"Real Old"

"Real Old" - the words my then 2 year old daughter used to describe me 18 years ago! I guess I am really, really old now! DO NOT think you are too old or too young to be taken seriously by hiring managers. First, it is obviously illegal to be judged by your age. Second, we all know this takes place each and every day.

Please do not alter your resume to hide either your seniority or your youth. Your resume needs to depict exactly who you are. Many clients tell me their focus is on highly experienced, senior professionals who will need little or no mentoring while others tell me they want someone with less than 5 years experience who they can train and shape to fit their needs.

Represent yourself as exactly who you are. Leave it up to the employer as to whether or not they wish to meet you and consider you for their job opening.

A Few Positive Thoughts

It only seems fair to counterbalance my last post with a few less negative reactions to 2010. Smaller companies seem to be finding new niche markets for their products and are gradually doing some hiring as a result. Former employees of the larger firms (IBM, AT+T, Dow Jones, etc.) need to reinvent themselves as multi-faceted team players and take advantage of these new opportunities.

Entrepreneurship seems to be on the rise as people realize their prior careers might never reappear. This will lead to some very talented people bringing new and interesting concepts to the business world.

People are learning to do more with less. Even though this is somewhat sad to realize as a state of our economy, who could argue with making our society more cost conscious, efficient, creative, and ultimately a lot more profitable?

There! I tried to be positive and it was not too painful!!

Hoping all my readers have a safe final weekend of 2010!

Biggest Disappointments of 2010

As 2010 limps into the sunset, I was thinking about those areas that underwhelmed me this year. The biggest shortcoming is from the Obama administration's efforts to stimulate job growth. Quite frankly, I see no signs that they accomplished anything whatsoever to get people back to work in jobs even somewhat related to their previous fields. The federal government has become too much of a battlefield rather than a playing field and both major political parties need to step up to the plate and repair this situation now.

Next in line is the lack of sensitivity companies appear to be showing toward their employees. Layoffs are taking place without any warning to soften the blow. Even worse, those same firms are hiring for slightly different positions practically at the same time the layoffs occur. How about retraining your loyal workforce rather than dumping them in favor of total strangers who are unknown quantities?

Finally, my last concern is that we still seem to be an entitlement driven society even in light of everything that has taken place the past few years. Way to often, candidates call me with their lists of must-have items before they will consider interviewing for a new position. Once I start hearing these unrealistic needs, I simply move on to the next available candidate.

Hopefully, 2011 will get going quickly as the year of recovery!

PS: I am attempting to make a list of positive items from 2010. Any suggestions?

Have It Your Way!

Hold the overtime and the travel requirements; give me 12 paid holidays; don't make me attend weekly status meetings; let me work from home whenever I feel like it AND don't track my productivity on those days. Many candidates tell me things like this when we discuss potential job opportunities and I move them to the bottom of my list immediately. Now more than ever, employers are in the driver's seat and job seekers need to respect this if they want to improve their situations.

A Stronger Economy?

Reports today claim that shoppers spent over 3% more than last year from Thanksgiving through December 23. I wonder how much will end up as refunds in the coming week and how after holiday sales will turn out this week. With unemployment still terribly high, I have doubts about whether or not the economy has actually turned around.

Quality Reference Checks

~ Make certain the contact information on your reference list contains accurate information as it looks really bad if your references can not be easily reached.
~ Only list references that you are positive will say good things about you when asked.
~ Send word to your references when you think they might be called just to give them time to be prepared.
~ If you are listing a large staffing firm (Aerotek, Kelly Services, Labor Ready, etc.) as a reference, try to find out their process in advance as they have been known to be uncooperative.

Work History

Employers keep telling me they want to see resumes of candidates who have no more than 2 jobs in the past 10 years. Before the recession hit, I could agree with that but we all need to get into the mindset of what the past few years have done to our workforce. My advice to clients has been to chock up the last 3 years to candidates doing whatever it took to earn any sort of income and to look at the stability they demonstrated pre-2007. I would love to hear from hiring managers as to whether or not this makes sense to them as we all need to be realistic about the changes we have been forced to endure.

My Favorite Five Letter Word

F-O-C-U-S
~When I am recruiting for a client's job opening, I focus on their needs and focus on finding candidates who most closely meet the criteria.
~When I am helping someone upgrade their resume, I ask them to focus on what they wish to accomplish with it and then focus under creating a document that portrays the right picture.
~The candidates who most quickly re-enter the job force are those who focus on the process and never waiver from their mission until they are successful in securing a new employment opportunity.
~When the UCONN women's basketball team set a record tonight by winning their 89th consecutive game, their talented leader, Maya Moore, credited maintaining their focus for so many victories.

For the past 20+ years I have preached the need for focus. It is good to see that some things just never seem to change!

Mechanical Engineer with Leadership Skills Needed

A very good client of mine in North Jersey needs to find a Mechanical Engineer with about 10-12 years experience in the equipment manufacturing industry with at least 2 years of leadership background at the group or project level. This person should be able to look at existing designs and find cost effective ways to improve or modify processes. Experience with AutoCAD 14 v. 2002 or 2006 needed. The position will eventually evolve into a management position so the ability to communicate effectively with others is essential. Please contact me if you qualify or know someone who might be good for this opportunity.

Keep Current

Job search engines are a valuable tool to use but make sure your resume is current and that all your contact information works. As a recruiter, it is extremely annoying to try both posted phone numbers and the candidate's email address and find them no longer active. There are too many candidates out there to be negligent. Recruiters are not going to jump through hoops to track you down so please make yourself easy to find and communicate with!

Time to Focus

Many people thing the last two weeks of December are throwaway weeks but I tend to disagree. Not everyone has vacation days to burn and some hiring managers look at it as a time to get organized since the pace is a bit slower than normal. If you are out of work, there is no reason to stop searching right now. The fact you keep plugging along might just catch some one's attention, especially since much of the competition will slack off. Take advantage and keep those resumes and emails flying out of your computers!

ETC.

• Job openings are popping up in December, rather unusual but great to see!
• Candidates: wake up and jump in while the water is warm! Another cold wave could appear without warning.
• I wonder if Brett Favre has any ideas for his next career.
• Will salaries ever recover to where they were about three years back?
• Will either major political party do anything to create jobs any time in the near future?

Actions of several consultants working for me, a few candidates, and even a few hiring managers, got me thinking about the word integrity over the past several weeks. To me, integrity means never deviating from being honest, reliable, dependable, hard working, and trustworthy. I have seen so many people deviate from those standards of late that I really starting questioning whether or not I understood the true meaning of integrity!

Numerous dictionary sites all have basically the same definition and here it is: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Look at yourself in a mirror and decide if you fit the definition of integrity. If not, the time has come to fix this and fix it fast before others notice your flaws!

Simply Amazing

How can the owners of professional sports teams justify their actions? This past summer, Yankee Stadium had numerous empty seats for many games as did several other popular venue. The NY Jets run radio ads every week trying to fill their new stadium. Yet, this past week has seen several seven year deals signed with players for over $140 million. Imagine how many unemployed workers that could sustain for the next seven years? Each contract could pay for 400 people per year at $50K salaries. Simply amazing.

Don't Hang Up!

The lyrics to Don't Hang Up by the Orions are stuck in my brain this afternoon. I spent several hours this sunny and chilly Sunday morning participating in a phonathon for the local branch of a worldwide non-profit agency. Of course, times are tough and none of us are rolling in excess cash. If someone answered the phone and said they were in need of taking a year off from contributing or needed to lower their pledge amount from last year, I was sympathetic and thanked them for their support. What I don't understand are responses like 'how dare you bother me for donations" or "I never support non-profits anymore" followed by a rude click and hangup.

My suspicion is that some of these folks might be covering up for the fact they are under-employed or unemployed. By being polite and talking for just a minute, they might have connected with me, someone who could potentially help them improve their situation. Like the Orions sang: Don't Hang Up!

Interview Processes

Employers seem to have very unique ideas on how to make hires. From personal experiences and the comments from colleagues, I have a collection of stories that could fill volumes! For today, just a few will have to do.

Many years ago, I was placing entry level computer programmers with a client who asked to see about 5 candidates. After the interviews were done, the employer chose the one I felt was less likely to be hired. Why? The manager had a huge saltwater fish tank that he was struggling to maintain and this programmer used to manage a fish shop and would be able to assist him!

A colleague sent a candidate to an interview a few years back, urging the person to take an extra minute when selecting her interview apparel as she had heard before that this individual showed up dressed neatly but a touch to casual. After the interview, the candidate reported back that the hiring manager wore a Grateful Dead T-shirt, bluejeans and flip-flops!

Predicting the mood or tempo of interviews is not easy. My best advice is to be prepared for the unexpected at all times!! PS: Feel free to share your stories with me!

