Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Great Affection, But You're Fired........

Hopefully, the title of this entry drew your attention! A gentleman phoned me today looking for a job, any job, related in any way to his field. The day before he left for a vacation to visit relatives in Italy, the owner of the firm he worked for called him into his office. Without any prior warning or even a hint, he looked at his longtime employee of 20+ years and said something like even though I have great affection for you after all these years, I am laying you off immediately.

Personally, I would hate to see how he dismisses those he is less affectionate toward. Remember the old adage, with friends like these, who needs enemies? Numerous companies are using the recession as a scapegoat for making change but I am obligated to question such a heartless move. More than likely, they paid his vacation week anyway. Why not let the poor guy enjoy time with is family then share the bad news upon his return? This brings back memories of the first heavy layoffs at AT+T in the 1990's when some cases of suicides were reported. Employers should give thought to what may happen in the future if they end up on the other side of a termination meeting when dealing with staff reductions.

Let us all hope that 2010 will be full of hiring and staff replenishment rather than a repeat of 2009!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

ETC.

  • Will the latest terror incident related to air travel result in the creation of additional jobs? Sad but true, this might be the case.
  • I heard a report earlier today that the I.T. and manufacturing sectors should experience very significant job growth in 2010.
  • Candidates need to remember to treat those potentially offering job opportunities in a professional manner.
  • If you are beginning 2010 without employment, start researching government funded training programs early before the demand grows too high for their available money.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Values

We all are focused on earning as much as possible, hanging on to our jobs in a rather mystifying world, and doing the best we can each and every day. When does this go from be commendable to obsessive and ultimately to unhealthy behavior?

A football coach with a track record of unbelievable success was coaching his team one day in a pressure filled game and had to go to the hospital with significant chest pains. Happily, he did not sustain any serious damage to his cardiovascular system and was able to modify his career before losing his family and possibly his life. No, I am not talking about Urban Meyer, who just announced he is stepping down as head coach at the University of Florida, I am referring to John Madden who suddenly retired as coach of the professional team, the Oakland Raiders, around 30 years ago.

Keep things in perspective as you evaluate your career path during the final week of 2009.

Some Comparisons

I spent a few days in Palm Beach County, FL, last week and noticed some interesting characteristics about their economy. Anyone you chat with down there will tell you tourism is their number one industry. If so, why have they torn down wildlife areas, recreation areas, commercial entertainment centers, etc. and built tons of age restricted communities which are now sitting empty and being sold to anyone with money regardless of age? Tourists need to be able to enjoy affordable vacations. With that in mind, gasoline prices are about 40 cents per gallon higher than in NJ (plus it is all self service down there). Restaurants appear to charge on average about 30% more for the same menu items found in the Northeastern U.S. Driving down there is hazardous to your health and the people are not very friendly.

Should you be among the unemployed looking to move south and open a business, try either Broward or Palm Beach Counties. Bring your Northeastern personality, excellent customer services skills, and leave the gimmicks and games in the stockroom.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Double Check then Triple Check Before Hitting 'SEND'

A well-intentioned candidate sent me his resume for a recently posted job. When I opened the attachment, the document was under someone else's name and for a completely unrelated position! Just because the cover letter indicated that this might be a decent candidate, I wrote asking for the correct resume. The next email contained a polite apology and an empty attachment. Should I send another email to the candidate? I need a few to weigh in with your opinions. Please write to me!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Don't Rush

As 2009 plods to the finish line, many people have told me they are ready to change jobs or career paths early in 2010. My advice remains about the same as it was 6 months ago, don't rush.

This might seem harsh, especially from someone who makes a living in the staffing industry, but I feel there is way to risk involved in moving even though things are gradually improving. If you are gainfully employed, able to pay your bills without incurring a ton of debt, and your company appears fairly stable,why move? Greener pastures are made of artificial turf right now. No one has the money to offer terribly better benefits deals than their competitors and any time you move you must be aware of the old theory: last hired-first fired.

Career changing used to be highly regarded once you had 15-20 years at one profession. People admired the courage and enthusiasm that career changers brought to the job. Today, hiring managers are reluctant to hire entry level candidates who have experience in other areas because they will need to spend time and money training and believe that most will migrate back to their original fields.

My apologies if I put a damper on your ideas. Sit tight and wait until at least the second quarter before making a major career moves.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Team Players Wanted

Employers have not shown much loyalty to heir staffs of late, randomly cutting jobs regardless of the person's performance and work ethic. Somehow, they are not being chastised too much as it is just simply hard to maintain head count in very difficult times. Keeping this in mind, I ask employers why they are questioning candidates about their level of dedication and willingness to stay with them for the long term. How could you expect candidates to remain loyal to you when you are indifferent to their needs?

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Excellent Job Opportunity

One of my very good clients needs a super strong QA Supervisor to run the operation on their second shift in Bergen County, NJ. Background in medical device manufacturing or other FDA environments is needed as is experience with GMPs and ISO certification. Lean/Six Sigma is highly preferred. I will gladly discuss further with anyone who is interested!!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

ETC. (includes my Super Bowl prediction!)

  • 2009 is winding down and 2010 has to be a better year on the job front. If not, President Obama has a lot of explaining ahead of him.
  • On a brighter note, a handful of smaller manufacturing firms in NJ appear to be writing up work orders at the end of the year which hopefully means there will be a little hiring in the first 4 to 6 weeks of 2010!
  • Employers still appear to believe in the myth that high unemployment equals a high number of custom made candidates. As has been obvious this year, many of those out of work have the same skill sets and those with unique mixes are still working.
  • Take advantage of any free time you have to make sure your resume' is absolutely perfect. Show it to others and get their input. If you like, send it to me and I will be very honest in my assessment.
  • Super Bowl prediction as we approach NFL Playoff time: San Diego vs. Minnesota with the Chargers winning by about 5 points!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Hooked on Phonics?

Please understand I believe in giving every candidate an equal opportunity to secure a job. Unfortunately, some folks are really pushing me to the limit of my patience with their resumes. What should I do with a resume that includes the work 'hortopedick' several times and uses 'two' instead of 'too' repeatedly and 'lake' in place of 'like?' No matter how open minded I am, I realize that a hiring manager will pick this up during the initial job application process. If you, or someone you know, has problems with spelling or grammar, please make sure proofreading takes place before submitting a resume.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Career Training Does Not End When You Graduate

A certain 4-year, private university in Bergen County NJ apparently brings in extra revenue by running a certificate (rather than degree granting) program in Paralegal Studies. At face value, that makes very good business sense and I imagine the allure of having a diploma from a private university that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees at its campuses in Morris and Bergen County sounds fairly reasonable and not too ridiculous (those who have been in north Jersey awhile know who I mean)!

Unfortunately, this school seems to have forgotten that they have an obligation to strongly support the job search efforts of their grads! This does not mean handing out a 5 year old list of employment agencies or printing a statewide directory of law firms off the web. It means contacting potential employers to ascertain whether or not they might need some entry level staffers for their office.

No matter where you live, it is important to remember that your school is expected to feed job leads and contacts to you. Absolutely, YOU must go get the job offer but your school needs to reinforce your efforts!! Good luck!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Impact of Increased Troops in Afghanistan

Numerous theories abound about how the addition of 30,000 new troops to Afghanistan will effect the economy next year. Aside from the fact that we are sending all these people into a terrible environment and risking too many lives, I have doubts about bolstering the economy. There has been no significant talk about needing new aircraft or naval vessels, communications systems or computer networks, etc. The only thing it might do is take some of the unemployed off the roles filling temporary holes when reservists get called into action. The price we will likely pay in fatalities seems too high based on all other conditions. Sincerely, I hope I am wrong.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Some Very Early December Rantings

For some unknown reason, I am ringing in December 2009 with both some early morning indigestion and insomnia. Of course, I am imagining everything from early onset of H1N1 ( makes me think of being dragged to see Star Trek/Wars) to the seasonal flu (dumb name) to a reaction to some medication changes to some unknown ailment waiting at the door........

Guess what? I figured out my problem! Indigestion was brought on by all the stupid decisions being made by our federal government which will undoubtedly mess up the economy even more resulting in more depressing employment figures to wrap up 2009. Insomnia was brought on by trying to figure out how to motivate my clients, who are desperately short handed to the point of barely being productive, to bring in staff (at least on a short term basis) to meet the needs of their valued customers without losing them to off-shore manufacturers. Also, I would sleep better if the unemployed populus became realistic about what it takes to jump back into the job market therefore making themselves more desirable to future employers once the fog lifts off our shoulders (yes, it has engulfed our heads and is working downward for now) and if I could bring employed folks to their senses about staying put until partial clearing replaces the fog.

Wow! Getting that off my chest was almost as good as a glass of ginger ale. Time to sign off and go find the Canada Dry!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Some Suggestions

Last Thanksgiving, I never would have thought the economy would still be as flat as it is. President-elect Obama appeared to hold the keys to some level of turnaround but sadly they seem to be stuck in his pocket (at least for now). My fellow alum of Franklin and Marshall College, Mary Schapiro, also showed a lot of promise to turn things around but not much is happening.

