for some jobs along the way.

Are you ready for the real world?

Are you ready for the real world?

I'm sure you think you are...but take this quiz from Nicholas Aretakis, author of "No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide," to find out.

1. You dream of making it big in the fashion industry. You have an assistant manager job at a Gap store in the suburban Midwest. You spend most of your job-hunting time:

1. Searching the Ralph Lauren and Prada websites for job listings and making contacts on MySpace.com with people who describe themselves as working in fashion.
2. Launching your own clothing design business and planning a move to New York.
3. Taking night classes in design and doing an internship with a local clothing designer who’s been able to get her clothes into a few area boutiques. You want to learn more about the business before you make any big changes.

2. You’re offered an entry-level job in your desired field, but you’re not sure if you can live on what they pay you. You:

1. Turn down the job because you refuse to be exploited that way.
2. Accept the job. You’ll take a second job or find a cheaper place to live.
3. Accept the job and move back in with your parents. You miss them anyway.

3. After a year at an entry-level job with no sign of a promotion on the horizon, you:

1. Start looking at graduate programs. School is much better than the working life, and no matter what degree you get, it will help you get a better job and earn more money.
2. Decide you like your job enough to stay, so you resolve to work even harder. You’ll deliver consistently excellent work, show that you understand the business, and network with co-workers. You’ll stop complaining about problems and start offering creative ideas about solving them.
3. Look for a new job. You weren’t that comfortable there in the first place, and you believe you’ll be able to realize your true potential in a more supportive workplace.

4. Your grandparents give you a college graduation gift of $5,000. You:

1. Go on a shopping spree and plan to spend the summer bumming around Europe. With your college degree, you’ll be earning plenty of money on your own soon, so it doesn’t matter if you’re broke by September.
2. You use $1,000 to pay off your credit card debt, put $2,000 into a savings account, and plan to use the rest to help you out while you’re doing a low-paid summer internship in your chosen career.
3. You spend half the money backpacking with friends in Costa Rica, a trip you've dreamed about since high school, and then use the rest to live on as you look for a job and apartment in the city you've chosen to live in.

5. Your new schedule is killing you. You have to be at work at 8:00, and don’t leave the office until 5:00 p.m. or later. All you have energy for after work is watching TV. You:

1. Quit. You’re just not ready to be so grown up, and you don’t want to become a stress mess like your parents. You’ll wait tables part-time for a year or so until you’re ready to re-enter the real world.
2. Resolve to work harder, waste less time on personal e-mail and blogs, and become a key player at the office. If you get a promotion, your job will be more exciting and you know you’ll feel better about the long hours.
3. Sign up for a yoga class and resolve to get off the bus a couple of stops early so you can walk part of the way to and from work. You know you always feel better if you exercise regularly.

Scoring: Give yourself 10 points for each A, 20 points for each B, and 30 points for each C.

• 50–70 The Entitled Prince/Princess. You have unrealistic expectations. You think you deserve freedom, accomplishment, money, and enjoyment, but you aren’t willing to put any effort into getting them.

• 80-110   The Overachiever. You're driven and have your eyes on the prize. You'll probably accomplish great things and earn plenty of money. But don't forget to make space for the other two qualities of happiness: freedom and enjoyment.

• 120-150  The Happy Pragmatist. You're goal-oriented, but not as driven as the Overachiever. Work/life balance is important to you. You may not climb as high on the career ladder or earn as much money as the Overachiever, but you'll probably have an excellent balance of all four qualities of happiness: freedom, accomplishment, money and enjoyment.

Get an Internship this fall!

You've moved into your new pad for the school year, you're done with the hell of registering for classes and you're living up the beginning of the school year before classes start. Add this to your 'to-do' list: Secure an internship.

Sixty-one percent of hiring managers say they are hiring college students or recent college graduates for internships this fall, according to a new CBcampus.com survey. Forty-four percent say they would likely hire college interns as full-time, permanent employees.

"It's never too early to start thinking about internships and there are a great deal of opportunities that exist as long as you take the time to search and apply," says Nathan Lippe, senior career advisor for CBcampus.com.

Fifty-nine percent of hiring managers surveyed said they currently recruit interns or they have in the past, while 14 percent plans to recruit interns in the future. Eighty-four percent of hiring managers say they will be hiring college interns for the fall between June and September.

