Message from Barbara

It has been another tough year for the economy and the employment business. Since we have so many small and midsize employers in the Monmouth and Ocean counties, the rise and fall of the stock market has had an effect on the employment figures. We attribute this to lack of confidence in the economy. If employers don’t believe the economy is improving, they aren’t hiring additional staff.

According to the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development Bureau of Labor Market Information, the most recent statistics available at the time of this writing were for May 2010. On the whole, the NJ unemployment rate was 9.7%. Monmouth County unemployment rate was 8.7% and Ocean County: 10.0%.

Here at BDES, we are seeing a slight improvement over last year at this time. Several of our clients have called to list temp and direct hire job openings. Some of these clients haven’t contacted us in many months. We are reading and hearing that the manufacturing sector is picking up somewhat due to the need for products and goods. This could have a positive effect on the manufacturing companies in the area. We are also aware that both federal government jobs and healthcare positions are available.

Recommendations for what you as a candidate can do while continuing to search for a job:

1. Networking…Tell everyone you know that you are seeking a job. Contact friends, family members, and former coworkers and explain what it is you are seeking in the job market. Join some networking groups such as local chambers of commerce and professional groups that are in your field. Stay active.

2. Volunteer your time to an organization of interest to you that may benefit from your skills and talents. Locally, you can call the United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and they can give you a list of non profits in the area ( or go on line to VolunteerMatch.org for opportunities.) You will have another group of folks to network with and at the same time feel good about your service.

3. Stay fit by exercising and eating properly. It will improve your attitude and help you to sleep.

4. Target 5 companies you would like to work for and telephone the HR department to learn which employment services they utilize. Then contact those employment services and register with them. During your interview, tell the employment counselor the firm in which you’d like to be placed. When an opening occurs that matches your skills in that organization, you should be called to fill a temp position.

5. Stay informed. Be aware of the local, county, state, and national news. This will make you an interesting candidate to communicate with during an interview as well as possibly lead to opportunities indicated.

6. Learn new skills and talents by studying online, reading or taking courses. Remember that BDES offers FREE software training in most Microsoft packages.

7. Keep your resume up to date and ready to send through email at any time.

8. Try to keep your spirits up! Employers prefer upbeat, optimistic candidates who turn lemons into lemonade.

9. Be aware that employers do go to Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites to research prospective candidates. Does your presentation on these networks seem appropriate for the career you are seeking?

Hopefully, these pointers will be helpful to you during this very difficult economy. We look forward to contacting you for an appropriate opportunity.

Sincerely,

Barbara Davis