Archive for the ‘News watch’ Category

The United States has regained its place as the world’s number one investor in clean energy, reclaiming the top spot from China, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

In 2011, U.S. total investment in clean energy surged to $55.9 billion, up 33 percent from 2010; China saw investment rise just 1 percent to $47.4 billion over the same time period. This is the first time that the U.S. – and not China – has held the number one spot since 2008.

Bloomberg attributes the increase in U.S.investment in large part to support initiatives such as the federal loan guarantee program and a Treasury grant program which have now expired.

The country’s principal remaining support measure for renewable energy, the Production Tax Credit, is currently also scheduled to fall away at the end of 2012 unless it is extended. As a result, Bloomberg suggests that there may be a rush to get projects completed in 2012, followed by a slump in investment in 2013, if the credit does, in fact, expire. Vestas, the world’s largest maker of wind turbines in terms of revenue, warned that 1,600 U.S. jobs were at risk if clean energy tax credits were not extended past the end of this year.

Read more here

By Brian Groom, Business and Employment Editor

City job vacancies fell by 42 per cent last month compared with a year ago, as hiring collapsed amid the deepening eurozone crisis, says a report by a leading Square Mile recruiter.

Morgan McKinley, a financial specialist, also found in a survey that while two-thirds of City workers still expected to receive a bonus in the new year, a third thought it would be lower than last year’s.

The figures are the latest indicator that confidence in the City, which until 18 months ago was one of brighter spots of recovery in the UK labour market, has been battered by the renewed financial crisis.

Morgan McKinley warned that although an upturn in hiring was likely in February and March, when banks traditionally step up recruitment after the bonus season, volume would probably be subdued.

Read more here

Why did you leave your last job?

What you should know: There are numerous reasons why a person leaves a job. Sometimes it’s voluntary and sometimes it’s involuntary. Some of the circumstances are sensitive warranting a well thought out response for both voluntary and involuntary separation. The primary concept you must remember when responding to this type of question is to be brief. Rarely will someone drill down for more details when you stay brief and high level. The more commentary you make in either situation the more likely you are to say something that doesn’t reflect well on you. When a person has left under circumstances that create emotions for them, they are most often blocked in some ways by feeling like they can’t adequately answer this question. Right now with so many people involuntarily unemployed, the bigger picture of the economy prevails in most people’s thinking. Here are possible responses:

Answer: I was released (or use the words, separated or left) at the time when my company was cutting back in several areas. There were several (or give a number) people in my immediate group that left at that time. (If you would return but they can’t hire you due to cut backs say-) I was interested in being rehired but their situation has not improved.

Answer: My position was eliminated due to a restructure of the work and organization. Eliminating my position made sense because the nature of my position shrunk due to X being changed.

Answer: I had a personal issue that warranted more of my attention than I could adequately manage and stay fully engaged in my job. When I left, I left on good terms but they were unable to reemploy me because of budget constraints. The issue I had to focus on is now fully resolved and will no longer require my time.

For more great career advice and information, sign up for the free, bimonthly Career Makeover newsletter http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com/

Check out ongoing free career teleseminars: http://www.careerrocketeer.com/career-studios

Author: Dorothy Tannahill-Moran is a Career Coach and expert on helping her clients achieve their goals. Her programs cover: Career growth and enhancement, Career Change, Retirement Alternatives and Job Search Strategy. Want to discover specific career change strategies that get results? Discover how by claiming your FREE gift, Career Makeover Toolkit at: http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com

As soon as it’s obvious that an interview is coming to an end a strange discomfort falls over the job seeker.  They aren’t sure how to end the interview and certainly what to do afterwards.  Year ago, the idea of sending thank you notes after such events were never questioned.  These days, we’re so casual about things most of the time a simple “Thank You” will suffice.  As a hiring manager, I can tell you receiving a thank you note were kind of irritating because it felt like a suck up.  I’ve discovered that my feeling is not shared with the majority of hiring managers.  Manners count to most people in the hiring process.

