AOL Jobs

Landing A Job Through LinkedIn: 4 Success Stories

Susan Johnston — 2011-10-20T13:02:00+00:00

Earlier this year, LinkedIn surpassed the 100 million member mark. Are you curious how the site works or why you should use it? Read on to find out how four job-seekers found new opportunities through the popular professional networking site.

20 Vocational Job Hotspots

Susan Johnston — 2011-10-06T09:24:00+00:00

Although the construction industry suffered a major blow from the recession, Payscale.com uncovered twenty places across the country that offer higher than average pay and high demand for skilled trade workers like carpenters, diesel engine repair technicians, and plumbers.

Job Stress Survival: 5 Ways To Feel Better

Susan Johnston — 2011-09-23T20:02:00+00:00

Whether dealing with a demanding boss or a constantly buzzing BlackBerry, most people are familiar with on-the-job stressors. But how stressful is your job, really? Some jobs are worse than others, according to a recent Payscale.com survey. And, there are ways to manage that stress.

Touring With the Band - Music Industry Gigs and What They Pay

Susan Johnston — 2011-08-15T08:33:00+00:00

Elvis Week runs August 10-16, when fans from around the world gather in Memphis, Tenn. to celebrate the King of Rock 'n' Roll. What would it be like to tour with the King today? It is tough to say but you'd have to imagine it would be lavish and maybe not as wild as his earlier days. The King would be 76 years old.

Company Face Off: Are You a Mac or a PC? [Quiz]

Susan Johnston — 2011-07-18T10:59:00+00:00

For years, consumers have self-identified as Mac or a PC people, a label fueled in part by Apple's Mac vs. PC ads. Some research about the two companies' customers was even done by Hunch.com and it showed that many of the stereotypes are true: Mac lovers are typically younger and more likely to live in urban centers, while PC enthusiasts tend to be more politically conservative and prefer Harleys over Vespas.

Blue Collar vs. White Collar: Where Are Wages Recovering Fastest?

Susan Johnston — 2011-06-03T14:19:00+00:00

There's always been a rivalry between the blue-collar and white-collar workers of the world. Which ones have better job opportunities? Which are better paid? And more recently, whose wages are recovering faster, post-recession?

Certainly, both blue- and white-collar workers saw wages plummet during the economic downturn, when both finance and construction took a hit, but recent wage studies show varied numbers on who is bouncing back quicker in terms of earnings.

Five Cities Where Salaries Are on the Rise

Susan Johnston — 2011-05-27T10:15:00+00:00

Just as the recession hit certain cities earlier than others, now the recovery is showing up first in some very fortunate locations. According to a wage study by online salary database PayScale.com, salaries in several geographic areas are starting to bounce back, particularly in places where the dominant industry is growing.

Food Service vs. Retail: Which Pays Best?

Susan Johnston — 2011-05-10T05:20:00+00:00

In 2011, the retail industry is expected to grow by over five percent, creating half a million new jobs, according to industry researchers. The food and beverage industry is also expected to grow, though not as dramatically. As the economy rebounds and consumers start spending again, new job opportunities will appear in the food and retail industries. Which industry will pay their new hires best?

Fall Back in Love With Your Job

Susan Johnston — 2011-02-14T05:45:00+00:00

Maybe you've been plugging away at the same job for several years and feel burnt out. Or, perhaps you're growing tired of office politics and a long commute. Whatever the reason, you've lost that spark that used to make you excited to go to work. Now it just feels like plain old, boring work. In honor of Valentine's Day, we asked career experts for their tips on rekindling career passion.

Jobs With a Big Heart and a Big Paycheck

Susan Johnston — 2011-02-09T21:45:00+00:00

The recession has caused many people to re-think their careers. While some have decided that any job is a good job, others have started looking for more meaningful work. They want a gig that gives back.

You may assume that meaningful work automatically means modest pay, but that's not always the case. One's salary "depends on the type of organization and its size and the job that you have," says Heather Krasna, author of 'Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service' and director of career services at the Evans School of Public Affairs in Seattle, Wash. She points out that large universities, hospitals, and religious organizations are all examples of nonprofits that pay skilled professionals to make them successful.

Bad Bosses: Five Ways Your Boss Bugs You - And How to Respond

Susan Johnston — 2010-08-19T05:16:00+00:00

From Meryl Streep's icy authority in Devil Wears Prada to Steve Carrell's hilarious ineptitude on The Office, the big and small screens are bursting with stories of hellish bosses. Unfortunately, some of these characters exist in real life, too.

If you're working with a difficult boss, Lilit Marcus, founder of the blog SavetheAssistants.com and author of Save the Assistants: A Guide for Surviving and Thriving in the Workplace, suggests "figuring out what your boss' weaknesses are and trying to make them your strengths. That way, you guys will balance out and you can handle tasks that he doesn't like or isn't good at."

Seven Jobs That Make It Worth Skipping College

Susan Johnston — 2010-07-27T06:06:00+00:00

Ask most high school guidance counselors, and they'll tell you a college degree is your key to a decent paying job. But that's not necessarily always the case. While many jobs like lawyer, doctor, and professor still require degrees, Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at Payscale.com, helped us pinpoint several jobs that don't.

However, before you ditch your plans to earn a college diploma, we should note that these jobs do require specialized knowledge, whether it's obtained through a vocational training program or an on-the-job education. Many people in these occupations also have a traditional degree, so that certainly can't hurt.

There's no high-paying job that doesn't require a high level skill," says Lee. "You can learn it on the job, but you're going to have to learn it." With the rising cost of college tuition, it may make sense to pursue one of these career paths.