Author: Michelle Burton (Page 5 of 26)

Companies Choose Hoarding Cash Over Hiring

August 8, 2011 / Michelle Burton

There are many reasons companies aren’t hiring. They don’t have to because they can hire one person to do the work of several employees, the have more than enough employees—overseas, and some companies are just plain scared. This is the case with many companies that enjoy a substantial increase in profits from year to year, but instead of hiring, they choose to hold onto the profits. Some profitable companies have even gone a step further by laying off workers, even though they have the means to pay them.

According to a recent MSNBC.com report:

Business owners are a gun-shy bunch these days. When asked why they aren’t hiring, you’ll often hear the word “uncertainties.” Those range from not knowing whether taxes might increase at some point to worries about how health care reform could add to employee costs in the future.
Running a business is always going to be fraught with uncertainties, but these days business owners are feeling especially on edge about taking any sort of risk with hiring.

So what will it take for these companies to start hiring again? Michael Alter, President and CEO of SurePayroll, and Roosevelt University Professor Samuel Rosenberg spoke with Tribune reporter Kristin Samuelson about what needs to happen in order to coax profitable companies into loosening the belt. Alter says that to increase hiring, companies have to increase growth and slow their productivity gains, while Rosenberg feels that the market would have to grow to such an extent that the companies can’t meet the demand for their products.

Both agree that the road to recovery will be long and difficult. Alter mentions that because consumer spending drives growth, and you can’t spend if you’re not employed, it’s going to be very hard for the U.S. to come back. Rosenberg mentions that it will take a very, very long time for unemployment levels to drop to a more reasonable level, and this is impossible to predict.

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Too Much Experience, Now What?

August 6, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Every fresh college graduate has experienced rejection based on lack of experience, but eventually most graduates obtain enough experience to move past an entry level position and into a position with more responsibility and higher pay. Having experience is usually a good thing, but lately having too much experience has become an obstacle that thousands of seasoned job seekers face every day. The reasons for this vary. For starters, according to a recent Tribune Media Services report, the talent pool is overflowing, thanks to mass lay-offs of people with 15 to 20 years of experience. This means older professionals with lots of experience, which brings a higher price tag, are now competing with younger professionals with some or enough experience, which means a lower price tag.

The potential price tag of someone with too much experience isn’t the only reason employers might take a pass. Many employers also believe that someone with so much experience might move on as soon as a better opportunity presents itself or they might get bored. Fortunately, there are ways to position your qualifications, says Maribeth Kuzmeski, author of “And the Clients Went Wild: How Savvy Business Professionals in Win All the Business They Want,” and it doesn’t involve downplaying them.

Job applicants should never downplay accomplishments. It’s better to position your qualifications as assets—which they are—rather than drawbacks. Job applicants should tailor their resumes to reflect skills and achievements, not a laundry list of former employers and job titles.

Steve Langerud, director of professional opportunities at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. adds that “presenting job titles and years of experience provides just enough information for an employer’s imagination to run wild, and not in the favor of the job seeker.”

Kuzmeski points out that job seekers should spell out other important benefits of their experience, such as the life experience that makes them more capable of handling difficult client situations or coworker conflicts. They should also be the first to bring up the topic of being overqualified. This is especially the case if an interviewer seems hesitant or keeps bringing up past experience, Kuzmeski says.

If this is the case, just ask what the concerns might be. By asking, you’re again showing that you are proud of your achievements and you care and want to hear what the employer thinks. It’s actually a great way to build on the relationship.

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Art jobs not on the decline, says NEA

August 5, 2011 / Michelle Burton

Many reports have suggested that one of the worst career fields to take up in a bad economy is anything related to art. Well, a recent report by the National Endowment for the Arts says this just isn’t true. Between now and 2018, the report says job growth in artistic fields such as painting photography, and architecture is expected to exceed the average growth rate across all industries. What’s seven more promising is, museum jobs such as archivists and curators are set to grow at nearly double the average rate.

