How to Pick the Right Business Partner

Selecting the right business partner is no different than picking a spouse.

With a husband you have love, fidelity, beautiful kids and hopefully great sex to blind you from his faults. With a business partner the perfect match is all about finding someone to help execute the big idea and make you money--without the perks of heavy breathing, a big wedding and the ultimate, leg-shaking orgasm.

Romance and sexual compatibility aside, people make huge mistakes in partnering with the wrong people and it often leads to a loss of money, friendship and ultimately the death of a business. 

I should know.

You are taking this advice from a woman whose last three businesses failed because she partnered with the wrong people. What should you do to pick the right business partner?

Go beyond the initial questions normally used to determine business experience and passion. Use my experiences to learn how to clearly screen for the necessary qualifications, skills and personality traits of your future business partner.

Here's how to observe indelible character traits, check for self-esteem issues and identify childhood work-ethic clues to prevent your business partnership from failing before it even starts.

1) Where did the potential business partner grow up and how?

This question is the most important one and speaks to mindset, compatibility and most importantly work style. Hard work and long hours are required to start a business. Hard workers are made in childhood, not in high school, college or professional school.

If you were born and raised in the Midwest and worked on the family’s farm business from sun up to sun down, you will have different sensibilities from a city slicker New Yorker who summered in the Hamptons.

Why should you inquire about a potential business partner's upbringing and childhood? Because your personality and work ethic are fully developed by the age of 13, it is imperative that you examine your future business partner's childhood for work ethic clues. A hard-working person is not compatible with a pampered princess who has never worked a day in her life.

2) Is your future business partner happily married or happily single?

A growing business takes a serious blow to your mental health. The manic 22 hour work days and many sleepless nights requires an emotional support team of a happy family. Determine your future business partner's happiness quotient. If your business partner does not have a happy home life, his or her despair and family drama will cause many distractions. Unhappiness is contagious. An unhappy business partner will unconsciously seep despair and unhappiness into your business life. Happy people are money magnets.

3) How much money, business contacts and time is the business partner willing to invest into the venture upfront?

Too often enthusiastic business people sponsor college roommates, friends and acquaintances, into the new business venture. I made this mistake several times because I wanted to give people a chance and mentor them. If you need to mentor someone, find a non-profit to volunteer your services, a business partner is not a mentee.

My past business partners didn’t have to pay a dime to get into the action; at the time I foolishly valued their enthusiasm, more than the money. Here is the first law of Bad Business Partnerships: If you don’t invest any money, you don’t have any expectation of getting your money out of the business, so you don’t work harder than your partner, or expect the business to succeed...because you really have nothing to lose.

I never partner with anybody that doesn’t invest resources, contacts and money. Call me Cuba Gooding, Jr. because if your want to work with me you will have to…"Show me the money, honey.”

4)Does your future business partner think like an employee or an entrepreneur?

Is your business partner an employee or already an established entrepreneur? If they are an  entrepreneur ask them for how long, and what was their motivation to start this business?

Being an entrepreneur is a mindset. It is the ability to invest long-term. Unlike an employee who gets a salary every two weeks, a new entrepreneur must defer their salary and reinvest it into the business.

Most new businesses fail because the entrepreneurs still think like employees. They buy expensive furniture, pay high salaries to themselves and do not create products or services where they get a percentage of their money up front before they do the work.  

5) How does this partner respond to adversity?  

Profits in business are cyclical. Employees come and go, and customers, if you don’t have a solid process to retain them, are fleeting.

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  Ask questions about how your potential business partner has overcome problems in the past.
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  Put a plan in place to handle disagreements, employee disputes and customer complaints.
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  Start looking for clues that will reveal how this person handles the bad more so than the good.

To pick the right business partner you have to balance the delicate mix of compatibility and like-mindedness with business acumen and sales expertise. Finding a person who can successfully withstand the instability and all manners of craziness in business is actually more difficult than finding a spouse.

You can find the right business partner, however, if you notice every nuance, habit and personality trait to determine whether you can have a work spouse who is a partner in business and in life before you sign the partnership agreement.

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Men and Women at Work: Can We All Get Along?

It may be true that men are from Mars and women from Venus. That doesn’t mean the two sexes can’t effectively work together here on Earth.

John Gray’s New York Times bestseller “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” was a lighthearted look at differences between the sexes. It seems silly that it took a book to figure this out. As if it wasn’t obvious enough. But Gray’s work helped men and women develop better communication skills by pointing out that they have varying emotional needs. And there’s no more important place to understand this reality than at the office.

Once the political correctness is pushed aside, it’s plain to see that women and men simply approach work differently. And it has nothing to do with qualifications. After more than 30 years of the women’s movement, the workplace has been filled with highly skilled and accomplished women, whose educations and backgrounds have been on par with their male counterparts. However, the overwhelming majority of senior and CEO jobs in corporate America still remain in the hands of men. While gender bias, mostly in a covert fashion, continues to play a role, some researchers feel that the difference can be attributed to how women and men approach work.

That key difference? Competitiveness. There are, of course, women who can be just as, if not more, competitive than men. But as a whole, workplace studies have found that men put in longer hours, endure more hardships, are apt to relocate, and are willing to sacrifice family obligations more than women. If those are indeed the conclusions, it seems that women have a much smarter and healthier approach to work, even if they don’t occupy as many corner offices.

The workplace hasn’t become an all-out, battle royal of the sexes. In most professions men and women have gotten used to working together. But it stands to reason that the contrasting styles can lead to a breakdown in communication, a vital component in any successful business. But not to fear, men and women are more alike than different. Some may find that hard to believe, but it’s actually possible to improve cross-gender communication and smooth out the rough edges.

If you’re a woman who has frequent interactions with a men at work, you will be overwhelming successful if you recognize one simple rule: men think differently. And with that knowledge comes power.

One of the first places to start is recognizing that men typically talk to get information. While women do the same, there’s the added component of personal interaction in their conversations. An easily recognizable example of this in everyday life is the phone conversation. Guys call other guys get relay information or set up meetings. It’s rare that a man will call another “just to chat.”

Another striking difference is that women tend to ask more questions than men. Women typically want more details and a deeper understanding of an issue. Men sometimes see excessive questioning as a weakness and want to give the impression that they already have the information they need and can carry out the task.

An obvious distinction is that men tend to have a looser tongue than women. Offhand comments that can be offensive filter out of men’s mouths more than women. Most of the time it’s not an effort to harass a female employee, but a lack of judgment in telling a sexual or offensive joke. If a woman faces this situation, it’s wise to evaluate it on its merits and intention before reacting.

