1. You’re just doing your job; no more, no less. Every job provides opportunities to step things up as well as occasions to do tasks that may not necessarily be included in your job description. You don’t get promoted by just doing a minimal amount of work that’s limited to the tasks stated in your job description. Don’t be too sure that nobody’s watching you if you occasionally come in late, miss a deadline or two, or the first to hit the road at the end of an eight-hour workday. Don’t be a clock-watcher; take the initiative and volunteer for extra work even if it sometimes means you have to work longer hours. Asking for more work demonstrates your desire to help your department to reach its goals and targets; this will underscore your value to the company.

2. You’re not a people person. If you continually alienate yourself from the crowd and always find something to complain about someone, you’re not increasing your chances for career advancement. Potential leaders are people persons who know how to encourage and inspire others; motivate, collaborate with and persuade key players. Hone your interpersonal skills and enhance your leadership experience. These soft skills are just as important than any technical skills, if you’re aiming for higher positions. Senior level jobs are mostly administrative in nature, and excellent people management skills are an absolute must.

3. You’re not expanding your current base of knowledge and skills. You are sadly mistaken if you think that what you know now is enough to make it to the top and you don’t need to learn or acquire new knowledge and skills to get promoted. As technology and other work environment factors are rapidly changing, one of the best ways to get a promotion is to expand your skills and knowledge sets not only to perform your job well, but also to improve your marketability. If you want to stay in the game and be counted, you shouldn’t just keep ahead with the trends in your department, but also keep constant awareness of news and events outside your specialty.

4. You’re not ready for the next level. Promotion is about the capability to take on more responsibility and the ability embrace accountability. Good performance doesn’t spell automatic promotion. Ask yourself if you’ve demonstrated adequate competencies that are better than your peers. Do you know the full extent of the duties and added responsibilities of the new position? You may be required to manage a large team; do you display your readiness and capabilities for this? If you’re getting passed up, there may be something lacking. Talk to your boss (or anybody in the know) to give you a clear idea of what a higher level position actually involves.

5. Your timing is off. Harsh though it may be, the reality still stands: 90% of promotions depend on you being at the right place at the right time. Call it the luck of draw, if you want, but all elements should be there: the right position has to be available, you should be ready to take on the challenge and there has to be someone willing to fill your vacated position. If you’re anticipating a promotion, better train your replacement (subtly of course) and be ready to be flexible in negotiating salary issues, benefits or titles. Oh and try to curb your over-zealousness; be patient and don’t expect too much, too soon. You don’t really want the bosses to change their minds and get you passed up for promotion – again.

Watching somebody else climb the corporate ladder (instead of you doing so) can be quite demoralizing, but it doesn’t have to deter you from trying harder. It is vital that you understand why you didn’t get the promotion so you know what you can do differently when another opportunity presents itself. Don’t get passed up for promotion the next time a position becomes available; lay the groundwork now to increase your chances for career advancement.

1. Chief Executive Officers. Quite predictably, CEO is number one as top-paying job for women. 2009 statistics showed that women made up approximately one-fourth of all CEO positions in the workforce but only earned three-fourths of what their male counterparts earned. The great news is younger women seem to be moving into business more than previous generations did, so the outlook is good. With a weekly pay of $1,553 or about $81,000 – $84,000, it doesn’t look so bad at all.

2. Pharmacists. Pharmacists placed second on the list for two consecutive years, even out-earning lawyers and physicians/surgeons. Pharmacists earn a wage of $1,475 per week ($76,500 yearly). Women pharmacists account for a little less than half of the all U.S. pharmacists and get 15% less pay than male pharmacists.

3. Computer and Information Systems Managers. Women comprise only 28% of this industry but earn nearly as much as men. Women in this occupation get median yearly earnings of $73,500 or a weekly pay of $1,411. The top 10% of those pursuing careers in this field receive as high as $111,000. This job is increasingly becoming more appealing to women for two reasons: most employers require only a bachelor’s degree; and telecommuting is gaining ground, which is ideal for women who want high-paying jobs with plenty of flexibility.

