Friday, April 28, 2017

2017 college grads: You’re entering the best job market in 10 years

2017 college grads: You’re entering the best job market in 10 years

74 PERCENT OF EMPLOYERS SAY THEY PLAN TO HIRE RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES THIS YEAR, UP FROM 67 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND THE HIGHEST OUTLOOK SINCE 2007.

This year's college graduates have an extra reason to throw their caps in the air: According to a new survey from CareerBuilder, 74 percent of employers say they plan to hire recent college graduates this year, up from 67 percent last year and the highest outlook since 2007. Half plan to offer recent college graduates higher pay than last year (compared to 37 percent last year), and 39 percent of employers hiring recent college graduates will pay a starting salary of $50,000 or more (compared to 27 percent last year).
While employers are looking to hire candidates across various educational backgrounds, some majors stand out more than others. Employers hiring recent college graduates this year state the following majors are the most in-demand at their firms:
Information technology (33 percent) and customer service jobs (24 percent) top the list of functions for which employers hiring recent college grads this year are recruiting. Opportunities also abound in business development (23 percent), finance/accounting (20 percent) and production (18 percent).
What can you expect to get paid?When it comes to pay, half of employers who plan to hire recent college graduates this year will offer higher starting salaries than they did last year. Forty percent expect no change in salary offers, and 10 percent expect a decrease in starting salaries.
Three in five of these employers (60 percent) say they will make offers to students before they graduate. Expected starting salaries for recent graduates break down as follows:
  • Under $30,000: 23 percent
  • $30,000 to less than $40,000: 21 percent
  • $40,000 to less than $50,000: 18 percent
  • $50,000 and higher: 39 percent
The majority of employers (70 percent) say they are willing to negotiate salary offers when extending a job offer to a recent college graduate.

 

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Project Manager of User Experience

 Project Manager of User Experience

Job Description

Our client is the nation’s largest professional Association of physicians, has a dynamic opportunity for the right individual. As part of our clients Software and Application Development team, the Senior Project Manager will provide senior project management and analytic skills that will help lead to the successful implementation of high-profile projects and programs; Develop and manage the next generation of solutions that empower the organization and move it forward; Manage and mentor IT staff, creating a highly effective working team; Ensure business requirements are translated into cost-effective technology solutions.

Job Requirements

REQUIREMENTS:
1.     BS or BA degree in computer science or related field or equivalent experience is required. Graduate degree in computer science (MS) or Business (MBA) is a plus.


2.     PMP Certification preferred.


3.     Minimum 7 years of IT project management, strategic planning, work scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, financial management and status reporting.


4.     3-5 years’ experience in vendor management, negotiating and managing contracts, evaluating technologies, and authoring Requests for Proposals.  Experience with departmental forecasting and budgeting a plus.


5.     Experience managing custom application development projects which utilized web development frameworks such as Angular 2.0 and Node.js a plus


6.     Experience managing issues and creating reporting dashboards within JIRA a plus.


7.     Ability to express complex technical concepts effectively, both verbally and in writing.


8.     Ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment.  Self-managed and motivated.  Detail oriented.


9.     Diplomatic and professional presence and demeanor, exceptional team relationship builder.


10.   Ability to work long hours when necessary, to travel, attend educational events, and to meet with vendors and high-level business leaders

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

7 things people think are terrible for their productivity that actually aren't



If there's one universal truth about productivity, it's that not everything works for everyone.
Maybe you like to wake up at 5 a.m., go through your entire email inbox, organize your desk, and get cracking on your to-do list.

Or, maybe you prefer to wake up at 8 a.m., hit the gym, scan your emails without responding to any, and eat a leisurely breakfast while brainstorming before getting started on "real" work.

te, and get a head start on the workday. But you might also be really tired — and unproductive.
Chris Bailey learned that the hard way when he spent a year experimenting with different productivity strategies, which he documented in his book, "The Productivity Project." Bailey tried waking up every weekday at 5:30 a.m. and going to bed by 9:30 p.m.

But since Bailey's a self-proclaimed night owl, that meant he often had to stop and get ready for bed right when he had the most energy, focus, and creativity.

It all comes down to your chronotype — some people are night owls; some people are early birds; and others are somewhere in between. The point is that not everyone is suited to working or working out at the crack of dawn.

