The 2011 holiday hiring season

November 3, 2011 under Articles

the sexy santa assistants were there to take a...

For most Americans, the holiday season is a time of giving and spending quality time with family and friends. For others, the spirit of giving translates to employment opportunities to support the massive influx of holiday shoppers.

According to the National Retail Federation, in between 480K and 500K part-time and temporary positions will be hiring for the holidays nationwide. Most are within the retail industry and include jobs such as cashiers, stockers, truck unloaders, café servers and gift wrappers.

Store clerks and others can expect to earn in between $8 to $10 per hour, and managers can make as much as $15 to $20 an hour.

Christmas is the busiest retail season of the year, and it is estimated that anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of all annual sales occurring during the holidays. To compensate for the heavy traffic of seasonal shoppers, most retailers increase their workforce by at least 4 percent.

Kohl’s announced plans in early October to hire around 40,000 workers at their 1,127 stores nationwide for the holidays, a 5 percent increase from 2010. Seasonal workers for the department store will also be employed in their distribution centers and credit operations.

Kohl’s holiday hiring began in October and will continue through November.

Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s plan to hire 78,000 employees for the holiday shopping season, a 4 percent increase from 2010. Most workers will be part-time and employed in their department stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers.

Target is expected to hire slightly more than the 92,000 workers brought on for the 2010 season, and JC Penney plans to hire at least 37,000, up from the 30,000 seasonal employees hired last year.

Although the most obvious source of employment for the holidays might be in retail, seasonal job seekers should expand their search into other sectors of the workforce.

FedEx, which ranks second in most worldwide deliveries, announced plans to hire 20,000 seasonal employees this year, an 18 percent increase from the 2010 holidays. The rise in parcel delivery workers can be attributed partially to the expected increase in online holiday sales.

It is estimated that 47 percent of shoppers will purchase gifts online this year, up from 44 percent in 2010. Online holiday sales continue to grow every year, and delivery services such as FedEx must meet the demands.

UPS, the world’s largest delivery company, will announce their estimates for holiday hiring in early November.

Another source of employment for the holidays beyond the department stores is within hotels and resorts. People travel and vacation more during the holidays, and extra workers are needed to perform the duties of housekeeper, customer service and front desk agent, and hospitality worker.

Although most holiday jobs are temporary, some positions can lead to full-time employment. Toys “R” Us retained 10 percent of their seasonal staff from 2010, and Target kept on 40 percent of their temporary employees from last year.

With the job market and economy still struggling to return to pre-recession levels, the holiday season is seen by many as a golden opportunity to make some extra cash, capitalize on employee discounts, and possibly turn a temporary job into something more solid for the future.

WORKS CITED:

Doss, Natalie. “FedEx’s seasonal hiring hike to bring 20,000 jobs” charlotteobserver.com http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/10/25/2719874/fedexs-seasonal-hiring-hike-to.html  Accessed 10/25/11

Doyle, Alison. “Seasonal Jobs” About.com http://jobsearch.about.com/od/tempjobs/a/holidayjobs.htm  Accessed 10/25/11

Furman, Phyllis. “Holiday season in New York City means an increasing demand for temporary retail jobs” NYDailyNews.com http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/10/24/2011-10-24_holiday_season_in_new_york_city_means_an_increasing_demand_for_temporary_retail_.html  Accessed 10/25/11

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Solar jobs for the future

October 24, 2011 under Articles
On 140 acres of unused land on Nellis Air Forc...

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For future jobs in energy, look to the sun.

According to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011, job growth in the solar industry has seen a rise of almost 7 percent in the one-year period ending in Aug. 2011. During the next year, that figure is expected to rise by 24 percent, creating 24,000 new jobs.

Solar jobs are on the rise across the country, but no state comes close to the industry leader:California.

In Aug. 2011, it was estimated that more than 25,000 of the 100,000 solar-related jobs in theUSbelonged to residents ofCalifornia. This is more than four times that ofColorado, which was listed at second for solar jobs in theUSat just over 6,000.

