CNN.com and Careerbuilder has a great article for everyone that spends plenty of time each day updating your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Ustream, Linkedin, MySpace, Jobster, Friendster, Ning or another social media page. If you know how to Podcast, Design and Develop Websites and Media, knowledge of RSS Feeds and there potential, get Twitter traffic and followers, then you may be the SOCIAL MEDIA GURU that some employers are in need.

Careerbuilder has listed 20 “BIG SALARY” jobs that do not require a degree. Here is the list:

1. Margin department supervisor
Salary: $83,579/year
Primary duties: Overseeing a company’s credit department, which manages customer credit accounts and approves or denies credit to customers.

2. Air traffic controller
Salary: $74,922/year
Primary duties: Controlling air traffic around airports according to established procedures and policies to ensure flight safety.

3. Automobile service station manager
Salary: $72,246/year
Primary duties: Supervising gas stations and planning and implementing policy and procedure like hours of operation, workers’ duties and prices for products and services.

4. Real estate broker
Salary: $71,994/year
Primary duties: Securing real-estate transactions, selling real estate, renting properties and arranging loans.

5. Web surfer
Salary: $70,604/year
Primary duties: Scouring through multiple Web sites to analyze and compare information and user experiences to collect information to help companies

n the midst of a recession, huge job losses are expected to continue for at least several more months. But what really worries economists is that the job market could be slow to recover even when the economy begins to improve.

In the recession that began in December 2007, the economy has shed more than 1.1 million jobs. Economists expect the Labor Department’s monthly employment report to show another 325,000 job losses for November when it is released Friday.

November’s job losses would represent the largest monthly drop in non-farm employment in seven years, if the report meets estimates. A larger decline could represent the biggest monthly drop in more than 26 years.

The unemployment rate is expected to reach 6.8%, which would be the highest since February 1993.

All indications suggest there’s little stopping jobs from continuing to plummet. ADP’s monthly employment report showed private sector payrolls fell in November by 250,000 jobs from the previous month. And according to a report by outsourcing agency Challenger, Gray & Christmas, planned job cut announcements by U.S. employers soared to 181,671 last month, the second-highest total on record.

A slew of large-scale job-cut announcements came Thursday, with AT&T (T, Fortune 500), DuPont (DD, Fortune 500), Viacom (VIA) and Credit Suisse announcing they would cut a total of nearly 21,000 jobs. All cited the weak economic conditions for the cuts.

Source: Read the entire article

Excellent CNN.com story for job-seekers in this economy to take notes:

If you are getting ready for a job search during troubled times, here are some tips from the experts.

1. Take a closer look at industry data

Research industries and job sectors that are experiencing worker shortages or still experiencing job growth. These are the areas where you may want to focus your search.

CareerBuilder.com produces a quarterly job forecast that indicates hiring manager trends for the next few months, both regionally and across major sectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases updated figures every month on occupational job growth.

For example, by looking at the BLS data, you will learn that health care, education, government, food services and drinking places, and IT categories have all gained jobs this year.

2. Freshen up your skills

“Don’t give an employer a reason to pass you over because you don’t know the basics,” states Diane Morgan, director of career services at London Business School. Morgan says everyone should know basic office skills like Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. “Since these are skills you can teach yourself from the Internet or a library book, there are no excuses for not having them.”

Another alternative is CBInstitute.com, which offers easy-to-use online courses at all levels, including business etiquette, project management, foreign languages and typing. You can take courses at times that are convenient for you, so no matter how little time you have to invest, you can make it work. At the same time, the courses are affordable and reasonably priced.

Morgan also suggests brushing up your sales skills (persuasion, negotiating and influencing) even if you aren’t in the sales industry. You need to sell your best product, which is you, so make sure your personal pitch is relevant, timely and effective, she asserts.

3. Try part-time or freelance work

“Rather than one ‘job,’ think in terms of multiple positions. Breaking in [to a new job] may be easier if you aim for part-time work within a company,” advises Katy Piotrowski, career counselor and author of “The Career Coward’s Guides.” “Line up multiple part-time positions and you’ll benefit from more job security; if one position evaporates, you have the others to fall back on.”