2. Not emptying your email inbox
Everyone approaches their email inbox differently — maybe you're the kind of person who absolutely must deal with every email the minute it comes in, or maybe you couldn't care less that you've got 1,532 unread messages.
According to Laura Vanderkam, the author of several bestselling books on productivity and time-management, organizing and emptying your inbox isn't necessarily the best use of your time.
That's not to say that you shouldn't send or respond to any emails — that would be almost impossible in today's workplace. But Vanderkam advises against treating your inbox as a task list, so that other people's demands are controlling what you work on every day.
In fact, she writes: "Better to realize that anything you haven't gotten to after a week or so will have either gone away or been thrust back upon you by follow-up messages or calls."

3. Working shorter hours than your coworkers
Harvard professor Robin Ely co-authored a study that suggests much of the time people spent working isn't necessarily productive. Instead, it's more about giving the impression that you're conscientious.
Ely's study focused on a global consulting firm. She told Business Insider that, at many consulting firms (not just the one she studied), Ely said, "the belief is that clients need to have consultants available 24/7."
"There is something almost appealing to being available 24/7," she added. "Being in demand is a symbol of status. It suggests you're important and influential."
I personally experimented with cutting my work hours by 17% (from nine hours a day to eight hours) and found that I was just as productive as before. By far the hardest part was the guilt I felt when I left earlier than all my coworkers.
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4. Keeping a messy work space
A 2015 study suggests that people can be more productive in disorderly environments.
That's likely because we're hardwired to seek order in our lives whenever possible. So when we're faced with physical chaos, we're motivated to create a more abstract sense of organization by pursuing clear, well-defined goals.
This isn't an excuse to keep such a disgusting desk that your coworker reports you to human resources. But if it helps, keep a few stacks of papers lying around for motivation.

5. Leaving unfinished items on your to-do list
According to productivity company iDoneThis, about 41% of items on a to-do list never get completed.
And according to psychologist Art Markman, that's probably fine.
Writing for Fast Company, Markman said that to-do lists can be helpful even if you never complete everything on them. That's because simply writing down what you need to do can prompt you to think about all the steps necessary to do it — and to start working on that task.
So, as soon as you put "write project report" on your list, for example, you'll realize all the tasks that goal actually entails. As a result, maybe you block out more time in your schedule for the report, or at least mentally prepare yourself for a busy day.

6. Feeling stressed
Stress gets a bad rap — it's seemingly something we should avoid at all costs.
But if you ask health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, she'll tell you that stress can in fact be good for you. When you're freaking out about a work project or a family issue, it suggests that you really care about your work or your family.
And if you can internalize that idea — I'm stressed because this thing is important to me — you'll be better equipped to handle the physiological symptoms of stress.

7. Procrastinating
In some cases, procrastination really can hurt your productivity — like if you're, say, browsing Facebook while you're supposed to be writing an article due in an hour.
But in other circumstances, putting things off can lead to your best work.
Business Insider's Rachel Gillett read Wharton professor Adam Grant's book "Originals" and reported that Steve Jobs was a major procrastinator. Obviously, he was wildly successful, too — and Grant argues that there's a link between the two.
Grant told Business Insider: "The time Steve Jobs was putting things off and noodling on possibilities was time well spent in letting more divergent ideas come to the table, as opposed to diving right in with the most conventional, the most obvious, the most familiar."
Meanwhile, Stanford professor John Perry told Business Insider about "structured procrastination," which means you do something else important while you're avoiding one particular task.
Perry said: "You're embracing your love of procrastination, but remaining productive."

Monday, April 10, 2017

Companies hiring this month

 

Check out these 16 companies with open positions this month.

