Brookfield Strikes Deal to Buy Internet Provider Hotwire
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners BIP -0.56%decrease; red down pointing triangle has struck a deal for internet-service provider Hotwire Communications, making a multibillion-dollar bet on the growing industry for next-generation broadband infrastructure, according to people familiar with the matter.
The deal is expected to value Hotwire at around $7 billion, including debt, the people said. An announcement is anticipated soon, they added.
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CNET
10 minutes ago
- CNET
Stuck in the Job Search? Career Experts Share What Works in Today's Market
The job hunt isn't what it used to be. Experts share nine tips that can help you stand out to recruiters. Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET Since getting laid off from a tech marketing role last November, Stephanie Wandell has applied to hundreds of jobs. She's heard back from only a handful of recruiters, without any offers. "I was a little bit naive going into it, thinking I could do what I always do and depend on applying to as many places as I can," said Wandell. "It became pretty clear that this time is different." Ask anyone who's unemployed and they'll tell you today's job market is more challenging than it used to be. In the past several months, my LinkedIn social feed has been a testament to that. Laid-off professionals share posts about their agonizing battles to find employment, with job searches stretching more than a year. Amid signs of an economic slowdown, companies are pulling back on hiring, leaving job seekers in the lurch. Facing fierce competition for a shrinking pool of open positions, candidates are trying to master new strategies to get past AI screeners into the hands of a human recruiter. Some wait months for a response, only to be ghosted by HR departments. Even if official unemployment figures appear relatively low, millions of Americans are wading through this emotional and financial roller coaster. The health of the job market is measured by people's ability to get a job, said Daniel Zhao, lead economist at the career and job search site Glassdoor. Hearing these experiences, I had a lot of questions. Is the job hunt miserable for everyone? Why are so many qualified and talented workers getting the silent treatment? How are folks using AI in their search? What is HR actually looking for? I spoke with several career specialists to gather the most straightforward advice for helping job seekers on their journey. I also compiled a list of free employment resources and upskilling platforms below. 1. Don't be generic Sending out hundreds of applications with the same resume might feel like the right approach but it's not the best use of your time. "We find many job seekers in the market haphazardly applying to any and/or all jobs instead of targeting relevant ones," said Chad Sowash of the Chad and Cheese Podcast, which covers recruitment technology, talent management and workforce economics. Instead of spending several hours applying to multiple jobs, use that time to tailor each resume toward the role you really want. Companies are becoming increasingly selective in their hiring practices so job seekers also need to be choosier about where they apply. "Not all positions and hiring companies will be a fit so don't try to be all things to all people," Sowash said. To narrow down your search, think about what you're looking for in terms of work environment and responsibilities, said Sam DeMase, career expert at ZipRecruiter. "Don't just throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks." Identify the value that makes you an exceptional candidate. "If your resume is very generic and doesn't speak to your specific superpowers, you're not going to get as many hits as you would with a hyper-tailored resume," DeMase said. 2. Optimize for the resume robot When you apply to a job online, your resume likely won't go straight to a recruiter or hiring manager. Nearly all Fortune 500 companies use an applicant tracking system, or ATS, to process applications and dismiss candidates automatically. As my CNET colleague pointed out in a 2023 story on resume robots, the ATS software scans applications for a specific percentage of matching keywords, typically 70% to 80%. If there's not a high match with the posting, your application probably won't make it to the next stage, regardless of your qualifications. To create an ATS-friendly resume, read the job description thoroughly and note particular keywords, phrases or skills. If the requirements accurately align with your qualifications, add them to your resume using the same language. That said, don't go overboard. While keywords are important, stuffing your resume with too many can read as unnatural. Jobscan, Skillsyncer and multiple other online platforms provide free resume scanning tools geared toward optimizing your application for ATS. Zhao said resume keyword optimization isn't about "beating" the computer. It's about making sure recruiters and hiring managers see your skills and experience. Once you have the right balance of keywords, simplify your formatting to make it clean and concise, which helps the ATS and recruiters review your resume. Avoid using fancy headers and footers, graphics or tables, which often get garbled by the computer software. 