AOL Jobs

How To Survive The Interview From Hell

CareerBuilder — 2013-05-24T09:30:00+00:00

By Larry Buhl

Is it not enough to have a resume bursting with accomplishments, an action plan for how you can benefit the company and a winning interview style to land the job? Now, you're also expected to answer brain teaser questions? Seriously?

Seriously. "This trend toward asking off-the-wall questions started in high tech a few years ago and has now emerged in interviews for jobs in a variety of fields," says John O'Connor, president of North Carolina-based CareerPro Inc., a professional career-coaching and branding company.

These questions are often brain teasers and can be anything from a complex, multilayered math and logic problem to a wacky question with no real answer. Some examples include:

How many rocks are on the face of the moon?
How many jellybeans can fit into a gallon jar?
Why are manhole covers round instead of square?
How many pounds of breakfast cereal are sold in the U.S. every year?
What are the decimal equivalents of 5/16 and 7/16?

Woman Graduates From College At Age 85 -- And Gets A Job

Next Avenue — 2013-05-24T08:32:00+00:00

The employment market being what it is for newly minted college graduates, Willadene Zedan would stand out at Saturday's commencement at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisc., if only for the fact that she'll begin the job of her dreams just four days later: Accompanying a local doctor on house calls to the homebound elderly.

But Zedan, at age 85, is already the reluctant celebrity of Marian's class of 2013. She's proof that it's never too late to do the things you didn't get to do in the prime of life and that "lifelong learning" is more than hackneyed happy-talk.

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.

Facebook Posts And Tweets That Can Get You Fired

Donna Ballman — 2013-05-24T07:17:00+00:00

In a recent ruling, the National Labor Relations Board said an employer broke the law when it dismissed an employee who criticized it on Facebook and in an email, and who encouraged employees to unionize. The NLRB ordered the employer to reinstate the employee to his old job with back pay. The employee had posted comments like these on Facebook:

At OnBoard you will receive no health insurance, sick days, vacation days or one single benefit. You will ride around on unsafe buses, without the benefit of a PA system, or sometimes even a seat.

And perhaps most egregious of all of the flaws, PAYCHECKS BOUNCE, yes that's right, they bounce.

Employees Vote Their Co-Workers Out Of A Job

AP — 2013-05-23T10:22:00+00:00

NEW YORK -- This time "you're fired" is more than a Donald Trump catchphrase. Fox is turning the firing of real people from real jobs into prime-time entertainment starting this week. The network on Thursday will begin airing "Does Someone Have to Go?" a series where cameras go into small businesses and employees are compelled to rat out underperforming colleagues. At the end, they choose one co-worker to recommend for firing.

Jobless Claims Improve Unexpectedly

Reuters — 2013-05-23T08:18:00+00:00

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, pointing to resilience in the labor market despite belt-tightening by Washington. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 340,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday, pushing back below the 350,000 mark that economists normally associate with a firming job market.

Hard Truth: 'Work-Life' Balance Is Way Overrated

Marty Nemko — 2013-05-23T08:00:00+00:00

Most people view life's goal is to be happy. I believe that's misguided.

If the goal is happiness, one could, for example, spend all your time gardening, watching comedies, having sex, etc. Yet if everyone did that, the planet would be far worse: Patients would die, homes wouldn't get built and products wouldn't be invented.

Not A Worthy Goal
Mother Teresa didn't work in the stench of Calcutta streets, ankles bitten by scorpions, because it made her happy. She did so because helping humankind was far more important than her being happy. Cardiologists who choose to work nights and weekends to keep more patients alive realize their life is more meaningful than if they had opted for the vaunted work-life balance. Even the supposedly lowly payroll clerk, who after the standard workweek takes work home to ensure everyone is paid accurately and on-time, is living a far worthier life than someone who diverted that time to recreation.

4 Traits Of Extraordinary Bosses

Brazen Life — 2013-05-23T08:00:00+00:00

By Brad Lomenick

Let's be honest: you don't want to fail. But if you're a leader, you've more than likely failed at one point or another. One of the most prevalent reasons for failure is the lack of the essential elements needed to lead now and well. Here are four traits you must possess if you want to succeed as a boss:

NFL Players Get Internships In Attempt To Build Second Careers

Dan Fastenberg — 2013-05-23T07:07:00+00:00

In an unstable economy, a job or even a whole career can fall apart at any moment. And so many workers try to have a "Plan B" ready just in case the paychecks stop flowing. But if there was to be one exception to that rule, you would think it would be a professional football player, many of whom earn millions a year.

