Archive for category Careers
Report: More than 12,000 Arizona jobs created by stimulus
by Ronald J. Hansen – Oct. 30, 2009 12:40 PM
The Arizona Republic
At least 12,283 Arizona jobs were saved or created directly by the federal stimulus through September, according to a preliminary look at detailed government reports to be released Friday afternoon.
The results here seem to be proportional to results reported in the rest of the country. Nationwide, the stimulus directly affected 640,329 jobs, the White House reported. About 325,000 of the jobs are connected to education and 80,000 are in construction.
Administration officials noted the numbers count only the direct impact from work funded by stimulus dollars passing through federal agencies and state and local governments. They don’t include indirect benefits presumed from other aspects of the stimulus. For example, the government has spent about $64 billion on safety-net expenses like food stamps, extended unemployment benefits and additional Medicaid funds. It has also allowed $63 billion in tax cuts, mostly for middle- and lower-income workers.
If indirect benefits are factored in, administration officials claimed, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act likely saved or created about 1 million jobs in its first seven months.
“These reports are strong confirmation that the Recovery Act is responsible for over 1 million jobs so far and we are on-track to create and save 3.5 million jobs through the Recovery Act by the end of next year,” Vice President Joe Biden said from Washington.
Overall, the nation has lost a net 2.7 million jobs since February, when President Barack Obama signed the $787 billion rescue plan into law. Arizona has lost 77,000 in that time, and 268,000 since the recession began in December 2007.
The White House has estimated the stimulus will directly and indirectly affect 70,000 jobs in Arizona.
Some have spotted mistakes that overstated jobs in some of the initial reports of stimulus contracts with federal agencies, and the latest numbers will face similar scrutiny.
The reports came a day after the government reported the economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent from July to September. The growth suggests the recession may have technically ended, but not the economic pain.
State lawmakers are girding for another round of cuts to close the current year’s $2 billion budget shortfall. The state has another $3.3 billion shortfall for fiscal 2011 and can expect relatively little from the existing stimulus by then.
In Phoenix, Mayor Phil Gordon has suggested a tax hike may be needed to help close a current budget shortfall approaching $100 million. That comes after the city already cut its budget 22 percent, costing hundreds of jobs.
Much of the stimulus is allotted through customary formulas used to fund federal programs each year. So far, however, Arizona fared relatively poorly in receiving stimulus work directly from federal agencies. The state ranked 40th in per-capita funding in that portion of the stimulus, records show.
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US Airways to cut 1,000 jobs, trim flights from Las Vegas
by Dawn Gilbertson – Oct. 28, 2009 10:49 AM
The Arizona Republic
US Airways will eliminate another 1,000 jobs by the middle of next year as it cuts more flights and closes flight crew bases in three cities.
The Tempe-based airline said today it is restructuring its operations to focus almost solely on its major hubs in Phoenix, Philadelphia and Charlotte, plus Washington, D.C., and its US Airways Shuttle on the East Coast.
The airline plans to eliminate nearly 30 more flights from its once-large Las Vegas hub, eliminate service to Colorado Springs and suspend service to five European cities from Philadelphia.
It also canceled plans to start flying between Philadelphia and China until the economy improves.
The job eliminations mark US Airways’ third major layoff in the past year. Last fall, it cut 2,600 positions across the country, and it recently eliminated 600 airport customer service jobs. The airline also asked for voluntary flight attendant furloughs earlier this year. It currently has more than 32,000 employees.
The latest round of job cuts includes 600 airport customer-service and ramp-service jobs, 200 pilot jobs and 150 flight attendant positions. It is closing flight crew bases in Boston, New York and Las Vegas.
The company did not disclose the size of job cuts in Phoenix. The pilot and flight-attendant job cuts are heaviest on the East Coast, although 35 former America West pilots and 50 former America West flight attendants will lose their jobs.
America West and US Airways merged in 2005. America West’s operations were based in Phoenix and Las Vegas.
US Airways CEO Doug Parker said in a memo to employees that even though business is starting to improve, as the airline emphasized when it announced a quarterly loss last week, the company is still losing money.
“Any airline waiting for the economy to improve to cure its problems will continue to struggle,” he said, “and US Airways will not be one of them.”
10 Best Jobs for College Students
These look good on a résumé, work around class schedules, offer decent pay, or all of the above
These days, a good job is hard to find. But that won’t be a decent excuse for a slim résumé when you’re sitting across from the recruiter next year. Like it or not, college students are expected to be capable of pulling good grades in tough classes while gaining professional experience on the side. Hiring managers want to know that they won’t need to train new employees in the basics of life on the job. The 10 jobs listed below are great choices for students because they look good on a résumé, work around class schedules, offer decent pay, or—if they’re really great—all of the above.
On-campus IT support job: This is one of the best work-study jobs you’ll find if you are working on a degree in a relevant area. You’ll be able to gain real-world experience without leaving campus. Sue Dahlin, a career adviser at University of Puget Sound, says technology-services work can involve solving technical problems for other students and teachers as well as installing and setting up computer systems on campus. “We encourage our students to get as much career experience as possible,” Dahlin says. Plus, such jobs are more convenient and lucrative than unpaid, off-campus internships.
