NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR OTHER PEOPLE

It'always fun to pretend you could give someone else a New Year's Resolution! Some said "I wish my sister-in-law would stop diagnosing herself on the internet", "I wish my friends would figure out how to be happy together!"

JOBS FOR 2010!

Having trouble at your gig?! Try one of these:

1. Tax accountant. For tax accountants with two to three years of big-company experience, and a track record of achieving sizable tax savings, starting salaries average $46,500 to $61,500.

2. Compliance director. New regulations and accounting rules are creating demand for compliance experts, who, even at small companies, can command starting pay of $83,750 to $108,500.

3. Credit manager/supervisor. Credit specialists, who can evaluate credit risk, manage delinquent accounts, and help improve cash flow, earn starting pay averaging between $42,500 and $57,500.

4. Senior financial analyst. Finance mavens skilled at finding ways to boost profitability start at $57,750 to $74,000.

In information technology, where pay has been even flatter than elsewhere lately, starting salaries in three areas are nevertheless on the rise:

1. Network administrator. Cloud computing, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and software as a service (SaaS) have made this role more complex and demanding lately. Starting pay: $54,500 to $80,250.

2. Information systems security manager. Protecting company data is more challenging all the time. Starting salaries range from $96,500 to $130,750.

3. Systems engineer. People who can help employers build and maintain tech support for a variety of new projects start at $64,250 to $93,250.

Administrative employees who can "multitask within teams that have been stretched thin" are in big demand, Robert Half's report says. Three jobs where pay will be rising in 2010:

1. Medical records clerk. Largely because of the complexities of transferring huge volumes of medical records online, skilled clerks' pay will start at $31,500.

2. Customer service representative. A 2009 study by Robert Half and CareerBuilder found that hiring managers consider customer service "most critical" to their companies' survival in this economy. Starting pay: $22,750 to $30,750.

3. Executive assistant. The ability to "wear many hats, support multiple managers, and adapt readily to change," the Robert Half salary survey says, will put 2010 starting pay at $35,000 to $47,000.

ANNOYING VIDEO OF THE DAY!