With all this now off my chest, there are still things you could do to energize your job search. Check around your community for job seeker support groups or networking groups related to your profession. Find a local career coach to help you discover attributes you never realized you possessed! Get out and do some volunteer work, making sure you have your resume nearby as you never know who might be volunteering alongside you. Remember to let those around you such as members of the clergy, relatives, people in your bowling league, people you chat with at the bagel shop, etc. know you are on the market.

Keeping active, positive, and invigorated will make the difference during such difficult times. Good luck!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Why?

When my daughter was just a toddler, she loved to answer questions with "why?" No matter what we told her the answer immediately was responded to with another "why?."

Today, after reading through the replies to a posting I listed for an engineering manager, I must ask "why?" "Why" would someone with 29 years as the manager of a commercial real estate firm respond to this posting when it clearly requested only candidates with a BSEE plus hands-on electrical engineering and project management experience. As I keep preaching, read the entire job posting before submitting your resume!!!!!!!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

December is NOT Hopeless for Job Hunting!

There are lots of people related to the placement and recruitment industry who have always blown off December as the worst job hunting month of the year. Definitely, one could anticipate that might be true of 2009 but do not throw in the towel just yet!

Numerous companies are stretched the thinnest I have ever seen. One or two resignations and they might not be able to function at all. As hard as it is to hire right now, a few clients have told me they are at this point. The dilemma is that fiscal years are about to turn over and adding head count to the roles at a time that brings back ugly memories of the Hoover administration (no, I was not there but have heard plenty of stories!) is not a great decision. In the past week or two, some of my customers have hired contract staff with the glimmer of hope that they might convert them to permanent staff shortly after we enter 2010.

My latest groan is aimed at the unemployed professionals who turn their noses up at these opportunities. While living on government checks seems good right now, the clock is ticking faster than ever and your resume is growing older every single second you remain out there. Take a shot at helping a company and getting your back into circulation. Not only will it replenish your bank account and rebuild your resume, it will add some adrenalin to your self esteem!!! Happy Thanksgiving to all !!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Breaking News?

News services seem to be spreading a report that the job market will experience major growth in the second quarter of 2010. If true, that is very positive news but I have not read much to substantiate this yet. Also, that leaves about 5 more months of hard times ahead of us. Could it be that Washington wants to give us reason to shop till we drop on Black Friday? Not me! If you are unemployed or under employed, take a walk back to the office areas of the major stores on Friday and see if you could fill out an online job application. Should things get perky this weekend, many of them will start looking for seasonal help which could keep you earning money into early January and perhaps lead to some sort of permanent position!! I keep reminding myself we must all remain positive no matter what!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Social Networking??

A friend of mine asked me if my clients check out their candidates on Facebook before making a hire. Honestly, I do not have a solid answer to that. Most people do have Facebook set up so no one can enter without their permission but we all know there are tons of ways to break down electronic firewalls! My recommendation is do not mix business and pleasure. Use sites like Facebook and MySpace for fun only. Maintain profiles on LinkedIn, Plaxo, etc. for professional purposes. Getting back to Facebook for a moment, keep it clean and mature because you never know who might drop in for a visit!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

How Far Can We Cut?

The Governor-Elect of NJ, Chris Christie, is talking about massive budget cuts as he begins his transition into office. Pennsylvania's Department of Higher Education is ready to increase class sizes and increase tuition bills by up to 10%. Many listener supported radio stations are on the verge of replacing live, local programs with satellite feeds from parts unknown. Medical practices are reducing office hours and referring patients to terribly overcrowded emergency rooms. Public schools are being forced to limit the number of students learning musical instruments. The list is endless. My question to all of you is when will we cut too far and permanently damage our nation?

Monday, November 16, 2009

Passionate Every Day!

Paul Grzella is an editor with Gannett Newspapers. He is from exactly the same age group that I am and wrote a piece today about feeling as passionate about the newspaper industry today as he was 26 years ago when he began his career. Paul spoke about this to a local group of college students and realized that the key to success is loving what you do every day regardless of outside factors, changes, and influences. Being in the print media world must be extremely challenging today as so many folks grab their news online, via twitter, from their cell phones, etc. My fear is that lots of us work in fields that are going through unfathomable evolutions and that we all walk around expecting a pink slip at any moment. I am a firm believer in the school of thought that those who give 150% to something they love doing will be provided for somehow no matter what. So, what the heck? Give your best performance each and every day!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

ETC.

  • The number of candidates in Southeastern PA (Northampton, Lehigh, Berks counties) applying for jobs in North Jersey is on the rise. At the same time, less from CT and NY are filtering in to me. Could this mean the job market is starting another shift where it gets healthier up north then moves across the country? Let's hope this is true!
  • Has anyone picked up rumblings from their HR people about the potential impact of the impending national health insurance reform on their insurance coverage and costs?
  • I wonder how the projection of 100K additional troops to Afghanistan over the next three years will effect the economy.
  • News services are reporting that retailers are hiring less seasonal help and looking into paying overtime to existing staff. From personal experience, this may be a huge mistake as the stress of holiday crowds and challenging customers will wear down folks working 50-60 hours a week and reduce quality of customer service at the worst possible time.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Before I Forget Again!

It has been my intention to bring up an old pet peeve about resumes and I am striking while my memory is working! Check your contact information carefully and also keep it up to date. Roughly five times a week, I find email addresses that bounce and phone numbers that are no longer in service. This is absolutely not acceptable and will cause you to miss out on the precious few opportunities that exist today. Please check your resume over right now!!

Memo to Temps

More and more people are returning to the workforce as temporary contractors. This is an excellent way to get yourself back into circulation, earn some decent money, and hopefully audition for a permanent job down the road. The key is to remember that a temp job is just that and that you must put on the best audition possible each and every day. There is a tendency to begin to feel at home too soon and I find that many temps receive rave reviews the first several months but become complacent and run-of-the-mill around the time the client begins considering them for permanent (whatever that term means) opportunities. Simply put: your audition is never over so keep up the same level of excellence each and every day!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Positions I Need to Fill!

Two contract jobs with Northern NJ Clients:
  • Paralegal with background in royalties and/or leasing, preferably in a corporate setting.
  • Engineering Manager who has progresses from an Electrical Engineer to a Project Engineering Manager. knowledge of equipment manufacturing industry is a plus.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Catching up!

My apologies for a silent stretch. Between the World Series and aggravating an old back injury, the days flew by! By the way, chiropractic medicine looks to be a very busy field for anyone looking for a new career direction.

The economy seems to be roughing up the job market again. Job openings are allegedly out there but employers are really struggling to replenish the empty workstations and cubicles that have developed over the past 18 months. My honest reaction is there is this imaginary cloud sitting over hiring authorities just waiting to lash out with thunder and lightning and gusty winds if they do not select the most perfect candidate out there. Guess what? Bring on the storms because that perfect individual most likely is not available!!! The downturn we are enduring has reshaped the candidate pool for better or for worse.

Earlier today, a consultant I dealt with a while back phoned me. He had been doing some web design but the company changed directions and eliminated his contract. For well over 20 years, he was a mainframe guru who shifted with the times a few years back. All of a sudden, MF COBOL jobs are starting to pop up but he gets turned away everywhere he goes because he hasn't used COBOL in the last 6 months!! I hate to break this to hiring managers, COBOL programmers have mostly been doing other stuff the last 3-4 years so they could put food on the table and pay their bills. That doesn't mean they forgot what to do.

Someone needs to tell the executives of corporations large and small that they need to start ramping up NOW!! Whether it is President Obama, VP Biden, SEC Chair Mary Schapiro, or Bill Parcells (what the heck!!), somebody needs to make the clouds fade away!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

ETC.

  • Roughly 47 years ago, I hung out in preschool debating who was better, my Phillies or my good friend's Yankees. Happily, we are still friends and will know who is best (at least for now) in about a week or so. My condolences to any fans of the Angels or Dodgers but they are two very good teams!
  • The folks who own Bed Bath and Beyond appear to be expanding the Christmas Tree Shoppe chain. This might be a great time to send them a resume if retail is in your future plans.
  • Assuming health care reform does get approved in our lifetime, I wonder how it will impact the employment numbers around the nation.
  • Helpful hint: Please update your resume BEFORE contacting staffing firms and/or direct hire managers!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Frustration!!

Many people have brought to my attention the fact that I am a bit weird at times and look at things through a rather cloudy picture window! It has even been suggested that I think in a different fashion than most others do. Believe it or not, none of that bothers me one bit because people tend to see stuff my way sooner or later and admit that I was somewhat correct in my comments and observations!

