Employment improving?

Over the past few weeks, initial claims for unemployment have slowed, and the continuing claims have also dropped slightly. Could this be signs of a turn around? Unemployment claims peaked earlier this year and are slowly improving.
The stock market staged a few weeks of rally and hardly noticed the bankruptcy of Chrysler and General Motors. Most economist surmised that since it had been discussed for so long, the market had already taken it into account. GM is hovering just over $1 and Chrysler is not listed since it is a privately held company. The union is going to own most of GM and FIAT has rescued Chrysler.
Lets hope that the economy has started to turn around. Job.travel is a great source for employment in the travel and hospitality industry. Opportunities in travel span the country and most career paths.

Stock Rally?

The past couple of weeks has shown some life in the stock market. The Dow Jones has climbed steadily along with the NASDAQ. In fact, the Dow rose over 200 points today based on upbeat predictions from a few companies that the 2nd quarter seems to be improving. The banks did okay with the stress test done by the Treasury department, though they need to raise about $75 billion in additional capital among the 9 largest banks.
A dim spot is the auto industry. Chrysler is in bankruptcy and General Motors is not far behind it seems. Both have announced closing of over 2,000 dealerships combined, this puts almost 300,000 additional people out of a job. The supply chain is also effected adversely. With delayed payment for past shipments, these smaller customers are strapped for cash. So things are not all together good in Motown.
Recent surveys suggest that travel over the upcoming Memorial Day will be better than last year. This is partly in response to lower gasoline prices. Remember last year with it's $4+ per gallon? Maybe pent up demand will help get the summer season off to a good start.
Maybe with the economy starting to show a little life it is time to consider a new career. If the perilous decline over the last 12 months has caused numerous layoff in you industry, maybe a change is needed. The travel and hospitality offers many career paths, and though it is influenced by the economy, people will still manage to get out to travel. And the seasonal nature of the industry does have some influence. Job.travel offers many jobs in the travel and hospitality industry, log in in and find a new career.

Increasing Awareness

Time have changed dramatically during my life. Being the end of the baby-boomers, 1960, I would guess that the amount of change has been one of the most prolific in history. The 1960s was still the beginnings of the Space Race, Russia had launched Sputnick and various animals had been launched by Russia and the United States. Man would walk on the moon barely 10 years after space had first been reached.
The World's Fair in Flushing, NY brought all sorts of space aged technology to the public. I still remember the yellow Chrysler convertible my family rode in. Computers were room sized contraptions used by large companies and most businessmen could use a slide rule like second nature.
Fast forward to 2009. Personal computers and laptops the size of coffee table books in 1965 are more powerful than room sized computers of that era, and most households have at least one. phones are smaller than cigarette packs and much more common, though I am still at a loss on the texting issue. Home delivery of newspapers has dwindled and many iconic names in publishing are no longer producing newspapers, everything is on line.
With the popularity of the web, Internet presence is a necessity now. 2Go Media is an Internet marketing solution package for small businesses. Included is a .travel domain, SEO hosted website, built in marketing and more , and available for less than one latte per day. So now is the time to get noticed not just locally, but world-wide, 2Go Media can make it happen.

Stress tests, Swine Flu, Jobless clains

Today is the release of the stress test of major banks to determine liquidity. The stock market rallied up until today on the hopes of good reports, then opened down today even before the results were released. The general consensus is that the major banks while underfunded, do not need as much new capital as originally thought. That is welcomed news for the financial industry. The inter-bank lending rate is also down, which should spark credit to be relaxing to the general public.
The recent hysteria about the swine flu in Mexico is estimated to have cost the tourism industry upwards of $2 billion, and more losses are yet to be felt. The media sensation is the culprit. With only a few reported deaths associated with the outbreak, people lost sight of facts. The regular flu claims over 800 people a week in the United Sates. Its year tally is between 250,000 and 300,000 worldwide. Most of the victims already have health issues, with the elderly accounting for 90% of the deaths in the United States. In less developed areas, malnutrition plays a vital roles. All the hype has closed schools where cases have been reported. I would guess most people have a better chance of being run over by a buss than dying from the swine flu.
One big bright spot is that new unemployment claims have decreased again. Hopefully this is a sign that the economy is starting to recover and is no longer in a tailspin. Another indicator is that consumer spending increased, which is vital to a recovery. Until the general population starts to spend, business will remain stagnant.
If the economy has taken a toll on your life, maybe a new career choice is needed. Job.travel offers jobs in travel and hospitality. Positions range from entry level to executives at corporate offices. And the industry is not only in your backyard, but across the globe. Check out job.travel and kick start your career and help the economy.

An Italian Chrysler

Today is the 1st of May. In many communist countries it is a day of celebration for the equality of workers and people. Most of Europe has off today, at least my chat friends in Paris, Turin and Lucerne are off. Great deal that it is a Friday so a nice long weekend.
It is also the first full day of Chrysler filing bankruptcy. The filing was yesterday was in Manhattan in probably the most experienced bankruptcy district. The presiding judge handled the Enron and Worldcom fiasco earlier in the decade.
So what does this mean to the economy and population as a result? In the past week, Chrysler has managed to win concessions from the UAW and bondholders to reduce costs. Just after the filing a deal was announced with Italian automaker Fiat. The association will not cost Fiat any money, but does provide a dealer network for its re-entering the US market with median priced products. The company offers the Maserati and Ferrari brands through a small network of dealers. The Alfa Romeo brand has not been seen on these shores since 1995.
With the partnership, Chrysler will have access to fuel and space efficient vehicles. The rather bland offerings of late from Chrysler is a main factor in its condition. The Italian influence will add style and sophistication and products that will be easily identifiable. Let's hope it all works out.
But one factor is almost certain, there will be some layoffs due to over capacity. This will effect not only the Chrysler plants themselves, but also suppliers of parts. The part suppliers provide to all of the manufactures, the overall drop in production has already been felt. With the planned shutdown of Chrysler plants to assess needs during bankruptcy, and GM's announcement of extended summer closures, the supply chain will definitely be suffering also.
With the automotive industry in such turmoil, maybe now is the time to consider a career change? The manufacturing environment in the United States has slowly moved off shore to regions of the world with lower labor costs, and the service industry has grown. Opportunities in travel and hospitality are nationwide and encompass many career paths. So if you are in an automotive related industry, or just looking for a change, job.travel offers a great opportunity to start over.

I Dreamed a Dream.......

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living,
So different now from what it seemed...
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed...

This is the last stanza from I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. It is a song of how as children, people have dreams of how their lives will end up. How they will change the world and make it better for mankind. Astronauts, scientists, teachers.... the list is endless.
With whole lives ahead, dreams are a powerful driving force. But sometimes once on a career path, it is not what it seemed to be. The opportunities are sparse, economic influences have adverse effects, advancements in technology, science, medicine make for dead end careers. Buggy Whip, corset anyone?. Eventually reality sets in and life becomes routine, and hopes and dreams fade to the background.
Job.travel offers opportunities in the travel and hospitality industry. If the dreams of you childhood are no longer achievable, maybe a new career is in order? With job.travel, career paths are numerous and positions across the country with possibilities of worldwide postings. So maybe living in an exotic location is not out of the question.

