Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Work-from-home jobs on the rise

Clark Howard reports:

You are going to find more opportunities to work full-time or part-time from your home in the years to come. It’s known in the industry as having a “remote workplace.” Some employers, of course, won’t consider it at all. Others are at the other extreme and will do everything they can to encourage people to work from their homes. Companies that jump into the trend with both feet have come up with solid procedures to monitor your work and save tons of money with work-at-home programs. Sun Microsystems has about half of its workforce at home now and has saved $300 million a year as a result. The company doesn’t need office space, computer or phones, so it saves a ton of money. Another technology company, Agilent, has closed 50 U.S. sales offices and reduced their cost by 60 percent. About 12 percent of U.S. workers are now working remotely, and as many as 40 percent are expected to work at least part-time from home in the next few years. Everyone benefits. So, what’s the disadvantage of working from home? You may end up working too much. And, showing your face around the boss and other people at work is always advantageous. But the new mantra in the workplace seems to be: "If you want to keep them, let them go."
via ClarkHoward.com

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

More call-center jobs coming home

This could be some great news to anyone who wants to work from home!

Chron.com | More call-center jobs coming home

via e-mail

Friday, November 11, 2005

the WORKING PODCAST

From the about page:

WELCOME to the only podcast dedicated to the pain of working. We're on the Web for 3 reasons:
  1. Inform: We're bringing you two exclusive features you can't get anywhere else! Word-of-Mouth Job Listings expose positions that are so fresh, they HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN POSTED YET. Plus, Salary Reveals tell you where they work and what they're making.
  2. Entertain: Unparalleled show features shed light on the mundane and the ludicrous. The Routine exposes office pet peeves that we all can relate to. The Commuter Corner is uncensored rants about traveling to and from work. Cube Talk is a collection of random things heard 'round the office. Plus, Boss Bashing!
  3. Unite: It's your show, we just put it out there! Our podcast is unique because you build the show. Your e-mails and phone calls are essential. After all, who hates work more than YOU?
the WORKING PODCAST

Update: Get That Job was mentioned in episode 34 of the Working Podcast. Download it and head over to the 9:22 mark. Thanks for the mention, Andrew!

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Word Verification for Comments

I just turned on word verification for the comments. I noticed a couple pieces of comment spam garbage.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

The lowest paying jobs out there

Money isn't everything in job satisfaction - you should do what you love. From ClarkHoward.com, consumer warrior Clark Howard provides a list of the jobs that pay the least: clarkhoward.com: Clarchives clarkhoward - Clarchives August 22, 2005

Monday, August 22, 2005

Brand Autopsy: A Radical Careering Preview

Talk about proactively taking control of your career:

"Radical Truth 19: Being in a crap job isn't your fault. Staying in a crap job is."

Brand Autopsy: A Radical Careering Preview

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Boredom vs. Overwork

ClarkHoward.com reports:

Have you ever worked at a job where you watched the clock the whole day? Years ago, Clark worked as a bill collector for IBM and he was bored out of his mind. His stimulation came when he went to school at night, something IBM graciously paid for. It’s still going on, according to recent several stories and surveys. People who are bored at work have a lower satisfaction with work than those who are overworked. More than half of people are bored at work, but those people are much less happy with their jobs than the half who are overworked. If you’re at a job where you’re just passing the time, it’s not fair to you or your employer.

Friday, July 01, 2005

Tip of the Day - join a jobs networking group

This is the group I joined in Boulder Colorado. Do a general search in Yahoo Groups to find one in your area.
Yahoo! Groups : BoulderNet Calendar

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Three Things Every Recruiter Looks For In A Resume

There are three things every recruiter looks for in a resume:

- Focus
- Core competencies or transferable skills
- Accomplishments

If your resume lacks any of these crucial elements, then you are probably not capturing the attention you deserve, and you are missing out on important interview opportunities.


read more

[crossposted to Jobfiler.com]

Friday, June 10, 2005

Financial hiring to slow, but local IT job market heating up

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports on a recent study of Chiefl Financial Officers in the Greater Cincinnati area indicates that while the accounting and finance job markeet in the area may be slowing down, the local IT job market may be heating up. See the article for more details.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Cover Letter Secrets: Secret Tip For Emergency Situations

Address your cover letter to the recipient by name...

If the name is unavailable, use one of the greetings in Example #2 and add this personal note.

