Old Cheezhead

Recruiting Software

Pointwing version 1.2, recently released by VCG, LLC, is one of the newest pieces of recruiting software on the market at the moment.

According to a recent press release, this program was created for third-party recruiting and customer relationship management and features system customization and user interface personalization, account management, resume parsing, searching and two-way Microsoft Outlook integration.

VCG hopes that the newest version of Pointwing will help to improve recruiters’ success in finding the talent that is most suited for the companies utilizing the software. Although there may be plenty of jobseekers on the market, locating the right talent can be a challenge, which the program hopes to make easier.

"Pointwing Front Office is a powerful tool to enable professional recruiting firms to achieve greater efficiency in their recruiting and sales processes and therefore profitability,” Steve Taylor, president and CEO of VCG, said. “With Pointwing's Microsoft .NET technology platform and service-oriented architecture (SOA) foundation, it is an incredibly flexible and scalable platform designed to meet their unique business process needs.”

The flexibility Taylor speaks of can be found in the multiple ways this recruiting software can be personalized. The ultimate goal is to allow for a greater ease in handling tasks and data. The two-way Microsoft Outlook integration of Pointwing’s Front Office has been geared toward improving communication between contact points.

The feature also is expected to reduce the sales and candidate placement cycle time. This part of the program gives recruiters the ability to check out their tasks, calendar appointments, contact and e-mails from a variety of cell phones and PDAs. This allows users a little more freedom and allows them to keep up with work related issues even when not at the office.

Version 1.2 of Pointwing is available in several different formats. VCG feels that this program will reduce the upfront cost for recruiting firms and give them a software option that is capable of growing with their business.

Applicant Tracking Company Wins "Beauty Pageant"

iCIMS was recently named the two-time winner of the HRchitect "Beauty Contest" for talent acquisition and mid-market applicant tracking solutions.

The most recent "beauty pageant" found iCIMS pitted against Silkroad, ADP-Virtual Edge, Authoria and Mr. Ted. The company previously won in January, when it was pitted against Click & Hire, nowHIRE, SonicRecruit, SmartSearch and SmartRecruiters. The company won both times for its "back to basics" approach.

“The fact that iCIMS was once again selected as a winner really reiterates what we’ve seen from more and more companies as they align with our vision of going back to the basics and utilizing one easy-to-use solution that is supported by the best customer service

team in the industry,” Adam Feigenbaum, iCIMS’ director of sales and presenter for both pageants, said in a press release.

“Specifically within the mid-market, where the majority of our clients have traditionally fallen, the fundamentals of cost-effectiveness and increasing efficiency are of top priority – and the single-source Talent Platform delivers on these levels,” Feigenbaum continued.

The pageant gave participants a look into the decision-making process of today's mid-market organizations. Because of the current economy, the platform that offers the most value and greatest efficiencies will be favored above the others.

HRchitect has been presenting "Assessing the Talent Management and HR Systems Landscape, an HRchitect Beauty Pageant," a series of Webinars, since November 2008. Each "beauty pageant" focuses on a different category of HR technology and features six top vendors. Companies compete by showing off their company story, service differentiators, value proposition and technology.

“As the leading Talent Acquisition Systems consulting firm, we feel a communal responsibility to create an feducated public regarding HR technology decisions,” Rick Fletcher, president and founder of HRchitect, said in the press release. “We also think this is a really great opportunity for anyone who is looking at purchasing an HR technology solution to be able to learn more about several of the top systems in each category.”

Pre Employment Testing for Drugs Up for Debate in Oregon

Proposed legislation in Oregon could set new procedures for pre employment testing and random drug testing of workers.

House Bill 2881 would require that all drug test results be set to a physician, who would then review positive results with the applicant or employee in question. One version of the bill, which is still being amended, states the physician must report a positive test to the employer only if there is a reason to believe the worker's drug use poses a job safety risk.

According to an article by Oregon Live, some employers feel they currently have no way to evaluate whether or not employees are abusing certain drugs, such as marijuana, which is often used for medical purposes. However, the current state medical marijuana law often conflicts with the federal drug-free workplace laws.

"I think we need to clarify the (medical marijuana) law," Rep. Mike Schaufler said in the article. "I want employers to be able to manage their risk and employees to be treated fairly."

About 20,000 people in Oregon currently have medical marijuana cards.

"(The state's medical marijuana law has) morphed into a get out of jail free card for the indiscriminate use of marijuana," Lee Briney, president-elect of the Columbia Willamette Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, said in the article. "I urge you, as representatives of Oregon employers, to help maintain safe workplaces by outlawing acceptance of marijuana use by employees."

