Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Job Seekers Targeted By Identity Thieves

Job Seekers Targeted By Identity Thieves

Fake job ads are up 345% over the past three years, according to one U.K. financial security association.

By Thomas Claburn
InformationWeek
March 5, 2009 10:00 AM


Job seekers beware. Identity thieves are looking to steal personal information from those searching for employment.

Fake job ads are up 345% over the past three years, according to the U.K. Association for Payment Clearing Services, and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) warns that would-be workers should be careful about providing personal information to purported employers.

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) on when to go OneCare versus Forefront The ITRC offers seven tips to help job seekers avoid being scammed:

1. Protect your Social Security number. Don't put it on your resumé and only provide it to a company when you're convinced you're a serious prospect for a legitimate job.

2. Consider creating an e-mail account specifically for your job search. This can help limit possible damage from spam, phishing, and other e-mail scams.

3. Look into companies that place job ads by researching them with the Better Business Bureau or through a state database. Anyone can create a Web site.

4. Avoid any Web site that asks you to preregister using your Social Security number, home address, or driver's license number. You should also be suspicious of sites that ask for payment to view job listings.

5. Make sure your computer security software and settings are up to date before sending out resumés and job-related e-mail. Phishers and scammers look for job seekers to bait with fake job offers because they're receptive opening messages and clicking on links.

6. Make sure your contact at a company actually works there and watch for signs that something isn't right, like an e-mail address that's inconsistent with the company's Web site address.

7. Be wary of common job scams. Jobs that require you to cash checks for a company or open a bank account, known as "money mule scams," could leave you open to charges of money laundering.

The ITRC offers additional tips for avoiding identity theft while searching for a job at its Web site.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

2009 Top Careers

Top In-Demand Careers of 2009
by Amelia Gray

With all the recent worry over the economy, which jobs are still safe? Check out this set of careers slated to remain a great pick for anyone considering an education--even in this current difficult period for profits and growth.

According to a 2009 Salary Guide, careers in business, IT, and law are among the fields expected to yield top careers in the coming year. Learn more about which careers are expected to see the most growth, the highest starting salaries, and the best opportunities.

Technology Careers on the Rise
CIOs were asked which technical skill sets are in the greatest demand in their IT departments. Their response? Administration, support, and management skills are golden. The top responses, according to the survey:

Network administration (LAN, WAN)
Windows administration
Desktop support
Database management

What do all these skills have in common? They can each be learned in an associate's or bachelor's degree program online. Bachelor's degrees in computer science, information science, or management information systems (MIS) are generally considered ample training for administrators. Desktop support professionals in smaller companies may only hold a two-year associate's degree in the field.

Creative Careers, Competitive Salaries
Looking for a job that challenges your creative side? Career training in artistic and creative careers can land you high starting salaries. Check out starting salary ranges for some of the top creative jobs for 2009, according to The Creative Group:

Graphic designer: $36,000-$49,250
Desktop publisher: $35,500-$45,000
Motion graphics specialist: $56,000-$87,500

Remember, those are just starting salaries. While no career training program can guarantee a particular salary, the portfolio-building training you receive while working towards a degree in graphic design, desktop publishing, or animation can help prepare you to enter the field with confidence.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick (estimated AD 387 - AD 461) was a Roman Britain-born Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba. He was educated at a monastery and school of divinity founded by Saint Illtud (now Llantwit Major), often called "the oldest university in the world". It was distinguished for also educating Taliesin, Saint Gildas, Saint Samson, Saint Paul Aurelian and possibly Saint David, Patron Saint of Wales.

When he was about sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and taken from his native Wales as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the church, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and no link can be made between Patrick and any church.

By the eighth century he had become the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish monastery system evolved after the time of Patrick and the Irish church did not develop the diocesan model that Patrick and the other early missionaries had tried to establish.

The available body of evidence does not allow the dates of Patrick's life to be fixed with certainty, but it appears that he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century. Two letters from him survive, along with later hagiographies from the seventh century onwards. Many of these works cannot be taken as authentic traditions. Uncritical acceptance of the Annals of Ulster would imply that he lived from 340 to 460, and ministered in what is modern day northern Ireland from 428 onwards. On March 17 St.Patrick's day is celebrated to remember him and what he did. This is celebrated across the world.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Working with Recruiters

Working With Recruiters

There are a lot of candidates out there these days and fewer recruiters to handle them. Here are some tips for getting the most opportunity to land that next position:

Make sure you are dealing with a recruiter who can actually help you in your search. If you're an IT Professional you want to make sure you work with only IT Recruiters.

