• Business Architect — integrating IT with business, creating roles such as a fashioning high-level company strategy with technology in mind
• Data Scientist — analysing and leveraging data about customer behavior, security risks, potential system failures, and more
• Social Media Architect — specialized knowledge to build secure communities within a business network and between businesses and customers
• Mobile Technology Expert — evaluate mobile platforms for enterprise use, research and draft device specifications, and support users and developers within the enterprise
• Enterprise Mobile Developer — Building mobile apps, architecting mobile strategies, and securing those devices
• Cloud Architect – establishing and managing a private cloud infrastructure

Read the full story HERE.

Human Capital Solutions, LLC, announced the official opening of SocialMediaPlus 2011, a one and a half-day Web 2.0 & Social Media business summit exploring practical ideas for the use of social media in business. The event, being held on November 15 and 16th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, is expected to attract nationally recognized speakers and presenters from the social media industry.

After a highly successful event in 2010 which included over 700 attendees and 60 exhibitors and sponsors, SocialMediaPlus is returning to Philadelphia with an expanded curriculum, including the addition of the SocialMediaPlus Academy, being held on November 15th, 2011 from 1pm – 5pm.  The Academy offers pre-conference training sessions that will provide three in-depth classroom style training courses in specific topic areas, including Facebook Advertising and Corporate Branding, LinkedIn Company Pages and Advertising, and Google Adwords, Analytics, and SEO.   The SocialMediaPlus Conference and Expo takes place on November 16th, 2011, from 8am – 5pm.

The SocialMediaPlus Conference features 20+ seminars with a focus on four business tracks including Executive, Sales and Business Development, Marketing, and Human Resources.  Each seminar will allow business owners, executives, vice presidents, directors, and managers to learn proven strategies and tactics for utilizing social media tools, tactics, and strategies within their specific line of business.

“We had great feedback from SocialMediaPlus 2010, and we’re excited to do it again this year,” says Joseph Stubblebine, president of Human Capital Solutions, LLC, a leading developer and producer of large-scale events in the Mid-Atlantic region.   Event co-chairs for 2011 will be Gloria Bell, a social media consultant and president of the Social Media Club of Philadelphia, and Bob Etheridge, a social media champion and chair of last year’s event.  ”We all know that there is no question that social media has become an important part of business.  The trick is to having the understanding and knowledge that will allow you to effectively integrate it into your overall plan,” says Gloria Bell.  ”SocialMediaPlus 2011 will showcase the people, tools, strategies, and best practices that are changing how businesses operate in the new social world.”

The SocialMediaPlus team is currently accepting applications for speakers for the November 16th sessions and is looking for speakers who are actively involved in managing social media campaigns for brands, have case studies they can share, or have a specific expertise in consulting or executing social media campaigns in one of the four business track verticals. Interested parties are encourage to visit the speakers page at SocialMediaPlus.com for more information.

Along with the SocialMediaPlus Academy and the SocialMediaPlus Conference, the event will include an exposition featuring local, regional and national businesses who provide services, products, and consulting expertise to assist companies with their Social Media strategies, technology development, brand monitoring, and social marketing.  Some of last year’s exhibitors included Jigsaw.com, Chevy, Alterian, TMP Worldwide, ListenLogic, BlueSky Factory, and others.  Expo space and event sponsorships are available.  Please visit SocialMediaPlus.com for registration details or event contact information.   Additional featured speakers and the complete schedule will be released in the coming weeks and will be posted on the Web site.

New state investments in Pennsylvania’s technology sector will help bring innovative products to the marketplace and strengthen Pennsylvania’s energy industry, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker announced Thursday.

The $30.6 million investment was approved today by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority (BFTDA) to support the four regionally based Ben Franklin Technology Partners. A portion of these funds, $16.6 million, will focus on development of alternate energy start-ups and new product innovations. The Technology Authority is designed to help Pennsylvania entrepreneurs build globally competitive technology companies.

“The funding approved today is an investment in Pennsylvania’s future,” Walker said today after the BFTDA’s quarterly meeting. “Providing resources to Pennsylvania’s early-stage and established technology firms, promotes technological innovation, spurs economic growth, and creates high-paying jobs throughout the state.”

The Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority is one of the nation’s largest and most-replicated state technology development programs, providing a vehicle for investment in economic, community and university-based innovation.

In 2009-10, the programs administered by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority created more than 4,700 jobs, retained another 15,000 jobs, helped to form 174 new companies, and resulted in an additional $1.3 billion in public and private investments.

In addition to empathy, there are four other intangible fundamentals to a successful interview. These intangibles will influence the way your personality is perceived, and will affect the degree of rapport, or personal chemistry you’ll share with the employer.

Enthusiasm. Leave no doubt as to your level of interest in the job. You may think it’s unnecessary to do this, but employers often choose the more enthusiastic candidate in the case of a two-way tie. Besides, it’s best to keep your options open. Wouldn’t you rather be in a position to turn down an offer, than have a prospective job evaporate from your grasp by giving a lethargic interview?