"College students and recent college graduates need to take advantage of this so that they can gain hands-on experience to add to their resumes and build a professional network," Lippe says.

Plus, everyone's looking to make a little extra cash, right? Thirty-six percent of hiring managers say their internships are paid, and 14 percent say they have both paid and unpaid positions.

Follow these tips from Lippe to secure your internship as a full-time job:

Be enthusiastic. Being energetic and showing your manager how much you enjoy your job goes a long way. Thirty-five percent of employers say the biggest mistake college interns make that would cause them not to hire the intern permanently is not showing enthusiasm for the job.

Go above and beyond. Motivating yourself to do more than just the assigned task will make you stand out among your co-workers. If you're not convinced that managers notice your extra efforts, maybe this will help: one-in-five employers say not going above and beyond the assigned task would be the biggest mistake a college intern can make that would cause them not to get hired permanently.

Be on time. Being punctual shows that you're both reliable and responsible. While there are managers who aren't as stringent when it comes to start times (as long as work is getting done), others expect you to be on time every day. With 13 percent of employers saying arriving late to work is the biggest mistake college interns make that would cause them not to hire them full-time, waking up 15 minutes earlier is probably worth it.

Back to school

Believe it or not, when you're out of school, you'll start to miss it.  So, in the spirit of the start of a new school year approaching, this week's blog features 10 jobs in education to consider pursuing.

Whether you're still in school and pondering your future, or you've already graduated and you need a job, check out these positions in education as a field to look into.

PS- This probably isn't the last of the back to school theme. Stay tuned!

• Teachers (preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary) help students learn and apply concepts in various subjects, depending on the age and skill level of their students. They help students understand abstract concepts, solve problems and develop critical thought processes. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require public school teachers to be licensed. General education teachers need a bachelor’s degree and a completed, approved teacher training program with a prescribed number of subject and education credits, as well as supervised practice teaching. Average salary: $45,205

• School counselors provide individuals and groups with career and educational counseling. In school settings they work with students, including those with academic and social development problems and those with special needs. They advocate for students and work with other individuals and organizations to promote the academic, career, personal and social development of children and youths. Counselors are required to hold a school counseling certification and to have completed at least some graduate course work; most require the completion of a master’s degree. Average salary: $52,858

• School nurses give healthcare services to students, plan school health programs, participate in medical examinations and reviews findings to evaluate the health status of pupils and progress of the programs. A school nursing position requires a registered nurses license. Average salary: $51,544

• Principals direct and coordinate educational, administrative and counseling activities of primary or secondary schools; develop educational programs through meetings with staff, review of teachers' activities and providing directives. A master's degree in education plus teaching experience is typically required for carrying out the responsibilities for this job. Average salary: $72,527

• Postsecondary teachers usually include college and university faculty, postsecondary career and technical education teachers, and graduate teaching assistants. They usually teach several different related courses in their subject and give lectures to several hundred students in large halls or lead small seminars. They prepare lectures, exercises and laboratory experiments; grade exams and papers; and advise and work with students individually. Educational qualifications for postsecondary teaching jobs range from expertise in a particular field to a Ph.D. Average salary: $68,505 (salary varies depending on rank and type of institution, geographic area and field.)

• Librarians in the school media center work with students and faculty to help find the information they need; show users how to access information; and may even help teachers develop curricula, acquire materials for classroom instruction, and sometimes team teach. A master’s degree in library science usually is required; special librarians may need an additional graduate or professional degree. Average salary: $47, 705

• Coaches in high schools are primarily teachers of academic subjects who supplement their income by coaching part time. They teach student athletes the fundamentals of individual and team sports and are responsible for instilling good sportsmanship, a competitive spirit and teamwork. They also manage their teams during both practice sessions and competitions. Average salary: $29,290

• Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities using general education curriculum, or modifying it, to meet the child’s individual needs. Most special ed teachers instruct students at the elementary, middle and secondary school level, although some teachers work with infants and toddlers. All states require special education teachers to be licensed; licensing requires the completion of a teacher training program and at least a bachelor’s degree, though many states require a master’s degree. Average salary: $43,570

• Deans/Administrators direct and coordinate admissions, foreign student services, health and counseling services, career services, financial aid, and housing and residential life, as well as social, recreational, and related programs. In larger colleges and universities, separate administrators may handle each of these services. Most usually have a doctorate in their specialty and have held a professorship in their department before advancing. Average salary: $75,245

• Teacher Assistants tutor and assist children in learning class material using the teacher’s lesson plans, providing students with individualized attention and allowing teachers more time for lesson planning and teaching. Educational requirements range from a high school diploma to some college training. Average salary: $19,410

You could be Diddy's new assistant!

