The Work Buzz

There have been signs of economic growth this month. Earlier in the month we learned that as of December 2011, the national jobless rate was at 8.5 percent, a rate that’s continued to trend down since February 2009.

Yet not all states are created equal when it comes to economic recovery. Some states weathered the recession better than others. And while most states have seen a decline in unemployment post-recession, others have dealt with fluctuating jobless rates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent breakdown of regional and state unemployment numbers for December 2011, the most recent figures available, “Twenty-four states reported jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 8.5 percent, eight states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 18 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.”

In taking a closer look at which states are on the road to recovery and which ones are still hitting speed bumps, we first reviewed each state’s unemployment rates as of December 2011. Also examined were trends in joblessness — whether it’s been on the decline and the rate in which it’s declining — and other factors such as foreclosures and household income. Here’s a look at some of the best and worst states for job seekers.

Continue reading – The best and worst states for job seekers

All eyes were on President Obama last night as he delivered what was potentially his final State of the Union address. One of the central issues discussed in his speech? Jobs. And rightly so.

Though Obama cited recent improvements in the job market – the country has regained more than 3 million jobs in the last 22 months – it’s also clear that we still have a ways to go. After all, 3 million jobs in 22 months comes out to roughly 136,000 jobs per month. Economists believe it will take the addition of at least 250,000 jobs per month to begin bringing unemployment back to pre-recession levels.

Luckily, the President announced a number of viable measures that, if carried out as planned, will both create new jobs, and retrain workers for the jobs that are available. Here, a recap of the employment-related actions announced last night, and why they’re important to American workers.

1. The goal: Return outsourced jobs to the U.S.     Continue reading — The State of the Union reveals plans for job creation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics just released data on the December 2011 regional and state employment and unemployment rates. There’s good news to report: Regional and state unemployment rates were slightly lower in December, with 37 states and the District of Columbia recording unemployment rate decreases.

Year over year, the news was also bright, with 46 states registering unemployment rate decreases from a year prior.

With the national jobless rate continuing to trend down, it will be interesting to see how the topic is tackled during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. We’ll be doing a follow-up post on his speech, so be sure to check that out. In the meantime, here’s our list of 10 companies hiring this week.

1. American Diabetes Association
Industry: Nonprofit
Sample job titles: Manager – fundraising and special events, director – programs, associate manager – community initiatives

2. Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Industry: Pharmaceutical, health care
Sample job titles: Senior medical director, regional sales manager, pharmaceutical sales, associate director, senior scientist

Continue reading – Companies hiring this week

In past posts, we’ve offered up best practices for using social media in your job search. That’s because more and more recruiters and hiring managers are utilizing social networks to learn about and even contact potential candidates.

While most know how to lock down their profiles through privacy settings on sites like Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is a little different. The point there being that the information you’re putting on the site is critical and relevant to your job search; therefore, your picture should also be professional and relevant to your job search. Even with your career transparency on LinkedIn, for all three sites (or however many you may be using), your profile picture is the one constant that’s nearly always visible.

“Your image is conveyed through your photograph, and it’s part of the first impression you make on others,” says Barbara Pachter, a business communications and etiquette expert who’s authored numerous books on the topic of social media professionalism. “You want to post a photograph that is professionally appropriate. You want to look like a credible, approachable person, not like you just came from the beach.”

The beach would be a treat, honestly. Some of the photos I see? For shame, people, for shame I say. So let’s go through some examples of what you should and shouldn’t be doing in your profile picture.

Continue reading – 7 tips to make your profile picture professional

The hug. It’s a simple gesture that can make a happy situation happier or help someone overcome with sadness feel a little better. Studies have shown that hugs can actually make a difference in one’s health; research out of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill found that a hug can lower blood pressure and reduce the harmful physical effects of stress.

Hugs are thought to be so beneficial, there’s even a day dedicated to celebrating the gift of a hug. Jan. 21 has been deemed “National Hugging Day,” and according to the organizer’s website, the day was “created for family and friends to hug often and freely with one another.”

Yet when it comes to hugging in the workplace, the act may become less of a kind gesture and more of a liability. According to a survey by staffing agency The Creative Group, seven in 10 executives interviewed said embracing co-workers in a business setting is inappropriate.

