Forum for Women Job Seekers

For all women looking to re-enter the job market who live in driving range of Central NJ:

Jewish Family Service is offering a special Job Seekers Support Group For Women Only. This group is for women looking to return to the work force. This group will be held on Friday, January 29, 2010 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at 150-A West High Street, Somerville, N.J. During this session the group will have an “Open Job Search Discussion” facilitated by Elise Prezant, Career Counselor, JFS. This group is offered free of charge and is open to the entire community. To register, please contact Elise Prezant at 908-725-7799 or eprezant@JewishFamilySvc.org

If you do contact Elise, please let her know that Harold Levin highly recommended this program!

Thank You!

Thank you, these are two simple words that still mean an awful lot to hiring managers. Think about it for a moment, the number of people fighting for open jobs is extremely high and a manager might (misguidedly) interview 10 or 12 people for one position. By the end, they all start to look and sound very much similar. My guess is that maybe three or four will take the time to send a quick note of thanks (email is fine) for the time invested in meeting with them. Perhaps two will actually make a reference to something discussed. Quite likely, those folks will be among the people receiving call backs for a second interview. This is not new advice but it is a proven method to increase your odds of being hired. Since it costs nothing other than a few minutes of your time, I strongly suggest you start saying Thank you quite often!

Jobs in 2010

Now that the calendar has changed to a new decade, I am hopeful new windows of opportunity will appear. Here are a few thoughts to ponder:

• Unemployed I.T. professionals might want to look at teaching for government funded job training programs. With so many people looking for updated skill sets, I suspect these programs to thrive for the next year or two. Put on your cyber thinking caps and find some contacts wherever you reside!
• Pharmaceutical researchers who fell victim to the mergers and consolidations may want to look for start up drug companies who could use their expertise for a year or two as they go through the discovery and approval processes. Be realistic about your financial needs as you approach these firms since money is a bigger issue to them than you probably realize.
• So many companies have outdated manufacturing equipment that the need for repairs and maintenance is growing. Rather than pay a ton of money and benefits to a full time technician, outsourcing is growing. If you have the skills, team up with a few former colleagues and market yourselves to local organizations on an as-need basis.

Creativity and resourcefulness will be among the top keys to success in 2010 and beyond. Good luck!!

Great Affection, But You're Fired........

Hopefully, the title of this entry drew your attention! A gentleman phoned me today looking for a job, any job, related in any way to his field. The day before he left for a vacation to visit relatives in Italy, the owner of the firm he worked for called him into his office. Without any prior warning or even a hint, he looked at his longtime employee of 20+ years and said something like even though I have great affection for you after all these years, I am laying you off immediately.

Personally, I would hate to see how he dismisses those he is less affectionate toward. Remember the old adage, with friends like these, who needs enemies? Numerous companies are using the recession as a scapegoat for making change but I am obligated to question such a heartless move. More than likely, they paid his vacation week anyway. Why not let the poor guy enjoy time with is family then share the bad news upon his return? This brings back memories of the first heavy layoffs at AT+T in the 1990's when some cases of suicides were reported. Employers should give thought to what may happen in the future if they end up on the other side of a termination meeting when dealing with staff reductions.

Let us all hope that 2010 will be full of hiring and staff replenishment rather than a repeat of 2009!

ETC.

• Will the latest terror incident related to air travel result in the creation of additional jobs? Sad but true, this might be the case.
• I heard a report earlier today that the I.T. and manufacturing sectors should experience very significant job growth in 2010.
• Candidates need to remember to treat those potentially offering job opportunities in a professional manner.
• If you are beginning 2010 without employment, start researching government funded training programs early before the demand grows too high for their available money.

Values

We all are focused on earning as much as possible, hanging on to our jobs in a rather mystifying world, and doing the best we can each and every day. When does this go from be commendable to obsessive and ultimately to unhealthy behavior?

A football coach with a track record of unbelievable success was coaching his team one day in a pressure filled game and had to go to the hospital with significant chest pains. Happily, he did not sustain any serious damage to his cardiovascular system and was able to modify his career before losing his family and possibly his life. No, I am not talking about Urban Meyer, who just announced he is stepping down as head coach at the University of Florida, I am referring to John Madden who suddenly retired as coach of the professional team, the Oakland Raiders, around 30 years ago.

Keep things in perspective as you evaluate your career path during the final week of 2009.

Some Comparisons

I spent a few days in Palm Beach County, FL, last week and noticed some interesting characteristics about their economy. Anyone you chat with down there will tell you tourism is their number one industry. If so, why have they torn down wildlife areas, recreation areas, commercial entertainment centers, etc. and built tons of age restricted communities which are now sitting empty and being sold to anyone with money regardless of age? Tourists need to be able to enjoy affordable vacations. With that in mind, gasoline prices are about 40 cents per gallon higher than in NJ (plus it is all self service down there). Restaurants appear to charge on average about 30% more for the same menu items found in the Northeastern U.S. Driving down there is hazardous to your health and the people are not very friendly.

Should you be among the unemployed looking to move south and open a business, try either Broward or Palm Beach Counties. Bring your Northeastern personality, excellent customer services skills, and leave the gimmicks and games in the stockroom.

Double Check then Triple Check Before Hitting 'SEND'

A well-intentioned candidate sent me his resume for a recently posted job. When I opened the attachment, the document was under someone else's name and for a completely unrelated position! Just because the cover letter indicated that this might be a decent candidate, I wrote asking for the correct resume. The next email contained a polite apology and an empty attachment. Should I send another email to the candidate? I need a few to weigh in with your opinions. Please write to me!!!