Packaging Engineer Opportunity!

Excellent opportunity requires 3-5 years experience in the design and manufacture of primary and secondary containers for consumer goods including cartons and thermoformed bottles. Candidate must be capable of presenting design concepts at team meeting, directing the manufacture of prototypes, and overseeing production line testing. knowledge of aerosol packages helpful. Must have a B. S. in Packaging, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering. ABSOLUTELY NO 3RD PARTY OR CORP-TO-CORP CANDIDATES AT THIS TIME. Candidates must be within local commuting range of the Plainsboro NJ area to be considered! ! Contact me with your resume via email: harold@smartstaff.jobs or Twitter @PlacementHarold

Etc.

• I am still amazed at how few candidates return phone calls and/or answer emails about potential job opportunities.
• We all must remember that employment is a privilege which may be easily taken away if the employer feels someone is not following instructions or attempting to bypass proper channels.
• While jobs are starting to pop up here and there, pay rates remain very low.
• Unemployment benefit extensions look to have hit the end of their run meaning more folks to enter the workforce.

Small Business Saturday

Did you burn out shopping yesterday at big box stores and overcrowded (not to mention overpriced) malls? I kept my day relatively short but plan on visiting several local, privately owned businesses today as part of Small Business Saturday, a new event promoted by American Express. When the chips are down, small businesses usually come through and today is your chance to show them you appreciate them being there!

Commitment!!

Commitment is a key part of a job search. One must commit to a certain amount of time each day for the process then stick to the plan. It is okay, especially if you are still somewhat employed, to say that you will search certain days but skip others so long as you do what you say you will each and every week.

Commitment also means keeping your appointments with unemployment office counselors, support groups, contacts who offer you help, etc. Not showing up for a meeting, even if it is only for some free advice, shows a lack of interest in improving your situation. Professionals will not recommend you to their colleagues if they doubt that you will followed through as you could endanger their reputations and they will not risk such an occurrence.

Commitment is crucial to your future success. Make sure you understand and subscribe to this before beginning your quest for a better future!!

Priorities

I could care less about an upcoming royal wedding (don't know which prince
it is or his fiance's name)!

I have never watched Dancing with the Stars and am tired of headlines about Bristol Palin's success and/or the ballot stuffing campaign her mom allegedly started.

By the way, why is it headline news that the Palin's have a reality TV
show?

NPR had the story of someone named Eve Longoria getting divorced from same athlete as the second report on their hourly newscast. Who is Eve Longoria and why is she important?

I do care that the job market is still plodding along and would like to
here more about why this is so.

I am very concerned about fuel prices rising at a time when people need to hit the road to spend whatever shopping dollars they have available.

I am very troubled that Congress may spend the year in virtual deadlocks on
key issues.

The fact the U.S. (and most of the world) seems to operate under knee jerk procedures rather than having a master plan needs to be covered by the media.

Okay, now is your chance to tell me if I am right or just simply going nuts!

Healthcare???

Health care reform is a rather confusing topic that I am trying to better understand. Please share your experiences, either as an employee or employer, with health insurance issues as we approach a new enrollment year. I am curious to learn what is going on out there with plan options, co-pays, etc.

Quick Thoughts

While enjoying a short lunch break at my desk today, a few thoughts crossed my mind.
~If you have been out of work for two or more years, you would be nuts to reject an inquiry about a job paying barely 5% less than the job you were last employed at.
~Many companies are starting to tie bonus plans into compensation packages. It is fair to ask what the average award will be for the current year to get a rough idea of what you might expect.
~Be ready to show a few accomplishments from each of your last 2 or 3 jobs if asked for them by potential employers.
Lunch break is over! Have a good week!

Jobs Available-Contact Me!

All of a sudden, things are starting to move a bit and I am sharing several current opportunities with you. Please reply to me via this blog, LinkedIn, Twitter (@PlacementHarold), email:hblevin58@gmail.com or harold@smartstaff.jobs and I will be in touch!

1. Vice President of Software Quality Engineering (perm) for a major publisher in Bergen County NJ
2. Sales Manager (perm) for a large food distributor in North/Central NJ
3. Pro-E Design Engineer (contract) for a medical device company in Bergen County
4. Market Research Analyst (perm) and .Net developer for a market media software firm in NYC
5. Systems Analyst with OBIEE (perm) for a publisher in Bergen County
6. Excel guru to convert reports from SAP to Excel in a Supply Chain environment (temp-to-perm) in Passaic County NJ
7. CNC Machinists and QA Inspectors (temp-to-perm) with medical device industry background in Bergen County
8. Maintenance Specialist with heavy industrial background including electric, plumbing, machine shop repairs, hydraulics, pneumatics, etc. (perm) for a manufacturer in Morris County NJ

No Excuses Allowed!

I am not sending out resumes until after the holidays because no
one will look at them now.

Nobody does much hiring in the winter so I guess I will wait until it warms up again.

Who knows what will happen now that the elections are over. I better wait and see before I continue job searching.

No one appreciates experience anymore and I am NOT settling for less money than I made before I got laid off in 2008.

HOGWASH!

For the first time in a very long time, clients are beginning to chat about jobs such as VP of Software QA, Manager of Sales and Marketing, Partner-level Attorneys, etc. Are they hiring in great numbers? Not just yet. Are they paying top dollar? Absolutely not. Do they seem serious about starting to rebuild diminished work forces? Yes!

If there was ever reason to kick your search process up a notch, I think there is plenty enough right now. Please wake up, stop making excuses to wait a bit longer, and get in position just in case this is not a false alarm!!

Think Please!

I received a resume this past week of someone who stated that he was an exact fit for a Pro-E Design Engineer opportunity. Upon reading his resume, it was obvious this person had been a terrific insurance sales rep, a bank teller, and a restaurant manager with a B.A. in English. There was no mention of Pro-E, design, drafting, engineering or anything else remotely of value to the job. I assume that a friend or spouse used a keyword search and somehow matched to the job. THINK BEFORE SENDING RESUMES OUT!! PLEASE!!!

Cover letters

A discussion I had today made me realize I have not said a heck of a lot about cover letters in recent weeks (months?) so I will rectify that right now!

Cover letters, to me as a recruiter, are a nuisance. They were great in the golden days of recruiting (when my hair was thicker and had a bit less grey!) before email, Linked In, text messaging, etc. Snail mail still lends itself to cover letters to clarify the position one is applying for. Beyond that, they are pointless. Other than providing a full cover letter when asked for it, simply provide one only if asked for it. Under no circumstances should a cover letter be confused with a resume!

ETC.

• Job openings are starting to pop up here and there but companies still seem fixated on candidates with 2 to 4 years experience but want these folks to be experts in everything. The mind set of a lot of more seasoned candidates has helped bring this on so YOU need to demonstrate willingness and flexibility when job hunting!
• Resumes appear to be getting sloppier and less accurate. With time on your hands, no excuses will be accepted for this lack of attention to a very important detail.
• Pay rates are not rebounding as quick as job opportunities are at this point. be patient with employers. I do believe that if you take a job, you will eventually be rewarded. If not, as things loosen up in the next year or two, other employers will offer you the money you deserve.
• Help wanted signs are visible in many retail establishments. If your chosen field is still plodding along, consider taking a seasonal job to get the blood circulating.

Totally Unrelated to Anything

Once in a while, I allow myself to digress from the main purpose of this blog and today is one of those times. So much is going on in the world that just makes me worry about where our priorities need to be. Consider these randoms event in recent weeks:

• A Rutgers University freshmen jumped off the George Washington bridge because he discovered his dormitory roommate and friends had broadcast a sexual encounter he had with another male on the internet.
• Lindsay Lohan has bounced in and out of jail and rehab units because she cannot or will not follow a judge's orders.
• The State of Delaware has the opportunity to place someone into the U.S. Congress who cannot name any Supreme Court decisions she is unhappy with.
• The Afghan leaders are trying to make peace with the Taliban warriors in their country.
• Michael Vick, convicted animal abuser and killer, is collecting a massive paycheck from the Philadelphia Eagles.
• For no good reason, Bristol Palin has turned into a TV star.
• Our country is so unbalanced that a movement from the late 1700's, known as the TEA Party, is rapidly gaining momentum.

In all honesty, I am just not sure what is going to happen next and suspect this is why companies are barely hiring, malls have empty storefronts, and many homes have "For Sale" signs in the front yard.

If You Take the Credit, You Must Take the Blame

This past weekend, I spent time helping run some high school marching band competitions where I got to see the future of our country perform incredibly well. At the same time I witnessed educators taking credit for everything their young charges excelled at but laying the blame on them for any shortcomings. One wise judge put it well in telling a group of instructors that their students will perform up to the expectations set for them and if they fall short they have most likely not been inspired to do better.