Finding the Right Audience

In business today, advertising is essential for a new product to get a good start. Even if a product is fantastic, if it is not known, then failure is probably imminent.
Damron Vacations is a recently launched brand catering to the GLBT (gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered) community. In is in partnership with the Damron Guide, which for over 40 years has helped the community with travel information. Items like places to stay, restaurants, club and bars, shopping suggestions. This made travel to an unknown area easier and more enjoyable.
With Damron Vacations, the whole vacation package can be booked. From plane flights to hotels to rental cars. Choosing the destination is all the client needs to do. While Damron Vacations does offer properties that are exclusively gay, there is also an abundance of properties that are gay friendly.
These range from budget minded lodging to 5 and 6 star resorts with all-inclusive options and spas. The cities offered include major gay destinations along with traditional options, London, Rome, Paris to name a few. The experienced agents at Damron Vacations can assist in the planning of your vacation. And currently, there is a promotion of a free Damron Guide with any vacation package booked.
There area variety of Damron Vacation specific options available to its clients. The monthly Tea Cruise in Ft Lauderdale is one of them. On the first Friday of the month, the Musette sets sail for a three hour tour(sound familiar?) along the waterways of the New River and the Intercoastal. This Sunday, 03May, some of the Damron Vacation's staff will be aboard to welcome guests. There will also be a drawing for a free vacation to Cancun for a lucky winner and a friend.
Since the majority of the cruisers will be gay men, and recent studies have shown that even in this economy, gay men still plan to travel, this is a good target audience. The Tea Cruise and the Damron Vacation's give away have been promoted in the local magazines. These local publications are a popular souvenir item for people on vacations in Ft Lauderdale.
Finding the right audience to advertise to is important for cost effectiveness. Spending on ineffective methods or to uninterested parties is counter-productive and is q waste of budgeted funds. So before embarking on a campaign, define your target audience, determine best method, and set realistic goals. If your company has had successful campaigns in the past, rely on the information collected on conversions to help decide current methods.

More good news

Ford lost $1.4 billion in the first quarter and its stock has risen by about $.70 by lunch. Yes, that is a lot of money, but it was less of a loss than expected. New home sales are showing some signs the bottom is near, the decrease for March was less than expected. With the slight improvements and better than expected results the Dow has climbed almost 130 points. Let everyone cross their fingers.
There are still many industries and companies that are teetering on the brink. The most notable are GM and Chrysler. Chrysler only has less than a week to reorganize and join up with Fiat. Gm has an extra month to accomplish a debt/wage restructure. Both these giants of industry are subsisting on federal loans. But the forecast looks very dim for both as they exist right now.
Credit seems to be loosening also. Banks are starting to lend to each other which is good. This inter-bank lending came to a screeching halt last year on the fears that loans would not be repaid. This will allow more credit to be available to consumers. Mr. Obama is also working on abuses by credit card companies and their card holders.
With this bright spot on the horizon, maybe it is time to stat looking for a new job? When the economy is in a tailspin even a bad job is better than no job. Job.travel offers jobs in travel and hospitality across the country. What better time to switch than at the beginning of a trend?

Cost Effectiveness

With the economy still sludging along, it seems that maybe the bottom has been reached. No major layoffs have been announced, banks are reporting profits, the stock market has had a few good rallies. Hopefully all good signs.
Consumer spending is still on hold though showing signs of life. Housing has shown some rebounds, but at lower prices compared to last year. Maybe real estate was artificially inflated? This is not the first land bubble, they happen once the memories of the last one fade or just move to a new section of the country. Want a real bubble? Tulipmania swept through Holland and single bulbs were valued as much as a house.
For companies riding the turbulent economy, cost cutting and savings is paramount to survival. Big press was given to the business junkets of the large banks receiving federal aid to stay afloat. Business in convention cities has dried up, Las Vegas is a prime example. Many companies have canceled meetings, having a 'sales' meeting in Sin City after laying off 2,000 is not good for public relations. Expenditures for operations are under review also. Cutting back on frivolous items, shopping around for a better cost advantage, unnecessary items are no longer even discussed.
Advertising is usually one of the first casualties of budget cuts, but is this a wise choice? If a company and its products cannot be found or are not publicized, how will potential customers find them? The Internet is one course of action. Large corporations have an army of web developers to design and maintain their websites. But what about the home based businesses that do not have a large budget?
2Go Media is an excellent choice. With a 2Go Media package, a company's presence will immediately be seen on the web. A SEO hosted website, directory listings, Internet ad placement and search abilities are just some of the benefits. All this for less than $1.50 a day. Website templates are provided that can be customized, and technical help is provided if needed. Even with expenditures being closely monitored, a 2Go Media Internet marketing package will set the stage for your business as the economy rebounds.

The Art of Communication

Communication, what is it? The exchange of ideas, thoughts or feelings between two or more people seems to encompass the essence. People interacting with each other through various means to convey a thought.
These means have evolved over the centuries. American Indians used smoke signals to broadcast a message for miles. Some native cultures use drums to communicate with the next village. Even animals have forms of communication, wolves howling, birds chirping, and the most interesting, whales singing. Spoken languages led to the creation of alphabets and written language.
In the late 1800's there was the development of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell. In March of 1876, he uttered the words... Mr Watson, come here. I want to see you. This simple phrase transformed the world. Soon telephones became common place in homes, trans-Atlantic cables were laid, the world was becoming smaller. Further development led to the demise of the operator, the rotary phone, then the push button. Satellites transmitted the signals and long cables under the oceans were no longer needed.
Then came beepers and portable phones. The first of these phones were large and cumbersome and had short battery life. With the advances in technology, portable phones can now easily fit in a pocket and are capable of many functions. Besides calls, these little hand held computers can send test messages anywhere in the world.
The same can be said of writing a letter. Matching stamps, stationery and envelopes made it a kind of formal event. Thank you cards were had written for gifts. Christmas cards along with birthday cards were mailed. Now emails have replaced most of theses.
With all the advances made in methods of communication, is the world better? Yes and no. Easy access to friends and relatives miles away is great, especially with a camera equipped computer. Being able to chat with relatives in Europe for free makes it easy and affordable. But there is also a down side, too much electronic connection, can lead to sensory overload. People texting in the middle of a personal conversation, driving while talking or texting, social networking sites. Is a constant connection that important?
Maybe a break is needed? Leave the cell phone home and relax. Future Vacations can book a vacation to an all-inclusive resort, where the only reason to pick up the phone is to book a spa treatment. A Mediterranean cruise to see the wonders of the ancient world is a great escape. Experiencing buildings from hundreds to thousands of years old, makes you wonder why you have a wall crack in a three year old condo. But if the idea of getting away from it all appeals to you, contact Future Vacations and disconnect from the wireless rat race.

More Networking

With the proliferation of social websites such as twitter, my space and facebook, it seems that getting one's self or business out to the public is getting easier and easier. Some pages have extremely large followers.
There are facebook pages and/or groups for the various products I have mentioned in my blogs. 2Go Media, job.travel, Damron Vacations each have their own followings. And while these social pages do create interest, to me they seem to have become more of a popularity contest than a source of information. The recent contest between Ashton Kutcher and CNN is a prime example. If I'm looking for news, I go to CNN.com, not twitter. If I was a teenage girl then I would follow Ashton no matter where he went.
I do have a twitter account and rarely go on it. Maybe the people in my group, I just do not find very interesting, since I do not know who they are. The few people that I know in there, I keep in contact with through email. Another possibility is that I do not like text messages. I need glasses to read only and do not usually carry my glasses with me.
Networking in person is more of my preferences. Last week I attended a Mack Mixer at a local restaurant's bar. It was attended by about 60-70 people from a multitude of careers. I showed up early and left fliers for both 2Go Media and Damron Vacations around the venue. Hopefully the exposure will drum up some business for both, though the Damron promotion was for a Tea Cruise with the chance of winning a Cancun trip.
The most important thing is getting people to recognize a name or a product. With the technological savvy population, on line exposure is essential, but face to face is still important also. People will use products they associate with people that they trust.

Tax Time Already

It seems like only last week it was January 1st. A new month, a new year, and here it is, a fourth of the year has past, spring has sprung and tastes of summer have happened in Ft Lauderdale. Where has the time gone and what has happened.
Foremost, it seems the economy has started to revive, though slowly. House sales are increasing, but at lower prices than in the past. But if a house was vastly over-valued and the price is readjusting to a normal range, is that bad? People caught up in the buy/flip/sell process have been caught, but then whose fault is it? It is hard to feel sorry for people that tried to get rich and were greedy. If something seems too good to be true, then it usually is.
The stock market is slowly coming back. Wells Fargo reported better than expect results this past week which spurred a rally on Wall Street. Now if it can only continue. Lack luster results has the Dow about even for the day. Stagnating is better than falling.
The auto industry is still suffering. GM and Chrysler may not make it in their present forms. Both are having a hard time restructuring their debt and wages issues. Ford is holding on and doesn't want any aid. Let's hope the demand increases.
The true recovery of the economy will start with the common people. When the average American feels comfortable, they will go out and start treating themselves to dinner, buy a car, renovate, or maybe buy a new house. It will take a few good economic reports to spur spending.
Small business will start to add more employees as business increases. For people in the travel industry there is 2Go Media, a new Internet marketing solution package. A unique .travel domain name, SEO hosted website, RSS feeds of your deals to over 100,000 .travel domains among other benefits. A cost effective price of $499 a year, and this rate is guaranteed for 3 years. Exposure on the web is vital in today's business environment. 2Go Media provides an easy cost effective way to make a business' presence on the web make an impact.

