BUSINESS NEWS

RefDesk Fast Facts
Self-proclaimed "single biggest source of fast facts on the Internet," and it very
well could be. After perusing the many categories of information, click on the RefDesk logo to visit the RefDesk home page.

Trade Publications
TradePub.com offers free trade magazines and periodicals to qualified subscribers. Trade publications are an excellent way to monitor trends in a particular industry, and to identify professional associations and other networking contacts.

CONSULTING

eLance.com, Guru.com
Why Freelance When You Can eLance?
Site puts freelancers to work, and offers them the tools to complete the job.

Anne Fischer Lent, special to PC World
Thursday, February 17, 2000
Imagine an illustrator in Russia or Chile pulling in the same hourly rate as a hot designer in New York City. They can. That's the beauty of eLance, an online service marketplace where freelancers can post their services and others can bid.

It's easiest to think of eLance as a kind of eBay for services, but the Web site, which is scheduled to launch March 1, is more than a marketplace. You can rent a workspace on the eLance server and use software tools on the site.

Both buyers and sellers can use the shared file system to exchange and view files, and can communicate on private message boards. And instead of investing in all sorts of software, the freelancer can rent time on PhotoShop or project-management tools.

The site even offers a solution for the payment problems that challenge commerce sites. Using what it calls a "Global Trust System," ELance will take payment from the buyer or bidder and put it in an escrow account. When the job is completed satisfactorily, eLance will disburse the funds to the freelancer in the appropriate currency.

As a participating freelancer, you'll incur some costs, too. The site will charge a nominal posting fee of $1 to $2 and then will take about 5 to 6 percent on a sliding scale, depending on such factors as the size of the project and how often the buyer frequents the site, says Beerud Sheth, chief executive officer of eLance.

Variety of Services

Buyers and sellers have been testing eLance free of charge since August. The site already boasts hundreds of unique services ranging from computer engineering and Web site development to poets and feng shui experts. Services are grouped by category, such as Computer, Creative, Family & Household, Medical, Personal, and Miscellaneous.

Service providers write a profile and set their own prices, which vary greatly. Each service provider's profile also includes feedback from previous buyers.

Online buyers can search for a particular service or scroll through the numerous listings. Buyers can also initiate the search by posting a request for a proposal, which freelancers can peruse for work. When a match occurs, the buyer and seller negotiate directly by e-mailing a short form that includes the project specifications. Once a job is accepted, the two can communicate directly or can use the eLance workspace or Message Board.

ELance goes beyond the services of similar sites, such as guru.com. It aids in handling currency exchange to bridge the gaps among countries, and aims to help freelancers by offering them the workspace and software for a fee. It's not surprising that eLance has already become popular with freelancers around the world. In fact, 40 percent of those participating live outside the U.S., representing 140 countries.

Association of International Consultants
AIC is an independent non-profit making professional association providing on a very short notice Companies and International Institutions with Highly Qualified Experts for short-, medium- and long-term assignments. The expert database includes 3500 registered experts from all over the world. It is regularly updated (no CV is older than 3 months). The company database includes 2500 registered companies. Between 1999 and 2003, AIC has managed 2022 requests for experts issued by Companies and International Institutions, many of them for on-going contracts. Each month, AIC relays between 30 and 60 searches for experts. AIC informs you via an email alert system on new assignment opportunities.

JOB SITES (Executive)

6FigureJobs
Looking for one-click access to fat salary opportunities? 6FigureJobs.com is for those already in the executive trenches, and 6figureMBA.com for those right out of top-tier business schools. Anyone can search and apply for advertised jobs, but membership is recommended. Registrants are screened and qualified. Once inside, members can store and forward résumés, access unadvertised opportunities, and receive a biweekly newsletter and e-mail notifications of new positions. And for privacy, you can make your résumé unavailable for searches. Employers pay all the fees, but the site offers regional off-line seminars that members pay to attend.

