What recession?

I wrote about this awhile back (see The Silent Unemployment) but it seems to me that our fear of/talk of the recession has quieted, lagged, whatever the word - it's not as vehement as it was a year ago (or 6 months or what have you). I know this is partially because my personal connection to the recession is not as terrifying as it was then either but I still wonder what's going out there. Within my social circle, there are still folks unhappy with their jobs (there always will be) and still folks who are getting paid less than they should/are not being recognized (again...) but I also know people who are getting promoted and are finding new jobs.

What's the real deal folks? Where do we stand?

My short but sweet answer (okay, short but not so sweet) is that we're still knee deep in the sh** of the recession. I'm simply a bundle of cheer, I can't help it.

Boston.com ran an article earlier this week chronicling a recent PEW study that bottom lines it for us - "1 in 5 jobless Americans have been without work for a year or more". The article goes on to answer my follow up question (okay, but where is the level of unemployment settling these days) - "while more experienced Americans are less likely to lose their jobs, once unemployed they face an increasing chance of being out of work longer, the report showed". Super. The report (which clocks in around 22 pages, btw) outlines that long term unemployment (those unemployed for more than 6 months) currently accounts for 44% of our unemployment - highest rate since WW2.

Okay, so there you have it. We are in no way, in the clear. But, to be fair, we have reached the "new normal" that has come out of this Great Recession. The Atlantic ran an article in March (How a New Jobless Era Will Transform America) giving us some optimistic news about how the next decade or so will be affected by what's happened in the last 12-24 months. Sure, our unemployment rate has gotten a bit better lately (it's no longer over 10%) but the theory goes that a higher unemployment rate has settled in for the long haul. Additionally, history has shown us that the long term effects of severe unemployment and recession take awhile to register meaning we still don't know what's going to happen. Hey 2014, how you doing?

And just in case you're determined to stay positive, I've got a chart for ya! This chart from The Consumerist, shows employment declines at the same chronological point during America's last six recessions.


For those of you who are a teensy bit self flagellating, check out the entire Pew report

The Good News? That Atlantic article is 4 pages long and they take the time to outline some of the positives of the human spirit. It's not all gloomy! And I've actually gotta say that I remain positive. I kid about the crushing and overwhelming darkness of this Recession news and unemployment news but I still remain positive about the situation. There are things that need to be fixed (not the least of which is our intense class gaps) but I believe that it will get better. Call me idealistic.

The Silent Unemployment

Some of you might have noticed a bit of a lag in my posting on the economy. I'm the first to admit that I don't have the same fire around the economy/recession/unemployment as I used to - but I'm not sure it's just me. From the start of Quitsville, I've relied on my Google Reader to bring blog ideas to me and for months it has been a great source for me. Lately though, it feels a little sparse. Sure, I'm getting the same number of posts about cute animals and crafts (we all have guilty pleasures in our Readers right?) but thought provoking articles on the state of the nation's job market and workers just haven't been popping up quite as often as they used to.

Is it me?

I have a few theories on this that I'm sure you're chomping at the bit to hear.

1. We've plateaued
Sure, things aren't that much better - we're not where we were 18 months ago or 2 years ago - but they've sort of stopped getting worse. Unemployment isn't ratcheting up with quite the same frequency of 6 months ago, we're not caught in the same tailspin of financial ruin that we were before. The recession has plateaued and eventually, it doesn't become news anymore, it's just normal.

2. We're moving on
Similar to the point above - after a year of fear, apprehension, and waiting for the other shoe to drop, we've all decided to move on. The economy has improved, slightly, but it hasn't bounced back with the ferocity we were all hoping. Folks can only wait so long to see how things shake out - eventually, they have to move on with life and make decisions without the economy being the sole factor.

3. It's just me
Maybe it is just me. I'm not convinced this is the case since I'm not seeing the same prevalence of articles in my Reader and in Newsletters but it's definitely possible that it's just me.

What do you think? Are we moving forward?

How to Get a Job

I'm not trying to be trite with my choice of titles, trust me. Even though we're beseiged by "How To" articles around the job search, I remain convinced that there is not true "method" that you can follow. This is especially true today, given the wide variance of career paths, industries, focus, and type of job candidate. The "How To" get a job for someone like me (vaguely in marketing, interested in cause related work and social media) is completely different from that of a 45 year old suit trying to get a financial job. I know I'm being overly simplistic but let's face it, if you follow the "How To" guides of the world, it's equally possible for you not to get a job.

That said, I still read them.

