Long term unemployment July 12, 2010

I like a large number of unemployed have been ou of work more than 6 months. For me it has been 1 year and 9 months.

It leads to high levels of stress, health and family issues. I t leads to us loosing our focus and turning desperate which makes finding the right job even worse.

I hear the desperation in the voices of my fellow WIND members each week. I want to help each one of them but at this time all I can give is understanding and moral support.

Now t make matters even worse for all of us Congress has not voted a further extension of benefits and corporate America had decided to further their own problems by not even looking at unemployed candidates who have been out of work more than 6 months.

Where and when will this vicious circle end. The whole world is in a catch 22 situation and every one is afraid to make the first move to get us out of it. This has shown the world and stakeholders just what a lack of leadership there is on all levels.  Where are the companies that can show that they have grown and prospered in this economy. There isn’t any. Instead they have cut to the bare necessities and basically gone into a catatonic state waiting for someone else to solve the problem so they can awaken as some beautiful butterfly. However it is there actions that will awaken them as an ugly moth.

Lets look at economics 101 for us to understand where they have failed miserably.

To make money you have to have a market and sell products.

To sell products you must have people with free cash to buy these products

In order for people to have free cash they must have jobs and a reasonable amount of debt

So the more people employed the more free cash the more sales.

Employed= free cash=sales= profits

So what has corporate America done to destroy this concept?

Minimum employees, minimum production, sold off all assets not currently used, to produce false profits, in order to keep stocks even or increased.

So basically companies are trying to perform dot com bubble economics, we will sell stocks based on air(false profits).

The dot com bubble burst causing a number of companies to disappear. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe the unemployed should look at this as an opportunity and start a new business that will take the place of the ones that will disappear.

There are a number of highly qualified unemployed people from all levels and aspects of a company. Get out of your slump and start discussing what business you can unite together to start. IF you cannot find employment create it.

Isn’t that what America strong. We need to develop a Phoenix mentality. We are in the ashes and now is the time to rise up stronger and better than we were before we turned to ashes.

I have started the process. I have started my own company. Evolution Career Business Leadership (AKA Evolution CBL) to help you, to help businesses see the error of their ways, to help  leaders develop the skills they need or enhance the ones they have to move America forward once again.

We are American we don’t quit we band together to help each other out and to become stronger. You cannot keep us down! We will rise with even a stronger voice and determination than we had before. Being an American is about perseverance about building and rebuilding, about helping each other our neighbors, our friends, and strangers.

It is time to unite with one voice and tell the nation we are made as hell and will not take it anymore. If we need to do it with our votes the next election then let politicians know they are on the block and the axe is sharpened.

Get out of your slump, get positive get engaged and get going!

I challenge all my fellow unemployed friends and colleagues to make a new America. Start new companies start new businesses struggle if you have to. I know that I am struggling getting my business going but I am determined I am focused and I will not quit. I have been forming allies and I am calling on them to help me. I challenge you to do the same. If you have been cultivating a dream then now is the time to make it happen. Get with other unemployed people who could form a company and figure it out.

I am here to help you.

What is the blackhole and where is this hidden job market June 30, 2010

These two terms are tossed about like confetti at a New York City Parade. It gets you all excited but in the end it is just trash at your feet.

I will try to demystify both these terms for you. Boy have I got my work cut out for me.

The infamous Blackhole of job hunting coming to a theater in 3D!!

This refers to the use of Resume Tracking software programs (RTS) that can be set to scan electronic resumes for keywords(AKA buzzwords) and placing them in categories by percentage of words found. HR can then set it to only deliver those with a very high percentage. What if my resume does not have at least 95% ? Then it is never seen by a human and no human even know you exist or even submitted.

The more sophisticated software packages can even place weighting factors on the buzzwords and give a larger chance of you not being seen by a human.

So how am I to know that my resume was ever read by a human? Well in short you don’t but then the reasoning is a whole new discussion and has been discussed in finite detail on a number of LinkedIn groups. My best answer to your inquiry is to follow up with HR. See my post on HR and recruiters so that you do not to disappointed by lack of professionalism and no replies. Again this has been brought up in many LinkedIn groups as well.