Currently, more than 20,000 people in Oregon hold medical marijuana cards.

However, many advocates of the proposed bill and the state's medical marijuana law state there is no evidence the law has led to an increase of on-the-job injuries.

"All of us need our jobs right now," Madeline Martinez, executive director of the Oregon chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said in the article. "All we're asking is to be treated with dignity and respect."

Chicago Banking Jobs with HSBC to be Cut

Some Chicago banking jobs will be lost as HSBC plans to shed positions.

HSBC Finance, part of HSBC Holdings PLC of London, recently announced it would close 800 Household and Beneficial branches and eliminate 6,100 jobs nationwide. The cuts are being made because of rising unemployment and high mortgage delinquencies.

In 2002, HSBC purchased Household International, a company known for catering to those with less-than-good credit. According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, HSBC previously closed 600 Household and Beneficial branches.

Of the 800 branches to be closed, 33 are located in Illinois. These closings will account for about 4,000 job losses. It is unknown exactly how many jobs in Chicago will be affected.

"High levels of delinquency, given rising levels of unemployment, mean that the business model for subprime home equity refinancing is not sustainable," Niall Booker, HSBC Finance Corp. chief executive, said in the article.

"If you look back, it has not been a successful acquisition," Booker added. "In 2003, when the acquisition occurred, nobody would have thought we'd have a global financial crisis and the recession. It's fair to say it was not a core line of business for us at the time. We entered into markets - perhaps with the benefit of hindsight - it was best we didn't."

Along with many other industries, the financial industry in Chicago and throughout Illinois has been affected by the current economic recession. The Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area's financial activities industry employed 289,500 workers during December 2008, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 289,600 workers during November 2008 and a 1.9 percent decrease from last year.

As a whole, Illinois' financial activities industry employed 393,400 workers during December 2008, down from 393,500 workers during November 2008 and a 2.4 percent decrease from last year.

Job Search ... At the Library?

In a time when many people are on a continuous job search, one free resource is often forgotten: your local public library.

Most public libraries offer job search books, computers, resume help, information on civil service exams and how to prepare for them, computer training for those wishing to upgrade skills and Wi-Fi access for those who want to use the Internet on their own laptops or phones to search for jobs online.

In an article by Newsday, Arthur Maass, career center coordinator at the West Islip Library, said some job seekers look at the library as an office. Many libraries offer private rooms or other areas where job seekers can focus on their search alone. Library staff are usually willing to help job seekers prepare their resumes and find other social services resources.

"If we don't have a service, we can direct them to it," Maria Pontillo, community service department manager at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, said in the article.

Some libraries, including several on Long Island, offer part-time career counseling for district patrons. These libraries include Patchogue-Medford Library, Freeport Memorial Library and Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library.

The public library is a welcome free resource during a time when there are many job seekers. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country as a whole saw its total non-farm employment drop by 524,000 jobs during December 2008. The nation's unemployment rate increased from 6.8 during October 2008 percent to 7.2 percent.

During the last four months, the country has lost 1.9 million jobs. From December 2007, the number of unemployed people has increased by 3.6 million, while the unemployment rate has increased by 2.3 percent.

Adicio Launches CareerCast

An interview with Adicio's Tony Lee on their new site, CareerCast.com.

Job Search Tough for College Grads

Many students looking ahead to graduation are finding themselves wondering how the current economy will affect their job search.

According to an article by TheIndyChannel, experts say students should focus on thinking broadly, networking and being patient. Afraid it will take longer than usual to find work, many students are starting to search for jobs earlier than normal.

The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 533,000 jobs were lost during November, following 320,000 job losses during October and 403,000 job losses during September. The unemployment rate came in at 6.7 percent during November, up from 6.5 percent during October.

Full-time hiring at Indiana University is down by about 15 percent, so that school and others, like the Kelley School of Business, are trying to help their students, particularly those in finance, prepare for the future.

"As a finance major, you just have to work hard and hope for the best," IU student Zach Rudolph said in the article.

Students majoring in retail also are expected to have trouble finding employment. A recent study conducted by Michigan State University found that major retail stores that used to hire an average of 70 students per year will only hire about 14 percent this year.

"Don't necessarily rely on all the big names," Susie Clarke, director of undergraduate career services at Kelly, said in the article. "Think about the smaller firms. It's out there. There are still jobs out there. It's just going to be harder."

Virginia Jobs with Lockheed Martin Should be Safe

One well-known company is vying to renew its contract with the United States Army, and hopes to save its Virginia jobs.

Lockheed Martin Corp. recently filed a notice with the Virginia Department of Labor stating the company may close its office in the Pentagon. However, company officials are saying that move was purely precautionary and hopes it won't have to lay off any employees.

