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My friend Angela called me. “Do you find me a risk-taker?” she asked. “I’ll be honest, Angie,” I said. “I adore you, but the first word that springs to mind when someone mentions your name has never been ‘risk-taker.’”
“Exactly!” she said. “I lay low. I follow orders and keep a smile on my face. That’s my deal.”
“So what’s going on?” I asked her.
“Listen to this,” Angie said. “I’ve been at my job for six years, working hard, trying to please the boss.
Recently we asked people on Facebook: How long is your work commute? Some said 15 minutes one way while others reported up to 1 to 2 hours. And according to the latest American Community Survey by the U.S. Census, Americans spend on average between 15 and 35 minutes commuting to work each day. In an ideal world we would work closer to home, but for the right job opportunity, would you be willing to take on a longer commute?
For those of you out there considering job opportunities that require extensive travel time, here are some things to consider before signing on the dotted line:
Hi Hank,
I’ve recently been offered a chance to work with a 3rd party recruiter representing a large investment bank. They cold call and place stock brokers. My commission would be 30% of the firm’s fee, 8% of the broker’s trailing 12 months (I think).
They promised $300/week draw for starters and say $100K is possible within 3 years. Hours are M-F 7:30-4:30 with major holidays and no benefits. It’s a small start-up of about 7 people and growing.
I have another opportunity to make $40K at a regular, steady job with benefits but not much chance to increase pay other than the regular yearly raise. I have a 2-year-old to support and want to make a good life for us and feel the recruiter position offers a chance to move ahead but at a risk.
* What is it like being a 3rd party recruiter?
* What is the outlook for this market, specifically recruiting stock brokers, in the financial services industry?
* What tips or advice can you offer?
Thank you,
Greg
Half a million Americans started looking for jobs in August, deciding to rev up their search again after waiting out the recession. Most will search for a long time, but a few many have landed a job in a bar or at a temporary agency.
Friday’s Bureau of Labor Statistics jobless report showed 67,000 private-sector jobs created last month, a tepid pace that isn’t nearly strong enough to rebuild the economy for the millions of unemployed.
“Progress is indeed being made, but it is occurring in such small increments and it is so tenuous that it doesn’t seem like progress at all,” Challenger, Gray, Christmas CEO John A. Challenger said in a statement.
Among the progress, or pockets of possibilities, were the nation’s bars and restaurants, which hired 12,200 people. Some construction companies hired crew and professional hiring continued, with accounting and administrative support jobs filled. Temporary firms added 17,000 jobs in the month, and are likely to keep adding them.
Hiring will continue in September, but at a modest pace, according to the Society of Human Resource Management. Its index actually shows a slowdown in hiring intentions for both manufacturers and service organizations compared to the spring, though it also reported recruiting has ...
More than 100 years ago when Labor Day was first created, it was built on the idea that this day would recognize and honor America’s workforce. Today, however, according to a recent Glassdoor survey, more Americans (59%) believe it symbolizes the end of summer, a day off (47%), and a time to be with family and friends (43%) rather than a celebration of American workers (41%). One in 10 thinks the holiday means nothing at all. And nearly one in five says it means the start of football season.
Last night, Glassdoor hosted its first teleseminar with career expert Liz Ryan. During the call, Liz tackled common issues we all face when creating or updating our resumes: boring objective statements and plain, non-descript job summary bullets. Here’s Liz’s advice on avoiding these issues to create a stand-out resume.
First, have you considered how weird jobs are? The very idea of a job is something left over from medieval times. The serf owes his or her allegiance to the lord of the manor. In exchange, the lord provides protection and minimal economic security. The lord takes the lion’s share of the economic output generated by the serf.
Really, the difference between today’s careers and indentured servitude is that the lord felt an obligation to provide in times of distress. Today, the relationship is pretty one-sided. At-will-employment is a normal thing in most states. The lord simply uses you until he is done.
But, you say, what about the top performers? Don’t they move from position to position with ease and enjoy royalty-like compensation, perks and benefits? Aren’t they the shining examples of the power of the system and its ability to identify and reward the true creators of value?
It’s been a tumultuous couple of years for the big 3 US auto manufacturers. Between the government bailouts, CEO changes and rough economy, it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. But as we watch from the outside, it’s those on the inside – the employees – who have been faced with the challenge of helping their respective employer ride out the recession. So how do employees at Ford, General Motors and Chrysler feel their automaker employer and top boss (or bosses in some cases) are performing? Glassdoor.com reports¹.
I love employment-related legal issues, especially the cutting-edge ones that make the papers. It isn’t that I like to see people in conflict. It’s just that when we read about these cases, it’s usually because their issues fall close to the line between what we know for sure about employment law, and what we truly don’t.
This is surely the case in the matter of Imane Boudlal vs. the Walt Disney Company. According to the LA Times , Imane was hired to work at a Walt Disney theme park, where every employee who deals with the public is seen as a cast member. Each cast member is issued a costume (uniform) and required to wear it on the job. Two years after she began working for Disney, Ms. Boudlal asked for permission to wear a hijab – a headscarf – to work, and when her request was denied, she sued the company for employment discrimination on religious grounds.
When you’re in stealth mode on your job hunt, the last thing you need is a colleague who’s serving as your reference blabbing about your search.
Yet if you’re not careful who you choose, you could end up being outed in a staff meeting or a private conversation with a boss. So when picking an endorser at your current employer, rule out office gossips, anyone who might want your job, or anyone who regularly seeks an advantage for themselves. Some people just can’t keep a secret.
“We absolutely have candidates who ask us not to call their current employer. In those instances we typically ask for references from prior managers at that company who are no longer there and/or managers from prior firms and roles,” said Jennifer Folsom, director of Momentum Resources in Alexandria, Va. She recruits and places moms and others for flexible and part-time positions.
[How To Get Job References In Stealth Mode] Former bosses definitely are removed from the office chatter but they may also be removed from your latest accomplishments. So take them out for a coffee or breakfast and bring them up to date – and offer key words and traits you hope they’ll be able to highlight when a future boss calls.
Use these five tips on managing your references while searching for jobs under the radar:
Whose Career Plan Are You On? by Liz Ryan September 8th, 2010
Career Advice For Recruiters: Industry Outlook & Job Tips by Hank Stringer September 3rd, 2010
Job Search Heats Up For Half A Million Americans; So Where Are The Jobs? by Vickie Elmer September 3rd, 2010
Why Workers Get Left Behind by John Sumser September 2nd, 2010
How To Be An Exceptional Job Seeker In A Tough Market by Heather Huhman August 27th, 2010