AOL Jobs

McDonald's Server On Strike: 'We Worry About Going Hungry'

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-05-24T08:31:00+00:00

By Stephanie Sanders

A lot of people have been asking me why I went on strike. I have a simple answer: Because I'm not a teen anymore.

I work at McDonald's, and I hear a lot of people talk about how fast-food jobs are for teenagers. Well, I'm not a teenager. I'm 33 years old. And I work with a lot of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are working to pay their rent and put food on the table.

Confessions Of A Former IRS Agent

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-05-21T08:52:00+00:00

All of the controversy over the Internal Revenue Service's investigation of Tea Party groups has unleashed a torrent of criticism of IRS tactics. But what do IRS agents think of their profession? And what do they actually do all day? Carroll McKibbin, a former IRS agent, gave AOL Jobs permission to reprint a column that he wrote for his local newspaper in which he shared his recollections.

By Carroll McKibbin

Everyone knows about paying taxes, especially this time of year. But few know about the collection end. I do. I'm a former Internal Revenue Service agent ready to share a few confessions.

I admit to having concern for my personal safety when sworn into office in 1960. The agent I replaced in Emporia, Kans., retired early -- deaf and partially paralyzed from being beaten with a tire iron wielded by an angry, drunken taxpayer. I also knew of the dangerous heroics of a retired colleague, Mike Malone, who infiltrated the Al Capone gang in the 1930s. Mike gathered enough evidence to send the infamous Capone to prison, not for the many murders he perpetrated, but for tax evasion.

Threatened With A Pitchfork
I never encountered any Mafia types, although our district office kept an eye on the business operations of Frank Costello, a notorious New York mobster who owned oil wells in Kansas. I did, however, face a couple of menacing weapons: a can of beer in one instance, a pitchfork in the other.

More: IRS Agent Seduced Me, Then Didn't Help Me, Man Complains

The beer was hurled at me as I left the home of an unhappy man. I felt only the spray as the missile missed my head by inches. With his check in hand and suffering no harm, I proceeded to my car.
The pitchfork was grasped by a stout Kansas farmer as I called on him behind his barn. His manner wasn't threatening. His words were.

"What would they say if I stuck this in you?" he challenged.

Caught off guard, alone and defenseless, I replied, "I don't think that's a good idea."

The man smiled and wrote a check.

How Many HIgh Earners Pay The Top Tax Rate? Few
I confess to thinking the top bracket of the time, 91 percent, was exorbitant. I soon discovered, however, that no one I came across paid at that rate, or even half of it. The reason was simple. As income rises, so does the temptation of dodges.

Although the 91 percent category didn't seem to add much to Uncle Sam's coffers, it made collections easier. Many times, I heard individuals at lower rates say, "I don't mind paying my share when the Rockefellers are paying 91 percent." They obviously didn't know the real story, and I confess to never revealing it.

Mitt Romney's 14% Tax Bite Not Surprising
Tax brackets are always a hot political issue, but the truly important calculation is the "effective tax rate" -- the percentage of taxable income paid to the government. I wasn't surprised to learn during last fall's presidential campaign that Mitt Romney's effective rate for 2011 was only 14 percent. With an income of $13.7 million, Mr. Romney paid about the same percentage as a salaried couple with an income of $70,000.

More: How To Land A Government Job

I often found cases of that kind, where taxpayers with high incomes had effective rates at a much lower level. I confess to giving those returns extra scrutiny, but I seldom found anything contrary to the Internal Revenue Code.

Two Types Of Taxpayers
The people I dealt with could be divided into two large categories: the naive and fearful on one side, and the informed and occasionally wily on the other. From the former, I sometimes heard a plaintive, "Am I going to jail?"

"No," I replied.

Among the guileful, however, I sometimes wanted to say, "Yes."

A CPA Who Didn't Pay Taxes
A case in point involved a CPA, no less, who filed his quarterly returns on time and in perfect form, but with no remittance. He ignored all inquiries from the IRS until I called on him every three months. He would greet me and ask, "How much do I owe this time?"

He understood the large penalty, 5 percent per month, was for late filing. A return sent on time without payment only accrued interest. He calculated that he could, in effect, borrow money cheaper from the government than from a bank.

Self-Employed: Most Challenging For Tax Collectors
Collecting from wage earners is easy compared to collecting from the self-employed. If an employee failed to respond to the several notices sent by the IRS, an agent could go to the employer, serve the appropriate document and receive the employee's wages.

More: States, Local Governments To Add 220,000 Positions, Report Says

With the self-employed, however, I had to find a clear-title asset to expropriate, such as a bank account or automobile. As a result, 90 percent of delinquencies were owed by the self-employed.
Just how important are tax collections? During the several years of my service, the IRS calculated that we did not have a national debt, only unpaid taxes!

We are fortunate to live in the United States. We buy the essential public services and facilities of our civilization with taxes. I confess to paying my share willingly.