Several clients and colleagues in the Human Resources and Staffing fields have drawn similar conclusions about the state of the current pool of available candidates. The pool is absolutely a mess. Try posting a job requirement on the web for a Packaging Engineer and see who responds. This week, I posted an engineering job with PLC background. Instead of seeing resumes of those capable of programming controllers, I received someone who managed a burger joint, another who did not have an engineering degree, yet another who is a financial broker.

I understand all too well how rough it is out there. Please do not apply for jobs without thoroughly evaluating the opportunity first.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Lab Tech Needed

I have a very immediate need for a lab tech who has biotech or medical device experience with knowledge of SAP as well. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Stay Positive!

In the past week, I have placed two highly overqualified candidates into long term assignments because they took a realistic look at the job market and did their best to get their respective offers. Both people approached the interviews with limited expectations but a 'can do' attitude. Many employers fear that hiring overqualified people will lead to the need to replace them quickly. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to prove them wrong!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

What If??

  • What if I hire someone who used to make $10K more than I can offer and someone presents a job to them in six months for $5K more than I am paying ?
  • What if I hire someone who has 85% of the required skill sets because nobody can do all the tasks I have merged under one job description?
  • What if I hire someone who has been unemployed for over a year, will they remember how to work?
  • What if an employer offers me $10K less than I was earning at my job before I was laid off two years back?
  • What if someone offers me $5K more six months from now?
  • What if I need training to perform 100% of the required tasks?
  • What if employers and candidates keep saying what if? Who will get this country moving again?

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Abundance of Job Opportunities!

To my readers:

A plethora of new job opportunities has crossed my desk in recent days and I want to share them with you! Please feel free to pass them along to others. Interested candidates should send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs and put "As per your blog" in the subject line!!!
  • Research Associate, Manhattan, Perm position, to 50K+ - Leading market media research firm needs someone to explore new business ventures involving new technology,such as e-readers, mobile phone applications, out-of-home video advertising, etc. Ideal candidate will have 2-4 years media or advertising research experience and a degree in a social science or business discipline. Masters Degree is a plus.
  • Senior Lab Technician, Wayne, NJ, temp-to-perm, $20-22 hourly- 2-3 years testing experience in a biotech or pharma environment with Instron and Radial Burst background as well as some knowledge of report prep and analysis using SAP. Degree in a scientific field preferred but additional hands-on experience will be considered.
  • Engineering Manager, Bloomfield, NJ, perm or temp-to-perm, pay to be determine- must have 5-10 years experience in a manufacturing company with significant electrical engineering and project management along with a strong knowledge of PLCs. Must have been hands-on but also able to drive a project and lead team members. BSEE highly preferred. This is not a mechanical engineering job.
  • Shipping and Receiving Clerk, Morris Plains, NJ, perm, $14-18 hourly-rapidly growing company in the perishable foods industry needs someone with extensive knowledge of all aspects of shipping and receiving who can lift 80+ lbs. on a regular basis. Forklift certification is desired.
  • Medical Device opportunities, Mahwah NJ, temp-to-perm- Several positions are open for QA Inspectors, Engineering Technicians, and CAPA Analysts with varying levels of experience. Candidates must have exposure to Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, or other FDA regulated industries. Contact Harold for specifics about each position!!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tough Questions

What have you been doing the past two years?....... Why did you take an unrelated part-time position?......How did you end up taking courses in Accounting last spring when your background is in Chemistry?

These challenging questions and more will be coming your way as the fog lifts from the job market. I am finding that many employers wore very strong blinders the past few years. While they were laying folks off like crazy, they seem to expect you to have had a stable work history, a classic Catch 22!

My suggestion is to be as prepared as possible. For example, explain the while out of work for 2 years, you had enough unemployment and severance benefits to to take a good hard look at where you were and decided to freshen up your resume by obtaining new shills. To help sustain yourself after the benefits ran out you grabbed a part-time job close to home which would not interfere with your studies or burn much gasoline to get to. Go a bit further and say that by adding new skills you might be able to multitask for a company and save them budget dollars. Good luck!

Friday, October 2, 2009

Latest News - Is It Accurate?

The figures released today put nationwide unemployment up around 9.8% with over 200,000 additional filings for unemployment benefits in September. Thus far, I have not listened to or read much commentary on this topic. Gut reactions are not terribly accurate but I have to suspect a great number of those filings may be related to the completion of seasonal summer work across the nation. One thought I do have is the economic recovery will not come about simply by increasing the number of construction jobs on the market. We need some plan to stimulate the job market at every single level!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Read Thoroughly Before Replying!

Everyone is entitled to apply to any job posted on the Internet, in newspapers,etc. This does not mean you should apply to every job out there. Be selective and do not apply if you do not even remotely qualify for the job. Recently, someone responded to my posting for an Engineering Manager with numerous years experience dealing with PLCs, electronics, manufacturing equipment, etc. This candidate had worked as a team leader in a large chain restaurant with no related work experience or academic training. He stated that the person he replaced at his workplace took an Engineering Manager position so he felt he could as well, but it must be noted that this individual had a BSEE and 3 years experience before being laid off due to the economy. Whatever it takes, be sure you are at least partially qualified before applying.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Open Positions

Here are some jobs I am trying to fill:
Legal Secretary, Union NJ, temp job requires around 4 years experience with Workers Compensation or Personal Injury from the plaintiff side of the business. Strong dictation skills are needed.

QA Inspectors, Mahwah NJ, long-term temp jobs for 2nd shift require experience with either Product Verification Inspection (visual) or Vended (dimensional) Inspection.

Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs .

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Etc.

  • September is winding to a close and I still think we are much better off than 6 months ago. Job orders are coming in albeit very hard to fill for the most part. Employers need to be realistic about how much to expect from one person even in tough times.
  • The health care mess in Washington certainly has employers concerned about what this will do to benefit plans and cost factors and many I have chatted with are not getting positive vibes.
  • I would love to hear from anyone, corporate or individual, who has profited in any way from all the stimulus money that is apparently out there somewhere. This blogger has not seen it yet!
  • Gasoline prices are dropping of late but please do not stop car pooling, keep the pressure on oil companies!
  • Some retailers are positing job openings for the holiday season, definitely encouraging. if you have been unemployed or under-employed of late, fill out some applications. Not only might you earn some needed income, you might make contacts among vendors and customers that could lead to future prospects!

Friday, September 25, 2009

QA Inspectors Needed

I have a client in Northern NJ with several long term assignments for experienced inspectors from FDA regulated environments. Some of the slots require very hands-on Product Verification Inspection and the others need strong background in Vended Inspection and dimensional examination. If you qualify or know anyone who does, send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Protect Yourself

Before anyone cries foul about today's topic I want to make something very clear. Since I became a recruiter back in 19xx (yes- I am getting older by the hour!), my policy has been to never submit a candidate's resume without their permission and to only submit for positions which appear reasonably suitable for said candidate.

Regrettably, I heard two stories today. One involved a candidate who is gainfully employed and told a recruiter she would not entertain temporary Job opportunities. The recruiter phoned her and pushed her to take a day off from work to go on the perfect interview. At the very beginning of the meeting, the hiring manager made it quite clear the job would be for a maximum of six weeks. The second situation was created by a recruiter who 'fixed up' a resume to get his candidate an interview for a job they were not qualified for. Many companies only allow you to apply once every 6-12 months so this placement firm seriously hindered the candidate's chances.

When contacting placement firms, make it clear you have final authority on where your resume will be sent. Should you feel uncomfortable with the response, do not release your resume! Also, ask for a copy of the resume the recruiter is submitting on your behalf. Feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or stories to share.

Friday, September 18, 2009

L'Shanah Tovah

I wish happy and healthy new year to all who will celebrate Rosh Hashanah this weekend and very good final weekend of the summer to all of you!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Business is Waking Up!

Folks, I don't want to jinx anyone but something is shaking out there. I have picked up about a dozen new or reactivated requirements from employers since Labor Day. Granted, the life cycle of each search appears to be much slower than in the past but there finally is some movement, at least in the states of NY and NJ. Positions are popping up for QA Inspectors, Engineering Aids, R+D Managers, Paralegals, among others. The area that is not moving is Information Technology and mid-level managers are not in demand at all. One key to grabbing a new job is to take whatever pay rate the employer is offering. Way too many people are stalling, hoping for more money. Remember, you are most likely to get promoted or recruited if actively employed!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Middle of the Road

A new challenge seems to be growing every day as we slowly climb out of the economic doldrums of the past 12 months or so. Employers want to hire people with 4-8 years experience in their field but most candidates on the market appear to either have less than 2 years experience or are veterans with 20 or more years. Hiring managers are telling me the more senior folks will be bored and soon quit but the junior candidates simply do not have enough background.

The problem is simple, most of those who are still employed fit the criteria that managers want and will not dare to switch jobs right now. The solution is equally simple. Either hire more senior folks or take in rookies and train them. Senior candidates repeatedly tell me they realize their golden days of high paying jobs is gone for good and they are willing to work hard to maintain more middle range positions.

