Hess announced plans to shut down its Woodbridge, NJ refinery resulting in a loss of about 150 jobs. This is not a good sign as we try to rebuild an unstable economy:
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130128/NJNEWS/301280038/Nearly-200-Hess-workers-lose-their-jobs-under-plan-close-Woodbridge-refinery
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Opportunity Knocks!
There are times when opportunity might knock at your door in unconventional ways and it is up to you to respond accordingly. Not too long ago, I came across a former neighbor who had transferred out of the area to retain his job of 20+ years. After a few years, he was again forced to relocate to save his position and, eventually, he was laid off as part of a huge reduction in workforce.
Luckily, he received the maximum amount of severance pay possible and had a nice amount of funds from his 401K plan and pension so he and his famlily were able to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the cost of Cobra cut into their reserves and he started keeping his eyes open for a new opportunity. One day, my friend took his car into a local auto dealership for service and overheard they were in need of someone to wash cars.
Beingsomeone who loved hanging around cars, this former corporate manager took a minimum wage level job washing vehicles several days a week. After a few months, the service manager asked him if he would like to shuttle cars between their different lots and also help prepare them for delivery to customers. He accepted this new job, overachieved and was approached once again. The person who oversaw the staff who prepped all cars when sold had quit and they needed a new team manager. The last I heard, he was now a manager of car prep, working 5-6 days a week, making a nice salary to supplement his needs and having a great time as well.
Way too many of us have had doors slammed in our face over the last few years, many of them padlocked shut. It is essential to make sure that any door that is opened up for you to explore is given the deepest consideration before you consider closing it. You never know what great adventure could be awaiting you!
Luckily, he received the maximum amount of severance pay possible and had a nice amount of funds from his 401K plan and pension so he and his famlily were able to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the cost of Cobra cut into their reserves and he started keeping his eyes open for a new opportunity. One day, my friend took his car into a local auto dealership for service and overheard they were in need of someone to wash cars.
Beingsomeone who loved hanging around cars, this former corporate manager took a minimum wage level job washing vehicles several days a week. After a few months, the service manager asked him if he would like to shuttle cars between their different lots and also help prepare them for delivery to customers. He accepted this new job, overachieved and was approached once again. The person who oversaw the staff who prepped all cars when sold had quit and they needed a new team manager. The last I heard, he was now a manager of car prep, working 5-6 days a week, making a nice salary to supplement his needs and having a great time as well.
Way too many of us have had doors slammed in our face over the last few years, many of them padlocked shut. It is essential to make sure that any door that is opened up for you to explore is given the deepest consideration before you consider closing it. You never know what great adventure could be awaiting you!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Playing All Four Quarters
The college football season has finally come to an end! Nearly 4.5 months is just too long and I pretty much stopped watching about 2 weeks ago but not before I got an inspiration for a blog entry! The Rutgers Scarlet Knights provided that motivation but I promise you this is not a sports article.
Rutgers was well on its way to a season of historic milestones in total wins, making their first BCS bowl appearance, and perhaps having an outside chance at contending for a national championship. All of a sudden, things took a downward swing for them and their final three weeks, including a dismal performance at the Russell Athletic Bowl, were disappointing on many levels. For some unknown reason, the team that powered through opposition week after week, could not keep up their push beyond the second quarter of each of their last three games. They came out like gangbusters, leveled off in the second quarter, and simply faded into the sunset after halftime.
Over the years, I have seen this pattern with many candidates who I assisted in finding new contract employment situations. They entered their new job with a full head of steam, overachieving in every aspect of the job. After about 3 or 4 weeks, the word on the street is they seemed to lose energy and, while still competent, were not excelling any more. After a few months, any chance of converting to permanent has been eliminated, and the contract was not extended.
Why does this happen so frequently? I tend to go back to my least favorite word, entitlement. All too many people seem to believe that once they are in the door and work hard for a short period they are entitled to all the perks available to them without continuing to go that extra mile. Gainful employment, whether it be as a short term temp, contractor with potential to go permanent, or as a full time employee is granted as a privilege at the will of the employer.
Unless you are are willing to demonstrate a willingness to do excellent work at all times, every single day, you run the risk of losing that privilege. This has always been the same general rule to succeed, but the need to play hard for all four quarters is even more critical in a challenging economic environment.
Rutgers was well on its way to a season of historic milestones in total wins, making their first BCS bowl appearance, and perhaps having an outside chance at contending for a national championship. All of a sudden, things took a downward swing for them and their final three weeks, including a dismal performance at the Russell Athletic Bowl, were disappointing on many levels. For some unknown reason, the team that powered through opposition week after week, could not keep up their push beyond the second quarter of each of their last three games. They came out like gangbusters, leveled off in the second quarter, and simply faded into the sunset after halftime.
Over the years, I have seen this pattern with many candidates who I assisted in finding new contract employment situations. They entered their new job with a full head of steam, overachieving in every aspect of the job. After about 3 or 4 weeks, the word on the street is they seemed to lose energy and, while still competent, were not excelling any more. After a few months, any chance of converting to permanent has been eliminated, and the contract was not extended.
Why does this happen so frequently? I tend to go back to my least favorite word, entitlement. All too many people seem to believe that once they are in the door and work hard for a short period they are entitled to all the perks available to them without continuing to go that extra mile. Gainful employment, whether it be as a short term temp, contractor with potential to go permanent, or as a full time employee is granted as a privilege at the will of the employer.
Unless you are are willing to demonstrate a willingness to do excellent work at all times, every single day, you run the risk of losing that privilege. This has always been the same general rule to succeed, but the need to play hard for all four quarters is even more critical in a challenging economic environment.
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