The same message applies to managers in any workplace. If your team makes budget, you will jump up and let everyone know that YOU succeeded. Should things not come out so great, you will blame your staff. Remember, leaders need to be accountable for the good and the bad. Otherwise, you are not truly deserving of the title.

Project Manager Needed!

One of my top clients, located in Bergen County NJ, has a 6-12 month assignment for a Project Manager in a foundry environment who will be responsible for equipment validation and Capital Expenditure Requests (CER). 5+ years experience needed in a foundry or more generally, with metallurgy. Must have knowledge of FDA regulations, GMP's and ISO requirements; knowledge of Lean/Six Sigma; Factory Acceptance Testing, and equipment validation. They will only consider candidates within reasonable daily commuting range. Hourly rate will not surpass $38. If interested and qualified, send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs, referring to this posting!

Wake Up Time!

All of a sudden, head count dollars seem to be making a guest appearance at some companies. Perhaps this is an encouraging sign that the slump is gradually fading away. Now that some employers are looking for new team members, it is time for candidates to come out of this involuntary hiatus period and start interviewing. Based on what I have seen recently, many folks seem unwilling to jump back into the market just yet and I am concerned. Should they sit back to long, they might NEVER recover. Now is the time to recharge your batteries, dry clean your interview clothing, clean up your resume', and plunge back into the very different job market with open minds, positive outlooks, enthusiasm, and open eyes and ears!

Brand New IT Jobs! Read and Respond!

Perm opportunities in Manhattan!! Great way to begin the week!! Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or hblevin58@gmail.com

1. Software Developer: Full life cycle development experience needed along with 3-4 years of: C#, VB Script, Javascript, ASP.net, HTML, XML, XSL, AJAX, CSS, SQL/T-SQL, and MS Visual Studio/SQL Management Studio.
2. Senior Data Processor: 3+ years of processing and tabulating research reports with high level programming data editing and tabulation packages. Must have worked with SPSS, SAS, Visual Basic, VBA, DOS-Editor, etc. KEDIT for Windows is a plus.
3. Research Analyst: Must be proficient with SPSS AND Excel with knowledge of CHAID analysis. Thorough understanding needed of logistic regression modeling and designing input for segmentation studies.

NFL

I read yesterday that the head of the NFL Players Union was discussing lockout scenarios for the 2011 season. Granted, there are some issues separating players and owners right now but how could either side even think about shutting down one of the few things bringing in revenue in this country right now? The incredible salaries paid to players, the ridiculous money spent on new stadiums, the overwhelming extravagance poured into TV broadcasts (saw this up close last week) all seem out of place in our current environment. My feeling is that any sort of shutdown by the NFL, which will lead to layoffs of support personnel and lost revenue for a myriad of industries, will result in a dramatically smaller and much less dynamic league if and when it returns.

Etc.

• October looks like it might actually bring normal weather to a lot of the U.S. Will this carry through to a more normal economy and job market?
• McDonald's is apparently toying with eliminating or reducing health care benefits for their employees. Should this happen, watch out America, things will grow ugly.
• Message to manufacturers of web cams: your overly sophisticated, highly affordable innovations may have led to the untimely loss of a Rutgers University freshman.
• Jobs are starting to open up but pay rates are still lagging far behind what many feel is fair and reasonable.
• Visited the New Meadowlands Stadium yesterday and learned know accommodations were made to feed proper meals to the 1000 or so support people needed to run the place.

September Song

As September floats (at least along the eastern seaboard) into the sunset, I see a tiny bit of light shining. Over the past week, jobs are slowly popping up, not very exciting ones, but they do come with paychecks. If you are among the unemployed, my advice is to grab anything offered then look for ways to move into other roles within the company. If nothing exists to move toward, at least you have filled in some of the white space that was growing on your resume! Looking forward to a better October!

Things are Happening!

Okay, the economy has not rebounded but I do need CNC Machinists, Mechanical Inspectors, Collections Reps (Excel and phone skills) and someone to convert reports from SAP to Excel. Contact me for details!

Job Opportunity

I have a client in Northern NJ who is converting their Supply Chain reporting process from SAP to Excel. The key is to find someone who is an Excel expert (V-lookups, pivot tables, etc.) who has some knowledge of SAP and Supply Chain. This is a long term contract with some potential of converting to permanent in 2011. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs if you are interested or feel free to refer someone to me!

Memories

Some people remember their child's first spoken words. Others remember their first date. Some remember very special events. Others remember everything and those are the ones to be mindful of!

Even though I have pointed this out in various ways before, a fairly recent conversation compelled me to go there yet again.
***** DO NOT IRRITATE HIRING MANAGERS OR HR REPS (or both) DURING THE HIRING PROCESS! *****

It will come back to haunt you again and again. Should a company turn you down for a job, move onward to the next opportunity. Continuing to call the company that rejected you will only serve to create hard feeling which will travel with the hiring party to wherever they go next. Reacting in a positive, gracious manner to go when participating in the search process!

Don't Give Up

In recent days, I have chatted with too many people who have been unemployed for 6 to 18 months and longer in a few cases. They are worried about unemployment extensions running out, college tuition for their children, mortgage payments, car loans, certainly nothing extravagant. It seems to me we are getting nothing but lip service from our leaders. For example, Governor Christie of NJ has been destroying labor unions yet he does not seem to have a plan to replace those jobs. The White House does not seem to notice that the not for profit business world is on life support. Speaker of the House Pelosi has not inspired any sort of recovery plan either. Obviously, neither political party has any answers. This is where it gets scary folks. Fringe party politicians (and perhaps the not so fringe Tea Party) are making gains right now and most of them have very dangerous agendas. Everyone needs to wake up and get their acts in gear immediately.

Works Progress Administration

So we need something other than President Obama's flop of a stimulus program to get the U.S. back in gear. Why not go back to 1935 and recreate the Works Progress Administration and modify the original model to meet the needs of our era? A large part of our country's infrastructure is falling apart on many fronts. Instead of doling out extensions to unemployment benefits, let's take that money and create a mix of white and blue collar jobs! For those of you who are uncertain about my idea, go look up the WPA on line and see what you think.

Doors

I have been watching a house along my commuting route that has been under construction for over two years and still is not finished. Yesterday, I noticed the siding is mostly in places as are many windows. The entry doors and garage doors are still missing.

This got me thinking. I wonder what creatures have taken the opportunity to wander around this shell while the doors were wide open. What have they observed and learned in their explorations? Once the doors are installed, the opportunity to learn is gone.

This recession has actually opened many doors for job seekers though not necessarily the front entrance. While opportunities are tough to come by, they are out there. If you have been struggling going the conventional route, tried some side doors or garage entrances. For example, if you have a sales background, checkout the retail warehouse clubs. On a recent jaunt, I discovered one such place with several stations selling high end products and services. Unless you check unusual resources out, you may being closing doors before they are actually shut!

Etc.

• August was very quiet on the placement front. Media reports claimed that temps were in demand because firms were unable to find vacation coverage. My experience was that voicemail and email served as the replacements in most cases.
• Someone who has not worked for almost two years was incensed when I called her about a two week project. She actually used foul language about my call to her companion before hanging up the phone. We need to fix a system which enables the unemployed to remain that way and we need to do so now!
• I am trying to turn Twitter into a valuable resource. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
• Labor Day used to be when we honored union workers. I wonder how Governor Christie of NJ and other Tea Party politicians will commemorate the day.
• Beware of previously unknown engines offering to blast your resume for FREE! One never knows on whose doorstep or inbox (or Twitter Account) it will end up on!

Darn Bronchitis!

I have been quiet for several days thanks to a slowly developing case of bronchitis, an old friend who had not shown up for almost 2 years. Yesterday, I broke down and went to see my doctor. While waiting to be seen, I heard multiple patients approach the receptionist to explain that their health care coverage had changed to COBRA or that they were without health care for now. One person was bemoaning that he had signed up for Medicare and it was a total mess to deal with. I was getting sicker listening to their situations. One of these days, perhaps Washington will get it right.

Message to Recent College Grads

Did you graduate college last spring and still are not working? Have you focused on finding that perfect dream job and found interviews are nearly impossible to obtain? Are your parents getting on your case to find something, anything at all? If so, you are definitely not alone!

When I worked for a trade school, we classified jobs as directly related to your training, closely related, somewhat relate, unrelated. The current economy makes the first option is a real challenge but the second and third might be reachable.

Let us assume for a minute that you have a degree in Elementary Education. If you happen to live in NJ, a man they are touting as one of the greatest governors of all time, took away your chance of a directly related job this year. Closely related is still a possibility as I see postings all the time from learning centers, such as Sylvan and smaller privately owned groups, looking for qualified teachers to teach basic skills, SAT prep, etc. Certainly, this is not an awful alternative. Somewhat related jobs would include working in a before or after care program providing homework assistance or getting a job in a religious school teaching youngsters. At the minimum, the alternative jobs put some money in your pocket and give you something for your resume.

