Past Five

Unemployment Jumps the Shark

Unemployment jumped the shark today.  The elusive 10% barrier has been crossed.  What does this mean? 

 

As I was waiting for the report this morning, I "knew", as much as anyone can know, that it would cross 10 percent today.  The healthcare bill is up for grabs, two democratic states in 2008 (NJ and VA) elected Republican governors....the tide was coming and it was spouting, "No good news for D.C."

 

My thought is that as unemployment rises and this "jobless recovery" continues and the DJIA goes above 10,000....is this good for the current administration?  Does it scream to the American public, "do more, fast!!!" in order to save us?  I hope not.  All cycles are just that, cycles.  The government did the right thing in stepping in to save GM and the financial services bail out, now we need to let the market settle in...let capitalism take over...and let small businesses grow!

 

We need to encourage small businesses to become large businesses.  To encourage companies to go public.  To foster the creation of start up companies.  We must, as a society, embrace people who are willing to risk everything, reputation, savings, etc. to start a company.  Entrepreneurs are the job creators of America; hopefully our politicians will realize this.  Extending unemployment benefits another 20 weeks is not the answer.  Giving an incentive for people not to take any job is a disservice to the countless men and women who will do anything to put food on their family's table. 

The Millenial Generation

I was traveling back to Chicago from NY on a business trip on Friday when I met a college senior from Howard University.  She was getting a degree in international business, with an emphasis on finance and was interviewing at Goldman Sachs for a job in their Human Resources department. We talked about NY and how crowded it is and how people are cramped into apartments...she said she grew up in tight quarters in Saint Lucia, so NY would be ok. 

 

She said she expected nothing less than 60 hour work weeks...mostly because she knew if she didn't, there were others who would.  I asked about her education and coming to the United States; she told me how she started at a junior college and then transferred to Howard.  Started at a junior college and now was interviewing for a job at Goldman Sachs!!!

 

This "twenty-something" was articulate, intelligent, poised and motivated to continue to grow and get a job.  She wasn't looking to make a million dollars, but simply an opportunity to work hard, make her parents proud and accomplish something. 

 

Sometimes society and the media are quick to stereotype people...most recently with the millennial generation as the “entitlement generation”.  I disagree with that, and I meet twenty- something’s all the time who prove to me that individuals are just that...individuals!  All employers should search for the right person, not based on media-created stereotypes.  Sometimes they are hard to find...but when you get the good ones...they prove how powerful one good employee can be. 

Happy Holidays - You're Hired!

Contrary to common job search myths, most companies don’t cease hiring during the holidays. The months between Thanksgiving and the New Year are often the busiest of the year. With many managers scrambling to make the most of their annual budget, and others planning for January, companies are looking to add staff, or research for next year’s hires, before midnight on December 31, 2009.

Showing up when others are taking off may land you that new position to ring in the New Year!

Swim in the Smaller Pool

The holidays are swiftly approaching, and the majority of Americans will use this time as a welcome vacation from their tedious careers. Don’t make this mistake. The pool of job seekers actively pursuing open positions is significantly smaller during the holiday season, and unemployed job seekers should capitalize on this smaller pool of competitors. In a time of gluttony and excess, when others are focused on the holidays, utilize this time to prove to employers your determination and focus.

Stave away the winter blues by vowing to advance your job search one day at a time. Set a goal to complete one substantial step towards employment each day. For example, connect with 15 new contacts on LinkedIn, research five companies and apply to postings on their Web site, or attend a networking event.

Earn Extra Holiday Cash and Career Experience

Regardless of your employment status, seasonal or part-time work during the holidays is an effective way to earn extra cash and gain valuable work experience. Job seekers who take on additional part-time employment within their desired career path are viewed as going above and beyond the expected employment strategy. In some cases, a part-time or seasonal position can even lead to a full-time job within the company or industry of your career dreams.

