Prosecutors re-indicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich February 5th. Some of the initial charges, it turns out, may possibly be deemed unconstitutional. Specifically, the honest services fraud charges are now being challenged U.S. Supreme Court. A. Harrison Barnes, who worked at one time for the U.S. Department of Justice and is the founder of LegalAuthority.com, says prosecutors wanted to eliminate the distractions these charges would result in the ongoing case. Waiting for the Justices to rule on the constitutionality could take a considerable amount of time. Blagojevich was indicted and removed from office due to accusations that included his attempting to bribe candidates for the vacancy in the Senate. This vacancy, of course, was due to President Obama’s successful bid for the U.S. Presidency.

This new indictment includes twenty four counts, including racketeering. Before his arrest for political corruption in 2008, Blagojevich had an impressive career as an attorney and politician. He worked for a while as Cook County’s assistant state’s attorney, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 and was elected twice as the state’s governor. January, 2009 saw him being successfully impeached from office. U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called the governor’s alleged actions “a political corruption crime spree” and that “his conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave”.

While these charges are serious and if convicted, Blagojevich stands to spend a good majority of the rest of his life in a federal prison. He is accused of trying to sell state jobs and contracts as well attempting to have journalists with several Illinois newspapers fired. A. Harrison Barnes explains the federal wiretaps will be damning in the trial that’s sure to come. He can be heard saying he had no intention of “giving away” the vacancy and that he was considering appointing himself to the Senate position after realizing he was “stuck” in his role as Illinois governor.

Barnes, who also is a career coach for his LegalAuthority.com site, says his family has suffered as a result of his irresponsible actions. Even if he is found not guilty, he has placed an incredibly heavy burden on his children and others who had faith in him and stood by him. His actions are irresponsible at best and at worst, he has eroded the trust in the law profession as a whole and placed government employees who worked for him into awkward situations. In a major media blitz, Blagojevich assures his followers that once he’s found innocent, he will run for the very office he tried to sell.

For now, Blagojevich remains committed to helping his criminal lawyers build a case that will prove beyond a reasonable doubt of his innocence and is likely looking for new job opportunities. He is now in his mid-50s and admits he’s lost the financial wealth he and his family enjoyed for so long. His family, including his children, continues to make sacrifices as they stand by their father, husband, son and brother as he battles a far more formidable opponent than a Republican who is looking to be elected as the Illinois governor.

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If you are a working professional, there is every possibility of you making common career mistakes. You are not alone in committing those mistakes as there are millions who are ignorant about those. Mistakes are nothing but an unorganized way of continuing with your career. A person can only be successful in his life if he is well-aware about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to career advancement. A. Harrison Barnes discusses some common job search mistakes made by most. His tips or advice will definitely benefit you because he has years of experience under his belt. He is the owner of EmploymentCrossing.com, the well known recruiting firm in the job market.

The most important thing in your life is to find a good job for yourself; a job that you really want to do, where your actual interest lies. For this, you have to prepare a proper plan and work accordingly. The plan should consist of various steps to follow in your job search. This soul searching should ideally happen when you are about to enter college. You need to analyze yourself, which means you have to know yourself better. Examine the passions, skills and interests you have. This will help you know the best field to work in. Once the test is over and you have decided on the area of work you want to take up as your career focus on enrolling for the right course.

As you are pursuing your course, you must be well aware of what is happening in the job market as far as your career field is concerned. You must also make useful contacts. Another mistake is not having a good network. Network of contact is equally important for both job-hunting and maintaining a successful career. You need to keep in mind that many jobs are not available on any job board, not even at the employer’s website. Those positions are filled up through references made by their reliable contacts. These jobs can only be accessed if you have a good network of contacts. You may be a highly talented person but it will be of no use until you have a list of potential people in your network. The one thing that can help you get success is active networking. You can increase your contacts by being part of any professional development event or trade show or even workshops. Networking events will also turn to be very helpful, believes A. Harrison Barnes.

A. Harrison Barnes also recommends you to take the help of a reputable job board like EmploymentCrossing.com. The services offered by them will be advantageous for your career. They not only present you with information on various job openings at different locations all around the world but also assist you to prepare an eye catching resume along with interview tips and assistance in choosing the right job for yourself. There are also some common career mistakes made by almost everyone. A. Harrison Barnes discusses with you on how to avoid these errors and give your career a bright future. In the job seeking process, continuing a good career requires proper planning. The most common mistake is to select any job that comes your way. There are many like you who do not think before choosing a job. They do not even give a thought whether the job will benefit them in any way – will it help them achieve any short term or long term goal.

