CSS Weekend Reflections Newsletter by Confidential Search Solutions

Employment Trends Updates for    

October, 2011

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released by the Department of Labor, the federal unemployment rate is 9% as reported on Friday, November 4, 2011.   

Hilda Solis, "Our nation's labor market posted stable growth in the month of October. The economy added 104,000 private sector jobs last month, and we also added 102,000 more jobs than had previously been reported in August and September. The unemployment rate dropped to 9 percent, its lowest level in six months."

"The number of long-term unemployed - defined as Americans out of work for 27 weeks or more - fell by 366,000 in October, the biggest drop since 1948. Additionally, the jobless rate for African-Americans dropped a percentage point to 15.1 percent, its lowest level since August 2009.

"We've now created 2.8 million jobs over 20 consecutive months of private sector growth, including more than 1 million jobs this year alone. GDP growth in the third quarter was 2.5 percent - the fastest rate in over a year and nearly twice that of the previous quarter. Businesses reported significantly fewer layoffs in October. Consumer and business spending are both up, reflecting Americans' increased confidence in our recovery progress."

Have a Fabulous Week!

Are Natural Talents & Abilities Enough to Succeed in Your Company?

Before you answer the question, take a moment to ponder how your favorite athletic coach on any amateur or professional sports team would respond to or how an executive in any global company would answer. In an ideal world in the minds of the young college graduate the answer may seem like an obvious yes. However, in our firm with six career coaches and four Certified Personnel Consultants, we would all share with you, the answer is no. Natural talents and professional abilities are not enough to succeed sports, similarly it is not enough to succeed in business.

As illustrated in The Perfect Team (NBA, 2006), many pro players would admit that they were born with special talents, gifts, and/or passions that gave them an extra measure of success. However, they would also share with you that it took painful moments of hard work, long practices, tough coaches, competitive and sometimes even more talented players, and family members who helped them become the qualified and highly sought after professionals their teams continue to rely on each season. Additionally, they would tell you that internal fortitude, tenacity, and adrenaline helped them move from status quo to  actual pros. It is a positive mental attitude and an unparalleled passion that is required to get to the next level, something anyone who is a winner can validate. Cmparatively speaking big business in corporate America is like the pros.  

You get in the door because of your practical experience, natural talents, potential abilities, and sometimes education. However, it takes so much more to succeed. It takes a continuous positive mental attitude. It takes working long hours to get the job done and done right. It takes dealing with challenging co-workers in a positive manner, which can lead to future leadership opportunities because of one's ability to deal tactfully with difficult people. It takes learning lessons from tough managers even when you think or feel they do not value or care you.  

In fact, some mangers are actually tougher on people they like.  One reason given is because they see their potential and their weakness all at once, knowing that if they do not overcome their weakness, it will cripple them in the long run.  As a result, they will provide extra learning opportunities for the subordinate/protege, which can be quite painful to endure.  However, if one does, they will be a much better person.  

Therefore, employees must learn not to run from adversity in the workplace but embrace it with the understanding that it can make you stronger, wiser, and better. It can also open up greater opportunities to succeed if you rise to the occasion and respond like a pro.

 Much Success From All of Us at CSS