Sean Combs - aka Diddy - is looking for an assistant. Lucky for you, he just narrowed the applicant pool to only college graduates.

Diddy placed a help-wanted ad onto YouTube, looking for someone to do everything from holding his umbrella in the rain to chaperoning his band.

Don't get too excited just yet - Diddy doesn't want any old resume - he wants a video resume.

"It's a new age, new time, new era," he says in his first posting. "Forget coming into the office and having a meeting with me and being all nervous."

Diddy is onto something here - video resumes are next "new" thing in career advancement. Though usually not be used in place of a traditional paper resume, videos are a great supplement to showcase your personality and strengths on camera - and to put a face to all the faceless resumes.

But, if not executed properly, your 'visume' could end up hurting you, rather than helping you. For example, if you talk to long, get too creative or act unprofessionally, your chances of being brought in for an interview decrease. But, if you're to-the-point, charismatic and professional, you're sure to at least get a viewing.

Joe Turner, career expert, offers nine video resume mistakes to be aware of:

• It runs too long. "Don't bore the hiring managers. Keep it under two minutes; about one minute should get your message across.
• You don't know who you are. "Prepare your 'elevator pitch' before you record. Here is an example: 'I'm a seasoned Sales Manager whose strength in creative sales and marketing techniques generated $500,000 in brand new revenue for my employer in 12 months.'"
• Thinking a video résumé is your résumé on video. "Contrary to its name, a video resume is NOT a resume. It's a 30 to 60 second ad spot to entice your viewers to look at your (digital) résumé and find out more about you."
• Rambling on camera  "Put it on paper first. Think of what you want to say about yourself. Write it down in short sentences and then say it aloud. Replace any syntax problems or phrases that are hard to enunciate with simpler words. You speak differently than you write, so keep it in a conversational tone as if you were speaking to your real-life interviewer a few feet away."
• Too many "ums and ahs." "Don't wing it. Your finished product should be compelling. This is the most professional image you want to present, so prepare ahead of time and memorize your script."
• Severe case of "Serious Face."  "Have a bit of fun with it. You want to project enthusiasm. Think "upbeat" and smile when you look into the camera. Imagine that you are meeting with a flesh and blood hiring manager at a great company who already likes what she sees."
• Giving far too much information. "Remember the KISS formula: Keep it simple stupid."
• Uninviting appearance. "Remember, a video résumé is a type of interview, so dress the part. Give the appearance of someone in the role for which you are applying. You will also have some background showing on the video.  Make sure it's not your dirty laundry or the clutter of your bedroom."
• Too many "Clowns."  "No arms folded or hands on hips. While it's OK to use your hands to accentuate, watch out for those 'clowns.' These are what acting coaches call unnecessary arm movements which, on playback, tend to make you appear like a clown, i.e., humorous. You don't want unintentional laughs. Keep your arms and hands by your side as much as possible."
  

Caution: Do not use e-mail without adult supervision

In my 20-some years of living, I've seen the evolution of cell phones replacing house phones; laptops replacing desktops and typewriters; iPods replacing radios; text messages replacing phone calls; and DVR recorders replacing the VCR or watching a TV show in real time.

Perhaps the biggest evolution I've seen has been that of e-mail communication. E-mail is one of the best forms of communication to date, if you ask me. It's quick, simple and most of the time, efficient. But new studies show that e-mail use, along with other forms of e-communication, is getting some people in trouble - at work.

More than a quarter of U.S. companies surveyed (27.6 percent) terminated an employee for violating e-mail policies in the past year and 45.5 percent of companies have disciplined an employee for violating e-mail policies in the same time period, according to a survey conducted by Forrester Consulting for Proofpoint Inc., which provides e-mail security and data loss prevention solutions for organizations.

