Looking for career advice? You might want to steer clear of your family and friends, new research finds. Whether it's being told by their parents not to be friends with their co-workers or having a friend suggest that resumes should be long and detailed, many employees admit that those closest to them have given them bad suggestions on how to get a job or advance in the workplace. READ MORE AT BUSINESS NEWS DAILY

The economy needs to create 150,000 new jobs each month to keep the unemployment rate steady and to balance population growth. In fact, just last month, ADP reported that companies created 177,000 new jobs – down from 263,000 in March. But while the numbers continue to fluctuate from month-to-month and year-to-year, there's one thing that hasn't changed, at least since 2007, and that's the continued rise of Hispanic entrepreneurship in America.

Hispanics are the new majority minority. READ MORE AT WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Call them the ‘Hispanic whisperers’. That’s how some Hollywood studios have started thinking about the cross-cultural film marketing company Barú, which consults on how to reach diverse audiences.

When Hollywood studios like Comcast Corp.-owned CMCSA, +0.31% Focus Features and Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox FOXA, +2.35% and Walt Disney DIS, +0.13% need an expert hand in making sure their films represent, speak to and attract Hispanic audiences, they reach out to Elizabeth Barrutia, founder and chief executive of Barú.

“The face of the American consumer is rapidly changing, and this change has driven the demand for top-tier entertainment companies to bridge the cultural divide,” READ MORE AT MARKETWATCH

I often joke that I am the only introvert in marketing. I marvel at people who can enter virtually any networking situation and be elected prom king and queen by evening’s end. I used to hate events where everyone was new to me. But I made myself attend and slowly grew more comfortable.

These days, I can’t say that I love such occasions, but I’ve learned to appreciate them and make the most of each opportunity. If you’re like me, try getting past your networking demons by considering these nine tips.

1. Remember, it’s not high school anymore. READ MORE AT FORBES

Hispanics own more than 3 million businesses in the United States, and South Florida is a pretty good place for them to set up shop, says a new report.

Eleven cities in the Sunshine state made the personal finance site Wallethub’s Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, released Wednesday. Four of the Top 25 cities are in South Florida. READ MORE AT SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS JOURNAL

By now, many marketers have heard of the tremendous opportunities the United States. Hispanic consumer represents in terms of numbers and purchasing power. However, in the age of hypersegmentation and targeting, Millennials and bi-cultural Hispanics have risen to the top of marketer’s go-to Hispanic sub-segments. While most companies focus on this target, there is an untapped consumer segment that has serious growth potential, Hispanic business owners. READ MORE AT MEDIAPOST

Telemundo Chicago / WSNS today announced that Hernán Fratto has been named Reporter for Noticiero Telemundo Chicago, the station’s local weekday newscast that airs weekdays at 4 PM, 4:30 PM, 5 PM and 10 PM. Fratto joins a dynamic team of reporters to provide the latest local breaking news about the issues that affect Spanish-speaking viewers in Chicago and its surrounding neighborhoods. Fratto will make his on air debut the week of April 10th, 2017.

“Fratto’s professionalism and dedication to journalism will help us continue with our mission of connecting with our viewers and delivering the news and information that matters most to them. We couldn’t be happier to have Hernán in our newsroom,” said Diana Maldonado, Vice President of News for Telemundo Chicago.

Fratto joins Telemundo Chicago after working as an anchor and reporter at Univision Southwest Florida. Before this, he worked as an anchor and reporter in Buenos Aires, Argentina for America Noticias. Fratto has also covered important events worldwide, including World Youth Day with Pope Francis in Brasil, World Cup Coverage in South Africa and also delivered a special report on drug trafficking and human trafficking in Mexico City, among others.

He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Journalism from the University of El Salvador.

ComEd hosted its second annual Supplier Diversity Awards recognizing diverse suppliers for exceptional performance in areas ranging from innovation and environmental stewardship to overall growth and performance. A total of 76 companies competed for the diverse supplier awards presented today at a ceremony at the Palmer House Hilton Chicago.

The awards acknowledge minority-, veteran- and women-owned suppliers for their increasingly important role in the company’s efforts to modernize its energy delivery system, which provides safe and reliable electricity to nearly 4 million customers in northern Illinois.