“The thing about hugging in the workplace is that if it makes anyone uncomfortable, there can be legal ramifications,” says Donna Flagg, workplace communications expert and author of, “Surviving Dreaded Conversations.” “And because of hostile work environment and sexual harassment suits, innocent hugging is always vulnerable to being construed as something else — that is, something not so innocent.”

So is hugging a co-worker or showing any signs of physical affection ever acceptable? Or is it better to avoid any gesture that could be considered a personal-space invasion? While opinions may differ, here are some things to think about when going in for an office hug:

Continue reading – Hugs in the workplace: Acceptable or personal-space invasion?

Whether you plan your life around your horoscope (“The sun is in my commitment house! I am SO finding love this month”), or you think the Zodiac is utter nonsense; you’re probably still somewhat familiar with your Western Zodiac sign. You know whether you’re a Scorpio or an Aries, and you might even be familiar with the personality traits, relationship patterns and career preferences your sign predisposes you to.

Chances are, though, you’re a lot less familiar with Chinese astrology.

The Chinese Zodiac makes the same sort of generalities and predictions as the Western Zodiac, but is based on the year you were born in instead of the month. With the Chinese New Year happening on January 23 (welcome, year of the dragon!), we thought it’d be interesting to see what astrology has to say about the career and work preferences of each of the 12 signs in the Chinese Zodiac.

“Sometimes in choosing a career we just don’t know where to start,” says Donna Stellhorn, an astrologer and author of “2012: Year of the Water Dragon.” “Many people in the world look to their Chinese Zodiac sign to find their talents, strengths and weaknesses. And this helps guide them in their career choices.”

What does your sign say about your career choices? Stellhorn weighs in, below. Continue reading – Your career path, according to the Chinese Zodiac

I consider myself a true Midwestern girl, having never lived in another region of the country. So there have been numerous times when I’ve had the itch to shake things up and move somewhere else, even if just for a few years.

Relocating to another city or state can present some challenges, but it also provides opportunities, especially for job seekers continuing to hit dead ends in their current job market. In fact, a recent CareerBuilder study found that 44 percent of workers would be willing to relocate for a career opportunity. And employers are willing to help, especially those that are struggling to find workers to fill skilled positions. Thirty-two percent of employers surveyed said they would be willing to pay to relocate new employees in 2012.

The top areas for which employers are most likely to pay

Continue reading – 44 percent of workers would move for a job; new site helps with relocation

We’ve got a big weekend coming up. So big that it’s only Tuesday and we’re already going to talk about it.

First up is South Carolina’s presidential primary on Saturday. Will Mitt Romney solidify his position as the Republican Party front-runner? We should have a clear picture of the GOP’s leaderboard by the end of the weekend.

And then there is Sunday. The New York Giants play the San Francisco 49ers. The New England Patriots take on the Baltimore Ravens. Who will win? Who knows, but I’ll speak for everyone here at TheWorkBuzz when I say, whatever happens, I hope it  leads to a championship win for the Giants. (But really I can only speak for myself on that one. Go G-men!).

Anyway, all this anticipation is almost too much to take. To get our minds off it, let’s check out this list of companies hiring now.

1. American Diabetes Association
Industry: Non-profit
Sample job titles: Manager – Fundraising and special events, director – programs, associate manager – community initiatives

2. American Management Services
Industry: Sales/marketing
Sample job titles: Field sales manager, inside sales, business coordinator Continue Reading — Companies hiring this week

The offer letter hits your email or your desk. Panic washes over you. You sit for a moment and hope that the grass will truly be greener on the other side of the fence and that the new job will more than deliver on all the things you want to get out of it.

For many of us, deciding to leave an old job and moving on to a new one can be terrifying. Despite doing the homework on the company, many times you’re still walking into a lot of unknowns. What can look good on paper can be a pain in real life.

While we’ve covered the topic of things to consider when looking for a new job, I wanted to break it down a bit more on the specific things to think about when deciding whether to accept the offer, begin negotiating or stick it out in your current position.

Continue reading – 3 questions to ask yourself about a new job offer