My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
November 2006 archive
As the year 2006 is coming to an end, it seems an appropriate time to share some of my predictions for and about the mature workforce in 2007. There are too many to include in one post so look for more predictions in the days to come. And, as always, I welcome your comments and perspective on these and any other predictions of your own.
2007 is the year that mature "specialists" will begin to dominate the temporary job market. They will teach, mentor and transfer specialized knowledge to the next generations. Beyond this similarity to past "masters," they will expand their specializations and bring a new level of creativity to "work."
The battle over social entitlements will heat up in 2007 and will turn red hot late in the year. Boomers will pay closer attention to outcomes as 10,000 boomers turn 50 each and every day. One in three will face retirement with no money except for social entitlements. All face the probability of significantly longer lifetimes.
Healthcare jobs will lead all other opportunities in 2007. In a recent survey conducted by AARP, 32 of the 50 best employers for workers over 50 were in the healthcare industry. Beyond healthcare, telecommuting will take another giant step forward and the temporary agency business will flourish.
A podcast on this topic is now available. To listen to or download this podcast, please click here for Quicktime users and here for Windows Media Player users. All Spherion podcasts will soon be available at the iTunes Music Store for those of you that want to take us with you on your iPod.
There are many issues that will arise from adding 100 million people to America in the next 35 years.
Take one problem that affects the mature population in our country. Social Security currently pays for itself with a 12.4% payroll tax and produces a surplus that the government raids every year to pay other bills. But... Social Security will soon begin to run deficits and ultimately, without reform, will need a transfusion in the trillions of dollars if the government is to keep its promises.
Solutions require either a cut in benefits, continued advances in eligibility ages or a whopping increase in personal and corporate income taxes. The solution of working longer over our longer lifetimes, before becoming eligible for Social Security, is the outcome I prefer because I do not see any valid reason for sending our bill to the next generations.
Having written this, I realize I might be wrong and all social systems (Social Security, Medicare, etc.) may be repaired in the near future. But, is working longer a punishment or a reward?
Think about a longer lifetime without some form of work. Will the much younger old of our nation be left to the boredom and loneliness of a mature age that does not include the social and financial benefits of work? And, what work is best for the mature? Will it look different than the work of youth? Who will prepare for longer lifetimes? Will you?
The folks at Computerworld just sent us the results of their 20th annual IT Career Survey that has a few interesting (but not unexpected) nuggets about the current state of IT salaries. Who's getting the short end? According to this survey, it is the network managers and the technical trainers. No surprises there considering that some of these positions have either been outsourced offshore or have been replaced by downloadable instructional video podcasts. The winners (obviously) are the Web developers, the programmers; essentially anybody that can bring a touch of Web 2.0 to their current employers.
The Web has become infinitely more malleable thanks to technologies like Ajax that allow anyone to customize software and Web-based applications to suit VERY specific business needs and can make a company more efficient and competitive. What used to take months to develop, now takes a few hours to create...and what's even more attractive to business-owners is, these applications are mostly Web-based, which means they don't need to host them on their own network servers (this probably explains the dip in pay raises for network managers).
Who's hiring these Web developers? Media companies and content owners are being forced to adapt to changing consumer appetites by distributing their content libraries online. Web skills are hot, so we've been recommending to our many IT candidates that if they do not already have a proficiency in this area, they should add these skills to their repertoire immediately. Also, a word to employers: you may find yourselves paying top-dollar for Web developers, but we encourage you to think about the efficiency gains you may reap down the road.
As more companies start hiring for the long-term, a candidate's fit with an employer's culture can be equally important as his/her ability to do the job. To gauge this fit, some businesses have implemented stringent interview processes - grueling rounds of interviews (both professional and social), homework assignments and everything short of selling one's soul. This marathon interview strategy, however, can force job-seekers to accept offers elsewhere, ultimately creating an big headache for growing employers.
There's no doubt that culture fit is important, but give these poor people a break. You can still recruit top talent without compromising your company's je ne sais quoi. The fact of the matter is, the potential candidate may currently hold a job and won't be able to jump through your company's hoops in a timely manner. Does that mean they aren't a good fit? Call upon your own ability to judge character and keep the interview process short, but thorough.
