Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Confidence in speaking to groups is a powerful asset in any profession.

by Caroline M.L. Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs

Mention the words "public speaking," and many folks start to quake in their boots: a market-research survey of 3,000 Americans found that they feared speaking in public more than heights, financial problems, sickness, and even death. But aside from being an irrational phobia, a fear of public speaking can negatively impact your career.

A recent UC Berkeley study revealed that people who speak up in business meetings are seen as more competent than quieter colleagues, even when their comments aren't valuable. Further, most management positions require some level of public speaking, even if it's simply addressing small groups of staff members. Being comfortable with public speaking helps you exude confidence--which is crucial when you're interviewing for new positions, say, or asking for a raise. It can also help you bond with customers and colleagues.

While there are lots of tricks and tips to help you relax while speaking in public, practice is key. To get hands-on practice and feedback while you grow as a public speaker, you might consider joining Toastmasters International. Joel Goyette, a marketing professional with OpenTable, Inc., has been a member of Toastmasters for nearly two years. He joined just after graduating college, inspired by the teaching style of a favorite professor, who steered him toward Toastmasters when he asked for insights on becoming a more powerful presenter. "After one meeting," says Goyette, "I was sold. The speakers were phenomenal, and the content of interest to me."

He credits the unique structure of Toastmasters for giving him the confidence to speak and up and participate at work. "There are two parts to every Toastmasters meeting--prepared speeches and table topics. In completing the speeches, I became aware of how to effectively present an idea, topic, or project and be a strong presenter. I've also learned how to actively participate with an audience, adapting along the way to best suit the audience," he says. "'Table topics' is the impromptu-speaking portion of the meeting, during which people are randomly called upon to speak. This has given me the cognizance and structure to slow down, think, and formulate a logical response before speaking. These skills are critical in meetings where you don't know what the next question will be."

Goyette now loves speaking to groups and isn't nervous, something he says is possible for all participants. "With support and encouragement, some of the shyest and least confident members have become phenomenal speakers. Toastmasters helps people become better speakers by providing a structure to learn effective public-speaking techniques such as overcoming nervous ticks, eliminating filler words ("ah," "um," "like," and so on), and paying attention to body language and eye contact, as well as providing a sandbox in which to play and improve self-confidence," he states.

The skills he continues to gain gave Goyette the confidence to organize and host an autism awareness event in San Francisco last year, and they help him to expand his network, saying, " I have met countless professionals, been invited to deliver a speech to an audience of 1,000 people, and made new friends."

Tips for finding a Toastmasters International chapter near you:
1. Search on Toastmasters International by zip code. There are more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries.

2. Contact the club to arrange to be a guest at a meeting, to increase your comfort level.

3. Don't be afraid to audit several different clubs. Goyette advises, "I encourage all of our guests to visit other clubs before joining to make sure they feel at home with our members. As with any social group, shop around until you find a club you are excited to be part of due to professional similarities with members, speaking level, meeting schedule, and so on."

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10 Job-Satisfaction Factors

Considering leaving a job? Weigh these factors before making your decision.

by Gina Cappiello, www.123Movers.com

If you can't decide whether to stick with a so-so job or make a jump to another employer, consider these 10 job benefits before making a decision. You may find that your current job isn't as bad as you originally thought:

Pay: Compare what you're being paid now with what other people across the country are being paid in the same role. You could already be making more than the average person doing the same job.

Coworkers: Having a great crew around you for eight (or more) hours a day can make any job more tolerable. Are you willing to sacrifice your partners in crime for another gig with an uncertain work climate?

Location: Is your office located in a great little neighborhood or in a drab office park? Consider your office's physical location before moving elsewhere for work.

Commute Consider the cost of getting to work now against commuting to work elsewhere. Would you be saving or losing time or money in the long run? Also, decide whether moving for a new job (or closer to your current job) would make your life easier.

Dress code: Don't take your dress code for granted. A new job may mean a change in your daily attire. Are you willing to give up your jeans for three-piece suits (or vice versa)?

Benefits: Employers' benefit packages vary widely. Consider the health benefits, 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, and vacation time you'd have to sacrifice in order to jump to a new job.

The economy: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate has been holding steady at 9.7 percent in recent months. This can make finding a new job (and keeping it) difficult. If you're already in a safe spot, you may want to stick around to avoid unemployment troubles.

Superiors: A good boss is hard to find. If you're happy with how your boss treats you, you may want to stay where you are--you might not be as lucky at your next job!

Growth: Does your job foster growth or stifle it? A good employer encourages employees to learn, will let you grow with the company, and truly promotes from within.

On-the-job experiene: If you're gaining experience and know-how in your industry just by going to work every day, you might not want to give that up. If you do decide to move to a new job, make sure you have a plan for how you'll consider to develop in your career.

