You may remember that I had the opportunity to test drive a Chevy Malibu for 4 weeks as part of the Gotta Love Chevy OK Program. It’s been an amazing experience and sadly late last week I had to say goodbye to the Chevy Malibu.
I enjoyed the experience and was more than satisfied with the Malibu and the way it drove. It felt comfortable and worked well especially since I am always on the go as a mother and entrepreneur. And last Wednesday I returned the car I was not able to record a video because of a nasty allergy attack that resulted in me loosing my voice. While I’m happy to say I am fully functional and able to actually have real live conversation, I did decide to share with you my iTunes playlist, Life with Malibu.
One of the great features about the Malibu was the USB port built into the stereo. I could easily charge of iPhone as well as play songs and playlists directly from my music listing. In fact, Greg and I were able to charge both our iPhones at the same time–one with the USB outlet and the other with the cigarette outlet which worked great for us.
Four and a half years ago, I was new in town looking for a job and opportunities to network and build experience. A phone call inquiring about volunteer opportunities led me to HeartLine. HeartLine is an non-profit that services the entire state of Oklahoma doing a lot of different and valuable services including suicide prevention and awareness training, 211, and their 1-800 CareLine.
HeartLine’s 2-1-1service provides Central Oklahomans 24/7 access to information on any type of health or human service, and this easy-to-remember telephone number is the best first place to call to get help, or give help.
HeartLine’s CareLineCall Specialists are available 24-hours a day, every day of the year, offering compassionate listening, crisis intervention and suicide prevention. 848-2273 (CARE)serves Central Oklahoma.
HeartLine’s Problem Gambling Helpline is the result of a partnership with the Oklahoma Association for Problem & Compulsive Gambling. The 1-800-522-4700 Problem Gambling Helpline provides problem gamblers and family of problem gamblers throughout the state of Oklahoma information about treatment and hope for overcoming their addiction.
Every year HeartLine’s fundraising event is the Festival of Hope Gala, and this year’s event is Friday, August 13, 2010, at the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma City, OK. In addition to recognizing some amazing folks including Tom & Lisa Price, Santa’s Cause, and Larry Hawkins, they host an annual silent and live auction to benefit their organization. This year is special for me because I am the Auction Chair. We have a number of amazing trips, weekend get-a-ways, and auction items that will appeal to each and every attendee. One in particular that I am very excited about is a Hermes Birkin Bag and Wallet combination valued at more than $10,000. It is the single largest auction donation item in the history of HeartLine and was donated by a very special friend of mine, Ties to Tattoos™ author, Sherri Elliott-Yeary. (Thanks, Sherri!)
The Birkin will be part of the live auction and you are certainly invited to get in on the Birkin bidding auction. Tickets to the Festival of Hope are still available on HeartLine’s website for $125 a person or $1,000 a table. Feel free to give me a call (405.912.4885) directly or email (blogging4jobs@gmail.com) if you have any questions about the event. Xceptional HR is sponsoring our own table as well as live tweeting and streaming the event. Be sure to follow the Twitter hash tag, #hope as well as @HeartLine for real time insights and information into the Festival of Hope.
Whether you are an Human Resource professional or business person, the game of life and business is ongoing. Environments change, rules evolve, and business expands and progresses. To stay on top of your game as a professional and leader in your industry and organization, you must always be pushing yourself to do and be better.
Being successful in business is more than business tools like income statements, P&L’s, and the process of SWOT analysis. Even more importantly, providing value and continued benefit to your employees, team members, and yourself through professional development can be an effective tool in retaining top talent in tough economic times through training, education, and information. Project Management is one of those essential business tools that all professionals can use every day. PM is very rewarding and useful tool that can be leveraged in a variety of business as well as human resource situations.
Earlier this year, you might remember I wrote about the Cat Herding/HR Connection. I snagged some awesome “I Herd Cat Pins” for me and some of my HR Evolution (un)conference friends. The Persimmon Group, the creative geniuses behind the Cat Herding Pins offer a fantastic Project Management Training Class in addition to their consulting services.
The Persimmon Group and I have teamed up to offer some Project Management classes in the Oklahoma City Metro Area. While I will not be teaching the classes (I am sadly not qualified), I am more than willing to write and talk about their upcoming training class called, “Surviving Project Management.” It is a three day intensive and hands on class that provide participants with the foundations of project management.
Details. . . .
