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Show CareerBuilder how you #WorkHappier



Follow @CareerBuilder on Instagram. Show us how you #WorkHappier. Win a GoPro Hero4. More details below!
There's a fairly simple idea that pops into my head just about everyday I'm sitting in my cube: How can I add more happiness to my day at work?
According to the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation, the average American spends 1,790 working annually. When you consider that's roughly 30 percent of the time you'll be awake each year, I hope it becomes clear you should strive to be happy while you're on the job. You'll eventually spend a giant chunk of your life working; why not improve those times as much as possible? Why save happiness for when you leave the office?

Take action and #WorkHappierMuch like a job search, much like your career development, you must be active in your pursuit of happiness. You can't just sit and do nothing but hope you find happiness tomorrow, next week or next year. You have to go after it.
That's where the idea of #WorkHappier comes in. When the going gets tough at the office, how do you remain positive? When things become stale, how do you lift up your spirits and those of your co-workers?
The actions you take to add happiness to your workday don't have to be complicated. They can be as easy as saying thank you to a co-worker who makes your job easier. Working happier can mean taking a walk when you're out of ideas or simply need a break but don't think the walk to the vending machine is enough. Even getting out of the office for lunch with your co-workers will help you #WorkHappier. #TheMoreYouKnow

Show us what you've got!Now that you're basically a #WorkHappier expert, we want to see how you add happiness to your days. Submit a photo on Instagram using that hashtag before Oct. 16, 2015, and you could win a GoPro Hero4 Session, a pair of Shure SE215 Sound Isolating Earphones, and more to make your work life better.

Here's how to get started:
1. Follow @CareerBuilder on Instagram.
2. Photograph how you add happiness to your workday.
3. Post it on Instagram, tag it #WorkHappier, and mention @CareerBuilder. You're now entered to win!
See official contest rules (and a really awesome landing page) here.

Additional inspirationIf you were an expert before, these tips will make you a bona fide guru of working happier:
  • Explore your surroundings. Try that new place for lunch even if there's a line. Take a walk and don't follow a route you've taken before.
  • #TreatYoSelf. Don't settle for snacks out of the vending machine. Reward yourself with a gourmet snack after completing a hard task… or just because.
  • Take your breaks, and use your vacation days. You're given both for a reason. Recharge when you have the opportunity to do so.
  • Get more sleep. You'll have more energy, better ideas and an improved mood when you go into the office.
  • Welcome distractions from time to time. Distractions allow your mind to wander and they'll often boost your mood. Sometimes, those will be enough to help you break through a roadblock or solve a complex problem.

What it's Like to Have the Best Job in America Right Now

Demand for this job increased more then 300 percent in three years.


13 Things Successful People Do Between Jobs

Career and workplace experts suggest taking at least one week off to allow yourself to refresh


Taking some time between jobs also gives your brain a chance to take a break, to process leaving your old job (which can be pretty emotional, whether you loved or hated it), and to prepare for all the new challenges to come, adds Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs.

1. Get organized.

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Minimize the stress of your first week in a new job by taking time to organize your personal life.
"Any projects around the house that have been nagging at the back of your mind? Now's the time to get them done," says Ryan Kahn, the founder of The Hired Group and creator of the best-selling How To Get Hired online course.

2. Schedule appointments and run errands.

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3. Disconnect.

3/13

"Take advantage of not having to be reachable during the day, and stop checking your email or looking at Facebook for an afternoon or two," says Sutton Fell. "This gives you a chance to reset your brain."
Instead of staring at a screen for hours on end — which you'll probably have to do as soon as you start your new job — pick up a book you've been dying to read, or go take an exercise class you've been wanting to try.

Illegal Questions To Ask In An Interview

1 in 5 employers has unknowingly asked one of these questions


One third of employers indicated they didn't know the following questions were illegal to ask in an interview setting:
  • What is your religious affiliation?
  • What is your political affiliation?
  • How old are you?
  • Are you pregnant?
  • What is your race, color or ethnicity?
  • Are you disabled?
  • Are you married?
  • Are you in debt?
  • Do you have children or plan to?
  • Do you socially drink or smoke?
While some of the above questions might seem obvious not to ask, others are more tricky. With some questions, the legality is all in the wording. For example, asking if a candidate has ever been convicted of a crime is okay, but asking about his or her arrest record is not. Or while it's okay to ask if a job seeker is legally eligible for employment in the U.S., it's not legal to openly ask, "Are you a U.S. citizen?"