Capitalize on Gatekeeper Absence

During the holidays, many administrative staff members request time away from the office. Gatekeepers, executive assistants, for example, who protect the process of connecting with management, will often be absent, making it more likely to reach the decision-makers within a given organization. Also, many managers spend more time in the office in the winter months to compensate for time off taken by their staff. Use this time to your advantage; call the company and ask for the hiring manager directly. In this economy, managers receive a plethora of responses to each job opening, and making a tactful and professional phone call inquiring about the status of your application can go a long way.

Don’t wait until the week before Christmas to inquire about open positions. Increase your chances of getting hired this holiday season by submitting your application early, and beat the post-Thanksgiving rush.

Observations from a Job Fair

Job fairs are an invaluable resource, and in this competitive job market, a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates. Are you making the most of your school’s career fairs? You should be and I’ll tell you why.

 

Career fairs are a prime way to practice networking and/or obtain job leads. Networking is an activity in which you will participate your entire working life, no matter your profession.  It doesn’t stop once you land a job. Job fairs are just the place to practice putting yourself out there and building a professional network. The more people who know you’re looking for a job, the better your chance at getting a job!

 

As campus recruiter for my company, the LaSalle Network, I spend a good deal of time at career fairs. And I’ve seen it all. Career fairs showcase a unique cross-section of candidates, and not just in the areas of academic pursuits or career aspirations.  Some job fair attendees are more prepared than others. Some slink by my booth - their body language begging, “don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me.”

 

Now, I tend to be chatty and motivated by being around college students at job fairs, so I engage a lot of students in conversation. Not every representative you talk to will be as engaging. Not everyone will coax a conversation out of you.

 

So, once you’ve arrived at the fair, don’t be afraid to step up, put out your hand, smile, and introduce yourself. Job fairs are usually pretty busy for recruiters because we want to speak to as many folks as possible, too! Therefore, it’s important that your introduction briefly describes who you are, why you’re there, and what unique qualifications you bring to the table.  

 

 Other students will come up to me with that confident handshake and strong verbal communication, but are dressed for a night in “da club.” I am here to tell you that, yes, even in today’s increasingly casual culture, a suit speaks volumes. The students who visit my booth at job fairs dressed as if they are on an interview stand out every time over those in hoodies and Chuck Taylor sneakers.

 

Based on my observations, here are a few tips on how to make the most of a job fair:

 

· Obtain a list of employers attending the fair from your career center

· Research the companies in which you are most interested. You won’t have time to talk to everyone, so plan to talk to 5-10 employers once you’ve arrived

· Prioritize your time once you arrive, meeting first with employers at the top of your list

· Make a strong, first impression. Dress professionally. Offer a firm handshake. Smile. Make eye contact. Communicate briefly and enthusiastically who you are and why you’re interested in each employer

· Before leaving each employer, obtain contact information, find out what hiring procedures are and what you can expect as far as next steps. To make it fun, I suggest setting a goal for yourself before the fair such as collecting a certain number of business cards

 

Finally, just because the career fair is over, doesn’t mean you’re done. Now it’s time for follow-up!  This job market is competitive, so remember that you want to stand out. In order to do that, I suggest you follow-up by

1. sending a thank you note or email depending upon preferred method of contact and 2. call a week later to see where each company is in their hiring process.

 

 

 

 

Job Search Mistakes - CollegeRecruiter.com

It's been an exciting summer for LaSalle (Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies List 2009, new hires, new babies, engagements, our 11th year anniversary), and we look forward to the challenges and opportunities fall will bring!

This summer has also seen an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, the highest since 1983. If job seekers want to stand out in this flooded market, avoiding common job search mistakes becomes crucial - Check out CollegeRecruiter.com today and hear my thoughts on Job Search Mistakes to Avoid.

Thank you Association Forum and Steven Rothberg of CollegeRecruiter.com - Great site!