Brilliant People
Operated by Management Recruiters International, one of the world's largest executive recruitment firms, Brilliant-People.com claims to complete more than 34,000 job searches in 35 countries each year. Here you can search for a job or for a recruiter who specializes in your field. Manage your career using nearly a dozen tools, including résumé-writing tips, relocation information, and a salary calculator. All fees are paid by employers.

Career Journal (Wall Street Journal)
Sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, CareerJournal.com is targeted at the upwardly mobile professional. The jobs database has positions you'll find advertised in the WSJ but also lists ones you won't find there. Expert columns and tips advise you on what recruiters really want and why good candidates can't find good jobs. Along with relocation information and a salary calculator, the features make this a prime stop for the serious job hunter. All services are free.

Chief Monster
This members-only site is operated by Monster.com, so forms and templates have a familiar Monster look. Only those already earning six-figure salaries need apply: Services are free if you pass muster on the qualifying form, although the services of site partners you link to (résumé consulting, for example) bear a fee. Membership has its privileges—access to a database of senior-level job postings from venture capital companies and executive search firms, as well as a host of tools that among other things compare your salary and skills with those of others in your field.

Executive Global Net
Confidentiality is key at ExecGlobalNet. Managers earning $50,000-plus can peruse a jobs database and register a profile to be forwarded to appropriate recruiters. Match a recruiter's criteria and you get e-mail via the site. But the recruiter learns who you are only after you express interest in the job. Though not required, registration is recommended: Recruiters often check profiles of those registered to find candidates for unadvertised jobs. Southern California candidates can attend regional real-world job seminars for a fee.

Exec Searches
Public- and nonprofit-sector senior-level job seekers come to this site for positions in higher-education institutions, health and government agencies, and civic and charitable organizations in locations from New York to Nevada to Kazakhstan. You can sign up for free personalized e-mail with new job postings and post your résumé online. Recruiters and employers can receive assistance with reference checks, position profiling, and online recruiting training. Résumé consultations will cost you, but employers pay for everything else.

Exec Searches
ExecuNet is specifically designed to meet the needs of $100K+ executives and the companies and recruiters who seek to attract them.

The Ladders
Comprehensive site for six-figure and executive jobs. Specialize in Sales, Marketing, Finance, Law, Technology, Executive, Operations and HR Jobs. Nominal fee.

JOB SITES (General)

Career Jet
Careerjet is an employment search engine for the United States. It allows you to search a growing selection of jobs listed on company sites as well as jobsites in one step, saving you the trouble of having to go to each site individually.

Also, some of our tools might be of interest to you:
JobBox - see http://www.careerjet.com/partners/jobbox.html
SearchBox - see http://www.careerjet.com/partners/searchbox.html

Direct Employers
Direct Employers is one of the simplest job-search sites available, and it's also one of the most usable. A search engine with the power and straightforward look and feel of Google pulls job listings directly from employers' Web sites. Advanced searches narrow the results by region, city, or employer. What you get is a more complete list than you would at job sites where employers typically post only a subset of all available jobs at their firms, and the ability to open communications and store your résumé directly with employers' human-resources departments. Owned and managed by a non-profit association of employers (E-Recruiting Association).

HomeTown Careers Network
HomeTown Careers Network is your direct connection to employers and jobs in the Greater San Diego Area, as well as other regions in California including Orange and L.A. counties. Jobseekers can register for free. After registering as a new user, you can use Employer Finder to display a list of companies right for you, then go directly to any employer's jobs page with one click and submit your resume online.

Indeed.com
One search, all jobs. This super-site performs a metasearch of other job sites, including monster.com and craigslist.com. It also searches company, newspaper, and association sites to bring you the latest job listings. You enter a job title and a city, then browse the Google-like listing of job offerings. Site tools help you to narrow the focus of your search.