People with these jobs are the most likely to marry each other

Rachel Gillett and Mike Nudelman


Farmer couple country

If you're a real hands-in-the-dirt, head-in-the-sun kinda fella, there's a good chance your future wife will be, too.
As The Washington Post recently detailed, Priceonomics, a company that helps companies crawl and structure data from the web, analyzed US Census data to see what professions are most likely to marry each other.
Among the top ten occupations more prone to mixing business with pleasure, two are in agriculture.
Agricultural workers, who help farmers maintain crops and livestock, marry others with the same job 27% of the time — and agricultural managers, such as farmers and ranchers, do so 20% of the time.
Other occupations like physicians and surgeons, gaming service workers, and lodging managers also top the list.
BI_Graphics_Percentage of people married to someone who has the same jobMike Nudelman/Business Insider
Dan Kopf, author of the Priceonomics analysis, notes the high rate of agriculture workers and managers comingling may be attributed to the less diverse mix of occupations available to people in rural communities compared to urban ones.
Jerry Miller, founder of niche dating site FarmersOnly.com, says it all comes down to lifestyle compatibility. Many farmers he has talked to say they work seven days a week, 365 days a year. "How many people in regular business could relate to that?" he asks.
In general, Dr. Mike McNulty, a Master Certified Gottman Therapist and relationship expert,notes the list isn't too surprising, considering most of these occupations likely share atypical hours and intense demands and responsibilities.
"Each occupation has a distinct way of life that goes with it," McNulty says. "They all involve long hours, at least during certain seasons of the year, that may result in an inability to participate in the mainstream social activities of one's peers."
This may make it difficult for people in these occupations to meet others outside of work.
"It may feel more workable to marry someone who shares the same kind of schedule, rather than having to constantly explain the demands of one's position to a partner or spouse who works in a different profession," McNulty says. "The fact that partners hold the same type of position may mean that they can relate to each other's compassion for work or the challenges one another face."
While there are lots of benefits for spouses who share the same way of life, McNulty cautions anyone looking for a spouse with the same job about the pitfalls.
"Even when they do have the same job, they still will have individual differences, which will result in those all too common perpetual problems that come with being married," he explains. "Partners must learn to manage such problems over time, through understanding and compromise and putting their relationship first. If partners enter into marriage believing their shared way of life makes them exempt from conflict, they will be in for a big surprise."
It's worth noting that the Census Bureau tracks 500 professions, and data on same-sex marriages was not available for this analysis.

Lights, camera, job search: Interview tips from actors




INTERVIEWING AND AUDITIONING AREN'T SO DIFFERENT. LEARN HOW ACTING TECHNIQUES CAN HELP YOU ACE YOUR INTERVIEW.
While pursuing my passion for acting, I've had to constantly face a situation feared by most actors: the audition. In order to be successful, actors audition a lot; often anywhere from once a week to multiple times a day. Just like with interviewing, auditioning is often terrifying the first several times, and then it becomes (a little) less intimidating. You learn how to present your best self under intense pressure and constant competition. Auditioning takes diligent preparation, battling nerves and dealing with rejection – the same things job seekers experience when going in for an interview.
Due to the similarities between auditioning and interviewing, you could perhaps learn a thing or two about preparing for an interview from a seasoned actor. That's why we chatted with Aaron Walters, a CareerBuilder employee who has more than 15 years of experience in theater, television, radio and film (he recently was featured on Season one of "Chicago P.D." and appeared in a national ad campaign for Bud Light). Here's what he had to say about the parallels between auditioning and interviewing, along with my takeaways for applying acting technique to the job search.
CB: How has auditioning prepared you to deliver an effective interview?AW: I think that auditioning forces you to think on your feet, because you're never sure what the outcome will be – especially if you're paired with a complete stranger (which is usually the case). Don't get tripped up by your interviewer's questions or reactions, just as you wouldn't by your scene partner's choices. Remain in the moment, so you don't become stuck within your own narrative in an interview. Simply put, in an audition or interview you must listen and respond. Your potential employer may be vetting for additional positions besides the one you're interviewing for, so be prepared to pick up on potential cues.
Takeaway: Listen to the interviewer. Respond in the moment to what the interviewer is giving you – if you become nervous you'll shut down and won't hear a word. You may be missing important information that you can refer back to or relay your insight on during the interview.
CB: What are some acting-based classes a job candidate might take to improve their interviewing skills?AW: I would 100 percent suggest taking an on-camera course. You learn a significant amount about your natural tendencies in regards to body language, etc. Stuff that frankly may not be the easiest to look at. Suddenly you realize your voice is not as cool as you thought it was in your head, but being aware of how you're selling yourself in an interview or an audition is a crucial first step.
Takeaway: Self-awareness is key. When you see yourself in play-black mode, you can learn so much about how others may perceive you. Take a class with a group, instead of just preparing within the vacuum of your own living room, so you can receive honest feedback on how you're presenting yourself. The camera does not lie and will accurately reflect your posture, the confidence of your voice, your physical habits, etc. All of these tendencies can positively or negatively impact an interview.
CB: What parallels have you found between interviewing and auditioning?AW: One parallel that definitely exists in auditioning or interviewing is that the only obstacle standing in your way of being successful is yourself. There's no one actively rooting against you to not get the job or land the part … it's actually quite the opposite. In most of my experiences, I felt potentially able to make the day of the person across the table. This is true whether it's a casting director or a prospective employer. They may be exhausted of looking for the perfect candidate as much as you are in the job search. They want you to succeed.
Takeaway: Alter your perspective for the better. The way that you perceive yourself in an interview setting is tantamount to success. If you walk into an interview scenario not ready to put your best foot forward, the interview may be over before you answer the first question. Convince yourself that your specific skills are going to benefit the hiring manager. In many cases your opinion of yourself will influence the interviewer's perception of you. Don't be overconfident, but assert your value confidently.