More and more, employees are either unaware of a company e-mail policy, or they figure it's nothing that is taken too seriously. However, the survey showed that nearly a third of companies (32.1 percent) employ staff to read or otherwise analyze outbound e-mail and 37 percent perform regular audits of outbound e-mail content.

Plus, think about all of the other communications channels in today's enterprise - there are blogs, instant messaging, social networking sites (like Facebook or MySpace) and media sharing sites (like YouTube) - just to name a few.

More than 1 in 7 companies surveyed (14 percent) have disciplined an employee for violating social networking policies in the past 12 months; 11 percent have disciplined an employee for violating media sharing/posting policies and 19.2 percent have disciplined an employee for violating blog or message board policies, according to the survey.

Richard Cellini, vice president of Integrity Interactive, offers these things to remember to avoid getting in trouble with your e-mail at work:

• E-mail is not private.
• E-mail is forever; it can never be deleted.
• E-mail is never informal or temporary.
• E-mail can be forwarded or mis-directed.
• E-mail is discoverable and may be required to be turned over by law.
• Even if no wrongdoing has occurred, poor word choice can give the appearance that something wrong has occured. For example, Cellini says employees draw attention to a situation by dramatizing it. Writing, "We're getting fired" or "Someone is going to get killed!" in an e-mail will only get you in trouble, even if you meant nothing by it, Cellini says.
• Company has the right to access all communications created at work or with company resources, including: Intranet usage, Internet, IM, chat rooms, written documents, telephone and voicemail.
• "Good judgement" should be the guide to computer use.

As a general rule, to avoid getting in trouble at your new job, just ask about the company e-mail policy, as well as any other e-communication activities.

Don't take your job search on vacation!

Even though summer is halfway over, it's not too late for this advice - especially because  the longer it takes you to find a job, the longer your summer lasts.

Many job-seekers think summer is a bad time to search for a job. Don't get stuck in the mentality that if everyone else is on at the beach or on vacation, you should be too.  Take advantage of everyone else's summer fever by making yourself known as the front runner for a job.

Follow these tips from Dave Sanford, executive vice president for client services and managing partner at Winter, Wyman, a staffing firm based in Massachusetts.

1. Spend more quality time with hiring managers. "It's often harder to secure meetings and appointments with HR specialists and hiring managers because of vacation schedules, but many people who are in the office have lighter schedules and may have more time to spend with you."
2. Network in alternative places. "Go on that HR professional association sunset cruise. Polish your swing and sign-up for the annual biotech golf tournament...You may choose to leave the seminars and workshops until the fall, but don't let your networking skills go to waste."
3. Keep your resume and references updated at all times. "You don't need to post your resume or make it public, but you should always be ready with it in hand should someone request it or you uncover an employment prospect. There is a huge difference between giving a reference and giving a glowing reference. Seek out the great ones."
4. Take advantage of relocation. "Plenty of people move on to new jobs or educational opportunities - many of them right before the start of a new school year. That means their employers are looking to replace them during mid- and late-summer."
5. Enhance your talent. "Find at least one educational, professional or personal development opportunity during the summer to enhance your skills and knowledge."
6. Get organized and stay motivated. "There are countless distractions in teh summer so dedicate one full day to getting organized. Gather up all your contact information, job responses, resume drafts and find an organizational system that works for you."
7. Assesss your financial situation. "This will allow you to determine, before you head off to vacation, or put off the start date of your newly found job, how flexible you can be about salary, benefits and the entire compensation package."

Generation Y(awn)

I don' t know about you, but I'm tired of being tired.

Not surprisingly, so are most Americans. According to a new survey, "Diet Pepsi MAX Yawn of Time," nearly half (46 percent) of the 1,100 adults surveyed feel they are more tired than ever. Thirty-one percent blame the workplace.

What happens when you're tired at work? Well, the most logical answer is that you yawn. Eighty-six percent of people think yawning is contagious, but the survey found that the younger you are, the more likely you are to yawn.

Here are some fun findings from the survey about Generation Y (that's you!) and other demographics and their yawning tendencies. How do you weigh in?