It is important to follow up after the interview with a thank you letter.  The thank you letter demonstrates your gratitude for the time to be considered, your professionalism and can act as a reinforcement of your qualifications.  There are certain elements you want to ensure are captured in your letter while still remaining brief.  Among the elements:

-          Appreciation for their time and interest in you

-          Restate your interest in the position

-          Review your qualifications for the position or if you forgot to mention some pertinent item is to state it to ensure they consider it

-          Follow up with any information the employer may have asked about during your time together, whether or not it is related to the position

-          To demonstrate manners and professionalism

Thank you notes are equally valuable sent via email or mail.  They should be sent within 2 days immediately following the interview.  As always, ensure the letter is free of typos and grammatical errors.

Thank You Letter Examples

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me about your business development position yesterday.  I’m very excited about the position and feel well qualified to perform the job.

In addition to my MBA, I have 5 years of experience in developing markets in the high tech industry which have lead to over $5M in new business.  You mentioned you were looking for someone who was exceptional in forging new markets and I believe that my background demonstrates that I can do that for your business.  As well, I work well in a team environment and pride myself in making and meeting my commitments.

I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Josh Brown

Dear Jane,

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to discuss the sale positions with you and John.  I am sure my background and skills fit with your needs.

You mentioned the challenges in the region including penetration into the education sector.  I think that my background in education along with sales experience will help your company make the kind of progress you are looking for.

I look forward to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision.  I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mike Jacobs

Manners and good business etiquette is never wrong, even for people like me.  This is an easy thing to do, doesn’t take too much time and gives you one last opportunity to demonstrate your brand.

For more great career advice and information, sign up for the free, bimonthly Career Makeover newsletter http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com/

Check out ongoing free career teleseminars: http://www.careerrocketeer.com/career-studios

Author:

Dorothy Tannahill-Moran is a Career Coach and expert on helping her clients achieve their goals. Her programs cover: Career growth and enhancement, Career Change, Retirement Alternatives and Job Search Strategy. Want to discover specific career change strategies that get results? Discover how by claiming your FREE gift, Career Makeover Toolkit at: http://CareerMakeoverToolKitShouldIstayorShouldIGo.com

If there were one habit I’d like to break, it would be drinking coffee in the morning, on the way to work, and when taking my kids to their events in the evenings.

Old habits are hard to break. Taking steps to correct them take small victories, which eventually lead to winning the battle.

Here are five habits you as a job seeker must break.

1. Believing that a resume is enough to land an interview. It’s not hard to understand why this habit is one tough cookie to crack. The message that your resume is enough is prevalent in the job search, where job experts say the first thing you need to do is write or update your résumé. And once you’ve accomplished this, a job is bound to come around.

2. Shotgunning resumes. How you’ve been taught to deliver your résumé is old school. Job search experts tell you to send your résumé to as many employers as possible (shotgunning it). I’ve heard some job seekers say with pride that they send out five resumes a day. This means two things: one, they aren’t tailoring their resumes to individual companies and two, they’re not leaving their computers and making contact. A few well-placed resumes are better than hundreds of unfocused resumes to no one in particular.

3. Shyness. Another old habit that’s hard to break for some job seekers is following their shy self. Your shy self tells you “Don’t tell people you’re looking for a job, even your staunch supporters like your family and friends…. Don’t network with other job seekers or business people…. Don’t ask your former supervisors and managers for a written recommendation for LinkedIn.” Your shy self has been with you while you’ve worked, so it’s hard to shake off.

4. Using the Internet for the wrong reasons. This habit might be the hardest one to break: using the Internet for online shopping, playing Farm Land and Mafia Wars, Googling for the best deal on a vacation spot; essentially using the Internet for the wrong reasons now in your life. It’s a bad sign when I ask job seekers if they’re using LinkedIn and even Twitter and Facebook for their job search, and they give me a deer-in-the-headlights look.

