The article states:

“We’re proud to be working with a forward-thinking leader like Mayor Reed who understands that mobile is a critical element in the communication and distribution of job opportunities because there are entire segments of the population who do not own a computer but do own a mobile phone.”

It sounds like this new online jobs platform will reach more people and in so doing should help our current economy. Not only does it reach more people it is specific to the types of employment people are qualified for. In addition, the service provides analytical data that will provide insight to decision-making leaders that will aid them in potential job growth for the city. It is all good – or at least it sounds that way to me.

Sandy McIntosh

January 25, 2012

The development house On The GoWare, who have concentrated their attentions on the commercial side of the mobile tracks, have designed a new program which focuses on the most popular operating systems. The company’s internal school, the Mobile Development Institute, awards the title of MDICD (Mobile Development Institute Certified Developer) upon completion of courses. MDI:

“…offers certification programs in … : Apple iOS (iPhone and iPad), Google Android, and RIM BlackBerry. Their programs are designed to teach someone the beginning to end, even if they have no programming experience at all, By the time a student has successfully completed the training, they have designed, programmed, tested, and published a finished app into the market.”

As the release notes, and no doubt many recent university graduates have discovered for themselves, the ability to work within these specific systems is extremely attractive to the array of companies which populate this burgeoning area of software development. Considering the current economic climate and the fact that student loan debt is reported to have eclipsed the combined credit debt of U.S. citizens, programs like these offer a much needed option for both parties. Individuals seeking training receive it from seasoned professionals at an affordable rate, while employers know their selections are among the most qualified. News to both consider and track in this period of uncertainty.

Micheal Cory

October 19, 2011

It is important to note the relevancy factor here. 84% percent of employees plan to look for a new job this year. Clearly companies need strategies for making work an enjoyable place to be where employees feel appreciated and connected.

This guide takes a look at five areas including: virtual bulletin boards, multimedia trainings, collaboration tech, software to show the big picture, and socialization and gamification.

Citing other articles that describe the success stories of other companies makes the tips in this article more realistic.

Lawrence Coburn, CEO and founder of DoubleDutch was quoted as saying the following:

“Our HYVE application is designed to boost employee productivity and collaboration. It uses geo-location, social, gaming and analytics features to allow employees to ‘check in’ to projects, customers and locations in one interface. This knowledge allows our employees to celebrate achievements around customers and projects.”

I recommend HR departments read this article recently published on the American Express OPEN forum to gain insights into how others are implementing this elusive concept of “fun at work” and maybe it will even spur some creativity of your own.

Megan Feil, October 13, 2011

One of the passages which struck us as particularly interesting was Ms. Milone’s answer to the question, “Can you give me an example of how the social method works?” Ms. Milone replied:

There is the engineering or technical aspect of a patent. There are financial and business issues. There are risk factors that must be considered and evaluated. In Manhattan, it is possible to locate the expertise needed to tackle a patent matter. However, if one lives in a smaller city, expertise may not be a couple of blocks or a taxi ride away. We tapped the social capabilities of the Internet and assembled an unrivaled, world class team of experts in law and the necessary disciplines to provide the advice, counsel, opinions, and facts our clients require. With our crowdsourcing platform, we can tap the expertise a client requires in a fast, secure, and agile way. Distance is not a factor. Reaction time is accelerated.

What’s interesting is that the AOP approach blends the speed and flexibility of time shifting with the social approach of a large pool of specialists. If you want to know more about the Article One approach, point your browser to www.articleonepartners.com.

A misstep in patents is, as Ms. Milone said, “The present business climate has raised the stakes in what historically has already been a very high stakes game. Obviously a company can be sued and have to pay very sizable damages. The loss in research and development  investment is another risk.”

Kenneth Toth, July 25, 2011

Mashable.com’s recent article, “HOW TO: Find a Job on Twitter” can help with just that. Evolving from a micro-blogging way to find out what’s happening in the world, or your backyard, Twitter has moved into a social media site for recruiting and job searching. How to make the most of your Twitter presence to locate that dream job is as simple as making yourself “job friendly” – post a link to your online resume/CV, twitter about your job search and what you are specifically looking for, and by all means, use a professional avatar. There are more great tips in this article, so check it out.

The SSN Take: Some things haven’t changed and that is the importance of who you know. With Twitter, you can “know” more people that are important to know.

Melody K. Smith, April 30, 2010

Note:   Post was not sponsored.

Job Opportunities & Career Information is a one-stop resource location for those currently looking for career development, a new job or just some valuable information regarding employers and employee relationships. Providing a source for job leads via Twitter accumulated into one daily report expedites the process of searching through Twitter for specific data. Career planning information all indexed into one location can make the experience much more positive. Even the warnings about “earn money from home” scams and what to be on the lookout for are valuable resources to find in one location.

