Members of Generation X who have lost their jobs and are seeking a new form of employment should emphasize their flexibility and knack for fitting into various corporate cultures during an interview with a prospective employer.

In a compilation of Generation X job search tips from executive recruiters Tucker Mays and Bob Sloane published in the San Jose Mercury News, these employment seekers are encouraged to offer examples of when they enabled younger workers to advance their careers.

With more years of experience also comes the development of a number of core skills that can be transferred to positions in various industries. These abilities include problem solving, managing people, leadership and judgment, the publication notes.

Another thing to consider is that many smaller companies look to hire outside executive-level professionals as they begin to experience growth, meaning these firms can be targeted by Generation X professionals seeking new opportunities.

Many companies, such as Atria Senior Living in Newburyport, Massachusetts, place a premium on more experienced workers due to their strong dedication and reliability, Houma Today reports. 

For the fifth consecutive month, the U.S. unemployment rate fell, reaching its lowest level since February 2009 at 8.3 percent, according to the recently released monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 243,000 in January, substantially more than most analysts had anticipated. Construction, healthcare, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality and professional and business services were the industries that led the way in job growth last month.

"The national unemployment rate has fallen by 0.8 percent in the last five months," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said in a statement following the release of the report. "The drop in unemployment has been driven by employment gains, not workers leaving the labor force."

In Arizona, where the unemployment rate stood at 8.7 percent in December, a number of companies have recently announced plans to either relocate to or expand in the state. One example of this is technology company CallSource Inc., which tracks specific trends at apartment communities. The firm recently announced plans to add 40 Scottsdale jobs as part of a relocation from California, according to the Phoenix Business Journal. 

With the Labor Department reporting net job gains for six consecutive months, it's clear that many employers are finally beginning to hire more workers to help grow their businesses.

For professionals seeking Scottsdale jobs and positions in other parts of the country, however, the recruiting game has changed substantially. This is particularly true in terms of the amount of information that is available to individuals applying for certain positions, Google hiring expert Bryan Power tells CBS MoneyWatch.

Power notes that focusing the job search on a specific group of companies rather than flooding hundreds of inboxes with a resume is the best strategy.

"The way to think about it is that there's a certain group of companies or specific roles that you're probably really good for, and you want to spend more energy around that smaller group of roles and companies than on trying to make yourself attractive to a wide range of people," Power explains.

Being descriptive about responsibilities and accomplishments on a resume is another way to get the attention of companies, whether this entails listing revenue growth, sales numbers or other production information, according to Power.

One thing that many professionals do not believe they can add to their resumes is volunteer experience, but including such information can demonstrate skills that have been learned or help explain gaps in employment, Forbes reports. 

The bioscience sector in Arizona continued to thrive in the face of the recession and its immediate aftermath, offering many opportunities for professionals seeking jobs in Phoenix and other areas of the state.

In the post-recession period between 2009 and 2010, bioscience jobs increased by 7.4 percent in the state, compared to a decrease of 1.8 percent in overall private sector employment, according to a new performance analysis commissioned by the Flinn Foundation.

The study found that the number of bioscience firms in Arizona grew by 27 percent between 2002 and 2010 and suggested the state outpaced the nation in garnering venture-capital funding and adding bioscience-related positions.

"Through the most trying economic circumstances of our lifetimes, bio in Arizona more than held its own," Walter Plosila, senior advisor to the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, which conducted the research, said in a release. "The bioscience sector is past the 'promising' stage. It is now becoming integral to Arizona's future."

The report comes as a number of bio startups have recently gained financial backing in the state, including HTG Molecular Diagnostics and Scottsdale-based Regenesis Biomedical Inc., which have both added new employees, according to the Phoenix Business Journal. 

In the latest sign that employment garnered through temp agencies in Phoenix and other cities is becoming increasingly common, a new survey found that 86 percent of Americans believe a temporary job is a smart career choice in order to gain experience.

The study, conducted by a staffing agency, also noted that 63 percent of Americans view temporary employment in a more favorable light than they did last year, a reflection that the labor market is trending towards an increasingly flexible workforce.

One of the most valuable aspects of temp employment for job seekers can be the ability to break into a new industry and get their feet wet at a company. The survey noted that 68 percent of Americans said they would be more willing to take a job in a field outside of their degree than they were last year.

Eric Gilpin, president of CareerBuilder's staffing and recruiting group, said that the economic recovery very much hinges on positions filled through staffing agencies.

"Temporary jobs from staffing and recruiting firms are playing an increasingly important role in the economic recovery," Gilpin said in a release. "Our studies have pointed to a rise in these positions post-recession as companies address growing market needs. Employers are relying on temporary and contract workers to support leaner staffs, and in many cases, will transition those workers to permanent roles."

One of the most critical aspects of the hiring process is making sure the prospective employee fits well into the company culture, and a new survey notes that the candidate's sense of humor is key to making that happen.

The survey, which was conducted by an accounting staffing agency, is based on the responses of more than 1,400 chief financial officers at U.S. companies with at least 20 employees, according to a release. Overall, 79 percent of respondents said employees' sense of humor contribute to their ability to mesh with coworkers.

While a sense of humor may be difficult to judge, candidates seeking jobs in Arizona and other regions across the U.S. can do their part by showing off their personality during the interview, according to Max Messmer, the author of "Managing Your Career For Dummies."

