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Want a Steady Job? Beware of Politic
Most of us tend to regard members of the senate or congress
as successful people who would have no difficulty getting by
even after losing their seat. A new research led by Professor
Kevin Theakston from Leeds University in the UK uncovered
that being an ex-parliament member does not ensure
financial success. Actually, announced Theakston, who
interviewed 180 ex-parliament members in Britain, only
a fifth who lost their seat in the house of parliament found
a new job immediately after losing their position. About a half remained unemployed for at least six months, and around 14% remained unemployed for an entire year. Only a third of the ex-parliament members said they made more money after losing their seat than while serving as members of parliament.
"Politics is a very unprofitable career", says Theakston, "and the notion an ex-parliament member can achieve good positions with a high income is false.
According to our research, only 25% managed to go back to their former occupations. Many of them experienced psychological and financial difficulties while trying to adjust to the world outside". "I used to wake up in the morning, turn on the radio and get ready to respond to new issues", said one of the participants in the survey, "But then I realized that no one was interested in what I thought anymore".
Most of us tend to regard members of the senate or congress
as successful people who would have no difficulty getting by
even after losing their seat. A new research led by Professor
Kevin Theakston from Leeds University in the UK uncovered
that being an ex-parliament member does not ensure
financial success. Actually, announced Theakston, who
interviewed 180 ex-parliament members in Britain, only
a fifth who lost their seat in the house of parliament found
a new job immediately after losing their position. About a half remained unemployed for at least six months, and around 14% remained unemployed for an entire year. Only a third of the ex-parliament members said they made more money after losing their seat than while serving as members of parliament.
"Politics is a very unprofitable career", says Theakston, "and the notion an ex-parliament member can achieve good positions with a high income is false.
According to our research, only 25% managed to go back to their former occupations. Many of them experienced psychological and financial difficulties while trying to adjust to the world outside". "I used to wake up in the morning, turn on the radio and get ready to respond to new issues", said one of the participants in the survey, "But then I realized that no one was interested in what I thought anymore".
Flattery Pays Off
Do you have this constant gut feeling, that
workers, who flatter the boss a lot, never
contradict him and who are willing to do
personal favors, are being promoted faster
than you? According to a research conducted
in Northwester University in Chicago, you're
probably right. The research, that lasted five
years, asked a group of senior managers in
the American industry to describe their colleague's attitude toward their superiors: Do they express their opinions openly? Do they tend to be flexible and only express opinions that their boss wants to hear? How often do they flatter the boss? Are they conducting for him personal favors? Three years later the researchers checked which of the managers were promoted, and became directors in public companies. The results were clear cut: those who flattered their superiors often enough, were promoted, while most of the managers who were outspoken and opinionated, contradicted their bosses, and didn't flatter them often, were outside the organization. The researchers also found out that women and minorities had to use flattery more often than the average white male, in order to get promoted.
US Workers Do Not Like Their Jobs
Do you really hate your job? Are you constantly
considering quitting? According to a survey
conducted by Andrew Oswald, Professor of
Economics, University of Warwick in the UK,
you are far from alone. Ever since the 70's,
there has been a steady decline in job satisfaction
among US workers. While in the seventies 56% said they were
satisfied at work, in the eighties they declined to 52%, and in the
nineties to only 47%. About 85% of American workers participating in the survey also said they would like to spend more time with their families. About 46% said they wanted to spend a lot more time with their families. This feeling was most acute among men rather than women. Oswald says this means the American working market has some serious problems to deal with.
By the way, workers who participated in this survey pointed out a series of characteristics that could improve their level of job satisfaction. Among them job securities; being in a small workplace; high income; being self-employed; low commuting time; and having a university degree.
Engineering: Still The Most Profitable
Profession Around
Becoming a chemical engineer is the profession to choose
if you want to earn a high income. According to a survey
conducted by the National Association of Colleges
& Employers in the US, graduating seniors in chemical
engineering, with no prior work experience, can expect
a beginner's salary of $55,900 a year. This survey was conducted in 83 private and State Colleges nationwide, rating electric engineering as the 2nd profitable profession, with a starting salary of $52,899, and mechanical
engineering in 3rd place, at $50,672 a year. Surprisingly, computer science was rated 4th highest income, at $50,046 a year.
