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!

All Is Not Well In Farmville!

For all of you Farmville addicts (I am not counted among your numbers), here is something rather interesting to read:

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/zyngas-tough-culture-risks-a-talent-drain/?ref=business

Survey shows brighter business outlook, but continued weakness in employment

I just came across this piece from NJbiz.com and it certainly show mixed results from employers in NJ. While I am encouraged that more companies plan to hire than have staff reductions, I am very concerned that over 70% expect to simply remain stagnant with no anticipated growth. We all really that the bleeding needs to stop before healing occurs but I have been looking forward to 2012 as they ear where recovery would start to take place. Please read the attached article and feel free to share your feelings with me.

Survey shows brighter business outlook, but continued weakness in employment: All Business • All New Jersey

Pothole Alert!

Everyone (myself included) wants to earn as much income as possible. The stresses of our economy, including healthcare costs, over-the-top gasoline prices, college tuition, etc., have made us all seek out as much money as we can. Naturally, job seekers are looking for great offers but there is a potential pothole to fall into if you are not careful.

A client recently asked me to fill a position and I started contacting potential candidates. The pay range given to me was a bit low by pre-2008 standards but fairly realistic in our current marketplace. Several candidates I spoke with had previously earned significantly more money. Thanks to the very weak market, I identified two extremely solid candidates more than happy to accept modest pay.

A third candidate returned my call but I quickly determined his experience level, while very good, was a bit less senior than the others. I told him what I felt was the pay rate I could submit his resume for and he got very upset with me. This individual has been out of work for over 6 months yet wanted to earn about 14% more than he did at his last job which put him about 20% higher than the two more qualified people. Once I told him I was going to hold off on adding him to my pool, he tried bargaining with me!

Honestly, as a recruiter, it is to my benefit to place candidates at the highest pay rate possible. However, if a recruiter or HR representative tells you that you are asking for too much money, please listen to them. The worst thing you can do is eliminate yourself before you even get the opportunity to interview for a job. Think smart, beware of potholes, and you will succeed!

Economic Indicators Improve Slightly

No one promised a speedy economic turnaround but any increase is better than a decline so I would put this news into the positive category!

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2011-11-18/leading-economic-indicators-up/51295010/1

Calling All Future Professors!

Here is some very intriguing and interesting information. Universities are fighting over a diminishing number of academically trained PhD's worldwide and many are having to go to alternative plans to fill their classrooms. The Wall Street journal provides to interesting insight on this situation:
http://online.wsj.com/articleSB10001424052970204224604577032232809553166.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_
careerjournal and I encourage you to take a look.

Anyone with a Master's Degree and a decent amount of professional experience might want to look at college level teaching if the corporate world is not offering great opportunities right now. While perhaps this was not a financially attractive option 3 or 4 years ago, I suspect that the current playing field might yield different results. An academic environment might not be the perfect venue for everyone but, if you are in need of a new challenge, this might be worth researching before ruling it out!

Taking a Closer Look at Integrity

For the past several days, I watched the horrors at Penn State University unfold with a heavy heart. My parents both graduated there as did my sisters and scores of other family members and friends. Academically, PSU is one of the nation's great learning centers and still is. The cloud that has now covered the entire school is tragic at many levels but especially because of the fact no one stopped a predator from destroying so many young lives.

As a child, I remember my grandfather, who had zero interest in football, placing a petition in the entrance of his small clothing store about 20 miles west of the school asking Joe Paterno to not leave for the NFL. I asked him why this was so important and he told me it was because Joepa meant so much to the local economy and there was not a better man with higher mral standards (something my granfather was very big on) to be found.

My dad and I spent countless Saturdays in NJ struggling to get the radio broadcasts from Happy Valley so we could follow the legend of Joepa. My daughter was 2 weeks old when she sat in my lap as I tried to get her to understand the greatness of this program as they demolished U. of Cincinnati on 9/1/1990.

For years, I defined integrity as Joe Paterno and PSU Football and have always defended the program when others tried to challenge it. High graduation records, swift correction of disciplinary issues, refusing to pour it on when playing lesser opponents, all signs of high integrity, or at least that is what I thought.

What I have learned this past week is that no one is perfect. No one can go through life without making mistakes. Accountability is essential at all levels. Whistle blowing is essential to a safe and healthy workplace and should not be frowned upon. All employers, public, private, governmental need to be held to a higher level and looked at through a more powerful microscope than ever before. We all need to taka our jobs even more seriously than most of us now do and demand higher levels of integretity from our organizations and ourselves.

The Great Depression

Today being Veterans Day, I thought it would be a good time to look at the past, for better or for worse. My respect and admiration goes out to those who protect and sustain this nation of ours.

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/great_depression_1930s/index.html?scp=2&sq=unemployment&st=cse

A Breath of Fresh Air

My wife and I took a much needed, 2 day trip from NJ into New England this past week. On our journey back, we stopped at a popular retail outlet center in CT. We were there midday and went hunting for a place to have a casual lunch. Like most similar centers, eateries are very limited so we were surprised to find a small, apparently privately owned, cafe offering light food. The business appeared to be staffed by one young woman who was cooking, filling orders, and running the cash register all at once.

Had this been one of the places selling $5 dollar foot longs, slurpees, etc., and only one person was on duty, I doubt service would have been so great. This individual managed to fill orders promptly, kept smiling, and made pleasant small talk with each patron. Not only were her products well prepared and moderately priced, we actually felt like our business was deeply appreciated.

No matter who your customer is, internal or external, retail or corporate, one time or long term; there is only one way to treat them. Success is created by treating every customer or client as the most important one you will ever have!

Some Positive News?

I just came across this somewhat positive story about our employment situation. Considering how rare it is to read any sort of good news, I opted to share this with my readers. Thanks to the New York Times for the report:

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/more-churn-in-job-market-is-hopeful-sign/?scp=2&sq=job%20market&st=cse

Making Lemonade

From the title of this entry one might think I changed careers from placement and coaching to culinary arts. Not true! My chef skills are limited though I can cook just about anything on a BBQ grill! Through a rather winding path, I will tell a story that ultimately has to do with an individual's career choices.

Everyone needs a diversion from their work routine, some sort of outside activity or interest. One of my sidelines is coordinating high school marching band competitions on weekends. It gets me out among very talented young people, interacting with scores of volunteer parents, and usually, lots of fresh air and exercise. The October snowstorm that overpowered NJ last week casued many schools to cancel, reschedule, or move their shows into indoor facilities. I had the pleasure of working at 3 reconfigured shows in the last several days at North Plainfield, East Brunswick and Hillsborough NJ. All the organizations did a splendid job of regrouping but my focus here is on North Plainfield.

On Sunday morning, October 30, I approached their stadium to see firefighters spraying water onto the turf in a valiant attempt to melt the field and eliminate over 5 inches of heavy snow. The fire chief consulted with the public works crew, school administrators, etc. then informed the band director and me that the effort would not be good enough. Within minutes, the parent organizers had everyone hustling concession food from the field to the school cafeteria, the band director and her staff helped my team reorganize the show to fit the building's capabilities, and the custodial staff quickly got the facility prepared to host about 10 bands with all their equipment and several hundred spectators. Part way through the show, I stopped one of the lead parents and complimented her on how well things had turned out. She looked at me, smiled, and said "we make great lemonade here!" That was absolutely the truth!