4. Occupational Therapists. This is in fact a high earning profession dominated by women making up 82% of professionals in this sector. Another interesting fact is it’s the only profession in which women receive the same salary scale as the male, with weekly earnings of $1,155 or a yearly median of $60,000. You would need a master’s degree (or higher) but it’s an in-demand job that is anticipated to grow by 26% through 2020.

5. Human Resources Managers. This profession defines the corporate culture and strategy of a company and women with excellent interpersonal skills work best in this field. Typically, HR Managers receive median annual earnings of $59,124; weekly pay is around $1,137. Compared to men in similar positions, women only get about 79.3% of what their male counterparts receive. Top 10% earners fetch as much as $84,000 per year. A projected 147,000 new jobs in this field is expected to be created by 2016. Now there’s a bright prospect!

If you’re just starting on your career or given the chance to refocus, checking occupations that pay women the most may be a good move. Most top-paying jobs these days rely not only on analytical and managerial skills but also technical skills. Regardless of your personal objectives, you can glean from these best paying careers through proper planning, good education and excellent research can ultimately pay off and impact on your financial destiny. There are plenty of technical and in-demand fields out there which are a woman’s best bet for making good money. Go out and meet destiny halfway!

1. You set your own time. The main advantage of being your own boss is you can set your own hours the way you see fit. No one knows you better than yourself so you can come up with a schedule that is most convenient and efficient. You can plan your day exactly how you want it to go and allow you to work whenever you want, rather than when you must. Most important of all, no one is going to yell at you if come in late. Flexibility, anyone?

2. You have full control of your income. This can be deemed disadvantageous, but only at the beginning. As a business owner, you set your own target, of course. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, your income will line your own wallet. When you work for someone else, you only get paid a fraction of all the hard work. But with you as your own boss, the profits you make directly benefit your company and your personal bankroll. Can writing your own pay check get any better?

3. No one will fire you. This in itself is an excellent enough advantage. You can always change direction anytime you want, sure (and you don’t need anybody’s permission for that either) but you certainly won’t fire yourself! This takes the onus of anxiety off your shoulders knowing that nobody can suddenly take away your income at random, even if you’re not doing so great. You can plan long vacations without having to worry whether you still have a job when you come back. (Just make sure there is money coming in!)

4. Spice up your life with variety. If you’re an employee, you are given a task or duty that you’d most likely be asked to do over and over. That can get stale really quick and you rarely have room for branching out and learning new things, either. If you are your own boss, you don’t suffer from such restraints. You have different duties, plus you get to interact with a number of diverse individuals and companies. You are less likely to get categorized in a single, specific position and more likely to wear multiple hats. You have to be versatile to take full control of your business.

5. You get the chance to do what you love most. This is perhaps the best benefit you can get from being your own boss. No longer are you tied to someone else’s whims or by the company policies and regulations or corporate ideologies. You can proceed to map your career, your business, and your life the way you want to. You get to apply the principles, ideas and values that are vital to you – all for the good of your own company. And you can honestly say you are absolutely in control.

Being your own boss may sound a bit daunting and overwhelming at the start, and realistically, it’s not always as great as it sounds. But if you weigh the benefits against the costs, you’ll discover that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. If you want to be your own boss, you can certainly do it. With the right amount of persistence and dedication, you could open many doors for a better financial future. So start brainstorming for some business opportunities… NOW!

• Police Officer. Somebody has to work around the clock to keep dark streets, people and property safe from harm. A police officer on night shift is expected to patrol the neighborhood and respond to calls of distress. Police officers have to remain awake and thwart criminals (who happen to be night owls, too) who use the dark to cover their tracks when committing a crime. A typical police officer earns an average of $47,000 per year, but most police departments provide night shift differential pay; amounts may vary according to specific departments.

