Last night I watched bits and pieces of 20/20 talking about GM, how they got into trouble and what they are doing. What really upset me was when a UAW worker smirked about making $65 an hour on a high school diploma. I have an MBA that cost me over $40,000 to get, can't get a job and have to work part time for $7.25 an hour to buy food. I am not on food stamps or unemployment. the bank is threatening to take my truck, the mortgage company threatening to foreclose. Yet, UAW workers laugh about making $65 an hour? That's not right.
I lost any sympathy I had for them. I feel sorry for the companies and their workers who supported these greedy UAW workers and who were making far less. The arrogance of these people and then they want my tax dollars to bail them out. That is totally wrong.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Employer Sensitivity Needed
With all the people looking for work employers need to shift to a more sensitive approach. I was in line at DES Monday. I have a chance, its a matter of finding the right connection. I have a degree, years of experience, and other traits. The common facial expression was desperation and defeat. Most of the people looked mentally and emotionally beat up. Without hope, desperately reaching out for help. I was there desperately reaching out for help. There were professional looking people there as well as those who lacked the advantages of others. It was a sad place to be.
Corporation executives, managers, supervisors and HR personnel hear about the unemployment, but how many know the severity of it? How many have looked it in the face? It is more than a faceless application or faceless email. We are talking about living, breathing human beings with feelings. The old arrogance of not responding is bad business. People need to know where they stand.
I interviewed for another position with the VA about the same time. We all know how slow the VA can be. They said it would be 4-6 weeks. They hired someone within 2 weeks, and let me know by email right away. Not happy I didn't get it, but they communicated.
It is not hard to do a mass email to communicate and update applicants. I do it. I have sent out as many as 2,300 emails at one time. Want to know how? Hire me and I'll do it for you. It's not hard to set queries to decide who has emails and who you have to mail to. If its people who interviewed, a phone call is easy enough. If you're afraid of someone yelling at you, email them from an address where they cannot reply.
I like the 45 Day Hiring Model. It at least has a maximum time line for action. The shorter the better for the applicant who is anxiously waiting to hear something...anything.
Most problems come from lack of communication. Frustration builds from lack of communication. Employers need to be sensitive and compassionate when it comes to the people who are applying. After all, these people could be their ambassadors for referring other qualified applicants. Or, they can be the Paul Revere for turning qualified applicants away. Compassion, sensitivity, and communication are habits that organizations, corporations, organizations, and human resource departments should have as a standard means of operation. It should be the norm, not the exception. Why make someone who is disparately trying to find a job suffer with false hope? If you can't hire everyone, understandable. At least take the anxiety of waiting away.
Corporation executives, managers, supervisors and HR personnel hear about the unemployment, but how many know the severity of it? How many have looked it in the face? It is more than a faceless application or faceless email. We are talking about living, breathing human beings with feelings. The old arrogance of not responding is bad business. People need to know where they stand.
- Are they rejected?
- Has the position been eliminated?
- Were there too many applicants?
- Has the hiring date been delayed?
- Are they being considered?
- Are they even being considered?
I interviewed for another position with the VA about the same time. We all know how slow the VA can be. They said it would be 4-6 weeks. They hired someone within 2 weeks, and let me know by email right away. Not happy I didn't get it, but they communicated.
It is not hard to do a mass email to communicate and update applicants. I do it. I have sent out as many as 2,300 emails at one time. Want to know how? Hire me and I'll do it for you. It's not hard to set queries to decide who has emails and who you have to mail to. If its people who interviewed, a phone call is easy enough. If you're afraid of someone yelling at you, email them from an address where they cannot reply.
I like the 45 Day Hiring Model. It at least has a maximum time line for action. The shorter the better for the applicant who is anxiously waiting to hear something...anything.
Most problems come from lack of communication. Frustration builds from lack of communication. Employers need to be sensitive and compassionate when it comes to the people who are applying. After all, these people could be their ambassadors for referring other qualified applicants. Or, they can be the Paul Revere for turning qualified applicants away. Compassion, sensitivity, and communication are habits that organizations, corporations, organizations, and human resource departments should have as a standard means of operation. It should be the norm, not the exception. Why make someone who is disparately trying to find a job suffer with false hope? If you can't hire everyone, understandable. At least take the anxiety of waiting away.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Compassion for Job Hunters Please
It has been a while since I last wrote. I haven't stopped looking for a job. The same story prevails and somebody needs to do something about it.
I have applied for nearly 200 jobs over the past 22 months. Few interviews in between, and few responses. The frustration that I feel must be felt a million times a day by other job hunters. Why is it so hard for recruiters and HR personnel to respond? It would benefit the reputation of the company, and help reduce some of the stress placed on job hunters. I keep record of every application I submit. Call me anal retentive.
Of the 200 applications and resumes I have submitted, less than 20 have responded with any final notice; keep in mind that's in over 22 months of hunting. That's 10% who respond, and 90% who have no compassion or understanding for those applying. It should be the opposite. Human Resources is the foundation for a company or business. I say, If those working in HR lack compassion, then let them get in line with other job hunters. Let them receive the calls from bill collectors because too few want to hire and too many just don't care to respond.
I have gotten to the point where I call on all those applications and resumes that have a contact number to follow up. The general response is that I am being a bother. Well, if you contact me I wouldn't have to call you. Right? HR departments should emphasize compassion at every level. Imagine all the poor souls who are going through the same thing. All those who are at their ropes end. Those who don't have the strength to bear through the trials and tribulation of job hunting for an extended period of time. I feel for those people and wish I could help them. How many suicides have there been that could have been prevented? Look at some of the garbage on the news from shootings and other acts because of lack of compassion. There needs to be a movement to educate HR personnel to show compassion and to communicate. The waiting and hoping is stressful on anyone. Why not let people know?
I have applied for nearly 200 jobs over the past 22 months. Few interviews in between, and few responses. The frustration that I feel must be felt a million times a day by other job hunters. Why is it so hard for recruiters and HR personnel to respond? It would benefit the reputation of the company, and help reduce some of the stress placed on job hunters. I keep record of every application I submit. Call me anal retentive.
Of the 200 applications and resumes I have submitted, less than 20 have responded with any final notice; keep in mind that's in over 22 months of hunting. That's 10% who respond, and 90% who have no compassion or understanding for those applying. It should be the opposite. Human Resources is the foundation for a company or business. I say, If those working in HR lack compassion, then let them get in line with other job hunters. Let them receive the calls from bill collectors because too few want to hire and too many just don't care to respond.
I have gotten to the point where I call on all those applications and resumes that have a contact number to follow up. The general response is that I am being a bother. Well, if you contact me I wouldn't have to call you. Right? HR departments should emphasize compassion at every level. Imagine all the poor souls who are going through the same thing. All those who are at their ropes end. Those who don't have the strength to bear through the trials and tribulation of job hunting for an extended period of time. I feel for those people and wish I could help them. How many suicides have there been that could have been prevented? Look at some of the garbage on the news from shootings and other acts because of lack of compassion. There needs to be a movement to educate HR personnel to show compassion and to communicate. The waiting and hoping is stressful on anyone. Why not let people know?
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