Number of People Working Still Less Than in Late 2008

Extensive data mining and research by the analytical staff of the Rhino Report indicates the actual employment trends and scenario are far from significantly improved relative to cyclical lows reached in 2009.

James Brumley, chief analyst of the Rhino Report, has shared details of the true unemployment picture. The key concerns are:

1. While the shrinking number of initial unemployment claims has been falling since the March of 2009 high of 647K to last month’s 385K, the total number of people working in the United States as of the end of February is still under the number of employed workers in late 2008. A total of 147 million people were working in December of 2007, and only 139 million U.S. residents are employed now. That’s fewer than were working in March of 2009.
2. While the number of regular ongoing unemployment claims has been falling since the early 2009 peak of 6.3 million, reaching 4.3 million as of last month, the government’s reported figure doesn’t include the 4.4 million unemployed currently receiving emergency benefits. It also excludes the estimated 3 million who stopped receiving any benefit, yet are still not employed.

Brumley adds that even though the unemployment trend is not getting measurably better in the least, it’s not inherently a reason to avoid the stock market. In fact, corporations are almost earning as much money now as they were in late 2007. The stocks in the S&P 500 are projected to be earning at record levels by the end of 2011, and have already dramatically improved since lulls in late 2008 even though the number of employed people since than has fallen. The implication is that the market does not need strong employment to thrive, as companies have been able to squeeze more from the active workforce.

What Do You Believe About Your Career?

People talk about “belief” as this thing that only works for people who are successful. Ask these same successful people what they owe their success to and they’ll start using words like positive thinking and affirmations. But people who struggle often articulate the success of others to “good luck” and their own struggles with “bad luck.”

 

If those who are achieving great things in their careers keep using the same words over and over again, maybe they are repeating these words because they are true or because the repetition helps them to become true. Maybe being successful really is simple and straightforward. You believe and then you achieve. If this is the case, then is it finally time to follow their advice?

 

In a world that puts out a lot of negativity, it’s a challenge to think positively. But unless you do, your goals won’t happen. A negative attitude holds you back. It makes you doubt yourself and your ability to reach your goals. But this can be changed if you want it to change. The flip side of thinking negative is positive, so if you have a career goal in mind, one that you really want, it’s time for you to shift your thinking and your focus.

 

So How Do You Believe? Follow These 3 Steps Below:

 

1) Chose To Believe

 

If you don’t think that believing in your goals works, then you won’t believe. And, your goals won’t work. Without belief, the magic in your career is gone. Many of my clients want to be excited, motivated, and passionate about their careers. Belief is at the heart of this wish. When you believe in something, you feel giddy, like a child who knows that anything can and will happen. You get that pep in your step, and you have something to look forward to. Belief gives you a reason to get out of bed everyday. It fuels your fire and moves you forward in a strong and powerful way.

 

2) Say Your Career Goals Out Loud

 

When you speak something, rather than only thinking it, it becomes real. But many people are afraid to speak about their goals because they don’t know what the outcome will be. You don’t get a guarantee in your career. You get a feeling that something feels right and then you go after it. And usually if it feels right, it is right. Try it now. Speak your goal. How did it feel? Good, I bet. Now, who will you tell, and keep telling? Writing down your goals is important, but so is saying them out loud.

 

3) Achieve Your Career Goals

 

If you work on your goals, you will reach them. If you don’t work on your goals, you won’t. But once you believe you can achieve your goals, and you’ve said it for the world to hear, you are ready to act. Put one foot in front of the other and keep repeating this action until you’ve reached your destination. Sound too simple to be effective? Probably. But what’s wrong with simple?