The office employs 250 workers, most who manage the network of data coming in and out of the Pentagon, according to an article by The Business Review.

“We really don’t expect to lay the 250 people off," Joe Wagovich, a company spokesman, said in the article. "We are going through a re-compete of a contract at the Pentagon. We feel confident in our proposal.”

The winner of the contract with the company should be announced sometime this month. Lockheed Martin has had its contract with the Army for eight years. If another contractor were picked for the job, the majority of employees would be able to keep their job in Virginia, but some managers might be phased out.

As for filing with the Virginia Department of Labor, that's a required move if a layoff is expected to occur within 60 days.

"(That was a) purely precautionary measure," Wagovich added. "So if for some reason the Army would pick another contractor to do that job, we expect a short transition period would fall within that 60 days."

Oklahoma Jobs Could be Affected by Economy

During the current economic turmoil, Oklahoma's economy continues to flourish more than others, but Oklahoma jobs could soon take a hit.

According to an article by The Daily O'collegian, there are two reasons why Oklahoma should be able to outperform the rest of the nation amongst the current economy, which has had problems with the credit, housing, banking, automobile and oil industries, to name a few.

“The first is that (Oklahoma) has a lot of momentum as a state going into the slowdown, and the second is that we think we’re still getting a boost in the energy sector,” Mark Snead, director of the Center for Applied Economic Research at Oklahoma State University, said in the article.

However, the price of oil and natural gas has a great influence on how the state's economy performs, meaning prices of $45 to $50 a barrel are critical to Oklahoma. If oil were to decrease to about $35 per barrel, and natural gas to $5 per barrel, the economy would considerably slow down.

“Right now we’re around $55 per barrel and we think there’s some energy boost there,” Snead continued. “But if we fall to $35 oil and $5 natural gas, not only will there not be an energy boost, but there will be a restraint on activity in the state that exerts a drag on the state economy.”

While the energy industry, among a few others, is expected to keep the state's economy afloat, Oklahoma will have some problems because of the economy. One of those problems could be the Oklahoma job market itself.

“We are looking for a pretty much across the board slow down,” Snead added. “There will be layoffs — there’s no doubt about it.”

According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma had an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent during October, up from 3.8 percent in September, but lower than the national unemployment rate of 6.5 percent. Two industries expected to take a considerable hit are manufacturing and finance, as well as some temporary positions, which will leave some searching for jobs.

However, 76 companies have already signed up for a spring career fair at Oklahoma State University.

“So far we have not seen a decline and we are very fortunate in that regard,” Cara Ferrell, assistant director of career services, said in the article. “December and May graduates should not be affected.”

High-Growth Jobs in Illinois Easier to Find

Although unemployment in Illinois dropped in September, falling from 7.3 percent in August to 6.9 percent, there are still many in the area without work. Back in April of this year, only 5.4 percent of residents were unable to find jobs in Illinois.

Hoping to alleviate the jobless problem plaguing the state, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich recently announced that Illinois’ workforce development system, Illinois workNet, and CareerBuilder.com have decided to partner up. This will provide residents with extra assistance through career planning, training and job placement services, according to a recent press release.

All of this new attention will be focused mainly on the state’s four industries with the with highest job growth, which the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity at Southern Illinois are information technology, manufacturing and transportation, distribution and logistics. These sectors provide jobs in Illinois that tend to have good benefits and salaries.

“I know that the national economic slowdown continues to challenge Illinois’ workers. The state of Illinois is doing our part to make sure Illinois workers have the resources needed to compete in today’s marketplace,” said Governor Blagojevich in a recent press release. “The Illinois workNet Portal, and our new partnership with CareerBuilder.com, provide critical tools and resources for Illinois job seekers.”

Illinois workNet Portal and Program will be providing residents and area businesses important resources that are geared toward “enhancing” the state’s workforce development. Users will be able to access all of this information through the Internet from the comfort of their own homes.

CareerBuilder.com will be improving upon workNet’s already existing web-based by the addition of their Critical Skills Shortage Initiative and Rapid Response Events. It is expected that this will increase the opportunities available for both individuals and businesses.

“CareerBuilder.com is proud to partner with the Governor and the state of Illinois on this innovative public-private partnership. It is our hope that this new tool will promote jobs in high-growth industries and help provide resources needed for individuals looking to move into these careers,” said Brent Rasmussen, who is the President of CareerBuilder North America, in a recent statement. “CareerBuilder.com has been headquartered in Illinois since 2002 and we attribute much of our own success to the incredible employees that we have been able to hire in the state.”

Jack Lavin, director of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, agrees that this will benefit job seekers and area businesses.

