ACX Pacific Northwest Inc. Bringing 40-60 New Jobs To Stockton Port

Looking for a job? Do you like hay?

If you answer yes to both, there might be a new job for you opening up in October 2011 on the Port of Stockton thanks to ACX Pacific Northwest. Their division in Bakersfield, CA is opening up an export processing facility at the Stockton Port to better serve the demands of their customers.

If you are serious about obtaining a position with this company, you'll probably want to contact them before October begins. The Bakersfield office contact information can be found here: http://www.acxpacific.com/contact/

Stockton, CA Job Fair - Waterfront Hotel September 7, 2011

If you are searching for a job in the Stockton area, make sure you attend the HIREvent to get job leads and more. There will be employers on hand ready to hire, so be sure to dress accordingly and bring several copies of your resume. If you need help with your resume, there will be FREE resume review by professionals.

When: Wednesday September 7, 2011 -- Noon - 4pm
Where: University Plaza Waterfront Hotel
110 West Fremont St, Stockton CA

For more information call: 888-The-Jobs

Admission is free and be sure to show up early. You can always find the current open jobs in Stockton here.

It's Not The Economy - It's You.

So many times I overhear people saying "the economy is tough right now, so I can't find a job"

This is not correct.

You don't have a job because you don't have skills that employers want.

Times change, economies change, and so do businesses. Chances are you haven't.

Today, employers are looking for the 'perfect employee' because they get 200 applicants for every position they put up on Craigslist or any other job website. Its like being on the TV Show 'Bachelor' ... when you've got 14 women to choose from, chances are the prettiest and one with the most game will be picked. If you have any flaws bigger than the next girl - you're gone. Same thing is going on today with hiring new employees at most businesses.

Most people that were in the construction business can't find a job because no one is building anything these days. With all the empty commercial real-estate (let alone foreclosure backlog of homes that aren't even listed on the market) no one is going to be building soon. Its almost been 3 years since the fallout in real estate - its time to move on from that bubble.

People that relied on the hourly job at the local mall or office need to move on too. Keep in mind, even in a good economy, employees like this are easy to find and aren't all that valuable to a company. You're basically like a 1990 Ford Taurus in a used car sense ... you still run, but there are better cars on the market if you look around. You need to upgrade your skills so you look like a 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo.

Companies need you to come in and be a superstar, get along with others on the staff, and make the company money. In an office setting, you need to know how to navigate Microsoft XP, and Windows 7, plus Apple OS ... plus software like Excel, Photoshop, and Power Point. In a retail setting, you need to be able to communicate with all kinds of people, while making them feel like they are the most important person in the world ... even though most aren't.

You must be available to work anytime, any day they need you. Plus you need to do jobs they used to hire other people to do. Most companies are asking employees to do more than their job description even stated when you applied ... chances are you will be overworked if you do find a job.

If you don't have the skills or can't multitask on the job, they will someone that can. Plenty of college kids these days $100k in debt will gladly take any job just so they can make their loan payments. Chances are you haven't stepped foot on a College campus in 10 years - so you won't get any job they apply for.

If you think the economy is hurting everyone, keep in mind Bloomberg News reports there are actually more millionaires in 2011 than before the recession started in 2008/2009, proving its not the economy's fault you're not rich - its your own.

Rising Gas Prices Shouldn't Break Your Budget

The Spot Price for barrels of oil has soared in recent weeks due to political unrest in the Middle East. This causes gasoline at the pump to go up in price until the issues are settled.

Californian's have been through this before, when gas was reaching $5.00 a gallon in 2008. Given the rather fickle nature of OPEC controlled countries - the price of gas can go up or down whenever they feel like it. Most of the gasoline that the United States uses actually comes from Mexico and Canada - so these types of price jumps are pure market speculation and panic.

The bottom line is we hear too many consumers that are hurt paying bills and living their daily life when the price of gas goes up. You should never have a budget that is so tight that paying $50 - $100 extra for gas during a month will cause you to not pay other expenses ... but this is all too often the case. People gladly spend $100 a month for an iPhone, Jordan Sneakers, a video game, cable TV or things we don't really 'need' instead of saving that money when we really need it.

Remember to cut back on expenses when you have money so you can have something in reserve when/if daily living expenses go up. The trend over the next couple of years will be for things to get MORE expensive - not cheaper. Think Houses, Food, Water Bills, Rent, Wages ---- all are expected to go up (inflation) in the coming years after a downtrend (deflation). The cost to borrow money (interest rates) will go WAY up in the coming years, as these rates are at record lows and are artificially being held down by the United States Federal Reserve. So don't think you will just charge everything on your credit card either - as those rates are already going up, and will continue to do so.

If a small jump in oil/gas prices causes you to panic about paying bills - its a big sign that you need to cut other expenses out of your life. Sit down tonight and identify things like TV, clothing, eating out, ... ect that you can save money by cutting out of your monthly budget. Doing this over a long period of time will create a nice pile of cash you would have just blown on stuff you don't need/use.

Modesto CA Job Fair March 29, 2011

One of the areas largest Job Fairs will be held at the Modesto Center Plaza on March 29th, 2011 from 12:00am – 4:00pm and admission is free to all local job seekers. Multiple sponsors are hosting this event and expect hundreds of employers to be on hand as well as thousands of job hunters looking for their next career.

