Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook can do a lot more than put you in touch with people who like the same rock bands or movies you do. They can promote your career or product, help you find a job, or promote your “brand” as a business professional. While both Facebook and MySpace certainly aid in a job search, there are subtle differences between them.

MySpace career networking focuses mainly on artists, musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers, photographers, authors and other creative or show business types. The few real estate agents, financial advisors and non-entertainment businesses on the site either have few profile views or don’t check on their page often.

The site has a job board that contains openings in all kinds of industries, so you needn’t be the next Tila Tequila to get hired via MySpace. Recent offerings consist of technical, IT, scientific, medical and manufacturing jobs– namely anything you’d find on your local newspaper’s Web site. Sponsored companies include Chase and A T & T in addition to retailers and fast food outlets like Home Depot and McDonalds. The MySpace jobs video section features tips on how to ace a job interview and write the perfect resume, plus profiles of top companies. If you’re looking for a job on MySpace, it’s a good idea to tailor your profile to reflect that.

Whether you have a Facebook or MySpace profile, remember that anything you post–photos, video, text or music–will be very hard to banish off cyberspace permanently. So if you want a fun, personal page, consider using a pseudonym (or making the profile private), and be careful about positing any pictures that may come back to haunt you. A survey conducted by CollegeGrad.com. reveals that 47 percent of students polled changed (or plan to change) their social networking pages to be businesslike and employer friendly. Obviously, recent news stories about students, employees and teachers being disciplined because of their MySpace or Facebook profiles have scared many grads “straight.” Bragging about drinking and partying exploits might offend future employers as much as parents and neighbors, and many high school and college students are now considering this when editing their online profiles.

While MySpace is hit or miss for non-artsy types, Facebook attracts everyone from teens to business professionals. With a cleaner, more streamlined layout, it’s harder to overindulge in cutesy graphics or videos on Facebook. It’s no surprise that many authors, marketing professionals and journalists concentrate more on their Facebook pages than their MySpace ones, as Facebook allows people to concentrate on the nitty-gritty of networking without extraneous temptations. There are Facebook Groups and profiles for accountants, financial advisors, catering companies and school psychologists. A quick search reveals Facebook certainly has a higher instance of users in their 30s and older, with a more professional selection of groups for business, scientific and historical interests than MySpace. Even most profile photos have more in common with the business networking site LinkedIn than the youth and show-biz oriented MySpace.

Regarding of your ultimate job search, networking or career goals, MySpace and Facebook are great assets to your personal brand. Study profile pages posted by people with goals similar to yours, and then put your own spin on the formula. Update your page regularly, and communicate with friends using comments, blogs and bulletins to keep your name and skills within plain view of potential employers and business associates.

Work at home or telecommute jobs are now a respectable part of the American work experience. Once reserved for envelope stuffers and telemarketers, professionals of every stripe can now work at home with the blessing of their bosses. Certain professional telecommute positions offer big bucks, whether you chose to work as an independent contractor or as an employee, here are the 10 most prestigious, high-paying work at home positions.

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While there’s no ironclad guarantee your job will remain untouched by the current iffy economic climate, you can recession proof your value to an employer by following these 5 simple habits.

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(And Some Tips on How to Find Jobs in Them)

During a recession, some industries remain steady while others suffer severe layoffs and cash crunches. Hospitals remain busy during a recession because people still get sick and injured even during weak economic times, but non-essential businesses like tattoo parlors and gourmet coffee bars may find their bottom line dwindling. Job seekers looking for a paycheck and security in a recession should check out the following industries and professions, which are still growing at a rapid pace

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Networking in tough economic times such as a recession doesn't mean you need to try harder or send resumes out to every company and search agency posting help-wanted ads. When times are hard, a job-seeker needs to network smarter, not necessarily longer or harder. Here are a few tips for keeping your job search afloat when the economy is sinking.
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First of all, in order to ask your boss for a raise, you’ll need to know you’re worth it. Have you made improvements at work? Have you pulled some late nights? If you’re confident in your abilities and what you’ve done for the company, then you have what it takes to follow it through.

How much am I worth?

There are some secrets to negotiating salary increases, but first do your research to find out what you think you’re worth. Find out what the industry standard for your industry, and then think about what you do. First check out Monster.com’s (more…)

Physician Sub Speciality Salaries

The sub specialities you get into following medical school will influence several factors in your life including your salary/pay scale, the time spent on-call, the number of hours in the office, and obviously the type of procedures you do. Some physicians spend 30 hours a week while others spend upwards of 80. Some will make $200k while others break $1 million. The following salaries can vary greatly depending on how aggresive you are doing extra billable procedures, time spent on call, investments in equipment, hospital visits and more.

Base Information † Allied-Physicians.com, Medical Economics
Updated 1/07