The next time you're considering leaving a job, look to this list--so you can make an informed decision.

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7 Great Jobs for Working with Your Hands

by Carol Tice, PayScale.com

Does your knee bounce when you're stuck at a desk? Do you need to be able to move around? For people who aren't cut out for cubicle life, there are plenty of great gigs that let you work with your hands.

And working with your hands doesn't mean you'll get a small paycheck. If you're interested in a hands-on job, here are seven lucrative options in a range of industries:

Mechanical engineer ($72,884)
Do you enjoy tinkering with malfunctioning machinery? You could turn that knack into a well-paid career developing or repairing everything from steam turbines to internal combustion engines. With electronics increasingly part of machines, from electric generators to air-conditioners, this field has even better-paying opportunities for specialists who can combine mechanical skills with an aptitude for electronics, says John Gaal, a vice president at the Association for Career and Technical Education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) most, but not all, mechanical engineers have four-year degrees.

Elevator mechanic ($62,204)
Most of the work with elevators is on the repair side right now, as building owners keep older elevators running to avoid making new purchases, according to Gaal. But look for installation work to pick up when the economy improves. Most workers enter the field through a four-year apprenticeship program.

Power-plant operator ($61,014)
Though there aren't a lot of new electric power plants being built, the BLS reports that many workers are nearing retirement age, so the job outlook is still good. Workers repair and operate boilers, turbines, generators, and other plant equipment. Some enter the field straight out of high school, according to the BLS, but most applicants have a two-year vocational degree. Several years of on-the-job training are required to become fully qualified.

Pipefitter ($57,277)
Usually better paid than plumbers, pipefitters wrestle with high-pressure pipe systems such as those used in large buildings' heating and cooling systems. Apprenticeship is the most common route into the job, says Gaal.

Sheet-metal worker ($52,829)
Gaal says there's work for sheet-metal workers because of the need for metalwork in clean-energy power-generation machines such as wind turbines. Federal stimulus funding is keeping these projects going straight through the economic downturn. Job descriptions in fields including sheet-metal work, carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing are being redefined as new products and techniques are developed to meet demand for more energy efficient buildings.

"Trades in green building are where the higher-paying jobs are now, and where the work is," Gaal says.

Wind-turbine technician ($48,990)
Speaking of the green revolution, there are many opportunities in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining clean-energy devices such as towering wind turbines. Two-year vocational degrees in the field are being offered by a growing number of institutions.

"Wind energy is big, especially if you're in California," says Amit Singh, director of operations at the national temporary-labor placement chain Labor Finders.

Auto painting ($47,666)
Add a little specialized skill to the painting trade, and you get a job that can be creative and fun, especially if you like cars, says Singh. For many people, this occupation has been elevated to a well-respected art form in recent years thanks to reality show "Pimp My Ride." Vocational training gets workers into the field, and that's usually followed by two years of work experience leading to certification by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence.

Business writer Carol Tice is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur, The Seattle Times and other major publications.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.

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8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your First "Real" Job

What not to do when entering the professional workforce, for new grads (and everyone else)

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs

You've graduated from college and landed a job in a tough economy. Congratulations! But now the real work begins.

To make your first job a stepping stone and not a dead end, try to avoid these pitfalls:

1. Being impatient
You want to start making a meaningful contribution on your very first day--but there's a fine line between taking the initiative and appearing presumptuous.

"The first thing I would suggest is not to go in guns a-blazing and insist on making your mark right away," says Alexandra Levit, the author of "They Don't Teach Corporate in College." "Pay attention to how things are done, how other people bring up ideas."

Once you have a feel for how the business works, give your boss some ideas for improvement and ask for feedback.

2. Being too patient
Just as you shouldn't arrive at your first department meeting with a list of suggested changes, neither should you spend your first month sitting in your cubicle and waiting for your new coworkers to introduce themselves.

Instead, get to know your coworkers and their jobs. "Don't get a bad attitude because people aren't paying attention to you," Levit says.

3. Using technology inappropriately
Whether it's OK to text during a business meeting or post to Facebook from your desk will depend on the company culture.

Levit advises paying attention to what everyone else is doing. Do colleagues use email or instant messages? Is it OK to use your laptop during a meeting? Or to listen to your iPod while you work? "Every workplace is different," she says.

4. Making a bad first impression
From your dress to your handshake, people will form opinions of you early on. "Be very mindful of how you act when you meet people for the first time," Levit says.

Make a special effort to remember people's names and something about them. Don't take two-hour lunch breaks, even if you don't have much work to do yet. And watch your colleagues for signs that it's quitting time. "You should never be the first one out the door or the last one," Levit says.