And a few days back (I admit it, I'm behind on the Google Reader), Applicant had a list of 30 Ways to Land a Job in 2010. Now, whether you can it twenty-ten or two thounsand ten, I'm not sure these 30 tips are all that different from those you'd see in 2009.

A few of the tips did get me thinking though. Specifically:

1. Volunteer for an unpaid internship, it may lead to full time work.
23. Do some volunteer work that will increase the skills you need.

I know that during the last twelve months, how we view the economy and employment has been challenged and shat upon and generally defaced at every turn. "How To" find a job hasn't changed so much as the fact that you can try all the "How To" tip sheets in the world and if they're not hiring, they're definitely not hiring you. When that happens, it's time to make use of your time in a valuable (if not profitable) manner. Volunteer, learn new skills, intern - the number of overqualified interns has risen dramatically in the last year. And yes, that company might not be hiring but they're almost surely interested in taking advantage of your need to do something. And, if you're lucky, you'll find a company that might repay you for that when they're back on the upswing.

That said, my favorite tip of Applicant's Top 30 was this one:

22. Wear a sign with your contact information and stand out on the street around businesses your interested in. (it's a photo, you should click!)

December Round-Up

Alright, this is totally cheap of me but, there were dozens of great articles that I wanted to comment on during December that just didn't make it in here (as if you didn't noticed) but I still think are worthwhile. Here are a few of my favorites:

Amid high unemployment, some positions hard to fill - Boston.com
If you're currently employed in a company that is actively looking to fill some of its top positions, you'll know yourself that searching for top people is still proving difficult, despite the increased unemployment. Everyone (skilled and unskilled really) is being a bit more cautious about their moves and as he Boston.com article says "the unemployment rate for college educated workers is about half that of uneducated workers."

Recession Kills Divorce - Double X
That really says it all.

The Top Job Search Articles of 2009 - Applicant
Look! Applicant did my job for me and pulled together the Top Job Search Articles of 2009. Want to know who to follow on Twitter? Why your resume sucks? What to do with your unemployed time? Check out this handy aggregate view!

How Jobless are you?

I know this question seems sort of obvious - you're probably either 0% jobless or 100% jobless - but think about it. We've been hearing about the Boomers, the Lost Generation, the Gen Xers, Women, Executives, College Students. But if you're like most people, you're a tricky combination of various elements and aren't only one of those groups.

Luckily for you, The New York Times thought of that and created this handy little tool to help you determine precisely how jobless YOU are.

Click here to visit the New York Times Jobless Tool

Sure, it's not perfect. The age groups are pretty wide for one. And I'm not entirely sure what they mean by jobless. But, it's pretty interesting nonetheless.

I fall into a category that is only 3.6% jobless which, in light of what I know about the rest of the country, feels pretty good. And certainly brings up quite a few conversation points about who is not that lucky.

Job Searching - Yuletide Edition

You might have noticed a certain lack of blog posts the past few days (err... four days). I'm sure that I don't have to tell you, dear readers, that December is a crazy mess of a month. Between the holiday madness that has already started (early this year... I'm blessed) and the fact that December is, in fact, the busiest time for my new company I'm already experiencing a certain whirlwind effect on my life. I know I am not the only one and it got me thinking this morning... how do the holidays affect the job search?

Job searching, as we all know, is a second full time job at the best of times (when you're already employed but looking that is) but when you take into consideration the frenetic pace of the holidays coupled with all of the holiday parties ("So, what do you do?") and family time ("How's the job search going?") as well as the general notion that companies are not hiring in December, it would come as no surprise to me if many job searches foundered during the holiday months.

I've written about the Job Search routine before (check out: How to Survive Unemployment and Job Search To Dos) so you all know I think it's very important to keep yourself "on task" so to speak, but this is even more important during the holidays. I am not actively looking for a job right now and I can't seem to find time to do anything lately (no blogging, my RSS feed is a mess, etc.) so it seems prudent to ease up on yourself a bit but let's say you make sure you do one thing every day to continue the search and keep yourself on track.

Here are some Holiday Job Search tips from the Pros:

1. Since most job seekers take the holidays off, you'll have a natural leg up (from 8 Reasons to Job Search During the Holidays by A Great Resume Service)
2. Take time to fine tune your resume or portfolio (from Rev Up Your Job Search During the Holidays by Career Builder)
3. Use the holidays as an Ice Breaker (from Holiday Hope by Job-Hunt.org)
4. Get a jump on January - you can't start working in the New Year if you didn't interview before then (from Holiday Job Hunting Can Reap Rewards by Career Cast)
5. This year isn't typical - job searches are different in general now (from Three reasons to keep your job search going during the holidays by Laurie Bartolo)

What are your tips for searching during the holidays?

