When you’re looking for a job, finding ways to stand out and make a great impression can be everything. But, sometimes, the very “rules” that are supposed to help you do that can hold you back. READ MORE AT FAST COMPANY

As counterintuitive as it may at first seem, starting a business during a recession can have its advantages. Here are ten reasons why an economic downturn could be the perfect time for you to launch your new business venture. READ MORE AT FORBES

Before you log into that virtual career fair portal, follow this advice from CareerBuilder to stand out in a market overrun with candidates because of the pandemic.

There are many basic tips prospective job seekers can keep in mind to increase their chances of employment heading into a virtual career fair. Whether it's an in-person event or a virtual variant, a candidate's resume can be a deciding factor. There are a few general concepts candidates should consider when updating their resumes. READ MORE AT TECHREPUBLIC

Are you searching for a job? Is a loved one looking for work? There’s no denying that the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout have made the job market pretty bleak. But it’s not impossible to find a new role. READ MORE AT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Read biographies of featured guests for "Why Diversity and Inclusion Matters in Tech" webinar to be held Thursday, July 30. 

Ilenia Herrera Lutz, Talent Acquisition Lead, Accenture

Ilenia Herrera Lutz is an Associate Manager within Accenture’s Talent Acquisition organization. In her current role, Ilenia is the NA Elite I&D Sourcing Lead responsible for inclusion and diversity recruiting for conferences, diversity partnerships and early identification programming with a focus on entry-level candidates. Being passionate about the I&D space, Ilenia enjoys being able to combine her excitement for finding the best talent and her interest in the professional development of underrepresented minorities.

In her 15 years at Accenture, Ilenia has enjoyed a diverse career in the management consulting and human resources field, working with some of the country's most recognizable companies and diversity professional organizations. Paying it forward is a personal passion of Ilenia’s and she dedicates her time off in finding opportunities to open doors for others.

Ilenia resides in the Chicago suburbs and is married to her college sweetheart, Scott and is the proud mother of Ian. In her down time, Ilenia enjoys traveling with her family, catching up on reading, cooking and visiting her family in Panama City, Panama.

Raquel Tamez, CEO, Society of Hispanic Engineers, SHPE

Raquel Tamez is CEO of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), a national organization focused on empowering the Hispanic community and creating a powerful network of students and professionals via the promotion of careers in STEM. Since 2017, she has expanded SHPE's national programs, services, and resources it offers to its 13,000-plus members nationwide.
Prior to SHPE, Tamez was the chief legal officer, general counsel, and SVP of legal for SourceAmerica, a national nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities. Currently, she serves as a board member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives and represents SHPE on both the Hispanic Association of Corporate Responsibility Board of Directors and STEM Education Coalition.

In 2019, she was appointed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) as a member of the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine (CWSEM); similarly, the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CDEI) appointed her as a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s School of Law.

Michael Salmon, Director - Network Support Operations, U.S. Cellular

Michael Salmon is an accomplished leader with more than 23 years of success across the wireless telecommunications and cable industries. As a Subject Matter Expert, his broad areas of expertise include call center operations, network and security operation centers (NOC/SOC), wireless networks technology (RAN & Wi-Fi), product development, engineering, IT data centers operations (LAN / WAN) associated OSI model, network infrastructure build, SDN and cloud operations.

In addition to his subject matter expertise, Michael has extensive leadership experience and has lead teams of senior leadership domestic and international. Throughout his career, Michael has held leadership positions with Charter Communications, Frontier Communications, AT&T Wireless and US Cellular.

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Look around your business. Scan the faces of the people that work within your walls. Think about vendors that you support or come in contact with daily. Do they all look alike, sound alike, or have the same preferences? MORE AT SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS JOURNAL

We often hear of people wanting to improve their personal brand in business, however, the actual concept of personal branding and what it really means can be confusing to many of us.

