Generation Integration: Roberta Matuson Unites Boomers, X-ers and Millennials in the Workplace

Cyber Monday-Job Search Programs

Before you click on that icon to order your son or daughter a new electronic device that they really don't need nor one they can really afford consider the following:

You've just invested $200K in your child's education and they are working at the mall. Yes, I know you are grateful they even have a job in this economy, but you are feeling the pressure of continuing to support them while they are underemployed. On top of this is the worry that your job could vanish tomorrow, thereby watching this house of cards fall around you.

But what if you took the money you were going to spend on more "stuff" and invested it in your child so they could be financially independent for the rest of their lives? Colleges do not have the capacity, especially in this economy, to help every graduate find a job. There are just too many students entering the career services offices and not enough providers to give people the attention they need. Flashforward another six months and there will be millions of more recent grads in the market making the search that much more challenging.

Today in honor of Cyber Monday, I'm going to offer an additional month of services for anyone who enrolls in my Job Search Programs. If you are thinking the last thing I need is for this to take an additional month then let me reassure you that you or your child can use this time for private coaching to ensure a smooth assimilation into the new role. And if that weren't enough, I will also include a signed copy of my new book, Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around (Nicholas Brealey, January 2011)

So this holiday season, give the gift that keeps on giving. Provide your child with services that will teach them how to secure meaningful employment throughout their lives.

Roberta Matuson
President, Human Resource Solutions
Author of Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around (Nicholas Brealey, January 2011)
413-582-1840

People Are Getting Job Offers...Why Aren't You?

People are getting hired. If you're not even getting an interview, then something is wrong. Sure you could sit back and keep blaming the economy. I bet some of the younger people even have mom and dad convinced that the only job out there is the one where they get to bartend at their favorite joint.

That's all fine and dandy, but in less than six months, another slew of recent grads is going to flood the job market. Young people, who are now unemployed, will be yesterday's news as employers shift their interest to the latest model to hit the market.

Others in the market place will be forced to take even lower salaries as they settle for anything that closely resembles a job.

It doesn't have to be that way if you are willing to take a closer look in the mirror. Is it the job market? Or is it really you? In the end, your credit card company really doesn't care who it is so perhaps it's time to give your job search the attention it deserves.

Need to find a job quickly? Ever wonder what hiring managers are really thinking when they are asking you questions? Guess no longer! Everyone who signs up for my Job Search Program by December 1, 2010 will receive a free download of my new product, Selecting for Success: The Complete Guide to Hiring Top Talent, that normally retails for $149.

Looking for a full-time Job? Try Seasonal Work

Seasonal jobs may be the foot in the door job seekers are looking for in a competitive job market, according to a new survey from CareerBuilder. Two-in-five employers (40 percent) who are hiring seasonal workers in the fourth quarter this year said they will likely transition some into full-time, permanent employees, up from 31 percent in 2009. The top five areas employers are recruiting holiday help for include retail (33 percent), customer service (31 percent), administrative/clerical support (17 percent) shipping and delivery (12 percent) and hospitality (10 percent). The survey was conducted among more than 2,400 employers between August 17 and September 2, 2010.

Workers can also find opportunities in other store-related or office-related job openings. Employers reported they would also be hiring seasonal employees for inventory management, accounting/finance, non-retail sales, marketing, technology and public relations. Here are some tips to getting hired:

• Begin now! Seasonal hiring is already in full force. It's usually over by the time the first snow flake hits the ground.
• Dress the part. Don't plan on walking into the GAP to apply for a job wearing clothes with logos from other stores. Look like you belong and they may even put you to work that day!
• Treat the interview like any other interview. Be on time, be courteous and follow up with the hiring manager to express your enthusiasm for becoming part of the team.
• Be prepared to work the schedule you are given. Don't apply for a seasonal job if you know you won't be able to stay through the terms of the position.

Seasonal jobs are a great way to try out a position without a long-term commitment. What are you waiting for? As I stated earlier in this post, hiring is going on right now!

 

Roberta

 

Want to know what goes on inside the mind of a hiring manager? Check out Selecting for Success; The Complete Guide to Hiring Top Talent

Could Your Job Search Use a Boost?