Everyone knows that men hate asking for directions, and that can go way beyond the map. It’s on commercials, television shows and movies constantly. You have a lost couple, a woman imploring the man to ask for directions, and the man outright refusing. What’s that guy’s problem? It’s a sign of weakness and men just hate that. Women can’t understand this phenomenon because they’re more intuitive than men and have no problem asking for help. To deal with this touchy subject at work, women can approach this in an easy-going manner and offer a man help “if he feels he needs it.”

When men and woman want to convey trust either at work or in a relationship, they, not surprisingly, do it differently. A woman who shares her feelings with a male co-worker is displaying trust, while men look more toward consistency and reliability as a marker. Because it’s so important to create bonds at work, a woman can win points with a male co-worker just by simple things like showing up on time, following through on a project or troubleshooting a problem.

While getting along with a man at work may feel like tip-toeing through a minefield sometimes, the bottom line is to maintain a professional relationship. Understanding why the opposite sex acts and reacts the way it does will go a long way in bridging the cultural gap in the workplace.

www.resume-resource.com

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Why Blogging Is Good For Your Career

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

Right now, "microblogging" is the technological term du jour. Twitter this; Twitter that. For some reason, once somebody created a Web site that told us we couldn't type more than 140 characters, we couldn't resist the challenge. It's as though we were dared to share our most inane thoughts. The birth of the pointless Tweet was born, also known as "I'm eating string cheese and watching reruns of 'ALF.'"

But remember a few years ago, when "blog" was the word you couldn't escape? Magazine covers were devoted to blogs. What does "blog" mean? Is it going to kill traditional media? Who should be blogging? Why do we care what you're blogging?

Now, blogs are something more akin to traditional (but still new) media. They're not on par with The New York Times or CNN in terms of reputation, but each of those news agencies has its own blogs. And over the last few years, especially during the election, blogs played a major role in breaking news stories and motivating groups. Corporations now have them to connect with customers. Blogs are here to stay.

So the question is: Do you have one? If not, you might be missing out on a valuable boost to your career.

Why would you possibly want to blog?

In an already crowded blogosphere, why would you want to be just another small fish in a huge pond? Adrienne Waldo thought the same thing before she started her own marketing blog, Ask a Millennial. But once she started to post, she realized people were reading and interested in what she had to say. It helped her freelance career and she believes it can help others, too.

"Especially for someone just out of school, a blog is an excellent supplement to a résumé," Waldo says. "It serves as a sort of enhanced writing sample because it allows employers a unique look at your personality in addition to seeing that you can, in fact, write. It also shows that you're tech-savvy and motivated -- both extremely important qualities to have in today's job market."

Of course, your blog won't be an asset to you if it lacks direction and attention. Waldo suggests beginning bloggers set goals for themselves.

"A blog can be useful for countless reasons, so it's best to decide for yourself what your purpose in starting it is," she recommends. "It's certainly fantastic for both visibility and staying current in today's market, but how you position it is ultimately going to determine how it works for you."

A good blog can work for you whether or not you're employed. But a blog written by a job seeker desperately seeking a paycheck will not get you much traction. In fact, blogging is like many other traditional job seeking tools, says Lauren Milligan of ResuMAYDAY, a résumé writing service.

"Just like networking, blogging and developing a following should start when you are employed, rather than when you are in panic mode," Milligan cautions.

How do you present a blog to employers?

New media are proving to be a great tool for job seekers, employees and employers. Facebook, Twitter and blogs are increasingly become common ways to find jobs or recruit candidates. But the rules for social media are still mostly unwritten, and you might not know how to prove you're both technologically proficient and professional. Milligan says you absolutely can do both, it's just all in the presentation.

For clients, Milligan often inserts their LinkedIn addresses in the contact section of the résumé. She suggests doing the same with your blog address. Another option she recommends is to include a mention of your blog in your career summary statement. But if neither feels right for you, feel free to bring it up in the interview.

"A common interview question is, 'What makes you unique from other candidates?'" Milligan says. "A great -- and unique -- answer would be, 'One thing that may set me apart from your other candidates is my ability to introduce a dedicated and loyal following to your company. For the past eight months, I have authored a blog that has over 2,000 readers on a weekly basis. This blog is dedicated to trends, leaders and advancements in our industry.'"

She also recommends pointing out that you have been and will always be respectful of your past employers and that your goal is about making connections. If you can put the emphasis on your growth and how it will benefit the company, while simultaneously proving it's not a place for you to vent about annoying co-workers, you'll make a good impression.

"As an employer myself, I assure all job seekers that this would weigh heavily in a candidate's favor," Milligan says.

Both Milligan and Waldo stress the importance of knowing your limits. You don't have to be an expert to write a good blog -- and pretending to be one will only turn off readers. Being humble and showing humanity will pay off for you.

"Anyone can be a good blogger with the right dedication and motivation," Waldo says. "You absolutely do not have to be an expert, but if you're not, don't pretend to be. That will get you in trouble. I recommend writing about something you love. It doesn't have to be career-related. As long as you are passionate about the subject you cover, that will come through in your writing and people will enjoy your blog."

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How to Handle a Gap in Your Job History

by Cynthia Wright

When you think of The Gap, we all think of the clothing store with the super skinny models and cute ads, right?

Well, in the wonderful world of resume writing and job searches, a gap in employment is a totally different ball game. In fact, it's one of the things that causes the most stress and fear in the hearts and minds of the job-seeker.

Let me tell you why.

Looking for a job in itself is a full-time job. You are at a point in your life when you are at your most vulnerable. Anything out of the ordinary on your resume will intensify that stress and fear. When you are stressed out, chances are you may not be thinking as clearly or logically as you ordinarily would when life is great and things are rolling along.

But as they say, stuff happens. Life happens. So do layoffs, new babies, sick relatives, and a host of other occurrences that can result in a significant gap in your resume.

No matter how diligent, hardworking, and responsible you are, it is possible that you may find yourself out of work for a significant period of time at some point in your career. The key point to remember is not to let this gap in employment hurt you during your job search.

Just because you are not working does not mean that you can't keep busy. Keeping busy does not mean spending your days watching Dr. Phil, Oprah, and Montel (people do watch this guy)!

Keeping busy means staying involved in your profession. In fact, it's a lot easier to re-enter the workforce if you keep your skills sharp and your job knowledge up-to-date.

Here are some suggestions to help you stay connected to your career while conducting your job search:

* Find a consulting assignment or project. Many times, employees who are �in-between� jobs supplement their knowledge (and income) by taking contract or consulting assignments. Sometimes these assignments can result in full-time, permanent positions.

* Take a class in a subject related to your profession.

* Volunteer with an organization or become a mentor.

* Read trade journals and attend seminars in your field of expertise.