You Have To Want To Be The Best

Lately I have been giving speeches to people in job transition and students, both undergraduate and graduate students, about what it takes to be successful and get a job.  I get asked all the time about the "entitlement generation" and why the work ethic of the under 30 crowd is so bad.  I have many people under 30 who work with me, and the majority of them have terrific work ethics.  They impress me daily with how hard they work.  However there are many who have entered the job market who don't want to do the "dirty work" it takes to earn your stripes and get promoted and make more money.  It finally hit me last week as to why this exists.  15, 20, 30, 40 years ago...people went into a job believing they may be there forever and they would work their hardest to be the "best"!  Today, people graduate college and they want to wait and see what they really "like" to do, before they are willing to give it 100% and commit the time to it to truly be successful.  So what we have are a ton of young people who aren't getting good at anything because they believe it won't be their last job or career.   These are the people we hear the complaints about...the youngsters who aren't working hard because they haven't bought into the idea that the best way to gain responsibiltiy and earn money is through hard work...no matter what the hard work entails.  The sad thing is, if they would have given it their all...they may have been great....and really grown faster and learned more sooner. 

Salary Cuts in this Economy

Check out Burns on Business today to read my thoughts on taking a salary cut in this economy!

Burns on Business is a daily business blog written by Greg Burns, Senior Correspondent at the Chicago Tribune.

Making an Impression When You Don't Know It

I like to think of myself as an ordinary looking guy.  I'm 37 years old, thinning hair...average looks.  I don't wear $2,000 suits with pocket handkerchiefs or drive in $100,000 cars.  However, I am the Founder and CEO of a $20 million recruiting firm which employed over 5,000 people last year and found jobs for hundreds of other career seekers.  My point is...you never know who you are riding in an elevator with, who you are sitting next to at a Cubs game or on the train or eating your salad next to at lunch.  Sit up straight....make eye contact with people....SMILE...and be friendly!  I can't tell you how many people I say hello to in elevators or at restaurants who act like it's a crime to initiate a conversation with a stranger. 

 

It's time to take the earphones out of your ears and learn the art of conversation.  You may strike up a conversation with your next employer. 

 

I remember reading Swimming with the Sharks by Harvey Mackay when I was 23 years old...it was given to me by one of my early bosses.  I remember him writing that whenever he met someone who was over the top with customer service and work ethic, he'd hand him his card and say to call him and he would try to hire them at his company.  I never forgot that and wish more people would realize that sort of opportunity exists if they can present themselves in an outgoing, positive way.

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Posted by guest author Bobby Wilson

Writer's Block?

I haven't been writing as much as I used to...either for Pastfive or for work....I have had some creative "blocks" if you will.  After I got out of the shower tonight I was thinking about why more people don't write.   Doesn't every kid when they are 6, 7, 8, 9,  write stories?  About themselves, about their families about what they think the world should be like?  I have 3 kids, ages 9, 7 and almost 5...2 boys and 1 girl...they come up with stories all the time.  My daughter writes them out and she's the 7 year old.  My 5 year old makes them up and talks about them.  My 9 year old laughs constantly at all the crazy ideas he has of "wouldn't it be cool if..." scenarios.  Where did that go in the majority of adults? 

I come from the school of thought that if someone wants to get promoted in their career, they have to continue doing their job at a superior level and begin to do aspects of the job they want...and/or take on a special project at the same time as their current job.  You have to do more in order to earn your promotion.  This got me to thinking about the writing.  So many employees are quick to complain.  Every day we interview tons of job seekers at The LaSalle Network, and so many of them are quick to criticize their companies or managers for how they do things.  "I don't agree with how they are retaining customers" or "The new CFO is putting too much emphasis on costs and not realizing we are short changing the employees".....

They may be right!  However, why don't they put pen to paper and write out their ideas, thoughts and beliefs on how things should be?  Why don't they write out a plan on how THEY think it should be done?  To criticize is easy....to create is a challenge.  Now maybe your manager or the ceo of your company doesn't want employees who think outside of 9-5 and won't pay attention to your thoughts that you took hours or days to write out and research.  However if that is the case, then maybe you'll know you've really done all you can to grow at your job and they don't want to grow...and then leaving may be the right thing.  However what if they do appreciate your work and effort?  What if they don't agree with your thoughts but love the energy and effort you put in and you have now earned a new level of respect? 

The time to be creative is now, however it can't come at the expense of execution.  It's a fine balancing act, however the truly great professionals...they don't lose the creativity they had as a child, they figure out how to get paid more for it.