Survey: CEOs plan to boost hiring, spending

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, The Associated Press Updated 12:33 PM Wednesday, March 30, 2011

WASHINGTON — A majority of America’s largest companies are ready to step up hiring this year and more than 90 percent expect sales to improve, a new survey found.

The Business Roundtable said Wednesday that 52 percent of its members plan to increase hiring in the next six months. That’s the largest proportion for the group since it began surveying its members nine years ago. The trade group represents CEOs from roughly 200 of the nation’s largest companies.

More than 60 percent also plan to spend more on long-lasting manufactured goods, such as computers and machinery, according to the survey of 142 executives taken in early March.

The group’s members are more optimistic than at any point since the survey began in 2002. Its CEO economic outlook index rose to 113, up from 101 in the previous quarterly survey. The index plummeted to -5, its lowest level, in the January-March quarter of 2009.

“Our CEOs see momentum in the economy over the next six months, with increased demand fueling greater investment and job creation,” Ivan Seidenberg, chairman of the group and CEO of Verizon Communications Inc., said.

Still, the executives expect the overall economy to grow only a modest 2.9 percent this year. That’s up from their forecast three months ago of 2.5 percent.

While CEO sentiment is improving, Seidenberg said, “it’s not a sunny blue sky … there’s still lots to worry about,” including higher oil prices and the impact of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

Most of the responses to the group’s survey were received before Japan’s earthquake struck March 11. The Roundtable’s members are still assessing the full impact of the disaster on their operations, Seidenberg said, and will likely provide more detail in earnings reports over the next two months.

The Commerce Department said last week that the nation grew at a 3.1 percent annual pace in the October-December quarter.

That’s led to some pickup in hiring. The economy generated a net gain of 192,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department said earlier this month, the most in nearly a year. Analysts are forecasting a gain of 185,000 jobs in March.

But that won’t be enough to lower the unemployment rate, economists say, which is projected to remain at 8.9 percent. The March data will be released Friday.

___

March 30, 2011 04:21 PM EDT

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Every Little Bit Helps!

BREAKING NEWS for Dayton/Miami Valley Safety Council Members,

We are pleased to announce that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Administrator Steve Buehrer has announced the continuation of the 2+2% Safety Incentive Rebate Program for the 2012 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012).  Administrator Buehrer made this announcement at the Ohio Safety Congress this morning in Columbus.   Additionally, Administrator Buehrer stated that he will be presenting a proposal to the BWC Board for approval in April that will allow Ohio businesses to combine the Safety Incentive Rebate Program with their Ohio BWC Group Rating discounts.

These announcements are a great step forward in providing a greater return-on-investment for the Ohio business community and rewarding employers that have made workplace safety and accident claim reduction a top priority in their organizations.     All of these efforts are  a positive advancement in creating a more business friendly environment in the State of Ohio that will focus on job creation and maximizing safety in the workplace.  Thank you to Administrator Buehrer and the Ohio BWC for making business development in Ohio a top priority. 

As we learn more information about the impending proposal to the BWC Board, we will be in contact with you.

Sincerely,

Amanda Byers

 

Amanda Byers | Manager, Safety Health, & Environmental Programming | Dayton/Miami Valley Safety Council

A Program of Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

1 Chamber Plaza | Dayton OH 45402-2400

937.226.8227 voice | 937.226.8254 fax | www.daytonchamber.org

NCAA Office Pool Winner

Since no one has any teams left in the Office Pool I will go ahead and announce the winner. Your 2011 winner is ME! Better luck next year.  Here are the results.

