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Another January Job Fair!

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

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

Job Fair on Tuesday!

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

Painful End Result

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

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

Startups v. Older Firms

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

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

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

Resolutions? Not From Me!

Why do people make resolutions? I am so tired of hearing things about losing weight, quitting smoking, drinking less, attending more religious services, etc. We all know that this is a bunch of hogwash! Face it folks, we are who we are and only one person could change us. Most of us are not strong enough to push ourselves.

However........................I do have some annual resolutions every professional should abide by whether currently employed or not:

1. Update your resume at least once a year. Even if you have held the same job for 10 or more years, chances are something has changed about your duties or skill sets.
2. Do at least one thing this year to enhance your skills. This could be attending a seminar, learning a new piece of software, or reading an interesting book.
3. Find some way to make yourself noticed in a positive way by your superiors, colleagues or internal/external customers or clients.
4. Look at yourself in the mirror on the first day of the new year and ask what you may do to be the best at your job.
5. Set some performance goals by quarter and review them as the time arrives.

Have a successful and healthy 2009!!

It's Not My Job!

"It's not my job." "I don't know. " "We don't carry them here. " "Go ask someone else."

Yesterday, I decided to take advantage of the weak economy and use a gift card from a major department store. Should I mention their name? Why not! - Macy's. I wanted a package of basic men's hankerchiefs. My first thought was to check by the socks. A young lady there told me to try accessories. The lady working the floor there told me she was pretty sure they stopped selling them years ago! I asked her if she could check and she said she was too busy straightening neckties. Just down the way was a young man who said try behind the register area in men's sportwear. That area was jammed with people angry at the 2 staffers who were having a private chat in their own dialect and being rude to all. I calmly asked if they could aim me at handerkerchiefs and one grunted that they had no idea and turned away. Finally, I saw a manager roaming around and told him how disappointed I was. He grimaced and muttered about the company hiring lazy help and aimed me back where the 2 rude people were and told me to walk through their station to a rack full of handkerchiefs!

Sadly, I wish I could say this has only happened to me at Macy's. The reality is that I have had similar experience at supermarkets, electronics stores, restaurants, etc. I have also gone in big circles on the phone with AOL, my local hospital, insurance companies, Bank of America, Sprint, TMobile, etc.

Whenever possible, I get the names of those who treat me shabbily and make sure I report them as I move up the chain. Most of you probably are wondering what my point is by now. Big companies who decide to give job references will likely assign that task to someone in HR who simply pulls up performance reports. Many companies actually log the complaints made against your name and will probably find some way of giving a very non-committal reply that will put up flags. On a more local note, I once had someone with this type of attitude resign before I got the chance to dismiss her. Just a few months later, one of my counterparts at another facility called for an informal reference check. This person had lost her new job and heard of an opening and wanted back into our company. I assure you this did not take place.

Please remember that actions you take today will remain with you, in one way or another, for the rest of your career!!!

Requests?

Do you remember when the airwaves were filled with DJ's such as Cousin Brucie, Harry Harrison, Alison Steele, Vin Skelso, the Wolfman, Murray the K, and local favorites Steve Tapper, Tony Dee, etc? You could call them at almost anytime and here your favorite music played just when you wanted it?

I want you to treat this blog as a request line. It would be my pleasure to address topics related in any way to job seeking, interviewing, recruitment, etc. Please either reply to this blog or send email to hblevin58@gmail.com and I will attend to your requests as quickly as possible!