3. Act fast on job openings Set up multiple job alerts and be ready to act immediately on the openings you like the most. DeMase recommends being one of the first people to apply to the job posting so that your resume doesn't get pushed to a later round. "Unfortunately, these jobs are getting posted and have more than 100 applicants within 48 hours or sooner," said DeMase. If you have multiple versions of your resume ready, you can adapt quickly. Just because a posting is still up after several weeks doesn't mean the company is still reviewing applications or looking for new candidates. 4. Use AI with a personal touch In 2024, more than 50% of job seekers used AI to draft resumes and cover letters. While generative AI tools like ChatGPT can speed up the writing process, they tend to produce generic, impersonal content. "One of the issues I see with job seekers who overly rely on AI is that their application ends up looking like everybody else's who is using AI as well," said Zhao. To avoid the same formulaic responses, provide detailed prompts that emphasize the parts of your application that align with the job description and make your background and experience unique. For example, you can ask the chatbot to review your cover letter and suggest ways to make it more compelling based on your abilities and interests. "It's important for people to think about how their resume distinguishes them, how their skill set, even if it's nontraditional, might give them a different perspective than other people in the candidate pool," Zhao said. 5. Get your outreach going Even in today's digital age, networking remains incredibly powerful for landing a job, especially considering that many roles aren't advertised online but filled through referrals. If you're new to networking, start reaching out to the people around you: family and friends, alumni and former co-workers. Ask them if they know anyone in a career field that interests you or works at a company you're curious about. "Folks can go quiet after a layoff, because there's a deep sense of shame, particularly in our society, where so much of our identity is associated with our work and our productivity," said Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of JVS Bay Area, a workforce development nonprofit. "It's important to fight through that, tap into your network and let people know you're looking." Instead of just requesting a job or connection, actively engage in conversations, ask thoughtful questions, share your own insights and look for ways to offer value, said DeMase. Sending out a handful of personalized emails will get you farther than dozens of generic copy-and-paste notes. 6. Level up your skillset Showcasing competitive skills like data analysis, digital collaboration and AI tool expertise is crucial in today's job market. Instead of prioritizing traditional credentials like education, 76% of employers put greater value on actual work experience and demonstrated abilities, even if you're self-taught. "You can make yourself stand out by indicating the different things you've learned on your own and how that could apply to that employer," said Countryman-Quiroz. Free online courses, such as LinkedIn Learning or IBM SkillsBuild, can help you learn valuable skills or even obtain official certification. Local colleges and community centers frequently provide low-cost courses on anything from digital marketing to insurance licensing. If you've been unemployed for a long time, you can use courses and training to fill in the gaps on your resume, which shows that you're proactive and self-directed. 7. Prepare for ghosting For many, the toughest part of job hunting is never hearing back. Though being ghosted by an employer or recruiter can feel incredibly personal, it's not a reflection of your skills or qualifications. Research from LinkedIn found that almost 40% of candidates say they're applying to more jobs than ever and hearing back less. There are countless reasons why HR doesn't follow up: budget cuts, hiring freezes, internal shifts or too many applicants. You might never know the real reason. You can send a polite follow-up email to the hiring manager to demonstrate your continued interest, which may prompt them to respond. But try not to blame yourself or spend too much time dissecting why you didn't hear back. After being ghosted following multiple interviews, Wandell started The Job Ghosting Project, a list of anonymous stories from job seekers who've been ignored by companies. Within a week of posting the survey, Wandell received more than 500 submissions, with responses ranging from recent grads to high-level executives. "The goal is really just to document these patterns, validate the job seekers and push for accountability in the hiring process," said Wandell. 