Spam, innovator, would you believe?

ANALYSIS

Concentration, Underemployment, Opportunity

Q: People tell me that I send too many emails, that I don’t answer all of their questions. My boss has said he thinks I need help with reading. I’m starting to job hunt and I don’t know how to handle this problem.

Staying calm during interviews

Q: I find interviews embarrassing. I have to sit and talk about myself as if I were interested, when I’m really more interested in finding out about the job. How can I keep from sounding too abrupt when I answer questions and from feeling self-conscious when I do?

No union bust in region

Union membership in Northwest Indiana is holding steady despite membership rates at their lowest level in decades in the rest of the state and the country as a whole.

DOUG ROSS: Creating more jobs is Job 1 for economy

A key report on Northwest Indiana's economy Monday showed productivity is up, but not because more workers have been hired. In Northwest Indiana, at least, this seems to be the jobless recovery everyone has been worried about.

Coach, Switcheroo, Skype

Q: I’ve been using a coach once a week for a month to help me decide what I want to do and develop a campaign. When we started, I thought we’d be further along by now.

Telecommuting plan

Q: I’ve been offered a promotion, which I haven’t yet accepted, because I don’t know how to convince my employer to allow me to telecommute. He knows that I have good relationships with my neighbors, that we spend time together in the evenings and on weekends. He also knows I date. I sense t…

Writing, whistleblowing, interviewing

Q: My resume is one page long and contains all of my work history. The graphics are eye-catching, but interviewers seems to be saying things I think they’re saying to everyone they interview. How can I inspire them to think about what I’ve done and how to use my experience?

Industry looks to entice younger workers

Randy Hall Jr. never wanted to work in the mill.

Finding International Jobs

Q: I’m bilingual and second-generation American, but I’ve never worked overseas. My skills and experience will transfer to a variety of industries. How do I begin the process of finding companies in any industry that are Spanish-speaking? Central and South America would be fine. So would Spain.

Wanted: Manufacturing jobs with higher wages

University of Wyoming energy economics professor Timothy Considine believes all jobs are not created equal.

Hobart firefighters union, mayor at odds over location for meetings, attendance

HOBART | Hobart Professional Firefighter Local 1641 meetings have been held at Fire House No. 1 since 1966, local fire officials said.

Start Your Own Business, Strategicaly

Q: I’ve been working in a large organization for a long time, but I want to buy a business in a very different industry. Because I’ve been up in the ether, I’d like to spend a year or two in a small business to get ready. How can I best approach employers?

Don't waste energy on a "worthless" job

Q: The job I finally found more than a year ago isn’t worth having. I grabbed the first thing that came up and have regretted it since almost the first day.

Snedecor employs assistant to seek grants, do research

HOBART | Hobart resident Bob Fulton has been hired as the mayor's assistant, Mayor Brian Snedecor said.

Labor group honors contributions to community

The Northwest Indiana Federation of Labor recently honored key people during its 38th annual Community Labor Awards reception.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Porter County must manage workforce better

In 2012, Porter County government authorized a comprehensive study of our county finances. The report, which was submitted last December, warned that every major service delivered, as well as every major fund we currently manage, needs to be adjusted through acts of efficiency. Otherwise, co…

Don't hide from a negative past

Q: I spent seven years in prison and three on the street. How can I ever find a job?

Job instability and uncertainty

Q: Last year I wanted a job so badly that I agreed to rent our house and relocate about 1,200 miles. We’ve rented here and the job has gone all right. Our children attend local schools.

Teamsters issue strike notice to sanitary district

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | The threat of a strike by Teamsters will not disrupt water treatment services, according to officials at the Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District.