 In 2016, ComEd achieved an all-time high of $777 million in total diverse spend, representing 33 percent of total supply spend, and $600 million more than in 2011. In the past six years, ComEd’s total diversity certified supplier expenditure reached $2.6 billion, a 339-percent increase, providing new opportunities for African American, Hispanic, Native American, veteran and women-owned enterprises. In 2016, ComEd added 132 diverse suppliers, a 26-percent increase, for a total of 516 certified-diverse suppliers.

“At ComEd, diversity and inclusion is part of our value system and culture and we are committed to not only contracting with diverse suppliers, but we also work to mentor and help them be successful,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO, ComEd. “We are excited to recognize truly outstanding performers whose unique insights, approaches and success stories hold important lessons for us all.”

The 2017 ComEd Supplier Diversity Award winners:

Overall Performance for Construction and Material Services: MZI Group, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a specialist in electrical and mechanical construction and energy infrastructure.

Overall Performance for Professional Services: PACO Collective, Chicago, Ill., a cross-cultural marketing agency.

Rising Star Award: PMI Energy Solutions, Batavia, Ill., electrical construction, maintenance and technical services.

Go Green Energy Sustainability Award: Primera Engineering, Chicago, Ill., full-service engineering design and consulting.

Diverse Supplier Advocacy Award: MJ Electric LLC, Glen Ellyn, Ill., electrical construction services.

Deborah M. Sawyer Community Partnership Award: Stevenson Crane, Bolingbrook, Ill., crane rental and lifting equipment.

President's Award: Environmental Design International, Chicago, Ill., engineering services for public and private sector.

ComEd has injected more than $5.52 billion into its supply chain in Illinois since 2011, driven largely by the smart grid program created by the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA). The legislation established a broad range of performance metrics for utilities, including increased spending with diverse suppliers, by at least 15 percent over 10 years. Since 2012, ComEd has exceeded that goal with a total supply chain spend in Illinois under EIMA of $4 billion, including $1.6 billion total diverse supply chain spend. 

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Why aren’t more movies being made for Hispanic audiences? They make up 21% of U.S. moviegoers (compared to 14% for African Americans and Asians), and 56% of them go to movies six times a year or more.

One of Hollywood's most underserved audiences is also its most insatiable.

Over the weekend, Eugenio Derbez's How to Be a Latin Lover hit No. 2 at the box office with a better-than-expected $12.3 million, drawing an audience that was 89% Latino. The movie bested Emma Watson and Tom Hanks' critically derided newcomer The Circle... READ MORE AT USA TODAY

Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. is widely known as a celebration of Mexican-American culture filled with margaritas, tacos and tons of fun.

But before you prep for your upcoming fiesta or scramble to make some last-minute party plans, you may want to brush up on what the holiday is truly about.

Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about Cinco de Mayo... READ MORE AT AJC

Networking events can be intimidating. Sometimes, it's overwhelming meeting so many new people at once. How do you network effectively? With my 3 tips you can handle your next networking meeting confidently.

I’ve got 3 tips to help you feel more comfortable at your next networking event.

1) Remember that networking is about building relationships. So figure out who will be at the event, decide on who you want to meet and do some research on them. Knowing a little bit about someone helps make for smoother conversations and makes you more at east

2) When you’re talking to someone you want to listen more than talk. Ask questions to learn about them. Showing an interest fosters a relationship. READ MORE NEWS 2

GlobalMindED Technology Track speaker Dr. Patty Lopez, a Computer Scientist of Latina descent, is a first generation to college student who got her Ph.D. in 1989 from New Mexico State University. Her accomplishment is extraordinary considering that Latinas hold the lowest percentage of graduate degrees when compared to all non-Hispanic women combined, with just 4% of Latinas having a graduate degree or higher. READ MORE AT HUFFINGTONPOST

If you're thinking about applying for a new job, there's no time like the present. According to Career Sidekick, spring months are some of the best to make a career move.

That's because employers are eager to lock in new hires before Memorial Day. After Memorial Day, summer vacations often make it difficult to efficiently move through the hiring process. READ MORE AT CNBC

We were told, if we focus on good grades, life will be great. But the ones who got good jobs and life partners were not necessarily school or college toppers. They said, clear this entrance exam and you will be successful, but others became millionaires. We continue to receive terrible advice throughout life. Well-meaning colleagues share bad tips drawn from limited personal perspectives and experiences. Read on for the 10 pieces of bad advice you should ignore..

1. Bad advice: Put your head down and work hard. Rewards will follow. READ MORE AT ECONOMIC TIMES

The rate of workplace death in the U.S. was unchanged in 2015 from the previous year, but there was an increase in the number of Latinos who died on the job, according to an annual analysis of federal data by the AFL-CIO.