August 22-25 in Oklahoma City, OK from 8:30-4:30 daily
Meals and snacks included
Course Materials, CD-ROM, and handouts provided
Class is approved for 21 PDU Certification Credits
Limited to 20 just participants
Registration for this three day intensive Project Management training is $995. You can download information either HERE or below to learn more or contact 918.592.4121 to register or for more questions. This class is available and open to all Blogging4Jobs readers. Developing and improving your skills set is important to stay competitive and at the top of your professional game. The Persimmon Group’s Surviving Project Management class can help.
FTC Disclosure: I received compensation for mentioning the product listed above as part of one of the services I offer my clients. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I love blogging and writing. I have said many times that blogging has been the best career decision and differentiator for me personally and professionally. I’ve always enjoyed writing but working in HR doesn’t typically lend you the opportunity outside of policy and procedure, termination documents, and emails which typically require little creativity or imagination. Legalese yes but artistry, no.
Blogging has always been more than just a creative outlet and escape from the corporate hum drum, but also a way to provide real numbers and analytics behind what I have known for a long time. Social Matters. Click throughs, subscribers, comments, and contacts can be measured and shown to directly correlate to my business which four years ago was driving passive candidates to me so that I could fill positions in sales roles and often times at a high volume. These type of analytics cannot be argued against or ignored especially when you have solid data to support your findings of three years.
And as I have found both personally and professionally, when you put in the hard work and time into something you love, things just have a way of falling into place. This certainly holds true with this week’s announcement about me blogging for Chevy. In early June of this year, Chevy announced they were the official vehicle of Bricktown, the downtown area of Oklahoma City. And since I have an opinion about most things, I tweeted the following upon reading the announcement, “#chevy sponsoring bricktown. they should consider sponsoring my blog #smart.”
Within minutes someone contacted me via direct message on Twitter asking if I was serious about the opportunity. Of course I said yes and was put in touch with the marketing team who is managing the Gotta Love Chevy Campaign. Not always but sometimes, when you ask the universe, the universe answers and in my situation, this was certainly the case.
So over the course of the next four weeks, I will be blogging and tweeting about my Chevy blogging adventure. I will have some assigned tasks to complete along the way. You can follow my tweets via the #ggok (hash tag) as well as blog posts on Blogging4Jobs and JMsquared. Blogging4Jobs will provide focus on business posts (like always) while the JMsquared site will focus on things outside of scope like family, baby, and other randomness. I also encourage you to participate in the contest to win a weekend getaway. The site will officially be launched next week with details about the contest. Follow the twitter stream, @chevyok or their Facebook Fan Page.
FTC Disclosure: The Gotta Love Chevy Blogger Promotion is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Chevy Team Dealers. Three women bloggers (including me) have been provided a Chevy Malibu vehicle to test drive for four weeks. The program includes weekly fun activities or projects for us to complete and have been provided gift cards in which to complete these assignments.
07.13.2010 – OKLAHOMA CITY — — A prominent Oklahoma City blogger is among those selected to test-drive a Chevy for the next four weeks. Jessica Miller-Merrell, an author, HR executive and business blogger at Blogging4Jobs.com will pick up her 2011 Chevy Malibu at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, July 14, at Mark Heitz, Exit 108 and I-35, Norman, Oklahoma.
The program is an indication of the growing role of bloggers in marketing and advertising. According to Miller-Merrell whose book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business was released earlier this year, the connection is growing between influential bloggers who command the attention of niche markets and companies with products to sell.
“Chevy decided to do something different,” Miller-Merrell said. “Advertising is very expensive and this is one way they figured out they could connect their brand with women for less.
“Research shows they are the primary decision makers when it comes to large purchases.”
Miller-Merrell, who began blogging 2007, will write twice a week about her experience driving the Chevy Malibu. “Anyone can start a blog,” she said. “Good blogging, however, takes a lot of time. I have worked hard to grow the community that has built up around my blog, but this is the first time I’ve entertained the idea of representing products.”
Chevy’s blogger program has previously selected bloggers in cities like Dallas and Houston, but this is the first time bloggers the program has come to Oklahoma.
“I’m really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Miller-Merrell. “It’s very exciting and a privilege to have been selected by Chevy.”
For more details, visit the Gotta Love Chevy OKC website, www.gottalovechevyokc.com and be sure to check out Jessica’s bio for the Gotta Love Chevy program below.
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Networking and relationships are key to any successful business whether you are a job seeker, recruiter, business professional, or entrepreneur. Beyond.com goes beyond a traditional job board and allows for professionals to network with other professionals in an online location that is secure and specific to the job seeker’s industry and location. I like niche networks because they are targeted and specific for both parties and niche networks can help you cut through the clutter and establish and build real connections with industry leaders and recruiters.
