“Even though we have reduced the deluge of job losses to a relative trickle, we are not yet creating jobs at a pace to help all those families who have been swept up in the flood,” Obama said. “And it speaks to an urgent need to accelerate job growth in the short term while laying a new foundation for lasting economic growth.”

It is true that the jobs situation is stabilizing. Last month saw a rather dramatic drop in unemployment claims. Obama hopes to do more than just stabilize the situation, however; he is interested in stimulating job growth. In order to do this, he is hoping to do the following (presumably ideas approved at last week’s jobs summit):

• Provide small business tax breaks for new hires.
• Provide small business tax breaks for equipment purchases.
• Spend $50 billion on infrastructure.

I am especially excited about the infrastructure spending, since that will provide some jobs, while at the same time updating our woefully inadequate infrastructure.

Image source: Ari Levinson via Wikimedia Commons

Post from: EveryJoe

Bailout for Main Street with Job Creation

Of course, this positive data does not indicate that a significant number of jobs are being added to the economy — just that the economy is not hemorrhaging them at near the rate we have been seeing throughout the recession. But the news is still encouraging, as it indicates a certain measure of stability in the jobs market, and in the economy. With fewer jobs being lost, there is hope that consumer confidence will return, and with it the important economic driver of consumer spending.

Initially, the stock market rallied heavily on the news. However, other considerations are now taking precedence, and the stock market has pared its gains rather dramatically as mid-day approaches.

Image source: Daylife

Post from: EveryJoe

U.S. Unemployment Rate Drops

Gathering 130 people together — business people, union leaders, and economists — at the White House is one way he hopes to get input on what can be done to increase the effectiveness of the jobs efforts in the stimulus package passed earlier this year. While there isn’t a whole lot that can be done immediately, there are hopes that measures and policies can be adopted to help move this economy in a direction that leads away from the dreaded “jobless recovery” and helps the employment picture for 2010.

There is also hope that improvement to the business outlook can translate into more jobs and maybe even raises. With Bank of America ready to repay TARP, and with other companies becoming profitable, there are hopes that hiring could start soon. But we will have to see. It may be that companies become too used to the profits they enjoy after cutting the workforce.

Image source: ~MVI~ via Flickr

Post from: EveryJoe

Obama’s Jobs Summit; Jobless Claims Drop

The job market itself is likely to take longer to recover. Even though there are signs of stability, the fact of the matter is that it took three years after the last two recessions for unemployment to return to pre-recession levels. And there are some economists who believe that we may not see a return to pre-recession levels of employment for even longer this time. One of the biggest reasons is to do with the fact that many industries and companies have been making substantial changes to the way the do things. There may be no need for a great deal of hiring.

Image source: sxc.hu

Post from: EveryJoe

Will Raises Make a Comeback in 2010?

Recently, an acquaintance of mine was laid off — along with dozens of others — from a local company. Imagine our surprise when the Classifieds showed job openings in that company two weeks later! The reason? In the interest of cost-cutting, the company laid off around 50 of higher-earners and then posted job openings for about 20 jobs with entry-level pay.

This sort of practice is relatively common. The magazine SmartMoney points out the following: “Companies cutting jobs are often hiring in some areas, even as they shrink in others.” Instead of writing off companies that have announced lay offs, it is a good idea to check into where the lay offs are taking place, and then see which divisions of the company might be hiring.

Because so many people overlook businesses that recently laid off workers, it might be that you have less competition for new job openings. Of course, the company may be on the verge of collapse and there may not be any job openings. But it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Image source: Daylife

Post from: EveryJoe

Job Hunt: Openings at Firms with Lay Offs

According to Paul Bernard, a veteran executive coach and career management adviser who runs his own firm, many job seekers make the mistake of relying too heavily on online job boards, particularly at the start of their search.

Bernard advises job seekers to begin to network immediately. Not only can networking expand your possibilities but it can also build and demonstrate skills, he said.

“Networking builds confidence and gets you into the hidden job market,” he explained, referring to unadvertised job openings.

You really need to have a network that you can rely on. Let people you know, from professional associates to relatives to high school buddies, understand that you are looking for a job. This way you will come to mind if someone you know hears anything. Additionally, you can attend networking events and get to know new people.