Moreover, it will pad your résumé and your wallet.

Rachel Weingarten, author of “Career and Corporate Cool,” recommends job sharing or taking over for someone on maternity leave or during the holiday crunch.

“A lot of people don’t want to commit full-time skills to a part-time or temporary gig. In this economy though, it can allow you to not only try on a job for size, but to also improve your skills, impress a potential long-term employer and network like crazy with people in your chosen industry,” she says. “Instead of nervously waiting for the right full-time career, you can potentially make something better happen in the short term.”

4. Rev up your social networking

Gone are the days of peddling your résumé at anonymous networking events with watered-down drinks and goofy nametags. Now you can have countless opportunities with a few keystrokes and a couple of mouse clicks.

Sure you’ve received those requests to join LinkedIn and BrightFuse, and you certainly use Facebook daily. (Scrabble anyone?) But now is the time to really take of the network you’ve probably casually built over the years.

Networking is easier than in years past because of the easy access to your network and those of your friends and colleagues, Matuson declares. “Now you can go onto [social networking] sites and see who in your network knows someone at a company that you might be interested in working for. You can then ask them to make an introduction on your behalf.”

Read the entire article at CNN.com

Branch Manager

Our client is seeking a Branch Manager in their Houston District office.

This position will focus on growth opportunities from the Industrial Market in and around Houston, including special hazards, sprinkler and alarm detection. This position is responsible for providing vision, leadership, and direction to the local office staff, developing business strategies, and implementing action plans to meet Corporate objectives. Responsibilities also include involvement with all aspects of branch operations to include sales, service, and administrative functions, to profitably grow the local district business.

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

1. REVENUE RESPONSIBILITY: Responsible for implementing plans, programs, and processes designed to meet or exceed Corporate goals and objectives as well as maximizing market potential in all businesses segments to include new bookings (sales), revenue, and profitability.

2. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Responsible for managing the District Office to an approved financial plan which includes operating expenses, accounts receivable/collections, manpower, capital, and inventory.

3. CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT: Responsible for the identification, selection, and development of potentially new and existing accounts such as architects and engineers, electrical contractors, major end users, and general contractors with the emphasis on expanding our customer base and product breadth.

4. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Responsible for maintaining effective customer communications along with building solid customers relationships from initial contact through order acquisition, delivery and installation, and service. Ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled while quickly resolving customer complaints concerning installation and service issues, thereby minimizing customer concerns and enhancing customer relations.

5. PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT: Responsible for setting fair and manageable territories for sales and service coverage. Ensure that fair and effective performance measures are assigned, and that employees are motivated to achieve and / or exceed their assigned goals and objectives utilizing sound management tools and practices.

6. EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT: Organize, develop, and empower local district staff into a cohesive and effective team trained and motivated to grow the business. Responsible for hiring quality individuals who possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience required to fill open job positions. Identify areas such as sales skills, business and product knowledge, where training and development will enhance the local district’s opportunity to meet current and future business needs. Maintain an open channel of communications among all departments and personnel to insure consistent dialogue designed to foster initiative and maintain employee morale.

7. SAFETY COMPLIANCE: Ensures that all employees comply with corporate safety programs. Responsible for ensuring that employee safety training is thorough, complete, and up-to-date. Identifies safety issues and hazards and notifies corporate safety officer of those conditions that require corrective actions.

Responsible for ensuring that corporate policies associated with affirmative action and equal employment opportunity for all are fully implemented, managed, and monitored. Abides by Federal, State and local laws and regulations, as well as Company policies and procedures.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Education: Bachelor degree preferably in a business or engineering discipline or equivalent experience.

Experience: Minimum of 4-5 years’ experience in an integrated systems sales/service environment with a portion of time spent in a supervisory role.

Special Skills: Demonstrated management/leadership abilities to include training, team building, presentation and negotiation skills, branch administration, and effective interaction with customer/company management.

Contact Kyle T. Mosley at kmosley@kamcon.com or 281.412.5800 to apply for this position.