Category Archives: Unemployment

September 25, 2011

Why Facebook is so important today…

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

As Americans and world citizens look at the events that have transpired since 2007 to present, we are looking to others for answers. As we seemingly ended a two year recessionary period and began a new era of prosperity, we had the carpet dragged out from under us. Housing start ups are at record lows along with interest rates and mortgage rates, consumer confidence is drained, unemployment rates are staggeringly high and the security of the banking/lending industry is at risk. It is an epidemic in which each one of us is or knows someone affected by this crisis.

The 1970′s underwent a turbulent period itself. As the Vietnam war raged on sinking tax payer money into a war many of us didn’t understand and a country was being divided by pro and anti-war sentiment, we were witnessing an economic crisis at home. Gas shortages, high interest rates and dangerous unemployment were key concerns for the Ford and Carter administrations.

How do you distract yourself from the harsh realities all around you? The great emancipation is in the ability to find another addictive element to off set the pains so many are feeling. In 1972, Nolan Bushnell became a pioneer creating what may have been the greatest addictive savior of the last century. Founding the video game and home computer company Atari and thus bringing the age of video games to the household. In 1977, the Atari 2600, which would be the most financially successful of the product releases, would take us into the next decade and spearhead the age of MTV, handheld gaming devices, computer based games, Myspace, IPods and Facebook.

In a moment of crisis where budgets are tight, families are worried and a state of confusion and unrest fills the air, what greater contribution to society than a device no more than five pounds that can hold a family captive hours at a time, day after day. Whether it was Frogger, Donkey Kong, Astroids, Centipede or Star Wars, this now primitive technology won the hearts of millions and gave us a reason not to focus on our own lives.

Now a new generation is scared.
We can’t spend our money…Malls, sporting events, concerts and dining are out.
We can’t find jobs…Boredom and depression are now susceptible realities.
We can’t travel…Alternative ways to see the world must be found
We can’t drive or talk on the phone…Costs are too high…How do I keep in touch with friends and family

Mark Zuckerberg could not have had better timing in 2003 when The Facebook hit the campus scene and then the world. 2007 began our generations Great Depression. With no signs that recovery is in the immediate future, now more than ever do we need another “Great Distractor”

Thank you Facebook for giving us a tool to take our minds off of the banking and housing crisis, terrorism, unemployment, budget struggles, world trade, political unrest and gas prices. We needed a platform with games, communication channels, quizzes, video/picture sharing tools, wall posts, message boards, communities and networking capability at the comfort of your own home, mobile device or coffee shop.

Mark Zuckerberg to some is a pioneer and to others a fortunate recipient of opportunity. Either way, he is this generations Nolan Bushnell. Without Facebook, perhaps there would be another tool to help numb our minds of global conditions but maybe not. We might spend hours a day on Facebook, complain about the new format, talk about how it is taking over our lives, start theories how they know everything (which they probably do), and even make a New Year’s Resolution to quit but the bottom line is that it is doing society a much needed service.

Thank you Facebook for being the most addictive non-narcotic creating a smoke screen to over one billion people daily and sheltering us from the harsh realities.

1 comment | posted in Addiction, Atari, Banking, Distraction, Economy, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Mortgages, Nolan Bushnell, Polictics, Recession, Unemployment

July 19, 2011

With Cisco and Borders, 27,500 job eliminations announced today…Rut Row!

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

Currently, the number of unemployed persons (14.1 million) and the unemployment rate (9.2 percent) stand at an alarming position. Since March, 2011, the number of unemployed persons has increased
by 545,000, and the unemployment rate has risen by 0.4 percentage point. The eligible labor force stands at 153.4 million potential.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (9.1 percent), adult women
(8.0 percent), teenagers (24.5 percent), whites (8.1 percent), blacks (16.2 percent), and Hispanics (11.6
percent) showed little or no change in June. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.8 percent, not seasonally
adjusted.

