How To Avoid Job Board Scams
Last month we published a blog that emphasized the increase in advertised job openings. If you are looking on online job boards for open positions, you are doing it right. However, some of the job listings you see on these sites can be possible scams, looking to get your information or not pay you for your hard work.
One way to avoid these scams is by always doing research on the company before applying. Do a simple Google search, look at the website, make sure it is a place you would like to work and that does not look sketchy. Additionally, you are going to want to look for any negative comments about the company which will reveal if it is legitimate or not. This is important because you do not want to reveal your personal information to a company that is not legitimate. Job applications often ask for your social security number and other information that can be sold or used to target you for advertising.
Before applying to a position it is also important to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the company has been reported as a scammer. Another great online resource is Glassdoor, which will allow you to look up salaries, reviews, ratings, and interview feedback for the company. This not only helps you get insight from past employees, but it will help you understand how the interview process works.
Job openings reach highest level in two years
The Labor Department reported that there were more advertised job openings in February than any time in the past two years. This trend is expected to continue throughout April, signaling a positive change in the economy. There were 3.1 million job openings posted in February, an increase of more than 350,000 since January. The outlook is good with the unemployment rate falling to 8.8, the lowest in two years. While there is still fierce competition for open positions, the decrease in unemployment and increase in job openings is evidence that the climate is starting to improve.
What is causing this increase in open jobs? More people are quitting their jobs, presumably to take positions elsewhere. Additionally, layoffs are near the slowest in ten years. Another reason for the increase in open positions is that consumers are starting to gain more confidence in the economy. The increase in retail spending creates more open positions. The increase in confidence can be seen when looking at the 11% increase in sales at Saks Inc and 14% gain from Limited Brands.
Rugaber, Christopher. “Fast Rise in Job Openings Brightens Hiring Outlook.” ABC News (2011): n. pag. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=13368462&page=2>.
CEOs expect hiring to pick up
The Conference Board released a survey last week showing a significant change from last year’s survey. According to this year’s survey, half of all CEOs expect to see increased hiring in their industries. This number is up from 30 percent just one year ago. Not only that, CEOs who expect a decrease in hiring fell to 16 percent in the first quarter, 6 percent lower than a year ago.
The CEOs surveyed by The Conference Board are optimistic about the future, with 85 percent saying conditions are better than six months ago. This number is up from 56 percent who said so in fourth quarter of 2010.
This optimism by the surveyed CEOs demonstrates how the industry leaders believe that current economic conditions seem to be improving. This is great news for the unemployed, as it seems more opportunities will be opening up this year.
“CEOs: Hiring to Pick Up.” Crain Communications Inc. (2011): n. pag. Web. 11 Apr
2011. <http://www.staffingindustry.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=6EECC0FE471F4CA995CE2A3E9A8E4207&tier=4&id=F2C348ED0A7B48ACA0ED4BEF2E44EDE2>.
Technology industry on hiring frenzy in 2011
The technology industry is the place to be in 2011. Companies in this industry are on a hiring frenzy, looking for the most talented candidates in engineering, social media, website and product design, data crunching and analysis, and management. Statistics show that 308,000 tech jobs were lost between second quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2010, but that is changing in 2011. Sophia Koropeckyj, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, says that 148,000 tech jobs are expected to be added by year-end. This increase in hiring is already being felt with a 2.4% increase in tech jobs during February from a year ago.
Some of the top technology companies are ramping up for large hiring sprees this year. Google, without disclosing specific numbers, said that 2011 should be its biggest hiring year ever. Zynga, a social-gaming company, expects to double its staff of 1,500 in the next year. Twitter, a popular social networking site, expects to expand its workforce to 3,000 from 400 by July 2013.
Swartz, Jon. “Tech sector hiring is hot again as Google, Twitter, etc., grow.” USA Today (2011): n. pag. Web. 4 Apr 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-03-29-technology-jobs_N.htm>.
Employment Varies State by State
It is common knowledge that the job market is difficult in these tough economic times. The Obama administration has been working hard to find ways to create new jobs for the unemployed. The efforts to increase jobs have been very effective in some states, while other states are finding it difficult to increase jobs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a report containing state-by-state employment figures from January 2010 to January 2011. Texas topped the list, adding 253,900 jobs. Coming in behind Texas is California, which added a total of 89,400 jobs. Other states that added over 50,000 jobs are Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and New York.
While some states are seeing big increases in jobs, others are actually seeing a decline in jobs between January 2010 and January 2011. New Jersey lost 20,900 jobs, the most out of any state. Coming in behind New Jersey, Nevada lost a total of 7,800 jobs. Other states that had a decline in jobs are Georgia, Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, Alabama, and Rhode Island.
Thomas, Scott. “State employment totals (January 2011).” Buffalo
Business First (2011): n. pag. Web. 14 Mar 2011. <http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/datacenter/state-employment-totals-january-2011.html?appSession=616100782312532&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=&cpipage=4&CPISortType=&CPIorderBy=>.
The Varying Unemployment Rate of Different Occupations
You may have read our article last month that boasts about the unemployment rate falling to 9 percent, the lowest since April 2009. This is potentially good news for many looking for jobs right now. However, this unemployment rate changes based on occupation. Some positions are going to have a much lower unemployment rate, while other will have a significantly higher rate.
The 10 occupations with the lowest unemployment rates range from .4 percent to 1.0 percent. 5 of the 10 occupations with the lowest unemployment rate are in healthcare showing that this industry is growing. The 10 occupations with the lowest unemployment rates are:
- Appraisers and assessors of real estate: 0.4%
- Therapists, all other: 0.4%
- First-line managers of police and detectives: 0.4%
- Locomotive engineers and operators: 0.4%
- Directors, religious activities and education: 0.8%
- Dentists: 0.8%
- Speech-language pathologists: 0.8%
- Detectives and criminal investigators: 0.8%
- Physicians and surgeons: 0.9%
- Occupational therapists: 1.0%
On the other hand, there are some occupations that are seeing a significantly higher unemployment rate. Of the 10 occupations with the highest rate, 7 are in construction. The 10 occupations with the highest unemployment rates are:
- Helpers, construction trades: 36.0%
- Telemarketers: 34.8%
- Structural iron and steel workers: 28.4%
- Roofers: 27.1%
- Millwrights: 25.5%
- Cement masons, concrete finishers and terrazzo workers: 25.3%
- Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons: 25.1%
- Construction laborers: 25.0%
- Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers: 23.9%
- Interviewers, except eligibility and loan: 23.4%
*Information last updated January 12, 2011
Goldstein, Jacob. “Which Jobs Have The Highest And Lowest
Unemployment Rates?.” NPR (2011): n. pag. Web. 2 Mar 2011. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/01/12/132859364/which-jobs-have-the-highest-and-lowest-unemployment-rates>.