Ask the Career Advisor - Frequently Asked Questions
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Resume/Cover Letter Questions
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Interviewing Issues
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Just Out of College
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Self-Employment/Telecommuting
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Starting a Business
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Career Change
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Salary Issues
- Q: What type of a salary would a health and safety inspector/manager receive if they have all experience needed?
- Q: I am trying to locate some sort of current salary survey showing average salaries for recent MBA grads in the NYC area. Could you please direct my search?
- Q: I'm considering taking a course in HTML, the course application form asks about salary expectations after graduating. I have no idea what a reasonable salary expectation is in this field. Can anyone help me by providing a salary range for a professional webmaster/HTML composer? I want to be accurate in filling out my application.
- Q: I am looking for information on salaries for college degreed quality control chemists. I have been having difficulty finding any information for this in the Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey area. Please help.
- Q: I'm having problems answering a certain question on an interview. First, what do I say when they ask me "why should we hire you; why do you want to work for us. what salary range are you looking for?
- Q: I am considering an entry-level position with a reputable bank as a sales/marketing assistant for their 401K Services department. We have yet to negotiate a salary, but before we do, I would like to research what a typical salary range for this type of position would look like. Any ideas where to look online for this information?
- Q: Can you give me an idea of what average salaries are for loan processors with a bachelor's degree? I have tried the US Gov. Labor Statistics website (among many others), but can't find anything current. I've also done searches for salary surveys, and cost of living. Any other suggestions?
- Q: My six month review is approaching at my current job. When I accepted the position my understanding was that it consisted of accounting functions only. However, since I have been there, I have become Payroll Manager, Facilities Manager, Parking Monitor, Computer Consultant, etc. While I enjoy the challenge of these different jobs, I feel that I am not being properly compensated for them. My problem is that I would like a better idea of how to calculate my worth to the company by performing these diverse functions. Do you have any ideas, or web sites that could help me?
- Q: I have been at the same job for quite a while. Is there an on-line resource to find out what todays salary range is for a specific line of work geographically that is NOT high tech?
- Q: I would like to know what kind of salary range to expect for an entry level accountant and for an entry level financial analyst in Houston.
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International Issues
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Resume/Cover Letter Questions
Q: Is it a good idea to include the complete address and phone number of an employer (past or present) on your resume?
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A: As with any piece of written communication, a resume should be targeted to a particular audience, have a purpose behind it and use a means to organize the content. Your resume should be answering the questions, "Why should I hire you? What value do you add to my organization?" Therefore, anything that is beyond the scope of these questions does not belong on your resume. While you'll want to list who you worked for and the inclusive dates, your employers' addresses become extraneous information. It's just not important enough to place on your resume when there's much more important information that needs to be strategically placed on that real estate.
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Q: What are some guidelines for a Curriculum Vitae? Where might I find examples of some formats?
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A: I would refer you to some excellent resources to answer your question:
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Q: If a company requests that I e-mail my resume, what format should I use? Should I enter my resume in the body of the e-mail or can I send it as an attachment? If I send it as an attachment what format should I use?
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A: Rebecca Smith, author of Electronic Resumes & Online Networking, suggests you are better off sending your emailed resume in the body of your resume for these reasons:
- Many companies request that you don't send attachments.
- Some email programs don't support attachments at all.
- Attachments can take up a lot of disk space.
- Companies can be vulnerable to computer viruses from email attachments.
To send your resume in the body of the email message, you can either save it first as a text file (does not support bold, italic or other format conventions - but most email doesn't either) or simply cut and paste your resume into your email message. To do this go to Edit, Select All, Copy and Paste into your email.
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Q: I am applying for a position I saw on the Internet. The job description says I must submit salary requirements in order to be considered. What are the pros and cons of doing this? Where should I include my salary requirements?
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A: It is often best not to spell out your salary requirements. Sometimes this is just a way for an organization to gather salary information from would-be employees. If you are determined to comply, however, you may say "salary commensurate with job responsibilities" or choose a salary range. If you do include salary information, you would put it in the cover letter, not in the resume.
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Interviewing Issues
Q: What should I ask when the interviewer asks me if I have any questions?
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A: A really good question to ask near the end of the interview that helps you take a temperature reading of the interviewer's interest in you is: Based on this interview, how closely would you say I match the qualifications you are looking for in the ultimate candidate for this position?
It is also good to ask whether the interviewer has any concerns about you that would prevent him/her to consider you seriously for the position. Both of these questions elicit a response that gets the interviewer to admit how strong a contender you are. If there are issues, it also gives them time to surface so that you can address them -- especially if they are "misconceptions."
