New July unemployment figures show that 15 states have already reached 10% unemployment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many economists and pundits have focused like vultures on the national jobless rate rising to 10% this year, as if crossing that threshold might signal a new level of doom.
We're already there in 30% of the states and the District of Columbia. Double-digit unemployment is dreadful, but does it feel much different to the average jobless person who is struggling with the current national 9.4% jobless rate?
The Stand-Out States
Michigan continued to have the highest rate: 15%. Rounding out the top five are Rhode Island (12.7%), Nevada (12.5%), California and Oregon (11.9% each). The rates in California, Nevada, and Rhode Island, set new series highs.
The West has the highest regional jobless rate, at 10.5%, followed by the Midwest, at 10.2%.
The states with the lowest unemployment rates: North Dakota (4.2%), Nebraska and South Dakota (4.9%), Utah (6%), Iowa, Oklahoma, and Wyoming (6.5% each).
Getting Off the Jobless Roll
Whatever state you live in, the job market is likely very competitive -- probably worse than you have ever experienced. If you are unemployed, consider these tips:
Be flexible. Look outside your usual industry, location, or experience level. Even a part-time job is a job, and what you make of the experience can bring you closer to your next career-building job.
Commit yourself to daily action. Looking for work should be your full-time job. Set daily or weekly goals. Get dressed and put yourself in a professional mindset, and be ready for phone calls that could be initial interviews.
Network as much as possible. Recruiters believe this is the best job-hunting tool, and it works. Reach out to everyone you know, and attend workshops and relevant professional events. Also make use of professional networking sites to expand your contacts, market yourself, and learn about new opportunities.
The exploding popularity of social networking sites has created a new Wild West in the recruitment landscape, where few boundaries, guideposts, and rules exist. But recruiters and job seekers are rushing in for possible rewards.
A Hiring Helper?
A recent survey of hiring professionals put social networking sites -- such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter -- as the second-most effective job-search tool, behind [old-fashioned?] networking. Internet job boards ranked next, with newspaper classifieds and job fairs at the bottom of the list, according to the survey by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
However, another survey of health-care recruiting professionals found that social networking sites brought in a very small number of external hires, compared with print and job-board postings. The research, released this summer by Shaker Recruitment Advertising & Communications, put social networking sites in last place, with 75% of respondents calling the category "not applicable" for recent external hires.
Maybe the perception hasn't caught up with reality in many hiring departments?
More Mixed Messages
For job seekers, similar disparities exist, so it's hard to gauge how much energy to devote to social networking site strategies. In a recent poll on Yahoo! HotJobs, only 36% of site visitors said they had used LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter for help in finding a job.
Younger job seekers are using the sites most for job hunting, but the strategy hasn't been very effective. Recent college grads rated social networking sites last in terms of effectiveness for getting a job, even though 80% used the sites for job searches. Job boards ranked highest. (For more on this, see the analysis at Cheezhead.com)
The bottom line is simple: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Social networking sites can be extremely helpful, but don't overlook the benefits of job boards, niche sites, print classifieds, and, especially, general networking.
Here are some good resources that can help job seekers with making good use of social networking sites:
Many people feel stuck in their current jobs. They may be grateful to have a job in this economy, but the job isn't satisfying them. If you're in that situation, some information below might help.
Begin by doing some self-reflection on the sources of misery on your job. Once you know the main cause, you can take steps to combat the misery. Here are some common problem sources:
The Boss
Often communication is the problem. Schedule regular "update" meetings with your boss so that you can both be clear about goals and expectations. Take initiative in nurturing the relationship; don't expect the boss to do all the work.
Try to make his or her job easier; perhaps they are stressed, overworked. Find ways to take initiative to solve problems. Be solution-oriented!
Lack of Challenges
Set goals for yourself and your performance, and share them with your boss, if possible. If not possible, make personal goals so that you gain a better sense of achievement in your work. You will have a way to measure success, which can help you feel more personally invested in your job.
