Saturday, November 3, 2007

Job Market News

American workers and their employers have decidedly different views about the nation's overall economic health, according to two reports released Wednesday.

Anticipated job cuts rose to a 17-month high in June as U.S. companies announced plans to shed 110,996 jobs, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-area outplacement firm that tracks monthly job-cut announcements.

The auto and retailing industries were the hardest hit, with a combined 69,443 expected job cuts announced last month. Meanwhile, workers' confidence in the job market rebounded noticeably, rising to its highest reading since January.

But pockets of workers -- such as Atlantans -- aren't so sure about their jobs, finances or the job market, the latest monthly Hudson Employment Index shows. The index is a monthly measure of American workers' confidence in the job market.

Tampa residents were the most optimistic, at 112. Philadelphians were the least confident, at 86.8. The U.S. average is 103.

Atlantans fell in the middle, registering 102.5. Twenty-seven percent of Atlantans reported they were worried about losing a job, up from 20 percent in May.

"What you've got is some fundamental changes," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "You have a stable economy and continued job losses."

Thurmond cited high gasoline prices, outsourcing and offshoring as contributing factors.

Atlanta has just had "an incredibly long run of bad luck," Wachovia Corp. senior economist Mark Vitner said.

"Even though Atlanta has one of the most diverse economies in the country, it has found itself behind the eight ball because


a number of key industries are struggling," Vitner said.

He warns not to put too much stock in Wednesday's reports.

Vitner says other reports provide a more accurate reading of the nation's job market: weekly first-time unemployment claims and the federal job openings and labor turnover survey, or JOLT.

The monthly jobs report, due out Friday, also provides some perspective. Most economists expect the report to be dramatically better than last month's dismal showing.

"There's a whole lot more information [about the job market] out there today than we've had in the past," Vitner said. "Unfortunately, the jobs outlook is a very mixed picture." The paradoxes are numerous:

* Atlanta is home to the world's busiest airport at a time when airlines are suffering their worst financial crisis.

* The region has grown tremendously because companies moved or expanded here, but that has not been the case in the last few years.

Increased regulatory scrutiny has made companies less willing to take risks. "If they're less willing to take on risk, they're less likely to expand, carry more inventory or hire more workers."

Vitner also noted some pluses in metro Atlanta :

* Office leasing is up, indicating "hiring is picking up."

* The logistics industries of trucking, rail and shipping, all significant to Atlanta , are booming.

* Layoffs in general have been subsiding across the country.

"The economy's moving in the right direction," Vitner said. "It's just not moving fast enough to make everybody happy



http://www.jobpostcanada.com/job_market_news.php

How To Create An Online Resume

This is the age of the Internet. No matter what type of job you are looking for, it is necessary that you have a copy of your resume online. An online resume or digital resume saves time and energy. Your resume website link can be easily emailed to anyone that requests it. Having an online presence in most instances will make it easier for you to secure a job in a much shorter time.

In order to display your online resume, it will be necessary to create and design a very basic website. There are many places online that offer web hosting, and you might choose one of these places to create a website address to host your resume, but there are several other options to consider.

If you are not able to create and design a website for yourself, it is necessary to hire someone to do this for you. However, if you are not able to create either a resume or a website by yourself, hiring someone is definitely recommended. A website that looks professional will help your chances to secure a better job with a higher pay.

The least expensive option for creating an online resume may not cost you any additional money at all. Most online providers now include one or more personal websites in the subscription cost. Many of them allow as many as five personal sites per account with easy to use software. In fact, you may be able to simply upload the text version of your resume directly from your computer.

When


creating an online resume it is recommended that you include all of the necessary parts of the paper version of your resume. This would mean including your education written in chronological order, your previous employment history, and any awards that you have received. Just because your resume is online, does not mean that it should not be formatted correctly.

After you have created a website with your online resume, the next important step is to direct potential employers to your website. This would include emailing your website address to employers when doing a job search, as well as including the address when writing to enquire if a company is hiring.

There are numerous career and job posting websites on the Internet. Search under the terms "job seeker" or "career seeker" and you will receive links to thousands of websites. I suggest you begin with those in your home city by narrowing your search by adding the name of your city to the search term, for example, "job seeker Philadelphia" or whatever job location you desire.

