Articles and Blogs

HP Goes All In With An IT Transformation

12/01/2008 16:36:35

written by Chris Murphy, courtesy of InformationWeek

Will The Citi Layoffs Signify An Industry Turning Point

12/01/2008 16:30:40

written by Katherine Burger, courtesy of Bank Systems & Technology

Aruba Posts Loss, Will Cut Staff

12/01/2008 16:29:35

written by Marin Perez, courtesy of InformationWeek

Caught Between Record Layoffs And Hiring Freezes, IT Execs Face A Buyer’s Market

12/01/2008 16:28:28

written by Orla O'Sullivan, courtesy of Bank Systems & Technology

IT Recruitment Not A Problem, Independent Community Bankers Of America Survey Finds

12/01/2008 16:25:12

written by Orla O'Sullivan, courtesy of Bank Systems & Technology

Google CEO Eric Schmidt Calls For Innovation Bailout

12/01/2008 16:24:07

written by Thomas Claburn, courtesy of InformationWeek

Kulicke & Soffa Cuts Jobs, Posts Loss

12/01/2008 16:22:43

written by Mark LaPedus, courtesy of EE Times

Networking Can Jump-Start Your Career

11/20/2008 20:09:05

If you do it correctly networking is a great way to get your name out there and create new opportunities for yourself in your career. You need to make sure you network efficiently and don't waste your time. Here are some tips to help guide you on your networking journey.

Pretend It's A Year From Now

11/19/2008 09:47:30

Seven years ago, I had a job in the corporate world. I had an office, a good salary, and the privilege of being known and respected for consistently doing a job well done. Even though I was successful, I'd been unhappy in my career for years. I stayed put because I was comfortable, tied to the money, loved the adrenaline rush that deadlines produce, and enjoyed the compliments I received from my boss and peers. Secretly, I was building a business on the side. I was coaching people to live their dreams in the evenings and weekends. Although my clients were living lives they loved, I couldn't say I was doing the same. Then, I got laid off. I was devastated, confused, and I felt betrayed. But I was one of many who were worried and wondering which direction to take next. Little did I know at the time, that this was the day I became a full time coach. Today, I have a thriving coaching practice. I have never been happier. I owe my success to being able to imagine myself successful, visualizing victory in the future. What I have learned can apply to you. Whether you have been searching for a job and it seems hopeless, or you are working and are tired, stressed, and barely keeping up with the workload. Start with the steps below. Imagine yourself a year from now. The economy is picking up nicely. Although the previous year was tough for you, it was well worth it, because today you are enjoying your career tremendously. You are grateful for what transpired over the past year. It took you a while to find your way, but you have arrived. You battled fear, uncertainty, and yourself. But you have come out a winner. Looking back, you see that there were five key steps that were your crucial to your success. They were: 1. You Accepted Where You Were You stopped blaming the world for your predicament. You decided to forgive those who caused your situation. Most importantly, you forgave yourself. You acknowledged where you were because you knew that a better tomorrow would not happen until you accepted today. 2. You Decided You Would Win You realized that you worked too hard to get where you were in your career, and you were not about to lose it all now. You decided that your present situation would not get the best of you. You let go of the shoulds, and the reasons why you couldn't have what you wanted in your career. Then, you made a plan to go after what you truly deserved. 3. You Persevered You had a vision in your mind, and you did not give up. Sure, there were obstacles. But, you woke up each morning and told yourself that today was a brand new day. You made phone calls you were afraid to make. You wrote e-mail's and letters you weren't sure would get read. You networked. But most importantly, you were afraid, and you moved forward anyway. 4. You Asked For Help This was a big deal for you because you were used to doing things on your own. You opened yourself up and asked for what you needed. You were surprised and appreciative because people from unexpected places took the time to help you. The best thing you learned is that life is much easier when you are not reaching your goals alone. 5. You Knew You Would End Up In A Better Place You stopped driving yourself crazy because you knew things would improve. You recognized that your situation was only temporary. As a result, you enjoyed yourself more. You spent time getting to know you again. You lost weight, or took up a new hobby. You tried new things, and you grew in ways you never imagined possible. You are so much stronger and wiser now. You are not the same. Ok. Now, it is today again. Do you want what saw? What steps specifically will you take to make it happen? Write it down. Look at it everyday. You have a bright future ahead of you once you can visualize the end result. So what do you say? You only have one life to live so it might as well be one you love!