"Job candidates should let their personality shine when meeting prospective employers," Messmer noted in the release. "The interview is no place for a standup comedy routine, but it is the right time to show hiring managers you are approachable and will be easy to work with."

Norm Brodsky, a columnist for Inc. Magazine, adds that hiring for "attitude not for aptitude" can go a long way towards promoting a positive corporate culture, as technical skills can be taught. 

While staffing agencies in Phoenix and other cities can undoubtedly be the driving force behind the hiring process for startup companies lacking recruiting departments, there are still a number of strategies these firms can employ to ensure that the individuals will fit in well within their specific business.

In a recent Mashable column, Chris Rickborn, the co-founder and chief operating officer of a cloud-computing hiring software company, writes that limiting what's said on the job description can make it easier to differentiate between candidates.

"Writing lengthy job descriptions loaded with job requirements may keep unqualified candidates from wasting your time, but you’ve also just given every candidate a cheat sheet," Rickborn notes. "Job seekers are taught to break down your job description and weave it into their resume, which will make everyone look equally qualified."

Rickborn adds that timing is also a key factor, specifically where the potential employee is in his career, and whether or not he or she is able to take a risk with a sprouting business.

One other strategy for finding the best people to fill positions at a startup is to promote the unique benefits that are offered, which could include anything from tuition stipends to cash for customizing one's own technology setup, according to Business Insider. 

Social Job Seekers

A recent ERE Media column suggests evidence continues to point towards temp hiring becoming the new normal for the labor force across the country.

The publication, citing director of macroeconomic research for The Conference Board Gad Levanon, notes that the substantial growth in temporary workers in recent months is a positive sign for the economy as a whole.

The 32 percent growth in jobs secured through temp agencies in Phoenix and other cities across the U.S. since June 2009 would typically indicate an imminent recovery for full-time positions. However, ERE notes in this case, the surge likely marks a structural shift in how employers are managing their workforces.

A report released by BMO Capital Markets earlier this year noted that the staffing industry "is seeing some secular growth as corporations use temporary staffing more strategically as part of their overall human resource policies."

Recent numbers from the American Staffing Association indicate staffing employment grew 4 percent between January 2011 and this month, according to Staffing Industry Analysts. 

With many companies still operating under tight budgets, developing new employees remains a crucial aspect of the recruiting process. Identifying what employees value the most when it comes to job satisfaction can therefore be critical.

In a new survey of a wide range of professionals and managers conducted by staffing services company, employees said that a strong work-life balance and opportunities for growth and learning on the job were two of the most important factors in keeping them happy.

The ability to accomplish specific goals, a camaraderie with one's co-workers and a good working relationship with the boss were also high on the list, the study found.

"Professional priorities change over time," Robert Hosking, executive director of the company, said in a release. "Because there's no one-size-fits-all formula for encouraging job satisfaction, supervisors should get to know their team members individually to better understand what motivates and inspires each of them."

Workers holding jobs in Arizona and across the country can maintain a good work-life balance by managing their boundaries, according to a recent Boston Globe article. This means taking time to schedule activities that are important to you every day, and making sure that you are able to do these things. 

President Barack Obama recently visited the $5 billion Intel chip manufacturing facility being built in Chandler, Arizona, praising the company's efforts to create new jobs in Arizona and throughout the U.S., rather than overseas.

During a speech on the Intel campus, Obama furthered his message of increasing high-tech and manufacturing jobs in the U.S. in addition to improving the educational system to better train future workers, according to the Tucson Sentinel.

"Let's stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs oversees and reward companies like Intel," Obama said, adding that his basic plan is for America to "build stuff, make stuff and sell stuff all over the world."

The president's stop in Chandler was part of a three-day, five-state trip, during which he will reportedly visit Las Vegas, Denver, Detroit and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the news source said.

Apart from recognizing Intel's contributions to the local economy, Obama also lauded Tempe-based First Solar, which is constructing a $300 million manufacturing plant in Mesa that is expected to create 600 new solar energy positions, reports the East Valley Tribune. 

Though it may seem to be a casual, impersonal meeting, a phone interview can actually make or break a candidate's chances of landing a job, according to a recent article in the Boston Globe written by staffing firm partner David Janowsky.

One of the most important things to consider, Janowsky says, is that your appearance, body language and even posture can still be crucial during the interview, despite the fact that the recruiter or hiring manager cannot see you.

"Even though you could be in your pajamas lounging on the couch, wear business attire and practice good posture," Janowsky writes. "You can even sit in front of a mirror and watch yourself. Your professionalism will transmit through the phone."

Avoiding public spaces and ensuring that you are in a quiet environment during the conversation is also key, according to Janowsky. Printing out your resume and a list of potential questions you have is better than having these documents up on your computer, as typing on the keyboard or clicking a mouse could be a distraction for the interviewer.

Since phone interviews can often provide the first step towards landing jobs in Arizona or other regions, it is also important for candidates to spend a sufficient amount of time preparing, treating it just like a normal face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager. 

Approximately 89 percent of new hires who fail within their first 18 months on the job do so for attitudinal reasons, rather than a lack of skill to perform the job functions, according to leadership expert Mark Murphy. 

In a recent Forbes column, Murphy, the founder and chief executive officer of Leadership IQ, explains that this highlights the difficult task hiring managers face of identifying technically qualified candidates who are also highly motivated and possess a positive attitude.

