A REAL Economic TEA Party!

I have been asking the questions, “How could so many experts fail to forecast the 2008-2009 downturn in our economy? Where are all the pundits when you need them?“ So I suggested that a group of the most optimistic career professionals that I know get together and discuss economic indicators that we can use to make labor market forecasts in the Tulsa Metro area.

Five of us met at Panera Bread at 71st and Garnett on March 5, 2009. As we settled down to discuss the economic outlook and enjoy a glass of tea, we all shared the same fears about the economy. Upon reflection one of the biggest factors that all of us face is our attitude toward this current economic bump in the road – we all hope it is not a deep ditch. We all agree that a Pollyanna approach is not in anyone best interest. What is Tulsa Economic Attitude (TEA)?

Collectively there were 95+ years of job search, recruitment and career development experience in the room, all of whom have seen many economic cycles come and go. We have all been glued to the media outlets for any sign of good news about the economy. We could find nothing to be optimistic about! Nothing! But…!

Travis Jones of Career Development Partners commented, “ This is an occasion for employers to realign their teams and obtain top talent for future projects, as well as take advantage of career training to improve the depth of their workforce. More importantly, it is a good time for dissatisfied, under-utilized workers to explore new opportunities and find a position that aligns with their true interest and career goals.”

We all agreed that out of this economic realignment the economy will emerge stronger with more opportunity than in previous decades.

Angela Robinson with the JobGuide shared that her advertisers are reporting that their employees are happy to have jobs and their turnover rate is decreasing. She also pointed out that the economy is like a rose, the petals may fall, but the bush will bloom again. When you see the blooms of spring, know that the economy will once again show growth.

Diana Bacon with ProDrivers was talking about a recent television report showcasing the jobs in transportation. She pointed out that while transportation is slowing somewhat, experienced drivers with good driving records can find jobs.

Ramona Gresham with Goodwill Industries Staffing also attended. Ramona, in addition to her work with Goodwill, is a high-tech recruiter who places top talent with global companies. “While the economy is tight, many companies are always looking for high-performing talent. My clients realize that the economy is cyclical and they need top talent to address changing market place demands.”

In suggesting the TEA to Sonny Lane with the JobGuide, the driving force behind my involvement is to help people who are listening to the bad news and sometimes become paralyzed with fear. It seems that everyone I talk to tells me, “Your business must be booming.”

However, during a soft economy, we spend much more time educating clients on the realities of the job market. If you are spending all of your time researching the job boards and you feel there is no opportunity, you want to rethink your web-based job search plan. Recently, I attended a networking function and was told about 10 to 12 opening with Tulsa employers. If I had been in almost any city in the country, I would have heard about a job or two. Making contacts with key influencers might be a path to a new career.

On March 11, the unemployment numbers for January 2009 were out. Tulsa’s unemployment inched up to 5.0%. While there was an uptick in unemployment, these are not bad numbers based upon the economy nationwide. We should consider ourselves fortunate. One day later the Tulsa World put these same numbers in a grim light – They focused on non-seasonal adjustable rates while I focused on seasonable adjustment data (see article here).

At the TEA my optimistic business associates and I turned pessimistic when I asked each to predict the economic outcome for January. I am calling us the Pessimistic -5. As pundits, we did not fair very well in predicting the unemployment numbers for Oklahoma in January. Our prediction ranged anywhere from 5.3 to 7%.

Anyone who knows any of us would tell you that we are optimistic, but faced with the bombardment of bad economic news, even the most hopeful and confident professionals have trouble finding a needle of reality in the haystack of gloom.

If you are ready to face the realities of this job market, you may just find a career opportunity much better that the one you have left or are leaving.

To do that, we suggest the following:

1. Polish your resume until it sizzles!
   
   
2. Present it to decision makers with the depth of experience that can recognize true talent and have a vision for a bright future.
   
   
3. Shake off pessimism and super optimism and work within the reality that 95% of us have jobs.
   

In any job market there is natural attrition. Why not let the job market work for you? Try something new - you just might find a new career that will offer the building blocks for a brighter future.