And according to Beyond’s website they are the world’s largest niche network. Their 2010 Q1 report mentions that, 70% of Beyond.com job seekers are experienced with more than 5 years in the workforce. And because niche job networks are typically smaller they are also more affordable for employers to advertise their openings. In Q1 of 2010, 52% of newly registered companies on the Beyond network employed 50 or less employees.
To hear more about niche networking from Beyond CEO, Rich Milgram, check out this video below live from the 2010 SHRM Global Conference vendor area.
Thanks again to Beyond.com for sponsoring me and fellow SHRM Blog Squad member, April Dowling for part of our trip to San Diego.
Photo Credit by me, JMsquared of an Italian Window Niche.
I had the pleasure of having Beyond.com serve as a sponsor for my trip to the Global SHRM conference last week. I took a few minutes to speak with Rich Milgram, the CEO of Beyond.com about networking, the job search, and how a niche job search site like Beyond.com can help. You might be surprised in how large and expansive their network is and how powerful a niche network can be in making your job search more targeted and stand out in a crowded market.
Beyond.com has an amazing team of folks, and I was extremely impressed with their booth at the conference, their social media presence (@beyond_com), and I certainly enjoyed their yacht and networking cruise. Be sure to check them and and take a look at my video interview with Rich to learn more about Beyond.com and the power of niche networking.
Thanks again to Beyond.com for sponsoring part of fellow SHRM Blog Squad Member, April Dowling and I’s trip to the SHRM 2010 Conference.
As a first time attendee to the SHRM Global Conference, I wanted to get the most out of every single minute in sessions, keynotes, and evening activities. A conference is more than just sessions, tracks, talks, and the bookstore. It’s about a state of mind and experiencing your conference experience outside the box and outside of SHRM.
Self Reflection. The conference is action packed but between sessions and events, we must self-reflect and decompress otherwise we can quickly approach information overload. I found sanctuary during my state at SHRM in the HRCI Hideaway. Certified professionals can relax, eat, and engage quietly from the crowds. One of the highlights of my conference experience was my 15 minute back, neck and foot massage in the Hideaway.
Mingle. Mingle outside your comfort zone and outside your circle of friends at large and small conferences and events such as this. SHRM encourages networking among like-minded professionals in a comfortable and controlled atmosphere with a program called, Meet and Eat. I attended dinner at la Fiesta with 19 other strangers over dinner and met some amazing HR professionals from all over the United States. Meet and Eat has groups from large to small at a variety of different restaurants throughout the conference. I encourage all professionals to attend an event such as this.
Be Friends with Vendors. To make the most of my time when visiting the vendor hall, I targeted specific vendors in which to meet with. Just like when making my grocery list, I created a list in order of booth number to make my visits organized, smooth, and controlled. Because I am a consultant and business owner who is always in sales and engagement mode, I wanted to make the most of my time. I employ this strategy at the grocery store by writing my list in order of the store and depending on how busy the store is, I leave with a cart full of groceries in 30 minutes.
Social Stream. Hands down the social stream in my opinion was the best way to engage the conference outside of the box whether you are here in San Diego or listening in from your office, smart phone, or living room. At the time of this blog post being published, there were over 5,700 tweets that included the #shrm10 hash tag over 7 days. The Monster Street team with @beneubanks and @cincyrecruiter, Smart Brief’s video coverage of the conference and along with the other three members of the SHRM 10 Blog Squad, David Bowles, @akabruno, and @adowling.
I think that Eric Winegardner, the VP of Client Adoption at Monster Worldwide said it best, “This conference (SHRM) is about optimisim and with tools like social media we no longer have to say, see you next year. We can say see you tomorrow.”
Winegardner’s sentiments have been echoed throughout this amazing event. The openness is surprising refreshing and with the rapid adoption of social media at this conference, SHRM can truly say it’s officially moving to Next and outside of the conference, outside of the box.
I am almost 24 hours away from landing in sunny San Diego to serve as a member of the SHRM Blog Squad. As a first timer to the conference but not a stranger to large conferences, I’ve come prepared. Here are some topics you can expect over the next few days. If you have one in particular you would like to see, please message me directly at blogging4jobs@gmail.com.
Healthcare Reform. It’s a topic that is in the back of most every HR person and small business person’s mind and how these changes will shape our healthcare programs and systems. I plan on attending sessions and talking with experts to keep us informed and educated on Healthcare Reform.