One reason for the discrepancy in why new hires fail is that soft skills and motivation are much more difficult to test for than technical abilities. Additionally, training can be offered for certain operational aspects of a position, but changing a new employee's attitude and level of motivation is much tougher.

Murphy adds that instead of asking vague interview questions such as "tell me about yourself," smart companies are delving deeper into the applicant's mindset, using indicators like verb tense and grammatical choices to make larger determinations about a candidate's potential.

Many executives and hiring managers filling jobs in Arizona and across the U.S. have already begun to implement these techniques. Walter Willey, the chief financial officer of data analysis provider Wave Software told IDG News that he focuses on flexible candidates and likes to observe body language when interviewing individuals.

While many industries continue to see a substantial number of layoffs, the technology sector has bucked the trend with the amount of announced job cuts falling to its lowest level since tracking began in 1997, according to a recent survey.

The report on the technology industry, which was released by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., found that tech firms announced 37,038 planned layoffs in 2011, a decrease of 21 percent from the 2010 level of 46,825.

When compared to recession-era statistics from 2009, layoffs are down 79 percent at computer, electronics and telecommunications companies, the study noted.

"Several trends in the sector, including the advancement of cloud storage and the push to develop more portable computing devices, such as tabs and smartphones, is helping to create and protect jobs in the sector," John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a statement.

The tech industry added a net total of 300 jobs in Arizona last year, the Phoenix Business Journal reports. Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, told the news source he believes the 2012 outlook for the sector is "very bright."

With surveys suggesting companies and job seekers are both increasing their use of social media for recruiting purposes, filling out one's LinkedIn profile and making connections are only the first steps towards reaping the benefits of the site.

For candidates, updating your LinkedIn profile every few weeks can make a crucial difference, as this indicates that you are keeping up with the site. This can also get you back on the radar of prospective employers that you are connected with, as every update you make is shared with others on your network, CBS MoneyWatch reports.

Joining groups on LinkedIn is also essential, as this suggests you are actively seeking networking opportunities.

"You can add a contact on LinkedIn if you share the same group as them, but you wouldn't have been able to add them otherwise unless you worked with them or have their email address. Make sure the LinkedIn groups are related to your field and/or industry so you can have more targeted searches," Dan Schawbel, managing partner at Millennial Branding, told the news source.

Requesting recommendations from colleagues is another way to get your profile in front of recruiters looking to fill jobs in Phoenix and other cities, according to a recent Forbes article.

As President Obama said recently that he wants to create more tourism-related jobs in Arizona, which has a number of impressive landmarks and state parks, a new report signals the tourism industry has already begun to grow in Scottsdale.

The new data, from STR Global, suggests hotels in Scottsdale saw higher occupancy and revenue in 2011. While occupancy increased 1.5 percent over 2010, revenue per available room – the leading indicator for the hotel sector – grew 8.2 percent, the Phoenix Business Journal reports.

The average daily room rate also increased last year by 6.5 percent, reaching $145.98, the statistics showed.

Information on Scottsdale's hotels was released ahead of President Obama's visit to the Valley on Wednesday, January 25. During the brief trip, the president will reportedly tout his new plan aimed at creating jobs through more international tourism, according to the Arizona Republic.

"The president is creating a task force to promote the best destinations that the U.S. has to offer, and Arizona, with its many natural wonders, from the Grand Canyon to Sedona, could benefit from more domestic and international visitors and as a result, more jobs and a boost to the state’s economy," White House spokesman Adam Abrams said following Obama's recent tourism speech. 

While the Arizona unemployment rate remained at 8.7 percent in December, the job market is beginning to show signs of real improvement as it added 37,500 more positions this year than it did the same month in 2010.

Aruna Murthy, a state economist, told the Arizona Republic that the jobless rate is still significantly improved over the end of 2010, when it sat at 9.6 percent. Overall, the average of monthly job gains last year was 1 percent, a sharp increase over the minus 2.1 percent experienced in 2010.

"The trajectory is positive. We are heading in the right direction," Murthy told the news source.

The monthly employment figures, which were released by the state's Department of Administration, indicated the private education and health services sectors continued to lead the way, adding 12,800 positions in December. Leisure and hospitality also experienced an uptick and created 6,400 new jobs in Arizona last month.

Murthy specifically pointed to improvement in bar and restaurant employment, which saw 1,600 new positions created during the final month of 2011, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Governor Jan Brewer was in attendance for a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating the opening of two new facilities that are expected to create a number of new jobs in Arizona, the Explorer News reports.

The new buildings, which include office and laboratory facilities, will become part of the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park in Tucson, according to the news source.

At the ceremony, Brewer lauded the innovation center, which is designed to boost the local economy and make Arizona more competitive by bringing new technologies to the marketplace and creating jobs.

"The Arizona Center for Innovation is part of the engine that will power us into Arizona's second century," Brewer said. "This is an investment that will bring novel technologies to the marketplace, create high-wage jobs and expand and diversify the economy of southern Arizona."

The opening of the new facilities in Arizona comes as prospects for the nation's overall labor market appear to be brightening. The Labor Department reported jobless claims dropped substantially to 352,000 in the week ending January 14, falling to their lowest level since April 2008. 

With professionals holding jobs in Arizona and other regions increasingly looking to other areas for potential new opportunities, employers are becoming more willing to pay their workers to relocate, according to a new CareerBuilder survey.

