Job Growth and You!!

According to a recent issue of USA Today, businesses added 201,000 jobs in August, the most in five months, according to a survey of the private sector, stirring hopes that the government’s employment report Friday could show stronger-than-expected gains.  Jobless claims, layoffs and service-sector activity also pointed to a possible pickup in the pace of payroll growth.  The 201,000 private-sector additions reported Thursday by the ADP National Employment Report solidly beat economists’ estimates of 140,000 job gains. ADP also revised up its estimate of July payroll advances to 173,000 from 163,000.

In August, small businesses with up to 49 workers added 99,000 jobs, while mid-size firms — with 50 to 499 employees — added 86,000. Large companies with 500 or more workers added 16,000, following a recent trend that has seen bigger businesses lagging smaller enterprises in job growth. The service sector added 185,000 jobs, and goods-producing companies added 16,000, including 3,000 by manufacturers. Construction payrolls rose by 10,000, the best showing since March.

What does this mean for those looking for a job?  GE Transportation has announced plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, that will employ more than 500 workers by 2012. The plant has the potential to add up to 275 additional workers in subsequent years. While some other major banks are cutting their mortgage services divisions, Chase is growing, adding between 500 and 1,000 jobs in the central Ohio area. The growth spurt is fueled by new office space in Gahanna, which Chase is spending several million dollars to reconfigure, and should be ready for business later this year. The international corporation is so eager to fill more than 3,000 open positions across the United States that it has launched a major employment campaign called “Where the Jobs Are.” Hewlett-Packard (HP) was advertising 2,383 openings at last count, with openings for software developers, testers, designers, business operations specialists, strategic development managers and engineers, among other positions.

Stay up-to-date, wherever you are in your job search. You may not be surprised to learn the best time to find a job is when you already have a job. Recent research shows that some employers consider passive candidates—people not actively looking for work because they’re employed—one of the best sources of hires. Stay competitive. While you likely have a full-plate at work already, consider ways to take on different challenges within your role. When you do, you’ll not only become more valuable to your current employer, but you’ll learn new skills, enhance your experience, and expand the number of opportunities you’ll be suitable for next time you’re actively looking.” Do not limit yourself to one specific area for years on end. Be aware of new job trends. This will enhance your odds of advancing your career.

Research your competitors by tracking their social media company pages. LinkedIn is very good because it identify when companies hire new people.  Follow industry leaders on social media and keep track of the news about your field. Starting a job search from scratch takes time, but turning your passive search into an active search requires only a change in your mind set.”

Sign up for job alerts, keep an eye on jobs posted on LinkedIn (which shows you who posted the job and how you’re connected to that person), and stay up-to-date on news that affects your industry. If a major competitor just won a huge government contract, for example, you want to make sure you know. Sign up for Google alerts for company names so you will receive emails as soon as Google indexes something about the organization.

 

“Hiring News: The Latest Job Openings.” AOL Jobs. Web. 18 Oct. 2012.

“USA TODAY.” USATODAY.COM. Web. 18 Oct. 2012.

“The Nuances of Job-Seeking While You’re Employed.” 5 Tips to Stay Competitive and Employed in the Job Market.

Web. 18 Oct. 2012.

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