Read local business journals for market info potential leads

Do you read the local business journal the city where you live or want to work? Years ago I started doing that, just to see what companies are doing in the area and as a potential source for job leads, a way to get an understanding of the job market. I can't remember whether the Cincinnati Business Courier does it, but the Dayton Business Journal publishes these lists every week of fastest growing companies, top minority-owned businesses, etc. I liked looking at those lists because it gave the name of the top official as well as other relevant information for generating leads.

I'm currently have the RSS feed for the Cincinnati Business Courier's Breaking News in my Bloglines collection. I often don't know what to make of some of the information I read, though.

On one hand I hear that unemployment rates are up slightly, but then I read that the job market for IT professionals is pretty good. I even saw this morning that Cincinnati is ranked 18th on Forbes magazine recent Best Cities for Young Professionals list.

Does it seem confusing to you? It does to me, sometimes. Then I look at the details and see that the unemployment article is talking about Ohio metro areas overall. I guess that's what we need to do - look at the details a bit more closely.

Also, I think it's a good idea not to let negative information put a cloud over your job search efforts. Doing so can lead to making excuses. You'll be tempted, as I am, to think and say things like, "Oh, the job market's just down; that's why I'm not able to find work." Let's think and believe bigger than that.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice job+market daniel+johnson+jr

Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

"To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground." - Stephen R. Covey, via QuotesBlog

I met Ron Hittle about 3-1/2 years ago at a career workshop at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I remember that it was an encouraging and inspiring time for me, since I was really struggling for direction in my career. The encounter and events since then have showed me how powerful connecting with one person can positively affect another.

That year I also met a recruiter in the Dayton area, and we've exchanged e-mails and phone conversations over the past three years or so, having become part of each other's professional network.

She mentioned early on that I must have met Ron Hittle.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"From then ending of your voicemail message," she replied. "I do that, too."

Imitation, it's been said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This recruiter and I at different times had adopted Ron's way of closing a message as our own.

It's a little bittersweet that I share all of this, because a few moments ago, she called me to say that Ron Hittle passed away this weekend. He'd retired some time ago and had been dealing with some health issues, but it still came suddenly. My thoughts and prayers go up to the family, as well as those who knew Ron well. He will surely be missed.

As I mentioned, I didn't know Ron that well, but he left a lasting impression on me just from one statement from his voicemail message, because it points to my own ability to do something about my life versus letting something happen.

If you've received an email from me or have heard me sign off on my mostly music podcast, you probably already know what I'm about to say.

Most people I know usually end a conversation by saying, "Have a great day!"

Ron Hittle would say, "Make it a great day!"

Thanks, Ron. I think I will.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr ron+hittle sinclair+community+college


Find information on Diversity recruiting at DiversityJobs.com.

Ohio SCOTI System and Indeed Salary Search

One of the requirements when you file an unemployment claim in Ohio is that you sign up for their Sharing Career Opportunities & Training Information (SCOTI) system. Essentially, you get put into the system with your basic background, and, as participating companies search for individuals, you get contacted by SCOTI to call in to see if there is a suitable match. Receiving unemployment benefits is contingent upon your participation; i.e., if you don't call, you may not get your unemployment compensation.

I recevied a letter over the weekend from the SCOTI system, and I just finished talking with the representative. The company is looking for an Application Developer with 3-5 years of experience with COBOL, CICS, JCL, and SQL. I don't have that specific type of experience, and so it was determined that I'm not a suitable match.

One thing that does bother me about that position is the annual salary that the job was offering: $18,335. That sounded really low, and I mentioned that during the phone conversation, but the rep said that's what it was.

After I hung up, I used the Indeed Salary Search to check whether I was right, and here are the results:

application developer COBOL CICS JCL SQL in Cincinnati, OH $79,000

View Larger Salary Graph

If the rate was really an hourly rate of $18.335/hour ($38,136/year), it would be a lot more reasonable, but still less than the average.

Hopefully the next opportunity will be a more suitable match. What are your thoughts?

P.S. Let me remind you that you can use this handy domain name to get here: http://getthatjobonline.com

Related tags:

getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search COBOL CICS JCL SQL SCOTI Ohio unemployment indeed+salary+search dan+johnson

Greater Cincinnati's Best Places to Work

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports:

Four companies were named Thursday, from 16 finalists and more than 130 nominated companies, as Greater Cincinnati's best places to work.

Receiving their awards before a luncheon audience of nearly 500 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center were the Castleton Group, Cincinnati Airport Marriott, Cincinnati Marriott North and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

...

Greater Cincinnati's Best Places to Work program, open to any company based in the 15-county Greater Cincinnati region with 10 or more employees and companies not based here but which have at least 75 local employees. The program has been conducted by the Courier each year since 2003.

I might need to tap into my network to see if I know anyone who works at these companies.

Related tags:

cincinnati cincinnati+business+courier best+places+to+work castleton+group cincinnati+airport+marriott cincinnati+marriott+north children's+hospital+medical+center getthatjob getthatjobonline get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development dan+johnson

Training Info in Ohio

A quick visit to OhioWorks.com this morning brought me to this announcement:

NOTICE: The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is redesigning the job matching and posting services offered online.
As a result, OhioWorks.com has been temporarily replaced with Ohio Job Net Online.

Employers and Jobseekers who have previously entered information in OhioWorks.com will need to re-enter this information into OJN-Online (http://www.state.oh.us/ODJFS/OnLine).

We apologize for the inconvenience this causes.

Click Here to continue to OJN-Online.

