Word on RealStreet!

 

 

Project starts pick up this time of year, meaning more positions are opening each day! Companies rush to take advantage of the warm weather and strive to fill gaps before the start of summer. Demand for quality architecture, engineering and construction professionals is already high and will continue to grow. Now is the perfect time to find a new opportunity! How can we help you grow your career? 

Best wishes from everyone at RealStreet! 

Sincerely,
  
Katy Cook, CSP
Marketing Coordinator
 

What's New at RealStreet?
Things are Getting Interesting 
Here at RealStreet...
Once again, Spring has turned out to be an exciting season for RealStreet! While we are anxious to share good news, work is still in progress and we cannot make any announcements at this time. Rest assured, we will keep you in the loop! 
white_pink_birthday_cake.jpg
CELEBRATIONS!

RealStreet wishes you a very 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
  • LaNika M. - 05/02
  • Olu O. - 05/05
  • Maribeth C. - 05/10
  • Kathryn C. - 05/23
  • Susan W. - 05/30

OFFICE CLOSING:
RealStreet's offices will be closed Monday, May 29, 2017, in honor of Memorial Day. 


We thank all the brave women and men who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms.


New Company Benefits Plan Year!
As you know, May marks the beginning of a new benefits plan period at RealStreet. Did you sign up?  Here are some valuable websites to bookmark:
Interesting Industry Information
How Does the Job Market Look?
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. The US economy added 98,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.5%. For more information, check out the BLS' interactive graphs.

Analysts had varying opinions about the BLS' findings. Many viewed the report negatively, focusing on unmet job growth expectations, marginal changes in unemployment and disappointments in the progress made by the Trump administration. Many others have a more optimistic view, pointing out how unemployment is at the lowest rate since before the recession, and how both the number of job openings and wages are increasing. 

As stated in a recent   Bloomberg article , Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody's Analytics Inc. , since t he trend in job growth remains solid and the overall economy is still doing well...  t he Fed is going to look past the March weakness " and continue planning for interest-rate increases later this year.  

According to a recent  Dodge Data & Analytics post, project starts within the construction industry increased 5% in March. Overall industry employment increased 2.6% from the previous month, as stated in a recent Construction Dive article. Furthermore, quarterly employment "was 29% higher in the first quarter of 2017 versus the first quarter of 2016". According to another  Construction Dive article, this growth can be attributed to factors such as abnormally warm weather and numerous high profile project starts. Future growth looks promising, however, much of the anticipated work is dependent on government spending decisions.

Industry Challenges
A recent  Willis Towers Watson survey of (C-suite construction executives from across the globe) pinpointed common threats to AEC organizations world-wide. Industry challenges include: 
  • Geopolitical Issues - primarily due to uncertainty of government support and financing, postponement and delays, changes in strategy, and commitment to project pipelines.
  • Workforce Managementissues often stem from growing skills gaps, aging populations and disparate, complex labor laws.
  • Cyber Threats - due in part from the industry's slow adoption of technology, insufficient employee training, and the lack of risk management and cyber security strategies.
Cyber Security

While the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) communities are not facing the growing threat of cyber attacks alone, it is an industry that seems to be behind the curve regarding risk reduction. I n a recent Construction Dive article Jonathan Gossels (president and CEO of  SystemExperts)  stated that construction firms tend to focus on the task at hand, not the potential threat of cyber attacks. As AEC firms become a bigger target for malicious attacks, actions will need to be taken to plan for and mitigate potential problems. 

The article Cyber Security Risks of Collaboration in the Construction Industry, written by Scott Lyon and Kathryn Richter of Sedgwick LLP, and posted on UnitedConstractors.org,  points out how individuals or entities "may seek access to the company's network to obtain proprietary information or trade secrets, for competitive advantage, information warfare, extortion/ransom, protest, financial gain or revenge".  It provides a concise, yet informative look into cyber threats within the AEC industry, for example: 
  • 91% of cyber attacks begin with a spear phishing email
  • 90% of cyber-espionage breaches capture trade secrets or proprietary information
The article also provides an approach to mitigate risk through the implementation of a cyber security program. The steps (which are explained in greater detail within the article) are to: 
  1. Assess 
  2. Prevent 
  3. Train and Test 
  4. Detect Intrusion 
  5. Respond 
It is also important to note that while cyber security programs are effective at reducing risk, they do not eliminate the threat altogether. Preparation - established with adequate controls, processes and training as well as continuous improvements to the processes and controls -  is key to ensuring minimal  impact in the event of a malicious attack. 

