American State Jobs

Elevator Pitch– What is it?  A thirty second speech to interest an employer and an important part of the job search arsenal that everyone should have.

How does one prepare an elevator pitch and make it effective?

Start  talking about your career by focusing on some aspect of your job that you are passionate about and successful at.  Below is a quick generic example

My passion in life is ______.  I love everything about it.  It combines the interesting stuff  like________with the difficult stuff like _____________ (add  any technology that makes it possible).  I’ve been doing this for over ____and I find that I’m learning something new about  ________  and becoming more successful every day.  Working as a ( team member / team leader or on my own) to accomplish ____________ is tremendously rewarding and fulfilling, and I love doing it.

Want a more systematic approach?

Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you like your work?
2. Why have you been doing this  for ___years?
3. What is it that you find interesting about it?
4. Why do you want to stay in this field?
5. What do you like about this industry?
6. When you get up in the morning, what types of challenges at work make you excited to get to work as soon as possible?
7. When are you having the most fun?

Write the answers into your elevator pitch.  Speak them into a recorder like you were talking to one of your friends.  Practice until you can smoothly deliver the lines.  When it sounds like a backyard conversation with a friend, you are ready to test it with the  smartest friend you have to get some feedback.  Refine it based on the feedback, practice until you can deliver the the lines without pause and so it still sounds like a informal conversation.  Now you are ready for a job fair or to impress a hiring manager enough to interview you for an opening.  Go get the job!

Hiring Remains Weak— Hiring remains weak and employers may be cutting their staffs again.  This suggests that companies won’t be adding enough workers in August to lower the 9.5 percent unemployment rate.

Job Search Phone Calls — Even if you have excellent communication skills and are an outgoing person, the job search phone call to a frend, relative or colleague is difficult.  You feel like a panhandler asking for quarters on the street.  Try this.  Instead of asking them for a job, ask them if they are willing to be reference for you when you find a job.  This tells them you are looking for work, allows them to feel better about the call by at least helping you a little and may get their mind thinking about job oportunities they have heard about.  A positive call will make your contacts more inclined to help you.  They may even feel honored that you think highly enough of them to ask them to be a reference.  So instead of avoiding any future awkward calls from you looking for work, they will stay alert for opportunities that might work for you.  Good luck.

Job Interview Tips   An interview is one of the most important aspects in the hiring process. You need to demonstrate that you understand the needs of the interviewer and what the company is hoping to achieve by filling this position, and then explain, using specific examples from your past experience, why you can meet those needs and help the company to reach its goal.

Do your homework and find out as much as you can about the company, unit and previous position holder by using the Internet or talking to someone you know who works for the company.

Listening is  the most important skill to utilize during interviews.  What people tell you is critical, because it may be the only way to get an accurate picture of what it is really like to work at their company and if you will be successful there.  You also need to understand the questions they are asking so you can generate  thoughtful answers that provide several brief examples.

If you are short on the experience they are looking for, you will need to blend in the personal qualities you possess that will enable you to handle the situation the question is based on.  If you are caught unprepared to answer a question, consider the following tactics:  keep your composure, take up to five seconds without talking to formulate an answer.  Keep the answer short.  Perhaps you can minimize the damage by not spending time demonstrating your inability to provide a quality answer.  The longer your answer, the greater the chance you will say something wrong in addition to not having the answer the interviewer is seeking.  If you recognize you have said something wrong from the interviewers facial or body language, simply state you want to amend your answer and briefly state the change. The interviewer may interpret it as a sign of maturity or think it shows that you are resilient.  Whatever you do, don’t try to convince the interviewer your wrong answer is correct.  You won’t have  the credibility, or the institutional knowledge to make a persuasive case.

Don’t be afraid to practice. If you are young, think and act mature beyond your years. If you are older, show some energy in how you speak, stand, sit and shake hands.  Get that job!