• Nurse. Almost all health care workers are needed to provide 24-hour care, and any hospital work could be a potential night shift job; but nurses are among the significant engines that make health care facilities run. According to Labor Department statistics, Registered Nurses can earn anywhere between $46,786 and $67,219. Salaries for night shift nurses can significantly go higher up to an average of $64,000, depending on the location. Associate degree programs can start you up and running within two years but the pay scale is much lower; if you finish the 4-year bachelor’s degree program you set yourself up for higher salary and a lot of room for career growth opportunities.

• Air Traffic Controller. Most workers at air traffic control towers and centers perform their duties on basic 40-hour workweeks. But as you very well know, these towers don’t close and operate 24/7/365. There have to be workers available to man the place for the night shift. Average annual salary for this type of work is $117,240.

• Computer Support Staff. These are the guys that provide technical support to customers and clients and they need to work night shifts and weekends because computer users know that annoying little problems don’t choose any particular time of day to occur. This makes a great opportunity for talented technical people with night owl propensities. Most computer support staff enjoy an estimated average annual salary of $40,000.

• Reporter/Photojournalist. You probably don’t realize it but you wouldn’t have anything to read or photos to tell last night’s events on your morning newspaper if it weren’t for the night owl reporters and photojournalists who stayed awake practically the whole night. Reporters can easily fetch an average yearly salary of $36,770, while photojournalists can make $38,000 or more per year.

If you couldn’t sleep at night or you like staying awake all night by choice, one of the jobs mentioned may very well suit you; plus there are many more opportunities for night owls out there. It might take a bit to find the perfect match, but a job that fits your body clock to a tee may be crucial to your productivity and satisfaction in your chosen career.

Congratulations! You finally graduated from college. Naturally, the next move is to find the right kind of job to kick off your career. It can be tougher out there in the real world compared to school campus life; but first things first. You’ve long figured out that you’re going to need a killer resume in order to make a dent on the job market; and that’s what you’re out to make. Good for you! Question: Do you know what your resume should focus on to make it conspicuous enough for employers to notice it? Resume writing can be a bit of a challenge for fresh graduates if you are practically clueless about what to highlight on your resume. To help you out, here are some points you should consider when creating your resumes.

Emphasis on Educational Accomplishments and Coursework. Prospective employers recognize the fact that new graduates may not have sizable amounts of hands-on experience so your education is your first calling card and primary selling feature. Employers perceive education as training ground to efficiently perform possible assigned tasks in the position. The assumption is you’re capable of accomplishing these tasks in a specific period of time and will eventually contribute to the good of the company. Employers expect to see indications that you can be trained, and have acquired the basic knowledge and skills in a particular field; include your GPA (if it’s 3.0 or higher) which also adds value to your application.

On-the-job training/internships. Believe it or not, these experiences are relevant to your application. Most employers prefer fresh grads that have undergone on-the-job-training and internships to gauge their determination and passion for working. Be sure to include certificates of completion and have references handy (in case they are requested).

Extracurricular activities that have given you the opportunity to hone transferable skills. You may have very little to no work history, but your college experiences have presumably provided you with skills that are vital to the workplace. Unpaid volunteer jobs that showcase transferable skills also count. The main point is you can add skills you’ve gained to your resume even if they are not directly relevant to the position you’re seeking. Focus your statements on skills, responsibilities and accomplishments that the future employer may benefit from.

The format of your resume. Some job seekers may think that format isn’t such a big deal but for fresh graduates with limited relevant work experience, format does matter. A hybrid format that has both functional and chronological elements would be ideal. It allows you to accentuate your transferable skills and tone down the perceived inadequate professional experience.

The ultimate key to a winning resume may be largely influenced by the weight and effectiveness of your presentation. You’ve hurdled a good number of years to get this far; you can definitely identify the strengths and skills you have acquired. It’s time to present them on your resume and make them work for you. Good luck with your job search!