But according to a report by Bloomberg News, some players in the NFL are interning at major corporations -- in between touchdowns and tackles. It's self-preservation. Despite big paychecks and celebratory headlines, NFL players typically have brief careers, and often find that the money doesn't last through all those years of retirement. In fact, 78 percent of NFL players are broke within two to five years of retirement, according to Sports Illustrated.

While on vacation, Thomas Welch, an offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills (above), recently completed a six-week internship with the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management division of Bank of America, Bloomberg notes. He earns $540,000 a year as a football player, according to Sportrac.com, the sports salary website. But according to Bloomberg, "he is in the final year of a two-year contract" and says he knows that "his long-term future won't be on a football field."

Welch told Bloomberg that the internship "was a great experience." During his six-week stint, Welch was asked to put together a mock $1 million portfolio. And he did rather well on the test; his investments grew 4.98 percent during the first quarter of 2013. "I got a better understanding of what [bankers] do -- not just about wealth management, but all aspects of the financial industry."

Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?

Claire Gordon — 2013-05-23T07:00:00+00:00

People love to hate on beautiful women (see: Anne Hathaway). But they really, really love to hate on women who claim their beauty is a curse.

Lately a steady number of women have come forward claiming their bosses and co-workers punished them for being "too hot," and are swiftly skewered by a skeptical public. Introducing the latest hate-bait: Laura Fernee, a 33-year-old academic, who claims that she hasn't worked for two years because the harassment that her looks provoked at her last office left her "quite traumatized."

Fernee, who holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience, told the British network ITV that for two years at her research job men would make her feel uncomfortable, and women would ostracize her. The cumulative effect of it all left her "afraid" to go to work in the morning. So she quit.

Exxon Mobil Accused Of Anti-Gay Bias In 'Groundbreaking' Complaint

AP — 2013-05-22T16:10:00+00:00

NEW YORK -- One after another, major U.S. corporations have updated anti-discrimination policies to protect gay, lesbian and transgender workers, drawing plaudits from gay-rights groups. There's one prominent exception: Exxon Mobil Corp.

IRS Secretary Allegedly Embezzles $8,515 For Online Shopping Spree

Claire Gordon — 2013-05-22T11:33:00+00:00

The Internal Revenue Service is already on trial for applying special scrutiny to conservative groups' applications for tax exempt status. Now an individual IRS worker is facing a possible 10-year prison sentence for allegedly using her government credit card to go on shopping binges at Amazon.

Yetunde Oseni, 37, a secretary at an IRS office in Lanham, Md., was given an IRS credit card in mid-2009, according to a U.S. District Court felony complaint that was reported by The Smoking Gun. She then allegedly used the card to buy an array of eccentric purchases online, including stretch leggings, a Hello Kitty cosmetic set, two plus-size trench coats, a chocolate fondue fountain, Omaha Steaks, "and other items not used by the IRS," the complaint states. In May, she was charged with embezzling government funds.

Media Magnate Jann Wenner Puts His 22-Year-Old Son, Gus, In Charge

Dan Fastenberg — 2013-05-22T10:00:00+00:00

No one is surprised when the boss helps his young son get a position at his office. But most execs wouldn't dare suggest that their 22-year old be put in the top slot at their firm, if only because of the ridicule that would surely follow. But most execs aren't Jann Wenner, the legendary founder and mercurial owner of Rolling Stone magazine. On Monday, brimming with paternal pride, he announced that his son, Gus Wenner, pictured above, was the new head of the magazine's website, RollingStone.com. (The announcement was first reported by New York gossip website, Gawker.com.)

Gus, slated to graduate this weekend from Brown University, appears to have entered the Ivy League school at the standard 18 years of age. In his new job, Gus will manage 15 to 20 staffers, overseeing "all aspects of the dot-com -- edit, advertising, social, the whole picture," Jann Wenner told Adweek, an industry magazine. As he further explained,

I didn't expect this. He was initially brought on to be an assistant to the chief digital officer [David Kang], and then David assigned him to this site redesign project. ... He's led that, and made substantial contributions, and really shown what a good leader he is and how deeply he understands it, and impressed me more than anyone."