“Illinois workNet represents one of the many ways Governor Blagojevich and the State of Illinois are working to help develop, maintain and support a strong, skilled, well-trained workforce,” Lavin said. “We are proud to partner with CareerBuilder.com to expand Illinois workNet’s offerings in high-growth industries, helping hardworking Illinoisans who have been affected by industry downturns.”

Information Included in a Pre-employment Background Check

The information included in a pre-employment background check depends on the job the applicant is applying for. Employers that are looking for someone to fill a position for a receptionist would usually be concerned with making sure that the job seeker’s resume was accurate and that they have not been convicted of a serious crime that would make the a danger in the work place. Hiring managers looking for a CFO would likely order a much more intricate report, paying special attention to such things as the applicant’s financial history. Some of the elements that can be included in a work-related background check include:

Criminal Records: This part of the background check tells employers about all of an applicant’s past run-ins with the law, as long as the law does not prohibit the inclusion of certain charges. Employers often utilize their county records for this type of investigation, but state and even national databases can be used.

Employment History: Many businesses double check with an applicants past employers. This helps to make sure that the job seeker has had the responsibilities at past workplaces that they claim to have had and that they received the salaries they report.

Litigation Records: Hiring managers often like to know if a job seeker has sued past employers. Since some individuals make a habit of taking legal action without cause, businesses often try to avoid workers who have frequently been involved in this sort of lawsuit.

Educational reports: Some job seekers have been known to claim to have degrees or other certifications that the do not posses. In order to avoid hiring a worker who can not perform the responsibilities of the position in question, employers often make sure that all information is correct on the resumes submitted.

Driving History: If the position in question will require that the employee drive while on the clock, employers will almost always check with their local Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Transportation to make sure the applicant is a safe driver.

Drug Tests: In order to avoid paying high workers’ compensation insurance, employers often test applicants to make sure that they are not using illegal substances.

Financial Records: If the job will involve handling large sums of money, employers often investigate applicants’ credit scores, liens and bankruptcy records. The thought behind this is that, if the worker can not handle their own finances, why should they be trusted with company funds?

Other things that an employer may look into before hiring an applicant include licensing records and history of military service. For some government jobs or other high-security positions, applicants may have to consent to allow employers to view their medical and mental health records or interview the job seekers acquaintances.

Healthcare and Medical Jobs in High Demand

With the economy the way it is, many industries are seeing a significant decrease in employment. Since consumer spending is down, employers are trying to make up their lost profits by reducing the number of people they have working for them. Jobs in healthcare seem to be immune to all of the problems effecting other sectors.

According to a recent press release, Beyond.com, Inc. found that healthcare and medical jobs are on the rise, despite the struggling economy. The niche career community operator just put out their Third Quarter 2008 Career Trend Analysis and Industry Outlook Reports, which showed these positions have increased by 2.66 percent during the last 12 months.

The report showed that this area of employment has been helping to make up for a lot of jobs lost in other sectors throughout the country. Some areas where the increase was especially notable included Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia.

Healthcare and medical jobs also surpassed all other area of employment to become the number one category of positions posted throughout the website’s job boards. Altogether, 12.92 percent of the jobs announced online fell into this sector. Before the most recent report, information technology employers had posted the most positions for the last six consecutive quarters.

Interestingly enough, information technology saw the largest drop in jobs posted online. During the last quarter, employers decreased the number of vacancies announced online by 1.09 percent. Despite this, the industry still supplied the second largest number of jobs for the quarter, with 12.90 percent of jobs on Beyond.com’s site belonging in this category.

Other industries that continued to supply a significant number of jobs included sales, which accounted for 11.65 percent of positions, clerical, 7.92 percent, and accounting and finance, with 7.07 percent of jobs falling into this category.

"Although the healthcare industry has continued to thrive, the recession is beginning to take its toll on many industries across the country, causing a sharp decline in jobs and leaving many professionals to wonder when our economy will bounce back," said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com, Inc., in a recent statement. "According to a recent poll, with a newly elected president, job seekers expect change and are hopeful that the economy and job market will be revitalized to pull us out of the recession and keep the American economy strong."

Free Applicant Tracking System

According to a recent press release, Corra Group has decided to offer both its existing and future clients a free applicant tracking system. With the economy causes many businesses to have to cut out many expenses, this offer stands to help many human resource departments continue to be efficient without breaking the budget.

The newly free applicant tracking system has been designed to be easy to install. It also allows users to get on the Internet without the need of additional software.