5. Not discussing your goals with your boss
You should find out what your boss is hoping you'll accomplish in your first 90 days. "Touch base with your manager on a regular basis," says Peter Jacobs, a career consultant and coach. "Make sure everybody is still on the same page."

6. Not understanding your boss
Your boss may not like to communicate the same way you do--and it's important for you to match your boss's preferences. Jacobs says you should ask yourself, "How does the person like to receive information? How often?"

7. Going it alone
Your boss is a great resource, but to build a strong career you'll need advice from more than one source. "Look for people who might be good mentors and sounding boards as you progress and develop," Jacobs says.

8. Not appreciating it
Your job may not be "the be-all and end-all of career stardom," Levit says, but you can view it as an opportunity to gain new skills, learn about the business world, and make valuable networking contacts.

"You might as well enjoy the time to take care of yourself and learn as much as possible, because you won't have that time forever," she adds.

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Best-Paying Jobs For Women

Women's earnings are stalled at around 80% of men's, but more women are seeking out jobs that pay them the most.

by Jenna Goudreau, Forbes.com

What happens when women make up half of the workforce and are more likely than ever before to be important breadwinners in their families? It becomes increasingly crucial for women to earn top dollar for their labor.

To rank the 10 best-paying jobs for women, we tabulated the median weekly earnings of female full-time wage and salary workers in 2009, as provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Men are still earning more across industries--about 20 percent more than women per week--but women are quickly closing the gap. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a slim majority (51 percent) of workers in high-paying management and professional jobs are female.

This top-10 list is equal parts a lesson in the importance of math and science skills, a showcase for the obvious (top picks include doctors and lawyers), a reinterpretation of "women's work," and an attempt to forecast the high-paying jobs of the future. Highlights of the list include:

Number 1: Chief executive
Chief executive is the the top-paying job for women. Female chief executives made a median salary of $1,553 per week, or about $81,000, in 2009. However, their total numbers are still low, and they aren't earning as much as men. Women comprise just a quarter of all chief executives and earn 75 percent as much as their male peers. But younger women may be moving into business more than previous generations. In 2007, women received 44 percent of all MBAs. according to the U.S. Department of Education, while in 1997 they earned 39 percent--a 75 percent increase in the last 10 years.

"Chief executives will remain well paid in years to come, and it's a position you can work your way into," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis for PayScale, an online provider of employee compensation data. "Becoming a CEO might be easier than becoming a doctor. You can be a CEO at age 35, when a doctor is just getting done with training."

Number 2: Pharmacist
As with last year, a career in pharmacy was a top contender. Pharmacist placed second on our list--above lawyers (number 3) and physicians and surgeons (number 6). Female pharmacists earned a median of $1,475 per week and about $76,500 per year. Women now hold almost half of pharmacist positions and are flocking to the field--with good reason. The BLS expects the field to expand faster than most, with pharmacist positions projected to increase 17 percent by 2018.

Confused by why physicians and surgeons rank lower than pharmacists? Lee believes it's because the category is so large. It includes neurosurgeons as well as interns and residents, who make drastically less. Furthermore, there is a broad array of specialties. Women often choose the lower-paying specialties like family practice and pediatrics, he says, which brings down the pay average.

Number 7: Computer programmer
Computer programmer, a new addition to the list, came in at number 7. Women constitute only 21 percent of the field but earn close to what men earn. Female computer programmers earn a median salary of $62,000 a year, and those in the top 10 percent of the field make a median salary of $111,000. Some other upsides of the job: Most programmers work standard 40-hour weeks, and telecommuting is becoming more common. Plus, employers typically require only a bachelor's degree, and this is particularly appealing to women who want high earnings without the educational investment required by fields like medicine or law.

Number 10: Occupational therapist
A surprising new entrant, occupational therapist, came in at number 10. This is the only profession on the list dominated by women, who hold 82 percent of all positions. It's also the only field in which women earn the same as men. Occupational therapists typically have a master's degree or higher and earn $1,155 a week, or a median salary of $60,000 per year. They help patients recover or improve basic motor skills so they can perform daily tasks like dressing, cooking, and eating. And it's an in-demand job--employment is expected to grow 26 percent by 2018, with another 26,000 positions created.

The bottom of the list
The lowest-paying jobs for women were concentrated in the service industry. Launders and dry cleaners ($362 per week), food servers ($363 per week), child-care workers ($364 per week), and maids ($371 per week) were not only the lowest-paying jobs; they were predominantly filled by women.

PayScale's Lee says technical and in-demand fields are women's best bet for earning good money. "There are lots of women out there who could be in these fields, but if women decide to teach math instead of going into computer programming, they've left money on the table."

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