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Career Management
Thinking of Starting a Business?
Fri, 07/16/2010 - 09:11 — PattyThis free monthly session is the perfect place to bring all your start-up questions. Get information about licenses, legal forms, taxes, and much more. Learn about community and online resources from our veteran business instructor and from fellow entrepreneurs. Taught by Dub Gulley, SBC Director at Durham Tech on July 26 from 3-5 p.m.
For more information or to register, go to http://www.durhamtech.edu/html/current/noncredit/sbccseminars.htm
Maintain ‘Good Health’ During Unemployment
Fri, 05/21/2010 - 13:47 — Patty
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
As the high unemployment rate lingers on, so does frustration, low self-confidence and other negative feelings for many unemployed persons. However, some job seekers seem more positive and less stressed about being unemployed.
How do they do it?
It’s a matter of good health. I don’t mean good physical health – that’s part of it – what I mean is good all around health: financial, career, physical, mental and spiritual health.
JobsNOW Small Business Assistance Package
Fri, 04/16/2010 - 09:26 — PattyOffice of Governor Bev Perdue
Gov. Perdue last week called on the General Assembly to pass a legislative package designed to assist small businesses in creating and maintaining jobs. The package includes tax incentives, grants and an expansion of the small business preference for companies seeking contracts with state government. Gov. Perdue made the announcement as part of a three-stop JobsNOW tour of small businesses in Asheville, Lexington and Fayetteville.
Character Counts in the Workplace
Thu, 04/01/2010 - 09:37 — PattyHave you heard the saying, “Character counts”? Well, it does count. Character can be applied to all of life, especially career life. How we display our personality traits to employers, co-workers and customers is by our attitude, words and actions.
The Josephson Institite (JI) of southern California developed Character Counts!, a nationwide youth program. JI also developed a program for businesses called The Six Pillars of Character based on six character traits:
- trustworthiness: having integrity; being honest, reliable and loyal
At Will Employment Jeopardizes Employee Happiness
Mon, 03/22/2010 - 14:03 — PattyBy Dave Shaver
D.A. Shaver Web Design
At will employment means that the employee serves at the employers convenience and can be fired at any time. The problem with “At will employment” is that job security is a necessary component of employee happiness. In order to be happy employees must
feel that they are in control of their future. Employees must feel that their actions control their future with the company. This is surprisingly absent in many cases. Without a doubt if employees see co-workers fired on the spot or treated unfairly this will ruin their job security and thus their happiness.
Long-term jobless fight rejection, fear, despair
Sun, 02/07/2010 - 21:09 — Patty
By SUE STOCK
News & Observer, Staff Writer
Dennis Shaver has been looking for a job for 17 months.
His wife, Patty Edwards Shaver, has been out of work for a year.
In eight weeks, the unemployment checks that have been helping to pay their mortgage will stop coming.
The Shavers, who live in North Raleigh, are among the 2.3 million people nationwide who have been out of work for more than a year. In North Carolina that figure stands at 88,000.
The long-term jobless are blue- and white-collar workers. They come from all age groups, income levels and ethnicities. And with the state's unemployment rate at a 30-year high of 11.2 percent, their numbers are growing.
EMS veteran Don Mathews strikes new career note
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 09:23 — Patty
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
Who said you must be under 30 and beautiful to make it to Nashville? That may be the criteria for American Idol contestants, but not for late bloomer, Don Mathews of Galesburg, Michigan, whose song Tribute to EMS (Emergency Medical Services) has become a counseling tool for emergency responders around the world.
“I was shocked when I first learned about this,” said Mathews. “I wrote Tribute to EMS because I had no one to talk to for counseling after a very traumatic call.” After 40 years in EMS it was difficult for Mathews to understand why he was not coping as time passed. He questioned God about his career choice and wondered if it mattered to anyone else. “I kept thinking about that call during church and when I went home I wrote the song Tribute to EMS. Once I started writing I couldn’t stop. The words just flowed from me.”
R&B singer and disability advocate, Teddy Pendergrass dies
Fri, 01/15/2010 - 20:57 — Patty
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
Teddy Pendergrass, legendary Rhythm and Blues (R&B) singer and advocate for the disabled, died Jan.13 of colon cancer. Pendergrass had been hospitalized for several months after undergoing colon cancer surgery in May 2009. He was 59.
Pendergrass’ music career started to take off in the 70s. He was lead singer with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes before embarking on a solo career in 1976. He quickly became an international superstar and sex symbol with popular hit records: Turn off the Lights, Close the Door and TKO. Pendergrass became the first black male singer in history to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums. He had several Grammy nominations, numerous awards, movie appearances, TV specials, sold out national and international concerts and endorsements.
Laid off worker earns income through hobby
Mon, 01/11/2010 - 10:07 — Patty
By Patty Edwards Shaver
MCV Career Development Facilitator
The recent recession has created a tough job market with unemployment rates in the double digits leaving many dislocated workers at wits end on how to earn an income. Melinda Hawkins of Raleigh uses her jewelry-making hobby to bring in extra money to help pay her bills. Hawkins was laid off from her insurance job in Sept. 2008. When a job didn’t materialize, Hawkins decided to become a self employed insurance agent. Building a business during a downturn in the economy takes time and Hawkins could not afford to wait. With Christmas approaching, Hawkins switched to entrepreneur mode and started uploading photos of her jewelry creations on Facebook. And to her amazement, the jewelry started selling right away.
Planning for retirement: Why you’ll need recurring income
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 08:01 — Patty
By Steve DeVane
SteveDeVane.com
For years, most people planning for retirement have heard about the wisdom of contributing to a 401(k) or similar plan. But as the financial crisis turned into a full-blown recession, everybody saw their investment accounts shrink.
Plans like the 401(k) let people contribute pre-tax dollars into an investment account that is expected to increase in value over time.
