Chefs usually work in restaurants and other food services establishments. Some chefs are entrepreneurs who work as personal chefs. Chefs create recipes, measure, mix, and cook ingredients according to recipes and direct the work of other kitchen workers. They can receive their training in high school or through vocational programs, but those who aspire to be executive chefs must complete a formal training program.

Now comes the opportunity to learn more about becoming a chef. First you should obtain more facts about this occupation. Get detailed job descriptions and information on compensation and job outlook in Culinary Careers: Chef, Cook, Food Preparation Worker. If you want a first-hand account of a day in the life of a personal chef, take a few minutes to watch this video. Finally, if you are are considering whether to pursue a career as a chef, the Should You Become a Chef? quiz can help you find out if you have the characteristics necessary to succeed in this career.

According to CBS News, the November jobs report showed that the number of temp jobs in the professional and business services sector have "risen for the fourth straight month" (Could Temp Solution Signal Jobs Recovery? ). The article goes on to quote David Wyss, chief economist for Standard & Poor's, who said "temp work doesn't peak during the recession; temp work usually peaks at the beginning of a recovery."

Regardless of whether temp work is good for the economy, it could be good for you if you are currently seeking employment. While some temporary workers hope to turn their assignments into full time jobs, others enjoy temping for what it is. Those who don't want to be tied down to one job find that temping is a good option as do people who want a flexible schedule. Temping is also a good way to gain experience and learn new skills. Want to know more about temping? Read Is a Temp Job the Right Alternative for You?

I wish I had some good office party stories to share with you, but I don't. Nothing of great interest ever happened at any I attended. My first job was at a tiny advertising agency and our holiday party consisted of the ten or so of us who worked there sitting around a table having lunch. When I worked at a public library all I remember is that our parties were very noisy, but that's only because everyone was talking at the same time and usually laughing hysterically. Don't believe the stereotypes about librarians — they can be quite rambunctious. Still, nothing untoward went on.

Oh, if only I had a story like Suzanne's. Let's just say it involved a conference room and two employees in a compromising position. Do you have any holiday party stories you'd like to share? Don't name names, but if you do, I'll change them to protect the ... er ... innocent. It's simple. All you have to do is Fill out the form.

Top 10 Office Party Don'ts

Every Wednesday, beginning today, I will feature a different career profile in this space. This will give you the opportunity to learn about careers you may not have thought about before. Perhaps you will come across one that peaks your interest. If so, you will be directed to resources to help you learn more about that career and whether it could be a good choice for you.

We'll begin this series of career profiles with sort of a twofer — Writer / Editor. These two occupations are closely related to one another. Writers produce content for print and online media. Editors evaluate and select content for publication. Writers use the written word to express ideas and convey information. They create written works such as prose, poetry and plays. Some writers prepare advertising copy. Editors review, rewrite and edit the work of writers. They offer comments to improve a writer's work. Some editors review book proposals and decide whether to buy the publication rights. Both writers and editors are often required to have bachelor's degrees in communications, English or journalism.

Now comes the opportunity to learn more about becoming a writer or an editor. First you should obtain more facts about these occupations. Get detailed job descriptions and information on compensation and job outlook in Writer and Editor: Career Information. Next, learn about the real life of writers and editors by taking a look at these Real Career Stories contributed by a few of our readers who work in the field. Finally, if you are are considering whether to pursue a career as a writer or an editor, the Should You Become a Writer? and Should You Become an Editor? quizzes can help you find out if you have the characteristics necessary to succeed in these jobs.