As the undisputed leader of solar energy,Californiahas the potential to make it a focal point of their state’s energy policy. On Oct. 13, General Electric announced plans to build a $300 million solar panel factory inAurora,CA, which would be the largest of its kind in theUS.

Californiarepresents the burgeoning industry at its highest level. Jobs in the state and nationwide in solar energy include those in manufacturing, installation, residential, commercial and large-scale power generation. Jobs in installation alone are expected to increase by more than 13,000 by Aug. 2012.

Californiaisn’t alone in its efforts to make solar power a fundamental part of its energy plan. AlthoughTexascurrently only ranks seventh in the nation in solar energy employment at just over 3,000 jobs, theLoneStarStatealso his big plans for the sun.

Due to its massive size, abundant wide-open spaces, hot temperatures with lots of sunshine, and a fast-growing population in need of a reliable energy source,Texashas the potential to surpassCaliforniaand become the leading generator of solar power in the nation. All of this can happen in the next few years.

This week, the Solar Power International Conference was held at theDallasConvention Center, attracting over 1,200 companies from around the world to exhibit and sell solar products and services, including solar panels.

The cost of solar panels has fallen by 30 percent since the start of 2010 due to an increase in both the size of the industry and competition.  In addition, the Fort Worth-based company Entech Solar is developing new products, such as solar-powered skylights and panels that require less silicon.

Industry leaders everywhere are looking atTexasdue to its potential to become a leader in solar energy. A 30-megawatt solar farm located east ofAustinis on track to be completed by the end of this year, which will nearly double the state’s current solar energy output of 37 megawatts.

CPS Energy ofSan Antonioalso has plans for solar inTexas. They’ve proposed the building of a new facility inTexasthat would be capable of generating 400 megawatts of solar energy, which would dwarf the state’s current production levels.

The sun is a valuable resource and one that should be used to its fullest potential. Not only is it permanently abundant in some areas, but creating solar jobs in theUScan help bring out a professional sector of the society that it currently lacks. It theoretically could turn the tide of the economic collapse if other economies looked to theUSfor guidance on solar expansion.

WORKS CITED:

Baker, Joseph. “The Solar Foundation Says Solar Jobs are the Bright Spot in a Dim Economy” EnergyBoom http://www.energyboom.com/solar/solar-foundation-says-solar-jobs-are-bright-spot-dim-economy-0  Accessed 10/18/11

Lifsher, Marc. “Californiahas 1 in 4 U.S.solar energy jobs, study says” Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-jobs-20111017,0,3230671.story  Accessed 10/18/11

Smith, Jack Z. “Texassun may soon heat up solar power” Star-Telegram http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10/16/3448893/texas-sun-may-soon-heat-up-solar.html  Accessed 10/18/11

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North Dakota oil boom brings jobs boon

October 12, 2011 under Articles
Oil Barrels

Image by blizzy78 via Flickr

Need a job? Moving to the middle of nowhere may actually be your best bet.

In what is being called the largest oil boom in recent North American history, the oil industry in North Dakotais thriving, creating jobs in all sectors of the workforce in the area surrounding the Bakken formation.

The Bakken formation is a massive oil reserve located mostly within northwestern North Dakota and consists of anywhere from 4 billion to 24 billion barrels of oil. Oil companies recently discovered new techniques to tap into the reserves, and they are in need of laborers to work the rigs.

More than 180 oil companies are operating in the Bakken formation in North Dakota, centered on the cities of Williston andWatford. There are currently 100 drilling rigs in operation in the area, and this number is expected to increase to 150 by the end of the year.

While many areas of the country face high unemployment rates and lasting effects of the recession, North Dakota cannot find enough workers to operate the drilling rigs and accommodate the increased population.

Before the oil boom,Watford City,NDhad a population of 3,000 permanent residents. There are currently 6,500 living in the town, many without homes.

Because of the massive influx of people trying to capitalize on the black gold of the Bakken formation, housing in the area has become scarce. Many workers live out of their vehicles, in tents or makeshift dorm-style units known as “man camps.”

