How Immigration Reform Affects Job Creation And Hiring

How Immigration Reform Affects Job Creation And HiringHow Immigration Reform Affects Job Creation And HiringHow Immigration Reform Affects Job Creation And Hiring Berkowitz, Esq.No doubt about it - einwanderung reform, long-overlooked by Washington, is finally getting serious attention.It would be extremely unlikely if we dont have a signed law by August, says immigration lawyer Justin Burton, partner at Kriezelman Burton Associates.More and more members of Congress are jumping on the immigration reform bandwagon. And if politicians from both parties are to be believed, reform is coming soon, and it is going to generate a significant number of jobs along with it (profilly up to 1.6 million over the next 10 years.)Just how significant is immigration reform for Americas economy growth? Weve heard the statistics over and over - 40% of Fortune 500 companies have at least one immigrant founder whileone infour small businesses is started by an immigrant.Now is the time to take a hard lo ok at what existing US businesses and business owners should do to take advantage of this potential economic bounty.What Might Immigration Reform Look Like?If the law includes the often-discussed provisions for amnesty, increased availability of start-up-unternehmen visas and a guest worker program, Burton sees a boost to the economy on multiple fronts.Whether skilled or unskilled, educated or not, these are people who have nothing to lose and a strong desire to gain. Comprehensive reform would allow them to fulfill their potential and in turn, help grow the economy in their adopted country.Skilled Immigrants New Businesses and Business OpportunitiesWith close to half of the 11 million undocumented workers living in the US because they overstayed work or student visas, there is a lot of STEM skill (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) already here, Burton says.He adds that this group is waiting for the legal right to jump back into workforce, and use their skills to innova te, develop and start new businesses.This forecast is supported by research from the Kauffman Foundation, an entrepreneur-support organization.The Foundation estimates that a pathway to permanent residency for highly skilled immigrant entrepreneurs (who meet certain funding and hiring criteria) could lead to anywhere between 500,000 and 1.6 million new jobs in the next ten years, mostly in the high-tech and engineering fields.There is plenty of data and anecdotal evidence available to support the notion of the immigrant entrepreneurial spirit. But getting these new companies off the ground will not happen in a vacuum, which will further generate business and staffing opportunities.Existing businesses such as banks, investment companies, real estate agents, absatzwirtschaft and PR firms can provide new start-ups with much-needed support - everything from investment capital to a storefront to computer hardware. This may mean expanded growth opportunities for established companies.Sma ll Business Benefitting from More Skilled Workers The legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants and easing of visa requirements for skilled workers abroad could dramatically change the way that smaller businesses hire, particularly as STEM expertise becomes more available state-side.Right now, it is an enormous challenge for smaller companies to find qualified programmers, especially if they are not located in one of the major tech-centers like Silicon Valley or New York, says Dan Afrasiabi, co-founder of ARM Insight, a provider of services for the pre-paid credit card industry and author of the upcoming book, Restarting Entrepreneurial Immigration.In his quest to hire IT skills, Afrasiabis firm has sometimes had to resort to hiring independent consultants to perform work on a short-term basis, a less-optimal solution that lacks the continuity of a permanent employee.Opportunities for Strategic PartnershipsBusinessesthat currently offer services and products to start-ups s hould consider how to best leverage new opportunities generated by immigration reform.For instance, a high-tech start-up may need manufacturing capabilities, a sales force or product development assistance. Another new company might need a fleet of trucks, raw materials or advertising services.As immigrant-owned start-up companies get off the ground, current businesses can work with local Small Business Association chapters or with community lenders to create strategic partnerships. Such symbiotic relationships can benefit both businesses.Immigration Reform Industries to WatchWhether its the creation of new businesses, opportunities for strategic partnerships or an expanding hiring pool for existing companies, immigration reform is likely to impact both high-tech and low-tech employers.Companies would be wise to explore the possibility for growth and increased demand created by reform. Some of the industries likely to benefit includeHigh-Tech/High-Skilled WorkersIT staffing, includi ng computer coding, app development, hardware and software development, Smart technology, database oversight and programming.Engineering for construction, manufacturing, defense and infrastructure.Research and development for pharmaceutical companies.Healthcare staffing, including researchers, physicians, skilled nurses.General scientific research in physics, aerospace, biochemistry and other disciplines.Business-administration hiring, including companies that oversee payroll, visa tracking, business loans, health insurance and staffing.Low-Tech/Low-Skilled WorkersFood-service companies.Retail-oriented small businesses such as florists, bakeries, groceries, gift shops.Wholesale suppliers who service small retailers.Service companies that provide cleaning, babysitting, entertainment and other such assistance.Healthcare, including lab technicians, aides, medical assistants.Agriculture jobs, including everything from landscaping to farming.Next Steps Plan Now to Hire for STEM Jobs

