Word on RealStreet!

 

We hope you're having a fantastic start to the new year! Have you kept your resolutions so far? If your goal is to begin looking for new career opportunities, let us know!  We want to help you see success in 2018!

Best wishes from everyone here at RealStreet! 

Sincerely,
  
Katy Cook, CSP
Marketing Coordinator
 

What's Happened at RealStreet?
Recap: JobSeeker January
What is JobSeeker January?   

While we have wrapped up JobSeeker January, we are still here to help. Do you have any unanswe red questions? Reach out!
If you are considering a career change, check out the resources below:

Did you miss any of our quick tips? Watch them now!

 

  

For a deeper dive into three critical aspects of a job search - steps to take before beginning the job search process, writing / updating resumes and creating / updating your LinkedIn profile - refer to the video resources below: 

 

 

RealStreet will help you get a new job in 2018!

CELEBRATIONS!

 
RealStreet wishes you a very 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
  • Kidest A. - 02/12
  • LIsa C. - 02/22
  • Robert W. - 02/25
OFFICE CLOSINGS:

RealStreet will be closed:
  • February 19th

white_pink_birthday_cake.jpg

Interesting Industry Information
How Does the Job Market Look?
For another look at the information,
check out the BLS' interactive graphs.
The U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a "M onthly Jobs Report"  soon after the beginning of each month. Each report describes the previous month's employment situation, based on data such as the number of jobs that were added to the economy and the unemployment rate. According to t he  December Jobs Report,  t he US economy saw an increase of 148,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%. 

Mark Zandi, chief economist with Moody's Analytics, was quoted in a recent Bloomberg post saying that  "the entire global economy had a very good 2017." The BLS's December Current Employment Statistics Summary illustrated ongoing yearly growth as well, as shown in the image below. 2.1 million jobs were added this past year, and 2.2 million were added the year before. 


While economists have mixed feelings about what the 2018 job market will look like, many agree that  President Trump's tax overhaul will play a significant role in its outcome. The tax bill could boost the economy, lead to new job creation, increased salaries and compensation and lend to efforts that shrink skills gaps. 

Some are concerned because they believe the initial boost may occur too quickly.  With new tax breaks, companies are likely  to start new projects / expand business   efforts.  B usinesses may use this as an opportunity to charge more for their goods and services, especially as they may need to hire additional employees to meet the demand.  While it might sound ideal for everyone, (the more jobs the merrier, right?) the rapid influx may lead to inflation and increased interest rates. 

Unemployment remains at historically low levels and companies continue to add jobs that they can't fill.  With increased demand for talent, a relatively stagnant supply of workers seeking employment and rising wages,  how will businesses find the skilled workers needed to complete all of their new projects? They will need to be competitive.

Wages are expected to rise at a greater pace in the upcoming year because of this, which in turn will lead to an increase in employee confidence in the job market.  As worker confidence rises, they will begin seeking out new opportunities. Employers will need to become more competitive, not just to secure new hires, but to retain their top talent as well.

Unfortunately, drastic price and wage increases could negatively impact inflation. Rapidly rising rates may then trigger a rushed adjustment by the Federal Reserve. The outcome of which is unpredictable, but the worst case scenario is another recession. At this point, only time will tell. 

Architecture, Engineering & Construction Industry 

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. reported that the construction industry added 16,000 jobs in December, while the BLS showed an increase of 30,000 within the industry. The BLS reported the addition of 210,000 construction jobs during 2017, an increase from the 155,000 jobs added to the industry the previous year.



The Dodge Momentum Index tracks and measures the initial reporting of non-residential building projects. With the increase in non-residential construction projects, the Dodge Data & Analytics' Momentum Index rose 3.6% in December to 153.9, in anticipation of future spending. The aforementioned article said that the Momentum Index, when viewed on a year-over-year basis, is almost 21% higher, with the commercial building up .7% and the institutional building up 8.6%. Analysts believe that the turnaround in October, November and December indicates an increase in building activity in 2018.
HOT JOBS!
How many job seekers do you know? Would they be a good fit for one of these positions? 