(c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved.
www.resume-source.com

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What Unexpected Numbers?

What’s the reality of these uncertain times?

If you have a job what steps do you need to take to keep that job?

If you don’t have a job, how can you fast-track your job search?

Recently, I read an article published on the Web by Bloomberg.com, stating “First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week and total benefit rolls soared to a record high, a sign companies may keep shedding jobs as the recession worsens.”

Before reading the report, I went to the Department of Labor to review downturns in the economy since the late seventies. Personally, I am more interested in what is happening or has happened around my back step in Oklahoma instead of national unemployment statistics. Recessions much like job search are local in scope.

I have been helping people shift gears in their career for almost a quarter of a century. And I’ve seen a few bumps in the road along with times when the economy hits a ditch. To say the weekly numbers are unexpected, is like sticking your head in the sand and pretending everything is peachy.

If you have had your head in the sand or have turned the TV and Radio off, this might be a surprise to you. Where I sit in Oklahoma the unemployment numbers for December indicated that 95% of the workforce had jobs. When the numbers are tabulated for January and February, those numbers will be higher. But the sky is not falling, there is still opportunity.

Those of us who are in the ancient ranks, throughout our career, have done things that we didn’t want to do. This generation may be called on to put their dreams in a box and take them out on another day. Or they may find a super highway to make their dreams come true.

The optimist in me says, find you path to the super highway and make things happen. While it may not be easy, and sacrifice may become the watch word for the emerging generation. But if it is giving up luxuries so you can build a future, that sacrifice becomes a privilege.

To put some perspective to my optimism, I began writing résumés and coaching clients in the fine art of job search, during what the Labor Department, called a recession in the late nineteen eighties. I have privately called that downturn a depression. The stories popping up today are just another version of what happens when people lose their identity - the one they have built through their career.

I am all in favor of a safety net to help those discourage and need assistance in finding their way. Finding a counselor or career coach may put your identity into perspective. After the shock and anger subsides, it is time to evaluated job opportunities at your back step. What type of job opportunities are there within 5 miles, 10 miles, 20 miles, 100 miles, 500 miles? Has your job skill joined the ranks of the buggy whip manufacturer? Do you need more training? Can you shift gears and transfer your skills to another industry? What are your options to find immediate employment?

Yes there will be unexpected turns, dead-ends and opportunities? Arm yourself the knowledge to distinguish opportunities and treats to your future.

(c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved.
www.resume-source.com

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The ABCs of Career Management, Wrapping It Up

Over the past few weeks, you've been working through the ABC's of Career Management. Here is the final installment of this series. Are you ready? Get set! GO!

• V Are you vigilant and alert to new job opportunities? Have you applied SWOT analysis to your job search? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that you face in your job search. Do you sharpen your skills by taking advantage of training and educational seminars? Do you attend professional organizational meetings where continuing education units are offered? What would you need to do to take your career to the next level?

• W Would you agree that you have the opportunity to write-your-own-ticket and obtain a rewarding career position? Or would your mindset see only the despair surrounding your unique situation which you feel is stymieing your career growth? At this writing in most markets 94% of Americans have jobs and in certain areas of the country that number is higher. But in other areas, the number might be slightly lower. What would it take from you to keep the job you have (if you are employed) and broaden your skill set? Should you find yourself jobless, why should a company hire you?

• X Are you like many of my trusted associates? What can be used as X? Writing around difficulties offers the opportunity for creativity, when presented with a box or dead-end. One could coin a new word or words. Why not xplore your immediate career opportunities? Then there was xamine your strengths and weaknesses in order to transition into your new position. Use your xpertise to become a content expert and add value to your next position. Or take a moment to xhale and catch your breath before you launch a job search. The list is almost endless with ex words transformed to X words. There is value to brainstorming when you find yourself faced with dilemma - it is very interesting how the brain works.

Why not X? Since, X is the Roman numeral for TEN. What would be the first ten things you would do if you found yourself unemployed or needing a new job?

