From Austin Business Journal, January 26, 2009...
It appears that more local jobs are being cut as part of Freescale Semiconductor Inc.’s restructuring initiative.
The Austin-based chipmaker sent a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission earlier this month outlining 60 positions that will be eliminated in mid-March from the company’s facility at 6501 William Cannon Dr. The jobs range from design engineers to project managers.
In October, Freescale said it would cut at least 2,400 jobs, or 10 percent of its global work force, in an effort to trim costs. In November, the company notified the state that it was eliminating 138 jobs from facilities in Travis and Williamson counties in January.
Read more...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
IT Salaries Spiked in 2008, Despite Slowdown
From DICE, January 22, 2009...
There’s no doubt the economy has people worried about their jobs. If they’re not afraid of losing them, they’re wondering about raises, or whether their pay might be cut. But here’s an interesting note: According to Dice’s annual salary survey, technology professionals in various cities are seeing a spike in salary increases.
Read more...
There’s no doubt the economy has people worried about their jobs. If they’re not afraid of losing them, they’re wondering about raises, or whether their pay might be cut. But here’s an interesting note: According to Dice’s annual salary survey, technology professionals in various cities are seeing a spike in salary increases.
Read more...
Microsoft to cut 5,000 jobs as profits fall
From Computerworld, January 22, 2009...
Microsoft Corp. today said it will cut 5,000 jobs amid falling profits. About 1,400 positions were eliminated today.
The job cuts come as the company announced that fourth-quarter profits fell 11% to $4.17 billion. Revenue rose 2% to $16.6 billion.
The company said it plans to cut jobs in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal, human resources and IT over the next 18 months.
Read more...
Microsoft Corp. today said it will cut 5,000 jobs amid falling profits. About 1,400 positions were eliminated today.
The job cuts come as the company announced that fourth-quarter profits fell 11% to $4.17 billion. Revenue rose 2% to $16.6 billion.
The company said it plans to cut jobs in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal, human resources and IT over the next 18 months.
Read more...
Austin Tech Happy Hour on Jan 29th
From Austin Startup, January 21, 2009...
The next Austin Tech Happy Hour will be Thursday January 29th at Molotov Lounge from 6pm - 8pm. This is one happy hour you won’t want to miss! We can’t give away too many details right now, but we’ll share more with you soon.
Everybody has at least one really great idea for a new company in the back of their mind, but most don’t have the resources to make it a reality. That will all change on Jan 29th…
We’ll be announcing details on how three (3) startups will receive up to $20,000 each in seed funding, along with many other benefits that will help get their new company off the ground.
Read more...
The next Austin Tech Happy Hour will be Thursday January 29th at Molotov Lounge from 6pm - 8pm. This is one happy hour you won’t want to miss! We can’t give away too many details right now, but we’ll share more with you soon.
Everybody has at least one really great idea for a new company in the back of their mind, but most don’t have the resources to make it a reality. That will all change on Jan 29th…
We’ll be announcing details on how three (3) startups will receive up to $20,000 each in seed funding, along with many other benefits that will help get their new company off the ground.
Read more...
Keep Your Chin Up? How, Exactly?
From DICE, January 21, 2009...
Let’s face it, aside from those working in the Obama memorabilia market, none of us are immune from this terrible economic situation. During the early days of these troubles, there was a lot of speculation the IT industry wouldn’t be hit. But we haven’t been so lucky. Even SAP and Google are laying people off.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently said the U.S. lost 260,000 information technology jobs in the fourth quarter, a 6.4 percent drop from the third. That sent IT unemployment to 3.2 percent, its worst level since early 2005, according to InformationWeek.
Furthermore, IT services provider Technisource’s latest IT Employee Confidence Index found IT professionals lost confidence in their job security, their ability to find a new job and how many job openings are out there. Some data points from the report for the fourth quarter of 2008:
Read more...
Let’s face it, aside from those working in the Obama memorabilia market, none of us are immune from this terrible economic situation. During the early days of these troubles, there was a lot of speculation the IT industry wouldn’t be hit. But we haven’t been so lucky. Even SAP and Google are laying people off.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently said the U.S. lost 260,000 information technology jobs in the fourth quarter, a 6.4 percent drop from the third. That sent IT unemployment to 3.2 percent, its worst level since early 2005, according to InformationWeek.
Furthermore, IT services provider Technisource’s latest IT Employee Confidence Index found IT professionals lost confidence in their job security, their ability to find a new job and how many job openings are out there. Some data points from the report for the fourth quarter of 2008:
Read more...
Out of Work? Here Are Eight Ways to Keep Your Career Moving
From DICE, January 21, 2009
Being laid off and facing the prospect of unemployment can be a personal and professional strain. To cope, stay focused and keep your day structured with tasks that are aimed toward getting a job and, perhaps, pursue some activities you normally wouldn't have time to do.
Kevin Jenkins, a recruiter with the California-based Tech-Source, Inc., says being out of work can be an opportune time to work on self-development. It's not often you'll have extended periods to do so, he notes. With a positive mindset and some personal initiative, what you do now can be just as valuable as any time you spend in an office.
Read more...
Being laid off and facing the prospect of unemployment can be a personal and professional strain. To cope, stay focused and keep your day structured with tasks that are aimed toward getting a job and, perhaps, pursue some activities you normally wouldn't have time to do.
Kevin Jenkins, a recruiter with the California-based Tech-Source, Inc., says being out of work can be an opportune time to work on self-development. It's not often you'll have extended periods to do so, he notes. With a positive mindset and some personal initiative, what you do now can be just as valuable as any time you spend in an office.
Read more...
Salaries Reveal ‘Conflicted’ Market
From DICE, January 21, 2009...
More Wages, More Worried: Dice Salary Survey Reveals Conflicted Job Market [Dice]
Technology professionals are seeing a spike in salary increases despite a recessionary economy, according to the 2008-09 Annual Salary Survey from Dice. Gathering the responses of more than 19,000 technology workers between August and November 2008, Dice tracked a 4.6 percent increase in average pay from the previous year to $78,035.
Read more...
More Wages, More Worried: Dice Salary Survey Reveals Conflicted Job Market [Dice]
Technology professionals are seeing a spike in salary increases despite a recessionary economy, according to the 2008-09 Annual Salary Survey from Dice. Gathering the responses of more than 19,000 technology workers between August and November 2008, Dice tracked a 4.6 percent increase in average pay from the previous year to $78,035.
Read more...
Friday, January 23, 2009
Report: Austin executive job opportunities decline
From Austin Business Journal, January 20, 2009...
The executive-level job market sharply decreased in Austin during the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, a new report shows.
For each local available job paying more than $100,000, there were seven executives searching the site during the quarter. That compares with four executives for each available job in the comparable period in 2007, according to TheLadders.com
Read more...
The executive-level job market sharply decreased in Austin during the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, a new report shows.
For each local available job paying more than $100,000, there were seven executives searching the site during the quarter. That compares with four executives for each available job in the comparable period in 2007, according to TheLadders.com
Read more...
It can be done: Landing a raise in a recession
From Computerworld, January 20, 2009...
With raise season under way, many employees may be stumped about whether they should ask for a salary increase this year. During a recessionary period, people often find themselves working harder but wonder whether it's realistic to expect to be compensated for bearing the extra burden when many companies are facing losses.
The answer is, probably, but with a catch. It isn't unrealistic to expect a salary increase, but the general consensus among management experts is that if you want a raise, you're going to have to justify it more than in previous years. And you'll need to pare down your expectations, as companies — especially financial firms and others directly affected by the downturn — have less money to dole out.
Read more...
With raise season under way, many employees may be stumped about whether they should ask for a salary increase this year. During a recessionary period, people often find themselves working harder but wonder whether it's realistic to expect to be compensated for bearing the extra burden when many companies are facing losses.
The answer is, probably, but with a catch. It isn't unrealistic to expect a salary increase, but the general consensus among management experts is that if you want a raise, you're going to have to justify it more than in previous years. And you'll need to pare down your expectations, as companies — especially financial firms and others directly affected by the downturn — have less money to dole out.
Read more...
Speeding up the process of finding a new position
From Computerworld, January 20, 2009...
If you find yourself suddenly unemployed, or if you were laid off months ago, it's probably no surprise to hear that it could be several months before you're gainfully employed again. According to employment experts, these days it can take six months to find a job after a layoff. Here's how to manage an extended job search:
Read more...