The survey, which garnered responses from more than 3,000 employers and 7,000 workers, found 44 percent of employees said they would relocate for a new career opportunity. Of professionals who have been successful in finding new work after being laid off, 20 percent said they relocated to a new city or state.

From the employer perspective, 32 percent acknowledged they would be willing to pay to relocate staff this year, according to the study.

"One of the key trends we saw coming out of the recession is the movement of labor in and out of markets across the U.S.," Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. "Workers have had to expand their job search geographically and employers in need of hard-to-find, skilled talent have had to recruit across state lines."

A willingness to relocate can also be beneficial information to add to one's resume, as this demonstrates the job seeker's flexibility and commitment to the available position.

Arizona residents are growing increasingly confident in the local economy, a sign that hiring could experience an uptick in the first few months of 2012.

The latest edition of the Behavior Research Center's Rocky Mountain Poll shows consumer confidence among Arizonans reached 69.5 this month, marking the third consecutive monthly increase. Last January, the index was 62.8, according to the poll.

Arizona State University economist Dennis Hoffman told the Arizona Republic that optimism among local residents has climbed in the face of a number of potential obstacles.

"The Arizona consumer has been remarkably resilient over the past year," Hoffman said. "Despite threats of a Euro implosion, the debt crisis and the negative banter that always accompanies political campaigns, the actions and outlooks of Arizona consumers continue to improve."

The higher confidence index is partly a reflection of consumers' views that more jobs in Arizona could be added in the near future. In fact, the Center's Expectations Index – which measures the perception of business conditions – reached 94.5 this month, its highest reading since July of 2007. 

An Arizona-based voice over IP (VoIP) service company is reportedly planning to expand its operations throughout 2012 and create at least 100 new Scottsdale jobs in telecommunications.

Nextiva, which is headquartered in Scottsdale, said in a recent release that it is seeking to become one of the fastest-growing companies in the Valley this year. The firm plans to more than double the size of its Scottsdale operations, which currently hosts 120 employees.

Yaniv Masjedi, Nextiva's vice president, said in the release that the hiring plans are a result of increasing demand for its virtual and mobile phone service.

"At Nextiva, providing amazing service to our customers is part of our DNA," Masjedi explained. "Whether providing technical support for a business owner or helping new customers provision their communication service, our commitment is to have the right people available to service all of our customers' needs."

Nextiva's expansion in Scottsdale is latest indication that the tech industry is growing throughout Arizona, as skilled workers such as software developers with knowledge of scripting languages and programming are also in high demand, according to the Arizona Republic.

While securing an interview for potential jobs in Phoenix or other cities is a critical first step for applicants, meeting with the recruiter or hiring manager can often make the difference in landing the job.

For this reason, it's important for candidates to be able to determine what the recruiter's questions really mean below the surface, according to Jayne Mattson, senior vice president at a career management and consulting firm in Boston, Massachusetts.

Writing for Mashable, Mattson says the question "How do you like to be rewarded for good performance?" may seem simple, but there are actually a number of layers. In this scenario, the hiring manager is really looking to determine what motivates the individual applicant. If the candidate is seeking a management position, the answer to this question may demonstrate how one might reward good performances from his or her subordinates.

At the other end of the spectrum, the questions the job seeker asks his or her prospective employer can be just as important, as well-informed inquiries may show the recruiter that the candidate put a lot of preparation into the interview, according to U.S. News & World Report.

In another sign that the job market is finally beginning to experience measurable growth, the average starting salary for 2011 college graduates with bachelor's degrees was 2.3 percent higher than it was for the class of 2010.

The overall average starting salary for 2011 graduates was $41,701, an increase of nearly $1,000 from last year, according to the winter 2012 Salary Survey report published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Degrees that experienced some of the highest salary boosts included computer science (4.1 percent increase), business (3.8 percent) and communications (2.9 percent). Graduates in engineering ($61,872) and computer science ($60,594) saw the highest average starting pay.

"Graduates in the engineering and computer science disciplines fared best in terms of overall average starting salary, and computer science graduates saw the largest overall increase," Marilyn Mackes, executive director of the association, said in a release.

Data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests graduates with advanced degrees including doctoral or professional who hold jobs in Arizona and other regions of the country generally earn at least $1,000 more per week than those with little or no college education. 

Home improvement retail company Home Depot announced recently that it plans to hire 70,000 contract workers for the spring season, with 1,000 of these positions coming to locations across the Valley.

The retailer is reportedly adding the jobs in Arizona and throughout the country to prepare for the home improvement and spring planting push that will begin as the temperature begins to rise, ABC 15 reports.

"It’s very weather driven," Melissa Dieckmann, an operations manager at a Phoenix store, told the news provider. "Our garden department is one of the departments that has the most increases in sales."

While the job openings – which are reportedly available at all 26 of the retailer's locations throughout the Valley – are only temporary, each contract worker will be guaranteed a position for at least four months.

Such temp employment also offers employees a chance to prove their worth to the company, potentially leading to permanent opportunities with Home Depot, according to the news source.

This concept is becoming increasingly commonplace among global corporations, as they believe a contingent workforce can better equip them to adapt to changing consumer demand. While enabling professionals to "try out" for a full-time role with the company, such a labor force also allows employers to hire on a project-to-project basis. 