1. Harvey Mudd College. When it comes to graduate earnings, this school is the cream of the crop. This is a specialized institution for engineering and there is verifiable proof in today’s job market that engineering majors from this school do make good money. Graduates from this school are getting a salary scale between $68,900 and $126,000. Among the high paying alumni of this school include Senior Software Engineers with a salary range of $93,662 – $119,881 and Aerospace Engineers with a pay scale between $58,958 and $91,563.

2. Princeton University. Princeton is an Ivy League school with its graduates known to receive a starting salary of $58,900 and get mid-career salary as high as $123,000. Some of its best graduates include those who have pursued careers as Professors in Post Secondary Education with a salary range from $82,504 to $170,000, while Assistant Professors in Post secondary Education earn salaries between $51,032 – $67,675; its Software Engineering graduates are reported to make between $76,302 – $97,211.

3. Dartmouth College. This prestigious school held second place in this category for two consecutive years, but was knocked down a notch by Princeton; most of its graduates receive pay between $54,100 and $123,000. A huge portion of its graduates take the financial services road after college, and its turnout of high paying employees consist of Financial Analysts who enjoy pay scales between $40,695 – $88,437, while graduates who work as Management Consultants make $101,736 at mid-career from a starting salary of $56,993.

4. Harvard University. This is another Ivy League University with the highest paid mid-career graduates with a starting salary of $57,300 and goes up to around $121,000. Harvard turns out high paying Lawyers ($75,000 – $146,892); Professors in Post Secondary Education ($90,154 – $134,562) and Software Engineers ($97,421 – $128,695).

5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Rounding up the fifth place, Caltech is another school that specializes in engineering. A good number of its graduates have start up salary of $69,900 and receive $120,000 by mid-career. Graduates who are now among the best paid employees include Research Scientists with a salary scale of $67,133 – $113,141; Software Engineers earning between $85,000 and $109,020; and Professors in Post Secondary Education receiving salaries that range from $74,268 to $117,916.

Of course, it all looks very impressive (mind-blowing even); but you must remember that there are other criteria besides the kind of school you attend. Sure, the school matters to some extent, but when all is said and done, it’s really all up to you, the job seeker/employee how you carve your career. No matter which school you attend, your attitude, drive, motivation, discipline and other invaluable traits weigh more as determining factors for success or failure.

• Boring introduction. You can never hope to grab anybody’s attention with a ho-hum cover letter, so come up with a catchy introduction. Some waste this chance by writing a boring introduction about themselves. Nothing could get the rest of your resume to the trash bin faster than a cover letter that starts with “My name is…” you definitely can’t edge out other candidates with such an opening. Give your cover letter a new spin or inject a new slant to it. A great introduction (such as a short statement on how you learned about the job opening) may just encourage the hiring manager to count you in – even if only as a wild card. This kind of opening also tells the prospective employer you’ve already done some preliminary research. That’s already two points in your favor!

• Unnecessary information. Don’t forget, it’s a cover letter, not your autobiography! Apply the principle of need-to-know basis here and include only information you think the hiring managers should know – and more importantly would want to know. Leave some stuff that is better discussed during the interview. No matter what you write, don’t replicate information already found on your resume.

• Self-focused cover letter. Go easy on the ego thing. I’m sure you’ve heard this before: your cover letter is not about you. You can toot your horn all you like but only in the context of how the company can benefit from your virtuosity. There are ways you can convey this without sounding like an egomaniac.

• Awkward and inept request for interview. Don’t let your cover letter make you sound desperate (even if you have been in embrace of a long drawn out job search). Showing your desperation to land a job doesn’t work on cover letters. Neither does a long-winded, awkward transition to that request. Be yourself, get straight to the point, but always be respectful.