The report found 4,836 workplace fatalities nationwide, a rate of 3.4 people per 100,000. Among Latinos, the rate was nearly 20 percent higher: 4.0 per 100,000 people.

Deaths among Latino workers increased from 804 in 2014 to 903 in 2015. Of those, 605 were foreign-born, which includes those with legal status and those in the country illegally. READ MORE AT KPCC

With commencement season just around the corner, it’s a good time for Ph.D. students to remember that you too will enter the workforce. To help you figure out your next step, a new interactive infographic allows you to explore the Ph.D. employment landscape over the past 20 years. The tool allows users to slice and dice the data based on various factors, including discipline, so tailor the information to you and find your fit.

Overall, by the time Ph.D. holders are 10 to 14 years out of grad school, just over 40% are working at 4-year universities. READ MORE AT SCIENCE MAGAZINE

My picks: HispanicPro celebration and Cinco de Mayo parade in Little Village

By Claudia Urbano, Chicago Urbanite

It has been a while since I last posted, but I am back to tell you where to celebrate the next big holiday in the Chicago. On May 5, Chicago and other cities in the United States celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This  is a holiday that celebrates Mexican culture. My recommendation is to network and socialize with a great organization that will be hosting a huge Mexican-American celebration in Chicago:  the Cinco de Mayo event put on by HispanicPro. If you haven’t heard of them, HispanicPro is the premier networking organization for Hispanic professionals in Illinois and the largest producer of networking events targeting the Hispanic professional community in Chicago.

I was invited to their April event for financial industry professionals and while enjoying some light food and beverages from one of the sponsors of the event, I had an interesting conversation with the president of the Chicago Symphony Latino Alliance (CSLA). CSLA is another great organization and they host a pre-concert networking event with special guest artists who give insights into the evening’s concert. After enjoying  the light food and beverages from CSLA’s networking event, you get to enjoy  a concert from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). I also learned a lot about their membership (it’s free!) and some of the interesting events they offer.  If HispanicPro hadn’t invited me to their professional event, I would never have learned about this unique experience from CSLA (you can learn more about CSLA here).

After attending an event for myself, I can say HispanicPro functions are not only great for networking, professional tips ,and discovering unique opportunities, they’re also festive events to attend. For example, at the end of the event I attended, many of us took to the networking floor and turned it into a dance floor! This organisation definitely strikes the perfect balance between function and fun. So, if you are new to the Chicago area, looking to make new connections, or want to attend more enjoyable professional events go to the next HispanicPro function. If you want to find out more about them, visit their website at www.HispanicPro.com. It’s free to join, you get access to some of the coolest venues in Chicago and meet interesting people from different professions.  I am sure their upcoming CInco de Mayo party will be as fun as the one I attended.

A couple of days later, on May 7 at noon, head to the Cinco de Mayo Parade in Little Village, one of the signature Mexican neighborhoods in Chicago. It is one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the city. The parade goes from  Cermak Rd. and Damen Ave to Marshall Blvd.

Culture tip: did you know that Little Village retail strip is the second highest grossing shopping district in Chicago after the glamourous Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue? #LaRazaPower

Successful entrepreneurs know that networking is not a numbers game. It’s not about how many business cards you pass out or collect. It’s not about how many products you can sell or whom you can instantly impress, exploit or schmooze to get what you want.

Proper networking is a gradual process of making genuine connections with people and cultivating those relationships for the long term. READ MORE AT ENTREPRENEUR

This year, the AHAA Annual Conference will tackle the hottest topics in marketing today: technology, disruption, culture, creativity and content. From June 12 to 14 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, AHAA will bring together experts and trendsetters to discuss how powerful U.S. Hispanics are to brands, how disruption and innovation is changing the way we consume content, and how marketers must adapt, ensuring efforts be free of stereotypes and inclusive of the multicultural community.

Top executives from The Coca-Cola Company, Denny's, SlingTV (DishLatino), Nielsen and Avocados From Mexico are slated to present, including Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus of DDB Worldwide delivering the conference's closing keynote speech on "Creativity Matters." READ MORE AT PRNEWSWIRE

Hispanics in the U.S. are increasingly concerned about bad financial times ahead for their personal finances as well as the U.S. economy as a whole, according to a new national consumer sentiment index conducted by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) in the College of Business. READ MORE AT CPA PRACTICE ADVISOR