You have to analyze whether the job you are thinking to get in is helping you achieve the short and long term ambitions you have set for yourself. Your success in attaining the short term goals will determine if you can even achieve your long term objective. Sometimes people don’t analyze where their career is going they just keep continuing for years without realizing that they can get better opportunities if they are self motivated and proactive.

There are many employees who do not pay any attention to balancing their work and personal life. Personal life needs equal attention as does your career. You have to learn to maintain a sense of stability between them. Being career oriented is no harm but you have to understand that you cannot work for 24 hours at a stretch as it is impossible. You require time to relax as well as pay attention to other areas of life that includes members of your family. Proper relaxation is required to get recharged for the following day. A. Harrison Barnes also believes that good sleep allows you to perform better at work.

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Are you someone who has been going to your career counselor for career advice? Are you interested in making a big career change? If you want to make a big career change, you will find that one way to meet the goals that you are interested in is to make sure that you are going to be able to get into graduate school. Getting a master’s degree or even a doctorate can make a huge difference when you are looking to change fields, and though this course is not for everyone, you will find that any good career counselor can show you how to get what you need from this course of action.

Whether you are thinking of taking the GRE, the LSAT, the GMAT or the MCAT, you will find that you need to get a minimum score that will be acceptable to the institution to which you are applying. When you are looking to get started with your graduate school, you will find that getting the testing out of the way is ideal. Take some time and make sure that you are getting the results that you need and remember that doing a little bit of research now can help you move forward with what you need to do later.

When you are thinking about going to graduate school, make sure that you know what you want to do. The graduate programs that you are applying for look for a lot of decisiveness in their candidates; and you have to be certain that you are looking at something that you really want and are willing to work for you. Typically, a master’s program will take two years, while a doctorate can take at least another two. This is a large chunk of time and you have to be willing to devote your time and your energy to it. Getting into the program that you want can mean that you are in a place where you are going to be able to move forward much more quickly with your life goals.

Preparing for the exam is something that can be quite arduous, but remember that it is finite and that there are techniques that you can use to do it. Take some time and make sure that you are studying wisely as well as often. Too many people think that cramming is a good idea and because of this, they do not end up absorbing all of the information that they need. When absorption and application of knowledge is the goal, inefficient studying can be a real problem. Consider how you are going to be able to move forward, and make sure that you only study for twenty minutes at a time. Then a quick break is going to be ideal. If you keep your studying short, you will be able to move forward much more quickly and you will also be able to absorb much more information.

Take some time and consider what your options are going to be and how you can get the results that you need. Studying for these tests can take a lot of time, so remember to get started early.

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When searching for employment, there are many routes a job seeker can follow. Vacancies are advertised online, in newspapers and on job boards for you to browse. It is also useful signing up to recruitment agencies, who will help you match your skills for suitable positions of employment. One way of finding employment is to visit a career fair.

A career fair is an event that allows job candidates to meet prospective employers. Companies have stands, manned by representatives who can tell you all about the current job vacancies within the business. Apart from being a useful way to know where is recruiting, a career fair offers you the unique opportunity to discuss specific careers in detail, face to face, with possible employers.

To make the most of a career fair you must decide your objective. Many people, especially graduates, take the opportunity to visit a career fair but don’t aim to come away with anything more than information, inspiration and perhaps a couple of application forms. Career fairs are not just about securing an interview or even a contract of employment. They are sources of information and experience for job seekers. You might be interested in knowing what kind of roles you would be successful in applying for with your qualifications, or the first steps to take on a career ladder of your choice.

Ask plenty of questions. The representatives at a career fair are interested in talking to you and finding out about your qualifications, aspirations and expectations of a job. It’s a good idea to think ahead and know what answers you really want to find out. For example, would taking further qualifications add to your candidacy or is an employer more interested in experience? Maybe the company you would like to work for is looking for a motivated, keen-to-learn approach rather than previous experience. Find out what training is provided by the company, employee benefit packages, the company ethics and day to day tasks.

Be open to new ideas. Knowing what you want to do is a good start. However, it is always important to keep an open mind. Perhaps a career fair will place opportunities in your path that you didn’t expect but are better suited to you. Listen to what prospective employers have to say. They are the ones who will decide your future. Take away their advice and take praise as well as constructive criticism; both will help you in your career.

Practice your interview skills. Once you have registered your interest in a vacancy or promotion, the interview is where you need to prove you have what it takes to do the job. Career fairs are perfect for practicing your answers. The prospective employers at the fair may well ask you similar questions, such as “Why are you interested in working for this company?” You will quickly learn to edit your answers into a concise reply that gives all the right information.