Get started today and you may have some solid leads in just a few days. It's easier than you think.



http://www.jobpostcanada.com/how_to_create_an_online_resume.php

Career Tip: Your Lifestyle Affects Your Job Choice!

This career tip is for you . . . if you're serious about making a career or job change. Knowing your options and having a strategic plan are critical to your success in today's job marketplace.

For instance, according to recent reports, your lifestyle may seriously affect your career or job choice. Did you know that people without spouses or children will represent one of the fastest growing segments of the workplace population?

As a result, employment law experts warn that discrimination suits based on parental status are likely to emerge.

That's because in 2004 there were 46.4 never-married adults in the U.S.--more than double the number in 1970. The number of childless couples is expected to grow by 50% by 2010.

Already, people without spouses or children are seeking benefits better suited to their lifestyle. As a result, employers will have no choice but to explore a wider variety of work/life benefits instead of work/family benefits.

If you fall into these categories, your career planning should include these considerations. Earlier we reported that workplace privacy issues should also be part of your thinking. Checkout our website

for more information on this emerging trend and how it impacts your job search.

For years EEI has recommended advance planning as a guarantee of solid and lucrative career growth. Our ground-breaking e-book, THE FAILSAFE CAREER, has been the career advancement bible for years. It shows you step-by-step how to explore all your options and then identify and go after the job that's just right for you.

Because of the emerging trends we noted, it's even more important than ever to stay on top of the latest strategies and techniques that can assure you of success in your career or job change.

So, the most important career tip of all: know what your needs and options are. Then take the time to identify opportunities that best correspond to those needs.


About the Author

Paul Bowley manages EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Check out THE WORLD'S FASTEST JOB SEARCH SYSTEM! And grab our stunning FREE REPORT: "How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!" http://www.fastest-job-search.com

Job Search Websites: A User's Guide

Summary: Learn these three steps to an easier online job search, plus discover four kinds of websites that show you the hidden job market.

You spend all day in front of the computer looking at job listings and fine-tuning your resume. But all you get is a headache. How can you give your online job search an advantage?

An Easier Online Job Search: 3 Steps

1. Brush up on your job-hunting skills. The internet has excellent inside tips on the state of the job market in numerous industries.

2. Learn all the keywords and categories relevant to the position you're seeking, or the special skill set you have to offer. For instance, if you want to write technical manuals, you might want to try terms such as "help docs" or "documentation developer" in addition to the more standard "technical writer."

3. Once you've learned the important keywords associated with the position you're seeking, make sure to put them in the information you upload to the jobs search websites. If these keywords aren't in your profile, how is a potential employer searching through the database of applicants going to find you?

Where to Start Online Job Searches

Are you looking in the right places? Everyone goes to the major job search websites like Monster and Hotjobs--and well they should, since these sites have more jobs than anyone. But here are some other sites you should also check out to find jobs online:

• The website for the

company you would like to work for. There are even "meta" job search websites that include the online job postings of large companies.

• 'Meta' online job search sites, which collect listings from numerous other jobs search sites. That means thousands of listings without having to go to hundreds of sites.

• Recruiters' websites. Mass-emailing resumes to employers can be a waste of time--and might technically violate laws against sending unsolicited messages. Instead, use one of the web services that will send your resume to recruiters, rather than employers. Recruiters are actually happy to get your resume since they know what to do with it.

• Good employment agencies, which are often simply two or more recruiters or headhunters working together, can be hard to find. The good news is that they usually advertise on job search websites. If you see a job listing that is unusually vague, it may be an employment agency. If you apply, you may be considered for other jobs that the agency has to fill.

About the Author


Joel Walsh recommends you read another of his articles, a cheat sheet for online job searches: http://job-search-adviser.net/articles/00002h-Job-Search-Website-Application-Cheat-Sheet.htm [Web publication requirement: create live link for the URL/web address using "online job searches" as visible link text/anchor text.]

Resume Falsification: Would You Lie On Your Resume?

How many times have you heard someone say, "Just put it on your resume. There's no way they're going to find out"?

