According to MSNMoney, LinkedIn could be in trouble.
Facebook, with the enthusiastic backing of the Department of Labor, just revealed a new job-board application to help many of the social network's one-billion-plus users get back to work.
The platform -- which partners with Monster.com, BranchOut, and Work4 Labs, among others -- aggregates 1.7 million openings from recruiters, allowing job-hunters to sift through listings by location, industry, and skill, or share job openings through their network.
Facebook insists that it's not entering the recruiting industry, a statement that "appears far-fetched given the capability of the application," says J.J. Colao at Forbes.
And of course, Facebook's expansion could spell bad news for LinkedIn, a site for professionals that, with 187 million users, has apparently faced some growth concerns from investors.
Will Facebook's job board kill LinkedIn?
Read the entire story here: http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=48cc8bfb-1c2e-4d91-8a36-34c408645264
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Is the Economy Growing or Just "Treading Water"?
1
Hiring slowed dramatically in March, clouding optimism about the strength of the recovery, according to Annalyn Censky of CNN Money.
Employers added 120,000 jobs in the month, the Labor Department reported Friday, falling far short of economists' expectations.
The number marked a significant slowdown in hiring from February, when the economy added 240,000 jobs.
"It's discouraging that job growth was half of what it had been the previous month," said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.
Job growth of around 120,000 is just about enough to keep up with population growth, and is therefore more like "treading water" than a major improvement, Owens said.
"It's a reminder that the U.S. recovery is not suddenly going to transform into a spectacular success, particularly not at a time when the rest of the world economy is stumbling," Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist of Capital Economics said in a note.
The hardest hit industry was retail, which lost 33,800 jobs, mostly at department stores.
On the positive side, manufacturers created 37,000 jobs, professional services created 31,000 jobs, and health care added 26,000 jobs.
To view the entire article, click here: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/06/news/economy/jobs-report-unemployment/?hpt=hp_t3
1
The U.S. lost 4.3 million jobs in President Obama's first 13 months in office and has stumbled to recover.
Hiring slowed dramatically in March, clouding optimism about the strength of the recovery, according to Annalyn Censky of CNN Money.
Employers added 120,000 jobs in the month, the Labor Department reported Friday, falling far short of economists' expectations.
The number marked a significant slowdown in hiring from February, when the economy added 240,000 jobs.
"It's discouraging that job growth was half of what it had been the previous month," said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.
Job growth of around 120,000 is just about enough to keep up with population growth, and is therefore more like "treading water" than a major improvement, Owens said.
"It's a reminder that the U.S. recovery is not suddenly going to transform into a spectacular success, particularly not at a time when the rest of the world economy is stumbling," Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist of Capital Economics said in a note.
The hardest hit industry was retail, which lost 33,800 jobs, mostly at department stores.
On the positive side, manufacturers created 37,000 jobs, professional services created 31,000 jobs, and health care added 26,000 jobs.
To view the entire article, click here: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/06/news/economy/jobs-report-unemployment/?hpt=hp_t3
1
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Are We Starting to See Subliminal Discrimination by Hiring Managers?
1
Few job seekers who fail to get an interview know the reason, but Michelle Chesney-Offutt said a recruiter told her why she lost the chance to pitch for an information technology position.
The 54-year-old, who had been laid off from her IT job in Illinois, said the recruiter who responded to her online resume two years ago liked her qualifications and was set to schedule an interview. But he backed away, she said, when he learned she had been out of work for 13 months.
The employer he represented would not consider applicants who were unemployed more than six months, she said.
“What they don’t consider is that these are not normal times,” said Chesney-Offutt, who was unemployed for nearly three years before landing a job.
Stephen Singer of RJG.com reports, as high unemployment persists more than four years after the start of the recession — and nearly three years after it was officially declared over — many who have struggled for years without work said they face discrimination.
As of January, California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee were considering legislation to prohibit employers from discriminating against the unemployed in help-wanted ads or in direct hiring or in screenings by employment agencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“There’s much more subliminal discrimination against the unemployed that’s hard to document,” said Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration. “Hiring is an art, not a science. You rely on a gut reaction.”
For example, employers may suspect that an unemployed applicant is seeking an available job for the wrong reasons, she said.
“A manager is going to get the vibe that they’ll take anything to get a job and if something better comes along they’re out the door,” Sarikas said.
Also, some long-term unemployed applicants may come across as too urgent for work, “and desperation doesn’t translate well in an interview,” she said.