 

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
 

***Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, is the President of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. a successful career, life, and mentor coaching company that works with Senior Executives,  Vice Presidents, and Managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive  in their current role. She is the author of “Coach Yourself To A New Career”, “Don’t Blow It! The Right Words For The Right Job” and “How To Feel Great At Work Everyday.”  Deborah can be reached at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com  or at (631) 874-2877.***

Workers Feel Less Secure Now Than a Year Ago

Despite signs the economy is steadily improving, most employees feel less secure in their jobs compared to a year ago, according to a survey of 581 American workers by Right Management. Right Management is the talent and career management expert within Manpower, a global leader in innovative workforce solutions.

Completed by the firm March 14, the online survey found that 71% reported they are less secure in their job than last year, while 14% feel just as secure and 15% more secure.

“We really expected a more optimistic outlook by employees,” said Douglas J. Matthews, Right Management’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “In fact, we thought most respondents would tell us they were feeling at least as secure as a year ago now that it appears the recession is well past its depth. But it seems it will take more time for people to get over the trauma of the long downturn, and job security is probably the sort of indicator that lags behind any good news.”

As further evidence, Matthews cited Manpower’s second quarter Employment Outlook which projects that 74% of employers plan no staffing changes. “In fact, 16% of companies expect to hike hiring, and just 6% foresee any staffing decreases. It seems the word just isn’t getting through or that employers have been overly reticent about communicating their staffing plans.”

Moreover, the persistent workplace unease, Matthews warned, poses a challenge for employers. “Perhaps some bosses want their people to feel insecure, just lucky to have a job. But savvy leaders know that such widespread deep anxiety is no good for the organization in the long run. In order for employees to do their best they need to have a sense they’re valued by their organizations and engaged in a worthwhile pursuit. Top management has to address the job security issue head on, and communicate to workers what their role is in the organization’s future success.”

Tax Breaks Available to Workers, Freelancers and Job Seekers

The number of unemployed Americans reached record levels in 2010, with many experiencing prolonged joblessness lasting six months or more.  And, while more than 14 million people continue to look for employment, some might find a measure of financial solace in the several tax breaks for which they are likely to become eligible as a result of their employment situation.

With the April 15 tax deadline less than one month away, the nation’s taxpayers should make themselves aware of the many tax credits and deductions available to workers, freelancers and job seekers, advises employment authority John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

“There are so many tax rules and they seem to change every year or two.  It is undoubtedly an overwhelming task for most people to sift through all of the materials to figure out eligibility for a particular deduction or credit.  For the unemployed it can be even more daunting, since their top priority is to find a job, not a tax credit,” said Challenger.

The Internal Revenue Service will see a record number of filings from taxpayers who were unemployed at some point in 2010.  In January of last year, the number of unemployed Americans reached 16,147,000, the highest level in Bureau of Labor Statistics data going back to 1948.  Over the course of the year, unemployment averaged 14,825,000, the highest annual average on record.

Making matters worse for the nation’s jobless was the fact that on average there were 6.4 million people every month who were unemployed for 27 weeks or more, which is also a record high annual average.

“Obviously, prolonged unemployment has significant implications on one’s income tax.  In most cases, it is going to lower the burden.  Many people will be able to lower the burden even further, for example, if they took continuing education classes to keep their skills fresh, traveled for job interviews or maintained a home office to complete freelance assignments,” said Challenger.

The unemployed are not the only ones who can enjoy tax credits.  Full- and part-time workers have a wide variety of deductions they can consider when completing their taxes.  Most fall under miscellaneous deductions, which allow taxpayers to claim eligible expenses that exceed two percent of adjusted gross income.

For instance, workers who have numerous unreimbursed business expenses can deduct them from their taxes.  Some of the unreimbursed employee expenses that may be eligible for deduction include dues paid to professional societies; depreciation on a computer or cell phone required by an employer; licenses and regulatory fees; home office used regularly and exclusively in one’s work; subscriptions to professional journals and trade magazines; travel, transportation, entertainment and gift expenses related to one’s work; union dues and expenses; and work-related education. 

Miscellaneous deductions exceeding two percent of adjusted gross income can also be applied to job-search expenses.

