Employers Helping with Relief from High Gas Prices

A recent survey concerning the effect of high fuel costs on jobseekers and recruiting revealed some interesting information:
“Almost a third of respondents said that fuel costs have affected their recruiting efforts, as job applicants are less willing to make lengthy commutes. What’s more, eleven percent of candidates are seeking higher salaries, purportedly due to high [...]

Geek Dinner Thursday 7-31 at Paradise Bakery

Looking for the Utah geeks, bloggers and coders? You’ll find them at the Utah Geek/Blogger Dinner. This month, we’re meeting at Paradise Bakery. If you have been feeling lonely for computer conversation in the Salt Lake Valley, you’ll find it all here!
THEY HAVE WI-FI, so you can bring your laptop if you want!
RSVP at Upcoming.org: [...]

See Batman the Dark Knight FREE TODAY

Local tech company Bungee Labs is hosting a FREE showing of Batman the Dark Knight this afternoon at 4:00pm. (I interviewed @ReverendTed from Bungee last Friday on the Couchcast)
We believe Utah is home to many amazing companies…and we want to get to
know more of you.
Bring your family or friends and join us this Tuesday, [...]

Utah Jobs Growing

Matthew Reinbold was kind enough to use a few of my comments in a recent piece on Utah Job Growth at UtahPulse.com.
Here’s some of the takeaways:
“Unemployment is still below the generally-accepted measure for ‘full-employment’ of 4-5%,” Robert Merrill, Technical Account Manager for SOS Engineering and Technology, said. “This means that people who would otherwise choose [...]

4 Factors Creating Utah Workforce Funk

There’s no question something interesting is happening with Utah’s professional/technical workforce right now, and I think there are no less than four competing factors at play any business-owner should be paying very close attention to:

Real and Wage Inflation
Intense Competition for Talent
Corporate cost-cutting
High Energy/Commute Costs

The hardest part to pin-down is that the economic indicators show a [...]

Utah Tries Four Day Work-Week

On August 4th, Utah will begin its move to a four-day work week, a move that should save up to about 20% of the state’s expenses by 2015.
The change will apply to about 17,000 employees, roughly 80% of the state workforce, [Utah State Governor] Huntsman says. Public universities, the state court system, prisons and other [...]

Job Trends: Moonlight, Part-Time Desired by Candidates

It’s likely a result of the current economy, but we have noticed a very high percentage of people coming to us and looking for part-time or extra work on graveyards/evenings/weekends.
These are generally very talented individuals who like their current job/employer, but are looking for additional work to take on.
Likewise, these same people are usually willing [...]

Wanted: Real, CREATIVE ways to cut commute costs. NOW.

I saw an email from Yahoo’s Hot Jobs career center just now and clicked hoping for some great advice on cutting my commute costs.
Well, lets just say what I read was, um, more of the same:

Take the bus
Carpool
Ride your bike
Telecommute

With oil predicted to hit $150/barrell in a month, and prices at the pump currently over [...]

Don’t Be A Know-It-All

A provocative post about Helicopter Parenting on Modite this morning reminded me of some advice I frequently give to job-seekers, but I don’t know that I’ve ever really mentioned it clearly here.
Don’t lie. Admit when you don’t know something… but immediately prove to me that you can assemble the resources to get it figured out.
This [...]

Calendar: May CTO Forum Friday (Tomorrow)

One of my favorite events each month is coming up tomorrow (Friday, 5/30). Phil Windley’s CTO Forum/Breakfast at the Novell Cafeteria in Provo (map).
View Larger Map
Anyone interested in how information technology is used to build products or run companies. Despite it’s name, you don’t have to be a CTO to attend—just interested in technology, where [...]