US Factories Added 49,000 Jobs in January

Strong job gains by US factories come as a boon to the spattering job market. Last year, there was a modest job rebound by manufacturers. The good news is that a higher customer demand finally seems to materialize, particularly in the emerging markets. In the year 2010, manufacturers added a total of 112,000 jobs. This year, producers are expected to add 275,000 jobs. Around 300,000 more jobs are expected in the year 2012.

Last month, strong job gains were noticed by manufacturers of cars, metals, factory gear and computers. On the other hand, producers of apparel, paper and food shed 13,000 jobs, as the US consumer demand in the non-durable products market is still moderate.

Ford Motor
In order to expedite its production of vehicles, Ford Motors added 600 employees in Ohio and Michigan. This is in regard to the US car sales annual rise of 12.6 million last month. Early last year, the car sales was reported to be 11 million.

Alcoa
It is the No. 1 aluminum maker in the US. Last month, Alcoa re-opened three smelting plants. The re-opening of these plants will require 260 more employees. According to CEO Klaus Kleinfield, demand in the aluminum sector is rising up.

Intel
The top chipmaker also added around 3,000 jobs last year. This was done due to the increasing demand for servers and notebooks.

Overall, factories in the United States added 49,000 jobs in January this year. Jobseekers can expect more jobs to be added as the consumer demand surges further in the coming months. This is really welcome news that higher demand is finally flicking in.

Getting a Job with an Online Business Degree

There are plenty of business schools, colleges and universities that offer online business degrees for aspiring candidates. People are simply overwhelmed with the options available. What worries people most, however, is whether an online business degree will get them hired after graduation. Many candidates think that they will have a hard time getting a job with an online business degree. Well, you should not worry as online degrees are becoming more and more popular with each passing day. And there are many online business degrees that are considered at par with traditional or campus-based business degrees.

 

Online Business Degree vs Traditional Business Degree
Today, even traditional colleges and universities have begun to offer online business degrees. That means the number of people going for online degree is increasing exponentially. There are many academic institutions that offer the same course curriculum for online business degree as that of a traditional or on-campus business degree. For example, an online business degree from Columbia University is considered to be entirely at par with campus-based business degree.

The Columbia University offers the online business degree through their video network. The channel provides students an excellent opportunity for interacting with instructors and peers. If you put adequate time and energy into it, you can complete your online degree with high credentials to attract the employer’s attention and increase your chances of getting hired.

Value of an Online Business Degree
The biggest question, however, is how valuable an online business degree can actually be. According to a recent survey conducted by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), over 70 percent of corporate supervisors consider an online degree just as valuable or even more valuable as compared to traditional business degrees.

Getting Enrolled
It is important to note that the value of your online business degree will vary depending on the business school you choose to attend. Undoubtedly, there are several online colleges and schools that offer business degrees online. Students must be advised that they choose a business school which has the necessary accreditation and reputation in the industry. In addition, it is important to go through the complete course curriculum to make sure you’ll get actually what you are looking for.

After you have decided to pursue an online business degree, you need to do some in-depth research on your own. Gather the details about the accreditation status of the business school. It is always a best idea to get in touch with students who have already graduated from the school of your choice. To start with, you can prepare a list of business schools you have targeted. Next, conduct some research and get the best advice from outside sources to make sure you choose the best and reputable business degree.

Online Job Search Tips

Searching for jobs online needs a well-planned strategy. Thanks to the availability of so many job boards, jobseekers now have plenty of jobs at their fingertips. If you know how to use the internet to expedite your job search process, it can prove to be a powerful tool. There some important guidelines and tips that you can follow for searching jobs online. Given below are some of the most important ones.

Build Your Online Portfolio
While it’s good to apply online for jobs of your interest, it is also a good tip to build a website that presents all of your job related information to employers. The website serves as your online portfolio where employers and hiring managers can view your career interests, skill sets and your contact information easily.

Check Our Regional Job Boards
Another useful tip for jobseekers is to narrow down their job search options. You should start your online search by specific regions and industries. In addition, there are multiple regional job boards available as well. Prepare a list of all the regional employment websites and job boards that fit in with your job requirements. Regional websites are a good source of finding jobs in your specific area or region, which may not be available on international job websites.

Get in Touch with Online Recruiters
There are online recruiters available to match you with the right kind of jobs. You can easily find the potential online recruiters and get in touch with them for searching jobs. These recruiters will be able to provide useful links to online headhunters for candidates seeking jobs.

Benefit from Video Resumes
Today, many jobseekers prepare video resume to set themselves apart from other jobseekers. Though video resumes are not replacements of traditional resume, they can help you attract the employers’ attention and gain an extra edge over your competition.