• Gen Y'ers (age 18-28) are twice as likely to yawn as Baby Boomers (age 43-61). Gen Y is nearly three times as likely as adults over the age of 62 to yawn 10 or more times a day.
• Single people are twice as likely to yawn 10 more times a day (35 percent) than those who are divorced, separated or widowed (17 percent).
• Thirty-eight percent of people in Boston yawn compared to only 19 percent of Los Angeles.
• Twenty-three percent of Southerners fake yawns, while only 12 percent of people on the East Coast fake them. (What happened to southern hospitality?)
• Fifty percent of Americans are yawning about celebrity rehab attendance stories.
• Roughly two-thirds of Americans (67 percent) yawn during religious services.
• One-third have yawned on a date.
• Nearly one-in-ten has yawned on job interview (Note: Don't do that).
• Nearly one-in-ten say they've had a bug fly into their mouth while yawning.

Let Freedom Ring

Summer is synonymous with the Fourth of July, which is synonymous with independence, freedom and everything else that makes our country awesome. But, come Thursday morning, you might be wishing you hadn't celebrated the 4th with quite as much freedom as you did.

Luckily for you, freedom doesn't exist only in our country, but also in the workplace. Nowadays, flexible work environments are prevalent in numerous companies, big and small.

Some examples of your freedom and independence at work:

• Telecommuting
• Required breaks
• Extended vacation
• Flexible hours
• Flex time

Here are some positions that allow you to have some flexibility when it comes to your job. Most allow flexibility with shifts, how many days you work in a row, the number of hours you work, etc.

Firefighter

Nurse

Hospitality employees

Teachers

Happy 4th of July!

Shake someone's hand today!

I'm gonna be honest with you for a second - I've got a nice... handshake.

Men have commented on how strong my grip is "for a girl;" prospective employers have said it's one of the best handshakes they've had in a long time. But believe me, a good handshake doesn't come easy.

Tomorrow, June 28th, is National Handshake Day, according to Chase's Calendar of Events. It's the perfect time to make sure your grip is at its best.

Marjorie Brody and Pamela J. Holland, workplace/career experts and co-authors of Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move? offer tips on how to perfect your handshake:

3 steps to a proper handshake

Brody offers the following tips to make your handshake more effective:

1. As you’re approaching someone, extend your right arm when you’re about three feet away. Slightly angle your arm across your chest, with your thumb pointing up.
2. Lock hands, thumb joint to thumb joint. Then, firmly clasp the other person’s hand – without any bone crushing or macho posturing.
3. Pump the other person’s hand two to three times and let go.

6 tips to an effective meet ‘n greet

1. Stand up

2. Step or lean forward

3. Make eye contact

4. Have a pleasant or animated face

5. Shake hands

6. Greet the other person and repeat his or her name

No thank you? No job.

I might seem like I reference my mother a lot in this blog, but sometimes I can't help it - she  gave me some great advice when I was growing up that has gotten me a long way in life - especially in the work force.

The "great advice" I'm referring to this time? Saying thank-you. Not a hard task, but surprisingly, not something people remember to do after a job interview either.

Sending interviewers a customized thank-you is critical as a job-seeker. Not only are you gaining an edge over the competition, but you're forcing employers to remember you, as well as giving yourself another opportunity to sell yourself for the job.

The format of your thank-you can vary: Some employers prefer an e-mail, some like a good ol' fashioned hand-written note and others like a typed hard-copy. No matter what form you send it in, what matters the most is that you send one at all.

Nearly 15 percent of hiring managers say they would not hire someone who failed to send a thank-you letter after the interview. Thirty-two percent say they would still consider the candidate, but would think less of him or her, according to 2005 CareerBuilder.com survey.

Here a few tips for writing a great thank-you letter:

Short and sweet.

Three paragraphs is a good guideline to follow for your thank-you. It's long enough to include the necessary information - thanking the hiring manager for the opportunity; reminding him/her of your qualifications and reiterating your interest in the position - but short enough that it won't bore them.

Remind.

Your thank-you note will be lost in the shuffle if you forget to remind the hiring manager who you are and what you'll bring the company. Thank-you notes are a great opportunity to include key information you forgot to mention in the interview, clarify any points or try to ease any reservations the interviewer might have expressed. It's your last chance to sell yourself - don't miss it.