8. Practice for interviews Interview prep goes beyond knowing your resume and the role. You'll need to show why you want this specific job with this specific employer. Start with research. Look at the company's recent news, press releases, social media and reviews. Understand their latest projects, challenges and competition. Use the STAR method. Break down each requirement in the job description and connect it to a specific example from your experience. Practice structuring your answers using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to demonstrate your impact in a clear and concise way. Practice, practice, practice. Say your interview answers out loud, not just in your head. If possible, do a practice interview with someone you trust and get honest feedback. That can help identify awkward phrasing and make you more confident during the real thing. Prepare questions for the interviewer. Asking thoughtful questions of the hiring team shows your engagement and understanding of the role/company. 9. Balance your job search It's common to feel discouraged, stressed and embarrassed when faced with rejection. "The job search is a slog and you have to make sure that you're doing it in a sustainable manner," said Zhao. "You can't just apply to 100 jobs every day because you'll burn yourself out." Set clear boundaries for your job-hunting hours, schedule regular breaks and set up informal meetings to network. Focus on having a support system in place, especially with other people looking for work. Being in a group with people in the same situation can really "diminish the shame that so many feel around not being employed," said Countryman-Quiroz. After joining a job-seeker support group during a previous layoff, Wandell started her own group this past year. It started with five people and it's now grown to 50 to 100 participants. "It's a space for people to vent but also to ask questions, network and brainstorm," said Wandell. Read more: Layoffs Are Happening. How to Prepare if You Think You Might Lose Your Job Free job search platforms and upskilling resources We compiled a list of resources to help sharpen your skills and streamline your search. General job boards Industry-specific/niche job boards InHerSight: Organization providing career advice and job matching specifically for women. Jobs in Logistics: Job search site for employment in logistics, supply chain, transportation, inventory management and more. The Mom Project: Resource community geared toward working mothers seeking out family-friendly companies. Recruit Military: A military-to-civilian recruiting company connecting military veterans, transitioning military service members and their spouses with employment opportunities. Remote Jobs: Site curated by remote work specialist Rowena Hennigan, providing resources for remote work openings. SchoolSpring: National job board for teachers and others in education. Superpath: Job board for content strategists, writers and freelance bloggers. Working Nomads: Job search site for global remote work tailored specifically toward digital working nomads. VC Job Boards: Curated list of job boards featuring venture capital positions. Workplace development nonprofits STRIVE: Offers tuition-free skills training, job readiness support and personal coaching for those seeking to improve their career prospects. NPower: Provides part-time tech skills training, including IT, cloud computing and cybersecurity, with opportunities for paid internships. Goodwill: Offers job training and employment services, career development and financial literacy programs, as well as job placement assistance. Year Up United: Focuses on helping low-income young adults gain IT and business skills through paid internships and job placement. Upskilling Coursera: Offers courses, certificates, and degrees from top universities and companies, covering subjects like computer science, business and data science. Udemy: A vast online marketplace for courses, with options ranging from health and fitness to IT and software, and more. LinkedIn Learning: Provides courses on business, creative, and technology skills, taught by industry experts. Skillshare: A community-based platform for creative and curious people, with classes in illustration, design, photography and more. edX: Offers university-level courses from various institutions, including MIT and Harvard, covering a range of topics. IBM SkillsBuild: Provides free access to learning materials and certifications in areas like cloud computing and AI. HubSpot Academy: Offers free courses and resources on marketing, sales and customer service. Google Skillshop: Provides free digital skills training through online learning platforms. Microsoft Learn: Offers free online training and certifications on Microsoft products. freeCodeCamp: A platform for learning web development through online courses. MIT OpenCourseWare: Provides access to free MIT course materials.
