Twitter is good for many things...even getting you out of jail!

Yes, you heard me right....

Check out the quote from this story I ran across...

Buck, a U.C. Berkeley graduate student of journalism, managed to type out a simple one word message -- "Arrested" -- to his network of followers on Twitter. Friends, fellow students and journalists quickly sprang into action by contacting U.C. Berkeley, the U.S. embassy in Egypt, the Associated Press, and other media outlets. The next day, Buck walked out of jail a free man with a U.C. Berkeley hired lawyer at his side and the U.S. embassy on the phone.

So, what are your thoughts about Twitter?

I'm now a Twitter user...am I a Twit? I'd define Twitter as a combination of a social-networking tool + instant message. Like most social networking sites what you type or twit can be public or private and you can allow almost anyone to follow your twits - and you can follow almost anyone's twits as well. I know...I am now over using the word twit.

So, who is really using Twitter anyway? I surprisingly saw where Democratic Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton use Twitter...do they update it themselves or do one of their interns or staff members do this for them?

What if you are addicted to Twitter? I think my brother is and a few nights ago I called him a twit-a-holic...he didn't disagree.

Some of you out there that are a Recruiter like me might check out myspace or facebook to see if a candidate you are considering has a profile and if they do what does it look like or reveal about them? As a Recruiter I have done this before but I don't do it consistently with every new hire.

If you're a candidate (and twit user) out there check out this post on Fistful of Talent regarding what to be careful about. Below is a quote from that post...

Here's my take - the digital footprint is positive, but whether it has any impact on the hiring decision depends on three things:

1. Whether you use the digital profile to expand your knowledge or otherwise work more effectively..,

2. Whether you are giving me WAAAAAAY too much information in what you post... and

3. The type of job I have to fill.... If there's creativity involved and you're using the tool to expand your vision via #1, it's a plus... If I don't need that based on the job, than it's probably neutral or perhaps a liability...

So, for those of you twits out there, go ahead and twit away...just remember that it's always out there and available for anyone to find, read, and even possibly hold against you...

Recruiting with a pickup truck - the future for 2009

Someone forwarded me this great clip this morning and I had to get a post in about it...

Any thoughts about whether or not this will become a reality?

Enjoy!

Offensive Candidate Voice Mail Greeting...Please Edit!

I can't believe it happened again...offensive candidate voice mail greeting...and yes, it has now eliminated this candidate from consideration.

I immediately thought of this post by Kris over at The HR Capitalist titled, Press "1" To Eliminate Yourself As a Candidate.

Here's the scenario: On paper you've found a candidate that is a perfect match for the position you are looking to fill. As you look at their resume you can see that their education, work history, experience, and knowledge - basically every qualification you are looking for is included in this resume. You're next step is to get on the phone with the candidate for a phone-screen and to get them started through your process. You dial their number and to your surprise you don't hear a ring but a song starts to play. You are then treated to some of the most explicit lyrics you have ever heard - so bad you've never even heard this song played on the radio.

Check out this quote from Kris's post...I'm treated to 30 seconds of a profane Notorious B.I.G track before the innocent, professional voice I was expecting comes through over the track during the chorus. Professional position, 50-60K job. Bye-Bye...

Now what? Do you leave a message to schedule a phone-screen or are you done with this candidate?

For me, I'm done with this one and will move on to the next qualified candidate...

Candidates, for those of you out there that are one, please edit your voice mail greeting during this job search process. You may have just spent $1.99 for this greeting but the payoff for getting a new job is worth much more than what you spent on the greeting.

During this experience I immediately thought of George Costanza and his answering machine greeting. I know it's not the same situation but play the clip and listen to the message - many would say that it's just as offensive as the explicit lyrics...

Enjoy!

Promoted the Lee Iacocca Way - Keep Making Goals and Achieve Them All...

I ran across the quote below from a Napoleon Hill "thought for the day" I received today...

Take a quick read now...