Networking 101

The idea behind networking is to get an item out in front of people that can utilize it. The item can be a person, a product, service, etc. The most important thing is to make sure the audience is the target market.
Over the weekend, I attended the CLIA 3sixty Trade Show at the Ft Lauderdale Convention Center. The show is the largest of its kind featuring the major cruise lines, suppliers and affiliated companies. Travel professionals attend for credits toward CLIA certification by attending classroom instruction on the various aspects of the cruise industry. Over 2,000 people attended this year's conference, ship inspections and trade show. These professionals represented agents from large firms to home based agents working for a host agency.
Some host agencies do offer a website to their home based agents. These sites are usually very basic and have very few options for modification. They are also linked to the host agency's main website and designated by being a sub-directory or just an additional page. This makes individuality and ease of locating on the web, very difficult.
2Go Media and .travel both had booths for the trade show. 2Go Media offers a one stop Internet Marketing Solutions package for the travel professional, business owner or real estate professional. A top level .travel domain name, SEO hosted website, email addresses, search.travel, and a listing in the city directory of your choice, are just a few inclusions of the package. A great way to increase your on line presence.

Is it over?

More recent economic news seems to point to the economy having reached bottom, or at least close to it. Factory orders rose, car sales were down, but not as much as expected, home sales though still at lower prices have begun to creep up. Maybe the banks are finally lending the money the government gave them? The economy can only hope.
With these glimmers of hope, companies will be more inclined to start hiring. The large unemployment problem will not be solved overnight, but with demand for goods increasing, laid off workers will be recalled. With more money coming into households, budgets will increase slowly for more luxury items. Dining out will return to a family's routine, and then vacations. Pent up frustration brought on by belt tightening will slowly be relieved through splurges.
These additional expenditures will cause hotels and restaurants to increase their staffs. More patrons require more employees. It will be a trickle down effect that will help restore employment levels.
Job.travel offers jobs in travel and hospitality. The positions offered can start a career in a new industry that might possibly lead to an overseas posting. The opportunities are endless with a multi-national firm. If you have been the victim of a lay off or just in the mood to change your job career path, try job.travel, a new start could be a website away.

End of an Era

General Motors, GM, GMC, once the largest producer of automobiles in the world. Now teetering on the brink of government imposed bankruptcy. Times have changed.
During its heyday, GM was a leader in design and reliability. After starting out as the holding company for Buick in 1908, it started adding brands, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Oakland(Pontiac's predecessor) and lesser names that have vanished, it grew to include the production of airplanes and locomotives. It's market share grew as well as its overseas operations. During World War II,
its domestic and British products fought against the products of Opel, its German subsidiary.
After the war, it was swept up in the post war boom. Suburbs grew and the demand for more cars spurred growth, both in products and management levels. With the dawn of the 1960's, GM started to have problems with initial quality. Ralph Nader attacked the Chevrolet Covair in his book Unsafe at Any Speed. Problems with handling and suspension were eventually rectified, but it was too late. More of new launches followed in the Corvair's tracks, the Vega, the Citation, the mid-sized sedans of the mid 1980s.
One bright spot was the introduction of the Saturn nameplate. It was a good, competent car, the only problem was it was slightly outdated by its rivals at introduction. With the launch of the second round of models it decreased the gap, but then through the lack of updating and new models it languished until the Aura sedan. The Aura was based on an Opel product and is also the base for the new Malibu. While heading in the right direction, the overall poor health of GM has doomed the brand name.
Acquisitions of Saab and Hummer were not as beneficial as hoped. Rather than Saab's innovation infusing the GM line, it was to become nothing more than a reworked Opel. Europeans will not pay premium prices for a mid range car. The Hummer line was the victim of the gas price increase and lack of product range. While the new models double the mileage of the original, it is still less than 20 mpg. Both brands will either be sold or discontinued like Oldsmobile's fate almost 10 years ago.
With the issues facing GM and its suppliers, the ripples will effect companies nationwide. Parts suppliers will have reduced orders leading to cutbacks. Not all of the suppliers are in the Rust Belt, and almost all areas will be effected by the restructuring of GM. Dealers will also feel it as brands vanish.
If your job or community is highly reliant on the automotive industry, maybe it is time to explore other employment opportunities. Jobs in travel and hospitality can be found on job.travel. Positions range from front desk clerks and waitstaff to executive level in corporate offices. Don't wait for the inevitable to strike, finding a job is much easier when you already have one.

Nothing stays the same

Humans are creatures of habit. We basically repeat our actions from week to week, substituting a minor detail, but overall the same. As these ruts become deeper, a person is less open to change of any sort.
In today's business world flexibility is paramount. Altering schedules, overtime, etc. may become routine. Possible relocation or business trips to cover for vacancies are also possible. Being rigid and inflexible could lead to detrimental results. There are lots of qualified people looking for work these days, and would jump at the chance for ANY position.
I know a person that was not happy of a possible business trip out of state, and they were not going. There is money in the bank and I will just give notice. They came around when I filled in some possible results, like taking a year to find a new position and burning through $40K of savings. But he showed them, he did NOT go to Houston for two days.
If your rut has become so deep, there is no horizon, maybe a new career is needed. Stepping out of a comfort zone can be nerve racking, but the rewards can be great. Job.travel offers jobs in the travel and hospitality industry. Travel and hospitality jobs are worldwide and offer many possibilities.

Power Point

With the advances in computer programming, making presentations have become very easy. Power Point is a program that makes a presentation extremely easy. Screens can slowly dissolve or appear, elements can slide on the screen either silently or with sound effects.
These presentations can be used for a sales cal, training, etc. With sales call products can be displayed along with their benefits. The customers can see how it will enhance their business. For training it is a great tool since questions can be listed and answers appear individually. Plus with the shots in order, no information is left out of a session. Plus the presentation can be tailored to keep the trainees interest.
Both of these have been utilized for 2Go Media and job.travel. In areas without Internet access the Power Point can illustrate the use of the website. The sequential screens walks a client through registration and purchase of the product. And with the training, it makes the agents more knowledgeable on the products.

New Avenues

With the ever changing business environment, it is vital for a company to make an impact. Large established companies with recognizable brand names have a major advantage over small start ups. Names like Coke, Marlboro, Ford, IBM are entrenched in our everyday life from years of advertising and exposure. So how does a small company break into the big time?
Marketing. Yes it is just one word, but it embodies many tasks. Besides getting a firm's name out to the public, it needs to get to the right audience. Spending money on campaigns need to be spent wisely. Targeting the decision makers is imperative.
With the heavy use of the Internet, wise placement of advertisements can boost a firm's visibility and attract new clients. Joining organizations and associations that its members would benefit from a product is a good way to start. By becoming a member is shows interest in the group and builds trust. Being included in official emails, whether by an article or banner ad, draws clients to your site. Since it is only a click away, it is very easy to access a firm's products.
The old fashioned guerrilla marketing is effective too. Small fliers in car doors do work as long as the desired market is present. An airport parking lot would be a good place for advertising a limousine service from house to airport. A gym's parking lot for sports or athletic shoe store. Just make sure the majority of the cars are possible clients. Advertising a child care service in a nursing home lot might not be the best use of resources.
To stand out from the crowd there is a new top level domain, .travel. It is specifically for the travel and hospitality industry, to differentiate it from .com, which is for any industry. With the opening of the new registry, a multitude of names has become available. This allows you to promote your business with an industry specific domain.
For on line marketing solutions, there is 2Go Media. The economical package offered includes a .travel domain, SEO optimized website, directory listing and ad placement, and business cards to name a few. It makes a website easy to build, maintain and be found by searches. Job.travel is included as part of the Business Owners Package.