The U.S. unemployment rate is at its lowest in years and there are MANY available jobs out there. Don't lose your next top performer because you were waiting for them to dazzle you...because honestly, they likely won't wait for YOU.
This blog post at Careersolvers provided some helpful information regarding salary negotiation. Being focused on how much you will make in a new job is still something candidates struggle with, despite numerous reminders to treat salary as a less prominent concern during the interview phase.
The Careersolvers post talks about upselling your skills to not only fit a job description, but to exceed the job responsibilities and demonstrate an ability to bring more to the potential employer's table.
Here are a few more suggestions on how to do just that:
- Be positive about what the job can offer. Demonstrate that you understand the responsibilities of the job description and then promote your experience by discussing how you have used your skills to solve an issue or offer a new perspective on how to handle certain responsibilities more efficiently.
- Add on to the job's responsibilities, before getting the job. Oftentimes, we are asked to perform tasks outside of our stated responsibilities. Use this experience to your advantage by describing how you can bring additional skills to the position that may influence how the new position will operate.
- Look into the future. Hiring managers like candidates who are goal-oriented. Sharing with the hiring manager your future goals, while providing information about multiple job skills and experience, demonstrates that you have not only been willing to take on additional responsibilities in the past, but that you are already focused and prepared to take on additional tasks in the future.
Bottom line, if you still are unable to negotiate the salary that you really want, weigh the pros and cons of the company and position. If you see true growth potential and really like the company, it may be worth more than dollar amounts. You can also consider negotiating a salary review within six months of hiring on, so that you have the possibility of getting closer to your desired paycheck.
With the abundance of new technologies used to keep an eye on employees these days, it would be wise to practice discretion at work. The line between spying and maximizing return on the company dollar is fine indeed.
A recent USA Today story said some companies are going as far as tracking workers' whereabouts using a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite and even hiring private investigators to confirm workers' activities.
Spying on employees is nothing new. However, it has become exceedingly commonplace in our society of mistrust and over-the-counter surveillance equipment. Would employee monitoring help to improve productivity and increase efficiency? Or would it only help to diminish the delicate trust between employee and employer? The answer is relative of course, and the decision of what is appropriate is left to the company and the individual.
Every company has their own policy on what is work-related activity and what is not. It would be prudent to understand what can and cannot be used against you, especially given the growing technology on monitoring the workplace.
Remember that you can be held accountable for your actions, regardless of whether it's at work or at home.
Q: I love my job but I hate going to work everyday because I don't get along with a coworker. What can I do??
Submitted by Deanna Guless, Biloxi, Mississippi
A: Dear Deanna,
The good news is that you enjoy what you do-something many workers can't claim and yet which may be the key to overall job satisfaction. I understand how bothersome it can be when you and a coworker don't get along, but here are some tips that can help you develop a better relationship.
First, you've probably identified what you don't like about this person, but have you looked for their positive qualities? By shifting your focus to the good things about them you may learn to respect them more.
Second, pump up the volume when it comes to kindness. Sometimes the happier and more pleasant you are, the harder it is for a person to be negative or unpleasant to you.
Third, if these approaches just aren't working, try minimizing your interaction. For example, use emails to avoid face-to-face discussions. As a last resort, you can always ask to be reassigned to another area or team.
Most importantly, remain positive! An upbeat attitude is appreciated by everyone around you, and will help keep you focused on the things you love about your job.
Again, more evidence that workers are ready to jump ship and find new employers. A recent Job Search Secrets blog post about an SWNS survey, conducted on behalf of SkillSoft, states that two-thirds of workers are planning on leaving their employer. Too many workers are citing low pay and boredom with their jobs as reasons for seeking new employment. According to the latest Spherion Employment Report, there seems to be a steady month to month increase in the amount of employees planning on looking for a new job in the upcoming year.
If you are reading this and the words "low pay" and "boredom" stand out to you, here are a couple of tips that might delay your desire to join the job search game.
First, if you are bored by your current position because you feel that your skills are underutilized, talk to your manager and let them know your career goals. This will help your manager determine where your other skills sets might be used. Also, check out if your company has job-sharing or internal internships that will allow you to discover other departments in the company where you might be a suitable employee. Additionally, consider seeking out teams within your own department where your help and input would be appreciated. Sometimes, a new point of view to an old problem is viewed as a valuable asset and puts you in a position to be included in the operations of different areas of the company.
