The Legal Age to Work in Illinois

The Legal Age to Work in IllinoisThe Legal Age to Work in IllinoisIf youre an Illinoisan whos interested in working, its important to know the minimum legal age you must be to start working in Illinois. If youre eligible to begin working, you must then consider any restrictions you face in the workplace because of your age. The younger you are, the mora restrictions youll likely encounter. Illinois has these guidelines in place to protect children by placing limits on job types and hours worked. How Old Must You Be to Work in Illinois? Child labor laws at the federal level state that individuals wanting to work must attain a minimum age of 14 (with some exceptions). At the state level, child labor laws differ by state. Each state may also indicate its own minimum age to work and which permits the state requires. When a conflict exists between federal and state laws, the more restrictive law will apply. Illinois labor laws state that, like the federal requirement, you generally mu st also be 14 to work, but younger children can work in the state as well. For example, 12- and 13-year-old children can work on farms, with their parents consent. Typically, child labor laws dont apply to jobs such as babysitting, yard work, newspaper delivery, and acting, meaning that pre-teens and children may perform such jobs. Certificates Needed for Young Workers Illinois state law requires kids under age 16 to have a child employment certificate to work. The certificate confirms that the work will not interfere with the childs schooling, that the child has reached the age of at least 14 years, and that the child can physically perform the job duties. Young workers can obtain such certificates at school. The superintendent issues the certificates, and parents and employers both get copies. Also, youth ages 16 to 20 may present an age certificate to employers, but once a child reaches 16, Illinois state law does not require the certificate. Kinds of Jobs Teens Can Have Teens ages 14 and 15 can perform a variety of jobs, including working as clerical workers, cashiers, cooks (in limited capacities), cleaners, kitchen workers, artists, intellectuals, or creatives. However, they may not work jobs that expose them to hazardous materials or in manufacturing or mining. In the summer, teens in this age group can work for longer than they can during the school year. When school isnt in session, they can work any time between 700 a.m. and 900 p.m., but no more than eight hours per day, six consecutive days in a week and 40 hours a week. Teens ages 16 and 17 have more flexibility. But like their younger counterparts, they cant work jobs in hazardous conditions. Mining and manufacturing arent off limits to them, though. Wrapping Up Working offers teens a wide range of benefits. It helps teens to learn the value of money, responsibility, teamwork, punctuality, and much more. Working can also help teens achieve independence. Rather than relying on their pa rents for allowance money, working teens can use their own money to buy clothes, music, concert tickets, and other treats. Teens from low-income families may work to help pay the bills, pay for their college education, books, school supplies, and more. Unfortunately, some teens find themselves in life situations where they must live on their own and work to entirely support themselves. While this isnt ideal, being able to work at a young age can help these teens take care of their own needs and avoid some of the pitfalls others in their predicament have faced. For more information on the minimum age to work in Illinois and how to obtain employment certificates, visit the Illinois State Labor Website.