My advice to employers is to hire the more senior people and pay them what you can. I believe you will be delighted by the results!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Strange Emotions

Usually, I am not terribly moved by the loss of well known personalities though the recent passing of Senator Ted Kennedy and retired newsman Walter Cronkite both made me pause for a moment. Today has been a bit different for me. Finn Casperson, the retired chairperson of Beneficial Corporation was found dead in his Rhode island home, apparently the result of a self inflicted gunshot to his head. Casperson was highly regard in NJ and globally and was not just a great business leader, he was also a community leader and quite generous to those who had less than he did.

As a young recruiter many years ago, my first placements into the I.T. world were with Beneficial. The placement fees were paid with checks signed by Mr. Casperson. I hope his family will find solace in knowing he did good things for many people including the author of this blog.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Tax Preparers Need to Prepare!

This might sound silly, but now is the time for people with expertise in tax preparation to get themselves together. Go online and take any refreshers available to become comfortable with the current tax changes. Make sure your laptop is ready to go. Most importantly, start compiling lists of accountants and recruiters, update you resume and get it into circulation now!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Okay, It is September

Well, we survived a long summer and the economy seems just a little less depressing than it did in June and a heck of a lot less pathetic than it did in March. Finally, I am seeing some new job opportunities pop up, albeit in little spurts, not consistent yet. Pay rates are still way below the market value of 2007 but not tail spinning anymore. Employers still seem to be doing reactionary hiring rather than proactive staffing.

Many years back, a wise retailer told me that the key to rebuilding a failing shopping district is to fill the empty storefronts with any sort of legitimate business without being too selective. Once a district looks full, rents start to rise and eventually, the selection of stores will upgrade itself. The same holds true for employment. if you are out of work and a prospect related to your skill set comes along, do not be fussy. Grab it, get back in circulation, then climb your way back up the ladder. As lottery commercials say, if your not in it you will not win!!

Let us all hope that my comments on January 1, 2010, will be even more positive!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Job Boards

Last week, while looking for a specialized candidate on a job board, I found a very good fit (at least at first glance). Skills matched nicely, salary needs were close but he lived about 30 miles from the site. Not to worry! His profile said he would drive up to 100 miles! A recent consultant of mine, drove about 150 miles round trip daily for over 9 months. Upon calling this candidate, he told me anything over 15 miles each way was out of the question. I figured he made a typo but he implied that he set parameters high to get calls. Do not do this ever! Most recruiters will agree with me that once this happens, they will keep that candidate's name in the back of their head for a very long time!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Just Like the Good Old Days!

Once upon a time, in that era called the 1990's, recruiters prioritized their work day by asking a simple question: Which open job requirements are most likely to result in a deal? The most probable ones got the majority of their attention. As we endured the slim pickings of the past 10 months or so, any open job was considered a hot job! I am happy to say that trend is shifting yet again. To hiring managers: please be serious when you call a staffing firm and ask for help. Ensure that your superiors will utilize the services before wasting the time of a recruiter who is most likely relying heavily on commission checks.

Monday, August 24, 2009

ETC.

  • Cash for Clunkers seems to have stimulated the economy just a bit. Even though my old car did not qualify, I was able to purchase a car at a very competitive price. It has been an exceptionally long time since the new car lots of dealerships have been so empty which i assume is good news.
  • While not stellar, the job market seems to be waking up step by step. Companies are starting to realize they lack coverage for vacation or emergency leaves.
  • Employers in hiring mode are being more cautious than ever. The toughest challenge I have seen is the requirement of verifying the last 3 employers. This is quite frustrating if some of the former companies are no longer in existence.
  • Now is the time to make major purchases or home improvements (assuming you have the funds to do so) as I doubt prices will drop much more.
  • Please do not become a couch potato. Now is the right time to start pounding the pavement.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Mechanics needed ASAP!!!!

A very good client in Northern Bergen County, NJ needs a Maintenance Mechanic and an Electro-Mechanical Maintenance Technician to work 3:30-midnight and other hours as needed. Send questions to Harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Recession Buster Resume Tip #3

Everyone I know in the placement field, every self proclaimed resume expert, and most HR professionals will tell you to list every skill you have ever used on your resume. They are correct but there needs to be a method to your madness. Make a list of all your skill sets and then investigate to learn which of them are in the highest demand and post them first.

Quick Tip!

www.jobcentral.org is becoming a good place for both employers and candidates to utilize and is much more efficient than its predecessor, America's Job Exchange. Give it a try!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Keeping Busy!

If you noticed I have not been writing very often of late, it is primarily due to a sudden flurry of job orders from my clients over the past 10 days or so! Here are the rules I am adhering to:
1) No job is too low paying or too complicated for me to fill.
2) If a client is asking for help, chances are it is critical and time is of the essence no matter what.
3) Only send out candidates who demonstrate a desire to work and a willingness to be flexible on all counts.

Assuming you are curious, I could use candidates who are Paralegals with heavy litigation experience and knowledge of the laws surrounding public utilities or telecommunications companies (Central NJ); CAPA Analysts with a lot of corrective action process experience in the medical implant world (Northern NJ); QA inspectors with solid background using gages, calipers, etc. to test medical devices (Northern NJ); and a Data Warehouse Manager for the Albany, NY region with SAP BW/BI experience. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or reach me via this site or LinkedIn!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Recession Buster Resume Tip #2

Hiding dates of employment is a terrible idea. Some of my colleagues are embracing this concept but I disagree. The one thing no one needs to do is raise flags of caution and taking out dates will do just that. Many people have taken jobs out of their field to simply stay afloat. No need to hide this! Instead, consider dividing your work history into two parts: Related Work Experience and Other Work Experience.

More to come....

Monday, August 10, 2009

Recession Buster Resume Tip #1

As promised, I will spend some time over the next few weeks on the evolution of the resume as the recession hopefully starts to diminish. Certainly, this is a work in progress and your comments and suggestions will be graciously entertained at any time!

My first tip is extremely simple. Stick to the basic format that has worked best for you in the past. For example, if you found that an overview summary caught hiring managers attention, keep it there but be conscious of the fact that some of the bullets may need adjustment to reflect our lean and mean economy. You may have to demonstrate more of a willingness to multitask and be sure to include any recent training you have taken.

That is enough for one night. Look at this process as another self assessment and learning experience rather than as an unpleasant task!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Credit Check Fiasco

Yesterday's New York Times reported about how employers and search firms are using credit checks to eliminate candidates from consideration. One man was applying for a $30K annual salary position as a property manager where he would have little or no contact with money. His former employer had shut down over a year ago, his house was foreclosed on, Chapter 11 followed, and he was living in a shelter. Of course, a credit check would not be very supportive of his efforts. Several states are restricting the use of credit checks to jobs that relate to finance but most are (especially CA and Governor Schwarzenegger) allowing them to be used. The court system is dodging cases where they are called discriminatory.

There are staffing firms (such as 2 national chains that both begin with the letter 'K') who have a reputation for credit checking every single candidate. many moons ago, one of them recruited me to work for them. Bear in mind they approached me, not the other way. After 2 meetings, I was told they needed to run a credit check before making an offer. I balked, simply because I felt it was an invasion of my privacy even though i knew there would be no flags, and was told it was essential. I still declined and walked the other way with no regrets.

To candidates, it is your choice but think long and hard before you open your personal finances to an employer. if anyone disagrees with me, please state your case!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Job Openings!!

I need to fill some immediate openings for permanent hires with some very good clients.

First, there is an opening for a Warehouse Packaging Technician in the Morristown NJ area requiring 2-3 years experience preparing packages for shipment including shrink wrapping, thermal wrapping, labelling, etc. Hands on experience with frozen or refrigerated foods is a plus. Decent pay, great benefits!

Next, one of my long time clients in Manhattan needs two Sales Planners to support Account Executives in the media and advertising fields. Background in MEMRI, Nielson, MRI, or Donovan, etc. is desired. Competitive salary, unique benefits, growth potential.

Feel free to send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Recession Buster Resumes?

Okay-the title of this blog entry is not terribly stimulating but it is definitely not a clunker although someone might bail me out by giving me cash to curb the poor jokes! It might be safe to say the economy has worn me down just a tiny bit. Keeping that in mind, the time is coming to consider how resumes should look as the doors to opportunity gradually reopen.

Over the next few weeks, I want to look at chronological versus functional formats. We need to address how to cover large gaps brought on by the recession, unrelated jobs used to put food on the table, lower level positions than normally accepted, etc.

It would be a privilege to see some of your thoughts and comments on these and other points of interest related to resume development!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

August Already?

The despicable weather in the northeast sure has made us forget about summer. My gardens are swamped, weeds are thriving, plants are rotting, yet somehow, I have picked everything from lettuce to beans, squash and peppers. Tomatoes are crawling along and a few cucumbers have survived the mushy terrain.

Come to think of it, this kind of sounds like our economy right now! It is hard to get excited about a Cash for Clunkers program that died in less than a week, a Stimulus Plan that is feeding millionaire bankers, or a health plan that cannot even get unanimous support from the majority members.