DON’T ASK YOUR EMPLOYER WHY YOU ARE NOT PROMOTED. ASK THE PERSON WHO REALLY KNOWS BEST-YOURSELF

There is only one person who is in charge of your career progression, and that person is you. Lee Iacocca is said to have written his entire career plan on the back of a business card. On it were the promotions he expected to earn and the dates he expected to receive them-until he was named CEO of the company. Successful people know that they must create their own opportunities and be ready for them when they arrive. Some organizations have clearly defined career paths while others are more informal in their approach, but if you study the senior people in the company, you can quickly identify the kind of education and experience you need to advance. If you are with the right company, one that excites and enthuses you, identify the career moves you’d like to make and get to work making yourself qualified for the job you want.

So, what do you think?

Does this describe the way you have taken charge of your career? Have you been able to create opportunities and achieve them? Or, have you been to at least take advantage of the opportunities that have come your way?

If not, what are you waiting for?

If you haven't started yet here is what you've got to do first (this is from the quote above)...If you are with the right company, one that excites and enthuses you, identify the career moves you’d like to make and get to work making yourself qualified for the job you want.

It all starts with being with the right company - one in which you have a passion for and one in which you can make this all happen...

Now, go and do it!

BlackBerry User = Lower IQ = Bad For My Career?

What?!

I thought that by having and using my BlackBerry I would become more productive, more innovative and especially smarter...never dumber.

I ran across this article in BusinessWeek by Sylvia Ann Hewlett titled, "Is Your Blackberry Lowering Your IQ?"

Check out this quote from the article...Researchers at Kings' College London University have found that, across the board, communication overload causes a professional's IQ to drop 10 percentage points. It damages a worker's performance by reducing mental sharpness. The drop in IQ is more significant among men than women.

So, what's your take on these numbers?

For those of you out there that are a BlackBerry user like myself would you agree that your IQ is dropping because you are overloaded by the amount of time you communicate on your BlackBerry?

Hmmm...I don't think that I'm convinced just yet...

Here's another quote that made me think a little more about the concept...IT consultant Linda Stone has shown how "continuous partial attention" can be seriously dysfunctional. When a professional is bombarded by multiple information streams it becomes hard to sustain focus. Innovation and creativity suffer—as does the quality of decision making. How good can your feedback be when your words of wisdom are sandwiched between intense backhand drills?

After that quote I can start to see where Linda Stone is coming from but if I had to choose between having a BlackBerry and not having a Blackberry I would choose having one every time. I'll definitely use my BlackBerry for sending and receiving e-mails when needed but one of the biggest ways I use it is to just keep up to date of what's going on in the office when I'm not physically there.

So, for you BlackBerry users out there, let me hear what you have to say...

"Workplace Sins" That Will Kill Your Career

Have you ever seen the original list of the "seven deadly sins" associated with your career?

I hadn't so I just had to post about this article I ran across in CNN by Rachel Zupek titled, "Seven deadly workplace sins".

For those of you unfamiliar with the list here they are: pride, envy, anger, greed, sloth, gluttony, and lust.

As you read and think about each one of these from lists above and below you can probably think back at different times in your career when you have seen colleagues in your company make any one or a combination of these mistakes. Unfortunately, they end up paying the price for these mistakes - yes, there will be consequences. Hopefully you've watched them and been able to learn from their mistakes. As you reflect on these you might even see something that you are currently doing that needs to be changed so that you don't end up paying the price and suffering the consequences.

Here's the article's take on these workplace sins...

1. Pride
Despite any help they received along the way, time and again, people take full credit for their accomplishments in the office, thinking that personal success will fast-track their career.

The sin: "What often goes unrecognized is that people around, and especially below, the serially solo-successful resent the ego-centricity, and may actually begin to actively undermine that person's efforts in the future."
The salvation: "A dose of acknowledgment of and appreciation for one's peers and subordinates, so they may share in some of the glory, can go a long way to foster one's long-term success."