* Write an article for a publication in your area of expertise. Many freelance writing assignments pay well.

Also be sure to maintain your network of industry contacts. An example of this networking approach involves a friend of mine who was laid off from Lucent Technologies. When I met him for lunch the other day, he didn't seem very upset, and I was curious as to why. He told me he had �his list.� When I inquired as to what exactly �his list� was, he told me that he kept track of all of his colleagues who got laid off from Lucent and where they went! Brilliant. Guess what? One of the people on his list went to a start-up telecommunications company. As a result of keeping track of his colleague, my friend has a third interview and a great shot at an excellent opportunity in his field. So, it makes a lot of sense to keep a current list of contacts.

A gap on a resume glares out at a recruiter or hiring manager. If you've spent your employment gap doing freelance work, consulting, or mentoring, be sure to list that experience in the Professional Experience section of your resume. Include the name of the organization, job functions, dates, and city and state. In other words, treat it as you would a regular job!

Let's look at the worst-case scenario. Your resume has a large gap. You may want to consider a functional resume as opposed to a chronological resume. But be forewarned! A functional resume is a potential red flag to employers because it suggests that the job-seeker may have something to hide, so use caution before using a functional resume. Recruiters and hiring managers prefer chronological resumes because they are easier to read and list skills and job functions as they apply to each position. A functional resume does not. [Editor's note: For more about the pros and cons of functional resumes, see our articles, Should You Consider a Functional Format for Your Resume? and What Resume Format is Best for You?.]

If you have an extensive gap in employment, you may want to address it in your cover letter to the prospective employer. Include a brief one- or two-sentence explanation, but do not go into detail about a long illness or a frustrating job search. Rather, state that you were out of the workforce for whatever reason, and explain that you are eager to return. If the gap in your employment happened a long time ago, don't bother mentioning it at all. Employers are not interested in what happened in 1984!

Should the subject of your employment gap come up during an interview, explain why simply and briefly. In other words, use the exact same brief, simple explanation you used in your cover letter. Obviously, they were impressed enough with your background (despite any gaps) to invite you in for an interview!

Regardless of the reasons for your employment gaps, always maintain a positive, optimistic attitude, and be sure to let the hiring manager know that you are excited and ready to return to work!

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Why Your Job Search Is Not All About You

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder writer

We all get calls from telemarketers. Their generic, impersonal sales pitches typically yield responses like:  "Really? Why would I let you spend 10 minutes telling me about your vacuuming services?  I have a vacuum cleaner in the closet." Click.

Chances are you have received this type of call. And chances are you have hung up before you even know what the caller has to offer.

Were the vacuum company to peek in your window for a few hours (creepy -- but go with me here) they'd find out you were a single parent with three kids, two shedding cats and a bad case of seasonal allergies. With this new background information, the call might go something like:

"Hello Ms. Murphy!  Since you're so busy you barely have time to vacuum these days, I'll send my professional cleaning service to your home. In addition to saving you time, our filter-equipped vacuums will get rid of the pet hair on your furniture and decrease the amount of airborne allergens in your home!"  Since the telemarketer just solved three of your most pestering problems, you're probably more inclined to listen to his or her sales pitch.

Vacuum cleaners and allergies aside, applying to a company without targeting your application to its needs is a lot like making a random courtesy call. Employers aren't going to pay attention to you unless they know what you can do for them.

Solve a problem, land a job

"You have a job for one reason: to solve a company's problem," says Debra Benton, author of "Lions Don't Need To Roar" and "The $100,000 Club."  "You do not have a job because you need or want one; that is irrelevant to the marketplace."  That means you need to stop focusing on what your strengths are and start focusing on how your strengths can help the company you'd like to work for, Benton suggests.

Putting it all out there -- strategically

Rich Dukas, president and CEO of Dukas Public Relations, says that targeting your cover letter to address the needs of each company you apply to is the only way to get noticed. "Specificity rules," he says. "I am impressed when a candidate spends the time to learn about our firm and tells me in a cover letter and interview how they would directly contribute to our business. Generic cover letters don't cut it."

Using employer-centric language when applying to a position can also help, Benton advises. "Every part of your communication should be them-oriented instead of you-oriented, from the first word in your cover letter," she says. "Instead of writing, 'Dear Mr. Smith, I'm interested in a job at XYZ ...' your letter should start with 'Dear Mr. Smith, You have an exciting position at XYZ that I'm interested in ...'.  Just making the first word 'you'  versus 'I' is the start of a myriad of ways to be company-oriented."

Tina Chen, director of operations at Carlisle Staffing in Illinois, says today's tough job competition makes it especially necessary to focus your job search on the needs of employers and how you can make their organization a better one.  "Employers are no longer just looking for 'qualified candidates' but rather those who will go above and beyond to justify their seat, so job seekers really need to stay ahead of the curve and lay their best assets on the table," Chen says.

The bottom line:  Employment is a relationship

Although it is important for your communication with a prospective employer to stress how your skills can meet its needs; employment is ultimately a relationship, and you still need to keep your own interests in mind.

"Take a step back, assess the potential employers that you would like to work for, do your homework and decide if there could be a  long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. Look at it as 'job dating.'  In order for the relationship to work, both parties have to bring something to the table," Chen advises.

Kurt Weyerhauser, managing partner at Kensington Stone, an international search firm in California, also compares employment to a long-term relationship. "It's like a marriage of sorts," he says. "Most of us who are married realize that we wouldn't be married if leading up to the wedding it had been all about –'me' or, for that matter, all about my spouse's interests. The key is to understand that while your primary interest is you, it's not your sole interest." 

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Top 10 Jobs in Green Technologies

Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

The nation's movement to become a more productive and competitive economic force in the global marketplace is bringing a wealth of hope and job opportunities to recession-weary Americans.

"In order to succeed in the 21st century, we are working to improve education, expand health care, fix the infrastructure, overhaul our manufacturing industries, adopt green technologies and continue our leadership in high-tech innovation," says Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., one of the nation's leading occupational experts and author of the recently released book "200 Best Jobs for Renewing America."

In his book, Shatkin discusses the six industries at the center of America's shift toward a forward-looking economy: education, infrastructure, health care, information and telecommunication technologies, green technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Of these industries, green technologies, in particular, has gained a great deal of interest among individuals hoping to secure a solid job as the economy continues to reinvent itself and become more competitive in the upcoming decades.

According to Shatkin's research, the following list outlines the best jobs overall in green technologies.

