They are using their smart phones. While some people are checking out Facebook, getting directions, reading the news or just plain addicted, many are still on the clock.

While smart phones have made it easier for workers to stay connected to the office, they have also made it more difficult to disconnect during personal time.

CareerBuilder conducted a survey on this very topic and workers with smart phones said they are checking in with the office on their smart phones from virtually anywhere and everywhere, including:

• During a meal – 62%
• On vacation – 60%
• While in the bathroom – 57%
• Lying in bed at night – 50%
• At a movie, play, musical, etc… – 25%
• On a date – 18%
• Working out at the gym – 17%
• At a child’s event of function – 17%
• At church – 11%

Here are some other interesting things workers admitted to:

• 14% of workers said they feel obligated to constantly stay in touch with work because of the current tough economy
• 21% of workers say they check their mobile device every time it vibrates or beeps
• 18% report they are required by their company to be accessible beyond office hours via mobile device
• 23% of workers who are required to be accessible beyond office hours report that being too connected to their jobs via technology has caused issues or arguments with their friends and family.

“The lines between work and life can be very blurry these days — 17% of workers said they feel like their work day never ends because of technology connecting them to the office,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “To reduce burnout and avoid potentially risky behavior, workers should allot technology-free time when away from work.”

In related news, watch the clip below of Jerry Seinfeld doing stand-up in his recent appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. At the 2:45 mark, he starts his bit about smart phones.  Can you relate?

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While I’d love to be the type of person who just jumps out of bed alert and perky every day, it just doesn’t work for me that way.  Take this morning:

When I heard my favorite DJ through my alarm at sunrise, I hit my snooze several times in an attempt to squeeze as much time out of my slumber as possible. This is my typical M.O. — not very good for someone who actually read an article yesterday about how to become a morning person.

But, despite my tendencies to linger in bed as long as possible, I have to say I am fairly punctual arriving to the office … most of the time.

Seems I’m not alone. A new CareerBuilder survey reveals that 16 percent of workers said they arrive late to work at least once a week, but that’s down from 20 percent in last year’s survey. Another 8 percent said they are late at least twice a week, down from 12 percent last year. What’s the cause of the decline in job tardiness? Could it be the economy?

“Some workers may be more concerned with the nuances of their on-the-job performance these days, resulting in fewer late arrivals,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “Regardless of the economy, though, getting to work on time can be more of a priority in some work places than in others. It’s important for workers to be aware of their company’s tardiness policies and make sure to be honest with their manager if they are going to be late.”

In the survey, workers shared a variety of reasons for being tardy, led by traffic (32 percent) and lack of sleep (24 percent). Seven percent said getting their kids ready for school or day care was the cause of their lateness, while the same amount (7 percent) said bad weather was the culprit. Other common reasons included public transportation, wardrobe issues or dealing with pets. All of these reasons seem legitimate and I’ll bet all workers have fallen victim to at least one.

In my defense, I’d have to say that not waking up on time — once in awhile – is a fairly typical (and acceptable) reason for being late to work. So is adjusting to daylight saving time. (Note: This is only legit in springtime when we lose an hour from the time change.) But then there are the excuses. It seems people will use any excuse for being late for work. Here are some of the real-life excuses hiring managers have heard from their employees explaining their tardiness:

• I got mugged and was tied to the steering wheel of my car.
• My deodorant was frozen to the window sill.
• My car door fell off.
• It was too windy.
• I dreamt I was already at work.
• I had to go to the hospital because I drank antifreeze.
• I had an early morning gig as a clown.
• A roach crawled in my ear.
• I saw an elderly lady at a bus stop and decided to pick her up.
• My dog swallowed my cell phone.

A final word of caution to those of you who are punctuality challenged: While some employers are more lenient with worker tardiness, others have stricter policies. More than one-third (34 percent) of employers said they have terminated an employee for being late.

What’s the best excuse you’ve heard or used? Tell us below!

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On a three-month moving average basis, the job index (including jobs added and jobs refreshed) moved up by 0.5 per cent, it added. India Inc’s hiring activity witnessed a slowdown in December, a fall of 6 per cent compared to the previous month, mainly due to year-end holiday season impacting employers’ recruitment plans, says a survey by job portal naukri.com.

Full Article

India Inc’s hiring activity witnessed a slowdown in December, a fall of 6 per cent compared to the previous month, mainly due to year-end holiday season impacting employers’ recruitment plans, says a survey by job portal naukri.com.