Aside from these, consider what you really want to know about the job or the context of the job that would help you decide whether this is the position for you!
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Q: What if the company you are applying with asks you your salary history? Also, if they do ask what kind of salary you are looking for, how should you answer without giving them numbers?
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A: You can say that you have been steadily earning increases commensurate with your responsibilities. When asked about your salary goals, ask first what is the salary range for this position? Talk in terms of ranges only and say that you are expecting a salary commensurate with the responsibilities of the job and competitive with salaries in your field.
Do your homework prior to the interview to gauge the salary range for a job like this in your industry. A good place to start this research is at the Web site http://www.jobsmart.org. There's some helpful salary report information here. I would also highly recommend your reading the book by salary guru, Jack Chapman - Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a minute.
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Q: The last job interview I went to was awful. Both the company representatives were completely "closed" in their body language (arms AND legs crossed all the time) and there was no way I could make them open up. What could I have done?
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A: Good question! Sometimes you can set the stage by commenting on objects in the room (if this is the interviewer's office). If you could personalize the exchange, you could have a shot. On the other hand, these interviewers could have been testing you to see how you would react to their closed body language. Hopefully, you stayed cool and calm and didn't let this throw you. On the other hand, maybe this is an indication of the culture. Maybe you don't want to work in such an environment. Aside from the body language, look for indications about how your answers landed with the interviewers. There might have been other indications to look for. Another way to open the dialogue up is by tacking on questions at the end of the answers you give to their questions. ex: How does what I just said relate to the goals you have for this position?
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Q: How should I prepare for a scholarship interview?
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A: A good way to prepare for any interview is to anticipate what questions you will be asked and prepare the best possible answers to those questions! This is a lot like preparing for an exam in a class you are taking. You excel in classes by anticipating the questions that will be on the exam, studying those questions, refining your answers and taking the exam. Haven't you found that the very same questions you came up with appeared on the exam? So ask yourself, "What is the purpose of this interview? What do they want to determine?" They want to pick the most outstanding people to bestow scholarships on! So start by answering these questions:
- What do you have going for you that would make you the right candidate for this scholarship?
- What contribution do you intend to make to the world as a result of receiving an education?
- What qualities do you possess that would give us confidence that you would follow through on your commitments?
- What is your track record?
- What successes have you accomplished to date?
Speak to other recipients of this scholarship in past years and ask if you can what questions were asked.
Now it's your turn. What questions do you anticipate you'll be asked? How will you answer them as well as the ones posed above?
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Q: I have never quite known how to answer the following question: "What are your faults?" What is an appropriate response?
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A: This is a very common question. If you say you have no faults, you come off looking arrogant. If you use humor here, you may appear too flippant. This is a difficult question and the interviewer wants to see how you handle it.
Use a fault that can otherwise be seen as a strength. Never fall into the trap of seeing the interviewer as mother/father confessor and offering up something that is important to the job!
A good example could be:
"I have difficulty working with people who don't pull their weight. I have high standards for my work and I expect others to have high standards too. I'm learning to speak up and request that others contribute more completely long before I start getting angry about a situation that is unequal."
Also supply a solution or a way in which you are dealing with your fault.
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Q: What is the appropriate time to wait for the call if you got the job or not? Do you call them and ask them?
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A: It is good practice when interviewing to ask near the end of the interview: "What is your timetable for making your hiring decision? If I haven't heard from you in that time period, is it all right for me to call you?" That way you leave the meeting with a clear idea of time and have gotten their ok to call. Interviewing may take longer than previously intended. So no news may not be bad news. After all, hiring is always done in ADDITION to all other job duties. I would give them a week or two and follow up asking to "touch base to see where you are in your hiring decision making process and to see if there is anything additional you'd like from me." I would reiterate your enthusiasm for the job.
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Q: I am hearing "where would you like to be X years from now" and have tried to handle it with humor (which is the truth, i.e. "ideally living in a tropical climate on lottery winnings..." but I would be interested to know how a professional would broach this question.
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A: Your instincts are right! Always think of the question behind the question. What do they really want to know? "Five years from now I see myself continuing to work hard and doing the best possible job I can." This answer tells the interviewer that you are a hard worker and that you have high standards. You might also offer a caveat that you intend to continue learning, growing and adding value in your field.
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Just Out of College
Q: I recently graduated from college and am having difficulty finding a job because I lack the actual experience of all other candidates. However, how am I ever going to gain this experience if no one is willing to give me the chance to prove myself and my abilities?