Please Note: I'm sorry for this impersonal greeting on my cover letter. I was unable to get your name online. However, I look forward to the opportunity to meet you in person so I can address you by name and discuss this job opening. I am highly interested in working for {company name}.


CrossRoads Newsletter and Career Development Center: "care"

Monday, May 16, 2005

Creating Passionate Users - Hire Different

Another post I saw on DayPop that I want to revisit:

Creating Passionate Users: Hire Different

Hiring is Obsolete

I just saw this on DayPop's Top 40 and wanted to link to it so that I can check it out later.

Hiring is Obsolete

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Companies starting 'no fault' attendance programs

This comes to us from the folks at ClarkHoward.com:

Clark usually has trouble with his voice this time of year because of allergies to the pollen in the air. He has missed no work because of it and feels very lucky because of that. He is also grateful for the fact that, when he is sick, his employer understands and gives him a day to rest. But many employers are not so generous these days. According to the Chicago Tribune, the trend in corporate America is to punish workers for taking sick days. The companies participating in these “no fault attendance programs” give points or demerits for taking sick days. And if you get too many, you could be suspended or even fired. Arriving late to work is also penalized with points. Some banks and utility companies have these policies, and they claim that it eliminates favoritism and judgment on the part of supervisors and managers. Yes, some people deserve to be penalized for calling in sick when they are not. But these companies are punishing everyone for the behavior of a few. And, sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is truly “sick” or not. Clark’s solution is to eliminate sick pay all together and just allow employees a certain number of days off each year.
via Clark Howard Show Notes Monday, April 25

Monday, May 02, 2005

Whistle While You Work

If you're not happy at your job - a recent HotJobs story says that a lot of us are (see U.S. Job Satisfaction Keeps Falling) - you may want to look for volunteer opportunities, according to this story from Yahoo! HotJobs:

"As people get more involved, they feel good about what they're doing," said Lance Hunsinger, president and CEO of Cariten Healthcare. "You find it builds a lot of teamwork and employee morale. You do see when people are happier they work more efficiently and more productively. It's good for the company. As employees get happier about being part of an organization, turnover drops."
via Whistle While You Work ; Companies Find Employees Who Do Community Service Through Their Jobs Are Happier, More Productive

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Why women leave I.T.

Tech Tipsheet points to an article that considers why women leave I.T..

Monday, April 18, 2005

Workforce Investment Act Reforms Discussed

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine. L. Chao Testifies Before Senate HELP Committee on Workforce Investment Act Reforms

Straight from the U.S. Newswire press release:

WASHINGTON, April 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao testified today before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on the need to include the Administration's reforms in reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998.

"The President wants to make sure that job training programs are successfully training people for better jobs," said Secretary Chao. "WIA Plus will help more workers find good jobs by making sure that less is spent on the bureaucracy and more resources are devoted to helping people learn new skills." Chao added.

The Administration's reforms would create a flexible, integrated system which includes:
  • Strong state leadership
  • Effective execution at the local level
  • The ability to customize solutions to meet the needs of local workers and employers
President Bush's Job Training Reform Proposal contains these principles that underlie the proposed reforms:
  • Giving state and local communities maximum flexibility to design a workforce investment system that meets their needs
  • Greater accountability to set increasingly rigorous annual performance milestones over a period of ten years for every person who receives federally-funded training in a job
  • Spending more workforce investment system resources on actual worker training instead of process and bureaucracy
  • Creating a more effective governance structure by enhancing the role of states and local officials -- the workforce investment system is currently administered with too much micro-management at the federal level
  • Strengthening the One-Stop Career Center system -- these centers are the foundation of the workforce investment system but funding for the operation of these centers is uncertain in many local areas
  • Enhancing individual choice through Innovation Training Accounts -- these accounts will allow individual workers to create their own customized training program, using a broad range of public and private training resources.
The United States has one of the highest growth rates of any industrialized country, growing at an annualized rate of 4 percent in 2004 and creating 3.1 million new jobs since June 2003. The average American worker will hold an average of 9 jobs between the ages of 18-34. That means learning must be a lifelong pursuit. Reforming our nation's job training system is essential to providing workers with opportunities to continually upgrade their skills.
Let the discussion begin.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Bankruptcy overhaul nearing passage by Congress

The U.S. Congress is close to passing major bancruptcy legislation, which would make it impossible for thousands of people to wipe away their debts:

Opponents say the change would fall especially hard on low-income working people, single mothers, minorities and the elderly and would remove a safety net for those who have lost their jobs or face crushing medical bills.

