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The Benefits of Searching for Jobs and Candidates via Mobile

Beyond.com CEO, Rich Milgram recently had the opportunity to create a guest post on the HR blog, Recruiting Trends on the topic of mobile recruitment strategies for both employers and job seekers. With the trend of mobile phones to do everything but make phone calls, this post further examines the benefits of searching for jobs and candidates through mobile devices.

Read the full post.

Beyond.com Identifies Emerging Jobs Despite Fears of Double Dip Recession

Quarterly Trends Report Finds Positive Indicators in Uncertain Economic Times

Beyond.com, a Career Network focused on helping people grow and succeed, today released its Second Quarter 2011 Career Trend Analysis Report which provides an in-depth look at the latest job market trends. While the U.S. economy continues to pose uncertainty, Beyond.com is reporting a positive outlook with the emergence of new job titles and growth sectors in a year over year comparison of Career Network data.

The Beyond.com Career Trend Analysis Report, which gathers information across thousands of top-tier industry and local career sites, indicates that five job titles have shown a noticeable and steady uptick in job postings, spanning primarily across two industries: Green and Technology. While both industries have remained steady over the past year overall, some specific positions stand out amongst the others in providing an increase of opportunities for job seekers.  

 According to the report, the emerging job titles include:

• Green Consultant Jobs
  • With an average salary of $60,000, this position can take on a variety of different roles, from helping organizations evaluate and improve internal environmental processes to aiding in the implementation of green strategies. Nationally, green jobs employ 2.7 million people, according to a report by The Brookings Institution. Green Consultants will continue to be in demand as more and more businesses look to these experts to help establish environmental best practices. 

• Eco-Friendly Freelance Writer Jobs
  • With many people turning to magazines and news outlets for tips and information about green and eco-friendly living, writers with knowledge of the green market are becoming more sought after. Further, with many publications unable to take on full-time staff, a freelance position is often the best route to establish yourself and continue to practice your skill. As a freelancer making an average of $60,000 a year, this job often provides more flexible hours which can be a nice perk for some professionals.

• Genius – Apple Store Jobs
  • The “Genius” position has presented more job opportunities over the past year for the similar reasons as an iPhone Developer – growing adoption of the iPhone along with the iPad, iPod and other Apple products. As people are using these products, there is more need for customer service and technical support. This position typically requires working in an Apple store and has an average salary of $41,000. Responsibilities include helping customers resolve issues and conducting hardware and software troubleshooting.

• iPhone Developer Jobs
  • With the increasing popularity and adoption of the iPhone – particularly with availability now across multiple mobile carriers – it is no surprise that the growth of job openings for iPhone Developers is on the rise. This position with an average salary of $95,000 typically requires working for a specific mobile company and is responsible for all frameworks and mobile technologies to make new applications successful.

• Silverlight Developer Jobs
  • Developers are in demand across the technology industry. However Silverlight developers in particular are seeing a rise in job opportunities due to an increase in consumers’ streaming of TV shows and movies on their computers. At an average of $104,000 a year, qualifications for this position include expertise in creating software solutions for enterprises and in building rich internet applications using Microsoft technologies.

“It’s no secret that the U.S. economy is currently facing financial worries and the unemployment rate remains high, yet at the same time it’s important to recognize that some markets are still thriving and providing opportunities to job seekers and professionals within those industries,” said Rich Milgram, CEO at Beyond.com. “For job seekers in either the green sector or technology industry or those looking to enter these fields, there are options available when you know what to look for. By identifying these specific job titles, job seekers can modify their search and apply their expertise to these specific positions in an effort to not only secure a job but establish themselves in a healthy sector.”  

 To view the complete Career Trend Analysis Report and Industry Essentials Reports for second quarter 2011, please visit http://about.beyond.com/statistics.

What Does the U.S. Credit Downgrade Mean for U.S. Jobs?

So the debt ceiling has been raised and America’s credit has been downgraded, so how does that impact jobs?

This is a hot topic of discussion at the moment, but many of us might not fully understand what it all means, so for those of you who need a crash course—here is high level way to understand how the credit downgrade can affect you and jobs in the United States. 

As everything is interdependent—the raising of the debt ceiling has in turn downgraded the U.S. credit which in turn will increase the interest rates that the United States will pay on the national debt, which in turn will result in higher borrowing costs for all of us (i.e. business credit lines, mortgages, student loans, and credit cards rates) which in turn can instill fear that any interest increase will slow the economy and mean less demand for workers, bringing about layoffs and increasing the risk of a double dip recession. 