Identify challenges in the company, and take initiative to solve them. This is especially good if you can find new ways to save money for the company!
Make sure you document your extra work, share it with your boss so that you can be rewarded/recognized, even promoted. If the boss is unreceptive, you can still use the extra accomplishments for your resume -- leading hopefully to a better job!
Anonymity
Do you feel like a speck of sand on the beach? Focus on how your job affects others. How does your work matter for specific individuals, does it make their lives better? Even if it's just a coworker whose life is made better by your work, focus on that. That can change how you value those relationships and influence new, specific ways to improving your job.
Author Patrick Lencioni offers great insights about this in his fine book, "Three Signs of a Miserable Job."
Anxiety Over Possible Job Loss
Many people today fret over getting laid off soon. Here are some ways to deal:
Go the extra mile to make yourself more valuable. Find ways to save money or make more money for the company. Volunteer for tasks that others may not want.
Nurture your networks. Networking can be easier while you still have a job.
Be prepared with an updated resume. Take some spare time to polish your resume and keep your eyes open for other opportunities.
Stay positive! Keep your focus on the big picture -- a layoff is not the ultimate tragedy. Recharge your batteries away from work. A good attitude can be a factor in your boss deciding to keep you on the team; it's also critical for helping land a new job.
I also did a recent segment on CNN discussing this topic. Watch it here.
I've heard other reporters chuckle when I suggest that one of the biggest priorities for job seekers with their resumes should be spell-checking and proofreading. "No duh" is the implied message. But what seems obvious is often a surprising obstacle.
No Typo Is Harmless
A recent survey by the financial staffing firm Accountemps shows that three out of four executives (76%) said just one or two typos in a resume is enough to knock applicants out of the running for hiring consideration.
Even one typo is too many for 40% of the executive surveyed.
"There is nothing worse than receiving a cover letter addressed to a different person in a different company, misspellings of my name or my company name, or obvious errors in a resume," says Lindsay Olson, partner of Paradigm Staffing. "I receive resumes and cover letters like this daily, and it is hard for a recruiter to stand by their candidate if so little precaution and attention to detail has been given prior to hitting the send button."
Olson is just one of many participants in the Yahoo! HotJobs Recruiter Roundtable who has complained about the prevalence of careless typos in resumes.
While no typo is harmless, some can be unintentionally shocking or funny. Check out "Worst Resume Bloopers" for some examples.
How's Your Credit?
Your credit score could be another stealth threat to your job search -- even if you're not applying to be an accountant.
A surprising 42% of employers, including the U.S. government, run credit checks on job candidates, according to a 2006 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. Granted, many of those checks relate to candidates for jobs that have some connection to finances or budgets.
Don't be surprised. A company may query any one of the credit reporting bureaus -- Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion -- so it's important for you to check them all as well. (AnnualCreditReport.com)
Be honest. As you would with gaps in your resume, be upfront and proactive about explaining dings to your credit. Address what happened, and what you're doing to fix it.
Pay bills on time and don't use most of your available credit. These are the two areas employers would care about most, because they speak to your ability to manage money and be responsible.
The gloom of the recession had many people expecting salary shrinkage this year, especially for new grads just entering the workforce. But the average 2009 starting salary for new college grads is lower than last year's by less than 1 percent, a new report says.
A summer report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found the average starting salary offer was $49,307, compared to $49,639 in 2008.
The salary data for younger workers doesn't deviate much from the overall earnings picture. The U.S. average weekly earnings rose 0.9 percent in June 2009 compared to last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Most of us who are lucky enough to have a job are essentially in a holding pattern when it comes to salary growth.
In the NACE report, the big winners were engineering majors, with an average yearly salary increase of 3.7 percent. Liberal arts majors fared less well, but they are not "starving": The average salary offer fell less than 1 percent from $36,419 to $36,175.