Proofread.

Your thank-you is your last impression on a hiring manager. Just like your resume, it should be free of any grammatical or spelling errors. Also, if you're interviewing several places, check that each thank-you has the correct information for each company and position.

Customize.

A generic thank-you letter won't cut it. Tailor each thank-you to the company, position and relationship you established with your hiring manager. Include information that shows you were paying attention during your interview. For example, if you discussed a specific issue in your interview, highlight any further findings on the subject in your thank-you.

Write to everyone.

Send a tailored thank-you to every person you interviewed with at a company. Make sure they aren't identical - odds are that they'll share it with each other when discussing your potential as an employee. To make each thank-you different, think back to topics discussed during each interview, such as specific clients.

College Skills Translation

At first thought, you probably don't realize that your capabilities of studying, watching TV and Facebooking - all at the same time - can be put to use in the business world.

Think again. While college does teach you the hard-nosed skills relevant to your major or academic field, you're also honing vital "soft" skills that many employers look for. The problem is, you don't realize it.

So, now that you have realized it (even if I had to tell you), the next step is figuring out how to translate your TiVo skills into a language employers will understand. (Don't worry, I'll help you with that too.)

Take a look at the following "soft skills" and learn how to turn them into a skill employers seek - just don't forget to mention them in the interview.

College skill: Juggling a full class load and extracurricular activities at once. Business translation: "I have excellent time-management skills." Suggested career field: Accounting, banking & finance

College skill: Pulling all-nighters. Business translation: "I have the drive to put in the extra time and effort on important projects." Suggested career fields: Consulting, banking, law and technology.

College skill: Group living (in a dorm, sorority, fraternity, scholarship hall, etc). Business translation: "I can work with a diverse group of people under any given circumstance." Suggested career fields: Sales & marketing, retail, non-profit.

College skill: Facebook/MySpace/Blogging/iPod/YouTube profiency. Business translation: "I understand technology, I can raise awareness about your company and connect with customers through new mediums." Suggested career fields: Advertising, sales & marketing, technology.

College skill: Working on group projects for class. Business translation: "I work well with others." Suggested career fields: Sales, business, customer service.

College skill: Completing assignments and projects. Business translation: "I have the ability to meet deadlines." Suggested career fields: Journalism, event planning, law.

College skill: Extracurricular activities: President of your frat or sorority,  head of student government, captain of an intramural sports team. Business translation: "I am a leader."                 Suggested career fields: Management, government, human resources.

Job Spotlight: Promotional Marketing

On days like today (warm, sunny summer days) I'd rather be doing anything than being stuck inside all day at my desk. Don't get me wrong - I love my job - sometimes I just wish I could work outside the confines of my typical 9 to 5.

That got me thinking - you might be fresh out of college and ready to work - just not ready for a 9 to 5 desk job. What are your options?

If you fit into that category, you should look into being a brand ambassador, or event marketing.

Overview

Brand ambassadors and event marketers are typically (but not limited to) young, energetic college graduates with related experience, lots of creativity, strong communication skills and computer skills. In both of these fields, you are typically hosting promotions linking a company, organization or brand to specific events such as tours, concerts, sporting events, festivals, etc.

Working conditions

While working in an office is sometimes protocol in this position, some companies  send crews out for weeks or months at a time. Long hours, including nights and weekends, are common. Substantial travel may be involved as well - you might have to attend the concert where your brand is being promoted or meet with a client in your territory (which isn't that bad considering you can see all the best concerts or travel to some sweet places).

Qualifications and training

A wide range of educational backgrounds is acceptable but many employers prefer people with experience in related occupations and a broad liberal arts background. Some companies prefer a bachelor's degree in marketing, but a degree in sociology, psychology, literature, journalism or philosophy, among other subjects, might also be acceptable. Requirements vary, depending on the particular job.

Computer skills are vital, since marketing and product promotion is common on the Internet. You may also need additional training or special teaching instruction so you're licensed to drive a truck or van to transport equipment, if necessary.

Brand ambassadors and event marketers must be personable, creative, flexible and outgoing.

Want more?

Check out these positions for places to get started:

Beverage Brand Ambassador

Retail merchandiser for sporting goods