2. Envy
It's OK to acknowledge another's achievements, but lamenting "what should have been yours" can be destructive and adversely impact your own ability to focus on current job tasks, McKee says.

The sin: "Allowing yourself to be overly envious of others in the workplace can sabotage your self-esteem, which is one vital characteristic every successful business person shares."
The salvation: "Rather than being envious, let the accomplishments of others become motivational fuel for your fire in working toward your own successes."

3. Anger
Anger doesn't benefit anyone in the workplace -- it only damages your reputation, credibility and professionalism.

The sin: "Those prone to angry outbursts rarely get promoted; they are seen as being poor leaders who cannot inspire or motivate others."
The salvation: "It's fine to feel passionately about your job or a project at hand and to disagree with others, but learn how to channel those emotions into actions that will work to your benefit in the eyes of others -- especially your superiors -- rather than against it."

4. Greed
An employee's selfish desire for "more, sooner" is what motivates many workers. While these folks may do well in the moment, they won't be prepared to take things to the next level, McKee warns.

The sin: "Taking this notion to the extreme can and will be self-defeating as core values become misguided and life becomes unbalanced in the process."
The salvation: "The road to success requires a long-term approach in all aspects of one's job duties. Those laser-focused on quick, short-term gains may do well in the moment, but will be ill-prepared to take things to the next level."

5. Sloth
Indolence gets you nowhere in life -- especially in corporate America. Laziness in the workplace will have you sitting idle, watching others surpass you in success and authority.

The sin: "Simply put, complacency and laziness have no place whatsoever in the workplace -- especially for those with high aspirations. Expecting one's past achievements and successes to carry them forward in their long-term career is imprudent."
The salvation: "Treat every work day and every project as if your job, and your future at large, depends on it. It very well may."

6. Gluttony
Too much focus on only one facet of life, like work, is a recipe for overall failure. Make sure you're ready -- professionally and personally -- to take on new and bigger challenges, for which expectations are also bigger, McKee says.

The sin: "Many individuals move up the corporate ladder so fast that they actually end up failing as a consequence. More isn't always better -- especially if you're not ready for the challenge at hand."
The salvation: "Achieving career success also includes maintaining a life balance, and a misplaced professional desire can create a backlash both at home as well as amid peers for your perceived obsessiveness."

7. Lust
The old "grass is always greener" adage applies to the workplace as well. Spending your time focused on others' work achievements rather than working to further your own is a sure-fire career killer," McKee contends.

The sin: "Spending an inordinate amount of time fixated on what you don't have rather than what you do will foster a bad attitude and negative overall demeanor."
The salvation: "One's overall 'presence' in the office plays a big part in who gets promoted and who doesn't. No matter how ambitious, it's prudent to be 'present' and make the most out of your current position at this moment in time."

So, what's your take on these?

I thought this was a great list with some great comparisons of "sins" vs "salvations" that should give each of us some reasons why the extreme of any of these can really destroy our career.

Offer Rejection: It's not you, it's me...

I was reading a recent post by Kris over at The HR Capitalist titled, When Your Job Offer Process Takes On a "Stalker" Quality.... In the article Kris gives us some great factors (and links to some of his previous posts) that will impact whether or not a candidate decides to accept your opportunity and come work for you and your company.

Here are a couple of points I took away from his posts:

1. You move so fast that you turn into a "Stalker". One of the main reasons you do this is because you can't seem to control your excitement about the candidate that you have convinced to come interview at your company. By the time the interview is over the candidate can already tell how desperate you are for them to fill the position - because you just must have their skills and abilities present at your company. By the time they have left the interview there is no doubt in their mind that you will offer them the position. Then, you don't let them down by making them a verbal/written offer that same day! Same day offer = never a good idea.

