Chemists look for new knowledge and use existing knowledge about different chemicals. They study the properties of matter. Chemists may develop new products and materials. They often specialize in a subcategory of chemistry.

Salary

MN median yearly salary - $61,276

US median yearly salary - $59,870

Working Conditions

Always work in labs or offices

May be exposed to dangerous

Work within several feet of others in laboratory

Employment

Moderate employment opportunities, medium hiring rate, and below-average growth rate.

Skills

• Math
• Science
• Problem Solving Skills
• Creativity
• Ingenuity

Resources

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos049.htm

http://www.jist.com/

At least that's the way it comes across in 99% of the job adverts.

I thought I'd “got it cracked” when, after carefully redrafting my CV, I started to get the odd tug on the fishing line. But just when, in my own mind, I congratulated the agencies for not discriminating by age, it then dawned on me that it wasn't the agencies that awarded the jobs anyway, so they could afford their neutral stance. It was the employers, and despite what their employment policies read like, who can truly know if they put their money where their mouths are? It's all too easy for them to find reasons to choose other, younger candidates. I only know that in my own experience to date I am still waiting in vain for that first job offer, despite being a tried and proven business man who has worked at Managing Director level.

Sainsbury here I come………….stack those shelves.

My reverse fairy tale……..from riches to rags

Hold on………..freelance writing……….now there's a thought

His name was Carlos (No it wasn't - but let's just call him that, okay?) He'd been in the US for over a dozen years, married with kids born here and attending local schools. He's a dependable, hard working, family guy who never committed a crime in his life.

Well, that's not exactly true. He's got one crime under his belt: He came into the US illegally with his wife, crossed the Rio Grande one night and made his way to Long Island where a nephew helped him settle.

Carlos worked for a small construction company that framed houses. He was one of three employees, two of them, including Carlos, illegals - no greencards, social security numbers, driver's license, nothing.

There were no safety violations when Carlos fell off the roof on that unseasonably warm, April afternoon. It was an accident, pure and simple. They were building a one-story house so he didn't fall from a great height, but it was enough to cause serious injuries, including a broken back. He was air-lifted to Stonybrook University Medical Center.

I don't know Carlos or his employers personally. I followed the story in the local papers and received other information from clients that knew them.

When I say, “knew them” I'm referring to the employers as well as Carlos. Oh they're okay physically, but bankrupt, and now out of business - all from Carlos' accident. They owe huge amount of assessed back taxes and fines for employment issues. They are also facing criminal charges brought on by the New York State Department of Labor.

Carlos survived and is now walking again, but with a pronounced limp. It will be a long time before he's able to do any kind of carpentry and he will never do the kind of work he did before the accident. The family lives on the money his wife earns from cleaning houses, supplemented by charity.

You see, being illegal, Carlos was not carried on any books. There was no Worker's Compensation insurance, no mandatory New York disability insurance, no state unemployment or FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax) paid. No Federal or State income, social security or medicare taxes collected, absolutely nothing. Carlos was being paid in cash, off the books.

Both Carlos' family and his employer's family have had their lives pretty much ruined. Both were decent, honest working folks who meant well but didn't have the foresight to do things right. Or maybe it was circumstances and a lack of know-how.

It is estimated that there are between fifteen to twenty five million illegal aliens living and working in the US today. No one knows the actual number. One thing's for sure, though. All of them are working illegally without the protection of various instruments like Workers Compensation and unemployment insurance. The other half of that coin is that the people who hire them are putting their businesses at risk everyday, as well as their assets and future earning power. It might even put their liberty in jeopardy if criminal charges are leveled. Here on Long Island, and I suspect in many other parts of the country, landscapers are one of the largest group of employers hiring illegals. Right now in the construction industry, most large contractors require worker's compensation from smaller sub-contractors thus eliminating many illegal workers. But landscapers with their modest crews are pretty much independent working mainly for homeowners who make no such demands.

So here's my number one rule to all my employer clients and anyone reading this article:

Only hire people with documentations such as social security cards, drivers license, passports or green cards. Put them all on the books. Collect federal and state taxes, social security and medicare taxes. Have all the protection such as workers compensation and disability insurance and whatever else your state requires. Do this for everyone you hire. Only then will your business be secure and your lifestyle not at risk.

Now here's the real problem exactly as told to me by one of my landscaper client:

“Patrick, I have no choice. I can't get enough people to work for me. These guys are dependable. They do their work and never give you a hard time. I can leave them alone on a job and when I come back it will be done. For me it's not an elective. I want to put them on the books but I can't because they don't have a social security number. I'm going to keep them working off the books and pay them in cash. I really have no choice.”

Of course there are a number of employers that will hire people off the books deliberately to save money. Some will do it out of greed, many simply to survive in a tough business climate. However, a great many, like my friend above, will do it simply because they can't get enough workers. All have on thing in common: They put themselves at risk.