Everyone wants to quit!

I know I've blogged about this before but people really are staying in jobs that make them unhappy, jobs that are not challenging, jobs that do not appreciate or respect them. Most people, in fact.

Though we've heard about how the youngins are the ones really suffering during this recession (see: The Lost Generation), it turns out that everyone feels stuck. The kids just starting out can't get a break, the boomers are just biding their time until a delayed retirement, and the middle of the road adults (Gen Exers in a recent Huffington Post article) are feeling increasingly overlooked and undervalued.

Sure, these are stereotypes and generalizations but the point is that a considerable chunk of the working population is just waiting for the chance to bolt. According to the above mentioned Huffington Post, only 50% of baby boomers, 44% of the youth of America, and 37% percent of Gen Exers said they'd stay at their jobs after the economy improves. I have no idea what the normal percentages might be but that seems pretty stark.

Click here to read the entire article on the Huffington Post

Read other related posts on Quitsville:
Who's Quitting
Payback will be a B****

Read a related article from the WSJ - Looking for work in your fifties

Who's Quitting?

I know you've probably all been hearing about the unemployment rates (ever on the rise it seems) but I was sent an interesting article today (Thanks JN) that highlighted the U.S. Worker Quit Rate. Not surprisingly, given all the talk we're hearing about long term unemployment, hesitancy to unfreeze the hiring process, etc., U.S. workers are increasingly less likely to quit their jobs during this economic uncertainty.

I did a quick (very quick, so please don't take my information as indicative of ALL information) search on the U.S. Quit Rate and History of such. Yes, the current rate is low, low, low but historically (through all of time), it has often been low. What is of note, is the variation since 2000 (see tiny image below).


The quit rate, which reflects the cautiousness of U.S. Workers, clearly reflects the fact that workers are being extremely cautious right now. It's not a shocking revelation but it does hit home for me. I wrote about this a bit early on in the life of Quitsville (see Payback will be a b****!) but I think it will be interesting to see where the flood gates open when the economy has stopped licking its wounds and has fully rebounded. Which companies will see their employees giving notice in groups and which companies will be able to take comfort in the way they treated their employees when the chips were down.

The very low quit rate (1.4%) also helps bring home just how lucky I have been. There is a perfectly sane reason while the quit rate is low and I know I am the exception, not the rule.

Click here to read the entire article on Reuters.com

How to Survive Unemployment

Yesterday I read a post on the Personal Branding Blog about creating an "unemployment routine" for yourself while unemployed and it really reminded me how much "work" it can be to stay active, relevant, and motivated when you're unemployed.

Okay, I know it's not actual work but let's face it - part of the reason we don't consider it work is that we're not getting paid for it. I wrote about this phenomenon in my post Unemployment Sucks...Duh?. Some people seem to think that just because you're unemployed, you must be having the time of your life - sleeping in, doing anything you want, fraternizing with celebrities. Okay, maybe not that last one but you get the point. I admit that when I was unemployed (years ago), I did enjoy the first part of it. After I got over the sting of being let go, I went to the beach, I slept in, I read books. It was sort of like a vacation. But with a vacation, you always have the knowledge that you're going back to something. Eventually, the routine of not having something starts to eat away at your sanity, self-worth, etc.

All this is to say that yes, it's vital to have a set routine when you're out of work. And I don't mean the routine of sleep in, play video games, nap, eat - as tempting as it can be. I wrote recently about my Job Search To Dos and how they kept me sane and productive while looking for work and the concept is not so different. Having something that you do every day while you're unemployed helps to keep you moving forward - or at least gives you the impression that you are moving forward.

The Personal Branding Blog recommends getting up on time, being social, having daily tasks, etc. These are all great ways to stay focused on not being unemployed. For me, I did a lot of work on cutting expenses but one thing I did not cut was the gym - having a daily (okay, every-other-daily) routine of getting myself out of the house and to the gym was immensely helpful, not to mention the fact that working out lowered my stress level.

If you're looking for work, I strongly recommend setting up a schedule for yourself. Whether you do something every day or once a week, creating a routine will help to create relevance and worth in your actions. In a society that places most of one's worth in "what they do", this is vital.

Click here to read the full article from the Personal Branding Blog

Unemployment Might Linger

We've all heard the rumors that the economy is back on its way up. Sure, we hit 10,000 again (woo... yay, late 90s) and the market is showing signs of recovery but what a lot of folks don't seem to be seeing is the return of a robust job market.

