Quick Thought for Employers

We all realize the economy is awful and lots of people are looking for a new job. This does not mean you should low-ball further than is needed. Recessions have a way of turning around. When things improve, grossly underpaid peple will pack up and leave for greener pastures.

Waiting for a Pay Raise

Sadly, I am old enough to remember the ads where the Maytag repair man sat staring at the phone repeatedly saying 'any day now' yet nothing ever happened. This could be one of those years for pay raises though it could be worse.

Hardly a week goes by without a candidate telling me they are expecting a big raise this spring because nothing was awarded to them last year. In the past week, an old friend of mine told me about a 5% paycut forced upon everyone in his company, a client told me they are being asked to take a week off without pay, and the CEO of Starbucks reduced his multi-million dollar salary to $10,000 just to keep his health insurance plan active for himself and his family.

Even though I have been advocating staying put if you have a fairly secure job, do not sit around expecting generous financial rewards any time in the near future. Most companies are feverishly trying to stay above water and those that are strong wish to stay that way. Perhaps 'any day now' should be replaced by 'maybe next year.' Hang in there!

Packaging Engineers Needed!

I have clients in Mercer County and Bergen County, NJ looking for Packaging Engineers. In Mercer, candidates need experience with consumer good or health care products while the Bergen County position requires knowledge of packaging for medical devices. Please rush resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs!

Nails in the Coffin

Please accept my deepest apologies for the title of this entry. I was going to call it Slamming the Door Behind You or Heading the Wrong Way on a One Way Street. Unfortunately, the email I received today inspired the title I utilized.

When the economy is absolutely anemic, and you work in a field that is flooded with unemployed candidates, you must be realistic about your job search. I read the text of an email from someone in the recruiting business. This individual very succinctly listed minimum base salary they would work for along with commission rates and fees for contract recruiting. The numbers requested were more than double the current market rates if not triple on some levels.

Representing such a candidate would never be high on my priority list. Beyond the arrogant impression these requests conjured up, such a candidate would likely demonstrate a poor attitude during an interview. I also would question whether or not this person has taken a good, hard look at the current market. Perhaps this individual is outstanding at what they do but I will never find out and neither will my clients.

ETC.

• Governor Corzine is talking about ways to avoid layoffs for state employees. One plan involves salary freezes for the next 18 months. This sounds like a better alternative to huge job losses.
• Caroline Kennedy has dropped out of the competition for the NY seat in the U.S. Senate. Perhaps she is going to move her primary residence up to MA.
• President Obama mentioned working less hours to allow your neighbors to keep their jobs. Won't this lead to a huge number of under-employed citizens? What benefits will he offer as compensation since Unemployment Insurance will not kick in?
• Fiat looks like it is buying Chrysler. They flopped in the U.S. once before. This sale makes me think of using bubblegum to fix a small leak in a tire; it will only succeed for a short period of time.
• Gasoline prices are rising once again. What is the latest excuse for this?
• This might be a good time to get your teaching certificate as our new president seems very committed to providing funds for inclusion classes and for better education in areas which have lagged behind the rest of our nations for decades.
• A client told me this afternoon that Certified Financial Planners will be in demand for a long time as folks have received a wake up call the past few months and want professional support in managing their affairs.

Mistake

Presently, I am doing a search for a Regulatory Affairs Specialist. A decent resume crossed my desk about 10 days ago. I chatted with the candidate and noticed his most recent job was as a contractor at a local pharmaceutical firm. It just so happens that the recruiter at my client company recently worked for this firm. I asked the candidate if he ever sent his resume to my client and he claimed to have never even heard of them. My next call was to the client who told me he remembered this person, felt he was not a strong match, and the candidate has sent his resume to them about 5 times in the past month! This same candidate called again yesterday and pleaded ignorance to this. After pushing a bit, he told me he did keep sending it since no one called him and could not understand why I would not submit it weekly as well! Should this recruiter move elsewhere, I know one candidate he will never consider for a job opening.

Positive Spin

We are less than a week from the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. I equate this time to the lull between final exams and receiving the dreaded grade report or the week in between the NFL championship games and the Super Bowl. So much energy was put into what seemed like an endless campaign that everyone appears to be catching their collective breath. President Bush sounds more exhausted with each day as he prepares to move on in his life.

Let's hope that the change in administrations and the new and different (I hope) philosophies pump some energy into all of us. Change is usually good no matter how large or small the scope is. Hopefully we will enter a period of job growth, educational and cultural enhancement, and overall stability.

Are You a Follower?

Click on the "Follower" link at the right side of this blog to indicate you follow this blog. It will be great to learn who is reading this site! Thanks!!!

Another January Job Fair!

Job Mania Career Fair
Thursday, January 22, 2008 10 A.M. Through 2 P.M.
Location: Sheraton Eatontown Hotel
6 Industrial Way, Eatontown
Details: Free for all Job Seekers - No Pre-Registtration

Companies attending:
PNC Bank, Alternatives, Dish Network, SRBI, TD Bank, AFLAC, Mid Atlantic Resource Group, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ AND MORE...
Sponsored By: Guide Publications
Contact Information:E-mail Address: mike@guidepubs.net Phone Number: 732-263-9675
Web Address:http://www.jerseyjobguide.com/

Job Fair on Tuesday!

JobCircle.com is hosting a career fair on Tuesday, January 13, at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Click on the JobCircle link on this blog then click on the Career Fair button on the left and you will see the details.

Painful End Result

One of my cautions to candidates who are gainfully employed is that you need to think about the ramifications of ticking off the people signing your paychecks. Jeff Jagodzinski learned that lesson this week. He was the head coach of Boston College's successful football program. Jeff had fulfilled two years of a five year contract. Apparently, he made a handshake agreement with the athletic director to stay the entire five years. Over the weekend, rumors abounded that the NY Jets were interviewing him for their vacancy at head coach. The athletic director at BC fired him for taking the interview citing the lack of commitment to his athletes and the school's efforts overall.

Take every precaution imaginable to keep your search quiet if you still value your current situation. The economy has definitely made it harder for employers to remain loyal but please do not give them reasons ro walk you out the door!

Startups v. Older Firms

Once upon a time, my father told me I was nuts to take a job with a small search firm that had a staff of about 10 people and an owner who actually worked a recruiting desk in the office. I was reminded there was no corporate structure, no major financial backers, a lack of advertising and PR, and certainly no worldwide reputation to back up my work.

Today, folks are starting to migrate toward small firms and startups over the big firms (think Alcatel or Lehman Bros. or AIG or General Motors, etc.). Some of the reasons for working at one of these small firms include no corporate structure (to keep you from moving upward), no major financial backers (who force you to operate their way rather than the right way), a lack of advertising and PR (permits you to keep a lower profile and just do your job), etc.

The conclusion is simple! Find a company that is reasonably well funded, offers the features you need, and go to work!