OrlandoJobs.com releases the 2013 Central Florida Employment Survey-98% OF Central Florida Employers Surveyed will Hire this Year.

98% OF CENTRAL FLORIDA EMPLOYERS SURVEYED WILL HIRE THIS YEAR

More than 8,650 Jobs Open Now & 19,000 More Projected For 2013

 

Download entire survey at www.orlandojobs.com/whitepaper (no charge) JOB SEEKERS: On page 13, over 175 employers from Central Florida tell you why they don’t hire you.  Also, pages 16-21, we post many of the jobs uncovered in this survey.

February 13, 2013 (Orlando, FL) – OrlandoJobs.com publishes clear-cut positive findings today in an annual employment survey for the Central Florida region. Chief among the findings: 98% of the employers surveyed plan on hiring this year.  Building on encouraging results in the five years since OrlandoJobs.com began their annual survey of companies, the 2013 employment forecast for Central Florida shows concrete signs of a recovery in 2013.

 The 2013 OrlandoJobs.com Central Florida Employment Outlook Survey’s key findings:

·         Combined, this survey found more than 8,650 jobs currently open at the 198 surveyed companies.

·         In addition, more than 19,000 jobs are forecasted to be open in the last three quarters of 2013.

·         98% of companies plan on hiring at least one person in 2013.

·         89% of companies currently have open jobs, up from 75% in 2012.

·         The top six sectors leading the way in Central Florida are Leisure and Hospitality, Healthcare, Professional and Business Services, Education, Retail and Technology.

·         42% of surveyed companies are using temporary employees to help fill open positions.

·         LinkedIn.com was responsible for more than 120 Central Florida hires in the surveyed group.

·         Employers offer blunt tips to job seekers including: don’t apply if you aren’t qualified, grammar/spelling counts, be honest, and don’t be late for an interview!

 

“A positive outlook on the part of employers is pushing the Central Florida job market ever-forward in 2013, and the data in our survey results backs up those who are starting to use the word ‘recovery’ to describe the market,” says Roger Lear, President and Co-Founder of OrlandoJobs.com. “Hospitality leads the way and employers in all sectors were very clear that they are only hiring job seekers that fit the job skills.  In this recovering market, if you are underemployed or unemployed, applying to jobs that are exact matches to your skill set is the way to go because employers want proven track records to help protect their hiring investments.  For job seekers applying to any job, this is why you may not hear back from the employer.”

 

Other findings from the survey include the role that social media is playing in employment, the greatest challenges employers face, their best advice for job seekers, and the companies that are forecasting the largest number of open jobs for 2013. Download the survey in its entirety at www.orlandojobs.com/whitepaper.

 

OrlandoJobs.com is Central Florida’s #1 online job site, with an average of 110,000 visitors per month. The site was founded in 2005 by Roger Lear and Scott Kotroba, and is the official employment website of the Central Florida Human Resource Association (www.cfhra.org) along with partners WKMG Channel 6’s ClickOrlando.com and the Orlando Weekly (print and online).  President Roger Lear is a 25-year veteran leader in the executive search and internet recruiting industry. He is a board at Florida Hospital East Foundation, the Central Florida Economic Cooperative, Central Florida Employment Council and National Insurance Recruiting Association, and is a sought-after speaker on the subject of Web 2.0 and social media recruiting.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Roger Lear

President, OrlandoJobs.com

(407) 645-4224 office

(407) 925-2084 cell

roger@orlandojobs.com

Twitter: @orlandojobs

Five Common Job Search Strategy Mistakes You Have to Change in 2013

By: Roger Lear

Hard to believe it is 2013 and we are still at a relatively high unemployment rate and many of you are still either unemployed or underemployed. I thought by now companies would be hiring at a much faster pace than what is actually happening. The job search today is frustrating to many of you who are tired of applying to jobs and never hearing anything back or never getting to talk with a human.

2013 gives you an opportunity to change these five things to really help you get a better job.

1. Your resume doesn't match the job you are applying for at a company, even though you have the correct experience. Your resume reads Account Manager but the job is for a Customer Service Representative. You know you can do the job, but are passed over because the person reviewing your resume doesn't understand that account manager at your current company is the same as a customer service representative at their company. To take the mystery out of your resume, make your career objective at the top of the resume "Customer Service Professional". Just make sure your skill sets closely match the job you are applying to and they are clearly stated on your resume.