Employers generally expect job candidates — even while unemployed — to show they did some work such as volunteering or working temporary jobs, she said.
Terri Michaels, who manages a Hartford employment firm that primarily staffs temporary employees, criticized hiring practices that screen out unemployed job seekers. “People who did not work in any capacity, didn’t do anything are not as desirable to prospective employers,” Michaels said. “One has to question, is that discriminatory? I don’t know.”
Michaels said employers may use unemployment to weed out applicants for no other reason than to cut down a huge number of resumes for coveted job openings.
“When you have 14 million unemployed, everyone is applying for everything,” she said. “You have to be somewhat discriminating.”
“Don’t sit at home. Make yourself available to your community,” said Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley.
Still, she said she backed the legislation after colleagues showed her employment ads specifying that the unemployed should not bother applying.
“I found that absolutely reprehensible,” Riley said. “When you apply for a job, you should be viewed based on your skill level, not whether you have a job or not.”
To view the complete article, click here: http://www.rgj.com/article/20120327/BIZ05/303270037/For-unemployed-hiring-bias-shows-up
1
Few job seekers who fail to get an interview know the reason, but Michelle Chesney-Offutt said a recruiter told her why she lost the chance to pitch for an information technology position.
The 54-year-old, who had been laid off from her IT job in Illinois, said the recruiter who responded to her online resume two years ago liked her qualifications and was set to schedule an interview. But he backed away, she said, when he learned she had been out of work for 13 months.
The employer he represented would not consider applicants who were unemployed more than six months, she said.
“What they don’t consider is that these are not normal times,” said Chesney-Offutt, who was unemployed for nearly three years before landing a job.
Stephen Singer of RJG.com reports, as high unemployment persists more than four years after the start of the recession — and nearly three years after it was officially declared over — many who have struggled for years without work said they face discrimination.
As of January, California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee were considering legislation to prohibit employers from discriminating against the unemployed in help-wanted ads or in direct hiring or in screenings by employment agencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
“There’s much more subliminal discrimination against the unemployed that’s hard to document,” said Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration. “Hiring is an art, not a science. You rely on a gut reaction.”
For example, employers may suspect that an unemployed applicant is seeking an available job for the wrong reasons, she said.
“A manager is going to get the vibe that they’ll take anything to get a job and if something better comes along they’re out the door,” Sarikas said.
Also, some long-term unemployed applicants may come across as too urgent for work, “and desperation doesn’t translate well in an interview,” she said.
Employers generally expect job candidates — even while unemployed — to show they did some work such as volunteering or working temporary jobs, she said.
Terri Michaels, who manages a Hartford employment firm that primarily staffs temporary employees, criticized hiring practices that screen out unemployed job seekers. “People who did not work in any capacity, didn’t do anything are not as desirable to prospective employers,” Michaels said. “One has to question, is that discriminatory? I don’t know.”
Michaels said employers may use unemployment to weed out applicants for no other reason than to cut down a huge number of resumes for coveted job openings.
“When you have 14 million unemployed, everyone is applying for everything,” she said. “You have to be somewhat discriminating.”
“Don’t sit at home. Make yourself available to your community,” said Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley.
Still, she said she backed the legislation after colleagues showed her employment ads specifying that the unemployed should not bother applying.
“I found that absolutely reprehensible,” Riley said. “When you apply for a job, you should be viewed based on your skill level, not whether you have a job or not.”
To view the complete article, click here: http://www.rgj.com/article/20120327/BIZ05/303270037/For-unemployed-hiring-bias-shows-up
1
Monday, March 26, 2012
Time to Spring Clean Your Resume
1
Certainly at this time of year we think of spring cleaning. We go through our closets, we spruce up the yard, and we diligently clean our house.
This is also a great time to spring clean your resume.
If you feel as though your resume just isn't doing the job, perhaps it's time to look into Start Now! Career Guide.
Not only will you be able to put together a polished and professional resume, you'll also have fun doing it! You'll discover things about yourself you probably forgot or neglected to include.
Everything is there to help you rediscover yourself. See for yourself! Click here and read more:
Start Now! Career Guide
1
Certainly at this time of year we think of spring cleaning. We go through our closets, we spruce up the yard, and we diligently clean our house.
This is also a great time to spring clean your resume.
If you feel as though your resume just isn't doing the job, perhaps it's time to look into Start Now! Career Guide.
Not only will you be able to put together a polished and professional resume, you'll also have fun doing it! You'll discover things about yourself you probably forgot or neglected to include.