2. You're hiring managers are "LAME". Yes, you heard me right...LAME! You know I'm right and we've all had them at companies where we've worked and had to support. As an HR Pro you've been able to sell yourself, your company, and this opportunity. But, the next big step is to bring the candidate in for a face to face interview with the hiring manager. You almost wish you didn't have to go through this step but it's inevitable and must be done. Because, after all, you can do all the selling that's humanly possible but if the manager drops the ball then the deal is off.

As HR Pro's we have all experienced at least one of the scenario's above and you'll typically see these two the most when you have found the perfect candidate that is truly an exact match for the job and opportunity you've been charged with filling. Plus, the more marketable a candidate is the more these two points will come out.

Now what? What do you think is going to be the response from the candidate that has had to endure these two scenarios described above?

Nine times out of ten you're going to get a declined offer - you aren't really shocked are you?

The candidate (or victim) will typically be professional and courteous and thank you for the offer but say that they have decided to pursue another opportunity - one more in line with their current and future career goals and expectations.

Basically they will say, it's not you...it's me.

In this spirit and theme of rejections enjoy this clip from Seinfeld of George Constanza!

Napoleon Hill - Is it a "problem" or an "opportunity"?

I haven't posted about Napoleon Hill in a couple of months but I received this "thought for the day" a few days ago and happened to open it back up today.

Why do we so rarely see jobs that aren't "officially in our job description" as someone else's responsibility or an annoyance instead of seeing them as "opportunities"?

I ask not only you this, but also myself...

Above and beyond our day to day responsibilities and duties what else do you see that needs to be done around the office, in your department, or for the company? I've seen it from time to time in almost every company where I have ever worked - and I know you have too. There is that employee (or group of employees) that is never happy or satisfied by the job they are doing or what the company does for them. Why is this? What is so wrong with enjoying what you do and being excited about what your company does?

I could go on but I'll stop for now.

Check out the quote below and truly sit back, reflect, and be willing to see these "problems" as real "opportunities".

IF IT ISN’T YOUR JOB TO DO IT, PERHAPS IT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

Someone once observed that the reason we often fail to recognize opportunities is because they come disguised as problems. When a customer, a colleague, or your boss has a problem, it may create a valuable opportunity for you. It isn’t important to the person with the problem how your company is organized or whose responsibility it is to solve the problem; he or she only wants the situation resolved. The next time a customer, a colleague, or your boss asks for your assistance in something that falls outside your area of responsibility, instead of referring them to someone else, offer to help. Look at the situation from the other person’s point of view. How would you like the situation handled if the roles were reversed? Take the initiative to find the answer, solve the problem, or keep the project moving forward.

Recent College Graduate and Open To Travel?

Does this scenario describe where you are today? Maybe you've got a son or a daughter or a friend of the family who has just graduated from college and is looking to travel internationally.

I ran across this article in BusinessWeek by Candace Corner titled, "Need a career change? Five jobs that let you see the world".

Here they are...
1. Teacher. We all either have a friend or family member that's a teacher and we know that that a high salary is neither expected or usually paid for those that choose this rewarding career. In fact, if you happen to live in South Dakota you're amongst the lowest paid in the nation, making about $32K per year. For an international spin on this occupation you can earn up to $60K in South Korea and up to $80K in Switzerland - not bad!

2. Chef. For this occupation I believe the opportunity to travel is going to be the selling point here since you really don't earn a whole lot more in the overseas vs the states. In the states a head chef can earn a median income from around $40K to $43K per year. Overseas you'll earn from $38K to almost $48K per year.

3. Massage Therapist. I'll have to admit that I am the least familiar with this occupation since I have honestly never had a massage by a "real massage therapist". Here's a plug for the only massage therapist I know, Eileen Sauer. Here is her website and her LinkedIn profile can be found here - she's also the most passionate java trainer I have ever been around and an unbelievable pianist. In the US you'll probably earn a median income of about $30K. For those of you that love being in a cruise ship you can earn between $34K and $46K.

