Halloween Scare

The economy has record numbers of unemployment, homelessness, and foreclosure.  But of course you knew that.  So why am I wasting your time by posting this blog?

Simply put.  Even though we know it’s getting worse, we are still a big part of the problem.  On speaking with employees in transit, education, and retail in New York, I’ve noticed that none of the people I’ve spoken to have tightened their belts.  Even though they know there are a surplus of looking, qualified unemployed people (compared to job openings) most have admitted to showing up late to work, not going to meetings,  and calling out for non-emergencies.

Now I can understand that the newspapers make it seem like only Wall Street is under financial failure, but just wanted to ground a few of my overly confident buddies out there with some earth-shattering statistics:

• In the month of September ONLY, 1,464 newly admitted homeless people have entered the shelters in New York City, reports the National Coalition for the Homeless.
• The national average of unemployment is at 6.1% and in New York it is 5.6% with the gap continually closing.
• With rising transportation costs and rental prices, store owners have had to raise the cost of household products – causing us to push our pennies even further.

So if you are a member of the “I don’t care” group – my job is safe and if not I can always go on unemployment, you might want to think more carefully.  Unemployment for a lot of people lasts anywhere from 6 months to a year.  In times of economic uncertainty, that time nearly doubles.  Your unemployment benefits end in your sixth month.  So let’s be professional, hard-working, and a little more eager to please in this decaying economy.

And if you are forced out of your job, be sure to not waste time trying to do everything on your own.  Seek guidance immediately.

As always, good luck with your job search.

Ayesha Long

President of Marketing,

Ayesha Writes 4 You

www.ayeshawrites4u.com

Pensions

Okay, I know this goes against my traditional topic, but I found this both intriguing and absolutely terrifying.  I was wondering if anyone saw the Barack Obama thirty minute commercial…Well, I know that’s a silly topic.  EVERYONE watched it.

  While I did find this usage of media engaging, I was more struck by the 72-year old man who had been retired for 10 years.  He was expecting a pension of up to $3,000 a month because he had worked hard, trusted his company and believed in their longevity and good faith.  But for a good portion of his retirement, he had to work because instead of earning $3,000 a month, he was earning approximately $400.

I wonder how many people have suffered this fate?  Are pesions really the best place for your money? Are 401k’s any better?  If your company claims to match your funds, but tanks or invests in failing companies,  how can you get back all of the money you’ve invested over the years?

While I’m not one to say don’t invest, I do believe it’s time we were more actively involved in our investments.  Yes, matching 401 k’s are great, but how can we keep ourselves from suffering a fate similar to this man?  If anyone’s a financial expert, I’d truly love to hear what you have to say.

As always, good luck with your job search.

Ayesha Long

www.ayeshawrites4u.com

Resume Writers

As someone who likes to stay current on trends, I came accross a Yahoo link discussing building a resume writing business.  Ironically enough, this “expert” was advising new business owners that repeat business is bad.  Of course, I could see why the writer would say this.  I mean, if a client comes to you a week after writing the resume, then yeah, you have a problem.  But to say repeat business, in general, is bad, doesn’t quite make sense.

I like to think of resume writers as doctors.  Now if you’re anything like me, you probably only go to the doctor when you’re sick.  But does that make sense?  If you went for your annual checkup- could the doctor not have helped you to prevent a lot of “unforeseen” illnesses and have helped prepare you for those that were bound to come?  Well, let’s liken this to a resume writer.  Why wait until you’re unemployed and BROKE to hire a resume writer?  Doesn’t it make more sense to have your annual update so you’ll be prepared regardless of your employment status?  This way, if your boss gives you the axe today, you can walk out with a smile on your face because you already have a resume that SHOULD be guaranteed to get you a job in 30 days or less.

Ahh…prevention and preparation are always better than passiveness and reaction.

As always, good luck with your job search.

Ayesha Long

Cover Letter Mania….

Okay, that’s an exaggeration.  But what is not an exaggeration is that without a cover letter, you are in steep trouble.  Your cover letter is the icing on the cake.  It has to look delectable before anyone even decides to see what’s on the inside.  Of course, in this overly used analogy, the inside of the cake is the resume.  So how many flavored icings does one need? 

Typically job searchers should have 3 formatted cover letters. They are as follows:

• The inside contact cover letter to show you have a working knowledge of the corporation and you know a reputable, hard-working employee for the company.  In this cover letter, you have to use the name of the contact and explain a litle bit about why you are interested in the company.
• The advertisement cover letter to explain that you have seen a posting on the internet or newspaper and am looking to respond to the ad because it’s caught your eye.  In this cover letter, you have to be sure to include the title of the advertising, date posted, and be sure you’re skills directly correspond to whatever’s been posted .
• The inquiry cover letter is when you really want to work for a company but have not seen any postings for openings.  In this case, you send a letter inquiring about a job or any openings.  Even though this does resemble solicitation, many employers enjoy employees with initiative and even if there are no immediate openings, you can rest assured you’ll be on their mind when an opening does present itself.

As always, good luck with the job search.

Ayesha Long

President of Marketing

Ayesha Writes 4 You