The inhuman part of RTS is that it cannot take into account experience, accomplishments nor potential of candidates. It can only scan for buzzwords and dates. Dates can be used to eliminate older workers, which is why you are told to only include the last 10 years on your resume.

The Hidden Job Market the spy thriller of the century! Available at Amazon, Borders and Barnes and Noble!

You ready for this it is called hidden for a very good reason, because it doesn’t exist! Well not in the sense that you would expect. There are unscrupulous agencies out there that market that they can get you into the hidden job market. Then they take your money and teach you how to job search.

Save your $5,000+ unless you are one of the fools who you and your money are soon parted.

Here it is in a nut shell:

Companies have unfilled positions. They could be unfilled due to budget as it wasn’t funded but they see a future need for it. The position is vacant but currently the company can get by with it not filled. Companies will not advertise these position because they do not need to collect thousands of resume at this time.

This one requires much hard work on your part and while it seem a little humorous I am serious. The company does know that it needs you doing this fantastic job you do. So when you stop laughing please read on!

So a number of you are saying then it is stupid to even waste my time chasing something that doesn’t exist! Great keep that thought the smart one need less competition.

Okay wise guy then how do I find out about these hidden jobs and how do I get one?

First let me say Target Companies(See the post on selecting target companies).

Networking!!!! (Yes once again see my post on this topic)

When you network into your target companies and you finally get to talk to the hiring manager. The hiring manager will now about the positions I stated earlier unfunded or unfilled. Now here is where the hard work comes in……for you to convince the hiring manager what a great job you can do for him and the company if they hire you to do XYZ and what a catastrophe it would be if they didn’t and you went to work for another company. To learn more on techniques for this pick up the book Guerrilla Marketing for the Job Hunter.

So I hope I have added some clarity and humor into your life. If you have taken the time to read this far, you are many steps ahead of those who wander blindly in the job search dessert. I hope that I have added some value in your search and some chuckles to maintain your sanity. I wish you the best if you decide to pursue the hidden market. There is a lot less competition but then it is a lot more work. It is a great reward for those that persevere!

Disclaimer: No animals were used or injured in the research for this post.

Informational Interviews May 22, 2010

First the name needs to be changed because interview is a turn off. It conveys the appearance that you are asking for a job.

You are asking this person to interrupt their work schedule to help you so be very respective of their time. If you asked for 10 minutes end at 9 minutes unless the person gives you more time. Again be respective of it. Be sure to thank them for their time and generosity if they allowed more time. You may need to call this person again.

Informational meeting would have a better reception or informational inquiry.

The next thing is how you request the meeting.

Why did you choose this person, were they referred to you?

Did you find them in a LinkedIN search?

Do you consider them a knowledge expert in their field?

You need to tell these people how you found them and why they are important in your quest for information.

Interview has a strong tie to jobs so do not use the word in your conversation period!

Don’t get personal in the beginning by asking what did you do to get in the field and this job. They do not know you that well and it is a turn off to get personal immediately.

Ask what are the requirements and skill sets needed to perform the job?

Do they know of any other field that could easily transfer over to their field?

Can they recommend anyone else to talk to?

The last thing is CAN I DO ANYTHING FOR YOU!

Is the market opening up or is it just a blip. April 27, 2010

There are a number of jobs being filled which is good news. But at the same time there are still companies downsizing and going bankrupt. Europe is still struggling to get their economy back in order. China is starting to deal with the issues of their own housing boom and their economy growing at too fast a pace. Soon it will not be cost effective to do business there and hopefully the jobs will come home but I doubt that. I am sure they are eying Viet Nam and other countries as the next cheap labor market.

The other thing to think about is that there are a number of companies that are on the July to June fiscal year. They are coming  into 4th quarter and they have to spend the money in their budgets to keep the same budget next year. They have slots that have been open but not filled. So if they do not fill them now they will loose them for next year or be forced not to fill them again. Then there is the annual 10% turn over from retirements and people leaving.

So at this moment while things are looking up I am apprehensive about saying we have hit bottom and are climbing out.

I do not mean to sound like a pessimist or a doom doctor but we have been bit before by the media and others saying we have turned around. So I will say I am being cautiously optimistic.

What are your feelings?