5. Stopping a good thing once you’ve gotten a job: A story I like to tell about a former job seeker is how when he started using LinkedIn, he wasn’t a true believer. Then he got a job and his activity picked up three-fold. I asked him if he was in the job hunt again. To this he replied that one should never stop networking, especially when one’s working. Some people tend to think all networking should cease while they’re working; they become complacent. Don’t fall into this trap.

Old habits, like drinking coffee night and day, are difficult to conquer but not impossible. Once you turn your habits into productive ones, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and your job search will be more successful.

Author:

Bob McIntosh is a career trainer at the Career Center of Lowell, where he leads more than 20 workshops on the career search. He is often the person jobseekers and staff go to for advice on the job search. Bob has gained a reputation as the LinkedIn expert in and around the career center. As well, he critiques resumes and conducts mock interviews. Bob’s greatest pleasure is helping people find rewarding careers in a competitive job market. These he considers to be his greatest accomplishments. Please visit his blog and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Want to see the Jobs tweeted in the last 72 hours? click here

TwitJobSearch.com is a Job Search Engine for Twitter

Stay updated on Twitter and the job postings available.

Have you ever felt that you weren’t truly working to your true potential? Plenty of people feel apathetic toward their jobs due to a variety of reasons. Most of those reasons, on some level, have to do with a lack of passion for their current field. The cliché states that if you “love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Take these four tips to heart as you contemplate a career change — and they may lead you to your dream job.

1. Identify your true passion. Think about the life experiences that sparked such interest and focus that time simply flew as you happily toiled away… Do you enjoy working with your hands? Do you enjoy helping people overcome problems? Can you teach a skill to others? The hobbies you pursue outside of your current career can be the gateway to the job for which you were born.

2. Become a detective. Search out the clues as to why you’re looking to switch careers. What’s driving you to change? Some of the things that prompt career changes are stress, work/life balance, lack of challenge, or limited growth potential. Once you’ve identified the culprit(s), do more digging into the potential fields you want to pursue, and ensure that you won’t be signing up for more of the same.

Most importantly, don’t settle. Once the newness of a position wears off, the things that nagged you before will be irritating you again…putting you back at square one.

3. Look before you leap. It’s exciting to pursue your passion, but that excitement can quickly turn to dread if you’ve thrust yourself into an unstable industry. Talk to others that work in the fields currently and find out if companies are hiring, freezing or downsizing. Horror stories abound of new hires sent home from training jobless as companies grind through reorganizations.

It may be prudent to hold off on chasing the dream job until the industry reaches stability. If you suspect there is a drawback, use the time instead to further your education for the prospective field. Education is one thing that can never be taken away from you. It’s yours for life.

4. Build a proper foundation. Once you’ve done all the necessary legwork to identify your dream field of work, do a little self-analysis. Do you have enough experience to be an initial success? Where are the gaps in your knowledge? Lay the groundwork for a successful career change by doing an internship in your prospective field. Find out what happens after the store closes and the doors are locked. Behind the scenes, reality can be quite different than your perception. It’s important to go in with your eyes wide open.

What is one part of your job that sparks passion and pride in you?

Author:

Ryan Mack is a partner at TruYuu, an online service that helps people present themselves as more than just a resume to employers. You can connect with Ryan and the TruYuu team on Facebook and Twitter.

LG Electronics USA has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by the end of 2020, compared with a 2007 baseline.

To accomplish this reduction, the company says it will focus on  cutting its energy consumption through such means as expanding and enhancing energy management systems and technology; increasing efficiency in data centers, computers and HVAC equipment and purchasing electricity from green power sources.

As part of these efforts, LG Electronics already has begun purchasing 100 percent green energy for its headquarters building.