Prior to flocking to the burgeoning area surrounding the North Dakotaoil boom, it’s recommended to line up housing in advance. Although salaries for oil workers range from $70K to $100K per year, and wages in other sectors of the workforce have nearly doubled in the area, many who have relocated to reap the benefits are living in conditions of poverty due to the lack of housing.

Entry-level jobs in Williston, such as those in grocery stores, restaurants and other service-oriented industries pay a minimum of $12 per hour. Truck drivers in the area can make around $70K to $80K per year. On average, workers in North Dakotacan make at least $1,000 more a month than in other parts of the country.

Thousands of Americans have uprooted and relocated to the area surrounding the Bakken formation in hopes of getting back on their feet and paying off debt. Williston’s population grew from 12,000 to 15,000 with the oil boom, and new people arrive every day.

Although the promise of earning a decent living and securing gainful employment is strong, many do not factor in the extreme weather of North Dakota, which ranges from harsh icy winters to blistering hot summers. This especially poses a challenge when so many people are without places to live.

To compensate for the population growth, new businesses have popped up in the area, and they are thriving. Housing projects are in the works to provide the new residents with a much-needed alternative to crashing in their cars or living out of tents.

It’s an ironic situation that one of the most prosperous areas in the nation is in the middle of nowhere of North Dakota, but the jobs are there and business is booming. As history has proven over the years, oil is often found in places where people are not.

 

WORKS CITED:

Ellis, Blake. “Double your salary in the middle of nowhere, North Dakota” CNN Money http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/28/pf/north_dakota_jobs/index.htm  Accessed 10/11/11

“Finding a Job in North Dakota: The Bakken Oil Drilling Boom” http://ghost32.hubpages.com/hub/Finding-A-Job-In-North-Dakota-The-Baken-Oil-Drilling-Boom  Accessed 10/11/11

“North Dakota: Many Jobs, No Housing” Classifieds 100 http://job-library.classifieds1000.com/oil_boom/20100718-19379-North-Dakota-Many-Jobs-No-Housing  Accessed 10/11/11

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Ford and UAW reach tentative agreement

October 6, 2011 under Articles
United Auto Workers

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Lately, media outlets have been giving a fair amount of attention to the United Auto Workers’ frictions with Ford Motor Co. over the contracts for automotive employees.

Early on Tuesday, a tentative agreement was reached that will allow raises for entry-level Ford employees, new jobs, and billions of dollars in investments.

The new four-year national labor contract, which hasn’t yet been ratified by the UAW, covers more than 40,000 auto employees in theUS. The Ford-UAW deal will retain or create 12,000 jobs, bringing some production positions back fromMexico,ChinaandJapan.

The Ford Fusion, which was previously manufactured inMexico, will now be assembled in Ford’s Flat Rock, MI plant. This move will employ 1,600 workers to assemble the next-generation Fusions at the plant, which is set to receive a $500 million investment for upgrades.

Of the 12,000 jobs to be retained or created, 5,750 of them will be new positions and are to be added by the end of 2012. The majority of these jobs will be entry level.

Since 2007, most entry-level workers at the Big Three – Ford, Chevrolet and General Motors – have been hired on a tier-two wage system, earning about half that of veteran employees. The deal with the UAW will provide new Ford workers with raises, bringing the highest paid entry-level additions up to $19.28 per hour, compared to the $14 per hour assigned since 2007.

In addition to providing raises, the Ford-UAW deal also outlines plans to offer most employees a $6,000 signing bonus to be received if the contract passes. This amount would drop to $5,000 for workers with less than one year of their start date.

Details about buyouts are also included in the contract in attempts to replace highly paid employees with those at entry-level. Ford indicated that they would offer buyouts of $50,000 to production workers and $100,000 to skilled-trade employees.

The UAW deal would call on Ford to invest $16 billion into creating and retaining jobs, expansions, and updating plants across the country, $2.4 billion of which was previously unannounced. After General Motors, Ford is the second-largest automaker in theUS.