For those of you who are like me—visual learners click on the image below:

Other influencers? The downgrade adds to the worry that has already been instilled based on the fact that the government said our economic growth was far weaker in the first half of 2011 than economist had initially expected.  So have employers stopped hiring?  Well according to the soon to be released Beyond.com Q2 Trends Report (this is a sneak peak) when comparing Q1 to Q2 there was an increase in the number of fulltime jobs posted—which is promising.

So should we be worried?  Well there are a lot of things up in the air at the moment, so it is hard to say. After all this is the first time in history that the U.S. lost its triple-A debt rating, however a better than expected jobs report that was released on Friday is keeping people calm. 

Also, according to Beyond.com, CEO Rich Milgram, who acknowledges that while we saw a modest uptick in jobs for July, part of what is currently impacting job growth is the fact that many people forget about the woes of the world and go on summer vacation (even stay-cations)—that goes for the people who are doing the hiring and the people who are looking.

Need a Job? NYC is the Place to Be, says Beyond.com

Beyond.com, Inc., the world’s largest network of niche career communities, today released its First Quarter 2011 Career Trend Analysis Report, which identifies the top metropolitan regions for jobs, ranking New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island as number one with the highest percentage of online job postings and offering the best opportunity for employment amongst job seekers. In a region-by-region comparison, the job posting trends data is representative of the percentage across metropolitan regions and is adjusted by population.

According to the Beyond.com quarterly trends report, which gathers information across thousands of top-tier industry and local career sites, the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island region yielded the most online job postings, with more than 14 percent of jobs across all regions. The top three industries for jobs in this metro area include Healthcare & Medical, Accounting & Finance and Information Technology, respectively. Across all U.S. metropolitan regions, the Healthcare & Medical industry was reported as the number one generator of jobs, lending more widespread options for professionals in this industry. The top seven metro regions for overall online job postings are:

1) New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (14.2 percent)



2) Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County (12.5 percent)

3) Chicago-Gary-Kenosha (8.95 percent)

4) San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (8.91 percent)

5) Dallas-Fort Worth (7.07 percent)

6) Washington-Baltimore (6.63 percent)

7) Atlanta (5.66 percent)

 

The top 15 major metropolitan areas within the United States, the majority of the regions experienced a position shift from the previous quarter. Over the past quarter, New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island and Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County remained steady holding the top two positions, while the majority of other metropolitan regions experienced a position shift. The Chicago-Gary-Kenosha metro area experienced an uptick in job postings, elevating its ranking to the number three spot.

“While there has been impressive job growth in the New York area it is important to note that overall there has been job growth throughout the country,” said Rich Milgram, CEO at Beyond.com. “For those searching for jobs, they should be aware that many organizations are adopting new policies by offering telecommuting options and shortened work week schedules in an effort to attract and hire the best possible candidates – so job seekers should be open to all opportunities regardless of location. As for the increase in jobs we’ve experienced, we hope that this growth continues throughout the summer as it would be a positive sign for the economy.”

To view the complete Career Trend Analysis Report and Industry Outlook Reports for first quarter 2011, please visit http://about.beyond.com/statistics.

Beyond.com Mobile Job Search Apps Hit More Than One-Million Downloads

Beyond.com, Inc., the world’s largest network of niche career communities, today announced that The Beyond.com network of mobile applications have reached more than one-million downloads. As the use of mobile devices continues to rise, Beyond.com recognizes the role that mobile recruitment strategies now play in the way employers and candidates connect with one another.

In today’s market, the ability to search for jobs anytime, from anywhere, can provide job seekers a competitive edge by staying informed, quickly reacting to new job opportunities and getting in front of prospective employers before the competition. The Beyond.com applications are designed to meet the job seeker’s need to search and share relevant jobs, with features such as push notifications of newly posted jobs, as well as valuable articles and videos to help them find a job faster.

A Morgan Stanley analyst report predicts that by 2014, the Internet will be more frequently searched on a mobile device than on a computer, bestowing tremendous implications for the recruitment industry. Mobile recruitment creates an opportunity for companies to engage with targeted candidates in a more immediate way, delivering content when and where people want to consume it – which is on their mobile device. By incorporating mobile strategies into an overall recruitment program, employers are able to effectively connect with job seekers the way they want to be reached.

“Mobile technology has changed the way people communicate in every aspect of their lives,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com. “Professionals today are often on-the-go and prefer a discreet and faster way to receive and respond to job postings. This is evidenced not only by the significant number of application downloads, but by the exploding mobile traffic we’re experiencing at Beyond.com, with a 183 percent increase over the past year in mobile traffic coming to our site. Job search apps are proving to be a key component in a recruitment strategy as an effective method to bring together employers and candidates.”

