Steady job growth continued its onward march for both the information technology and engineering industries in April. Market Watch reported 17,000 additional information technology jobs, a 4 percent increase from prior statistics. This marks the fourth consecutive month of IT employment growth, spurned by several developments in the information technology world.

Cloud computing is on the rise, with greater numbers of Fortune 1000 companies and other ambitious firms assimilating this advantageous data storage technique into their IT schema. TechNavio predicts unrivaled operational gains for companies that readily ascend to the cloud and, in correlation, growth for cloud and SaaS savvy developers. Software Developers will also see gains. The U.S. Department of Labor anticipates vibrant position openings from 2010 through 2020, as application innovators, healthcare groups and electronic medical records firms vie for Software Development dynamos.

Engineering positions saw a 7.4 percent increase according to Department of Labor fact-finding. With petroleum engineering increasing in states like Oklahoma and with overall engineering unemployment at 7.5 – under the new national average of 8.1 – prospects are persistently on the rise.

On the business side, 27 percent of companies confidently reported to Deloitte LLC that they do not plan to seek outside financial funding, suggesting a return to greater stability in corporate accounts. So now, all that remains, as in any instance of potential energy, is a move in the right direction.

by
James Walsh

Sources: MarketWatch, Dice, Harvard Business School, U.S. Department of Labor

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The team at Ashley Ellis implemented the program “Technology for Tweens” in February 2011. In short, it’s a program designed to give back to the community by donating brand new technology to local teachers and their classrooms.

As the program reaches its first year anniversary, it’s exciting to realize that it has helped us donate technology to hundreds of classrooms across the nation, reaching over 10,000 elementary, middle, and high school children.

What’s even more exciting is that within this one-year span, Ashley Ellis has grown from just three offices to more than triple that, meaning we can reach even more communities around the US.

It has been truly inspiring to watch as these schoolchildren embrace new technology, using it to exponentially enrich their education, and even their lives.

To help us distribute our donations, we partner with DonorsChoose.org, a reputable online charity that connects with teachers nationwide to support classrooms in need.

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In the technological community, the value of IT Certifications has long been a topic of debate. In an effort to resolve the question of whether certifications play an integral role in career advancement or if they are of limited value, the job search website Dice, which services only the IT field, conducted a survey.

Dice polled 17,000 IT professionals to see which certifications proved to have the most “bang for your buck”. With many certifications staying current only a couple years, Dice wanted to know if the expense of recertifying would be an investment, with the return reflected as a salary increase, or if your recertification efforts would be in vain. The findings illustrate that certifications do not generate a guaranteed advancement up the company ladder. Employers want the entire package. Neither experience nor certifications alone will be enough to achieve your compensation goals. It’s the combination of both qualities which makes a successful employee. The Director of Dice Learning, Evan Lesser confirms, “When you combine in demand skill-sets and proven salary impacts, specific certifications become valuable to individual tech professionals.”

There are thousands of certifications available in the technological field, and some will have very little effect on your value to a company. “Not all certifications are created equal in terms of paycheck impact.” states Lesser. Additionally the survey noted that while many IT professionals possess certifications, few of them found a correlation between having multiple certifications and pay increases. So which certifications are the most beneficial to acquire and maintain throughout your career? Dice has created a comprehensive list of the Top 10 in demand certifications, and the certifications most likely to sky rocket your salary and career!

This list of top tech certifications, along with descriptions, courtesy Dice :

PMP
By earning the Project Management Professional certification, technology professionals prove they have the knowledge and skills necessary to shepherd projects to a successful conclusion, on-time, on-budget, and using the resources allocated. It’s a particularly important job today, when companies are beginning to resurrect projects they’d shelved during the downturn, but want them completed as cost-efficiently and quickly as possible. There are currently 1,400 jobs on Dice with PMP certification requested.

MCSE
Microsoft’s Certified Systems Engineers have shown they can design, implement and administer technology infrastructures using Microsoft 2000 Windows Server and other Windows server platforms. Sought by systems engineers, technical support engineers, system analysts, network analysts and technical consultants, the MCSE is for professionals who spend their time maintaining the basic platforms on which so much business is conducted. Nearly 1,000 available career opportunities request this certification.

A +
This vendor-neutral certification from the trade group CompTIA is a standard for tech-support technicians. By earning it, they’ve shown they can install networks, conduct preventative maintenance, secure them and troubleshoot them.

CNA
Cisco Certified Network Associates demonstrate their ability to install, configure, run and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks. They’ve also proven themselves with security and wireless basics, and their ability to work with a number of protocols. Slightly more than 650 available job opportunities request the CCNA designation.

MCP
Microsoft Certified Professionals include developers, trainer, system architects and other tech professionals who want to spotlight their expertise with a range of Microsoft technologies.

Network
Another certification from CompTIA, the Network+ proves a technician’s competency in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing and configuring basic network infrastructures. It’s included in certification programs of tech leaders like Microsoft, Novell, Cisco and H-P.

CISSP
Security is a growing concern for businesses around the world, and this is the certification anyone truly interested in field wants to earn. Globally recognized as a standard for expertise, five years of experience in information security are needed before a professional can earn this certification. Nearly 750 open available career opportunities request this certification.