Job Alerts can be Useful
Many job boards and employment websites also offer the facility of utilizing job alerts. After creating your profile on such job boards, you can set job alerts according to your specific requirements. Using job alerts will keep you updated on the newly posted job positions in the industries of your interest.

Expand Your Network
Social networking plays a vital role in getting some valuable job or career related information. In fact, it is networking through which most of the job positions are filled. There are popular social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin that provide you an excellent opportunity to connect with industry professionals, employers, friends, colleagues and co-workers. Therefore, you should continue to build and expand your network of contacts.

Following the above mentioned tips can make your online job search a lot easier. If you want to land jobs quickly, you should prepare yourself to make an effective use of the internet and online job searching resources available out there.

Using Facebook to Find a Job

There’s no doubt that social media is playing a vital role in helping jobseekers find jobs. Popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin are at the forefront. People are spending more and more time on such social media websites. If you too are in search of a job, you can certainly use Facebook to your benefits. Given below are some important tips on how to use Facebook as an effective job search tool.

Profile
Today, hiring managers are increasing using Facebook for checking the background of people they want to hire. If you want to use Facebook to attract employers, you need to customize your profile for receiving the maximum benefits. To keep up a professional image, you need to include only those groups, photos and information that employers will be looking for. Create your profile on Facebook right away and fill it out completely to attract employers’ attention.

Fans & Groups
Most of the large and potential employers are on Facebook. Prepare a list of your targeted employers and search for their Facebook pages. Once you have located similar groups and company profiles, you can join them or become a fan of their pages. It is an excellent way to attract the attention of company’s hiring managers and get your way in for finding jobs.

Friends
Jobseekers must be advised that networking is a powerful tool to find jobs. According to a recent survey, around 70%-80% job positions are filled via professional contacts or references. And Facebook offers a great opportunity to network with industry professionals, co-workers and colleagues. If you spend some time networking with influential people and continue to expand your network of contacts, you can definitely use Facebook for receiving valuable job information. First of all, you need to keep your contacts informed that you are in search of a job. Network with people who can help you find a job with the employers you have targeted.

Current Employees
If you targeted a specific employer, you can easily search for people who are currently employed in that company. For locating employees, you can first find the list of employee names and then search for their Facebook profiles in Google. Send friend request to these employees and add them to your list of contacts. Current employees of a specific company can provide you essential information on current job vacancies.

Portfolio
Turn your Facebook account into a portfolio of your work. Upload your work related information in your account including blog posts, photos and professional organizations you are associated with. If you want to attract employers’ attention for finding a job, you need to include information related to your work or industry you serve.

Speech Therapist Job Description

Also referred to as speech language pathologists, speech therapists work with patients who are suffering from speech and language disorders. Effective communication is an urgent requirement to achieve career success. That’s why there is a great demand for speech therapists who are employed in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals and schools among others. These professionals may also need to travel from one place to another, depending upon the requirement. Have a look at the job description for more information on this career.

Function
Speech therapists are responsible for creating treatment plans according to the individual requirements of patients. They are trained to deal with a wide variety of language, speech and communication disorders. Speech therapy use different types of diagnostic tests and equipments to provide effective treatment to patients. Speech therapists also prescribe specific exercise to patients by which language and speech disorders can be treated.

Job Duties
Apart from working directly with patients, speech therapists also perform other important duties. They also keep and maintain the records of patients they work with. Apart from treating patients, therapists also counsel the patient’s family in order to help them deal with the frustration that such disorders bring with them. They also provide expert consultation to families for continuing speech therapy exercises at home.

Educational Requirements
If you are passionate about becoming a speech therapist, you should possess a master’s degree in speech language pathology or a relevant field. In addition, you will need to fulfill the licensing requirements. If you want to demonstrate your competency to employers, you can also go on to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence, provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. To obtain this credential, you will need a master’s degree from an accredited program, 400 hours of supervised clinical work experience, 36-week-long postgraduate fellowship and clearing the speech-language pathology Praxis test.

Annual Salary
The average annual salary of speech therapists ranges between $41,968 and $66,463. Salaries may vary depending on the type of industry and work experience. In January, 2010, speech therapists employed in the United States earned an average annual salary of around $63,600.

Dos and Dont’s of Phone Interviews

Though you are talking to the employer or the interviewer over phone from the comfort of your home, phone interviews are not always as easy as you think. There are number of issues that can blow a telephonic interview as easily as in a face-to-face interview. Jobseekers need to know what they should do and they should not to achieve success during a phone interview. Given below are some important dos and don’ts of phone interviewing.