“Most people looking for jobs will not reach the two percent expense level from job-search costs alone.  The exception might be those who have been jobless for an extended period and those looking for jobs out of town,” said Challenger.

“Those who are having difficulty finding new employment are more apt to extend their job search to other regions.  Trips to interview with prospective employers significantly increase job-hunting expenses if companies do not reimburse for travel,” Challenger said.

Travel expenses, including airfare, lodging, rental car, parking, food, tolls, taxis, bus and rail costs are deductible as long as the trip relates primarily to seeking new employment in a person’s current trade or business.

Additionally, typical job hunting costs, such as typing, photocopying, printing, postage, stationery and special envelopes, are also deductible.  Items associated with the job hunt, such as file folders, appointment schedulers, computers and fax machines, can be deducted as well.

Those who ended up relocating for a position may also be able to deduct expenses related to the move. 

There are also deductions related to medical expenses and health insurance premiums paid by independent contractors and freelancers.  Additionally, the long-term unemployed forced to dip into their retirement savings may be able to avoid some of the penalties associated with early withdrawal.

Where in the World is Your Job Search?

“You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there“. – Yogi Berra

I’m on the road again this week and writing this from my hotel room. While I’ve been in this city before, it got me to thinking about how job search differs depending on where in the world you are. Not that that should surprise anyone, but I never really gave much thought to it until this week. For one, depending on what country you are in, the questions can be very different. What is illegal to ask in one country, is perfectly normal to ask in another. Sometimes, even when you are looking for a job in your own country, it can feel as if you are on another planet. So maybe you are feeling a little adrift and need to bring your search back to Earth (so to speak).

• The Riley Guide – “Providing free career and employment information since February 1994.” is the tag line for this very well known and respected job search site. There is a wealth of information here, and you could spend days just reading through all of the information. So, where to start? There is a very helpful “Navigating the Guide” list on the left hand side of the page. From how to job search to research and target employers, this is the place to get started.
  
• The Art of Career and Job-Search Networking – Quintcareers also has a page dedicated to networking and they also stress that this is probably the most important part of your search methods. They provide detail on networking on the web, networking groups (like Diversity, Women, Military, etc.) as well as some publications on the topic.
• LinkedIn – According to Wikipedia, LinkedIn is “a business- social networking site founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003 mainly used for professional networking”. This site has become very popular over the last year. At the end of September 2009, the site had 9 million unique visits for the month and by September of this year there were more than 50 million registered users across well over 100 industries. The site allows users to link to colleagues from current and past employers, schools and any other group that may be defined. One of the features I like best is the “degrees of separation”. The site will show you how you may know a third party through an existing connection. Linked has job search functions as well formats which allow you to showcase your background. Clearly the “best in class” from what I’ve seen.

Search for Jobs – Your Inventory – You need to create an inventory of what you will do next (recruiters, job search sites and company career sites. See the links to my list of lists below for each of these categories.

• List of Recruiters and Headhunters – Here is a great list of recruiters to get you started in building your recruiter inventory. Don’t forget to keep track.
• Inventory of Company Career Sites – Company career sites are a great place to start, this list should help you get started.
• Job Search Boards – While yo don’t want to be registered on every site, you do want to be on the right sites for you. Check out my list.

Good luck in your search.

 

Author Byline: CareerAlley
Author Website: CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

100 Jobs from Nowhere

Is that sound you hear the sound of your career clock ticking away? Do you feel like you are in “the wrong” job and worry that you will not be able to transition to “what you really want to do”? You are not alone, this happens to many people. Sometimes the job is “not as advertised” or maybe you just took the wrong job. Maybe it has nothing to do with being in the wrong job, maybe you are in the wrong industry and you are looking to make a switch. Whatever the reason, you think that the longer you stay in that job, the harder it will be to make a move to something else. The good news is that this is not necessarily the case. I’m not saying that it will be easy to switch careers, but it is certainly possible. Okay, you’ve made your decision, so what’s the next step?