Light seems to be finally approaching the end of the tunnel as i have actually been working on a few permanent searches to go along with my already reasonably steady contract accounts. While way too many of my valued clients are still hanging on for dear life, some are starting to feel a touch better about the future.

My advice to both client companies and job seekers is simple. August is always challenging as so many folks take time off (not me!) but staying focused on success could lead to a rewarding September!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Disappearing Acts!

Correct me if these facts are wrong:
1) We are in the midst of arguably the worst recession since the Great Depression.
2) Unemployment is the highest we have seen in most of our lifetimes.
3) Available jobs are at a precious premium.

Assuming all of the above are true, I have to ask a very simple question - WHY ON EARTH WOULD A CANDIDATE SKIP AN INTERVIEW WITHOUT THE DECENCY OF CANCELLING????? - This has happened to several of my colleagues in recent days. They have worked terribly hard to find ideal candidates for legitimate job opportunities and scheduled interviews and prepared the candidates appropriately. In some case, the candidates went AWOL, no further contact with the recruiter. For others, it was a matter of oversleeping and not bothering to notify the recruiter or hiring company.

Remember this, no shows stick with you for a very long time. Years down the road, you may look for a job to learn the person you disrespected has moved on to other clients you may desire to work for. The choice is yours.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

ETC.

  • Several smaller employers told me this week they are concerned about the Obama administration's health care reforms as a lot of them fear they will be forced to shut down by the high costs.
  • Doing whatever it takes to put food on the table was taken to new extremes by a candidate I chatted with who has over a decade of I.T. support but has been jobless for many months. To generate some needed living money, he is working as doorman at a hotel in NYC.
  • Perfect matches are getting harder to come by and I think it is time for both hiring managers and candidates to realize some give and take are important!
  • The consensus seems to point toward mid-autumn for some positive movement in the hiring sector.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Two Sales Approaches

Not too long ago, I mentioned I was about to start shopping for a new vehicle. What I experienced today will make me a stronger recruiter and could be applied to anyone in sales of any type, project management, retail management, or even a board level position.

My first stop was at a well publicized dealership whose owner is a former NFL player for a local team who does his own radio commercials. The price sounded worthy of a visit so my "car experts" and I anxiously pulled into the lot and stepped out of the car. Within about 20 seconds, a somewhat friendly young man approached. I told him what I wanted to see and he ushered us indoors where the car mysteriously was no longer in the showroom. Rather than locate the vehicle I wished to see, he wanted to sit down and do paperwork because cars were flying off the lot and the "sale" ended in just 3 hours! When I informed him I just wanted to go on the lot and look at the type of car I was interested in, he pointed to the door and wandered off! Maybe 90 seconds later, a different fellow approached. I told him we had been approached already and he proclaimed that we were lucky a salesman was free and should take advantage. We hopped in our car and headed away as fast as we could!!

The second stop was also a privately owned place but they almost never advertise yet have a solid reputation. As we meandered on the lot, a gentleman approached, introduced himself and said he would check back in about 10 minutes. When he respected our wishes, we took a car for a drive. Upon returning, he gave us a simple formula of how prices are calculated, handed me a business card and recited his schedule for the week.

Many years ago, a rather uncouth recruiter told me I was too much of a gentleman. Those words rang loudly in my head long after his services were no longer needed by the owner of the firm. No matter what you do for a profession and regardless of what a sales trainer may say, listening to your customer's wishes and acting in an ethical manner are still critical to being successful.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Some New Views on the Economy

I just returned from a nice week in Williamsburg, VA with my family. It is still a wonderful place to reconnect with history but the economy has really had an impact down there.

Our first evening, we attended a Capitol Concert (great experience for anyone with any love of classical music). The performer came out of character at the end to chat with the only partially filled room. He made it clear that the staff of Colonial Williamsburg realizes people are carefully spending their money these days and wanted us to know that each and every one of them appreciates the fact we are keeping them employed. He offered to talk individually with guests about economical places to shop, dine, visit, etc. This honest look at the economy was repeated by other staffers during our stay.

Restaurant owners have resorted to putting small signs in there parking lots declaring "Customers Welcome!" Most seemed overstaffed as if they are hoping that a horde of diners will appear from nowhere. Very few had help wanted signs, usually very normal down there in the summer tourist season.

I made a point of reading the classified sections of newspapers from Norfolk, Hampton Roads, and Williamsburg and found them even more sparse than expected. Practically no technical or engineering positions appeared, a few retail, and a handful of low paying healthcare opportunities pretty much were it.

Tour buses seem to have disappeared almost completely. We observed this not only in the Williamsburg region but as we drove along Route 95 and the various belts as well. It was especially apparent at rest areas where I realized that bus parking was about 80% vacant.

Our family planned this trip using all sorts of websites to find low priced packages, collected restaurant coupons and comprised on the level of eateries just a bit. We managed to come in a little under budget while still having a good time. As someone who had not allowed himself a full week away from work in over 2 years, I testify that such a break is needed, can be done economically, and is needed to get our economy back on track!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Prices Dropping?

My old vehicle is finally showing hints of its age and I am casually entering the market for a different car. For the past few weeks, I have been monitoring the used car field but recent articles have indicated that a great many others are doing likewise. Supply and demand is jumping up and causing certified preowned vehicles to carry hefty price tags.

All of a sudden, the supposedly strapped manufacturers who are cutting production, seem to be flooding dealers with 2010 vehicles. Perhaps they produced vehicles without anticipating the closure of numerous dealerships in each region. The remaining 2008 and 2009 new vehicles are incentive laden right now.

Should you be out of work, auto sales might a field to investigate, at least for temporary income.

Friday, July 10, 2009

For Hiring Managers

Perfect matches are the dream of hiring managers. At one time, 20+ years ago, that was much easier to accomplish. As more and more companies use their own proprietary systems and processes, less people have the exact skills many of you are looking for. In addition, with the current slump, many folks have compromised to keep working. Just like many people are purchasing certified used automobiles, companies need to learn the value of getting a seasoned professional with strongly related skill sets who will easily adapt to specific environments. Once organizations adopt such mindsets, open job slots will be filled and unemployment will start to decline!

New Site for Employers and Job Seekers

Check out http://jobcentral.org. The DOL has moved there from America's Job Exchange and it looks like a fairly good place to post your resume, search job openings, and post jobs for free if you are an employer.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Data Warehouse Manager Needed!!

Immediate need for a full time, permanent (not a consultant please!) Data Warehouse Manager with solid skills in implementation and integration using SAP BW / BI for a client in the Albany, NY region.

Resumes should be sent to harold@smartstaff.jobs ASAP!!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Cable TV-Bah Humbug

Have any of you noticed the declining value of cable TV? About 2 years back, one of the big boys that begins with a C (not Cablevision!) bought the little local group and announced major upgrades and terrific deals to combine phone, Internet, and cable. We fell for this and till today, were fairly happy. I went to check out MLB Network for the All Star rosters and got a screen saying I needed to subscribe to this channel (I've received it since its inception). Figuring it was a snafu, I switched to ESPN News and it was gone as were such highly valued choices as The N, Noggin, BBC News, etc which were extras I never viewed.

After an hour with tech support and sales I drew the following conclusions: I never was supposed to receive the Classics package but the filter was off or the package changed effective this coming Tuesday but they pulled the plug sooner or I should have received a letter about the changes or the FCC allows changes with no notice or the sales rep sold me an illegal deal even though I have a contract on their letterhead. Ultimately I was told it will cost $16.95 to regain the lost channels. Our family voted to live with less and only purchase it if we feel deprived later. My apologies to the local advertisers who I will never hear about.

Comments and suggestions would be appreciated!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Time for Tuneup!

If you are like me and really don't enjoy going to fireworks displays laden with mosquitoes, traffic jams, and noisy crowds, use July 4 to give your resume a once over. Even if you have not had any employment changes this year take a good look at yourself and see if every professional organization or networking group you are part of is listed. Have you recently completed any volunteer projects or been selected for any committees or leadership roles, taken any courses, received new certifications? All of this is important to make your resume fresh and unique. Have fun being honest but creative!

Friday, July 3, 2009

The Right Attitude!!!!

This morning, I stopped by a local pet shop where a very well spoken young man assisted me. During our chat, it came out that he received his BA in Business Administration just this past May and is actively job hunting. He has had a few nibbles and demonstrated a "will do anything to get started" attitude with a ton of positive energy and optimism.