Beyond.com also provides employer-branded mobile applications, which allow companies to create stronger brand recognition and provide direct access to jobs and company information to increase the overall value of the application. For more information on how Beyond.com apps can be incorporated into a mobile recruitment strategy, please visit http://www.Beyond.com.

Applying What You’ve Learned from Your NCAA Pool To Your Job Search

As March Madness gets underway and office pools around the country are run discretely under your managers’ noses, I thought it’d be fun to revisit a previous post about applying what you’ve learned from your NCAA pools over the years to your job search. 

Best of luck (my salute to St. Patrick’s Day) to those participating in March Madness pools, those conducting a job search, and those who are doing both.

To those of you, who called in sick to celebrate St. Patty’s Day and/or to watch the games, get back to work!

Is Your Job Search Driving You Mad?

Entry Level Positions Experience Spike in Job Postings Over Previous Year

Beyond.com, Inc., the world’s largest network of niche career communities, today released its Fourth Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report, which revealed that the largest percentage of online job postings are for positions with less than one year of experience, capturing 78 percent of all postings across the network. This represents more than a 13 percent jump compared to entry level job postings from one year ago, indicating a healthy uptick in the creation of jobs, particularly for this new generation entering the workforce.

According to the Beyond.com quarterly report, which gathers information across thousands of top-tier industry and local career sites, open entry level positions are most prevalent in Houston, New York and Los Angeles, respectively. This is good news for the Class of 2011, as entry level job seekers face a more optimistic job market than seen in previous years, with the NACE Job Outlook 2011 report indicating that surveyed employers plan to hire 13 percent more new college graduates this year than they did from the Class of 2010. The top 10 industries for entry level jobs include:

1. Clerical & Administrative
2. Sales & Sales Management
3. Merchandising, Purchasing & Retail
4. Arts, Entertainment & Gaming
5. Customer Service
6. Management & Business
7. Accounting & Finance
8. Information Technology
9. Healthcare & Medical
10. Engineering & Architecture

“2011 graduates are entering a better job market than the last few graduating classes have experienced,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com. “As we continue to come out of the recession many companies will have a tendency to build from the bottom up, hence the increase in available entry level jobs. One challenge the class of 2011 may encounter is the fact that they will have to compete with grads from previous years as there are several entry level candidates from previous classes still looking for jobs, however these revived opportunities seen at the entry level are a good indicator that the economy as a whole will continue to grow."

Overall, the Beyond.com quarterly report shows that more than 70 percent of industries experienced a percentage gain in job postings over the previous quarter, showing a steady improvement for the employment outlook on a whole. The Healthcare & Medical industry continues to hold the top position, capturing nearly 34 percent of online job postings. Information Technology experienced a slight increase this quarter, jumping to the number two spot for online jobs with more than 9 percent. Other top industries for all online jobs include Accounting & Finance (more than 8 percent) Sales & Sales Management (8 percent) and Merchandising, Purchasing & Retail (7 percent).

To view the complete Career Trend Analysis Report and Industry Outlook Reports for fourth quarter 2010, please visit http://www.Beyond.com/Media/QuarterlyReports.asp.

Will New Tax Cuts Energize Employers To Start Hiring Again?

Yesterday, was an important day, as President Obama delivered his second State of the Union Address.

While what was shared last night was similar in tone to what we heard the previous year, there was something unique happening in the chamber.  In response to the recent events that occurred in Tucson, members of congress sat together, rather than divided by party.  In regards to the untraditional seating arrangements, President Obama said, “What comes from this time will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but if we can work together tomorrow.”

And we hope they can—as the subject of jobs was again a hot topic. The creation of new jobs and new industries was talked about, as well tax cuts and incentives for businesses to hire with the goal of creating more private sector jobs in 2011.

So will it work?  Will these new tax cuts lessen the fears that corporations (large and small) have had when it comes to hiring?  Will new jobs be created?  Well, we like most of you certainly hope so! 

So what do we at Beyond.com, the world’s largest network of niche career communities, believe will happen between now and the 2012 State of the Union Address?

Currently, our team is busy analyzing the employment trends that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2010, but I can tell you that they’ve already noticed a 59% gain in online job posting when comparing the first six months to the last six months of 2010.  Which is great news! 

It looks like employers are starting to hire again, and we hope that that trend continues as more organizations start to feel more comfortable with the state of the economy.  This recovery however, will be a slow and steady one, as we don’t expect things to change overnight.

Additionally, as we work towards achieving clean energy breakthroughs and pursuing efforts to improve our infrastructure, in 2011 we predict that there will also be job increases in the following industries:

• Healthcare and Medical
• Information Technology
• Accounting and Finance
• Management and Business
• Media and Communications

While these are merely predictions, we hope that we can work together to make it happen.