If you're looking to kick off Spring with a new job, take a look at these 16 companies with open positions to fill in April. No foolin'!
1. Army National Guard
Industry: Military
Sample job titles: Infantryman management training, light-wheel vehicle mechanic, food services specialist
Location: Nationwide
2. AutoZone
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Store AutoZoner, driver, warehouse, finance
Location: Nationwide
3. CaptionCall
Industry: Telecommunications
Sample job titles: Communications assistant, installer/trainer, outreach specialist, software engineer
Location: Nationwide
4. Cash America
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Retail store manager
Location: Indianapolis; Chicago; Houston and Brownsville, Texas; Winston-Salem, N.C.
5. ConsultNet
Industry: IT staffing and technical project management
Sample job titles: Software developer, business systems analyst, QA engineer, full stack web developer
Location: Nationwide
6. Flex-N-Gate
Industry: Automotive parts manufacturing
Sample job titles: Maintenance tech, process engineer, tool room supervisor
Location: Detroit, Battle Creek, Warren and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Sandusky, Ohio; Urbana, Ill.; Veedersburg, Ind.
7. HP, Inc.
Industry: IT
Sample job titles: Marketing manager, digital business development manager, solutions architect
Location: California, Texas, Idaho, Washington
8. Kinetix Technology
Industry: IT professional services
Sample job titles: Principal engineer, software engineer, SDET, automation engineer, DevOps, big data engineer, data architect, data modeler, ETL developer, data analyst
Location: Nationwide
9. Oakwood Worldwide
Industry: Hospitality
Sample job titles: Property manager, housekeeping service coordinator, account executive - outside sales, digital marketing internship, security officer/guest service representative (night shift)
Location: Nationwide
10. Open Systems Technologies
Industry: IT Staffing and recruiting
Sample job titles: Software engineer, java developer, IT business analyst
Location: Philadelphia; Boston; Dallas; New York; Jacksonville, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.
11. QBE North America
Industry: Insurance
Sample job titles: Appraiser, AVP lead business development consultant, VP -underwriting leader, lead financial analyst
Location: New York; Chicago; Atlanta; Plano, Texas; Chandler, Ariz.
12. Sorenson Communications
Industry: Telecommunications
Sample job titles: VRS interpreter (ASL), community interpreter, installer/trainer, software engineer
Location: Nationwide
13. Staffmark
Industry: Light industrial, office support
Sample job titles: Material handler, forklift driver, administrative assistant
Location: Nationwide
14. TMX Finance Family of Companies
Industry: Financial services
Sample job titles: Store manager, district manager, general manager, general manager trainee, customer service representative, bilingual customer service representative
Location: Nationwide
15. ULINE
Industry: Shipping and packaging/office supplies
Sample job titles: Customer service, distribution manager, director of talent acquisition, inside sales, IT, marketing, recruiter, supply chain, warehouse
Location: Nationwide
16. Volt
Industry: Light industrial, admin/ IT
Sample job titles: Customer service representative, software engineer, maintenance mechanic, warehouse
Location: Nationwide

Sunday, April 9, 2017

5 effective ways for freelancers to get paid on time



Working as a freelance professional in a creative industry can be a very rewarding experience. It provides the freedom to pursue fun projects with a variety of customers, while doing valuable work in the world. The payment for that work can provide a more-secure and less-stressful lifestyle when you're off the clock... that is, if you manage to get paid.
What if you have a customer who doesn't pay you, no matter what you do? In extreme cases, you could take them to small claims court (if applicable in your state).
A graphic designer friend of mine did just that. Whatever money the customer owed her had to go to court fees and make up for a lost day of work.

I almost wound up there. I had done a webinar with someone and we verbally agreed to split the revenue in half. He ended up keeping $8,000 and ignoring my invoices. When I asked him why he wasn't paying, he told me there was no contract.
I had to pay a lawyer to explain to him that if he used me to get profits for himself and not pay me, that's a form of slavery and therefore illegal. Finally, I got paid $4,000 six months later, after 5 scary legal emails and a burnt business relationship.
That's why it's better to take steps that will help avoid non-payment in the first place. After all, you are worth it. Getting paid for the work you do should feel natural. But that means getting in the habit of relentlessly insisting you get paid.
A good practice is to set aside a "Financial Management Hour" on Fridays, where you look at any late invoices, money that people owe you, and use accounting apps like Billy to automatically re-send the invoice to your contact as a reminder. A quick follow up call on top of the reminder email could really work.
You don't have to be rude. I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt. They could have forgotten about it. Your email went to spam. Their mom died. You don't know why they are late, just that they are late, and that makes running your business hard.
You are worth getting paid for the value you provide to your clients. So, here are 5 ways to make it less awkward when asking for an invoice payment:

1. Get paid upfront before you do any work

For my consulting business, I offer 10% discounts on any work that gets paid upfront. I won't start any work unless at least 50% is deposited, this is an industry standard and hasn't been a problem for me. If you like that policy, stick to it relentlessly.

2. Charge late fees

With an accounting app like Billy, you can program your invoices to accrue late fees when they are late. So if you decide to add 10% each week your invoice is late, when you send an overdue email reminder to your customer, simply add the late fee. However, the fee is only valid if it's in your invoice terms.

