Colorado HB1023 Protects Businesses from Hiring Convicts?

The Denver Business Journal is reporting that Colorado governor Bill Ritter has just signed into law House Bill 1023, a measure that “prohibits an employee’s criminal history from being part of a lawsuit against a business unless that criminal history has direct applicability to the legal action”. See article. In other words, if a company is sued by for behavior by an employee that had a previous criminal record, the record can only be introduced into evidence if it is directly related to the actions that led to the lawsuit.The law was enacted to encourage businesses to hire those with criminal records. However, I have concerns about the language. “If the criminal history has direct applicability to legal action” seems to be pretty vague. It would seem that this law might give employers a false sense of security. Direct applicability leaves much to interpretation.Now, the positives. The law does nothing to inhibit the ability of an employer to conduct an employment background check on job candidates and to use that information to make a hiring decision. The bill also prohibits civil litigation if the employee’s criminal record has been sealed, if they’ve received a pardon or if an arrest record did not result in a criminal conviction. I believe that this is a very positive development for both businesses and job seekers with criminal records.The Denver Business Journal is reporting that Colorado governor Bill Ritter has just signed into law House Bill 1023, a measure that “prohibits an employee’s criminal history from being part of a lawsuit against a business unless that criminal history has direct applicability to the legal action”. See article.

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Be a Cross Functional Whiz

In every company I’ve ever worked for, interdepartmental communication has been a problem. Groups are viewed as silos instead of a part of a single well-integrated organization. Therefore, it stands to reason that the person who interacts seamlessly across departments would be a valued team member – a team member whom your group relies on to get things done and is least likely to be sacrificed in a layoff. How can you be that person? Here are some ideas:
E-mail your contacts from orientation: During the day or two you spent with HR at the beginning of your tenure, was there anyone who seemed interesting and went on to work in a different discipline? Invite her to lunch and find out more about her personally and professionally. Work to strengthen the relationship over time so that you have a friend to call on when your group needs something from that department.
Study the other departments: In order to be a cross-functional whiz, it helps to have a solid understanding of what the other groups in your organization do. Pretend you are interviewing for a position in each department and study the relevant online and offline materials. For example, if you want to establish a better relationship with R&D, learn about the product pipeline and attend a voluntary meeting of the innovation committee.
Walk around the building once a week: Slot a half hour to grab your coffee and meander around the floors of your office. While you shouldn’t stop and chit chat for too long, it’s a good idea to say an in-person hello to people in other departments so that they can put a name with a face the next time you contact them.
Engender cooperation: Always keep in mind that colleagues (especially those not in your group) don’t care what you want — they want to know what’s in it for them. By approaching negotiations with an attitude that allows both parties to win (i.e. do a good job and stay out of trouble), you’ll be more effective at eliciting cooperation and ultimately getting what your group needs.
Be the mediator: If a dispute between two colleagues is causing a breakdown in communication and/or effectiveness between departments, set up a formal meeting to discuss the issues. Once you are all together, tell the arguers that you wish to clear the air by talking to them one at a time about the situation and then allowing the other to respond to what was just said. Remain impartial and encourage the arguers to come to a mutually-satisfactory resolution.
Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

100 Best Places to Work in IT Vol 2

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs
Technically speaking (no pun intended), not all of the companies and institutions on this list are Technology specific (in fact, most are not). The point of this list, provided by Computer World, is to point out the best places to work if you are in IT.
These institutions leverage technology in their industries in a way that make them great places to work (rather than the largest, most profitable companies). Today’s list of companies range from telecommunications to universities.
You will need to check the job postings to determine which job opportunities are IT related (not always easy to tell). There were over 2,220 job opportunities across the companies/institutions listed below when I checked the sites.