Additional cyber security tips can be found in the October 2016 Newsletter.
 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!
  • Owner's Representative
  • Auto CAD Designer /Drafter
  • Utilities Engineer
  • Project Coordinators / Administrative Assistants
  • Document Control Technician
  • Facilitator / Editor / Note Takers
Featured News Post
Five Great Reasons to Use Your Paid Time Off
Paid Time Off (PTO) is part of a company's compensation package. Remarkably, many people do not take full advantage of this benefit.  You earned your days off, don't let them go to waste.  With Summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan a vacation!   Start planning a fun and relaxing getaway today!



Preparing for Retirement
Do You Have a Plan?
You wouldn't take a road trip without a plan, would you? Planning the retirement you've imagined for yourself is no different.

John Hancock offers a simple road map to help you get started. It's a personalized plan for retirement that takes into consideration how you want to spend your time in retirement, how long you have to save for, and the money that you have to contribute to achieve your goal. Visit the John Hancock website to  learn more [video].

How do to get your John Hancock Retirement Action Plan:
  1. Visit www.jhpensions.com (or www.jhnypensions.com if you are a participant domiciled in New York)
  2. Click on "Let's Get Started" from the home page.
  3. Answer a few simple questions and you'll instantly receive your plan.
Seasonal Safety
Working Outside?
Here are Four Tips to Beat the Heat
We are well into Spring and temperatures are heating up. While many people enjoy working outside during the warmer months, outdoor environments come with a plethora of serious risks. In 2014 alone, 2,630 workers suffered from heat illness and 18 died from heat stroke and related causes, according to the  Occupational Safety and Health Administration  (OSHA). Health hazards, such as heat illness, are entirely preventable. Take every necessary precaution to stay safe and remain protected from the elements.


 
Wet Weather Driving Tips 
Wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes each year. Here are some tips you'll want to follow the next time you're caught driving in the rain. Safety starts before you drive, and your goal should be to see and be seen. 
  • Replace windshield wiper inserts that leave streaks or don't clear the glass in a single swipe. 
  • Make sure all headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are properly functioning so other drivers will see you during downpours. 
  • Turn on your headlights whenever you drive. 
  • Proper tire tread depth and inflation are imperative to maintaining good traction on wet roadways. Check tread depth with a quarter inserted upside down into the tire groove. If you can see above Washington's head, start shopping for new tires. 
  • Check each tire's pressure, including the spare, at least once a month... and be sure to check the pressure when the tires are cold. 

Avoid Cruise Control 

 

Most modern cars feature cruise control. This feature works great in dry conditions, but when used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase. To prevent loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car's speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged. 

 

When driving in wet-weather conditions, it is important to concentrate fully on every aspect of driving. Avoiding cruise control will allow the driver more options to choose from when responding to a potential loss-of-traction situation, thus maximizing your safety.  

 

Slow Down and Leave Room  

 

Slowing down during wet weather driving can be critical to reducing a car's chance of hydroplaning, a condition in which the tires rise up on a film of water. With as little as 1/12 inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road. Drivers should reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway. At speeds as low as 35 mph, new tires can still lose some contact with the roadway. 

 

To reduce chances of hydroplaning, drivers should slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply, and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you. Also, it's important for motorists to allow ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of them and beginning to slow down to stop for intersections, turns and other traffic earlier than they normally would.  

 

Responding to a Skid  

 

Even careful drivers can experience skids. If a driver feels their car begin to skid, it's important not to panic and follow these basic steps: 

  1. Continue to look and steer in the direction in which the driver wants the car to go. Avoid slamming on the brakes as this will further upset the vehicle's balance and make it harder to control.  
  2. If you feel the car begin to skid, continue to look and steer in the direction you want the car to go. 
  3. Don't panic and avoid slamming on the brakes to maintain control. 

Overall you want to be extra cautious in wet weather. Slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply and allow ample stopping distance between you and the cars in front of you. Also, do these things one-at-a-time. Brake, then turn, then accelerate.

 

The aforementioned tips are courtesy of AAA Exchange.
 
Just For Fun...

Last month's puzzle:  Click to enlarge.
Think you know the answer? Check the solution!

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.