If you find yourself suddenly unemployed, or if you were laid off months ago, it's probably no surprise to hear that it could be several months before you're gainfully employed again. According to employment experts, these days it can take six months to find a job after a layoff. Here's how to manage an extended job search:
Read more...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Reclaiming Your Mojo
From DICE, January 19, 2009...
So the worst has happened and you’re unemployed. While losing a job can be a blow to your confidence and self-esteem, remember it’s only a matter of time - and effort - before you land a new one. The truth is, though, you might be too vulnerable to jump right back into the job market, so here’s how to get your job-hunting mojo back:
Read more...
So the worst has happened and you’re unemployed. While losing a job can be a blow to your confidence and self-esteem, remember it’s only a matter of time - and effort - before you land a new one. The truth is, though, you might be too vulnerable to jump right back into the job market, so here’s how to get your job-hunting mojo back:
Read more...
Opinion: Bound for a boutique consulting firm?
From Computerworld, January 19, 2009...
As a result of the shaky economy, many IT professionals have recently lost their jobs, and more layoffs lurk ahead. Many tech workers will consider joining or forming small boutique consulting firms with staffs ranging from one to 50 employees.
A boutique is riskier than an established consultancy. Boutiques (particularly those with only one or two people) may not have established clients, methodologies or administrative processes. Worse, they may not have the resources to train new employees who have limited consulting experience. Before joining or creating a boutique consulting firm, consider these aspects:
Read more...
As a result of the shaky economy, many IT professionals have recently lost their jobs, and more layoffs lurk ahead. Many tech workers will consider joining or forming small boutique consulting firms with staffs ranging from one to 50 employees.
A boutique is riskier than an established consultancy. Boutiques (particularly those with only one or two people) may not have established clients, methodologies or administrative processes. Worse, they may not have the resources to train new employees who have limited consulting experience. Before joining or creating a boutique consulting firm, consider these aspects:
Read more...
The News: Smart Startups Still Get Money
From DICE, January 19, 2009...
What Recession? Sales Startup InsideView Banks $6.5M in New Funding [eWeek]
InsideView makes SalesView, a kind of business intelligence application. But instead of analyzing information about internal company operations, SalesView ferrets out information on prospective customers from the Internet.
Why Google Employees Quit [TechCrunch]
One message stands out though in most of the posts - employees thought they were entering the promised land when they joined Google, and most of them were disappointed. Some of them wondered if it meant they were somehow lacking.
And…
CIO Prescription: How IT Is Riding Out The Recession [InformationWeek]
Tech vendors who may not survive [Channel Insider]
Big Firms Deepen Job, Wage Cuts [WSJ]
Pay-raise projections raises dip below 3% [Chicago Tribune]
AMD to cut 1,100 jobs in first quarter [MarketWatch]
She’s the BEST Employee I’ve NEVER Met [Mashable]
Read more...
What Recession? Sales Startup InsideView Banks $6.5M in New Funding [eWeek]
InsideView makes SalesView, a kind of business intelligence application. But instead of analyzing information about internal company operations, SalesView ferrets out information on prospective customers from the Internet.
Why Google Employees Quit [TechCrunch]
One message stands out though in most of the posts - employees thought they were entering the promised land when they joined Google, and most of them were disappointed. Some of them wondered if it meant they were somehow lacking.
And…
CIO Prescription: How IT Is Riding Out The Recession [InformationWeek]
Tech vendors who may not survive [Channel Insider]
Big Firms Deepen Job, Wage Cuts [WSJ]
Pay-raise projections raises dip below 3% [Chicago Tribune]
AMD to cut 1,100 jobs in first quarter [MarketWatch]
She’s the BEST Employee I’ve NEVER Met [Mashable]
Read more...
Career Watch: Portrait of the IT worker
From Computerworld, January 19, 2009...
Q&A: Steve King
The president and CEO of Virtela Communications Inc. has advice for any would-be entrepreneurs considering marketing their own high-tech gadget or launching an IT service.
Read more...
Q&A: Steve King
The president and CEO of Virtela Communications Inc. has advice for any would-be entrepreneurs considering marketing their own high-tech gadget or launching an IT service.
Read more...
Job Advice from the IT Throngs
From DICE, January 16, 2009...
Back on January 11th, someone wrote into Slashdot with this question:
So, with the financial crisis and loss of jobs everywhere, what are the chances of getting a good IT job? I’m going to graduate this year with a BS in Software Engineering majoring in Network Security.
Advice flooded in. The comments are well worth a scan, even for IT experts far beyond entry level status. Much of the debate centers around experience vs. education when it comes to landing a solid position, and the consensus seems to be that what matters most is personal achievement. Here are four comments:
Read more...
Back on January 11th, someone wrote into Slashdot with this question:
So, with the financial crisis and loss of jobs everywhere, what are the chances of getting a good IT job? I’m going to graduate this year with a BS in Software Engineering majoring in Network Security.
Advice flooded in. The comments are well worth a scan, even for IT experts far beyond entry level status. Much of the debate centers around experience vs. education when it comes to landing a solid position, and the consensus seems to be that what matters most is personal achievement. Here are four comments:
Read more...
KLD Energy Technologies Raises $1M
From Austin Startup, January 16, 2009...
Austin-based KLD Energy Technologies, Inc., developers of a high-performance electric motor system technology, announce the completion of a $1 million financing round from a private investment group. The company leveraged the Series A funding to further develop its high-frequency, low RPM, transmissionless motor system designed to increase the speed and efficiency of electric vehicles
Read more...
Austin-based KLD Energy Technologies, Inc., developers of a high-performance electric motor system technology, announce the completion of a $1 million financing round from a private investment group. The company leveraged the Series A funding to further develop its high-frequency, low RPM, transmissionless motor system designed to increase the speed and efficiency of electric vehicles
Read more...
AMD plans to cut 1,100 jobs
From News 8 Austin, January 19, 2009...
Advanced Micro Devices plans to cut 1,100 jobs.
That's 9 percent of its global workforce.
The chipmaker is seeing slow times due to slumping sales of personal computers.
Read more...
Advanced Micro Devices plans to cut 1,100 jobs.
That's 9 percent of its global workforce.
The chipmaker is seeing slow times due to slumping sales of personal computers.
Read more...
AMD to cut 900 more jobs; reduce pay
From Austin Business Journal, January 16, 2009...
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. plans to cuts its company-wide workforce by 9 percent by eliminating 900 jobs in addition to previously announced job cuts, company officials confirmed Friday.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AMD. (NYSE: AMD), which employs about 2,300 local workers, didn’t disclose the number of Austin jobs that will be cut. Company wide, AMD plans to reduce its workforce by 1,100 positions during the first quarter, officials said.
Read more...
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. plans to cuts its company-wide workforce by 9 percent by eliminating 900 jobs in addition to previously announced job cuts, company officials confirmed Friday.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AMD. (NYSE: AMD), which employs about 2,300 local workers, didn’t disclose the number of Austin jobs that will be cut. Company wide, AMD plans to reduce its workforce by 1,100 positions during the first quarter, officials said.
Read more...
Career Hacking 101
From DICE, January 15, 2009...
Guy Kawasaki points us to an interesting piece in Psychology Today that deals with Strategic Change. While the article is aimed at personality tweaking, it applies to careers just as well.
Become a believer. Trust that you can change and you are far more likely to do so.
Want to move out of Support and into Systems Administration? Belief that you can actually do it is the first step:
Find your signature strengths - and that means discover them. Don’t assume that you know your strengths in advance. See www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu for a questionnaire that measures character strengths.
For example, are you really good at providing step-by-step written instructions to help the users that you support? If so, you might think about a career in technical documentation. Or maybe you’re quick to recognize failure points. Support or QA might be the career path for you. Once you know your strengths, and what you enjoy, you can “become” that position.
Read more...
Guy Kawasaki points us to an interesting piece in Psychology Today that deals with Strategic Change. While the article is aimed at personality tweaking, it applies to careers just as well.
Become a believer. Trust that you can change and you are far more likely to do so.
Want to move out of Support and into Systems Administration? Belief that you can actually do it is the first step:
Find your signature strengths - and that means discover them. Don’t assume that you know your strengths in advance. See www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu for a questionnaire that measures character strengths.
For example, are you really good at providing step-by-step written instructions to help the users that you support? If so, you might think about a career in technical documentation. Or maybe you’re quick to recognize failure points. Support or QA might be the career path for you. Once you know your strengths, and what you enjoy, you can “become” that position.
Read more...
Microsoft considers major job cuts
From Computerworld, January 15, 2009...
