Thursday, February 25, 2010

How To Manage (and Protect) Your Online Reputation

By Helen Coster

When Megan Maloney lost her job at a Detroit auto supplier last April, she made sure her online reputation was as strong as the image she would present in person to prospective employers. She Googled herself to check for unflattering links. Then she changed her Facebook privacy setting so no one could see beyond her profile picture. She updated her profile on LinkedIn.

Maloney's instinct was right: When she landed a job in September, her new bosses admitted they had researched her online. "They told me that they had checked Facebook," says Maloney, 32, now a business development manager in Milwaukee. "I had posted a photo of me wearing a T-shirt that said 'Unemployed,' and they thought that I showed the right kind of personality for a sales job. They liked that I was on LinkedIn, because it's helpful for leads and networking."

Managing your online reputation is a critical step in landing a new job. According to a recent survey by business networking organization ExecuNet, 90% of recruiters used a search engine to learn more about candidates and 46% of recruiters had eliminated a candidate based on information they found online. Searching for your name online isn't an act of narcissism; it's a smart way to determine whether your online personality jives with how you want the world to view you.

Most search engines rank content according to relevance (how closely it resembles the search term) and popularity (how many other sites are linking to it). If your name is mentioned in a police blotter or a jilted lover's blog post, let alone a negative article in "The Wall Street Journal," you have little chance of getting that content removed from the Web. Your best option is to overwhelm the bad content with the good, so that the embarrassing links are less likely to rank high. "Focus on publishing content about yourself that you can control, and that portrays you in a positive light," says Andy Beal, the chief executive of Trackur, a social-media monitoring tool.

To ramp up your positive Web mentions, start with blogs and social networking sites. Create a profile on LinkedIn, and write about yourself in the third person so that the site will have more relevance in the eyes of a search engine. Don't overdo it on Twitter, since too many tweets may make a prospective employer question your focus at work. Use free software like WordPress or TypePad to create a blog, where you can write about your area of expertise, post your resume, and keep track of your professional accomplishments. Show off your expertise by writing guest articles on blogs that are relevant to your industry. "If no one else has your name, your LinkedIn profile and blog will jump to the top of the search engine without much effort by you," says Beal.

Web doppelgangers may muddle your online reputation. If there are a dozen people with your name, you can step up your search engine optimization efforts by adding more pages to your Web site (to increase relevance), or asking friends to link to your Web site (to increase popularity). If you're convinced that a future employer may confuse you with someone else, mention that person on your blog with a reference such as, "I'm not this Tom Jones, but it seems like he has a cool job."

Once you've settled into a new job, continue monitoring your Web reputation by setting up a search alert with your name. Take the time to build up a positive Web ID. "Go ahead and build that content now, before you need it," says Beal. "Give that content time to percolate and move its way around the Web."

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Study: Orlando International 4th in passenger satisfaction

Orlando Business Journal

Orlando International Airport placed fourth in the large U.S. airport category in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates North American Airport Satisfaction Study rankings.

Orlando International ranked five points behind the number one airport, Detroit, and one point behind Denver International and Minneapolis/St. Paul International, which tied for second.

In 2008 Orlando International ranked third after ranking 14th in 2006.

The rankings are based on airport accessibility, baggage claim, check-in and baggage processing, terminal facilities, security checkpoints and food and retail services.

Although technology has revolutionized air travel during the past decade, the study found passenger satisfaction with airports continues to lag behind that of other aspects of the travel industry. The study found that passenger expectations of basic needs, such as prompt baggage delivery, airport comfort and ease of navigating the airport, are not being met consistently.

Orlando International scored higher on the most recent survey — 690 on a 1,000-point scale in 2010 compared to 675 in 2008. Nationally, satisfaction with airports was considerably lower than satisfaction with hotels, 756, and rental cars, 733.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

5 Ways to Beat Job-Hunting Pessimism in 2010

Tom Musbach, Yahoo! HotJobs

Job satisfaction held steady for workers in 2009, but pessimism and desperation plague many job seekers who remain grim about prospects for the job market in 2010, according to a new survey.
In an annual study of job satisfaction among U.S. workers, Yahoo! HotJobs found that 38.3% are "very satisfied" with their jobs and are not looking to change jobs, compared to 38.5% last year.

Most of the workers who said they were very unsatisfied and looking for new jobs were employees who had been hired within the last year. Those recent hires also reported applying for jobs below their qualifications (34%) or accepting a lower salary (30%).

