Blogs | Page 13
April Layoff Numbers: Down but Not Out
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-05-06
The good news? The total number of job cuts are down from April, and they are the lowest they've been in six months. That is somewhat pleasing to hear.
The bad news? Despite being down from last month and lowering, the overall layoff numbers are still a fairly large crap sandwich.
Contract Jobs, Self-Employment Way Up for Tech
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-05-05
The monthly Dice Report from the technology job board is out, and the theme this time is that contracting and self-employment is on the rise.
Based on Dice's assessment of its technology job postings and a poll of job seekers, working without benefits on hourly or project work seems to
Greenspan Tells Senate More Visas Needed
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-05-04
Alan Greenspan is not a name I'd generally associate with the foreign-worker visa program or H-1Bs, but he recently testified to a U.S. senate committee on immigration and gave his take on how it affects wages and the economy.
And to sum it up, Greenspan seems out of touch.
Greenspan's quotes,
Swine Flu: The New Excuse to Work from Home?
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-05-01
While Google tracks the spread of swine flu and Vice President Joe Biden tells people to stay put (not totally unreasonable), expect co-workers to log in to that VPN, listen for prolonged
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On Gender and Programming
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-30
Is the programming field rife with alpha male behavior to the point that women are turned off by the profession?
That's what eWEEK's Darryl K. Taft asks in his article inspired by Ruby on Rails creator David Heinemeier Hansson. Hansson recently blogged about gender and programming in a post entitled
Job References, Background Checks Demystified
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-29
Job hunters, take heed.
CIO.com has a good little primer intended to uncover the truth behind myths about job references and background checks, some of which really surprised me. The article is written by Jeffrey
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Is Your Company Prepared for Swine Flu?
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-28
Human resources and IT, listen up. Swine flu is about to become part of your disaster recovery planning.
Had to jump on the swine flu train, eh? Well, Gartner did, and it has a point. Being prepared is always a good idea. Gartner is on the swine flu bandwagon, saying this
Apple Downsized Apple Store Jobs
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-27
All may be solid in Apple earnings land, but it appears that retail employees of Apple's ultra-cool Apple Stores were downsized. This makes sense given that Apple Store chains have not made nearly as much money as in 2008.
According to CNET, about 1,600 Apple Store chain jobs have "been
Japan to Foreign Workers: 'Here's Money, Now Go Away'
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-24
Oh, Japan. How you make Americans cringe with shame in your protectionist ways.
Descendants of Japanese emigrants from Latin and South America, namely Brazil, are being told by the government of Japan that they will pay them to leave and go back to their home countries. Many of these people were
To Lay Off or Not Lay Off?
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-23
That is the question that many companies answer by a resounding "Unfortunately, yes."
But some companies are questioning the wisdom in layoffs if an economic turnaround comes in the next year. According
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Advice from HR on Landing a Tech 'Dream Job'
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-22
Fortune, who loves to feature rankings of companies, has a good online piece about what HR people look for in potential job candidates. The five companies profiled are part of the broader ranking of "Best Companies to Work For," so you know that this is up to snuff since it
More Sun Layoffs on the Horizon with Oracle Buy?
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-20
Given the news of tech-company gobbler Oracle buying Sun Microsystems, it isn't too difficult to imagine that more Sun employees could be losing jobs.
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas put
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iPhone Apps for Job Seekers
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-17
PCMag.com has a nice little gallery piece dubbed "The Best iPhone Apps for the Unemployed," though some of it, frankly, could be for just about anyone, since it's not all job-search related. It's still fun weekend reading and worth a gander for you iPhone addicts.
Here are the ones that are
Cognizant Technlogy to Back-Pay H-1B Workers
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-16
One of the leading technology companies in the United States that uses H-1B workers has recently agreed to backpay nearly $510,000 to 67 employees. Based on an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, it appears that Cognizant Technology has been found in violation of several laws.
From a recent
Common Sense Approach to Job Interviewing
By Donald Sears | Posted: 2009-04-14
Laid off but have an interview? Feeling desperate, willing to bend over backwards to get a new job? Willing to take something you don't really want?
Be sure you leave that stuff at home and away from a job interview, recruiter or hiring manager. From a recent WSJ article:
At an interview,