2. Poor online communication skills. In today's world, applying to jobs at most companies requires you to send them an email with a resume attached or you apply via an applicant tracking system (ATS). You have total control of your message, but many of you blow the opportunity to shine by failing to write clear, concise and targeted messages to the hiring authorities. In addition, many messages have bad grammar and spelling errors. You are not texting a hiring authority, you are communicating your career information.

3. Attitude adjustment needed. Many jobseekers have been through a lot of disappointments in the last couple years. Many may think they will never be hired because they are too old, had too many jobs, have no skill sets, have bad credit and many other excuses. When you get an interview, instead of really concentrating on how to get that job, you may find yourself assuming this may just be another dead end. If you come across disgruntled in the interview (I already had one of those this week), you will never get hired. Forget the past and concentrate on your skill set and attitude.

4. Be prepared. It still amazes me with all the information available about companies online these days, how many jobseekers go to interviews with very little knowledge of the company that could be their future workplace. Use LinkedIn.com and Glassdoor.com to find out all you can about the company and its culture. See if the company uses Twitter or Facebook and see what they are talking about. Look for similarities in your strengths with the people who work at the company.

5. No job search plan. Many jobseekers spend all of their time applying to online jobs that might fit their background. When you hit the apply button, it feels like you are accomplishing something when in reality you are probably wasting your time. Your job search plan needs to include finding jobs that match your background and skills sets. Employers are hiring skill matches today. Use online job boards, but also do research in your marketplace to discover companies that you may have never heard of. Once you identify these companies, go to their website career page and see if you qualify for any of their jobs.

Get a Great Job with an Awesome Online Presence

By: Roger Lear

As our world gets more digital, your online identity will be accessed by anyone who wants to find you online. It is already happening today. You have heard all the stories. You apply to a job and the company checks Facebook, LinkedIn,  Twitter, Flickr or just Google’s your name. Depending on the person doing this research, and what they find, will have a direct effect on if you even get an interview.

The statistics are that 85% of hiring managers Google a candidate before, or after, an interview and 45% of employers user Twitter, and Facebook, to research potential candidates. (Source: Microsoft Survey-Online Reputation on the Hiring Process)
While I believe that sites like Facebook and Google+ are “social networks” and should remain this way, the above statistic shows employers do not care. Imagine if you are up for a job and neck and neck with another candidate. Instead of the employer bringing you both back for another round of interviews, they make their final choice by comparing Facebook pages! Sound outrageous? It is and it is happening.

No matter what your thoughts are on this, you can control what an employer sees when they search for you on the internet. Here are the steps:

1. Google your own name. Depending on how active you are on the internet will determine the results. LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest and any social media site you belong to should come up first. If you are quoted in news stories, part of a directory, and member of an association or any organization where your name is on a website, this will also appear in the search results.
2. During a job search, the simple thing to do is to make all your social media accounts private. If you do that, employers cannot see any of your profiles.
3. Keeping your profiles public can help your employment chances. If your LinkedIn or Facebook account shows your commitment to previous jobs, the community, philanthropy or hobbies, this information may actually help an employer understand you better in addition to your resume. If your hobby is gardening and you have pictures of your prized tomatoes, does this help you get a job? It may if the hiring authority likes vegetables!
4. Get rid of negative information. Employers are humans too. Most actually like to see that you have a life outside of work. According to a study of 31,000 employers, the top areas of concerns for employers who look into social network sites are a) information about drug and alcohol use b) inappropriate photos c) bad communication skills d) Bad mouthing former employers e) unprofessional screen names. (Career Builder)
5. Add information to help your cause. Are you a member of an insurance association? Chamber? Hospitality group? Did you win any recent awards? Take a picture of yourself with the award and post it to Facebook or any of your accounts. Your friends will comment on it and employers will take notice. Online profiles can enhance your image.

Politicians have it bad. If you Google their name, they don’t have much control on the positive and negative articles written about them. The good news is that you do have control on what an employer sees about you. Building a great online reputation today is a must because employers looking for this information is becoming the norm.

The Four Greatest Tips for Getting an Awesome Job in 2013 (in Orlando)

By: Roger Lear

With over twenty years of experience helping job seekers find great jobs, I am very concerned that many unemployed, underemployed and skilled educated people are not finding the best job matches for their career aspirations. High unemployment has played a role but hidden behind the scenes is the fact that many job seekers do a horrible job search today; and it's not really their fault.

