Six Figure Jobs - No Degree Required

FOX 31 Denver is hosting a Project Job Week

Visit this link for information on some six figure jobs that don't require a degree.



Was this information helpful?  Let us know in the comment section below.

Avoid a Scary Job Interview

Happy Halloween!

A job interview is only scary when you don't prepare for it.  We found the following video on YouTube that includes some great tips on preparing for a job interview.

Let us know if this video is helpful to you and what other key points you've found helpful in the interview process.

Watch Your Body Language in a Job Interview

How much do you pay attention to your body language during a job interview?

It may mean all the difference in getting that job.

Watch this video from Fox 31 Denver's Project Job Week to find out.

Non Verbal Communication


Was this video helpful?  Let us know in the comments below.

Job Fair Information

Please visit the following links for information on job opportunities and career fairs:


International Job Information for Teaching Abroad
Provides Resources and Tips for living & working abroad


McHenry County College's Fall Job Fair
McHenry County, Illinois
Friday, November 2nd


Start Up Career and Internship Fair 2012
University of Maryland
Friday, November 9th

Please let us know if you need more information on job or career fairs in your area.  We will answer your requests in the comment section below.

Job Fair Information

Please visit the following links for job fair information this week:


The Navy’s Third Annual Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support Conference
San Diego, CA
October 29th & 30th

Fox 31 Denver
Project Jobs Week
Featuring tips and information on being in the workforce
NOTE: The videos and information are helpful no matter where you live.


Please let us know in the comment section below if you're having trouble finding job or career fairs in your area.  We will try to use our resources to help!

Improve Your Work Skills Today

Whether you are new to the workforce, changing careers, or have been working for a while, it's important to keep improving on your skills.  This allows you to advance more quickly and have the opportunity to increase your earnings.

We've recently learned of an online training center that offers a wide variety of courses at reasonable rates.  Some of their classes include:

• Computer Programming Certifications
• Web Design
• Microsoft Office Programs (Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Communication Skills
• Financial Planning
• Time Management

Training Center.com has been around for 24 years and their BBB rating is an A+.  Check out their course listing and see if one of their classes can help you exceed in your career.

Let us know if you have any other resources that you use to improve your skills at work in the comments below.

Note:  This blog post includes affiliate links.

Do You Need a College Degree to Be Successful?

We get asked this question quite a bit and our initial answer is always the same.

It depends.

The more important question is what will having a college degree do for you?  

If you're planning on being a doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc., you need a college degree.  For some professions, it is an absolute necessity.  For other professions, it may or may not provide you with the tools you need to succeed.

A college education does not assure one's success or even wealth.  It doesn't even guarantee you a job.  These days a college education can set you back quite a bit in your finances so it's important to evaluate if a degree is right for what you want in a career.

This is not to say that education isn't important.  Education is important to success.  A college degree is really just a piece of paper saying you met the requirements of a specific college.  It doesn't mean that you're guaranteed to be a millionaire by the time you're 40.

Education can come in many formats.  Your education can come from experience on the job, correspondence courses, professional certifications, or from studying, reading, and learning on your own.  

Take a look at some successful people who either didn't attend college or dropped out:

Woody Allen

Ray Bradbury

Richard Branson

Winston Churchill

Walt Disney

Bill Gates

Mark Zuckerberg

While they may not have a college degree, they do have one other thing in common.  They worked hard and learned from their experiences to succeed.

Many of today's successful entrepreneurs didn't go to college or dropped out.  Some feel that going to college kept them from thinking outside the box.  

The point is that you have to do what's best for you and your career goals.  Instead of saying - I need to go back to school to learn more skills and/or advance in my career.  Ask yourself exactly what that will do for you in the long run.  Think about the cost, the time involved, and the outcome.  

You may find that you're better off saving your money and taking a different path.

Do you feel a college degree is necessary?  How has having one or not having one made a difference in your career?  Please share your comments with us in the section below.

Job Fair Information

Please view the links below for upcoming job and career fair information:

Naugatuck Valley Community College Job Fair Hosted by Congressman Chris Murphy
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Waterbury, CT
Friday, October 26th, 10 am to 1 pm


Overland Park Career Fair
Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, KS
Tuesday, October 30th, 10 am to 2 pm


International Virtual Career Fair
Recruiting U.S. Educated International Students
November 7th & 8th


For more information on job and career fairs in the United States, please visit the Choice Career Fairs site.

