We Are Starting the Conversation Early

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On May 30^th, the American Heart Association will be kicking off its 5^th annual Lawyers Have Heart 5K road Race here in Boston, in the Seaport District, 7 p.m. sharp. This event will act as a “call to action” for the Greater Boston legal community to help in the fight against heart disease and stroke by raising awareness and raising donations.

(John Leonard getting pumped up for last year's race)

This year, John Leonard is engaging the larger community, which includes …YOU…before race day, by starting the conversation about heart health today, exactly two weeks prior to the race.

Log on to Twitter when you have a minute and check out the conversations which are happening:  

• Share your compelling story - How has heart health affected you or a loved one?
• Tips and Tricks - Share your advice for “healthy heart” best practices
• Trivia  - Test your knowledge about the heart as the most important organ in the body
• Race Day -  Encourage your customers/clients to support you in the fight against heart disease and stroke by including their Twitter handle in the conversation

…just make sure to include the hashtag  #LHHBoston when you tweet.

Or…maybe you are already on LinkedIn. Do you know about LinkedIn Signal, where you can search others’ status updates? We are talking about heart health there, too. Simply comment on the question you want to answer.

To get you started, see if you can guess the following trivia question:

The average adult heart beats exactly how many times each minute?

Know the answer? Tweet using the hashtag #LHHBoston, and we’ll post the answer by the end of the day.  OR, comment on the question with LinkedIn Signal.

We will be continuing the discussion for the next two weeks, please join us!

See you on race day!

Everything You Need To Know About the National & Massachusetts Economy…At a Glance!

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Unemployment…

The national unemployment rate fell to 8.6% in November, down from 9.0% in October.  Employers around the country added 120,000 jobs last month and 100,000 jobs in each of the previous five months, which obviously has contributed to the decrease.

According to the Federal Reserve’s November publication of The Beige Book, the national economy continues to improve at a slow and moderate pace. Firms around the country are hiring but some have reported difficulty in identifying qualified candidates. Similar results hold true for the Massachusetts and Greater Boston economy.

Massachusetts’ unemployment rate remains steady at 7.3%. Confirmed by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), the Bay State has added over 50 thousand jobs in the past year (a growth rate of 1.6 percent) with Boston’s IT services and software industries “getting the gold coin” when it comes to business growth.

Business Confidence…

The National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation’s Optimism Index gained 1.8 points on its confidence scale in November.

For the third consecutive month, the National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB) Optimism Index climbed and eight of the 10 index components either remained unchanged or improved.

According to the Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ (AIM) Business Confidence Index, confidence levels for the next six months are positive and “better than the assessment of current conditions which was up a point at 49.9,” says Fred Breimyer, Regional Economist for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Consumer Confidence…

National consumer confidence was down earlier this year and continues to struggle.  J.D. Power & Associates’ Executive Director Jeff Schuster is unafraid to give us the cold hard facts, “It really comes down to consumer confidence and consumers just do not have any right now. There just really is not a strong reason to go make that big-ticket purchase.” Consumer confidence has improved since the beginning of 2011 but as Staffing Consultant –Temporary Division Lindsay Peoples says, “overall consumer confidence this year certainly has been a major economic roller coaster ride!”

Massachusetts consumer confidence has dropped in the past few months; however, we refer to Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray for our optimism; “I see the glass half full, 50,000 plus new jobs in a year. That to me is the most important trend.”

2012 Expectations…

According to a recent Wall Street journal article, CFOs in particular are less optimistic about 2012 national economic growth—however 38% of those polled, many of which were Bank Executives, say they expect the U.S. economy to grow next year. CFOs attribute government leaders’ lack of effectiveness as the number one challenge and concern for 2012.

In Q3, the Massachusetts annual growth rate surpassed the nation at 3.9% (U.S. at 2.5%). The local economy is expected to grow modestly at a rate of 2.9% in the beginning of 2012. Locally, we will look to a variety of measurements including, the unemployment rate and claims, productivity, construction employment, taxes, the Bloomberg stock index for Massachusetts, and consumer confidence as key indicators of economic health and growth for 2012.  

Post below with where you go to find your latest news about national and local economic and job trends!

What's new with Workplace Wellness?

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Problems in the workplace are a real concern, and ways to encourage employees to become healthier have continued to be a hot topic, even in these tough economic times. Why do companies continue to invest in health initiatives? Part of the reason is to make the company itself more productive: healthy employees use less sick days, are more engaged and efficient when at work, leading to higher productivity. And part of it must also be recognized as the desire to cultivate a good work atmosphere which will attract better talent and help retain employees.

How real is the health crisis in American companies today? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of workers reported their jobs as moderately to severely stressful in a survey conducted by Northwestern National Life, and 25 percent reported often feeling burned out in a survey conducted by the Families and Work Institute.