Generational Issues. I’m eager to review a new book about Millenials in the Workplace and hope to begin reading the book on my flight. I’ll be speaking with experts and getting insights from HR professionals about the generational problem. Is it an issue or just an excuse? I will also be touching on the recent Supreme Court ruling on texting and privacy in the workplace.
EEOC and Legalese. Never one to shy away from the real issues I am eager to attend several sessions on the EEOC’s point of view and direction they are heading with regard to discrimination as well as their views on social media networks. I’m hoping that this will be addressed at the conference. One session that is particular interesting is called the Ultimate HR Booster Shot discussing recent case law and trends. One vendor booth I’d encourage you to visit is Online Visas & Immigration Magazine, No. 4333. Joe Velie, the owner of Velie Law is @online_visas on Twitter. Stop by and say hi. They are giving away a pretty hefty Apple Gift Card at their booth. Tell them @blogging4jobs sent you.
In addition to being part of the Blog Squad, I will be providing insights into the National SHRM Conference for the folks over at HR.Toolbox.com daily to their members. I will also be livestreaming two Job Search Secrets this week. One show will be during our regular scheduled time on Sunday at 9 PM EST and another Monday at 3 PM EST. I’ll be streaming live from the Beyond.com booth no. 3431. Monday’s show will discuss niche social networking, it’s future, and why it’s important. For Sunday’s show, I’m still working out all the details.
I will also be partnering with Generational author, Sherri Elliott-Yeary who’s book Ties to Tattoos is featured during the conference. As part of the festivities, she is giving away an iPad with the winner announced on July 2, 2010. Both conference attendees and those on twitter can enter their chance to win. There are no limit to the amount of entries one can have.
Here are the details:
Enter in to win a iPad at the National SHRM Conference June 27-30, 2010:
Send a tweet with the hash tags #shrm10 & #tiestotattoos
Spot SHRM blog squad member, Jessica Miller-Merrell & take a picture with her to be entered
I look forward to meeting and tweeting with all of you and if you’re attending the conference, let’s connect! Don’t be afraid to say hi. I’ve honestly never met a stranger.
I went to this amazing conference last week in Dallas, TX called the People Report Summer Camp where I presented a session on Blogging 4 Dummies and discussed the 5 P’s of Blogging. There was also some great Twitter conversations happening at the event during the cocktail receptions, keynotes, and unconference tracks. I’ve included a PRSCamp Transcript of the tweets, you can download it also below, or you can link directly to the PRSCamp transcript via the web.
Anyone can access twitter hash tag information using tools like Search.Twitter.com and WTHashtag.com. These are great tools to follow events during and after the conference is taking place. It’s also a great way to develop your list of twitter connections that you want to add and follow them.
Thanks again to People Report and putting on an amazing event. I have video I’ll be uploading to my YouTube Channel is the next several days.
The job search presents many challenges for candidates who are eager to land a new position as well as recruiters and hiring managers. Experts like career coaches, job coaches, and resume writers provide job seekers valuable resources to help them get a leg up in the job search. As someone who has been in both the job seeker and the hiring manager’s shoes I can see both sides, and lived the frustration.
Bottom line–it’s tough both ways and as someone who’s been there I am extremely passionate about helping to bridge the communication gap for both parties making the hiring, candidate, and interview process as enjoyable as possible. With this in mind, I’ve teamed up with MingleMediaTV & Restaurant.com and put together a fantastic contest involving $200 in gift certificates and prizes (yes $200).
Job seekers, career experts including recruiters, HR, job coaches, resume writers, and so on can submit one blog post to me at blogging4jobs@gmail.com no later than Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 11:59 PM. Post must be related to the job search and be between 250-500 words. Video blogs, slide decks, and podcasts are also accepted. Posts must be emailed as a word attachment with pictures attached to the email separately.
On next Sunday, May 2nd, I will announce those that have been selected to compete in the contest. Those that follow the rules and bring original and interesting content are more likely to be selected. So bring the creativity and be original. Blog posts that are selected will be featured on Blogging4Jobs.com. Selected blog posts will receive a vote when someone leaves a comment on their preferred blog post. Voting or commenting ends Sunday, May 9th with the winner announced also on my show.
Voters can vote or comment as often and as much as they like. Featured blog posts can promote their blog and encourage voters in whatever matter and method they desire. Personally, the more creative the better. Encourage your friends, neighbors, and strangers to visit your blog post and vote as many times as they like.