Job Search Resources

In addition to the traditional ways of searching for a job, there are quite a few listings online to choose from.  Some cover all industries while others cover specific types of jobs or legitimate work from home opportunities.

Here is a listing of some of the job resources our readers have used with success in the past:


www.SimplyHired.com - you can look for jobs, post a resume, and have job listings in your field emailed to you

www.FlexJobs.com - part time or telecommuting jobs are listed on this site.  All jobs are screened and provide flexible options for job seekers.

www.Indeed.com - another site where you can look for jobs and post your resume

www.Elance.com - provides legitimate work from home opportunities with guaranteed payment features.  Wide variety of industries to choose from for those looking to freelance or supplement their income.


Let us know if there are any other online resources you've used to find a job.  Please tell us in the comment section below.

Job Fair Information

By request, we are expanding our job and career fair postings to include other countries throughout the world in addition to those in the United States.

The Northwest Illinois College Fair and "Pathways to Careers Fair"

Highland Community College

Freeport, Illinois

Monday, October 29, 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Job Fair for Veterans

Georgia World Congress Center

Atlanta, Georgia

Thursday, November 8th, 10 am to 2 pm

Upcoming Job Fairs in India

Please visit link for job fairs over the next few months

Upcoming Job Fairs in England

Visit this link for job fairs listed by region

If you would like more information on job fairs in the United States, please visit the Choice Career Fairs website.

Career Questions

Some of our readers migrated from our old website, YourOnlineCareerCenter.com, which transitioned into this blog.  Our newer readers have found us just by searching or being in the blogosphere.

On our old site, we had a section called "Career Questions" which allowed people to ask us any question about their career, resumes, cover letters, changing careers, or anything else related to their work life.  We offered this service for free to anyone who needed help.

I'm pleased to announce that we are continuing that service here on our blog.  Our purpose with this blog (as it also was with our old site) is to help people in their careers.  Whether you're just starting out and don't know where to start, you're facing a layoff or downsizing, or you just want to try something new, we are here to help.

Our staff has worked in the Human Resources profession for over nine years and we also perform career writing services starting as low as $50.

If you need advice or just someone to bounce ideas off of, feel free to contact us in the contact section below or email us anytime.

We're here to help you find the job and career you deserve.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for information on upcoming job and career fairs:


Philadelphia Job Fair
William H. Gray Youth Center
Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, October 25th, 11 am to 3 pm


World of Working Women's Conference
Flushing's Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel
New York
Friday, October 26th, 9 am to 4 pm


If you would like to view other job or career fairs in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fair website.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for upcoming job and career fairs:


Rigzone Career Fair
Rigzone
San Antonio, TX
Tuesday, October 23rd, 11 am to 3 pm

Ashford University Career Fair
Hilton Post Oak
Houston, TX
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2 pm to 5 pm


Visit the Choice Career Fair website to find job and career fairs in your area.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for upcoming job and career fairs:

Health Care Career Fair
College America
Colorado Springs, CO
Friday, October 19th, 9 am to 2 pm

Women's Career Success Conference & Job Fair
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque, NM
Friday, October 19th, All day event


If you're interested in other job or career fairs in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fairs website.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for upcoming job and career fairs:

Statewide Veteran Job Fair
John A. Logan
Carterville, IL
Thursday, October 18th, 9 am to Noon


Military Members and Spouses Job Fair
Sheraton National Hotel
Arlington, VA
Tuesday, October 30th, 9 am to 1 pm



Please view the Choice Career Fair website for more job and career fair opportunities in your area.

Career Fair Information

Please view the following links for job and career fairs being held this week:


Tulsa World Career Fair
Tulsa, OK
Thursday, October 18, 10 am to 3 pm

Tucson Electric Power Career Fair
Career and Education Fair for Veterans
Thursday, October 18, 11 am to 2 pm


If you're interested in finding more career or job fairs in your specific are, please visit the Choice Career Fair website for more information.

Improve Work Skills: Part Three - Away from the Workplace

When you're not working it can be a challenge to stay current on your work skills.  If you need to learn new skills because you're looking to change careers, it can also be difficult to find the time to learn something new.

