Did You Know?
"Despite worries, more firms are letting workers use their own cell phones/tablets/laptops.... For many workers-particularly the young-having to use a clunky company-issued phone or laptop is unthinkable. A Cisco survey of 2,853 adults younger than 30 found that 70 percent preferred to use a work device of their own choosing. And among those in college, 81 percent expressed that preference."
Source: Steve Johnson, San Jose Mercury News
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Go Green!
"Just because you no longer want something doesn't mean it's junk - and it could even make you some money. Try selling unwanted items via the internet (try Ebay), donating them to a new owner or swapping them to a new owner, or swapping them with neighbors through a community swap shop. These could also be sources of replacement items for yourself."
From:
By Joanna Yarrow
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Quote of the Month
"For many people a job is more than an income - it's an important part of who we are. So a career transition of any sort is one of the most unsettling experiences you can face in your life.... Be absolutely determined to enjoy what you do."
-Paul Clitheroe and
Gerry Sikorski |
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"Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities of someone they love and care for - a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse. With more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke."
~Kathleen Sebelius,
Greetings!,
GREETINGS! February is American Heart Month. Be sure to understand your risks, make changes and the right choices in your life.
We continue to customize each job search to help clients find the right talent, and help you find a job that you love. We hope you are finding the articles informative and useful. Feel free to it to anyone who may be interested. And, we invite you to 'Like' us on Facebook too. Please see coupon below for FREE feedback on your resume.
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 Stocks & Manufacturing UP!
U.S. stocks had a big January, and February has been strong too. On February 1st stocks climbed after a strong report of manufacturing data and encouraging reports about the Greek debt crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average closed within 100 points of its post-2008 financial crisis peak. Factories raised output in January by the highest numbers in seven months, according to the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index. The Commerce Department said construction spending rose 1.5 percent in December - the fifth straight monthly gain. Investors are less worried about the European debt crisis and earnings at American companies are generally meeting expectations. "It doesn't take good news to make stock prices rise," said Randy Warren, Chief Investment Officer for Warren Financial Service, "It just takes an absence of bad news."
Manufacturing is also up. According to a recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, experts said in January that factories making products for businesses - not consumers - are seeing the heaviest activity and fueling the gains. This includes companies that make business equipment or parts for other manufacturers. A survey of mid-America regions by Creighton University showed the index jumped from 50.0 in December to 55.9 in January. That's the largest monthly gain since October 2009 (a reading above 50 indicates growth). The study's "confidence index", which measures respondents' outlook for the next six months, posted a strong increase, from 59.2 to 67.2. "That shows there's lots of momentum for manufacturers coming into the new year," said Josh Bushard, manufacturing leader at Grant Thornton, an audit, tax and advisory firm in Minneapolis, MN. He said healthy new order levels are prompting some of his clients, mid-sized manufacturing firms, to start hiring new workers on a modest scale.
Chuck 's Grinding Inc. in Minneapolis, MN does precision grinding for a variety of manufacturers, and reported a huge jump in bid requests in the month of January. The company quoted its prices on more than 100 jobs last month; for all of last year it supplied quotes on 800. Checker Machine in Minneapolis, MN produces parts and equipment for a variety of industries, including computer testing and food processing. Original equipment manufacturers currently are the busiest customers of Checker Machine. The company added workers last year and have plans to hire more machinists and welders this year.
Minnesota was one of eight states in the Creighton study for a nine-state region that posted growth in January. Kansas reported no change in its index from December. With these findings we feel the labor market is on track to gaining a solid growth track.
As the economy continues to gain strength and employers continue to add workers you, as a hiring manager, may begin to experience more work than you can handle. We are here to help you manage your time and workload. Our prices are typically 50% lower than our competitors. Email jlentner@coremanage.com and we can take some of the load off your plate.
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Are You Retiring in 2012?
 For some of you baby boomers, 2012 will be the year after punching the clock - you will retire and join the ranks of other retirees. So before you plan to do so, it's important to get a plan in place to figure out how you will spend your time now that you are retired. According to a recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune it's very important to prepare and take steps to make it easier - both financially and emotionally. Individuals who retire without a plan struggle compared to those who have one in place.
Here are some steps to think about before you retire:
- Track the Amount You Spend. Begin by going back over the last year detailing bills and expenses to get a detailed account and picture of your spending and expenses. Remember to add in those expenses for holidays, birthdays, gifts, vacations and an amount for uncontrollable personal, medical and household expenses. According to Jonathan Guyton of Cornerstone Wealth Advisors in Minneapolis, "It will take a year or so before you really get the hang of it, knowing what you are spending your time doing and how you are spending your money,"
- Review Your Income Expectations. In the last few years investments have not been the best for savers. Stocks etc. have been compounded by interest rates that are at historically low levels and seem likely to remain low. So, it's important to review how much money you can earn from your safe investments such as bonds or certificates of deposit, says Lawrence Glazer, a managing partner at Mayflower Advisors in Boston.
- Make Income Plans (Social Security, etc). Think about what your total income will be. Does this include part-time or consulting work, social security and other available income? You can check with the Social Security Administration to get an estimate on the approximate amount of your social security. This part of the plan will also lead to when you should begin to start taking the benefits. If you delay, it means larger checks in the future. It may be helpful to sit down with an advisor to review and map things out.
- Build a Cash Reserve. Being forced to sell your investments to raise cash or pay your bills is definitely one thing to avoid. Some advisors suggest at least a year's worth of money or even two so that as a retiree you can cut yourself a paycheck once a month from that account. A dedicated cash reserve is especially important if you are delaying taking Social Security.
- Get Ready Emotionally. For most people retirement is a completely new and different experience and can be challenging both emotionally and financially. At times people can't wait to get out of the 50 to 60 hour work week but for others their self worth is their paycheck. So retirement is much harder. Cornerstone's Mr. Guyton urges those approaching retirement to think in terms of retiring to something and not retiring from something."
So potential retirees, do you want to work part-time or do some consulting? If so, we can help you determine what transferable skills the market will bear and help you plan for retirement. Email jlentner@coremanage.com and we can tell you how we can help.
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Sincerely,
Julie Lentner
Core Management Search, LLC
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