All of these tips could ultimately result in a potential bump in salary by showing your true potential managers, or finding the job that is the best fit for you. If you still find that you are having a hard time fitting into your current workplace, then you should consider throwing your hat in the ring for a new employer.
Silicon Valley is humming again and starry-eyed entrepreneurs pre-occupied with finding a Homecoming date during the last dot-com boom are fielding multi-million dollar offers for their Widget 2.0. To those younger workers waxing nostalgic for 1999, hoping to eschew suits for sneakers by finding a job at the next MySpace or YouTube (and there are MANY to choose from), remember this: a perk is not a benefit.
Hip Internet companies of all sizes are known for perks like foosball conference tables, nap rooms and even on-site wet bars, but all the perks in the world won't help you pay for health insurance or build a retirement savings.
While more small businesses are offering some kind of healthcare plan to employees (71% up from 54% last year according to a recent American Express survey), a 2005 Union Bank of California study found that 75% of small businesses offered no retirement benefits at all, because they tend to be rather costly.
Perks are great, there's no doubt about it , but having worked for a company that had a vintage Pac-Man machine in the "brainstorm nook" won't be quite as cool when you're 70. So go for the fun companies, just make sure you're being taken care of in ways that matter in the long-term.
We wanted to share with all our readers that The Big Time! really has made 'the big time' in the blogosphere! During the first ever Society for New Communications Research Awards Ceremony on November 2, 2006, Spherion was bestowed a merit award for our blog. According to their own blog:
"The Society's awards program honors innovative organizations and professionals who are pioneering the use of social media (i.e., blogs, wikis, podcasts, collaborative tools and other forms of participatory communications) in the areas of marketing, public relations and advertising, politics, entertainment, academics, and community and cultural development"
More than twenty awards were announced at the Society's gala and awards ceremony. All award submissions were conducted in the form of case studies that can be found on the New Communications Review Blog.
We wanted to take this chance to thank both our readers and contributors for all their hard work and insightful conversations since we launched this blog.
Spherion was asked to participate in a Carnival Blog hosted by JibberJobber.com. If you haven't heard of a Carnival Blog, here's a quick overview. A host, in this case JibberJobber.com, poses a question of interest and then posts the responses by a certain date. As you'll see in this case, the host has asked for responses from career experts, recruiters and just regular people who have been affected by a job search, to respond to this question:
Yikes! You just lost your job! You've been so busy at "work" that you don't feel your network is as strong as you would like it to be! What are you going to do with (and to) your network in the next 6 weeks as you begin an aggresive job search campaign? And, outside of your network, what job search tactics will you employ? Or your best networking tips related to job searches.
In addition to my response below, another Spherion career expert Wendy Frados weighs in.
If you wouldn't start or run a business without a plan, you shouldn't start or run your career without one. Before networking or beginning any other TACTICAL effort at job hunting, develop a business strategy that clearly outlines your game plan, including what you want and how you plan to get it. I recommend using the S.M.A.R.T. approach (specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic and time-framed) to business plan development.
When it comes to networking as a part of your job search, I'd offer these real life people-to-people tips:
- Before opening my mouth about me, I inquire about the person to whom I am being introduced. This gives me time to get the lay of the land and to introduce myself in a way that will interest them.
- I describe myself by asking and answering two questions before engaging in networking - WHO am I (not just what do I do) and why should this person in this situation want to know me? I try to be both concise and interesting. Failing this task, I attempt to be provocative and say something that invites a follow-up question from the person. This takes practice. And I always have more than one version of my introduction in order to "fit" the situation. For example, I have an airplane introduction, a stage introduction (actually several), a social introduction, etc. All are very short.
- Some years ago, I took a good sales training class. I learned how to ask the right questions rather than drone endlessly on about myself. Networking, after all, is the first stage of a selling experience.
- There is no excuse for being too busy at work. What world do we live in? We live in a world where the average length of employment lasts somewhat less than 3 years. Call one person every week in your network, as I do, and offer to help them and you'll never be left at the mercy of a dead network again.
- Get yourself on the JibberJobber plan. Manage your LinkedIn connections. Start a blog. Develop a website. Make certain that you have a large presence on Google.
