Making yourself irresistible to employers
Abridged: Star Tribune ST. PAUL, MN -- If you've been passed over for promotion, rejected for the job of your dreams or lost enthusiasm in your current career, maybe it's time to go back and add the skills and education that would make you irresistible to employers.

"We see many adult learners return because they are passionate about a career change and opportunities for advancement," says Dara Hagen, director of career services at Century College. It's becoming very common for students to return to school because without it many are not eligible for a promotion and, in some cases, would not even be eligible to apply for the job they now hold.

Lack of a bachelor's degree can also limit your ability to move to other opportunities, which is becoming increasingly important. Once you have a degree, your career options take off. Returning to school does take sacrifices, and it is hard work, but the sense of satisfaction and the skills developed can pay off not only in career progression but in your own level of satisfaction with your life.

Getting the inside scoop about an employer
Abridged: The Wall Street Journal NEW YORK, NY -- There are now many ways to get the inside scoop about an employer - before you are hired. In the latest expansion of the web phenomenon of social networking, more websites are launching features that make it easier for job seekers to connect with the employees of prospective hirers.

Job seekers should be careful. People tend to complain more than compliment and what they post may not necessarily be true. On one online job board, a user complains that "there is no work-life balance." Another user criticizes the interview process, protesting that the company is "very, very inconsiderate to your time." Still, negative comments from current and former employees can make job-seekers aware of the cons in working for a company. "I think disgruntled employees have something to say that's worth hearing," says Jim Ivers, a 26-year-old M.B.A. student at Boston University.

People posting information online should know that anyone could be looking at it. If you let your hair down a little too much and you start to write about how you hate your boss, how you cut out a little early on Friday, how the company's products are defective, there are great risks. There are also lots of great opportunities if you do it right.

Study shows slow job growth in tech sector
Abridged: Associated Press RENO, NV -- Job growth in the nation's information technology industry has been weaker than some industry leaders have claimed, according to a new report. From March 2004, about two months before the industry began to recover, to February 2006, the high-tech sector has added roughly 88,600 jobs -- less than one-quarter of the roughly 400,000 jobs lost during the three previous years, the report said.

One upside, the report said, is that "there remains considerable slack in IT labor markets, so they should be able to fill new vacancies rapidly if the recovery continues." Wednesday's report by the University of Illinois, Chicago's Center for Urban Economic Development was prepared for the Seattle-based Washington Alliance of Technology Workers. It examined the state of the technology industry, gauging employment trends nationally and in eight key metropolitan labor markets.

The report also said job recovery seems to be strongest in Seattle, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, while Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Jose, Calif., have seen relatively modest increases in jobs.

Biggest generator of jobs is running out of steam
Abridged: Wall Street Journal LOS ANGELES, CA -- Housing, the biggest generator of jobs in the current expansion, is running out of steam. As a result, thousands of Americans, from bankers to hardware-store clerks, are likely to find themselves out of work over the next couple of years. For those who can transfer their skills to other industries, such as health care, it won't be the end of the world.

Housing-related employment has accounted for about 23% of the 4.9 million jobs created since the nation's job market began to grow in late 2003, according to Moody's Economy.com. That includes architects, contractors, real-estate agents, brokers and bankers, as well as the host of others who provide the industry with materials and services. Now, the housing boom is coming to an end.

"There's no question that the downturn in the mortgage business has caused a lot of banks to cut jobs," says John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. From a macroeconomic perspective, the housing slowdown, could be just what the economy needs. If the monthly average rate of growth in U.S. non-farm payrolls falls and stays a bit below 130,000 that would help keep wages in check, relieving the inflationary pressures that have worried Federal Reserve officials.

Older job seekers can polish their images
Abridged: The Wall Street Journal MIAMI, FL -- A more focused and efficient job search can help job seekers who are past the age of 45 overcome age bias. Andy Armstrong is a veteran public-relations man, who has sought a full-time PR post since a New York agency laid him off in 2002. The 49-year-old resident of Allendale, NJ, mainly blames his age. "Being older doesn't help," observes Armstrong. "I've heard myself described as overqualified many, many times."

It's a common lament among older applicants. But less obvious obstacles often impede them as well. Some baby boomers "have a tough time thinking about new ways of doing things," says Diane Darling, a Boston networking specialist. "Employers ignore a prospect's age if he is impeccably professional and technologically current," observes Bill Heyman, CEO of recruiters Heyman Associates, New York.

Age can be a barrier if you don't promote yourself energetically. You should maintain a sense of urgency during networking sessions and job interviews. You may also want to consider hiring a career coach. Here are some tips to help circumvent job-hunt roadblocks when you're past 45: Prepare a resume that emphasizes your strengths rather than chronology; Speed your search using new Internet tools; Enlarge your network and follow up feelers promptly; Polish your pitch by soliciting feedback.

CAM Engineer (Valor) West Coast, Midwest & Southwest
Under general supervision utilizes workstation to create & inspect manufacturing toolings from customers' data files. Modifies various aspects of PCB image, e.g., line widths, pad sizes, date codes, etc., to comply with specific Engineering standards. Completes required documentation and signoffs on the completed files. Processes package along to Documentation Control. Performs required file maintenance.

 

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