Everything is there to help you rediscover yourself. See for yourself! Click here and read more:
Start Now! Career Guide
1
Thursday, February 9, 2012
States Try to Help Veterans Find Jobs
1
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, visiting troops in Afghanistan recently, was taken aback by the answer he got when he asked a soldier suiting up to go on patrol what concerned him most."He didn't say he was most worried about facing the enemy that night," Nixon said last month. "He looked me in the eyes and said, 'Governor, I'm worried about whether there will be a job for me when I get home.'
In an article by Pamela M. Prah of The Bellingham Herald, Nixon went on to say, "There's good reason for that soldier to be worried. The unemployment rate for veterans who have served in the military since 2001 is 11.5 percent, higher than the national average, which is now 8.3 percent.
But the situation is much bleaker for veterans aged 18 to 24 - they averaged a staggering 30 percent unemployment rate in 2011, according to unpublished data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
With U.S combat troops slated to leave Afghanistan next year and U.S. forces already out of Iraq, states are preparing to welcome back a large number of returning troops, many of whom will be seeking work.
Nixon was among several governors who used recent state of the state addresses to outline plans to help make it easier for veterans to find jobs. "Every veteran who needs a job should be able to get one," Nixon said.
Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/02/08/2384867/states-try-to-help-veterans-find.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
1
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, visiting troops in Afghanistan recently, was taken aback by the answer he got when he asked a soldier suiting up to go on patrol what concerned him most."He didn't say he was most worried about facing the enemy that night," Nixon said last month. "He looked me in the eyes and said, 'Governor, I'm worried about whether there will be a job for me when I get home.'
In an article by Pamela M. Prah of The Bellingham Herald, Nixon went on to say, "There's good reason for that soldier to be worried. The unemployment rate for veterans who have served in the military since 2001 is 11.5 percent, higher than the national average, which is now 8.3 percent.
But the situation is much bleaker for veterans aged 18 to 24 - they averaged a staggering 30 percent unemployment rate in 2011, according to unpublished data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
With U.S combat troops slated to leave Afghanistan next year and U.S. forces already out of Iraq, states are preparing to welcome back a large number of returning troops, many of whom will be seeking work.
Nixon was among several governors who used recent state of the state addresses to outline plans to help make it easier for veterans to find jobs. "Every veteran who needs a job should be able to get one," Nixon said.
Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/02/08/2384867/states-try-to-help-veterans-find.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
1
Friday, February 3, 2012
Six Ways the Job Search Has Changed
1
The recession has changed a lot of things. It changed the way people spend money, the way they save for retirement, the way they invest in stocks. It's also changed the way companies recruit employees.
According to CareerBuilder's Debra Auerbach, gone are the days when companies courted prospective employees, hiring managers offered generous starting bonuses and job seekers could choose from multiple offers.
"Since the recession ended in June 2009," says Auerback, "companies have been slowly emerging from survival mode and have begun more active hiring. Yet the job market has been forever changed, and job seekers have had to face a new reality when going about their job hunt."
So how does a job seeker emerge successful in this post-recession job market? Auerback notes six ways the job search has changed and the adapted tactics needed to get hired.
1. Passive job searching is no longer an option
Pre-recession, it wasn't uncommon for a skilled, qualified job seeker to be romanced by a prospective employer. Recruiters would actively seek out candidates without the candidates having to do much in the way of aggressive follow up. That's rarely the case anymore. These days, job seekers need to be proactive in order to find jobs and get the attention of employers.
"This means job seekers must be active in their job search and set 'alerts' on major job boards/search engines so they are notified when an appropriate job match is posted," says Daniel Newell, job development and marketing specialist for San Jose State University's Career Center in San Jose, Calif.
"This also means that job seekers should utilize several job-search strategies, such as job boards, job-search engines, classifieds, networking sites and social media, in addition to job fairs and hiring events."
2. Fewer jobs mean more competition
In the early 2000s, jobs were more plentiful, and if you didn't get one job, chances are there'd be another one just like it. Yet now, the odds are not in a job seeker's favor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons per job opening was 1.8. When the recession ended in June 2009, there were 6.1 unemployed persons per job opening. While the number has since been trending downward and is currently at 4.2 (as of November), you still need to find ways to stand out from the competition.
"The burden of proof has shifted to the job seeker to demonstrate value and fit," says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide." "Job seekers need to be bolder and more energetic in this very challenging market. They need to show that they're willing to go above and beyond and that they'll work hard, tirelessly and take initiative to get the job done." Cohen also says that job seekers need to be more solution-oriented. "It's not enough to say, 'Here I am.' The emphasis is now on, 'Here's what I can do for you.'"