Last week, GM and the UAW worked together to formulate a deal that would include the creation of 6,400 new jobs as part of a four-year contract. Working with all of the Big Three, the UAW is still in talks with Chrysler, whose 2007 contract has been extended through October 19.

In an economy that’s still suffering and seemingly on the verge of slipping back into recession, the auto industry has proven to be an important source of economic growth and job creation, while most sectors of employment have fallen behind.

As of July 2011, there has been a 12% increase in the number of workers employed by the Big Three – from 623,000 to 700,000. If theUSautomakers hold up their end of the deal and are able to pass their contracts by the UAW, this number will only continue to rise.

In a nation built largely upon the auto industry, it’s reassuring to see how that market has managed to weather the economic distresses of recent years and carry on to employ Americans around the country.

WORKS CITED:

Bunkley, Nick. “Ford Reaches Contract Deal With U.A.W.” The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/business/ford-reaches-contract-deal-with-uaw.html  Accessed 10/4/11.

Snavely, Brent. “Ford has tentative deal with UAW, includes 5,750 new jobs” http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/10/ford-has-tentative-new-deal-with-uaw/1  Accessed 10/4/11.

“UAW, Ford Reach Tentative Labor Deal; To Add 12K Jobs” RTTNews http://www.cvent.com/events/the-2011-opportunity-finance-network-conference/event-summary-d6e0162d89954be38a82e68ae81083f5.aspx  Accessed 10/4/11.

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Halloween Specialty Shop Temporary Jobs

September 29, 2011 under Articles
Halloween @ Target 2008

Image by Brandy Shaul via Flickr

Halloween is a fun time of year; the costumes, the candy, the parties. People like to have a good time during the Halloween season, and it’s not just limited to their free time. Many people enjoy dressing up in costume for work during Halloween. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could wear a different costume to work every day? If your answer is yes, then you might want to consider landing a temporary position at one of the Halloween specialty shops across the nation.

A recent article that appeared on http://www.signonsandiego.com/ announced Halloween Adventure’s upcoming job fairs in the area to hire 120 employees for three different locations. Based out ofCanogaPark, Halloween Adventure’s threeSan DiegoCounty stores are located inMissionValley,El Cajon andVista.

Each store plans to employ 40 full-time and part-time workers for the following positions:

  • Regional District Manager
  • Assistant Store Manager
  • Store Merchandiser
  • Store Construction Personnel

Halloween Adventure announced that they will be hiring on the spot, and they are looking for friendly and energetic applicants that like to be on their feet. Pay starts at $8 an hour and costumes are the required work uniform.

Halloween Adventure operates 15 stores throughoutSouthern Californiaand employs almost 1,000 temporary workers every Halloween season. They are one of the largest Halloween specialty shops in theUnited States.

If you don’t happen to live in Southern California, it’s okay because there are other Halloween stores that operate throughout theUS. Spirit Halloween has locations everywhere fromAlabamatoWyoming, and they will be hiring for the following:

  • District Sales Manager
  • Store Manager
  • Assistant Manager
  • Sales Associate

In 1999, Spirit Halloween had 93 locations. Since their acquisition by Spencer Gifts, LLC, they have expanded to 900 stores acrossCanadaand theUS.

Formerly known as Halloween USA,HalloweenCityis one of the oldest and largest temporary Halloween retailers in the nation. They will also be hiring for similar positions.

So no matter where you live, if you like to dress up in costume and are looking for some good temporary work, check out your local Halloween specialty shop. Now is prime time for Halloween hiring.

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Social Networking in the Office

September 22, 2011 under Articles
Union members picketing outside the National L...

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In a society becoming intertwined with social media, it seems that Facebook’s influence affects more aspects of everyday life. A recent issue of growing concern in relation to the popular fascination with social networking is the amount of control an employer can have over what their workers say about their jobs on social media profiles.