RankTeam NameScoreCorrectBest ScoreBest CorrectChampion 
1Robert Voelkel39393939Duke  (164)
2Greg Cross38383838Ohio St.  (172)
3Emily Monnin36363636Ohio St.  (156)
3Pam Barry36363636Ohio St.  (147)
5Dianne Baxter35353535Ohio St.  (135)
5Scot Feldmeyer (1)35353535Ohio St.  (147)
7Erin Post34343434Pittsburgh  (123)
7Jerry Post (2)34343434Kansas  (134)
7joshua voelkel34343434Duke  (154)
7Kerri Voelkel34343434Kansas  (145)
7Teresa Ambos34343434Ohio St.  (164)
12Andrew barry33333333Ohio St.  (120)
12Doug Barry33333333Ohio St.  (133)
12Scot Feldmeyer (2)33333333Kansas  (147)
15ryan trapp32323232Ohio St.  (155)
16Jerry Post (1)31313131Duke  (126)
17Amanda Clay20202020Ohio St.  (125)

10 Ways to Get Your Resume Noticed

“Out with the old, in with the new,” isn’t that what they always say? The same thing applies to your résumé. Chances are you applied for hundreds of jobs during the Great Recession, only to be ignored or rejected. That means that something has to change.

“Because hiring managers are receiving large volumes of applications, job seekers have just seconds to make a lasting impression,” said Jason Ferrara, senior career adviser at CareerBuilder. “55 percent of hiring managers told us they spend a minute or less reviewing a new resume, while another 29 percent spend one to two minutes reviewing one.”

If you’ve been sending out résumés without any response, here are 10 ways to get your résumé noticed:

1. Start from scratch
A new year means a new résumé. Even though it might not sound like fun to rewrite your whole résumé (it probably won’t be), give it a try. Obviously, if you didn’t get any bites last year, something was a little off with your current résumé. Rearrange some sections, try a different format and use a different font. Just switch things up a little bit and see what happens.

2. Use a different format
Many job seekers don’t realize that there are different formats to use when writing a résumé. The most common form is chronological, which lists each job you’ve had in reverse sequential order, so you start with your most recent job. This form doesn’t work for all people, though. For example, if you’ve done a lot of job hopping in recent years or if you haven’t had a job in a long time, a functional résumé is a better option.

A functional résumé focuses on your skills versus your work experience. For this, you would list a pertinent skill for the job to which you’re applying, followed by a list of accomplishments that demonstrate that skill. If you don’t have relevant skills or a strong work history, you could use a combination résumé, which combines elements of both a functional and a chronological format.

For a combination résumé, you should list your applicable skills and the accomplishments that demonstrate each one. Below that, you’ll list your work history, starting with your most current job and working backward, but you won’t list your job description. Doing this allows you the chance to play up your skills while proving your solid work history.

3. Ditch the empty words and vague phrases
Many job seekers fall prey to a common mistake that irks most employers: using cliché keywords. In a 2009 CareerBuilder survey, employers cited these common phrases as overused and often ignored by hiring managers:

  • People person: 39 percent
  • Go-getter: 38 percent
  • Team player: 33 percent
  • Hard-working: 29 percent
  • Multitasker: 28 percent
  • Self-starter: 27 percent
  • Results- or goal-oriented: 22 percent

 

These words are just empty fillers that don’t say anything about your achievements. For an accountant position, for example, keywords might include “accounts payable” or “month-end reporting” — words that actually say something about what you can do. Look over your résumé and find where you have listed generic qualities about yourself and replace them with keywords that match the job to which you are applying.

4. Make your achievements stand out
Many job seekers list their job duties on their résumés, but not their accomplishments. Although your past duties are important, employers care more about your ability to produce results. Try separating your daily functions from your achievements by first listing your job duties in a paragraph format, and then incorporating a bulleted area below that is titled “key accomplishments” to list your successes.

5. Quantify your accomplishments
Applicants often don’t know the difference between quantifying results and just stating a job responsibility. A job responsibility is something that you do on a daily basis; a quantified achievement is the result of that responsibility. By quantifying results, you show employers what you can actually do for them. So, if your current résumé is a block of words and you don’t have one number in there, whether it’s dollars, percentages or comparative numbers, you need to make some revisions.