If time or money is a concern, reach out to your network to see if any of your friends or colleagues can help you with your work skills.  Maybe you have a friend who works in accounting and you need help with learning Microsoft Excel.  Ask them if they can spare an hour or two to show you the basics.

If you are looking for help with a software program, look in the help section of the program.  Some will have free tutorials built into the system.

If you've signed up with an employment agency, ask them about training.  A lot of these agencies provide free training to individuals who have registered with them.  If you're not working, check with your local unemployment office.  They can also provide you with free or reduced-cost resources for training.

Community colleges are also a great option for staying current on work skills.  Also, do a search on Google and look for adult education centers or learning centers in your area.  These can often be a lot less expensive than a regular college and you may find a wider variety of courses to choose from.


What resources do you find helpful to stay current on work skills?  Please share your comments with us in the section below.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following information for upcoming job and career fairs:

Job Fair
Palm Beach, FL
Wednesday, October 17th 10 am to 2 pm


Hiring Our Heroes - Make sure to scroll down on the link to the information
RecruitMilitary Veteran Career Fair
Glendale, AZ
Thursday,October 18th 11 am to 3 pm


If you would like to learn more about upcoming job and career fairs in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fair website.

Improving Work Skills: Part Two - Improving Skills When You're Working

When you're in the workforce, it can be a bit of a challenge to keep up on your skills.  You already know the skills you need to perform your job, but what about the skills you need to advance?

The first place to go if you want to learn additional skills should be your employer.  Most jobs offer training or tuition reimbursement for their employees as long as it's related to the job or industry they are in. 

If that isn't an option or you're looking to change careers, look at what's available in your community.  You might be able to take a class at a community college or learning center at minimal cost compared to going to a university.  If you are looking to change careers, you may need to assess what the education and skills requirements are for that career and respond accordingly.

You may also find online courses that you can do in your own time that might be helpful.  Whether you want to improve your computer skills, learn software, or enhance your writing skills, there is a variety of options to choose from.  You will want to do your research and make sure they have a guarantee in case you find the online classroom environment isn't for you.

By improving on your skills, you increase your chances of being promoted and staying current on the latest software and trends.  This can be valuable both in your current position and any future endeavors you decide to take on.

What types of skills are you looking to improve?  Do you need them in you current job or are you changing careers?  Please comment in the section below.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for job and career fairs taking place in the next few days:

Job Fair for Veterans
Lake City American Legion Post, FL
Wednesday, October 10th


Meigs County One-Stop Jobs
Family Life Center
Middleport, OH
Thursday, October 11th


For more job and career fair information in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fairs website.


If you would like for us to know about other upcoming career fairs, please post the details in the comment section below.

Improving Work Skills: Part One

In today's job market, it’s more important than ever to keep your work skills current in order to stay competitive. 

How do you know if you need to improve your skills?  Be honest with yourself.  How computer-literate are you?  Can you communicate and write effectively?  How do you interact with others?  Are you willing to learn new skills?  Employers look for all these things and more.  If you find yourself lacking in one or more areas, it’s definitely a good idea to seek improvement. 

Do you need help with grammar or spelling?  One way to improve your skills in this area is to write on a regular basis.  Start a journal or take a writing class.  The more you write, the more you’ll develop skills to communicate effectively.

Interacting well with others and wanting to learn new skills are more about attitude than skill level.  Employers want to know that you can work well not only with customers and suppliers but also people within the organization.  Workers also need to be willing to take on additional tasks that may or may not be related to their job.  Since most companies have been affected by the downturn in the economy, most are working with a reduced staff.  This is causing employers to spread more duties among fewer workers.  Show yourself as willing to learn new tasks and they’ll see you as a team player.

Later in the week, we'll be looking at how to improve your skills both inside and outside of the workplace.

How has improving your skills helped you in your career?  Please share your stories with us in the comments below.

The Most Important Element in Your Job Search

No matter how prepared you are in your job search, there's one thing that will determine your success.

You can have the best resources, the best job listings, great references, and an amazing job history but if one thing isn't in place, none of it will matter.

That one thing?

Your resume.

So many people fail to make this a top priority when it comes to looking for a job.