Also Read Related Stories News Now - India Inc's hiring activity drops 6% in December - India Inc condoles Basu's death - 72% employers see new jobs in 2010: Naukri.Com - Slowdown hits India Inc's overseas investments - Office space demand picking up: CBRE - India Inc still cautious on hiring; TeamLease Also Read Related Stories News Now - Markets slump on L&T nos, global cues - 'Inflation to exceed 9% by March end' - ONGC profit rises 23% to Rs 3,053 cr in Q3 - Exim Bank of India gives LOC of $60 mn to Rwanda govt - India plans intact despite likely Chinese takeover: Volvo Cars More

The naukri.com's monthly job index -- JobSpeak -- fell to 713 points in December 2009, from 760 in November.

Once operational, seven passenger trians will stop daily (each way) allowing residents of nearby villages to more easilly gain access to jobs in the Delhi NCR Region.

For more information, you can reference the full article on expressindia.

Present at this meeting was Nayan Patel, formerly the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Linkedin out of Sunnyvale, California. It was announced today on Alootechie that he has joined the Linkedin India team as Director of Operations. It will be interesting to follow the Linkedin India team as they expand the property here on the sub-continent.

Fullerton currently has 9 locations across North India with plans to add 2 additional locations.

The internal metro service being proposed by a consortium of IL&FS and DLF will connect with the Delhi Metro, and service DLF’s residential communitites and business centers. It is being rumored that a common ticketing platform may be in place making it easier for commuters to connect with Delhi Metro Rail.

While this is an exciting development, concern continues to mount in Gurgaon over the lack of a quality public transportation option. While many are confident the Metro connection with Delhi will alleviate some of the traffic, concerns remain over the sorry state of many main roads throughout Gurgaon.

Job Profile: Interacting with clients, understanding their needs and providing technical support to the Customer by remotely accessing their networks & troubleshooting the queries on all products. Qualification: BCA/B.Sc (IT) / B.E/B.Tech/M.E/M.Tech/MCA/M.Sc(IT) with Year of Passout: 2008 & 2009. Skills Required: Fairly conversant with Networking Fundamentals viz:

• Routing Protocols
• TCP/ IP and IRQs
• Basic operating systems related to Networking
• Knowledge of CISCO product will be an added advantage
• Good communication skills in written as well as verbal.

Candidates meeting the required skills sets can appear for the selection process as per the below mentioned schedule:

Date: 17^th Dec 09 (Thursday)

Time: 11 am – 4 pm

Venue: Aricent Technologies Holdings Ltd- The Presidency Tower

A city-wise analysis shows that five out of top eight cities in the country have seen an upward trend in hiring, though Mumbai and Pune witnessed decline.

For the period under consideration, hiring activity in Delhi-NCR and Kolkata rose 2 per cent and 1.43 per cent, respectively. For Chennai it was 7.05 per cent, Bangalore 3.33 per cent and Hyderabad 6.65 per cent.

Full article after the jump.

Are you willing to pack your bags?

Last week The Chicago Tribune ran an article on job seekers who felt geography was the hindering their job searches. According to the article, “In the first quarter of this year, 14.3 percent [of job seekers who found work] relocated for a job; in the second quarter of 2008, 11.4 percent moved for work.”

We’ve mentioned before the roles of your city and state in job hunting. Location, location, location–it’s not just important to real estate agents. It’s also not an easy move to make, either. If relocation only involved getting a job, people would be hopping across the country without a second thought. However, people tend to have–you know–lives! Family, children, mortgages, schools, sentimental attachments. These factor in to why we live were we live.

Unfortunately, part of life is paying bills and making ends meet. That usually relies on a job. And that brings us back to the question: Would you relocate for a job? Your answer could depend on your occupation. I know that several professors I had in college went where the jobs were. Tenured professors don’t leave and not every school offeres the same courses, so picking a city and assuming you’ll find a job isn’t usually possible.

Therefore one professor who earned his Ph.D. in Victorian literature, which meant only a certain number of relevant openings were available each year. Many medical professionals also follow suit and go where their specialization is needed. If you’re in sales, you could have an easier time finding opportunities throughout the country. However, as the article said, the amount of job seekers outnumbers the amount of job openings. So anyone looking for a job has to address the possibility of relocation. Is it an absolute no for you? Is it a maybe? Is it something you’ll likely do?

To help you make your decision, here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. What is the entire cost of the move itself?
2. What is the comprehensive cost of living adjustment?
3. When is your last day on the old job and your first day of the new one?
4. What are your career opportunities in this new city?
5. What does saying “no” to the relocation mean for your career?
6. If you’re switching employers, what are your career opportunities at the new company?
7. Do you want to move?

There are no rights or wrongs to these answers. You have to decide for yourself what you’re willing to sacrifice and what risks you want to take. Just remember that the decision to relocate is more involved than just changing your address at the Post Office.

If you’ve moved for a job, let us know if it worked out for you. Did you get the job before you moved or did you  just move and take a chance?