Some more glimmers

The stock market finally finished up for a week. Today, after teh Fed announced a purchase plan for bad-assets from banks it has climbed almost 300 points. Housing sales of existing homes rose a VERY unexpected 5%.
Could this be signs of a major turn around for the economy. Since banks have already received billions of dollars, and the government buying up their mistakes, maybe they can start loaning to consumers again. Since they are already getting bonuses for the way they ruined their employers and the economy. People in most positions would get fired, maybe the banking industry is the place to be.
With home sales increasing does come a fall in prices. To me this is more of a readjustment to a level where prices should be. Living in Fort Lauderdale/Broward County, prices for years were climbing at over 30% a YEAR! That is not a normal rate of appreciation. Prices are falling back to a more reasonable rate, it is just something people that bought at the peak have to deal with. If it is a primary residence and there are no plans to move, then it is a non issue. Just stay until it catches up to where it had been.
People complain about paying a mortgage on a house that isn't worth as much. But these are the same people that have been going out and buying new cars every two or three years and loosing money that way. At least the home will recover its value, unlike a used car. I have known people that pride themselves in never owning a car for more than two years. In my 49 years I have owned a total of 5 cars. Two of these were extremely used cars, two new ones and a certified pre-owned. Detroit does not consider me much of a friend, though one new, and the pre-owned were domestic models.
If these few additional ray of economic hope spur you to consider a new career, try job.travel. Jobs in travel and hospitality are nationwide and can lead to overseas postings with the large corporations. Graduating from college and getting transferred to the operations in Paris should like a good idea to me. Or if if your former position was downsized away, positions are just around the corner and many career paths are covers in the travel and hospitality industry.

Politically Incorrect

In today's office environment, the more relaxed atmosphere can lead to issue of harassment. People telling jokes or stories can be viewed as distasteful to some coworkers. The person who takes offense does not have to be involved, just maybe over hear or witness something. People from different backgrounds have varying ideas of appropriate conduct.
This also holds true for out of office setting also. Maybe a group of employees out for drinks after work, or a business trip. Actions that are observed can create uncomfortable situations in the work place. This is grounds for harassment. Even if the interaction is between friends, observers may take it the wrong way.
Acting in a professional manner is important in a business setting, or in a casual setting with coworkers. Even if people chuckle at a comment, they might be doing it out of wanting to fit in, even though they find it offensive. So unless you are certain about the people around you, be careful of your words and actions. If you are in a work environment that condones incorrect comments or actions, maybe a new position is needed. Try job.travel for a job in travel and hospitality, the possibilities are endless.

Networking

It seems that the big buzz work these days is networking. There are multiple social sites, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc, along with mobile sites such as Twitter. These are methods for people to keep in touch with friends, both current and past.
I signed up for a few to promote the various websites at work. The LinkedIn site has driven a few visitors to the websites, and some friends from Facebook also. And this is on the small scale since I have a job and cannot spend my day on line typing or on my phone sending tweets.
The face to face networking is more of what I am used to. Meeting for lunch with a presentation or for cocktails after work for a more casual setting. Though business cards are swapped, driving traffic to your website is not as effective.
With the online sites, your website and products are just one click away. In the social setting possible clients need to make a concerted effort to find your website when they reach a computer. And actually, this blog is designed to drive traffic to job.travel. So if yo are looking for a new career in travel and hospitality, click on my link and sign up. It is always free for job seekers..

Change is good

In this ever changing work environment, change comes often and employees and executives need to be flexible. With the drastic downturn in the economy over the last year and the many well publicized layoffs(and many more that did not make the news) job descriptions have been radically altered.
Even with less business, basic functions still need to be performed. Accounting still has to debit/credit, human resources have employees to manage, office services, etc. The list goes on, the difference is there are less people to perform these duties. It is the ultimate in multi-tasking. But having many responsibilities is better than none, plus the additional experience is always beneficial to a resume.
This week I have assumed the duties of sales for a sister company for job.travel, 2Go Media. It is an Internet marketing solutions package. All of the package types include a SEO hosted website, a unique .travel domain, inclusion in directory.travel and search.travel and more features. It is a one stop shop for your Internet marketing needs. It is a great place for a small company to make a big impact on the Internet.

Stay busy

If you were one of the unfortunate victims of a corporate down-sizing, staying busy is VERY important. Sitting home and feeling sorry is good for only the first few days. Staying busy keeps your mind busy.
The first priority is finding new employment. With the advent of the web, job searches are a snap compared to even 10 years ago. Sites like job.travel let you sort opportunities by career path, industry or location. Jobs in travel and hospitality offer many possibilities.
While job search is primary, there will still be lots of free time in a day. Maybe online classes to complete a degree. Or additional courses to obtain certification in your field. If your current occupation is being phased out in this country, maybe a new degree all together?
Improving oneself is always beneficial, it shows a prospective employer you are motivated to learn more. But that will still leave hours to fill and Oprah just isn't that interesting. Volunteering is an option. Even during my last period of unemployment, there are still many people that are worse off. There are food banks that help the truly poor or soup kitchens for the homeless. Check with your place of worship or county services, they can provide lists where a donation of time and a smile will help someone that is truly down and out.

Glimmers of hope?

Recent economic news while not earth shattering, has held a few bright spots. Sales in January surged 1.8%, and February were only down .1%, not the forecasted .5% New jobless claims also dipped in recent weeks.
News out of Detroit is better too. While sales of vehicles are down to levels not seen in decades, rays of hope are emerging. Ford has negotiated with the UAW and got major concessions on pay and retirement funding. GM stated they do not need the next $2 billion now. Cost savings have increased their cash position. Guess the fleet of jets were not needed.
The stock market is on the rise for the third day in a row after hitting a 12 year low on Monday. Credit also increased slightly as households made more purchases.
Are these signs of a bottom to the economic issues or just pent up demand? Hopefully it is a sign that people are going to start buying, and help lift the economy. The first take home pay increase as a result of lower taxes starts this week, so more disposable income. Maybe all these small steps will add up to better economic numbers. Though the press seems to prefer the depressing news.
If these little glimmers give you inspiration to change positions, log onto job.travel. Jobs in travel and hospitality are nationwide, and the work experience can be useful for future positions in the industry.

Flying Monkeys!!! Oh MY!!

Who can forget the scene in the Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch of the West sends her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy and Toto? How they swoop in and overpower the Tinman, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion and snatch our heroine and her dog away.
This could also relate to today's economy and work environment. Dorothy can represent the average worker trying to make it to retirement(Oz), the Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion can represent careful planning, living on budget, and saving, and the Wicked Witch and her entourage of flying monkeys are out of touch executives and market forces.
Even though Dorothy has lived within her means(staying on the Yellow Brick Road), the flying monkeys still bring her travels to a screeching halt. The market forces(monkey) have beaten her careful planning and savings(the Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion). These monkeys are controlled by the Wicked Witch, who wanted the Ruby Slippers(bonus, big pay). Though her capture did set back Dorothy's arrival, she did achieve her goal of reaching Oz(happy retirement) with the help of the trio of friends. The Wicked Witch met her demise(execs taking the blame, being terminated, government intervention) and market forces allowed to operate naturally(free flying monkeys)
If you have been the victim of a Wicked Witch and band of flying moneys(getting laid off), try job.travel for opportunities in the travel and hospitality industry. With openings across the country, and in many career fields, finding a suitable position will be a breeze. Just remember to be ready, have a big glass of water nearby.