This process applies to any educational path you have just completed. Contact me if you want some ideas and directions!

New Poll

I just posted a new poll and would like all of you to vote. Disturbingly large numbers of people seem to feel they are entitled to remain on unemployment as their primary income indefinitely even if jobs are offered to them for less than they previously earned. A few folks have told me they have taken contract work then tried to restart their unemployment benefits when the job was finished and it is an absolute nightmare. My solution is to have a graduated benefit where the government makes up the difference between your prior and current pay rate. Please vote on my poll!

Watch Yourself!

Imagine yourself sending your resume to a recruiter, waiting several weeks before making a follow-up call then chastising the recruiter when he can not remember your resume! When he asks you for a quick overview of your background, you answer him with "come on, you have to remember me! If not, I guess you already decided I am wrong for the job. Hey man, we are in a recession, have a heart. If you cannot remember me I am hanging up!!""" ........................click, dial tone.

Names and voices stick in my brain for a very long time. Most recruiters remember their best success stories and their worst experiences!!

Remember this, professional recruiters are paid by their client companies. While we all try very, very hard to provide excellent service to candidates at all times, we must give our client companies the type of potential employees this wish to interview. All of us are in this ugly recession together and must play by the very limitted rules we have been forced to adhere to.

Seasonal Work

This week's Sunday newspapers started carrying some ads for seasonal help in distribution centers. My assumption is that retailers who kept their shelves bare all summer want to start stocking fall and winter goods early. For those who have just about exhausted all their resources, seasonal work could be a great stopgap. At the same time, one never knows who might discover you and refer you to a hiring manager who could better use your skills at present and for the long haul. be open minded and created and success might not be far behind!.

More Etc.

• Phone call from a candidate today:"I sent you my resume and you did not call me." From me:"When did you send it?" Candidate:"I sent it as you picked up the phone!"
• My posting for a job clearly state that all candidates have a B.S. in either Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering. I guess that explains why I almost lost it on a candidate who called insisting a BSEE is the same as a degree in Biomedical Engineering!
• A client interviewed someone who asked if he could use his lunch break to watch a specific show on his personal sized TV and proceeded to discuss the history of the sitcom rather than answer job related questions!
• Several resumes crossed my desk this week with the candidate's first name misspelled!

ETC.

• Attention candidates: Do not list a skill on your resume if you have never used it at work or at least had some formal training!
• Attention hiring managers: No matter how rough the economy is, you still will get what you pay for!
• Those with full time jobs need to be happy with what they have right now.
• Those who are collecting unemployment checks need to think twice before rejecting employment offers.
• Prospects for lower unemployment rates in August are still in doubt as far as I can tell.
• Prospects for recent grads hedge on how aggressive they are in the search process.

$$ for Teachers?

The U.S. Senate suddenly found around $10 Billion to restore teaching jobs in public schools. if the Congress approves this week, the money will be poured back into the economy. Where was all this money hiding until now? Assuming it is to be distributed, how will this take place? I hope the Obama Administration does not allow each governor to totally control the process. Stay tuned as it looks like interesting news will follow!

Dealing With the Unemployment Office

This morning, a gentleman who sounded genuine in his job search efforts, contacted me. He tried to apply for a job I posted online through the NJ state unemployment office (who, by the way, copied my listing from a paid site and made it look like their posting) and was forced to navigate through a series of unneccessary application forms which were not issued by me! Exasperated, he walked out after jotting down my phone number, called me, explained his problem, and sent his resume straight to my email account. Whether or not he secures this job is not the point of this article. The point is, something is exceptionally wrong with the unemployment assistance process in our country and we better get it repaired immediately!

The 8th Month Has Arrived

August is here and not sure what that means other than seven moths are down with five to go. Will August be the month that the economy starts to recover or will it be more of the same? My impression is we still have a very long way to go. Before we really begin recovery, someone has to find a way to restore the confidence of our populous in our country and perhaps the world. Right now, I am hard pressed to identify a state governor, a U.S. Senator, or anyone connected to the White House who is giving off anything close to positive energy. Across the world, it looks to be more of the same. Attitude adjustment is critical to recovery. let's hope it happens soon.

Jobs in DC

While enduring the heatwave in the Washington DC region last Sunday, I picked up a copy of The Washington Post. After spending about two minutes on their pitiful sports page, I moved on to the classifieds and found a fair amount of postings. Most were from consulting firms looking for software developers with rather new technologies and all required high end security clearances. My assumption is that most of them are competing for the same contract. If you are a programmer who could spend 6 months to a year in DC, you might want to get your resume headed to that region.

Accounts with prior government agency background also looked to be in high demand which makes sense considering the current financial mess. Engineers, manufacturing professionals, and teachers will find limited opportunities in DC and it suburbs right now. Based on what I observed, those interested in the hotel industry should check out Washington or Alexandria as every place I saw was loaded with guests.

Interesting Day

President Obama had some meetings scheduled for NYC tonight. Before heading into Manhattan, he took a side trip to the famed Tastee Subs in Edison NJ, one of the most well known yet nondescript eateries in Central NJ. He met with several small business owners for a brief time to discuss how his new bills would help struggling companies rebound. Selecting Tastee did not make a lot of sense as they have provided their employees with health care for decades and have thrived ever since their inception in 1963 and are busier than ever. Perhaps the White House thought the very shabby building would represent the scores of failing businesses across the nation but this is probably one of the most successful small businesses in the area stationed at one of the busiest intersections! Let's just hope that the end result will be prosperity for all small business owners and additional jobs to help fix the economy!

Quich Advice (Part Two)

Time kills.

• Submitting one's resume to a job posting then waiting 6 days to reply to a phone call will never get you a job as it will be filled before you respond.
• Interviewing a great candidate for an open need then not providing feedback for almost 2 weeks before making an offer will not necessarily mean the person is still available.

Things are improving slowly and employers and candidates need to realize timing is everything once again!

Quick Advice

Recently, the quality of resumes crossing my desk has been nothing less than abysmal. Spelling errors are only the tip of the iceberg. People are inventing words, putting dates on jobs that could not possibly be correct, and listing responsibilities and accomplishments that have nothing to do with the job title or type of company they worked at.

It is this simple:

Create a resume that would make you want to hire yourself!!

If your current version does not fit that criteria, FIX IT NOW!

Job Training Shortcomings

Everyone needs to read the article in today's New York Times about government funded job training for displaced workers. Over $800 Mil is being spent to train people who previously earned in excess of $75K for jobs that barely surpass minimum wage and are in fields that are terribly overcrowded already. The end result for many is that they are replacing their unemployment earnings with welfare checks and we are all paying for this through taxes. Please note that I did vote for President Obama so I am not tossing out some sour grapes but I am very disturbed by the results.

As a former Career Services Director for a proprietary trade school, I witnessed individuals who were pigeon holed by unemployment counselors into accepting training they never wanted because they knew it was a poor fit for them. Usually, the unemployment counselor has a menu of a few available programs and you must select from what is out there, not what is good for you. It appears that the Obama administration simply fed money into this worn out program instead of creating something that would best match the student with the right career move. Again, try to read this article and draw your own conclusions.

PS: If you participated in one of these courses, i would love to hear how you made out!

Etc.

• July is proving to be a mixed bag. While traditionally a slow time for placements, I do see slightly busier than normal activity.
• Pay rates are running about 25-35% lower than they were 2-3 years ago. Think twice before turning down an opportunity as the next one could be for less money!
• The federal government has a huge decision with millions of extensions for unemployment benefits ending this month and I am anxious to see how this is handled.
• Candidates appear willing to take jobs they are extremely overqualified for while employers seem fixated on hiring folks with 2-6 years experience. Simple fact, most of the unemployed population is comprised of those with under 2 years experience and those with 10+ years.
• For some reason, candidates are taking 2-3 days to answer phone calls about potential jobs. Is it frustration, complacency, or something else.

Very Unique Opportunity

One of my super solid clients needs a Research Analyst to work on gathering information to be used in media related surveys. They develop software, questionnaires and surveys for the advertising world. What makes this position unique is that the candidate must have grown up with Spanish as their primary language yet be proficient in English. Someone with a degree in Spanish from a U.S. college or University will NOT fit. They want someone who preferably was raised in a Spanish speaking country or environment who will be comfortable with the quirks of the language. A large amount of time will involve translation. The job is in NYC and relocation assistance will no be provided. A degree is needed in Psychology, Business, Marketing, etc. All referrals are deeply appreciated.