You are probably wondering how this relates to a job search. Well, it certainly does! Many folks desperately looking for a job stay close to their comfort zone and unintentionally miss opportunities. Just yesterday, a gentleman called who had been an electronics technician for a company that made x-ray equipment for over 20 years. The company moved to the Philippines leaving him out of work. He had applied to every related service company within an hour of his home to no avail. I asked him how many hospitals he had contacted to see if they hired on-site support to keep their equipment running 24/7. There was a moment of silence before he told me no one had ever suggested that before.

Please look outside the box when job hunting. Be creative and do not give up when a huge stumbling block presents itself. Turn those pesky lemons into lemonade!

Is It Time for New Rules?

One of my rules that I have lived by for several decades as a recruiter, career services director, and career coach during parts of my life is that there is a job for everyone and that everyone is place-able. While working at a proprietary trade school, I came across students with various challenges and obstacles to overcome and somehow managed to help most of them find jobs using at least some of the skills they were taught. As a recruiter, there have been numerous times when the candidate I submitted with the least experience was selected over more seasoned options. In my experience as a coach, I usually find qualities in a client that they do not even know they possess!

The past few months have made me wonder if perhaps my rule book needs updating. Could we really be at a stage where there are people who simply do not have any marketable skills? Have we run out of employers willing to take a shot on a career changer fresh out of trade school but with no hands=on related work experience? Are there people out there who have become so frustrated they have sadly given up all hope of finding a job in their field and are looking for alternatives sources of income? Is it realistic to say that folks out of work more than two years due to forced layoffs are of little value to employers because there skills have become outdated?

Honestly, my answer to these questions and similar ones is that my opinion is still taking shape. One thing quite apparent to me is that anyone who walks away from their search process for any significant length of time is setting themselves back dramatically. Your comments and opinions are very welcomed as I need to decide if my rule book needs some tweaking. Ideally, I hope you will convince me that my rule still applies but your thoughts will all received and taken under consideration!

Shrinking Payrolls

Based on this article, it looks like recovery is still not quite ready to take hold. At least some of the results are just the slightest bit more positive than those released in reports over the summer. Let's hope for better news in the immediate future.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-21/payrolls-fell-in-25-states-in-september-led-by-north-carolina.html

Pay Raise?

Here is somewhat positive news for those of you eligible to collect Social Security benefits:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/10/19/business/AP-US-Social-Security-COLA.html?_r=1&hp

Why Change?

Facebook..Twitter..Plaxo..My Space..LinkedIn..Droid..ITouch..SmartPhone..Texting..and now, the newest way to communicate---the TELEPHONE!!!!

Yes, I have become somewhat addicted to LinkedIn and am becoming more comfortable sending out tweets. No, I do not have a Smartphone (or similar toy) as I would undoubtedly use it more for play than business. I like Facebook but not as a business resource. Some people I know believe I am old fashioned but I tend to live within a comfort zone and am not someone who changes very easily. I even dress pretty much the same at age 53 as I did at age 23 albeit with less hair on my head which has become much more grey than brown!

Believe it or not, I considered caving in a few weeks back and almost starting making some changes. Some younger colleagues on a committee which I chair tried to sell me on the merits of one of the more advanced phones. I was told I could easily check my email at all times, conduct business online with my clients, and run my daily business through Facebook right on my phone. This device would allow me to hardly turn on the computer, throw away my newspaper, and rarely need to talk to anyone live. In fact, the term talking could really be replaced by the term texting! Wow, my whole world could fit in my pocket (assuming I did not drop my world in a parking lot where it could get smashed by a passing vehicle!) and follow me everywhere! Sounds great!!!!................WAIT a MINUTE!!!...I really don't want to read email while out to dinner. I don't necessarily want to chat with clients while at a Somerset Patriots baseball game. Reading the daily newspaper is one of my favorite activities. Most important, my clients do still like live interaction from time to time and some have actually complained to me about how impersonal their vendors are becoming.

Make your own choices. Whatever works best for you is the method of operation you need to follow. Please make sure the clients you value, the bread and butter of your business, are comfortable and happy with how you treat them!

Temporary Job with Excel

Looking for someone with data input, heavy Excel, to enter information into royalties contracts on a temp basis in North Jersey (Bergen County). Must have data entry exp. from a contracts (legal, royalties, real estate) environment. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Mechanical Engineer Needed

Contract-to-permanent opportunity in the Metuchen NJ area:
5+ years exp. needed in design and development in the construction of facilities. Must be proficient in design engineering documentation using AutoCAD (incl 2011)and Revit 2011. Must also have mechanical design exp. incl. HVAC ductwork, chillers, cooling towers, fire protection systems, flow diagrams, etc. License is a plus. Resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold Levin, 908-508-0300, ext. 205

JFS Recruiting for AmeriCorps Program

This is a great way to give back to your community and build some experience on your resume all at once! Please contact as per the instructions listed below:

JFS brings to Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties a unique opportunity for those who want to learn new skills, provide service to the community, work with other like minded individuals of all ages AND receive both a living allowance and educational award for their effort.

More than 50,000 “members” of AmeriCorps, a federally funded program to impact some of our nations most challenging problems, serve throughout the country through this program modeled after the Peace Corps. JFS is offering a limited number of openings for members to serve from a minimum of 300 hours per year to 900 hours providing direct service to seniors, those with special needs, and other underserved populations. JFS staff will provide the training and ongoing supervision utilizing our successful Family and Senior Mentoring Programs as core opportunities for those who would like to make this commitment. The living allowance and educational award are based on the number of hours served.

Students as young as 18 years of age are eligible and may wish to participate as mentors for children on the autism spectrum. Adults may be mentors to vulnerable families who are struggling with a variety of challenges, or to frail, isolated seniors living alone in the community. Other opportunities may include assisting in after-school programs and summer camps, and assisting in a social learning group for adolescents on the autism spectrum.

The JFS office at 150-A West High, Somerville is the supervision/training site. All who participate must have their own transportation to the office and to sites in the tri-county area where services will be provided. There are specific requirements to becoming an AmeriCorps Member which JFS staff will be happy to discuss with anyone who is interested in applying. Contact Elise Prezant, JFS Program Manager at 908 725-7799 or eprezant@jewishfamilysvc.org or apply online at www.americorps.gov.

Elise Prezant

Jewish Family Service

Suggestions for Stress Relief

Agreed, the economy absolutely stinks right now and all indicators show that recovery will be a very arduous task. Unemployment remains at record highs. Store fronts and large retail centers have tons of 'space available' signs. Restaurants who were neighborhood fixtures have shut their doors. Professional sports teams are struggling to fill seats (Tampa Bay had empty seats for playoff games) even when offering special deals. Broadway shows are offering tickets for $26.50 (Phantom of the Opera comes to mind). I imagine retailers must be cringing at the thought of what the upcoming holiday season will look like.