Liberal arts were rated 10th at $30,828, way below accounting,
economics, marketing and business administration. While salaries in computer science dropped 2%, accounting and economics experienced a growth of 11% in one year. Liberal arts majors, such as history, English, chemistry and biology, although still at the bottom of the list, experienced an increase of 6.1 % in the last year.
Elder Americans Want to Remain Active
59% of Americans, aged 50 to 75, see retirement as "a time to be
active and involved, to start new activities, and to set new goals".
According to a survey of 600 elderly Americans, conducted by the
Peter D. Hart Research Associates of Washington, D.C., many of
them planned to work during their retirement, saying they wanted
to stay active and productive. 56% said civic engagement would be
a fairly important part of their retirement. Two out of five said they
would like to get involved in volunteer work at least 15 hours a week.
35% saw working with children as the most appealing form of
volunteering, and 52% said the government should do more to
fund programs providing volunteer and community opportunities
for elder adults.
<back
Do you have this constant gut feeling, that
workers, who flatter the boss a lot, never
contradict him and who are willing to do
personal favors, are being promoted faster
than you? According to a research conducted
in Northwester University in Chicago, you're
probably right. The research, that lasted five
years, asked a group of senior managers in
the American industry to describe their colleague's attitude toward their superiors: Do they express their opinions openly? Do they tend to be flexible and only express opinions that their boss wants to hear? How often do they flatter the boss? Are they conducting for him personal favors? Three years later the researchers checked which of the managers were promoted, and became directors in public companies. The results were clear cut: those who flattered their superiors often enough, were promoted, while most of the managers who were outspoken and opinionated, contradicted their bosses, and didn't flatter them often, were outside the organization. The researchers also found out that women and minorities had to use flattery more often than the average white male, in order to get promoted.
US Workers Do Not Like Their Jobs
Do you really hate your job? Are you constantly
considering quitting? According to a survey
conducted by Andrew Oswald, Professor of
Economics, University of Warwick in the UK,
you are far from alone. Ever since the 70's,
there has been a steady decline in job satisfaction
among US workers. While in the seventies 56% said they were
satisfied at work, in the eighties they declined to 52%, and in the
nineties to only 47%. About 85% of American workers participating in the survey also said they would like to spend more time with their families. About 46% said they wanted to spend a lot more time with their families. This feeling was most acute among men rather than women. Oswald says this means the American working market has some serious problems to deal with.
By the way, workers who participated in this survey pointed out a series of characteristics that could improve their level of job satisfaction. Among them job securities; being in a small workplace; high income; being self-employed; low commuting time; and having a university degree.
Engineering: Still The Most Profitable
Profession Around
Becoming a chemical engineer is the profession to choose
if you want to earn a high income. According to a survey
conducted by the National Association of Colleges
& Employers in the US, graduating seniors in chemical
engineering, with no prior work experience, can expect
a beginner's salary of $55,900 a year. This survey was conducted in 83 private and State Colleges nationwide, rating electric engineering as the 2nd profitable profession, with a starting salary of $52,899, and mechanical
engineering in 3rd place, at $50,672 a year. Surprisingly, computer science was rated 4th highest income, at $50,046 a year.
Liberal arts were rated 10th at $30,828, way below accounting,
economics, marketing and business administration. While salaries in computer science dropped 2%, accounting and economics experienced a growth of 11% in one year. Liberal arts majors, such as history, English, chemistry and biology, although still at the bottom of the list, experienced an increase of 6.1 % in the last year.
Elder Americans Want to Remain Active
59% of Americans, aged 50 to 75, see retirement as "a time to be
active and involved, to start new activities, and to set new goals".
According to a survey of 600 elderly Americans, conducted by the
Peter D. Hart Research Associates of Washington, D.C., many of
them planned to work during their retirement, saying they wanted
to stay active and productive. 56% said civic engagement would be
a fairly important part of their retirement. Two out of five said they
would like to get involved in volunteer work at least 15 hours a week.
35% saw working with children as the most appealing form of
volunteering, and 52% said the government should do more to
fund programs providing volunteer and community opportunities
for elder adults.
<back