4. Nanny. Since I've got 4 kids of my own I know that I know that I could never afford one of these - especially if I had to pay per child. In the US you'll earn a median income of about $30K but in France you'll only earn about $320 / month - the opportunity here is of course to see another part of the world. If you love France go for it!

5. Caterer. The article says that a catering manager can earn about $36K as the median income. Obviously, the better reputation you have and the more business you have the more money you make. Plus, if you happen to be employed by a celebrity or anyone with plenty of money to spend I would imagine that you can earn much more than the $36K.

So, now what?

Which location do you choose if you want to travel? Do you stay in the states and move from the east to the west or from the south to the north? Or, do you take the big step and go to another country?

My vote is another country.

Enjoy and take advantage of whichever location you choose.

Workaholic - It's not a laughing matter anymore...

If you're like me you've heard this issue joked about in basically every company where you have ever worked. It's workaholic. Most of us would never admit to being one and we probably wouldn't even own up to being described this way.

What's your take on this issue and trend?

This is my first post of more to come in a series addressing the topic and subject of work/life balance. We all know how important it is to balance work and life...but why is it?

Here is how Wikipedia defines a workaholic - a workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. This phrase does not always imply that the person actually enjoys their work, but rather simply feels compelled to do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition, although some forms of stress, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be work-related. Although the term "workaholic" usually has a negative connotation, it is sometimes used by people wishing to express their devotion to one's career in positive terms. The "work" in question is usually associated with a paying job, but it may also refer to independent pursuits such as sports, music, art, or blogging.

Next, I decided to go to the place where I could knew I could find this issue addressed, defined and solved, Workaholics Anonymous.

Here is how they define what it's all about - Workaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from workaholism.

Since I was quite unfamiliar with this program and issue I was surprised to see all the great resources that were included there.

Here are a few of the resources I found...
- How do I know if I am a workaholic?
- Characteristics of a workaholic
- The Twelve Steps
- FAQ's

Take a look at the above links and dig through the information provided. There are some great tools included that can really help you determine whether or not you might be a workaholic.

If you determine that you really might be one, how's your performance in your current position and what type of feedback do you receive from your manager? Do your current habits really help your performance or are you just guilty of bad time management or doing work just to stay busy?

How about your career? Are you where you thought you would be and is your current position contributing or hindering your progress?

If you really aren't sure then explore the links above and be on the lookout for more information to come from me on this very topic.

New iPod touch...does it make you want a job at Apple?

Are you an Apple and iPod fan like me?

What does seeing the new range of ipods do for you?

Are you passionate enough to want to work there?

If so, here is where you can find a job in one of their offices - this if you're looking for a job in marketing, software engineering, ipod engineering, or maybe even HR.

Maybe you're more into the face to face interactions with the customer - go here.

Here are their benefits...

Now, sit back and enjoy learning more about the new iPod touch...

Office Romance = New Job For Someone?

We've all seen it in basically every company where we have ever worked. It's office romance and almost impossible to hide - and we can usually see it coming from miles away.

I've seen two single people get together, which is usually the story you like to hear, and I've seen two people who are already married divorce and get together, which is much more unpredictable and typically involves much more talk around the "water cooler".

I was reading through CNN and ran across this article by Jocelyn Voo titled, "How to handle an office romance".

Check out these statistics..."Forty-three percent of workers in the United States say they've dated a fellow employee; of those, 34 percent reported getting hitched, according to a 2006 survey on office romance by CareerBuilder.com".

I really didn't expect the percentages to be so high so there must be more of this going on than I'm aware of - I guess it's because I work in HR.

Here are some pointers mentioned in the article and I'll elaborate on each of them.

1. Think before you speak

You two must get together, discuss, and agree when or even if you are going to tell anyone at work about your relationship. Since this is usually early in the relationship I'll call this a DFR (define the relationship) - this is what we called it when I was growing up.