This is quite a dilemma and the blame lies directly with the federal government that refuses to deal effectively with this situation.

Here's a sort of solution that can bring some relief. Let me first say that it is not a good solution. There are no good solutions. This is a step above doing nothing. The main thing is that it will bring about some protection by putting those workers on the books, paying all the taxes and bringing them under the protection of workers compensation and other programs mandatory under current labor laws.

It's important to understand that I am not pro-immigrants or anti-immigrants. As an accountant and business financial advisor, working everyday with landscapers, contractors and a variety of business owners, I am a realist. We must face this situation and deal with it best as we can. Burying our head in the sand and making believe it doesn't exist is not an option.

Here is the alternative for the employer hiring illegals off the books that for whatever reasons, are going to continue, and take the risk:

Have the employee apply for a TIN (Tax Identification Number) through the Philadelphia office of the IRS. The number is issued automatically and you may be here illegally and still receive this number. It is not a social security number, but it looks like one - Three digits, then two, then four. Now put the employee on the books using that number. Collect social security, federal and state withholding, and all the taxes you're supposed to. Put the employee on workers compensation.

Are you now legal? Certainly not! However, you're safer than just paying them cash off the books. It's afforded a level of protection that didn't exist before. I would also recommend before taking this step, that you consult with an attorney familiar with the laws of your state and locality.

How about the employee, how does that affect them? First they should consult with an immigration attorney to see if it's suitable for their situation. Here are the pros and cons:

PROS: Employers are more likely to retain an employee they can put on the books and avoid the risks of getting caught by the IRS. There's also the risk of injuries to a worker and ensuing liability. This way, employers have workers compensation and other required instruments in place.

CON: Getting a TIN proves you are in the country illegally. This will bar issuance of a legal visa for five years, ten years if you've been here longer than six months. This will be a problem if there's a visa pending, perhaps something like an H-2, temporary workers visa. This has not been an issue with those I have spoken to. They will not go back to their country of origins just to apply for a visa that may take decades to get, if at all. Most have risked their very lives to get here and will not return voluntarily.

Each must make their own decision. I strongly recommend consulting with a knowledgeable immigration attorney before making this decision.

Let me conclude by restating my original recommendation: Hire only workers who are here legally and put them on the books.

But if you are going to continue employing illegals, at least this method is better than just paying them off the books, staying in the underground economy and carrying all the risk.

Today in modern times, the average modern person has at least 5 different careers in his/her liftime. That's quiet a lot compared to a few hundred years ago where you only get one job in your life... your faimilies profession.

Here are 5 ways to present yourself to the employer in a job interview:

1. Firstly, research this industry or job field. Understand what is required the most in this workplace, and what they seek/lack from workers. Like if the company suffers from the communication between workers, then specialize in communication!
2. Wear appropriate clothing to your job interview, example, for an office job wear a suit and tie, for a construction job wear construction workers clothes. Don't forget to also groom yourself.
3. Simile, shake the employers hands, and be very sociable. Social skills are required for you to appeal to the employer.
4. Be yourself! Act normal in the interview, not stuck up or edgy. Be smooth and persuasive, charismatic and very friendly.
5. It's all about the right attitude! Show all your personal attributes, like leadership, communication, friendliness, ambition and personality. It doesn't matter if you don't have the skills, it matters if your willing to learn it from the employer in that job. The employer wants to see morale in you. He would rather pick an ambitious guy with no skills, rather than a plain and boring person with good skills.

Doing all of this, you surely get the job. Write an email the next day thanking the employer for his time and consideration for the interview. Even if you don't get it, keep trying and you'll get better and better.

This site features house keeping , baby sitting , tutoring , pet care, and senior care jobs. You begin by describing your experience, desired pay, distance willing to travel, duties you are willing to perform, hours available for work, education, and languages spoken. You can also upload a photo of yourself and record a video personal message. Then, you wait for your information to be processed. Once processed, applicants can view all jobs listed and what the details of pay, hours needed, etc are. You can email the employer to let them know you are interested. Employers can also view your profile and contact you directly. You can get job updates via cell phone, land line phone, or email. What is great about this site is that it cuts a lot of wasted time down. All the information given and requested takes the guess work out of knowing if need matches demand. 

Snagajob.com

This site features paid hourly jobs. It does have an email alert service for new job postings. There is a simple zip code search and ability to refine search by location, company, or distance. You must register to use the site. The downside is that the site sends you to online degree sites often. At first, it looks just like a job application and you don't realize that it isn't until the very bottom of the fairly long page. Once you have filled out the page and get to the bottom, you will find a “decline this offer” button. But, by then it is too late. You have wasted your time filling out the form. The site also does not have salary jobs.