Six-Figure Jobs: Genetic Counselors Earn Up To $250K

Biggest demand is in prenatal genetics


The 25 US Colleges Whose Graduates Earn the Most Money

College-bound students take notes.


No limitations

The One Perk Entry-Level Employees Want More Than Their Bosses

It's quite intriguing.


When evaluating a new job opportunity, how important is the ability to gain new skills in that role?


Photo Credit: Business Insider

How concerned are you about keeping your skills current in the next three to five years?


Photo Credit: Business Insider

According to Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half, "Workers at every career stage want to keep their skills both current and relevant. In today's competitive hiring market, a robust professional development program can be an appealing benefit to would-be new hires."

McDonald points out that training programs also are a powerful retention tool. "Our company's research has found a lack of advancement opportunities is a top reason good employees quit, trailing only inadequate compensation," he said. "A company's best performers are often the first to leave if their employer does not provide ample training and development to help them grow professionally."

Since CFOs and other members of upper-level management have already built useful skill-sets needed to perform their jobs, it does make sense that their employees would be more eager to learn those same skills in order to quickly advance their careers. 

20 Ways To Avoid Getting Burned Out At Work

Here's how to make sure you keep the spark alive during working hours.


13 Things You Should Never Say On Your First Day At Work

Your ultimate guide on what NOT to say on your first day.


1) "At my last company..." or "In my last job..."
No one likes a know-it-all.

Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, etiquette and civility expert and author of "Don't Burp in the Boardroom," suggests walking into the new job with energy, but she also recommends a splash of humility. "Not the timid, reserved definition, but with an attitude of learning — not knowing-it-all."

2) "When do I get a raise?"
"How about getting through the ninety-day probationary period first," Randall suggests.

3) "BTW, I have to leave early on Fridays."
"If you hadn't talked about that prior to joining, landing in the new job and suddenly dropping these kinds of bombs on them really shows a lack of communication and respect on your part," O'Donnell says.

"They're expecting you to just come in and be there and be present, be eager, be ready and willing to learn."

4) "Who should I meet and who should I avoid around here?"
A question like this is basically asking coworkers to gossip — that's a career killer, Randall says. And one person's beef with another coworker is their business only and could have developed over matters you have no idea about.

"Take time to meet and engage in small talk with each person in your department," Randall suggests. "Judge for yourself."

5) That's not how I learned how to do it."
Keep the conversation positive, O'Donnell advises. Employers don't want to hear what you can't do —they want to hear that you are open-minded and ready to learn to do it their way.

"That can sometimes slip out because people want to be able to show their expertise and they think, 'That's why I got hired,'" O'Donnell explains. "But if you don't frame it properly, it can really sound negative and critical of the organization that's just hired you."

6) "What's the holiday party like? Do we get bonuses or a ham or something?"
"You are the ham," Randall says. "Why don't you just wait and see when holiday time rolls around. By the way, what will you do if you go home empty-handed?"