“We thought in this economy we can offer the ATS as a convenience to our clients,” said Corra’s Co-Founder Nick Gustavson in a recent statement. “With this system, our clients can post a link on their site where they receive applications and resumes. They can review the applicants’ material and the process for background checks those applicants they see as viable employment candidates. They can either reject the other applicants or filed their resumes for further review. All with a stroke on the keyboard.”

“Time is money, and human resources personnel can spend an inordinate amount of time reviewing applications and resumes,” Gustavson went on. “Most of the applicants won’t be qualified. The ATS should help reduce the time human resource mangers spend in reviewing and process applicants and resumes. What’s great about this system is that we can set it up in no time.”

Aside from allowing human resource departments to continue to operate at full speed despite money problems, it is highly possible that Corra’s decision will make it easier for the company to attract new clients.

Background Checks and Smaller Employers

Due to the fact that many smaller employers don’t conduct background checks on job applicants, a good portion of the workforce that has a less than perfect past end up working for these businesses. Owners of these businesses usually pass up on doing these investigations because of a lack of funds, but there are options available that aren’t as expensive as hiring the same firm to conduct the investigations that large-scale employers do.

For starters, a smaller business always have the option of conducting background checks on their applicants themselves. Although this can have legal ramifications if not handled correctly, guidelines are available online to make sure that no lines are crossed. Many of the most important records are either free to view, such as the registry of sex offenders, or easily obtained, like records of other criminal charges. Employers can usually get the latter from a local courthouse. The downside of this option is that it does take time out of another employees busy schedule. This individual often has to neglect other duties in order to handle going through records.

Another option is to sign up for a pay-as-you-go online background check website. There are plenty of companies to chose from with a variety of different prices, making it easy to find one that fits into almost any budget. These services are great for small employers since they only charge for the exact number of investigations conducted. Just make sure that the firm chosen is legitimate.

If neither of these options fit into an employers budget then there is another way to reduce the chance of having a person with a background of violence join their staff. Some studies have found that employers who do not actually conduct such investigations, but have new applicants fill out a form giving there consent to have their past looked into have fewer employees with less-than-pristine histories working for them than other small businesses. This is because those with really bad criminal records often see the form and decide either not to apply or do not return the employers phone calls afterwards.

Any of these options can help to reduce the chance of having legal or safety problems in the workplace.

Internships Vital in Lagging Economy

As the economy continues to decline and jobs continue to be cut, internships are becoming more vital than ever before.

In October, according to the United States Department of Labor, the number of jobs fell in 41 states. According to an article by The University Daily Kansan, a declining economy with fewer job openings makes experience a vital thing to have during a job search.

According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, America had an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent during October, up from 6.1 percent during September. During October, the country lost 240,000 jobs, meaning overall employment has decreased by 1.2 million jobs so far this year.

Erin Wolfram, assistant director of the University Career Center, said in the article that work experience is important for all students. Especially in today's economy, companies are looking more closely at resumes, and often choosing those that include experimental education such as volunteering, job shadowing, interning, attending conferences and joining professional associations.

“All of those things together make students more successful,” she said in the article. “The more experience they can get, the better.”

Wolfram said students should remember that internship are competitive. She said having an updated resume, knowing how to interview and having a cover letter prepared before applying for a job will give students a head start.

“You want to make a good impression so you can use that internship as a solid recommendation when you go in to apply for a job after graduating,” she added.

Wolfram also suggests that students looking for internships complete informational interviews, which includes asking industry professionals what advice they have for students seeking internships.

Reno Casino Jobs Cut with IGT

One of Nevada's leading gaming technology companies is cutting Reno casino jobs.

International Game Technology has announced its plan to cut about 300 jobs. Most of these employees will be laid off or receive buyouts. The positions to be cut are at the company's headquarters. IGT, which is the world's largest maker of slot machines and casino systems, expects to lost about 500 workers from a total of 5,400. About 3,000 workers are currently employed at the headquarters.

In an article by The Mercury News, TJ Matthews, IGT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said the amount of layoffs would be determined by how many workers would agree to take voluntary buyouts, which were offered to staff members 55-years and older. So far, about 120 employees have opted for buyout packages and about 180 others will have their jobs eliminated. The buyout package could be a bridge to retirement for some employees.

The company has blamed the slowing economy and an "unprecedented" decline in casino play for its lower third-quarter earnings. It also reduced its profit forecast for the rest of the year and into early 2009 to a range of 30 cents to 35 cents per share from a range of 35 cents to 40 cents per share.

"The voluntary separation offers and the current reduction in workforce are just one part of an overall strategic evaluation in reducing expenses for the entire company," IGT spokesman Ed Rogich said in the article. "This effort is in response to the current economic conditions that we are facing in our markets throughout the world."