Statistic provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

What does all this mean given the announcement today that Cisco will be closing a plant and reducing their global workforce by 16% (6,500 Employees) and Borders will be liquidating leaving over 11,000 unemployed?

There are major and minor workforce reduction announcements almost daily. Why point out these two? First, the numbers are very significant as 27,500 will be fazed out of the workforce, but more importantly is the extremity of the types of workers.

On the Cisco end, many of the roles being eliminated are technology focused skilled labor with niche specialty systems, development and integration training. On the Borders side, most of the affected are hourly retail specialists. When we look at the age breakdown and the teenage unemployment numbers at nearly 25%, we have to factor in that Borders has relied on the use of younger book sellers to meet the customer needs at the individual store level.

Adding onto the dangers of this slap in the face of an already bruised global economy, is that several analysts believe this is not the end for Cisco. This round of layoffs and plant closing may be the start of more to come.

With the end of Borders on the horizon, are we seeing a trend in the print/brick and mortars market that will continue to decline as the online and digital print market comes further into its own? A valid question with significant evidence leading to technology destroying the written word. Then again if we read our history books carefully, the underdog, in many memorable moments, has risen to the occasion to declare victory.

If the David and Goliath theory should happen to fail us, we must rely on the oldest adage in all of humanity: Survival of the fittest. Yes, the truly strong will prevail. There are several truths that we must accept:

1. The world population will continue to grow.
2. Competition will force companies to drive down operations and overhead costs and thus lean workforces.
3. Specialization of skills and effective branding will be essential elements in our resume folder.
4. As an employee, we will continuously be challenged, observed and scrutinized for there are a great many waiting in the wings to take our slot.
5. The fittest in the employment world is a combination of many elements including but not limited to: academics, experience, technical skills, soft skills, networking, validation, growth/advancement, risk and visibility
6. Fear is good! We should look at each day of employment as if it could be our last and harness that fear to force us to excel.
7. Believe in the reward system. It does work. Strong work performance will be rewarded.

Where does that leave us? Very simple: Cisco and Borders announced 27,500 job eliminations today.

Just when I thought we were getting somewhere, the media has to bring us down.

Who is winning in this employment cluster fuck? Simple Apple, LinkedIn, Facebook, Zynga and a group of former Wall Street Executive Wizards that inhaled more money than Harry Potter.

There is hope. There is always hope. Without hope we would never have had the musical genius of Hanson or the Spice Girls and witnessed the rise of Earnest and Pee Wee. We live in a world where the unthinkable becomes a reality and the unimaginable is lived out on American Idol.

Chaos and sensationalism are being poured down our throats by the media and we are swallowing it up whole.
We need to this put our own lives in perspective and the bottom line is that it is just about perspective.

You are talented and skilled and have demonstrated the ability to be a great asset to the workforce.
We are in the low end of a cyclical life cycle. It will rise again and we will look back fondly on how this made us stronger.

Now as I conclude, I want to be clear that today’s news is troubling and it will have an adverse affect on thousands of individuals and families and it will have a ripple affect on others but, if you are in this situation or fear you will be soon, know there are tools out there to make you stronger.

There are not hard to find. Just ask. In times of need, it is remarkable how the generosity of others shine.

Let your fear out, but use it for good to find the heart to be a better you.

Leave a comment | posted in Borders, Brand, Cisco, Economy, Fear, Jobs, Layoffs, Resume, Unemployment

May 5, 2010

Long-Term Unemployment: 80 Percent Of People Jobless Last Summer Still Out Of Work

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

By Arthur Delaney

Just one in five people who were out of work last summer have found jobs since then.
Of more than a thousand unemployed people surveyed by Rutgers University researchers last August, just 21 percent had landed a job by March, a followup survey reveals. Two-thirds remained “unemployed” according to the government’s definition — the rest gave up looking for work altogether, either going to school or retiring early.

“It’s a pretty grim study,” said Cliff Zukin, one of the authors of the report at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers.

