It may not be the most glamorous field, but janitorial and cleaning are essential services that are always needed by businesses and homeowners, even when the economy is in a downturn. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts steady growth for janitorial opportunities over the next 10 years. In this volume, readers will learn practical information that will help them pursue and secure a custodial job, such as obtaining certification and questions to ask in an interview. In addition, the book addresses the different tasks janitors are responsible for, and current advances in the industry, like environmentally friendly cleaning practices and sophisticated machinery.

If it can get dirty, chances are people will pay to have it cleaned. Houses, carpets, upholstery, windows . . . the list goes on and on. A vast majority of dual-income families use cleaning services, creating a huge market for cleaning service startups. Updated with the latest industry and market information, including the impact of technology and new specialty niches, this new edition provides eager entrepreneurs with all the information they need to become a squeaky-clean success. The experts at Entrepreneur share everything aspiring entrepreneurs need to know to start three of the most in-demand cleaning businesses: residential maid service, commercial janitorial service, and carpet/upholstery cleaning. Included are current statistics and trend forecasts, the ins and outs of finding customers, new ideas for hiring and training employees, up-to-date legal, tax, and insurance requirements, tips on avoiding common pitfalls, and surefire tips for growing a business. Other support includes answers to frequently asked questions and access to an appendix of additional resources and checklists to guide readers through each step of the startup process.

Keeping your job is job one. In these uncertain economic times, secure employment is more important than ever. 'The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Recession-Proof Careers', presents all of the information needed to make an informed decision about choosing a career that ensures your continued employability. - Wide range of career fields presents a plethora of ideas for career paths - Each career is described in detail so that the reader has a clear picture of the job requirements, salary, and experience and schooling needed - Handy appendices outline the best careers by growth, salary, and geography as well as resources for job sites, fairs and organizations

From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together

This resource provides information for tech-savvy readers about the ins-and-outs of customer service and technical support, including education requirements, job duties and skills, and how to get started in these fields. This practical guide reveals the best educational and experiential paths to a career and emphasizes the importance of professional networking. It also delves into the statistics most relevant to job-seekers in these fields, examining what the career market looks like long-term and what job-seekers must do to land the career that they want.

Even in challenging economic times, the hospitality industry is one career field that has consistently proven itself to hold out against difficult financial circumstances. Hundreds of thousands of new job posts are added each year to the already over twelve million people working in the events, food, lodging, and tourism industries. In these pages, exciting work opportunities in these four subcategories of the hospitality field are served up with a smile, giving readers practical steps to finding and excelling in their dream job as a chef, an event coordinator, a museum guide, or in one of the many other exciting jobs explored here.