Buyer Needed in Northern NJ

Please mention this blog site when you reply!
Our client has a long term contract opportunity for a Buyer with 6-10 years experience in procurement, supplier management and strategic sourcing in a medical device or implant industry or a similarly regulated environment; Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Business or similar field of study; MBA is a plus but not required. CPM certification is needed. ISM, NAPM, and/or APICS certs are helpful to have. Experience in application of internet/reverse auctions preferred. 4+ years sourcing experience needed, global strategic sourcing highly desired. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must live within about a one hour commuting range of Bergen County NJ to be reviewed for this opportunity! Qualified candidates should submit resumes and at least one reachable reference from each of their last 3 employers to Harold Levin via email at harold@smartstaff.jobs.SmartStaff Personnel, 908-508-0300, ext.205.

What is Loyalty?

Loyalty used to mean that someone worked for a company faithfully every day, performed at or above expectations, received periodic raises and benefits, was treated with respect and occasionally thanked for their hard work and dedication. it was a win-win for both the employer and the employee. yesterday, I had a chat with someone who watched five different CEO's enter and exit in a seven year span. Each one totally redesigned the way the company operated and no one had a clue as to what was expected from them. Perhaps a simple solution to our still under performing economy would be a return to basics where simple standards are set, reward levels are established and maintained, and a mutual respect existed between employers and employees. A team of experts are not needed to come in and develop such a plan. All that has to be done is bring a few folks from each level of a company to a meeting room, put some sandwiches in front of them and talk the old fashioned way over lunch!

Still Limping Along

I just returned from a mini-vacation to Massachusetts where it was apparent to me that the economy has a way to go. What follows are some random observations collected as our family travelled about.

• The town of Rockport (very cool place to visit) is usually jammed with visitors in the summer forcing day trippers to park outside town and hop on Shuttle buses. This time the lots were closed and spaces to park were not too hard to locate.
• Next door, the port town of Gloucester was not very lively on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon with numerous empty storefronts in their rather old fashioned yet intriguing business district.
• Restaurants in suburban Boston were perhaps 60% fool on Friday and Saturday evenings, a time when they used to have huge waiting lists for tables.
• Plymouth needed a last minute influx of donations to save their wonderful fireworks display on July 4th. The sense I got got from chatting with business owners was that things are not going well there right now and many seemed quite concerned.
• I overheard a discussion that Cisco is closing facilities in the region and that very few of those jobs will actually be relocated.

My apologies for pouring some water on your firecrackers. Unfortunately, the rehabilitation of our economy still has a long way to go to be successful.

Details

Yesterday, I had an interesting chat with a hiring manager I had never spoken with before at one of my longtime client companies. The department she manages deals with statistics and data so even the slightest error in a report could be devastating and cost a ton of revenue.

One error on a resume is enough for her to rule out a candidate without speaking to or meeting with them. This is understandable as perfection is the key to her division's success and she cannot take chances. After we spoke, I started reviewing resumes on her behalf and was disappointed with the results. One individual quite obviously misspelled thier name, another forgot to leave a space between their first and last name, and another one neglected to give an area code for their phone number.

Would you hire any of these people?

Travel Distance

Not too long ago, I spent almost 3 years commuting from the middle of NJ into Philadelphia each and every day. At first it was not that bad as it was summer time with flowering trees, sun shimmering on the Delaware (not far from where General Washington crossed it), and I was driving with the sun behind me for both ends of the round trip. Winter crept up and made life challenging but I endured 3 winters without missing a single day due to weather. Eventually it wore me down and I was exhausted and took a transfer closer to home.

Recently, candidates have expressed the willingness to travel up to two hours each way to get a decent job. Each time, I relate my past experiences to them and listen for signs that they trully understand the impact it will make on their lifestyles. While I admire and respect those who are literally willing to go the extra mile in their job search, I hesitate to send people unrealistic distances from home. Before saying yes, weigh out all the positives and negatives of your decision.

Tons of Candidates

Hiring managers love to quip that there are tons of candidates out there and they expect staffing firms to find a pile of perfectly matched resumes. Were that truly the case, I honestly doubt hiring managers would be asking us for assistance! There is a huge reason why good recruiters are keeping busy today. Employers want exact fits for their job openings and are unwilling to be the least bit flexible in many cases. The vast majority of unemployed folks have been that way for 18 to 36 months so they undoubtedly will not know all the latest software, methodologies, etc. but are capable of catching up with minimal ramp-up time. A tiny bit of patience will go a very long way toward plugging holes in corporate infrastructures while stimulating (there is that word again!) the economy by putting money into very grateful pockets!

Please note: I would love to hear the viewpoints of hiring managers about this topic and not everyone needs to agree with me. Debates are certainly entertaining!!!

Stimulus??

Almost two years ago we heard grand plans for stimulating the economy with thousands of new jobs. Money was supposed to flow to employers and projects were to be funded to get people back to work. It seems to me that little or nothing has changed for the better. President Obama has not kept his word as far as I can tell. I would love to hear from anyone who believes their lives were improved by stimulus money. Start sending in those life changing stories today!

P.S. If you live in a state where the governor has improved the job market, send me proof of that too!

Solitary Man

Movie reviewing (or viewing for that matter) will never become my vocation as I tend to lose interest and nod off rather fast both at home and in a theater. Last night, I saw a new movie starring Michael Douglass called 'Solitary Man.' Thought provoking and disturbing would be the best terms to describe it. Apart from the fact that seeing the star plus Danny DeVito and Susan Sarandon as 60-somethings made me feel very old, I was intrigued by the writers ability to demonstrate how burning bridges could destroy one's life as well as career. Skeletons were popping up everywhere the character went and would not go away.

While this might be taking it a bit too far, I think the message was driven home fairly well. Watch your step every place you go and with whomever you deal with professionally and socially as your past definitely will get numerous opportunities to catch up with you.

Happy Father's Day!

Candidates Needed!

It is great to be busy and I need your assistance finding some excellent candidates!! Please let me know if you or an acquaintance fit any of the following:

CNC Machinist for the Trenton NJ area with 5-10 years of setup and programming with close tolerances experience and preferably hands-on background with Mazak (or similar) machines. Full time, perm position with excellent benefits & a bonus plan!

Site Remediation Engineers for the Summit,NJ area - mid-level and senior positions. Must know all NJDEP regulations. EIT or P.E. desired. Both are also perm!

Data Support Analyst for the Wayne / Totowa NJ region with excellent SAP and Excel and working knowledge of Supply Chain reporting. Temp-to-perm opportunity.

Please send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs, via this blog, or call me at 908-508-0300, ext. 205. When submitting, PLEASE mention this article!!!

Umbrella Needed!

Yesterday, a resume passed through the office (and to the shredder) that was one of the worst I have come across in the last 25 years! It started out by stating the candidate was a 'Rainmaker' who had 'increased by 27000000.' The front page never gave any indication of what the person actually is trained to do or when and where they did whatever it was they were talking about. I never made it to page two!

Truthfully, I doubt the candidate came up with this awful format on their own. I have seen similar (though not quite this dreadful) disaster in recent weeks and suspect someone is charging huge dollars to produce these resumes. Should you decide you need outside help, please read carefully the finished product before accepting ti and paying for it. Resumes in this style will negatively impact your job search and keep you from recharging your career.

Are We There Yet?

Reality has slowly settled in for me and I am ready to admit our economy might never return to what we knew as normal although I believe we find find a new standard and work from there to gradually rehabilitate. Exactly when we will settle down is still a bit hard to predict. Whenever we seem to find ourselves we take another body check from unexpected sources. Theoretically, we are supposed to see light at the end of the tunnel sometime this year. Keep in mind we are almost at the midway point and I just do not see anything that indicates our free fall has ended.

A Legitimate Ranting Session

Today, I realized that I must have buried my head in the sand (interesting, as I do not live near the beach)and thought that when I popped back out the entire populous would be aware of the fact we are in an extremely huge recession. The joke was on me! I chatted with a candidate who has not secured employment in any field for almost a year and has no income coming in. Understandably, she is unhappy not to be able to find a job that matches the $45-50 an hour she used to earn. However, ............... she now wants no less than $75 hourly to make up for her lost income. No way, no how should she even dream of such a thing right now!! We all wish we were earning more than we are but it just will not happen until the economy gets its act together! Realistic goals are essential to get back onto the playing field.

Poor Decision

Last week, I searched for candidates and made several calls, a few of which actually were returned the same day! One individual was extremely upbeat and very interested in the assignment I described. Within 48 hours, the client asked me to schedule an interview with this person. Upon calling the candidate, I started jumping over hurdle after hurdle. First there was the course I was not told about, then a vacation, etc. After convincing the client to accommodate for this meeting, the candidate disappeared for over 4 days then made excuses as to why they needed to back out. Opportunity does not knock often and shutting the door is a huge error!