Intern Gets Fired Before He Starts Because Of One Typo

Claire Gordon — 2013-05-22T08:46:00+00:00

Career counselors frequently caution college students that their flipflops and textspeaks may cause problems in the workplace. One undergrad apparently didn't heed the warnings, and was denied an internship for failing to capitalize one word.

On his blog, best-selling author Jeff Pearlman reports the plight of his friend's son, a college junior who landed a paid summer internship in human resources at a major network in New York. "He was thrilled," the friend told Pearlman. "Just thrilled."

On getting the job offer, the young man emailed his would-be supervisor a note of gratitude that began, "Thanks for the meeting on thursday."

How To Survive A Job You Hate

U.S.News — 2013-05-22T08:00:00+00:00

By Robin Madell

That sick, sinking feeling you have when you have to get up and go to work means that something is wrong. Unfortunately, you're far from alone if you experience a case of the heebie-jeebies every time your weekday alarm clock goes off.

A 2012 study by Right Management showed that almost two-thirds of respondents from the United States and Canada expressed being unhappy at work. A wider-range 2011 study by Mercer of 30,000 workers worldwide found that close to 60 percent of workers wanted out of their current positions.

Don't Accept An Offer Without Asking These Questions

Miriam Salpeter — 2013-05-22T08:00:00+00:00

Job seekers who have been looking for new opportunities for months, or even years, are unlikely to spend a lot of time and effort evaluating a new offer before signing on the dotted line. If you've been searching for for a long time, you may not have the luxury to turn down an offer.

Unions Target Federal Contractors In New Strategy

Claire Gordon — 2013-05-21T17:27:00+00:00

Every day, foreign aid workers, federal agents, and public policy scholars go to work in the palatial Ronald Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Ave., the most expensive federal building ever constructed. So did Joel Mejia, a 23-year-old Mexican immigrant (right) -- for $9 an hour and no benefits, in the building's food court.

On Tuesday, Mejia called for a living wage, benefits and respect on the job as part of a rally organized by a new union-backed campaign called Good Jobs Nation. It follows on the heels of other, similar union-organized labor actions at Walmart and fast food restaurants. This time the organizers took on an entire sector: federal contractors.

ESPN Begins Major Layoffs Despite Enormous Profits

Claire Gordon — 2013-05-21T14:01:00+00:00

In November, Forbes called ESPN the world's most valuable media property. Earlier this month, the stock of ESPN's corporate parent Walt Disney Co. hit a record high. And on Tuesday, ESPN slashed its workforce.

Sources told Deadspin that ESPN was laying off staff "in the hundreds." ESPN refused to confirm any number, stating instead: "We are implementing changes across the company to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs. While difficult, we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and productive."

One anonymous laid-off employee told Deadspin that 10 percent of the 4,000-person staff in Bristol, Conn., was getting the pink slip, but ESPN responded that the 400 estimate is "wrong and high."

Sex Worker, Banned From LinkedIn, Cries Discrimination

Claire Gordon — 2013-05-21T10:00:00+00:00

Used by 93 percent of companies to recruit, LinkedIn is the most popular professional network in the world. But one profession is categorically excluded from it: sex workers. In its updated user agreement, LinkedIn explicitly bars all sex workers, even legal ones, from its site. One prostitute in Nevada calls the new policy "discrimination."

"I pay taxes on my money," says Madison Graham, 41, who's been working legally for Dennis Hof's Love Ranch North in Carson City for about 18 months. She resents being lumped together with criminals. "I'm an LLC. I have a business account at Wells Fargo. I can get a mortgage."

She adds, "Whether you morally approve of it or not, I'm a small business. I'm a small business owner. As long as I'm not being lewd or inappropriate [on the site], I should be afforded the same respect as other small businesses."

LinkedIn's new user agreement, rolled out last week, explicitly prohibits sex workers, even those working legally in Nevada, such as the prostitutes at Dennis Hof's Love Ranch North.

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.

Don't Miss: Companies Hiring Now

Join AOL Jobs on Facebook | Follow AOL Jobs on Twitter | Follow AOL Jobs on LinkedIn

Related Stories