Microsoft Corp. may start a "significant" round of layoffs as early as next week, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal today.
Citing unnamed sources it claimed were familiar with Microsoft's plans, the newspaper said the company is considering "significant workforce reductions" across multiple divisions, but it did not specify the number of workers who would be affected.
Read more...
Microsoft Corp. may start a "significant" round of layoffs as early as next week, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal today.
Citing unnamed sources it claimed were familiar with Microsoft's plans, the newspaper said the company is considering "significant workforce reductions" across multiple divisions, but it did not specify the number of workers who would be affected.
Read more...
Austin awas mong the top markets for employment in 2008
From Impact News, Janury 14, 2009...
Several Texas job markets reported the nation's highest gains in private-sector employment last year, according to employment figures released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Austin ranked number 10 out of 100. Three other Texas markets were in the top five.
The following are the 15 biggest labor markets in America, ranked according to raw change in private-sector employment between November 2007 and November 2008:
1. Houston (up 42,400 jobs)
2. Dallas-Fort Worth (up 35,100 jobs)
3. Washington (up 15,600 jobs)
4. San Antonio (up 11,700 jobs)
5. Seattle (up 9,900 jobs)
6. Virginia Beach-Norfolk (up 9,100 jobs)
7. Oklahoma City (up 8,100 jobs)
8. New Orleans (up 7,200 jobs)
9. McAllen-Edinburg,Texas (up 6,700 jobs)
10. Austin (up 6,200 jobs)
11. Boston (up 4,600 jobs)
12. Raleigh (up 4,600 jobs)
13. El Paso (up 4,100 jobs)
14. Hartford (up 3,600 jobs)
15. Columbus (up 2,900 jobs)
Read more...
Several Texas job markets reported the nation's highest gains in private-sector employment last year, according to employment figures released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Austin ranked number 10 out of 100. Three other Texas markets were in the top five.
The following are the 15 biggest labor markets in America, ranked according to raw change in private-sector employment between November 2007 and November 2008:
1. Houston (up 42,400 jobs)
2. Dallas-Fort Worth (up 35,100 jobs)
3. Washington (up 15,600 jobs)
4. San Antonio (up 11,700 jobs)
5. Seattle (up 9,900 jobs)
6. Virginia Beach-Norfolk (up 9,100 jobs)
7. Oklahoma City (up 8,100 jobs)
8. New Orleans (up 7,200 jobs)
9. McAllen-Edinburg,Texas (up 6,700 jobs)
10. Austin (up 6,200 jobs)
11. Boston (up 4,600 jobs)
12. Raleigh (up 4,600 jobs)
13. El Paso (up 4,100 jobs)
14. Hartford (up 3,600 jobs)
15. Columbus (up 2,900 jobs)
Read more...
Economist: Tough times still ahead for Austin
From KVUE, January 14, 2009...
The Austin area will likely continue to see cutbacks and layoffs for at least a few months, according to economist Ray Perryman, who released his much-anticipated annual forecast Wednesday during a speech at the Four Seasons.
He said the local economy should begin to turn around late this year.
Read more...
The Austin area will likely continue to see cutbacks and layoffs for at least a few months, according to economist Ray Perryman, who released his much-anticipated annual forecast Wednesday during a speech at the Four Seasons.
He said the local economy should begin to turn around late this year.
Read more...
Central Texas' economy stable, despite recession
From News 8 Austin, January 14, 2009...
The rest of the country might be reeling from the recession but Central Texas is doing fine, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Perryman Group, which is an economic analysis firm headquartered in Waco.
According to the company's namesake and CEO, Ray Perryman, the tremendous growth that Central Texas has seen in the past few years may slow, and jobs may become harder to find, but the overall economy of our area will remain strong.
Read more...
The rest of the country might be reeling from the recession but Central Texas is doing fine, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Perryman Group, which is an economic analysis firm headquartered in Waco.
According to the company's namesake and CEO, Ray Perryman, the tremendous growth that Central Texas has seen in the past few years may slow, and jobs may become harder to find, but the overall economy of our area will remain strong.
Read more...
Oracle cuts 500 jobs
From Austin Business Journal, Januaary 14, 2009...
Oracle Corp. cut about 500 sales and consulting jobs in North America last week, according to a report on Wednesday.
The Wall Street Journal said the cuts came from the Redwood City, Calif. software company's 33,526 employees in the Americas, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) employed 86,657 globally at the end of November.
Oracle has a major office in North Austin, though it will not disclose how many employees work there.
Read more...
Oracle Corp. cut about 500 sales and consulting jobs in North America last week, according to a report on Wednesday.
The Wall Street Journal said the cuts came from the Redwood City, Calif. software company's 33,526 employees in the Americas, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) employed 86,657 globally at the end of November.
Oracle has a major office in North Austin, though it will not disclose how many employees work there.
Read more...
Google to close 4-month-old Austin office, cut 20 engineers
From Austin Business Journal, Janury 14, 2009...
As a cost cutting measure, Google Inc. plans to cut 20 engineering jobs in Austin and close the office it opened here in October.
The engineers were notified Wednesday and offered jobs at other Google offices, although the company doesn't operate any other engineering plants in this part of the country, said Alan Eustace, senior vice president of engineering and research
Read more...
As a cost cutting measure, Google Inc. plans to cut 20 engineering jobs in Austin and close the office it opened here in October.
The engineers were notified Wednesday and offered jobs at other Google offices, although the company doesn't operate any other engineering plants in this part of the country, said Alan Eustace, senior vice president of engineering and research
Read more...
Seven Things to Avoid After You're Laid Off
From The Street, January 14, 2009...
There are plenty of steps to take if you are laid off, but what you don't do may be more important.
With the unemployment rate at 7.2% last month, up from 4.9% a year earlier, it's realistic to imagine you may be one of the unlucky ones out of a job in the near future. Here are some big mistakes people make after being laid off that you want to avoid.
Read more...
There are plenty of steps to take if you are laid off, but what you don't do may be more important.
With the unemployment rate at 7.2% last month, up from 4.9% a year earlier, it's realistic to imagine you may be one of the unlucky ones out of a job in the near future. Here are some big mistakes people make after being laid off that you want to avoid.
Read more...
Where in the World to Find a Job
From Fast Company, January 16, 2009...
The national unemployment rate may be at its worst in over a decade, but there's a world of opportunity out there beyond Wall Street. Some regions are holding up better than others--Montreal is proving to be a hot bed for the video game industry, while the UAE is fertile ground for the airline industry.
To aid in your quest for a steady paycheck that doesn't involve licking stamps or bagging groceries, Fast Company did some global groundwork. We talked to international headhunter Heidrick & Struggles, economists and career consultants to uncover innovative companies around the globe that are bucking the downturn and actively hiring. Here's a snapshot of who they are, what they have open and what they're looking for in prospective job candidates.
Read more...
The national unemployment rate may be at its worst in over a decade, but there's a world of opportunity out there beyond Wall Street. Some regions are holding up better than others--Montreal is proving to be a hot bed for the video game industry, while the UAE is fertile ground for the airline industry.
To aid in your quest for a steady paycheck that doesn't involve licking stamps or bagging groceries, Fast Company did some global groundwork. We talked to international headhunter Heidrick & Struggles, economists and career consultants to uncover innovative companies around the globe that are bucking the downturn and actively hiring. Here's a snapshot of who they are, what they have open and what they're looking for in prospective job candidates.
Read more...
How to Get a Job in 2009
From Fast Company, January 14, 2009...
During a brief discussion on the Fox Business Network this morning about jobs in 2009, I was reminded again that many leaders and pundits believe we are in for a really gloomy year. When I spoke about job opportunities and hiring activity that is going on, the host thanked me for my "optimism."
Optimism seems to be scarce lately. Yes, job losses and the unemployment rate will likely rise in 2009. But the U.S. still has over 90% employment, and jobs open up every day.
As author Laurence Shatkin (150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs) said to me for a recent article: "Remember that people are always being hired, even in a recession."
Read more...
During a brief discussion on the Fox Business Network this morning about jobs in 2009, I was reminded again that many leaders and pundits believe we are in for a really gloomy year. When I spoke about job opportunities and hiring activity that is going on, the host thanked me for my "optimism."
Optimism seems to be scarce lately. Yes, job losses and the unemployment rate will likely rise in 2009. But the U.S. still has over 90% employment, and jobs open up every day.
As author Laurence Shatkin (150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs) said to me for a recent article: "Remember that people are always being hired, even in a recession."