• Career Choice or Change – This list of resources, from about.com, provides a whole range or resources to help you either decide a career or to help you make a change. There are links to resources such as “career change quiz”, “How do I choose the right career”, “six reasons to make a career change” and more. At the top of the page are several tabs for Career Planning, Choose a Career, Career Change and Career Advancement. Whatever your reason to make or consider a career change, you can find information to help you on your way.

• 10 Career Change Mistakes to Avoid – If you’re going to make a change, then you really need a plan. This article, from quintcareers.com, provides a few tips so you too can avoid the pitfalls of career changes. In addition to ensuring you have a plan, there are additional tips like don’t change your career just because you hate your job or ensuring that you check all of your options. So, in addition to knowing what to do, you should take a look here and make sure you know what not to do. Oh, and while you are on the site, don’t forget to check out the related articles at the bottom of the page.

• Change Your Career in Seven Easy Steps – What more could you ask for, seven steps to changing your career. There are some good ideas here (like joining the professional society that covers your new career). Each step is followed by a short paragraph and I’m sure you can find additional information on these topics on the internet. There are some career related links on the right hand side of the page.

• List of Average Job Salaries & Salary Comparisons by Career – Well if you’re going to make a career change, then you might as well pick one where you make lots of money (not that money is everything, but it helps). This link, from Careeroverview.com, provides lists of careers on the left hand side of the page, with salaries by occupation on the right hand side of the page. Take a look, this may help you decide what you want to dough (I mean do).

• 25 Worst Jobs to Have In 2010 – Hopefully your current job is not one of the 25 on this list. On the flip side, this gives you the opportunity to pass on these job types as well. That being said, I’m not sure I really agree with the statement (and the jobs). Many of these jobs are (in my opinion) are great jobs to have. So, click the link on any of the jobs and you will have some of the information you need to help you make your decision.

Good luck in your search.

 

From the experts at CareerAlley

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

What are the big do’s and don’ts during a job interview?

1. Ask your recruiter how to dress. Default to suit and tie unless told otherwise. There are some companies that will allow you to dress down, but never assume that this is the case.

2. Bring several copies of your updated resume.

3. Bring a sheet with at least 10 typed out questions for the recruiter.

4. Research the company and the staff interviewing you, but do not stock them online. You might think it’s cue to know where they live, they might thinks its sketchy.

5. Be prepared for behavioral interview questions like: What are your 3 greatest weakness? Have answers like: My greatest weakens is that I’m a workaholic.

6. Show your personality regardless of the firm you are interviewing at. If they don’t like it, you will hate working there. If you do not show your personality, they may think you don’t have one.

7. Make sure there are no typos in your resume nor grammatical errors.

8. Take notes.

9. Laugh, it’s okay.

10. Make sure you don’t have sweaty palms.

11. Practice giving a confident handshake. This means that if you do not crush the recruiters hand or give them a limp towel.

12. Be gracious about changes in your schedule.

13. Answer questions directly. Don’t ramble.

14. Answer questions with specific examples.

15. Write thank you notes. Snail mail is nice, email is also nice. Do not write thank you notes longer then a few sentences. Absolutely no paragraphs.

16. Don’t get defensive.

17. Don’t lie.

18. Ask how you did and then ask for the job.

19. Don’t balk if the recruiter brings up salary questions.

20. Make eye contact.

Good Luck!!

 

Author Info: Boston Technical Recruiter please visit http://www.boston-technical-recruiter.com for more information.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Job Market for Teens Still Looks Brutal

The massive budget deficits that are crippling federal, state and local government agencies across the country are expected to have a negative impact on the employment prospects for teenagers this summer.

In its annual teen summer employment outlook released Thursday, , global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. projects that summer hiring among teenagers is likely to see little improvement from last year’s historic lows. 

Last year, teen job seekers experienced the weakest summer job market in decades.  Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that from May through July employment among 16- to 19-year-olds increased by just 960,000 jobs.  That was down 17.5 percent from 2009, when teen employment grew by 1,163,000.