"The trend is now clear," said Randy Johnson, senior vice president for Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits for the U.S. Chamber. "Workplace wellness programs are now front and center in becoming another tool by which employers can help control health care costs while improving the morale and health of their employees. While every employer is different and the form of wellness programs varies from simple to complex, developments in this area are truly a win-win for both employers and employees."

And the data bears that out - 62 percent of all companies offer some type of wellness program, according to TrendsUpdates.com. Common programs include smoking-cessation programs, stress management, weight-loss and exercise programs and nutrition education. (Per The American Institute for Preventative Medicine)

Free Programs to Use Now

So is your company/employer on a tight budget? Here are two FREE programs that you can implement easily and immediately:

- Worksite Wellness Walking Program

The Worksite Wellness Walking Program, created by the American Heart Association, encourages sedentary employees to take a walk to improve their health. Guided by information provided by the AHA, companies set up "Start! Walking" paths in the workplace and encourage employees to use them. Resource materials include a coordinators guide to implementing the program, mileage tracking tools for employees and promotional posters.

- Move and Improve

This is a worksite wellness program designed to increase physical activity for office workers. Implemented in Maine and studied by the Maine--Harvard Prevention Research Center, this free 12-week program seeks to reduce the participants' risk of obesity and chronic diseases through lifestyle changes. Participants receive a quarterly newsletter with health promotion tips, voluntarily engage in at least a half-hour of physical activity at least four days a week for at least eight weeks of the 12-week program and have access to online support.

Local Movers & Shakers- Healthiest Boston-area companies

Honored by the Boston Business Journal for their workplace wellness initiatives, we take our hats off to the following companies:

Small companies (0-99 employees)

• Borislow Insurance, Methuen
• Food Should Taste Good, Needham
• Massachusetts Hospital Association, Burlington
• Thorbahn, Norwell

Medium Companies (100-499 employees)

• Boston Apparel Group, West Bridgewater
• Cambridge Systematics, Cambridge
• Family Service Association, Fall River
• MiddleOak, Salem

Large Companies (500 plus employees)

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston
• Eastern Bank, Lynn
• Genzyme, Cambridge
• IBM, Cambridge

Spirit Award

• Alkermes, Waltham
• Deloitte, Boston
• EMD Serono, Rockland
• Raytheon Company, Waltham
• Tufts Health Plan, Watertown

So, the bottom line:

There are many ways that companies can help their employees lead healthier lives - and the positive impact can have a direct correlation to workplace productivity.

Check out what makes Google so healthy and happy

What work programs are provided at your workplace? And what others have you heard about that you wish your company would offer?

Legal Job of the Week - Office Manager

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-Legal Job of the Week-

Office Manager

May 2nd - May 5th

Office Manager

Duties of the Office Manager

Our client, a national law firm with a Boston office, is looking for an Office Manager to manage the growing Boston office.  Duties in this position include but are not limited to handling daily office operations, staff administration, and employee relations. 

Required Skills & Experience

5+ years of law firm management experience needed.  A successful candidate must have supervisory experience and knowledge of applicable state and federal employment laws.  Knowledge of Windows XP and Microsoft Office needed.  Overnight travel may be required. 

Traditional and Non - Traditional Resumes - Tailor Your Resume

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Traditional and Non-Traditional Resumes

Tailor Your Resume to the Job You Want

Resumes are arguably the most important tool you can create for your job search, so it’s essential that your resume not only reflects your skills and background but also is tailored to your target job and employer. According to Laurie Ruettimann, founder of Voice of HR “individuals must diversify their approach to finding and communicating with potential opportunities.”

As detailed on eHow.com, tailoring your resume to your background can make all the difference.  If you’re an experienced professional, stick with the traditional Chronological Resume. This allows employers to see how much experience you have in the field.  If you’re a recent graduate without much practical experience, you may want to highlight your skill set with a Functional Resume.  In this format, it’s easy to showcase skills you’ve gained through your schooling, even if you don’t have a lot of experience on the job.

If you’re going for a high-tech job at a tech savvy company, you might consider creating a Digital Resume. According to Mashable.com’s Sharlyn Lauby, a digital resume can be a great way to introduce yourself to high tech companies.  Appropriate use of LinkedIn profiles are a great way to get started on creating a digital presence for yourself, and an even more technically advanced display of your abilities can come through a Digital CV or a Resume Video. 

 According to John Leonard’s Chief Operating Officer Derek McKinley, there is an increasing use of QR codes in company advertisements and publications, so it won’t be long before this technology may appear as part of (or instead of) the traditional resume format.  QR codes can provide easy access to your LinkedIn or Facebook page, or even to a Digital Resume like those on prezi.com.  On prezi.com, you can create your own “Prezume” to be viewed in an interactive video format.