Here’s how this grim finding looks graphically:

Of the people who found work, only 13 percent found full-time jobs, and 61 percent said their new gig was just “something to get you by while you look for something better.”

Seventy percent have been looking for work for longer than six months, the survey found — up from 48 percent in the summer. (In March, the number of people out of work for that length of time increased by 414,000 month to 6.5 million, representing 44.1 percent of all unemployed.)

To cope, 70 percent dipped into retirement funds, 56 percent borrowed money from family or friends and 45 percent turned to credit cards. Forty-two percent skimped on medical care, 20 percent moved in with family or friends and 18 percent visited a soup kitchen.

“The cushion’s completely gone,” said Zukin. “I think we’re looking at more cutting the core… It’s a much deeper economic gash this time.”

But while the employment situation has worsened, feelings have muted. In August, the intensity of people’s distress was the salient thing. For instance, 79 percent of the unemployed described themselves as “stressed” — that number dropped to 49 percent in March. There was a similar drop in people describing themselves as depressed, anxious, helpless, angry, hopeless, hopeful or motivated.

“My guess is that it’s harder to sustain that emotion, which is based on upheaval, as it becomes normal to you,” said Zukin (who stressed that he is not a psychologist). “So they’re dealing with it better. Being unplugged for a long time makes you make your piece with it.”

Long-term unemployment is even worse for people over 50, only 12 percent of whom found jobs since August. One of the survey respondents explained a common view of jobless folks over 50: age discrimination is to blame.

“Although there is nowhere on a CV/resume that you state your age, employers can tell how many years you have worked,” the person wrote. “I have been interviewed for positions requiring experience by managers more than half my age, and they can barely contain their disdain — despite the fact that my work experience is far greater than theirs.”

Unemployment for people over 55 has surged by 331 percent over the past decade, according to the AARP. Age-discrimination complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office have been higher since the start of the current recession than in any previous two-year period.

5 comments | posted in Long Term Unemployment, Rutgers, Study, Study Results, Unemployment, Workforce Development

April 18, 2010

President Obama Signs Bill Extending COBRA Premium Subsidy, Unemployment Insurance, and Medicare Physician Payment Rates Into Law – Full Law Documentation

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

Provided by Hewitt Associates

President Obama Signs Bill Extending COBRA Premium Subsidy, Unemployment Insurance, and Medicare Physician Payment Rates Into Law

President Obama signed into law the “Continuing Extension Act of 2010″ (H.R. 4851) on April 15, 2010. The legislation was passed by both the House and Senate the same day. The law temporarily extends the federal subsidy for COBRA benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, and Medicare physician payment rates.

Specifically, the law:

– Extends the federal 65% COBRA premium subsidy from March 31, 2010 to May 31, 2010;
– Extends the Medicare physician payment update from March 31, 2010 to May 31, 2010 to prevent a 21% drop in physician payment rates; and
– Extends unemployment insurance benefits from April 5, 2010 to June 2, 2010.

Meanwhile, the House is expected to begin debate on the pending “American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010″ (H.R. 4213). The bill was passed by the Senate on March 10, 2010 and, among other tax provisions, includes extending the COBRA subsidy eligibility extension through December 31, 2010.

The full text of H.R. 4851 is available at:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h4851eas.txt.pdf

1 comment | posted in Hewitt Associates, Law, Legislation, Obama, Unemployment

March 18, 2010

High Unemployment in Illinois? Don’t tell that to Hewitt Associates

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

Look who is hiring in Lincolnshire, IL and Downtown Chicago – Hewitt Associates. Look at the opportunities available right at your fingertips!

http://bit.ly/ChicagoLive

This is a great link to provide you with full access to the current open roles with Hewitt Associates. Please review and bookmark this link as it will be your one stop tool for career opportunities.

Who’s Life will you Touch?