Recently, numerous cases and more than 100 complaints have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board concerning work-related Facebook or Twitter posts. More and more businesses are implementing social media policies in attempts to curb disparaging or defamatory comments posted online by employees.

The rise in social media cases has prompted the NLRB to try and define exactly which types of comments are acceptable, and where to draw the line with employers’ control over their employees’ social media liberties.

Federal law allows workers to discuss certain issues, such as their jobs or working conditions, no matter if the discourse occurs in person or via social media. The National Labor Relations Act protects employees and permits them to post comments or converse about topics of “protected concerted activity.”

When this crosses over into complaining, badmouthing or discriminatory remarks, it’s not always as easy to define. Some would like to believe that employees cannot criticize a workplace in any way on social media, but this isn’t true, either.

It’s all too easy for a disgruntled employee to take to the Internet in order to express their dissatisfaction with their work situation. The Internet preserves these comments forever, but they were born out of ill-tempered feelings and of resentment toward an employer.

This isn’t like talking with co-workers by the water cooler. There is no solid proof in verbal conversation, and comments are soon forgotten. What some people don’t realize is how easy it is for employers to monitor employees’ Facebook pages and see everything that they have to say.

In a country built on the idea of freedom of speech, it’s a little discouraging when that right is made difficult to stand by because of one person’s unacceptable comments. Then again, a company shouldn’t be blatantly attacked because of one disgruntled ex-employee’s point of view.

As Facebook continues to grow its empire and permeate common culture, employer social networking policies may require a much more defined set of regulations and even punishments for those who break the rules.

WORKS CITED:

Collins, Grant T. “NLRB: Law Protects Employee’s Facebook Comments, Employer’s Social Medial Policy Is Unlawful” http://www.minnesotaemploymentlawreport.com/nlrb/nlrb-protects-employees-facebook-status/

Hahanel, Sam. “Facebook policies tricky for employers, workers” Associated Press http://www.freep.com/article/20110926/BUSINESS07/110926031/Facebook-policies-tricky-employers-workers

Longnecker, Emily. “Employer Facebook policay changing workplace social networking” wthr.com Indianapolis http://www.wthr.com/story/15554691/employer-facebook-policy-changing-workplace-social-networking

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It’s the communication age…sort of

September 16, 2011 under Articles

Everyone knows that when applying for jobs, it’s best to get the hiring manger’s name and address the cover letter directly to him or her. It’s personal, it shows that you’ve done your research, and that the resume isn’t a cookie-cut document. Right?

Well, what if you can’t find the name of the hiring manager?

In today’s Information Age, it’s actually getting harder and harder to find the name of the person you’re addressing your resume to. Why? Well, I’m sure the reasons are many, but the growing paranoia about privacy on the Internet is certainly a leading cause.

Although we supposedly live in the “Social Age,” people are becoming more and more reticent about being accessible via the Internet. It could be a fear of identity theft, or of too many salient details about a person’s private life becoming public knowledge.

Whatever the reason, it’s harder to find the name of the person you want to write at a company via a web search.

The solution is, then, to go old school. Instead of relying on the internet (hard, I know) you may have to pick up the phone. Surprisingly, company receptionists are often armed with information you’re looking for, such as who you should address resumes to in the company.

A little chitchat can even pry other information out of them like the best day to send resumes and how many internal applicants there are versus external.

The key is that although the Internet puts a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips, there are still good reason to try human-to-human contact from time to time. Don’t restrict your communications to the online world – sometimes you have to go rogue and talk to people.

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How to Make the Career Fair Work for You

September 12, 2011 under Articles

Some people cringe at the thought of going to a career fair, and they might not be totally to blame for this sentiment. You dress nicely, bring some resumes, and then you are herded like cattle into a large building full of prospective employers to be scrutinized under their magnifying gaze. It can be nerve-wracking, time-consuming, and a lot of the times results in you going home empty-handed, discouraged and confused. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

One should never enter through the doors of a career fair unprepared. You cannot simply expect to show up and be handed a job. Unfortunately that’s just not how it works. One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a career fair is to check out which companies will be there. It always pays to do your research.