MCSA
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certification allows tech professionals to show off their expertise in systems administration and troubleshooting networks that use the Windows Server operating environment. It’s earned by systems administrators, network administrators, information systems administrators, network operations analysts, network technicians, and technical support specialists, among others.

ITIL
The three-tier ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) certification demonstrates the expertise of professionals in tech management. Public and private organizations use the ITIL as compendium of IT operational best practices. The Foundation Certificate shows a basic knowledge of ITIL terminology, Service Support and Service Delivery. The Practitioner Certificate demonstrates an understanding and ability to apply specific processes within IT Service Management. The Manager’s Certificate is obtained by demonstrating expertise in overseeing service management functions.

Security +
The CompTIA Security+ certification demonstrates knowledge of system security, network infrastructure, access control and organizational security – all important areas at a time when companies are investing real money to keep their technology platforms safe from cybersecurity threats.

p.s. If you join us on Facebook from now through January 31, 2012, you could WIN a Kindle Fire! Just like our page and sign up on the Happy New Year tab! Thanks for helping us build our online community!

-By Megan Oldag

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Salvatore J. Zizza, General Employment’s Chief Executive Officer stated, “We are very pleased to announce that we entered into this definitive acquisition agreement with Ashley Ellis. Ashley Ellis will be a complementary addition to our core business and will also strengthen our operation with the addition of two talented Ashley Ellis executives who will join our General Employment staff – Brad Imhoff, former CEO of Ashley Ellis, will serve as the Chief Operating Officer of General Employment and President of the Company’s Professional Staffing Division and Katy Gallagher, former COO of Ashley Ellis, will serve as the Vice President of Operations. Brad and Katy are sure to bring innovative ideas and new perspectives to our organization and they will play an important role in our organic growth. I am very excited about our future and the prospect of our continued growth both organically and through future acquisitions.”

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Ashley Ellis LLC, an IT staffing/recruiting firm, was recently awarded the 2011 Annual Award for Business Excellence in the Small Company category via The Daily Herald Business Ledger. Awarded just days after the company opened its newest branch, this award is further assurance that even as Ashley Ellis continues to grow, employers and job seekers alike will always be receiving the highest quality service.

The aim of The Daily Herald Business Ledger is to recognize the diverse range of companies that have contributed to the metropolitan area. The cornerstones of this award are business achievement, growth, and community involvement, and these are qualities the leaders at Ashley Ellis have succeeded in accomplishing.

With distinctions such as the Moving America Forward Award and BBB Accreditation behind their backs, as well as the opening of 4 successful offices in 2 years, and the recent creation of their “Technology for Tweens” corporate responsibility program, Ashley Ellis is honored to accept this prestigious award.

The company was recognized at an awards reception in March, where keynote speaker Maureen Beal, CEO of National Van Lines, expressed her thoughts that a company “should never be so large as to lose sight of the personal connections [it] has.” This is something Ashley Ellis strives for in daily business.

Teresa Olsen, Branch Manager at the Naperville, IL, branch accepted the award on behalf of Ashley Ellis, saying, “Excellence is something we strive for in all we do, fulfilling people’s professional career goals and helping companies be more successful…Being a part of Ashley Ellis is highly rewarding, and this award is further proof that we’re providing value and doing good.”

Ashley Ellis and all other award winners will be featured in the April 25 issue of The Daily Herald Business Ledger.

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Ashley Ellis has maintained a successful track record in the IT staffing and recruiting industry, despite the recent economic downturn. They are confident that this additional office will bring something different to the thriving IT market that currently exists in Houston. The office, located at 2603 Augusta Drive, Suite 850, Houston, TX, will accommodate highly trained IT Search Professionals to provide one-on-one service with each job seeker and employer.

The company is also delighted to extend their recently created program, “Technology for Tweens,” to the Houston metropolitan area. Dedicated to giving back to the communities that support them, Ashley Ellis has created this program to donate new computers to local schools for every IT professional they place at a full time, permanent job. “Opening a branch in Houston has given us another great opportunity to enrich the lives of local schoolchildren, and that’s incredibly rewarding,” commented Katy Gallagher, COO.

Heading the new team in Houston, IT Search Manager Randy Lohmeier has recently relocated from the Naperville, IL branch. Lohmeier has proved himself to be a highly capable recruiter and strong, ambitious leader. “The past several months have been a whirlwind at Ashley Ellis, and I’m eager to buckle down and spread our success to Houston,” he remarks.

2011 will be a unique year in the IT staffing and recruiting industry. Hiring is picking up at a rapid pace, but many staffing firms did not make it through the economic recession of 2009 and early 2010. With fewer resources at hand, many organizations will find the search for top IT professionals difficult, and it is the goal of Ashley Ellis to fulfill these hiring challenges.

Ashley Ellis, an IT staffing/recruiting firm, is proud to announce the creation of their “Technology for Tweens” program. The socially conscious program will contribute to children in local metropolitan areas by providing their classrooms with the technology they need to engage and succeed in the 21^st century.

