Best Countries to Live and Work in 2012

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Or so they say.

I suppose it depends on specific circumstances, and when it comes to working and living in another country, the grass could definitely be greener. If you think about it, someone living in a developing country on minimum wage cannot be blamed for thinking that life in a developed country would be so much better. American dream and all.

Of course, there are so many factors to consider. The disadvantages may outweigh the benefits, but at the end of the day, there are countries which offer so much more than others.

If you are thinking of making a big move – literally – this year, I suggest that you take a close look at this infographic created by Infographics Lab. Titled “Top 10 Best Countries to Live & Work In – 2012”, the infographic has taken into account the results of a survey conducted among expats. Thus, the information presented is actually the collective perception of people who are actually working and living in countries other than their own.

Which countries made it to the list? Here they are.

  1. Singapore. This country dash city ranks best in the high quality of healthcare. Not only that, it also at the top because of access to healthcare. That’s something not a lot of countries can attest to!
  2. Hong Kong. If you’ve got children, then Hong Kong ought to be on your list. Its the best in childcare and child safety. Oh, and its number one in commuting as well.
  3. UAE. This country is for those who are into cars and high quality accommodations. I am not too sure about the status of women, though.
  4. Mexico. Sun. Lots of sun. Need I say more?
  5. Australia. Think about social integration and work culture. The Land Down Under is best when it comes to these points.
  6. USA. You can say all you want about this country, but it still has a lot to offer it seems. I totally believe that it is number one in entertainment!
  7. France. Healthy food, health care, and raising children. If these are your priorities, France it should be. I am just thinking of all the wine!
  8. China. Parents who believe their children shouldn’t be watching too much TV should consider China.
  9. The Netherlands. Work/life balance in this country tops everything else. I think that is more than enough reason to move.
  10. United Kingdom. This country ranks highly in welcoming work environments and for using/learning local language.

The positive things being outlined, you also need to take a look at the cost of living in the mentioned countries. Singapore is very high up that list, while the Netherlands is rather low. Check out the whole infographic to help you decide better.

Mercedes is a travel blogger who has an English Studies background. She is one of the newest writers for infographicslab.com.

Jobs that Could Kill You

Killer Jobs

One of the most dangerous jobs you could ever do is becoming a stunt person. Their job is always understated because the viewer of a movie never pays attention to what goes in to producing certain dangerous scenes. The actors and actresses usually don’t perform those highly dangerous stunts, instead they hire someone to do it for them. Some of the job requirements include flying a jet, jumping off a building, and driving a car over an open bridge.

Any action movie you see will have someone doing all of the stunts. Many stunt people have died performing the stunts, which is surprising why this job is never mentioned as being one of the most deadliest. I realize construction workers have it rough but stunt people literally go to work everyday risking their lives. One incorrect step or one technical mishap could easily result in the stunt person losing their life, and that makes their job one of the deadliest.

Source: www.becomecareer.com

The Walking Debt: The Student Loan Problem

In a survey of young people in today’s economy, 79% believe that a college education is a vital factor in their future. With this many people planning on attending college, and that number likely to increase, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the availability of careers upon graduating will increase as well. Unemployment rate for recent graduates has reached 9.1%, the highest rate in recent history. The fact of the matter is, whether these people are able to secure a career or not, the debt accumulated while in college will be present either way. The majority of this debt is from student loans, with only an astounding 21% of students graduating with a manageable amount of student loan debt. This has led to 8.8% of 2-year cohort students defaulting on their loans at the end of 2010 (over 320,000 people). Financial Aid options, such as the Pell Grant, offer money to low income students, but politicians today are even looking to lower these grant amounts to reduce the U.S. deficit.

From: topcollegesonline.org

Occupational Therapists 101

occupational therapist infographic

Source: Interfysio helps internationals find certified occupational therapist assistant jobs in New York City.

Infographic: 8 Humorous Drawbacks To Working In A Cubicle

Does anyone know exactly who determined the height of cubicle walls?

The guy either had to be so short he thought it was high enough for real privacy or tall enough to be able to easily snoop on everyone else in the office.

Every employee who has toiled away inside these cloth-covered cubicle walls can relate to these 8 drawbacks, and most probably have a few favorites that we somehow left off the list.

Of course, cubicles don’t necessarily have to make bad working environments. Surrounded by a good team of creative people in an office that encourages and rewards hard work and accomplishments, the lack of electrical outlets doesn’t seem so bad, usually.

And there are ways to combat the most annoying aspects of cubicle life. Take number 7, for example. Why not rearrange your “furniture”—and I use that term in only the most general sense—so that your back isn’t to the door, er, I mean opening?

So, as you have a laugh or two at the expense of whoever designed your office, remember why you decided to pursue this career in the first place…even it was because you had to find a way to eat.

EQA Office Furniture offers free 3D design services to help companies go beyond the traditional office cubicle layout.

Most Popular Job Search Keywords Infographic

We have been digging through some data lately, and I saw a bunch of numbers that I thought might be helpful for job seekers and employers alike.

People often ask me when making their resume if they should include specific keywords, and if that would help get their resume noticed.  The answer is obviously yes, as sites like ResumeBucket use keyword based search algorithms to match employers search queries with appropriate resumes.

With that in mind, here is a fun graphic showing our data for most popular job search keywords.

Most Popular Job Searches Keywords

Feel free to share this graphic on your own site, and hopefully give us some credit as the source.