According to a recent article that I spied on Boston.com - we've lost 7.2 million jobs as a country since December 2007. 7.2 million is quite a few jobs in case you were unaware. And even more startling is the fact that quite a few economists (from all walks of political life I might add) agree that we might not ever get those jobs back. We're currently hovering around 9.8% for unemployment with reasonable sources telling us that 10% is right around the corner.

10%. Now I know that the unemployment has big pockets in certain industries, towns, etc. but just for giggles, imagine that 10% of your friends and family are out of work. They may already be out of work so it should be easy. You may have a job but if 10% of those around you don't, things will change. Your life will be different. Imagine those 10% clamoring to do your job... better... faster... for less.

Click here to read the full article on Boston.com

Another article, in the Huffington Post, reminds us that our baseline against which we gauge growth is bottom of the barrel. Sure - we're improving. Sure - stocks are on the rise. Sure - the market is stronger than it's been in months. But let's face it - where it's been wasn't so hot. And lingering unemployment will continue to weigh us down.

Click here to read the full article in the Huffington Post

Job Search To Dos

This morning I read an interesting post at Applicant on the 7 Things You Need to do Each Day When Searching for a Job. It brought me back to the time when a giant post it note with 3 columns ruled my life... when it became clear to me that I absolutely needed to leave my job, I went about it in the way I go about most things by making (an incredibly anal-retentive, over-achieving, neurotic) list.

My list was simple:
1. Apply for a job
2. Make a connection
3. Think something positive

EVERY DAY. For me, this worked great. Yes, I didn't do every thing, every day, but the focus kept me moving forward. I always felt like I was making a step forward every day (whether or not I actually was). Applying to a job every day was fairly easy - don't get me wrong, they weren't all targeted but it at least got my name out there consistently.

For overall job searches, I found that using today's tools really helped me. I created RSS feeds for many of my job searches and every day I was bombarded by listings. Again, it doesn't mean that they were all good postings but it really helped beat the job search ennui that threatened to overtake me on a regular basis. I also connected with anyone and everyone I thought reasonable and possible. I reached out and made connections everywhere I went. Suffice to say, I was exhausted a lot of the time.

What are your job search tips? Anyone?

Check out these links for more great job search tips:
Applicant: 7 Things You Need to do Each Day When Searching for a Job
Help Wanted Hawaii: 10 Recession Job Search Tips
About.com's Job Search Tips

The Geography of Jobs

Just on the off chance that you were starting to feel better about the job situation/unemployment/the recession/etc... I wanted to make sure to nip that right in the bud.

Click here to view The Geography of Jobs

You'll see the gains and losses of jobs in the US starting in 2004. Watch for the huge burst of unemployment caused by Hurricane Katrina and the debilitating red circles of last November.

Good news? It's only through July 2009 and as we all know, the recession is very nearly, completely, almost, like for sure over.

You Are Not Alone

I received an email today from a dear friend of mine stuck in the abusive relationship that is her job. I will spare you the details or the specifics but let's just say that her boss (as well as a number of her coworkers) treat her very badly and do not value her for what she has to offer. I know we all have pluses and minuses and there are always difficult parts to our personality (I am overly emotional and 100% NOT a morning person) but my dear friend - whom I have also worked with - has a great deal to offer. Loads of experience, a charming personality, the desire to foster success in her associates, not to mention the fact that she's incredibly smart and dedicated.

Too often today we see people like this who are simply railroaded by employers who offer no support, no encouragement, and no room for betterment. Whether we are dismissed because of our sex, our age, our political leanings or just because our bosses are morons - it always sucks.

I feel for my dear friend. Her situation sucks - it just sucks! It's easy in my position to take the idealistic view - quit! Not everyone is in a position to quit. Money, family, opportunity, personality, etc. There are a lot of reasons not to quit something. For overachievers this seems especially difficult - I don't quit, I succeed!

I have a number of friends in this situation - the thankless drudgery of a job you hate that tends to hate you back. I want to give all of them the gift of The Quit. It's terrifying but quitting does give you an end to the freefall of suck that takes hold when you hate your job.

For all of you struggling in this situation... I'm here. There are tons of people struggling with you. You are not alone.

Unemployment Extension

You might already know that the House voted this week to extend unemployment benefits for some Americans. It doesn't apply to everyone but slightly more than 50% of these, our united states, have an unemployment rate over 8.5% - the cutoff for 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits.