Making Certain Moves in An Uncertain Marketplace

11/18/2008 12:27:38

With the state of the economy and the bailout plan, everyone is concerned about the stability of jobs and 401Ks. As an entrepreneur, I understand and appreciate the concern over being able to maintain revenue. Regardless of whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or recent grad, the marketplace has everyone uncertain about what tomorrow will hold, but there are a few things that we as women (this applies for guys as well!) can keep in mind to be sure that we are equipped and protected in spite of these uncertain times: Do Not Panic. A lot of times when we panic we make bad choices. One of the things that I talk about in Skirts in the Boardroom is the importance of emotional intelligence, which is separating emotion from your decision making process. The first thing that is very important is not to panic and to think through decisions and plan. There are many advantages right now -- it's a buyer's market. Real estate and stocks are cheap, plus you can negotiate deals of a lifetime. You need to make wise financial decisions and wise decisions about your career. Keep Your Resume Up To Date. You never know who you may meet or who may have an opportunity for you, so having your resume up to date is a good way to be prepared for new opportunities that may come your way. Research Opportunities. Continue to research other potential opportunities that may be out there. That might include other job opportunities. For entrepreneurs, that might mean seeking new client contacts to develop business. Don't be content where you are. Continue to expand your base, expand your network and keep your options open. Nothing is guaranteed, so you need options. Plus, it is taking 6 to 9 months right now to find a new job. It's important to constantly look and understand what other opportunities are available to you. The misconception is because the economy is bad that there aren't jobs out there, that there aren't new business prospects, and that growth is not happening in other areas. However, that is not the case. There are a lot of companies that are very stable that are still showing record profits. It's important to invest in your career by having your net cast in multiple areas. Network. Go to networking events, but don't be pushy. The worst thing that people can do at networking events is to immediately come out and say, "I am looking for a job doing x, y, and z," or to be really forceful. As discussed in SKIRTS, when you go to a networking event your goal should be to meet the right people, to make sure that people remember you, and that they want to talk to you more, not to ask anyone for anything. On the contrary, you should be asking them how you can be of assistance to them. The more you take time to learn about other people and their businesses and what they have going on in their world, the more you can be focused on trying to develop synergy in what they have available and what you might be qualified for. Believe in Yourself. You have unique talents, abilities, gifts, and skills (T.A.G.S.). Don't forget those things and that your strongest value asset is still in place . . . YOU. Push through frustration. Attitude can make or break you! ©2008 Marshawn Evans Author Bio Marshawn Evans is one of the nation's leading experts on the art of maximizing human potential. She is the founder of Marshawn Evans Unlimited, a corporate life-enrichment consulting firm, and President of EDGE 3M Sports & Entertainment, a full service brand management agency. She is also the author of SKIRTS in the Boardroom: A Woman's Survival Guide to Success in Business and Life. For more information please visit http://www.skirtsintheboardroom.com.

Hiring the Right Skill Set And Motivating the Millennials

11/17/2008 12:01:37

In an economic downturn, employers need to be even more careful with their hiring decisions.

Obama Tech Policy Plans Eyed By Computer Industry

11/17/2008 10:58:18

written by K.C. Jones, courtesy of InformationWeek

Sun Layoffs Late But Needed, VARs Say

11/17/2008 10:56:48

written by Joseph F. Kovar, courtesy of ChannelWeb

IBM's Chip Unit Cuts Temp Workers

11/17/2008 10:53:12

written by Mark LaPedus, courtesy of EE Times

Camtek, Semitool Cut Workers

11/17/2008 10:51:36

written by Mark LaPedus, courtesy of EE Times

New-Age Recruiting: Using Online Social Networks to Secure Employment

11/13/2008 15:14:50

While it's a good idea to take advantage of the online social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, etc it's a good idea to make sure that you keep your profiles as professional as possible. Don't post pictures that could be considered inappropriate, etc.

Freescale dragged to loss; will lay off 10%

11/10/2008 12:32:31

written by Dylan McGrath, courtesy of EE Times

How to Ensure IT Job Security Despite an Economic Meltdown

11/10/2008 12:29:57

The same question is looming on the minds of many Americans across the country, "Am I going to lose my job as a result of the economy?"

U.S. Hedge Funds To Cut IT Spending 40%, To $882 Million

11/10/2008 12:20:39

written by Penny Crosman, courtesy of Wall Street and Technology

Start Saving Now -- But Not in Dollars

11/10/2008 09:35:24

In the past few years, the United States has crossed over from a positive to a negative savings rate. That is, U.S. residents on average have begun spending more money than they earn, eating away the savings they once had or, worse, building up more and more debt, rather than setting money aside for the future. The last time this happened was during the Great Depression, when people had to tap into their savings or go into debt merely to survive.