Employee wages for jobs in Phoenix grew faster than the national average during the second half of 2011, according to the most recent installment of the quarterly PayScale Index.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Index showed Phoenix wages increased by 1 percent when compared to the same period in 2010. The national average was an increase of 0.8 percent, the report found.

Katie Bardaro, the analytics manager for PayScale, told the Phoenix Business Journal that steady compensation growth in the Phoenix area has occurred for more than a year.

"Since mid-2010, wages have been on the rise in Phoenix," Bardaro said, adding that the region has had further to climb due to the particularly strong impact of the housing market collapse that began in 2008.

Nationally, the PayScale Index showed positive news for wages in the construction industry, which experienced its largest quarterly growth since the recession at more than 1 percent between the third and fourth quarters. Manufacturing and transportation compensation also proved strong at the end of last year, the report indicated. 

With the solar industry continuing to flourish and adding a significant number of jobs in Arizona, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar recently toured a solar plant in Gila Bend that will reportedly create thousands of jobs.

The Solana Generating Station, which is being planned by Spanish company Abengoa Solar Inc., will reportedly provide 280 megawatts to Arizona Public Service, enough to power 70,000 homes, according to The Associated Press.

The plant will likely create a number of permanent positions when it becomes operational, while 1,600 positions will be added during the construction phase, the news source reports.

Following the tour, Salazar met with various business leaders and representatives of the energy sector, noting that he would tell California Governor Jerry Brown about the many Arizona businesses looking to sell renewable energy.

The Interior Secretary noted that he and President Obama are focused on the development of renewable energy projects on public and tribal lands, according to the Arizona Republic.

Efforts to promote employment in the solar industry in Arizona have been very successful, as the Solar Foundation ranked the state third in the nation in such jobs. 

Contract employees across the country are reaping the benefits of companies seeking to optimize their workforce by making it more flexible.

With various studies suggesting this shift towards a flexible, contingent labor force is expected to continue through 2012, professionals who may be unemployed are turning to temp agencies in Phoenix and other cities, which can place them in positions that match their skill sets.

A recent Chicago Now blog post emphasizes the true importance of temporary jobs, as these opportunities can give individuals hands-on experience with companies in a variety of industries. This allows contract workers to not only pad their resumes, but also to prove their value to the corporation with the goal of landing a permanent position.

This benefit is clear, as multiple surveys indicate temporary positions lead to permanent roles nearly three-fourths of the time, Florida Today reports.

"What we have seen is that those positions lead to full-time roles,” said Bill Peppler, managing partner at a Florida staffing firm, tells the news source. "The first people they go to are the people who have worked for them in the past."

With employers looking to make the perfect hire and many utilizing staffing agencies in Phoenix and other cities to identify the best possible candidates, job seekers need to be able to market themselves successfully.

A scarcity of opportunities for many individuals over the past few years has inevitably led to increasing popularity of non-traditional employment, which can be difficult to explain on one's resume.

In a recent Business Insider column, career expert and blogger Amanda Abella notes that one of the best ways to market the valuable experience gained in an unconventional position is to emphasize transferable skills. Fundraising for a non-profit could speak to one's marketing or sales abilities, Abella explains.

Abella adds that using clear, concise language on a resume to demonstrate the value of the entrepreneurial experience can be beneficial for obtaining jobs in Arizona or other areas of the country.

"Resumes are not autobiographies; rather, they should be a marketing tool to help you get a job," Abella says. "For this reason, it’s okay to get a little creative while staying honest – especially if you come from a non-traditional line of work."

Job seekers who have taken non-traditional positions to serve as a bridge to their next profession should be encouraged by recent labor market reports suggesting the unemployment rate has fallen 0.6 percent since August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Integrated information and communications technology solutions provider Logicalis, Inc. is reportedly planning to create jobs in Arizona through the opening of a new facility in Tempe.

The Farmington Hills, Michigan-based company's new office will reportedly house a number of departments, including structured cabling, physical security and audio-visual, according to a press release.

While there are 60 current Logicalis employees moving to the new location in Tempe, the company is also planning to hire a substantial number of new workers including account executives, voice and networking engineers, cabling technicians and technical consultants.

"The new building we are opening in Tempe symbolizes much more than a new address and a name change," Terry Flood, president and CEO of Logicalis, said in a statement. "It symbolizes Logicalis’ commitment to our people, our customers and the community in which we have made these acquisitions and is representative of the consolidation of minds and talent that bring Logicalis’ services to market in a unique and powerful way."

The move marks the company's second expansion in the past month and fifth in the past year, the Phoenix Business Journal reports. 

While the unemployment rate may seem determined to climb back to normal levels, the labor market itself appears to be changing substantially as temporary labor becomes the standard for many companies.

Though these positions obtained through temp agencies in Phoenix and other cities may not always be long-term solutions for professionals, they represent a way to work for a permanent spot.

Joshua Derby, the operations manager of Three Dog Bakery in Plano, Texas, recently told local television station KDAF that he's changed his hiring techniques in order to efficiently meet rising consumer demand.

"You have to be more cautious in this economy. So, we had to rethink our process in how we go about hiring new people," Derby said. "It's kind of like a trial period for people seeking more full-time employment."

This shift should be seen as a positive for those who are unemployed or looking to switch jobs or industries, as contract workers can get their feet wet in a new situation while also proving their worth to the specific company, according to Business News Daily. 

The number of financial services jobs in Phoenix is growing significantly, as the capital city now ranks in the top 10 for employment in this sector, according to a recent study conducted by the On Numbers division of Bizjournals.com.