Go Viral—Get Hired!

Traditionally, when you are looking for a new job, you prowl online job boards and you reach out to your network, you don’t think of going to YouTube, but it might not be the craziest of ideas.  After all, there are quite a few success stories; here are just a few highlights:

Justin Bieber – I’m not Bieber’s target demographic, so when Justin Bieber was the top trending topic  on Twit  ter, I had no idea who he was (I had to Google him to see what all the fuss was).  But the story with Bieber (if for some reason you’ve been living under a rock) goes like this…Bieber went from boy to pop R-B singer thanks to his mom posting videos of him performing to YouTube.  He was discovered at age 13 and soon signed by Usher’s record label and now every teenage boy has his flip and switch hairstyle.

Greyson Chance – Greyson Chance owes his budding career to YouTube as well, notice that he also rocks a Bieber style haircut, despite being majorly influenced by Lady Gaga.  So how did Chance get noticed?  He performed Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at his sixth grade music festival where his performance was posted to YouTube and received over 36 million views.  As a result he was invited to perform on The Ellen Degeneres Show after the comedian personally watched the video—since then Greyson has been signed to Ellen’s record label, ElevenEleven.

Ted Williams – Ted Williams has been all over the news this week as his story is pretty great.  The 53 year old homeless man was standing on a freeway exit holding a sign that said he had a golden voice. The Columbus Dispatch paper stopped and took a chance on him.  They filmed him doing some radio spots and from there his luck changed almost instantly when the video went viral.  Now his voice is in demand with job offers from Kraft, The Cleveland Cavaliers, The NFL, The Ohio Credit Union, and ESPN.

Well, now I know this probably isn’t the best way for someone looking for a job as an accountant or software engineer to land a job, but it is still pretty cool to think that people are landing jobs and might I add GREAT jobs thanks to viral videos.  Just goes to show you that you never know when (or from where) your dream job will land in your lap.  Just don’t end up like a laughing stock, like this guy did.

The Pros and Cons of Taking on a Second Job During the Holidays

While taking on additional work during the holiday season is a very common practice, is it really in your best interest?  After all every action comes with pluses and minuses.

Recently, more than 2,100 business professionals across the Beyond.com Network of thousands of niche career sites were asked if they were planning to take on a second job during the holiday season and more than 89 percent said they were already hired, looking for a holiday job, or considering it. 
So with so many people looking for extra work this holiday season, we decided to take a closer look to find out what's so great (and not so great) about working over the holidays. Here is our list of pros and cons when it comes to taking on a second job during the holidays.

Pros 

• Take Advantage of Employee Discounts: While many part time holiday jobs don’t offer benefits like health insurance or a 401K, many retail jobs offer employee discounts.  So with all of those gifts so many of us need to buy, that is a nice perk!
  
  
• Go from Part Time to Full Time: A temporary holiday job can be a great way to get your foot in the door.  If you do a great job during the holiday rush and prove to be a valuable asset, your temporary holiday gig may turn into a full time job.
  
  
• Earn Extra Cash: Well this is a given and the obvious reason for securing extra work during the holidays, so no explanation necessary.
  
  
• Gain Valuable Work Experience: If you’re looking for experience to round out your resume, holiday work might be a great place to get it.
  
  
• Beef Up Your Resume: If you have a large gap on your resume, work during the holidays may be a great filler as you continue to look for another job.  Plus, picking up extra work shows a potential employer that you have the motivation and drive to get ahead.
  
  
• Build Your Network: Working at a seasonal job can help to introduce you to people you may not otherwise have the opportunity meet. So your holiday gig can help put you in touch with great contacts to build your social and professional networks--you never know your coworker at your holiday job may end up being your future boss.

Cons

• Join a Higher Tax Bracket: Holiday jobs, while great to earn extra cash will add to your net income which can possibly bump you into a higher tax bracket.  What you have in your favor--most holiday jobs pay minimum wage so this might not be a problem you will have to face.
  
  
• Lose Time With Loved Ones: While the holidays are typically a time spent with family and friends, taking on a second job can infringe upon that time you would otherwise be spending with those people who are most important to you.  However, given that some may not want to spend time with their families this can possibly also qualify as a pro.
  
  
• Hurt Your Resume: Adding your holiday job to your resume can look to potential employers as though you are not a long-term employee—meaning that given that the position is temporary, it may look like you are a job hopper.  Additionally, many full time employers feel as though their employees that take on additional jobs during the holidays are not working at full capacity at their full time job.

So is taking on a holiday job right for you?  Let us know what your plans are!

Sidenote: I must really have the holidays on my mind as my last four posts have been about the holiday season…what can I say I guess I’m really getting into the spirit of the season.