The 960,000 summer jobs filled by teens represents the lowest level of summer hiring since 1949, when teen employment increased by 932,000 during the summer months.  Additionally, government statistics reveal that the 5,290,000 16- to 19-year-olds employed last July is the lowest July total since 1959.

In contrast, employers hired more than 1.7 million teenagers during the summer of 2006, bringing total employment for this age group to 7,494,000 in July, which historically represents the annual peak of teen employment.

“Any teen hiring gains achieved in the slowly improving private sector could be offset by losses in the public sector, where teenagers often find summer employment as camp counselors, lifeguards, office assistants, laborers and clerks.  In fact, the City of Chicago announced this week that the number of summer jobs for young people will decrease by 22 percent this year,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“If gasoline prices continue to rise, typical private-sector teen employers, such as amusement parks, hotels and resorts, landscapers and other businesses that suffer when energy costs increase, could also cut back seasonal hiring plans.  However, teenagers should not consider the situation entirely hopeless.  The city of Chicago, for example, will still offer 14,000 jobs to teens this summer,” he added. 

 “Even at its worst, employment among teenagers experienced a net gain of nearly 1,000,000 jobs last year.  But, in the current environment it will be more important than ever for teens to begin their summer job searches early,” advised Challenger.

As of February, total teen employment stood at 3,974,000, 4.0 percent lower from 4,139,000 a year ago.  The February total was down 30 percent from 2006, when February employment among teenagers reached its most recent peak of 5,700,000.  The historic peak for teen employment was achieved in July 1978, when 10,033,000 16- to 19-year-olds were working.

“Competition for jobs will be significant.  Young job seekers will not only compete with other teenagers, but in certain types of jobs like retail and food service, they may compete with recent college graduates or older workers who need to supplement retirement income.  Home Depot recently announced that it would hire 60,000 seasonal workers for the summer months, and while some of those will be teenagers, many of the jobs will undoubtedly go to older, more experienced retail and home-improvement workers,” said Challenger.

“The key to success for teen job seekers will be an aggressive approach to the job search.  Today’s tech-savvy teenagers are apt to conduct 90 percent of their job search on the Internet and submit applications online.  However, nothing beats actually walking into a business, introducing yourself to the manager and asking about job opportunities.  The personal touch sets the groundwork in building a rapport that will separate you from electronic candidates,” he said.

“By getting out from behind the computer, young job seekers may also find opportunities that don’t exist in the digital realm.  Many mom-and-pop stores do not advertise job openings on the Internet.  Nor do families looking for babysitters, lawnmowers or housecleaners.  Some of the best opportunities this year may be for the odd-jobs entrepreneur. 

“Many families are eliminating monthly expenses such as lawn care and home cleaning.  However, these tasks still need to be completed and families, while strapped for cash, are no less strapped for time.  A teenager who can provide these services at a fraction of what professional services charge may be able to drum up enough business to earn a steady income.  Teenagers won’t find these opportunities in the classified ads or on the Internet; they will have to go out and sell their services to their neighbors,” said Challenger.

“Use your parents, friends and your friends’ parents as sources for job leads.  Try to meet with hiring managers face-to-face, as opposed to simply dropping off a completed application form with a random clerk at the sales counter,” he added. 

“Newspapers, both print and online, are also a good source for job leads.  The classified ad section will contain some help wanted advertisements, but do not forget to read the local and business news sections, where you might find stories about new local businesses or ones that are struggling to find workers.

“Most importantly, do not get frustrated by failure.  Many teens give up after applying to 10 or 12 jobs, concluding that ‘no one is hiring teens this summer.’  Chances are good that there are more than 10 or 12 employers in your city or town, so it is necessary to cast a wider net.  There are many summer job opportunities outside the confines of the local mall,” noted Challenger.