...

Going into effect six months from enactment, the measure sets up an income-based test for measuring a debtor's ability to repay debts. It also requires people in bankruptcy to pay for credit counseling.

...

Those with insufficient assets or income could still file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which if approved by a judge erases debts entirely after certain assets are forfeited. Those with income above the state's median income who can pay at least $6,000 over five years — $100 a month — would be forced into Chapter 13, where a judge would then order a repayment plan.

Critics say that's unfair because many people who file for bankruptcy have lost their jobs, or are going to lose them.

Under the current system, a federal bankruptcy judge determines under which chapter of the bankruptcy code a person falls — whether they have to repay some or all of their debt.
via USATODAY.com - Bankruptcy overhaul nearing passage by Congress, spotted on K-LOVE's News Page

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Death by Cubicle

Check out Bob Rosner's Working Wounded blog to learn how by design working in a cubicle is not that conducive to creativity: ABC News: Working Wounded Blog: Death by Cubicle

It looks like, in order to think "outside the box," you have to literally get out of the box.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Census Bureau Ranks Areas with Longest Average Commute Times

U.S. Newswire : Releases : "Many Workers Have Long Commutes to Work; Census Bureau Ranks Areas with Longest Average Commute Times"

News Advisory:

WHAT: The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a news conference to discuss American Community Survey data on the time that the nation’s average commuter spends traveling to work. Information will be released ranking states, counties and cities by average commute-to-work time and the percentage of commuters who experience “extreme” commutes of 90 or more minutes each day. Philadelphia is among the cities with the longest commute times.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 30, 10 a.m. EST

WHO:

-- Louis Kincannon, director, U.S. Census Bureau

-- Don Shanis, assistant executive director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

-- Nancy A. Goldenberg, vice president, Philadelphia Center City District

WHERE: 30th Street Station North Waiting Room, 30th and Market Streets, Philadelphia
Our family recently moved back to Cincinnati, but I'm still working in Dayton. That means I'm back to a long commute myself. The results of this survey should be interesting.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Why people are unhappy at work

This news comes from ClarkHoward.com:

Do you remember your first day on the job? For many of us, there was probably a lot of excitement and maybe some nervousness. Once that goes away, there is usually a lot of enjoyment with a job. But over time, boredom starts to set in and people start to just go through the motions, according to recent reports. It’s become such a problem that academics are writing about it. Two recent books are The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave: How to Recognize the Subtle Signs and Act Before It's Too Late and “Staying and Becoming Less Engaged Every Day.” Employees are the ambassadors of our employers, and if we feel no connection, we suffer and the company suffers. So, why do we start not caring about our jobs? The No. 1 reason in Clark’s opinion is that companies stop caring about the employees. So, remember that if you are an executive or a supervisor. Make the work environment fun and let people know they are appreciated. That doesn’t mean more money. Words of praise usually matter much more.
While I could not find a link to the second book Clark mentions, I did find a link to a related story: Reaching the breaking point in your job

Clark Howard Show Notes for Monday, March 21, 2005

Friday, March 25, 2005

Every Job Seeker Has a Story

Liz Ryan from Business Week Online shares an interesting perspective on making sure your resume tells your story.

"The human need for stories should be a vital clue to job-hunters, whose resumes often have as much dramatic punch as the back of a cereal box. Your resume is your marketing brochure, folks. It has to tell your story."

Read more from her article: Multi-Story Resume, Higher Profile

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

U.S. Newswire : Releases : Labor Department Offers Employers Database of Qualified College Students and Graduates Seeking Summer and Full-time Jobs

A free database that identifies 1,913 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and fulltime employment is available for the tenth year to public and private sector employers to help them meet their staffing needs:

"The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) offers employers a larger pool of skilled job candidates to choose from while offering students and graduates with disabilities more opportunity to explore or begin careers," said Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "The program also fulfills President Bush's New Freedom Initiative pledge to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the nation."

The department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is offering the WRP database of job seekers with disabilities in cooperation with the Department of Defense. Through ODEP's complimentary CD-ROM database, employers can search from a pool of pre-screened applicants who have skills in disciplines ranging from computer sciences and business to communications, engineering, office administration and more. Searches generate candidate profiles, academic and demographic data, and contact information for students from more than 200 colleges and universities in over 45 states and territories. To request a copy of the CD-ROM, send your name, company name, address and phone number to wrp@dol.gov or call ODEP at (202) 693-7880.