1. Construction managers

Annual earnings: $76,230

Percent growth: 15.7 percent

2. Industrial engineers

Annual earnings: $71,430

Percent growth: 20.3 percent

3. First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers

Annual earnings: $55,950

Percent growth: 9.1 percent

4. Environmental scientists and specialists

Annual earnings: $58,380

Percent growth: 25.1 percent

5. Construction and building inspectors

Annual earnings: $48,330

Percent growth: 18.2 percent

6. Environmental engineers

Annual earnings: $72,350

Percent growth: 25.4 percent

7. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters

Annual earnings: $44,090

Percent growth: 10.6 percent

8.Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers

Annual earnings: $75,800

Percent growth: 21.9 percent

9. Carpenters

Annual earnings: $37,660

Percent growth: 10.3 percent

10. Electricians

Annual earnings: $44,780

Percent growth: 7.4 percent

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Should You Fake Your Job References?

Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Every day, William Schmidt gives job seekers with a not-so-great job history, a gap on their résumé or even a criminal record, a second chance. How does he do it? He fabricates job references to cover up their sordid pasts.

Schmidt is the founder of CareerExcuse.com, a Web site that says it will fill any gap on your résumé by acting as your past employer. It will go as far as creating a new company with an accompanying phone number, logo, Web site and LinkedIn profile. He says the site is designed to "help our subscribers meet the needs of the modern day job market."

"Many of our subscribers tell me how a bad reference from a previous employer is akin to having a criminal record and is preventing them from providing for their family. All they ask is for a second chance," Schmidt says.

While Schmidt says he feels good about the service he provides for job seekers, naturally, not everyone shares his opinion. After all, not only is it unethical to lie about anything on your job application, but some argue that it puts those who have legitimate references at an unfair disadvantage.

"It's like using a professional photographer, who helps you look your best, versus using someone else's photo. One is enhancing your appearance, while the other is blatant misrepresentation," says David Wright, author of "Get a Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves." "People do make mistakes and bad choices. Winners learn from the mistakes while losers try to cover them up, hide them or keep making the same mistakes over and over while expecting different results."

Is the economy to blame?

Many people can agree that finding a job today is difficult and that not having anyone in your corner to toot your horn could be detrimental. Schmidt said he got the idea for his company after perusing posts on Twitter, where he said he saw many users asking strangers for references.

"We understand that there are over 12 million workers who have been fired or let go from former employers in the last eight years. With six applicants for every job today, anyone with a blemish in their career can be left out," Schmidt says.

Lauren Milligan, résumé expert and job coach for ResuMayday, says that it's sad that job seekers would think they had to fake their references, but that she can see how the poor economy could lead to making desperate choices.

"If a candidate was previously turned down because of a lack of reference, that otherwise honest person may decide to unethically stack the deck in his or her favor," she says. "It's kind of pathetic that anyone would have to [use a service for a reference], but perhaps it could be that 'rock bottom' that turns around bad behavior."

Is it worth it?

Some job seekers may think they need to use a fake reference because they were fired or need to cover a gap in their employment history. Experts say that paying someone to do that for you is likely a waste -- especially since many employers ignore the references you give them anyway.

"Having consulted on hundreds of hires, I don't care about the three personal references the candidate has given. Anyone can find three people that will swear they can turn water into wine," says Barry Maher, career consultant and owner of Barry Maher & Associates. "I check everything else I can. And not just the last job, which may be a service that will vouch for them, but the job before that and the one before that, all the way down the line."

Checking references all the way down the line has also become much easier with the advent of social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, which provide a place for you to list your employment history. Employers aren't stupid -- if a few things don't match up, they'll catch on pretty quickly.

"The good thing about social networking is that the world has become a much smaller, accessible place. The bad thing about social networking is that the world has become a much smaller, accessible place," Milligan says. "Within a few minutes, I believe that anyone with a mid-level of expertise in LinkedIn or Facebook (combined with an elementary-level [Internet] search) could identify fake information. Hiring mistakes are so costly; due diligence can really pay off in a company's recruiting process."

And while employers cross-reference information that candidates provide them, including references, services like CareerExcuse.com have an answer for that, too.

"CareerExcuse.com uses [social networks] to our advantage," Schmidt says. "As a matter of fact, it is the Internet and the reliance of the Internet by human resource managers that make our services work so successfully."

Consequences of your actions

Every action has a consequence, including providing a fake job reference to a potential employer. Although you may not get caught, you'll likely have to deal with trying to cover up your lies and forever worrying about if you'll get caught.

"Liars are always going to use lies to try and put themselves at an advantage over honest people," Wright says. "This may be effective in the short run, but over time, honesty wins out because eventually lies do get found out, and liars are exposed for who they really are. As in a great quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: 'You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.'"

The truth will set you free

If you feel the need to use a fake job reference, try these three tips from our experts instead:

1. Turn your negatives into positives

"Nothing builds credibility like exposing your own negatives. You can turn them into positives, selling points, even bragging points," Maher says. He gives the example of Clyde Thompson, who "provided us with all the reasons why we may not want to hire him; all the ones that we probably would have brought up on our own once he was out of the room, and a few more we might never have come up. Clyde presented his unemployability in a light made it appear that he'd be a more reliable employee. And his honesty gained him a massive amount of credibility."

2. Don't give up

Before giving up and resigning yourself to having no references, Milligan suggests scouring LinkedIn and Facebook to try to reconnect with former colleagues. Or, consider if you've volunteered anywhere, played on a sports team or been a member of industry associations. Reach out to peers from these organizations for a reference.

"References don't only have to come from supervisors or co-workers," she says. "Perhaps company clients or vendors would have a few good things to say about you."

If you still can't find anyone to give you reference by the time an employer asks for one, Milligan suggests saying, "Unbelievably, I wasn't able to connect with any of my former supervisors or co-workers after ABC Co. shut down unexpectedly. Thanks to social networking, I'm in the process of trying to find people, but it just hasn't panned out yet. In lieu of that, I would assure you that I wouldn't have been able to achieve (insert career success here) if I wasn't good at my job and I fully expect to create more successes like that one, for you."

3. Tackle the issue head-on

Instead of trying to sweep the issue under the rug, be the first one to address it, Wright suggests.

"If you know you've got something bad that would probably show up on a background check, it can help to be proactive, particularly when you've established some degree of rapport with the hiring manager," he suggests. "Tell them that you want to be upfront with them -- you made a mistake in the past and they'll probably find out anyway, but you'd rather them hear it from you first. By being proactive, you have the opportunity to position it better as well, emphasizing your strengths or how you overcame that experience."

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Best- and Worst-Smelling Jobs

Beth Braccio Hering, special to CareerBuilder

It may not be listed in the official job description, but being able to deal with smells is definitely part of some positions. While in many cases the aroma can be seen as a job perk (fresh soup simmering from your restaurant's kitchen, anyone?), other occupations can leave workers wanting to hold their noses.

