Economy created just 32,000 jobs in July In my capacity as a Technical Recruiter, I am constantly being told by candidates that the job market is hot right now, or I being asked how is the job market? When I tell the candidates that the job market is not really all that great and companies are searching for people with very specific job skills, the candidates seem to think I don't know what I am talking about (which is usually the case but not in this instance). For those of you who think this is a hot job market, please take another look at the title of this blogg. The title came directly from MSNBC.com.
Many, many candidates have very unrealistic expectations at this time, especially in the middle executive ranks. Many vice presidents, directors and general managers lost their jobs in the latest recession and continue losing them. As the immortal Bruce Springstein once sang, "Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain't coming back ....". Why ain't they coming back.
- CEO's, COO's, etc. can reach the employees directly via the Internet or intranet and no longer need the next level of management to spread "the word" or "vision" as they once did.
- CEO's, COO's, CFO's can get their performance reports directly without someone massaging the numbers (based on what I hear from the Enron trial CEO's do not know what is going on anyhow).
- Companies can replace highly paid "mature" (mature is a new buzz word) workers with much lower paid and often better technically trained entry level employees that they recruit directly from college or one of the job boards (does not bode well for recruiters who usually make their money placing more "mature workers does it?).
- Manufacturing, especially in the plastics industry (fourth largest sector of manufacturing in the US) is heading to China, India, Mexico, etc., so there are fewer manufacturing related positions at all levels.
- Many VP's, GM's, Director's, etc. contribution to the company was not commensurate with their pay (hopefully shareholders will eventually figure this out and do something about CEO's, COO's, etc. pay one of these days).
- In order to maximize profits, companies need people with "hands-on-experience" leading manufacturing companies not just paper shufflers.
When a third party recruiter or a corporate recruiter calls, I implore everyone to listen if you really want to return to direct employment. If you do not have very job specific skills that the company is willing to pay for, do not expect to receive the same or higher pay offer because you have to relocate or some other reason unrelated to the job. Just because you get one opportunity to interview or offer, do not assume there will be another. We all know what assume stands for. Whatever you do, please, please do not go into recruiting. There are too many of us chasing to few openings as it is.
12:42:41 PM 
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