My Opinion

Every so often, one's brain needs to be cleaned out and today is my turn! Much of what follows only indirectly relates to employment, staff, etc.

The price of certain grocery categories such as pasta, peanut butter, most dairy products, and soda keep rising by leaps and bounds yet I cannot figure out who is profitting from this.

President Obama's response and results regarding the current oil spill in Louisianna are about as ineffective as President Bush was in his attempts to rescue the same general region after Hurricane Katrina. Does this mean the two major parties are equally clueless when a disaster hits our nation?

At a time when our nation is allegedly getting greener and greener most regions are being forced to cut budgets for mass transportation leading to more vehicles polluting the roadways. On a related note, there are not nearly enough hybrid cars being produced and you have to wonder why.

Now I feel better! That's enough rambling and ranting for now!!!!

May is Ending!?!?

My punctuation in the tile of this entry is not a mistake. On one hand, may has given some signs of encouragement while it also has provided even more reasons to be concerned.

Right now, we seem to have a loose cannon running (ruining?) NJ, a lame duck heading up NY, a question mark at best in PA, and lots of red flags popping up out west. With such instability in key states, and a leadership group in DC that still has not defined itself, I am not surprised that the job market is still in flux.

That being said, May began for me with a flurry of activity. It was followed by a dismal mid-section but ended last week with some longtime clients finally showing signs of staffing needs.

With the market rising and falling rapidly, candidates need to be on their toes at all times. Should you receive a call inquiring about your resume, ANSWER THE MESSAGE IMMEDIATELY!!!!! There is no excuse for taking 36-72 hours to return a simple phone call. Remember that very old saying, if you snooze, you lose!!!!

Minimum Wage or Bust?

Three people wrote me this week saying they are so desperate to work that they will accept minimum wage. One told me he would only accept this for exactly the same type of work he earned six figures for as recently as two years back and another said he would work for that amount as long as some of his skill sets were utilized.

Marketing a seasoned professional into anything other than an unrelated, part-time job at minimum wage will not work. While all employers are very aware of the messy world we live in, they are also very wary (and rightfully so) of trying to get something for almost nothing. Looking that desperate could easily brand a candidate as a disaster area and could ruin them professionally for the rest of their
work-eligible life.

Jobs Available

A very good client in Northern NJ has two contract positions to fill. Please contact me at harold@smartstaff.jobs or hblevin58@gmail.com and mention reading this on my blog!

Programmer, CNC/CMM: 5+ years experience programming CNC machines and CMM (preferably Zeiss using Calypso but this is not essential). Must be knowledgeable of the processes used in forging, machining, casting, etc.

Manufacturing Engineer: Should have very strong gauge design, Pro E with Wildfire, GD&T, detailing, gage evaluation, etc.

Recent Conversation

This past week, I chatted at length with someone who has had a very strong career in I.T. for over 20 years. He sounded terribly frustrated and I understand why.

He has been out of work for over a year after making six figure salaries for a very long time. His problem has not been getting interviews but in getting past the HR recruiter at stage 1. They repeatedly ask for salary history and tend to lose interest immediately even though he tells them money is not an issue. If that works, he gets asked why he would take a job that is obviously a step beneath his prior positions. Once he replies that he will be glad to use any of his skill sets and not necessarily only the most recent ones, they look puzzled. Should he manage to keep the interview alive, it is killed off with a statement that they do not think he will stay put once the economy picks up.

Someone needs to wake up and smell the roses! People are happy to earn a reasonably fair salary in their industry to keep up their skills and put food on the table. When the economy loosens up, hopefully not everyone will jump ship, especially if employers realize their value and reward them modestly. Companies would be much more productive if they filled empty slots rather than looking for reasons not to do so!

Express Yourself Clearly

I am amazed at how many people phone me looking for work and it is clear after a few minutes that they cannot share what they are specifically qualified to do! Rather than sounding totally lost on the phone, consider wrtiting an outline of want you wish to say before dialing the number. Most folks do not own crystal balls and are unwilling to waste much time gussing at your motivation for calling.

Mixed Reviews

2010 is proving a bit hard to read on the job front thus far. This past week, I reached out to clients in a variety of industries and found things have a very long way to go yet. Medical device manufacturing seems strong as usual; finance and accounting are very weak; publishing is a bit healthier; machine and equipment manufacturing are a bit better than a year ago; while I.T. looks like it has a long and slow trip to recovery. Too many people I chatted with sounded exceptionally concerned about thier futures and were not positive about what they are hearing from the White House or, in the local sector, from Governors Christie or Patterson.

News reports came out yesterday that unemployment rates are climbing because many folks who had stopped looking for work are now trying again. Does this mean that because you take a break from searching for a few months our federal government does not count you as unemployed. Something is terribly wrong with that concept. I was a supporter of change in Washington in 2008 but not very impressed with the results so far. We need to see the real numbers, not manipulated information.

Personally, I was fortunate to start three consultants on new assignments this week so I do see a tiny ray of light shining through! I cannot wait for the day that we are all talking about the great strides beingmade toward recovery! Let's hope that is very soon.

Machinists Needed

I have over a dozen open slots for machinists with CNC and CMM experience at a client in Northern NJ. Position is within driving range of Orange, Westchester, Rockland, Bergen, Sussex, Morris, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union Counties. Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren Counties are reaches for the truly energetic. All shifts are presently available. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs and mention this blog!!

Will May Be the Month?

May arrived with incredibly hot weather in the Northeast and violent weather across the South. Does this mean we are about to see a storm of activity on the job front? April was very quiet though last week appeared to show some energy but I am unsure why that occurred. I would be curious to hear if any of my readers noticed a change last week. While there seems to be a momentary boost, some markets could be in for a rough time.

Governor Christie of NJ has imposed over $800 million in state aid cuts to public schools forcing about 200,000 teaching jobs to be eliminated. PA is laying off thousands of educators and trying to force them to come back at a fraction of their earning. We could see a huge influx of educators looking for jobs in other markets. One of these days, I hope we witness the job creation that President Obama talked about on the campaign trail 2 years ago.

Share your thoughts with me and have a good week!

I Am Not Your Buddy!

Never call a recruiter or hiring manager and start the conversation with, "hey Buddy, I saw your ad online for a Database Analyst (insert whatever job title actually fits) and wanted to find out how to apply for it Dude!" I guarantee that you will never get a chance at any job I might be recruiting for if that is your standard method of operation. The line I quoted above is not a dramatization, it is an actual call I received this past Thursday!

While not entirely fair, I may have been a bit more lenient if the caller was fresh out of trade school looking for their first job. Most likely, I would have taken a few moments to explain why this behavior was not a good choice. Unfortunately, this candidate apparently had about 15 years of I.T. experience and had to know better. To think this is the norm would be absurd but I must share that the quality of phone calls I receive are nowhere near what they were even two years ago.

Please think before you talk and definitely plan out your call in advance. Professionalism is not dead and is essential to a great job search!.

Continuing Education

Supplementing your talents is a great thing to do but make sure the source of your education is a good one. Most proprietary trade schools and colleges are accredited buy one of many legitimate groups. Ask the school who gave them their accreditation then call the accrediting body and make sure the information is accurate. Before investing your money and time, be certain the school is qualified to teach the subject you are interested in!

Missing In Action

Are you out of work?... Have your unemployment benefits run out?... Do you have a ton of unpaid bills?... Were you forced to take a low paying job just to stay somewhat afloat?... Without any doubt, is this the worst time you have experienced in your professional life?...

Let me guess, many of you answered yes to most of these questions? If that is true for so many people, why on earth are folks not showing up for interviews? I know of at least four cases in the last month where people with great backgrounds and skill sets simply never appeared for scheduled meetings. Life happens and emergencies develop but that is why cell phones and email were invented (well at least one of the reasons they came along)!

Keep in mind that the person you bl0w off today might hold the key to opportunity somewhere down the road. I remember being blow off years ago and putting the key in my back pocket a few years later!!

Salary Requirements

Never ever place a salary requirement in a cover letter if the hiring firm did not ask for one!! There is no quicker way to shut a door and have it padlocked than asking for the wrong amount of money! Should a company ask for a desired salary, try something like, "presently, I am very open to all offers." If that does not work, tell them that you are aware that salaries fit a huge range right now and you will be glad to discuss in detail after you mutually agree there is a match.

Many candidates still think they will command the numbers from 3 to 4 years ago and this will not happen in the near future. Anyone who puts out unrealistic dollar amounts will be on the bench for quite some time. Utilize your best common sense!

ETC.

A few loose thoughts while I take a lunch break:

• Message to employers: If you are hiring a contractor for 3 months or less, don't reject candidates who have jumped around too much!
• Message to candidates: Make sure you demonstrate some of the required skill sets on your resume before submitting for a job!
• Message to job counselors at the Dept. of Labor: Take a minute to actually evaluate your client before handing out job hunting advice!
• Message to career counselors at institutions of higher education: Aim your students/grads at realistic opportunities to avoid them becoming frustrated and complacent!
• Message to everyone (including myself): Strive for excellence each and every day!