Here are some fields in which success never smelled so sweet (or so awful).

The best-smelling

Baker

Steve Abrams, owner of Magnolia Bakery in New York City, says that his establishment was designed to involve all the senses but that "the most visceral and evocative is that first smell when you walk in the door, which immediately brings you into your mother's kitchen and transports you to your childhood." The product he says creates that experience best: his bakery's world-famous cupcakes.

Other jobs with mouth-watering smells: barista, cook, waiter, movie theater concessions worker

Florist

Coffee brewing and lunches that give off any smell are not allowed at Greens Greenhouses & Treasure House in Fremont, Neb. Florist Joey Schwanke says, "We want people who come into our shop to enjoy the fragrance of flowers." Ardith Beveridge of Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist in Minneapolis notes that the "fragrance of the season" is usually the most pronounced aroma in a shop, such as hyacinths and other bulb flowers in spring and fresh greenery in winter.

Other jobs that offer smells from the great outdoors: groundskeeper, fruit picker, logger, landscape architect

Aromatherapist

Aromatherapists use plant-derived essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being. Some of the smells that aromatherapists may encounter while treating clients: lavender (believed to be good for alleviating headaches), peppermint (used in treating indigestion) and eucalyptus (calming to coughs).

Others jobs where your nose gets a "healthy" workout: herbalist, masseuse, health-food store employee

Fragrance sales

"When it comes to fragrance, there is never one scent that people universally love," says Della Tall, an account sales and public relations associate for Anthousa, a luxury home fragrance company in Seattle. "Because of the varying preferences of our customers, we offer a wide range of fragrances: everything from floral to woodsy to fruity to musky. Some of our best-sellers include aqua verbena; cucumber and green grass; nectarine and red currant; and pomegranate and mint."

Other jobs where beauty is in the nose of the beholder: hair stylist, perfume demonstrator, candle maker, cigar/tobacco shop worker

And the worst-smelling

Zookeeper

The hippos at the San Diego Zoo in California are fed twice a day, and each meal fits into a wheelbarrow. Jabba, a male hippo, is fond of marking his territory and swishes his tail back and forth as he poops to make sure he covers the walls and ceiling of his bedroom as well as the floor. And just when it seems cleanup is finished, chances are he will repeat the whole act again -- up to 10 times in a few hours.

Other jobs for those who don't mind the smell of animals: veterinarian, veterinary technician, pet supply store employee, dog walker, fisherman, slaughterhouse worker, farmer

Waste or recycling collector

It may not be the most pleasant-smelling job in the world, but where would society be without the men and women who collect our garbage and work at dumps? The good news for those in the refuse and recyclable material industry: The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 19 percent increase in the number of jobs by 2018.

Other jobs for people with brave noses: janitor, plumber, locker room or bathroom attendant, shoe salesperson, coroner

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Success Stories: I Found a Job after Long-Term Unemployment

Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder writer

Headline after headline about corporate downsizing and businesses folding can leave you wondering: Is anybody out there actually finding a job?

Yes (though oftentimes not very quickly). Here are three real-life success stories of people who persevered through prolonged unemployment before landing a new position.

Volunteer work leads to paid position

"During unemployment, I became extremely hard on myself, questioning what was wrong with me as a job candidate that would cause my searching to be so fruitless," says Margaret White of New York City, who encountered a not-very-welcoming job market after leaving school in 2008. "I also felt enormously guilty that I was a burden on my family financially. It was stressful not knowing where my future was headed and how I was going to support myself."

Needing a morale boost, White decided to volunteer with Step Up Women's Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting and advancing women and girls.

"At first I started coming in on an as-needed basis, but during that time, I cultivated a relationship with the program manager," White states. "She started bringing me in more frequently to work on projects. Eventually, I asked if I could come in every day. I recognized that I was gaining a new, invaluable skill set and making amazing connections through the organization, not to mention I was loving the work. Eventually, the program manager left to attend graduate school, and I was the best-trained candidate for the job. I applied, and they hired me!"

Networking proves good use of time

After a downsizing in January 2009 left Barbara Cooper without a job, she went to local "job seeker" meetings, registered with various companies on their Web sites and checked job boards. Primarily, though, she focused on networking.

Her efforts paid off a year later when a former co-worker recommended her for an open position. Cooper is now the Learning Center administrator for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

"I knew that sooner or later I would find something, primarily because I had no other choice," Cooper says. "I kept reminding myself that every rejection -- whether it was résumés that didn't get responses or phone interviews that didn't lead to anything -- was one less step between me and my next position. I told myself, since it was taking so long to find another position, that the position that was waiting for me must be really terrific -- and it is!"

Thinking about what you really want -- and finding it

An account executive at a high-profile marketing/advertising agency, Sarah Humphreys of Burlington, Vt., was in shock when company layoffs left her unemployed. Though she admits that at first it was "hard not to take it personally," she eventually decided to make the best of her unexpected time off.

"I was lucky enough not to have to rush back into anything. I reevaluated what I really wanted to do with my career. If I was ever going to change career paths, this was the time to do it. Eventually I came out knowing that account management is really what I love and enjoy doing."

Armed with this knowledge, Humphreys began looking at area companies that interested her, and applied for positions that matched what she wanted to do. After many people told her that Dealer.com was a great place to work, she looked at the company's Web site and discovered an opening that matched her career desires. She is now an account manager at this leading provider of online marketing tools for the automotive industry. Best yet, the company hasn't laid off a single employee in more than four years.

Her advice for other job seekers: "Keep looking. It is exhausting, but something will come along. Everything happens for a reason. You will end up finding a company and a job that you love." 

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Is Your Job Costing You Too Much Money?

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

When you're considering a job offer, you can't help but factor in salary. Money matters, unless you have a sizable nest egg that lets you spend without care. That is not the case for most workers.

Instead, you have to consider the cost of your rent or mortgage, student loans, monthly bills, food and other expenses. A dream job can quickly lose its glimmer when you realize it doesn't pay nearly enough to survive.

But do you continue to examine your expenses once you've accepted the job? If you're strapped for cash on a regular basis, have you resigned yourself to thinking you need to earn more? Well, until that happens, you might want to examine what your job is costing you, not paying you. Many workers forget the indirect expenses of work, such as wardrobe, transportation and food. If you can cut down or make alternative arrangements, you might be able to boost your bank account even without a pay raise.

Here are six ways your job might be costing you:

1. Clothing and dry cleaning

Whether you wear suits or jeans, clothes cost money and you have to replace your work attire regularly. If you have to wear dress clothes, the upfront cost is already steep, but then you're stuck taking them to the cleaners every week. Or you have to buy enough clothes to go to the cleaners less frequently. Either way, you're stuck shelling out cash.