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Take the Mystery Out of Your Job Search Process

When I was a little girl, my father used to love to rush to the movie theater to watch the latest “James Bond” film. The suspense, mystique, and thrilling plot of each 007 movie was attractive to him; and of course, he’s passed a true affinity for the secret agent (preferably Roger Moore) on to me.
Today, we’re going to work on taking the mystery out of the job search process. We’re going to look at five tips you can implement NOW, to gain hiring managers’ attention, and ultimately land YOU the interview.
So put on your best tuxedo, grab a European model, jump into your shiny, red convertible, and be ready for an action-packed adventure in job search!
1. Create a list of 30 employers you want to work for.
When you’re looking for your next opportunity, it’s very tempting to begin looking for job openings in the classifieds and on the job boards. While these tools can provide excellent employment leads, your very first task is to determine who you WANT to work for. Once you have mapped out your goals, you can utilize the job ads as a secondary source.

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SmartPhone Job Search: Getting Hired On The Go

Everywhere you look today, another Smartphone is born. I’m currently sporting the HTC, and I swear, this thing was beamed down from outer space, complete with alien technology. Seriously though, I think I understand only about 25% of what this thing can do for me, and I learn a something new about its capability, everyday.
Whether you’re using the iPhone, a Blackberry, or any other new fangled communication device, did you realize you can handle every aspect of your job search – from your cell phone? Today, I’m going to give you the top five ways you can uncover your next job without ever opening a newspaper or logging back in to your computer again! “Beam me up, Scotty” – I’m ready to find my next job.
1. Download an RSS Reader for Your Phone.
RSS stands for really simple syndication, and subscribing to RSS feeds on your smartphone will allow you to be notified immediately of new jobs in your target industry and field. I personally recommend downloading the complete Google suite for Mobile Phones. It will give you the RSS reader, gmail access, Google Docs, and more. To get the Google App for your cell, go to m.google.com/search, and follow the instructions.

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5 Keys to Creating a Resume They’ll Remember

Stop agonizing over how to write the best resume and take a moment to read over the following five key steps to creating a resume that hiring managers will remember. This isn’t a definitive list but will give you a great place to start on your way to resume superstardom (and that new career you’ve been dreaming about)!
Give Them Something Pretty To Look At
Crucial information that hiring managers need to make an informed decision needs to be easy to find. Don’t overcrowd the resume and cram too much on one page.
On the flip side, using one-inch margins will make your resume look more like a college term paper then a personal marketing document.

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What it is like to attend Kansas State University

Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas, which is two hours west of Kansas City and two hours northeast of Wichita. The university has buildings made of native limestone, and the campus is covered with more than 1,200 varieties of trees and exotic plants. KSU’s main campus is composed of 660 acres, 8,616 acres at the Konza Prarie outside of town, and 12,000 acres of research land across the state. There are approximately 23,000 students, with about 18,500 undergraduates and 4,500 graduate students; approximately 12% of students are multicultural, and five percent are international students. Aggie Ville, the area village, is located across the street from KSU and is lined with shops and restaurants.

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Time to Change Your Job?

“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” – Confucius
It’s that time of the year where a lot of people in the restaurant industry start assessing their current situation. There are a lot of questions one asks oneself but the predominant question is “Am I underpaid for what I do?” This particular question and topic can be debated ’til the end of time. Ultimately, you have to be truthful to yourself and answer these questions:

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Job Search Marketing Toolkit – Target Job Market

“The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.” – Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu, the Art of War, Target Job Market, it kind of all fits together. But the key is strategic advantage and the only way to gain that is to target your job market and focus your search. What does that mean? Target market includes your preferred industry, your preferred line of work (skills, experience and education), your preferred company (large, small, private, public), market impact on your industry and compensation requirements versus the market.

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Use the Internet to Find a Job – Part 1: The Basics

Knowing where to find a job is the first step. In today’s career search, the Internet is vital. Gone are the days of faxing and door-to-door marketing. (Although, do not discount those methods!) Email and the Internet are here and they are not going any where, any time soon!
Most companies utilize an applicant tracking system and tailor their searches to Internet job boards. Similarly, most recruiters find potential candidates by searching around on the Internet, using buzzwords found on a resume. Most companies and recruiters want you to email them a resume, so setting up a free email account is essential. Unless a hiring manager networks his or her way directly to you, you are going to have to learn to use the Internet as a main source of finding that right career for you.

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