Cutting back

Up until recently, most people thought nothing of stopping on the way to work and buying a $3 coffee and maybe a $2 muffin to go with it. While at work, a can or bottle of soda for another $1. Lunch another $7-$10. That's $10 to $15 a day on needless items.
Most offices provide coffee. Ours is Maxwell House or Folgers. Yes it is sometimes strong or week, but the price is right $0. If you want/need a muffin, there are plenty of easy mixes, or for the baking impaired, pick some up at the bakery counter or in the freezer. For a soda, most grocery stores or discount stores have soft drink specials weekly, the cost of a 12 pack is less than a week from the machine.
Packing a lunch is easier than ever. Even if the freezer section is your resource, there are complete meals for around $3 or less. Making lunch is not that hard either. A sandwich is easy to make, along with come chips. For the more adventurous, cook on a weekend day for the whole week. maybe variations on baked chicken to break up the week. Something like a nice meatloaf goes a long way and slices can be frozen for subsequent weeks.
Making something like Chicken Chimichangas is not difficult either. Leftover chicken mixed with salsa, sour cream, cheese and wrapped in a flour tortilla then bake. The chicken could be from the rotisserie at your grocery store. Serve with rice and black beans and lunch is a microwave away.
With a little planning in the grocery store and some time in the kitchen, money can be saved easily. Cooking is not difficult or time consuming. When something is in the oven baking, and you are watching television or cleaning, claiming cooking for an hour is pushing it. So with a little planning, budgets can come back into line. Or maybe while something is cooking, you can look at job.travel for jobs in the travel and hospitality industry. Never know when something catches your eye.

No Man is an Island

In the tough times the nation's economy is facing, things do not look too optimistic. Though in February, consumer spending increased and first time unemployment dipped slightly. Hopefully this is a sign that we are reaching the bottom. One can only hope.
Layoffs have been common across all sectors of the economy and regions of the country. Large percentages of workforces have been released. One of our sister companies has faced that situation. When on the wrong end of a layoff, remember you are not the only one, and it has nothing to do with performance. Layoffs are from a bad business environment, being fired is fora specific reason.
As part of a growing number, do not dwell on it, and bottle up feelings, stress or anxiety. Support groups abound where sharing experiences is the norm. On the news last night was a story on a dismissed employee that started a support group for herself and others that had been laid off from the same company. Most local unemployment office offer access to sponsored groups and there is always Google.
With the shift in the United States economy from manufacturing to service, maybe a reassessment of career goals is in order. Additional training in a new field, or pursuing a dream career. Re-inventing one's self can lead to new opportunities. Check out job.travel for a position in the travel and hospitality industry. There is an abundance of positions from entry level to management across the country.

More talents

With the downsizing of a company, there is always the issue of who will do those laid off's duties. If the company's business has decreased, the remaining staff can usually deal with most of it, since they have less work.
Sometimes though the work load is more than the staff in a department can handle. This necessitates enlisting the help from other areas. Since the survival of a company is a team effort, helping another department is the only option. Plus, learning a new skill adds to a resume.
In the near future, I will be responsible for promotions at one of the resort chains the company offers. I will write the copy for the promotion and enter the information into the product's database.
Having started here as a reservation specialist, progressed to assisting in developing a website, then to blogging, and now to helping in the product development area. This will be good experience and make me a more valuable employee. Who knows which department I will assist next?
In these tough times remember to keep a good attitude at work. Negativity is contagious and unhealthy. If restructuring had eliminated your position, try job.travel to help find a new one. Jobs in travel and hospitality off many options, locations and schedules.

Decompression

The removal of pressure. Pressure is all around us today. There is the economy, family issues, work environment, the list is endless. After awhile, something has to give, and hopefully not one's sanity.
It is important to release stress and pressure. After a long period, it starts to effect a person's health and personal interactions. Problems at work should not be taken out on innocent family members or friends. Nor should they be bottled up until blood pressure reaches a critical point.
Growing up there was a commercial, and I have not seen it in years. It starts off with a woman's hectic day of juggling family and work, and culminates in her pleading 'Calgon, take me away!' Then the protagonist is seen relaxing in a nice bubble bath. Though today's equivalent is either a whirlpool or hot tub, usually with an adult beverage.
Exercise has been proven to help relieve stress. It also has the added benefit of improving one's overall health. And a healthy body is better able to resist attacks from colds and flu. With all the physical activity you will look better and have a better self image.
Another way is to just relax and remove negative influences. Stop watching CNN during dinner, it just causes indigestion. At night don't watch the latest crime drama, who needs made up murders? Maybe renting a classic movie from your childhood? Who can forget in the Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow singing 'If I only had a brain' as he danced down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy. Brings back memories of a time when life was much simpler and easier.
Getting out of town is a good way to decompress. New surroundings, new places have a way of making problems and stress disappear. So if a quick escape is needed, try Future Vacations for a long weekend away. Let the trained agents find you the perfect escape for a weekend, or longer, you deserve it.

Training

With the launch of 2GoMedia, training needs to be given for the agents. There is no excuse for dead silence when a possible client calls in. Then agents either need to know the answer or to be able to quickly find it.
Before the launch an over view of the website and products offered was given to all the staff. Individual one on one sessions have been held also. The hands on experience allows the salesperson to walk a client through the registration process. Confidence when dealing with clients is essential.
A good training department is not a luxury at a company, it is VITAL. Having well trained representatives makes for satisfied customers. The training needs to be on the front end, selling and also on the back end, customer service. After a sale, if problems are not addressed quickly, them repeat business is a moot point.
One of the most important aspects of selling is a smile. Whether in person or on the phone, a smile can be detected. Face to face it is obvious, on the phone it comes through as a flat listless voice. An unenthusiastic employee has a direct influence on a customer's perception of the product, and can end a sale after one sentence.
So, if a good training department in the travel and hospitality industry is what you need, check out job.travel. It is a much more economical choice than its .com counterparts.

Bundling, a way of life

Today it seems that many service providers offer bundles. They combine phone/cable/internet or home/car/life insurance the list goes on longer than a re-election speech. The advantage of bundling is cost savings.
New to the scene is 2GoMedia, a cutting edge media provider of online marketing solutions for businesses of all sizes and types. Offered are a variety of packages to suit your on line needs. Basic packages will include a unique .travel domain, web hosting, email addresses, and business cards to name a few.
The .travel domain is a Top Level Domain (TLD) specifically for the travel and hospitality industry. With the .travel, customers already know the your type of business. The original .com or .net domains do not indicate anything about your company. And since they are so well entrenched, the available names are limited. With the introduction of .travel, available names is substantial and finding the right one is easier and convenient.
Once your website is established you will be part of the directory.travel and search.travel making it easier customers to find your business. And in today's economy, being found is essential to survival. Print media no longer hold its grip on advertising it once was, the Internet is where people go to search.
2GoMedia was developed by an icon in the travel business, Michael Egan. With his valuable knowledge and the help of expert programmers, the website was developed with ease of operation in mind. With the cost starting at just $299, small companies can become a big player on the web. With the competition for visibility fierce, do not wait, log on to 2GoMedia.travel and jump start your future.

Popcorn and Plasma........

Stress. It is a part of life. It comes from many sources, work, outside influences, personal relationships, etc. And effects people in different ways. Headaches, stomach issues, trouble sleeping to name a few. Each person deals with stress in their own way. Some resort to chemical help with a prescription of a sedative or sleeping aid. Some resort to adult beverages, some to eating.
In this world of better living through chemistry, the prescription route is very popular. But is it the best? Masking symptoms does not cure the problem. A painkiller may make your toothache go away, but the massive cavity is still there.
Perhaps a more old fashioned method is better? Instead of bottling stress up inside and let it fester at night, why not go out for a long walk, a run or a bike ride? Maybe actually use the gym membership you have or the fitness center in your building. Get on the treadmill and watch the flat screen television, but not a news station. Turn on a sit-com, a travel show, or something educational. The idea while exercising is to release your pent up stress, not add to it with the latest bad news.
Maybe a quiet night in at home. Make some popcorn and sit and watch that movie you taped 6 months ago and haven't watched, or the series on Space Exploration you received as a gift. Though alone time is great, a quiet night can include one or more friends. Just set the rules that there will be no negative talk allowed.
One problem with stress is people will worry on issues they have no control over. If you cannot change the situation through personal intervention, then do not worry. If you can control the issue then act on it. End a relationship that is going nowhere while you are still friends. Change your living situation if the current one is unsuitable. If work is the basis for your issue, then look for new employment. Stress at work will eventually affect your performance. Check out the opportunities at job.travel. Everything from host/hostess at a restaurant to executive level positions at large chains are available. With a large chain's operations, there is usually to opportunity to relocate and star a fresh life. With the job.travel Directory pages, you can start researching a possible new city. Remember jobs in travel and hospitality are rewarding career choices that often include the chance to see the world.