Ask to meet with your recruiter so that you can know who is representing you: It's best to meet them at their office. You can tell a lot about a company by spending 30-60 minutes at their office.

Formulate a plan: Make sure to spend 10 minutes or so asking which companies your recruiter plans to market you to, advice on your resume, networking opportunities, etc. (A good recruiter will be able to give you advice on things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired.)

Respect their time : Ask your recruiter the best way to contact them and the frequency of contact they prefer.

Partner with your recruiter: Share information that may help to place you; inside company info you may know about, refer other good candidates like yourself. It's a two way street. It's human nature to want to help people who are engaged and trying to help you too.

The final piece of advice is to keep track of everything. Make sure you know where your resume has been presented, by whom and on what date. If you are actively searching you will need to keep this information to avoid double submissions and other potential pitfalls.

Mike Baio - Technical Recruiting Manager
mikeb@consultis.com

Thursday, March 5, 2009

8 Ways to Keep Your Career Moving

Out of Work? Here Are Eight Ways to Keep Your Career Moving

Take this time to be pro-active in developing your strategies and skills.

By Sonia R. Lelii Dice News Staff January 2009

Being laid off and facing the prospect of unemployment can be a personal and professional strain. To cope, stay focused and keep your day structured with tasks that are aimed toward getting a job and, perhaps, pursue some activities you normally wouldn't have time to do.

Kevin Jenkins, a recruiter with the California-based Tech-Source, Inc., says being out of work can be an opportune time to work on self-development. It's not often you'll have extended periods to do so, he notes. With a positive mindset and some personal initiative, what you do now can be just as valuable as any time you spend in an office.

Revisit Your Career Goals
It's a good time for some self-reflection. Many of us get caught up with delivering what our managers want, which could lead you onto a career path you never anticipated. While employed, it's easy to get so caught up in meeting your responsibilities that you lose track of your own professional goals and agenda, says Jenkins. In this sense, a layoff period actually can be a blessing in disguise. It's an excellent time to analyze where you are in your career and measure it against where you ultimately would like to be. Use this opportunity to ensure your next job is the first step in getting there.

Experiment with New Technology
Now is your chance to play with new technologies and methodologies, says Jenkins. You can download developer kits and documentation for just about anything and start experimenting. The layoff period may not be long enough for you to master a new skill, but you should be able to get your feet wet and get a good sense for the direction in which you would like to go. "When the market picks up, limit your search to companies who use those technologies and who offer a nurturing environment that will enable you to become proficient with them," Jenkins adds.

Look for Contract Work
In a down economy, the name of the game is to stay employed so you are marketable when there is a turnaround, says Matt Conley, branch manager for Sapphire Technologies' Boston office. Three-, six- or twelve-month gaps can show a real lack of flexibility. People that have consistent projects without gaps will be in a much better position to reap the benefits of an economic turnaround than someone who has been stubborn and sitting on the sidelines over their rates.

Develop Your Personal Brand
This is a becoming a common mantra among managers: The idea that we're our own companies and therefore need to develop a personal brand. Regardless of whether you work for yourself or another business, Jenkins says, you ultimately are your own franchise. This is especially true in today's online culture of social networking. Use this time to develop your personal brand and ensure it's consistent across all your online profiles.

Don't Send Your Resume Out Blindly
It's easy to spam employers with your resume, but it may not yield the best results. Even in good times, blindly sending it out is never a good idea. If you know for a fact a company is hiring, develop a relationship with an internal employee and get introduced through the firm's employee referral program. "Good jobs are secured through referrals. Blind submissions rarely result in employment," explains Jenkins.

Volunteer for a Cause
Professional experience always looks better on a resume than academic experience. So instead of signing up for school courses, try getting an internship or volunteer your time for tasks that will enable you to develop your hot skills. This can be particularly important for tech workers, since many executives are starting to seek out better-rounded job candidates for their IT operations.

Keep Up a Good Network of Contacts
Of course, networking is critical. This is a good time to reconnect with former co-coworkers and colleagues, and send out feelers on potential job opportunities. Update your profiles on different social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. It's a good way to let people know you're available for new projects.

Think About Transferable Functions and Skills Think about the skills and talents you've tapped into during previous jobs, advises Jan Gordon, a career coach based in Coral Springs, Fla. Creatively brainstorm what jobs would easily incorporate these transferable skills. For example, IT workers with good communication skills can turn themselves into consultants for outsourced projects.

Sonia R. Lelii is a staff writer at Dice News. She can be reached at sonia.lelii@dice.com