Job openings rise, Hires fall in July

More U.S. jobs were available in July though fewer people were hired, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. Job openings as of the last day of July stood at 3.190 million, up 5.6 percent from 3.022 million in June. Hiring fell 4.5 percent to 4.233 million in July from 4.433 million the previous month.

The departmentís monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey is more dated than other gauges of the job market, but it has improved as a measure since the U.S. Labor Department began adjusting the numbers for seasonal variations this year. The report said the job openings rate crept up to 2.4 percent in June. The rate, calculated by dividing the number of job openings on the last business day of the month by employment plus job openings, has ranged from 2.0 percent to 2.4 percent since October 2001.

The department said the hire rate, or number of hires in the month divided by employment, fell to 3.2 percent in July from 3.4 percent in June. The report said July marked the 15th straight month that hires outpaced separations due to firing, layoffs, quitting or retirement.

Resume posting: Are you interested in saving time?
Staff Writer, The Career News

LOS ANGELES, CA -- There are hundreds of sites where you can post your resume online. Some sites, like MonsterTrak, lets you upload an existing resume with the click of a button. On other sites you can cut and paste or use a resume building wizard. Start with the top job sites like Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, Job.com and FlipDog. Then keep track of where youíve posted your resume and make a list of your login names and passwords.

If you are interested in saving time, there is another way to get your resume to all the best sites. Resume Rabbit will instantly post your resume to 100 of the top career sites, including the ones listed above. Youíll get a personal online posting report with login information for each site so you can update your resume and apply directly to job postings.

All you have to do is enter your resume and job requirements once - and in the time it takes to post your resume to just one job site, Resume Rabbit will post your information to all the top career sites - instantly. Even if you donít have a current resume, Resume Rabbit offers a simple resume builder to help you create one. To try Resume Rabbit, go to this link.

Writing compelling accomplishment statements
Roberta Gamza, Career Marketing Consultant

DENVER CO -- Accomplishments are the most valuable information on your resume. They demonstrate your qualifications and contributions to previous employers. Accomplishments are not responsibilities. Responsibilities are the tasks the employer hired you to do; accomplishments are how well you performed those tasks. Managing a team of 20 is a responsibility; rebuilding a team of 20 after a merger is an accomplishment.

Accomplishments are powerful, concise, and results-oriented. As you craft the statement, think about the situation you were presented, actions you took, and the results. Provide context to explain the size of the accomplishment, if it is not obvious. All accomplishments, including routine activities, demonstrate your knowledge, competency, and value to the employer. Recaptured previously lost Comcast Bay Area cable system project, resulting in a breakthrough $9M contract presents critical information -- it was a fight to win this $9M record-breaking deal. In 15 words, the employer knows the value of the contribution.

To gain employersí interest, your resume must include accomplishment statements that demonstrate your value to previous employers and indicate your potential value to future employers.

Economy in many regions slowed in summer
Abridged: Reuters.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - According to a report released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve, the economy in many areas of the United States grew at a slower pace in late July and August as household spending softened. Economic activity continued to expand in late July and August, although several districts indicated that the pace had slowed, the Fed said in its beige book, an anecdotal look at the U.S. economy from the perspective of its 12 regional banks.

The Fed said in the report that a softening in household spending reflected lackluster retail sales and some cooling in new and existing home sales. While U.S. employment grew over the period, regional banks reported some unevenness across sectors. The Fed said wage pressures remained modest, though non-wage labor costs continued to be a concern for many employers.

The beige book, which takes its name from the color of its cover, is issued about two weeks before the Federal Open Market Committee, is scheduled to meet. Wednesdayís report will be reviewed at the FOMCís Sept. 21 meeting where analysts widely expect the Fed to raise short-term rates by a quarter percentage point.

Continuing education can be your key to success!
Staff Writer, The Career News

LOS ANGELES, CA -- If you think that the only way to earn a degree is to spend gobs of money and traverse across a complicated college campus, taking anywhere from two to eight years to get your Associateís, Bachelorís or Masterís degree - think again. These days, there are alternatives. Looking for a different, easier and less expensive way to earn a degree is simply a mouse click away.