The top three blog posts with the most comments will receive gift certificates to Restaurant.com with first prize being a $100 gift card, second–$75, and third prize receiving $25. The top vote getter will also receive the honor of being a future and featured guest on my web show and maybe some additional prizes if someone decides to throw some more goodies our way.
AGAIN, THE RULES–
Only one blog entry person individual so send me your best. Must be related to the job search either as a job seeker providing insight or experience or a career expert (recruiter, job coach, resume writer, HR, and so on) providing tips and tricks.
Interested parties can submit their blog post to me (blogging4jobs@gmail.com) no later than Friday, May 7th, 2010. You must include your name, email, bio, and any pictures you’d like included in your email. Recommend that you attach a word document with your blog post & attach any additional pictures or photos separately.
I make the final decision on which blog posts are to be selected to be part of the voting process and I reserve the right as owner of Blogging4Jobs. The voters decide the final winner with voting.
Once the blog posts have been selected and announced, the voting begins. Voters or commenters can vote as many times as they like and their is no limit to the number of comments one can leave. I encourage creative strategies to promote your blog, the more the better. Let’s make this fun and competitive.
So let the submissions begin. Feel free to email me or tweet me at @blogging4jobs with any questions. A special thanks to MingleMediaTV, my network for my Job Search Secrets webshow and Restaurant.com for helping me in promoting the Job Search Blogger Contest. Don’t forget to watch my web show live on Sundays at 9 PM EST.
“Bringing like-minded people together in an un-conference format.”
That’s the petty much sums up the idea of Get SocialConference. My friend, Bryan Wempen and I have put together a series of 1/2 traveling unconferences that will reach a number of midwest locations. For a number of the general professional population, the concept of social media is still very new. Budgets are tight. Businesses can’t afford to send their teams or employees to events like the 140 Conference in NYC or SXSW. It’s just not in the budget and with cut backs and re-organizations. The workload shift for a team is a hard burdon to manage while someone runs off to sunny Austin attending late night parties and interactive sessions.
Our solution lies in bringing the conference to them. Yes, we’ll travel to you! Our events will consist of small 100+ person venues in an intimate and informal atmosphere that allows for interaction, learning, creativity, and collaboration, the good stuff. Persons who can benefit by attending these events are decision makers, creatives or curious, and people who are new to social media or seasoned but eager to learn how different industries, thought leaders, and businesses are using social media to grow their companies and organizations. We aim to bring business leaders from a variety of different industries–publication, PR, Marketing, entreprenuers, bloggers, HR, Services, and more.
It’s going to be fun! And what is really exciting is that we have just opened registration for our first event in Tulsa, Oklahoma for May 4th, 2010. The cost to register is $75 and includes 9 tracks with leaders from literally all over the world. Registration starts at 1:30 that day with tracks ending at 5:00 followed by a networking event or tweetup.
To learn more or register visit our Tulsa Get Social Page and feel free to visit the site. Companies can also inquire about sponsorship opportunities at the Tulsa event or upcoming events as we begin to travel the Midwest.
March is one of my favorite times each year. I love basketball and this year is no exception. It doesn’t hurt knowing that my team is the Number 1 seed ranked overall. Yes, my friends I’m a University of Kansas basketball fan! (Go Hawks!) This year my friend and fellow recruiter, Brian Batchelder has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged me to a NCAA Basketball Bracket Face Off.
The Rules–
Both Brian and I filled out brackets. Mine is here and Brian’s too (link forthcoming). We will be awarded points for each of our predictions–
1 point in Round 1
2 points in Round 2
4 points in Round 3
8 points in Round 4
16 points for Championship Game
32 points for the Champion
Each week Brian and I will be reporting our progress and doing a lot of trash talking along the way. Brian is a graduate of Syracuse and although I’m a graduate of Kansas State, I’m actually a die hard University of Kansas fan (Don’t be a hater and yes, it’s true!). The winner will be forced to wear the other team’s t-shirt for my Job Search Secrets Webshow on April 11th. (Sundays at 9 PM EST) and also change their Twitter profile picture to that of winner’s team (either KU or Syracuse) for the week.
Look for some fun heckling over the course of the tournament from both sides. I’m hoping to attend the game in Oklahoma City on Saturday and will shoot a short video talking some smack. Subscribe to my RSS feed to stay updated on the latest. And don’t forget to check out Brian’s blog at Brianbatchelder.com.