Jobs exist. Getting them has changed because of technology and how each employer has changed their recruiting strategies (without telling the job seeker) to connect, screen and hire future employees. If you are a job seeker all you know is that you apply to numerous jobs never to hear back from the employer (you are in a black hole). It doesn't have to be this way. There is no silver bullet in a job search, but hopefully these four tips will help you better understand how employers hire so you can change your job search to showcase your skills, knowledge and value to targeted jobs the way employers want to screen you.

1. Great jobs reside online in many places. Job boards, social media, LinkedIn, job aggregators, corporate career sites, GlassDoor, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, RSS feeds and many other online sources are popping up all over the place. For job seekers, this can be overwhelming to figure out which resources to use to help your search. TIP: Don't worry about the source of the job. Your job search should be spent identifying companies in your city that have a need for your skill set. Start with keyword searches in Google and niche/regional job boards. Get a list of the top 100 companies in your town or career specialty and visit each company's career website directly to see if your skill set is needed. Great jobs reside at companies you know nothing about! Once you find companies that hire your skill set, use the above sites to do your career investigation. Companies are hiring SKILL SET MATCHES today. Spend your time finding matches for what you do and don't waste time with jobs you could do!

2. Applicant Tracking Systems must understand you. Many larger companies use applicant track systems that require you to answer their questions and submit your resume. In today's market place, you must have the skill set match to the job you are applying to and if your resume, objective and majority of experience doesn't support this, you most likely will not be considered for the job. If you are a claims adjuster and you apply for an underwriting job, you just entered the black hole. However, if you are a property claims adjuster and apply for a property claims position and your resume reads "property claims adjuster", if the job is open, you will be considered. What if you have a variety of skills? Believe it or not, this is a major issue. Your resume and skill set has to spend the majority of time on the skill set need to get the job. A disorganized and general resume is also a likely candidate for the black hole. TIP: Only apply to jobs that you can make a serious skill match via your online resume and application. If you spend more time identifying employers with jobs that match your background instead of just applying, you will have great success in your job search.

3. Professional Resume. Today's resume are much different than just five years ago. Not only does it have to be written in a way that allows it to talk to applicant track systems, it also needs to be the cornerstone of your online employment brand. Resume writers today know that human resources, in house recruiters and headhunters are searching Google, job board resume databases and LinkedIn to find talent directly. If you are in a job search and are a graphic designer in Orlando, will a potential employer find you? A well done resume translates extremely well to resume databases in job boards, LinkedIn and many other places. Sure, keywords will find you but what about the entire body of work? Do you include pictures, work examples and recommendations? Professional, certified resume writers can help and the investment is minimal. (Your neighbor is not a resume writer) TIP: I have three certified (and awesome) resume writers I use who will do a free evaluation for you if you have any interest. Just let me know.

4. Power Interviewing. Getting an interview is just the first step. Most of you are not professional interviewers and it shows. However, it is amazing how many of you are not prepared for the interview. Before the interview, do everything you can do to learn about the company. Just as employers can Google you, you can do the same to them. Many go to interviews not prepared and there just is no excuse for this. Dressing well, confidence, interest, energy, and knowing how YOU can add value to the company. Have real examples of past experiences that will showcase your ability to perform the job duties. If you know you can do the job, ask for the job in the interview so the company knows your interest level. TIP: View this document from interview expert Lisa Maile. Also, if you are in Central Florida, Lisa is doing a boot camp on interviewing that is one of the best in the business. (download boot camp information)

This is the real deal. The theme is simple. Stop wasting time applying to anything and everything... target your search! Once targeted, follow the rest of these tips and you will increase your chances of not only finding a job, but a really good job. Research is king!

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OrlandoJobs.com and ClickOrlando.com Team Up for Jobs Content Sharing Deal Connects Job Seekers and Job Openings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 14, 2012 (Orlando, FL) -- OrlandoJobs.com, the region's premier online job board, and ClickOrlando.com, the online arm of WKMG-TV Local 6, today announce a content sharing partnership. OrlandoJobs.com will power the ClickOrlando.com job section. ClickOrlando.com will connect more job seekers into the OrlandoJobs.com pipeline, and both entities will team up for a few live marketing events throughout the year. Additionally, the partnership will strengthen local economy and jobs news reported on WKMG Local 6 News.

With this new joint venture, ClickOrlando will re-launch its Jobs tab, and candidates will be able to seamlessly apply to job listings. Jobseekers will find job listings from OrlandoJobs.com on the ClickOrlando.com website starting this week.  Concurrently, OrlandoJobs.com will feature ClickOrlando’s economic news stories that are of interest to jobseekers.