If you look at our August 2012 archives, we did a week long series on creating a professional resume.  To recap, your resume needs:

• Correct contact information
• Objective
• Work History
• Experience
• Skills & Competencies

If you've been sending out resumes and aren't getting invited to interviews, it may be time to review your resume or have it professionally done.  You may be a great interviewer and have a lot to offer but you won't get invited to an interview if your resume is lacking.

Remember, your resume (along with your cover letter) gives a potential employer their first impression of you.  If you're resume isn't formatted correctly or is riddled with spelling errors, there's only one place that resume will end up.  In the wastebasket.  

Companies are overwhelmed by the amount of resumes they receive per job posting.  Don't give them a reason to overlook yours, provide a professional looking resume and increase your chances of getting that interview.

Online Career Center Blog offers resume and cover letter writing services at affordable rates.  Our professionals have been writing for over 15 years and have over 9 years working in the human resources field.  Our career packages start as low as $50.  Please contact us today to setup a free 10-minute consultation.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for job fair information:

It's Your Business Job Fair
Fort Myers, FL
Edison Mall - Saturday October 6th 11 am to 2 pm

Denver Career Expo - TODAY
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Denver, CO
Thursday, October 4th, 10 am to 2 pm





If you'd like more information on job or career fairs in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fairs website.

Dealing With a Difficult Coworker

On Monday, we talked about dealing with a difficult boss.  Today we want to address another issue that can come up at work and that's dealing with a difficult coworker.

Unfortunately, most workplaces have someone that is known to be a nuisance.  Either that person is a bully, they love to cause drama (or bring their own drama to work), or they are an incessant gossip.  None of these scenarios are good and they can create a lot of problems in the workplace.

The main problem is that if you don't deal with the situation, it will continue and probably get worse.  So what's the best way to handle this?

You could start by approaching the person directly.  Some may not be comfortable doing this but if you can handle it calmly and professionally, it may be a good idea to schedule a meeting with that person.  Explain to them that there actions are disruptive and see if they're responsive to your suggestions.

If that doesn't work or if it's something you're not comfortable with, try talking to your boss.  They may or may not be aware of the situation but the fact that you've taken the time to talk to them about it should signal that something needs to be done.  You may also want to talk with other coworkers and let them know your plans.  Your boss may want to talk with other staff members and if they know what's taking place they may be more open in their responses.

If you still see that nothing's being done, you may want to schedule a meeting with someone in your HR department.  While they may not have an immediate solution, they may provide you with some ways to cope with the situation until more serious action is taken.

You spend most of your waking, adult life at work.  Don't let one person or situation control your happiness and overall well being.  By taking calm, professional steps, you can find a solution that will make your work life easier.

Have you had to deal with a difficult coworker?  How did you handle it?  What was the outcome?  Please share your stories with us in the comment section below.

Job Fair Information

Please view the following links for job fair information:


The 8th Annual Riverside College and Career Fair - for high school students
Riverside, CA
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 5-8 p.m., at the Galleria at Tyler

Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair by RecruitMilitary
Tampa, FL
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m

If you'd like more information on job or career fairs in your area, please visit the Choice Career Fairs website.

Dealing With a Difficult Boss

If you've been in the workforce for a while chances are you've had at least one bad boss in your career.  If you haven't, consider yourself lucky.

Your boss can determine a lot about how you feel about your job and its success.  They determine:

• Your workload
• Overall mood of your office/department
• Your ability to receive a promotion
• Your eligibility for a salary increase or bonus

If you're boss is a bully or just plain difficult to deal with, it's likely not something you can ignore.  In this type of situation, you can find yourself overwhelmed, tired, and unhappy.  We spend too much time in our working life to feel that way.

If you feel you can talk to your boss in a calm manner, see if you can set up some time to talk about how the bad behavior makes you feel.  Make it understood how the bad behavior can be demotivating and difficult to focus on your job.

If you feel like you can't talk to your boss, you still must take action.  Talk to the person they report to or to someone in the HR department.  If you don't talk to someone, keep in mind that the problem will continue.

It may be helpful to talk with your coworkers to see if they can participate.  Be warned that some may not be willing to join you as they may fear retaliation.  Again, if no one says anything the problem will persist.

You may also want to document any bad situations that come up.  Take notes on what happened, when it happened and who was there to witness it.  The more information you provide to HR, the better chances you have of changing the situation for the better.

Have you had an experience with a bad boss?  How did you handle it?  Please share your stories with us in the comments below.