Yes, Fed Chairman said the recession is very likely nearly sort of over or something - but it seems to be pretty well excepted that unemployment is going to remain a problem for quite awhile. I keep reading that there are nearly 6 unemployed for every available job. I wonder if this number comes only from those claiming unemployment (and thus, does NOT take into account the folks whose benefits have already run out or who are not eligible - a reminder, that would have been me) or if it's everyone over 18 without a job (a number that is shockingly wrong the other way) or if it's a truly believable number that should terrify me.

Does anyone know?

Read about the Benefits Extension on The Consumerist

Unemployment Sucks... Duh?

I know that my title is a little bratty but bear with me.

Yesterday I read an article with this title:
Study: unemployed feel 'traumatized' by recession.

I didn't blog about it yesterday because at first blush, the article seemed fairly obvious and irrelevant. That was my mistake. Overnight, I kept thinking about this article and getting more frustrated with the whole idea of this.

When I was unemployed (roughly 4 years ago for 4 months) I wasn't in danger of losing my house (I rented) or going bankrupt or hurting my family (I was flying nearly solo at that point) but the experience was incredibly stressful. I had unemployment and savings and as much stability as one can find without knowing when they'll find another job. And yet, I was a mess. Sure, the first month or so was great - it was summer, I wasn't working, etc. But as the days grew shorter and my calendar remained devoid of interview appointments, I started suffering from what I can only assume were anxiety attacks.

For those of you who have been unemployed for any amount of time (especially those who, like me, suffer from a certain tendency to overachieve) will understand this anxiety - my father was out of work for 18 months while I was in college and I know he remains changed by the experience - but more and more it's looking like this is not as common sense as we might think.

When I was unemployed, a "friend" of mine basically told me to quit my whining, that I was lucky to not be working. Admittedly, she wasn't the most sensitive person I've ever met but beyond that, I think there is a stress from being unemployed (even when your circumstances remain fairly stable) that we don't quite understand until we're in the thick of it.

Trouble sleeping... strained relations with family members... increased dependency on alcohol... Check. Check. And check. Been there.

Beyond the worries about money and security, there's a general unease that comes with unemployment. In a society so based around what we do and how "successful" we are at work, who are you when you don't have a job?

Click here to read the entire article

Job Growth?

Yahoo (Real Estate) had an article today on the counties with the best job growth (but over the last 8 years rather than 18 months). I'm not saying they're wrong but the list brings up a number of questions. What was their growth like most recently? How many people do these counties have? Etc. Etc.

As the news spreads that I've given my notice, stories keep popping up of OTHER people finding work as well. Sure, it's probably harder to find something but if you're a quality person, you will land on your feet I guess. Companies can't remain in a holding pattern forever. Things will start to grow again (if they haven't already).

Click here to read the entire article on Yahoo

Insurance!

Good news! It has been confirmed that I can get on the insurance of my "domestic partner." I will not be uninsured and I will not have to pay an exorbitant rate to be insured. Everyone wins.

Still working on a hard end date with my current company. They're dragging their feet a bit - wonder why?

And, even better news - I heard back from my dream date interview from a couple of weeks back. I let them know that I was leaving and would be interested in part time/consulting/project work if they had it because of the connection I felt with the company and the employees.

They're having me come in this afternoon to meet another VP!

Silver Lining

As my time winds down at my current job, I'm faced with the same annoying or tedious or frustrating things I was before but there's a certain glee to be found in telling yourself "this is the last time I deal with X."

This is especially poignant this week as we have our quarterly company-wide meeting. This meeting is strategically located a couple of states away (a good 6 hour drive or hour plane ride followed by hour+ drive). Additionally, I have a meeting with a vendor before the quarterly that necessitates me driving alone. I have to admit I wasn't thrilled with this whole driving 6 hours there then 6 hours back by myself thing. I'm sure I don't need to explain to you why.

And then, over the weekend, I stumbled upon the upside to this. When one drives a distance of that magnitude, one receives a healthy expense check according to the federal mileage requirements! Long term - of course this is indicative of the wear and tear you're putting on your car. Short term - it means I have a few extra hundred dollars in my empty little pocket as I embark on my period of no job.

In the end, I'm pretty pleased with that. It'll help when I start my daily cash counter on September 1st - stay tuned for that dear readers.

President Obama thinking about unemployment

It's good to know it's not just me thinking about this.

Click here to read the brief post on Mother Nature Network

How to live on $0 a day

Of course this isn't real! But still, it was entertaining.

I don't anticipate a life of crime to finance my lack of a salary - especially because I'm not over 40.

Click here to read the article in the Huffington Post

I have accidentally not paid for things before though...