"Every job is precious and when we lose them, it is not a good day," Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, chairman of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, added. "Especially in high-tech manufacturing, those are very precious jobs."

Job Search

Beginning a job search during a time when the economy is struggling can be very scary. Higher unemployment and fewer positions means that competition for available jobs is up. Those looking for work have to understand that finding a new employer may take longer than they might have been able to expect in better times.

Because of this, those who are employed in a industry that is already suffering or feel that they could soon be without work for another reason should begin looking at job listings as soon as possible. According to a study conducted by the Inavero Institute for Service Research, a sample of 1,000 HR professionals said that they posted 72 percent of vacant positions online. This means that the Internet should be the first place you look for a job.

A job search shouldn’t be limited to career site giants like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. Many smaller employers can’t justify the expense of such websites, so those serious about finding a new place to work should consult several different sources.

Try using a vertical job search engine. These websites search the Internet and pull job listings from a variety of sources, allowing those looking for work to view them all in one place. This can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to find all of the available jobs online in one area.

Still, don’t neglect to look at websites like Craigslist and the online classified section on local newspapers. Some employers prefer posting their vacant positions this way.

Despite the fact that many jobs are now posted online, there are still 28 percent of positions that never make it to the web. These are often filled through word of mouth, so it is important to ask friends and family if the companies they are working for are hiring. Many employers prefer to find new workers through recommendations of current staff members, because the expected that these individuals will know what kind of worker will fit the company best.

If a job seeker has a company in mind that they would like to work for, they should call and ask if there are any openings, even if they can’t find a job listing online. A position may have just become vacant or the business may not have had a chance to begin recruiting yet. Since being one of the first to apply can make a difference in a difficult economy, this step can really make a difference in a job search.

Jobs in Boston

Although jobs in Boston are not suffering as badly as those in many cities, unemployment continued to rise in September. The percentage of the population that was without work in the metropolitan area jumped from 4.7 to 5.0 percent, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only a year ago, just 4.1 percent of the population was unemployed.

Despite rising joblessness, unemployment in Boston remains lower than Massachusetts’ average, which increased slightly from 5.2 percent in August to 5.3 percent in September. The national unemployment rate was up to 6.1 percent.

Unemployment might have risen, but total nonfarm jobs in the city were up by 0.8 percent in September. This means that employers continue to create new jobs, but that businesses can not supply enough positions to offset population growth.

Three areas of employment experience an increase of more than 1.0 percent. Education and health services, a sector which has proven itself to be almost recession proof, posted the largest gains with an increase of 2.6 percent since last September. Professional and business services came next, growing by 2.4 percent, in comparison to the same time last year. Leisure and hospitality followed, with employment rising by 1.7 percent for the second month in a row.

Construction jobs saw the largest decrease in employment in Boston during the month of September. With fewer homes being sold, there is less of a need for new building projects, which caused employment in the sector to drop by 3 percent since the same month in 2007.

The manufacturing sector saw the second largest decrease, as employers cut jobs in this industry by 1.1 percent, in comparison to a year before The financial activities sectors, which has been struggling across the nation, also dropped employment significantly, as jobs fell by 1 percent.

The Boston jobless rate for October has yet to be released, but since the national average jumped 0.4 percent to 6.5 percent, it is easily assumed that Boston unemployment also increased. Issues like the financial crisis, credit issues and the housing market slump continue to plague the area.

Jobs in Maryland

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 1.1 percent decrease in jobs in Maryland drove the state’s unemployment rate up 0.1 percent in September to 4.6 percent. This made Maryland one of 21 states that saw an increase in joblessness.

Despite the small rise, the Maryland continues to have a better job market than most of the nation. This is, of course, in part to many of the government jobs in the area.

Still, more than 138,000 Maryland residents were without work in September. According the Baltimore Sun, this is a 33 percent rise since 2008 began. Unemployment in the state has been getting higher since June of this year, when it hit 4 percent.

Thankfully it remains significantly below the country’s unemployment rate, which remained at 6.1 percent during September, but rose to 6.5 percent in October. Only last year, the national joblessness percentage was only 4.7 percent. Maryland’s unemployment statistics for last month have yet to be released, but if the last three months are any indicator, then the state will see another rise in unemployment.

Employment in the education and health services sector saw the largest job gains in Maryland. This industry has been rather well throughout the country, despite widespread economic problems, because of the necessity of many of its services. In Maryland, positions in this area of employment increased by 2.7 percent when compared to last September.

Other large gains in jobs in Maryland occurred in professional and business services and the catch-all category of “other services”.

During the same time, manufacturing and construction jobs showed signs that they are following the national, as employment in these sectors continued to decline.