No matter whether you are looking for your first job or trying to recover from an untimely layoff, attitude is critical. This recent graduate reminded me of the importance is being alive, alert, and spirited no matter how bleak things look. Obviously, college grads are facing an uphill battle to find anything to do right now but the cream will rise to the top sooner or later. If I had a job for an inexperience yet eager self starter, I would hire this candidate immediately!!!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Need to Grumble a Little Bit

On an evening where my beloved Philadelphia Phillies dropped out of sole possession of first place, I find it appropriate to mention a phone call I received today. While in the middle of trying to fill a client's rush request, a young man called me and asked why I had not responded to his resume. Though I needed to stay focused on my immediate task, I opened my inbox to look for the resume. The resume came through about a minute later. Calmly (yes, it was painful!), I explained that it is best to wait a minimum of a few hours to ensure the recruiter or hiring manager has enough time to properly review your resume. The candidate did not comprehend that at all and told me he really did not fit the open job at all but I needed to call him with ideas before the end of the day. I hope he does not stay awake all weekend awaiting my call.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Almost Halftime!

Well, 2009 has almost made it to halftime (if you are a football fan) or the All-Star Break (for all you baseball enthusiasts) or Intermission (for the opera buffs)! My quick assessment of the past 6 months is best said in Yiddish, oy vey. Patience, digging deep, hanging tough, conservation, self restraint, wishful thinking, resourcefulness, creativity, optimism, skepticism, fear, concern, positive thinking are all emotions or thoughts most of us have experienced at one time or another this year.

My conservative prediction is that it can not get much tougher out there but that we need to stay the course into the fall months before much of a turnaround will be evident. Please read back over my entries to get a flavor of what I am talking about and feel free to share your thoughts with me. Though I do not really want to sound like our recent Past-President, we need to support one another every day to keep things moving in a positive direction.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Severance and Outplacement

As the recession trudges very slowly along, many of my discussions have been with people who have been downsized yet are surviving and searching in a rather calm manner. These individuals received rather generous severance packages, but more importantly, outplacement assistance. A recently downsized VP of an investment bank was assigned a desk, phone, computer, etc. in a specially designated outplacement center to report to daily for about 2 months which is permitting her to conduct her own search while still collecting her paycheck. She will officially be off the books and living on her package in late July. Until then, she is being paid to job hunt. please be proactive and check out what will be available to you should you at some point be downsized. It does help to have a strong understanding at what lies ahead before it takes place. If want some ideas of questions to ask, please contact me.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

A Handful of Observations

This is one of those weeks with lots of thoughts crossing my already cloudy mind!
  • If the stimulus plan really is functioning, why do I see clients going months between large orders and highways quieter than ever during the rush hour?
  • GM announced today that its new plant will be built in Michigan. hopefully, the hiring managers will give a good look to the hordes of unemployed autoworkers in the Detroit region rather than importing from other areas.
  • One business being impacted by the economy is daycare and early childhood education. There are more stay-at-home parents leading to layoffs in the centers.
  • Michael Jackson died today. he was 50 years old which means he was just a bit younger than me when my generation played his records (not discs or mp3's) round the clock.
  • Farah Fawcett also passed away today. She was by far the favorite among my college buddies at that time.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Picture This!

With apologies to Estelle Getty, picture this-metro NY region- June 2009-store fronts empty-restaurants offering food at half price-stimulus is a commonly used term-banks are dying-malls are reducing hours of operation................................... and here you are-gainfully employed, earning the same $ as last year-receiving health benefits-putting food on your table-paying your monthly rent or mortgage check-contemplating taking a short vacation..................and now you start contacting recruiters-telling everyone you are bored with your job-not earning enough money-lacking the recognition you feel you deserve-ready to redirect your career.......................STOP!!!!

Today alone, three people called me dissatisfied with their present employers. I urged all of them to calm down and stay put and I urge the rest of you to do the same. Even though your present employer may be perfect, it is a better risk than making a move right now.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Customer Service Award

As a former retail manager from the days before email, texting, IM, etc., there is one thing that has never changed - the customer is always right no matter what. Today, I saw that rule broken and want to give a shout out to the Shop Rite Supermarket in Hillsborough, NJ for losing a customer who shopped there since they opened roughly 30 years ago.

The cashier rang up 4 cartons of soda instead of 5 which was noticed when I got my receipt and looked to see why my bill was about $10 more than expected. The sale price only kicked in if you spent at least $25 (which I more than tripled) plus 5 cartons of soda. I was told to go to the courtesy booth where they would issue a refund. Reluctantly, I got in line behind 3 others who weren't receiving pleasant service. After about 5 minutes of fidgeting with an adding machine, the CSR told me it was my fault for trying to pay for only 4 boxes and all she could do was refund and take them back unless I wanted to buy $25 worth of additional items! The manager explained that the computer couldn't correct this (as the CSR slammed the cartons onto the floor behind me!) so I took the refund. The local Pathmark cheerfully took my money instead!

This all might seem trivial but the CSR and/or the manager might come knocking on my door for a job at some point. Guess what? I would never help them find a job and will definitely remember their inability to provide excellent customer service.

Happy Father's Day!!

I wish each and every father and grandfather a great day doing whatever you (just spent several hours in my muddy vegetable gardens)!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Data Analyst Job in Bergen County NJ!!!!

One of my clients is offering a long term temp opportunity which requires 2-3 years experience of CAPA data analysis in an ISO 9001 regulated environment. Must be proficient in data analysis, trending and system configuration using MS Word, Excel, Visio, and MS Project. Prior experience in all phases of the CAPA Process is essential. If you fit this or know someone who does, please send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs now as I hope to fill this quickly!!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

ETC.


  • The Asbury Park Press reported today that May filings for unemployment in NJ were only 1/3 of the number filed in April. Could this be a sign the recession is starting clot over and healing is on the way?

  • Inflation for last month almost turned into deflation which might lead to empty warehouses which means more production of new products and more jobs (I hope).

  • I am curious to hear from readers outside the Northeast about the job markets in the local markets.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Very Strange Occurrence

This has nothing to do with careers but was one of the weirdest occurrences I have ever noted in June in NJ. While I was driving in North Jersey tonight, the all news radio stations was frantically reporting the closure of roads and rail lines in Bergen County due to several inches of ice!!! Snow plows were deployed as the rush hour worsened. The 10:00 newscasts on TV featured reporters broadcasting live in winter attire. Perhaps, this will signal the end of our slump as the world (or at least a tiny slice of it) almost froze over today!!!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Summer Break?

When it comes to the job market, all rules as we have known them before are certainly changed. Exactly when we will return to business as usual is one of the big mysteries at present. One thing I know for sure is that, when hiring begins to take place, companies will be even more particular than in the past. Gaps in resumes may not have the impact they once did but I am fairly positive that if you put two resumes on a hiring manager's desk, they will select the candidate who weathered the storm by taking a job, any job, during this awful slump over the candidate who simply took the summer off while waiting for better jobs to develop. Some people will justify the break with thoughts such as it is cheaper to not take a low paying job than pay for childcare or that taking a lower level job will hurt future searches, etc. These are valid points but I stand by my opinion that you need to be on the playing field to move up when things begin to recover.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Keep it Simple

A few recent observations by colleagues in the placement industry brought to mind one of the oldest rules of interviewing that I have not discussed in a long time. Never give out information that has not been asked for during the interview process. Most everyone has outside interests beyond their primary job. For some it is an avid hobby like playing golf, deep sea fishing, showing classic cars, etc. Others have a small second career or private business they pursue in their spare time. Many others (like myself) do volunteer work as a way to enrich their lives. All of these are wonderful ways to broaden yourself but an employer may perceive them as distractions from the workplace. Unless a direct question is asked of you, there is absolutely no need to offer up details!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

New Poll

I recently viewed a film that was talking about education. One fact it gave was that most of the year's high school seniors will have 14 different jobs by age 35! Doing some quick calculations, I was on my seventh job at age 35. Please take my poll and let me know your job history!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

ETC.

  • A candidate who recently was laid off from a full time position asked me for his value as a consultant. In normal times, I would have suggested taking your average weekly salary divided by 40 hours and then add about 15-20% to get your consulting rate. Sadly, that might not be current market value. With the present state of the business world, getting the equivalent of your most recent salary as an hourly rate would make you quite fortunate. Remember, consulting jobs do not have to be forever and you will be able to shop around when we return to our regularly scheduled economy!!
  • Reminder to hiring managers, never ask questions during an interview about religious beliefs, political affiliations, marital status or whether or not the individual has children. The legal fees and negative impact on your career are not worth it.
  • Somewhat unrelated to the job market, I have seen several ads for the new Nissan Cube? Has anyone viewed this vehicle up close yet? The price is incredible and will hopefully put commissions into sales reps pockets soon!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Classifieds

I just took a quick look at today's employment ads in the Sunday Newark Star Ledger. Surprisingly, there were a few more full page ads than in recent months and the entire section was just a bit thicker than usual. Granted, a fair number of the jobs were not local but this might be a positive sign among all the negativity we are enduring!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sound Sharp

Imagine calling someone to discuss a possible job opportunity at one of your client companies during possibly the worst job market in at least 80 years. Do you expect lots of excitement and enthusiasm on the recipient's end of the line? I do! As i learned yesterday, people are getting so worn down that they now answer the phone very cautiously. Who knows? A bill collector could be on the line or just another agent with a lukewarm, dead end lead. As the recruiter, we need to realize that these are not normal times and folks are getting rather gun shy. As the candidate, you must remember that you cannot sound down on your luck even if you feel that way. Plain and simple, things are crappy everywhere but sounding disinterested will not help at all.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Recruiters Needed

Please contact me at harold@smartstaffpersonnel.com if you are an experienced recruiter with at least 3-5 years experience (or know someone who is) and are looking for a new opportunity. Requirements are proven experience recruiting and placing permanent and contract staff in Accounting, Finance, Warehousing, or other fields excluding I.T. and Engineering. Commission based opportunities for people located in northern NJ.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

ETC.