7) "What d'ya have to do around here to get an upgrade on this company phone?"
If your company phone isn't the newest or shiniest, chances are your coworkers' aren't either. Asking for an upgrade will undoubtedly alienate some people who will question if you think you deserve it more.

"Learn to deal with what you are given. If the company is technology-deficient, has older desks, chairs, or office décor, don't allow or use it to determine how you get the job done," Randall says.

8) "That makes no sense."
You may come across a way of doing things in your new company that you don't understand or agree with, but framing it this way makes you seem like a Negative Nancy or — even worse — just plain dumb.

"Get some feedback before you make this automatic assumption," O'Donnell suggests. Instead of saying the policy doesn't make sense to you, ask why the company does it this way, the history behind it, and try to understand the policy from the organization's point of view.

9) "My prior boss was clueless."
Maybe your previous boss was an idiot. But negative complaints and comparisons are rarely welcomed, Kerrigan points out, and these kinds of statements can be harmful to your professional brand and how you're perceived. You're the one that's coming off as clueless.
10) "I'd like to invite you all to my church this Sunday."
Unless it has something to do with your job, you might consider bringing the "never discuss politics or religion at the dinner table" rule to your desk as well.

"These discussion aren't generally well received in a work environment," Randall says. "You may find coworkers shying away from you as Fridays approach."

11) "In my opinion ..."
As a general rule of thumb, make "Ask, don't tell," your personal mantra for the day, O'Donnell suggests.

Unless asked, it's better to keep your opinion to yourself and see what your employers have to say about things first.

12) "What's the employee discount like?!"
Defer these kinds of questions to the policies and procedures manual, Randall says.

"Inquiring and asking for perks is so 'me, me me' — an unfavorable trait."

13) "Hey Donna, working hard or hardly working?!"
First of all, lame.

Second of all, while you may see other coworkers ribbing each other and think it's fine to join in — don't.

"They earned that level of casualness with each other ... you are not there yet," O'Donnell says.

A Simple Flowchart Can Help You Decide What Career Path Is Right For You

There's no guarantee this will lead you to the right job, but it can help steer you in the right direction.


5 things that make a salesperson excel in today’s competitive world




What makes a great salesperson in 2015, especially as technology continues to become part of the job?

The sales profession has evolved over the years and looks different than it did even a decade ago, let alone 20 or 30 years ago. Amidst increased competition in the marketplace, salespeople today have to step up to the plate and accept increased responsibilities or get left behind. So, what makes a great salesperson in 2015, especially as technology continues to become part of the job? I've outlined what I believe are the top five traits:

1.They know client needs inside out. Don't picture a door-to-door salesperson making the same sales pitch over and over again, unaware of the audience he or she is selling to. Today, you must dig far beneath the surface to unveil what a client really needs. A great salesperson listens to understand a client's needs. They will investigate what the client's pain points are, what areas the client finds challenging and what keeps the client up at night. They become experts at solving problems by researching their clients and prospects, learning about their industry and business, and identifying challenges they are currently facing — and also ones they expect to encounter in the future.

2.They take advantage of training opportunities. Great software salespeople are acutely aware of how competitive it is in the marketplace today. That's why they take every opportunity to become subject-matter experts by familiarizing themselves with the products so they can speak intelligently and propose meaningful solutions. As a recent BloombergBusiness article states: "Software sales pitches are becoming a lot less about golf and a lot more about products."

3.They leverage technology, but maintain a personal touch. Salespeople today have seemingly endless resources and top-of-the-line technology at their fingertips ready to assist them with a sale. While that is a great benefit in terms of empowering them to have intelligent conversations backed by real-time data and insights, they know that driving sales is not just about the tools and technology — customers still want a human element behind the sales pitch.

4.They're organized. As the sales profession has become more complex, great salespeople are able to keep up and position themselves to stay a step ahead. How? For starters, investing time upfront to know all of their accounts and store all of their information in a trusted CRM tool is key to setting themselves up for long-term success.

5.They don't sell — they advise. The best salespeople don't "sell." That may sound like a contradiction at the surface level — after all, aren't they considered successful only when they make sales and reach their quotas? But that is an archaic way of thinking today; it doesn't take into account the client's or prospect's best interests. Great salespeople won't introduce themselves and in the same breath tell the clients what they need. Instead, they become trusted advisers that clients can call when they're looking for advice or best practices.
This is an exciting time to be in software sales, and it's an especially exciting time to be at CareerBuilder as we continue the rapid growth of our global HR Software as a Service operation, and we want great people to join our team.

