Employment

For 2011, Anne Arundel County posted a 6.4 percent unemployment rate while Howard County posted a 5.2 percent unemployment rate, compared with the national annual unemployment average of 8.9 percent.

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
At the national level, such websites as http://www.monster.com, http://www.careerbuilder.com, http://www.jobs.com and http://www.craigslist.org, feature extensive search capabilities as well as resume tips, forum support and professional networking options.

At the state level the Division of Workforce Development, http://www.dllr.state.md.us/county/howard, is the lead agency. They track and report the state's labor market statistics, administer the Unemployment Compensation program and other development programs. If you're looking for a job with the state, the best resource is the Department of Budget and Management, http://dbm.maryland.gov/jobseekers/Pages/jobseekersHome. Another prospect is the Maryland Workforce Exchange, https://mwe.dllr.state.md.us.

The Howard County Public School System has a site in which prospective candidates can research job openings by school district, learn about job fairs as well as read about recognition programs, professional development and performance standards for teachers in Maryland at http://www.hcpss.org/employment. For employment with Howard County visit http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/how/html/howe.html#employment or http://agency.governmentjobs.com/howardcounty.

Howard County General Hospital also offers an extensive jobs site at http://www.hcgh.org/content/JobOpenings.htm.

For employment with Anne Arundel County, visit http://www.aacounty.org/Personnel/index.cfm.

Anne Arundel Medical Center also offers an extensive jobs site at http://www.aahs.org/careers/jobs.php?nav=gen1.

JOB SEEKER TIPS
Always have an up-to-date resume. Have different resumes that target specific job industries and highlight skills for those job descriptions. Compile several reference lists so you have a good variety of people and former business associates. Compose a comprehensive and catchy cover letter, since it introduces you and your desire to work for the company. Highlight the skills, work experience and education that apply to the position. Prepare for an interview at any time. When you submit your application, for instance, a supervisor might request an immediate interview. Follow up with calls and thank you letters. A letter keeps your name fresh in the interviewers mind and a call gauges interest levels.

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
An employment agency offers high-level administrative jobs to warehouse work. Many employers use these agencies as their human resources department-the agency advertises, interviews, tests and manages payroll. The temp-to-perm arrangement allows both the employer and prospective employee to preview each other before committing to permanent employment.

Howard County
The Mergis Group
9891 Broken Land Parkway, Suite 306
Columbia, MD 21046 (410) 290-8508
Temporary and permanent accounting, administrative, banking, HR and IT recruiting.

Nancy Adams Personnel
5094 Dorsey Hall Drive, Suite 205
Ellicott City, MD 21042 (410) 730-5200
Permanent and temporary placements, as well as temp-to-perm hires, specializing in administrative and office personnel.

Level One Personnel Inc.
10320 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 814
Columbia, MD 21044 (410) 740-3030
Temporary placement, temp-to-hire and direct hire placements.

Kelly Services
8850 Stanford Blvd., Suite 2700
Columbia, MD 21045 (410) 872-9065
Temporary employment for such skills as office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, light industrial, education, health care and home care.

Sparks
10025 Governor Warfield Parkway, Suite 206
Columbia, MD 21044 (410) 740-8009
Professional recruitment and placement of temporary and direct hire employees.

Manpower Inc.
7090 Deepage Drive, Suite B
Columbia, MD 21045 (410) 290-5176
High-value staffing services and a center for quality employment opportunities.

Volt Services Group
8840 Stanford Blvd., Suite 1600
Columbia, MD 21045 (443) 285-0900
Temporary, temp-to-hire and direct placement global staffing.

Anne Arundel County
Abbtech Staffing Services Inc.
7310 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 (410) 766-5454
http://www.onpointstaffing.net

Adecco Employment Services
132 Holiday Court, Suite 207
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 266-0967
http://www.adecco.com
General staffing in administrative/clerical, customer service and human resources positions, as well as assembly, production, machine operation and mechanical trades.

Aerotek
7449 Race Road
Hanover, MD 21076 (410) 796-1617
http://www.aerotek.com
Covering the fields of accounting, administrative, automotive, aviation, engineering, manufacturing and scientific jobs.

All Skill Staffing Solutions
1906 Forest Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 216-6617

Ford Employment Service
7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 707
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 (410) 766-4090
http://www.nancyadamsemployment.com
A variety of placement services for positions including: administrative/executive, office clerks/data entry, accounting/bookkeeping, customer service/inside sales, receptionist, office management and warehouse.

Manpower
1907 West St.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (443) 569-5951
http://www.manpower.com

1350 Dorsey Road
Hanover, MD 21076 (410) 691-6391
http://www.manpower.com
Providing permanent placement, recruitment process outsourcing, managed service programs, outplacement and human resources consulting.

TMD Temporaries
5006 Ritchie Highway
Brooklyn Park, MD 21225 (410) 789-2888
http://www.tmdtemps.com
Offering payroll services, temporary staffing, permanent placements and onsite management.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT
The Maryland Small Business Development Center offers a convenient and centralized place to obtain small business resource material, get free business counseling and attend informational workshops. For complete details on this program, visit http://www.centralmdsbdc.org.