Will April's Showers Bring May Flowers?

The simple answer to the above statement is I sure hope things warm up in the northeast so my gardens start growing! The more complex answer related to the employment market is I thing we are seeing just a bit more hope than a month ago and a lot more than a year back though that would not take much to accomplish.

Clients who stopped sending out weekly, or even monthly, status reports on open listings have resumed the process once again. While the number of open needs is still light, at least they feel the need to reach out to recruiters on a fairly regular basis.

A few hiring managers are actually starting to show concern about how competitive their pay scales are to others in their industry! Questions about whether or not they are making themselves desirable to potential candidates has disappeared for close to 3 years. This is actually a HUGE change in the climate which caught me a little bit by surprise.

One last positive indicator is that other recruiting firms are beginning to contact me for assistance in splitting job openings they are not comfortable filling on their own. This is a very positive indication to me that something good i about to take place!

Now, we just need to find a way to lower fuel prices so candidate may afford to drive to interviews, increase mass transit, get our educational systems up to snuff, and get the government leaders to take charge once again. I don't think I am asking for too much (well, maybe a bit too much)!!

Speak for Yourself!

Way too many candidates are letting someone else submit resumes or call employers on their behalf. A candidate who does not apply on their own could rather unintentionally cast some doubt on their selves. Sometimes I wonder if the person is computer illiterate, unable to chat on the phone, or has serious communication skills. Of course there are exceptions to the rule but you really need to step up to the counter and go for it!

New Challenge

Never before in my 20+ years in the staffing industry have I been posed with the challenge that entered my life in the last week. After 24+ years working for 3 incarnations of a major telecommunications firm, my wife was caught up in their rather routine Thursday morning RIFs (Reduction in Force I believe) and finds herself unemployed for the first time in well over 30 years. The way this large company handles separations is rather cold, impersonal, and pretty much insensitive. Her unit was informed at close of business on Tuesday to be at their desks Thursday morning as their would be layoffs. On Thursday, her immediate supervisor walked in with an envelope containing her separation paperwork and, by the time she got home a few hours later, her email account was shut down.

The only silver linings are there are a few months before payroll and benefits stop and severance was somewhat fair. An outplacement company was provided to her for 3 whole months. At her orientation yesterday, she discovered that much of the advice disseminated to her was pretty much what I share with you in this blog! Her tenacity at not letting any grass grow under her feet is impressive. Occasionally, I will share snapshots of her search with all my readers, but have no fear, I will continue talking about whatever else comes to mind as always!

Stay Current

All too often, I search online and find resumes that end 2-3 years ago. Upon calling the candidates, I usually learn that there is more current work history which did not get updated onto the resume. It is really critical to keep your information up to date as you may have done something recently that makes you more attractive to an employer. My recommendation is to check out your online postings at least once every three months to ensure they are current.

Unique Field Service Opportunity

One of my long time clients needs someone to spend at 1/3 of their time traveling nationwide and 2/3 in-house. When in-house, the job entails assembly web handling and turret rewinding machines. On the road, this person will help install the equipment, train the users, and troubleshoot and repair as needed. Candidates must have solid mechanical skills and decent electronics as well. Position is based in the Verona, NJ area. For details and consideration, send resumes via this blog or to harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Staying Healthy!

Health insurance is a huge concern for most of us and a major worry when you lose your job. While COBRA coverage is available to many people, the costs are not always manageable. Just today, I decided to hunt a bit and came across a rather interesting site call www.healthinsurance.org which proved to be loaded with all sorts of information. Please share this with anyone you know in need of health care assistance. Unfortunately, with all the stress associated with being unemployed, maintaining proper coverage may not seem important until it is too late.

Roadblocks

There needs to be a change in how will provide financial support to the unemployed. My belief is that most people would rather be gainfully employed than collect unemployment but our government has made a huge mess. Today, I called a candidate who was a solid match for a temporary job. With a rather frustrated tone to his voice, he declined for two reasons. First, his unemployment check pays him more than I could. Second, returning to the unemployment system after working for a few months is a nightmarish process. Someone needs to develop a process where the unemployment payments supplement earnings rather than replace them.

Oops!

Interviewers are free to ask anything they wish of candidates as long as they stay within the law. During a recent interview, a hiring manager asked my candidate about his performance at a job almost 15 years ago. The candidate was terribly honest and said he was released for inaccuracies in his work. Since then, his history has been solid but it cost him the chance to get this job.

A few questions come to mind. Why would the hiring manager dig that deep into someones past? Did the candidate need to be so specific about his performance over a decade ago? What are the chances that his track record back then would be indicative of his current ability to be successful? Feel free to share your thoughts on any or all of these questions.

The Perfect Resume?

In 1979, I attended a workshop at Franklin and Marshall College on resume writing. It last about 20 minutes and we received a mimeographed (if anyone needs a lesson on what that is, contact me) list of what to include and a list of secretaries on campus who, for a small fee, would type it up professionally. With this information in hand, I hustled to my room, took out some lined paper and scribbled for maybe an hour. I then attempted to type it on my portable typewriter and then stopped by a trusted professor's office for some input. He corrected some grammar and advised me to find someone else to type it as my skills were not too sharp! For $10, I received a professionally type resume and 20 copies! That was the only tool used to get my first professional job. In 2011, we are able to post resumes to Facebook, LinkedIN, Twitter, Monster, etc. We are free to change our resume in a matter of seconds before each submission. Some of us can even carry it around in our cell phones! One important thing has not changed. No matter what method of distribution you use, make sure your resume is accurate, interesting to read, and related to the job you are applying for!