As I walk around my home community of Hillsborough NJ and as I also travel around Union County where my office is located, I continually see one thing on most every one's faces - STRESS. Please do not think I live in a glass house. I feel the stress as well, especially with an underemployed wife and my career being heavily based on employers adding to their existing staff. There are very few of us out there who have not been negatively impacted by the global economy and unfortunately, the further you are from the upper echelon economically, the longer it will take for the recovery to become evident to you.

How do we keep this stress from putting us in the hospital or even worse? It is not an easy question to answer but I do have some thoughts. Set aside time each week to clear your head. Whether it is as simple as scheduling time to take a 30 minute walk several times a week or planning an affordable evening out (perhaps Chinese takeout and a free movie by hitting the on demand button on your cable screen to save $$) or a weekly trip to the public library to browse reading material and unwind for an hour or two. If you are not employed or working part-time, take a few hours a week away from your job search to refresh your brain by doing some volunteer work. Find a free concert or art display to check out in your area. The point is, find a way to unwind a little and the results will be amazing.

Those employers who are actually hiring will sense stress a block away. While most do understand the issues we are all dealing with, they want to see you are capable of checking them at the door. My suggestions barely scratch the surface. Be creative! Find something simple to help ease the stress that is undoubtedly cluttering up your life!

WHAT TO DO WHEN NOBODY RESPONDS TO YOU RESUME

The following is the text of a presentation I recently delivered to the Job Seekers Support group at Jewish Family Services of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties. I am available to speak to job seekers support or networking groups at no charge. Contact me via hblevin58@gmail.com or call 908-672-6477.

Proper preparation of one’s resume is a daunting task for many people, especially for those who have not needed to look for a job in more than ten, perhaps twenty years, or even longer. A lot of us have fallen into the trap of thinking ‘I don’t need an updated resume if my job is secure.’ My recommendation is that everyone, even if happily and gainfully employed, refresh there resume at least once a year, if not sooner. The possibility always exists that you could walk into your work site one day and be given an hour to pack up and vacate the premises. More and more, instant layoffs are becoming the norm in our world catching way too many people off guard, and more tragically, unprepared for the arduous task of re-starting their career. At the other end of the spectrum lies the possibility that you may learn of an internal posting and wish to apply as quickly as possible. Even though you are a known quantity, most companies want a resume submitted as part of the process.

My intent is not to spend time debating resume formats. There are many excellent methodologies and formats available and choosing the style you are most comfortable with is definitely a personal decision! Regardless of what some experts espouse, I am resolute in my belief that simple and easy-to-read is the route to go but, at the same time, there must be enough information to create a vivid snapshot of who you are and what makes you attractive to the hiring organization. When I am presented with a resume that does not allow me to figure out in 60 seconds or less what it is that the candidate is qualified to do, my tendency is to put the resume off to the side or, in some cases, utilize the delete button on my computer.

Let’s fast forward a bit and make the assumption you have put together a really strong resume, had several people critique it, posted it on at least 5 or 6 reputable search engines, perhaps posted it on LinkedIn, distributed it through networking groups, and submitted to at least 50 job postings and/or company websites per month. After maintaining this pace for about 8-10 weeks, you realize that your bite per submitted rate is running less than 5% and you begin to hit the panic button!! You might start changing your resume every few days, making changes that are not really needed, accidentally send multiple versions of your resume to the same places, and basically create a mess best known as RESUME ANALYSIS PARALYSIS! This is a disease which negatively impacts scores of job seekers each and every day!

To get back on track, a simple checklist may be all you need to evaluate your resume:

· Have you listened to the advice of others and taken their criticisms into consideration when revising your resume?

· Do you have a few variations of your resume ready for targeting different levels of jobs?

· Are you only applying to jobs where you possess at least 60% of the required skills and several of the desired or nice-to-have items?

· When applying, are you following all instructions in the job posting exactly as dictated?

· Have you ensured that all contact information is current and accurate?

· Make sure you go into your personal postings on job boards at least once a month and update them, even slightly, so that your resume stays near the top of search results.

· If a job board requires a desired salary range, it is crucial to be very open-minded and realistic as salaries in general are running anywhere from 20-50% lower than when guides were published in 2007-08.

· Before hitting the send key, read the job order carefully then read your resume and see if you really, truly qualify to be interviewed. Of late, many candidates are fishing for any kind of job and actually are frustrating hiring managers. I recently had an insurance analyst apply to be a mechanical designer. His degree was in Business Administration and all jobs were in the sales and insurance areas. There was nothing to indicate any mechanical or engineering experience or training whatsoever.

If you have not been doing everything on the checklist, do so now and try marketing yourself for another month to see if it makes a difference. Should you still not get the results you need in order to get interviews it is time to dig deeper.

Are you truly being realistic about the jobs you apply for and are you also looking at positions that are perhaps a little less desirable but still related to your field in an attempt to get back to work? I have a friend who has not worked full time in over 10 years yet refuses to apply to positions that are even one step below the level he was at when his last position was terminated. He also believes he should get paid the same amount or more than he earned 10+ years ago even though a)he has worked sporadically, b)his skills are probably becoming outdated, and c)his industry has been one of the hardest hit during this prolonged recession.

Just this week, I had a candidate respond to a posting I ran over the weekend for a contract opportunity in the engineering sector. My first impression upon chatting with him and then reviewing his resume was that he could be a slam dunk for the position. Sadly, a few roadblocks crept up unexpectedly. This individual told me he earned about $74K at the job he held for 5 years but was laid off from last February. He has been unsuccessful in finding anything since. My client is looking for someone contract-to, perhaps- permanent. The contracted rate will be around $22 hourly and the candidate said he would only consider the job if he could go to the interview and negotiate the pay rate. My decision was to end the conversation there because plain and simple, my client told me not to send people who are unwilling to work at their rates.

Many unemployed people I chat with seem to feel they have nothing to give but want to take everything they can. Right now, employers are all looking for the biggest bang for their dollar. My experience, as mentioned earlier, is that most starting salaries today are running 20-50% below September 2008 standards at best. Please make sure you are running a realistic search. If not, make some changes and see if the calls and emails start reappearing. Please never give up. I really believe there is a job out there for everyone but it will take an extraordinary effort on your part to go get it.

Engineering Jobs in Central Jersey!

A well respected engineering firm in Central NJ has asked me to locate several professionals on a contract basis with definite potential for some to convert to permanent in about 6 months. All need knowledge in the construction and build-up of large data centers or other complex infrastructures. Positions open include Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Architects, AutoCAD Operators, and Project Managers. Please send resumes to me at harold@smartstaff.jobs or hblevin58@gmail.com and please mention you read this blog article. Referrals are welcome as well!

Global Job Recovery Must Happen!

This is an extremely enlightening article from The Washington Post about the need for global job growth to prevent jobless recovery worldwide:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/with-200m-out-of-work-worldwide-economists-remind-governments-that-recovery-must-create-jobs/2011/09/26/gIQANcKSzK_story_1.html

Never Throw in the Towel!