3. Mistakes, even minor, are not tolerated
Back in the "glory days" before the recession, mistakes made in application materials or during an interview weren't ideal, but they weren't necessarily automatic deal breakers, either. If a candidate misspelled a word on their résumé but otherwise had all the right qualifications, the employer may have let the error slide. In this job market, there's absolutely no room for errors.
"Nothing less is accepted or tolerated in a market where there are many more candidates than positions, and companies need to be sold on adding headcount," Cohen says.
To avoid making costly mistakes, proofread your résumé backward and forward, and then have someone else proof it again. Ensure you're fully prepared for an interview by researching the company and practicing answering interview questions.
4. Social media is the new recruiting tool
Before the recession, HR teams were more robust and better equipped to manage the hiring process. During the recession many companies downsized, leaving HR short-staffed and buried under piles of résumés. Recruiters have had to finds ways to more efficiently recruit, and social media has become a solution for hiring managers to more quickly find and screen candidates.
That means job seekers need to have a social media presence, and a professional one at that.
"Social media has made a huge impact for job seekers," says Lavie Margolin, career coach and author of "Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers."
"Employers are using social media to post job openings and look into candidate backgrounds via private Facebook pages. Job seekers have an opportunity to increase their visibility via their LinkedIn page and possibly a blog that is industry-focused."
5. Customization is critical
It is no longer acceptable in this post-recession job market to use a "spray and pray" method of applying for jobs. Blanket emailing recruiters with the same generic résumé will ensure your application gets tossed to the side. Newell says it's important that job seekers create targeted résumés.
"They must have a different résumé for each job they are applying for, and they must ensure that they effectively communicate their skills which relate to the job [for which] they are applying." The same goes for cover letters.
6. Networking is more important than ever
It's becoming more and more of an advantage in today's world to know someone within the company you're applying to so your résumé gets in the right hands. While not everyone has automatic connections, there are other ways to build relationships.
The best tried and true way to do so is through networking. "My advice to today's job seeker is to network," Newell says. "Job seekers should join groups and attend socials through sites such as MeetUp and LinkedIn. Attending a casual social and being active in online and offline groups can open many doors to employment."
The job market may not look the same as it did five years ago, but that doesn't mean you have to start from square one. It just means that by equipping yourself with the job-search tools needed in today's world, you'll be in a better position to get hired.
And to that end, there is no better tool than Start Now! Career Guide. Every one of these topics is covered and will guide you through your job search successfully.
1
The recession has changed a lot of things. It changed the way people spend money, the way they save for retirement, the way they invest in stocks. It's also changed the way companies recruit employees.
According to CareerBuilder's Debra Auerbach, gone are the days when companies courted prospective employees, hiring managers offered generous starting bonuses and job seekers could choose from multiple offers.
"Since the recession ended in June 2009," says Auerback, "companies have been slowly emerging from survival mode and have begun more active hiring. Yet the job market has been forever changed, and job seekers have had to face a new reality when going about their job hunt."
So how does a job seeker emerge successful in this post-recession job market? Auerback notes six ways the job search has changed and the adapted tactics needed to get hired.
1. Passive job searching is no longer an option
Pre-recession, it wasn't uncommon for a skilled, qualified job seeker to be romanced by a prospective employer. Recruiters would actively seek out candidates without the candidates having to do much in the way of aggressive follow up. That's rarely the case anymore. These days, job seekers need to be proactive in order to find jobs and get the attention of employers.
"This means job seekers must be active in their job search and set 'alerts' on major job boards/search engines so they are notified when an appropriate job match is posted," says Daniel Newell, job development and marketing specialist for San Jose State University's Career Center in San Jose, Calif.
"This also means that job seekers should utilize several job-search strategies, such as job boards, job-search engines, classifieds, networking sites and social media, in addition to job fairs and hiring events."
2. Fewer jobs mean more competition
In the early 2000s, jobs were more plentiful, and if you didn't get one job, chances are there'd be another one just like it. Yet now, the odds are not in a job seeker's favor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons per job opening was 1.8. When the recession ended in June 2009, there were 6.1 unemployed persons per job opening. While the number has since been trending downward and is currently at 4.2 (as of November), you still need to find ways to stand out from the competition.