Leave a comment | posted in Chicago, Hewitt Associates, Illinois, Job, Job Search, Unemployment

March 3, 2010

Hewitt Associates Report: President Signs Into Law Temporary Extension of COBRA Premium Subsidy, Unemployment Insurance, and Medicare Physician Payment Update

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

President Obama signed into law on March 2, 2010 a bill to temporarily extend emergency unemployment benefits, the COBRA premium subsidy program, and a Medicare physician payment update, along with other programs, all of which had expired on February 28. The “Temporary Extension Act of 2010″ (H.R. 4691), which was passed by the Senate on March 2 and the House on February 25, continues the emergency unemployment compensation program through April 5, 2010. It also extends the 65% COBRA premium subsidy included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (P.L. 111-5) through March 31, 2010. In addition, the law expands eligibility for the COBRA premium subsidy to certain individuals who are involuntarily terminated after they experience a qualifying event of reduction in hours. Also included in the law is an extension of the Medicare physician payment update, which sustains current Medicare payment rates for physicians (preventing a 21% payment reduction) through March 31, 2010.

In a statement, the President indicated that he was “grateful to the members of the Senate on both sides of the aisle who worked to end this roadblock to relief for America’s working families.” The Senate is also considering a longer extension of the COBRA premium subsidy in a separate bill in the coming weeks, which would extend the program through December 31, 2010. Hewitt will continue to monitor these developments.

The full text of H.R. 4691 is available at:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h4691pcs.txt.pdf

Leave a comment | posted in Benefits Extension, Cobra, Hewitt Associates, Unemployment

October 19, 2009

Confessions of An Unemployed Shopaholic

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

“I have an interview next week with UPS. I hope I get to wear the uniform. How cool would it be to wear the uniform.” – Those words were uttered by a very successful corporate and agency Talent Acquisition professional who had the suburban home outside of the major urban market and the summer cabin by the lake up north. Enjoyed traveling and sailing and knew how to close the deal.

After months of optimistic frustration, interviews started trickling in. Slowly but promising. Sharpening the interviewing skills, preparing for the behavioral bombardment of questions and ironing the most conservative suit in the closet, he was ready. The answered flowed, the confidence rose and the will to rise from the recession was peaking its head and just as we were ready to close the deal something was missing, the money.

Wait, is he expected to do the same caliber of work for 40 or 50 thousand less than what he was making prior. Oh no, reality just pitched three strikes and Casey is still waiting at the plate with bat in hand.

Time to sell the cabin but hopefully not the dogs. We can hold out a little longer. He can do some freelance consulting, participate in some small speaking engagements, take a few courses and keep fresh on the industry news and trends.

Now he finally has time to catch up on Mashable.com, BNet.com and Tweet the trials and tribulations of Bubble Boy on Twitter. Oh yes, internet procrastination disguised as a career search session. That may actually help the mental meltdown that is about to happen.

Good news, the unemployment rate is only 9.4% but wait, it is 12.8% in his major metropolitan area and if you factor in those that are no longer eligible for unemployment, we are close to 17.5%. Not looking good but not out yet.

He still has a strong circle of friends to help him through these times and he knows he is not the only one sitting on the deck of the Titanic. That moral support from employed and unemployed alike has kept him mentally strong during this time.

Even with the prospect of UPS he still does not see a sunrise in the near future. That is scary and very real.

What does the next chapter bring for this once well educated, well paid and well respected professional….
We will wait and see. He knows he is marketable and ready to take on the next assignment. He is maintaining connections with agencies, network contacts and keeping his career search and tweet deck up to date on opportunities. With persistence and a little bit of good old fashioned luck, this once prominent member of the Talent Acquisition community will once again rise to the top.

Postscript: This individual is now a senior director at a Fortune 500 global organization. Cheers!

2 comments | posted in Career Searching, Human Resources, Recession, Talent Acquisition, Unemployment

October 14, 2009

Getting an Edge in the Job Market – How to Cut Through the Line to the Front

By Recruiterpoet - Professionalism With Flare

According to the United States Labor statistics 90.5 % of the eligible US working population is gainfully employed or as the cynics put it 9.5% are unemployed. Well….both numbers are wrong. For many that have dried up their welcome at the Unemployment Clinic and have seen the last government issued check for a while, they are not factored into this estimate.

