Softscape recently announced the Softscape Job Distribution Service that utilizes social networking sites and enables customers to reach a considerably greater candidate pool with each job posting. The service is offered as part of the Hiring & Recruiting Suite within Softscape's complete talent management software platform. The Softscape Job Distribution Service taps into social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Improving hiring efficiencies and finding top candidates are constant challenges for any size organization. As the global economy slowly improves and hiring volume increases, rapidly filling key positions ahead of the competition will be essential. This new service offers a simple, automated feed to a number of major social networking websites to help expedite job distribution. People continue to spend a tremendous amount of time on social media sites and this new distribution method enables HR professionals a more valuable way to reach potential … [Read more...] about Softscape Introduces New Job Distribution Service
How Do You Politely Decline the Workplace Holiday Ritual?
You know it’s almost here; that time of year for the ubiquitous holiday work party/ritual. It started last month with the orange and black cupcakes in the break room and will continue into January. Most companies have wisely jettisoned the office party with booze - too many scary liability concerns. But there will still be potlucks and other festivities. How can you avoid them without looking or feeling bad?My husband mentioned that he’d like to avoid, er, politely decline the December gift exchange this year. His department draws names - kind of grade school-level, I think, complete with the person’s “Santa” list. I should say he is an excellent, thoughtful gift giver and actually has a shopping gene (I worked in retail and can’t fathom it myself), so it’s not a stereotypical guy thing. His colleague said she felt the same way and might suggest the department just go out to lunch instead. Great idea!Some people are able to abstain due to … [Read more...] about How Do You Politely Decline the Workplace Holiday Ritual?
Job Losses to Decrease in Early 2010?
Well, it looks like things are starting to look up! The trend of employment in the U.S. strengthened for the second consecutive month, according to a report released Monday. The Conference Board said that its October employment trends index rose to 89.3 from a revised 88.7 in September, which was originally reported as 88.5. The October reading was the highest since March 2009, but it was down 13.2% from a year ago. "The historical relationship between the index and employment suggests that job losses will end in early 2010," by a source at the Conference Board. "While layoffs have certainly declined in recent months, we still expect to see employers adding hours to their existing workforce before hiring will strongly increase." In October, the improving indicators were jobless claims, the number of temporary employees, industrial production and real manufacturing and trade sales. Last Friday's government report on October employment showed that the U.S. labor markets are … [Read more...] about Job Losses to Decrease in Early 2010?
The Secret First Step of the Job Search
Before you find a job, it is important to know how you'll leave your current one. Do it right, and you could make the next 10 years of your career a lot easier. Do it wrong, and the penalty is severe: no chance of re-employment, no reference letter, and no respect from your peers - who could be tomorrow's stars.I'm constantly amazed at the number of people who take leaving a job so lightly. Every month 33,000 people search "How to Find a job" in Google. Know how many people search "How to Leave a Job"? 390. That's it!You're lucky you stopped by Jobacle today, because now you are aware of the first REAL step of the job search: leaving a job. What appears as "the end" is really the beginning. Maybe not for the new job you just landed, but for the one after it. And the odds are that there will be a next job!Look out for yourself and pick up a copy of The Exit Guide: How to Leave a Job the Right Way.Aside from resignation letter templates, goodbye … [Read more...] about The Secret First Step of the Job Search
7 Reasons Your Company Wants to Cancel the Holiday Party
I heard a beautiful rumor yesterday. Word on the street is that our company holiday party will be canceled this year. That worries me about the financial state of the organization, but since I'm a silver lining kinda guy, it also makes me happy because it eliminates the stress and anxiety of having to suffer through 4 forced hours of awkward conversation as co-workers down alcoholic beverages.The reality is most people don't enjoy these end-of-year celebrations, most of all, company owners, presidents and CEOs. On the risk/reward scale, the former wins. Shaky economic conditions give the Head Honcho the perfect excuse to be a holiday killjoy.Here are the reasons why your company might cancel the holiday party this year.1) MONEY. Economic times are tight and companies are pinching pennies everywhere they can. Even if the company can afford it, have you noticed how expensive basic foods have gotten!? These parties ain't cheap.2) LAZINESS. The … [Read more...] about 7 Reasons Your Company Wants to Cancel the Holiday Party