First, take a minute to understand what our sales leaders are looking for in potential candidates.
Apply now for open software sales positions at CareerBuilder or share this with someone you know who would be a good fit.
APPLY NOW

College degrees growing and declining post-recession





Are you ready to graduate to the next step of a growing career? Or did your major put you in a tough spot?

While higher education once encouraged optimism and passion as deciding factors in choosing a major, the Great Recession made a lot of experts in education and staffing rethink how we prepare students for the workforce. Especially when it's become clear that hard-to-fill positions are stagnating our country's economic growth.

"The market is at a unique inflection point, and we need to make sure that we're educating workers to have 21st century skills for 21st century jobs," says Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder and co-author of The Talent Equation. "While it's encouraging to see accelerated participation growth in STEM-related college programs, the slowdown in overall degree completions – especially those tied to developing strong communications and critical-thinking skills – is concerning. Nearly half of employers say they currently have job vacancies but can't find skilled candidates to fill them. We need to do a better job informing students and workers about which fields are in-demand and growing, and provide them with access to affordable education and training, so the journey to a high-skill job is an achievable one regardless of their socioeconomic situation."

With that in mind, new research from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl shows that nearly 500,000 more degrees were awarded in 2014 than in 2010, an 11 percent increase. What specializations and opportunities should future graduates keep in mind as the next stage of their career begins? What majors fare fading fast? Here are the college degrees growing and declining post-recession.

College degrees with the most growthMore than half of the top 10 broad programs leading the U.S. in degree completion (2010-2014) were in STEM fields, known for the collection of roles in science, technology, engineering and math. Those college degrees with the most growth include:

1. Science technologies/technicians
+1,521 change
49 percent growth
2. Natural resources and conservation
+7,792 change
45 percent growth
3. Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies
+18,869 change
44 percent growth
4. Multi/interdisciplinary studies
+24,540 change
36 percent growth
5. Mathematics and statistics
+9,384 change
35 percent growth
6. Public administration and social service professions
+22,683 change
33 percent growth
7. Computer and information sciences and support services
+38,194 change
32 percent growth
8. Precision production
+9,581 change
30 percent growth
9. Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services
+32,529 change
27 percent growth
10. Engineering
+32,058 change
26 percent growth
College degrees with the greatest declineThe recession refocused the economy on STEM jobs that could lead to further innovation and growth—leaving graduates in the humanities with fewer hard skills to compete with for high-paying jobs. From 2010 to 2014, only nine broad program categories experienced decline, nearly all of which were in humanities and social sciences (and closely related to teaching occupations):
1. Military technologies and applied science
-814 change
30 percent decline
2. Library science-1,432 change
17 percent decline
3. Education-33,301 change
9 percent decline
4. History
-3,561 change
8 percent decline
5. Construction trades-1,980 change
6 percent decline
6. Philosophy and religious studies
-542 change
3 percent decline
7. English language and literature/letters
-1,571 change
2 percent decline
8. Foreign languages, literatures and linguistics-683 change
2 percent decline
9. Architecture and related sciences-217 change
1 percent decline
Factoring in economic trends and the number of graduates you'll be competing with in certain industries can be what prepares you for a successful career, versus adjusting your career path after trends are already affecting your trajectory. When considering higher education, looking to the future can be the smartest way to start a school year. 

7 tips to conquer pre-interview anxiety




Avoid letting your anxiety get the best of you with these seven pre-interview tactics.
You finally landed an interview for your ideal job. Now you find yourself in the candidate holding tank five minutes before it all goes down. Your insides are churning, heart-pounding, palms sweaty -- and your brain seems incapable of reading its own resume. You tell yourself to breathe, but nothing seems to help. Your name is called. The interview is over before it began.

Anxiety is an interview killer...and a common problem. Job seekers have every right to be anxious about an impending interview. After all, the competition is often killer and your livelihood could be at stake. But the last thing a hiring manager wants is for you to be a bundle of nerves.
Avoid letting your anxiety get the best of you with these seven pre-interview tactics.

