Career E-News: January 2010 

Monthly E-Zine for People in Career Transition. Written and Published by Joellyn Wittenstein Schwerdlin, The Career Success Coach   "Empowering Executives & Professionals to Land Ideal Career Positions in Record Time -- Every Time!"

In this issue:
Execunet's Recruiter Confidence Index: Expectations for 2010 Brighten
Workplace/Workforce Trends for 2010
Stuck, Stalled or Confused in Your Job Search or Career?
Quote of the Month: On "Ambition"
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 Testimonial
 
I have used Joellyn's services for over 10 years and have been extremely happy with her work. She is very knowledgeable and stays up to date on the latest "trends" in resume writing and career coaching. I would only trust Joellyn to write and update my resume. She is terrific!" 
 
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Greetings!                              Joellyn Headshot 2009 
 
Happy New Year! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that 2010 is off to a good start for you. My husband and I spent the holidays in Chicago with our family. We drove this time and fortunately, didn't encounter any serious weather issues. Circumventing possible snow routes brought us through the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, which were absolutely spectacular!  
 
So, what's ahead in the labor market for 2010?  According to Execunet's Recruiter Confidence Index, 54% of executive recruiters surveyed report that the executive market will improve in the first half of 2010. This data is further supported in a Wall Street Journal Article: "Uptick in Executive Jobs Seen for 2010."   What this means is that staffing efforts will be ramping up in the coming months, which is good news!
 
The Herman Group has also published it's annual Workplace/Workforce Trends Report for 2010.   The authors also predict positive job growth in the second half of 2010 (see #10 on this trend list), which would likely happen after new executive hires take place. 
 
With more employment opportunities expected at various levels in large and small firms, job seekers should approach 2010 with renewed vitality. If you're having difficulty moving forward by yourself, consider partnering with a career coach like me, to ensure you are positioned to take advantage of the upcoming momentum in the job market -- to identify the right types of opportunities, obtain more interviews and secure better employment offers. The sooner you work with me in your job search, the sooner you will find your ideal career position. So, let's get started with a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session to help you reach your career goals faster than you thought possible.  
 
Here's to your Career Success!
 
:-) Joellyn 
 
P.S. A great big "Welcome" to my new subscribers!
ExecunetExecunet's Recruiter Confidence Index:
Expectations for 2010 Brighten   
Execunet Logo
 Indications of executive job market growth cast at the end of 2009 bode well for the beginning of the new year. Since September, ExecuNet's Recruiter Confidence Index held above 50 percent, closing out the year with 54 percent of executive recruiters reporting confidence the executive employment market will improve in the first half of 2010. A leading indicator for the economy and the executive job market, a reading above 50 percent indicates recruiters expect the number of search assignments in the next six months will increase.

"Predictions made by ExecuNet survey participants have proved accurate in the past,"
writes Sarah E. Needleman in The Wall Street Journal. "For example, in the second half of 2003, recruiter confidence increased by more than 40 percent and 'the economy started to recover about six months later,' says [ExecuNet president and chief economist Mark] Anderson. 'We're seeing that same change now.'"

For the third month in a row, recruiters are expecting major increases in assignments, with 21 percent reporting plans to expand their professional staffs to meet the corporate hiring demands. That's the largest tally of executive search firms planning to add professional staff since the third quarter of 2008. "The recovery is happening," says Anderson, "both in the economy and the executive employment market."
 
(Source: Reprinted from the January 18, 2010 issue of The Executive Insider, a bi-weekly publication of www.execunet.com.)
WorkplaceWorkplace/Workforce Trends for 2010
Herman Trend AlertEach year at this time, The Herman Group issues its annual forecast.  Once more, this year, they offer you their full forecast for the coming year: 
 

1.  Cutbacks and Re-Engineering Will Continue into 2010: Expect ongoing reductions in force as some employers continue to optimize their workforces and eliminate "redundancy". We caution these employers to be very careful, because we know that 54 percent of today's employees are ready to jump, as soon as the economy improves. They are currently "Corporate Cocooning".

 

2.  Shortages of Certain Skill Sets Will Become More Acute

As the economy begins to recover, certain skill sets will be more critical and difficult to find. These high-demand workers will be more demanding about their work schedules, environment, etc.   The wisest employers will embrace not only flex-time, but flex-place as well.
 
3. Employers will Embrace Innovative Ideas to Reward their Valued Workers.  This innovation will include non-financial ways and even non-reward (recognition only) ways to add value for their top talent; these innovative ideas will come from the employees themselves. Employers that do not mine the collective intelligence of their workers will find themselves unable to optimize profits.
 

4. Fear and Apprehension Continue to Reduce Productivity. A significant percentage of employees continue to worry about the future. These negative feelings will persist, unless addressed. Transparency, besides being one of those elements employees seek, will be imperative.