Simple Logic

Simple logic says that if someone is unemployed, and has been for an extended time, that the prospects of a contract opportunity, no matter what the pay rate, would be worth considering. This past week has given me the chance to have this conversation repeatedly and the results have underwhelmed me. Of course, a few realistic folks have jumped at the chance to be considered but more than half have declined because they are insisting on making the same salary they were laid off at perhaps 3 years ago. Wouldn't we all wish the world had not changed? Sadly, that is not reality and it is time to get real about prospects for the near future.

A potential candidate called me yesterday about a posting I had placed which gave a range of $25-37 hour for a supply chain professional from the manufacturing sector. She was a displaced CPA from the financial world who had some related experience going back over 10 years ago. The first thing she told me was she expected to earn over $100 an hour for the posted job and my rate must have been incorrect! After explaining the current facts of life and ascertaining she had been out of work for well over a year, it became apparent she was inflexible and the conversation stopped.

There is not a professional recruiter out there who likes paying people less than market value but the truth is that there is no market value right now. Whatever the employer feels they could afford has become today's market value.

It's NOT 1, 2, 3 Strikes....Anymore

Fuses has grown shorter and nooses are getting tighter every day during The Great Recession. Once upon a time, a few mistakes resulted in nothing more than a stern reprimand. Today, you cannot afford to tell co-workers you are unhappy at work; call out with car problems one day then promise to come in the next and simply not show up; complain when asked to cover the tasks of someone whose job was eliminated in addition to your own duties; whine that others are getting assigned less tasks than you are,; etc.

These are extremely difficult times and each and every one of us should be thankful to be gainfully employed. Remember, if you mess up or say something stupid, the perception of most employers (whether right or wrong) is that hundreds of others are lined up to grad your job!

Puzzling Politics

Whether you reside in the Great (?) Garden State or not, you undoubtedly have heard about Governor Chris Christie's vendetta against public education, where he has stripped over $800 million of state aid while eliminating a special income tax to the state's most wealthy residents.

Beyond everything else that is wrong with the equation, he is eliminating a few hundred thousand jobs at a time when he promised to increase employment in NJ. Not only he is wiping out almost all extra curricular activities and fine arts plus some athletic programs which will put more youth on the streets, he is weakening the economy both forcing displaced teachers and their families to relocate to greener pastures.

Chris Christie will go down in history books as one of the most counterproductive governors in the history of the U.S. If you live in NJ, contact your local representatives to fight him. if you live in another state, protect your territory now and feel free to pass along websites where some of the finest teachers around could apply for jobs!!

References That Really Work!

My apologies for being silent this week. Passover and being a bit under the weather slowed me down a little.

More and more companies are asking for detailed reference checks BEFORE they even consider your resume. Unfortunately, the current climate is making them feel compelled to do this. Prior to sending out your resume to recruiters or hiring managers, take a look at your list and ensure the following:

1. All names and numbers are accurate and current.
2. You have called the reference to make certain it is okay to use their name.
3. You are able to provide someone at each of your last 3-4 positions to verify you were employed and that the dates match and someone to attest to your work abilities.

Too many people are not checking this information and it could prove to be a major roadblock. Do not leave it up to the hiring company to do the research as they will either give up due to time constraints or they will talk to someone who may not give you terribly good ratings because they never really knew you!

ETC.

• I am pretty confused about the impact Healthcare Reform will have on those who already receive healthcare from the workplace.
• Also, I wonder how small businesses will manage to survive under the new system. My fear as more and more jobs will be designated as part-time meaning income levels will drop even further.
• If you are unemployed and offered government $$ to take courses, grab it while it is still available!
• A sportscaster on MLB Network was talking about Joe Mauer, baseball's newest 'mega millionaire." I am losing interested very quickly in professional sports. Anyone who blows a ton of money to go see overpaid athletes is nuts!

The Over Qualified Dilemna

For months, employers have told me they do not want entry level candidates but they also do not want people with more than 15 years experience. of late, tyhe desired range has closed even more and they are looking for on average, 3-7 years experience. This is bugging me 24/7 since most of the unemployed are either those recently out of college or those who have worked anywhere from 15-30 years. The question I keep asking myself is why would a company not take advantage of such a seasoned work force at affordable prices and/or hungry recent grads?

The second part is easy. With all the cutbacks, trainers are now readily available to train the new kids on the block right now. The second part is tougher to swallow and I got some help from three trusted clients. One is the president of his business, another is a very seasoned HR Recruiter, and the third is the on site staffing manager for a search firm inside a huge company.

All three painted the same picture. Thanks to the massive downturn we have experienced, companies are becoming very creative in combining multiple tasks under one umbrella job. For example, a purchasing manager needs to also serve as an inventory analyst, a materials planner, production planner, buyer, procurement specialist, raw materials coordinator, etc. An I.T. project manager needs to be able to look at competitive analysis models, web architecture, software purchasing, product development, programming, hardware analysis, etc. An equipment designer must understanding pre-sales engineering, analysis of competition's product design, limitations of suppliers to deliver raw materials, production requirements, etc.

My experts all told me that folks in the industry more than 15 years tend to be reluctant to adapt to these situations and reject the need to cross from one platform to another. The challenge to those who need to return to the workforce is to study all the latest trends in their field of expertise and show up at interviews with a game plan of how they will break this mold!

Visionary Needed!

This has been quite a busy week which explains my lack of posting! Please read the announcement I have included below and feel free to respond or share with colleagues who might have interest!

Our industry leading client seeks a true I.T. visionary with 5-7 years in a leadership role with Java-based Web Roadmap development to direct the effort to bring their company's technology to the top of their competitive market. The ideal candidate will be extremely crossfunctional and must be able to look at web accessibility from the perspective of outside customers and vendors as well as internal users to be able to identify areas where they excel and areas where they lag behind the market. Additionally, the selected candidate will need to reach out to several different internal constituencies to map out a plan then lead the development of Java based architecture to make this happen. Proficiency in all areas of current Java framework is essential. Our client offers a starting salary of up to $125K with excellent benefits and bonus potential to 15%. Relocation is not an option at this time. Candidates needing sponsorship or interested in working corp-to-corp will not be considered. Send resumes to Harold Levin at harold@smartstaff.jobs. SmartStaff Personnel, 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Who's the Boss?

This is not an article about a sitcom which I never felt was worth watching on TV! It is about what to do if you appear to have multiple bosses giving conflicting directions and sending crossed signals. Such a situation presented itself to me early in my career and I have heard similar nightmares from both contractors and permanent placements many times.

Quite honestly, there is no simple solution to avoiding a power struggle among superiors or those who think they are superior. When you find yourself following the lead of your alleged boss but then getting raked over the coals by his or her delegates and/or immediate reports, you have just one place to go. Schedule a conversation with the person you are officially assigned to and ask them how to navigate this awkward situation. Sometimes, it is a simple fix but other times it will not go away.

Previously, when the economy was thriving, my advice would have been to start an earnest job search. For obvious reasons, this is not terribly feasible right now. The best solution I could give is to document every direction and criticism you receive and keep them handy in case you find yourself in a position to have to defend your right to remain employed.

Etc

• Explain to me why candidates who are starving for employment return calls from recruiters 48/72/96 hours after the message is left or, sometimes, not at all. When the message says an interview is scheduled for them, one would think they would be excited to receive details.
• Members of the CWA are picketing all over the Garden State in protest of Governor Chistie's decision to eventaully downsize union positions and headcounts. The NJEA is probably close behind the CWA.
• Chronological resumes are still my favorite even if they appear too complex.

I Need to Find QA Inspectors!!

The requirement listed below is extremely active (things are picking up out there) so resumes and referrals are needed ASAP!!!!!
2nd shift contract opportunities require 2-3 years exp. inspecting biotechnical devices and components. Must have worked with comparators, gauges, micrometers, etc. with GD&T experience and computer literacy. Prior background reading and comprehending blueprints is essential. Prior background with any of the following are needed: Vended Inspection, Product Verification Inspection, Dimensional Inspection, In-process Inspection. Must have worked in an FDA regulated environment. Send Resumes to: harold@smartstaff.jobs. Harold Levin, SmartStaff Personnel, 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Attitudes That Need Makeovers

A gentleman phones me the other day about a job I posted on line. He told me that he was "one of the 40 million unemployed out there" and that I owed him a job!! Of course, when i received his resume I was able to quickly determine that his skills were a mismatch for the position I was working on. Even if he was a match, I would have to be totally out of ideas before submitting him.