1. Have a game planA day or two before your interview, scope out the company building. If you're driving, find parking and learn exactly where you'll need to be the day of the interview. On the day of, give yourself a generous amount of time to arrive at the interview location and get settled. Note: This doesn't mean showing up to the actual interview an hour early. Use this time to take a walk to soothe your nerves or review your answers to potential questions. Realizing there are factors prior to the big interview that are completely within your control can help you gain your composure.
2. Engage in conversationThe day of your interview, surround yourself with friends or family who make you feel good about yourself. By engaging with people in positive conversation throughout the day you'll be warmed up by the time you reach your interview. A positive mood is infectious, and warming up your voice beforehand will also help you articulate effectively when it's time to answer questions.
3. Boost your moodCreate a playlist of songs that pump you up or give you confidence. If listening to "Eye of The Tiger" on repeat makes you feel like you can accomplish anything, then go for it. Or try listening to some stand-up comedy on your way to the interview. A good belly laugh can ease anxiety and fear along with relieving stress.
4. Fuel upThe cliché is true: Eating a healthy breakfast kick-starts your brain and elevates concentration and productivity throughout the morning. Include a "brain food" like oatmeal or fruit in your morning meal and you'll have even more of a mental edge when you're preparing for your big moment.
5. Get movingExercising a few hours before the interview will release endorphins that relieve stress. Plus, it will give you some time to visualize yourself in complete control of every single interview question while you conquer the elliptical machine.
6. VisualizeVisualizing achievement can have a positive impact on the outcome of your performance. Humans stimulate the same portion of the brain when they visualize an action as when they are actually performing an action. So, through use of positive imagery it's possible to prime your brain for a successful interview.
7. Demystify the processIt sounds cheesy, but the interviewer may be just as nervous as you are. He or she may be understaffed and under pressure to fill a position quickly. Remember, however, you were chosen for an interview after proving yourself to be a viable candidate. Don't view the hiring manager as the enemy – or as omnipotent. Instead, see him or her as an equal. Demystifying the process can aid in soothing your interview anxiety.
Interviewing for any position can be a burdensome task. But don't fret, if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed before your interview, it is possible to re-gain control over your nerves. Set aside ample time to prepare beforehand to build confidence. 

7 Smart Questions To Ask At the End Of Every Job Interview


Because you should feel prepared when the tables turn.


Business executive discussing with her client
Getty
By Dylan Roach and Jacquelyn Smith
You're in the hot seat. You've just answered a dozen questions about yourself and successfully explained why you'd make a great addition to the team. You crushed it and you're feeling good.

But then the interviewer turns the tables and asks one final question: "So do you have any questions for me?"

You say, "no, not that I can think of," or ask something that could have easily been answered with a quick Google search — and just like that, everything falls apart.


The distribution of food manufacturing jobs and where they pay the best



EMSI analyzed the food manufacturing industry in each state, as well as in the150 largest metropolitan areas around the country.
When we think of regions where the economy is driven by food, most of us think of cornfields in Iowa, apple orchards in Washington and dairy farms in California. But a lot of the economic activity around food actually occurs after it is picked from the ground or milked from a cow.
Food manufacturing, which turns livestock and agricultural products into other products for consumption, is responsible for Green Bay's cheese and Seattle's coffee. This industry made up nearly 1.5 million wage-and-salary jobs in the United States in 2014—about three times the number of crop production jobs—making it a significant employer.
But where are food manufacturing jobs located? Where do they make up the largest share of local economies? Where are food manufacturing earnings the highest? The lowest? (Hint: Earnings have a wide range!)
To answer these questions, EMSI analyzed the food manufacturing industry in each state, as well as in the 150 largest metropolitan areas around the country.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW AN INTERACTIVE MAP

By metro


In the metro map above, large bubble sizes indicate high job counts, showing that food manufacturing has a significant presence in the local workforce. But since job counts tend to favor the largest metros, they don't always produce interesting analyses. Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles have the largest food manufacturing workforces, despite the fact that food manufacturing only accounts for about 1 percent of jobs in these metros.
But take a look at the blue bubbles, which indicate that food manufacturing has a high share of the local economy. These metros have lower job counts because their overall workforces are smaller, but food manufacturing is nonetheless important to the region.
Let's take a closer look at food manufacturing in these five metros.

Here are some takeaways from this data:
  • The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro has the highest share of food manufacturing out of all 150 metros. Out of the five metros with high shares, Fayetteville also has the highest job count in this industry.
  • Visalia-Porterville is the only metro out of these five where the food manufacturing industry has seen significant growth in the last five years. In fact, in three of the five metros, this industry is declining.
  • Despite the "Cheese Heads," Green Bay's largest employing subindustry in food manufacturing is not cheese manufacturing, although it is very close behind (1,858 jobs in animal slaughtering, 1,829 jobs in cheese manufacturing).
  • In Modesto and Visalia-Porterville, food manufacturing jobs pay on average higher earnings than the average for all industries in these regions (average earnings per job* for all industries in Modesto: $52,593; in Visalia-Porterville: $45,269).