I. Who and what do you know? How many people are in your network? Make a list and add to it frequently. Whether you maintain a file of business cards or use an on-line service, your contacts are valuable. Find a reason to keep in contact with your network or centers of influence quarterly.
II. Have you created a career disaster plan? Financial Plan? Action Plan? If we have learned anything since 9/11 and the natural disasters that followed in this decade, it is that we need to expect the unexpected. Even seemingly secure companies and industries can be faced with challenges that cause them to examine their workforce and reduce expenses – and cut staff.
III. Do you know where the jobs are? Based on 25 years of experience in the career business the following numbers hold true (plus or minus 4% based upon the economy). If you want to research actual numbers the US Department of Labor will have statistics, but the statistics for this year will not be available for a couple of years:

a. 40+ % of jobs are with the local/state/federal government or public funded services such as education
b. 5%-8% of jobs are secured by applying on line
c. 5%-8% of jobs are secured through temporary agencies; this is a good way to test drive a career, before taking the leap to a new company or new career.
d. 5% of jobs are placed with recruiters or as they are known in the industry –Headhunters. The best way to get a headhunters attention is to excel. Their client companies only want to secure the “best” talent when they are paying a fee. If a recruiter contacts you, listen and keep their contact information.
e. Print ads in the classified, jobs publications or industry trade journals account for 10% to 15%; during a downturn in the economy the number of classified ads shrinks.
f. College professors may introduce their top students to their company contacts. This is an excellent incentive to shine academically.
g. Job Fairs account for a small percentage. When talking with company recruiters at job fairs many tell me their goal is to find one or two good candidate. Other companies are there for mass hiring. Have realistic expectations when attending job fairs.
h. Using your network and getting a personal introduction is the best way to secure employment. Build your circle of influence one contact at a time.
i. Applying directly to companies is another way to secure employment
j. Using social networking is an emerging way to secure contacts and open lines of communication in order to obtain an introduction to a new opportunity.
k. One of my favorite ways to apply is to let a decision maker know that someone with your exceptional skill set is available.

IV. Once you have identified where to look for a job, shouldn’t you create the written and on-line tools to let decision makers know you are available? Of course, you need a resume. You will need one to apply to online positions. Also, you will need one that is graphically impressive. Additionally you may need a bio that discusses your accomplishments. There are those who will tell you that you don’t need a cover letter. But wait a moment, before you buy that argument hook line and sinker. If you are applying strictly on line, an argument can be made for that point of view. However, if you are delivering, mailing or networking, a cover letter is an excellent way to show the decision maker that you can write. If you are serious about the interview, you will need to take a copy of References and let the interviewer know that you are interested in the company and the position (if that is true). You will see requests for Salary History more during a downturn in the economy. So expect to be asked about yours.
V. There is no substitute for researching the company’s on-line website and related information. You need to be armed with knowledge, before the interview. You can find a wealth of information by using Google. In just a few minutes you will find out if the company is stable, their vision and mission. Would the company be a good fit for you?
VI. Follow directions clearly through the on-line application process. On-line applications can be tricky. You must complete them fully. One corporate recruiter said, “Our on-line application process is critical if a candidate wants to work for us. We see too many incomplete applications where candidates just attach their resume.” She went on to say, “We have opt out questions that will disqualify candidates.” Perhaps you should spend a few minutes reviewing the application to see what those questions might be.
VII. Prepare for the interview. Most interviews begin with the telephone screening process. You need to take the telephone screening process seriously. When looking for a job, keep your résumé at hand. Remember your number one goal is to schedule a more in-depth interview with key team members. A good interviewer will have three to five qualifying questions. These questions may be framed in any number of ways to see if you are a good fit for the company.
VIII. The interview is not over until you have a few minutes to ask the interviewer a question or two. Experts agree that you SHOULD NOT ask about money, hours, benefits or those matters that interest you. Instead you should probe to see how you will fit into the corporate culture, contribute to their goals and set the pace for performance. By asking good questions, you will distinguish yourself as a candidate worthy of consideration.
IX. By following up promptly you will show the company that you have a sense of urgency. First you should send an email thanking them for their consideration – remembering this may be deleted. But don’t stop there - send correspondence by snail mail – thanking them for their time and consideration.
X. In many positions, it is important to ask for the job – because you will not land the position until you do. Hiring authorities tell me that it is refreshing when a candidate say, “I would like to work for your company.” If you can honestly make this comment and you are not desperate for just any job, make sure you communicate your interest to the interviewer. Should you feel the position is a good match for your skills, tell them so.