Jobs in Chicago Cut

Although gas prices have fallen, airlines are still suffering across the nation. With unemployment on the rise, many individuals can’t afford to travel. This is has caused many in the industry to have to layoff employees in order to keep their profits up, but the job in Chicago that may receive the ax at local airports are being lost for different reasons.

According to the Chicago Tribune, 29 airport greeters will soon be unemployed as a part of Mayor Richard Daley’s plan to save the city money. These customer service employees were responsible for assisting travelers by answering questions and providing translation services when needed. Currently there are 24 of these employees at O’Hare and 5 at Midway.

Tribune reporters John Hilkevitch and Dan Mihalopoulos said that the mayor’s new budget for next year calls for not only the loss of around 1,000 jobs in Chicago, but also retains several managers who are over the soon-to-be-unemployed airport greeters. These supervisors with the Aviation Department will also be receiving raises under Daley’s plan. The department’s “external communication” staff is expected to drop from 41 workers to 10, mostly by the loss of the greeters.

According to the Tribune, documents explaining the city’s new budget show that the jobs in Chicago in the department that will remain untouched include a marketing director, who receives $114,585 a year, a deputy commissioner, whose annual salary is $114,084, and a customer service manager, who makes $94,848 a year. The greeters made anywhere from $38,000 to $58,000 a year.

All of the jobs in Chicago that will be cut by the mayor’s plan are expected to help make up for the city’s $469 million deficit. Tribune reporters said that aldermen have already given their preliminary approval for the proposal and will cast their final vote on Wednesday, November 19^th.

Jobs in Connecticut Not Recession Proof

The economic recession that is effecting most of the nation is expected to cause the loss of around 40,000 jobs in Connecticut before the state begins to recover. According to the most recent report for the Connecticut Center of Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut, employers in the state will likely do away with these positions during the next two years.

Connecticut’s jobless rate was 6.1 percent during the month of October, which is thankfully below the national average of 6.5 percent. According to the New Haven Register, two factors have made this possible. For starters, falling gas prices have enabled many employers to provide more jobs in Connecticut than they would have had the pump continued to drain profit margins.

Another thing that Connecticut’s job market has going for it is that it has been able to maintain more construction jobs than many places. Unemployment in this sector is lower than the housing industry has caused in other areas.

According the Harford Courant, jobs in Connecticut had been “relatively untouched by the recession” until lately. Reporter Lynn Doan went on to say that economists agree that many industries won’t be able to withstand the pressure if conditions continue as they are now.

Recent jobs in Connecticut to receive the ax include 500 positions at The Hartford, positions at Barnes Group Inc. and Gerber Scientific. Back in August, UConn’s economist predicted the loss of only 9,500 jobs in Connecticut before the end of the recession, but layoffs such as these have drastically effected predications.

Other experts believe that predicating the loss of 40,000 jobs in Connecticut is too optimistic.

Don Klepper-Smith, who is the chairman of Governor M. Jodi Rell’s economic advisory panel, believes that a more realistic figure would be anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 jobs in Connecticut by the middle of 2010.

Reasons To Use HR Software

Although HR software can make running a business much easier on human resource departments, many mid-sized and small employers still aren’t using it. Some believe that, with the economy as it is, they can’t justify the expense.

There are many ways that HR software can help to pay for its self. For starters, these programs reduce the amount of paper used in the workplace. Not only is this more environmentally friendly, it also does away with this and other business expenses.

Many HR software programs also help to do away with employee time clock fraud. When responsible for handwriting in their own hours, many workers will claim to have worked more longer than they really did. They will also neglect to mark down occasions when they were late to work. This means that the business is paying employees for time they were not doing their jobs. By using HR software, workers only receive the pay they deserve.

There are a lot of HR software programs that also help with keeping track of such things as background checks. Many employers lose large amounts of money by hiring individuals who are not capable of doing the jobs they were hired for. Usually this happens when an applicant claims to have experience and education that they do not possess. Money is then spent on training the individual. Later the employer finds out that they have to replace the employee with someone who can actually handle the responsibilities of the position. This alone can drive up the cost of doing business significantly.

HR software also improves the productivity of human resource departments. Companies that keep track of all the records need to run a business without a computer program usually have to have more workers to handle everything. After buying HR software, many employers find that that they have eliminated the necessity of certain positions.

No matter why an business decides to purchase HR software, they usually find that these computer programs pay for themselves in a very short amount of time.

Decline in Jobs in Atlanta

Despite the fact that experts predicted a large increase in jobs in Atlanta this year, many are now struggling to find work. Unemployment in the city rose to 6.5 percent in September, 0.3 percent since August.