This even works online. You may scoff at social media’s usefulness, but the truth is that some social networking sites are great places to find jobs. LinkedIn is an especially helpful place for professionals to network. Twitter and Facebook can also provide you with job hunt connections.

Post from: EveryJoe

Job Hunt Tips: Don’t Forget to Network

But it’s not just the jobless benefits that have seen an extension. The bill is also extending the first time home buyer tax credit along the lines negotiated at the end of last week. The $8,000 credit for first time home buyers will be extended until the end of April, and there is an expansion to provide $6,500 for current home owners who are looking to buy.

On top of both of these sought after measures, the bill includes tax cuts for businesses that are struggling. This should help some businesses stay afloat until more substantial recovery can be seen in the economy.

Post from: EveryJoe

Jobless Benefits and Home Credit Renewed

However, even though the news sent stocks a little lower initially, they are inching up, desperate to remain in the black, even with the news. Even though the unemployment rate is higher, job loss is moving at a slower pace, and there are fewer lost jobs last month than the month before. However, the fact that 190,000 jobs were lost in October was still higher than the 150,000 expected.

This means that the Fed is looking justified in its comments earlier this week that the economy still needs some help, and that interest rate hikes — and an end to quantitative easing — won’t come until sometime next year. And if things don’t pick up in the labor market soon, it may be 2011 before we can start serious talking about interest rate increases.

Image source: Daylife

Post from: EveryJoe

U.S. Unemployment at 10.2%

holiday season

1. Don’t limit yourself to retail: While you are likely to think of retail for seasonal employment, there are plenty of other businesses that need help. Service companies need extra help during the holidays, as do shipping-type businesses.
2. Get started now: The earlier you start looking, the more likely you are to be hired. Look around; you can probably find plenty of local businesses that are looking right now. Don’t wait until Black Friday to begin your search. Look now, and you might be able start in time to help out on Black Friday.
3. Show some flexibility: The more open your schedule is, the more likely you are to get a part-time seasonal job. If possible, illustrate your flexible schedule, and be willing to be “on call”. It may mean that you can’t go somewhere else for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but if you need the job, it might be more important to get some holiday pay.

In the end, most people are happy for a little extra income this time of year. Preparing for a part-time seasonal job can provide you with the cash flow help you might need.

Image source: Daylife

Post from: EveryJoe

3 Tips To Help You Get a Seasonal Job

Come visit me at AfterGraduation.net. P.S., isn't that a great picture of me? My sister took it (she did her own developing). Maybe a career in photography freelancing in the future?

Sadly, all good things must eventually come to an end. I was recently informed that Bizzia would be closing it’s Internet doors, and although all of the posts on this site (include those in other categories), will be available to view on Every Joe, b5media (the cool people who own this site) would no longer be maintaining a freelance writing section, or other business sections for that matter.

This doesn’t have to be good, my friends. I have enjoyed every comment here at Bizzia, even if they were critical of my ideas or opinions. While Bizzia’s freelance category will no longer be around, I’m not disappearing. I’m just moving.

You can now visit me at AfterGraduation.net, a brand new site for brand new freelancers. If you attempted to go to that site, you probably got an error message. Don’t worry – I’m coming. Bizzia’s closing was a sad surprise to me, which didn’t give me much time to set up my new blog. However – and this is important – if you don’t want to bookmark the site’s URL, you can leave a comment below using your real email address OR email me directly at allison@abcontentonline.com and I’ll let you know as soon as AG is up and running, as a little reminder.

As the name implies, this site is specifically geared toward new graduates who want to get into freelancing. Aren’t a “graduate”? That’s ok. If you’re a new freelancer in general, you’ll find this site helpful. Even if you’re NOT new to the industry, I encourage you to visit to help share your knowledge of the freelancing world, and maybe even learn something new. Hell, I learn new things every day, even though I’m not new to the industry. Along with freelancing info, you’ll also find general life tips for those just starting out, like how to find an apartment and how to create a budget.

AG can’t be successful without you there to support it. Thank you thank you thank youthankyouthankyou for supporting me here at Bizzia, and I hope to see you all again soon.

Post from: EveryJoe

Moving On? Nope, Just Moving