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A: You express a classic issue. The good news is that eventually you will find a spot and you will launch your career. You'll need to be a bit creative in the meantime. Actually, many colleges today are solving this problem for students by offering programs in conjunction with their studies that are internships or cooperative education programs. This means taking some time out during your college study to work in the field you are considering after graduation. Many times employers are so impressed with the quality of the interns or co-op students that they offer job opportunities upon graduation. Here are some suggestions for you to explore. Perhaps they will stimulate your thinking and will lead you to think of other approaches you can try:
- Contact the school you graduated from and see if they would work with you and the local employers to create a post graduation internship. Start with the department you majored in and/or the career planning office on campus.
- Find a business on your own and offer to volunteer your services for a period of time (3 to six months) in turn for a letter of recommendation upon the successful completion of this project.
- (Re)Write your resume in a functional format, using college course content, demonstrating your knowledge of the field. For ideas about how to do this, visit Yana Parker's Web site that compliments her Damn Good Resume books.
- Write a proposal for a project that will meet an unmet need of businesses in the field you are pursuing and start heavily networking in the industry until you find someone who will take you up on your project. (You may need to do a bit of research to pull this off successfully.)
- Look for a job in an emerging industry such as new media where the criteria for credentials is less stringent than that in older, more established fields.
- Network heavily with alumni from your college. Obtain their names from the alumni office at your school. People who have graduated from your alma mater will have more of a vested interest in your career success and may be more inclined to take a chance on you.
- Get yourself some publicity or get yourself published. If you write an article or book or get recognition for some sort of contribution in your community, you will have a feather in your cap and employers will see you as having something worthwhile to offer them.
- Join a job search club or start a success team. Others may have some ideas and insights for you that you can't see for yourself. There are affiliates in many churches around the country or there is an organization called the 5 O'clock Club.
- Hire yourself a career coach. Visit the International Coach Federation and investigate the numerous coaches listed through their referral service. Look particularly for those who specialize in career and job search matters. Many coaches offer free sample sessions.
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Self-Employment/Telecommuting
Q: I'm looking to find ways to work at home on my computer.
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A: There are actually a lot of opportunities for you. Check out www.assistu.com for information about training to become a virtual assistant. This is a career in which you act as someone's "right hand person" from afar. Try these books for some further ideas:
Also try this Web site for telecommuting jobs:www.tjobs.com
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Starting a Business
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Q: How do I go from an "Idea" to a business?
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A: This is a great question because you recognize that there is a wide gap between having an idea and turning it into a viable business proposition. Here are some suggestions and resources to help you:
- Work backwards from your goal. Ask yourself, can I do this today? If not, what must I do first?
- Look for help from other entrepreneurs in your community who have started businesses from scratch. Perhaps you'll want to join a group of entrepreneurs who meet for monthly breakfast or lunch meetings. Call up your local newspaper's business area to ask for what organizations are in your area. Or inquire in your local library.
- Take a class from a local college or community education program on small business start up. These are very popular and very widespread.
- Check out this new book - The Rhythm of Business: The Key to Building and Running Successful Companies by Jeffrey C. Shuman with David Rottenberg
- Look for help from this volunteer organization: SCORE On Line
- Tap the government for help: Small Business Administration
- Take an online workshop: www.sb.gov.bc.ca/smallbus/workshop/start.html
- Business Resources on the Web
- Join an entrepreneur oriented listserv or newsgroup. Search for your topic using AltaVista's search engine. Ask questions of the participants.
- Get inspired from others' success stories: The Entrepreneur's Mind
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Q: We are having a big problem marketing ourselves. How or what should we do to gain clients?
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A: Here are some resources that might give you a game plan to follow:
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Q: How do I start a consulting business? I have the customers but need to know how to do it according to the law.
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A: One of the best resources for the nitty gritty of setting up a business (the practical side of things such as taxes and legal issues), I would highly recommend:
Other wonderful resources on consulting include:
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Career Change
Q: I am contemplating a career change. How should I start looking for a career that is both profitable and satisfying?
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A: You ask an important question. Both satisfying and profitable? I would start with the satisfying part and then see what profitable ideas come out of that. The question is what are you moving towards? There are several ways to proceed with this quest: One is to find some books and start following through with their exercises. Another idea is to take a career exploration class perhaps through your alma mater. Many colleges offer such programs for alumni who are interested in changing career direction. A third approach would be to hire a career coach to enter this journey with you and to guide you individually. Here are some reputable organizations to explore for such help:
Book suggestions:
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Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher, Annie Gottlieb
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What Color Is Your Parachute? 1999 : A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters & Career-Changers by Bolles Richard Nelson
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Finding Your Perfect Work : The New Career Guide to Making a Living, Creating a Life by Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards
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Discovering Your Career in Business by Timothy Butler, Ph.D. and James Waldroop, Ph.D.