By state


Food manufacturing has the greatest share of state economies in the Midwest and the South, although it is also prominent in Alaska, Delaware and Idaho. But, in all honesty, food manufacturing doesn't make up a huge share of any state's economy (Arkansas' share is the highest at 3.7 percent).
Still, half of the states that have higher shares of their economies in food manufacturing (appearing in blue in the above map) are also among the states where the average earnings per job for food manufacturing is higher than the average earnings overall. These states include Idaho, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Kansas. In some cases— Idaho, for example—the combined higher-than-average pay and large share of the economy may be enough to indicate that food manufacturing is a driver industry for these states.
Here's the list of all 13 states where food manufacturing jobs pay better than the average earnings. (Keep in mind that, in contrast, food manufacturing jobs pay worse than average in 37 states):

Since food manufacturing jobs are adding higher-than-average wages to these economies, it's great news that this industry is growing in all 13 of these states (even if, in the case of Iowa, it is growing only slightly). In Vermont, food manufacturing jobs have grown a whopping 27 percent, which is exciting news since the industry pays on average $2,600 more per job than average.
New Hampshire has the highest average food manufacturing earnings per job out of all states at $67,358. And they should count themselves lucky, especially in comparison to Mississippi's $36,707 average earnings per job in food manufacturing—the lowest in the nation.
*Average earnings per job includes wages and salaries, plus supplemental compensation such as bonuses, stock options, and contributions to 401(k) plans, for all jobs in a specific metro or industry. Because EMSI includes non-wage/salary compensation, EMSI's industry earnings numbers should not be treated as "average salary." They are generally higher than average salary by industry numbers that may come from other sources.

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Body language experts say the trick is to distract your mind and focus on things that don't make you nervous. Here are five tricks for doing just that.

Grow up: 10 bad habits that make you look immature at work



There's a difference between sounding crabby in a 4:30pm meeting occasionally and being a habitual crabapple
When you're a kid, you don't yet have the tools that help process actions and your emotions – tools like maturity, patience or looking at the context of a situation. And apparently for a lot of adults, maturity and patience still prove difficult to master: three in four employees (77 percent) have witnessed some type of childish behavior among colleagues in the workplace, according to a new CareerBuilder study.

Letting emotions get the best of you
Everybody has a bad day, but these are the kind of actions that create toxic workplaces and add drama to your career—none of which will position you as Employee of the Month. So what bad behaviors are standing out to your boss? When asked which child-like behaviors they've witnessed colleagues displaying in the workplace, workers gave the following answers:
1.Whine: 55 percent
2.Pout over something that didn't go his/her way: 46 percent
3.Tattle on another co-worker: 44 percent
4.Make a face behind someone's back: 35 percent
5.Form a clique: 32 percent
6.Play a prank on another co-worker: 36 percent
7.Start a rumor about a co-worker: 30 percent
8.Storm out of the room: 29 percent
9.Throw a tantrum: 27 percent
10.Refuse to share resources with others: 23 percent

Bad habits for a bad career
None of those behaviors will make your co-workers admire you more, nor get you closer to a promotion. In fact, they may even act as red flags in your career path. An earlier 2015 CareerBuilder survey among employers found that some specific adolescent behaviors can have a negative impact on an employee's chances of being promoted, including:
  • Negativity: A majority of employers (62 percent) say they are less likely to promote employees who have a negative or pessimistic attitude (whining, pouting, etc.).
  • Vulgar language: More than half of employers (51 percent) consider vulgar language an indication that an employee is not ready for promotion.
  • Gossip: Nearly half of employers (44 percent) say they would think twice before moving an employee who participates in office gossip up the ranks.
  • Sloppiness: Employees who do not clean up after themselves can hurt their chances for a promotion in the eyes of 36 percent of employers.
Real-life drama and workplace tantrumsThere's a difference between sounding crabby in a 4:30pm meeting occasionally and being a habitual crabapple. When asked to name specific immature or adolescent behaviors they have seen at work, employers reported the following observations of one or more employees:
  • Company owner threw tantrums, yelled and slammed doors when he didn't get his way.
  • Employee hid to get away from duties and work responsibility.
  • Employee intentionally set up a co-worker to get him/her in trouble.
  • Employee ate other employees' food from the company refrigerator.
  • Employee blocked parking spots to prevent other employees from parking closer to the front door.
  • Employee gossiped about all of his direct reports, then pretended to be their advocate.
  • Employee constantly pulled up inappropriate content on her cell phone and showed it to her "clique."
  • Employee went to lunch and never came back.
"Some degree of what we may consider 'adolescent' conduct can be harmless, enabling employees to let off some steam and even promote a sense of camaraderie in the office," says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder. "But there's a fine line between innocent fun and inappropriate behavior. Actions like spreading rumors, 'tattling,' and forming cliques to exclude others can be perceived as mean-spirited, bullying and even harassment." Leave the drama for your favorite TV shows and focus on your work and having professional relationships—your career will thank you.