So what is personal branding all about and does being authentic really matter? READ MORE AT SMART COMPANY

Like millions of other Americans and people throughout the world, you may have found yourself in between jobs due the effects of Covid-19. It’s a challenging spot to be in. READ MORE AT FORBES

CTA, RPM Contractor Walsh-Fluor and Chicago Scholars in 2020 Launched RPM Scholarship Program to Help Youth Pursue Education and Careers in Construction

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. and CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson announced today that three recent Chicago Public School graduates have been named recipients of the “CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund”, the first students to be awarded these scholarships since the program was launched earlier this year.

The scholarship program provides $5,500 per year for four years to economically disadvantaged students who plan to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) for engineering and construction-related degrees.

“As Chicago faces multiple challenges, now more than ever we must continue to find ways to increase equitable access to opportunity for all of our youth,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Innovative programs like this scholarship program help give the financial and mentoring support these outstanding students need and prepare them to build careers and participate in our city’s economic vibrancy.”

“From the very start, the RPM project has been about making a better future for all Chicagoans: residents, riders, businesses and the workforce,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This program moves us closer to that goal by offering these remarkable students with the opportunity to pursue education and build careers in the construction and engineering fields.”

“Every CPS graduate deserves to be able to follow their postsecondary dreams without facing an insurmountable financial barrier,” said CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “Through the ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund,' the CTA and Walsh-Fluor are providing a helping hand to some of our city's hardest-working young adults.”

“We are proud of these three students and the work they've accomplished,” said Dave Shier, Walsh-Fluor RPM Project Executive. “We hope this scholarship not only brightens their present, but enables them to lead tomorrow's engineering fields and truly become the city of Chicago's next generation of homegrown leaders.”

“The commitment provided to Chicago Scholars’ students through the ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ is a game changer. Not only does it provide important financial support, it is proof that Chicago’s leaders see these three students as the leaders of tomorrow,” said Dominique Jordan Turner, CEO of Chicago Scholars. “We are proud of these students, and all of our Scholars, who are continuing to commit to their futures and education in these uncertain times.”

The program was created as part of the CTA’s historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Phase One (RPM) project. Project contractor Walsh-Fluor Design-Build team is sponsoring the scholarships and making paid internships on the RPM project available to scholarship recipients.

The first-of-its-kind CTA initiative provides scholarships, mentoring support and career guidance for under-resourced college students. The scholarship program is administered by Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to college access, college success, and leadership development for first-generation and low-income students in Chicago.

Donated by Walsh-Fluor to help offset tuition costs for CPS graduates, the $250,000 ‘CTA Elevating Futures Scholarship Fund’ will provide 10 financial aid scholarships from 2020 through 2023 for students who plan on majoring in construction management, civil engineering, industrial or systems engineering. Students who are awarded scholarships will also be eligible to apply for paid summer internships with Walsh-Fluor and the CTA.

The 2020 CTA Elevating Futures Scholars, featured in a video here, are:

Jasmine Jackson, 18, Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood

 Jasmine ranked first in her class of nearly 200 students at Noble Street Charter – Gary Comer College Prep and will study engineering at Howard University. Her goal is to become a civil engineer because it will allow her to merge her two passions: math and art. She loves the challenge of solving a difficult math problem and the satisfaction of expressing her creativity through art. As a civil engineer, she will bring her creative side to her projects while ensuring everything is mathematically correct. Jasmine plans to use her profession to make the world a better place, for example, by starting a program that would build tiny homes for people who are experiencing homelessness.

Jorge Vargas, 17, Humboldt Park

 Jorge graduated near the top of his class at Lake View High School and will pursue a degree in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is passionate about engineering and fell in love with trains as a young child, when he would travel back and forth between New York and Chicago on the Amtrak. He believes the innovative power that civil engineers have can be of immense benefit to society, and he hopes to use his engineering skills for positive social impact. In the future, he aspires to combine his interest in civil engineering with his entrepreneurial spirit by developing an international high-speed transit company that works to combat climate change. His goals also include providing more accessible and affordable transportation around the city in order to address needs in transportation deserts and promote economic development.