Read more...
7 Essential Steps to Surviving a Post-Layoff Existence
From Fast Company, January 16, 2009...
So you're one of the unlucky ones. The entire economy is crumbling around us, and with every single company in existence looking to cut costs and become more efficient, you were deemed to be expendable. It's a lousy situation, to be sure, but with the proper mindset and a plan of action, you can turn getting laid off into a springboard to, if not riches and happiness, at least a few steps above complete destitution and desperation. And really, in your situation, that should sound pretty sweet. Don't get greedy. Anyhow, on to your new life plan.
Read more...
So you're one of the unlucky ones. The entire economy is crumbling around us, and with every single company in existence looking to cut costs and become more efficient, you were deemed to be expendable. It's a lousy situation, to be sure, but with the proper mindset and a plan of action, you can turn getting laid off into a springboard to, if not riches and happiness, at least a few steps above complete destitution and desperation. And really, in your situation, that should sound pretty sweet. Don't get greedy. Anyhow, on to your new life plan.
Read more...
Avoid Getting Axed for Interviewing
From DICE, January 14, 2009...
Should employees be fired for interviewing with another company? Sports pundits were buzzing last week when Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo fired head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski for interviewing with the New York Jets. While the practice might be a revelation in the sports world, DeFilippo’s actions probably didn’t surprise many in the private sector, where employees regularly risk termination if they’re caught interviewing for another job. In fact, some managers start recruiting for a successor if they happen to overhear an employee talking to a recruiter on the phone or spot an employee’s resume posted online.
Considering the lack of job security and growth opportunities these days, it hardly seems fair to be let go simply for interviewing. But if you think you might be laid off or your compensation has changed for the worse, you may have to take the risk. If you do, follow these tips to keep your search a secret.
Read more...
Should employees be fired for interviewing with another company? Sports pundits were buzzing last week when Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo fired head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski for interviewing with the New York Jets. While the practice might be a revelation in the sports world, DeFilippo’s actions probably didn’t surprise many in the private sector, where employees regularly risk termination if they’re caught interviewing for another job. In fact, some managers start recruiting for a successor if they happen to overhear an employee talking to a recruiter on the phone or spot an employee’s resume posted online.
Considering the lack of job security and growth opportunities these days, it hardly seems fair to be let go simply for interviewing. But if you think you might be laid off or your compensation has changed for the worse, you may have to take the risk. If you do, follow these tips to keep your search a secret.
Read more...
Austin added jobs in 2008
From KXAN, January 13, 2009...
The Austin metropolitan area went against the tide of the economic downturn by adding jobs in 2008. A net of 6,200 jobs were added to the area payroll, in stark contrast to the rest of the nation, which saw 2.7 million jobs lost in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Austin Chamber of Commerce .
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The Austin metropolitan area went against the tide of the economic downturn by adding jobs in 2008. A net of 6,200 jobs were added to the area payroll, in stark contrast to the rest of the nation, which saw 2.7 million jobs lost in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Austin Chamber of Commerce .
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Israel-Austin company raises $24 million
From statesman, January 13, 2009...
N-trig Ltd., an Israeli technology company with Austin operations, has raised $24 million in its latest investment round from investors that included Microsoft Corp.
N-trig, based in Kfar Saba, Israel, makes computer touch-screen devices that allow PC users to control functions with the swipe of a finger or with a pen.
The company, which employs about 100 people worldwide, operates a sales and customer support office in Austin for its North American business.
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N-trig Ltd., an Israeli technology company with Austin operations, has raised $24 million in its latest investment round from investors that included Microsoft Corp.
N-trig, based in Kfar Saba, Israel, makes computer touch-screen devices that allow PC users to control functions with the swipe of a finger or with a pen.
The company, which employs about 100 people worldwide, operates a sales and customer support office in Austin for its North American business.
Read more...
Freescale imposes unpaid time off, executive pay cuts
From statesman, January 14, 2009...
Freescale Semiconductor reacted to weakening business conditions Tuesday with a series of austerity moves to cut spending.
The Austin-based chipmaker said it will temporarily freeze all salaries and promotions, require executives to take pay cuts and force all workers to take five unpaid days off in the first quarter.
If weak economic conditions continue, the company says, it would require another five unpaid days off in the second quarter.
Read more...
Freescale Semiconductor reacted to weakening business conditions Tuesday with a series of austerity moves to cut spending.
The Austin-based chipmaker said it will temporarily freeze all salaries and promotions, require executives to take pay cuts and force all workers to take five unpaid days off in the first quarter.
If weak economic conditions continue, the company says, it would require another five unpaid days off in the second quarter.
Read more...
3% drop in tech spending forecast for 2009
From Austin Business Journal, January 13, 2009...
Global spending on information technology products and services will drop by 3 percent this year, according to a new forecast by Forrester Research.
The technology research firm blamed recessions in the United States and other countries for halting a seven-year streak of revenue growth in the sector. It rose last year by 8 percent.
In U.S. dollars, Forrester projected the decline at $1.66 billion.
The slowdown will not be as severe as when the tech bubble burst in 2001 and 2002, when spending dropped by 6 percent.
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Global spending on information technology products and services will drop by 3 percent this year, according to a new forecast by Forrester Research.
The technology research firm blamed recessions in the United States and other countries for halting a seven-year streak of revenue growth in the sector. It rose last year by 8 percent.
In U.S. dollars, Forrester projected the decline at $1.66 billion.
The slowdown will not be as severe as when the tech bubble burst in 2001 and 2002, when spending dropped by 6 percent.
Read more...
Where, Oh Where, Are Our Architects?
From DICE, January 13, 2009...
When weighing career moves, it pays to keep supply and demand in mind. Despite the slowdown, Gartner says IT departments continue to have difficulty finding skilled professionals for these jobs:
When weighing career moves, it pays to keep supply and demand in mind. Despite the slowdown, Gartner says IT departments continue to have difficulty finding skilled professionals for these jobs:
- Enterprise architect
- Database administrator
- ERP programmer/analyst
- Network engineer
- Network architect
- Project manager
- Web application programmer
- Internet/Web architect
- Business analyst
- Security analyst
How IT Stimulus Trickles Down
From DICE, January 13, 2009...
President-elect Obama’s plan for stimulating the economy includes some welcome good news for the high tech community. In a speech last week at George Mason University, Obama outlined the following areas.
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President-elect Obama’s plan for stimulating the economy includes some welcome good news for the high tech community. In a speech last week at George Mason University, Obama outlined the following areas.
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CIOs' pay shows they aren't sharing the pain
From Computerworld, January 12, 2009...
Last October, there was an article on StarTribune.com, the Web site of the Minneapolis-St. Paul daily, about Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis having reported a loss of $70 million for its third quarter. Several readers who posted online comments about the story claimed that the loss had resulted in layoffs and that more were expected. One reader said that the layoffs included "many" technology workers. If that's true, imagine how disgusted those workers would have been if they'd known that their boss was enjoying a compensation package in excess of $6 million.
Read more...
Last October, there was an article on StarTribune.com, the Web site of the Minneapolis-St. Paul daily, about Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis having reported a loss of $70 million for its third quarter. Several readers who posted online comments about the story claimed that the loss had resulted in layoffs and that more were expected. One reader said that the layoffs included "many" technology workers. If that's true, imagine how disgusted those workers would have been if they'd known that their boss was enjoying a compensation package in excess of $6 million.
Read more...
Motion Computing cuts about 30 workers
From statesman, January 8, 2009...
Austin-based Motion Computing Inc. said Wednesday that it cut about 30 workers, or roughly 25 percent of its work force; the company also announced the departure of CEO Scott Eckert.
Motion said Eckert resigned and will be replaced by company co-founder David Altounian.
The reorganization comes two weeks after Motion raised $6 million in venture capital to expand in markets, including health care, as well as to fund international growth. New Enterprise Associates, Institutional Venture Partners and G-51 Capital are investors.
Read more...
Austin-based Motion Computing Inc. said Wednesday that it cut about 30 workers, or roughly 25 percent of its work force; the company also announced the departure of CEO Scott Eckert.
Motion said Eckert resigned and will be replaced by company co-founder David Altounian.
The reorganization comes two weeks after Motion raised $6 million in venture capital to expand in markets, including health care, as well as to fund international growth. New Enterprise Associates, Institutional Venture Partners and G-51 Capital are investors.
Read more...
Economic Downturn Not Necessarily Bad for Developers
From DevX Editor's Blog, january 8, 2009...