• Too many errors. Grammatical errors, misspellings, overused jargon and washed-out words can make the hiring manager cringe. You may have heard of this advice a thousand times but it can never be reiterated enough. Just like your resume, proofread your cover letter a dozen times to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

If you’re a job seeker without that much experience to speak of, you must try and compensate with a cover letter that can place the odds on your favor. Be creative and give your cover letter the touch of originality and humanity it needs to give it some focus and flavor!

Teaching is undeniably one of the greatest (and most underrated) professions mankind has ever conceived. Since the beginning of time, teachers have been the most influential people in developing a person’s mind, instilling values, beliefs and principles, as well as shaping up careers and inclinations. The teaching profession is indeed one of the noblest jobs in the world. Although teachers don’t go into teaching careers just for the money, a good paycheck can certainly add to the motivation. Some cities in the U.S. are more generous in showing their appreciation for the enormous responsibility that teachers carry on their shoulders. Below is a list of the cities that pay public school teachers the most.

• Atlanta. An estimated 50,000-student population is spread out over nearly 100 schools and some educational facilities in this huge city. The salary range for Atlanta Elementary School teachers is between $35,000 and $55,000; a teacher in Middle School receives an average of $39,558 to $51,715; High School teachers have a wage range of $38,218 to $51,723. About 45% of all Atlanta Public School teachers have advanced degrees. On average, teachers have approximately 15 years of experience.

• Chicago. Almost 25,000 teachers are employed by more than 620 public schools in the Chicago area with a student-teacher ratio of 1:20. Chicago is one of the premier urban school districts in the country. Salary range for teachers is as follows: Elementary School, from $34,199 to $52,064; Middle School, between $38,000 and $50,000; and High School, $39,698 – $55,527.

• Philadelphia. One of the largest public school systems in the country, the Philadelphia School District has 291 public schools serving about 185,000 students of diverse race and ethnicity. This is primarily one of the reasons why most of its schools need bilingual teachers who can speak Spanish, Chinese or Vietnamese, as well as English. Salary ranges in the three levels usually start low at less than $40,000 but can go as high as $60,000.

• New York. The New York City Public School System serves the educational needs of one of the biggest student population in the nation estimated at 1.1 million. With this enormous number of students, the school district has to have the best teachers that can provide the best educational tools. It’s no wonder that New York City Public School teachers are among the best paid in the country. Elementary School teachers start at $41,073 to a high of $61,714; Middle School teachers’ pay scale is between $44,350 with a potential to reach $69,350; and High School teachers have a start up salary of close to $45,000 and can get as much as $63,125 depending on length of service and experience.

• Los Angeles. Teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District are among the highest paid in the U.S. It’s not that easy to get into the teaching force of this public school system, though. One of the school district’s main goals is to put a fully certified and licensed teacher with top credentials. Science, Mathematics and Special Education are top priority subjects. Pay scale for teachers in Elementary level is $40,206 – $70,499; Middle School, between $41,000 and $62,000; and High School teachers get compensation ranging from $40,851 to $64,073.

Statistically, public school teacher salary scales vary depending on where you teach and at what level. It has been noted, however, that there’s a wide discrepancy between teacher salaries from region to region, which actually makes choosing the right public school a difficult decision for teachers. Like with any job hunt, teachers should do their homework and research potential school districts before submitting an application or accepting a position. Talk to other teachers working in specific school districts to get an idea of the advantages and disadvantages of working with particular public schools. Money should not be the only draw though; equally important is knowing where you will do the most good and positively influence the life of children. Good luck with your job search!

Do you prefer to be left alone to work in peace? No worries. Some people feel that they can be more productive working alone – and some jobs even require a lot of quiet. Although it may seem difficult in the real world nowadays with all the blaring noise and people incessantly chatting, there are jobs out there for people who’d rather be on their own while working. I managed to list some of those jobs in Part 1 of this article, but somehow missed others that actually fit the bill. Enjoy the list!