Watching my Phillies somehow win a series at the new Yankee Stadium this weekend got my brain was energized for a few minutes! Here are the thoughts that leaked out:
  • It was great seeing all the military personnel who were awarded free seats to fill the holes at field level in the new stadium. Certainly, they deserved the royal treatment they received. Unfortunately, the average baseball fan will not be able to pay the $2500 price for a seat there or even the half price discounts slowly coming out. Remember this when looking for a job, companies will keep workstations empty rather than overpay to fill them.
  • While shopping for a laptop for my daughter, I have suddenly realized that Microsoft forces retailers to sell Vista as the operationg system. Every PC expert I know tells me this is an awful option. The silver lining is a lot of techs will earn money downgrading folks to XP.
  • As I have done errands this weekend I have noticed less Help Wanted signs than ever before. Business in Central Jersey seems brisker than past Memorial Day weekends. My concern is that is because less folks are travelling rather than more available shopping dollars.

That is about I could get to trickle out so have a good Memorial Day tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

What Do You Think?

My latest poll (in the right hand column) was posted because I am totally confused by the reports on the economy. Just today, I heard that new registrants for unemployment benefits were down for the last 4 weeks and that purchasing agents are starting to place orders for raw materials in numbers not seen in well over a year. At the same time, selling prices for homes are tumbling downward while the stock market had another rough day. Some of my clients are targeting July as their turnaround month while others are unsure about when things will improve. Please weigh in on my poll and let me know what you think!

Quick Resume Thought

Good morning! I am sitting in my office right now going through a bunch of resumes submitted via email. I just deleted one because the candidate incorrectly named his graduate school three times!! Has anyone ever heard of the 'Jersy Institute of Technology' in Newark, NJ? An MSEE from NJIT (The New Jersey Institute of Technology) certainly is a challenging degree to obtain. This candidate tossed away its value by not taking the time to learn his school's proper name. If this happened only once out of three attempts I would give him the benefit of doubt but not when he consistently demonstrated that a problem might exist. There are lots of new grads out there today, please do not throw yourself to the bottom of the pile!!!!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Auto Sales and Client Lists

Memo to salespeople in the automotive industry: If your dealership is about to be forced out of business, try to put together rather quickly a list of all your paying customers over the past several years. Make sure that potential employers know you will be bringing a client list along with you if they hire you! When you land a job, get word out to your loyal clients and invent therm to stop by, even just to browse. Generating traffic is in your favor!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Quick Thoughts

While preparing for a quick lunch at my desk, some thoughts have crossed mind and I decided to share them before though back into the cloudy area of my brain!
  • Recently, I read an article about out-of-work professionals in the 45-60 years old age group turning to Botox injection or plastic surgery to give them a competitive edge in the job market. I challenge a hiring manager to tell me that they hired someone because they looked young. In most cases, this is not true. In fact, I have much more luck placing my contemporaries (yes, I'm somewhere in the 45-60 group) because a lot of firms are looking for people with a ton of professional work experience. Unless you want a job as a fashion model, night club performer, beauty pageant contestant, etc., do not waste your time or money on medical procedures to land a job. An interesting aside was that one of the main characters in the article still does not have a job!
  • Several folks have sent me resumes of 5 lines in length or shorter this week. When I wrote one of them and asked for a more detailed version he replied that he has been in one job for almost 25 years, is good at what he does, and does not need to detail his experience to get an interview! Best of luck, my friend but don't wait for me to help you!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the moms and grandmoms out there, I wish you all a great day!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Priced to Move.

One of the side effects of the current economic slump seems to be price slashes in some consumer goods areas. Today, I noticed that garden plants were slightly less expensive than last year at this time. My daughter noticed that more and more food establishments are offering things like the 99 cent breakfast sandwich or the $2.99 sub. Cut flowers for Mother's Day were priced better than last year. Some of the discount stores appear to be marking items down to the bottom dollar. Take a look at new car prices this week. Hopefully, products will start moving, generating replenishment orders which will wake up distribution centers, shipping companies, manufacturers and so on. All the fancy talk about stimulus plans is not needed. We must simply get the flow of goods moving again which will then lead to a huge reduction in jobless rates.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Keep Those Calls Coming!

My message tonight is to anyone who sells a product or a service regardless of what it might be. With the placement industry fairly quiet, I have been looking for new ideas to generate business. About 2 weeks back it dawned on me that my existing clients are the ones who I will need the most when the recession starts to reverse itself (sooner than later I hope) and I better make sure I still have strong relationships with them. Now is not the time to oversell or hound clients. Most likely, no matter the field or industry you work with, your clients are going through the same or similar issues based on the economy.

Each afternoon, I now call 5 or 6 clients and just engage them in conversation without any attempt to solicit new business. No doubt, if they had the need to hire, they would tell me. The purposes of my call are to ensure my contacts are still afloat, to let them know I am there to help in any way needed, and to give them someone to commiserate with.

The shocking result has been that I am hearing that most recruiting firms have stopped calling! Fear of rejection should not keep you away from the telephone. Anyone planning to stick around after the recession needs to stay in contact with their clients now!!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Etc.

  • Fiat+Chrysler+General Motors=Fiat Cherokee? or Fiat Cruiser? or (imagine this) See the USA in your Fiat/Chevrolet? The world really is changing.
  • Resorts such as Myrtle Beach, Cape Cod, Ocean City MD, and Seaside Heights NJ are getting record numbers of seasonal job applications from former engineers, bankers, accountants etc.
  • Not one of my clients has reported receiving stimulus funds to date.
  • This week's classified ads in the northeast are showing a bit more promise than in the past several months. Let's pray this is a positive turnaround, not just a one shot deal.

Read All About It!

"Read all about it" was a catch phrase used by hawkers to sell newspapers on street corners in days gone by. The way things are going, we may have to read all about it electronically in the near future. I was dismayed to learn today that the Boston Globe is in absolutely awful financial shape. The Newark Star Ledger, Detroit Free Press, Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, and Gannett's numerous publications are all treading on very thin ice too.

The Internet is a great source for news but I must tell you I still enjoy opening up a paper each morning and will sorely miss that if things get much worse. Where will all the unemployed newspaper workers go? This is very troubling to me as many have been in the industry since their school days and their skills will not transfer terribly well to other situations. Perhaps those of you who have stopped grabbing a paper can pick one up a few times per week to save an age old tradition and the livelihoods are hard working people!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

An Observation

This morning's Newark Star Ledger carried an article about the impact of the recession on Bergen County, NJ where many residents were high paid financial executives and now find themselves unemployed. The article quoted a banking official who had been out of work for so long that he went to an interview and told the company he was available at a sale price. Ultimately, he did not receive an offer of employment. While I understand that many are becoming desperate, going to an interview and basically begging will not work. You still need to show up with pride about your past experience but demonstrate a willingness to be flexible about compensation. There is definitely a difference between appearing realistic and looking absolutely hopeless!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Permission Please!!!

One of the worst mistakes one could make is to use some one's name as a reference to get an interview or schedule a sales call without asking permission first. I, for one, will squash the efforts of someone who uses my name without simply asking if it is okay to do so. Recently, someone who knew of me through a job networking group, called my employer, said I referred them, and scheduled a meeting. Even worse, they told me a fabricated story about someone else saying it was okay to contact my boss and use my name! This applies to job searches equally as well. It takes little time to dot your i's and cross your t's. Make sure this is part of your routine to avoid lost opportunities and uncomfortable encounters!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Hands-on R+D Engineers needed

My client in Northern NJ is searching for a few extremely hands-on Research and Development Engineers with a background in medical devices. Knowledge of cardiovascular devices or other surgical implants would draw a lot of attention from them. They were very specific about the need for non-managers at this time though some management or leadership could possibly be an asset. Please contact me at my office, 908-508-0300, ext 205 or send your resume to harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Job Possibilities

A quick look at websites of four community colleges in PA and NJ revealed many part-time and/or adjunct teaching opportunities. Most require an advanced degree and industry experience but teaching background is not essential. This could be a great way to test out a new career or put some much needed money into your pockets!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Please Think Before You Speak!

The Newark Star Ledger carried a story this week about a job fair in northern NJ. While a few hundred candidates were expected, the turnout was actually around 1000. As they interviewed job seekers for the article, one gentleman said that whichever company offered him a job was the luckiest company around. A former executive of a financial services company stated that there looked to be lots of jobs available and he was going to wait for exactly what he wanted!