Based in Naperville, IL, Ashley Ellis has offices in Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, and, coming in March, Houston, TX. It is in these communities’ schools where children will benefit from the program. As more offices open over the next several months, this list of local communities will grow.

Despite the past months of a rocky employment climate, Ashley Ellis has thrived thanks to the support of the communities around them. In return, they are donating to students who don’t have readily available technology to connect them to an expanding world of information.

The concept behind the program is straightforward: For every IT professional Ashley Ellis successfully puts to work on a fulltime basis, they will donate a brand new computer to a classroom in the area. The firm has partnered with DonorsChoose.org to provide significant aid to local classroom projects with computer needs.

Brad Imhoff, CEO of Ashley Ellis, is excited for this opportunity to give back: “Dealing with successful IT people and companies everyday, it’s easy to forget there are people in our own back yards who don’t have access to a computer. In this technologically rich world, children must be able to harness the power of technology to enrich their lives.”

Katy Gallagher, COO, acknowledges what a profound effect “Technology for Tweens” has on her employees: “It was already rewarding to place candidates at their dream IT jobs, but it’s even more meaningful and motivating to know that for every one of these successful fulltime placements, our efforts are helping to transform the lives of children nationwide.” Gallagher is eager to introduce this program to clients, whose hiring efforts will now have a direct effect upon the future of their local schools and students.

Company growth and success leads to TV interview of CEO and COO on “Moving America Forward,” hosted by William Shatner.

[Naperville, IL, December 3, 2010] Ashley Ellis LLC, a leading IT staffing/recruiting firm, is excited to announce the appearance of its CEO and COO on the National Television show “Moving America Forward,” hosted by William Shatner. This feature follows the recent presentation of the prestigious Moving America Forward Award, awarded to the company and its leaders, Brad Imhoff and Katy Gallagher, for its significant contribution in creating and filling jobs for innumerable people across the country.

At a time when many staffing firms struggled, Ashley Ellis navigated its way through the harsh recession and its after effects with confidence and action, finding and filling jobs not only for IT professionals, but also within its own offices. Throughout 2010, Ashley Ellis opened a new branch in Atlanta, GA, and an office in downtown Chicago, IL. Offices in Houston and Dallas, TX, are due to open in early 2011, with more offices on the way.

“It’s an honor to be regarded as an entrepreneur who has succeeded in making a difference in the country,” states Brad Imhoff, CEO. “We kept our heads above water, adapted to the economy, and plowed forward, and I’m proud that we at Ashley Ellis can be recognized as a contributing factor to moving America forward.”

The televised interview of Imhoff and Gallagher of Ashley Ellis was hosted and conducted by distinguished actors William Shatner, of “Star Trek,” “Boston Legal,” and other successful productions, and Doug Llewelyn, of “The People’s Court,” in addition to well-known news anchor Bella Shaw. It will be aired over the American Life Television network and other media. The Moving America Forward Award was presented to Imhoff and Gallagher by retired Rear Admiral Kevin Delaney.

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Ashley Ellis LLC, an IT staffing/recruiting firm, announced today their recent Better Business Bureau Accreditation, after meeting all BBB standards. As Ashley Ellis continues to rapidly expand, BBB Accreditation is assurance that the company is maintaining its high quality service and continuing to inspire customer confidence throughout all changes.

To be Accredited by the BBB, Ashley Ellis has committed to uphold a number of standards, including integrity, honesty, truthfulness, transparency, responsiveness, and privacy. These are standards Ashley Ellis will continue to adhere to in its future expansion, including offices in Houston and Dallas, TX, due to open in the first quarter of 2011.

“We’ve gone above and beyond to make sure all of our candidates and clients receive outstanding service and unsurpassed commitment to their needs and goals,” comments Brad Imhoff, CEO at Ashley Ellis.

As the dynamic of IT employment changes with the recovering economy, employers are faced with a difficult search for qualified IT professionals. They can now turn to Ashley Ellis for that search with total peace of mind due to the BBB Accreditation.

Ashley Ellis LLC, an IT staffing/recruiting firm, announced today that Mike Norman has been appointed to Vice President of Administration. As Ashley Ellis continues to expand and bring a greater depth of services to job seekers and employers within the thriving IT industry, Norman will facilitate this rapid growth, overseeing and building the company’s infrastructure.

As Ashley Ellis expands to cater the growing demand within the IT industry, Norman’s role will focus on the administration of three existing Ashley Ellis offices in Naperville, IL, Chicago, IL, and Atlanta, GA, as well as all future branches, including Houston and Dallas, TX, due to open in the first quarter of 2011.

“I am very happy to welcome Mike to this role and to the Ashley Ellis corporate team,” Brad Imhoff, CEO, commented; “It’s an exciting and industrious time here at Ashley Ellis, and Mike will be an invaluable asset in expediting efforts behind the scenes.”

Norman joins Ashley Ellis after 25 years of experience and a proven track record of excellence in accounting and administration. He began his career on the personal staff of W. Clement Stone, philanthropist and billionaire. Norman’s career also includes previous roles with such companies as DEC Computer Corp. and Apple Computer Inc., as well as a number of staffing and recruiting firms.