George Vintila, 18, Portage Park

 After excelling at Lane Tech College Prep in advanced courses such as AP Physics C Electricity and Mechanics, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science, George will be studying computer engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology this fall. He believes that engineers hold the power to implement ideas to help ease economic inequality. He is excited about what he will learn through studying engineering in college and hopes that his efforts “will contribute to a cycle, where new students learn to engineer and apply their new-found proficiency to help others in need, who will then learn and do the same thing.” At school, George tutored other students through the Physics Club and focused on promoting renewable energies and recycling through the Environmental Club.

For more information about this program, visit ­CTA’s web site at transitchicago.com/rpm/workforce-opportunities or Chicago Scholars’ website at chicagoscholars.org/elevatingfutures.

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Job searching in these uncertain times requires focusing on the future – and trying out some special strategies for success.

If you’re job hunting these days, it may be tempting to let the rollercoaster news cycle and uncertain job market knock your tech career off course. But organizations around the globe continue to work on their plans for life post-pandemic, and so should you. READ MORE AT THE ENTERPRISERS PROJECT

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) Board of Directors announced Marina Gonzales as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the 91-year-old organization. A native of South Texas, Gonzales, who most recently served as President and CEO of Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) brings a diverse background in public policy, advocacy, strategic planning, fundraising and business development to the role. READ MORE AT SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEBSITE

Facebook announced Tuesday that it will be investing $800 million for a new data center that will be built in DeKalb, Illinois.

The facility will be Facebook's 12th data center in the U.S. The 907,000 square-foot facility will be supported by 100 percent renewable energy and will use 80% less water than an average data center. READ MORE AT ABC NEWS CHICAGO

For the first time in the University of California’s history, Latino students represent the largest ethnic group of admitted freshmen this fall, surpassing Asian American students.

Latino students account for 36% of admitted freshmen, followed by 35% of Asian Americans, according to admissions data released Thursday. Admission of low-income and first-generation students also increased at the university. READ MORE AT THE SACRAMENTO BEE

86% of organizations are using new virtual technology to interview candidates at this time. Here are 10 helpful tips for making the best impression you can in your video interview, and demonstrating that you’re a great fit for the role. READ MORE AT FORBES

We are living in unprecedented times and are in the midst of adjusting to a new normal of social distancing and economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, unconscious bias is becoming more prevalent as the COVID-19 outbreak and media coverage are bringing to light prevalent racial bias and discrimination that occur inside and outside the workplace. READ MORE AT RISMEDIA

STEM is becoming a powerful industry and with good reason. This field is still growing and evolving. It is expected that STEM industries will produce nine million jobs by the year 2022.

Our task is to make sure that STEM attracts and retains diversity. Seeking out unique perspectives and attitudes regarding problem-solving is how we can disrupt learning and living to produce a better quality of life for everyone. READ MORE AT THE TECH ADVOCATE

The mass migration to remote work helped companies solve a major coronavirus challenge, but the recent civil unrest has exposed diversity and opportunity gaps across the U.S., which telecommuting is beginning to exacerbate. Low-income students and students of color entering the workforce are struggling to overcome a telecommuting digital divide. READ MORE AT CNBC

Job hunting has always been a little stressful. OK, a lot stressful. A pandemic certainly hasn’t remedied that. Rather, it’s changing the landscape.

For one, it’s heating up competition. Millions of newly out-of-work Americans are chasing employment simultaneously. Applicant pools are also expanding geographically as remote work becomes widespread. Here are four ways to fine-tune your at-home job hunt. READ MORE AT MARKETWATCH

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and people’s lives have been devastating. The good news is that there are courses to chart that will help. Identifying and nurturing the right skills for this new world will be key. READ MORE AT STRATEGY + BUSINESS

If you need extra income, you might check out some freelance work.

Unemployment levels are high, and the extra $600 in weekly federal jobless benefits is set to run out the end of July. But the good news is that finding some extra work may be easier. READ MORE AT CNBC