 

5. More Employers Will Invest in a Variety of Healthcare Cost-Cutting Strategies. Besides wellness programs to address expensive unproductive behaviors (like smoking and over-eating), more large employers will embrace ideas like onsite clinics and health coaches. For some candidates, the cost of not complying with the prospective companies' wellness programs will change their employee value propositions so drastically that they will choose to work elsewhere.

 

6. Focus on Engagement will Replace the Focus on Retention

Recognizing that with engagement comes not only retention, but greater productivity and profitability, too, employers will change their focus. We will see Directors of Retention morph into Directors of Employee Engagement. The next step (coming much later than 2010) will be to recognize the importance of the total
 "Internal and External Customer Experience".
 

7. Increasing Attention to Succession Planning. Around the globe, we see an increasing attention to succession planning and management. However, the issue of succession preparation continues to take a backseat to succession planning. This big mistake will begin to be felt in 2010, when Baby Boomer retirements combine with the lack of trained people becomes a critical problem. Succession management continues to be critical to long-term success.

 

8. Employers That Did Not Build Bench Strength Will Pay More to Hire Experience. Organizations that did not take the opportunity presented by this business slowdown to send their people for more training, will have to pay more to hire trained, experienced people.

 

9. Some Employers will eliminate Reward Programs.

Misunderstanding Dan Pink's new book, Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us, some employers will abolish their reward programs altogether. This ill-advised shift will cause significant, negative, unintended consequences.
 

10. Burned out Employees will Begin Leaving Employers.

Over 80 percent of today's employees feel overworked and under-appreciated. Too many organizations have survived and maintained some level of profitability by over-loading their long-term employees. Once we begin to see positive job growth in the second half of 2010, some employees will feel confident enough to leave their companies.
 

11. Employers Will Accommodate Older Workers Like Never Before. The exodus of their long-term employees will challenge some employers to get the work done, without resorting to hiring expensive contract help or paying high fees to recruiters. Enlightened employers will mine the rolls of their retired workers and hire them back on a part-time, temporary, or seasonal basis. These seasoned professionals will be welcomed back, in spite of the fact that they will dictate their own terms.

 
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© Copyright 1998- 2010 by The Herman Group, Inc. 

From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc."
CAPSessionStuck, Stalled or Confused in Your Job Search? New Question MarkCareer Change Stuck in Neutral?
 
Whatever career problem you may be struggling with -- making a a career change, re-entering the job market after a long absence or layoff or jumpstarting an unproductive search-- a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session will identify where you're getting stuck, stalled, or confused in the process.   
 
In this two-hour strategic breakthrough consultation,
you and I will talk about your work situation, your job search, and whatever seems to be making you feel stuck. We'll even discuss your career history from your early decision-making days to the present, to identify patterns and themes which stand out. 
 
I'll listen, ask important questions, and provide you with constructive feedback:
 
(1) What's working: Job search/interview strategies or career decisions which appear to be moving in the right direction.    

(2) What's needs attention: Pointing out what can be changed or added, to achieve the greatest impact or potential.    
 
(3) Next steps which can be easily implemented to reach career goals faster. 
 
Then, you can decide if you want to continue working with me or otherwise. Either way, you'll finish the session with a sense of "Aha! Now I know what I need to do!"    
 
Investment:  $175.00.  This includes:
 
  • MP3 recording of the session, plus a written summary.
  • 44-page Special Report: "The 12 Biggest Mistakes Job Hunters and Career Changers Make -- and How to Avoid Them." (New and updated for Nov 2009)
  • 45-minute follow-up session (no additional charge)
 Still skeptical? Read what a sampling of clients have said about their experience: 
 
 "Joellyn came recommeded to me by a friend, I was a bit hesitant at first but with my results I am extremely satisfied! I only did "step 1"[CAP Session] of what Joellyn offers and for me at this time I felt it was worth it. We had worked on many aspects of my career and she was able to help identify very key skills I had overlooked. We had also taken the time to do a high level review of my resume, which was just what I needed after being out of the interviewing market for so long. (previous employment was for 20 years). With the recommendations from Joellyn I was able to recraft my resume and my outlook on interviews that has landed me the perfect career path that I am excited to move forward with. Thank you Joellyn!" --- Candy Scarale, Executive Administrative Assistant
 
"I want you to know that I play the CAP Session recording at least once a month to keep me on track."
---- John Koch, Accounting Professional
 
"Joellyn and I had a Career Action Planning (CAP) session and I appreciated her step-by-step approach and her ability as a professional consultant. I found the methodology so supportive and enlightening to my own personal and professional growth.  She is a rare coach and valuable colleague." --- Harry Reczek, Social Media Expert, LinkedIn Trainer, LinkedIn LION  
 
 Visit my website to learn more or contact me to schedule this single session. (Note: this session is conducted by telephone).
Quote of the Month: On "Ambition"
New Q

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can
become great." -- Mark Twain

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