Job seekers approach me quite often sharing their frustrations over submitting dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes and receiving less than a 5% response rate. I am not talking about getting interviews, I am referring to not even an acknowledgement of receipt. Most of us take a lack of response as a lack of interest or perhaps that the job was already filled with a different candidate. Common sense would tend to have us come to this conclusion but I am here to tell you that common sense and logic do not necessarily apply to job searches!

One might think this is simply a function of the abysmal economy and glut of unemployed professionals out there but I wish to take you back about 15 years. I had recently joined a recruiting firm and was working late one evening when the phone rang. On the other end was a director from one of the nation's telecommunications giants. Very excitedly, he told me our office had just sent him a perfect resume for a project he was managing and he needed to contact the candidate immediately. He had no idea which recruiter from our office was involved because the HR staff sent him the resume and said they just received it. Having never heard of the candidate, I did some research and discovered the recruiter had left our firm over a year back and the resume was submitted almost 18 months ago. Apparently, it got buried in the Human Resources office's database and just reappeared!!

Upon locating the candidate, I discovered he had taken a 2 year assignment in Europe a few months earlier since no one in the U.S. showed interest in his areas of expertise. The hiring manager at the telecommunications giant got very angry with me until I pointed out that his internal colleagues were the culprits, not our firm.

My long winded point is that a resume is never totally dead even though it appears that way. The corresponding advice is to follow up as best you can on submittals, keep making new ones if a company posts new jobs, and do your best to find new places to send your credentials. Sadly, it could take hundreds of attempts to get just a handful of interviews but please never throw in the towel because you absolutely must stay in the game to have a chance to get off the bench!

Very Interesting Article About Retirement

I found this link on The Wall Street Journal and thought it might make good reading, especially for those in the final decades of their careers: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576584313139219254.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_editorsPicks_3

Memories of FDR

The New York Times ran a very informative and interesting post about the Great Depression and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/great_depression_1930s/index.html?scp=3&sq=job%20market&st=cse

Mr. Roosevelt certainly made some bold promises during his campaign AND followed through on most of them even though there were some very painful measures involved. Desperate times (and yes I feel we are in such a state right now) call for gutsy leadership and decision making even if it involves stepping on toes and alienating certain constituencies like oil companies and insurance companies.

Certainly the WPA went a long way toward creating jobs and repairing our nation and we need something similar to pump some life into the economy. Of course the NY/NJ region had such a project until a very tenacious governor decided to end it and leave an unfinished rubble heap earlier this year. It was hard to get too upset with him, even though I believe such projects are much needed, because he could not find the funds needed to keep moving.

FDR was gutsy and really did not care if he won any popularity contests as long as he started repairing his nation step by step. We need new jobs established here, more manufacturing and commerce on U.S. soil, and support from all branches of government coupled with a commitment from our largest corporations to invest in our future and we need it now. Whoever has the guts to put some real protein into their platform will get my vote in 2012!

Shipping Coordinator Needed!

I am recruiting for a Shipping Coordinator for a client in Central NJ who must have 2-3 years merchandise distribution center experience, especially in routing and shipping procedures with knowledge of EDI and ASN. Computer literacy including MS Excel and Word are essential. Resumes by email only to harold@smartstaff. jobs for this first shift, temp-to-perm opportunity. Harold Levin, SmartStaff Personnel, 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Not Much Has Changed

Almost exactly three years ago, I posted the following advice about not changing jobs if you were gainfully employed at that time:

First, if you are gainfully employed, sit tight! I receive calls everyday from people who want to change employers or worse yet, they want to leave their field for something different. NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR DRASTIC CHANGES OF ANY KIND!!!!!! SIT STILL UNTIL THINGS STABILIZE!!!!

Okay, here we are three years later and not much has changed which is why I am stunned at how many people with relatively secure, full-time work are whining about the need to make a change. Here is my honest opinion: if you are not unemployed, have been at your present job for one year or longer, receive some level of a benefits plan, are eligible for vacation time annually, and feel reasonably capable of executing the required skills with out a lot of issues; stay put and work extremely hard.

Each week, the number of unemployed continues to grow. Rest assured, if you decide to move on, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of eager candidates ready to submit their resumes! Be happy where you are. Hopefully, three years from now, I will be writing about this era as if it were ancient history!

Job Creation vs. Environmental Law

Here is an interesting piece I found in the New York Times which i felt was worth sharing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/business/economy/a-debate-arises-on-job-creation-vs-environmental-regulation.html

Bleak Start to September

Many people have told me I focus on negatives rather than looking for silver linings and I have made a strong effort to reverse this in the past few years. Unfortunately, the news that was released today, 9/2/11, is very disheartening and there is not much silver left in the lining.

The New York Times just reported zero job growth in the U.S. for the month of August with much of the blame placed on the poor performance by our government in dealing with the budget crisis plus a very low demand for manufactured goods. As a professional recruiter, I assure you very few people are hiring right now but here is a quote from an expert which verifies what I have been preaching: “Business confidence surveys have uniformly pointed to businesses who are not laying off workers, but who are holding off on hiring while they wait for a clearer outlook — an outlook that became much cloudier and more volatile” beginning with the debt-ceiling battle in July, said Ellen Zentner, the senior United States economist for Nomura Securities.

It is against all my beliefs to rant about politics in my blog entries but this updated news is really getting under my skin. We need to contact our elected officials at all levels and urge them to put the well being of our entire nation ahead of their absolutely pitiful in-fighting! Democrats are fighting with other Democrats and Republicans are fighting fellow party members plus no one is listening to anyone down in DC best I can see. The leaders of all sectors such as banking, real estate, manufacturing, insurance, health care, etc. must start leaning on our government to get its act in gear and work toward a gradual but steady economic recovery. Let's hope that Labor Day weekend will be the start of a better economy for all of us!

International Job Resources: The Riley Guide

International Job Resources: The Riley Guide

Earthquake + Hurricane = More Stress

All the way up and down the Atlantic Seaboard (and beyond), Mother Nature decided to add a plethora of new stresses to the bad global economy, record breaking unemployment, unstable stock market, indecisive government leadership, etc.

First, there was the earthquake which shook most everyone from the Midwest to Canada. It caught me typing an email in my office and I really thought I was having a heart attack until I noticed the walls, my phone, computer, bookcase were all having heart attacks too! Unfortunately, what was already shaping up as a slow week in the recruiting business got even slower once the quake took placed.

The second stress of the week came about a day later when all weather forecasters (including an old high school friend at the Weather Channel) began painting a very bleak picture of the damage and destruction expected from Hurricane Irene. As someone who lived in the town that was the center of Hurricane Floyd almost 12 years ago, this left a huge lump in my stomach. Now living in a place that floods less but becomes an island, I started balancing the need to keep working with storm preparations. Unfortunately, Irene proved to be a very stubborn lady and did create hardships, some of which are still unfolding due to river and stream flooding at rates never seen over the past 500 years in many places.

A third stress actually took on two prongs. For many like me, there was the inability to start the work week on Monday, the day after the storm because roads were either flooded or covered with downed trees and power lines. In North Jersey, part of Route 287 actually fell into the Rockaway River, causing stress for thousands of commuters including my wife. For too many others, they woke up in shelters, neighbors' spare rooms, or trapped in their own homes and now face the ugly task of cleaning up and rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.

