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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The 10 Hottest Private Companies in Tech



SecondMarket, a firm that facilitates alternative investments, has shared with Mashable (Mashable) a list of private companies its buyers and potential buyers were most interested in this year. The list is based on the percentage who indicated they were interested in each company.
  • 1. Facebook (): More than 25% of the firm’s buyers and potential buyers indicated that they were interested in Facebook. With the company reportedly on track to bring in $2 billion in revenue this year and attracting 81% of Gen Yers daily, it’s easy to see why.
  • 2. LinkedIn (): Last month, the professional social networking platform announced that it was adding a member every second to its 85 million-person community. Earlier this year, estimates placed LinkedIn’s valuation at $2 billion.
  • 3. Twitter (): Twitter finally tried to make money this year with promoted tweets, and it bodes well that beta testers are finding the new marketing channel valuable. The company just raised another $200 million that values it at a reported $3.7 billion.
  • 4. Zynga: The New York Times pondered whether Zynga might be the “Google () of Games” this year. The company has more than 45 million active users on its social games like FarmVille and Mafia Wars.
  • 5. Craigslist (): Craigslist makes money on recruitment listings, and it used to make money on adult services listings. Alas (for Craigslist, at least), the questionably legal section that expected to comprise about 30% of its revenue was shut down yesterday.
  • 6. Groupon: Google was willing to pay $5.3 billion for the group-buying company, which has about an $800 million annual gross revenue run rate.
  • 7. Yelp (): This year Yelp took new funding and challenged Foursquare () and Groupon with new features.
  • 8. SecondMarket: Given that the investors who indicated SecondMarket was an interest were signing up to buy through SecondMarket, this one isn’t a surprise.
  • 9. Pandora (): Pandora reported its first profitable quarter — and $50 million in revenue — at the end of 2009. Earlier this year, a Wall Street analyst predicted the company’s 2010 revenue would reach $100 million.
  • 10. Bloom Energy: Building a refrigerator-sized box that can power a whole house with sand-based fuel cells will inevitably attract some attention from investors. Before the Bloom Box launch, it’s rumored that the company had already won more than $400 million in funding.
Do you agree with SecondMarket’s users? What companies would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments below.

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6 Ways to Score a Job Through Twitter



Twitter has become a great resource for just about anything, including jobs. From industry chats to Twitter accounts dedicated to posting vacancies, there are a ton of resources for landing a gig.

We’ve already chronicled how to get a job through Facebook (Facebook) and YouTube (), and now we’re taking a look at the job hunting process on Twitter.

We spoke with nine Tweeters who have landed jobs through Twitter () to get their top tips for success on the platform. Below you’ll find a guide to their job hunt strategies on the microblogging service.

If you’ve also been successful in finding a position via Twitter, let us know about your experience in the comments below.

1. Tweet Like an Industry Expert


Words to tweet by: You are what you tweet. Keep in mind that everything you tweet lends to or takes away from your online persona. Whether or not you’re searching for a job, make sure your Twitter stream represents you as a professional individual that has important and unique thoughts to contribute. Your goal should be to become an industry expert or at least tweet like one.

Share links that are relevant to your followers, adding commentary to the latest industry news. This shows that you’re keeping up with industry trends and gives potential employers a look into what you read and care about, which will help them to envision how you may fit into their company’s work environment.

If your commentary on Twitter is interesting enough, you may have employers knocking on your door. Christa Keizer, a recent intern at Cone, a strategy and communications firm, used Twitter during her job search to “[post] relevant, industry-related tweets on a daily basis to establish credibility.” After commenting on one of Cone’s blogs, Marcus Andrews, the New Media Associate at Cone, tweeted to Keizer, thanking her for her comment and asking her about her summer work plans. A few tweets and an interview later, Keizer was hired.

Kate Ottavio, an account executive at PR agency Quinn & Co., had a similar experience. Prior to working at Quinn, she worked at a small PR agency in Connecticut. One day, Allyns Melendez, HR Director at Quinn, started following Ottavio on Twitter she waited for Ottavio to follow back, and then asked her if she’d like to move to New York, where Quinn is headquartered. Little did she know, Melendez was looking for a new hire for the real estate division of the firm. Melendez had first searched for “PR” and “real estate” on LinkedIn (), where Ottavio’s profile popped up.

Although Ottavio wasn’t looking for a job at the time, her Twitter strategy had always been to “represent myself as a knowledgeable and reputable PR professional. I tweet about 10-20 times a day about anything from personal experiences to Mashable () articles to PR blog posts.” Loving the opportunity that Quinn presented her, she promptly accepted.

