Monday, May 21, 2012

On this page you'll find links to pages and articles we think are handy, interesting, funny, wierd and oh-so useful. These could include: cool travel destinations, ski, bike, paddle techniques, gear reviews, stories from the road, or we may post things that seem competely off topic that we just like. If you have any ideas or anything to contribute, drop us an email at: feedback@coolworks.com.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Resume Builder Can Help You Go Green   

posted by Jen Carpenter @ 10:56 AM
If you're one of the many Americans interested in a green-collar job, using the best free resume builder (Click here) can help transform your resume so it's more attractive to green employers.

There has been a big push on the green industry as of late, both to help citizens and companies become more environmentally-friendly, and because the initiative will help create millions of jobs for out-of-work Americans.

"Sustainability is a competitive advantage in the marketplace," Dedee DeLongpre Johnston, director of sustainability at Wake Forest University, said. "College graduates entering the job market this year will definitely have an edge if they have developed sustainability-related skill sets."

This is where the use of a free resume builder can come in handy. A good free resume builder will offer you many templates and format options, so you can creatively convey the fact that you're seeking a green job and have experience in the industry. (And if you're truly green-minded, avoiding paper resumes is another plus).

When it comes to putting that resume into effect, it's important for job seekers to keep in mind that a green job doesn't necessarily mean one with "sustainability" or "environment" in the title, and that green jobs aren't limited to those installing solar panels or weatherizing houses.

Instead, there are green jobs available in nearly every industry - from marketing to publishing to accounting to finance. That means having practical experience and skills in the green industry can make a difference when applying for jobs.

"Sustainability is a way of thinking," DeLongpre Johnston notes. "And, that way of thinking has value across the job market. Experience and knowledge tied to sustainability will make this year's job hunters stronger candidates."

Students can get ahead of the game by nabbing an internship focused on sustainability. These types of internships are invaluable, because they help students show employers they can solve problems.

In addition, the ability to integrate sustainability into a career also helps students who are passionate about a greener world align their passions and talents with their work.

"Eventually, sustainability will be woven seamlessly into the fabric of society," DeLongpre Johnston notes, adding that just as word processing and Web proficiency is now expected in the workplace, understanding sustainability principles and how to apply them will become a basic expectation of employers in the future.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Pittsburgh Job Growth in Film Industry   

posted by Jen Carpenter @ 10:15 AM
Anyone looking for a Pittsburgh job should consider the city's motion picture and television industry.

The Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board recently released a study highlighting the strength and impact of the motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania.

The study found the state's film production tax credit, which goes to films that spend 60 percent of production costs in Pennsylvania, helps to create high paying jobs and support current job gains.

"This study shows the strength of the motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania and its ability to create high paying jobs, even in difficult times," TRWIB CEO Stefani Pashman said. "This data reinforces the need to retain the film production tax credit, a tax incentive that has given our state a distinct competitive advantage.

"In 2008 alone, the motion picture and television industry employed over 15,000 workers with wages that average $85,500 in Philadelphia and $67,200 in Pittsburgh," she continued. "At a time when jobs are being lost, we cannot afford to let go of this tax credit and damage a growing industry cluster. Without the film industry tax credit, Pennsylvania will lose high paying jobs, and the opportunity to bring high profile projects to Pennsylvania."

The study further found:
  • The motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania currently ranks sixth in the nation with 2.5 percent of the national motion picture and video employment.
  • According to the latest data available, there were 799 motion picture and television industry establishments in the state in 2007. These establishments created 9,785 jobs and generated $613 million in payroll.
  • Motion picture and television industry wages have grown annually by 2.1 percent as compared to 1.5 percent in the private sector. The average annual wage in the industry is relatively high at $66,676 and in the motion picture and video production sector alone, there was a 17 percent increase in employment and a 38 percent increase in wages.
  • The production sector reported a marked increase in the number of workers between 2001 and 2008 growing by 44 percent and adding 1,482 workers making it the sector with the largest workforce.
  • There were about 15,180 workers who held a motion picture and television industry job for at least one quarter or more during 2008 in Pennsylvania.
  • When not working in the motion picture and television industry, workers were employed in a variety of other industries. A large number of workers are recorded as being employed by Temporary Help Services and Payroll Services. For example, Entertainment Partners, a major film industry payroll service, reports that they paid over $25 million in wages to Pennsylvania residents in FY 06. This amount jumped to over $75 million in FY 08. These employees are not counted in the employment and wage data for motion picture and television production but as payroll service employment.
  • The motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania is concentrated in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. These two regions accounted for 64 percent of the industry jobs. Both metro regions experienced jobs gains: Pittsburgh gained 576 jobs or 40 percent of the industry-wide growth and Philadelphia added 193 jobs, or 6 percent since 2001. Average annual wages in these two regions were higher than in other regions: $85,500 in Philadelphia and $67,200 in Pittsburgh.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth forecast for motion picture and television industry occupations is strong. These include multimedia artists, animators and audio and video equipment technicians.
  • Pennsylvania has at least 70 post secondary institutions including community colleges, public and private colleges and universities and certificate programs that offer courses in motion picture and video production and related subjects such as technical theater.
  • Pennsylvania has a growing Career and Technical Education initiative at the high school level “Arts, A/V Technology and Communications” that includes printing and graphic communications as well as film/video/cinema production. Approximately 74 schools offer approved instructional programs.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Los Angeles Hotel Jobs   

posted by Jen Carpenter @ 12:41 PM
There are many choices for those seeking Los Angeles hotel jobs.

There are many different types of hotels and other accommodations, but hotels and motels make up the majority of establishments in the industry. The different types of hotels include: full-service, limited-service, extended-stay, casino, conference, resort and all-suite.

Other entities, such as bed-and-breakfasts, RV parks, campgrounds, rooming and boarding houses, guest houses and youth hostels, are often included in the hotels and other accommodations industry.

Service occupations account for nearly two-thirds of the hotels and other accommodations industry, which also includes office and administrative support occupations; management, business and financial operations occupations; and other occupations.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry provided 1.9 million jobs throughout America during 2008. Hotels usually employ many young workers and first-time job holders for part-time and seasonal jobs, with 19 percent of workers younger than 25-years old during 2008.

Nationwide, employment in the industry is expected to increase by 5 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is lower than the 11 percent growth rate projected for all industries. The majority of new job openings will be full-service hotels.

Although there are many hotels throughout Los Angeles, providing many job opportunities, employment has declined somewhat during the economic downturn.

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area's leisure and hospitality industry employed 371,900 workers during January, according to the BLS. This is down from 377,700 workers during December 2009 and a 2.8 percent decrease from last year.

There are many hotels to choose from if you're looking for a hotel job in the Los Angeles area. Because the area is such a popular tourist destination and is home to several events, hotels are abundant. Here is a list of the most popular hotels from 10Best:
  1. Mondrian in Hollywood
  2. Best Western Norwalk Inn
  3. The Ambrose in Santa Monica
  4. The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey
  5. AAE LAX Econo Airport Hotel in Los Angeles
  6. Comfort Inn Hollywood/Universal
  7. Econo Lodge West Hollywood
  8. Safari Inn in Burbank
  9. Vagabond Inn Glendale
  10. Vagabond Inn Los Angeles-USC

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