Part of my own strategy to build my brand, gain business, and establish myself as an expert in my field is by using my blog to write and interview other experts and companies promoting them while continuing to build and strengthen my own relationships. Last Friday was no exception. Through a simple LinkedIn invitation to connect message, (Yes, LinkedIn) I was able to secure an interview with best selling author, Jeffrey Gitomer. Jeffrey Gitomer is one of my favorite authors and speakers. While his followers and fans are generally sales professionals, I am a firm believer that each and every person works in sales in some form either as a job seeker selling yourself to a company, when dating or meeting your prospective mate (the ultimate sales job), and when making a major life purchase like a car or house. Solid sales, negotiation, networking, and presentation skills are all very important in all three of these scenarios.
Jeffrey’s three hour seminar touched a great deal on how a solid sales marketing and branding plan can impact your success. The bottom line is that people buy from people and those that are ordinary end up in second place. Sitting among the more than 300 in attendance, I was surprised to learn that less than 10% utilized social media tools as part of their sales, branding, and lead generation strategy. While Jeffrey discussed the power of social media and how it can help you engage decision makers as well as hiring managers.
He says, “The challenge is for you to understand is that we are the bailout. The challenge is not just about sales tips and ideas but what you do that’s pretty ordinary.”
Jeffrey encourages everyone to take control of their bailout and suggested that we can accomplish this in the following ways:
Get a creative voice mail. Be different from everyone else. Humor is an excellent tool to define who you are and differentiate yourself from the rest.
Schedule a three way lunch. If someone you want to meet is giving you the run-around, invite someone you know that they need to know with you to lunch. Call your contact & invite them again. You will build instant rapport and credibility with both parties.
Be the Best. Don’t settle for ordinary. When you are the best at what you do, everything else shows up.
Business cards matter. Find creative ways to keep people talking. Your business card is a representation of yourself. How do you want people to remember you?
Get a flip. Video testimonial and video references are extremely powerful on your blog or website lending you instant credibility. Use a flip to interview experts and promote them on your blog or website building solid rapport and relationships not only with the interviewee but also your blog audience.
Check out my video interview with Jeffrey Gitomer below and don’t forget to visit his website at JeffreyGitomer.com. A special thanks to the Journal Record.
I’d like to think yes, but after viewing the most recent December Job Report, I’m not quite so sure. In the United States we had 85,000 new people file for unemployment benefits this last month. My concern for the economy and our reported recovery is three fold.
November and December are historically the most profitable months for retail companies who look for consumers to spend their hard earned money in the form of presents and gifts during the holidays. Retailers historically hire millions of temporary workers to serve as cashiers, sales clerks, and inventory personnel to help with the increased foot traffic and sales during the holidays, and still our job loss report released January 8th was 85,000 with more than 15 million Americans still out of work.
Looking back at job loss numbers for December 2008 and 2007 were very different with December 2008 at 524,000 and unemployment remaining at 10% for a second straight month. While at the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons was 7.7 million and the unemployment rate was 5.0%.
But even if retails companies might be hiring (they were down 10%) but unemployed eligible workers also weren’t buying. Take the average middle class worker who makes $50,000 salary a year. If they reside in Oklahoma, the average weekly unemployment benefit is $392 which equates to an hourly rate of $9.80 an hour for a 40 hour work week. This amount is well-above the average cashier’s hourly wage in my experience. If the only companies who are hiring are temporary holiday positions, I’d much rather save the cost of day care, gas, and work dress clothes and wait out the recession collecting my meager unemployment benefits.
Companies also historically lessen their financial obligations in the form of human capital not only at the end of quarter (which happens to be December for many) but also at the fiscal year end which for many companies and businesses was December 31st. Interestingly enough most retail companies fiscal year end is Februar28th and for government is June 30th.
State budgets are being cut. Sales tax revenues are less than expected. Government hiring is slowing. In Oklahoma, the state that I call home, just announced a 10% cut in spending for 2010. Not exactly the ideal situation for an economic recovery.
On the flip side, temporary and contract hiring is expected to increase this year. Companies are not yet ready to commit to hiring and re-hiring staff until they see some measurable growth in their market. Even if a company has the funds and means to hire and grow, they are reluctant to do so instead opting to employ a “dry powder theory.” By hiring temporary and contract workers, they can keep their investments liquid eliminating overhead costs like benefits, social security, and other government taxes and expenses associated with human capital management. Personally, the dry powder theory sounds more like dating without the marriage commitment.
…In Part II of “It’s a Dry Powder Job Market” I’ll discuss tactics for employees, candidates, and the unemployed to consider and employ in the Dry Power Job Market.