Total nonfarm employment fell 1.4 percent for the month, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that there were 2,433,300 jobs in Atlanta for a civilian workforce of 2,768,400 people.

The most recent data from the Bureau shows that construction jobs took the greatest hit. Employment in this sector has fallen across the nation, mostly because of the housing market slump.

With so many homes being lost to foreclosures, there is little need for new buildings to be built. Construction jobs in Atlanta dropped 8 percent in September. Employment has been falling in this industry in the city for at least the last six months.

Only three areas of employment followed by the Bureau showed an increase in the number of jobs in Atlanta. Education and health services reported the largest increase in employment, with a 2.9 rise in positions. Across the nation, this industry has proven to be relatively recession proof due to the necessity of its services. For the last six months employers in the area have been consistently providing new employment opportunities for jobseekers.

The sector referred to as “other services” by the Bureau saw a 0.8 percent increase in jobs in Atlanta in September. During the same time, the information industry had a 0.3 percent rise in employment.

The only area of employment that reported no change in the area was leisure and hospitality. The fact that there were no new jobs in Atlanta in this area may seem like bad news, but it means that the industry may be doing better than that of many other cities.

Since tourism and consumer spending are both down, employers across the nation are decreasing the number of people they have on their staff. Since Atlanta did not follow this trend, it can be assumed that it has yet to be severely effected by these problems.

Jobs in Rhode Island

Finding jobs in Rhode Island recently is proving to be tricky for many residents. As of September, 8.8 percent of workers in the state were unemployed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that Rhode Island had the highest percentage of joblessness in the country. During the same month, the national average for unemployment was 6.1 percent.

According to Business Week, employers have cut Rhode Island jobs by 12,600 positions since September of last year. The industry to experience the largest decline was the manufacturing sector, which the Associated Press estimates constitute a quarter of the jobs lost. Other sectors that reported losing a lot of positions included retail, financial, government and the business service industry.

One industry that has seemed to be relatively recession proof throughout the country is the healthcare sector. Despite this, Providence Business News recently reported that Blue Cross & Blue Shield will be cutting out 74 of the Rhode Island jobs it provides. Of these positions, 41 will come through layoffs, while the rest will simply happen by not hiring new employees for positions that are currently vacant.

Company spokesperson Christopher J. Medici told the news paper that the insurer employs around 1,160 people state wide, if one excludes the positions that will soon be given the ax. He went on to say that the jobs in Rhode Island that the company is doing away with will take place throughout the business’ organizational structure from management to “rank-and-file employees.”

In a recent statement, the company’s President and CEO James E. Purcell said that he was greatly sadden by having t do away with these jobs in Rhode Island, but that there was little choice.

“In light of the current economic conditions, and as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to provide Rhode Islanders with access to high-quality and affordable health insurance, it was necessary for us to reduce our operating expenses,” said Purcell.

He also assured that those who will be losing their jobs will be given “enhanced assistance” from Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

He finished by saying that “Despite these operational changes, BCBSRI continues to employ more than 1,000 local employees who will continue to provide superb service to all who depend on us, including members, customers and stakeholders.”

New Jersey Job Outlook

According to new study recently released by the Office of Advocacy, which is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration, companies referred to as “high-impact” create a large portion of New Jersey jobs. In order to be considered one of the businesses, a firm must have at least doubled their sales during the course of a four-year period and have an employment “growth quantifier” of two or more. To determine a companies “growth quantifier” the firm’s absolute change in employment is multiplied by the percent change.

This study found that high-impact firms create almost all of the gains in both employment and in revenue in the national economy. Currently there are 376,604 businesses that are considered to be high-impact operations throughout America. Of these, 10,300 are located in New Jersey. This means that 2.22 percent of all of the businesses in the state qualify as high-impact firms.

High-impact firms exist in all industries and were found in all of the country’s geographic regions, according to the study. It then ranked regions, states, metropolitan statistical areas, and counties by the percentage of high-impact firms that they have. After complying this data, researchers found that, for the most part, these companies are not start-ups but are usually around 25 years old. Business in this category exist in all size classes.

The study also found that not only are these firms responsible for creating a large portion of job, few are downsizing. Almost all job losses experienced throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country were found to happen at large sized low-impact companies.

“High-impact firms are important to New Jersey’s economic growth and development,” said Dr. Chad Moutray, who is the Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy. “State policy makers would be wise to consider how their policies can encourage such firms.”

The Office of Advocacy is considered the “small business watchdog” of the federal government. It is responsible for examining the roles and statuses of small companies in the economy and independently represents the views of these businesses to federal agencies, Congress and the President. The office also funds research into the issues of smaller companies. More information about this particular study can be found at www.sba.gov/advo.