Career and job-search news, trends, and scoops for job-seekers,
compiled by the staff of Quintessential Careers.
January 31, 2005
The new issue of our online career magazine, QuintZine, is now available.
This issue's focus is on helping job-seekers who want to work in multiple
jobs, perhaps in multiple career fields, to find the resources and tools
needed to succeed.
In portfolio careers, you work several part-time jobs that when combined
is the equivalent of a full-time position.
Other items in this issue include the Quintessential Site of the Issue,
the latest Career Doctor Q&A column, job-seeker tips, and more.
A new report shows more of us are working more than one job.
The number of multiple job holders in the U.S. increased to 7.8 million in 2004, according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The percentage of workers holding two jobs now stands at 5.6 percent.
"At the end of the day," do you "think outside the box" searching for a new "paradigm?"
If so -- or if you talk this way -- you may be in trouble.
In a study of 150 senior executives from the 1,000 largest companies
in the U.S. conducted by Accountemps... the respondents were asked about
the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in workplace. Their
responses included:
"At the end of the day"
"Solution"
"Thinking outside the box"
"Synergy"
"Paradigm"
"Metrics"
"Take it offline"
"Redeployed people"
"Win-Win"
"Valued-added"
"Customer-centric"
"Core competency"
January 17, 2005
Do you have good enough credit to get your next job?
What does a job -seeker's credit history have to do with getting a job, performing
on the job?
Some employers think plenty.
More than a third (35 percent) of employers now consider an applicent's credit
history in hiring decisions, up from 19 percent in 1996, according to a recent
report from the Society for Human Resource Management.
Employers are increasingly using various psychometric tests on prospective job-seekers.
While the debate rages on whether these tests are fair and/or accurate, more employers
appear to be using one or more of these "personality" tests on prospective job-seekers
to aid in the screening process.
Employers are using these tests to make sure that potential employees have the right skills and
personality to fit into their workplace culture.
December's increase in jobs makes 2004 the best year for job growth since 1999.
While the 157,000 new jobs added in December was a smaller number than
the 175,000 Wall Street expected, hiring for the year was at the fastest
pace in five years, reported the U.S. Department of Labor on Friday.
In 2003, there was a net reduction of 61,000 jobs.
The U.S. unemployment rate in December was unchanged at 5.4 percent.
Some analysts expect the employment picture to be even stronger in 2005.
January 6, 2005
U.S. jobless claims surged unexpectedly last week.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of Americans filing first-time
claims for state unemployment insurance aid rose 43,000 to 364,000 in the week ended January 1, up
from a revised 321,000 in the previous week.
It was the largest one-week gain in nearly three years and far surpassed Wall Street
expectations for a rise to 331,000 from the originally reported 326,000 in the prior week.
The surge, however, had little impact on the four-week moving average of claims, which
smoothes weekly volatility, and climbed to 333,000 from 332,250 in the prior week.
And the Labor Department's employment December report due out Friday is still expected to show
175,000 jobs were created last month after November's 112,000 gain. The unemployment
rate is expected to be unchanged at 5.4 percent.
January 4, 2005
Did you make a resolution to find a new job in 2005? Achieve better work-life balance?
If so, you are not alone... at least according to a recent survey of job-seekers.
In the Monster.com survey of 8,044 people, 93 percent of the respondents said they plan to job-hop in 2005.
Furthermore, when asked to describe their most important New Year's resolution, 59
percent of the respondents answered "get a new job"; 19 percent said "losing weight"; 14
percent said they would like to improve work-life balance; and 8 percent said they planned
to get more organized in the coming year.
Looking for a new job? Find all the tools you need to sharpen that resume and polish those
interviewing skills in our Career Resources Toolkit.
Job Stuff, A Blog for Your Career, from Stephen Harris.
Stephen's blog is a great resource for those job-seekers who find yourselves in transition, searching for guidance
and reassurance.
The Occupational Adventure Blog, from
Curt Rosengren, a Passion Catalyst. Curt's blog is great for finding encouraging ideas (and resources) for moving forward with your career... a career
that lights your fire.
TrueCareers Career Blog, from the career and job site
dedicated to professional and college-educated job-seekers... where they say you get the real scoop on how to get the job you want faster --
with insider tips and more.