2. Be professional

This is going to be especially important if either one of you report to the other. You cannot let your relationship impact or affect how you make decisions at work - especially when it comes to type of work assigned, workload, salary increases, and bonuses. Plus, if you're still trying to keep this relationship a secret, any noticeable favoritism in these areas will get people talking.

3. Know the rules

What does your company have to say about relationships with others at work - especially those between boss and subordinate? Do you both need to start reviewing the job postings to see if either one of you can transfer to another opportunity within the company? Just because there may not be a policy doesn't mean you don't need to look internally or externally for something else - it really all depends on where this relationship is going.

4. Be subtle

Please watch the pda (personal display of affection)! No one wants to see the two of you sneaking around the office to get a little "alone time" Enough said...

5. Weigh the risks

Yes, there are risks involved with office romance. What happens if this relationship doesn't work out? Did it end well where the two of you are still "friends" or was it a nightmare ending? If the two of you still have to see each other after a bad ending the both of you will probably be miserable - especially if you work together or one for another. My take is that if it ends badly then one or both of you may need to look to another department or company for employment.

For you "The Office" fans out there check out this clip of Jim and Pam...

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running - #15!

Special thanks to Rowan Manahan at Fortify Your Oasis for this edition...

Enjoy and be sure to check out #12 on his list!

Flaming Your "Former Co-worker"...Not a Good Idea!

Disclaimer: I have changed the names to protect the innocent in this scenario below. As you'll see and read below, the only innocent ones that deserve protection are "former co-worker", "manager", and "third party" - the "candidate" doesn't deserve protection but he'll get it anyway.

Here's the scenario. "Candidate" applies for a job at "Company XYZ" while still employed at "Company ABC". He soon realizes that his "former co-worker" is now the "manager" for the position he has just applied for.

Here's where it gets interesting...the best part of this is that "candidate" sent this to me via e-mail.

Check it out...

Thanks for the information below. I didn't realize that it was "former co-worker" who was handling the position. I don't normally toot my own horn. But in this case I feel it's necessary. I am 10 times the developer that "former co-worker" is and his work ethic and level of excellence isn't even on the same page as my own. I have worked very closely with him and reviewed his code. It is substandard in my opinion. He's friendly and easy to get along with. I liked working with him because of his spirit of cooperation. But in all honesty, he's very lazy. I have done twice his work here at "company ABC". I have 17 years of experience in my skills and I've been an architect is some of my roles. "Former co-worker's" skills simply do not even compare. Ask "third party".

Any thoughts? Have any stories like this one that you would like to share?

If you are curious, this is definitely a true story and no, I am no longer considering him for the position he applied for.

Power Rankings for HR Blogs?

All - for those of you out there that are unfamiliar with Kris over at The HR Capitalist, you've got to check out his first installment of The HR Blog Power Rankings.

Click through the links and check out the list...

By the way, I'm number 13 - I'm glad that I'm not superstitious...

Networking for the Elite: aSmallWorld

I was browsing through BusinessWeek and ran across this great article by Catherine Holahan titled, "Way Too Good for Facebook or My Space". Click through and check it out...

I have now been introduced a relatively new networking site called aSmallWorld. I immediately went to Wikipedia and here is what they had on the site...

I have just realized that the main reason I've never heard of this site is because I've never been invited - yes, you heard me right. You can't just create a profile and join like basically all the other networking sites with millions and millions of members. You must be patient and wait on an invitation. By the way, not all members can invite new members to join - only established members can.

I have a confession to make...I'm just a LinkedIn user and have used it quite a bit over the last year to re-connect with former colleagues and good hires that I've made over the last 7 to 9 years. This very statement probably disqualifies me from being an invited member of aSmallWorld but for today, that's ok.

So, what's your take on these exclusive networking sites?

Check out these quotes from the article...

Critics are split into two camps: Some call aSW dreadfully elitist, while others say it's not exclusive enough. Nonmembers have nicknamed the site "Snobster," arguing that its invitation-only policy contradicts the premise of open communications upon which the Web was built. Then there are those on the inside who complain that, in an effort to become profitable, aSW is accepting less "valuable" members.