2. Use Twitter Hashtags


There are lots of ways to use Twitter hashtags to get a job. Here are a few types of hashtags to get you started:
  • Job Listings: You can find general job advice and lots of listings through hashtags like #jobs, #recruiting, #jobadvice, #jobposting, #jobhunt and #jobsearch. To narrow it down, though, seek out more specific hashtags, such as or #prjobs or #salesjobs.
  • Industry Conferences: Most conferences these days have their own hashtags when a relevant industry conference is approaching, get active with attendees using the hashtag. Whether you’re attending the conference or not, you can contribute to the conversation. Many conferences also have live streams, so it’s as if you’re attending anyway! Live tweet panels and speeches that you’re interested in and connect with other tweeters along the way. By using Twitter for networking within your industry, you’ll increase your chances of getting hired down the road.
  • Job-Related and Industry Chats: Getting involved with industry chats is a way to show your industry in a particular field and represent yourself as a knowledgeable person. Check out this Twitter chat schedule to get a head start. Also, if your search isn’t going so well, get involved in job-related chats, such as #jobhuntchat, #careerchat, #internchat and #hirefriday for friendly advice.
  • Liz (Pope) Schmidt, now the media and research manager at Sevans Strategy, attested to the power of industry Twitter chats: “I began participating in #Journchat, created and hosted by Sarah Evans [owner of Sevans Strategy, a public relations and new media consultancy]. Although I had known Sarah from a past virtual work experience, I was able to reconnect with her through Twitter. I mentioned her in several tweets and participated in her online discussions. Soon after, based on a direct message conversation with Sarah on Twitter, I came on board at Sevans Strategy.” Besides scouring job search hashtags, job seekers can also follow Twitter accounts dedicated to posting job openings, use Twitter search to find postings or keep an eye out on the Twitter streams of companies they might want to work for.

    3. Connect with Recruiters and Current Employees


    Don’t be afraid to research the companies that you want to work for to find out who currently works there and who is involved with recruiting. After all, while you’re searching for a job, recruiters are scouring the web at the same time looking for pertinent information about job candidates. Interacting with current employees and active recruiters is an easy way to learn more about a company and its job opportunities. Take Connie Zheng’s word she’s already been hired for two jobs through Twitter. “I got my PR internship at Text 100 using Twitter, as well as my entry-level position at Burson-Marsteller using Twitter,” she explained. She advises job seekers, “Use Twitter as a research tool to identify who the appropriate HR person or recruiter is at the desired company.” Shankar Ganesh, a student at the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy in India, recently landed a marketing consulting internship at business apps provider Zoho Corporation by connecting with a technologist employed by the company. “I wanted to spend my summer as an intern at Zoho (), so I approached employees using Twitter,” he recounted. “I showed them what I had done previously and my website for credibility. My interest was forwarded to Zoho’s HR team, and we got in touch.” Soon after, he was offered the internship. Even if a company isn’t hiring, it’s a good idea to stay in contact with recruiters and employees. When a position opens up, it’s likely that you’ll be one of the first to be contacted, said Alison Morris, an account coordinator at The CHT Group, a strategic communications firm based in Boston. Morris told us how she landed her current position on Twitter:
    “In April 2010, Ben Hendricks, Senior VP at The CHT Group, and I began corresponding about corporate communications and social media’s role in the corporate environment. Much to my dismay, CHT was not yet hiring. In June, after a few months distance, Ben sent me an email to let me know the agency was hiring and that he wanted me to apply. Still looking for a job, I sent over my resume, and about a week later, I was employed.”
    Keep an eye out for socially savvy companies like CHT it also recently hired Marissa Green as an account coordinator through Twitter and is now looking for a spring intern, with Twitter being one of its main recruiting outlets.

    4. Build a Relevant Network


    A lot of successful Twitter job stories actually end with the punchline, “I wasn’t even looking for a job.” In many cases, these lucky new hires just found interesting opportunities serendipitously, which makes sense given that it’s Twitter we’re talking about. Twitter is all about networking, so build a network that makes sense for you. You’ll find that a lot of the opportunities that are presented to you are simply organic. Here’s an anecdote along those lines from Marketing & Communications Manager for digital agency ChaiONE, Meghan Stephens:
    “Through Twitter, I am connected to other marketing professionals, digital creatives, community stewards, and new media experts — simply because those are the types of people that I enjoy interacting with and learning from… When it came time to look for a job in the technology sector, all I did was turn to those who I already gained inspiration from. When glancing through my stream, I saw a job link posted by my now-boss that sounded immediately like what I was looking for. I read through the description, realized I already knew the company through another connection made on Twitter, and sent in my resume.”