Things are tough out there and jobs are going to overqualified candidates. Don't turn down anything right now, just be glad to get a chance and remember, whenever you interview, end the meeting by saying THANK YOU!

Excellent Engineering Opportunity

One of my top clients have a contract job open in Mahwah NJ. Please read the following. If you are interested please contact me. If you know someone, ask them to contact me and refer back to you!!

Operations Engineer needed who is process oriented with high tolerance manufacturing experience and MUST HAVE at least 3-5 years experience in the medical device, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing fields. NO OTHER INDUSTRIES MAY BE SUBSTITUTED! Experience with the following are essential: the ability to perform investigations, root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions for internal non-conformance reports (NCR), experience in a production/manufacturing environment with emphasis on general machining, ability to read blueprints and a strong understanding of GD&T, strong communication and written skills, must possess the ability to concisely convey issues to various levels of the organization, ability to update internal inspection documents to reflect current requirements, update internal manufacturing routers, and develop and modify inspections techniques to meet current quality requirements. cGMP background highly desired. FDA regulatory experience or other regulatory backgrounds needed but must have experience with medical devices, automotive, or aerospace industries!!!! Candidates who need to relocate will not be reviewed at this time. Resumes to Harold@smartstaff.jobs, Harold Levin, 908-508-0300.

Tax Season?

Once upon a time, accounting firms hired temporary accountants, tax preparers, and support staff almost immediately after the start of the new year. Here we are at the beginning of March and not much hiring is going on. My gut reaction is that the recession has forced many people to attempt their own tax returns this year. Considering all the significant changes to the process, I doubt this will be a very reliable method. Sadly, what once was a financial boom period for tax professionals looks to be rather disappointing at least for 2010.

Upcoming Presentation

On Wednesday evening, March 3, I will present a discussion on giving your job search a self examination to the Job Seekers Support Group of Jewish Family Services in Somerville NJ. This group is open to everyone but reservations are preferred. please contact me for details!

Advice to College Seniors

March 1 will be here tomorrow. Most college seniors will be done with their studies in 8-12 weeks. If you are not heading off to graduate school, I hope you are actively pursuing employment opportunities now! A few things to keep in mind include making sure your resume is ready to go (send me a copy if you wish), your references are aware that they are on your list, and that you have visited your school's Career Services office more than once and are keeping in constant contact with them. I worked in that field for many years and assure you that the students who kept most in touch with me were the ones most likely to find a job before graduation. There are jobs available to you but you will need all the help you can get to find the right one!

As February Fades Into the Sunset (or snow piles)

February has scooted by terribly fast. Perhaps that is because, while my placement numbers still need improvement, the amount of activity I have been coming across is certainly improving. Last fall featured a lot of stops and starts with the stops being a bit prolonged. The past 8 weeks have had longer spurts of activity and I have to believe things are waking up. In chatting with colleagues in the staffing field and at client companies, optimism is beginning to appear on the horizon, finally!!

Sadly, I am still getting way too many referrals of folks who were recently downsized, many times after long runs at one employer. If I could give a message to all those impacted in this way, be creative thinkers and realize that the world has not stood still while you stayed put the past 10 to 20+ years. You may need to make some personal adjustments to get yourself back onto the playing field as soon as possible. Feel free to contact me to discuss ideas along this topic.

Make Sure Your Shoes Fit!

No, I am not making a fashion statement with the title of this entry. The TV show What Not to Wear would fail if they tried to get me to conform to their guidelines! What I am talking about is not sending out your resume in response to a job posting if it does not fit. Countless times, I receive resumes for a specific job that make absolutely no sense. Why would some who has sold pharmaceutical products the past 20 year, for example, send their resume to a job requiring a machinist with 10 years of programming CNC machines? Sending resumes that do not fit are a waste of your time. The days of collecting resumes for future openings are long gone. Hiring managers and staffing firms are only concerned about what is on their desk at present. Please stopping wasting every one's time, including your own, by sending out resumes without looking to see if you are a viable candidate.

Laser Machine Operator Needed

Here is an urgent need for my client in the Woodbridge / Perth Amboy, NJ area: 3-5 years experience setting up, programming and operating laser die cutting machines in a sheet metal environment. Experience with Amada machines preferred but not essential. Position is contract-to- permanent. Referrals please!!

ETC.

• Just when I thought the employment market was ready to take a giant step forward, it slowed down the last few weeks. Of course, part of this may be due to the Northeast being a frozen tundra distracting people from functioning at full speed.
• Rather than painting negative pictures, the media should look for markets where hiring is still occurring (medical devices, legal fields, machine design to name a few).
• More and more employers are asking recruiters to verify employment and performance before they interview potential contract employees. The rational is that if the recruiter is hiring the person to be on his/her firms payroll, then he/she should do the legwork. If you are a candidate, NEVER refuse a request for references. I had to drop a candidate this week he was unwilling to provide the needed information.
• If you are an engineer in the automotive industry, I would get ready to do some contract work in QA as I suspect all the major auto makers will be looking to ensure higher standards than ever before.

February Doldrums

February has been an odd month, snow on the ground in 49 of 50 states in the U.S., Senator Bayh announcing his retirement, the Super Bowl replacing the finale of M*A*S*H* as most watched program ever, President Obama hinted he would try to compromise with his rivals on health care reform, and unemployment rates were dismal once again. Change seems to be taking longer than ever (heck, it is snowing tonight across the Northeast once again).

Does this mean you, a job seeker, should resolve yourself to a month of dead-ends? I say, move forward now! Many of my clients are hinting that they just do not have the resources to meet any sort of increased demands for their goods or services. February is a great month to retrace your steps from a few months back and see if you could rustle up some interviews!! Good luck and never give up!!

Resume Error

"a young 59 year old, happily married white male with 3 children"

This statement began a resume which I recently received and left me scratching my head. For many years, I have taught classes on job search skills and individually advised thousands of job seekers. Basic rules including never divulging things that could influence a decision maker before they even meet you!

Stating your age is one of the fastest ways to get eliminated from the candidate pool. Even though they should not, many hiring managers have preconceived age requirements. Many people are gun shy of married parents, fearing that family (as it should) will come before the job. On the other hand, some managers prefer family-oriented people and will eliminate singles from the group. Finally, there are those out there looking for people from a specific race or nationality (as illegal as that is) and you might just eliminate yourself.

As I have said before, a resume is your personal marketing brochure! Use it to demonstrate all the great skills and experience you have, not to eliminate yourself!

Research Associate Needed

A very good client in Mahwah NJ has asked me to find a Research Associate who has been working for at least 1-2 years and has a degree in a Biotechnical, Biomedical, or similar field. Job will entail working in a research lab conducting sample preparation. Background should be in polymeric materials, bio materials, material characterization and mechanical testing such as tensile, compression, fracture toughness and fatigue. Experience with analytical test instruments like particle size analyzers, rheometers, FTIR, and SEM desired. This is a long term contract. Candidates from the medical device field or similar industries preferred. Please contact me or refer others who fit the job!!!

Microstation?

I am hunting for Microstation Operators in or near Union County in NJ to fill a contract slot. Knowledge of architecture, piping layout and design, and flow diagrams desired. This client will need people on a very steady yet as-needed basis. Please refer qualified candidates to me! Thanks!!

One Month Down!!

One month of 2010 is just about in the books already. To recap: worst natural disaster in recent history rocked Haiti; health care reform remains unresolved; the Kennedy Senate seat was given away; U.S. Supreme Court cleared the path for foreign companies to buy elections; unemployment is still terribly high.

With all that being said, I think light is peaking out at the end of the tunnel. I have seen some hiring take place in January. Locating highly qualified and unemployed candidates has been a bit tougher. A few employers actually appear ready to add to their head count, not just temporary contractors.

Stay tuned. The next 2 months may be

Vicious Circle

Unemployed people are facing an unneeded obstacle. If they try to re-enter the workforce by doing contract assignments, they face the risk of either losing unemployment benefits or having to go through the process of filing a fresh claim. This is an unfair burden to place on someone who is is fighting for financial and career stability. It would be great to see our lawmakers at the state and federal levels finds a reasonable solution.

Keep the Door Open!

Never say know to exploring a job possibility if you do not have a guaranteed job offer in hand! I have repeated that advice to candidates at all levels during parts of 4 decades (yes, I am getting very old!) but many do not listen. This past Monday, i called a candidate with a job that fit her background like a glove. She had been scheduled for an interview at a slightly higher paying rate farther from home than the one I proposed. She refused to clear me to forward her resume to my client because the job was all but a done deal even though this was a first interview. Thursday, my client informed me they have enough resumes and will not look at more candidates. Friday, late in the day, the candidate phoned to say she did not like the place she interviewed at and wanted to be submitted for my client's job. TOO LATE!!! Please do not do this to your future!!