While there's little argument that aSW is growing fast, what constitutes too fast is open to debate. In the three-and-a-half years since its launch, membership has grown from 500 users to about 260,000. But MySpace has grown to more than 100 million members over a similar timeframe, making it a major recipient of the $900 million that research firm eMarketer estimates will be spent on social-network advertising this year.

Now, which one do you join? It's your call - well almost your call since you're the one that's got to wait on the invitation...

Dangerous Job = High Salary?

Anyone out there interested in risking their life on a day by day basis just to earn more money than the guy next door with the Maserati? Has keeping up with the "Jones's" tempted you to roll the dice and become a Pilot - the 2nd the most dangerous job in the US?

Hmmm...I don't think I'm there yet.

I just ran across this article on CNN by Les Christie titled, "America's most dangerous jobs". The article tells us that last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 5,700 people lost their life while on the job.

Check out this chart below of the Top 10 most dangerous jobs.

I guess Commercial Fisherman doesn't really surprise me as being the most dangerous job in the US but I really wouldn't have picked Pilots as #2. Also, if I was risking my life daily I'd expect to be compensated for it. According to the BLS website commercial fishermen only made from $322 to $775 per week - not worth the risk to me and I'll pass.

On the other hand, Pilots made an average of $129K per year - now you've got my attention. If you don't have the nerves for flying through the air, Air Traffic Controllers made an average of $102K per year.

Now, for #3, a Logger. Any thoughts about how much money they made? The most you'll probably make is about $26.00 per hour.

So, as you can see, an increase in danger doesn't automatically give you an increase in salary.

Now what? You going to make a job change or just stick to your current job?

If all you want to know is what the top paying jobs are, CareerBuilder has a list here...

Enjoy!

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running!

Special thanks to Ann at Compensation Force for this edition...Enjoy!

X Games & Jake Brown: Your Career As A Skateboarder...

So, you've been skateboarding for a while and are actually starting to think about quitting your day job to skate professionally?

Go for it...but only if you've got what it takes...

My guess is that if you're a true skateboarder then you've been keeping a pretty close eye on the X Games and what's been happening out in LA.

That being said I'm sure you were watching when Jake Brown flew across the sky and then fell about 50 feet in the air. The flying through the air part was probably amazing...the falling to the ground part, no thank you...

Now it's your call...you still got what it takes after watching the video below?

Negative Unemployment?

I was listening to the radio today (Rick & Bubba) while driving home from work and I heard the term negative unemployment. New to you? It certainly was to me. My simple definition would be a situation that exists when you have more jobs available than qualified workers...

From what I heard from the interview, jobs are on their way to Huntsville (Alabama) but, at this time, there aren't enough people to fill them. Who wouldn't want to work at the home of the United States Space & Rocket Center?

Check out this website that will tell you all about it...

Here's a quote from the site that sums it up pretty well - Huntsville Alabama is home to the Army’s Aviation and Missile expertise and to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. It is soon to be the home of the Army Material Command and the Missile Defense Agency. There is already a shortage of professional people including engineers, scientists, program managers, acquisition and logistics experts and there are several thousand vacant positions coming between now and 2011.

Here's an article from the Huntsville Times that gives much more detailed information about this opportunity and predicament that Huntsville has found themselves in...

I did some research on-line and found Huntsville's unemployment rate as of May 2007 to be 2.4% - that's ranked 14th compared to other metropolitan areas in the US. My metropolitan area of Birmingham, AL has a current unemployment rate of 2.7% and is ranked 28th.

And you thought you had it hard? How would you like to be presented with this challenge and how do you think you would do?

Here are my first two initial suggestions.
1. You must offer incentives for qualified workers to come to Huntsville - be creative!
2. You must make sure the city - from tourism and government are all working together in a way to encourage and attract those workers.

Good Luck!