Biz Bits: Opportunities for returning vets on the upswing

Tip of the Week

Employment opportunities seem to be on the upswing for military veterans, which is encouraging for the thousands of servicemembers returning from duty and veterans who are looking for new civilian career opportunities.

The unemployment rate for veterans dropped to 6.6 percent in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the news is positive, a 2013 University of Phoenix survey conducted by Harris Poll, revealed only 33 percent of active duty service members reported having made a transition plan for returning to civilian life after separation from the military.

If service members don’t know where to start, there are resources such as the U.S. Department of Labor’s Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) to help veterans translate their skills and find quality jobs.

Service members who have recently returned home might be interested in pursuing careers at firms recognized for hiring veterans. The military has a Best Veteran Employers list as well as current job postings for those companies.

— Brandpoint

BBB Watch

Ads claiming to offer a prize for “completing a short survey” abound on the Internet. They seem normal at first, but often end up as scams. One recent example posed as an Amazon.com survey, asked where respondents shopped online, how often they visited the website and how much time they spend on the Internet each day. Unfortunately, after answering all questions, the $50 gift card prize was “out of stock,” and users were instructed to choose one of several dubious products. The survey was just an elaborate hoax to promote shady products, sometimes gathering personal information in the process.

— Better Business Bureau

The List

Companies with the lowest revenue per employee:

10. O’Reilly Automotive ($107,400)

9. Marriott International ($103,900)

8. Amphenol ($103,700)

7. Jabil Circuit ($103,600)

6. Starbucks ($81,800)

5. Chipotle Mexican Grill ($70,900)

4. McDonald’s ($63,900)

3. Cognizant Technology Solutions ($51,600)

2. Yum! Brands ($42,600)

1. Starwood Hotels & Resorts ($33,700)

— 24/7 Wall St.

Number to Know

12: Number of years former Wall Street lawyer Matthew Kluger was sentenced to serve in prison for insider trading, the longest sentence ever handed down for that offense.

Tech Talk

The forthcoming iPhone 6 may feature battery life up to 15 percent better than the current generation iPhone 5S, according to forum AppleInsider, citing a report published on a Chinese technology website. One version of the new phone may even offer a larger battery, further boosting performance, but at the expense of slimness.

The battery upgrade would still leave iPhone behind some Android rivals in terms of battery life, an advantage touted by phone manufacturer Samsung in a newly released commercial that refers to iPhone users as “wall huggers,” constantly in need of plug-in charging.