6. Include a summary or objective
Including a summary on your résumé is one of those steps that many job seekers forget to take — and if they do remember, they usually include the wrong information. Employers want to know if you’re a good fit for their organization, so writing something like, “To gain experience in X industry,” doesn’t say much about you or what you can do for the employer. Your career summary should portray your experience and emphasize how it will help the prospective employer. It should be specific and include explicit industry-related functions, quantifiable achievements or your areas of expertise.

7. Fill in the gaps
Most people will tell you to wait to explain any gaps in your work history until you get to the interview. But there’s a good chance that you won’t get that opportunity if there are gaps in the first place. If, for example, you were laid off at the beginning or height of the recession and are still unemployed, try using the functional résumé format we explained earlier. Or, if you feel comfortable doing so, explain what you were doing during lapses between jobs. The employer will know you aren’t trying to hide a sketchy past.

8. Keep it simple
How many times do we have to tell you? Do not, by any means, format your résumé with crazy fonts or colors or print it on fluorescent paper. Find an uncommon, yet attractive and simple layout to catch the employer’s eye, instead of his wastebasket.

9. Double-check for the basics
Silly as it sounds, many people get so caught up in formatting and proofreading that they don’t check for the most basic information, such as an e-mail address, phone number and permanent address. Double-check that your résumé has this information — none of your hard work will pay off if no one can get ahold of you.

10. Check for consistency
Take a look over last year’s résumé and make sure there are no inconsistencies. If you decide to include periods at the end of your sentences, for example, make sure they are at the end of each one. If you chose to list your job duties, followed by an accomplishment in that duty, make sure you do so throughout your résumé. Use consistent fonts, sizes, bullets and other formatting options. Employers will notice your attention to detail and assume your work quality is of the same standard.

Local Unemployment Fall in February

By Tim Tresslar, Staff Writer Updated 10:48 AM Friday, March 25, 2011

Unemployment continued to shrink in Montgomery County and its two largest cities in February, a trend also seen in other neighboring counties, according to figures released Friday.

February’s jobless rate contracted to 10.3 percent, compared to 10.7 percent in January, according to figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. A year ago in February, unemployment in the county stood at 12.1 percent.

Last month, Dayton’s unemployment rate was 11.2 percent, down from 11.8 percent in January, state officials said. A year ago, the jobless rate in the city was 13 percent.

In Kettering, the unemployment rate slipped to 9.4 percent from January’s level of 9.5 percent. In February 2010, Kettering’s unemployment rate was 11.2 percent.

The jobless rate in Greene County retreated to 9.6 percent in February, compared with 9.7 percent in January. In February 2010, the unemployment rate was 10.8 percent.

Miami County’s jobless rate last month was 10.3 percent, versus 10.7 percent in January and 12.7 percent a year ago.

In Warren County, February’s unemployment slipped to 8.9 percent from 9.3 percent in the previous month and 10 percent a year ago.

NCAA Office Pool update

Group Standings
         Name                     Score   Best Score     Champion
1 Robert Voelkel              37             44            Duke (164)
2 Greg Cross                     36             44           Ohio St. (172)
3 Emily Monnin               34              43           Ohio St. (156)
3 Pam Barry                    34              42           Ohio St. (147)
5 Dianne Baxter              33              43           Ohio St. (135)
5 joshua voelkel              33               36           Duke (154)
5 Kerri Voelkel               33               40           Kansas (145)
5 Scot Feldmeyer (1)    33               42           Ohio St. (147)
5 Teresa Ambos            33                41          Ohio St. (164)
10 Erin Post                  32                36          Pittsburgh (123)
10 Jerry Post (2)          32               37           Kansas (134)
10 Scot Feldmeyer (2) 32               37           Kansas (147)
13 Andrew barry         31                 39          Ohio St. (120)
13 Jerry Post (1)          31                34           Duke (126)
15 Doug Barry              30                39           Ohio St. (133)
15 ryan trapp               30                36           Ohio St. (155)
17 Amanda Clay           19                24            Ohio St. (125)