Moving on...

With all the upheaval in the economy, there are many people that have changed careers, industries, relocated. All these events have both positive and negative aspects. They are a part of life.
With changed careers, people are presented with new situations. A re-inventing of one's past experiences to fit a new profession takes adjusting. Things area bit bumpy at the start, but as time progresses, things fall into place and the routine duties flow smoothly.
New industries present the same obstacles. Some corporate climates ares till stuffy and rigid with suit and ties required by even the mail room. In others, business casual is the norm and neckties are something you save for wedding and funerals. Blue jean Friday at some firms would be tantamount to treason.
Relocation is probably one of the most monumental change. Whereas a new career or industry effects the person employed, uprooting a family effects all involved. Children are in new schools, spouses need new jobs, weekly routines change drastically. Even if it is just one person relocated, it still has profound challenges. Friends and family are left behind, your personal support group is no longer a coffee cup or drink away, they are long distance and it might be cross country.
A friend of mine was laid off after 21 years at the same company that was a specialty manufacturer. In his last position he was aware of the demise of the company since he was part of the capital investment team. When investment in a company's future stops then it is doomed. After his dismissal he sold his house, moved to Florida and left engineering behind. He currently works as an accountant for a real estate management company, so in less than a year he completely changed his life.
The new life offers much more advantages than the old there are some differences. Housing is more expensive and the pay-scale is lower, but lives in an area he had always wanted. Vacations to Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Miami's South Beach, Disney or key West is just a weekend away, not a flight, car rental and hotel.
Frustrations over positions need to be forgotten. Maybe with previous responsibilities you were department head with many employees beneath you, and now you are just a staff member. To dwell on such things only cause a negative view of your position and infects co-workers. Trying to control or micro-manage your peers is not good for your reputation, and should be avoided. It will produce a calmer work environment.
So if change has been forced upon you from the sagging economy, try job.travel. Offering jobs in travel and hospitality, the opportunities for a new and rewarding career abound. So with a little re-inventing of one's self and maybe a possible relocation to a place you always want to be is just a few clicks away. Remember, change is good, daily /weekly/monthly routines become a drudgery after awhile, and new is almost always interesting.

Networking

Many years ago when I was growing up in New Jersey, my father would commute into New York to work in mid-town. He would drive in occasionally, but most often took the train from our town. It was about a 35-40 minute commute with all the stops and no need to park in the congested city. While on the train, conversations would be overhead, which led to my father changing jobs and my family' relocation to Charlotte, NC. My father always said the train was a good place to find a job. Another was the Automat. Long gone to history, it was a precursor to fast food. The gleaming chrome and glass doors, a handful of coins and it was a kid's dream land. And a good place to hear about job openings at various companies from adjacent tables.
I guess this was the beginning of social networking. Though today it is done on line or in social settings. there are numerous on line sites where people interact through the magic of the Internet. People post opportunities and let people on their friends list know if they have position available.
In most cities of any size there are various social networking groups. Some based on profession, age group, sexual orientation, but all serve the same function. People share experiences and opportunities to members of the group. Most employers like referrals, employees are not going to recommend a person that will not work out or fit in, makes for a bad situation.
A new opportunity on line is job.travel. It offers jobs in travel and hospitality across the country. Most professions are represented in the industry. So check out job.travel and start a new phase of your career.

COBRA, the ultimate snake bite

Consolidates Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. The COBRA is legislation requiring a company to continue to provide medical coverage to terminated employees. It is a good idea, except for the associated cost. Most employers subsidize the cost of medical coverage as a part of an employee's benefits, thereby reducing the out of pocket cost. With terminated employees, this subsidy ends, and the cost of coverage becomes prohibitive for many of the unemployed.
With the new economic stimulus bill recently signed by President Obama, relief is in sight. One of the provisions of the bill is the subsidy of COBRA payments by the government. Terminated employees that decided for the COBRA coverage pay only 35% of the cost, the former employer will pay the rest. The employer will recoup the additional expense through a credit on payroll taxes or a direct payment from the government. By lowering the cost of the COBRA coverage, more people will be able to afford medical coverage while unemployed, a great benefit for anyone with ongoing health concerns.
The subsidy is retro-active to people involuntarily terminated after September 1, 2008. Employees terminated for gross misconduct are not eligible for the program. The provision does not extend the time a participant is eligible for COBRA, and will cease when coverage from a new source is obtained.
So with one worry taken care of, the job search can continue. So sign onto job.travel and see what new avenues are available. Jobs in travel and hospitality offer many different occupations and are countrywide. With many companies allowing people to work from home after training, it expands the options. There are many people that have an office hundreds of miles from the main building.

Diversity

Diversity, that wonderful word that to me is the opposite of dull. If the world looked the same everywhere, there would be no reason to travel, everything would be repeated nearby. Same with the weather, no need to escape winter, there is no other option around. All cuisines would have the same ingredients prepared the same way. Sounds like a bad sci-fi flick from the early 70s.
People with the characteristics, manners and habits would make the work seem like it was populated with robots. Each a carbon copy of the one before and the one after. All women would have the same figure, all men would look the same. Dating would be real easy, since it would be routine. First dates would be like the 20th. How exciting is that?
Diversity in the world makes it such an interesting place. People can travel to Europe and see the remnants of the Roman Empire, or to South America and climb to Macchu Picchu. Residents in Chicago and fly to Barbados in January and leave minus wind chills behind for 80 degree weather and umbrella drinks.
Characteristics of people will run the gamut, different heights, builds, skin tone, eye and hair color. Exotic features, alluring eyes, different personalities, these are what make life interesting. In an office environment there is usually a vast range of people, it makes work more enjoyable. There is always a 'clown', the serious one, the June Cleaver, and many more. The interactions keep the atmosphere on an upbeat rhythm. Throw in a great boss and the recipe for success is in the works.
If your work has become mundane, and dull, maybe it is time to change something? Job.travel offers positions across the county and career paths. Jobs in travel and hospitality usually offer the opportunity to travel and experience other lands. And with most companies becoming global in scope, employees are from around the world, bringing with them their customs and cuisines. Sounds like a great place to work? Sign up on job.travel and start your exploration of the world, starting in your own office.

Testing, One Two Three

The launch of a new website is not an easy task. Once the purpose of a website is decided, it needs to be laid out, planned, pages need to designed, links need to function. The list goes on and on. Once all the design and programming is completed, the it is time to test.
The purpose for in house testing is to try and break the site. By finding the glitches internally and correcting them, the general public gets a fully functional and working website. Non-functioning websites usually do not get much repeat visits. With practice, breaking a website comes as second nature.
With job.travel, the .travel domain, and a future site for real estate, an umbrella website offering all of our products is being developed. By accessing this new site, a customer can bundle the services that they desire, a one stop shopping site. This site is designed for the employer side, not the job seeker.
With its date of introduction quickly approaching, several employees are doing their best to find any programming errors. By setting up accounts, emails and accessing the site, it can be determined which features need to be modified for easier use by the clients. Instructions are simplified to go step by step and use known phrases. Sometimes people too experienced with a site, do things as a habit, while a newcomer can be confused.
So until the release of the one stop shop, stop by job.travel or the .travel page and check out all the advantages. If you are seeking a job in travel and hospitality, job.travel offers many opportunities across the nation. With the helpful Directory pages, basic research can be conducted for a possible move.