Tips for Deciding Whether to Apply for a Job

Tips for Deciding Whether to Apply for a JobTips for Deciding Whether to Apply for a JobBusy job seekers often need to be careful about which jobs to target. Its a good idea to have a robust and active job search because job searching is a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the more opportunities you will have to interview. On the other hand, theres no point in applying for jobs you dont wantor jobs you dont have a chance of getting hired for. Its perfectly fine to be selective - especially when there is a strong job market. You need to apply for the right jobs those for which you are qualified and which you have a good chance of getting selected for, at least, a first roundinterview. Make a List of the Desired Characteristics of Your Ideal Job Try to think of seven or more elements that would comprise yourperfect job. For example, key elements might include directly using your degree, the opportunity to see the results of your work, people contact of a nurturing nature, applying your writing skills, growth potential, an opportunity to acquire key areas of knowledge, proximity to home, and work/life balance. Dont Apply for a Job When You Are Struggling to Decide If You Are Interested Make sure that the job meets at least a third of the elements of your ideal position. It seems obvious, but many job seekers apply for jobs that they dont really want. Ask yourself if youd be excited to receive a call for an interview. Only apply for seemingly unappealing jobs in the fruchtwein desperate of circumstances. In most cases, you will be better off devoting your resources to searching for a job thats a better fit. Assess Your Personality There are several free career aptitude and career assessment tests that can help you figure out if a job would be a good match for your personality, values, and skillsets. Tests like 123 Career Test, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, and the United States Department of Labors O*NET Interests Profiler are great resource s for determining whether you would be happy in a given profession. Some of these sites also provide detailed descriptions of job fields along with lists of required levels of education or training. Research the Employer One of the exciting things about todays career search climate is that you can use technology (as opposed to old-fashioned word-of-mouth) to see if a company would be good place to work. One of the best ways to do this is to look at company reviews at Glassdoor.com. Both current and former employees provide reviews and star ratings of their employers, CEO approval ratings, salary and benefits information, and descriptions of their personal job interviews. While Glassdoor is free to use, you will need to register in order to see company reviews and salaries. They will also ask you to follow three companies and to write one anonymous review yourself of a company you have worked for. Make a List of Your Most Compelling Assets Make sure that you qualify for a job by listing 8-10 of your most compelling assets. Think in terms of strengths which have led to even minor successes in school projects, volunteer work, campus leadership, internships, and jobs. This will be useful when preparing your cover letter, and in getting ready forinterviews. Review the Job Requirements Review the requirements for the job you are interested in and compile a list of what seem to be the top qualifications. If you possess fewer than half of the desired qualifications, you are probably better off moving on to other more practical options. An exception to this guideline would be an extremely attractive position, or a very appealing company, as there is the possibility that they would consider you for some other job when they see your application. Set a Goal for Job Applications Each Week This number will vary given the time which you have available for job search based on competing demands on your time like family, school, and work. Also recognize that muc h of yourjob search timeshould be spent on activities like networking, rather than just applying for jobs. Job seekers who are having trouble reaching their target number of applications should be less selective. Those who are finding plenty of opportunities can be more discriminating.

Hired! An Open-Minded Job Search Delivers

Hired An Open-Minded Job Search DeliversHired An Open-Minded Job Search DeliversConsidering the impossible job and the unlikely career move pays off.It was like a home run waiting to be hit, said Andy Manning of landing his position as vice president of operations at Pitney Bowes International Mail Services.Manning is an operations manager with 17 years experience in the industrial gas industry. His resume doesnt appear to be a particular fit for the mail services geschftsleben, and he worried the mail services business would soon go the way of the buggy whip. the mail-services business didnt seem a particularly safe idea in the age of e-mail.It was a change for me, he said. My background is in manufacturing (where) my responsibilities spanned into logistics. I was moving freight globally. So that was the only thing that helped me segue into the world of mail. But mail processing was an entirely new world for me.Today Manning is vice president of operations at Pitney Bowes of Stamfor d, Conn. This SP 500 company makes $6 billion a year in mail services, a business Manning didnt know existed before he began his job search.For Manning, the job search, using OpsLadder, let him explore opportunities like Pitney Bowes that were well outside his realm of experience. He then let the employer make its case that mail services was a solid business and Mannings skill set was a fit.He discovered his skills as a manufacturing logistics manager translated well beyond the niche industry he had occupied. He also discovered that companies in transition can be a green field for job seekers with leadership skills.Anyone who has done a significant amount of interviewing knows its an opportunity to peek inside another company or industry, Manning said. I find it a very interesting learning tool where you go to interview somewhere and realize, I didnt even know this business existed he said. And so when I heard about international mail services, I said This is amazing I thought the Post Office moved all mail.Can you do the job? Manning, of Montclair, N.J., was never looking for an easy transition. He was looking for a position that would test his skills. He was desperate to avoid a position that would be little mora than holding down the fort. He didnt want to be greeted Oh Andy, come on in Your incumbent did a good job. Just hold everything together, and it will be fine.Aside from a brief foray into a dot-com business back in the era, he had been with one company, the British Oxygen Corporation (later the BOC Group) for 17 years. BOC was a company focused on industrial gases that also included a unit that produced second-tier semiconductor equipment. We did vacuum systems and gas-abatement systems and all the stuff that Intel would use to make their Pentiums, Manning said. BOC was acquired by the Linde Group and the semiconductor business unit was spun off and eventually taken private. Manning stayed on to do some significant restrukturierung until September 2007 but soon decided to look for new horizons. After Manning spent several months consulting, a former colleague from BOC introduced him to Ladders.By the time Pitney Bowes approached Manning, he was after a challenge, but he worried that his skills from a career in industrial gases would have little to do with an industry he had just discovered.However, he soon came to see leadership as the real key to importing a skill set from another industry.I have had success in manufacturing and, over the course of a few interviews for the mail business, I said I think I can apply this stuff here. I think the disciplines are the same, even if we are not actually making a widget, Manning said. I dont know if I came up with any new and fantastic ideas of how to do things better or how to automate mail processing. I am learning about that now.I find it to be less about the great idea and more about the execution putting something in place and making it stick, as well as the discipline around le adership, he said. I have found that there are tremendous opportunities out there. And to take a very challenging situation where other people have tried and failed before is more about implementing a set of tools.One particularly challenging aspect for Manning is how to manage the production cycle.We move a lot of publications, and the publishers nationally slow down in the summer. They may do a monthly all-year mailing, and then in July-August they will just do one. One of the biggest challenges that I saw coming from a manufacturing environment is that it can change on a day-to-day basis. At the facility here in New Jersey, we will get 100,000 pounds of mail one day and the next day it might be 130,000 and the day after, 70,000. So we can have 50 percent swings in volume on a day-to-day basis. And how do you manage that with your labor force? he said. Unlike manufacturing, I cannot build inventory. All the mail turns 24 to 48 hours, and it is out the door. So that is a big challe nge, and it is compounded in a changing economy. Now it is cyclical and downward.Can the business succeed? Convinced of his own ability to handle the challenge, Manning next considered the viability of a business he thought the U.S. Postal Service dominated.Could the postage industry succeed in the age of e-mail? What is the longevity of this company? and, Where is the growth going to come from? he asked.I have seen snippets of reporting on the demise of moving printed matter. But what happened to the paperless office that we were supposed to have had 10 years ago? he said. I still see mountain of stuff going to the trash or the shredder. Im learning more about the mail business every day.Today, after putting some tough questions to the Pitney Bowes executives, Manning said hes convinced that there is great opportunity for expansion not only through acquisition but also organic growth in taking market share.Several years ago, they recognized that postage meters were a flat or decli ning business and would probably eventually go the way of the buggy whip, he said. They then concluded that their core competency was the mail stream, and everything related to processing and moving mail.Having made several acquisitions, Pitney Bowes expanded its domestic operations to include mail processing and pre-sorting by negotiating large discounts with the Postal Service, taking large mail-order volumes, pre-sorting them, and injecting them into the postal stream a little further down the process chain.Pitney Bowes also made several international acquisitions of small mom-and-pop companies to create Pitney Bowes International Mail Services. The company abroll-container-transport-system as a postage arbitrage, negotiating large volume discounts with postal services around the world, including private, hand-delivery services and other non-governmental carriers. We negotiate discounts with them, and we add value by consolidating, he said. Whether it is Bank of America or Goldma n Sachs or publishers producing consumer reports, a client may have a domestic mailing and send up to 2 million copies, with 50,000 that must be sent internationally to 200 countries. So they hand that down to us.There has also been some positive fallout from the knocks dealt by the economy to Pitney Bowes largest and most direct competitor, DHL.When DHL Express exited the U.S. business, one of the things that they retained was U.S. OutBound, he said. They are still in the global mail business, but there is enough knockout effect. And the press alone had DHL global mail customers wondering when the next shoe is going to drop. Or simply misunderstanding and thinking that DHL is exiting all of this. And that certainly made for a target-rich environment in terms of competitive takeaways.The economy has presented opportunity as well as challenges as institutions and charities increase their output and Pitney Bowes had expanded from traditional printed matter into moving parcels. Even th e weaker U.S. dollar helped the bottom line. You would never think that it would make sense to move goods across borders and halfway around the world, but with the weak dollar and their own currency strong, there is a significant growth in moving merchandise outside of the U.S.Hiring from the outsideManning believes that job seekers can find opportunities in what he calls big-change type stuff turnaround situations and the restructuring of operations, like he found at Pitney Bowes.He initially considered private-equity companies because, if they had acquired other businesses, he felt they may need better operations leadership.Pitney Bowes wasnt necessarily that case, he said. But their international-mail service is the product of four or five acquisitions that they had done over three years, and they had not been fully integrated, not just from an IT systems and infrastructure standpoint, but culturally from an operations standpoint of establishing standards and holding people to ex pectations.Where there are opportunities in operations, he said, the emphasis should be on leadership and fresh perspectives.For the hiring that I have done since I have come on board, I dont deliberately exclude people with mail-services experience, but I certainly look well beyond that because I think that sometimes it is the leadership element I need more than anything. And it sometimes helps to have an outside set of eyes take a look at something.

Beer Could Make Better Fuel than Ethanol

Beer Could Make Better Fuel than Ethanol Beer Could Make Better Fuel than Ethanol Beer Could Make Better Fuel than EthanolAfter hours, some researchers have a reputation for knocking back a few beers. Research chemists in England recently brought some of the pub back to the lab, converting beer into fuel that could be used in existing automobiles.The goal behind the experiment was to create a sustainable fuel that is better than ethanol, which is mixed with voreingestellt gasoline and used in vehicles today. The alternative was butanol, which has fuel properties such as energy density and octane rating that are closer to standard gasoline when compared to ethanol. A researcher testing beer in the lab. Image University of BristolBut in the experiment, the creation of butanol still required ethanol, which is found in beer. What we call alcohol in an alcoholic drink is always ethanol, namely the chemical formula C2H5OH, says Duncan Wass, professor of chemistry at the Univ ersity of Bristol in England.For You Learn about the latest in renewable energy from ASME.orgThe ethanol in alcoholic drinks comes from the fermentation of either sugar-containing crops like grapes, or starch-containing crops like corn. The starch has to be converted into sugars, a process the brewers call malting.The researchers used a catalyst - a chemical compound that can speed up chemical reactions without undergoing any permanent change - based on metal ruthenium to convert ethanol to butanol.The demonstration was a fun way of showing the possibilities of creating butanol-based fuel. Besides beer, anything with ethanol could be a source. You wouldnt really use beer, unless there was a surplus or something, Wass says.The ethanol-to-butanol process, when implemented, will look much like a traditional petrochemical process, and the catalyst will be central piece of technology. The process is scalable and also easy to implement at an industrial level.Fuel ethanol is already made o n scale, and an industrial fuel ethanol fermentation broth is chemically the saatkorn as beer, so its an excellent model.Prof. Duncan Wass, University of Bristol Credit University of BristolA good beer with high alcohol content would make for great fuel, so lite beers dont make the cut. The only thing that matters is the ethanol content, so a strong beer would be easier to convert than a weak beer, Wass says.Other types of alcohol such as wine and gin were also tested, according to the researchers recent paper.The butanol-based fuel wasnt tested in a car so the researchers couldnt provide metrics on its efficiency. But the obvious opportunity lies as a replacement to ethanol, which is widely available. In 2016, the U.S. market consumed 143.4billion gallons of finished motor gasoline, with another 14.4billion gallons of ethanol mixed in, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.The Bristol effort is one of many looking at biofuels for vehicles and airplanes, and follow s a fast growing public-private initiative to reduce carbon emissions.Read MoreSun Train Shines New Life on Vintage RailAn Energy Grid with a Mind of Its OwnSolar-Powered Drones Go Mainstream

Skype Interview Tips

Skype Interview TipsSkype Interview TipsSkype Interview TipsUsually, if an employer likes your resume and cover letter and wants to interview you, they simply call you, maybe do a phone screen, then schedule an in-person interview. But nowadays, some companies might ask you to do an online Skype interview first (and by Skype I mean any online video conferencing application). This practice is totenstill relatively unusual, but might come up if youre applying to cutting-edge technology companies, or if you and the employer are in different geographical areas. A Skype interview is like any other job interview except that, from the employers perspective, youre not a whole personyoure just a talking head on a screen. Its as if theyre watching you on TV. But unlike TV personalities, who have a professional crew to make them look good, youll need to work out the set design, lighting, and camera issues on your own. Thats where we can help. As youll see, the secret is to be well-prepared (as you would for any job interview). Choose a clutter-free, well-lit location, eliminate noise sources, place your webcam at eye level, and smile Youll not only avoid looking foolish, youll boost your confidence and keep the interviewers focus on you and your message, not on your kitchen light fixture or your collection of knick-knacks.

What the Pros Are Not Saying About Accomplishments for Resume and How This impacts You

What the Pros Are Not Saying About Accomplishments for Resume and How This impacts You Things You Wont Like About Accomplishments for Resume and Things You Will The above is a typical representation of how folks make an effort to market themselves. Lots of people have paid great amounts of money for the aid of experts. Its also a way for they to find out about the deceaseds accomplishments and family ties. Many unique factors put our emotional security in danger. As soon as it is essential for the employer to comprehend the range of your responsibilities, its also essential that you include specific representative accomplishments to indicate the level of your contributions in that job. Companies and organizations are continuously on the lookout for methods to conserve time and do things better. For instance, a current high school graduate applying for a nursing program might need to include things like a resume objective, while an expert registered nurse should go for a summar y statement. While the two involve artistic abilities, a number of the tasks and obligations wont be the exact same. Every human being can be in a position to generate a difference through giving You may even think about doing some interviews with those around the individual. Once it feels great to let someone learn more about yourself and your accomplishments, its also fantastic to know more regarding your date. A newspaper obituary can be known as a death leidice as it simply announces that the individual has passed away and gives funeral details. Details of Accomplishments for Resume If you are not as skillful, you will realize that it is harder to demonstrate a hiring manager which you are the stellar candidate that youre. Youre able to utilize several different copywriter resume templates which will permit you to properly outline all your prior experience, and all the explanations for why the job which youre applying for should look at hiring you. Proofreading is of extreme importance when you need to land that coveted job at an important organization. The effort that you put in up front can make all of the difference to whether you truly get the job that you desire. If you are able to create the sort of resume that gets the eye of the employer, then youve got an opportunity to genuinely sell yourself in the interview. Even when you arent searching for a job and are merely starting a medical billing business, obtaining a good resume is still important. If you would like to create the job of writing a resume even easier, theres a way. In case you go to work for a massive company do it for a couple years to find some practical experience to grow your resume. If you get a substantial number of sales achievements, you can desire to create a separate heading for them, otherwise, include three or more accomplishments beneath your work experience section per job. Lots of people struggle to gather a resume they are contented with, and utilize that resume to aid them to land work. Let your loved ones, friends, alumni groups, and industry contacts know you are interested in finding work. Most Noticeable Accomplishments for Resume The position youre applying for is your objective and it ought to be listed above your profile summary for a title. Rewriting your resume to emphasize achievements is the one fruchtwein impactful change that can be made. While writing the resume, you may use the overview of your qualifications at the start. A strong summary statement at the peak of your resume can increase the possibility of them noticing what youve got to offer from the beginning. Employers are spending for perceived value. If you dont use a format an employer is acquainted with, then they need to search too long to discover the information that they need and they wind up giving up. It is vital to understand your resume is not only a listing of your fundamental details. Rewriting your resume to emphasize achievements and resu lts is nearly always the single most impactful improvement youll be able to make. Writing a resume ought to be carried out professionally and applicants should not take the danger of being rejected if they dont understand how to compose their resumes properly. Resumes have changed, which means you need to make certain that youre keeping up with the most recent trends and standards.

Using Job Descriptions to Protect Your Business - Spark Hire

Using Job Descriptions to Protect Your Business - Spark HireToday a client called me to tell me about an employee who had a workers comp claim and wanted to return to work. My client contended that the employee was not able to perform the essential duties of the job and tzu sichefore she would not let him return. In our ensuing discussion I asked her if she had a job description for the employee. No, she responded, we know we should have them but we just never get around to it.This is a common refrain. Although many employers neglect to complete their job descriptions, most do understand the importance of job descriptions when it comes to determining essential duties in the event of possible claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They are also important to protect your organization against discrimination claims.A job description that carefully outlines both the essential functions and additional functions of the employees position is a valuable tool.HIRING When inter viewing potential job candidates, you should create a list of interview questions based on the job description. For instance, if ability to think quickly under pressure is an essential function then these questions can be askedTell me about a time you had to think quickly under pressureHow do you feel you do under pressure? Can you give me an example?As you move through your list of questions that have all been created around the job description, you can grade the response of the each respondent by using a scale of 1-10. At the end of the interview you will have a series of graded questions to be used to make your decision about whom to hire. If someone then accuses you of discriminating against them for age, gender etc., you have created a defense. Your graded interview will show that it was not a subjective choice resulting in discrimination but an objective choice based on the data received in the interview.PERFORMANCE When evaluating your employees performance, a similar metric is used. Taking each element of the job description, grade the employees performance on each of the tasks. Keep in mind that on a scale of 1-10, 5 is an average performance. If an employee complains that they should have received a promotion over another employee, this documentation will provide a defense for the employer.In todays litigious society, employers must document in a variety of ways to defend themselves against claims of harassment and discrimination. Using job descriptions properly can provide such documentation.About the AuthorShelie Richardson is a Certified Insurance Counselor employed by the Clark-Mortenson Agency of Woodstock, VT. She works in the Business Solutions Department, specializing in assisting organizations with philanthropisch Resource Compliance and Safety issues.Image monkeybusinessimages/BigStock.com