Finally, use career fairs as an opportunity to network. The vacancies on offer might not suit your current skills or be practical for you to consider. However, in the future, new qualifications, grown flexibility or new vacancies in a more relevant department could mean things change. Take business cards and sign up to appropriate mailing lists. Being the first to hear about a vacancy can often be an advantage.

Career fairs offer the opportunity for job seekers and prospective employers to meet one another face to face and discuss vacancies and careers within their companies. Make the most of this opportunity by gathering information and experience and move a step closer to your dream career.

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Joining the Family Business or Working for a Friend

Accepting a job offer from a friend or family member is a difficult decision for some and an exciting opportunity for others. If you are lucky enough to be helped out of unemployment by a business-owning friend or a family business, being grateful is undoubtedly in order. Still, there are some rules to abide by and ideas to contemplate before getting professionally involved with people from your personal life.

Be Sure You Want Their Business

If you didn’t ask for a position in your family or friend’s business, carefully consider whether or not you want to work for this person and their particular business. Do you have the skills and education to successfully take on the position that has been extended to you? Is their business the kind that you would be interested in under normal circumstances and apply to? Don’t feel pressured, either by your lack of employment or by your friend or family member, to accept an offer you don’t really want. A polite, gracious refusal will be best for you both, if this is the case.

Remember Your Roles of Employer and Employee

Upon accepting a job offer, make sure that your friend or family member puts you through the process towards your position the same as any employee. If you are interviewed, it is sure to be the most relaxed interview you’ve ever gone to; unless there is a second interviewer present, in which case you will need to prove yourself to them and show them what it is you have to offer to the business (surely, your friend or family member has put in some good words for you, so this should be a relatively easy task). Ensure that all of your paperwork is signed and that the necessary background information is on file as well. If anything were to go awry, you want to have the same rights as other employees, so safeguard yourself from the start.

Have a Clear Job Description

Many jobs now offer a job description statement on paper. When dealing with friends and family businesses it’s easy for all parties involved to overlook the importance of contracts and paperwork and some are simply uncomfortable with discussing expectations in detail. However, you should know what is expected of you so that you aren’t taken advantage of – purposely or without intent to do so – by friends or family members who assume that you will do more for less simply because of your personal relationship with one another.

A Job is a Job

Speaking of taking advantage, it is just as easy for someone who is employed by a family business or a friend to forget that a job is a job. Whether you mean to or not, you may find yourself acting out in ways you wouldn’t normally. Don’t expect your friend or family member to be anything more than your employer when it comes to their business and your position in it. They may be more flexible and understanding, but don’t expect to be treated differently from other employees. Be punctual, professional in the presence of others, and do your job!

Working for a friend or family business can be fun and beneficial when you play by the rules. Remember the worst thing that could happen isn’t the loss of your job, but the loss of a meaningful personal relationship.

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When you are in a job hunt, everything takes a new degree of urgency. There are many people who are looking for the right job or career now, and everyone knows that the market is more competitive than ever. What can you do to make sure that you are going to be able to move forward and to get the kind of work that you need? When there are so many job seekers out there and when there are so many people out there who are well qualified, you might wonder what you can do stand out. The truth of the matter is that you want to make sure that they notice you, and every little bit helps. Consider what your options are going to be and how you are going to get the results that you need.

If you are in a place where you are looking at getting the results that you are after, you will find that you need to look into how you appear online. Do a quick Google search for your name. How do you turn up and what are your options when it comes to getting started? Remember that you should think about how you present and what your options are going to work out. Take some time and look into what kind of work you are doing and make sure that you are easy to find. Having your own professional web page and being able to move forward; and to make sure that you can get the kind of work that you are interested in will help a great deal.

Also, make sure that you are not trying to be too aggressive. There is a fine line between being confident and being arrogant. This is not to say that you are arrogant, but in your quest to stand out, you might come across as such take some time and look into what your options are and make sure that you think about how you are coming off. Are you ready to move forward and do you love the idea of being about to get the right kind of work available to you? There are so many different options when it comes to presenting yourself and unless you are willing to get the right kind of attention, you are going to be putting yourself at a disadvantage.

If you are in a place where you want to improve your hireability, there are definitely things that you can do. The worst disservice you can do for yourself is to succumb to despair, so see what your needs are and make sure that you are going to be able to meet them. Remember that there are people hiring out there, and in many cases, they are looking for you. This is something that too many people forget.

When you want to get work, it is far from hopeless. Let them know where you are, and you can bet that they are going to be interested. That’s really all it takes, so relax and be ready when your chance comes.