Job Match Alerts Now Being Texted to Cell Phones of College Students and Recent Grads

JOB ROOSTER AND COLLEGERECRUITER.COM INK PARTNERSHIP

Social enterprise and college job board site mobilize labor force by text message

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota (March 16, 2011) – Job Rooster and CollegeRecruiter.com have partnered to bring mobile recruiting services to students and recent graduates who are entering today’s hyper-competitive job market. The move allows job seekers registered with CollegeRecruiter.com to receive job alerts directly on their mobile phones and be the first to hear about the latest job openings.

Job Rooster delivers job alerts immediately to job seekers’ mobile phones using text messages, enabling anyone, anytime, anywhere to find their next job without the use of a computer or Internet connection.

“By partnering with CollegeRecruiter.com, we’re putting students first in line for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Job Rooster’s CEO, Nick Ellis.

CollegeRecruiter.com is the nation’s largest job board and information source for college students, grads and recent graduates who are seeking employment, continuing education and business opportunities. This deal will extend and enhance CollegeRecruiter.com’s online services to the mobile phone, where students spend over 7 1/2 hours per day.

“There’s no doubt that the students and recent graduates we serve spend far more time on their cell phones than they do on their computers,” said Steven Rothberg, President and Founder of CollegeRecruiter.com. “If we want to continue to lead our industry – and we do – we need to be where our users want to be and that means on their mobiles. We’ve consistently led our industry through the introduction of new and innovative services and there’s little doubt that the ability to find AND apply to a job using a mobile phone is both new and innovative.”

The New York Times reported in Sept. 2009 that 94% of people between 18-24 use text messages as their primary means of communication. By creating a service based around the popularity of text messaging, Job Rooster reaches audiences who do not rely on email as their primary form of communication.

“With unemployment skyrocketing over 30% among youth populations, we recognize that our online recruitment systems are largely failing today’s graduates,” said Ellis. “We’re excited to work with CollegeRecruiter.com to help put students back to work quickly and purposefully during these difficult times.”

About CollegeRecruiter.com:

CollegeRecruiter.com is the leading job board for college students searching for internships and recent graduates hunting for entry-level jobs and other career opportunities. CollegeRecruiter.com features hundreds of thousands of internship and job posting ads as well as tens of thousands of employment articles, blogs, videos, Ask the Experts questions and answers, and more. For more information about CollegeRecruiter.com visit CollegeRecruiter.com or email Steven Rothberg at Steven@CollegeRecruiter.com.

About Job Rooster:

Job Rooster, a San Francisco social enterprise, empowers job seekers anytime, anywhere to find local job opportunities on their mobile phone. Job Rooster’s full lifecycle recruitment platform allows employers to cost-effectively engage and hire the best talent using its text messaging, voice-, and video-services. Join the worldwide workforce online at www.jobrooster.com, or by texting JOBS to CROWS (27697). If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Job Rooster Co-Founders Nick Ellis or Azeem Butt, please contact Nick Ellis at nick@jobrooster.com.

Expect Change in the Job Market Moving Forward

It is no secret that we live in a global economy, and because of that, job seekers may need to adapt to a changing job market. This is why higher education isn’t really an option but a necessity in the 21st Century. Other countries are looking to surpass the United States as an economic power, which means that if job seekers don’t prepare for the jobs of the future, they will be left behind. Why? Those jobs will be created in the countries with people ready to fill them.

The change in the job market appears to be more structural than cyclical. This means that once reliable industries which provided jobs are not hiring any more. According to a recent article, some jobs that could be lost include printing machine operators, telemarketers, and postal clerks. Advancement in technology is a big reason for this transition in the job market.

While technology can make our lives easier, it may force some people to look for another line of work. As you’ve probably heard in the news, most of the jobs people once had are not coming back, which means they will need education and/or training in other areas.

The global economy is here. In order to compete, today’s job seekers must prepare for the changing job market.

Source:
http://thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=2449&archive=0

 

Article by guest blogger, William Frierson, a staff writer for CollegeRecruiter.com.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.