JamminJobs.com
JamminJobs.com is a national job board that lists thousands upon thousands of open positions nationwide. In addition to jobs, we provide the articles and resources for both job seekers and employers alike to meet all of their employment needs. .

JobSniper
Tap into most major online job listings with JobSniper's all-in-one Job Search Engine. Activate your JobSniper Search Agents and have results sent directly to your e-mail. We've searched the web for the best career sites, resources & tools and put them at your fingertips.

JobStar San Diego
San Diego area job search guide provided by the San Diego Public Library. Includes an extensive list of links to San Diego area job banks.

SignOn San Diego Joblink
San Diego Union-Tribune job site. Here you can post your resume, sign up for email alert messages when employers post jobs that fit your requirements, find "how-to" articles on interviewing and networking, job fair calendars, and search hundreds of job postings from San Diego employers.

Career Management Favorite Web Sites
This is an extensive list of Web site addresses that you can download and install in the Favorites folder of your Internet browser. You gain immediate access to all of the sites listed on this page, and a whole lot more. Windows users should download the WinZip file (47 KB) into the C:\Windows\Favorites folder and unzip the contents by double-clicking on the file name "Career_Management_Favorites.zip". When WinZip prompts you for a folder name, specify: C:\Windows\Favorites. When the Career_Management_Favorites.zip file is unzipped, you will then have a number of zip files named for different career management categories. Each of these files contains a list of Web site addresses. Unzip each file one at a time, and create a folder in your browser's Favorites list for each category. For more information on using WinZip, please visit www.winzip.com.

NETWORKING GROUPS (Generic)

CMC 4th Friday
The Claremont McKenna College Alumni Association, San Diego Chapter, hosts networking events for alumni and friends on the 4th Friday of every month, from 11:30am to 1pm. Meetings feature a speaker from the business community and are led by Capt. Jack Goddard (USN, retired). Since the early 90's, Capt Jack has made a personal mission of helping members of the "un" club: anyone who is un-employed or under-employed will find a warm, supportive environment, job search tools and ideas, and even a cheering section! Meetings are $10 (first-time visitors free) and are held at Coco's Restaurant located at 5955 Balboa Avenue, 1/2 mile west of I-805 at the corner of Balboa and Genessee). To get on the mailing list, email Capt Jack at jgoddard@san.rr.com.

The Layoff Lounge
The Layoff Lounge is one of the fastest growing jobseeker networking events in the country. Since February 2001, monthly events have been hosted in more than 20 major U.S. cities. Comments like these are typical:

“This may be the one networking event where its agenda is true to its purpose: people helping people. When you have the opportunity to spend time with others that are in the same situation as yourself, it makes you relax and really open up.” – Howard C.

At a typical event, more than half of the audience is made up of trained professionals currently seeking employment. The remaining participants include HR personnel & recruiters, corporate executives & decision makers, financial planners and/or entrepreneurs/VC's looking for business opportunities, and employed individuals looking for their next career move.

The Karma Club provides significant value for participants. The opportunity to network with many quality individuals and come away with solid contacts benefits job-seekers, recruiters, and entrepreneurs alike.

In addition to networking events, the Layoff Lounge Web site assists jobseekers by offering numerous online resources and a jobs board.

San Diego Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber offers networking events on a regular basis to become better acquainted with members of San Diego's business community. You need not be
a member to attend many of these events, which include monthly mixers such as "Business After Five", and annual events including the B2B Expo (May) and Career Expo (September). Check the calendar on the Chamber Web site for dates, and register to receive email notification in advance of each event.

RESOURCES

Oasis - Enriching the Lives of Mature Adults
OASIS is a national nonprofit educational organization designed to enhance the quality of life for mature adults. Offering challenging programs in the arts, humanities, wellness, technology and volunteer service, OASIS creates opportunities for older adults to continue their personal growth and provide meaningful service to the community.