I wish folks with that attitude the best of luck in their journey but hope they do not contact me for help. Humility goes a long way in a miserable economy and employers will identify the less realistic candidates and sort them out. There is nothing wrong with being very sure of yourself but be careful how you show this.

Long, long time ago (my apologies to Don McLean), I was working at a trade school assisting students entering the job market. A client was kind enough to interview 5 or 6 of my students. The recruiter called me in a rage after the first interview. A student told her she should cancel the other interviews as no one coming after him was worth interviewing! That student ended up being the last out of a group of about 30 to secure a job!

Enough said. Please think before you speak!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Professional Services Group - Disappointing Experience

I am sure many of you have heard of the Professional Services Group (PSG), an offshoot of the Office of Unemployment of the Dept. of Labor in NJ. They do good work providing support services, contacts, networking, etc. for professionals re-entering the job market. Over the past 15 years or so I have placed some of their clients and assisted many others. When I discovered a LinkedIn networking site for the PSG office in New Brunswick I was thrilled as it would be even easier to help there members find work. Sad to say, I was told that only members could join the group and that employers are relegated to a very cumbersome system for reaching out to them. Guess what? Time is valuable and their system will preclude me (and I am sure many others) from dealing with the constituents from this branch of the PSG. If any of my readers belong to the group, feel free to send my message to your leadership!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Helpful Tip for Employers

Today's comments are directed at employers struggling to get work done due to huge staff cutbacks. I was chatting with a client who is seeing absolutely horrible impacts from the recession. The organization is a specialty manufacturer and sales are barely a fraction of what they were last year. They have reduced staff to the bare bones just to survive.

Here is the dilemma they may face very soon. Some loyal customers appear almost ready to order products. To be able to meet their commitments, they will need to add staff, hopefully recalling some former employees. If they hire them back as full time employees, another layoff will be imminent unless business keeps rolling in.

My suggestion to anyone potentially in this situation is to partner with a staffing firm to do what we call pass through placements. You, the employer, select the staffers to retain on your own with no help from the staffing firm (usually folks you have hired previously). The staffing firm fills out the new hire paperwork and maintains them on their payroll for the duration of the project. Because the staffing firm is not doing the recruiting, they should be willing to provide you with this service. Feel free to contact me at harold@smartstaff.jobs or hblevin58@gmail.com to discuss this further.

Monday, April 13, 2009

He's Outta Here

Harry Kalas, by far my favorite sportscaster ever, died in the press box preparing for a Phillies vs. Nationals baseball game this afternoon. Very few people have influenced how I look at things the way harry did. No matter how awful the Phils were (and they were quite horrible at times), harry found a way to accentuate the positive. He and his late partner, Rich Ashburn, were two of the classiest guys in pro sports. I am thankful Harry was there when the Phils received their World Series Championship rings last week. No matter what you do for a living, Harry Kalas could teach you a thing or two about pursuing excellence each and every day.

For the rare few who never heard Harry on the air, he greeted homeruns with the famous words: Watch that baby go! Outta here! Home Run!!!!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Positive news!

I read an article last night that stated that P.C. Richard, a very old and privately help electronics retailer, is purchasing five former Circuit City locations in the NY/NJ region. Considering the number of retailers going down the drain of late, this is a very positive sign. The Richard family has held tight to their business through several generations and grown in small steps. I doubt they would be doing this if they did not see some light at the end of the table. Hint, if you like electronics and think you could sell, this might be a company to contact!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Please Vote!!

This morning's blog entry got me thinking about the possible need to alter retirement plans thanks to our stimulating economy. Please take a few moments to vote in the poll I set up on ths page!

Etc.

  • Two industries seem to be showing some positive inertia on the hiring front. Medical device manufacturing remains strong and may be getting busier while the industries supporting defense contracts appear to be showing some life all of a sudden. Let me know if you notice any new trends.
  • Retail appears to be reacting a little more intelligently to the slowdown by capitalizing on busy times. An article in Mycentraljersey.com reported that major malls are trimming back slightly their over abundance of shopping hours under pressure from national chains who do not want to staff stores during periods when no one shops. As a former retailer, this makes very good sense.
  • I wonder if the current downturn will force retirement ages upward or downward. This will be interesting to monitor.

Monday, April 6, 2009

News Flash!

I had to interrupt the work day to share this with my readers. A resume just arrived at my In Box from a recent graduate of Cornell University who graduated "Cum Luade!" The error was not on my end! This certainly enforces the need to proofread your resume at least 3 times before sending it out. Please remember, the resume is your own personal marketing brochure!!!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Extremely Creative Job Hunting

As the slump / recession / depression / adjustment period plods along, many of you are still finding your job search is plodding along too. The might be approaching to get extremely creative in finding some short-term solutions. Keep in mind what I have said before, nothing is forever so do not panic that a job you take now just to bring in some income will prevent you from getting back into gear a bit further down the road. Remember this, you are not alone and I suspect many others will be re-entering their old stomping grounds at a later date.

Summer is coming and that means camps are beginning to hire professional staff. Are you an unemployed programmer? How about applying to be the technology instructor for the summer? Are you an out-of-work graphic designer? Perhaps there is a slot for an art instructor! Many retailers are cutting their staffs but that does not mean your sales skills need to be put on the shelf. Check out minor league baseball parks. Most hire seasonal account executives, souvenir store managers, and concession supervisors.

Do you get the point I am attempting to make? Finding a job even loosely connected to your skill sets is better than sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself. Who knows? Someone might discover you and hold the door open to a brand new career!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Not So Sure I Like This

Obviously, GM and Chrysler are a mess right now but so are many of the companies we always counted on to survive eternally. The Obama administration suddenly seems to think they know how to restructure businesses. What qualifies them to take on this endeavor? I am very troubled by a government that tells a U.S. company it has 30 days to work out a deal with Fiat. Also, even though Mr. Wagner has made a mess at GM, is this a precedent we want to establish where governments can oust CEO's. We all need to keep close watch as this develops.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Job Openings by the Truckload!

Well not quite a truckload! A very well known client needs 4 Packaging Engineers in Princeton NJ for contract to perm jobs. Knowledge of high density plastic bottles, spray trigger bottles, or folding cartons needed. Job entails line trials and design modifications. if you are interested, email me at harold@smartstaff.jobs!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Creative Thinking

You spent the past 20 years of your life writing code in COBOL and JCL for a major telecommunications company using all sorts of proprietary protocols and now you are out of work, victim of the economic meltdown. Nobody is biting at your resume because your skills are not very desirable and headhunters keep telling you they have nothing to tell you about. Is it time to throw in the towel and go pump gasoline? Absolutely not!!

Take stock of your whole self. Be creative inyour thought processes. In addition to programming in old languages, you spent the last ten years helping friends pick out new laptops and then loaded them full of software. You spent time about your house of worship teaching the office staff how to work with Windows operating systems. Also, you enjoy dealing with the public and like driving from place to place. Gee-you sound like a candidate for Geek Squad or similar or to work in tech support at your local Staples or just maybe, print some business cards and make a business out of doing the things you like to do. Financial rewards may be a bit slow in coming, but no slower than being unemployed!

Of course, this scenario could easily be adapted to any sort of skill sets. Never give up as every event in life does have a silver lining!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Sleepless in NJ!

I am not usually known as a night owl, but so much is going on in the business world that is distasteful to me right now making sleep a difficult process . Are the recipients of the mega-bonus $$$ at AIG sleeping well? Hopefully, Congress will stick to the plan and impose 90% taxes on all the people who received bonus money based on the federal buyout program.

The banking industry executives who are refusing to support the FDIC better start losing some sleep while worrying about job security. Speaking of sleep, I wonder if it would not be a bad idea to deposit what is left of our savings into shoe boxes in our bedrooms like our ancestors did. A bankrupt FDIC is a very frightening proposition.

Many U.S. Postal Service employees are likely losing sleep pondering their job security. The post office is on the verge of closing some locations, reducing service hours at others, and carrying out severe layoffs. UPS and Fedex may become our postal service of the future by default.

Please feel welcome to share your thoughts here.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Materials Planner Needed!

A client in Bergen County NJ, not far from the NY Thruway, needs an experienced Planner with FDA knowledge, ERP, Oracle, Purchasing, etc. for a 3-6 month project. Please contact me at harold@smartstaff.jobs to apply!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Spring Cleaning!

Finally, Spring is only 3 days away! I am definitely ready after a very chilly period stretching back to early November! The changing of the seasons is a great time to take stock of your resume and freshen it up a little bit. Regardless of your employment status today, you need to be ready at all times just in case opportunity knocks or furloughs tragically become layoffs. Make sure any new skills, tasks, responsibilities, degrees, certifications, etc. are well highlighted. Make sure you are up to date before the umpire yells "play ball!" Please reach out to me should you need some help!