• Y You may find yourself saying YES to a position that is beneath your potential or you may find yourself saying YES to a project that would cause you to stretch your capabilities. Most jobs are what you make them to be. At worst you will learn something about yourself and your work style and at best you will develop new skills. Each experience has the seed or kernel for career growth. Unfortunately you will have to do many things you don’t want to do on your path to your perfect job. In fact successful people do many things they don’t want to! Your next yes may offer the opportunity of a lifetime.
• Z Using a zoom lens can put your career into perspective, wouldn’t you agree? Should you get the lens focused to closely on the subject, perception can be distorted. However if you examine too much of the background and do not identify the subject it can be come hazy and the target lost. Only you can put your career in proper focus. Use your career ZOOM Lens to focus on the target that will take your career to the next level by finding a good fit in your next career position.
  

So there it is. A complete list of Career Management tools from A to Z. What you do with them from here is up to you!


(c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved.
www.resume-source.com

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Is It Time To Update My Resume?

by: Robert Hidde, Managing Partner
Hidde Career Services

Sean was still in shock when he called my office. “I never saw it coming,” he told me. “I knew business was off, but I was blind sided when they eliminated my job.”

Anytime there is a downturn in the economy the number of calls and emails from people like Sean increase to recruiters, career counselors and résumé writers. And almost without exception, they all claim they didn’t see it coming.

Many employees seem to think that when times turn tough management simply begins indiscriminately cutting jobs. While such a scenario might be true of a very small minority of companies the truth is, companies in the twenty-first century view good performing employees as their greatest resource, not an expense.

Top managers know that innovation and ideas don’t come from business plans or computer generated projections. They come from people who possess the technical knowledge, customer skills and specialized expertise to breathe life into plans and projections. In other words, companies are cognizant of performance and decisions about job cuts are made after careful evaluation of performance. This on-going process of evaluation doesn’t just happen when business “turns south” rather has been going on for months prior to any cuts.

So, whether business and economic outlooks are great or grim, what are some of the signals an employee should pick up on that tell them it’s time to update their résumé and start exploring their options? Hidde Career Services research shows that the top signals employees need to watch for are:

• The company misses revenue targets in consecutive quarters. Regardless of the size of the business, its main product must be profits. Without profits companies can’t remain competitive, obtain needed financing, pay shareholders, upgrade technology, fund research, carry out effective marketing, and support payroll.
  
  
• An unexpected reduction in training budgets. If management anticipates having to eliminate positions they will be less likely to invest resources in on-going training for people who may be laid off. This may also be a red flag that new projects are slowing down, thus negating the need for upgrading employee skills.
  
  
• Budgeted new positions go unfilled. In most organizations facing potential cuts the first positions to be eliminated are those that were being created to handle projected new business. Not filling them or completely doing away with them is often a harbinger of potential job cuts in coming months.
  
  
• Failure to fill vacant positions and/or a hiring freeze in other departments. If openings resulting from employees retiring or those who quit are not being filled it can be an indication that management is anticipating staff reductions due to revenue shortfalls or lack of new orders.
  
  
• A reduction in responsibilities or a change in the type of projects being assigned. Being assigned lower level projects, having projects reassigned to other teams or finding that they’ve been left out of the loop is often an indication that an employee’s position is being evaluated for elimination.
  
  
• Changes in the attitude of managers. Many managers give subtle non-verbal signals to employees that their performance is below expected levels. Smart employees seek feed back on their performance when they become aware of them. These include no time for informal chats, slowness in responding to emails, not including them in meetings, becoming distant and not having time for impromptu meetings with the employee during the work day.

So, if you think it may be time to update YOUR resume', contact us today for a free consultation!

(c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved. www.resume-source.com

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