"This partnership is exciting because it brings more opportunities for anyone who is looking for a job to find one that is right for them in a more streamlined, targeted way," states Roger Lear, President of OrlandoJobs.com. “The result is a win-win for job seekers and employers who both will see increased results.”

“Local 6 News and ClickOrlando.com are committed to bringing important local news and information to our community that people can use in their lives every day,” said Skip Valet, Vice President and General Manager of WKMG Local 6 and ClickOrlando.com.  “We are dedicated to the families of Central Florida and we know what is important to them right now is jobs.  Through our partnership with OrlandoJobs.com, we will be able to bring real, local employment opportunities directly to our viewers.”

"Our research on the Orlando DMA job market uncovers thousands of good, open jobs each year, so the more ways we can put those openings in front of potential candidates, the faster our local economy can get back on track. ClickOrlando.com exposes our job listings to a whole new pool of highly-skilled and highly-qualified candidates," states OrlandoJobs.com co-founder, Scott Kotroba.

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OrlandoJobs.com is Central Florida’s #1 online job site, with an average of 100,000 visitors per month.  The site was founded in 2005 by Roger Lear and Scott Kotroba, and is the official employment website of the Central Florida Human Resource Association (www.cfhra.org).  President Roger Lear is a 25-year veteran leader in the executive search and internet recruiting industry in Central Florida and is a sought-after speaker on the subject of Web 2.0 and social media recruiting. Scott Kotroba, co-founder of www.OrlandoJobs.com, is also president of its sister company, www.GreatInsuranceJobs.com, the leading insurance employment website in the nation.

 ClickOrlando.com is your home for breaking news, entertainment, weather and sports. It is one of Central Florida’s most trafficked local web site’s dedicated to giving you the news as it happens. WKMG Local 6 is one of the foremost television stations in the Central Florida area. Serving nine counties, WKMG Local 6 provides award-winning daily-newscasts, in-depth investigations, local entertainment and network programming to the community.  Local 6 has received numerous accolades for their work including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award and multiple Emmy and Associated Press awards.   The station signed on-air in July 1954 making it Central Florida’s first television station.  Owned by Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc., a division of the Washington Post Company, WKMG Local 6 is Central Florida’s source for CBS.  Local 6 serves the public through the Good Neighbor 6 community outreach program, bringing important, life-saving information to Central Floridians through special events and programming. Additionally, Local 6 exclusively broadcasts RetroTV, which brings viewers all their favorite television classics.  Visit clickorlando.com for continuous updates on local news, weather & sports.  

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CONTACT:

Bradley Sparrow

Marketing

OrlandoJobs.com

43 East Pine Orlando, FL 32801

Bradley@OrlandoJobs.com

Twitter: @orlandojobs

 

OrlandoJobs.com partners with the Camaraderie Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and the Orlando Predators to help Veterans Transition into the Workforce.

 

FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE CLASSIFIEDS

Local Businesses Announce Collaboration to Help Veterans Transition into the Workforce

 

Pictures from the press conference

 

Orlando, Fla. (November 9, 2012) – Fifth Third Bank (Central Florida), in partnership with the Orlando Predators and OrlandoJobs.com, recently announced a collaborative sponsorship of the Mentor Leadership Program, an initiative to prepare veterans as they transition into the workforce post-deployment. From résumé writing and interview skills to money management and networking, this program pairs service members with business leaders who have military background for mentoring and professional development, with the ultimate goal of securing gainful employment.

“These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Fifth Third Bank is proud to support them when they come home through the $10,000 matching fundraiser we’re offering in all of our banking centers and this Mentor Leadership Program,” said Reagan Rick, president of Fifth Third Bank (Central and North Florida). “I can only imagine how difficult it must be to go from the battlefield – living and breathing ‘chain of command’ and taking orders – to the boardroom. Our service members need our help to ensure they are prepared emotionally and professionally to find a job to suit their skillsets.”

 

The Mentor Leadership Program will be administered through the Camaraderie Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides private counseling and support services to military veterans and their families. Local businesses have stepped up to champion the effort that will impact hundreds of service members in Central Florida who need employment and other support services. Fifth Third Bank will manage financial counseling workshops for participants and offer a matching fundraiser in all banking centers throughout its five-county area. Doug Plank, the new head coach for the Orlando Predators, is also leading the cause and encouraging business leaders to get involved.

 

“I can’t think of a better way to thank someone who has sacrificed so much – potentially everything – than by giving that person and their family the support they need,” said Plank. “The Orlando Predators are known for fighting hard, and we’re proud to be able to fight for those who have fought for us.”

