Thinking of Becoming a Spy?
 Last month my family and I visited the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. If you're ever in the DC area, I recommend you go. It was a fun and educational way to spend a few hours. Interesting facts about spying were displayed on panels in the museum 's lobby. The one that jumped out at me, of course, had to do with careers. It stated that prior to September 11, 2001, an average of 110 people per day applied for jobs with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Six days after that terrible day, on September 17, 1,100 people applied to the CIA. That is an incredible increase, but I was just astounded to see the original figure of 110 applicants. It got me thinking about spying careers.
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Verbal Tics
As I waited on line at the deli this afternoon I counted the number of times the high school student ahead of me said the word "like." "Do you like have potato salad? How much does it like cost? Can I have like $2 worth?" Just a few days earlier, as my husband, teenage daughter and I were driving around town, he cracked a joke about two teen girls who were crossing the street in front of us: "How many times do you think they are saying the word like?" he asked us. I thought it was funny. Our daughter didn't quite get the humor. I can only guess why that might be.
We all are guilty of "verbal tics." Some of us use the word "like" excessively, while others (I'm guilty of this one) say "um" to fill the empty space as we try to come up with the next thing to say. Then there are those who say "you know" at the end of every sentence. I called a small business the other day and the owner's message went something like this: "You've reached the XYZ Company? I'm not here right now? If you leave your name and number, I'll can you back?" Why all the questions? Was she unsure of her company's name, whether or not she was there, and if she would call me back? I've been noticing this particular verbal tic—making every statement sound like a question—for the past few years.
The way we speak says a lot about us. Using the word "like," for example, makes me think I'm talking to a teenager ... in the mid-1980s ... in the Valley. I try to keep myself from saying "um." I think it makes me sound like I don't know what to say next, when I'm really just trying to find the best way to say it. It's better for there to be a microsecond of silence while I collect my thoughts. And as for turning every sentence into a question, unfortunately it makes the speaker sound less than confident of what they are saying.
Do you have any verbal tics? Please share them by commenting below.
Weekly Career Profile: Physical Therapist
 Physical therapists treat patients who have problems with mobility or pain. Among their patients are accident victims and people who have arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries and cerebral palsy.
To become a physical therapist, one must earn a master's degree from a physical therapy education program and pass both state and national licensing exams. This field has an excellent job outlook. Employment will grow much faster, through 2020, than it will for other occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition).
If you think you might be interested in this occupation, you should learn more about it. Read Physical Therapist: Career Information. This article will give you basic details about this occupation, including information about earnings, educational requirements and advancement opportunities. Next, read a firsthand account of life as a physical therapist. It will help you discover more about this occupation than a written description can provide. Finally, take the Should You Become a physical therapist? quiz to help you decide if this career is a good fit for you.
More: Other Physical Therapy Careers
Image Copyright US Department of Health and Human Services
Evaluating a Job Offer
When you've spent a long time looking for a job, you might be tempted to accept the first offer you get. While that's an understandable reaction, it's not a good idea. You must first decide if the job you've been offered is right for you. It is better to have to keep looking—particularly since you have some momentum going— than it is to start your search all over again if, after a few months, you decide that the job wasn't a good fit after all.
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Asking for a Raise: How to Approach Your Boss
 When I learned that someone I know asked his boss for a raise by explaining that he had a large mortgage on his house and a lot of other bills to pay, I cringed. I can't stress enough how that was absolutely the wrong approach to take. Your mortgage and your bills aren't your boss's concern and you should not bring that up when you are negotiating your salary. It's not about needing or wanting a raise. It's about deserving one because of what you are contributing to your employer's bottom line. You earn your salary, your employer doesn't give it to you. Your salary should be based on what you do for the company and what you bring to the table.
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