2. Transportation

Unless you can work from home or walk to work, getting to your workplace probably costs you money. Public transportation is usually cheaper than driving, but it often takes longer, so it costs you time.

But if you're driving, don't just look at the price of gas, which definitely puts a dent in your pocket. The back-and-forth of everyday commuting puts more miles on your car, which translates into more maintenance and eventually a need to replace the car sooner than if you worked close to home. And if you have to pay tolls, that's yet another expense to consider.

3. Food

One of the easiest ways to save money during the week is to pack your lunch. Unfortunately, life often interrupts the best-laid plans and you end up going out for lunch, which means you spend a few dollars here, a few dollars there, and by the end of the week you've spent 50 bucks on lunches alone. For many workers, job-related activities take up more than 40 hours each week. From the time you leave in the morning to the time you return home, you might have been gone for 12 hours, and that means you probably don't have time or energy to cook dinner. Therefore, you'll be picking up food on the way home.

4. Child care

If you have children, you know how expensive child care is. The cost depends on many factors, such as the child's age and how long the care is for, but it's never cheap. Several studies have shown that many working parents spend most of their paychecks on child care, and sometimes parents who work part-time end up losing money. Unless you have an on-site day care that saves you money or can arrange a more affordable deal with a friend or relative to care for your child, this expense is one you can't avoid.

5. Housekeeping

OK, many people consider housekeeping a luxury, and that's fair. However, if your job takes up so much of your time between hours worked and the commute that you're gone 75 hours each week, you're not left with much free time. Therefore, you might feel inclined to have someone clean your house while you're working so you can enjoy yourself when you get home. A job that takes up less of your time would allow you to do chores without feeling like you're wasting your few hours of freedom.

6. Cell phone and entertainment

If you have to use your cell phone for work, your company might cover the cost. Not all companies do, however, and employees are stuck paying for expensive smart phones out of their own pockets because they're expected to be on call every day. They need to be able to access e-mail and send documents at a moment's notice, and these phones and their service plans are expensive.

Some jobs also involve entertaining clients. Again, many companies provide expense accounts, but not all of them do. If you get stuck taking clients to lunch or drinks on a regular basis, that cost adds up, especially if you're driving them around yourself. Just be certain that you're earning more from their business than you're spending.

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Best-Paying Jobs Based on Your Area of Interest

Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

It's no secret that some of the highest-paying, most rewarding careers are in health care. But what if you have little to no interest in that type of work? What if your interests pertain to other things, like government, food, architecture or information technology? Can you achieve high pay working in such fields?

Absolutely, says Laurence Shatkin. In his book "250 Best-Paying Jobs," Shatkin connects high-paying occupations to 16 career clusters, helping individuals identify which occupations are most likely to pay well in the fields and industries that interest them.

"The 16 career clusters I reference in my book were developed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education around 1999. Many states rely on these career clusters to organize their career-oriented programs and career information," Shatkin says.

In his book, Shatkin provides lists of the best-paying jobs within each of these 16 career clusters. Below are a few of the top occupations featured on those lists.

Best-paying jobs for people interested in agriculture, food and natural resources

Economists
Average annual earnings: $83,590

Biochemists and biophysicists
Average annual earnings: $82,840

Veterinarians
Average annual earnings: $79,050

Best-paying jobs for people interested in architecture and construction

Engineering managers
Average annual earnings: $115,270

Engineering teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $82,810

Construction managers
Average annual earnings: $79,860

Best-paying jobs for people interested in arts, audio/video technology and communications

Art directors
Average annual earnings: $76,980

Producers and directors
Average annual earnings: $64,430

Agents and business managers of artists, performers and athletes
Average annual earnings: $62,940

Best-paying jobs for people interested in business, management and administration

Chief executives
Average annual earnings: $158,560

Natural sciences managers
Average annual earnings: $112,800

Computer and information systems managers
Average annual earnings: $112,210

Best-paying jobs for people interested in education and training

Health specialties teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $84,390

Education administrators, elementary and secondary school
Average annual earnings: $83,880

Engineering teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $82,810

Best-paying jobs for people interested in finance

Financial managers
Average annual earnings: $99,330

Actuaries
Average annual earnings: $84,810

Financial analysts
Average annual earnings: $73,150

Best-paying jobs for people interested in government and public administration

Chief executives
Average annual earnings: $158,560

Political scientists
Average annual earnings: $104,130

General and operations managers
Average annual earnings: $91,570

Best-paying jobs for people interested in health science

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Orthodontists
Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Prosthodontists
Average annual earnings: $166,400+

Best-paying jobs for people interested in hospitality and tourism

Gaming managers
Average annual earnings: $68,570

Best-paying jobs for people interested in human service

Sociologists
Average annual earnings: $68,570

Home economics teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $64,210

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists
Average annual earnings: $64,140

Best-paying jobs for people interested in information technology

Engineering managers
Average annual earnings: $115,270

Computer and information systems managers
Average annual earnings: $112,210

Computer and information scientists, research
Average annual earnings: $97,970

Best-paying jobs for people interested in law, public safety, corrections and security

Lawyers
Average annual earnings: $110,590

Judges, magistrate judges and magistrates
Average annual earnings: $110,220

Law teachers, post-secondary
Average annual earnings: $93,210

Best-paying jobs for people interested in manufacturing

Nuclear power reactor operators
Average annual earnings: $73,320

Elevator installers and repairers
Average annual earnings: $69,380

Nuclear technicians
Average annual earnings: $67,890

Best-paying jobs for people interested in marketing, sales and service

Marketing managers
Average annual earnings: $108,580

Sales managers
Average annual earnings: $97,260

Sales engineers
Average annual earnings: $83,100

Best-paying jobs for people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Engineering managers
Average annual earnings: $115,270

Natural sciences managers
Average annual earnings: $112,800

Petroleum engineers
Average annual earnings: $108,020

Best-paying jobs for people interested in transportation, distribution and logistics

Air traffic controllers
Average annual earnings: $111,870

Airline pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers
Average annual earnings: $111,680

Transportation, storage and distribution managers
Average annual earnings: $79,000

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5 Gossip Guidelines for Work

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder.com writer


Given the amount of time you spend with your co-workers, it's not hard to figure out why gossip is so prevalent in the workplace. Throw in the occasional happy hour cocktail or colleague with a fondness for oversharing and gossip becomes virtually unavoidable.

Though hearsay at work may be a given, it's no excuse to run your mouth about whatever -- to whomever -- you like. Whether you're the office Chatty Cathy or just the occasional eavesdropper, partaking in office gossip can be risky, and discretion must be used to avoid embarrassment, hurt feelings or even termination.