ODEP's portfolio of assets for employers also includes the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and the Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN). JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities for people with disabilities and can be reached at 1-800-526-7234 or at http://www.jan.wvu.edu. EARN, a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service, helps employers who have job vacancies to find and recruit qualified workers with disabilities in their localities. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its website (http://www.earnworks.com). ODEP's website is available to employers and employees at http://www.dol.gov/odep as is http://www.DisabilityInfo.Gov -- a cross-government portal on disability-related information.

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Feedburner Headline Animator for GTJ

Here's a new way for you to see what's new in Get That Job: an animated GIF that scrolls through the newest headlines!

Get That Job!

Copy and paste this code into your blog or web page:

<a href="http://getthatjob.blogspot.com"><img alt="Get That Job!" height="67" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/GetThatJob.gif" style="border:0" width="200"/></a>
Enjoy!

Monday, March 14, 2005

Crabby's 10 ways to ease your boredom at work

Microsoft's Crabby Office Lady says:

Let's face it: sometimes you'd rather be doing something — anything — else than sitting at your desk working. This column gives you 10 ways to ease your boredom while still being (arguably) productive using all that your brain and Office have to offer.

Friday, March 11, 2005

Ten Reasons Why Blogging is Good For Your Career

Tim Bray has writes about being interviewed for stories about people being fired from their jobs for blogging.

Recent pieces from AP and CNET are pushing this spin, going on and on and on about the risks. Except for, it’s all a bunch of BS. For most people, blogging is a career-booster, both in your current job and when you’re looking for your next one.
He has provided us with Ten Reasons Why Blogging is Good For Your Career, along with some discussion about having a policy for blogging in the workplace and the reasons behind the media hub-ub.

Saturday, February 26, 2005

Items To Include In A Portfolio

I attended a job search seminar last year, and one of the topics we discussed was having a portfolio. I’m not going to go into the reasons for developing a portfolio; rather, I’m just going to list the items you would typically include:

  • copies of your resume
  • Letters of recommendation
  • copy of high school/college diploma
  • copies of other certificates
  • high school/college transcript
  • examples of work, which for me might include
    • documentation
    • printouts of GUI (graphical user interface)
    • web pages
    • ”best posts” from my blogs

Varied Work Background

Greetings from the library. I've been going back through my entire work history of about 15 years, and I've discovered that I've worked for nearly 40 different organizations (full-time, part-time, self-employed, consulting, co-op). Here are the types of organizations I've worked for:

Newspaper delivery
Food service
Retail
Security
Defense contractor
Telemarketing
City government
Government agency
Civil engineering
Political science
Manufacturing
Information services
Financial services
Temporary employment services
Hospitality
Human resources services
I guess this means that I present a varied background to a potential employer, doesn't it?

Friday, February 25, 2005

Looking for a better job? Add Access to your resume!

I just happened to see this in Microsoft Access 2003's Help Contents. I thought it might help to at least bookmark this page for later.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Six Tricks to a Clutter-Free Resume

from CareerBuilder.com

In the world of job searching, bigger, flashier, more colorful and louder isn't always better. While some people feel the need to use elaborate fonts, bright paper, or graphics and animation in hopes of getting attention, it is often wiser to take a minimalist approach to your resume.

One of the biggest reasons why simple is often safer in today's job market is technology. Applicant tracking systems help HR managers sift through the numerous resumes they receive. This means that the first person who reads your resume may not be a person, but rather a computer, and that your paper resume will be scanned in and turned into an electronic file that is viewed by a computer system. Because it is sent through a scanner, your resume needs to be clear, concise and free from distracting characteristics. Plus, more and more companies are using online applications and requesting candidates to paste in resumes on company Web sites, or use online job sites to find candidates.