"For employers, the news about unsatisfied recent hires is a warning sign," says Chris Merritt, general manager of Yahoo! HotJobs. "These are the people who could leave once the economy turns."

A Sluggish Recovery?

But nearly half of job seekers don't expect the economy to improve in 2010, according to the survey. When asked how long it would take to find a new job today, about 40% of respondents expected the process to take six months or longer.

"Improvements in the job market may not be that evident in the labor market statistics until 2011 or later," says John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "However, job seekers should not assume that simply because unemployment figures continue to hover in the nine- to 10-percent range that no one is hiring."

In fact, nearly a third (32%) of managers and recruiters who took the Yahoo! HotJobs survey expected to increase hiring activity in 2010.

Staying Competitive Today

To maximize your chances of landing a job this year, Challenger and other experts recommend the following tips:

Network. Join professional groups, and stay in contact with former associates. Spread the word about your job hunt. Tell everyone in your network about your situation and the type of opportunity you're seeking.

Cast a wide net. Look beyond your usual industry; many of your skills may be transferrable. Use job-listing sites like Yahoo! HotJobs, but also examine industry-specific sites or company sites for your target employers, and don't forget alumni career resource sites, if possible.

Customize each resume. Tailor your resumes to the job description, which will also provide useful key words. Take your time with each resume, as it is the first impression you make on the hiring manager.

"Not tailoring a resume is a huge mistake, because employers want their particular needs and problems addressed," says Lauren Milligan of ResumeMayDay.com. "Tailoring a resume shows that you have researched the company, or at the very least, read their job posting. Not tailoring it is a huge hurdle to overcome because other candidates will have been insightful enough to do this and will gain a competitive edge over you."

Don't get overwhelmed. If unemployed, commit to action every day. Your job search should be like full-time job. Carve out a specific time every day to focus on doing it well. Set small goals for yourself and measure your progress.

Reach out to your support systems. A lengthy job search can take a toll on your self-esteem and increase a sense of pessimism. To combat this, make an effort to connect with the people you care about. Their support will help you maintain a positive attitude.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Health IT Jobs Outlook Bright

The health IT sector will spawn 50,000 to 200,000 jobs between now and 2015, survey says.

By Antone Gonsalves
InformationWeek

Most new health IT jobs over the next five years will be filled by consultants and application trainers, a survey of IT professionals showed.

In addition, the survey conducted by the American Society of Health Informatics Managers found that 90% of the respondents believed that employers were looking for people with both IT and healthcare experience and knowledge.

In our final Whiteboard tutorial on Fibre Channel over Ethernet, Storage Switzerland's George Crump walks us through what an actual implementation of FCoE would look like, including what the tangible benefits will be.

Participants in the jobs survey released this week included beginners, intermediate workers and experts. Workers at the expert level, which comprised half of the respondents, were described as decision makers and senior management. The ASHIM interviewed 135 people.

Fully 96% of the respondents believed that the number of new health IT jobs that will be created between now and 2015 will fall between 50,000 and 200,000. Asked which jobs would fill the majority of the positions in the next five years, 63% of the respondents said consultants in electronic health and medial records and 61% said application trainers.

More than half of the respondents identified HIT job growth for sales representatives, database administrators and Unix administrators. More than half of the participants also predicted that IT professionals will seek additional skills to work in health IT.

Finally, 95% of the respondents believe health IT certification will be valuable in getting a job.

The ASHIM is a non-profit, professional organization specializing in health IT. The non-governmental group sponsors a credentialing exam for health IT called the Certified Health Informatics Systems Professional exam. Results of the latest survey can be viewed here.

Health IT is the fastest growing segment of the $1 trillion global healthcare marketplace, and is poised to continue its impressive growth through 2013, according to a study from Scienta Advisors, a management consulting firm.

HIT spending in the U.S. will focus on inpatient and outpatient electronic health records systems, at the expense of specialty and departmental information systems and other capital investments, Scientia said.

HTML WEB DESIGNER NEEDED IN PALATKA!!!

Consultis, a premier Minority Owned Technical Recruiting Services Company with the single focus of pairing the right candidate and skill sets with the right employment opportunity is currently searching for an HTML Expert for a Straight 3 Month Contract opportunity with our well known Florida Client.