1. Undertaker. Not exactly a traditional profession, but it does offer a lot of peace and quiet. Sure, you have to communicate with the families, but not for long either. You can have all the serenity you want in this job!

2. Computer Programmers. Creative juice is not the only thing that keeps a computer programmer’s main motor running. They also need to be analytical and logical to come up with a great masterpiece (of code). If you’re a computer programmer, chances are you’d be spending endless hours designing and testing codes; following program flows and computer paths; and evaluating outputs. The intricacy (and most of the time, confidentiality) of the process makes programming a solitary job – both by choice and by necessity – that is best accomplished working in a nice, quiet, comfortable place where you can freely think and put your ideas into form without any disturbance.

3. Masseurs. The massage parlor or spa is a perfect place to release stress and people go there anticipating blissful quiet. Masseurs are expected to help soothe frayed nerves and senses; not make small talk. Silence is a must in spas and massage parlors or clinics to maintain the level of peace, serenity and calmness; just the way you want it.

4. Accountants. Making heads and tails of a client’s financial information need focus and concentration. Preparing financial statements and completing tax documents are sensitive (and yes, mostly confidential) tasks and many prefer to have only one person working on them; so this is rarely a collaborative job. You don’t need to chat with the numbers; you just use your financial expertise to deal with them.

5. Writers. I may be speaking for myself, but I do find I am more able to stimulate my thoughts and get more done when I am in a quiet part of the house, with little to no noise or distractions. After all I do work for myself and if nothing gets done, then it will not be a pretty picture!

Working in utter quiet is undoubtedly beneficial to productivity but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. If you’re the type who puts much weight on alone time even when working or who needs complete peace to make your creative juices flowing, there are plenty of jobs out there where you can embrace silence and still get things done.

• Custodians/Janitors/Cleaners. Keeping school buildings and grounds clean, orderly and safe is the main duty of school custodians. They perform routine cleaning and minor maintenance tasks, which, although under minimum supervision, often puts them at other employees’ beck and call. They start work before students and teachers and other workers arrive and end when everybody’s gone. Employees who work under this category get a meager salary scale of $7 – $10 per hour.

• Food Service (Cafeteria) Workers. Serving lunch and recess may seem fun but for someone who’s been doing it day in and day out and only get paid for a measly amount of $11 an hour, it can be quite stressful. It’s a wonder they can still afford to smile. Perhaps the next time they smile at you, you could take it upon yourself to smile back.

• Bus Drivers. Taking full responsibility for the safety of energetic kids while driving across the expressway is what school bus drivers do everyday. Waking up early in the morning and picking up every kid in the neighborhood is a tedious task with an average compensation of $12.79 per hour. 2008 statistical data shows the upper 10% of school bus drivers earned over $19.11 per hour; the middle 50% earned between $9.61and $15.78 an hour; while the lowest 10% were only paid less than $7.38 for each hour of work.

• Teacher Aides/ Assistants. They’re also known as paraprofessionals. The work is as noble as if you’re working as a licensed teacher, but it can be hard holding on to such a noble purpose if you only get $12 /hour, with a range of responsibilities that include providing instructional and clerical support to teachers and students alike. Some are assigned non-clerical tasks like monitoring activities in non-academic settings (e.g. lunchroom and playground). Some schools pay a little bit higher than the average; but there are certain considerations, though; such as educational background, length of service, etc. Median annual wage is approximately $22,000, with the lowest 10% receiving less than $15,340. Only 10% receives more than $33,980; while the 50% gets the salary range of $17,610 to $28,180.

• Library Clerks/Assistants/Technicians. Elementary and high school library assistants typically receive an average of $25,620 annual wage, while those in colleges and universities get $28,710 per year.

The erratic unemployment rate leaves most people with very little choice and have to take on jobs (or hold on to their existing jobs) despite the low pay. It’s a matter of surviving today’s recession. Moreover, most of these jobs don’t even require a diploma. What you need is a whole lot of stamina, patience and determination.