It's countdown time again. You've got about six weeks before hiring basically goes on holiday. Thanksgiving is the unofficial beginning of the holiday period. This is the time when hiring managers magically divert their attention to sugarplum fairies and potato pancakes. So what's a job applicant to do? Follow these steps and you may very well find that you are the recipient of an early holiday gift...employment.

Warp speed ahead - Now is the time to get on the phone and reconnect with everyone you called the day you found yourself unemployed. Remind them you are still looking for work.

Specificity rules - Don't make others work hard to help you. Be specific. Tell them exactly what it is you are looking for and let them know specifically how they can be of assistance. For example, rather than telling a former colleague you are hoping to land a position in marketing, tell her that you are searching for a market research position in a consumer products company where you can utilize your 15 years of experience in the field.

Link-in again - Check your Linkedin contacts to see who else has joined your network. Take a look at groups that may have recently formed to see if these groups may be appropriate for you to join.

Find a mentor - Studies show that people accelerate more quickly when they utilize coaches and mentors. Find someone in your network who is willing to provide guidance during this challenging time in your life.

Click here if you are serious about moving your search forward: Job Search Mentor Program. Sign up prior to November 15th and receive a complimentary download ($149 value) of our Selecting for Success Tool Kit, for an insider's look at what's really behind the questions hiring managers are asking.

 

 

Companies are Hiring Again!

Within the last day, three people (all who were unemployed) told me they had found meaningful employment! So what exactly does that mean?

Companies are hiring again! Which means different things to different people. If you're an employer, then it means you need to start filling some of those requisitions you've had on hold before others secure the talent you need. Wait much longer and you will have to pay more to get the talent you need. This may include paying agency fees, turning away business because you cannot properly service the client or missing your daughter's soccer game because you are now doing the job of the person who has resigned for a better opportunity.

If you are unemployed, this means that you can no longer blame the economy for your inability to find work. Take a closer look at what you are doing. Are you filling your days with tasks that are not moving your objectives forward? Have you lost steam or have you resigned yourself to the fact that you'll be underemployed for the rest of your career?

It's easy to lose hope, especially when going at it alone. Get out of the house and start networking. I've actually followed my own advice and have two appointments within the next week with prospects! Invest in yourself, consider joining a program like my Job Search Mentor program. There are different levels depending on how much help you feel you need. This program is also designed to help recent college graduates get off of their parent's payroll and onto the payroll of someone else.

All I ask is that you do something to improve your condition. Moving one thing forward a day can make a significant difference! Start today and you'll be that much further along.

Roberta Matuson

Place your order today for Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around and save 33% off the cover price!

Degrees That Hiring Managers Want

I recently shared insights with Chris Kyle on which degrees can get you hired. Here's the article in full:

Wondering which degrees can get you hired? Why not ask the people who do the hiring?

We polled a half-dozen HR managers and experts throughout the country to see what college degrees they want to see on the resumes hitting their desks.

The HR professionals work with employees in all industries, from private-sector firms and public agencies to non-profits, and the consensus was simple: now more than ever, your degree does matter.

"Get this message out to the guidance counselors of America," said Coy Renick, a Virginia-based HR professional. "It's not about getting a degree. It's about getting the right degree."

For info on what degrees are hottest - and why - keep reading. Our HR experts have answers.

#1 Degree - Health Care & Nursing

In a 2010 poll by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), 84 percent of HR specialists in the health care industry said they were currently hiring, leading all other sectors of the economy. Echoing that optimism, the U.S. Department of Labor says that 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations through 2018 are health-related.

Tip #1: "Anything related to the aging population is hot," said Roberta Matuson of Massachusetts-based Human Resource Solutions. "Whether it's a nutritionist, nurse, or nursing assistant, many hospitals can't afford to staff as many doctors, so they are bringing in people who can do a lot of the same things but at a lower cost."

Tip #2:"Like it or not, outsourcing is a long-term trend so you have to ask yourself: What jobs can be outsourced and what cannot? Many medical jobs cannot," said Steve Kane, an HR expert and former VP at a Fortune 50 global medical services company.