Carroll McKibbin is a retired professor of political science at California Polytechnic State University. He worked as an IRS agent for five years.

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A Boss's Open Letter To Workers Who Want To Quit

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-05-09T08:41:00+00:00

By Todd Defren

Two people quit my company this month. That's OK; it happens. Before these unfortunate events, I liked these employees a lot. Afterward, I only liked one of 'em.

The woman who quit "the right way" will discover that she lost a boss but found a long-term champion of her success. The other employee may as well be dead to me.

Employer Explains Why He Went Into Debt To Make Workers Rich

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-04-30T10:00:00+00:00

Courtesy of Todd Defren

By Todd Defren

I had a chance to be rich. Instead I went deep into debt, giving my employees ownership in the company. And it was the best career decision I ever made.

Let me explain: After 20 years of working together, my business partner and I were being courted by the top names in the agency world. At this point in his career, my partner, 15 years older than I, was ready to make a deal. Candidly, sure, I wanted to be rich, too. But as negotiations slogged on, my partner finally turned to me, and whispered, "This would be so much easier if I was selling to you." A light bulb went on. Was such a thing even possible?

10 Great Things I Learned From Getting Fired

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-04-26T05:11:00+00:00

By Sallie Krawcheck

There are some things worth being fired over. Sometimes your personal values don't mesh with the company's (regardless of what the company's "Values Statement" says).

Back in 2008, at Smith Barney, we had sold supposedly low-risk investments to our clients. But instead of their value declining modestly during the downturn, they went to very close to $0. I never found any evidence of wrongdoing; but I did recognize that we had nonetheless breached our clients' trust, regardless of what the small print said. I proposed that we share part of the losses with them - both because it was the "right thing" to do, but also very much because sharing the impact of the hit would, I thought, be the "right business thing" to do. There were others who disagreed; after much back-and-forth (and many "no's"), my team's argument won the day, but it was clear I wasn't long for the company.

Confessions Of A (Former) Hollywood Assistant

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-04-25T08:16:00+00:00

By Lydia Whitlock

I spent the last five years working as a Hollywood assistant. When I meet people outside the film industry and tell them that, they almost always say, "Oh, like in Devil Wears Prada?" and I say, "Just like that, but without any of the free designer clothes." And my hair is way less shiny than Anne Hathaway's, but I don't have to say that out loud. They can already tell.

I'm no longer a Hollywood assistant, but I'm still working within the film industry, so I'm not going to name any names. But I will tell you about some of the strange, stressful, and ridiculous things that come with the job.

Employer's Tough-Love Letter To New College Grads

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-04-18T08:03:00+00:00

Inspired by Kent State University professor Bill Sledzik's blog post, "Dear Millennials: Your Parents Lied to You," Todd Defren, an employer, wrote an open letter to college grads. Defren gave AOL Jobs permission to reprint his letter here. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

By Todd Defren

5 Surefire Ways to Lose the Respect of Your Coworkers

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-04-01T08:00:00+00:00

By Cara Aley

Building a rapport with your coworkers so you can all nicely coexist requires delicate balance. But some people get a little bit too comfortable in the process of rapport building, and it can be to the detriment of their coworkers' respect levels.

Here are five little-known factors that can lead to your coworkers losing respect for you:

1. Using the word "try" (it looks weak)

As Brad Hoover writes on CNN Money, this word should not be uttered, as it "simply shows a lack of belief, passion, commitment, and confidence-all the qualities you need to succeed in today's tight job market." Instead, he suggests using "words like do, believe, act, tackle, accomplish, or succeed."

3 Ways To Act More Confident

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-27T07:11:00+00:00

Alamy

By Krista Goral

The real secret to success is one that folks rarely talk about, either because they don't think they have to point it out or they don't realize it's the first real step.

The first thing to worry about, the thing that matters first, before all others? Your confidence. If you're not confident, "networking" and "baby steps" won't take you very far. You'll go to events and flail about. As you interact with people, you'll convey your own self-doubt. Your words may say one thing, but your body language will say, "I don't believe in myself, and neither should you."

12 Tech Trends Transforming Careers -- And Leading To New Jobs

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-20T09:00:00+00:00

AlamyAdditive Manufacturing with the Maker Bot, a 3-D printer.

By Daniel Burrus

As technology continues to impact our lives, workers in today's ever-changing labor market need to be prepared with skills to adapt and succeed in the workplace. Job opportunities in technology are growing up to three times faster than other career fields in the U.S. Long gone are the days of a linear education and career trajectory as technology continues to reshape the world's education and workplace landscapes. Nowadays, the career paths of most individuals resemble a scaffold rather than a conservative straight line.

Changes in the education and workplace landscape not only impact job seekers, but educators and employers as well. It's estimated that by 2025, we could have 20 million jobs without enough qualified people to fill them.