The survey, which examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau, determined that Phoenix ranked 10th out of 891 metropolitan areas with more than 110,000 individuals employed in finance and insurance positions. In the valley, the annual payroll in the financial services industry is $6.3 billion, averaging out to $57,100 per worker, according to the Phoenix Business Journal.

Phoenix has become a major hub for the financial field due to the strong presence of a number of banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo & Company, the publication noted.

New York City led the way with more than 580,000 workers, while Los Angeles and Chicago ranked second and third respectively.

The financial services sector will likely continue to emerge in Phoenix through 2012, as Silicon Valley Bank recently announced plans to add more than 200 employees when it opens an information-technology and operations center in Tempe this summer, the Arizona Republic reported. 

The professional benefits of Facebook are less subtle than those of LinkedIn and perhaps even Google+, but a recent ERE Media blog post notes the "book" may actually be a natural fit for business uses.

In the post, advertising and recruiting guru John Zappe explained that members of Generation Y are most apt to use Facebook for professional purposes. This is due for the relatively high percentage of co-workers most Generation Yers count among their Facebook friends in addition to the trend of switching jobs after two years of employment.

"When they go home, they are still connected to the workplace," Generation Y branding expert Dan Schwabel told ERE. "Their co-workers are their friends. And because people change jobs so often and have so many friends, their friends become co-workers."

Still, Schwabel explains that most Generation Yers are not using Facebook to their full advantage, as 64 percent don't even list an employer in their profiles.

When looking for jobs in Phoenix or other cities across the country, CBS MoneyWatch suggests staying in touch on Facebook with both current and former colleagues, because you never know where your next opportunity could come from. 

While 2011 was characterized by the proliferation of social media in the recruiting world, sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are poised to become even more significant assets for professionals looking to brand themselves.

Currently, there are more than 100 million LinkedIn users around the world, but many of these individuals are not aware of the true value such a tool can provide, according to Eve Mayer Orsburn, author of The Social Media Business Equation and chief executive of Social Media Delivered.

"LinkedIn is not just a place to find a job. It is a tool to help build your professional network, as well as a way to find business opportunities for whatever job you are currently doing," Orsburn tells InfoWorld. "[It] provides a way to find the people you want to do business with and connect to them virtually when you may not have had the chance to meet them in person."

Staying on top of new LinkedIn changes throughout 2012 and branding yourself as an expert in a specific field are two of the most important things to consider for both unemployed individuals and professionals seeking new jobs in Arizona and other regions, InfoWorld suggests.

Recent research indicates professionals should also be conscious about the information contained in their profile, as certain "buzzwords" such as "organizational" and "creative" tend to be overused and ineffective, according to NetworkWorld. 

With many companies recognizing the value of contract workers obtained through staffing agencies in Phoenix and other cities, the nation's economy is seemingly showing nothing but positive signs.

The most recent monthly jobs report from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that the total nonfarm payroll employment in the U.S. climbed by 200,000 in December, guiding the unemployment rate down to 8.5 percent. Since August, the jobless figure has fallen by 0.6 percent, the BLS noted.

Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial in Chicago, told Reuters the fact that unemployment reached its low point since February 2009 suggests recovery may be accelerating.

"The labor market is healing, but we still have a long way to go to recoup the losses we have endured. We may be close to a tipping point where gains can become more self-feeding," Swonk told the news source.

Retail trade, manufacturing, healthcare and transportation were the highlighted industries in the BLS report, with each sector gaining at least 23,000 new jobs in December. 

The rise of the contingent workforce and companies employing individuals as contract workers is expected to keep up in 2012, according to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.

The study included responses from more than 3,000 hiring managers and human resources professionals throughout the country across a range of company sizes and industries. It found 36 percent are planning to hire contract workers in 2012, with 27 percent saying they expected to begin the process during the first quarter.

Richard Wahlquist, the president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association, said in a release that the results of the survey highlight the critical role played by temp agencies in Arizona and other regions of the country.

"Staffing and recruiting firms are on the front lines when it comes to sourcing talent for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors," said Wahlquist. "Candidates will find good pay, flexibility, opportunities to change careers, valuable skills training, and a bridge to permanent employment. We'll see more employers and job seekers making connections in the New Year."

The CareerBuilder report supports recent data from Staffing Industry Analysts, which said buyers of contingent labor were expected to increase their demand for such workers by 26 percent over the next two years. 

A number of new reports indicate the U.S. labor market and economy as a whole are finally beginning to show sustained improvement, according to the Phoenix Business Journal.

The monthly employment report from payroll firm ADP Inc. estimated private companies added 325,000 jobs in December, which would be the highest growth since the same month in 2010. In the service-providing sector, the number of jobs rose by 273,000 last month, compared to 176,000 in November.

With the amount of available positions growing, Challenger, Gray & Christmas also found that planned layoffs in December decreased by 1.6 percent from November, reaching their lowest level since June.

The Labor Department added that initial jobless claims fell 15,000 in the week ending December 31, declining to 372,000. The resulting four-week moving average also dipped to 373,250 from 376,500 in the previous period.

Available jobs in Arizona are also climbing, with the state's unemployment rate declining from 8.9 percent to 8.4 percent in November, the most recent month for which information was available, the Business Journal reported.