During stable times, this would be a daunting challenge to everyone who was impacted in some way. Today, this is even tougher to swallow. So many folks are either unemployed or underemployed that they do not have money sitting in savings to help get repairs going until their insurance carriers or FEMA come to their aid. I just heard that President Obama will have to find money to fund FEMA as they do not have enough funds to finish repairs from Hurricane Katrina. That was SIX YEARS AGO and we still do not have money to close that book! Many more people will undoubtedly lose jobs, at least short term, when companies are forced to close doors while awaiting loans to rebuild from storm damage.

I wish I could provide some sound advice. The best I could offer right about now comes from the fact that if you are able to read this article you are most likely safe and sound. If you, your friends, and family are alive and well, you have overcome the first hurdle. Start prioritizing your needs, one by one, and do not try to recover completely in rapid speed. Just like a diet, the best way to recover is step-by-step so you do not fall backwards. Do not pay for services that seem overpriced. Do not accept offers of temp jobs payable in cash that may never show up. Continue on the path you already carved out before the crazy events of the past week, albeit with a few extra hurdles to overcome.

My best wishes go out to everyone as we all try to gain strength from a very bad stretch!

Criminal Records and Job Hunting

Over the past 20+ years, I have had repeated experiences coaching job seekers who have criminal records. Most have asked what to do about the question on job applications that deals with whether or not one was convicted of a felony. The short answer is to tell the truth and say yes. The more detailed response is to say yes but to indicate, if possible, that you have documentation showing why this is part of your past and will not happen again or influence job performance in any way.

Many years back, I was managing the job search process for students at a proprietary trade school. There was a student who showed a lot of promise. He had a great deal of hands-on experience repairing mechanical equipment and was studying to be an electronics technician. His past 10 years showed decent work history, academic record was solid, instructors told me he was highly skilled and he was very dedicated to his job search, checking in with me each and every day. A firm approached me looking to recruit several talented technicians to work on a project team for a prestigious organization. This student went through the entire process of submitting a resume, participating in a group interview, taking a tour of the facility, etc. The night before he was to have his final interview he came to see me and was extremely distraught. In his hands were the forms he needed to fill out and one of the questions dealt with criminal records.

The student told me that he had been arrested almost 20 years back and served a 30 day jail sentence. Apparently, he had been recently discharged from military service and had entered a local watering hole somewhere in Tennessee with some buddies. A shoving match ensued and he threw a punch at a rowdy patron. Unfortunately, this patron was an off duty police officer and my student was charged and convicted of assault of a police officer. He had a whole file about the case which showed that witnesses concurred that the officer never identified himself and was actually a perpetrator and perhaps instigator of the brawl but the local judge saw it differently.

Once I calmed the student down and read the entire file, we called the potential employer and advised them of the conviction before he filled out the paperwork. Their response was that everyone does something stupid at one time in their life and that 20 years of having a clean record negated any concerns they might have. IF the candidate had covered this up and they ran a background check unaware of the history, he likely would have been turned down.

I have seen both scenarios more than once and those who are honest early on usually will still get hired. Those who do not tell the truth tend to get caught when their name goes through the system and get eliminated for not being forthright. My best (non-legal) advice, is to answer questions 100% honestly but do not offer information if you are not asked for it. Most employers do check backgrounds but some simply are not that concerned so let them ask the questions. Your opinions and comments on this topic will be greatly appreciated!!

Unemployment claims at 400,000 level

Unemployment claims at 400,000 level

Some Late Summer Ideas

As summer continues its very gradual transition toward fall (not soon enough for most of us from the Northeast), my mind is tossing around a few topics for no particular reason in no special order. Since I did not have a specific idea in mind when I opened the laptop, I will subject you to a few of my thoughts!

Last week, I read a very upbeat article about the influx of jobs into NJ when the Super Bowl arrives in 2014. Bergen County Community College is going to train several thousand Certified Travel Ambassadors (I think that is the title) ranging from cab drivers to restaurant servers to hotel desk clerks to mall workers at the soon to be completed eyesore in the Meadowlands (sorry about that). Special grants are being arranged to pay for third training so that all workers anywhere near the Meadowlands site will be representing a unified brand. OK-I really hope this works out better than the indoor ski slope in the unfinished mall which, according to rumors, has to be demolished before the NFL's festivities arrive in the area. Will this lead to long term employment for many people? I have my doubts about this.

Transit authorities that control bridges and tunnels in numerous large U.S. cities are looking at astronomical toll increases to pay for grossly overdue repairs. The real losers here are commuters who are forced to live in less costly suburbs and drive to work each day. Public transit fares are even worse than fuel costs but now tolls will place another unfair burden on the working class and could ultimately help increase the unemployment rate.

Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer my time at a Drum Corps International competition featuring 8 nationally ranked performing groups averaging 150 talented young people each. Their displays of poise and discipline and their exemplary performances are always a treat. What makes this even more incredible to observe is the dedication, diligence, and leadership demonstrated by tons of instructors and coaches who spend roughly 3 months toiling in the sun, travelling on coach buses day after day logging about 15K miles for the summer for minimal pay. This is the type of work ethic and spirit needed to assist in our nation's turnaround.

Finally, a thought unrelated to employment or the economy comes to mind. Joe Paterno, the legendary football coach, has declared that he will be on the field for Penn State's football opener even if he has not recovered from multiple injuries suffered during a practive session. Well into his 80's, he refuses to set an example for his players that one can sit back and rest because of some bumps and bruises!

The Whole World is Watching!

Do you recall the 1968 Democratic convention and the music that came out of that turbulent event? I fondly remember Chicago Transit Authority's record (not CD or MP3) before they became better known as Chicago with the chants of 'the whole world is watching' as the music eventually overpowered the chanting.

Now more than ever, we all need to remember that the whole world might be watching us at any given time in any given place. With the advent of Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, Linkedin, Twitter, etc., please remember that everything you put out there is public information. If you do not want a potential employer to know that you spent a weekend in Atlantic city in an impaired state, do not post it on the web. Should you not wish for your present boss to know you are job hunting, it might not be the sharpest idea to list a job fair you recently attended on your Linkedin profile!

We are all on public display whenever we hit the streets in our town, on vacation or on a business trip. You never can tell when the person you scold for standing up to many times therefore blocking your view at a baseball stadium could be the person who interviews you for an open job the very next day.

Keeping our personal lives private today is very difficult. My suggestion is to look at all information about yourself that is available to the public and decide if you are happy with what you find. If not, your next mission is to make yourself look squeaky clean to everyone who checks you out!

Contract Job- Bergen County NJ

Excellent 1-3 month assignment in Bergen County for someone with strong data entry, decent Excel, very organized to review files. Knowledge of I-9 forms helpful. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs ASAP!

Caution Flag Is Being Waved

As a recruiter and career coach, it is obviously to my advantage for people to want to make career changes, whether it is just moving to another company for more money or a complete professional overhaul with a new direction. Since the beginning of our ominous downturn in 2008, I have been politely waving the caution flag about making non-essential career moves. Today, I am aggressively waving it in your faces and am close to recommending everyone get off the track for a little while.