Technical interest. Employers look for people who love what they do, and get excited by the prospect of tearing into the nitty-gritty of the job.

Confidence. No one likes a braggart, but the candidate who’s sure of his or her abilities will almost certainly be more favorably received.

Intensity. The last thing you want to do is come across as “flat” in your interview. There’s nothing inherently wrong with being a laid back person; but sleepwalkers rarely get hired.

Most employers are aware of how stressful it can be to interview for a new position, and will do everything they can to put you at ease.

Other Important Factors

Since interviewing also involves the exchange of tangible information, always make sure to present your background in a thorough and accurate manner and gather data concerning the company, the industry, the position, and the specific opportunity

A worthwhile interviewing goal is to link your abilities with the company needs in the mind of the employer so you can build a strong case for why the company should hire you. The more you know about each other, the more potential you’ll have for establishing rapport, and making an informed decision.

Resume questions require accurate, objective answers, since your resume consists of facts which tend to be quantifiable (and verifiable). Try to avoid answers which exaggerate your achievements, or appear to be opinionated, vague, or egocentric.

Second, interviewers will usually want you to comment on your abilities, or assess your past performance. They’ll ask self-appraisal questions like, “What do you think is your greatest asset?” or, “Can you tell me something you’ve done that was very creative?”

Third, interviewers like to know how you respond to different stimuli. Situation questions ask you to explain certain actions you took in the past, or require that you explore hypothetical scenarios that may occur in the future. “How would you stay profitable during a recession?” or, “How would you go about laying off 1300 employees?” or, “How would you handle customer complaints if the company drastically raised its prices?” are typical situation questions.

And last, some employers like to test your mettle with stress questions such as, “After you die, what would you like your epitaph to read?” or, “If you were to compare yourself to any U.S. president, who would it be?” or, “It’s obvious your background makes you totally unqualified for this position. Why should we even waste our time talking?”

Stress questions are designed to evaluate your emotional reflexes, creativity, or attitudes while you’re under pressure. Since off-the-wall or confrontational questions tend to jolt your equilibrium, or put you in a defensive posture, the best way to handle them is to stay calm and give carefully considered answers.

Remember, your sense of humor will come in handy during the entire interviewing process, just so long as you don’t go over the edge. I heard of a candidate who, when asked to describe his ideal job, replied, “To have beautiful women rub my back with hot oil.” Needless to say, he wasn’t hired.

Even if it were possible to anticipate every interview question, memorizing dozens of stock answers would be impractical, to say the least. The best policy is to review your background, your priorities, and your reasons for considering a new position; and to handle the interview as honestly as you can. If you don’t know the answer to a question, just say so, or ask for a moment to think about your response.

2. Clarity of dates and place. Document your work history and educational credentials accurately. Don’t leave the reader guessing where and when you were employed, or when you earned your degree.

3. Explicitness. Let the reader know the nature, size and location of your past employers, and what their business is.

4. Detail. Specify some of the more technical, or involved aspects of your past work or training, especially if you’ve performed tasks of any complexity, or significance.

5. Proportion. Give appropriate attention to jobs or educational credentials according to their length, or importance to the reader. For example, if you wish to be considered for an engineering position, don’t write one paragraph describing your current engineering job, followed by three paragraphs about your summer job as a lifeguard.

6. Relevancy. Confine your information to that which is job-related or clearly demonstrates a pattern of success. Concentrate only on subject matter that addresses the needs of the employer.

7. Length. Fill up only a page or two. If you write more than two pages, it sends a signal to the reader that you can’t organize your thoughts, or you’re trying too hard to make a good impression. If your content is strong, you won’t need more than two pages.

8. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Create an error-free document that’s representative of an educated person. If you’re unsure about the correctness of your writing (or if English is your second language), consult a professional writer or editor.

9. Readability. Organize your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. No resume ever won a Nobel Prize for literature; however, a fragmented or long-winded resume will virtually assure you of a place at the back of the line.

10. Readability. Be sure to select a conventional type style, such as Times Roman or Arial, and choose a neutral background or stationery. If your resume takes too much effort to read, it may end up in the trash, even if you have terrific skills.

But unless you can afford to rely on your “reputation,” or on the recommendation of a barracuda recruiter, you’ll need more than the right qualifications to get the job you want-you’ll need a dynamite resume.

In today’s competitive employment market, your resume has to stand out in order to get the attention of the decision maker and create a strong impression. And later on, when you meet the prospective employer face to face, a strong resume will act as a valuable tool during the interviewing process.

Truth in Advertising

The best way to prepare a dynamite resume is not to change the facts, just make them more presentable. This can be accomplished in two ways: [1] by strengthening the content of your resume; and [2] by enhancing its appearance.

Although there’s no federal regulatory agency like the FDA or FCC to act as a watchdog, I consider it to be ethical common sense to honestly and clearly document your credentials. In other words, don’t make exaggerated claims about your past.

Remember, your resume is written for the employer, not for you. Its main purpose, once in the hands of the reader, is to answer the following questions: How do you present yourself to others? What have you done in the past? And what are you likely to accomplish in the future?