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Find Your Calling, Love Your Life by Martha Finney and Deborah Dasch
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Salary Issues
Q: What type of a salary would a health and safety inspector/manager receive if they have all experience needed?
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A: Job Zone offers these statistics about the salary range in New York:
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See if Jobsmart's listing doesn't also offer you some clues
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Career Advisor offers some specific information of help to you:
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Q: I am trying to locate some sort of current salary survey showing average salaries for recent MBA grads in the NYC area. Could you please direct my search?
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A: Overall salary as of 1996-1997 for MBA graduates was $47,153 according to:
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http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bcsalary.htm
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This survey recommends adding 15% for New York:
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http://www.relojournal.com/SALARY.HTM
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You can also calculate the changes in money from year to year from 1996 or 1997 to 1998:
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http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
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Also try these resources for further help:
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WomenConnect.com
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Jobstar Salary Surveys:
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http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary/sal-surv.htm
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Perhaps the New York State Department of Labor could help you further:
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http://www.labor.state.ny.us/html/library.htm
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Q: I'm considering taking a course in HTML, the course application form asks about salary expectations after graduating. I have no idea what a reasonable salary expectation is in this field. Can anyone help me by providing a salary range for a professional webmaster/HTML composer? I want to be accurate in filling out my application.
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A: This US News & World Report summary of a Web Site Developer offers salary information for you: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/work/wohot17.htm
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Q: I am looking for information on salaries for college degreed quality control chemists. I have been having difficulty finding any information for this in the Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey area. Please help.
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A: It is difficult to find such specific information online without paying for it!
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Salary Search
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http://www.ioma.com/zone/search.html
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allows you to complete a profile of the job for which you would like compensation information. Within 24 hours the results will be faxed or e-mailed to you, for $50. There is no charge if no information is found.
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The Internet Job Source Guide to Salaries Online
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http://www.statejobs.com/salary (also includes links to state job banks)
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lists only general information.
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Perhaps the New York State Department of Labor could help you further:
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http://www.labor.state.ny.us/html/library.htm
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Alternatively, put your tax dollars to work and contact a reference librarian in your area for this information.
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Q: I'm having problems answering a certain question on an interview. First, what do I say when they ask me "why should we hire you; why do you want to work for us. what salary range are you looking for?
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A: You need to demonstrate that you've done your "homework." That you know a lot about the company and what value you would add to the team. This involves researching the organization as well as identifying the skills and experience you would bring to the table. As far as salary goes, tell the interviewer that you are looking for a salary in the range that is commensurate with the job opportunity. Do some homework on that count too!
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Research salary information at http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary/index.htm
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Q: I am considering an entry-level position with a reputable bank as a sales/marketing assistant for their 401K Services department. We have yet to negotiate a salary, but before we do, I would like to research what a typical salary range for this type of position would look like. Any ideas where to look online for this information?
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A: Here's a link that might help you: http://www.careeradviser.com/articles/display.cfm?docID=48
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Try these as well:
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http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary/index.htm
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http://stats.bls.gov/oes/oes_data.htm
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Q: Can you give me an idea of what average salaries are for loan processors with a bachelor's degree? I have tried the US Gov. Labor Statistics website (among many others), but can't find anything current. I've also done searches for salary surveys, and cost of living. Any other suggestions?
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A: Here is information about a loan officer:
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http://www.explore.cornell.edu/ careerzone/jr.asp
- Loan Dept.: Manager $50,000
- Loan Dept.: Supervisor $42,000
- Loan Dept.: Asst. Supervisor $38,000
According to a 1997 Survey of Banking at the WomenConnect site:
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http://www.womenconnect.com
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Q: My six month review is approaching at my current job. When I accepted the position my understanding was that it consisted of accounting functions only. However, since I have been there, I have become Payroll Manager, Facilities Manager, Parking Monitor, Computer Consultant, etc. While I enjoy the challenge of these different jobs, I feel that I am not being properly compensated for them. My problem is that I would like a better idea of how to calculate my worth to the company by performing these diverse functions. Do you have any ideas, or web sites that could help me?
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A: Since your contributions are so diverse, you may find it helpful to compare your salary to that of a consultant with such a diverse span of activities.
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Here are some salary comparison sites that might help you further:
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Jobstar Salary Surveys:
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http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary/sal-prof.htm
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Salary Search http://www.ioma.com/zone/search.html
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allows you to complete a profile of the job for which you would like compensation information. Within 24 hours the results will be faxed or e-mailed to you, for $50. There is no charge if no information is found.