Other art jobs that creatives can count on for future growth are animators, actors, graphic designers, interior designers, writers, interpreters, translators, and landscape architects. Although job growth is promising for these careers, the competition is still fierce. To get your foot in the door, you’ll need more than just talent. A degree and experience are equally as important.

For more information about creative careers, what they pay, and growth projections, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education, Your Workplace

Debt Ceiling Deal Still Not Enough?

August 2, 2011 / Michelle Burton

A recent CNBC report casts a negative shadow over the deal that, at the 11th hour, prevented the U.S. from defaulting on its debt. The report mentions that the U.S. debt crisis appears to have been resolved temporarily, but politicians and economists are still warning that the deal won’t resolve all of the country’s economic ills. The report, based on statements made by Anthony Doyle, director of investment specialists at M&G Investments, even suggests that the country is headed for another recession.

Doyle points out that “when US GDP growth falls below 2 percent, it usually means that a recession is not far away, and combined with yesterday’s much weaker than expected ISM report and an unemployment rate at 9.2 percent, it suggests that the U.S. Federal Reserve won’t be in any rush to hike interest rates this year.”

The U.S. economy grew by just 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2011, according to official figures released last week. Investors have also been spooked this week by Institute of Supply Management (ISM) data showing that its manufacturing index read 50.9 in July, barely above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction, and new orders contracted for the first time in two years.
The last U.S. recession lasted 18 months, the longest since World War II, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. The respected research body said the last recession began in 2007, and the recovery did not start until June 2009.

President Obama signed the new debt bill, which limits student loan cuts (among others), a day after it cleared the House of Representatives by a 269-161 margin, and shortly after it passed the Senate by 74-26 votes overnight. The emergency bill increases the nation’s $14.3 trillion cap on borrowing.

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How Do Scientific Staffing Agencies Work?

July 29, 2011 / Michelle Burton

A scientific staffing agency specializes in matching professionals that work in scientific fields with employers in the industry. The types of positions are not limited to biologist, astronomer, meteorologist, engineer, or physicist. Scientific staffing agencies also work with technicians, lab assistants, research assistants, record clerks, and many other entry-level workers in the science sector.

Scientific staffing agencies work with the employee and the employer to find the right match for both parties. Companies, facilities, and organizations sign up with the agency much in the same way as a potential employee does. The agency meets with a representative of the company to assess its needs. If the agency feels like the company would be an asset, the agency will perform a background check on the company and if it passes, the agency will enter into a contract outlining how and under what terms it will help with the company’s staffing needs.

To sign up with a scientific staffing agency, job seekers must begin by submitting a resume and references. Once the agency has verified an applicant’s employment history and references, he or she will be invited to interview. At this point, the applicant may be asked to take a series of skill tests and sign an authorization for a background check. In most cases, a drug test and credit check may be required as well.

Once the process is complete, the agency will begin searching its database for possible matches. Scientific staffing agencies work with hundreds of employers on a daily basis, so many job seekers end up working multiple temporary assignments before the agency finds a permanent match. Temporary workers typically work assignments that last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. In some cases, these assignments lead to a permanent position.

Whether you’re a temporary worker or the agency places you in a permanent position, you will never have to pay a fee for their services. Salaries and fees are paid by the hiring company, organization, or facility.

How to Locate Scientific Staffing Agencies

It’s perfectly ok to use your favorite search engine to locate scientific staffing agencies, but this shouldn’t be your first choice. If at all possible, obtain a referral from a friend, family member or co-worker. Someone with firsthand experience with any given staffing agency is much better than dealing with an agency blind.

If you cannot find a referral, jot down 5-10 agencies that you find online and start researching. Find out how long they’ve been in business, if they are listed with the Better Business Bureau, and if there are any complaints against the company. You should also make sure the company can be reached by phone, email, and fax—not just email. Make sure the company has a physical address/office as well. If there’s a problem, you should have the option to speak with someone in person.

A reputable company will be more than willing to provide answers to any questions you may have and they are even willing to provide their own references and testimonials for you to check out on your own. Remember, if a staffing agency offers vague answers to your questions or if they request a fee, chances are it’s not an agency you want to do business with.

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