Federal Reserve Employees are ghosting their supervisors

Federal Reserve Employees are ghosting their supervisorsFederal Reserve Employees are ghosting their supervisorsThe trend is all too familiar. You meet someone. You have a good rapport, and you think theres something there - respect, or at least connection.But then, suddenly, theyve disappeared. Your texts and emails go unanswered. Your attempt at cyber-stalking is to no avail. Poof Theyre gone forever.This annoying magic trick, commonly known as ghosting, is usually associated with modern dating culture. As people become more callous and less confrontational, theyre deciding to just fade into the night, never to be seen or heard from again. Its a nasty habit that almost everyone whos been recently single has experienced, and it marks a strict departure from the civil its not you, its me conversations we once had.Now, it seems our personal behaviors are leaking into our professional lives. bedrngnis only are job applicants not showing up for interviews, but actual employees have tak en to ghosting their bosses at work. This bizarre phenomenon is so prevalent that its earned a reference in the Federal Reserves Beige Book this year.A number of contacts said that they had been ghosted, a situation in which a worker stops coming to work without notice and then is impossible to contact, the entry reads.That means that, instead of giving two weeks notice and a reason for leaving, employees have decided to make their superiors deduce that theyre not returning to work through unexplained absence after absence. This sounds like an HR nightmare, with no exit interview, lack of clarity on when to cut off pay, and no time to refill positions.So why are workers ghosting their companies?Because they canThe little evidence we have on professional ghosting seems to indicate that people are doing it simply because its possible. In this economy, even if one employer marks your name with a big red ex, there are many more looking to hire who will take your application with open ar ms. So why not ghost when its so easy to do?Well, partly because it hurts your reputation. But its also not very professional. Just as we dont like to be ghosted in dating culture, employers dont like to unknowingly lose their workers. Theres no need for an elaborate breakup speech in fact, its better to keep the drama at bay. But do at least have the decency to quit.Employers ghost, tooIts important to note that employees arent the only ones ghosting. Employersand recruiters have a bad habit of ignoring people after an interview, and that leads to a lot of follow-ups and lack of transparency. Only 2% of Fortune 500 companies get back to potential candidates about their application, which means that 98% are ghosting the people who want to work for them.So maybe companies had a little bit of karmic blowback coming. Still, its crazy to think Joe from accounting may just not show up tomorrow.

How to Figure Out What to Include in a Cover Letter

How to Figure Out What to Include in a Cover LetterHow to Figure Out What to Include in a Cover Letter2Writing a titelseite letter can be daunting to even the most prolific of wordsmiths. Its difficult to know what you should say, what you should stay away from, and just how long it should really be. Dont let your cover letter come between you and the job of your dreams, though Heres how to figure out what to include in a cover letter, once and for all.What to include in a cover letter (and what to leave out)Dont repeat your resume.If you thought you could just copy and paste your resume onto your cover letter (and add in some filler words for effect), think again. Your cover letter is basically your elevator pitch on a page. As such, youll need to ditch the idea of having it be a longer version of your resume. This is your chance to tell your story.Make the connection.Hiring managers are busy. They dont have the time to read a lengthy cover letter to determine if they should contact you for an interview. So make it easier on them by showing how youre a perfect fit for the job. How? By going through the job description and then showing specific instances of how you possess those skills and work experiences theyre looking for. It not only shows that you read the job description thoroughly, but that you are able to connect the dots and position yourself as the perfect candidate for the position.Show off your soft skills.Theres really not a great place on your resume to highlight all of your soft skills. But if youre looking for a remote or telecommuting job, youre going to absolutely need to include them (i.e., your strong communication skills, your ability to problem-solve and self-manage, etc.) in your cover letter. Even if you dont have previous remote work experience, talk about how youve solved tech issues in the past, or your superior collaboration skills while working on a team. That can convey to an employer that you would be able to handle working in a r emote environment.Focus on them.Your cover letter isnt really all about you. In essence, your cover letter is a means for you to show an employer how you can help them if hired. Thats why its important to show an understanding of the companys current situation, and expand upon how youd improve it.For example, if the companys website is a slightly out of date (and perhaps youre applying for a web designer position), you might point out some of the sites problems- and how you could fix them using all of your past experience. That way, you are communicating your passion about the position, but showing them how much of an asset youd be to their organization.Offer examples.Employers enjoy facts and figures, and the more of them you can include in your cover letter, the better. Dont just state that you ran a team write down the successes your team achieved. If you hit some huge numbers during Q3, include those as well. That said, only you know your industry. If you feel that your figures wont fly by a potential employer, it might be better to not include them, since it could actually harm you rather than help you.Put your personality out there.Resumes tend to be cut and dry. Theres a formula you have to follow, and all you have to do is plug in info here and there. Heck, you cant even choose fun fonts because they might not be able to be read by the ATS (Applicant Tracking System). leid so with a cover letter. After all, you dont want your cover letter to sound like a robot wrote it, so be sure to infuse a little bit of your personality into your paragraphs. Just be sure to still maintain your professionalism while allowing your reader to get a sense of who you really are- and why you deserve a job interview.Ready to start your job search?Browse Open Flexible Jobs