Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Considering relocating for job?

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If you are having a hard time finding a job, have you considered relocating? It’s not always an easy or obvious choice, but in some cases, being open to a relo may be just the change you need to land an opportunity.

Consider Indeed.com’s ranking of the “number of unemployed per job posting for the 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.” While these statistics can be a bit misleading (they indicate the number of jobs per the number of people without specifically taking into account the types of job), they list the following as the best U.S. cities to find work:

  • Washington D.C.
  • San Jose, CA
  • Baltimore, MD
  • New York, NY
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • Oklahoma City, Ut
  • Hartford, CT
  • Boston, MA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Austin, TX

Another recent listing of places to consider working is from a study reported by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com/CNN by Apartments.com and CBcampus.com, which list the top 10 cities for new grads are:

  • 1. Atlanta – Average rent:* $723: Popular entry-level categories:** sales, marketing, customer service
  • 2. Phoenix – Average rent: $669: Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, training
  • 3. Denver- Average rent: $779: Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care
  • 4. Dallas – Average rent: $749: Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care
  • 5. Boston – Average rent: $1275: Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, training
  • 6. Philadelphia – Average rent: $938: Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, health care
  • 7. New York – Average rent: $1,366: Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, marketing
  • 8. Cincinnati – Average rent: $613: Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management
  • 9. Baltimore – Average rent: $1,041: Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management
  • 10. Los Angeles – Average rent: $1319: Popular entry-level categories: sales, training, health care

Anthony Balderrama, from CareerBuilder’s The Work Buzz suggests these questions to consider when evaluating a move:

  1. What is the entire cost of the move itself?
  2. What is the comprehensive cost of living adjustment?
  3. When is your last day on the old job and your first day of the new one?
  4. What are your career opportunities in this new city?
  5. What does saying “no” to the relocation mean for your career?
  6. If you’re switching employers, what are your career opportunities at the new company?
  7. Do you want to move?

Giving a move serious consideration? Be sure to visit the Riley Guide’s list of resources if you are planning to make a career move. Links include cost of living calculators as well as moving companies!

photo by mattindy77

CareerBuilder's 2010 Jobs Forecast wrap up

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CareerBuilder released its 2010 Jobs Forecast, and Anthony Balderrama touched on the highlights in a recent CareerBuzz:

If you’re wondering where the jobs are, look to the West, where 24 percent of employers intend to add full-time workers. Employers in the Northeast anticipate the next highest amount of hiring, followed by the South and Midwest.

The industries where you can expect to see the largest hiring increases are information technology, manufacturing, financial services, professional and business services and sales.

Other notable results from the survey? Some good news for job seekers: “20% of employers plan to increase their number of full-time, permanent employees this year, up from 14% in 2009.” On the flip side, “9% plan to decrease headcount, down from 16% in 2009.” Most (61%) don’t anticipate hiring or firing workers.

The survey asks hiring managers and human resource professionals to comment on a variety of topics of interest to job seekers and employers. Some highlights from the survey include companies’ plans to:

  • Replace lower-performing employees. Although most employers surveyed would grade their workforces a “B” or above (85%).
  • Emphasize social media to strengthen their brand. 37% will focus more on social media and 8% plan to hire someone to do the job.
  • Rehire laid-off workers. 32% plan to bring back workers, some in the first six months of the year.
  • Continue to provide flexible work arrangements. 35% (up from 31% last year) will offer alternate schedules, telecommunting, compressed work weeks, summer hours, job sharing and/or sabbaticals.
  • Cut perks and benefits. 37% (up from 32% last year) plan to cut employee incentives. Bonuses are the biggest cut (15%), followed by medical coverage (10%), suspended 401k matching, condiments, incentive trips, academic reimbursement, vacation time and wellness benefits.

Other items from the survey:

  • Mature workers get the nod from 27% of surveyed companies who say they are open to retaining their workers who are approaching retirement. 1% say they may rehire retirees from other companies this year. 10% may offer incentives to keep workers approaching retirement age with their company. This works well for those approaching retirement age, as 37% of employers surveyed reported that they have employees requesting to stay on, up from 22% last year.
  • Freelance or contract workers will still be on the books this year for 30% of surveyed employers, up from 28% last year.
  • The environment is a greater focus for 11% of employers who plan to add “green jobs,” which is on par with last year’s figures.
  • Bilingual employees are in luck. 40% of employers plan to build a bilingual workforce, although the survey does not specify what languages are in demand.

Read highlights HERE or download the full report HERE.

No matter what your job target, you can benefit from personalized advice! Don’t forget that clear, concise, optimized job search materials AND a strong, well executed plan are key for job search success! I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching?  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While you’re at it, don’t forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on Facebook…I’d be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since we’re on the subject of doing something new…Are you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers.

photo by segozyme