 To see all of our open positions, check out the  RealStreet Job Board !

RECENT PLACEMENTS
RealStreet has recently filled the following positions!
  • Administrative Assistants
  • Public Assistance Trainer
  • Estimators
  • Construction Managers
  • Program Delivery Managers
  • Program Coordinator
  • Estimating Manager
  • Track Engineer
IT & Cyber Security
Industry-Wide Issues: Spectre & Meltdown
What are the Issues?

It was recently brought to light that chip manufacturers have  two critical flaws ( Spectre  and  Meltdown)  in their CPUs that allow applications to read kernel memory.   According to a recent  Trend Micro  post: 
  • Meltdown, designated as CVE-2017-5754, can enable hackers to gain privileged access to parts of a computer's memory used by an application/program and the operating system (OS). Meltdown affects Intel processors.
  • Spectre , designated as CVE-2017-5753 and CVE-2017-5715, can allow attackers to steal information leaked in the kernel/cached files or data stored in the memory of running programs, such as credentials (passwords, login keys, etc.). Spectre  reportedly  affects processors from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Advanced RISC Machine (ARM).
A recent CNET article explained the vulnerabilities simply: "t o make computer processes run faster, a chip will essentially guess what information the computer needs to perform its next function. That's called speculative execution. As the chip guesses, that sensitive information is momentarily easier to access."

Are You at Risk?

Most likely. The issues  have existed in products for over two decades and could impact everything including phones, personal computers and servers.  Companies including Intel, Amazon, Google, Apple and Microsoft have been rushing to issue fixes. However, this is much easier said than done.

Solving these issues requires the development of patches and large-scale coordination across the industry. It's important to note that i t's unlikely that older devices and systems will get patches, and some chip enabled devices simply can't get patched.  Fortunately, it does not appear as though anyone has exploited these weaknesses outside of testing environments. 

What Should You Do?

Since a hacker would need to have malware running locally on a device to access data, t he best offense for home users, is a good defense. Make sure your security patches are up to date and keep an eye out for system updates. Be especially cautious when installing anything. While patches are available and will continue to get released, some patches, such as some of Intel's recent releases, are causing additional problems. Plus, n ow that criminals are aware of the problem, they will try to exploit it. 

To minimize risk, experts recommend general safety practices, such as:
Is this a Sign of Things to Come?

Now that issues such as these are public knowledge, criminals will begin to target hardware for weaknesses. As stated in a recent article from The Atlantic, resolving issues such as Spectre and Meltdown  requires industry cooperation. Companies usually wait to announce vulnerabilities until security updates have been made. Industry-wide issues require more coordination and sharing of information. This increases the risk of issues being announced prematurely, simply due to the number of parties involved, the impact of which could provide criminals with a window of attack.

Featured News Post
The Top 3 Job Seeker Articles from 2017
Crafting a targeted resume when applying directly to a job is crucial if you want to sell yourself as an ideal candidate. Ideally, you would be able to match noteworthy accomplishments from your past to each of the requirements. You could then present it in a way that shows the reader that you not only have the hard skills and experience they're looking for, you have the intangible qualities (your soft skills) as well. Unfortunately, that's often easier said than done.

Before applying to a job, follow these four steps to ensure your resume has the greatest impact in the hands of a hiring manager. 


Financial Advice From Your Future Self 
Keep Your Hands Off!
While it may be tempting to borrow from your retirement savings, in the end it may not be the best option. Borrowing from your 401(k) today can impact your future and defeat the overall purpose of saving for retirement. Before you withdraw from your 401(k), consider these three reasons why you should keep your hands off. 
  1. Consider Tax Implications - Participating in a 401(k) lowers your taxable income. When you borrow from your 401(k) you must repay the loan with after-tax dollars. Also, unlike mortgage loan interest, the interest on the 401(k) loan is not tax deductible.
  2. Loss of Opportunity - Borrowing from your 401(k) means you lose out on potential growth since it's not invested in the market. You're missing out on compounding earnings and tax-deferred growth. This loss of time can never be recovered. Also, some plans require you to pay back the loan before you're able to contribute to your plan.
  3. If you Leave Your Job - If you are no longer working for your employer, you must repay your loan within 60 days. The amount of loan that is not paid back is considered a distribution and is subject to income tax and 10% early withdrawal penalty (if under the age of 59 ½).
Tapping into your retirement savings has its consequences. Before you borrow against your 401(k) it's important to explore all other options and consult with your financial advisor first. 

