Women Are Delaying Start of Their Careers

Here is some interesting insight related to young women and career choices which is definitely a shift from when the employment market was much more desirable a few years ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/business/young-women-go-back-to-school-instead-of-work.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=job%20market&st=cse

Could Be Better, Could Be Worse

2011 is about to become 2012 and I am trying to put a label on the year we are about to close the book on. Overall, I still think we have a long way to go. From my travels around Central Jersey this past month or so, retailers seemed to vary between somewhat busy and downright empty at times. It also appeared to me that the deep discounts we are used to seeing on December 26 were shallower this year since many companies had attempted to keep prices under control all along. Restaurants definitely are taking it on the chin as holiday parties have been downsized and folks are spending less on food and entertainment. The mood among those I regularly chat with has gone from totally depressed to guarded optimism with a hint of pessimism and a pinch of fear for what lies ahead. Presidential election years are supposed to help the economy but I think many of us have major concerns about the choices that might be offered to select among.

Fine tuning the picture tube to look strictly at the employment scene, I am just a little more upbeat than I was last summer. Personally, I am finding employers a little more willing to make hiring decisions than they have been in quite some time. The sidebar, however, is that pay rates are running from 40-60% lower than they were in 2008. Anyone who thinks they can negotiate for a higher salary than what is being offered to them, is taking a gigantic risk of being left behind!

The number of people approaching me for coaching services is increasing each month but I am seeing a few more people who are under-employed in the mix where last year most were unemployed. My concern is that we are being forced to accept much lower levels of income while the cost of surviving continues to grow.

My hope is that 2012 will surprise all of us and be a breakout year. Perhaps this will be the time when we will all begin realize personal growth on many levels and our economy will bounce back. Wouldn't be great if my last blog entry of 2012 is about the great recovery process that we have all been lucky enough to enjoy? Who knows but we need to try to stay positive!

No Need For Secrets!

Whenever someone in my community becomes unemployed, it is common for mutual acquaintances to connect them with me so I may help them from a coaching and/or staffing perspective to get back on their feet. Sometimes, I feel capable of assisting them but other times I might make suggestions of other resources to utilize. In either case, I am always ready and willing to listen and lend whatever support is possible.

For some reason, I have noticed over the past several months that a growing number of recently unemployed people seem to be maintaining shockingly low profiles, almost to the point of being secretive, and not letting others know they need help and support. Discussions with colleagues have led me to the conclusion that this problem exists outside my small circle and seems to be a growing tendency.

Questions have popped up in my terribly overcrowded mind, some of which might make more sense than others. Are people content to remain unemployed until all financial resources are exhausted? Could they be embarrassed to let others know they are out of work? Is there a fear that, by telling others they are job hunting, they will feel compelled to follow-up on every lead even if they do not seem logical? Do they simply not care enough about their immediate future? Is there a false sense of security that someone will knock on their door with the perfect job opportunity?

Sadly, I believe the answer as to which of the questions is the most likely answer would be All of the Above. When you are forced out of your current position, it is critical to network with everyone you know as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, nobody will be able to assist you if they do not know you need their help!

Job Opportunities in Somerset County NJ

http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/jobpdf/current.pdf

Packaging Mechanic Needed!

Here is a position in Northern NJ available through one of my clients:
2nd shift, temp-to-perm position. Must have 4-6 years exp. in the setup, operation, troubleshooting, and preventative maintenance of fillers, labellers, sealers, slitters, etc. Extremely strong hands-on skills needed to diagnose problems and make repairs with little or no supervision. Background in the maintenance of packaging machines for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, or other consumer hard goods preferred. Understanding of OSHA and FDA regulations highly desired. Resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold Levin at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Government Jobs in Central NJ

Here is a link to jobs being offered by the County of Somerset in NJ:
http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/jobpdf/current.pdf

Job Fairs in 2012

Here is a link to upcoming job fairs in South Jersey, Long Island NY and Washington DC:

http://www.nationalcareerfairs.com/career_fairs/details/NJ/New_Jersey_South/January/26/2012/

Is It Time to Change Jobs?

According to The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/business/economy/in-a-sign-of-labor-recovery-more-workers-are-quitting.html?_r=1&hp there are now a larger number of us quitting jobs to take what appear to be better opportunities than at any time since our current recession (yes, I definitely believe this is still a recession) began a little over 3 years ago. The number of layoffs per month has also dropped off.

The biggest upside to this is an indication that employers are showing signs of filling holes they have left empty for several years which is a very good thing. One item missing from this article is a breakdown of industries and regions that are thriving. In the Northeastern U.S., we seem to be dragging our feet in the recovery process. Large organizations like Johnson and Johnson, Alcatel-Lucent, and The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, to name a few, are definitely still reducing their numbers and many Wall Street companies appear to be struggling to maintain their footings right now.