Washington Post
24 minutes ago
- Washington Post
D.C. Council members say stadium approval is likely, but they need more time
D.C. Council members are working toward approving a football stadium for the Washington Commanders at the shuttered RFK Stadium site — but probably not by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser's (D) July deadline, several lawmakers said this week. The prospect of the council delaying a vote on the $3.7 billion deal has the team 'outraged,' Bowser said this week, and 'sacrifices our exclusive seat at the table and $2.7 billion in private investment.' Bowser has wanted the council to approve the deal with the Commanders as part of the council's fiscal year 2026 budget process — and the Commanders said this week that any delay beyond that threatens the team's construction timeline. But council members argued it was only fair that they take more time to consider a deal that involves more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds — especially since they said they still lacked key information, such as a full explanation of the Bowser administration's revenue projections for the project and an analysis of how much the proposed tax exemptions for the Commanders will cost the city. 'The mayor thinks that her deal is perfect, and that's great for her,' said council member Christina Henderson (I-At Large). 'I feel like there are areas where we can certainly improve.' The timeline tensions came into public view Tuesday, after NBC Washington reported on a closed council meeting where members discussed the possibility of voting on the terms of the RFK deal separately from the overall budget, which lawmakers are expected to approve in late July. The council would still approve the capital funding Bowser has allocated for the development with the budget, two lawmakers said this week. The discussion of RFK was one part of a broader talk about separating some of Bowser's policy proposals from the council's budget vote, according to a person who was in the meeting but spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. Bowser's budget proposal included a host of changes to D.C. law, including a repeal of the city's 'sanctuary city' policy and amendments to eviction law. No final decision was made on RFK, the person said. Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) said members talked about keeping the money for the RFK deal in the budget while taking out the policy language around the deal so they could possibly amend it. 'It is my belief that the deal will get done,' Parker said in a video he posted on social media in which he described the meeting. 'We will safeguard the money, and vote on this project sometime this fall.' But voting on the deal in the fall would violate a deadline that Bowser negotiated with the Commanders; a term sheet between the two parties set July 15 as a deadline for a council vote and says the team would no longer exclusively negotiate with the city if the council did not vote on the deal by then, or if the council 'materially changes' the deal's terms. And Bowser said in an interview Friday that even if the council voted to approve the capital funds, that would mean little without them also approving the terms. 'The team can't take that to the bank,' she said. The deal, which Bowser and the Commanders announced at the end of April, would involve $2.7 billion from the Commanders and more than $1 billion in city funds, some of which would help with stadium infrastructure and parking facilities for the stadium along with recreation improvements and other water and electric infrastructure. In recent weeks, council members have floated possible changes to the deal — including altering the placement and amount of parking, asking the Commanders to pay more than the proposed $1 per year in rent on the stadium and parking land, and exacting firmer labor commitments from the team. Henderson cast some doubt on the idea that an additional couple of months of council consideration would cause the Commanders to walk away from the city. 'Every indication that I have from them, from the NFL, from their extraordinary involvement,' she said, 'is that they want to be here, which is great.' Henderson has said she would support a stadium deal, but only if it is improved for taxpayers and has a stronger labor agreement. But Bowser said at a news conference Wednesday that the Commanders have 'very, very specific timelines' that would be upset by a council delay. 'I think they feel blindsided by the discussion,' she said of the team. The Commanders said they would be willing to work 'morning and night' with the council to get the deal passed in July. 'Throughout the process we have been clear: the Commanders need a new home by 2030. Any delay will make us unable to deliver on that timeline as well as prevent us from attracting major concerts, performers, and international events such as the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup to D.C.,' a team spokesperson said in a statement. Council member Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), whose ward encompasses the RFK site, took to social media to call the delay 'a direct hit to Ward 7' and say he 'won't stand for it.' Other lawmakers said they are missing key information they need to analyze the deal and noted that the council took months to consider past stadium deals like Audi Field and Nationals Park and approved them after adding cost-saving measures for the city. The council is paying an outside consultant to evaluate the term sheet and proposed legislation and is awaiting that report. After requests from reporters and council members, the Bowser administration posted a slide deck summarizing revenue projections for the RFK project, which included a prediction that it would generate $5.1 billion in tax revenue over a 33-year period, but lawmakers have been seeking a more detailed explanation of how the firm hired by the administration arrived at those numbers. That additional understanding did not come until Friday, said council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), when the company the city hired to develop revenue projections met with the council's budget office. 'What I'm told is that we got all the information we needed today,' he said in a brief interview Friday evening. Also missing, lawmakers said, is a tax abatement financial analysis from the city's chief financial officer, which D.C. law requires ahead of a council hearing on any bill that would include a tax abatement or exemption. That analysis would explain how much tax money the city would miss out on because of the exemptions it is offering the Commanders. The council has requested one, said a spokesman for the chief financial officer, but the spokesman said he did not know how long it would take to complete. Bowser, in an interview Friday, rebutted the idea that the council lacks the information it needs to deliberate on the deal. She said her team and the Commanders were 'ready to work with the council,' provided they say exactly what they want to change. 'I recognize that the council members feel like this is a lot all at once, and it is a lot all at once, but this is our opportunity,' said Bowser. 'This is when the opportunity has presented itself.' Even as the council's timeline has irked Bowser and the team, Mendelson this week gave a forceful indication that the council would approve the stadium in the end. Mendelson, who has been vocal about his personal opposition to public funds for football stadiums, said in a statement Wednesday evening that the council will 'move forward quickly to analyze the Mayor's terms, improve the deal where possible for taxpayers, and approve a new football stadium.' 'I can't guarantee votes, but I'm working toward understanding or improving the proposal to a point where a majority can vote yes,' Mendelson added in an interview Thursday, though he said it was 'way too soon' for him to provide specific changes to the deal and he planned to wait for the evaluation the council had commissioned. Even Kenyan R. McDuffie (I-At Large), among the stadium's most vocal supporters on the council, said he wanted more answers from Bowser officials and the team before a vote. 'I plan to hold a hearing, hopefully working with the chairman,' said McDuffie. 'I think time is of the essence. The deal does need to happen. And the council has experience and history in making modifications that improve on these types of deals.' Meagan Flynn contributed to this report.
