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. 

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.

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.

What Will GM Workers Do for 11 Weeks?

The news is that GM will close 15 or so plants for up to 11 weeks affecting 24,000 people in an effort to save money and save the company.  The thought I had was, " I wonder what those 24,000 people will do for up to 11 weeks?"  How many will take entry level or hourly jobs at McDonalds, Home Depot, etc?  Will they volunteer for charities?  Will they take classes to learn new skills (IT perhaps?) to prepare for a new career?  I can only assume they won't be eligible for unemployment benefits for those 11 weeks.  Perhaps this is a window of opportunity for these 24,000 people to look at what else may exist outside of the 4 walls they have known. 

A Stand-Up Guy in Fortune Small Business

I wrote an article for Fortune Small Business a few months back for its How I Work section. It was about how I ditched my chair for a stand-up desk I had custom made from a Canadian company called Groupe Lacasse, and how my unusual work habit increased my productivity and improved my relationships with my staff. Check it out here.