Rigzone

This site features oil field jobs. It has an easy to navigate search engine, that breaks the jobs down into specific categories. Categories include: drilling, engineer petroleum, engineer maintenance, geosciences, etc.. Once in the specific category, you search the sub category jobs and find one that you are interested in. Rigzone will give you the details of the job, application deadline, and link to apply for the job directly through the company. What is great about this site is that it is international. It list jobs in every country of the world and is easy to navigate. A bi monthly new job alert is available via email.

Career Builder

This site has multiple job listings and many search options. You can search by industry, salary, location, title, key words, en Espanol , international, job category, etc… You can also refine your search by omitting key words, titles, etc.. Downside is salaries may or may not be listed and details of some jobs are not fully explained. What is great is that you can upload resumes and send directly to the employer, without typing it in every time. Also, the site has a fax option that you can use for a small charge. Some jobs list contact information that you can contact the employer via phone.

EmploymentGuide.com

This site features three easy steps: complete application, upload resume, and send . You can browse by employer or state and then refine search by keyword, specific local, distance, job category, etc. What is great about this site is that when you click on a specific job, the site also lists alternative locations for the job. It has a direct email option, if employer opts to use that feature. It has very detailed job descriptions, but most do not include specific salary info.

Monster

Search options work similar to Career Builder. However, the upload resume and create account is a rather long process. In the long run it saves you time by not having to type the same information over and over. Often when you click on apply for a job, the site sends you to specific question pages that you must fill out to apply for the job- some are short, but some are long questionnaires. The site also has a networking tool.

Indeed

Truly a one stop shopping experience. You can browse by all the categories that Monster and Career Builder have. You can sign up for email alerts. What sets this site apart is it's mass listing. Indeed collects all the job listings from most of the web sites- gov employment sites, newspapers, job agencies, etc.. and comprehensively list's them. The downside is that you are redirected to the host web site for each job. From there, you have to register for the host site, fill out application, & upload resume for that particular site. There is not an upload resume feature on Indeed. You can get job alerts and save searched jobs for latter redirection.

Nurse.com

This site features RN jobs only. You can browse by region, specialty, or state. However, the job listings are limited. Very few jobs are listed by smaller hospitals, nursing homes, etc. You must register before you can even search the data base. What is great is the site has a listing of travel nursing and contract jobs.

Dice

This site features technology and engineering jobs only. You can refine searches by commute, location, skill, job title, employment type, and required travel. The summaries are very detailed. Most job postings have salary info or at least a salary range. You can copy and paste resumes on the Dice web site or use the provided link to go directly to the employer web site. There is a job rating system (positive, neutral, or negative) in place that allows you see what others think about the particular job. The site allows you to save your resume, receive email alerts, and save job searches. There is also a tech forum for registered users.

Americas Job Bank

This site is run by the US Dept of Labor. First, you click on the state you wish to search for a job in. Each states' web site will be a little different, but they will all be the site that the local employment office uses to list jobs. For example, I am from Mississippi. So, I will click on Mississippi. The site will redirect me to MDES- the Mississippi job bank. From there, I can choose job seeker services, unemployment services, or labor market info. The job seeker services features an index of job search, federal jobs, state jobs, newspaper classifieds, job fairs, college employment, veteran services, and a host of training/education options. Once I choose an option, it can be redefined by city and job title. Most all of these jobs require an apply online. You must be registered to apply for jobs. There is an option to upload resume.

These should get any job hunter started. There are hundreds of job search engines. If you have a specific field that you are searching for employment in, it may be better to go to a site that has narrower listings. This will save time sifting through jobs that you know you don't want. However, if you have a broader field or are looking for a more general employment opportunity, the broader search engines might be best.

Looking for work in the year 2008 is a whole new ball game. The newspaper was a major source of employment opportunities back 20 years ago. Now the newspaper is the least likely place to find a job. The internet has opened up a whole new world out there. I have run across many sites to search for positions; technology has taken us to a whole new level of searching. “Posting” your resume on line has the potential of reaching thousands of potential employers.

I start my morning by purchasing a newspaper, old habits die hard. Of course I must purchase my Tim Horton's' also. Next, I check my computer for e-mails from people that may have read my resume from all the websites I am posted on. Then, there is always “cold calling”. I was always a proponent that if you desire a place that you'd like to work, call them. One of my most treasured positions in the past was obtained by a cold call. I chose someone I wanted to work for, was hired, and enjoyed that position I secured for over 14 years.

Looking for work is not only time consuming but emotionally draining. It is an emotional roller coaster. Throughout the day, hopes ride high, only to be let down later that day or the next. Then there are the potential employers that string you along for weeks. There are placement agencies that claim they have the perfect job for you and others that want to “charge you up front”, to find the perfect position that suits you. I guess they don't really understand that when you're unemployed, you have less money to spend.

