10 Good Reasons to Hire Veterans














Surprising Jobs That Have Been Around Since 1850

Back in the 1960’s or early 1970’s you might have met someone who worked as a Key Punch Operator.  My sister in law was one of them.   But she might have trouble finding stable work in that field today since computers no longer use punched cards.

There are, however, plenty of jobs that have passed the test of time, surviving tidal waves of economic change. In some ways, consumers have become nostalgic for ways of the past. Just take a look around the urban landscape of our major cities.   The artistic vibe is a throwback to the 19th century, with a culture that supports homegrown, hand-crafted, limited-edition products.  Whether it’s 1850 or 2013, this scene shows that there will always be a place for certain niche occupations.

To find the jobs that have survived for more than a century, we combed through the U.S. Census of 1850, which is the first year the government-collected data on what Americans do for work.  We then compared it to today’s Census list of the Standard Occupational Classifications, which is revised every decade and identifies 31,000 occupations in America.  Several jobs make the cut.  While some have shown predictable stability — dentists, bankers, engineers — others are more unexpected. Here are nine surprising jobs that have been around since 1850:

1. Armorers: In the past, an armorer was someone who made personal armor. Today, it is someone who maintains and repairs small arms and weapons in the military or police force.

2. Charcoal burners (2012 median annual pay is $35,530): Someone who makes charcoal.

3. Cotton ginners (2010 median annual pay is $18,970): An agriculture worker whose job consists of operating machinery and doing physical labor to produce cotton.

4. Cordwainers (2012 median annual pay is $24,310): A worker who operates and tends machines used in the production of shoeware.

5. Cork cutters (2012 median annual pay is $31,430): Someone who operates cutting machines to cut roles or slices of materials.

6. Enamellers: An artist who uses enamel paint to make jewelry and other decorative pieces.

7. Gold beaters: Someone who hammers sheets of gold into gold leaf.

8. Map makers (2010 median annual pay is $37,900): A technician that assists surveyors and cartographers in collecting data and making maps.

9. Riggers (2012 median annual pay is $42,660): A person that specializes in lifting and moving heavy objects with a crane or derrick.

Now this doesn’t mean we think you should actively consider a career as a Charcoal Burner or Cordwainer. But if you get a shot at being a Gold Beater, that might be something to look into.


10 Things Super Successful People Do During Lunch

Before you spend another lunch scarfing down food at your desk with your eyes glued to your computer screen, here’s some food for thought.

Lunch breaks can be important opportunities to recharge, find creative inspiration and make business connections, according to many experts. Research suggests that certain lunch activities can make you more productive — and many successful people agree.



Here are ten things super successful people do during lunch:



3. They exercise. Steve Cooper, editor-in-chief of Hitched Magazine, says he runs during his lunch break every day. “The sweat, the fatigue, the endorphin rush all give me a boost in the afternoon and into the evening,” he writes in a column on Forbes. “It sounds counterintuitive, but after my runs I have more energy for the rest of the day and my mind is again sharp and ready to tackle any task.”

4. They read. “[Take] in as much information as possible throughout the day—reading magazines, watching films,” says advertising executive Tor Myhren. The man behind the E-Trade talking babies campaign adds that “all that information in your brain” creates an “inspiration overload.” Lunch could be just the opportunity you need to get your creative juices flowing.


6. But they don’t over-eat. NPR points out that over-eating can cause your body to produce too much insulin, which lowers blood sugar and can make you tired or even depressed. The phenomenon is popularly known as a “food coma,” and it makes getting back to work more challenging than it has to be.

7. They grab lunch with friends or colleagues. “Lunch is an excellent time to continue to build relationships and network with others,” career coach Anita Attridge tells Forbes. Bradford Shellhammer, the co-founder of Fab.com, agrees that you should never eat lunch by yourself. “Food is also social to me, so I’d never want to check out and eat alone,” he explains to Entrepreneur Magazine.

8. Sometimes, they even do lunch with enemies! Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic, tells the Wall Street Journal lunch can be a chance to bridge the gap with a rival. “Years ago British Airways went to extraordinary lengths to put us out of business,” he said. “After the court case, I rang up Sir Colin Marshall, who ran [British Airways], and said, ‘would you like to come out for lunch?’ … We had a delightful lunch at my house in London and became friends and buried the hatchet.”

9. They listen to music. Listening to music is a great way to blow off steam during your lunch break because it provides what the Mayo Clinic calls a “mental distraction.” The result: reduced muscle tension and decreased stress levels.

10. They take naps. Research suggests that daytime naps improve cognitive performance, The New York Times notes. That could be why Arianna Huffington created nap rooms at The Huffington Post. “Ultimately, at work, the most important thing is our energy,” she says in an interview with Business Insider. “It’s not exactly how many hours we are sitting at our desks, but how present are we when we’re there.”