While employers still prefer to hire those who are currently working, a few have actually told me they understand the risk involved in leaving one job for another right now as no one can really promise you longevity. The mainstream media is has definitely jumped on the 'disaster is near' bandwagon and this sadly impacts how companies operate.

Many years ago, I was told that I looked at things through very negative glasses. To remedy this, I retrained myself to look at half full glasses rather than half empty ones and I am trying extremely hard to do this today. It is extremely hard to maintain this philosophy right about now but I am doing my best to remain positive and urge all of you to do so too. If we do not, things will only get worse. At the same time, however, I reiterate that the caution flag is still on the track and it would be best to make the most of opportunities at your current job site rather than stepping into very choppy waters until the storm subsides a bit more down the road. One thing you could safely do is posture yourself for when things improve by polishing up your resume, doing some preliminary research on companies you wish to target, and making sure your reference list is current. Hang in there folks, it has to get better out there!

Contract Analyst Needed!

One of my clients in Bergen County NJ needs to find someone to review highly technical contracts. An attorney or seasoned paralegal would be the perfect fit but must understand terminology related to software, systems architectures, etc. The project will take about 2 months to complete. Please semd resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call me at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Contract Technical Recruiters Needed!!

Cutting edge organization needs a dynamic contract (6-12 mos.) recruiter who is comfortable with new recruiting tools and social media to identify, recruit, and hire top quality staff. Prior exp. needed in sourcing fields such as applications development, enterprise architecture, engineering, etc. Candidates must live in local commuting range of either New York, NY or Bergen County, NJ. Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold Levin at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Value Goes Up and Prices Go Down

Does anyone else remember a retail clothier from a few decades back named Robert Hall? Their advertising jingle was something like the value goes up, up, up yet the prices go down, down, down.... With all the strife around the U.S. debt crisis and the very stagnant job market, I started thinking about how much value an employer could gain by hiring a well seasoned, high quality professional at a much lower salary today than 3 years ago.

Please understand, I am absolutely not condoning the underpayment of top shelf talent but am being reluctantly realistic about where we are right now. Way too many people have been out of work for 18 months or longer and simply wish to do something useful and earn whatever they can. If I were a hiring manager with a pile of work that needed immediate attention, I would go after the most qualified individual, make the best offer my budget permitted, and try to bring that person onto my staff. Of course, if things do pick up in a few years, I would then have to evaluate pay rates versus workload but, in all honesty, we should all cross that bridge when we eventually recover.

Too many employers are fearful of hiring those they perceive as overqualified for fear that they will not stay long and/or will not be able to take directions very well. Right about now, I know an enormous number of terrific folks who really just want to wake up in the morning and head out the door to a source of income. Rebuilding our economic infrastructure will take millions of baby steps and I wish this would happen sooner than later. In the meantime, companies have a golden opportunity to cash in on some great, value-priced talent!

Engineering Opportunity!

We begin the month of August with a brand new job opportunity. A Central NJ client needs a Mechanical Design Engineer who has worked with both wood and metal and is strong in Solid Works and AutoCAD.. Knowledge of fixtures, displays, signs, and/or kiosks is helpful. Send resumes to me at harold@smartstaff.jobs for immediate consideration of this full time position!

Positive Thinking Needed!

Recently, I was listening to a local radio talk show host who is a physician. His usual format is focused around helping people discover healthy options to cure what is ailing them or to aim them at the right type of professional services. The broadcast I happened upon was shortly after news broke of the tragedy that took place in Norway. He talked about how the events impacting the world in recent months could gnaw away at personal physical and mental health if we do not pay attention to our well being.

The same could be said about unemployed job seekers. It is important, of course, to stay on track with your job hunting routine. However, some mental and physical breaks are essential to keep your head clear and your positive energy flowing! Consider putting at least 30-45 minutes into your daily schedule to take a walk, bike ride, swim, etc. Also, find at least 30 minutes to read a book, magazine, or newspaper (not online media as you are likely doing that all day!) and perhaps visit the library, a local park, etc. a few times a week to break up the monotony. It is important to appear fresh, enthusiastic, and eager to work without looking anxious, worn out, and frustrated.

As hard as it might seem, positive thinking is really critical to a successful job search. If you need help achieving this difficult balance, seek out friends, former colleagues, teachers, clergy people, or a career coach to get you aimed in the right direction!

Marketing Manager Needed!!

A terrific client has asked me to find a Marketing Manager for a 2-3 month assignment (perhaps a bit longer). Candidates must have at least 5 years experience including significant time in the publishing field with some exposure to teaching or a degree in Education a definite plus. Experience in design campaigns, interfacing with sales team and clients, and high comfort zone with new forms of social media all are needed. Contact me at harold@smartstaff.jobs if interested or with referrals.

The Perfect Omelette!

Have you ever been to a breakfast buffet and had an omelette that came out tasting not quite right? While I do not frequent breakfast buffets, I do stumble across them now and then and the food is usually underwhelming. This past week, my family and I drove from NJ to Columbia, SC to partake in a family member's wedding. The hotel had a full service buffet loaded with very nondescript food but did feature an omelette station staffed by a talented gentleman named Albert who cooked the eggs to perfection!

Why, might you ask, am I writing a food review? I assure you this is not the case! Albert epitomized the dedication and commitment to a profession that I found quite refreshing. Not only is he a talented chef, he is an official resource for points of interest to help visitors plan out their free time, freely shares his cooking tips with anyone who asks, and quite proudly tells the story of how he learned to be a chef by learning the tricks of the trade from his grandmother. Albert obviously awakens terribly early each morning to make sure his station, including the vegetables he hands cuts for his omelettes, is ready to go when the first diners arrive and looks like he never gets tired or bored of his job.

One of my favorite tips of advice to job seekers is always to make sure that one of your criteria for taking a new job is that you will actually like what you are doing. Certainly, pay rate, benefits, location, and potential for advancement are critical as well but I really think it is important to like your job in order to excel. So, next time you are job hunting, decide if you are ready to make the perfect omelette!

Long, Long Ago

In the last fifth of the 20th Century (aka the 1980's), I began my journey as a rookie recruiter with a small staffing firm. Picture this: no Linkedin, no Twitter, no texting, no email, no cell phones, no internet search engines, not even a fax machine!! The tools of the trade consisted of a telephone used to cold call both companies and potential candidates, the classifieds from the Sunday papers, industry specific directories, word of mouth referrals, and an IBM Selectric typewriter.

Some of my younger readers must be rolling in laughter about now! Laugh on! Without all the electronic tools, a good recruiter was obliged to dial at least 40-50 potential hiring managers each day and make live contact. We actually spoke to candidates at length in the evening after hours as most could not be phoned at work as calls went into a staffed switchboard. There was a tendency to build relationships this way. Instead of emailing a resume, many candidates sketched out their profiles in prolonged late evening phone calls (I remember conducting a phone screen at 3:00 AM while a computer operator took his 3rd shift lunch break) leading to having a solid understanding of who they really were.