Engineering Jobs in North Jersey

Hot off the presses!!! Here are two postings I just listed for 6-12 month assignments with a leading client in North jersey. Please note they will not look at people from outside commuting range at this time even if you are willing to pay your own expenses. Both positions are in the Allendale area.

6-12 month assignment requires at least 5-6 years in a production engineering capacity within a medical device, automotive, or aerospace manufacturing environment. Candidates must live within local commuting range of North Jersey and have a BS degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering. Hands-on experience with vacuum systems, thermal spray systems, and other mechanical devices needed. Must be proficient in the entire mechanical manufacturing process needed to make a large scale operation run smoothly. Absolutely no third party or corp-to-corp candidates needed at this time. Resumes to Harold Levin at harold@smartstaff. jobs or call 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Long term project requires 5+ years experience in Gauge Design, AutoCAD, Pro E Wildfire and GD&T. Job entails tolerance analysis, creation of detailed drawings, modifying existing designs, and prior experience in the aerospace, medical device/components, or automotive industries. A BS in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering is essential. Candidates must live within current commuting range of North Jersey to be considered. Absolutely no inquiries from candidates who are corp-to-corp or in need of sponsorship at this time. Send resumes to Harold Levin at harold@smartstaff.jobs or call 908-508-0300, ext. 205.

Healthcare?

While chatting with an unemployed candidate, he mentioned needing to head from West Jersey to Brooklyn NY for a doctor's appointment. This seemed rather odd to me so I inquired as to his choice of physicians. Apparently, he subscribed to a low cost heath insurance carrier, one of those that has popped up in this era of reform. They typically have arrangements with only a handful of doctors forcing clients to drive 40-50 miles for routine services in extremely overcrowded conditions. There is something seriously wrong with a system that severely limits healthcare service provided to the unemployed or underemployed.

My First Job

People are always approaching me asking for help finding jobs for their teen aged children. Among the comments I hear are the need to have a learning experience, gaining skills for the future, something that will look good on a college application, and a job that pays better than minimum wage. These are all great wishes but remember one thing, one's first job is meant to be just that and nothing more.

Shortly after Gerald Ford was named President of the U.S., I obtained my first job working in a fast food burger and chicken chain that no longer exists. My folks had nothing to do with this. A high school buddy gave me the name of his boss, I showed up at the door, told them I would do whatever they wanted and was hired for $2.10 hourly (25 cents below minimum wage because we got two uniform shirts and free food)! For that sum of money I cleaned grease traps, jumped around in a dumpster with coworkers when the trash overflowed, washed and marinated chicken (sometimes right after the trap and dumpster!), unloaded shipments, bussed tables, ran a cash register, grilled burgers and deep fried the chicken and did whatever they asked me to do.

Did I have a learning experience? Absolutely! I became friendly with the managers and learned about inventory control and Just-In-Time ordering way before computerized registers appeared and I also learned how to manage a shift of workers and train newcomers.

Were any valuable skills acquired? Definitely! Probably the most important skill I honed at that job was dealing with the public and how to provide excellent customer service under extremely hectic conditions.

How did the job look on my college application? More than one admissions recruiter appeared shocked to learn I was working 3 or 4 nights each week until 11 or 12:00 then arriving at school at 8:00 in the morning while maintaining decent grades.

Was it worth working for less than minimum wage? How many teen aged boys do you know who would say no to free burgers and fried chicken? I managed to get two raises and parlayed this into a vacation break job while in college. The moral of the story is that one's first job needs to be viewed as a first job, nothing more, nothing less but can lead to bigger and better things!

Career Path Adjustment?

Surprisingly, in this rather unstable economy that we are growing a bit too comfortable with, I have observed a new trend in my local area, the resurgence of start-up businesses. In the past year or so, small ethnic delis, sports collectible shops, chocalateers, gourmet food purveyors, fitness shops, specialty clothiers and many more have been popping up run by local residents who found their prior careers might never get back on track. These are very small enterprises in low profile locations seeking out local trade without a lot of gimmickry. Some seem to be thriving, others are growing slowly but few seem to be crashing. My assumption is that the proprietors are keeping overhead very low and doing much of the work themselves or with the aid of family members. If you are not working and intrigued by a small business, perhaps consider offering some free time to them in exchange for getting to learn how they got off the ground. You never know, something very good could come from this!!

My Name is Not Boss, Dude, or Chief!

Several people have told me I am too sensitive about this issue but I treat every one I speak with in person, on the phone, via email, Facebook, Linked In, etc. with respect and use their proper name. Why does it seem that candidates, sales people, customer service reps, call center associates, etc. believe it is okay to call people Boss, Dude, Chief and assorted other titles? Quite frankly, I am reluctant to work with candidates who repeatedly demonstrate such behavior. Think about it, how would you feel if a called you about an opportunity and said, "hey Chief, have I got a job for you Dude!"