Job Fairs have become very popular and often draw huge crowds and this one will be one of the biggest and best in the Central Valley in 2011. The Fair is co-sponsored by some of the biggest names in employment recruiting California Job Journal and HIREvent. TV Stations Telemundo, KCRA, KQCA and Citadel Radio will be on hand as well as promoting the event over their networks. This means that competition for any available jobs at the fair will be difficult and you must bring you best foot forward to land a job.

Job seekers need to bring lots of resumes. I would plan to have at least 100 with me and make sure all the information is accurate and looks good. Be sure to dress appropriately, treat this Job Fair as though you are attending an actual job interview. If you are a College Graduate, I would highly advise attending this event if you are looking for employment. Most of the people attending this event will not have a College degree, so this is your chance to stand out and shine if you have that education on your resume.

The most important thing to remember is don't be shy at an event like this. You've got to put your communication skills to work and try and sell yourself in the mayhem that will be the Modesto Center Plaza on March 29th.  Ladies - this is the time to get dressed up and impress while looking classy. Fellas - it's real important you come wide-eyed and looking sharp at an event like this. I wouldn't go suit and tie, but I would wear my best business casual outfit. Get the smartest person you know to look over your resume and make sure the grammar, spelling, and punctuation is perfect. There will be lots of companies looking to hire at this event, this is the time to make yourself stand out above the rest.

Modesto’s HIREvent Job Fair
Modesto Center Plaza
1000 L Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Tuesday, March 29th 12:00am – 4:00pm
Admission: Free
For additional info. (916) 925-0800

For more Jobs in Modesto, CA check 209 Valley Jobs.

No Luck Finding A Job? Here Are 3 Things To Help

1. Sell Stuff - you don't have to watch PBS Antique Roadshow or History Channels Paws Stars long to realize that people pay big money for things many of us think are worthless. Antiques, electronics, and collectibles sell very well and chances are you have some of this around your house or apartment right now. You can use 'free' outlets like Craigslist and Garage Sales to move your items, but many people use online places like eBay and Amazon to sell things as well.
   
   Some items that sell well online: Video Games & Systems, Designer Clothing, Shoes & Handbags, Vintage Antiques & Collectibles, TV's, DVD's, Exercise Equipment and much more. If you spend just a small amount of time listing your items - you are bound to get some extra cash for things you probably aren't using much anyway.
   
2. Get Creative With Your Job Search - Spend all day on Facebook or Twitter? Do you know your city like no one else in town? Maybe you spend all day talking on the phone ... chances are you have 'skills' that you don't even consider trying to make a career out of. Many people apply for jobs based on what education they have and experience ... not what they are passionate about or what they enjoy doing the most. You'd be amazed at the businesses that need help with Facebook, Twitter and getting 'recognized' on the web. All you need to do is use your knowledge of building a network on those sites and apply those to a business that needs 1,000 friends or followers. Most places that offer this service are not located in the Valley, so going door to door would help you market your skills to businesses in your area. Most companies have a need for promotion and marketing, but no one ever comes to their door and sells them on it. Creating your own 'small business' could be as simple as creating Facebook and Twitter pages for local companies.
   
3. Go back to school. Especially if you have never gone to college, or finished High School. If you are the first person from your family to go to college and you need financial aide - its almost 100% available in this case. Most other people can find scholarships, loans or financial aide/work study to help pay. The cost of going to school should never keep you from going. If you haven't found a job in several months (while applying for jobs/interviews) its a sign that your skills are not attractive enough to employers. Going to school is the best way to improve your skills and raise your pay when you find a job that hires you.

Teaching Still An Attractive Job Despite Local Budget Cut-Backs

Education has long been a career path for many college graduates in the Valley for many reasons. Solid pay with regular raises, benefits, and weekends, summers - or extended periods of time off compared to most other jobs.

Despite state and local budget cut-backs that have limited the number of teachers districts can hire, education is still an ever growing field because of population growth. Once state and federal budgets get back to a more 'normal' level - you should see education benefit from tax dollars.

Math & Science teachers are almost always in demand, partly because students with those degrees typically go into even higher paying fields such as Medicine or Engineering. If you have a desire to get into teaching, these are the subjects that are often needed the most - and aren't 'cut' like PE and Music jobs tend to be let go in tough economic times or low enrollment.

If working with kids every single day doesn't appeal to you - there is always substitute teaching. Anyone with a College Degree can take the CBEST Test and work as a substitute teacher with a district of your choice. Depending on the district/school - some pay over $100+ per day for being a substitute. Having strong communication skills and being able to relate to young people are a must, however if you can handle that responsibility - you can make a 'full time' wage by substitute teaching a few times a week.

If you have a college degree (sometimes an AA degree can work) you should really consider taking the CBEST Test, and applying to districts in your area. Places like Stockton actually has 3 major districts in the city limits - Stockton Unified, Lincoln Unified and Lodi Unified school districts can all be sources of employment. Smaller towns like Ceres and Newman still have demand for teachers because there are less qualified teachers in the area (simply because the population is lower).

If you want to make teaching your career, you should consult your local university counselor about finding a Teaching Credential program. There are many in the area, including University of the Pacific in Stockton and Stanislaus State University in Turlock. Achieving your teaching credential can sometimes be done while you have a full-time position (and often they pay for your classes if needed). I have several friends that got a $40,000+ paying jobs with benefits, while they went to school at night to obtain their teaching credentials.

Despite budget cutbacks, you should find teaching jobs in Stockton, as well as jobs in Modesto. The smaller communities will have plenty of openings as well, most come available as the school year ends in the spring and summer months.