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The Internet Job Source Guide to Salaries Online
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http://www.statejobs.com/salary (also includes links to state job banks)
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lists only general information.
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Q: I have been at the same job for quite a while. Is there an on-line resource to find out what todays salary range is for a specific line of work geographically that is NOT high tech?
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A: Here are several resources for you:
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Jobstar Salary Surveys:
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http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary/sal-surv.htm
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The Internet Job Source Guide to Salaries Online
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http://www.statejobs.com/salary
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America’s Career Infonet
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http://www.acinet.org/acinet/
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Salary Source
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http://www.salarysource.com/
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Women Connect
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http://www.womenconnect.com/
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Q: I would like to know what kind of salary range to expect for an entry level accountant and for an entry level financial analyst in Houston.
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A: There are several ways to piece this information together:
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You can scan the Houston papers for want ads with salary information attached:
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http://statejobs.com/tx.html
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You could look for national salary information and then use the calculator to compare cost of living information in Houston:
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Jobstar Profession Specific Salary Surveys:
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http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/salary/sal-prof.htm
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Or you could network among people in professional associations in your field in the Houston area.
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International Issues
Q: I am looking to relocate to Brazil with a BS in Organizational Management. I am seeking a job where I can learn Portuguese while on the job.
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A: An international trade company has a Web site that may help you:
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Serra International, Inc. http://www.serraintl.com/
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Click on Country Directories. http://www.serraintl.com/country.html
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Choose the several links listed for Brazil and start targeting some companies!
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Q: I'm interested to find a good opening in Dubai (UAE), can you help me to find a good web-site?
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A: This Web site has links to newspapers world-wide.
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http://library.uncg.edu/news/
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Try the ones in the UAE for articles about companies of interest to you.
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http://library.uncg.edu/news/nq-state.asp
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The Khaleej Times On-Line has a section called Jobs in the Gulf.
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Q: I am currently in Dubai - U.A.E. I have been trying for the last three months to find an appropriate site for Banking and Finance in Dubai. I always end up finding job listings based in the U.S.
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A: bankinfo.com http://www.bankinfo.com/ has links to companies in 212 countries. Their International Banking link may offer you links to resources and people who could further help you.
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Q: I am a civil engineer with a specialty - Hydro engineering. I graduated the Sofia University in Bulgaria, equal to MSC. Can you help me finding a job in USA or Canada?
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A: This organization seems to specialize in helping people gain employment in North America. They charge a fee for doing so and we cannot necessarily vouch for their services, but it may be useful for you to explore what they offer:
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Canada & US Job Search, Canada and US Employment http://www.canadausemployment.com/
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Q: Help me find a job representing US firms in turkey.
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A: Perhaps this Import/Export site will help you get started with your goal:
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The Import Export Directory http://www.serraintl.com/
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also try:
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The Internationalisthttp://www.internationalist.com/
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then try:
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Export@llhttp://www.exportall.net/
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Clearinghouse for export and international business information on the 'Net.
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and:
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American Export Registerhttp://www.aernet.com/english/
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Q: How can I find job postings or job banks that specialize in the Dominican Republic?
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A: One way would be to go to newspapers in the Dominican Republic. There's a link to them at this site:
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http://library.uncg.edu/news/
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Scroll down to the Domincan Republic and click on it. Then look at their newspapers' classified sections for job listings.
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Another approach would be to contact a resort you'd like to work for and ask what staffing organization they use to hire people. Then go to that organization yourself.
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Here's a Web site that specializes in jobs in tourism:
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http://www.jobsinparadise.com/
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Q: I am looking for a job as a Latin American sales manager based out of NY or Miami.
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A: Try these Latin American sites:
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Bolsa de Trabajo GlobalNet Markets http://www.bolsadetrabajo.com/
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Latin America's Professional Network http://www.latpro.com/
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Alternatively, search for newspapers in the region for classified listings at this newspapers online site:
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http://library.uncg.edu/news/
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Q: I am hoping to find a job teaching English overseas. How do I go about finding non-corporate international jobs?
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A: Try this Web site:
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U.S. Dept. of State, American International Schools Office of Overseas Schools Web
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http://dosweb.lib.uic.edu/www/about_state/schools/
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Q: Is there any possibility for me to work in the US without any diploma but speaking several languages?
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A: It's tough to work in the States unless you have a unique set of skills that are at a premium here. Perhaps this Web site will help you: CampusCareerCenter WorldWide www.campuscareercenter.com.
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