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Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace is still considered one of the most significant problems for many workers in this country. Despite the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, legal firms across the country continue to report clients who approach them for help in resolving problems with their employers due to their pregnancies. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of Law Crossing and author of “The Importance of Fitting In” says discrimination is not something anyone in the workforce should have to “deal with” in order to fit in. Discrimination of any kind is illegal and employees do have legal recourse. In fact, many of the law firms that are a part of the Law Crossing family handle discrimination cases on a daily basis. The number of new lawyers just entering the legal field reveals the importance of eradicating discrimination as a whole in the workforce.

Another problem A. Harrison Barnes says makes the problem even more difficult is so many workers simply don’t know what defines pregnancy discrimination.

Federal guidelines define pregnancy discrimination as:

(1) During an interview, the employer asks a female applicant how many children she has and if she intends to get pregnant again. If she reveals she is currently pregnant, the employer tells her to come back “after she’s had the baby”.

(2) A female worker reveals to her employer she is currently pregnant and then is fired, even if she can continue to work.

(2) A pregnant worker asks management if someone else can lift heavy boxes only to be told her job duties will not change, even if other workers are given additional help for medical reasons.

(3) A pregnant worker is declined when asking for time off for prenatal care such as doctor’s appointments.

Pregnancy discrimination also includes the refusal to hire a pregnant applicant because of the pregnancy, discharging or demoting a pregnant employee, refusal to allow a woman to return to her job after having given birth and unfair treatment during pregnancy when other employees are allowed certain liberties during temporary disabilities.

With so many recently graduated lawyers focusing their talents and education on ensuring the rights of employees, the hope is one day, discrimination of any kind will be a thing of the past. Some of the busiest law firms, unfortunately, in this country are the ones who handle discrimination cases, and each day, Law Crossing puts these lawyers in touch with the law firms that will allow them to move forward in an effort to take on employers who justify discrimination on any level. In an ideal world, discrimination – whether it’s sexual, pregnancy or even racial – simply would not exist; however, reality tells a far different story. This country’s best defense against unfair and illegal treatment is with our educated legal minds who work on a daily basis to eradicate this social problem.

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Bullying isn’t reserved for the playgrounds at recess anymore. Today’s bully is found in many employers each wreaking his own fashion of havoc in the process. Think it’s not a significant problem? Think again – nearly thirteen percent of American employees are being bullied right now. A staggering twenty-four percent of employees report being bullied in the past and twelve percent owned up to witnessing a bully in action while on the time clock.

While it may be the secret of the collective workforce, it doesn’t have to be swept under the rug. A. Harrison Barnes, a renowned career coach and founder of Employment Crossing says it’s up to each of us to take a stand for what is and isn’t acceptable in the workplace. Our careers are our lifelines in many ways. No one should have to pursue their careers with fear or anxiety hanging over our heads. And if you need further persuasion, consider this: it has been suggested that as many as ten percent of adult suicides may be directly linked to trauma suffered due to bullies in the workplace. A. Harrison Barnes says that while commitment to our employers is important, our safety should never take a backseat to anything – including our career pursuits. He says it’s not about being committed to our jobs, but rather, it’s about remaining committed to our own psychological health.

Other statistics are just as alarming:

(1) Targets take bullying for eighteen months before reporting it or filing any kind of complaint with the company’s human resources department.

(2) Nearly twenty percent of victims opt to resign and find employment elsewhere versus reporting the bully.

(3) Bullying is three times as likely to occur than sexual harassment in the workforce.

(4) Bullies often do their damage when there are no witnesses around.

A quick check of many websites of the employers featured on Employment Crossing reveals not only is there a zero tolerance for any kind of discrimination, but employers are extending those zero tolerance policies to any kind of environment that’s not conducive and safe for employees to work in peace.

With so many job layoffs, tensions can obviously run high however, behaviors such as bullying are reprehensible and all too often leave the employer open for litigation. It’s important to note, however, that those being bullied have a responsibility to come forward and report the co-worker. You must be pro-active in your efforts of alerting management. Another important fact is that it’s not personal. Bullies are all about power and they don’t care who they target. Remember, too to remain professional and always try to document any incidents – whether you witness it or find yourself the victim of a bully. Finally, if it is overwhelming and you don’t feel as though your needs are being met, it may be time for a career change. Employment Crossing offers thousands of jobs in real time for job seekers looking for a change in scenery and a better environment to thrive in.