Below, our experts provide gossip guidelines to help you avoid becoming a casualty of corporate chit-chat.

1. Maintain confidences

"Your employment may involve access to confidential information and conversations," says Cynthia Kazalia, a placement specialist for New Directions Career Center in Columbus, Ohio. "The wise professional respects privileged information -- not sharing it with others -- unless it involves a breach of policy or protocol. Should policy be violated, only the appropriate organizational or governing authorities should be notified. Information should always be shared on a 'need-to-know' basis."

2. Leave the higher-ups out of it

As a general rule: Don't gossip to -- or about -- your boss or company executives, advises Susan Fletcher, a psychologist and author of "Working in the Smart Zone." "You may not like a decision your boss or company higher-ups make, but gossiping [about it] will not get you points," she says.

Put simply: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

3. Stay positive

"Always speak with discretion and only bring up negatives when absolutely necessary," says Jules Zunich, owner of Z Group Public Relations in Boise, Idaho. "If you have to discuss a negative situation, keep it as impersonal as possible."

Kazalia adds: "Remember that old saying, 'If you can't say something nice ...' It holds true at work, too. Talk around the water cooler should be upbeat."

4. Assess your risk

If you are sharing a funny story that happened to a friend this weekend or you're discussing your displeasure with the snack selection in the vending machine, chances are your chatter is benign. Talking to someone in a different department about your crazy colleague or downloading your own version of why the company earnings were bad this quarter is another story.

"Unless you know you are in a confidential conversation, don't say anything you wouldn't want the CEO to read about on the front page of The New York Times," Zunich says.

Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas, which specializes in teaching corporate etiquette, suggests using the "boardroom gauge." "Ask yourself, 'Could I say it in the boardroom?' If not, think very carefully before making or passing along remarks that could backfire," Gottsman says.

5. Set your own boundaries and respect those of others

"Erect appropriate boundaries providing co-workers and supervisors with only limited access to personal information," Kazalia says. "This prevents private matters from being shared companywide."

Similarly, she advises taking the same approach when it comes to the personal lives of co-workers: "Respect co-workers' personal boundaries. Don't delve too deeply into matters that don't involve work. You may find out more than you want to."

When gossip is positive

Although it can be destructive, there are times when gossip serves a purpose.

For one, gossip can provide pertinent information. Says Gottsman, "When someone passes along information that they overheard in an attempt to help you, like a potential promotion because someone is leaving their position," the intention is much different than gossip for the sake of gossip, and it can actually be beneficial.

Also, although unconfirmed stories need to be taken with a grain of salt, heeding certain rumors may be in your best interest, says Kazalia, who illustrates her point with a personal story about a warning she received as a young professional. "Once, a more experienced operations director told me that our CEO allegedly had a wandering eye. The information, coupled with a warning to keep all exchanges [with the CEO] professional and to limit outside contact, set the course of my career with that organization. But my supervisor shared it less as gossip and more as a protective measure."

Finally, talking about workplace issues can reduce stress. "Keeping secrets often prevents people from dealing with the problem at hand. Revealing certain issues (besides private company secrets) can help reduce stress and help people to think about stressful issues more clearly," Fletcher says.

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What Makes a Good Boss?

Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer


Bosses get a pretty bad rap. Where two or more employed people gather, you're sure to hear a story that involves the word "boss" and one of the following descriptors: "stupid," "dumb," "incompetent" or "clueless." Turn on the TV or go to the movies and bosses don't fare much better. They're either bumbling fools or conniving villains.

Bad bosses exist. We all know that. You can easily list all the qualities a bad boss possesses without having to think too much. But what makes a good boss? I'm not talking about the fanciful daydreams we have about a boss who wants to pay us seven figures for working one hour a day. To find out, we asked employees about the best bosses they've had and what characteristics they hope to see in the people for whom they work.

Give and take
When freelance videographer Joe Vass describes the best boss he ever worked for, all of the qualities boil down to showing respect, a characteristic that many workers value regardless of what industry they're in.

"The best boss I ever had made me feel like a valued and important member of the team -- not through his words, but through his actions," Vass says. "He encouraged hard work, ingenuity and creativeness and valued everyone for who they were, and so we were inspired to work hard for ourselves and for him. He was always available for consultation and skilled at good, constructive criticism [and] suggestions."

As a result of this approachable and encouraging leadership, the team always recognized the boss as the leader and decision-maker. It was something the team thought he earned from them and didn't demand.

Debra Yergen, a director of marketing for a cardiac hospital, says she recognizes the value of giving to her employees and receiving something in return.

"As a member of the hospital's key management team, there are a lot of responsibilities I have that cannot be delegated," Yergen says. "But whatever I do assign to my staff, I make sure they see me do, too. I also make sure that when my staff works a really long shift one day -- and sometimes into the night -- they get rewarded with coming in late another day." Were she to hand out orders that she herself couldn't do and provide no reward for the times when late hours cut into personal time, she might not have such a positive relationship with her employees.

Flexibility
Wayne Botha of Botha Consulting has learned the valuable of flexibility during his career working with IT project managers.

"The days of IT professionals working nine to five are gone. Project managers work flexible schedules in different time zones from around the world," Botha explains. "Good bosses focus on getting the job done, not on measuring the hours that a subordinate sits in the chair at the office."

The notion of a standard workday is fading for all professions, and life sure hasn't become more rigid. Personal obligations and family responsibilities make strict 9-to-5 work hours just as impossible. Flexibility matters to employees now more than ever.

Flexibility extends beyond handling schedules, though. It also applies to daily operations, reminds Daniel Mark Wheaton, the sales and operations manager for Canuka Web Solutions.

"A good boss is flexible about how things can be done. In being so, he or she opens the possibility of learning ways to do things better. [Of] equal importance is learning what not to do," Wheaton says. "Flexibility in hiring is important, too. Qualifications and assets in a job posting should be guidelines. A boss should recognize that sometimes relevant work experience is more important than education background."