3. Make your terms visible on your invoice

If you do decide to include late fees, make your terms very clear in your invoice notes. With an app like Billy, you can add your terms to your invoice message. I'd add something like, "Net 30 Days plus 5% late fees each month afterwards." Having clear terms and conditions upfront is key.

4. Make it easy for your customers to pay you

Apps like Billy integrate with payment apps like Stripe to let your customers pay your invoices online, using their credit cards. Yes, there's a fee to process card payments. However, consider the value of having that cash almost immediately over the hassle of making collection calls later. Enabling credit cards in Billy Premium is very easy.

5. Send weekly payment due reminders

These can just be friendly notes: "Hey, just want to remind you that this invoice is coming due soon." Let's call this The Money Habit which you do weekly.
If you combine this with with a follow up call, here is a short script I like to use when making a collection call:
"Hi Sam. Hey, I wanted to follow up with you about Invoice #126 for the design work I did for you last month. Is that something you might be able to take care of this week?"
If they say, "Yes." Say, "Great! That would be a huge help to me. I really appreciate it, and I look forward to working together with you in the future."
If they say, "No." Ask, "When do you think you can take care of that invoice? Is there anything I can do to help make it easier to pay?"
That's all. No thumb breaking. Just problem-solving. Maybe they can pay 50% of it this week, and the rest next month. Maybe they actually can't pay it, so they are willing to barter.


Friday, April 7, 2017

Amazon to add 5,000 work-from-home jobs, many with benefits

"There are lots of people who want or need a flexible job — whether they're a military spouse, a college student, or a parent — and we're happy to empower these talented people no matter where they happen to live."



If you hope to bring in extra money through a part-time job that lets you work from home, keep an eye on Amazon's virtual-job postings.
The e-commerce giant announced Thursday that it plans to add 5,000 part-time work-from-home jobs for its Virtual Customer Service program over the next year. Folks hired for these positions will work as customer service agents.
Tom Weiland, Amazon's vice president for Worldwide Customer Service, notes:

These positions will offer what Amazon describes as "competitive wages" and — for employees who work at least 20 hours per week — benefits.
If you're unable to snag one of these work-from-home jobs or don't mind a commute, keep an eye on Amazon's fulfillment and operations job postings.
The company also plans to add 25,000 part-time jobs for its sortation and fulfillment centers over the next year. Folks hired for these positions will sort and consolidate customer packages.

These positions will also offer benefits to employees who work at least 20 hours per week.
Amazon says that more than 70 percent of part-time employees in its Virtual Customer Service and Customer Fulfillment programs work more than 20 hours per week. The benefits available to them include:
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Dental and vision insurance, with premiums paid in full by Amazon
  • Funding toward medical insurance
  • Amazon's Career Choice program, which prepays 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether those skills are relevant to jobs at Amazon

Thursday, April 6, 2017

US companies hire most workers in over two years




U.S. companies added 263,000 workers in March, the most since December 2014, suggesting further tightening of the labor market, payrolls processor ADP said on Wednesday.

Strong job gains in the coming months will likely add upward pressure on wages, supporting the Federal Reserve's view for at least two more interest rate increases by the end of 2017.

"The labor market is tight and it will get tighter," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics which jointly developed the ADP National Employment Report.

ADP's March figure easily beat the median forecast of 187,000 increase among economists surveyed by Reuters.
Private payroll gains in the month earlier were revised down to 245,000 from the originally reported 298,000.
The ADP figures come ahead of the U.S. Labor Department's more comprehensive non-farm payrolls report on Friday, which includes both public and private-sector employment.
Economists polled by Reuters are looking for U.S. private payroll employment to have grown by 175,000 jobs in March, down from 227,000 the month before. Total non-farm employment is expected to have risen by 180,000.
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The unemployment rate is forecast to stay steady at the 4.7 percent recorded a month earlier. Wage growth has been running at a 2.5-3.0 percent year-over-year pace, which is modest by historical standards, Zandi said.
One factor that may lead to faster wage gains is the uncertainty on immigration policy. Stricter immigration as proposed by the Trump administration would reduce labor supply, forcing employers to compete for workers.
"The labor shortage might be exacerbated by immigration issues," Zandi said.
If immigration were cut in half, that could choke off domestic labor growth which is currently running at 3-4 percent a year, according to Zandi. A

DP private Month Reuters Prior month Prior Economists Low High payroll Poll original month Polled Estimate Estimate revised 263,000 March 187,000 298,000 245,000 32 110,000 225,000

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