I've read a lot recently about the economy, including a number of prognostications about how the downturn will affect IT. But most predictions ignore some basic IT facts. A downturn in the general economy may foreshadow a downturn in hardware and commercial software sales, but it probably heralds a relative increase in IT expenditure. That's because one of the primary ways companies can save money these days is by automating tasks that have traditionally been performed by humans.
Read more...
I've read a lot recently about the economy, including a number of prognostications about how the downturn will affect IT. But most predictions ignore some basic IT facts. A downturn in the general economy may foreshadow a downturn in hardware and commercial software sales, but it probably heralds a relative increase in IT expenditure. That's because one of the primary ways companies can save money these days is by automating tasks that have traditionally been performed by humans.
Read more...
$50,000 Social Innovation Competition
From Austin Startup, January 19, 2009...
The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs has announced their 2009 Social Innovation Competition. Submit your idea by February 20th for Round 1. In Round 2 you have to make a 3-minute video and write the venture plan. Finalists will be chosen to come to Austin to present in front of a panel of judges. On final presentation day the winner will be awarded $50,000 to fund their idea.
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The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs has announced their 2009 Social Innovation Competition. Submit your idea by February 20th for Round 1. In Round 2 you have to make a 3-minute video and write the venture plan. Finalists will be chosen to come to Austin to present in front of a panel of judges. On final presentation day the winner will be awarded $50,000 to fund their idea.
Read more...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Career Watch: Insights into telework
From Computerworld, January 12, 2009...
Priscilla Arling, assistant professor of MIS in the College of Business Administration at Butler University, discusses her study on telework and productivity:
Is telecommuting necessarily bad for productivity? I'd like to broaden the perspective of the question a bit. Today, many organizations have team members who are not physically located together and where communication technology is used to accomplish tasks and interact. This way of working is called "distributed work."
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Priscilla Arling, assistant professor of MIS in the College of Business Administration at Butler University, discusses her study on telework and productivity:
Is telecommuting necessarily bad for productivity? I'd like to broaden the perspective of the question a bit. Today, many organizations have team members who are not physically located together and where communication technology is used to accomplish tasks and interact. This way of working is called "distributed work."
Read more...
Do You Have One of the ‘World’s Best Jobs?’
From DICE News, January 12, 2009...
No matter how you feel about your job, look at it this way: At least you’re not a lumberjack. JobsRated.com has come out with its annual list of America’s Best and Worst Jobs. Using “detailed analysis” to measure careers by factors such as working conditions, competitiveness, hiring outlook, and physical exertion, the site comes to the somewhat obvious conclusion that high-paid people who sit behind desks all day are better off than people who shovel manure or hang off offshore oil rigs for a living. Luckily, two of the top ten jobs are in IT. Here’s the entire list in order:
No matter how you feel about your job, look at it this way: At least you’re not a lumberjack. JobsRated.com has come out with its annual list of America’s Best and Worst Jobs. Using “detailed analysis” to measure careers by factors such as working conditions, competitiveness, hiring outlook, and physical exertion, the site comes to the somewhat obvious conclusion that high-paid people who sit behind desks all day are better off than people who shovel manure or hang off offshore oil rigs for a living. Luckily, two of the top ten jobs are in IT. Here’s the entire list in order:
- Mathematician
- Actuary
- Statistician
- Biologist
- Software Engineer
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Historian
- Sociologist
- Industrial Designer
- Accountant
Career advice: Making your abilities known
From Computerworld, January 9, 2009...
Throughout my 18-year career, I've always been aggressive in furthering my education, learning new technologies and generally staying up to date. I think I have a breadth of knowledge that surpasses anything those 10 or 15 years my junior have. But when new projects like virtualization come up, I'm not being tapped for either the initial evaluation or the implementation. How can I broadcast my abilities without coming off as a braggart? I'm afraid of being typecast as old school and not making the cut in some future round of layoffs.
Read more...
Throughout my 18-year career, I've always been aggressive in furthering my education, learning new technologies and generally staying up to date. I think I have a breadth of knowledge that surpasses anything those 10 or 15 years my junior have. But when new projects like virtualization come up, I'm not being tapped for either the initial evaluation or the implementation. How can I broadcast my abilities without coming off as a braggart? I'm afraid of being typecast as old school and not making the cut in some future round of layoffs.
Read more...
Advice For Laid-Off Engineers
From Forbes, January 9, 2009...
This year begins for many on an anxious note. Layoffs are everywhere. Looking for a job in this environment seems like a daunting task. Against this backdrop, I want to profile some entrepreneurs who managed to turn adversity into opportunity during the dot-com bust. They can be strong role models for those facing troubled times today.
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This year begins for many on an anxious note. Layoffs are everywhere. Looking for a job in this environment seems like a daunting task. Against this backdrop, I want to profile some entrepreneurs who managed to turn adversity into opportunity during the dot-com bust. They can be strong role models for those facing troubled times today.
Read more...
Transferable skills for IT pros: Change your job
From Computerworld, January 8, 2009...
IT professionals who find themselves out of work amid the global economic recession could wind up working as stock equity analysts, insurance underwriters or health care administrators, according to an author of a recent book on alternative technology career paths.
A former IT executive with companies such as GE and IBM, Janice Weinberg offers 20 different options for IT managers and CIOs who want to change gears in Debugging Your Information Technology Career, published by Elegant Fix Press.
Each chapter also includes a "recession resistance" piece that examines how vulnerable various jobs are to economic downturns and what executives can do to ride out the bad times.
Read more...
IT professionals who find themselves out of work amid the global economic recession could wind up working as stock equity analysts, insurance underwriters or health care administrators, according to an author of a recent book on alternative technology career paths.
A former IT executive with companies such as GE and IBM, Janice Weinberg offers 20 different options for IT managers and CIOs who want to change gears in Debugging Your Information Technology Career, published by Elegant Fix Press.
Each chapter also includes a "recession resistance" piece that examines how vulnerable various jobs are to economic downturns and what executives can do to ride out the bad times.
Read more...
Specifics, Specifics, Specifics
From DICE News, January 9, 2009...
Joel Spolsky, founder of Fog Creek Software, has some good advice for software developers at the Joel on Software blog.
Here’s a tip from someone who has read thousands of resumes. When you’re applying to a startup, or a software company with less than, say, 100 employees, you may want to highlight the Banging Out Code parts of your experience, while deemphasizing the Middle Management parts of your experience.
When a startup CTO sees a resume that says things like:
Here’s the stuff CTOs at startups want to see on a resume:
Read more...
Joel Spolsky, founder of Fog Creek Software, has some good advice for software developers at the Joel on Software blog.
Here’s a tip from someone who has read thousands of resumes. When you’re applying to a startup, or a software company with less than, say, 100 employees, you may want to highlight the Banging Out Code parts of your experience, while deemphasizing the Middle Management parts of your experience.
When a startup CTO sees a resume that says things like:
- Responsible for $30m line of business
- Architected new ERP platform
- Managed team of 25 developers
- Optimized business processes
Here’s the stuff CTOs at startups want to see on a resume:
- Single-handedly developed robust 100,000 LOC threadsafe C++ service
- Contributes to OpenBSD file system in spare time
- Wrote almost 75% of the Python code running IsIt2009Yet.Com
Read more...
Two Austin employers announce job cuts
From statesman, January 7, 2009...
Two more Austin employers said Tuesday that they will be cutting jobs.
HelioVolt Corp. said it had made a "modest" reduction in its work force, and Borland Software Corp. said it will cut 130 jobs, or 5 percent of its force, as part of a reorganization plan that is expected to yield annualized savings of $12 million to $14 million.
HelioVolt said it made the cuts because of a weak economy and because the company is shifting away from pure research and toward becoming a manufacturer of solar power products.
Read more...
Two more Austin employers said Tuesday that they will be cutting jobs.
HelioVolt Corp. said it had made a "modest" reduction in its work force, and Borland Software Corp. said it will cut 130 jobs, or 5 percent of its force, as part of a reorganization plan that is expected to yield annualized savings of $12 million to $14 million.
HelioVolt said it made the cuts because of a weak economy and because the company is shifting away from pure research and toward becoming a manufacturer of solar power products.
Read more...
Motion Computing cuts about 30 workers
From statesman, January 9, 2009...
Austin-based Motion Computing Inc. said Wednesday that it cut about 30 workers, or roughly 25 percent of its work force; the company also announced the departure of CEO Scott Eckert.
Read more...