Unemployment Benefit Extension: Everyone who is on extended unemployment benefits and counting on congress to pass another extension of those benefits should be concerned.  Even though Democratic officials in the House may try to revive the long-stalled jobless aid bill next week as a stand-alone bill, there may not have enough time to pass the measure to the President  before leaving Washington for the July 4th recess.  The impasse means that more than 1.2 million people will lose unemployment benefits averaging $300 a week.  Personally, I think its time that we demand our representatives begin to work for the people  that voted them into office instead of their political party. If they don’t finish this bill before leaving town for the July 4th holiday(forgive me) but I hope they choke on their July 4th steak so we have a fewer incumbents to vote out  of office this November.  To the power hungry Republicans who only care about making Democrats look bad for the November elections, its time to be an American instead of a Republican. Face the fact that your party lost control of power because you really screwed up the country.  To the Democrats who now enjoy the power, its time to learn a lesson from the Republican mess. You need to offset any new spending with cuts in the budget. Let those cuts begin with some of the obvious pork going to democratic districts. If you want to lead, you could try doing it by example! 

If you are on extended unemployment benefits, you should check with your state’s office to find out how many weeks of benefits you have left and make a survival plan in case your representatives don’t perform at their job!  If you lose your benefit, you know who to add to the unemployment line this fall.

Temporary Government Employment Saves the Jobs Report: Below is a summary of the last weeks jobs report

Total change in non-farm payroll : added 431,000 jobs

Government added 390,000 jobs

Private Sector added 41,000 jobs (summary below)

Logging & Mining added 10,000

Construction lost 35,000

Manufacturing added 29,000

Durable goods added 34,000

Non-durable goods lost 5,000

Services added  37,000

Wholesale Trade added 2,000

Retail Trade lost 6,600

Transportation & Warehousing added 11,100

Information Technology no loss or gain

Financial Services lost 12,000

Professional & Business Services added 22,000

Education & Health Services added 17,000

Leisure added 2,000

• Nonfarm Payrolls – Payrolls grew by 431,000 jobs 411,000 of those jobs were temporary census taker positions. When removing census jobs, only 20,00 jobs were created in May.  In April, 208,000 jobs were created and only 66,000 of those were census takers.  March was revised worse from +230,000 to +208,000.
• Unemployment Rate – 9.7%. The unemployment rate improved largely because of a decline in the civilian labor force (the pool of willing and able workers). People drop out of the labor force because they have been unable to find a job. These “discouraged workers” are not counted in the official unemployment rate. If they were counted the unemployment rate would’ve been 16.6% vs. 17.1% in April.
• Average Hourly Earnings -  0.3% Higher. This is good news for consumers.  Those who have jobs are making more per hour which gives them more disposable income (or ability to stay current on their mortgage)
• Average Work Week – 34.2 hours.  This is also good news for consumers with jobs.  An employees who’s working more hours at a higher pay rate will bring home a bigger paycheck to spend on goods and services.

This report was  disappointing despite the gain because of the temporary nature of the 411,000 census jobs created.  Those temporary workers will spend the money in our economy and keep others in the private sector working.  But what happens when those temporary jobs end?  What happens as state and local budgets are under pressure to contract?  How will the gulf oil spill effect the employment picture? I believe we  need more private sector stimulus and must finish the new law regulating the financial sector of the economy.  The uncertainty over the bills contents is restraining employment in the financial sector and credit availability to the private sector in general.

Best wishes for a rewarding career.  Click on your states name to check out the public employment available. You won’t have to register and will not be asked to buy anything.  Its all free information!

Improving Job Scene Prediction:  I usually keep my predictions to myself.  But research indicates the job scene is improving.  The upcoming jobs report next Friday, June 4th is likely to show 330,00 or more  new jobs.  While that is very good news (if my prediction is close to accurate)  its not yet time to celebrate.  There are still many unemployed for every good job.  About 5.4 million people continue to collect benefits under emergency and extended benefit programs which start after 26 weeks of unemployment and the average duration of unemployment is 33.0 weeks.  But at this point,  we need to welcome the  light at the end of the tunnel because its probably not a train coming in  our direction.