Requirements/Responsibilities:

-Ensure web development compatibility with multiple Internet browsers and versions

-Develop web workflow and process

-Troubleshoot web page content and loading speed

-Develop web pages (HTML) for iPhone, Blackberry and other mobile devices

-Utilize current graphic design software to produce graphic art and visual materials for web and video content

-Ensure that graphics and page designs meet District standards

-Use new navigation/site map as guide for content placement

-Provide system and user documentation

-Develop and codify best practices for web development, updates, and maintenance

Required Qualification or Skills:

-Expert knowledge in maintaining large-scale HTML websites

-Expert knowledge in design and development of HTML web sites in multiple Internet Explorer versions and different types of browsers (Firefox, Chrome, etc.)

-Expert knowledge in management of website development, workflow, and process

-Extensive experience in Dreamweaver, Photoshop, or Fireworks

-Expert knowledge in web graphic design and development

-Expert knowledge in video and audio encoding and web delivery

-Expert knowledge of HTML and Java script

-Expert knowledge of web development on Mobile devices

-Five years web design and development

-Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

-Detail-oriented, strong organizational skills, ability to work independently, and meet deadlines consistently

Please contact Ryan Adams at 407-792-1520 or email ryana@consultis.com

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Sr. Flash Developer Opportunity in Orlando!!!

Flash Developer - Actionscript 2.0 Programmer/3d Artist

We are seeking a senior Flash developer with extensive knowledge of Actionscript 2.0. Must be able to program Flash interfaces to be used in conjunction with a Learning Management System (LMS). Strong ability to code complex interactions and scoring within a Flash-based simulation. Also requires ability to extract data from a Flash-based development tool and generate database reports in a tool such as Crystal Reports. Intermediate modeling and texturing skills using 3d Studio Max and Adobe Photoshop is preferred.

Desired qualifications include:

·Advanced Actionscript 2.0 skills required (please provide examples)

· Intermediate 3d Studio Max and Adobe Photoshop

· Graphic design skills a plus

· Strong attention to detail

· Self-starter

· Ability to work in a fast paced team environment and to meet deadlines


Contact Ryan Adams at 407-792-1520 or email ryana@consultis.com if you are interested...

IT hiring jumps in January

TechServe Alliance calls addition of 12,900 IT jobs an 'encouraging' sign
By Patrick Thibodeau

February 8, 2010

Computerworld - U.S. IT employment increased by 12,900 jobs, or 0.3%, in January, one of the best month-to-month gains since the recession hit in late 2008, the TechServe Alliance reported today.

The positive news comes after the prolonged recession had reduced overall IT employment by some 200,000 jobs, according to the Alexandria, Va.-based IT services industry group, which tracks monthly changes in IT hiring based on its own analysis of U.S. unemployment data.

The alliance's monthly calculations found that tech employment peaked in November, 2008, with some 4 million jobs. But in the first half of last year, IT employment fell off the cliff. The employment picture began stabilizing last summer. The January report lists a total of 3.823 million IT jobs.

The TechServe alliance described the latest monthly growth figures as "better than incremental." It added that "signs are encouraging that businesses demand for IT professionals and services is growing."

Even so, the tech job market has a lot of ground to cover to make up for last year's job losses.

The IEEE-USA, which is part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., said Friday that the number of working computer professionals in the U.S. dropped by 198,000 during 2009, according to its analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The IEEE-USA recently said the unemployment rate for software engineers fell from 4.7% to 4.1% from the third to the fourth 2009 quarter, while the total pool of employed software engineers fell from 970,000 to 952,000, a nearly 2% decline.

It attributed the decline to decisions by engineers to leave the field because of retirement, or to switch professions.

The IEEE said 82,000 software engineering jobs and 78,000 positions for computer scientists and systems analysts disappeared between 2008 and 2009.

"Putting engineers and computer professionals back to work will help power the U.S. economy," said Evelyn H. Hirt, who became the IEEE-USA's president in January. "They will foster technological breakthroughs and engineering solutions to meet the great challenges facing our country and help create opportunities throughout the workforce," she said in a statement.

Another barometer of tech demand are the number of jobs posted on Dice, a technology jobs board. There were nearly 58,000 jobs posted today; as of Jan. 4, it had nearly 49,000 jobs posted.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Sunrail Construction Starts Soon

By Diane Sears - 2/1/2010
FloridaTrend.com

Construction could start as early as June on the first phase of the SunRail commuter train that eventually will carry commuters 61 miles through Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties. A mass transit package that Gov. Charlie Crist signed in mid-December breathed life into the $1.2-billion regional project, which had stalled after failing to win support during the Legislature’s 2008 and 2009 spring sessions.