On-campus career services: It isn’t easy for college students to learn the ins and outs of the professional world while keeping up their grades. Working in career services can help you become familiar with the job-hunting process and become comfortable talking with employers and recruiters, says Kitty McGrath, executive director of career services at Arizona State University. Students in McGrath’s office give presentations to fellow students about the career services and resources offered. A bonus: “What other job can you think of that you have an opportunity to change someone’s life?” McGrath says.
Paid internship: This is the gold standard of college jobs: You get professional experience and working-world connections, you build knowledge in a real-world work setting, and someone wants to pay you for it. If the work is relevant to the career field you’re likely to pursue, even better. This is the best way to test the waters and find out if a particular field is right for you, says Brad Karsh, founder of the career consultancy JobBound. Recruiters like to see students showing an active—and early—interest in their industry, and they look for students who demonstrate a passion for their work, says Holly Paul, the national sourcing operations leader for campus and experienced recruiting at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Your Career: Video resumes getting more popular
by Eileen AJ Connelly – Sept. 6, 2009 01:10 AM
Associated Press
NEW YORK – When Serene Buckley got her first video resume from a job applicant, she had just finished sifting through about 150 traditional resumes.
“My first impression was that it was a bold move,” said Buckley, a senior executive with MortarPR in San Francisco. “I think paired with a strong (written) resume, I would be interested to bring that person in.”
Video resumes have been used for years, but their popularity is rising in a tight labor market as job seekers try to stand out. Videos can convey the message that an applicant is edgy, confident and creative. But they also have a possible downside: If badly produced, they can sabotage a job hunt.
Many recruiters see video resumes as an important tool if they’re part of a package that presents the applicant well.
“They are an extraordinary tool to drive a search,” said Don Straits, CEO of Corporate Warriors, an executive placement firm in Auburn, Calif. “(But) when video resumes are not used properly, they are worthless, and in fact, may do more harm than good.”
Rob Moriarty wasn’t used to getting in front of a camera when he made his first video resume in 2004, but the producers he worked with helped make the process easier. The video was well received during his job search, and now that he’s looking again, he has a new one available.
15 companies hiring in July
Jul. 14, 2009 01:18 PM
Careerbuilder.com
We know how many of you are looking for jobs these days. If it’s not you, then it’s a family member, a friend or a former colleague. We also know that it seems virtually impossible to find work when everybody you know wants a job and there seem to be few openings.
To help you out, we’ve reached out to companies who are definitely hiring in July to find out which jobs they’re looking to fill. We’ve also included a sample of some of their open positions and the corresponding locations.
What are they looking for? Education and experience requirements vary by industry and positions. Still, hard work and loyalty are common traits employers are looking for across all industries, especially in this economy.
Job seekers should be able to highlight some of their career accomplishments when applying for these jobs. Monetta Williams of lynda.com, a company that trains people on digital technology, wants to hire someone who will bring results.
“We are growing very quickly at lynda.com and are looking for bright, passionate and dedicated people who have clearly demonstrated initiative and success,” Williams says.
Likewise, Katie Bussan of wireless telecommunications company U.S. Cellular explains what employees should bring to the table.
“No matter what role you may have, we look for associates who are motivated, career-minded and enthusiastic about supporting each other in building the bonds of customer loyalty,” she says.
Companies that are hiring
You’ll notice that we’ve included companies of various sizes — some are hiring hundreds and others are hiring less than dozen. We wanted to include job openings in a variety of industries throughout the country because we know workers in every field are looking for work. Some prefer large organizations and others like a small company, so hopefully there’s something for everyone.
Here are 15 companies hiring in July:
White House Projects Gains in Health, ‘Green’ Jobs
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
President Obama’s economic team released an upbeat employment forecast yesterday that predicted robust jobs growth in the health-care and clean-energy sectors, and a recovery in manufacturing positions over the next decade.
The outlook from the Council of Economic Advisers supports the administration’s view that its $787 billion stimulus program will create jobs, if it is given time to work.
Republicans say the soaring unemployment rate is a sign that the stimulus package has not been effective. Those critics could become more vociferous if the unemployment rate breaks into the double-digits by the fall, which is expected by many economists. The rate stands at 9.5 percent.
The 27-page report defends Obama’s view that the stimulus package will create or save 3.5 million jobs by the end of next year, though its predictions were partly based on 2007 Labor Department data put together before the worst of the crisis hit the economy.
Yesterday’s report says that 6.5 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007. “More losses are expected before the economy reaches bottom and employment growth returns,” the report says.
Technology tips for workers
Jul. 13, 2009 12:00 AM
Technology tips for workers
Suggestions for employees on Internet and cellphone use:
• Remember that anything you do on a company-issued computer or cellphone – in or out of the office – could be tracked by a boss, the courts or a regulator. Many employers monitor Web site use, instant messages and e-mail. Some even archive text messages on work cellphones.
• Avoid mentioning your company, boss or co-workers in online postings unless you have permission to do so.
• Avoid using any device to take or transmit any company-related photos, videos or other recordings without permission. This includes any images of company buildings or logos and embarrassing or unprofessional photos of co-workers or clients.
• Know your company’s policy on social networking, video Web sites, e-mail and other tech-related activities.
• Regularly delete personal e-mail from your work account.
Source: The e-Policy Handbook, 2nd Edition