To expedite delivery of resumes to my clients, I would drive as much as 35-40 miles to hand them over in person along with a sack of donuts or bagels which usually led to a nice conversation. Clients became friends and colleagues and deep levels of trust were developed. With the economy slowing down the staffing industry, I have actually visited a few clients in recent months with incredible results. There have many days in the last year or so when I have wondered if rolling the clock back a bit might prove to be a good idea. Sometimes, less is more and we may be approaching one of those time periods.

Urgent Staffing Need!

One of my well established clients in the Morristown NJ area needs a Lab Quality Technician with about 2-3 years of strong GMP experience, some ISO knowledge, and hands-on experience with calibration tools, densitometers, micrometers, thermometers, etc. This is FIRST SHIFT, FULL-TIME, paying up to about $42K with comprehensive benefits. Send your resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs immediately and mention this blog. My goal is to submit candidates on 7/13/11 so do not delay! Please mention this blog in the subject line!!

$$ Money $$

The Beatles song, Money, got stuck in my head which I took as a subliminal message to write a blog entry! The lyrics, for those of you who do not remember, begin: The best things in life are free--But you can keep them for the birds and bees--Now give me money--That's what I want--That's what I want, yeah.. I hope that brings back memories for many of you from the not so distant (OK, I am being optimistic!) past!

Please do not embed these words in your brain before heading to a meeting with your employer as the results many not be so good and they might set you free to join the birds and bees. Some folks I have chatted with have discussed the need for huge raises or they are going to look elsewhere for a new job. Envision a large, red stop sign and cool those heels quickly! Look around you, both at your workplace and among friends and family. I bet if you take a good hard look, you will find that most received little or no raises in the past 3-4 years.

Friends, we are still in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Have you noticed that doctor's offices seem slower than ever, retail stores have reduced hours and seem to have less cashier stations open on a normal day, signs advertising available space may be found at almost every industrial park and office complex?

Most employers simply do not have a ton of flexibility in their budgets right now. Even if someone makes you an incredible offer to switch companies, I highly recommend doing a ton of research to make sure the firm is well funded, has a history of retaining staff, has a healthy client list, etc. before making a move. Grass is not always greener and the other side and money might not be the best motivator right now.

Sunday Afternoons in the Fall

Anyone that knows me is aware that I look forward to Sundays in fall and early winter to sit down and watch some NFL football. Since the Redzone TV channel was invented, making it possible to watch parts of all games being played without any effort, I have found myself mesmerized at times. Right about now, I am thinking of ways to fill my Sundays with alternate activities this fall as I really doubt a full NFL season is likely due to this ridiculous lockout. At a time when so many people are unemployed, underemployed, or simply struggling in this horrible economy, how dare the owners AND players be as greedy as they appear to be.

Perhaps a plan would be to lower ticket prices, reduce the cost of parking and food (perhaps allow patrons to bring in their own affordable food), reduce salaries to realistic numbers and basically downsize the whole product. If players were paid less I suppose ticket prices could drop too so how about showing some respect to the vast majority who cannot afford to attend an NFL game? As it stands now, games will not be paid and the employees who work stadium events will be laid off', food vendors will lose a ton of money when they don't have games to send their products too, nearby hotels and restaurants will suffer, etc.

Now the NBA (which I tuned out years ago) has followed suit. In the past, after a work stoppage, fans eventually flocked back like nothing ever happened. This time could be different as people tend to soul search a bit more when things are not going so great for them.

July is Upon Us

One thing I have learned in 20+ years in the staffing field is that all bets are off at all times. Quite honestly, I was beginning to think the employment market was waking up as late April and early May were a bit more lively than at any time since 2008. Just when I started to get cautiously optimistic, things have slowed down dramatically again.

Several employers were hinting at making direct hires but have now reverted back to short term contractors to fill only the most essential needs. A few of my clients have moved their HR Directors to other roles and brought in outside experts to evaluate there entire staffing processes.

Why are we having such trouble reducing unemployment right now? I am unsure if it is fear on the part of companies, a lack of available capital to invest in new projects, a fear that many state governments are at a loss as to how to reduce deficits, lack of confidence in the federal Government or a combination of some or all of the above. Optimism has always been part of my method to avoid madness but there are days where I have had to dig extremely deep to remain positive of late.

In my younger days, before my back betrayed me, I used to love to visit bowling alleys. Back when scoring was done with pencil and paper (I am dating myself!), a bowler experiencing a bad game, would draw a line between frames to block out the bad and basically start over. Perhaps we all need to do this and look forward, not backward, to get things back on track sooner than later!

Lab Quality Technician

A very solid client in the Morristown NJ area needs a tech with 2-3 years experience doing very repetitive testing using densitometers, thermometers, thermocouples, etc. Candidates should have GMP or ISO experience, excellent written and oral communication skills, and be PC literate. Referrals welcome!

Candidates Needed

Please contact me if you or someone you know has significant experience as a CNC Machinist. Ideal candidates would come from the medical device / surgical implant realm but anyone who has worked for a manufacturer of components, gears, devices of any sort might qualify. Positions are located in Bergen County, NJ and I need numerous people for 2nd and 3 rd shifts. The assignments are for roughly 6-9 months.

Entitlement

I was mulling over possible topics to write about and several came to mind. One was to take a look at proprietary trade schools as an alternative to college. Another was to talk about seasonal work that could open more long term doors. The third thought was to focus on how to make interviews feel important without developing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These topics, along with hopefully many more, will come your way soon but today I selected a topic I hear so many of you mention--ENTITLEMENT.

To get started, I will share a little bit about my grandfathers who both came here from Europe in the early 1900's My maternal grandfather picked up a sack of hot roasted peanuts each day from a local vendor, transferred them into small bags which he sold to hungry travelers riding the trains up and down the tracks of Pennsylvania's coal region. He worked tirelessly to help raise seed money for the tailor shop he and his father eventually turned into 2 thriving clothing stores. Many years later, he told me how appreciative he was of the commuters who paid him a dime per bag to help his family

My paternal grandfather painted houses to come up with the money to open a candy store complete with a soda fountain! When the Great Depression hit him hard, he returned to the paintbrush until things got better. He told me stories about those times and always ended with something along the lines that as long as he figured out how to feed, clothe, and house his family, everything else was not terribly significant.

Not we look at the present. Please understand I am not out to insult or offend anyone but tell it as I see and hear it! Over the course of a year I deal with numerous contract or temporary employees who are assigned to various jobs assisting companies with their immediate needs. Temporary means just that, nothing more and I amazed how many temps call me after a week and say they are working too hard, not given the same privileges as full time employees, and are expected to account for every minute they are on the clock. Astonishing! They feel they are entitled to all the perks of someone who has been on the job perhaps 20-25 ears and should not be held accountable at all times!

Next, many people seem unaware of the recession which still dominates us every day. They will contact me and complain that they are not paid enough or being utilized to their fullest and they want to move because they are entitled to more. The only problem is, most folks who move right now could take a pay cut and also jeopardize job security. Never the less, I am constantly told that I am wrong, that they are entitled to more and will get it somewhere.

