Should you refinance your mortgage?

Nemoianu suggests that "Spelling reformers should be patient and realize that such changes are gradual. After all, the United States hasn't fully adopted the metric system yet even though adherents have been campaigning for its use for years."

IS IT TIME TO

SWITCH CAREERS?

Employees dissatisfied with their jobs may wonder whether to switch their place of employment or investigate a new field. Department of Labor studies estimate that many Americans change careers up to four times during their working years.

Before workers make such important and often expensive decisions, Alan Goodman, a career-development expert at The Catholic University of America, recommends they ask themselves the following questions:

* Are you unhappy just with this job, organization, boss, or co-workers, or do you think there's no future in the field you're in?

* What are your reasons for working, other than economic?

* Do you want your work to fulfill your inner values of what's important? Have those values changed since you joined the labor force?

Some people achieve balance in their lives by supplementing a less-than-ideal profession with hobbies or volunteer activities. Others feel their jobs should meet their inner needs for creativity, altruism, or fellowship.

Many potential career-switchers never thought about why they selected their first field, Goodman maintains. "Young people in high school or college may be steered by family members or teachers to pursue paths that turn out to be unfulfilling in the long run." Careers and work mean different things to different people at various life stages, he says. "A 21 year-old on the brink of a marketing career might view work as an upwardly spiraling progression from junior executive to vice president."

A younger person joining the full-time workforce may value perks like travel and company cars. A decade later, the same employee with a family and mortgage may seek interesting, dependable work with flexible hours and benefit plans. Middle-aged employees may opt for positions that let them work from home or create a virtual workplace" from distant locations while enjoying life in a year-round resort setting.

LAUGH YOUR WAY TO

BUSINESS SUCCESS

Apparently, climbing the corporate ladder is a laughing matter, according to top executives. More than 90% of respondents to a survey developed by Accountemps, a national temporary staffing service for accounting, finance, and bookkeeping, said they believe a good sense of humor is key for advancement.

"A good sense of humor helps build personal rapport and a greater spirit of cooperation," points out Max Messmer, Accountemps' chairman. "When the pressure mounts and deadlines loom, humor helps diffuse tension. Individuals with a healthy sense of humor tend to work well with others - a critical management skill."

He does not advise taking notes during slapstick comedies, though. "A sense of humor must be appropriate for the professional setting of an office. Low-key and understated humor works best. Practical jokes and wisecracks won't take you very far, and will only harm your chances for career advancement."

COPYRIGHT 1996 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning