More people willing to relocate for new jobs

http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2009/07/27/daily31.html
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More people willing to relocate for new jobs

Wichita Business Journal - by the Dallas Business Journal

Relocation rates among workers who are willing to move across the United States for a new job are at their highest level in three years, according to a report from the employment research firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“The middle of the country seems to have the lowest unemployment rate,” John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in an interview.

The firm’s latest data shows 18.2 percent of job seekers who secured employment in the second quarter did so by moving for their new position.

Chicago-based Challenger, Gray & Christmas said the second-quarter relocation rate is up from 14.3 percent in the previous quarter and 11.4 percent in the second quarter of 2008.

Challenger has identified the middle of the country as the new land of opportunity, and said the Internet is making it easier for job seekers to find work out of the regions they reside in.

While factors such as the lagging real estate market were encouraging job seekers to stay put earlier this year, workers who are growing impatient are showing more signs that they are ready to move, according to the firm’s latest report.

“While job seekers are no less likely to lose money on the sale of their home and the job market is only marginally more stable than it was six months ago, the overwhelming desire to get back to work appears to be outweighing the perceived risks,” Challenger said in a prepared statement.

Could Your Facebook or Twitter Account be Hurting Your Job Search?

More and more people are signing up every day for social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

But as you're getting online, so are your employers, and if you're not careful with what you put on your profile, a local employment agency says that could be hurting your chances of getting a job.

"Prospective employers can really learn a lot about a potential employee's level of professionalism, conduct, or even cultural fit, just based on their personal blogs, webpages, or social networking sites," says Tara Marcelle, District Manager of Kelly Services.

And in some cases, negative information online has cost people job offers, or even worse, their current job.

That's why employment agencies are recommending you follow a few simple guidelines on your Facebook or Twitter page.

Marcelle says, "Candidates should really refrain from posting unprofessional photographs, refrain from using inappropriate language, or really staying clear of really controversial subjects."

But having a Facebook or Twitter account doesn't have to be a detriment to your job search, as it can actually be a benefit.

"Posting your resume, posting your education history, anything that you would typically use in a job interview, a cover letter, resume, anything like that, that's definitely great things to post on any social networking site," says Marcelle.

And even if your site is casting an unprofessional light, it's never too late to change it.

"Obviously, everything that's out there is out there forever, but it doesn't stay on their profile, their profile that they have out there, so that's why they should always update their profile on a regular basis," adds Marcelle.

And with the right care, your online profile can help get you a job instead of costing you one.