More Unemployment Relief on the Way
There's another $24 billion in economic stimulus money coming to the unemployed folks who need it most.The new bill provides 14 additional weeks of benefits for people who have exhausted their unemployment bennies or are on schedule to. The length of unemployment pay varies from state to state, averaging around 33 weeks. If your state is in really bad shape, with an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent or above, you will be entitled to an additional six weeks.Approximately 2 million people are expected to be aided via the new monies. It will now be possible to collect unemployment for up to 99 weeks if you (and your state) meet all of the criteria.The Labor Department's Unemployment Report for October is due later today and should be quite telling. Learn more about the bill via the Wall Street Journal video below. … [Read more...] about More Unemployment Relief on the Way
6 Annoying Things Millennials Do @ the Office
I have always preached that too much is made about Gen X vs. Gen Y in the world of work. Generalizing an entire generation, regardless of when they were born, is totally unfair. One can easily sit back and accuse Gen X of being a bunch of anxiety-ridden control freaks who spend too much time sulking and complaining about work at Happy Hour. Or that Baby Boomers are technologically irrelevant and should be forced into early retirement (or at least coerced to take some social media classes!). It might not be right, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to write about. Here are several annoying things that Millenials seem to have in common. - "Did you get my e-mail?" - As a member of society who has grown up with computers and the Internet, you know damn well that there's a 99.9% that I received your e-mail. The question is, have I had time to read it yet? The answer is no. So cool your jets and go back to your desk and read TechCrunch until I'm ready for … [Read more...] about 6 Annoying Things Millennials Do @ the Office
Unemployment Rate Could Dictate Changes in Congress
If you are like me, you are asking yourself daily “Is the economy EVER going to get better?”. I'm beginning to feel there isn't a person in this world that has the answer. (IF you do, contact me. That valuable information could make us millions!!). I wake up every morning wondering if this will be the day that I get called into “the room” where you are given your pink slip and then tossed out the door with nothing more than your small box of belongings, a false apology, and the strong urge to run into oncoming traffic. According to CNNMoney.com, The White House is bracing for unemployment to stay high through the first half of next year. Many news sources believe the key number in next year's U.S. congressional election may be the unemployment rate, which last month hit a 26-year high of 9.8 percent. President Obama said the U.S. economy has pulled “back from the brink” and the government must now “get serious” about reducing debt and … [Read more...] about Unemployment Rate Could Dictate Changes in Congress
Tapping Into Creativity at Work
Embrace Your Right-BrainI don’t often think of “creativity” and “business” in the same sentence. Of course there are businesses in the creative sector, but I’m talking about jobs in which most people toil day to day. These folks are rewarded for analytical thinking, decisive actions and level-headedness. Too much creativity might get you marginalized.But as an artist, business owner and corporate-world survivor, I think there’s a place for being creative in business. My feeling is that thinking creatively can unblock those stuck points. You know what I’m talking about - you have a presentation to give, a report to write and you’re drawing a blank. Here’s where you summon up that “right brain” stuff.There has been much research on use of our left and right sides of the brain. The left is said to control logic and rational thinking; the right side, the intuitive, creative thinking. A physics professor might be said … [Read more...] about Tapping Into Creativity at Work
4 Reasons to Re-Read Resumes of Current Employees
The companies we work for are often so blinded by what we can do for them today, that they forget what we have done before. With the understanding that each of us is hired to help a company achieve their goals (not our own), I still believe that forgetting the past and only looking towards the future is a mistake.The solution is simple. Re-read employees resumes every six months.This exercise helps managers paint a more complete picture of the employees working for them. If organizations ignore the past, I propose that it creates several problems which can be detrimental to the employee-employer relationship.Here's why...Valuble skills go unused. Years ago I interviewed for a job running the Intranet for a major public relations firm. With thousands of employees based around the world, they set up a database that profiled all of their workers skill sets. If Bob in London was looking for a Tagalog-speaking graphic designer to help him with a problem … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons to Re-Read Resumes of Current Employees