Here are a few more highlights on average salary offers for 2009 grads with the following degrees:
In keeping with the overall theme of this blog, I decided to do a quick Q&A on career guidance with two authors of new career books.
Ford R. Myers is the author of "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" (published in June) and Rick Smith (pictured), author of the forthcoming (September) book "The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great."
Both experts answered my questions independently via email, and their complementary insights that can boost career advancement during these hard economic times.
Question: What is the most important thing people can do now to control their career destiny?
F.M.: The single, most important thing people can do now to control their career destiny is to get crystal clear on the value they offer to prospective employers. Once this is accomplished, the next priority is to learn how to articulate this value, along with the tangible results they can produce. If people can do this, they will see that this economic crisis is actually a huge opportunity to develop a far better career.
R.S.: Research has indicated that those who are in roles that leverage their strengths and passions are much more productive, successful, and fulfilled in their careers. The problem is that most people are left to stumble into this spot. ... Educate yourself about alternative directions. Find a mentor. Volunteer outside of your comfort zone. The right path will become clear over time.
What is the best move you've made in shaping your career success?
F.M.: The best move I ever made in shaping my own career success was to change fields in my late 30s. I hired a career consultant, completed a battery of assessments, and ultimately discovered my "perfect career." This was a life-changing experience, and I’ve never looked back!
R.S.: I allowed myself to drift. In the research for my first book, "The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers" (cowritten with James Citrin), we uncovered a surprising finding: Those who were the most successful in their careers were not the ones who had everything planned out from the start. The most successful people were those who allowed themselves to drift. They tried out different roles, different functions, even different companies and industries. After some time, often by their mid-30s, they had identified the roles and environments where they excelled, taking on challenges that they were passionate about. This marked the inflection point where their careers really took off.
We hear loads right now about how the recession is damaging careers (e.g., lost jobs, pay cuts), and many people feel like they're in a professional desert. What oasis -- in terms of career opportunity -- would you point them toward?
F.M.: Many people are struggling in this challenging job market. So until the economy improves, I’d advise people to be persistent and resourceful. This could mean taking a temporary “bridge job,” doing a contract assignment, working two jobs for the time being, or even starting a part-time business. The folks who will thrive during this period are those who are most flexible and adaptable. The job market will never "go back to normal," so we will all have to learn to thrive in a new world of work.
R.S.: Finding a job is about solving someone else’s problem, not your own. In today’s environment, the biggest problems are related to increasing sales, and finding efficiencies (cutting costs) to meet shifting demand. If you legitimately show how you 1) have a deep understanding of the problem a manager is trying to solve, and 2) have the skills and experience to make significant headway on these objectives, then doors will be open to you, no matter what the environment.
With job losses in nearly every industry, the June unemployment numbers (9.5% unemployment rate, 467K jobs lost) show that the already tough job market has some distance to go before turning the corner. Hopeful signs exist, but people looking for work still must be persistent and resourceful to succeed.
The good news is that the pace of job losses has slowed -- the average monthly loss for the second quarter of 2009 (roughly 436K) is lower than the first quarter's (roughly 707K). And the unemployment rate's jump to 9.5 from 9.4 is a smaller jump than we've seen in several months.
These figures should give job seekers perspective, not discourage them. Hiring is still happening in every part of the country. Job hunters today need to understand what makes them uniquely valuable to an employer and communicate that well, focusing on one resume or job application at a time. Opportunities wait for people who are proactive, who make connections through networking, and who remain positive in the face of challenges.
For more guidance on job-hunting essentials, see these articles:
Being asked to name one of your biggest weaknesses during a job interview is the worst interview question from a job-seeker's perspective. It feels like an invitation to lie, because who is really going to reveal that kind of information to a potential boss?
I also can't remember getting much useful info when I've used that question as an interviewer. However, when I put the question to members of the Recruiter Roundtable on Yahoo! HotJobs, I got some interesting viewpoints on the possible value in asking about weaknesses.