Actually, I just wanted to see if the following links were valid:

• Ohio School & Training Provider Search
• Ohio School & Training Provider Search (different URL, same info)
• WIA Training Providers, similar info as the others, I think

Labor Exchange Self-Service System

I saw this link at the Dayton Job Center. Don't know much else about it yet.

Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services

Our family is looking to move to the Cincinnati, Ohio area next spring. This website is the local equivalent of "The Job Center" in Montgomery County, where we currently live.

University of Dayton's Transition to Teaching Program

The Transition to Teaching program is a federally-funded project that trains people without backgrounds in special education to become Intervention Specialists in Ohio. By utilizing an alternative pathway to special education teacher licensure, cohorts in Columbus and Dayton will work toward full licensure through the Transition to Teaching program.

Off the Clock Job Market! Events

I had just finished some browsing for some positions at the local paper's website, and I clicked the link in their sidebar that says "Off the Clock". It turns out to be a list of upcoming Career Fairs, etc. in the Dayton area.

Hmm.

Greater Dayton IT Alliance - Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event

The next Tech Thursday will be at Buffalo Wild Wings in Beavercreek, Ohio, on February 19, 2004, from 5 to 7 PM. Check out the website for more details.

Ohio Labor Market Information Home Page

"Your source for reports and data about employment levels, unemployment rates, wages and earnings, employment projections, jobs, training resources and careers."

Reminder: Upcoming Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event in Dayton, Ohio USA

Just a reminder to those in and around the Dayton, Ohio area pursuing jobs in IT. Walk-in attendees are welcome to join the fun at Talegators on Thursday, 1/22/2004 from 5-7 PM.

From the weekly email I get from the Dayton IT Alliance:

Our special guest at this event will be the new MIS Chair at Wright State University, Dr. Vikram Sethi. Please come and say hello to him.

This month's location

Talegators

6270 Far Hills Avenue

Talegators is about 1/4 mile north of Interstate 675 and State Route 48 (Far Hills Avenue). Check out the GDITA page for more information.

Happy Networking!

Off the Clock JobMarket! Events

This page contains information on Career Fairs and other related events in the Dayton, Ohio area.

Upcoming Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event in Dayton, Ohio USA

Walk-in attendees are welcome to join in the fun at Tailgators on Thursday, 1/22/2004 from 5-7 PM:

6270 Far Hills Avenue
Centerville, Ohio 45459

It's about 1/4 mile north of I-675 and State Route 48.

Veterans Job Information Fair

I found a flier with this information as I was leaving work, and I knew it deserved to be included here. - Dan

DoD Civilians, Spouses, and Family Members are also welcome

This Thursday, 13 November 2003, from 10 AM to 2 PM

Hope Hotel
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
For additional information, please call Sabine Benson at 937.656.0940 or Dave Thomas at 937.656.0939

Sponsored By:

Clark County Veteran's Office
Greene County Veteran's Office
Montgomery County Veteran's Office
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Veterans Readjustment Counseling Center
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Governor Taft's Third Frontier ~ Issue I

Hear from Bruce Johnson, Director of the Ohio Department of Development who will discuss Issue I, a state ballot initiative that is proposed to commit $1.6 billion to the Ohio Third Frontier Project and create thousands of high-paying, high-tech jobs. Issue I is the final component of a comprehensive economic development initiative that ultimately will invest $6 billion in Ohio. Through the Third Frontier Project. Ohio will build world-class facilities, support biomedical research and early stage capital funds, and provide low interest loans for job creation and advanced manufacturing.

Date: October 21, 2003
Time: 3:00 p.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 1900 Founders Drive, Kettering, OH

RSVP by Friday, October 17, 2003 to Brenda Blank:
Email: brenda@theresearchpark.com
Phone: 937-252-5906 Ext. 2.

Source: GDITA Events Weekly Update Email

Please RSVP by October 17th, 2003

Job Openings in the Cincinnati, Ohio USA Area

These job openings are from an email I receive each week. The date at the end of the listing is the date it was initially posted.

• Now Hiring! Looking for a job with a Christianity-based organization? Part time teachers are needed for a YMCA after school program. Hours: 1:30 - 6 pm Monday through Friday. Please contact Kati Terry at the Madisonville Branch YMCA 513-271-4879 [9/07]
• Restaurant General Managers and Asst Mgrs Positions Immediately Available in the Cincinnati Area. Restaurant experience is a big plus but is not required, as special training is offered to qualified management candidates from other industries. Please email your resume to: JobsByJulie@hotmail.com or call 770-797-9433. [7/24]

Wings & Wireless - Tech Thursday Networking Event

5-7 PM at the Buffalo Wild Wings on Wilmington Pike in Centerville, Ohio (map).

Are you going? I might.

Restaurant General Managers and Asst Mgrs Positions Immediately Available in the Cincinnati, Ohio Area

Restaurant experience is a big plus but is not required, as special training is offered to qualified management candidates from other industries. Please email your resume to: JobsByJulie@hotmail.com or call 770-797-9433. [7/24]

Source: Christian Advertiser email. Be sure to let them know how you found out about the job lead! Thanks!

Wings and Wireless: A Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event

The next Wings and Wireless event will be on Thursday, September 18, 2003 at the Buffalo Wild Wings, 6210 Wilmington Pike in Centerville, Ohio.

Be sure to check out the Greater Dayton IT Alliance web page for more information.

I went to one of these before and found it to be a great opportunity to network with other in the same field in a casual environment. It's also cool to see the wireless networking capability the restaurant has.