The Silicon Valley Bank commercial banking division of SVB Financial Corporation announced recently that it plans to add hundreds of finance jobs in Arizona over the next few years through its opening of a new IT and operations facility in Tempe.

The new location, which will reportedly open this year, is expected to generate the investment of millions of dollars into the local economy in addition to approximately 220 new positions.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer noted that the commercial bank's expansion fits perfectly with the direction in which the state is looking to move.

"The mission of Silicon Valley Bank to provide financial services to the technology, clean-tech, life science and winery industries is in perfect harmony with Arizona's vision for the future of economic development," Brewer said in a statement. "This is exactly the kind of company that Arizona is courting as we build an economy that is diversified and stable."

Currently, Silicon Valley Bank boasts approximately 40 clients in Arizona, including Scottsdale-based developer of telemedicine products GlobalMed Inc. and Tucson-based SynCardia Systems Inc., an artificial heart manufacturer, the Arizona Republic reports. 

Small business employment in Arizona surged 0.6 percent last month, an increase that doubled the national average in December, according to the Intuit's most recent Small Business Employment Index.

In the December installment of the report, the Mountain region – which includes Arizona – experienced the highest overall small business growth at 7 percent, narrowly edging out the West South Central and Pacific sections of the country.

Overall, the country added 55,000 small business jobs in Arizona and other regions across the U.S. last month, while employees worked more hours and brought in more money, the Index found.

"All of the figures we track show a stronger small business environment in December," said Susan Woodward, an economist who helped create the index. "Employment, hours worked by non-salaried people, and compensation all rose. But there is an interesting phenomenon occurring: We’re seeing larger month-to-month changes in seasonally adjusted employment, hours worked and compensation over the last four months, compared to earlier in 2011."

The growth in small business employment is expected to continue in Arizona heading into 2012, as a number of these firms are reportedly planning expansions and job creation, according to the Arizona Republic. 

One common New Year's resolution for the millions of unemployed Americans is to engage in new strategies to secure a job. With the shifting landscape of the labor market in full swing, this can mean undertaking a number of tactics to find new positions in a specific industry.

Understanding the three different phases during which you can make a strong impression on your prospective employer can be critical, according to Phil Willingham, a district president of an international temp placement firm.

In a recent Houston Chronicle column, Willingham notes the search process, the interview and the follow-up to the interview are three distinct periods when you can separate yourself from other potential applicants.

The staffing professional also cautions job seekers to not limit themselves to permanent positions, encouraging them instead to keep an eye out for temporary employment, which can "keep their skills sharp and their resumes flowing."

In addition to scouring job boards and maintaining a strong online presence, candidates often enlist the services of temp agencies in Arizona and other states, as these firms generally have a strong rapport with companies looking to hire contract workers on a project-to-project basis.

The national economy continues to dominate the headlines as 2011 comes to a close, but there is plenty of evidence suggesting the U.S. labor market made some important strides over the past year.

The national unemployment rate has fallen to 8.6 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years, while applications for unemployment benefits have reportedly dropped by 10 percent since January, according to the Arizona Republic.

Recent indications point to an increase in factory output, higher business and consumer confidence and an improving housing market as well, signaling that "we are ending the year on an up note," economic advisor Joel Naroff told the news source.

With the economic momentum seemingly building heading into 2012, the labor market is also beginning to take on a different shape as contract workers are becoming the new normal. Companies, recognizing their need to satisfy changing customer demand, have begun enlisting the services of staffing agencies in Phoenix and other regions to help them fill positions on a more project-to-project basis.

One recent sign that this trend is taking hold was staffing employment grew 0.8 percent from November to December, according to the American Staffing Association's recently released staffing index. 

Twenty percent of chief financial officers polled in a recent survey conducted by a staffing agency said they planned to hire permanent accounting and finance professionals during the first quarter of 2012.

The survey, which involved telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CFOs in the U.S., noted 11 percent were expecting staff increases. The net 9 percent increase represents a rise of four percentage points over last quarter, according to a release detailing the results.

New England and the Mountain region – which includes Arizona – expect to see the most active hiring for accounting and finance positions during the first quarter, with a net of 16 percent of executives from these areas saying they planned to bring on permanent employees. Financial analysts and controllers are expected to be among the positions in highest demand in the Mountain region, the survey found.

The hiring boost will likely spur a greater emphasis on the use of staffing agencies in Phoenix, which have already received a boost from the availability of new solar energy jobs. 

CareerBuilder's annual job forecast survey found 23 percent of employers are planning to hire permanent workers in 2012, with small businesses expected to be among the companies adding the most staff.

The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder, elicited responses from more than 3,000 human resource professionals and hiring managers between November 9 and December 5, 2011.

Small business downsizing plans decreased 2 percent across all sectors, while hiring plans for companies with fewer than 50 employers increased by the same margin, CareerBuilder noted.

"Barring any major economic upsets, we expect 2012 to bring a better hiring picture than 2011, especially in the second half of the year," said Matt Ferguson, the CEO of CareerBuilder. "Many companies have been operating lean and have already pushed productivity limits. We’re likely to see gradual improvements in hiring across categories as companies respond to increased market demands."

In support of this claim, another recent survey conducted by an employment services firm found that professionals seeking administrative or commercial jobs in Arizona and other regions of the country are expected to see a steady hiring trend during the first quarter of 2012. 

