Where are the jobs? Fix the economy!

According to a recent online article The Best Cities for Jobs 2011 by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires:

“…no place displayed more vibrancy than Texas. The Lone Star State dominated the three size categories, with the No. 1 mid-sized city, El Paso (No. 3 overall, up 22 places from last year) and No.1 large metropolitan area Austin (No. 6 overall), joining Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood (the No. 1 small city) atop their respective lists.

Texas also produced three other of the top 10 smallest regions, including energy-dominated No. 4 Midland, which gained 41 places overall, and No. 10 Odessa, whose economy jumped a remarkable 57 places. It also added two other mid-size cities to its belt: No. 2 Corpus Christi and No. 4 McAllen-Edinburgh-Mission.”

More new jobs exist in Dallas than many other places, but the long term unemployed need their voices heard. Fortunately job seekers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area can avail themselves of membership in a number of faith based groups which are free and non-denominational. The groups provide career resources at the various churches through excellent speakers, panels, networking, leads and emotional support. Jeff Morris, leader of the group at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano developed an amazing website for the entire area, listing the calendar of events, addresses of the groups, the leadership and other resources.

Watermark Church, a non-denominational Christ centered church in Dallas, is an example of one of the groups with large membership and many different activities to assist job seekers. Dewitte Ray is a facilitator with a cadre of 30 other volunteers. The Tuesday morning main meeting often attracts 70+ in attendance..

When I visited their group last week, I asked the participants if they would share how they would fix the economy, which, if Congress doesn’t stop squabbling soon, will ruin our economy, not just in Texas, but world wide. I promised not to share the names of those who responded to my question. Here are pertinent responses:

From Will Balanz

“I think that credit cards are the root to “most evils”. Therefore, I feel that credit cards should be restricted in that there should be a monthly spending limit imposed for each individual and that nobody should be allowed to carry a balance over from one month to the next – you have to pay your balance in full before you can use it the following month.

This would force people to spend only what they have instead of going beyond their means. I feel this was the beginning of the bank bailouts that occurred in recent years, too. I know many people think they can handle their own money, but statistics prove them wrong. This would also lead to many financial challenges and changes for individuals as well as the credit card companies. In the long run, though, it would provide for a stable economy where people can trust one another.”

From Ima Inarush

“I am in real estate and don’t know why banks are holding back on lending money right now. Something is keeping them overly conservative and ‘scared’ to lend out.

Donna Givhup

“I would encourage employers to keep their employees as long as possible. They could institute 15% pay cuts across the board, rather than lay off a percentage of their talent base.

In both the public and private sectors, there is a lot of waste, fraud and abuse. If there was a greater crackdown on wasteful spending, companies and governmental agencies would have larger amounts of funds to put to good use.

Consumers should continue to spend in accordance with their means, but not hold on to their money too tightly. It takes some spending in the economy to keep everything going.

The tax rates should be adjusted so that small businesses, in particular, are comfortable with hiring additional staff.”

Ann Gree

I am a baby boomer. My group has had it particularly tough time finding work in this recession. Usually we get labeled over qualified. However, just a few short years ago employers were focusing on “top grading” or hiring only the best. Today most employers aren’t hiring the most qualified. Apparently hiring people who are safe and “fit” a certain mold by looking like the hiring manager are preferred over experience and credentials.

Of course, in theory companies should feel pressure from the EEOC not to discriminate based on age or anything else. However, it seems company culture and the need to fit that culture takes priority. Companies claim to want diversity but that doesn’t include seasoned professionals. Minority groups are fine as long as they are under forty.

Why can’t the EEOC enforce TRUE diversity which would include hiring a quota of older workers? And pressure companies to hire those individuals who have been out of work for the longest amount of time first?  This would be good for the economy including the housing market. After all, do companies hire people based on what they bring to the table or how they fit in?”

Bill Fold

“As one of the leaders for this group, I see the membership as more sophisticated in approach in looking for work than they were several years ago. But we need to find a way to fix the economy as it won’t improve unless employers start hiring the unemployed.”

Why can’t Congress compromise? The polls show the people and the President all agree that they want compromise but the our elected officials seem to have forgotten that they were elected by the people, FOR the people. And the people will certainly suffer more than ever, not just in the United States, but globally. Please urge your elected officials in Washington to show that they are  working for all of us, not just for their political parties. Let’s get people back to work, not create havoc!

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Are you a confused job seeker?

In Dallas with over 100 faith based groups for the unemployed, people often attend meeting after meeting, searching for the “right” way to find new jobs.  They listen as if what they are hearing  Jesus’ sermon on the mount and struggle when one speaker says, “Your resume must be only one page.”  Then in the next meeting, the speaker says, “SEO is the way to grab attention.”  Or maybe, “Your resume should never be over two pages.”  Quoting Ken Sharp, a Career Counselor at UT-D, “Your resume should certainly be limited to 1000 critical words, no more!”

This is not an article about resumes, but for job seekers.  This is a plea for common sense.  There is no one right way from my vantage.  As a semiconductor recruiter, I see people find jobs with horrible resumes, if they have the right skills or right connections and enthusiasm in selling themselves once they connect with the correct person.

But how do you find that connection?  When I first started recruiting, I had a wonderful mentor.  I wanted to find the “right way” to place people.  His answer still resonates with me, “All of the above, Ruth.  All of the above!” Just as you find new friends, they come various ways.  People are finding mates online.  People do find jobs online, but the majority of us find new friends through neighborhood functions, school events, volunteer activities, professional associations, relatives and work.  Think about it.  That’s how most jobs (and friends) are found…by connecting with the right people. And by asking many questions.

Yesterday a neighbor rang my doorbell rang.  We are having a garage sale in our neighborhood Saturday and she is loaning me a rack for hanging “shabby chic” clothing for sale.  We visited briefly.  I learned she’s been a stay-at-home mom for nine years and wants to return to the job market.  I never knew about her MBA and Six Sigma background.  And we’ve been neighbors for six or seven years.  We discussed some excellent resources to encourage and motivate her.  And she suggested I should sell MORE than a Paycheck, the book I published, at the garage sale.  Definitely the quick interchange was win-win for both of us.

The point is you will be surprised when and where the leads appear.  You can’t neglect the internet as it is your research tool which includes sites like the Monster, Careerbuilder, and niche sites for your target, such as financialjobs.com..  Linkedin.com is undoubtedly your best source for finding contacts within companies.

But where is the “hidden job market?”  It may simply be a job advertised on a company website you never knew exists.  Perhaps someone in your professional association knows a new position will be opening next week but the company could save the expense of advertising if you fit the job.  Someone you worked with at another company saw you at the super market may share an opening at his company.

Sometimes people seem totally overwhelmed with the amount of advice about job search.  Sift the information.  Develop a target date and plan, as you are the project manager.  Then act on the plan.  You are the manager of your job search, whether you want to be or not.  If the plan isn’t working, revise it.  Believe in yourself and visualize the setting.  Think creatively and look at alternatives.

Take action.  Be confident. Keep an open mind.  Connect with all kinds of people and use the internet resources for research.  You will be pleasantly surprised, rather than confused.