- Carleen MacKay
Response #2:
Well, I've lost my job and what I'm going to do to find a new job and possibly a new career direction might surprise you. I am not going to turn to my closest circle of contacts for advice and information on setting out in a new direction. Why? Because I know from the experience of my own career transition to the field of Library Science that my mother is going to worry that I won't be financially solvent after investing in yet another "degree," my boyfriend is going to worry that I will put my hair up in a bun and start wearing sensible shoes, my fellow workers will worry that they cannot continue to depend on me for the same skills I have provided in the past, and on and on.
Here's the secret to what you must do when starting out to change your career identity or direction and that is: You need to CHOOSE the people you want to learn from and who will be most helpful to your success in attaining your career goals. Surprisingly, they most likely aren't the people you have wracked your brain trying to think of as you worked to build a comprehensive list of personal networking contacts.
In my own case, the person I found most helpful in my career transition was an eccentric Manager of a Department of Government Documents at a large university library in my city and I found him at a job fair where I made the first overture in reaching out to him. There were long lines of prospective job seekers standing at booths where outgoing, engaging employers had set up exciting graphic models. This professor sat by himself at his lonely card table. Sometimes it's more difficult to go where the crowd is not but, in this case, it served me well. He was tentatively receptive to the idea of taking me on in an internship. He may have been an absent minded professor, but with follow up calls and numerous reminders, I eventually got myself through the door and into his office.
He was excited about developing the first web site for the Library's Government Document Department; we had a similar vision. He had the subject matter expertise and I wanted to learn. And, unlike some of those in my closest circle, he did not caution me that I didn't have the necessary computer skills or sufficient background in government documents. The truth is that he didn't really know what skills I had, only that he had found someone to help him get the work done. And I had found a mentor.
Too many job seekers begin the search concentrating only on using the network they have - the time is now to begin choosing the network you want.
- Wendy Frados
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of workers are not satisfied with their ability to maintain a balance between their work and personal lives. Are you? Let us know.
I just saw a great post on the Brazen Careerist blog about how to become an MVP at work. Instead of rehashing typical career strategies, the post provides relevant, straight forward advice on the concept of "managing up." Following these tips will help you support your boss more effectively, inspire confidence in your abilities and get more face time with the people that matter.
To some readers, the concepts may seem simple, but I think that's the point. It can be hard to take a step back from our work and analyze what really makes a difference at work. It's not really all that complicated.
Tips include:
-Say no
-Talk like your boss
-Toot your own horn
I got a kick out of Wendy of CareerHub's recent post about the importance of a professional voicemail. The post is quite humorous when you consider the examples of people's voicemail she includes, although the issue is a serious one. How can a job seeker expect to be taken seriously by prospective employers when their impersonating Elvis on their voicemail?
Now I'm not against showcasing your personality on your home voicemail. In fact, after the birth of my daughter I changed our voicemail to say "we're probably home right now but my best guess is we're on potty patrol or cleaning spit up so leave a message." I thought it was funny. But I also knew that I wasn't in the market for a new job, nor would any headhunters be tracking me down at home. My point is, there are plenty of opportunities down the road to showcase your creativity via your voicemail but during the job search is not one of them. Keep a professional, straightforward voicemail during any times a potential employer or recruiter may be contacting you.
After you land the job is the time to blare "We Are the Champions" in your voicemail.
I have been thinking about the advantages and challenges adding 3 million more people each year to our population might mean to many aspects of our work lives. I have come to believe, after all speculation is over and done with, that " demographics are reliable predictors of destiny" - and, as one result, the very near future looks quite different than the very recent past. Are you ready for what population change means to work in America?
Taken together with a changing mix of ages, ethnicities, cultures and races, educational accomplishments, and world events, population change paints a picture of our future of work.
Did you know, for instance, that Healthcare is already the number #1 industry in America?
If America capitalizes on innovation, science and the latest technology, the healthcare industry may give America (and you) the most opportunity to remain economically competitive in the next 10 years.
What do most of emerging jobs/careers have in common?
Here's what the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts... 70% of new jobs require specific education, training and/or certifications.
Step forward to the near future. Ask yourself... which industries and what jobs are guaranteed to grow in just the next 10 years?