Degrees in Demand:
Medical Assistant
Nursing Assistant
Registered Nurse
Health Care Administration

Careers & Salaries:
Home Health Aides: $21,440
Medical Assistants: $28,300
Registered Nurses: $62,450
Health Care Managers: $80,240

#2 Degree - Business

When 100 HR professionals were asked what degree is most likely to get you hired in 2010, a business administration degree finished second, just behind health care, according to a poll by corporate consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Finance and accounting were popular choices too.

Tip #1: "A business degree is always going to have real value," said Matuson, an HR pro who helps staff nonprofits and small-to large-sized businesses. Her clients include Best Buy and New York Life.

Tip #2: Renick believes specificity is key: "If you have a general business degree, you're just one of many. But if you specialize in finance, accounting, or HR, it's easier to find a job."

Degrees in Demand:
Accounting
Business Administration
Finance
Human Resources
MBA

Careers & Salaries:
Employment Specialists: $45,470
Accountants: $59,430
Financial Managers: $99,330

#3 Degree - Information Technology (IT)

According to SHRM's 2010 poll of HR professionals, 75 percent of high-tech companies are hiring. What makes an IT degree so valuable though is that it's applicable in other industries too.

Tip #1: "The hottest industry for me is IT," said Renick, who helps staff companies in western Virginia. "You can make 50 or 60 grand right out of school with a two-year degree and the right certification. If you have a bachelor's or master's, we're talking six figures."

Tip #2: "What's almost always true and is still true today is that computer science majors are still in demand," said Kane, a San Francisco-based HR pro. "It never seems to end."

Degrees in Demand:
IT and Information Systems
Networking Administration
Computer Science
Database Technology

Careers & Salaries:
Network Administrators: $66,310
Database Administrators: $69,740
Computer Scientists: $97,970

#4 Degree - Education & Teaching

While demand for educators isn't skyrocketing, employment for teachers and administrators is rising at a steady clip now and into the foreseeable future, according to the Department of Labor, which cites mathematics, science and bilingual education as the most promising fields.

Tip #1: Vivian Leonard, director of HR for the city of Boston, oversees 17,000 employees, including the local school department. "I'll consider your college degree, internships and any prior work experience," Leonard said. "You must demonstrate knowledge and a true interest."

Tip #2: When it comes to jobs, Kane stresses location, location, location: "In cushy suburban locations, there is little demand for teachers. In rural areas, there's an even supply, while in rough, urban locations they are desperate for teachers. Why? Supply and demand."

Degrees in Demand:
K-12 Education
Special Education
Teaching Certificate
Education Leadership

Careers & Salaries:
Childcare Administrators: $39,940
Elementary School Teachers: $52,240
Middle School Teachers: $52,570
High School Teachers: $54,390
High school Principals: $97,486

#5 Degree - Culinary & Hospitality

There is a "substantial" demand for new hires in the culinary and hospitality industries that isn't expected to let up anytime soon, according to the Department of Labor. They cite a predominately young workforce with a high turnover rate as the main reason for optimism.

Tip #1: "There are some real opportunities in hospitality, especially if you have a bright smile and a positive attitude," Kane said. "You'll probably start low and your pay will be low, but you can get promoted and move up the chain of command rapidly since turnover is high."

Tip #2: Job opportunities for meeting and convention planners will grow by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018, reports the Department of Labor.

Degrees in Demand:
Culinary Arts
Baking & Pastry
Marketing/Communications
Restaurant Management

Careers & Salaries:
Travel Agents: $30,570
Chefs & Head Cooks: $38,770
Meeting & Convention Planners: $44,260
Lodging Managers: $45,800
Food Service Managers: $46,320

 

Got a degree and still looking for a job: Contact us today to learn more about our Job Search Mentor Program. Sign up prior to October 31st and receive an additional month at no cost.

Last Day to Receive a Free Inside Look On What Goes on in the Mind of a Hiring Manager

 

Earlier this month I offered a free dowload of Selecting for Success: The Complete Guide to Hiring Top Talent to job seekers who signed up for my Job Search Mentoring Program: http://www.yourhrexperts.com/job-search-programs.html. This guide provides job seekers with a rare opportunity to see what hiring managers are really looking for when they are asking specific interview questions. This offer expires this evening at midnight. However, you can order a download or a hardcopy of the guide for an introductory price of $129 plus shipping and handling and taxes where applicable. The regular price is $149.