Austin-based Motion Computing Inc. said Wednesday that it cut about 30 workers, or roughly 25 percent of its work force; the company also announced the departure of CEO Scott Eckert.
Read more...
Austin ranked 10th in the nation for job creation
From KEYE, January 8, 2009...
Austin has some encouraging news in this recession.
The capital city is ranked 10th in the nation for job creation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics looked at a 12-month period from November 2007 to November 2008.
Texas is showing resilience amid the downturn happening everywhere else.
Read more...
Austin has some encouraging news in this recession.
The capital city is ranked 10th in the nation for job creation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics looked at a 12-month period from November 2007 to November 2008.
Texas is showing resilience amid the downturn happening everywhere else.
Read more...
A Tough Year for Job Hunters
From Kiplinger, January 8, 2009...
Stock investors know what it's like to see everything they own in the red, no matter the sector, industry or company. And that's what the job market will look like in 2009: pervasive losses, with precious few pockets of strength.
Nationally, we expect the unemployment rate to peak at 8% toward the end of 2009, up from a trough of 4.4% in March 2007. When the layoffs are finally behind us, anywhere from two to three million jobs will have disappeared (we've lost more than one million already). The hardest-hit areas will be those where boom-and-bust housing markets, the financial crisis and automakers' struggles have done the most damage. Unemployment could reach 10% in the Central Valley of California, Florida and Michigan, and 8.5% in New York, according to Moody's Economy.com.
Read more...
Stock investors know what it's like to see everything they own in the red, no matter the sector, industry or company. And that's what the job market will look like in 2009: pervasive losses, with precious few pockets of strength.
Nationally, we expect the unemployment rate to peak at 8% toward the end of 2009, up from a trough of 4.4% in March 2007. When the layoffs are finally behind us, anywhere from two to three million jobs will have disappeared (we've lost more than one million already). The hardest-hit areas will be those where boom-and-bust housing markets, the financial crisis and automakers' struggles have done the most damage. Unemployment could reach 10% in the Central Valley of California, Florida and Michigan, and 8.5% in New York, according to Moody's Economy.com.
Read more...
As Risk Management Grows, So Does IT
From DICE News, January 8, 2009...
As evidenced by the s economic crisis, there hasn’t been much substance behind risk management in the financial sector in recent years. Well, change is coming. A recent capital markets technology survey from Aite Group highlights the potential role engineers will have in this increasingly important area. According to InformationWeek:
"Risk management ranks near the top of Aite Group’s technology survey every year, but it clearly has been more talk than walk. Expect that to change in 2009. Risk managers may even see their technology budgets increased. Smart risk managers will ask hard questions about the scope and quality of the data being fed into their shiny new systems."
Read more...
As evidenced by the s economic crisis, there hasn’t been much substance behind risk management in the financial sector in recent years. Well, change is coming. A recent capital markets technology survey from Aite Group highlights the potential role engineers will have in this increasingly important area. According to InformationWeek:
"Risk management ranks near the top of Aite Group’s technology survey every year, but it clearly has been more talk than walk. Expect that to change in 2009. Risk managers may even see their technology budgets increased. Smart risk managers will ask hard questions about the scope and quality of the data being fed into their shiny new systems."
Read more...
Improving Your LinkedIn Profile
From DICE News, January 8, 2009...
As the job market gets more competitive, it may be time to polish up your LinkedIn profile. Career managers say certain simple steps can help you stand out in this increasingly crowded social networking site. CIO magazine recently outlined some tips that can boost your chances of getting a recruiter or potential employer to view your page.
For instance, one aspect of your profile you want to make the most of is your professional tagline, largely because it’s one of the first parts that grabs the reader’s attention. Another point that caught my eye involved the summary:
Read more...
As the job market gets more competitive, it may be time to polish up your LinkedIn profile. Career managers say certain simple steps can help you stand out in this increasingly crowded social networking site. CIO magazine recently outlined some tips that can boost your chances of getting a recruiter or potential employer to view your page.
For instance, one aspect of your profile you want to make the most of is your professional tagline, largely because it’s one of the first parts that grabs the reader’s attention. Another point that caught my eye involved the summary:
Read more...
Start the New Year Fresh
From City of Austin, January 7, 2009...
Access your local library's resources to help you find that perfect job.
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Access your local library's resources to help you find that perfect job.
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Borland laying off 130 employees; CEO resigns
From Austin Business Journal, January 7, 2009...
Borland Software Corp. is cutting 130 employees from its ranks as it shuffles executives and lowers its revenue expectations for the most recent quarter.
The Austin-based open application software maker said late Tuesday it will lay off about 15 percent of its staff, or 130 workers, with most of the cuts happening by the end of March.
Read more...
Borland Software Corp. is cutting 130 employees from its ranks as it shuffles executives and lowers its revenue expectations for the most recent quarter.
The Austin-based open application software maker said late Tuesday it will lay off about 15 percent of its staff, or 130 workers, with most of the cuts happening by the end of March.
Read more...
Report: Online job postings tumble
From Austin Business Journal, Januaary 7, 2009...
Online advertised job vacancies declined 507,000 to 3.86 million, The Conference Board announced Wednesday.
The December loss brought the monthly total online advertised vacancies below 4 million for the first time since July 2006. There were, on average, 170,000 fewer ads each month in 2008 than 2007.
Advertised vacancies dropped in every state except South Dakota in December. California vacancies declined by 49,100 to 430,200.
Read more...
Online advertised job vacancies declined 507,000 to 3.86 million, The Conference Board announced Wednesday.
The December loss brought the monthly total online advertised vacancies below 4 million for the first time since July 2006. There were, on average, 170,000 fewer ads each month in 2008 than 2007.
Advertised vacancies dropped in every state except South Dakota in December. California vacancies declined by 49,100 to 430,200.
Read more...
The Best And Worst Cities For Getting A Job
From NPR, January 6, 2009...
Unemployment data out today paints a grim picture for metropolitan areas across the country. Alex Cohen talks to Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's Economy.com, about which cities are in best and worst shape
Read more...
Unemployment data out today paints a grim picture for metropolitan areas across the country. Alex Cohen talks to Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's Economy.com, about which cities are in best and worst shape
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Landing interviews in a tough hiring market
From Computerworld, January 6, 2009...
Even when the economy is thriving, landing interviews for IT positions can be daunting. Under today's challenging conditions, it may feel like a distant possibility. While market realities have indeed made it more difficult to secure job interviews, they don't affect every job seeker equally. The fact is that some companies are conducting interviews. The candidates who approach their search in a persistent, strategic and positive way are the ones most likely to be taking advantage of those opportunities.
Read more...
Even when the economy is thriving, landing interviews for IT positions can be daunting. Under today's challenging conditions, it may feel like a distant possibility. While market realities have indeed made it more difficult to secure job interviews, they don't affect every job seeker equally. The fact is that some companies are conducting interviews. The candidates who approach their search in a persistent, strategic and positive way are the ones most likely to be taking advantage of those opportunities.
Read more...
Get the Low Down on Prospective Employers
From DICE News, January 6, 2009...
Want to get the inside scoop about a company’s work environment? Then go directly to the source - current and former employees - to find out their opinions. Hearing a realistic description of a company’s work environment will help you limit your search activities to companies where you stand the best chance of fitting into the culture.
Glassdoor.com is one of several Web sites that collects anonymous employee opinions about work environment, compensation, and management team, and then posts the unfiltered information online. On Dec. 15 the company released its first annual Employees’ Choice Award winners, naming the top 50 employers according to survey feedback collected during 2008. The criteria included:
Want to get the inside scoop about a company’s work environment? Then go directly to the source - current and former employees - to find out their opinions. Hearing a realistic description of a company’s work environment will help you limit your search activities to companies where you stand the best chance of fitting into the culture.
Glassdoor.com is one of several Web sites that collects anonymous employee opinions about work environment, compensation, and management team, and then posts the unfiltered information online. On Dec. 15 the company released its first annual Employees’ Choice Award winners, naming the top 50 employers according to survey feedback collected during 2008. The criteria included:
- A minimum of 25 reviews from U.S.-based employees
- An overall rating of satisfied from employees across all categories
- The CEO must have received an approval rating of at least 50 percent
Jobless Ask: Take First Offer Or Wait For Better?
From NPR, January 5, 2009...
Unemployed workers face a tough decision: Should they settle for a lower salary, and get work now, or hold out for a job commensurate with their skills? Employment counselors say some folks are still too proud to take a pay cut, but as weeks drag into months, they may have to settle for less.