Read more here

Studies show that large corporations are frequently using Twitter for recruitment. Jobvite’s annual Social Recruiting Surveyindicated that social networking for recruitment usage has grown significantly since last year.  The study also revealed that 83% of respondents were currently using or are planning to use social networks for hiring staff.   Survey respondents came from a range of industries and business sizes, so it was a fairly representative sample.

In comparison to other social networks, Twitter is the third most popular recruitment channel in comparison to the big two (Linkedin  and Facebook) being used by 45% of surveyed firms.

How corporate recruiters are using Twitter

Since Twitter messages are limited to just 140 characters in length, (a short sentence), Twitter based recruitment messages tend to be a  short, precise message and call to action. Typically the message will be a job vacancy or job related news and the call to action will be a link to a web page with more detail. You can see how leading organizations are using twitter for hiring in the examples below:

Microsoft

Here are a couple of Microsoft job tweets from the 16^th of October.

• We’re hiring: Business Architects,Business Strategy Consultants, and Enterprise Architects – visit us @ http://bit.ly/eh8vBJ #jobs
• Check out our most current #Microsoft DC, Washington #jobpostings @ http://bit.ly/hUmkqH

Microsoft tweets are direct, to the point calls to action with no frills. This is an employer that is confident of its appeal and is within a sector where there is a ready supply of candidates.

Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC)

This recent tweet from Price Water House Cooper on the 5^th of October shows how they use more seductive tweets to encourage users to read the twitter link. For example:

• No two career paths are alike. See how others have shaped their #careers and how you can grow your own way at #PwCpwc.to/orAXT9.

PwC are constantly reaching out and trying to engage with both passive candidates and actively looking job candidates through blogging:

• Does your online image reflect the “real” you? PwC’s Holly Paul on managing your online profile. http://aol.it/oZPiId #personalbrand
• It’s not just about a resume anymore. Learn how a strong online profile can help you build your #career prospects.http://aol.it/n191LD #Pwc

PwC also use tweets to promote themselves as an employer.

• For the 3rd year in a row, #PwC named most prestigious #accounting firm in North America by @VaultCareers bit.ly/mTzZo0 #Careers

Of course, they also use it to advertise jobs:

• We’re seeking candidates working toward #accounting degrees for positions in the D.C area., Detroit and San Jose!http://pwc.to/nWffhP #PwC

The finance industry is known to be a sector where demand outstrips supply and the PwC twitter strategy reflects this. PwC are adopting a recruitment strategy to target both passive candidates and actively looking job seekers.

Fox News

The entertainment industry is another sector which typically has an oversupply of candidates. Like Microsoft, Fox News is straight to the point with its tweets, and does not need to build an on-going candidate engagement strategy like PwC.

• Researcher/Information Specialist at Fox News Network: Job Description: FOX News Channel, a fast-paced 24-hour t…http://bit.ly/nS62OB
• Reporter at Fox News Network: Job Description: Fox News Radio is seeking an experienced radio reporter to be bas…http://bit.ly/qim0LG

And what about Hashtags on Twitter?

At the end of many of the tweets above you will see a hashtag such as #Careers or #jobs. All the employers are using relevant hashtags as topic markers to ensure their tweets come up in jobseekers searches.

Start following your preferred employers on Twitter!!

Digital marketing is about so much more than just launching a website. It’s about embracing new technologies and integrating new techniques with the more traditional approaches to effectively market your company to the right audience. A career in digital marketing is not for everybody! You have to be sharp and on the ball. Love online interaction and be quick with the ideas and plans. 

Featuring short video-interviews with influential business leaders, 10 Minutes With helps students understand what working in a particular function would look like and the skills they require before launching specific career paths.

To access and view the Interview:

1. Sign up for a username and password on the website at www.10MinutesWith.com
2. Select the link Request Access underneath the login button on the right hand side of the front page
3. Here you will be asked to enter your IE email address and to create an account with 10 Minutes With
4. Once this is complete, you will automatically be sent an email with a username and password