Need to register?

Go online to  www.jhpensions.com and click on "Register"
1. Enter your contract number, last name, social security number and date of birth
2. Enter your email address, and create your username and password
3. Choose challenge questions and answers

Track your progress towards retirement at any time!

Seasonal Safety
5 Tips for Driving on Black Ice
Black ice, one of winter's greatest driving hazards, can make the road a dangerous place. The thin coating of transparent ice that compromises traction for even the most capable vehicles can be as hard to spot as it is hard to avoid in late winter. Don't let black ice get in the way of your travel plans this year. Equip yourself with the knowledge to drive safe and smart so that slippery conditions won't compromise your next outing, your safety, or your vehicle's longevity.
 
1. Know what to look for
Black ice, caused when light rain or drizzle falls onto pavement that's temperature is below freezing, can easily be mistaken for new asphalt or puddles of water. Look for dark, glossy patches up ahead on the road that appear slightly wet. Be extra alert when driving on tree-covered stretches of roads and driveways, as a lack of direct sunlight can make black ice more likely to form. Bridges and overpasses also tend to be affected as a result of cold air circulation passing above and below.
 
2. Stay informed, plan your trip accordingly 
Make a habit of checking weather and road reports before travelling, especially after winter storms. The peak time for black ice to form is just after a winter storm has cleared up, when the warmer air melts the snow and brings moisture into direct contact with still-freezing pavement. Be extra cautious in the morning and early evening, when temperatures are lowest. Travel is ideal during the day, when the sun is out and ice melts and roads become less slick. If possible, limit travel at peak hazard times and take extra precaution when driving at night, when visibility is low.
 
3. Prepare your vehicle 
Keep your vehicle winter-ready with regular maintenance check-ups, and by checking the air pressure of your tires frequently. Consider equipping  your car with winter tires as well. They won't just keep you safe, they'll save you money!  By preventing snow build-up and maintaining traction on icy roads, winter tires could mean the difference between a safe trip and a collision. In fact,  a fresh set of winter tires can decrease your breaking distance up to 25% when driving in poor conditions!
 
4. Don't underestimate the advantage of driving slow 
Driving at reduced speeds is the best precautionary measure against slippage. Knowing how your car responds to various weather conditions is important. Practice slow-speed maneuvers in ice-covered parking lots before taking a big trip. If you happen to be driving a new vehicle, take a look through your owner's manual to familiarize yourself with your vehicle's braking system and other features. When driving, focus your attention on the road up ahead, keeping at least 8-10 seconds of space between your front bumper and the car in front of you (about two car lengths).
 
5. Be confident 
Confident driving means operating your vehicle with conviction. Execute smooth, precise movements of the steering wheel and gas and brake pedals, and in the event that you hit a patch of black ice, resist the knee-jerk reaction to slam on the breaks. As soon as your car begins to slide, take your foot off the gas pedal. It is important to slow down when driving on black ice, as with any other winter road conditions.  

Remember, your car's most important safety feature is the driver. Trust yourself and your vehicle. When you make safe driving, diligent maintenance, and reliable car insurance priorities, you can be confident when faced with all of winter's driving perils.

The aforementioned content was courtesy of Desjardins Insurance.

Keep in Touch!
Feedback Wanted! 
We Value Referrals!
Would you mind taking a moment to  write a few sentences  about your experience working with RealStreet?  Thank you!
Who in your network is looking for a new opportunity? 

Check our  open positions to see if any are a match to the job seekers that you know. At RealStreet we value great candidates and when it comes down to it, we know you're the Real Deal! We have a great referral program that compensates you for every qualified referral you provide us.