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.

Have It Your Way!

Hold the overtime and the travel requirements; give me 12 paid holidays; don't make me attend weekly status meetings; let me work from home whenever I feel like it AND don't track my productivity on those days. Many candidates tell me things like this when we discuss potential job opportunities and I move them to the bottom of my list immediately. Now more than ever, employers are in the driver's seat and job seekers need to respect this if they want to improve their situations.

Quick Thoughts

While enjoying a short lunch break at my desk today, a few thoughts crossed my mind.
~If you have been out of work for two or more years, you would be nuts to reject an inquiry about a job paying barely 5% less than the job you were last employed at.
~Many companies are starting to tie bonus plans into compensation packages. It is fair to ask what the average award will be for the current year to get a rough idea of what you might expect.
~Be ready to show a few accomplishments from each of your last 2 or 3 jobs if asked for them by potential employers.
Lunch break is over! Have a good week!

ETC.

• Job openings are starting to pop up here and there but companies still seem fixated on candidates with 2 to 4 years experience but want these folks to be experts in everything. The mind set of a lot of more seasoned candidates has helped bring this on so YOU need to demonstrate willingness and flexibility when job hunting!
• Resumes appear to be getting sloppier and less accurate. With time on your hands, no excuses will be accepted for this lack of attention to a very important detail.
• Pay rates are not rebounding as quick as job opportunities are at this point. be patient with employers. I do believe that if you take a job, you will eventually be rewarded. If not, as things loosen up in the next year or two, other employers will offer you the money you deserve.
• Help wanted signs are visible in many retail establishments. If your chosen field is still plodding along, consider taking a seasonal job to get the blood circulating.

Wake Up Time!

All of a sudden, head count dollars seem to be making a guest appearance at some companies. Perhaps this is an encouraging sign that the slump is gradually fading away. Now that some employers are looking for new team members, it is time for candidates to come out of this involuntary hiatus period and start interviewing. Based on what I have seen recently, many folks seem unwilling to jump back into the market just yet and I am concerned. Should they sit back to long, they might NEVER recover. Now is the time to recharge your batteries, dry clean your interview clothing, clean up your resume', and plunge back into the very different job market with open minds, positive outlooks, enthusiasm, and open eyes and ears!

Etc.

• July is proving to be a mixed bag. While traditionally a slow time for placements, I do see slightly busier than normal activity.
• Pay rates are running about 25-35% lower than they were 2-3 years ago. Think twice before turning down an opportunity as the next one could be for less money!
• The federal government has a huge decision with millions of extensions for unemployment benefits ending this month and I am anxious to see how this is handled.
• Candidates appear willing to take jobs they are extremely overqualified for while employers seem fixated on hiring folks with 2-6 years experience. Simple fact, most of the unemployed population is comprised of those with under 2 years experience and those with 10+ years.
• For some reason, candidates are taking 2-3 days to answer phone calls about potential jobs. Is it frustration, complacency, or something else.

What is Loyalty?

Loyalty used to mean that someone worked for a company faithfully every day, performed at or above expectations, received periodic raises and benefits, was treated with respect and occasionally thanked for their hard work and dedication. it was a win-win for both the employer and the employee. yesterday, I had a chat with someone who watched five different CEO's enter and exit in a seven year span. Each one totally redesigned the way the company operated and no one had a clue as to what was expected from them. Perhaps a simple solution to our still under performing economy would be a return to basics where simple standards are set, reward levels are established and maintained, and a mutual respect existed between employers and employees. A team of experts are not needed to come in and develop such a plan. All that has to be done is bring a few folks from each level of a company to a meeting room, put some sandwiches in front of them and talk the old fashioned way over lunch!

Tons of Candidates

Hiring managers love to quip that there are tons of candidates out there and they expect staffing firms to find a pile of perfectly matched resumes. Were that truly the case, I honestly doubt hiring managers would be asking us for assistance! There is a huge reason why good recruiters are keeping busy today. Employers want exact fits for their job openings and are unwilling to be the least bit flexible in many cases. The vast majority of unemployed folks have been that way for 18 to 36 months so they undoubtedly will not know all the latest software, methodologies, etc. but are capable of catching up with minimal ramp-up time. A tiny bit of patience will go a very long way toward plugging holes in corporate infrastructures while stimulating (there is that word again!) the economy by putting money into very grateful pockets!

Please note: I would love to hear the viewpoints of hiring managers about this topic and not everyone needs to agree with me. Debates are certainly entertaining!!!

ETC.

A few loose thoughts while I take a lunch break:

• Message to employers: If you are hiring a contractor for 3 months or less, don't reject candidates who have jumped around too much!
• Message to candidates: Make sure you demonstrate some of the required skill sets on your resume before submitting for a job!
• Message to job counselors at the Dept. of Labor: Take a minute to actually evaluate your client before handing out job hunting advice!
• Message to career counselors at institutions of higher education: Aim your students/grads at realistic opportunities to avoid them becoming frustrated and complacent!
• Message to everyone (including myself): Strive for excellence each and every day!