Dos
Do provide your detailed contact information in the cover letter, so that you are easily contactable by employers. Make sure the information is accurate so that employers face no discrepancy while getting in touch with you.

Do make sure that your family members and those living with you understand the important of phone interviewing in the process of your job search.

Do practice telephonic interviewing with one of your closest friends. Get a friend to call for conducting mock phone interview sessions. Practice until you start feeling confident about speaking to the interviewer on phone.

While attending a phone interview, do make sure that you have chosen an appropriate place in your house for the same. Select a place which is quiet and helps you concentrate. A calm and noise-free place will help you read and take notes easily.

Do consider standing while attending a phone interview. Though you can also talk to interviewers sitting in a chair, experts suggest it is best to speak to the interviewer standing. Talking in a standing position makes you sound more professionals as compared to a slouching position when you are sitting in an easy chair.

Don’ts
Don’t feel you need to fill in the air time. You may face some airtime or silences after you have completed responding to a question. If the interviewer takes more time to ask the next question, don’t start babbling on your own. Wait for the next question to answer. If the silences seem to take longer, you can also choose to ask an important question which is related to your previous response.

Don’t cough or sneeze during a phone interview. Avoid these as much as possible. In case you are unable to avoid the same, you can say ‘excuse me’.

Just because the interviewer can’t see you doesn’t mean you can eat or take anything during the telephonic interview. Don’t chew gum or eat something which is noisy while you are speaking to the interviewer or the employer.

Preparing for a Career in Aviation Management

Exciting career opportunities await candidates in the field of aviation management. This is one of those careers that offer you the opportunity of traveling regularly. You never get bored in this occupation, as it is a fast-paced industry. If you want to become successful in aviation management, you should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, you should have the capability to work under pressure.

For most of the aviation management careers, you should possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. There are various technical colleges and schools that offer training programs in different areas of aviation management. An undergraduate aviation training program course includes the study of physics, statistics, microeconomics, basic mechanics, aviation technology, aviation regulations, aircraft engineering etc. There are various specialization courses in areas like general airport management, airlines operation management and financial management among others.

To gain an edge over others, candidates go for an internship program or paid part time job positions in the aviation industry. If you have a strong passion for making a career in aviation management, you can prepare a list of aviation management schools that offer your desired courses. Admission guidelines may vary from one college to another. Students need to all this admission criteria to get enrolled in an aviation management training program.

Most of the training programs in aviation management require students to have a solid background in mathematics and science. Aviation careers also need to complete English or foreign language careers to fulfill the job criteria. Students can get in touch with their guidance counselors for detailed information on aviation management careers.

One of the major things to consider for aviation careers is the cost of attendance. Since these careers involve extensive flight training, the cost of attendance is higher. However, you don’t need to be discouraged by the higher cost of attendance. If a career in aviation is your dream, you can also apply for various educational scholarships and grants that focus on students of aviation management. There are many more scholarship opportunities that you can think of. You college’s financial aid office will provide detailed information in this regard.

Getting a degree in aviation management prepares for a wide range of job positions. Depending on your interests and skills, you can choose to occupy job positions including accident investigator, air traffic technician, air traffic controller, crash rescue flight dispatcher, safety inspector etc. Employment opportunities are available in private airlines, cargo airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, colleges, universities and tourism boards among others.

Systems Engineer Career Profile

Companies require system engineers to develop and maintain a variety of technical systems which may include military defense systems, sewage systems, electric power systems and information technology systems among others. If it is an IT systems engineer, they are responsible for the development and maintenance of hardware and system software.

Job Duties of IT Systems Engineer
While working as a systems engineer in an IT company, professionals will need to manage LAN/WAN network systems, an inventory of network devices and LAN/WAN documentation as well as introduce new technologies to enhance the system. Job responsibilities of a systems engineer specializing in Microsoft products include installation, maintenance and updation of server hardware and server software.

These professionals are skilled in high level problem troubleshooting. Engineers need to identify errors in the system and fixing them appropriately. At the same time, the systems engineer will be responsible for tracking the memory, disk space and CPU of the computer systems. They keep a close watch on any kind of intrusion that may occur. They install software upgrades to increase the company’s productivity. They identify the company’s current position in terms of IT system performance and efficiency.

Training & Certification
Employers prefer hiring candidates who have completed a university degree or a diploma in computer science, software engineering or a related discipline. Other employers may look for a degree in engineering or applied science. Candidates will be required to possess a strong knowledge of systems engineering methodology.

