The Jobless Search

This just in: recent graduates seek jobs with good benefits, high salaries and in prominent locations, according to a recent article on management-issues.com (http://www.management-issues.com/2008/6/12/research/american-graduates-facing-a-fight-for-jobs-this-summer.asp).

Alright. That probably came as a shock to very few; if we threw in short and flexible hours, it would probably be everybody’s dream job. What I have found shocking, however, is how hard it is to find any job nowadays.

I go to a well-respected college, I like to consider myself fairly bright and I am currently residing in

New York City

(population: 8.2 million!), but I have had immense difficulty finding a job.

I’M NOT PICKY, either.

Some of my more desperate job-hunting attempts have included being a driver and worker for 1800 GOT-JUNK (it’s exactly what it sounds like) numerous waitering positions and even driving a bicycle taxi around the city.

I have had one success: after applying for a writing position; submitting my resume, cover letter and numerous pre-written samples; being interviewed; and finally submitting more newly-written samples, I was offered a position…for a non-paid internship!

I have no right to complain, though: no matter what I decide to do, I know that in three months time, I will be done with my job and back in the classroom. Recent graduates, on the other hand, need to choose a job knowing it could entail spending eight hours a day in the same office for potentially years to come.

When making such a significant life decision, there are many important factors to analyze. Certainly, location, benefits, and money are large incentives, but there are perhaps even more important factors (gast): meaningfulness of work, comradely of coworkers and being in an environment where you enjoy yourself.

Given the current state of the economy, it’s hard to be picky when looking for a job—beggars can’t be choosers—but from a managerial perspective, providing a good work environment and sustaining a happy workforce are definitely key to attracting and retaining effective workers.

A lot of money and benefits don’t hurt, either.

Comments

[Richard]

All the stats say unemployment is up and all I here is the economy is bad but everyone I know works and look at these high paying jobs -

http://www.realmatch.com
http://www.simplyhired.com
http://www.monster.com

Its like I hear one thing and see another.

[Mike Dare]

Finding a job may be difficult right now for many people. but that has never really been the biggest problem for us managers.

I just got done reading a book called "Big Ideas to Big Results" By Michael Kanazawa and Robert Miles. Miles is an ex-Harvard professor who chaired a executive program while he was teaching at Harvard. This program brought together some of the top CEO's from each industry to talk about the problems that they were facing in their companies. One of the thngs that all of them had trouble with was keeping good employees.

Miles came up with a process that has since been furthered along by his co-author that does away with getting employees to "buy-in" instead the process and the book teaches us how to get our employees engaged in the company up front.

It has worked well for me at IBG. It seems that the incentives that you are talking about like money and travel are mice nuts when your employees have a say and are being heard. It really is amazing how much more gets done when everyone starts on the same page instead of trying to force them to join you later on.

I would recommend the book to any one at any level it truly was a gem for me.

[Mike Dare]

Finding a job may be difficult right now for many people. but that has never really been the biggest problem for us managers.

I just got done reading a book called "Big Ideas to Big Results" By Michael Kanazawa and Robert Miles. Miles is an ex-Harvard professor who chaired a executive program while he was teaching at Harvard. This program brought together some of the top CEO's from each industry to talk about the problems that they were facing in their companies. One of the thngs that all of them had trouble with was keeping good employees.

Miles came up with a process that has since been furthered along by his co-author that does away with getting employees to "buy-in" instead the process and the book teaches us how to get our employees engaged in the company up front.

It has worked well for me at IBG. It seems that the incentives that you are talking about like money and travel are mice nuts when your employees have a say and are being heard. It really is amazing how much more gets done when everyone starts on the same page instead of trying to force them to join you later on.

I would recommend the book to any one at any level it truly was a gem for me.

[wulansari]

Many travel nurses claim that working as a travel nurse gives them a renewed sense of patient focused nursing.

[Payday Loans]

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[CV Writing Company]

Interesting, I guess though the longer you are without a job the more desperate you become and the more inclined you would be to take the first thing you are offered even if its not ideally what you wanted... we've all been there right?