The Riley Guide
With a simple, user-friendly format, the Riley Guide will put you on the path to a better career. The site has gathered advice, information and links on hundreds of topics, from Internships to Self-Assessment Resources. Learn how to write the perfect resume and cover letter. Prepare an electronic resume and post it in a free resume database. Don't forget to check the Employer Research and Salary Guides. Browse the A to Z Index for a list of all topics covered by The Riley Guide.

Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance is a comprehensive resource for students and jobseekers of all ages. Published in four volumes, this tome covers more than 2,500 job titles with in-depth articles that explore 93 different industries. Each article offers expanded career information, a bibliography, sidebars and other user-friendly features, as well as an extended profile of someone working in the field. Receiving prominent treatment in this edition are the top 10 fastest growing careers and the top 10 careers that experts predict will add the greatest number of positions through the year 2010.

Jobseekers will find the information on job search preparation in Volume 1 particularly helpful, like having a counselor at your elbow offering you a crib sheet.

Copies of the encyclopedia may be found at your local library, college, or university.
(Ferguson Publishing, ISBN 0-89434-274-6)

Wetfeet
Top job candidates rely on WetFeet’s consumer websites, www.WetFeet.com and www.InternshipPrograms.com, for the most comprehensive company research and career-related information to help them make better career decisions, as well as for the latest job and internship opportunities for college-educated talent. Additionally, WetFeet's award-winning company profiles and career management content power the career sections of top properties across the web, including Yahoo!, TrueCareers, The Wall Street Journal, AOL, and Military.com, as well as hundreds of universities worldwide.

SEARCH FIRMS

Business Services
The San Diego WorkForce Partnership has provided a list of San Diego employment agencies and staffing companies. If you scroll up to the top of the page, you'll also find an exclusive list of San Diego employers with direct links to their job boards.

Employment Agencies in San Diego
Links to various headhunters and specialty recruiters.

SDBJ Book of Lists
Published annually by the San Diego Business Journal, the Book of Lists is a veritable "who's who" of businesses in San Diego. To find a listing of the top staffing firms in San Diego, look under the "Office" category under "Book of Lists Free View." Sister journals exist for Orange County and L.A. County. For more information, visit the San Diego Business Journal Web site at www.sdbj.com

VOLUNTEERING

Business Roundtable for Education
The Best Practices in Education project, sponsored by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, is a carefully orchestrated program that seeks out and highlights promising practices from within San Diego County K-8 schools to make program replication and contact information readily available to teachers and business leaders to enhance learning environments for all students.

Network for Good
Network for Good helps you find a volunteer opportunity that's right for you. Use the search tool to find volunteer opportunities that match your interests and geographic location, or search for an organization by name. Get started with 10 tips on volunteering wisely.

San Diego's Promise - The Alliance for Youth
Study after study clearly demonstrates that the average American is prepared to do more, if only someone would ask them to and would teach them how. W e are mobilizing our community to participate in the lives of all our youngsters. Every child who thinks he or she is at risk is, in reality, a child of promise. We will demonstrate that we can come together as a community to give the time and resources every child needs to be successful in life.

Volunteer 8
TV Channel 8 and Volunteer San Diego have teamed up to create Volunteer 8. The site offers a form which you can use to match up your interests with over 5,000 volunteer opportunities. The site also provides a portal to other volunteer organizations in San Diego.

Volunteer Opportunity Search
Use this search engine to find volunteer opportunities that match your interests and skills. Also search by organization.

Volunteer San Diego
Interested in making a difference in your community? Volunteer San Diego can help connect you with the volunteer opportunity that meets your interests and schedule. Volunteer San Diego coordinates a network of volunteers who feed our homeless, serve our seniors and read to our kids. We also connect volunteers to 700 non-profits and assist companies schools and non-profits in developing volunteer programs. Whether it is through our Flexible Volunteer Program, or with one of our non-profit partners, we can help you find an opportunity to make a difference in your community.

Revised 2/1/05