NCAA Office Pool Update

Group Standings
         Name               Score   Best Score  Champion
1    Robert Voelkel     36            49          Duke (164)
2    Greg Cross           34            46          Ohio St. (172)
3    Joshua Voelkel    33            41           Duke (154)
3    Pam Barry           33            45           Ohio St. (147)
5    Emily Monnin     32            44           Ohio St. (156)
5    Kerri Voelkel      32            44            Kansas (145)
5    Scot Feldmeyer132           46            Ohio St. (147)
8    Dianne Baxter    31            45            Ohio St. (135)
8    Erin Post             31            40            Pittsburgh (123)
8    Jerry Post (2)    31            40            Kansas (134)
8    Scot Feldmeyer2 31          41            Kansas (147)
8    Teresa Ambos    31           43            Ohio St. (164)
13  Andrew barry    30           42            Ohio St. (120)
13  Jerry Post (1)     30          39            Duke (126)
15  Doug Barry         29          39            Ohio St. (133)
15  ryan trapp          29           38           Ohio St. (155)
17  Amanda Clay      18           24           Ohio St. (125)

NCAA Office Pool Standings Day 1

Group Standings
Rank Team Name Score Correct Best Score Best Correct Champion
1        Greg Cross       13        13            59                59           Ohio St. (172)
1     Robert Voelkel   13        13            59                 59           Duke     (148)
3     Jerry Post(1)     12         12           56                 56           Duke (126)
3    Jerry Post (2)     12         12            57                 57           Kansas (134)
3     joshua voelkel    12         12           56                  56           Duke (154)
3      Kerri Voelkel    12         12           58                  58            Kansas (145)
3       Pam Barry       12         12           57                   57           Ohio St. (147)
3        ryan trapp      12         12           55                   55           Ohio St. (155)
3     Teresa Ambos   12         12           58                  58            Ohio St. (164)
10    Dianne Baxter  11         11           57                   57            Ohio St. (135)
10    Emily Monnin   11         11           57                   57           Ohio St. (156)
10        Erin Post       11          11          56                   56           Pittsburgh (123)
13   Andrew barry   10         10          55                   55           Ohio St. (120)
13 Scot Feldmeyer (1) 10    10          55                   55           Ohio St. (147)
13 Scot Feldmeyer (2) 10    10          55                   55           Kansas (147)
16       Doug Barry     9           9           52                   52            Ohio St. (133)
17     Amanda Clay    8           8           49                   49            Ohio St. (125)

Job interview tips

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier – even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don’t know. Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively. Proper preparation which help alleviate some of the stress involved in job interviews.Job Interview Tips

Practice

Practice answering interview questions and practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of actual examples you can use to describe your skills. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote your candidacy.

Prepare

Prepare a response so you are ready for the question “What do you know about our company. Know the interviewer’s name and use it during the job interview. If you’re not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.

Watch

Take a look at my Job Interview Tips Videos, so you’ll be sure to dazzle a potential employer and leave the right impression.

Get Ready

Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with copies of your resume. Include a pen and paper for note taking.

Be On Time

Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the office ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there.

Stay Calm

During the job interview try to relax and stay as calm possible. Take a moment to regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question before you answer and pay attention – you will be embarrassed if you forget the question!

Show What You Know

Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.  When discussing your career accomplishments match them to what the company is looking for.

Follow Up

Always follow-up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position. If you interview with multiple people send each one a thank you note.

More Job Interview Tips
Tips for phone interviews, second interviews, lunch and dinner interviews, behavioral interviews, interviewing in public, and more advice for interview success.

Phone Interview Etiquette
Phone interview etiquette is just as important as in-person job interview etiquette when it comes to getting hired. That’s because, regardless of how you interview, a sucessful interview will get you to the next stage of the hiring process.

Job Interview Videos
For more interview tips and advice, take a look at our job interview videos.

Share a Job Interview Tip
Add your job interview tip to our list.