And so much more
What makes a good boss can't be distilled into one or two adjectives. As employees are eager to explain, good bosses encompass a broad range of qualities that make going to work enjoyable. According to workers, here are other ways bosses can be allies and not enemies:

· "Be consistent and predictable. It is hard for subordinates to make the boss look good when the boss behaves erratically and every situation seems to result in a unique decision." -- Botha

· "They are able to get you to do something without using coercive tactics or bullying. They're able to frame the discussion in the same way a good basketball coach tells you what the best play will be." -- Andrew Lee, co-founder and CEO of JamLegend.com

· "Promote from within. Develop your subordinates and then promote them when the opportunity arises. Subordinates will quickly understand your intentions when you always hire people from outside your organization for top positions." -- Botha

· "A good boss will defend your actions (when they are defensible) and will help you when there is a problem." -- Deborah Graham

· "A good boss understands that every task given to you cannot be your No. 1, top priority and will work with you to readjust priority lists if necessary." -- Graham

· "A good boss knows the overall value each employee brings to the organization, and keeps that in mind. So, a single transgression by an otherwise excellent employee doesn't demand the same response as the same transgression by an employee who consistently makes mistakes." -- Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing at Clare Computer Solutions

"A good boss keeps you informed about what is happening at the higher management levels and what projects might be coming down the road." -- Graham

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New Boss? 5 Ways to Adjust

Robert Half International


These days, there is a lot of upheaval in the workplace. Be it layoffs, reorganization or people taking other positions, there's a good chance you may be reporting to a different person than you were just a few months ago. The relationship with your supervisor can have a great impact on your career, so starting off on the right foot with a new boss is critical. Following are a few tips for doing so:

1. Help out where you can.
Starting a new position is challenging for everyone, even your boss. Remember what it was like when you were a new employee, including the times you could have used someone's help. Discuss any pending projects and who is currently responsible for those initiatives. Also provide information about any upcoming deadlines.

2. Remain flexible.
Your new boss will have his or her own ideas of how to run the office and accomplish team goals, and you should be ready for the possibility that some of those ideas may conflict with your own. But keep an open mind; different doesn't mean worse. Be willing to try new approaches.

3. Aim to be a go-to person.
Your new supervisor will face many challenges in the first few months, so he or she will be looking for employees who can help pick up the slack. Let your manager know what you've accomplished in the past and what skills you possess, and offer to be a resource on future projects. Be sure to mention talents that might fall outside your job description, such as your familiarity with a new software program. The more you can contribute, the more valuable you'll be considered by your employer. Just don't go overboard, or others, including the new manager, may perceive you as currying favor.

4. Remember that patience is a virtue.
You likely took a few months to feel comfortable when you started your job, so it's safe to assume the same will be true for your manager. For instance, if your boss wants you to provide twice-weekly updates, it's probably not because he or she doesn't trust that you're getting your work done. Instead, your supervisor likely wants to make sure he or she doesn't let anything slip through the cracks.

5. Pay attention.
Get a feel for how your boss works. Does your manager want to be in the loop on each and every project, or does your boss have a more hands-off approach? What is his or her preferred method of communication? When is it best to approach your supervisor with nonpressing requests? These questions may not be answered immediately, but by paying attention to your boss's tendencies and preferences, you'll form a productive relationship more quickly.

Remember, not only are you getting used to your new manager, but he or she is also getting used to you and, in many cases, a new work environment. So, don't be surprised if both of you have your fair share of growing pains. Being empathetic to your supervisor's experience will go a long way in developing a strong working relationship with him or her.

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10 Healthy Careers

Rachel Zupek

Every year, one of the most popular New Year's resolutions is to "be healthy and lose weight." Easier said than done. Of course, everyone wants to be healthy, but when it comes time to put in the effort, it's hard for many to find the time.

For others, however, finding the time to be healthy is all in a day's work. If you're interested in a career that lends itself to staying active or promoting a healthy lifestyle and environment, check out these 10 careers and the requirements you'll need to meet to get started:

1. Activities coordinator
Why it's healthy: Activities coordinators plan and conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities. They focus on keeping individuals fit and active, whether they are in a nursing home or day camp.
Requirements: Educational and training requirements vary based on the institution in which you will be working. They range from a high-school diploma to a bachelor's degree.
Salary: $31,390

2. Athletic trainer
Why it's healthy: Athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and healing of injuries for athletes. They usually focus mostly on the rehabilitation and reconditioning of injured athletes, but can spend time educating them on preventing injuries.
Requirements: A bachelor's degree and, in most states, certification.
Salary: $46,049

3. Chiropractor
Why it's healthy: Chiropractors deal with conditions of the spine, but their approach is more holistic in that it's focused on a patient's overall health. They are concerned with diet, exercise and other issues related to well-being, and they provide natural, drugless and nonsurgical health treatments.
Requirements: Chiropractors must be licensed, which requires two to four years of undergraduate education, completing a four-year chiropractic college course, and earning passing scores on national and state examinations.
Salary: $115,289

4. Dietitians and nutritionists
Why it's healthy: Dietitians and nutritionists constantly think about foods they put in their clients' bodies and in their own. They promote healthy eating habits by recommending dietary modifications, planning food and nutrition programs, supervising meal preparation and overseeing the serving of meals.
Requirements: At least a bachelor's degree. Licensing, certification or registration requirements vary by state.
Salary: $52,911 and $54,301

5. Exercise instructor
Why it's healthy: Exercise instructors are constantly moving their own bodies and teaching others to do the same and how to do so correctly. Multiple days of the week, hours at a time, are spent sweating, so there is no question you'll be in tip-top shape.
Requirements: Depend on the specific type of fitness work. For most fitness workers, certification is critical and you are expected to know how to do your job without any on-the-job training.
Salary: $30,189

6. Health educator
Why it's healthy: Health educators must practice what they preach, as they work to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellness. They educate people and communities about healthy living, disease prevention, proper nutrition and the importance of exercise.
Requirements: A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level positions; other employers prefer a bachelor's degree and some related experience. A master's degree and even a doctorate may be required for some positions and is usually required for advancement.
Salary: $63,817

7. Personal chef
Why it's healthy: Personal chefs offer meal preparation to clients for a fee and can personalize your menu to any special nutritional needs you may have.
Requirements: Most culinary schools offer personal chef training; you may also choose to be certified by the American Personal & Private Chef Association.
Salary: Varies

8. Personal trainer
Why it's healthy: A personal trainer's job is to help individuals lose weight, get in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. They get tons of exercise through working out with clients, and part of their training is to learn about nutrition.
Requirements: Personal trainers usually must be certified to work with clients or with members of a fitness facility.
Salary: $46,049

9. Massage therapist
Why it's healthy: Massage therapists promote their clients' general health, helping people become more aware of their body and taking care of it better. They focus on relaxation, muscle recovery, treating painful ailments and reducing stress.
Requirements: Most states require massage therapists to complete a formal education program and pass a national certification examination or a state exam.
Salary: $32,399

10. Weight reduction specialist
Why it's healthy: Weight-loss specialists help clients devise and carry out a weight-loss plan, using established dietary programs and positive reinforcement procedures.
Requirements: At least a bachelor's degree. Licensing, certification or registration requirements vary by state.
Salary: $32,368

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