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Your success in life is determined by your job. Getting the right job is very essential for both- your career and your life as a good job affects both these areas significantly. When you have the right job you feel happy with your life, but finding a law job that suits you the best depends on your ability to search for it in the right manner. If you have the capability to search for yourself the perfect job then you have nothing to be unhappy about.

A. Harrison Barnes, the owner of LawCrossing.com has experienced many similar cases, which goes to proves that only a good legal job can keep a law graduate happy and satisfied. It is sad that there are many unemployed people who take drastic steps like suicide as they do not find the right job which they want.

These tragedies are becoming very common and they come from all the different parts of the world. These people are either unemployed or underemployed or are living below their capabilities. LawCrossing.com is one site that will give you relief from your job worries. The website is aimed at helping the unemployed law graduates find suitable legal employment.

Though there are hundreds of job portals available online, A. Harrison Barnes’s Law Crossing.com specializes in legal jobs. It is the best because Barnes believes that people can get better legal jobs than what they are presently working in. He also believes that there are attorney jobs that you could be happier to do and they believe that every unemployed person has a law job opening waiting for him/her. Finding this opening is only possible if you are aware of legal job opportunities which are available in the market.

A. Harrison Barnes says that the website has been designed in such a manner that you find a suitable job without much wait. He believes that everyone deserves the best and thus makes sure that through LawCrossing.Com everyone gets the best. He understands that the job determines how happy you are, how much recognition you get from your employer and also from family and friends. It also determines the life you lead because of the money you earn. Thus, he knows that in order for a person to like their life they have to like their job.

There are thousands of legal jobs available in the market but most people are unaware about it. This is due to the fact that majority of the legal job boards wait for the employers to come up to them to post the job opening. These boards charge a huge amount of fees for posting one single job. This is the reason why many firms do not prefer going to the job boards and instead post them on their own websites as this helps them save money and time. Due to this overcharge on job boards many people lose many law job opportunities. According to A. Harrison Barnes, another reason for this unawareness is that people do not have the knowledge of the entire legal job portal in the business and thus they cannot access all the jobs that are available in these portals.

LawCrossing.Com has the largest database that consists of more than 40,000 hiring contacts. This database is updated on a daily basis from all over the world and this new information in the legal job market is provided to their clients. Since their search is not limited to a particular country, it gives the candidates more opportunities than any other legal job portal. They search jobs from every job board, association website, employer’s website and government website. The main aim of Law Crossing.Com is to provide their clients with the best job that suits their criteria and which is available in the legal job market.

LawCrossing.Com ensures that you are not missing any of the legal jobs that are there in the market by giving you access to all the law jobs, which you haven’t even heard of. Thus, A. Harrison Barnes suggests that everyone should select the best job portal to get fruitful result from their job search. It is in your hand to decide which job portal is best for you and which one can bring happiness to your life.

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When it comes to training employees on new procedures or customer service techniques, some managers, supervisors and trainers find it to be a little difficult. It is not that the employees are not able to learn and put into practice the new career skills that you expect from them. If you want them to accept the same rate of pay for the employment that they already had but with all kinds of new rules and techniques, you have to make sure that you are getting through to them. Depending on the group of people that you are working with, this can prove to be a little difficult. There are things you can do though to make the whole process easier.

First, make sure that you are not wasting money by training on employment skills that are not revelent to the employees. The training that they receive should be geared towards the job that they have. Also, make sure that the objectives you give the employees are measurable and are able to be obtained. If you set standards too high, to where no one can achieve them, you are only asking for the whole process to backfire on you. The job morale will decrease and when that happens productivity is not that far behind.

Try to incorporate the possibility of bonuses, raises or advancements within the company if at all possible. You have to make sure that you give the employees a reason to want to perfect their skills. If you are not willing to fire them because they aren’t the best customer service rep out there, you have to find a way to motivate them. Little things go a long way. Free gas gift cards for top performers are always a great motivation tool. Compared to the amount of money you make because of better employees, the cost of a few gasoline gift cards is certainly worth it.

Make sure that management is fully trained on the skills that you will be training to the staff. There is nothing worse than training employees on something that management does not even know how to do. When the employees leave the training, they still may have questions and will turn to their supervisor or manager for help. If the supervisor or manager is unable to assist, you have just lost all credibility. When this happens, the employees will begin to feel as though the skills you were trying to teach them are really not all that important, after all, management doesn’t even understand it.

Training the employees from time to time on skills that you want them to develop is important. You will have to remember though that you may never have the well-oiled machine of a company that you have always envisions. There are always going to be delays, problems, kinks, and a few employees here and there that make you wonder why you even bother in the first place. This is just part of the routine of running a business and acting as a trainer for a company.

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