San Diego’s Hot Companies

JOT Automation Inc.- Is a global automation company that has moved its corporate headquarters in the USA to San Diego’s Sorrento Valley.  The team is led by Stefan Adolfsson, CEO of Americas, who services the Americas from Canada to Latin America. The team in San Diego will be expanding its transtions manufacturing capabilities to San Diego in 2012.  JOT Automation services the telecom, automotive, aerospace, and life sciences industries.  It has facilities in 9 countries and nearly 400 employees worldwide.

Security Business Bancorp - Security Business Bank of San Diego - Grew loans to $182-million as of December 31st, a 5.1% increase year over year, the bank reported.  Total assets grew to $233.5-million, a 3.8% annual increase. Paul Redeno is President and CEO of Security Business Bancorp.

2012 Economic Indicators - increased to 116.8 in December from 116.1 the month prior.  The national index of leading economic indicators, help wanted advertising, unemployment insurance and building permits showed improvement.  The outlook remains positive for 2012.  The local economy is expected to add 20,000 to 25,000 wage and salary jobs during the year.  Not vibrant, but at least heading the correct direction.  Source: Univeristy of San Diego’s Professor Alan Gin.

The 2 Biggest Mistakes When Looking For A Job

By Richard M. Knappen, President, Chessmen Career Movers

“Hope” is not a job search method, yet when one spends all day answering job openings on one of the many Internet job sites, “Hope” is your only companion.  

Mistake #1: The most preferred job search method!  A job search candidate wants someone else to find the job for them.  One may feel that contacting a “Recruiter” or “Head Hunter” or “Executive Search Consultant” –these are all names of the same thing – is an effective way to find a job.  It is not.  It is, in fact, one of the least effective.  Most preferred?  Yes.  Least effective? Yes.

Reasoning:  In today’s economic environment, why would a company pay a Head Hunter between 15% to 25% of the first year salary of a potential employee when the company could easily place an advertisement on one of the numerous Internet job sites, and by doing so, easily receive 200 to 300 – or more - qualified candidates? 

The answer is that they do not.  Often the last place an employer will seek help is from a Head Hunter.  They are, for many employers, simply too expensive. With many qualified candidates seeking employment, finding quality candidates is easier than in the past.   A company will, however, turn to a Head Hunter when they are seeking someone with unique talent, or perhaps a candidate from a competing company.

Although this is the most preferred method, it is often only used as a last resort by the company. 

Mistake #2:  Spending all day answering openings on one of the many Internet job sites.  

Recent statistics from The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that 43% of the unemployed have been unemployed for more than 6 months. Many have been unemployed much longer.  Unemployed a year or longer is not uncommon in today’s economic environment.

When questioned, the long term unemployed often feel that they are conducting a hard-hitting job search.  They will say that “this company has my resume, I sent that company my resume, I have applied at that company, and that company, and that company . . . . . . . ” 

Yet when questioned in depth, the only job search method most of these folks are engaging in is “published openings,” which may defined as Internet job sites and positions advertised on a company’s web site. 

Are there positions there?  Yes.  Should this job search method be ignored?  Of course not.  But these should not be one’s only job search methods. 

Job search “Guru” Richard N. Bolles, in his book “What Color is Your Parachute.” suggests a multi-faceted job search, with an emphasis on those job search methods that are more effective.  The Internet site “JobHuntersBible.com,”  the official online job search resource hosted by Mr. Bolles, says that “Using the Internet to look for job-postings or to post one’s own resume” has a result of around 1%.  

Not terribly effective.

Author Paul T. Forde suggests that there is a very effective method that can be used to conduct a successful job search.  Mr. Forde says, “It is known as NETWORKING.  If used effectively, networking can be a rewarding experience which will often result in a better position in terms of job satisfaction and salary.”

A recent study conducted by the American Society for Metals (ASM) revealed that the majority of technical jobs are found through “referrals,” which is networking.  Truly, networking is often your best opportunity for finding a job.

In many ways the job search process has changed significantly over the last several years.  The creation of the Internet with their accompanying Internet job sites is actually, in terms of history, a relatively new phenomenon.  Further, just a few short years ago there was no such thing as a company web site. 

Yet in terms of effective job search methods, the job search process is changed very little.  A decision-maker at a company who is going to hire someone that reports directly to him or her wants to make that hiring decision, not leave the hiring decision to someone else.  

If you were a decision-maker you would do the same thing.  If you are going to hire someone that reports directly to you, wouldn’t you want to make that hiring decision yourself?  If you are going to work hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and perhaps for years with someone, you want to work with someone you enjoy being around.  You want to make that hiring decision, or be very much involved in that decision.