Having a simple resume is not just about scanning systems and electronic submissions. It also means carefully selecting which information to keep and which to cut. If you want to make sure your resume is clean, to the point and highlights your most important qualities in the most effective way, consider the following tips:

  1. Forget the fancy fonts. Yes, it is certainly fun to write your annual family letter in a quirky lettering. But when it comes to your resume, a boring font is always better. Stick to the classics, like Times New Roman or Arial. These fonts are typically read well by electronic scanners and most e-mail systems, as well as human eyes.
  2. Don't overdo the underlining, bolding and italics. Some people feel like everything on their resume needs to be highlighted in one way or another. But electronic scanners get easily tripped up by underlined words and italics. It might not be possible to have your resume be completely italic free, but too much of a good thing can be distracting to any kind of reader.
  3. Include old information sparingly. Have you been out of college for more than 10 years? If so, you can probably get rid of the section on your resume that highlights your G.P.A. Are you still including all of your past jobs, which make your resume three pages long? Did you start your professional life in a completely different career, one that is now irrelevant to your current job? If so, it's time to cut information that no longer belongs.

    When you first start out, there is a reason you include all of your work experience. But the more experience you gain, the more selective you can be on what to include. No, you do not need to tell potential employers that you were a bartender in college. Some jobs just don't apply!
  4. Leave out personal information. Unless your hobbies are directly relevant to your job, they should be taken out of your resume. The same goes for travel experience, marital status or the fact that you sing in the church choir. When you write your resume, try to think like the employer and include only the information that is going to matter to the company or the position you are seeking.
  5. Write in sound bites, not paragraphs. A resume is not supposed to read like a novel. Your information should be presented in brief, concise
    statements that include strong action words. A resume should never be written in complete sentences or have statements that begin with "I." A reader needs to be able to glance at your resume quickly and know what your strengths and experiences are. Don't make him or her muddle through a lot of extraneous words to get to the good stuff.
  6. Keep the look professional. These days, printed resumes are usually needed only for an interview. Like the fun fonts, fluorescent, patterned or textured paper is better suited to invitations and personal letters than resumes. Choose professional, plain paper and black ink. Leave graphics and shading out, too. Make sure the hiring manager knows what he or she is receiving. You don't want your resume to be thrown out because someone thought it was junk mail!
Your resume has an important job to do. It must convince an employer that you are worth talking to, that you are better than the rest and that you can do the job – all in about 15 seconds. Make those 15 seconds really count with a resume that sends the right message right away!

Copyright 2005 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved.

Doing kottke.org as a full-time job (kottke.org)

Best wishes to Jason Kottke in his endeavor! I would love to write a blog for a living!

Doing kottke.org as a full-time job (kottke.org)

Working in Teams: Higher Productivity or Bigger Headache

Working in Teams: Higher Productivity or Bigger Headache
New Software Application Empowers Teamwork

"Today, as we face higher demands to produce bigger, more innovative IT products, teams that utilize the gifts and talents of each one of its members will have higher success, happier employees and a lot less headaches."

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Reapplying for a Job After Rejection: Persistence Can Pay Off

Reapplying for a Job After Rejection: Persistence Can Pay Off

by Caroline Levchuck

Did you interview with more than one person? Were you referred to the company through a friend or a member of your network? Contact anyone you know or with whom you had a rapport and pick their brains about the company, additional opportunities and what you could have done to improve your performance or skills.

Work to incorporate these folks into your network by finding ways to help them with their careers and professional development. Pass along a pertinent article or business contact. Invite them to lunch or another social-yet-professional event on occasion. Keep in contact with each on a consistent yet not-too-frequent basis. Make sure they're all aware of your abilities and aspirations. If they're not, ask them to review your resume. This will ensure that they'll think of you when they hear of appropriate openings at the company.

Source: MyYahoo! Daily Tip from HotJobs, republished here because no permalink exists.

Monday, January 31, 2005

Creative Resume

I can't remember if we pointed to this earlier. I just spotted the link to this young man in France who wanted his resume to stand out. It uses Flash, so get ready and have your speakers/headphones plugged in.

Reminded of this by Paul, aka the Steeler Dirt Freak

Market yourself to a new job

Resume and interviewing tips for job seekers. It helps to view your resume and marketing literature for yourself.

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Laid Off - Describing the Reasons You're Looking

Bart was an average employee at his company before being released suddenly without cause. His company was merged with a competitor and Bart found himself with a new manager. Even though he had a good record and positive performance reviews, he quickly found himself laid-off from the company.

The following article provides key strategies for responding to one of the most frequently asked interviewer questions "Why did you leave (or seeking to leave) your company?"

CrossRoads Newsletter and Career Development Center

crossposted to Jobfiler.com

Monday, January 24, 2005

Worst Jobs Ever

Here's some encouragement to you in the workforce: maybe your job isn't that bad after all.