 

In addition to the overall economic problem, veterans participating in a recent employment survey said the biggest challenge they face in finding a job is explaining how their military experience translates into civilian employment.

 

“About 80 percent of military job titles have a direct translation into the general workforce,” said Scott Kotroba, co-founder of OrlandoJobs.com. “Part of this is an education for the civilian population.”

To get involved as a veteran mentor or mentee, contact OrlandoJobs.com at 407-645-4224.

 To make a donation to the Camaraderie Foundation to assist with funding the Mentor Leadership Program and other support services, visit a local Fifth Third Bank where donations will be matched, up to $10,000 cumulatively, through Dec. 15.

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About Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Company has $117 billion in assets and operates 15 affiliates with 1,320 full-service Banking Centers, including 104 Bank Mart^® locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores and 2,404 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 39% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of September 30, 2012, had $300 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $26 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ^® National Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.”  Fifth Third Bank.  Member FDIC.   

 

About The Camaraderie Foundation

The Camaraderie Foundation is an Orlando-based 501(c)(3) organization that provides private counseling, spiritual comfort and emotional support to military service members and their families. Founded in 2009, Camaraderie believes that having the option of affordable private counseling can encourage service members to seek help. To learn more, visit www.CamaraderieFoundation.com, “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @SupportCAM.

 

About OrlandoJobs.com

OrlandoJobs.com is the official employment website of the Central Florida Human Resource Association (www.cfhra.org). At OrlandoJobs.com, we combine community marketing with the internet to bring candidates and employers together. Our success over the years is our ability to understand the value of human capital to a company’s bottom line and the challenges involved in the recruiting of individuals to meet these needs. An industry leader, OrlandoJobs.com publishes a bi-annual employment outlook study for the Central Florida region.

Largest Diversity Job Fair in Florida-More Than 4,000 Jobs and 75 Employers Amway Center- Orlando Florida

For Immediate Release (Orlando, FL): More than 4,000 current job openings will be showcased to jobseekers at the third annual Florida Blue, Florida Classic Career Expo & Diversity Job Fair in Orlando on November 16 at the Amway Center, put on by OrlandoJobs.com. These job openings represent more than 75 employers in a variety of industries, and include many professional, high-paying and diverse positions. In addition, the Career Expo will include five powerful seminars by career experts on topics including power interviewing, the 2013 resume must haves, LinkedIn tips to find jobs others can’t, discovering your career path and job search strategies for senior professionals and executives. The job fair and all seminars are free for jobseekers.

"Florida companies are hiring, and this job fair is specifically designed for people who want to find real jobs with real salaries from over 75 well known Florida companies," states Roger Lear, President and CEO of OrlandoJobs.com.

Jobseekers can sign up for free at OrlandoJobs.com/jobfair. The full list of those 4,000 current open positions includes jobs in education, healthcare, IT, hospitality, engineering, sales and construction, as well as bilingual positions. Bright House, Chase Card Services and Kangaroo Express are the top sponsors. Many employers such as Orlando Health, Florida Blue, Home Depot, Orlando County Public Schools, Convergys, City of Orlando, Embry Riddle Aeronautical, Orlando VA Hospital, Universal Orlando, Verizon Wireless, McDonalds, and 60 other companies are attending. Companies can register for the event at orlandojobs.com/diversity.

"The job fair is a classic way for businesses and jobseekers to meet, but with the unemployment at 8.7% in Florida, jobseekers have been frustrated applying online and never getting any response. The Florida Blue, Florida Classic Career Expo & Diversity Job Fair is the one single event that showcases some of the state's finest companies in the pursuit of great diversified candidates."

Planned around the weekend of the Florida Classic football match-up between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University, organizers of the November 16th event are also donating sixty percent of the proceeds from booth revenue to a scholarship fund that is split between the two schools.

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About OrlandoJobs.com

OrlandoJobs.com is the official employment website of the Central Florida Human Resource Association (www.cfhra.org). At OrlandoJobs.com, we combine community marketing with the internet to bring candidates and employers together. Our success over the years is our ability to understand the value of human capital to a company’s bottom line and the challenges involved in the recruiting of individuals to meet these needs. An industry leader, OrlandoJobs.com publishes a bi-annual employment outlook study for the Central Florida region.

Contact:

 

Roger Lear, President

 

OrlandoJobs.com

 

roger@orlandojobs.com

 

(407) 645-4224