At this juncture business and governments are re-evaluating how they are operating in this changed economic climate. I expect them to develop new and more successful strategies that addresses the more conservative financial world they find themselves in.  Sound judgment and basic principles by workers is not a quick fix but a long journey we need to take one step at a time.  So everyone, employed or not,  should prepare a career plan that sets realistic and attainable goals.  Enjoy the Memorial Day holiday and try do something nice for a military veteran!

Appearance is Important– Employers everywhere have large numbers of qualified and overqualified applicants for jobs they are filling. That translates into them being more selective than ever. That “selectiveness” is beyond job qualifications, resumes and cover letters.

You need to stand out in a positive way from your competitors if you really want that job. That means at least proper dress and grooming, even if you’re just filling out an application.

Appearance can often separate you other applicants.  The longer you have been unemployed and the older you are over 40 the better you need to look.  Since it’s just us, lets be blunt.  First, no halters, sneakers, flip flops, or other open toed shoes.  Shoes should be shiny (think military dress).  Clothes need to fit properly and be “in style” and professional. Carry a brief case or portfolio, a paper file may feel organized but it is not professional.  Hair needs to clean, short, groomed and perhaps less grey, and guys it is a good time to lose the facial hair including the long sideburns. Hands need to be manicured.

Be relaxed but use good posture by standing up strait with shoulders back and stand with equal weight on both feet. Please don’t lean on anything or slouch if sitting.  Lean forward just a little when sitting.  With the high cost of health care and employers needing everyone at work every day, you need to look closer to “the picture of health”.  If that means a diet, exercise regimen, stop smoking or all the above, the only thing to wait for is clearance and advice from your health care provider.

Even if you don’t get the first job, take a little time looking in a mirror because you look great and that is good for your self-esteem, which is an intangible part of your appearance.  I know appearance is shallow but this advice works and if you want to work please follow it.  Jobs are starting to be more abundant in some areas, go get one!

Employed but Looking-Are you employed and looking for a better job? If you have non existent or  limited prospects with  your employer, the most likely way to get a job offer from a competitor is by networking with peers at other companies and leaders in your field.

It’s done at conferences, formal meetings, and casual lunches and gatherings.  Most employers consider these occasions as a way for employees to stay connected to the latest processes in their field.  The line between networking to share best practices and looking for a better job offer from a colleague rests with your intentions.

Stay connected and keep your name out there.  Let people know what your involved in and what you have accomplished.  Don’t be shy about asking peers what problems they’re facing and doing what you can to help.  Offer your expertise as a speaker, or  being a “go-between”  to link them with someone or services that can help them.  Not only do you end up being owed  favors, you find out a lot more about the business environment in which you operate. These favors and knowlege can pay off with a job offer or new business venture.  Good luck .

Status of U.S. Employment–

In March, non-farm payroll employment rose by 162,000.
Job growth continued in temporary help services and
in health care. Federal government employment increased
due to the hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010.
Job losses continued in financial activities and in
information. 

Temporary help services added 40,000 jobs in March.
Since September 2009, temporary help services employment has
risen by 313,000.

Employment in health care continued to increase in
March (27,000),with the largest gains occurring in
ambulatory health care services
(16,000) and in nursing and residential care facilities
(9,000).

In March, employment in mining increased by 8,000.
Monthly job gains in mining have averaged 6,000
over the past 5 months.

Employment in federal government was up over the month,
reflecting the hiring of 48,000 temporary workers for the
decennial census.

Manufacturing employment continued to trend up in
March (17,000);the industry has added 45,000 jobs
in the first 3 months of 2010.
Over the month, job gains were concentrated
in fabricated metal products (9,000) and in machinery (6,000).

Employment in construction held steady (15,000) in March.
The industry had lost an average of 72,000 jobs per month
in the prior 12 months.

Over the month, employment changed little in
transportation and warehousing,leisure and hospitality,
retail trade, and wholesale trade.

In March, financial activities shed 21,000 jobs,
with the largest losses occurring in insurance
carriers and related activities (-9,000). Employment
in the information industry decreased by 12,000.