It is tempting to put little white lies on your resume. These might include overstating your knowledge of required software ("If they call me, I'll teach myself over the weekend"), a certification ("They'll never go through all that trouble to find out") or extending dates at a former employer ("They can't find out. The company went out of business").

So what's the big deal? It's not like you're claiming to be a medical doctor, right? Who are you hurting anyway? You're just stretching the truth a little to get your foot in the door -- or so you tell yourself. If these are familiar thoughts, you might want to re-think them. Why? Because the risk of getting caught is real. The odds of getting away with listing false information on your resume are probably, well . . . who really knows? Do you really want to find out the hard way?

There are many reasons that could prompt a human resources manager to conduct an employment background check. Maybe you are not performing your job as well as expected. Maybe a co-worker has the same credential and became suspicious when your facts did not add up during a conversation.


Some companies have never experienced a dishonest employee who lied on his/her resume, and does not routinely verify work histories and the validity of credentials. In short, they have a false sense of security. Just the same, many hiring managers are keenly aware that lying on a resume is becoming a costly problem for many companies, and thoroughly check all facts even after they hire a candidate.

Sadly, it is quite common these days to learn of employee terminations because background checks revealed dishonesty. Depending on the level of the position or the severity of the falsification, this could sometimes lead to legal actions. So, before you decide to make yourself look better on paper, think again. It is not worth getting the job if you are not going to be able to live up to it or hold on to it.

The moral of this story? Don't risk your future by lying about your past! Honesty is always the best policy!


About the Author


Ann Baehr is a CPRW and President of Best Resumes of New York. Notable credentials include her former role as Second Vice President of NRWA and contribution to 25+ resume and cover letter sample books. To learn more visit http://www.e-bestresumes.com

Teaching our Kids RITE from RONG - Education

Are we as caring parents doing more harm than good by sitting down to teach our kids what we were taught from our school days? Mum and dads want the best for their kids and encourage them by dedicating their free time to help with their sums.

In some cases it is hard for the concerned parent to find quality time that is needed for their child/children to excel, reasons maybe due to working long hours to put a crust on the table.

There could be a number of reasons as to why mum and dad are handicapped in finding the time to help the kiddies to read and write.

Parents that is fortunate enough to find the time to help the family with their studies. I ask you are you doing more harm than good.

In some cases there are parents out there qualified to take on the role as tutor for a few hours, then we have the less fortunate like my self who left school with no qualifications. So what right do I have even as a caring parent to teach them what little I know?

One thing I do know is the importance of my children not missing out on the opportunities that I was denied due the absence of having no qualifications.

How we the parents were taught many moons ago differ greatly to how schools operate today.

The 21st century education system presents a complete different scenario.

Modern tactics are used in all places of learnng, how embarrassing having to admit that some mathematical terms that I as an adult can not spell let alone work out as a sum. I expect I am not on my own in this department when it comes down to today's educational system.

How lack of education can affect your child's chances of succeeding in life. To secure a position of a decent paying job you need skills, most places of employment requires verification that you are the man/woman for the job vacancy. To fill any position


today depends on how much paperwork you have under your belt as in i.e. GSCE A/O levels and so on.

If you want to help your kids to achieve then as a caring parent you need to sit back and leave it to the professionals who already have the skills required in this department.

Some parents have a far better understanding of modern day learning so they are exempt, but for those in the same position as myself and want what is best for the family, then may I suggest the internet. Online education is a fantastic opportunity for you and members of the family to gather information.

The internet is the most powerful tool we have today in modern society Do not worry about all the stories you hear behind what goes on involving kiddies on the internet. You have complete parental control over your child's presence when they surf the web. Another plus is the parent need have no computer expertise. But if you would like to learn more about computers then why not go online where you will find information on what there is to know.

Education online is a step in the right direction to give the child a better start in life. Offering the chance to gain extra knowledge may not be greeted with a thank from your offspring at this present moment, but I bet a bottom dollar in years to come they will thank you for it

Before you sit down with the kiddies in the hope of educating them further, remember we have two different generations competing with each other. Live and learn mum and dad this is a day and age where the kids of the 21st century can teach us a thing or too.


About the Author


A sucessful site for producing amazing results for kids and adults looking to further their education can be found http://www.allaboutonlineeducation.com