My concern is the spillover effect this entitlement mentality is having on children. From what I observe, too many youngsters do not understand the concept of earning something. They know that if they hold out long enough, they will be entitled to whatever it is they desire. If you think we live in challenging times today, I dread to fast forward perhaps 30 years for a look into the future!

Some Very Random Thoughts

A few may have noticed I have been quiet of late. Battling annoyng bronchitis is the main reason for my disappearance as it has been tough putting intelligible sentences together. One thing about lack of sleep, restlessness, coughing, etc. is that may random thoughts move through my mind. What follows are a sampling what has been spinning past me of late.

Retirement used to mean somewhere between 65 and 70 years old, people packed up their offices and headed to the golf course, a condo in Florida, or perhaps a life of fishing in the Poconos. I guess that is not so anymore. NJ native Jack McKeon just came out of his semi-retirement at age 80 to serve as interim manager of the Florida Marlin baseball team, claiming he feels good enough to coach another 15 years. Joe Paterno, the 85 year old living legend with the Penn State Nittany Lions now skypes with his football recruits and has told them he expects to coach another 4-5 years.

Getting elected to Congress, the role of Governor, etc. once was held in high regard. Folks like Anthony Weiner and Elliot Spitzer, to name just a few, have certainly changed that perspective. I imagine lot of young prospects are thinking twice before making runs for high profile elected positions.

As small businesses are gradually being replaced by branches of nationally owned companies, I worry about the future of customer service. How could a pharmacy chain that regularly changes change the staff in each branch, possibly know the medical quirks of its customers? There was a time when we could walk into the local branch bank, realize we forgot our ID's or account information and be treated like a friend, not an adversary.

I guess that is enough ranting for one day as it is time for some rest, fluids, and antibiotics.

Advice for New Grads

Every year, a few friends will approach me asking for advice for their child who recently graduated from college and cannot find a job. With the current state of our economy, the number of such inquiries continues to grow. No matter how great or depressing the market is in a particular year, my guidelines pretty much remain the same. Even though some folks maintain I am boring and inflexible about just about every topic, the basic rules of job hunting never change, just the technology used to execute them. These suggestions will be offered in no particular order and your recent grad may select the ones most suited to their needs.

One strong recommendation needs to be voiced before moving on and some of you may not like this but here it is anyway! The majority of the search for a first job out of college must be done by the candidate, not their parents!!!! Certainly, we all should feel obligated to advise and steer but we must all let our children learn the lay of the land immediately to strengthen for the future. Use self restraint when they try to get you to do their work for the. To any recent grads reading this: I am not being harsh, rather I am a realist and you need to dig down and get involved now!

1. If you have not already done so, contact your college's Career Services office and ask them for any guidance and recommendations on places to search. While they are not obligated to find you a job, they should be able to support your efforts.


2. Contact everyone you know at home and from school and make sure they are aware you are out there job hunting. This includes former school teachers, professors, long time neighbors, members of the clergy, former scout leaders or coaches, etc.


3. Personalize your resume so that you stand out from all the other entry level candidates vying for the same very limited pool of jobs.


4. Be extremely open minded about the types of positions you will consider applying for. No job is too menial for someone trying to start at the bottom.


5. Realize early on in your search that the pay rate, work schedule, and title might not be what your college admissions assured you would be available four or five years back. Even in better times, this was not always the case.


6. Strongly consider aggressively searching even during the long and hot summer. Many folks wait until September to begin locking around and, before you know it, December is approaching and hiring budgets dry up until April.

Have fun searching for a job. Be as creative as you wish and look for ways to challenge yourself each and every day!

Job Opportunity for a System Developer

A longtime client of mine in Northern NJ has a long term contract-to-perm position for a Systems Developer available for immediate consideration!

Must have extensive applications development (5+ years exp. ) in a majority of the following skill sets: ASP. NET, BizTalk, Visual Studio, C#, SQL, SOA, WCF, CSS, XSLT, etc. This is a contract-to-perm opportunity so all candidates must be eligible for full-time employment in the U. S. without sponsorship. Resumes to harold@smartstaff. jobs or call Harold Levin at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Slamming a Door Shut

Once upon a time, we lived in a world where the economy was robust, companies were expanding by leaps and bounds, and employers were offering top dollar to keep the best talent away from their competitors. Obviously, I believe we all are hopeful for a return to the way it was but we are in for an extremely long wait. While waiting, good things do happen along the way and one of those good things came along last week when a client asked me to find a very specialized consultant for a long term assignment.

Without any hesitation, I started networking to find suitable candidates. A few people jumped out as very strong prospects and I focused on them immediately. One such candidate answered his phone and quite rudely informed me he was too busy to talk and that I should email full details to him then he might call me back.

Quite honestly, no matter how busy you might be, never blow off a recruiter or hiring manager without getting a quick overview of what they are looking for. As this candidate will learn, once you slam a door shut, the dead bolt almost never unlocks again!

System Administrator Needed: Plainsboro NJ area

Long term project requires 4+ years managing a cluster in excess of 50 machines and GPU's. Must have set up clusters of 50-100 nodes, using Infiniband or Gigabit Ethernet with Linux as the main OS. Must be able to handle all aspects of networking, cluster management tools, and network storage.

Candidates must be eligible for employment without any sponsorship or corp-to-corp needed. Local candidates only at this time!!! Send resumes to harold@smartstaff.jobs or call Harold Levin at 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Great Tasting Jobs

Based on the title of this blog entry, one might think I am about to discuss opportunities to work in the restaurant or food service world or perhaps positions opening up at wineries. This could not be further from my mind (or what is left of it as temps climb towards 90 degrees)! My thoughts have actually turned to a candidate who I helped find a new job back in the late '80's when there were more open jobs than candidates and people used rather unorthodox methods to plot their personal journeys.

While working as a rookie recruiter at a Central NJ staffing firm, I came across a client needing a moderately experienced industrial electrician. Without the benefit of the Internet back then, I took to our books of available candidates and found a young man who appeared to be a great match. As luck would have it, three of my colleagues were searching for similar candidates and we all zeroed in on the same person since supply was much lower than demand. The four of us put our heads together and crafted out a two day plan where this electrician would interview at all four sites. We hoped he would get perhaps two offers to choose from.

Needless to say, there was a bit of shock in our office when all four clients called with offers for the same candidate! To complicate matters even more, the pay rates and benefits were all very comparable. Our solution was to bring the candidate into our office and help him select what was best for him (though all four of us thought our job was the one he should take!) and he readily agreed to the meeting. It became apparent that he really loved all four facilities, the people at each place, and that the jobs were all terrific.

The deciding factor came down to one, totally unrelated item: FOOD! Our candidate managed to get a bite to eat at all four company's cafeterias and selected the one with the best tasting food! Having recruited now in parts of four decades (no, I am not that old yet!), I can assure you I have never seen food as the major factor for selecting a job ever again!

Today, many companies have replaced cafeterias with vending machines. Many barely offer a lunchroom devoid of any amenities whatsoever. Beyond that, who gets more than one offer to choose from these days! With all the high profile changes we have witnessed in our society, I think one of the most signifcant is that we do not necessaruily control our professional future anymore.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!