    5. Start a “Hire Me” Campaign


    After seeing a job posting for HeadBlade, a men’s grooming company that makes products specifically for guys that shave their heads, Eric Romer immediately set up a website, Twitter page, Facebook Page and YouTube account all in the name of nabbing the job. ‘The posting for ‘Interactive and Social Media Marketing Manager’ was tweeted from the HeadBlade Twitter account, which I had been following for several months,” explained Romer. “I have been a die-hard ‘HeadBlader’ using their products religiously since 2005, so this was literally a dream job.” “While there were several channels used, Twitter was by far the most effective getting on HeadBlade’s radar,” said Romer. “I received a call from a company rep within 48 hours of my initial blog posting, and flew from Indianapolis to L.A. within 10 days for an interview.” While a full-out campaign of this nature may not be the best strategy for every job opportunity that comes along, this type of passion is what really stands out in the job recruiting process. If you encounter your dream job, go all out.

    6. Take It Offline


    Three simple words: “Let’s get coffee.”
    Once you’ve gained a certain level of dialogue with a potential employer, an in-person meeting can really boost the relationship. DJ Waldow, director of community at Blue Sky Factory, said that he landed his job at the company through connecting with Blue Sky Factory’s CEO Greg Cangialosi on Twitter. After initially “stalking” Cangialosi on Twitter, Waldow began engaging with him. Eventually, all of the tweets lead to an in-person meeting, which Waldow feels really sealed the deal. He wrote of the experience:
    “The transition from online to in real life is critical… All of the loose connections you’ve made with that person are suddenly solidified when you put the name/avatar/tweets together with a face. Nothing can replace this. Nothing.”

    Your Tips


    With the increasing popularity of Twitter, more and more job seekers and recruiters are turning to the social network to find leads. We suspect that a sizable number of Mashable readers have used Twitter in some way to find a job. If so, let us know about your experiences in the comments below.
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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Work At Home Jobs And Programs - Ways to Make A Respectable Earnings From Your Home ..


Millions of people worldwide are enticed by the opportunity to work at home. A job from residence permits people considerably extra flexibility, further time with family and customarily alleviates the immense stress which can end result from an active career. At home jobs are also desirable for individuals who want to make an additional earnings along with their day job, faculty college students, disabled persons, at home mothers and senior citizens.
 
Thousands of individuals search the web on a regular basis in hopes of finding financial freedom from the comfort of their own home. Unfortunately, the internet is plagued with work at home scams. There are tons of of firms which promote 'get rich quick schemes' or 'assured' opportunities to make a residing from home. Scams embody, but are usually not limited to, envelope stuffing, mail order, pyramid schemes, medical billing, typist jobs and quite a few different ways to make money. 
 
The FTC has already charged several individuals involved in managing and promoting fraudulent work at home opportunities. "The dream of proudly owning a business is as American as apple pie, however enterprise opportunity scammers spoil the recipe for achievement," said FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras. In accordance with the Higher Enterprise Bureau, customers may lose amounts starting from $10 as much as $70,000 or more of their search to become profitable from home. So how are you aware which alternatives are reliable and which aren't?
 
Fortuitously, there are actually authentic money making opportunities out there on the internet. A lot of individuals actually do earn an excellent dwelling on the internet. There are individuals who make hundreds of thousands on the web and are living the life all of us would like to live.
 
Many extra, nevertheless, earn an revenue akin to their salary or, in many circumstances, higher.

Many professional telecommuting jobs from qualified employers exist. A big number of them do require some type of talent, however that doesn't imply you want an university diploma to earn a living on the internet. The World Vast Web is filled with opportunities, and all varieties of persons from all around the world are making their goals come true by working at home.

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11 Hot Fields for Hiring in 2011


Occupational experts like Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., say that America is climbing out of recession and job opportunities are better now than they've been for a long time. But what does this mean for people hoping to advance their career? What can they do in 2011 to be strong candidates in the future job market?

Shatkin answers these essential questions in his book "2011 Career Plan: The Best Moves Now for a Solid Future." In it, he explains that the recovery is a steady upswing, not a hiring boom, and that people will need to be strategic about how and where they pursue employment.

"Jobs are not expected to be plentiful in 2011 or for several years afterward. In fact, we may see a repeat of what happened after the recession of 2001, when 39 months passed before employment rose back to pre-recession levels. This recovery is also a patchwork affair, with some industries bouncing back much faster than others. For example, in March 2010, while manufacturers were adding jobs, the news and information business was still losing jobs," says Shatkin. "That's why 'I'll find something' is not an adequate career plan for 2011. You need to choose a specific goal and develop a smart strategy to take advantage of the opportunities that 2011 does have to offer."