4 hacks to a happier workday




Some days, everything seems to go wrong from the moment you hit the snooze button. Here are four tried-and-true ways to turn a bad morning around.

Some days, it's a struggle to find the energy to push the snooze button, let alone get out of bed. Other days, though you think you've got it all together, you arrive at work and realize you forgot your headphones, your morning coffee… or your laptop. And on those "I can't even…" days, you step on said headphones, spill your coffee all over your new white shirt, or face the "blue screen of death" as you open up your computer.

What's a working gal or guy to do when your day doesn't start off as expected? Here are four hacks to turn a bad morning into a prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay good day.

1. Clear your head. OK, first things first: Step away from your desk or work area. Pry your keys off that keyboard or phone screen, and head to the nearest exit. Use the 20 minutes or so you'd normally spend surfing the Internet and instead, get outside and enjoy some fresh air with a walk around the block. (Studies have shown even 20 minutes of exercise like walking can boost happiness, reduce risk of disease and improve memory). Practice your breathing techniques while walking (aka breathwalking) – and actually reap the benefits of meditation while getting your circulation going and your mind off of the fact that your Pop-Tart landed in a puddle just minutes earlier.
Can't get outside? Walk around your office, or take three minutes and meditate at your desk before you step back into reality. The benefits may last you all day long.

2. Laugh. Sometimes, on a bad day, you aren't sure whether to laugh or cry. And while it's true that sometimes you may just need a good cry, it's not always easy to open the floodgates while surrounded by co-workers. Something you can –do – without usually getting too many raised eyebrows – is laugh. Laughing is almost always guaranteed to get you out of your current slump, it helps to put things in perspective, and it not only costs you nothing – but also has major stress relief benefits. It even may be contagious: If you find something funny (and work-appropriate) that gets you back on your A-game, why not spread the love and share it with colleagues to give them a boost? Try Louis CK talking about how everything is amazing for a chuckle and some quick perspective on why things aren't always as bad as we think.

3. Do something nice for others. You don't have to be the person sticking Post-It Notes on people's arms on the morning train commute that say "You're looking sharp today!" – but then, you don't not have to be, either. Post-It Notes and invasion of personal space not your thing? You're in luck: There are many other simple but meaningful ways to improve the day of those around you – and it's a proven fact that helping others actually raises your own happiness levels.

Short on time but big on heart? Try the "Five-Minute Favor": Take just a few minutes a day to do something small but with big benefits to the recipient. This could mean buying a co-worker a cup of coffee, making it a point to say hello to people you pass in the hallway, writing an email to thank someone for his or her efforts on a project, or even retweeting someone or replying to a friend or stranger with an encouraging comment. It's a small commitment for you, but may mean a lot to them.

Try extending your altruism outside the office walls, too. Consider volunteering at an organization that means something to you, help others in need, and start getting the feel-good vibes back tenfold.

4. Be kind to yourself. Sometimes you need the work equivalent of comfort food to get past your blue mood (or, you may just really need some mac n' cheese). It's important to be kind to yourself and realize that everyone has a bad day now and then – and we all make clumsy mistakes. Give yourself a break! Consider treating yourself to a latte from that fancy coffee shop down the street – and if you're feeling dangerous, maybe even a piece of chocolate (#noregrets). Schedule a massage so you have something to look forward to that night or later that week, or make a date to marathon-watch "Gilmore Girls" or "Arrested Development" to get you out of your funk. Dive into a good book at lunch (while eating that mac n' cheese), or spend an extra five minutes dissecting the latest episode of "True Detective" or chilling out to the latest Beach House album.
Whatever your happy place, get yourself there, even for a few minutes: It may just be the indulgence you need to get past that morning's horrors and face the rest of the day… and then do it all again tomorrow (hopefully sans Pop-Tart puddle).

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