02:49 PM EDT on Monday, July 24, 2006

By EDWARD M. MAZZE
Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration University of Rhode Island

AUGUST 2006

1. With the debate going on about a new casino in Rhode Island, are there going to be high paying jobs coming with the casino?

A casino in Rhode Island will bring four types of jobs. First, legal, architectural, construction and marketing jobs will come before and during the construction of the facility. Many of the jobs will require a college degree and/or special training in the construction trades. Starting salaries will be over $50,000 a year. New hires will include recent college graduates and individuals moving to Rhode Island. Second, will be casino based jobs in the hotel and meeting event area, in retail stores, in the restaurants and in the areas required to operate the facility on a day to day basis. These jobs will require individuals with different levels of education and experience. They will not be at a minimum wage level and will provide fringe benefits. The salaries of senior level management positions will be more than $100,000 a year and will offer performance based incentives. The salary range of other jobs with fringe benefits will range from $25,000 to $100,000 a year. The employees will come from existing jobs in Rhode Island. Many employees will go through extensive company training. The third type of jobs will be local and regional industries that support the casino. These jobs will be in accounting, food services, information technology, printing, graphic arts, advertising and businesses that sell to the casino. And fourth, will be jobs supporting the employees working for the casino and businesses from which the casino purchases its products and services. Every job will create additional tax revenue for the state along with corporate taxes generated by the casino and the businesses that support casino operations.

2. How important is a two year college degree in getting a job?

A two year college degree differentiates you from job applicants who have no college degree. The degree is required for entering many administrative and technical careers which call for training taught at programs offered by two year colleges. The degree is a good indication of your ability to begin and complete a career education program. Moreover, many of the courses completed at two year colleges may be transferred to a four year degree program. A two year program is focused to give you the knowledge needed to start a career in a particular field with little or no additional training needed. The faculty in these programs bring a strong educational background and hands-on business experience to the classroom. The faculty are in contact with industries so they can bring state of the art information to the classroom. The industries that hire graduates of these institutions include construction, hospitality, health sciences, printing, graphic arts, security and technology.

3. 3. In seeking a job, should I use an employment agency to help me?

Employment agencies play an important role in matching individual skills with job opportunities. Agencies are often used for senior level management positions and for positions in law, medicine, education and in those positions where individuals are difficult to recruit and have specialized training and knowledge. For higher level positions, the fee is paid by the employer and is generally one-third of the salary. Many employment agencies have access to applicants as a result of individuals submitting their resumes directly to them and through other sources. The employment agency does more than  match individuals with jobs – they play a role in helping the job candidate develop  his/her resume and  participate in negotiations relating to salary, fringe and special benefits, and work conditions. For entry level and middle-management jobs, employment agencies are helpful as long as you understand what your financial responsibilities are to the agency if they secure a job for you. In most cases you should not have to pay a fee for their services if they were retained by a potential employer. Some employment agencies charge a fee for helping an applicant write a resume or provide job counseling. An employment agency can be used when all other options have been tried. Remember, many companies list job openings with their state employment offices. Be sure to contact these departments before using an employment agency.

 What are the “hidden sources” of job opportunities?

Many job opportunities are not advertised because they are filled internally or by individuals aware of the jobs through sources such as the company’s web page, personal network systems, career placement services at universities and state employment services. After these sources are exhausted the company advertises the job or uses employment agencies. Staying in touch with an organization and networking are the best sources of learning about job opportunities. By reading the business section of the daily newspaper, you learn of new companies coming to Rhode Island or companies that are expanding their Rhode Island operations. Contact these companies before they advertise in the newspaper.

In my job, how do I know if I am being paid a market salary?

This question is often asked when an individual is looking for a pay raise or job opportunities. There are many sources of information about salaries.  Information is collected and reported by the United States Department of Labor, state employment services, local newspapers, internet job sources such as monster.com and the business press. Remember a market salary does not mean you are receiving competitive fringe benefits, have opportunities for advancement or have the best working conditions. Salary is one part of a job offer.