CNET
25 minutes ago
- CNET
Social Security June 2025: Your Next Payment Is on the Way
June's Social Security payments are here. Here's the full payment schedule for the month. CNET The third round of Social Security payments will be headed out soon to recipients, meaning a majority of beneficiaries will have been paid for the month of June, but not everyone. If you don't receive your payment this coming week, don't worry, as another batch will be sent out the following week. If you're not sure when you're supposed to be paid, read on. We have you covered. Social Security benefit payments are sent monthly to people who've applied for their retirement, survivors or disability benefits. The payments are sent in waves throughout the month. When you receive your Social Security check is determined by how long you've been receiving benefits, whether you receive additional government benefits, or the day of the month you were born. Not sure when you should be receiving your payment? We break it down, below. Read on to find out how your payment date is determined, when you should receive your check, and the full payment schedule for the month of June. For more, don't miss CNET's Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet. This is when you'll receive your Social Security check Want to know which day of the month you'll receive your check? This is the Social Security and SSDI payment schedule for June. Social Security payment schedule for June 2025 If you have received Social Security since before May 1997 June 3 If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any given month June 11 If your birthday falls between the 11th and 20th of any given month June 18 If your birthday falls between the 21st and 31st of any given month June 25 How to determine your Social Security payment date Social Security payments are typically paid out starting on the second Wednesday of the month. The remaining two payments will be paid out on the following two Wednesdays of the month. Which week you receive your payment depends on your birthdate. There is one big exception, which we'll cover below. Birthdate between Social Security check date 1st and 10th 2nd Wednesday of the month 11th and 20th 3rd Wednesday of the month 21st and 31st 4th Wednesday of the month Other federal benefits will not be sent the same day If you've received Social Security benefits since before May 1997, or receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, your payment schedule isn't determined by your birthdate. Instead, payments are paid out every month on the same date with a couple of exceptions. Social Security payments will be sent out on the 3rd of each month, while SSI payments are sent out on the 1st of each month. These dates will sometimes change if the 1st or the 3rd of the month falls on a weekend or holiday. For example, March 3 of last year fell on a weekend, so Social Security recipients received their March payments two days early, on March 1. The only benefits that are paid on the same schedule are Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance. Paper Social Security checks are going away soon An executive order from the White House will end the use of paper Social Security checks on Sept. 30. This means all payments after that date will be sent digitally, including direct deposits, debit and credit cards, digital wallets and other real-time payment systems to reduce the overall cost of sending physical checks to beneficiaries. The decision is not surprising when you consider that only 485,766 Social Security checks are mailed each month, which pales in comparison to the 68,104,184 direct deposit payments made each month. While this will undoubtedly be an adjustment period for those people who have been receiving physical checks, moving mailed benefits payments to digital forms will increase security. It's important to note that some exclusions will be made for certain individuals. A missing Social Security check? Try these steps If your check fails to arrive when it's supposed to or not at all, the Social Security Administration suggests waiting three additional mailing days before contacting it. After that, you can call the national toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213. The SSA notes that "wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week and later in the month." If you're having trouble reaching the SSA through the national number, you can use its office locator to find a local office. For more, see how to apply for Social Security benefits for eligible children and how to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance.