One career strategy Shatkin recommends is to focus on fast-growing fields, where job opportunities tend to be more plentiful than in fields where jobs are slow-growing or disappearing. According to Shatkin and information from the U.S. Department of Labor, the following 11 fields are projected to grow fastest through 2018.

1. Management, scientific and technical consulting services
Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; industrial engineers; financial analysts; customer service representatives; and public relations specialists

2. Computer systems design and related services
Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; network and computer systems administrators; accountants and auditors; computer software engineers, systems software; and computer support specialists

3. Social assistance, except child day care
Hottest jobs in this field: medical and public health social workers; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school; first-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers; occupational therapists; and social and human service assistants

Hottest jobs in this field: network and computer systems administrators; computer systems analysts; computer support specialists; market research analysts; and customer service representatives

5. Scientific research and development services
Hottest jobs in this field: biomedical engineers; network systems and data communications analysts; biochemists and biophysicists; medical scientists, except epidemiologists; and compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation


7. Employment services
Hottest jobs in this field: accountants and auditors; customer service representatives; construction laborers; computer software engineers, systems software; and computer software engineers, applications

Hottest jobs in this field: heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers; septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners; telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers; purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail and farm products; and cost estimators

Hottest jobs in this field: preschool teachers, except special education; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school; office clerks, general; kindergarten teachers, except special education; and first-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers

Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation; compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists; market research analysts; and customer service representatives

Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; self-enrichment education teachers; customer service representatives; loan counselors; and medical scientists, except epidemiologists

Shatkin reminds people to "keep in mind that these 11 fields are not the only fields where job opportunities will be available in 2011. They're fast-growing, but jobs can still be found in many fields that are not growing as fast even shrinking."

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Top 10 Part-Time Jobs with Benefits


part time jobs with benefitsEmployment benefits are often reserved for full-time employees, but working less than 40 hours a week doesn't necessarily mean you're out of luck. Some companies do offer their part-time employees benefit packages, with some rivaling what you'd expect to get from a full-time position. The requirements for eligibility vary but usually include a minimum number of hours worked per week and/or only kick in after you've worked for a specified length of time. In the market for a part-time gig?
Here's our list of the10 best part-time jobs with benefits.


rei

1. REI (Recreational Equipment)

REI offers all employees some form of health care coverage (even temporary and seasonal staff) with the best plan kicking in at just 20 hours a week. Other perks include merchandise discounts, incentive pay, retirement and profit sharing, and even discounted travel through the REI Adventures program.


Whole Foods Market

2. Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods added 14 new stores last year and offers a laundry list of benefits to all their employees, including those working part time. Team members are eligible for health, dental, and vision plans after 400 service hours as well as a 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, and a 20 percent store discount.


Nordstrom

3. Nordstrom

Among Nordstrom's offerings to part-time staff are health insurance, 401(k), life, disability, and accidental death insurance, paid time off, and adoption assistance.




starbucks

4. Starbucks Coffee

Every Starbucks "partner" that works 20 hours per week or more is eligible for full benefits that include health, retirement, and stock options, plus a free pound of coffee (or box of tea) every single week.


UPS

5. UPS

UPS describes their benefit package for part-time workers as "world class." It includes medical, dental, and vision coverage plus life and long-term care insurance, 401(k), discounted stock options, tuition reimbursement, and an income protection plan.


lowes

6. Lowe's

Part-time employees at Lowe's have access to a limited benefit health plan plus life, vision, dental, and disability, as well as a 401(k). They also earn 40 hours of vacation after just 180 days of service.


jcpenney

7. JCPenney

At JCPenney anyone working fewer than 35 hours per week is eligible for their Additional Benefits Choices program, which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage plus life insurance and critical illness/accident coverage.


lands end

8. Lands' End

Working at Lands' End part time not only qualifies you for dental, vision, and retirement plans (and access to an onsite medical clinic if you live in Dodgeville, Wisc.) but also discounts on merchandise at both Lands' End and Sears stores and special deals at area attractions such as theme parks.


jp morgan chase

9. JP Morgan Chase

At JP Morgan Chase part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible for most benefits after 90 days of service. Offerings include medical, dental, vision, retirement, and stock purchase plans plus paid time off, tuition and adoption assistance, and various banking-related options like checking account and credit card perks.


barnes and noble

10. Barnes & Noble

Part-time employees at Barnes & Noble are eligible for medical, dental, and flex spending as well as life insurance, 401(k), a discount on books, access to a book loan program if you don't want to buy, and interesting deals on useful stuff like electronics, flowers, and banking services.