Remember, fall is the perfect time to relaunch your job search as hiring tends to pick up during this time. It then slows down right after Thanksgiving and goes dormant through Christmas. What are you waiting for? Do something to jump start your search!

Roberta

Why Outplacement Should be Tossed Out the Door

All good things must come to an end and I believe outplacement, which served it's purpose in the 80's and 90's when few people had access to home computers and unlimited long-distance calling, should be retired along with shoulder pads. Why? Because this one size fits all model no longer fits most people.

A recent study by career transition firm CareerCurve supports my findings. The survey shows that personalized coaching is more valuable than resume development and promotion, career-related workshops, interview and negotiation skills or other forms of career search services. Since 2007, when 24 percent of candidates rated coaching as most valuable, the number of job seekers who favor the coaching element in their job search rose to 55 percent, as reported to date 2010. Candidates say they prefer having a dedicated, responsive career coach readily available to guide them in defining career goals and developing job search strategies. Coaches help job seekers stay engaged in the process and are helpful with salary negotiations and on-boarding when candidates do land a job. 

Job searching has changed dramatically over the past 18 months. Job seekers, particularly those who are returning to the workplace need to quickly come up to speed on the use of social media to connect with would-be employers. This isn't something that can easily be done by watching a PowerPoint presentation conducted by an outplacement officer.

Additionally, the length of time it now takes to find a new job has increased in recent years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it now takes an individual on average 32 weeks to find employment versus 24 weeks a year ago. It's difficult to stay motivated, but not impossible if you surround yourself with people who are advocating for you. This includes friends who have been there, as well as a coach or mentor who can guide you through this tough terrain we call the job market.

Call me at 413-582-1840 for a complimentary consultation to see if you qualify for my Job Search Mentor Program. As the former HR Careers Expert for Monster, I can help you find the most direct path to your next job.

Roberta

     

The Real Reason Why Your Recent College Grad May Not Be Employed

If you are the parent of a recent college grad, you can certainly sympathize with young people who happen to graduate during one of the worst times in economic history. Most likely you believe it's the economy and not your off-spring that's to blame. Would you still think this were the case if you knew your child had turned down an offer for work?

According to an annual survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 41 percent of college grads who were offered jobs turned them down and 57 percent believe another, better job opportunity will come up in just a few months.

Still believe it's the economy?

The summer is coming to a quick end and your child has a chance to make amends. This is the time to start putting together plans for a full blown job search so your child is  ready to move full speed ahead come fall. If you are tired of throwing your child off the couch each afternoon, then perhaps it's time to get some help. Take a look at my Job Search Mentor Program and see if it's right for your child. Due to the success of my clients, I now have a few slots open. And for those that enroll prior to September 1, 2010, I'll include a complimentary download of my new Selecting for Success Toolkit, which provides job seekers with a rare inside look at interviewing from the perspective of employers.

Success! In Her Own Words

It was a challenge, but I finally got our NJ job seeker off of cloud nine for a few moments so she could share her story with you regarding her job search. Here it is in her own words.

I can't believe your "success" blog is about ME!  Those stories usually happen to the lucky other ones.  Or at least that's what I thought.  Working with Roberta at Human Resource Solutions has put my technology and social media skills back into the 21st century.  She is extremely patient, but don't let her patients fool you.  She's a tough cookie.  She never gave up on me and I consequently never gave up on the job process.  In the end, not only did I gain self esteem, but I landed myself one hell of a job!  Kudos to me.  Not bad for a suburban mom who has not formally worked in 10 years.  Roberta... you're the best!

Melanie

What's your story? You could be next. Check out my Job Search Mentoring Program. Mention this post and I'll provide you with a 10 percent discount, should you be accepted into the program. This offer is valid through July 31, 2010. 

Roberta

Author of the forthcoming book, Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around (Nicholas Brealey, Jan. 2011)