A Foster City, California-based company that provides online marketing and rewards programs for major financial firms is planning to add a number of jobs in Scottsdale over the next year, the Arizona Republic reports.

Rearden Commerce is reportedly planning to hire 250 people in 2012, with half of the positions being filled in the company's Scottsdale office, Director of Talent Acquisition Matthew Caldwell told the news source.

Caldwell said that the majority of the new jobs in Scottsdale will be in sales, with total compensation ranging from $50,000 to $115,000 per year depending on commission. Rearden is reportedly seeking professionals with extensive sales and negotiation experience as well as recent college graduates.

"The reason we're hiring so many people in Arizona is that we have to grow our sales capability," Caldwell told the Republic.

The Scottsdale economy could also benefit soon from a new desert nature center at the base of the McDowell Mountains, which the city is reportedly moving forward with, according to the Tucson Citizen.

Arizona State University graduate Nick Newman is representative of the new wave of young adults entering the workforce who are utilizing social media tools to land jobs in Arizona and other states, according to a recent KTAR article.

Newman, who began searching for employment opportunities at the beginning of his final semester at Arizona State, applied to a number of places while also using Twitter and LinkedIn to network with prospective employers, the article noted. 

Many companies have begun focusing their recruiting efforts on these social media sites for a multitude of reasons, from convenience to the fact that the tools themselves demonstrate the candidate's technological prowess.

"The kids who are now freshmen and sophomores in college, they don't know what life was like before social media, before Facebook and Twitter," Newman told the news source. "It's just always been there."

Forbes reports individuals should approach the job search in a proactive manner, even monitoring the Twitter feeds of companies they are interested in for announcements about new openings.

The benefits of using Google+ and its new brand pages for large businesses are abundantly clear, but a recent Mashable blog post suggests even small businesses and startups can take advantage of this tool.

In the post, Erica Swallow of content creator Southern Swallow Productions, explains that one of the major benefits of Google+ for small businesses is the ability to segment their audiences and personalize the content for different groups.

Swallow cites Chad Udell, the managing director of Float Mobile Learning, who calls this personalization "the obvious benefit of Google+," adding that it gives fledgling companies more control over which information they share with who.

Another clear benefit Google+ offers small businesses is the ability to network with potential customers and job seekers. While Facebook is certainly an important tool for those seeking employment, Google+ is seen by many as a better, more professional resource. This gives even the smallest of companies a chance to compete for talented individuals looking for jobs in Arizona and other regions.

The Huffington Post reports Google+ can also serve as a potential interview tool through its "Hangouts" function, which is currently being depicted through an advertisement with Muppets. 

The U.S. job market is showing significant signs of improvement as the number of jobless claims dropped to its lowest level in three-and-a-half years, according to the latest figures from the Labor Department.

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits declined to 364,000 in the week that ended December 17, a level not seen since April 2008, Bloomberg reported. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index also improved to minus 45 in the period ending December 18, falling from its previous level of 49.9 the week before. This was the largest seven-day gain since January.

"This is great news," Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics Ltd. in New York, told clients in a note, according to Bloomberg. "One unexpectedly low number can easily be a fluke. Two are interesting. Three are telling us something real is happening in the labor market."

Labor Department numbers indicate the holiday season has aided the economy significantly, with many companies turning to temp agencies in Phoenix to fill available positions. The overall trend towards a contingent workforce has also boosted the significance of these staffing services, which can pre-screen and interview candidates to ensure the best hires are made. 

A new survey conducted by Staffing Industry Analysts suggests employers who hire contract workers are expected to do so at a substantially increased rate over the next two years.

The 2011 Contingent Buyer Survey, which includes responses from 187 large companies with more than 1,000 employees, found the restaurant/hospitality and finance/insurance industries were among those expected to boost their demand for contract workers the most.

Robert Balicki, a research associated at Staffing Industry Analysts, noted even some sectors that typically do not have as many temporary workers are beginning to recognize the shift towards a more flexible workforce.

"Historically, the retail and hospitality industries have been under-penetrated by contingent labor," Balicki said. "However, our survey results indicate that these buyers may be finally coming around and embracing temporary workers. Of course, the degree to which these projections will be realized will likely also depend on the economy."

Staffing agencies in Phoenix in particular will likely reap the benefits of this trend, as Arizona's population growth ranks seventh in the country, according to the latest Census Bureau figures. The Arizona Republic reported the state added 70,000 residents in the 12-month period ending in July. 

The changing landscape of the global labor market has been well-documented and this trend led to a number of changes within the online recruiting sphere in 2011.

In a recent ERE Media blog post, job board expert Jeff Dickey-Chasins explained that there were a number of notable changes in online recruiting this year, headlined by the fact that job boards are not yet dead.

While LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter have undoubtedly forged into some of the territory previously occupied by job boards, the latter still remain a viable avenue for employment seekers, according to Dickey-Chasins.

LinkedIn's continued efforts to become the major player in online recruitment – due in part to its decision to go public – also headlined 2011. The service created new recruitment products and implemented significant changes designed to aid both job seekers and employers, including the addition of a feature for candidates to display their volunteer experience.

Perhaps the most important online recruiting development this year was the shift towards a more contract workforce. This, Dickey-Chasins notes, increased the importance of temp agencies in Phoenix and other cities, as employers sought more freelance workers.

Recent evidence suggests this trend is likely to continue into 2012, as the temporary help services industry increased by 22,300 positions in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.