Searching for a job gives you lots of time to retool and reflect on what types of positions could make you feel more fulfilled. Maybe it's time to redo the old resume and focus on other skills that have not been used in the past; It's a time for self examination. There are some beneficial points of being home; my house has never been cleaner. My family has reaped the benefits of trying new recipes that I have come across on the internet, while I have been surfing for a new job.

Dinner is ready at dinner time, and not later that night this happens when you work uncertain hours. Laundry is done on time, no running out of clothing. But I have to admit, being home for a short time is nice but gets very old after a few weeks. I am the type of person that must keep busy all the time. Cooking for me is done to survive only, and cleaning is not at the top of my priority list. I'd rather be out and about contributing to some productive career position. Continuing to be self motivated can be an effort in itself. Constantly finding new potential websites and tracking down potential leads is a job. It's very easy to become complacent after some time has elapsed.

I continue to rise at 5am as I have done for many years. I am the eternal optimist; always thinking that tomorrow will bring new opportunities my way. Keeping a positive attitude comes through when tracking down potential opportunities and can only help in making my job search more successful. I believe positive energy is contagious and can only help in my search for the perfect job.

For example, United States factory and telecommunication jobs are sold to foreign countries where labor monies are less expensive. Thus, the labor market is unstable at this time and the United State's economy has been affected.

People seeking employment with higher education have a better chance of surviving the off shore dilemma. Better job availability and diversity of such make the job market more amiable for the job seeker.

The question you might be asking is: Why are their job positions online now? What is this world coming to? What's happening is: doing office work in a cubicle is becoming obsolete. Before November of 1991, working in a cubicle was the way of life because there was no world-wide web. Since then, the internet has advanced a lot because people have found out new html codes year after year. In the spring of 2000, an online activity called "point-clicking" which was the first available online job position, became popular. Point-clicking is where you click on ads, and audio track and video samples to receive points. When a person's points get high enough, you will get free stuff from whatever point-clicking company you've registered with.

In the spring of 2006, real online jobs popped up everywhere, but nobody really took advantage of them until about June of this year. The reason why companies are offering online jobs is because it's easier for employers to deal with. They don't have to worry about organizing shifts or trying to make sure employees aren't uncomfortable with their office or anything. Many employers for offices believe nowadays that it's better for employees to do the work in their own homes and do it anytime of the day they can, and in the offices shifts are crucial for controlling the number of people in the enclosure. A Disney movie called Smart House, released in the fall of 1999, happens to contain a part where the father goes to work in his own house because he lives in a futuristic home. A lot of adults that saw that movie said things like "Wow! I wish I could go to work in my own house." Years later, they finally got their wish. Now life is easier because of online jobs.

You may have already gotten out of the article so far that online jobs have a lot of advantages, but here's more information about the advantages of working online. The most important thing to address is that online jobs benefit the economy is some ways. Instead of companies being at different levels, companies can support each other with banner ads so that every business can be successful. Also, if you don't have a vehicle, you don't have to worry because the commute is from anywhere in your house to your computer. It's that short. You absolutely do not need a vehicle in order to do an online job. And one last thing, you don't have to worry about your pay check getting lost. Your payment would be automatically sent to your online bank account on your payday. So after all, it's not really so bad. It's great!

On the contrary, many say that online jobs mean corruption for society. They claim that colleges will end up closing down and many people might not graduate from high school, and also that the entire society will fall apart because nobody will be taking any of the other jobs. What they're trying to point out is that if 95% of the world's population gets a carrier that doesn't require a college degree (online jobs almost never require degrees), then there will basically be no need for colleges anymore. They're also saying that high school students will think that if they can easily get online jobs, it won't be necessary for them to graduate. Another thing these people find wrong with online jobs is that people will won't take any other jobs other than online jobs and that it can corrupt society at a very high level. This is why others have passed up online jobs and have applied for jobs that require real commute.

Now it would extremely advisable for you to not to give into the counterargument because the people who oppose to online jobs are forgetting some things. A lot of online jobs, such as blogging, are a lot easier for people that have high school diplomas, and that not everyone has an interest in blogging, so other jobs will still be taken, including ones that require college degrees. So all in all, online jobs are proven to be very beneficial for society and for people that have interests in blogging.

That is an easy one to answer, I am speaking from experience. I am the person that you would never ever want to hire to do your training. I am the type of person that believes if I can do this then everyone else should be able to do it “just like me”. For instance I type some where around 100 wpm. And if I can do it why can't you? Unfortunately that is not my only fall back. If you do not do it as fast as I can, then I have the bad happen of trying to take over and finish if for you! When you are training someone, that is just not the thing to do! So if you happen to see a woman with gray hair heading into your company to be a trainer, be sure to ask if it is me!!!