Once you have found out which employers will be attending the career fair, you can then look into who is actually hiring, how many positions are open, and exactly which jobs they are looking to fill. Some employers might show up and not even be hiring at that moment. This does not mean that you should pass them up, because they will always take your resume, and you never know when something will open up.

When you do your research, you can check out which positions are open and which ones you think you maybe suited for. This will give you a target instead of just wandering around aimlessly, hoping that somebody picks you up like a divorcee in a singles bar. After you figure out which companies and what jobs you want to go for, you can then prep yourself on what you want to say upon meeting them. Highlight your skills and interests pertaining to the job, and talk about your past experience and education that could be useful to the company. This is a lot better than simply stating, “I’m here and I want a job.”

As always, networking is very important This is true in the career fair world, before and after. By some stroke of luck, if you do your research, you may find out that you actually know someone in one of the companies at the job fair. It always pays to know somebody – a foot in the door. At the same time, when you are at the career fair, you should look at it not just as a chance to find a job but as a chance to meet new people and add to your list of contacts for the future. The more people you know the better. This is not just in terms of employers and recruiters but also for fellow job-seekers and career professionals. Once someone gets hired in, you never know, they may just call you up and inform you of an opening.

Career fairs can be stressful and may even seem like a waste of time, but that’s only if you’re looking at it all wrong. You have to prepare yourself, be confident and seize the opportunity. And even if nothing comes of it, at least you met new people and gained some experience for next time. And don’t forget to wear something nice!

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Construction Employment at 15-Month High

September 6, 2011 under Articles
Building construction

Image by Toban Black via Flickr

There’s good news from the job front, if you are in the construction industry. According to a recent study by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction employment hit a 15-month high for July this year. For those workers hit especially hard by the recession, this is music to their ears.

TheUnited Statesadded 8,000 construction jobs last month, and unemployment rates in the industry fell from 17.3% from a year ago to 13.6%. This does not necessarily mean that anyone who knows how to wear a hard hat and wield a hammer is in the clear.

In comparison to other sectors of the workforce, the construction industry is still lagging. According to a recent article in the LA Times, workers in other trades may be faring much better than construction workers. The retail industry added 26,000 jobs last month, and the manufacturing industry added 24,000 jobs. These numbers dwarf the mere 8,000 jobs added by the construction industry last month.

Even in relation to its own industry, construction still has a long way to come. For the month of July, employment in construction was at 5.5 million, which is 28% lower than its peak level in April 2006. Even though overall construction employment is up, some areas of the industry are struggling while others are booming.

Construction workers in nonresidential building and specialty trade are doing especially well, with 10,200 jobs added in July. This is a strong indicator that factories, power projects and hospitals are being built, whereas the fall of the housing market is still impeding new house construction.

Residential building lost 1,600 jobs in July. It’s no surprise to anyone that the housing market is still struggling, and therefore building new houses is not a top priority. More than 25% of the homes sold last year were foreclosures. Why buy a new house when you can get one from the bank for a fraction of the cost? Unless you are a McMillionaire, this idea makes a lot of sense.

According to a recent survey conducted by Trulia.com and RealtyTrac, the housing market may not fully recover until 2014. As of last December, they had predicted that 2012 would be the year for housing to bounce back. After extensive research done this year, the numbers show that the market is a little more downtrodden than originally presumed.

Of course every silver lining has a touch of grey, to quote the Grateful Dead. You have to take the bad with the good. The construction industry may be doing a little better than last year, but there is a long path toward full economic recovery in all industries. Either way, it’s good for everyone to read the news and see something positive in terms of hiring and the job market.

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Salary Negotiations

September 2, 2011 under Articles

Negotiating a salary can potentially be the most important thing you do during a job interview. After all, despite everythnig you say, you’re really just in it for the money, right? So you want to get as much as you can.

There’s been a lot written on the subject, but we ran across this article that had a nice spin on it and wanted to share it with you.

Strange Salary Negotiation Strategies

 

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