Employment and Recruitment Coordinator for Atlanta’s APICS organization, Jon Harvill, says that “Getting face-to-face with potential hiring officials is the very best use of your time.  Job seekers require an average of 10 valid face-to-face interviews to receive the job offer they will accept.” 

In summation, one should limit the usage of the 2 biggest mistakes in the job search process, and rely instead on networking as a cornerstone of one’s job search.

Richard M. Knappen is president of Chessmen Career Movers, an outplacement, career management, and consulting firm that is one of the oldest and largest locally-owned companies of its type in Southern California.

Correlation Ventures - San Diego:   Announced that it has raised $165-million in is first venture capital fund.  The company secializes in the field of predictive analytics, which seeks to improve business decision-making by drawing upon fields such as data mining along with historical records of performance.  Correlation Ventures says that its technology enables it to find better investment opportunities.

2012 Economic Indicators - American manufacturers are coming back from the depths of the recession, cranking out more machinery, vehicles and energy.  Factory production surged 15% above its lows of 2 1/2 years ago and is helping drive the economy’s recovery. 

Manufacaturing rose 0.9 percent from November to December, 2011.  It was the largest gain since a year earlier, December 2010.  Over the past year, factory output has risen 3.7 percent, as folks bought more vehicles, and businesses invested more on industrial machinery.  The growth has also help hiring.  Factories added 23,000 jobs in December, 2011, the most since July.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway:  Was awarded a $30.3-million contract by the US Army to support use of a drone system.  The contract increases funding for an existing program for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system, the Department of Defense announced in its list of Contracts.  Work will be performed in Poway.

Revitalizing Your Job Search

By Richard M. Knappen, President, Chessmen Career Movers

You have been answering job openings on the various internet job boards for several weeks or months.  So has everyone else.

You have answered dozens of openings, and have had very little, if any, communication from companies.  So has everyone else.

You have designed a system for keeping track of all of the openings for which you have applied.  You do your best to be organized. You want to make sure, if a company calls you, that you are able to locate the opening.  So has virtually everyone else.

You are frustrated.  So is everyone else.

Currently, 43% of the unemployed have been unemployed for 6 months or more according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. You hear the news.  You wither and shrink from the burden of your circumstances. Yet the New Year is upon us.  Recent economic trends indicate things are beginning to improve; though tepidly.  You have decided to improve your situation.  You make a New Year’s Resolution to find work and improve your present employment situation.

Philosopher James Allen said “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”   You have decided that not only will you make the effort to improve your situation, you will simply not stop trying until success is yours.  You are determined to improve your employment situation.  You will accept nothing less than success.  You will be 100% persistent!

Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich,” considered by many  to be one of the leading authors of the laws of success, said:  “Before success comes in any man’s life, he’s sure to meet with much temporary defeat and perhaps some failures.  When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit.  That’s exactly what the majority of men do.”  Further, Hill said, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”  And, he said, “Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “All of mankind is divided into three classes:  Those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.”  You, to your credit, have decided to become one of “those that move!” 

When the desire for achievement begins, feed its furnace by keeping your goal in your thinking.  Nourish it.  Repeat it.  Develop affirmations and confirmations of your desire for better.  “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” said Hill.  For once you have decided on your goal, on your commitment to move forward with your career, you are already successful for you have begun to achieve your goal. 

Sports great Vince Lombardi said “Confidence is contagious.  So is lack of confidence.”  Be confident.  Know that sustained effort will guide your achievement.  “If you can accept losing, you cannot win.” said Lombardi.  Further, Lombardi said, “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of that he (or she) holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle (life) – victorious.”

About personal effort and a refusal to accept defeat, Winston Churchill said, “A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.”

Set a plan for yourself.  Make the decision to talk with no less than two decision-makers at companies each and every day.  Since people hire people they meet, they know, and most importantly of all, they like, make the effort to meet and develop rapport with people who can help you in your goal achievement, a new employment situation. 

Confucius said  “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.”    Imagine the self respect, the self confidence, you will achieve as you enthusiastically strive toward your new goal.  Imagine the strength of character you engender when you simply refuse to accept anything less than achievement of your goal.  For Abraham Lincoln said, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”

Control your Attitude, expand your Comfort Zone, and demand Persistence of yourself, and as you refuse to accept anything less than success, and success will be yours!