But a lot has to be done quickly to begin construction in four months: The state Department of Transportation still has to wrap up the nearly $500-million purchase of 61 miles of track from CSX and secure a commitment from the federal government for more than $300 million to help pay for the project.

The project is expected to create thousands of jobs over the next 30 years and billions in economic activity.

The construction industry will get the biggest boost initially, in a region where the jobless rate has climbed above 11% during the recession. The Florida Department of Transportation awarded the design and construction contract in February to a joint venture led by Archer Western Contractors of Atlanta and RailWorks Track Systems of New York City.

In addition to upgrades to the tracks and signals, the project includes 17 rail stations. The first leg will run between DeBary in Volusia and Sand Lake Road in Orlando.

“This is a game-changer for our community,” says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, part of a coalition that fought for the project. “If we’re going to be competitive, we have to have rail transportation.”

Supporters say SunRail will provide an option to driving along congested I-4 and help support the development of regional urban centers. They expect the project to help further a rail system connecting Orlando, Tampa and other points along the I-4 corridor. The state has been seeking $2.6 billion from the Obama administration’s $8-billion mass transit program.

Along with SunRail, the state approved money for south Florida’s Tri-Rail system and for setting up a statewide rail authority.

Opponents, including state Sen. Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland), said the state is paying CSX too much for the 61 miles of track. They also say the deal, which shifts freight rail traffic onto a different rail corridor, unfairly penalizes parts of the state that will see more freight trains. The commuter line, they say, is likely to have only limited ridership.

In the end, the package that won approval was perhaps stronger than the original two proposals. During the extra negotiating time, central Florida governments worked out an agreement with CSX over liability and insurance.

The delay also saw other changes: Florida Hospital, the largest employer along the route, had to come up with alternatives to its rail stop and ridership in its regional growth plan; the rail engine’s ultra-modern design gave way to a more traditional, less expensive train.

“On a daily basis, 300,000 people come downtown, and the large percentage of those commuters will now have options,” Dyer says. “Changing the mindset of getting into a car every day is a small step in the right direction.”

Rebound from Job Rejections

By Gina Cappiello

Job rejections can destroy the strongest of people and derail your job hunt in an instant. If you truly feel that something you're doing during interviews is preventing you from scoring the gig you desire, check out the following tips on how to improve in this tough market:
Focus on Your Skills

Nothing is more important to talk about during an interview than your variety of skills. Your typing speed, attention to detail, and positive attitude may seem bland to you, but can really prove to be the skills that put you above the rest. Flaunt your stuff and show off (without being too cocky) when you interview. Be proud of your accomplishments and show your interviewers why your skills are paramount for the role you're being interviewed for. Examples to back up your claims are always great to have on hand to drive your point home, too.

Consider Relocating

If being rejected by employers is something that has been happening constantly, it may be time to branch out. Look into different types of roles that are interesting to you in locations you would consider moving to. You may discover that your valuable skills can be utilized in a different role and town. Also, now may be the perfect opportunity to live your dream and move to New York City. At the very least, do some homework and find out the benefits and disadvantages of moving to a new city and the cost to move.

Take an Interviewing Course

If you are still not receiving job offers after constant interviews, consider working with a professional. Take a class about interviewing skills or attend a resume-writing workshop. It helps to have an outsider who doesn't know you review what you have to offer and give you valuable insight as to how to present yourself better. You may find that a few tweaks here and there are all you need to score that dream job soon.

Have you done everything above and are still unable to get the job you desire? Consider the following:

It Wasn't Meant to Be

It's always disappointing to not get the one you were determined to get, but it's OK. If it was meant to be, you would have gotten the job. The right job will happen for you in time. Finding the perfect job takes a ton of patience, hard work, and determination. Use this rejection as fuel for your next interview and let go of the negativity by remembering that the perfect job is still out there waiting for you.

It's Not You

Beating yourself over it by constantly replaying the interview in your head and nit-picking about everything you said won't help. Chances are that the interviewers liked you and felt you really were a perfect fit. Unfortunately in this economy, the competition is tougher, meaning that the other candidates were perfect for the role, too. Realizing that you're not the reason for being rejected is a liberating feeling and will keep you motivated on your job search. Keep being you and move on to the next interview.

Don't let your failed interviews drag you down and hold you back anymore. Stay in a positive state of mind and follow the tips above to shine during your future interviews.