Read more...
Unemployed workers face a tough decision: Should they settle for a lower salary, and get work now, or hold out for a job commensurate with their skills? Employment counselors say some folks are still too proud to take a pay cut, but as weeks drag into months, they may have to settle for less.
Read more...
Land on Your Feet After a Downsizing
From Kiplinger, January 5, 2009...
Richard Phillips worked for Hewlett-Packard for 17 years before he lost his job as a marketing manager in May 2007 during a corporate reorganization. Phillips, who is 64 and lives in Atlanta, wanted to continue working in the information-technology field.
As part of Phillips's separation package, HP sent him to an outplacement service. "When I went on job interviews, I expected but did not face age discrimination," he says. "One 28-year-old interviewer asked me whether I had the stamina to keep up with the job."
The outplacement service, he says, had "briefed me on ways to reply to that type of question. Instead I talked about what skills I could bring to the table." It took Phillips six months to land a new job, as a corporate marketer in Atlanta for Sage Software, a subsidiary of a British company.
Layoffs and voluntary buyouts are more likely during turbulent economic times. And if you're 55-plus, losing a job can be especially traumatic. Despite equal opportunity laws, companies often don't want to hire someone with a few gray hairs.
Read more...
Richard Phillips worked for Hewlett-Packard for 17 years before he lost his job as a marketing manager in May 2007 during a corporate reorganization. Phillips, who is 64 and lives in Atlanta, wanted to continue working in the information-technology field.
As part of Phillips's separation package, HP sent him to an outplacement service. "When I went on job interviews, I expected but did not face age discrimination," he says. "One 28-year-old interviewer asked me whether I had the stamina to keep up with the job."
The outplacement service, he says, had "briefed me on ways to reply to that type of question. Instead I talked about what skills I could bring to the table." It took Phillips six months to land a new job, as a corporate marketer in Atlanta for Sage Software, a subsidiary of a British company.
Layoffs and voluntary buyouts are more likely during turbulent economic times. And if you're 55-plus, losing a job can be especially traumatic. Despite equal opportunity laws, companies often don't want to hire someone with a few gray hairs.
Read more...
Stimulus could create thousands of IT jobs
From Computerworld, January 5, 2009...
A federal economic stimulus package expected early this year from the administration of President-elect Barack Obama should boost the job prospects of IT professionals.
Katherine McGuire, vice president of government relations at the Business Software Alliance, said Obama's "pro-tech agenda" could increase the number of technology jobs in the U.S. by 10%, adding about 300,000 high-paying IT positions, she said.
Read more...
A federal economic stimulus package expected early this year from the administration of President-elect Barack Obama should boost the job prospects of IT professionals.
Katherine McGuire, vice president of government relations at the Business Software Alliance, said Obama's "pro-tech agenda" could increase the number of technology jobs in the U.S. by 10%, adding about 300,000 high-paying IT positions, she said.
Read more...
Can the Government Stimulate Your Career?
From DICE News, January 5, 2009...
With the government prepping to pump a few trillion dollars into the economy, it’s only natural to wonder if any of the cash is going to end up in your pocket. Perhaps. Computerworld talked to a couple of analysts who believe that even if the overall job market is soft in 2009, the federal economic stimulus package may actually add IT positions.
David Foote of Foote Partners, which analyzes IT wages and hiring data, says: “IT jobs are relatively safe in the aftermath of the economic meltdown compared to jobs in general.” While 853,000 U.S. jobs in all industries were lost in October and November, he points out, 9,000 were gained in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categories of “Computer Systems Design and Related Services” and “Management and Technical Consulting Services.”
Read more...
With the government prepping to pump a few trillion dollars into the economy, it’s only natural to wonder if any of the cash is going to end up in your pocket. Perhaps. Computerworld talked to a couple of analysts who believe that even if the overall job market is soft in 2009, the federal economic stimulus package may actually add IT positions.
David Foote of Foote Partners, which analyzes IT wages and hiring data, says: “IT jobs are relatively safe in the aftermath of the economic meltdown compared to jobs in general.” While 853,000 U.S. jobs in all industries were lost in October and November, he points out, 9,000 were gained in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categories of “Computer Systems Design and Related Services” and “Management and Technical Consulting Services.”
Read more...
New venture firm is aiming at game developers
From statesman, January 5, 2009...
Austinite Alan Kane is doing what very few investment firms have attempted: He's starting a venture firm just for game development startups.
Kane, who used to help run Midway Games Inc.'s studio in Austin, is in the midst of raising a $12 million to $15 million fund for Archangel Ventures, a venture capital fund that will exclusively fund game developers.
"We are looking for companies that are going to take advantage of digital distribution," said Kane, who expects to close the fund in the middle of the year.
Read more...
Austinite Alan Kane is doing what very few investment firms have attempted: He's starting a venture firm just for game development startups.
Kane, who used to help run Midway Games Inc.'s studio in Austin, is in the midst of raising a $12 million to $15 million fund for Archangel Ventures, a venture capital fund that will exclusively fund game developers.
"We are looking for companies that are going to take advantage of digital distribution," said Kane, who expects to close the fund in the middle of the year.
Read more...
Essential Sites and Services for 2009
From DICE News, January 4, 2009...
Time to sweep away the past and focus squarely on what’s going to matter in 2009. Network World helps out with a New Year’s list of nine sites and services that will help you stay on top of the IT learning curve as the new year begins. To give you a taste, here are the four that seem most interesting to me at the moment. How many have you played with already?
Read more...
Time to sweep away the past and focus squarely on what’s going to matter in 2009. Network World helps out with a New Year’s list of nine sites and services that will help you stay on top of the IT learning curve as the new year begins. To give you a taste, here are the four that seem most interesting to me at the moment. How many have you played with already?
Read more...
OtherInbox ready for revenue
From Austin Business Journal, January 2, 2009...
An Austin-based software company plans to release this month its email management tool and begin generating revenue for the first time since it was founded a year ago.
OtherInbox Inc., founded last January by Joshua Baer, sends email such as marketing material and social networking notifications to an alternate location, freeing a user’s working in box for more urgent messages. It also organizes emails into subject folders to help users prioritize messages.
Read more...
An Austin-based software company plans to release this month its email management tool and begin generating revenue for the first time since it was founded a year ago.
OtherInbox Inc., founded last January by Joshua Baer, sends email such as marketing material and social networking notifications to an alternate location, freeing a user’s working in box for more urgent messages. It also organizes emails into subject folders to help users prioritize messages.
Read more...
New Research: Are IT Jobs Sailing Away?
From DICE News, December 31, 2008...
Could it be true that one in four IT jobs will be done overseas by 2010? That’s the rather ominous finding of new research from The Hackett Group, as reported by Allen Bernard of CIO Update.
Read more...
Could it be true that one in four IT jobs will be done overseas by 2010? That’s the rather ominous finding of new research from The Hackett Group, as reported by Allen Bernard of CIO Update.
Read more...
Time for Tech Workers to Get a Suit
From DICE News, December 31, 2008...
Fashion sense. It has become such a big deal these days, especially since we have become such an appearance-driven culture. That means how you dress for a job interview can sometimes give you an edge — or not. So I can sympathize with IT workers who may struggle with this area. Most techies spend most of their time behind a computer and they don’t view spiffy attire as relevant to their jobs. After all, it was the tech world that made it OK to be informal in the office (IBM excluded).
But IT workers should take some thought in what they wear to a job interview, particularly in this competitive market. CIO Magazine’s Meridith Levinson says many CIOs suggest tech workers wear a suit to a job interview.
Read more...
Fashion sense. It has become such a big deal these days, especially since we have become such an appearance-driven culture. That means how you dress for a job interview can sometimes give you an edge — or not. So I can sympathize with IT workers who may struggle with this area. Most techies spend most of their time behind a computer and they don’t view spiffy attire as relevant to their jobs. After all, it was the tech world that made it OK to be informal in the office (IBM excluded).
But IT workers should take some thought in what they wear to a job interview, particularly in this competitive market. CIO Magazine’s Meridith Levinson says many CIOs suggest tech workers wear a suit to a job interview.
Read more...
The Downside of Telecommuting
From DICE News, December 30, 2008...
Every time I tell people that I work from home, I get this “it-must-be-nice-to-be-you” look, especially from my blue-collar friends. Then I launch into a discussion about how working five days a week from home comes with its own set of complications. Sure, it’s great to wake up and not worry about traffic or missing the train into the city. I do save a decent amount of change in commuting costs. And it’s especially nice on days when the Boston area gets hit with snow storms.
