Author Archive
Home Sales at Highest Level Since 2007
November 23, 2009
The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales rose 10.1% in October to an annual rate of 6.1 million units. That is the highest rate of sales since February 2007, when it was at 6.55million.
The spike in sales coincides with the original expiration date that was set on the $8,000 federal tax credit that was available to first time home buyers. The deadline on that tax credit has been extended to April 30.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Impact of Economic Stimulus felt in Finance and Professional Services
November 13, 2009
CareerBuilder has surveyed and reported on the impact of the Economic Stimulus Funding for the 3rd Quarter.
Finance and Professional Services Companies reported on receiving funds and the impact they had.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Morgan Stanley Aggressively Hiring Mortgage Brokers
November 12, 2009
Morgan Stanley is increasing headcount in its brokerage unit.
There is still opportunity to attract top talent. The marketplace however is rapidly becoming more competitive to engage the best people.
Full story:
- Categories: Uncategorized
Increased Job Openings in the Professional and Financial Services Sector
November 11, 2009
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released new hiring data and it shows that even though unemployment continues to hover around 10%, job openings are increasing in some sectors.
The Wall Street Journal today reported that “companies in sectors that tend to move in sync with the broader economy – such as manufacturing and professional services - added to their job openings for two straight months.”
- Categories: Employment Outlook
Professional Services Sector Shows Jobs Growth
November 6, 2009
Professional Services industries are seeing improvement – especially in the sales driven industries.
- Categories: Employment Outlook, Industry Trends
Increasing Work Loads at Insurance Companies Amplifies the Need to Have the Best People on Board
November 3, 2009
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America released its “2009 Best Practices Study” in October. Notable in the report was that at larger agencies (revenue of over $5 million), the number of employees increased by four people on average. At agencies with revenue under $5 million, the total number of employees remained unchanged, according to the report.
“This year’s study indicates that the Best Practices Agencies, overall, continue to perform well despite facing some challenges in soft market conditions,” Madelyn Flannagan, IIABA’s vice president of agent development, education and research, said in a statement.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Branding/Targeting/Attracting – Now is the best time to get the best Insurance Agents in the door
November 2, 2009
Daniel Amos, CEO of Aflac, reports that sales volume is increasing and hiring is starting to happen again.
There are Insurance Agents and Professionals on the market who are ready to come work for you. But, just as importantly, there are successful agents out there who are still employed.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Address Criticism and Create New Fans
October 29, 2009
In a recent Las Vegas Sun article, casinos took the spotlight on how some of them are using social media to engage the “Long Tail” of customers instead of just focusing on the big spenders.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/26/saving-face-online/
- Categories: Uncategorized
Be Careful, Targeting = Disqualifying, not Qualifying
October 20, 2009
According to Labor Department statistics, there are currently about 6.3 unemployed workers for every job opening in the United States, on average. To put that in perspective, there were 1.7 unemployed workers for every job opening as of December, 2007.
This is certainly good news for employers. The opportunity to find great talent hasn’t been better in a long time – at least since the last time unemployment was this high in 1982.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Local Online Advertising vs. Targeted Online Advertising – A Question of Relevancy
October 19, 2009
Although global Internet advertising revenue dropped 5% in the first half of 2009, in its new report “2010 Outlook: Local Interactive Advertising”, Borell Associates estimates that local interactive revenue will hit $14.2 billion in 2009 and $14.9 billion in 2010 – 12% and 5% growth, respectively.
The logic behind this trend seems, on its surface, to be straightforward and simple – companies are choosing to shift their online spend, whether for marketing, recruiting, or advertising, into local avenues to target potential business partners, employees, and customers who, one would assume, would be the most relevant since they are close by (geographically).
- Categories: Uncategorized