However you choose to market yourself, with a traditional resume or with a digital resume, make sure that you highlight your background and skills that are most applicable to the job you want!

Check out John Leonard’s “Job Seeker Survival Kit” for more tips and help in constructing a great resume to help you land the job you want!

I.T. Job of the Week - Principal Business Systems Analyst

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-I.T. Job of the Week-

Principal Business Systems Analyst

April 18^th – April 22^nd

Principal Business Systems Analyst

Our client is looking for a Principal Business Systems Analyst.

Responsibilities of the Principal Business Systems Analyst:

• Collaborating with Finance an IT in the global design, development, and deployment of the organization’s suite of applications
• Supporting the Finance end-user community by providing research, analysis, and problem resolution to team members
• Liaising with business groups to facilitate cross functional implementation of business process requirements for IT related business
• Effectively managing internal client services

Required Experience & Skills:

• 4 year degree
• 5+ years of relevant experience
• Oracle Financial eBusiness Suite experience (GL, Intercompany, AP, AR, Fixed Assets, Consolidation, Inventory, and Cost Accounting)
• Full knowledge of Systems Life Cycle development methodologies
• Strong knowledge of MS Office tools (Excel, Word, Project, Visio)

Legal Job of the Week - Litigation Secretary

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-Legal Job of the Week-

Litigation Secretary

April 18^th – April 22^nd

Litigation Secretary

Our client, a prominent medical malpractice firm, is looking for a Litigation Secretary to add to their team. 

Responsibilities of the Litigation Secretary:

• Scheduling and tracking depositions
• Scheduling appointments and court appearances

Required Experience & Skills:

• 3-5 years of litigation experience
• Medical malpractice experience highly preferred
• New Hampshire litigation experience highly preferred

Administrative Job of the Week - Administrative Assistant

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-Administrative Job of the Week-

Administrative Assistant

April 18^th – April 22^nd

Administrative Assistant

Our Boston non-profit client is looking for an Administrative Assistant to provide office support.

Responsibilities of the Administrative Assistant:

• Proofreading, editing, and drafting correspondence for the Executive Director
• Updating ED’s calendar daily and arranging conference calls
• Managing ED’s correspondence and communications
• Coordinating travel and conference calls for management
• Providing telephone support and answering email inquiries
• Coordinating office calendar and ordering supplies
• coordinating conference registrations and coordinating the sale of conference proceedings and educational materials
• Assisting with the input of checks from company’s lockbox and assisting with reimbursements
• Assisting with monthly mailings and shipping supplies for conferences

Required Experience & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2+ years of administrative experience, preferably in a non-profit setting
• Ability to work well with executives, staff, and faculty
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook
• Ability to work flexible hours to accommodate program schedules

John Leonard Hot Job: Corporate Paralegal

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* HOT JOB *

Corporate Paralegal

Temp to Direct Hire

_________________________________________________________________________

Temp to Direct Hire Corporate Paralegal

Our client, an international law firm, is looking for a Corporate Paralegal  to join their Boston team. The paralegal will will support a team of partners and associates focusing on leveraged finance. 

Duties of the Corporate Paralegal include:

• Conduct lien and IP searches, draft UCC financing statements
• Draft notes and disclosure schedules and resolutions
• Other general corporate paralegal responsibilities as needed

A successful paralegal candidate must be able to run and summarize lien and IP searches, and draft notes and disclosure schedule.

* Experience with hedge funds and derivatives are a plus. 

John Leonard Career Staffing Opportunities

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John Leonard Career Staffing Opportunities

Industry Experience Required 

We are now hiring Staffing Consultants across all divisions!

Administrative - Technology - Accounting & Finance - Sales & Marketing

_________________________________________________________________________

Staffing Consultants | Recruiters | Account Executives

At John Leonard, our Staffing Consultants are the key to on-target staffing solutions to ensure the success of our clients.  Increased activity demands we add to our busy team!

We offer a highly competitive compensation plan – guaranteed base, commission, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.  Truthfully, there is no limit to your earnings potential!!

Responsibilities:

• Identify qualified candidates using varied recruiting methods including our extensive candidate database, on-line sourcing, and REFERRALS!
• Screen, interview and evaluate candidates to ensure only the best talent is presented to clients
• Develop opportunities to increase and expand client penetration within new and existing accounts
• Develop relationships and make 'Raving Fans' of your client companies/candidates
• Meet and exceed assigned personal sales & production goals

Qualifications:

• Proven inside-sales track record 
• Superior account management skills resulting in strong client relationships
• High energy, sense of urgency, integrity with a competitive spirit
• Excellent communication, organization and presentation skills

Industry Experience Required