Soft Skills Required
In order to achieve career success, systems engineers also need to have strong interpersonal skills. Excellent communication and leadership skills are required to become successful in the workplace. Mostly, systems engineering work in teams. So, great team playing skills are a must for efficiently completing a project within the desired timeframe.

It is very important for systems engineers to keep themselves up-to-date with the latest technological advancement. They need to continuously upgrade their skills in order to attract the employer’s attention. Even while applying for a job, candidates need to showcase their aptitude for learning new technologies as well as their decision making and conflict resolution skills.

MSD Merchant Services Direct a Provider in Spokane – A Review

Many entrepreneurs choose a merchant services provider on the basis of price. Of course, getting competitive rates is important. However, this is not something you should solely base your decision upon. There are several other variables that you need to take into account. Here’s a review of a merchant company called Merchant Services Direct, based in Washington, Spokane. In this review, we’ll consider several important variables including security implications, products, solutions, risk management, reporting functionality and customer support among others.

Merchant Services Direct (MSD) is a full service payment processing company that offers its customers a wide range of completely dependable transactional services. The service provider strives to offer you superior services at affordable rates.

Award Winning Customer Service
MSD has made an indelible impression both in terms of financial payment processing and customer support requirements. Regardless of your business size, you can always depend upon the advance transaction equipment options that the company offers. Merchant Services Direct, headquartered in Spokane, WA has a business model which primarily focuses on strong customer service. To remove your doubts about payment processing, MSD’s customer service representatives are available to you round the clock answering your queries. This service provider is also equipped with a special technical support team to fulfill your individual requirements.

Smooth Transition from other Accounts
Businesses are always on the look out for merchant accounts which are completely in tune with their exact requirements. Merchant Services Direct agents have sound expertise in providing business a matching merchant account. In addition, they also offer smooth transition from other accounts to build new merchant accounts, tailored to your business model and budgetary considerations.

Risk and Fraud Management
The Spokane based company has an effective reporting system in place to prevent any kind of disruption in the flow of transactions. Customers can review their transactions and block suspicious activities from malicious users. Your transactions are carefully analyzed for your protection.

Administrative Tools
Merchant Services Direct offers customers easy-to-use administrative tools. With these tools, merchants can easily view statements online and control the users within their organization. You can set up processing rules according to your individual requirements. So, it’s quite easy to check duplicate transactions and track email receipts.

Reporting Functionality
Whether it’s about your transactional data, subscription data or settlement data, Merchant Services Direct based in Spokane WA  provides real time reporting to customers. Merchants have easy access to all this data via a web based system.

Merchant Services Direct (MSD), Washington, Spokane, has given a new face to the payment processing system by making it more straightforward, fraud-proof and exciting with innovative technology. This merchant company happens to be your perfect partner for all your transactional needs including credit card processing, debit card processing, check services, cash advance and ATM services among others. The company also offers excellent gift and loyalty programs for merchants. So finally, you have a payment processing company that will exceed all of your needs and expectations.

Time Management Tips

If you want to increase productivity, you definitely need to some important time management skills. Learning to manage your time efficiently won’t leave you spending your day in a frenzy of activity. While running a small business, you need to wear different hats. Doing multiple jobs at the same time becomes quite hectic. However, you can solve the problem if you know how to manage time well. Given below are some important time management tips to help you deal with the problem.

Know where You’re Wasting Time
The entire process of time management begins with tracking your daily activities. You need to get a clear picture of all of your activities on which you spend time. Ask yourself a couple of questions. Am I spending too much time surfing on the internet? Am I spending too much time on reading emails? Do personal calls consume much of your time? Likewise, you need to ask other related questions to find out where actually you are wasting most of your time.

Create Time Management Goals
Remember, it is not the time can be changed. It is your behaviors that should be changed to manage time. First of all, you need to remove the potential time-wasters. The second major step is to create your time management goals, according to your individual requirements.

Implement the Plan
After you have created your goals, it is next time to incorporate the plan into your daily schedule. The goals of the plan may vary from one person or business to another. You will need to change your behavior to make the plan successful. Stick to your time management plan and remember to track the progress over time.

Use Time Management Tools
There are various time management tools that you can use to successfully manage your time. There are day timers and other software programs that can help you effectively schedule tasks and manage time.

Prioritize Ruthlessly
Prioritization is key to achieving success in managing time. Once you have listed all the tasks to be completed in a day, you need to find out what’s urgent and what’s important. Which tasks do you really want to accomplish. To start the day right, you will need to prioritize things ruthlessly understanding the importance of every single task.