In addition to providing a factual representation of your background, your resume serves as an advertisement. The more effective your 30-second commercial, the more the customer-the employer-will want to buy the expertise you’re selling.

* The chronological resume presents your skills and accomplishments within the framework of your past employers. (Actually, it should be called a reverse chronological resume, since your last job should always appear first.)

Although the information you furnish the reader may essentially be the same, there’s a big difference in the way the two resumes are constructed, and the type of impact each will have. My experience has shown that the chronological resume brings the best results, since it’s the most explicit description of the quality and application of your skills within a specific time frame.

The summary resume, on the other hand, works well if you’ve changed jobs or careers often, and wish to downplay your work history and highlight your level of expertise. If a prospective hiring manager is specifically interested in a steady, progressively advancing employment history (as most are), then the summary resume will very likely work against you, since the format will seem confusing, and might arouse suspicions as to your potential for longevity.

However, if the employer’s main concern is your technical or problem-solving ability, the summary resume will serve your needs just fine. Either way, you should always follow the guidelines mentioned earlier regarding content and appearance.

Crafting Your Resume “Objective”

Most employers find that a carefully worded statement of purpose will help them quickly evaluate your suitability for a given position. An objective statement can be particularly useful as a quick-screen device when viewed by the manager responsible for staffing several different types of positions. (“Let’s see; programmers in this pile, plant managers in that pile…”)

While a stated objective gives you the advantage of targeting your employment goals, it can also work against you. A hiring manager lacking in imagination or who’s hard pressed for time will often overlook a resume with an objective that doesn’t conform to the exact specifications of a position opening. That means that if your objective reads “Vice President position with a progressive, growth-oriented company,” you may limit your options and not be considered for the job of regional manager for a struggling company in a mature market-a job you may enjoy and be well suited to.

If you’re pretty sure of the exact position you want in the field or industry you’re interested in, then state it in your objective. Otherwise, broaden your objective or leave it off the resume.

Educational accomplishments. List your degree(s) and/or relevant course work, thesis or dissertation, or specialized training. Be sure to mention any special honors, scholarships, or awards you may have received, such as Dean’s List, Cum Laude, or Phi Beta Kappa.

Additional areas of competency. These might include computer software fluency, dollar amount of monthly raw materials purchased, or specialized training.

Professional designations that carry weight in your field. If you’re licensed or certified in your chosen profession or belong to a trade organization, by all means let the reader know.

Success indicators. You should definitely include anything in your past that might distinguish you as a leader or achiever. Or, if you worked full time to put yourself through school, you should consider that experience a success indicator, and mention it on your resume.

Related experience. Anything that would be relevant to your prospective employer’s needs. For example, if your occupation requires overseas travel or communication, list your knowledge of foreign languages. If you worked as a co-op student in college, especially in the industry you’re currently in, let the reader know.

Military history. If you served in the armed forces, describe your length of service, branch of service, rank, special training, medals, and discharge and/or reserve status. Employers generally react favorably to military service experience.

Security clearances. Some industries require a clearance when it comes to getting hired or being promoted. If you’re targeting an industry such as aerospace or defense, give your current and/or highest clearable status, and whether you’ve been specially checked by an investigative agency.

Citizenship or right to work. This should be mentioned if your industry requires it. Dual citizenship should also be mentioned, especially if you think you may be working in a foreign country.

In a competitive market, employers are always on the lookout for traits that distinguish one candidate from another. Not long ago, I worked with an engineering manager who mentioned the fact that he was a three-time national power speed boat champion on his resume. It came as no surprise that several employers warmed up to his resume immediately, and wanted to interview him.

I’ve never heard one good reason to mention your past, current, or expected salary. If you see a classified ad that says, “Only resumes with salary history will be considered,” don’t believe it. If your resume is strong enough, you’ll be contacted. Once contacted, be forthright.

Item #2: References.

If you have high-impact or well known professional references, fine. Otherwise, “References: Available Upon Request” will do just fine. Avoid personal references like your minister or your attorney, unless they happen to be Billy Graham or Sandra Day O’Connor.

Item #3: Superfluous materials.

When submitting a resume, avoid enclosing such items as your thesis, photos, diplomas, transcripts, product samples, newspaper articles, blueprints, designs, or letters of recommendation. These are props you can use during your interview, but not before. The only thing other than your resume that’s acceptable is your business card.

Item #4: Personal information.

Leave out anything other than the absolute essentials such as, “Married, two children, willing to relocate, excellent health.” By listing your Masonic affiliation, save-the-whales activism or codependency support group, you could give the employer a reason to suspect that your outside activities may interfere with your work.

Not long ago, I received a resume from a candidate who felt the need to put his bowling average on his curriculum vita. The person must have thought that kind of information might improve his chances of being interviewed. Given the choice, would I show his resume to an employer? Not a chance.

Remember, the greater the relevancy between your resume and the needs of the employer, the more seriously your candidacy will be considered. Say what you need to get the job-and nothing more.