MBA Degrees That Cause Staggering Student Debt

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-19T09:34:00+00:00

John Duval, Flickr

By John A. Byrne

MBAs are taking on more and more student debt, so much so that graduates of at least six business schools last year borrowed more than $100,000 on average to finance their degrees. The heaviest debt was assumed by graduates of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, where average debt hit an estimated record of $117,200. MBAs at Columbia Business School (an estimated $114,800), New York University's Stern School ($105,782), Duke University's Fuqua School ($102,054), the University of Virginia's Darden School ($105,490), and MIT Sloan ($100,212) all racked up six-figure debt, too.

Drones Will Create 100,000 Jobs, Report Predicts

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-14T09:28:00+00:00

By Tim Fernholz, Quartz

Commercial drones, which are expected to be approved for use in the U.S. in 2015, will create 100,000 jobs in 10 years, adding $13.7 billion to the American economy, according to a new study.

The study was published by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, a trade association with an interest in promoting the benefits of unmanned aircraft -- the industry does not like the word "drone" -- but its assumptions offer an interesting assessment of the sector's opportunities.

Has The MBA Become A Worthless Degree?

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-12T08:28:00+00:00

By John A. Byrne

If you asked Dale Stephens, the 21-year-old author of Hacking Your Education, he would undoubtedly agree. In a highly provocative excerpt from the book recently published by The Wall Street Journal, Stephens forcefully declares that even if you were accepted into Harvard Business School, you should decline the offer.

Everything You Need To Know About Coffee At Work

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-08T11:36:00+00:00

By Anna Codrea-Rado, Quartz

The cardinals who are gathered at the Vatican take a very important daily pause during their deliberations to choose a new pope.

"There's a coffee break for about 30 minutes at a special buffet area in the front part of the audience hall," the Rev. Thomas Rosica told CNN. "Cardinals have an opportunity to go down and mix and mingle."

Sample Resume For A Career Changer

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-08T05:14:00+00:00

By Barbara Safani

Lisa Marshall had spent her entire career in the mortgage industry. But faced with market volatility and shrinking opportunities, Lisa needed a resume that expanded past the mortgage industry and positioned her as a desirable candidate for other finance-related roles. Lisa turned to ACRW resume writer Wanda Kiser of Advantage Career Services for help.

One of Kiser's first steps was to add a career highlights section to Lisa's resume. This portion of the resume was filled with industry-related keywords to grab the hiring manager's attention while focusing on Lisa's strong achievements and demonstrating her depth of financial knowledge.

Why 'Follow Your Passion' Is The Worst Career Advice

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-03-03T09:15:00+00:00

By Cal Newport

Do you want to love what you do for a living? Follow your passion! This advice dominates our current thinking on careers and happiness. It also happens to be dead wrong.

5 Tell-Tale Signs That Your Co-Workers Are Dating

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-02-13T08:17:00+00:00

By Charyn Pfeuffer, PayScale

That "will they or won't they" tension can be palpable in the workplace. Although Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley of the hit series, "The Office" have done their best to bring the co-worker-with-benefits scenario to the mainstream, many companies (and fellow workers) still frown upon interoffice romances.

That doesn't mean co-workers aren't swapping spit in the supply closet when you aren't paying attention. According to career website Vault.com, in its 2011 Office Romance Survey, more than half of respondents fessed up to having a fling with a colleague.

How Being A Motel Maid Helped Me Become Successful

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2013-02-11T08:59:00+00:00

Jennifer Openshaw, a personal finance expert and author, explains here how her experience being a motel maid at age 15 transformed her and what she thinks people everywhere need to do to put themselves on a path for success.

By Jennifer Openshaw

My experience as a young girl of what the term "work ethic" really meant began with a fib.
I was 14, growing up in Southern California. My mother had divorced when I was 5, left to raise me and my two younger brothers. She didn't have a formal education, so she had to work two full-time jobs as a waitress to make ends meet.

Jobs For Life Don't Exist: How To Achieve True Job Security Anyway

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2012-12-17T08:22:00+00:00

By Maynard Webb

For the first decade of my career, I was the quintessential company man. I thought I would be a "lifer." I followed the path of the corporate hierarchy and moved three times for my employer, IBM. I was rewarded for my loyalty and tenure with promotions, picnics, and silver spoons when my children were born. I was also taught to measure success in other ways such as the size of one's office (we counted ceiling tiles) and whether or not it had a wood desk.

Then, 11 years into my tenure, the company decided to shut down the manufacturing plant in Boca Raton where I was working. They offered anyone willing to leave a sweet deal: two years' salary, two years of benefits, and $25,000, but I didn't even consider it. I didn't want to leave IBM. My wife had other plans, however. She also worked at IBM and, pregnant with our daughter, she thought the package was too compelling to pass up. If she was going to leave, I decided I would too.

10 Things Bosses Wish They Could Tell Employees

AOL Jobs Contributor — 2012-12-11T09:10:00+00:00

By Jeff Haden

Even if you're a remarkable boss there's a lot you don't know about your employees. There's also a lot that employees don't know about you.