Monday, start of a new era

Today is Monday 16FEB. It is the first work day after the lay-offs on Friday. It is a very somber atmosphere in the office. Friends are gone but not forgotten. No one ever said life was fair. All were great workers and will do good in their new positions.
Today is also President's Day, to celebrate both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington's birthdays. The city and federal offices are closed, so the morning commute and parking was a breeze. When I was young, we got both as holidays.
One of President Obama's missions was to sign the stimulus bill today. Hopefully some of the almost $800 billion will help in the travel industry. There was a glimmer of hope with some of the numbers in January. Retail sales were up slightly and home forclosures were down. Just let it be a trend and not a blip.
With job.travel, my former coworkers have a new avenue to find a job in the travel and hospitality industry. Living in South Florida, travel and hospitality are major employers, making it easier to find a position.

Close to home

With the economy still floundering, travel is not one of the priorities on people's list of needs. With the decrease in business activity, another reduction in staff at a sister company was needed to insure the survival of the whole. Today was Friday the 13th to many of my coworkers.
Having to lay people off is one of the most difficult tasks facing a human resources department. People with wonderful attitudes and work ethics have to be let go, valuable assets that will enhance another employer's staff. Through most of the day it was a quiet and somber atmosphere, which improved slightly as the day draws to a close.
To all the people that are no longer part of the team I wish the best of luck and I know you will do great wherever you land. You will be missed by the family that has remained.

Cooperation

Most companies are comprised of multiple units. These separate parts combine to create the whole business. In a well organized company the various units are related in product types, service, market, etc. With the explosive growth of the Internet and its relationship with the consuming public, attention needs to be focused in this area.
Not keeping up with the Internet could be a fatal mistake for a business. Developing new websites and improving current sites for customer ease will keep a company at the forefront of its market, thereby increasing sales.
Before a new website can be released to the web, it needs to be tested to insure it functions correctly. Malfunctioning websites are doomed, since repeat visits will be minimized. It goes back to the old adage, there is only one chance to make a first impression.
For the next few days my department will be assisting the development group for a new website. This will help insure a good product upon release. By doing testing internally, the glitches and be rectified delivering a workable website to the public. This cooperation will benefit the company as a whole by ensuring the release of a properly functioning website that will become productive.
This is also an example of how various careers are inter-twined with the travel and hospitality industry. Job.travel offers positions across many career paths and spans the country in opportunity. If a job in travel is your goal, check out job.travel for a new start.

Persistance

In these days of economic chaos, hope cannot be lost. The economy will recover and the United States will be on a strong footing again. Yes, it is easy to look at declining 401k accounts, house prices dropping faster than autumn leaves, and layoffs being announced almost daily.
Being diligent at work is of the utmost importance. Shirking responsibilities is no advisable. Going beyond required tasks make you a valuable asset to a company. Employees not following the rules or pushing off assigned tasks face being fired. And there are plenty of people looking for a position that would be glad to replace them.
On the job search end, persaverance will pay off. Though a former position has been eliminated, there are still opportunities out there. Capitalizing on all of your skills is important. Capabilites that are possessed can be stressed to obtain a differetn position. Job.travel offers opportunites for jobs in travel and hospitality. These run teh gamut from the front line staff, desk clerks and housekeeping to acoounting departments and maintanance to assistant, general and regional managers. So don not rule out teh possibilites in teh travel and hospitality industries, and let job.travel help in your job search.

Satisfaction

What is satisfaction? What makes people happy? Having friends? good job? possessions? family? memories?
Today, satisfaction or happiness is related to money and possessions. Yes, buying a new house or car is very fulfilling at the time, but the excitement fades as time progresses. A recent study by Ryan Howell of San Francisco State University showed that the excitement over a purchase has faded after the first few weeks, the longest lasts for three months.
Though with experiences, the euphoria lasted longer and the people were more enthusiastic. The experience involved another person and provided a social bonding or sharing something with family or friends. The experiences made people feel more alive.
Things are nice, but when it comes down to it, it is a sofa, a television or a car. With the state of the economy, buying premium items for the bragging rights is a thing of the past for most people. Spending time with family and friends is something that is free and provides a deeper relationship and closeness that a new trendy item lacks.
If you seem to be working strictly to buy things, maybe a re-assessment is in order. People trudge though the work week at jobs that have become mundane. Maybe it is time to jump start your career and life. Jobs in travel and hospitality encompass many career paths and opportunities. Job.travel is the new website specifically for the travel and hospitality industry. So check out the available positions on job.travel and start making memories with your work place and through the benefits of working in travel(usually good discount).

Balancing

Most people's lives involve some sort of balancing act. The biggest is usually between work, family and personal time. Work usually has a minimum amount of time involved, then comes the family and children functions, lastly comes personal. Fulfilling the work pre-requisite allows for the others. Family involves picking up children from school or after school functions, spending time with the spouse, and just together time. Personal is the time when no one expects anything from you. Maybe an afternoon off, no schedule to keep, no one requiring your attention. These periods are few and far between in today's hectic life.
The same can be said about work. I know of no position where it is strictly one job duty. Various tasks need to be performed as part of a job. Even working as a server, if there are no tables, there is always side work. In retail, no customers, straighten the merchandise. Employers expect a full day's work for a full day of pay.
At my place of employment, there are various branches, performing similar but different functions and they are intertwined. Tasks must be completed for each, and none pushed to the back burner for long. Some duties are assigned based on product knowledge, others based on skills.
There are always deadlines to me met. Non performance is grounds for dismissal in most companies. If a deadline is missed, but effort has been shown to meet it, is a much different situation than no additional effort was shown for completion. If the situation is too much to control, waiting does not help, send up a warning as soon as possible so help can be obtained.
With all the tasks that most employees perform in day to day operations, most can be carried out in the travel and hospitality filed. Job.travel is an employment website for jobs in travel and hospitality. Check out the opportunities and apply skills you never realized you had to a rewarding career.

HMMMMMM, Doh-nuts

Here it is Friday morning, and two people have brought in doughnuts. Nothing like a nice sugar rush first thing in the morning. I am a doughnutaholic. Warm glazed doughnuts with a nice cup of decaf with fake sugar, hey need to cut back somewhere.
Fridays in the office is casual dress day, so blue jeans are acceptable. Though it seems some of the single women dress up more on casual day.
The atmosphere in the office seems to be much more relaxed too. Though, it is rarely stressful here. Even with the downturn in sales, the management realize it is industry wide and not just business here. And since they understand it is a temporary situation, the phones are still properly staffed. A team has been organized for a charity walk in a month.
If your work environment is stressful and you need a change,l try job.travel. There are positions available in most career fields. And jobs in travel and hospitality offer the chance to travel.

Somewhere over the Rainbow.....

Skies are Blue. Yes one of the songs that always seems to brighten the day. Thoughts of happy times, friends, and family.
In the economy today, bright spots seem to be few and far between. Everyday it seems that sales are down, foreclosures are up, lay offs are common. Not a happy time. If the dreaded pink slip has shown up on your desk, it hits very close to home. It is easier when it has happened to other people.
The best plan of action is to start a job search immediately, no pity party. Once things are set in motion to correct the employment situation, take stock in what you have. Unless the bank account is overflowing, cut backs will be needed. Frills will have to be postponed.
Keeping a positive attitude is essential. Avoid situations and people that will be depressing. If someone is complaining about things, change the subject, or leave the conversation. Maybe avoiding the Debbie Downers in you life is best. The nightly news is a good thing to skip also, no need to hear what you already know repeated. Treat yourself on occasion to something special, though nothing extravagant.
And while searching for a new position, check out job.travel. Jobs in travel and hospitality offer options in many career paths and are located across the country. Limiting yourself to a former industry might prolong your search. re-invent yourself and prepare several versions of your resume. Each one emphasizing a different talent or accomplishment. The job.travel Career Center offers several resume versions and hints on preparation. Also, once a resume is posted to an on-line employment site, hopefully job.travel, make weekly changes. Something as minor as an extra space at the end of a line, will move your resume back to the top of the list in searches.
So, don't get depressed, keep a positive attitude. This is a tough country and things will get better. Job.travel offers more exposure and you never know, benefits like free nights in Tahiti is not a bad thing.