But, like I said, it’s not perfect. CIO recently published 17 Pet Telecommuting Pet Peeves, and the list is dead on. For instance, while technology has enabled us to create a virtual work environment, it can also get in the way...
Read more...
Every time I tell people that I work from home, I get this “it-must-be-nice-to-be-you” look, especially from my blue-collar friends. Then I launch into a discussion about how working five days a week from home comes with its own set of complications. Sure, it’s great to wake up and not worry about traffic or missing the train into the city. I do save a decent amount of change in commuting costs. And it’s especially nice on days when the Boston area gets hit with snow storms.
But, like I said, it’s not perfect. CIO recently published 17 Pet Telecommuting Pet Peeves, and the list is dead on. For instance, while technology has enabled us to create a virtual work environment, it can also get in the way...
Read more...
Gauging IT Spending for 2009
From Seeking Alpha, December 30, 2008...
As the calendar is about to turn to 2009, many of our software and IT hardware clients and VC partners will be wondering what is in store on the revenue front. Insight is on the way: Thomas Weisel’s Research team has reviewed the forecasts of a series of Infrastructure Software companies. Their findings might provide some visibility into how large corporate IT buyers will behave in 2009:
Read more...
As the calendar is about to turn to 2009, many of our software and IT hardware clients and VC partners will be wondering what is in store on the revenue front. Insight is on the way: Thomas Weisel’s Research team has reviewed the forecasts of a series of Infrastructure Software companies. Their findings might provide some visibility into how large corporate IT buyers will behave in 2009:
Read more...
Hot Skills and Certs
From DICE News, December 30, 2008...
Supply and demand, not certification, continues to be a primary driver of premium pay for IT professionals. Data from the third quarter IT Skills & Certifications Pay Index, a survey conducted by research firm Foote Partners, shows the need for blended business and technical skills mean certifications have less clout during negotiations.
“Certifications are important in some highly technical areas like security, but in most cases, they serve as a tie breaker when employers are considering candidates with equal experience and similar backgrounds,” says David Foote, CEO and chief research officer for Foote Partners.
Read more...
Supply and demand, not certification, continues to be a primary driver of premium pay for IT professionals. Data from the third quarter IT Skills & Certifications Pay Index, a survey conducted by research firm Foote Partners, shows the need for blended business and technical skills mean certifications have less clout during negotiations.
“Certifications are important in some highly technical areas like security, but in most cases, they serve as a tie breaker when employers are considering candidates with equal experience and similar backgrounds,” says David Foote, CEO and chief research officer for Foote Partners.
Read more...
AMD raises layoff cost estimate after axing more jobs than planned
From Computerworld, December 30, 2008...
Struggling chip maker says it is laying off 600 workers, up from an earlier plan of 500.
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Struggling chip maker says it is laying off 600 workers, up from an earlier plan of 500.
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‘Preparation’ Tops the list of 2009 Resolutions
From DICE News, December 30, 2008...
The events of 2008 remind us that job security can be fleeting. Job market vigilance has become a modern day career survival technique, requiring professionals to keep a constant eye open for that next opportunity and be prepared to launch a job search on a moment’s notice. If proactive job search and career advancement techniques haven’t been part of your regular routine, consider including a few of these resolutions on your list for 2009.
Read more...
The events of 2008 remind us that job security can be fleeting. Job market vigilance has become a modern day career survival technique, requiring professionals to keep a constant eye open for that next opportunity and be prepared to launch a job search on a moment’s notice. If proactive job search and career advancement techniques haven’t been part of your regular routine, consider including a few of these resolutions on your list for 2009.
Read more...
The 9 hottest skills for '09
From Computerworld, December 30, 2008...
By almost any measure, the U.S. economy is in its worst state since the Great Depression. Consumer spending is down, credit markets remain weak, and more than 10 million Americans are out of work.
Yet despite the grim financial picture, demand for certain types of IT skills, such as SAP, .Net and help desk/support, remains strong. And while some employers will continue to look outside their companies to find workers with expertise in these and other disciplines, some CIOs are building some of this know-how internally as hiring freezes become more common. (Read about ways to boost your pay in Computerworld's annual Salary Survey.)
Here's a look at the hottest skills, as cited by respondents to Computerworld's annual Forecast survey.
Read more...
By almost any measure, the U.S. economy is in its worst state since the Great Depression. Consumer spending is down, credit markets remain weak, and more than 10 million Americans are out of work.
Yet despite the grim financial picture, demand for certain types of IT skills, such as SAP, .Net and help desk/support, remains strong. And while some employers will continue to look outside their companies to find workers with expertise in these and other disciplines, some CIOs are building some of this know-how internally as hiring freezes become more common. (Read about ways to boost your pay in Computerworld's annual Salary Survey.)
Here's a look at the hottest skills, as cited by respondents to Computerworld's annual Forecast survey.
Read more...
Tech outlook: Brace for a bad year, but don't surrender optimism
From statesman, December 29, 2008...
I don't think I've met a more optimistic venture capitalist than Jimmy Treybig. This is a guy who sees opportunity everywhere, even in a down economy — especially in a down economy.
But lately I've been hearing that even Treybig, an Austin-based venture partner with New Enterprise Associates, is worried.
So when I set out to survey Austin venture capitalists and entrepreneurs about their predictions for 2009, he was the first person I called.
"I'm not at all negative," he told me, "but I'm saying it's a different time, and you better react to it. You've got to survive with less money and plan for the worst."
Treybig predicted that the recession will spur the creation of some promising Austin startups in 2009.
Read more...
I don't think I've met a more optimistic venture capitalist than Jimmy Treybig. This is a guy who sees opportunity everywhere, even in a down economy — especially in a down economy.
But lately I've been hearing that even Treybig, an Austin-based venture partner with New Enterprise Associates, is worried.
So when I set out to survey Austin venture capitalists and entrepreneurs about their predictions for 2009, he was the first person I called.
"I'm not at all negative," he told me, "but I'm saying it's a different time, and you better react to it. You've got to survive with less money and plan for the worst."
Treybig predicted that the recession will spur the creation of some promising Austin startups in 2009.
Read more...
Recession or No, Tech Workers Will Change Jobs
From DICE News, December 29, 2008...
With all the layoffs in the news lately, we got to wondering whether tech workers were more or less willing to change jobs during the recession. The results:
With all the layoffs in the news lately, we got to wondering whether tech workers were more or less willing to change jobs during the recession. The results:
- 37 percent are more willing to change jobs if the offer comes with higher pay and strong potential for growth.
- 26 percent are less willing to change jobs because the market is too unstable.
- 22 percent will change jobs if they suspect their employer is considering layoffs.
- 12 percent will consider a new offer as long as they do not have to relocate.
Read more...
A Four-Day Week, Like It or Not
From DICE News, December 29, 2008...
Which is worse: getting laid off or having several hours per week shaved off your job? BusinessWeek is reporting on the quickly growing trend of employers reducing paid work weeks in order to save money and, we can hope, save jobs.
Read more...
Which is worse: getting laid off or having several hours per week shaved off your job? BusinessWeek is reporting on the quickly growing trend of employers reducing paid work weeks in order to save money and, we can hope, save jobs.
Read more...
Getting Creative to Avoid Layoffs
From DICE News, December 29, 2008...
What do companies like Dell, Cisco Systems, Motorola, and the Seattle Times have in common? They’re among those seeking to cut expenses WHILE avoiding layoffs. The New York Times recently reported some companies are “freezing hiring, offering voluntary retirement packages, cutting hours, reducing salaries or delaying raises” as a way to reduce the need to lay off workers.”
We’ve talked about some of this before: Dell has implemented an extended unpaid holiday, while Cisco will hold a four-day shutdown. Motorola is planning salary cuts and the Seattle Times hopes to save money with an unpaid furlough for 500 workers.
Read more...
What do companies like Dell, Cisco Systems, Motorola, and the Seattle Times have in common? They’re among those seeking to cut expenses WHILE avoiding layoffs. The New York Times recently reported some companies are “freezing hiring, offering voluntary retirement packages, cutting hours, reducing salaries or delaying raises” as a way to reduce the need to lay off workers.”
We’ve talked about some of this before: Dell has implemented an extended unpaid holiday, while Cisco will hold a four-day shutdown. Motorola is planning salary cuts and the Seattle Times hopes to save money with an unpaid furlough for 500 workers.
Read more...
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