Be persistent in your job search Whether temp or perm how to act on the job.

The Staffing View

On business, the workplace and employee relations

January , 2009

A Job Search Truth: Persistence Pays

Work can be hard, but looking for work can be even harder When you’re between jobs in a slow economy and the most promising reply you hear from employers each day is “Thanks, we’ll get back to you,” it’s easy to become discouraged But job counselors are united in their advice that determination, along with some smart strategies, is crucial to moving forward in your career

Yet it’s not uncommon for job seekers to lose their drive in a relatively short period Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the career-building classic What Color is Your Parachute? points out that a typical job-hunt lasts 15 to 19 weeks, depending on the health of the economy But more than one-third of all job hunters give up by the second month of their search Of course at some point they start looking again, depending on how dire their situation becomes But it’s surprising at how quickly many drop out to start

According to Bolles, research has shown that the amount of job-searching methods that job seekers use has a bearing on how long they’ll stick with it In a survey of 100 people who were looking for work using only one method to hunt for a job, 51 abandoned their search by the second month Not so in another survey of 100 people looking for a job by using several different approaches In that case only 31 stopped looking by the second month

The current economy may have slowed, but it hasn’t stopped altogether Companies are producing products and offering services and people are still buying them Here are a few tips to help you find your way to the employers that need your help

Network No doubt you’ve heard this one before, but it’s so fundamental it can’t be ignored You can send your resume to 100 companies or answer 100 online ads, but you’ll still have a greater chance for success by reaching out to everyone you know and anyone to whom they might connect you They know of openings within their companies They might be in a position to hire you They have the confidence to risk their own reputations by recommending you for a job because they know you personally Employers are also more comfortable hiring people referred to them by someone they know rather than strangers

Work with a staffing firm Staffing firms exist to provide qualified employees to companies in need of temporary or permanent workers It’s essential that they be aware of employers ready to add workers and have a pool of skilled workers on hand to fill those openings Our staffers counsel applicants on how their skills fit with our clients While you’re networking with friends, relatives and coworkers, also check in with us

Start or join a job club There are groups for people who meet to talk about investing, books, pets and countless other topics, so why not job searching? Job clubs meet regularly to talk about job hunting and career advancement with the goal of supporting the success of all members Members swap leads, offer feedback and brainstorm about strategies If you’re expected to tell your colleagues about your progress at each meeting, you’ll be motivated to have something to report

Have an on-line presence The Internet allows you to follow up job interviews and networking events in a dynamic way Create your own web site or blog Then showcase your work or share your views about matters related to your profession Both are additional ways for people to know a little more about you and become more comfortable

 Employers Take Note: Employee Free Choice Act on Washington’s Agenda

Congress convenes again this month and high on the agenda will be the Employee Free Choice Act, perhaps the most significant overhaul of federal labor law in decades and of importance to both employers and employees

The proposal, which was backed by President-elect Obama during last year’s campaign, would make it easier for workers to unionize by giving them the option of holding an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or a simple card check

Under current law, if 30 percent of employees in a work group sign union-interest cards, the NLRB calls for an election A secret ballot election is held six weeks later, which gives the employer and the union time to campaign for or against But under the Employee Free Choice Act the organizing rules would change If a majority of employees in a work group sign a union card, the union would become the official bargaining unit There would be no six-week campaign period for employers to argue against creating a union

Labor leaders say the proposal would help restore bargaining power to workers whose wages have fallen behind inflation in recent years Opponents say it would take away worker privacy and the freedom that comes with a secret ballot

The Employee Free Choice Act has already had one go-around in Congress It was introduced in early 2007 and passed by the House of Representatives, but it later stalled in the Senate Now Democratic leaders have said they plan file the bill again when the new Congress meets this month

In addition to the card check process, the bill includes other significant features

• It would impose a requirement that an employer begin bargaining with a union within 10 days after receiving a written request from the union If the employer and union can’t reach agreement on a contract after four months of “direct and mediated” bargaining following the certification of the union, the two sides would be subject to mandatory binding arbitration


• It would also revise certain enforcement provisions of the National Labor Relations Act related to alleged unfair labor practices that may have occurred while the union was organizing and then bargaining for an initial contract The penalties could include treble damages in cases where an employee is unlawfully discriminated against by an employer because of union activities and civil penalties to the employer of up to $20,000

 Temporary or Permanent Employee, Dress for the Job

Makes no difference whether you’ve joined a company as a temporary employee or if you’ve been hired permanently, it’s important to dress properly Sure companies want work horses before clothes horses, but attention to attire shows respect for your company, your colleagues and yourself

Whether the dress code in your workplace is casual or corporate, your clothes should show that you’re serious about your work A good look can also help you stand out If there’s a career level you’d like to reach, dress for it That doesn’t mean a power suit if you work in the mailroom But it could mean a tie and dress shoes instead of a sweater and sneakers Notice other professionals whom you admire Do you dress like them?

If the answer is no, how do you upgrade without going broke? Designers and style experts advise men who are building a work wardrobe to focus on a few fundamental pieces These are the items worth spending some money on, before going discount on the rest of your wardrobe If you can’t afford to buy them at once, then assemble them as you can

Two suits, blue and gray A two- or three-button navy suit goes with every other color and shows well when meeting with clients or the boss Similarly a dark or light gray suit is formal and goes with all colors and is different enough that your colleagues won’t be wondering if you ever wear anything other than that blue suit

A navy blue sport coat Stylistas will say this the jacket with range – one that can be worn to make you look dressy at work with a white shirt and tie, but also easily paired with dark jeans and a polo when you’re dressing down

A white dress shirt A high quality cotton white shirt goes with all of the above, makes any suit sharper than a colored alternative, but also works with an open collar and jacket

Oxford shoes Even if you don’t dress up for work, buy a pair and have them ready You can’t wear a suit with loafers or flip-flops You can wear oxfords with dress pants and even dark jeans

The Casual Friday look worked well when the Dow was around 14,000 and your house had doubled in value But times have changed and many employers are expecting a more earnest attitude among the ranks By adding a few basics to your closet, you can show you’ve gotten the message