Are you a bullish analyst or a bearish one on the real unemployment numbers? A fair market value estimate is that the unemployment rate is 11 – 14 percent and the employment rate is 86 – 89 percent.
Unprecedented numbers and unprecedented times….As CNBC noted this morning “It is hard to rely on historical numbers and events when we are living through an unprecedented time”

Who ever said business news channels cannot be profound and poetic.

Sometimes in difficult times the best way to start an article or a day is with a joke:

Someone told me recently about an architect, a surgeon, and economist. The surgeon said, ‘Look, we’re the most important. God’s a surgeon because the very first thing God did was to extract Eve from Adam’s rib.’ The architect said, ‘No, wait a minute, God is an architect. God made the world in seven days out of chaos.’ The economist smiled, ‘And who made the chaos?’

We are living in a time of chaos. Some may say fear, panic, depression, cynicism or even sadness. I look at this time as a time of opportunity.

I have been approached recently by some very prominent professionals asking for advice on how to publish a book. I took a talent and pursued a dream and that is how I approached the process. I think many of us are starting to realize we have a rare opportunity to take our hidden talents and passions and make them a reality. We are living in a moment of flux and we should not resist the chance to jump on and see where it takes us.

That leads me to the heart of my thought article…How do I get an edge and thrive professionally in a stagnant economy? It’s easy…Expose your talents and become a visible entity in the infrastructure of a global communications platform.

We all know Linkedin, Talentbar, Friendster, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, and Second life, and the multitude of new platforms rising on a daily basis. Along the big diversified sites, there are niche sites devoted directly to your profession. Is your head spinning yet? Good, now take a deep breath and follow these few easy steps to becoming a star.

1.) A superstar shines because of their skill and not because they are solely being marketed. The most successful professionals rarely have to look for the next great opportunity. Make yourself known without letting anyone know you are doing it. Set up a personalized website and design it to expose your complete persona. Include your professional and academic background, groups or organizational affiliation, volunteer work, talents and skills, family/friends if you choose and long term goals and aspirations. A great sourcer/recruiter will find you.

2.) Be very concise and succinct on your professional profile. Peak the interest of a prospective employer with details of your accomplishments and skills but don’t away too much. Leave them wanting more. Grab them with little and when they find you, expose the best of you.

3.) Don’t be afraid to be different. The internet has become the new Hollywood for the world. Just because your colleagues at a network dinner are using headhunters and putting their profile on Linkedin and cold calling doesn’t mean you have to take that route. Make a video and promote yourself on You Tube or Broadcaster.com. Show your creative side and enhance exposure to your strong communication skills, your energy level and your creative juices.

4.) Research, research research! Did I mention research? Always keep your eyes open for that perfect career. Someday even Willy Wonka may need an assistant and when that happens you need to jump on that. When you choose to pursue an opportunity, use the tools you have to research the company, find out who the assessors may be, learn the culture and develop an approach that will grab their attention.

5.) Patience. Every good thing requires a level of patience. Don’t get discouraged! Don’t feel less valued! Don’t feel like the world is ending…unless your favorite American Idol just got voted off! Most importantly, try to stay consistent with the lifestyle you have grown accustomed to because things will rebound to a level of normalcy over time.

6.) The final advice I can give is the harder to achieve for many. Make time for yourself. If you have an opportunity, take a trip, build a boat, do volunteer work, start a hobby, work out or make art out of macaroni. This is a time of you. Don’t forget that.

Life doesn’t have a set of instructions or a clear conclusion but it does have a teacher to help guide you through times like this. That is the person you see every morning in the mirror. Whether we are directly affected by these difficult times or know someone, we all feel a level of empathy and the best thing we can do is seek inner happiness and make the best of this situation.

Leave a comment | posted in Human Resources, Recession, Unemployment

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