"It's not that I want to nitpick or make people feel uncomfortable, but rather I want to see in which areas they feel they need to improve and what they are doing about it," said DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International. "In order to advance professionally, we all need to be able to honestly identify not just our strengths but also our weaknesses and how we can upgrade in these areas."
For the complete set of recruiter perspectives on "the weakness question," view the Recruiter Roundtable article.
If you think it might be better to state a weakness that is totally unconnected with the job you're applying for, consider these possible answers:
"Brownies."
"My Chihuahua. I just can't resist him when he looks up at me!"
"I have a fear of eating in public places, so I prefer to eat under my desk."
Of course, one of the worst things you can do is to say that you have no weaknesses. We all have them, so think hard if you must!
Experts say one of the best things to do is to answer honestly, but make sure that the weakness you select is not a major function of the new job. But also back it up with ways that you have tried to improve upon your weakness, preferably in the context of your previous job. See the full article for an example of how to answer in this way.
OK, so now I'm dying to know: Who really eats lunch under his or her desk?
A few months ago I interviewed some job hunters who were using unusual tactics to get work, like renting a huge billboard for a month. I went back to them recently to see what kind of success their extreme efforts brought.
Billboard Yields Offers
Mark Heuer, the guy who rented a billboard in Milwaukee for a month, says that he got three job offers from his investment. He also got plenty of media attention, which connected him to a supportive network of people struggling through unemployment.
Heuer started a new job at the beginning of June as director of client experience for Home Instead Senior Care. The job is not one of the three offers that came as a result of his billboard.
"In the end it came down to sheer networking, even though the billboard did work in uncovering an unpublished opportunity," he says.
After seven months of unemployment, Heuer recommends networking as the best method for finding a job today. But he still encourages job seekers to be creatively unusual.
"The billboard worked even though I did not choose the opportunities," he says. "I suggest car wraps, bus wraps, billboards, or even yard signs to plant in front of decision-makers' windows at their offices."
Husband Still Looking
Robin Stearns tried a novel approach to help her husband Mike find a job after 10 months of looking: She started the site MyHusbandNeedsaJob.com.
The homepage shows her holding a big sign that says, "Hire my husband." But nobody has yet, as of mid-June.
A 2008 MBA graduate of Georgetown, Mike says he still does a great deal of networking, which he says is "the most effective way to job search." His efforts include attending career fairs and volunteering.
Like Heuer's billboard, the site garnered plenty of attention around the world. "Unfortunately we're not the only ones in this [unemployed] situation, and it's been nice to hear so many stories of others struggling through this with us," Mike says.
Would he do anything differently? He says: "Knowing what I know now, I would have broadened my scope a lot earlier and expanded my search while I was in business school.
He encourages other job seekers to be creative, as well as effective. "Our website still focuses on my qualifications and resume, so all is not lost on the unique way we tried to market it."
"Persistence and patience are the key," he adds. "And network, network, network!"
Who doesn't love a "Top 10" list? Especially when it comes from David Letterman. The list I want to focus on today, however, isn't very funny (but there is a fun payoff at the end of this post).
Looking for a job today is serious business. It's a job in itself, and you need to take it seriously in order to succeed.
Fortunately, the experts at Robert Half International have put together the 10 best strategies that every job seeker should pursue. The full list is posted on Yahoo! HotJobs, but here are three of the wise tips (in no particular order):
Leave your comfort zone. Don't limit your search to your current industry or field. Expand your horizons by focusing on your transferable skills.
Be flexible. Remaining open to all possibilities is essential in a challenging economy. Don't overlook a position even if the job title, salary, or benefits may not be exactly what you hoped for.
Manage your digital footprint. With a few mouse clicks, potential employers can dig up information about you on blogs, personal websites and networking sites. As you look for employment, keep tabs on your online reputation to make sure there is no information about you on the Web that could affect your professional reputation.
For the full, informative top 10 list, click here.