Getting back to the main point of this Times report, why are people changing jobs? Are they getting more money, better benefits plans, more vacation time, a chance to grow their careers or are they giving up on their chosen fields and heading off in new directions? It still seems to me that you should stay put if you are not under pressure to move on. The risk of being the new kid on the block in extremely unstable times is a big one to take. Be certain to weigh the advantages of quitting against the possibilities of putting your career in jeopardy before making a move. If you still think it is a good time to switch, go forward but always keep your eyes and ears open!

Make Yourself Accessible!!

My thoughts today turn to a pet peeve I have mentioned before but is one that needs to be brought up from time to time. Staffing firms have a huge pool of candidates to look at when identifying candidates for job opportunities. A good recruiter will take a little time to find decent looking resumes before making calls and sending out emails. There is a darn good chance that, if you receive a contact from a recruiter, you are a reasonably good fit for the job at hand!

Time is money and I have a personal rule that I will make every effort to present several qualified candidates to my clients within 48 hours or less of learning of their staffing need. All too often, candidates take five or six days or longer to respond to me. If I wait that long to begin submitting candidates, another staffing firm will likely beat me to the finish line. This is NOT something I like to experience and I make every effort to avoid it.

Candidates will call me a week later and says things like I called their home number but they only check voicemail once a week and I should have called their cell instead. Obviously, I would have called the cell number except it was nowhere on the resume!! Another excuse I get for slow responses is that I used their casual email address instead of the one set up for job searching. Again, how can I write to an address which was not anywhere on their resume?

My rather cold-hearted opinion is that a candidate who does not put the most current or accessible contact information on their resume is not trying very hard to get a job. Some of my critics have told me I am too judgemental but, in my mind, if someone does not take complete ownership of their search I probably would not want to present them to my client companies.

Opinions will be graciously accepted and treated with respect even if I disagree!

Customers Always Come First!

While not a very high powered shopper during the traditional gift purchasing season, there are those occasions where I do wander out. In the past 2 days, I had opportunity to visit 2 well known electronics chains, one each in Bridgewater and Hillsborough NJ. While I think it is not proper to name them, I will tell you one salesperson did all he good to give me excellent customer service along with the best buy possible while the other shouted across the store as if he was trapped in a shack listening to a radio.

The positive experience came when I asked questions about a low priced electronic component that certainly would not result in a huge commission. Not only did he answer everything I asked very professionally, this individual found a cart for me to use to carry the item out of the store and explained their extended service contract in such a way that I signed up and will definitely patronize them again.

In contrast, the second person listened to the first 3 or 4 words of my question before cutting me off and saying I was at the wrong type of store. Undaunted (and determined to make him do his job!), I continues with my question. he actually realized they might carry what I needed, craned his neck around the side of the counter without using any other parts of his body, and decided they discontinued the item without checking on the computer.

Whether you sell retail goods, medical devices, insurance, automobiles, or anything else at all, customers have a ton of choices at hand and will go to the places who treat them right. I will not be stunned when sales figures come in after the end of 2011 and certain companies trounce the results of others. If you are a sales professional of any sort looking to success, make sure you remember the oldest rule in the business, the customer ALWAYS comes first!

HR Coordinator in North Jersey

3-5 mo. project requires 2+ yrs HR administrative work using Oracle, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook. Job entails updating staff records, inputting & processing new hire paperwork, handling HR inquiries, etc. This is NOT a management job! Recent exp. must be at coordinator or administrative level. Resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Contract Job In North Jersey

Must have 2-4 years experience inputting data into royalties reports and / or contracts and be proficient in MS Office with exceptional Excel skills. Prior clerical experience in a law firm or corporate legal department is helpful. Paramus area. 2-3 month project. Resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold Levin at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

FAQs and My Best Available Answers

During the course of a month as a Career Coach and Recruiter I hear many variations of the same handful of questions. There are probably hundreds of correct answers but I tend to stay within my comfort zone when called upon to comment. Here are a few of the FAQs I am presented with and my favorite responses.

I understand that you are a Recruiter and want to know what you have got for me today?

Once upon a time, when our economy was thriving, there were more job openings than available candidates and I could call a company and tell them about a great person and quite possibly set up an interview. Sadly, those days are long gone and staffing firms now must rely on finding candidates for the jobs employers make available to them to fill.

I need a job and want you to get it for me. How long will that take?

No one can get you a job. They me be able to help you identify opportunities but you must go in and take the interview and sell yourself to the potential employer as the best candidate available for the position!

How much does your staffing firm charge to find me a job?

Most agencies collect their fees from the hiring company. I personally do not believe you should pay a fee to a staffing firm. Employers looking to avoid a fee will usually place their ads directly onto search engines and/or into print media.

As a Career Coach, how long will it take you to get me a job?

Once again, no one can get you a job. Coaches will work with you to assess your search efforts to date and help you develop a game plan to accelerate the process and help you better identify the right fits for your skill level and professional background.

How many coaching sessions will I need to improve my employment status?

This is a very hard question to answer. Most Coaches will provide you with a free first session to get an idea of what is needed to help you. Some people stay with a coach even after they find a new job and use them as a sounding board and adviser.

Please feel free to comment and to also send me other questions!