Advance your career on your schedule by earning your degree from the University of Phoenix, the nationís largest accredited private university. They offer degrees in business, technology, education, criminal justice, healthcare and more -100% Online. You can further your education, earn a degree, increase your marketability and optimize your income potential -- all from within the comfort and convenience of your own home!

While many people still look to traditional methods of earning degrees on a campus, degrees earned online are becoming more and more common and theyíre just as credible as obtaining one through any other means; itís just so much more simple and convenient! To learn more about University of Phoenix and request a catalog, go to this link.

Turn your job search into a work project
Roberta Gamza, Career Marketing Consultant

DENVER, CO -- Like it or not, youíre in the job market again. If you approach your job search as you would a work project, youíll enjoy faster results. Identify, prioritize, and study employers you want to work for. Check local business journals and newspapers for announcements that will impact the local economy. Network! Network! Network! Itís not only who you know but who knows you! Contact everyone you know and find out who they know in your target companies.

Set clear goals and objectives, write an action plan, and track your progress. The position you seek with target employers is your objective. The action plan includes the tactics you will implement. Build a schedule - allow time for research, correspondence, networking, and follow-up. Track milestones, actions, and results. Keep copies of your correspondence. Make notes about the outcome of your activities. Celebrate both small and large milestones.

Looking for work is a full-time job. Schedule your day. Stay focused on what you do well. Donít let frustration or desperation take over and steer you off course. Set realistic expectations and reasonable schedules. Be patient, but persistent. It will pay off.

Getting your resume to the right recruiters
Staff Writer, The Career News

NEW YORK, NY -- When looking for a job, you may want to consider working with a recruiter. Recruiters, otherwise known as head hunters or search consultants, are hired by companies to find candidates for them, and often know about unadvertised jobs.

Itís important to note, that recruiters do not charge the job seeker. The company pays a fee, typically when a candidate is hired. When contacting a recruiter send a resume and cover letter just as though you were applying for a job. If a recruiter calls you, always call back - even if you are not currently job hunting. You never know when circumstances might change and you might need job search assistance.

If you donít know of any good recruiters and/or want to instantly have your resume sent to 1000ís of recruiters that specialize in people with your skills, there is a service, Resume Mailman, that will instantly email your resume to 1000ís of targeted recruiters. You can even get a list of the recruiters they forwarded your resume to for follow up. To try Resume Mailman, follow this link.

Jobless claims fall sharply to 319,000
Abridged: Forbes.com

NEW YORK, NY -- The number of new people signing up for jobless benefits plunged last week. For the week ending Sept. 4, new applications for unemployment insurance dropped by a seasonally adjusted 44,000 from the previous week to 319,000, the lowest level since July 3, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

A department analyst said that part of the decline came from fewer claims being filed due to the hurricane in Florida. The latest snapshot of the layoffs climate was better than analysts were expecting. They were forecasting a smaller drop of around 17,000 for last week. Weíre getting there. When you look at the underlying trend, the jobs picture is improving, said Richard Yamarone, economist at Argus Research Corp.

Given the recent volatility in jobless claims because of the storm, economists were putting more stock in the more stable, four-week moving average of claims. That barometer showed claims fell by 3,750 last week to 339,250. Still, businesses havenít completely cast off their caution when it comes to hiring, economists say. Thereís a little standoffishness at businesses with respect to potential terrorism and higher priced energy. But the economy continues to expand and create positions, Yamarone said.

Does your resume catch the eye of employers?
Staff Writer, The Career News

ATHENS, GA - If youíre not a prolific writer, your resume might not be strong enough to catch the eye of employers. A resume is your first introduction to a future employer so it must stand out from the crowd. After all, you only have 15 seconds to catch a potential employerís attention. Many find the best way to get their resume noticed is to turn to a professional resume writer.

One company, e-Resume.net offers skilled resume writers with years of experience and reasonable prices. Their writers are certified by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and the National Resume Writersí Association. These writers know exactly what employers want to see and how to present it. And, they have a proven track record of writing highly effective resumes that get the interviews - in fact, your resume satisfaction is guaranteed! For more information, go to this link.