Worst Interview Experiences

Anonymous readers share their worst job interview experiences. Yikes!

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Chill Out During the Job Interview

How to Deal With Interview Stress: Job Tip Says 'Relax'

by Caroline Levchuck

A relaxed job candidate is a confident job candidate.

Show the interviewer that you're calm, composed and in command during an
interview. He's likely to assume that you'll be rock-solid on the job too.

Use these tips to stay relaxed during an interview:
  • Breathing deeply and slowly (and quietly, of course).
  • Sit up straight and don't cross your legs or arms.
  • Speak slowly and pause for breath often.
  • Keeps your hands and jaw relaxed; no clenching.
  • Smile -- it really is contagious!
Source: MyYahoo! Daily Tip from HotJobs
I've often found that writing reminders to do these things in my portfolio helps.

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Keeping Your Skills Current

Question for you all out there...

What do you do to keep your skills current -- especially if you're unemployed for some time?

I'm facing this situation at my current temp job. Not having used my technical skills in awhile, I'm feeling a little rusty.

What advice do you have for me?

Monday, January 10, 2005

Jots :: jobhunt

From the 'About' page:

Jots is a collaborative bookmarking system that allows you to Store, Share and Discover relevant links. Store your own links and choose whether to share them with the world, with a select group of people or just for yourself to use. Discover new links based on specific users or topics of interest.

Links are available via the jots.com web site or by RSS. Post your links to your blog daily to keep others informed of your areas of interest.

Quit That Job!

No job is without its aggravations, to paraphrase a Malcolm Forbes quotation. But sometimes it becomes necessary to part with the job that you hate.

Quitting a job you hate may bring relief to stress, but it may not always be the best thing. Get more advice on whether changing your job is right for you:

U.S. News and World Report | Ways to Change Your Life: Quit Your Job

Friday, January 07, 2005

Employers Digging Deeper in 2005

Three Factors That Will Affect Your Job Search in 2005: Employers Dig Deeper

by Caroline Levchuck

The average job search now takes four months, reports outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. And enhanced scrutiny of candidates often requires a significant amount of time from companies.

"Companies are spending more time and money on extensive pre-employment screenings, including intelligence, personality and psychological tests, to make sure an individual fits the profile of a successful worker. They are also conducting extensive background checks to weed out possible criminal or unethical behavior," said John A. Challenger, the firm's chief executive officer.

To make certain you don't get caught off guard during a background check, consider conducting your own. Click here for more information.

The upcoming year can bring lots of rewards for job seekers. So start your search and make 2005 your year!
Source: My Yahoo! Daily Tips - HotJobs Job Tip

Thursday, January 06, 2005

Best Workplaces for Commuters

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compiled a list of the Top 20 Best Workplaces for Commuters(sm) (BWC). According to the report:

How the Top 20 are ranked

The Top 20 employers on the list of Best Workplaces for Commuters from the FORTUNE 500 Companies are ranked by the percentage of their total U.S. workforce eligible for outstanding commuter benefits that meet EPA's National Standard of Excellence. The percentage was calculated by dividing the number of employees working at Best Workplaces for Commuters qualified work sites by the company's total U.S. employment.

Job-Hunting Success Story - Dan

NOTE: This blog is a great forum for you to share your job-hunting success stories. Please e-mail them to me at Dan's e-mail address at Gmail.com, and I'll post them here. Now for my recent success story...

Isn't it great when the job finds you?

Maintaining my network is how I landed my most recent position. Today I started some temp work in a fledgling IT department for a local Professional Employer Services(PES) company.

I first met J. seven years ago when I did some consulting work for his boss at the time. I helped him out here and there with some computer programming tips. We'd eat lunch together from time to time, and, at the end of the assignment, we exchanged e-mail addresses.

A couple years later he contacted me to do some consulting work in the same department. He had been promoted to a different position. The company I where I was working got the job and sent me there to do the work.

About a year later, J. contacted me because he'd left his former company to partner with someone else in a construction services company. He'd seen evidence of my web development, and he had me design and develop the company's website.

Now, he's the Chief Financial Officer for this PES company. It's been ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in the Dayton Business Journal and in Inc. magazine. He contacted me this week, and I'm now employed to help with some IT-related work.

And who knows where this might lead?

Saturday, January 01, 2005

Happy New Year!

Here's to hoping you Get That Job! in 2005.