Here's a collection of college and university career services centers using Twitter to
help students and alums find success in careers, job-hunting.
Whether Twitter is the fad -- the "pet rock" of our times -- or an enduring form of
sharing information and links, the team at QuintCareers went searching for college
and university career centers using Twitter to alert their students and alumni of
career and job news, events, tips, and more.
Even with more than 650,000 jobs lost in February, as the unemployment jumps above 8 percent,
there are still companies hiring, still hope for new jobs and employment.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported today that employers cut 651,000 jobs last month,
pushing the nation's unemployment rate to 8.1 percent (from 7.6 percent in January) --
the highest level since 1983.
At the same time, the Labor Department also released data showing that previous two
months had deeper cuts than first reported -- 681,000 jobs in December and 655,000 in January --
a total of almost 2 million jobs lost in just the last three months.
Since the job losses began in December 2007, the economy has lost a total of 4.4 million jobs.
Employment gains and losses in February followed the same pattern as in recent months, with
manufacturing eliminating 168,000 jobs, professional and business services eliminating 180,000 jobs,
construction cutting 104,000 jobs, temporary-help agencies cutting 78,000 jobs, retailers cutting close to
40,000 jobs, financial services eliminating 44,000 jobs, and leisure and hospitality jobs cut by 33,000 jobs.
Only education and health services, as well as the government sector, saw employment gains last month.
Even as more big employers were announcing further cuts this week, and with some economists expecting
job losses to continue for at least the next 6 months -- with unemployment rising as high as at least
9 percent -- there are still companies fighting layoffs by reducing hours or assigning unpaid leave...
and there are still companies hiring, albeit just not as many as in the past -- and with much
great competition from other talented job-seekers.
As we have also stated here in the past, do not despair. These job loss numbers are staggering,
and even though the government is trying to do its part with the stimulus package, the daily business
news is all doom and gloom -- and yet, smart and hard-working job-seekers are finding employment
opportunities. Read also, this article from Time.com:
Despite
Rising Unemployment, Here's the Economics Of Hope.
March 1, 2009
Layoffs soared in January, continued in February. Not surprisingly, new job postings were down too.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported last week that the number of "mass layoffs" --
job cuts of 50 or more workers by a single employer -- increased to 2,227 in January,
up almost 50 percent from January 2008.
As we reported throughout February, the shedding of jobs has not stopped as
employers have continued cutting workers, cutting positions.
Here's the list of shame of employers who announced job cuts (or even
more job cuts) of 400 or more employees in the last week of February:
Cisco Systems (8,000 jobs)
Nortel Networks (3,200 jobs)
Neiman Marcus (450 jobs)
Dow Corning (800 jobs)
Spansion (3,000 jobs)
Micron Technology (2,000 jobs)
J.P. Morgan (1,800 jobs)
Pilgrim's Pride (3,000 jobs)
The list does not include the Walt Disney Company, which announced a major
restructuring of its theme parks division (including offering voluntary packages),
but would not comment on any estimated number of layoffs or reductions.
(See the entire list of companies that announced job cuts, as compiled by both
CNN.com and
Employment Spectator.)
Finally, Indeed.com, the job-search engine that aggregates job postings from all
over the Web, reported that job postings fell in all 12 major industry segments in
January, with many down about 50 percent from January 2008. Education and healthcare, while down,
were the lone bright spots in the report. See all the details in this entry
from the Indeed.com Job Trends.
Quintessential Resume & Cover Letter Tips Blog,
a blog from another part of the QuintCareers Network, with new resume and cover letter tips daily. A must-see for any active job-seeker.
The Career Doctor Blog,
a blog from another part of the QuintCareers Network, where each day our own Career Doctor Randall Hansen answers one career, job, college, or workplace question.
and reassurance.
The Occupational Adventure
Blog, from Curt Rosengren, a Passion Catalyst. Curt's older blog is great for finding encouraging ideas
(and resources) for moving forward with your career... a career that lights your fire. His newer blog is the
Passion Catalyst -- about loving your work.
Blue Sky Resumes Blog, from career
expert Louise Fletcher, a general career and job-search blog that covers all aspects of the job-hunt.
WorkStrong -- a
candid, completely honest discussion of the job market -- offering information and advice
about what it takes to succeed in the 21st Century world of work. From career and recruitment guru Peter Weddle.