Merchandising...

It's all about merchandising. People buy what seems to fit their needs. Twenty years ago, who would have thought that the major beverage companies would sell us water in a bottle? We needed this water because it was pure. Yeah right, just a bunch of hoo-haa. While some bottled water is sourced from a spring, most are from a municipal water system, filtered and packaged. Hmmm, my refrigerator has a filter on it, isn't that the same thing? Plus with all the people looking for pure water, what about the gazillion plastic bottles that are disposed of? I grew up drinking water from a garden hose and have managed to make it almost 5 decades with no issues.
In supermarkets, the wonderful displays of a new product on the aisle end-caps attract your eye and entice you to buy. Is it the location? the packaging? or do you really need it? People seem to try something that catches their eye, whether by color, placement on the shelf, ingenious graphics. Slick ads on television or glossy advertisements in a magazine attract attention, and drive sales.
The same is true in job searches, the main difference is the seeker is the merchandise. How a resume is viewed can be related to the glossy advertisement or the attention grabbing commercial. In these days of high unemployment, resumes need to stand out from the crowd. Since the majority of job searches are now conducted on line, choice of paper or font styles is irrelevant, substance is what counts. Resumes need to be well written and contain the buzz words for the industry or the occupation. No long winded paragraphs, short concise statements of abilities and achievements. Once an interview is granted, then details can be provided, but remember not to drone on too long. Business people are busy and have timetables to keep.
There are jobs out there to be had. Try job.travel for jobs in travel and hospitality. The Career Center has resume writing tips along with interviewing. Jobs in travel and hospitality span many career paths and are world-wide, the opportunities are endless. So check out job.travel and get your career search off to a great start.

More jobs lost

The tally of job eliminations reached 100,000 last week alone. Most in the manufacturing industry with Caterpillar laying off 20,000. Today Macy's announced 7,000 to be laid off, mostly in stores, but also in the retailer's offices. YIKES!!!
Congress needs to hurry up and pass the stimulus bill while there is still an economy to stimulate.
On a brighter note. Though credit is still tight, banks are relaxing the standards some. Hopefully this will enable people to borrow for new cars and other durable goods. This would spur the economy to start producing again, and get the country on track. It will be a matter of time, but the country will pull out of it.
The big question is, did we learn anything? Overspending one's means, living on credit, trying to get rich quick. My guess, probably not. In December, auto sales were down, but the sales of SUVs and trucks climbed as a percentage. This was due to the drop in gas prices(do people believe they will stay down), and deep discounts on gas guzzling vehicles to get them off the dealer lots. So when will the population realize?
If you were one of the unfortunate workers effected by last weeks announcement, maybe it is time to start a new job search, before the actual event occurs. By starting early, you will have a jump on others, and hopefully find the perfect position quickly. If so, try job.travel, the premier website for jobs in travel and hospitality. The opportunities are nationwide and across many career paths. And maybe a move is also involved, check out the Directory pages for information on a possible new home.

Bailouts, better get a bigger bucket

With the economy in rather bad shape, our leaders in Washington are throwing lifelines to struggling industries. The Financial sector has $700 billion dollars to keep them afloat, GM and Chrysler have received loans, and there is another $800 billion in the works for government spending on projects and tax relief. When will it end?
Companies have been forced by stockholders to make more money. If you do not perform, out with the management and in with some that will make money. Bonuses based on company performance is an incentive to take risks. Somewhere in the greed for money and to get rich in three to five years, people lost sight of reason. I'm talking from corporate presidents to homeowners.
Growing up in the middle of the baby boomers, living within one's means was the standard. I can count on one hand the new cars my parents purchased. There was one television, two phones, and no designer labels. Credit cards were used as needed and paid off quickly. Houses had one mortgage, and it remained there until the house was sold or it was paid off. Refinancing? what is that? The value a home increased meant a nice one the next time.
Today it seems that every family member needs a phone, a television in their room, a car when they get their license, and maybe their own credit card. No wonder both parents have to work these days. With most of the niceties provided during their childhoods, what is going to happen when the real world strikes and they move out on their own?
Besides industries and homeowners, local governments are in trouble. Living in south Florida, I have problems understanding why. With limited land available for building, new homes are mainly restricted to in fill or new condo towers. Okay there have been six of those built in the past seven years I have lived here, but that is a small percentage of the homes in Broward county. The value of real estate has climbed at dizzying rates lately, but unless I am wrong, if a house was worth $75,000 in 1995, and it is now worth $750,000, does it take 10 extra people to send out the tax bill? does adding the extra '0' necessitate more staff?
Maybe the population needs to step back and realize what is needed for a nice life, and what is perceived as one. There are stories in the news where with cutbacks, families are spending more time together. Meals are at home, entertainment is playing games or watching a movie. Is this a bad thing? Could this lead to parents actually knowing where their children are and what they are doing?
If part of the bailout was the loss of your job, try job.travel. Most careers are part of the travel and hospitality industry. The opportunities are there across teh country, and jobs in travel and hospitality usually include perks. Sometimes free meals and cheap or discounted hotel stays.

Ever changing world....

It is amazing how things have changed and how the pace has picked up. Do you realize that 30 years ago every one's phone was plugged into the wall and the television wasn't, and now it is the reverse. The Internet was a novelty at first, but now is used constantly for commercial and personal use.
In business, meetings are now held with people around the world connected electronically. No more 5 hour flights for a three hour meeting. Not only is this easier on the employees, but it comes with a great savings for the company since there is no travel expense for the out of town attendees.
The savvy marketing department needs to keep abreast of current trends in possible clients' habits. 30 years ago, there were the three main networks and only a few PBS or other local stations that people tuned into. Now with the explosion in cable networks, there are hundreds of stations offering a multitude of view options. Deciding where to place advertisements is much more difficult.
Junk mail is no longer confined to the mailbox in front of your house, it not proliferates in your on line account. Just like the trash from the postal service, junk email goes straight to the trash bin on line. Most people do not even bother to open the email, especially with the abundance of viruses and spy ware programs.
With the advent of caller I.D., people do not answer the phone if the number is unknown. If it is an important call, they will leave a message is the usual approach of the receiver.
So where does a business spend its advertising dollars? The main Internet search engines have very detailed information on Internet advertising. They also offer help in placing ads within a company's budget to get maximum exposure and results. Flashy ads with movement catch the reader's eye when a new page opens, but restraint is needed so that it does not become annoying.
With the shift to the Internet, to survive a company needs to be a presence there. Job.travel is a web based employment website for jobs in travel and hospitality. The offerings are nationwide, and soon to be international, and in almost all career paths. So next time you are surfing the web, stop by job.travel and maybe start a new phase of your life with a new job in the travel and hospitality industry.

What to do, what to do.......

The conversation with the boss is over, the packing of personal items is done, the tearful good byes are in the past, now what? Being laid off, terminated, or downsized, it all produces the same result, unemployment and job searching.
The most common reaction is feeling sorry for oneself, but do not let that keep you from starting a new job search. Updating your resume and getting it out there is the number one step.
There are a gazillion websites to help you obtain a new position. Some charge the job seeker, if you are looking for a premium job, but most garner revenue from the employer postings and are free to the seeker. Job.travel is a the new premier website for employment in the travel and hospitality industry, and is free for the job seeker. And quite a deal for employers too.
Jobs in travel and hospitality encompasses most career paths and parallel positions in manufacturing and retail for the most part. Employment in travel can provide discounts or freebies, and who doesn't like a room in a resort at a budget price? And as opposed to say manufacturing facilities, jobs in travel and hospitality area nationwide, and in fact worldwide.
So if you are currently in the market for a new position due to a lay-off, or just to start a new chapter in your life, try job.travel. It has an extensive list of jobs in travel and hospitality industries. If it has been a long time since your last job searh, the Career Center has hlpful information on resumes, job searched and interviews.