Target Your Job Search to Enhance the Results

By Richard M. Knappen, President, Chessmen Career Movers / Outplacement

We are in the “Information Age,” and Wow!! that has helped the job search candidate, such as you.  It is much easier these days to compile research information on industries, companies and decision makers than it was just a few short years ago.

With your New Year’s Resolution in hand to improve your employment status, you are ready to commence a hard-hitting, comprehensive, multi-faceted job search. 

What should you do first?  Decide where to direct your job search!  Because you will receive the warmest reception in the job market where you have the experience, training, education or certification(s) that a company seeks, you would be wise to continue your career path. 

If you decide that you want to look into other employment areas where your skills and abilities would be directly transferable, that too is an interesting direction.

You may target by:

·         Geographic Area

·         Industry

·         Company Size

·         Function or Position

Geographic Area:  Most folks living in San Diego want to stay in San Diego, so targeting by geographic area is easy.  Or you may decide to expand the geographic area, and open yourself to the possibility to relocation to a different geographic area.  Recent studies show that some states are adding jobs faster than others: Texas, Florida, North Dakota, Arizona, Alabama and South Carolina as well as Washington, Oregon, Utah and Colorado are adding jobs faster than states such as California, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan and West Virginia.  Target a state with a vibrant economy for best results.

Industry:  Database research is the easiest way to target by industry.  The Hoover’s database, which is owned by Dun and Bradstreet, is organized by Standard Industrial Codes (SIC Codes), which allow you to specifically target by industry.  For example, if you want to target the Aerospace industry, look at SIC#3721.  If you decide you want to work in the Healthcare Industry, look at SIC code’s in the 8000 range.  If you want to work for a distributor of Sporting Goods, the best SIC code is 5091.  Interested in the Software industry?  Try SIC code #7372.

Company Size:  Often a job search candidate will want to target larger companies under the assumption that larger companies are more stable and offer more opportunity.   Actually, most of the job creation in the USA comes from small growing companies, and most folks in this country actually work for small companies.  Technically a “small” company is 500 or few employees.  Actually, most companies have less than 50 employees.

So if you want a more viable job search, target smaller companies.  Target companies in growing and vibrant industries for the best results.  Need more training, or a special certification to qualify?  Get it!  What are you waiting for?  Opportunities come to those that prepare themselves for those opportunities.  Vocationally-oriented training is a wise choice.

Function:  If the majority of your experience has been in Accounting, or Engineering, or Marketing, or another other area of specialty, you should direct your efforts toward that department in the companies that you select.  For example, if you have been working in the Accounting Department for the last 7 years, then you should target the Accounting Department. 

Position:  It is also vitally important that you target the correct decision maker.  For example, if your past experience has been working for a manufacturer in the area of production, you may want to target the Manufacturing or Production Manager.  If you have been working in the accounting department of a company, you should target the Accounting Manger or Controller.  If you have been working in marketing, who is in charge of the Marketing Department?

The Human Resources Department is usually there to screen you out.  If you answer a published opening on one of the numerous Internet Job Sites, your resume probably ends up in the Human Resources Department, along with dozens, and maybe hundreds, of other resumes.  Okay.  Nothing you can do about that.  Do not rely on Internet Job Sites.  Do not ignore them, but do not rely on them for your next career connection. 

You should target the decision maker in that company that fits your area of expertise.  If you are an Accountant, target the Accounting Department and the Accounting Manager – or Controller – specifically for an informational meeting.  Learn from that individual how your experience would transfer into their industry.  They are an expert in their industry, and possess a wealth of information about their industry.  Inside information, if you will.  You can learn from them how your skills and experience would transfer to their industry. Perhaps you could ask about performing an Internship for a few weeks or months so that you can gain experience, experience that you can add to your resume.

Another way to look at it would be to target a decision maker that fits the type of work you are seeking and would report to if you were hired.  For instance, if you have been working in inventory control, the Inventory Control Manager job title would probably be your supervisor.  Target the job title that best fits the type of work you are seeking.

In summation, a Targeted Job Search could make the New Year a winner for you!  Give yourself an early 2012 Christmas present, a New Job.

Richard M. Knappen is president of Chessmen Career Movers, an outplacement, career management, and consulting firm that is one of the oldest locally-owned companies in its industry in Southern California.

Cognitive Medical Systems - San Diego:  Is a software company that specializes in solutions for the health care industry.  The company has secured a General Services Administration Schedule 70 federal contract vehicle.  Douglas Burke, President, said “Doing so allows us access to one of the primary contracting methods for the U.S. government uses for IT software and services procurement.