The SSN Take: A good resource to bookmark and watch if you are in the job searching mode.

Melody K. Smith, April 26, 2010

Note:   Post was not sponsored.

“Deloitte is taking a multifaceted digital approach to recruiting by using a blend of social networking resources and multimedia elements. A versatile introduction to their company is available at the click of a button,” reports the T+D Blog in “Deloitte: The Future of Recruiting is Social Media.” Deloitte’s program integrates several interactive media outlets, including a micro-site, a Twitter feed, a Facebook page, a LinkedIn group and a YouTube channel.

The micro-site provides an in-depth look into the lives of the firm’s Gen Y workers through a series of profiles and short films. The Twitter feed, “Life at Deloitte,”features daily tweets designed to provide insight into the company’s different practice areas and the latest hot topics from a variety of business leaders. The “Your Future at Deloitte (U.S.)” Facebook page also has interactive message boards where potential job candidates can join the discussion. A campus-focused LinkedIn group helps connect college students with employees and recruiters.

Deloitte’s YouTube channel, “Your Future at Deloitte,” features video testimonies from employees about why they chose the company and what the work means to them.

Deloitte, which has about 169,000 employees worldwide, estimates it will hire about 4,800 full- and part-time employees during 2010.

Sodexo USA, the global food and facilities management services provider which was recently awarded ERE’s 2010 excellence in recruiting award, also makes use of a full social media arsenal. “Sodexo’s social media initiative is on the leading edge of best practices,” writes John Sullivan in “Best Practices in Recruiting” on ERE.net. “Its web presence effectively communicates Sodexo’s company culture, and opportunities across a Careers blog, Facebook page, LinkedIn group, YouTube channel, Twitter and Flickr.” The Society for New Communications Research has recognized Sodexo for its pioneering work in microblogging.

Employing a more one-dimensional social media recruiting campaign, Sears Holding Corp., recently posted 7,000 positions with TweetMyJOBS, a Twitter-based job board service. Writing for ReadWriteWeb , Sarah Perez says TweetMyJOBS president and founder Gary Zukowski claims the partnership makes Sears, which also includes the Kmart chain, one of the largest brands to embrace mobile recruiting. The service lets job seekers receive instant notification on their cell phones via Twitter when new jobs are posted online.

The partnership has a large potential to grow as Sears posted more than 500,000 job openings last year via traditional recruiting channels.

Another social media recruiting partnership features CareerBuilder.com and Facebook.

In “It’s time to update your Facebook status—recruitment strategies move toward social media in 2010” on examiner.com, Megan Munch notes that job postings from CareerBuilder now also post directly to Facebook. “The best matched candidates will be able to see the company’s job advertisement on the side of their Facebook page.”

Careerbuilder and Facebook also cooperate in helping the more than 700,000 local companies that have Facebook pages improve their image. CareerBuilder consultants work with clients, checking their Facebook pages weekly—blogging, posting updates, new hires and accomplishments—as well as monitoring site activity.

Munch offers one bit of advice to potential job seekers using social media, especially those fresh out of college. “I would advise taking down [photo] albums titled ‘The Hangover Album.’ Inappropriate behavior can and will affect job and internship opportunities.”

John Sniffen, April 14, 2010

Note: Post not sponsored

In a recent TruthOut article, “The Social Networking Job” author Aaron Lake Smith pokes a lot of fun at the recent trend of successful companies, like Pizza Hut, employing twenty-something social networking gurus to help spread their product’s message. Lake Smith more or less blames baby boomers for taking advantage of these talents and not offering meaningful employment to his generation. While companies might not always have the warmest, fuzziest intentions of using social media, the author fails to realize many people have turned their generational expertise into that meaningful career. Ask anyone who was “taken advantage of” during the ’90s internet revolution or the rise of computers twenty years prior.

The SSN Take: Don’t complain when you have a marketable skill, use it to your advantage.

Patrick Roland, April 7, 2010

Note: Post not sponsored.

Realonlinedegrees.com’s recent article, “The Future Trends of the Job Market” shares a chart of future employment projections based on current trends and data, and with no surprise, technical/scientific jobs top the list of expected job growth over the next eight years.  The chart goes on to compare employment areas that are expected to grow with the education required to reach the level of income you wish to earn. This trifecta of data can certainly lay out a path for those considering their education options fresh out of high school, as well as those looking to start a second career as an adult.

The SSN Take: Whether at the beginning of your career or starting over, these trends can help you make tough career decisions.

Melody K. Smith, March 19, 2010

Note:   Post was not sponsored.

Patrick Roland, Feb. 26, 2010

Note: Post not sponsored.