"The burden of proof has shifted to the job seeker to demonstrate value and fit," says Roy Cohen, career coach and author of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide." "Job seekers need to be bolder and more energetic in this very challenging market. They need to show that they're willing to go above and beyond and that they'll work hard, tirelessly and take initiative to get the job done." Cohen also says that job seekers need to be more solution-oriented. "It's not enough to say, 'Here I am.' The emphasis is now on, 'Here's what I can do for you.'"
3. Mistakes, even minor, are not tolerated
Back in the "glory days" before the recession, mistakes made in application materials or during an interview weren't ideal, but they weren't necessarily automatic deal breakers, either. If a candidate misspelled a word on their résumé but otherwise had all the right qualifications, the employer may have let the error slide. In this job market, there's absolutely no room for errors.
"Nothing less is accepted or tolerated in a market where there are many more candidates than positions, and companies need to be sold on adding headcount," Cohen says.
To avoid making costly mistakes, proofread your résumé backward and forward, and then have someone else proof it again. Ensure you're fully prepared for an interview by researching the company and practicing answering interview questions.
4. Social media is the new recruiting tool
Before the recession, HR teams were more robust and better equipped to manage the hiring process. During the recession many companies downsized, leaving HR short-staffed and buried under piles of résumés. Recruiters have had to finds ways to more efficiently recruit, and social media has become a solution for hiring managers to more quickly find and screen candidates.
That means job seekers need to have a social media presence, and a professional one at that.
"Social media has made a huge impact for job seekers," says Lavie Margolin, career coach and author of "Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers."
"Employers are using social media to post job openings and look into candidate backgrounds via private Facebook pages. Job seekers have an opportunity to increase their visibility via their LinkedIn page and possibly a blog that is industry-focused."
5. Customization is critical
It is no longer acceptable in this post-recession job market to use a "spray and pray" method of applying for jobs. Blanket emailing recruiters with the same generic résumé will ensure your application gets tossed to the side. Newell says it's important that job seekers create targeted résumés.
"They must have a different résumé for each job they are applying for, and they must ensure that they effectively communicate their skills which relate to the job [for which] they are applying." The same goes for cover letters.
6. Networking is more important than ever
It's becoming more and more of an advantage in today's world to know someone within the company you're applying to so your résumé gets in the right hands. While not everyone has automatic connections, there are other ways to build relationships.
The best tried and true way to do so is through networking. "My advice to today's job seeker is to network," Newell says. "Job seekers should join groups and attend socials through sites such as MeetUp and LinkedIn. Attending a casual social and being active in online and offline groups can open many doors to employment."
The job market may not look the same as it did five years ago, but that doesn't mean you have to start from square one. It just means that by equipping yourself with the job-search tools needed in today's world, you'll be in a better position to get hired.
And to that end, there is no better tool than Start Now! Career Guide. Every one of these topics is covered and will guide you through your job search successfully.
1
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The State of the Union
1
President Obama scarcely mentioned healthcare in his third State of the Union address Tuesday night, even as the healthcare reform law he championed is hanging in the balance at the Supreme Court.
The bulk of Tuesday night's address before a joint session of Congress focused largely on jobs and the economy, and touched on taxes, education, and fixing a "broken" and fiercely partisan Washington.
A poll cited by FOX News asked voters which statement they agree with more: “President Obama is making a good faith effort to deal with the country’s economic problems, but the Republicans in Congress are playing politics by blocking his proposals and programs.”
Or this: “President Obama has not provided leadership on the economy, and he is just blaming the Republicans in Congress as an excuse for not doing his job.”
Have you or someone you know been affected by a job loss in these recent years? What are your thoughts?
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/24/president-obama-and-state-our-future/#ixzz1kRgbnO8m
1
President Obama scarcely mentioned healthcare in his third State of the Union address Tuesday night, even as the healthcare reform law he championed is hanging in the balance at the Supreme Court.
The bulk of Tuesday night's address before a joint session of Congress focused largely on jobs and the economy, and touched on taxes, education, and fixing a "broken" and fiercely partisan Washington.
A poll cited by FOX News asked voters which statement they agree with more: “President Obama is making a good faith effort to deal with the country’s economic problems, but the Republicans in Congress are playing politics by blocking his proposals and programs.”
Or this: “President Obama has not provided leadership on the economy, and he is just blaming the Republicans in Congress as an excuse for not doing his job.”
Have you or someone you know been affected by a job loss in these recent years? What are your thoughts?
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/24/president-obama-and-state-our-future/#ixzz1kRgbnO8m
1
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