Residential homebuilding outlook

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071218/economy.html?.v=11

You will have to cut and paste. I could not get the link function to work properly.

Job Search Links

Someone contacted me and requested that I add Indeed.com and Craigslist as job search opportunities. One person has located a position at an $80-$90K compensation level through Craigslist and has heard back re: the hiring manager's interest. Check them out!

I will be out of town until Monday. Please keep the emails coming but I won't be able to post again until Monday. Have a great weekend!!

New Job Postings

Recruiters have been sending job postings faster than I can post them. I will be posting them individualy as comments to this update so please view the comments attached to this post.

SEC Playoff Saturday in Atlanta - The Circus is in town

It is a beautiful Saturday morning in Atlanta and I am headed out to enjoy the insanity that will surround an SEC playoff game (LSU vs TN) in Atlanta today. My husband and I are going downtown to enjoy the lights at Centennial Park
and gawk at the fans. The people watching value at Southern football games, from Little League up, exceeds that of any heavy metal mosh pit!!

I have spoken with quite a few of you this week and heard from others via email. I am very happy to report that those of you, with whom I have spoken are doing quite well. Some are having success in their job search, i.e. an unexpected opportunity five minutes from home (yup, I'm seriously jealous of that one), others experiencing success in their personal lives and still others realizing a need for self renewal, similar to Liz's post when we started this blog. To those of you who are making drastic career changes, pursuing educational dreams, and considering self employment, I applaud you.

You are a terrific group of people and I don't believe I have ever had the opportunity to work with finer co-workers. To those of you who have submitted information and suggestions I say thanks for all of us. To those of you who have contacted me with questions I also say thanks because your questions spurred me to do a little research and find answers that may be of interest to others.

More people are visiting each day and staying on the site for longer periods of time. We hit an all time activity high on Friday - Wahoo! While your privacy is secure (because there is no way to see specifically "who" is visiting the site), this marked increase in activity encourages me that the information posted here is helping others. Your ideas, suggestions and questions will continue to be helpful so please keep them coming and if you hear of open positions that might be of interest to others please send them along and I will be happy to post them.

Once you find a position, if you would like for others to know where you are or simply that you have found something, please send me the information and I will be happy to post it, with your permission of course. Success for any one of us is encouragement to those of us who were laid off in November and for those remaining Wieland employees who may be laid off in the future.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Job Search Expenses are Tax Deductible

Tracy Lee Yates was kind enough to tip me to this. I am not a tax expert by any stretch of the imagination so please verify this information through an accountant or with the IRS. Here is some information Tracy was kind enough to provide:

Track Your Expenses
If you are searching for a job in your current (or recently current) field, your expenses are tax deductible. Even if you don't get the job you seek, you can still deduct the expenses related to your search.

Internet service, newspaper subscriptions, trade journals, self-help books, professional resume writing services, career counseling, schooling, memberships, and anything else that you use to search for a job or assist you in getting a job is tax deductible. This also applies to the clothes you need for interviews. Once you get the job, uniform or wardrobe expenses can be deducted as well.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/salary/a/taxdeduction.htm

Handling Conversations re: Lay Off in an interview

This is copied from Career Encouragement, another work and job search related blog. The link to it is on the right of this page. This is one person's perspective and good to keep in mind.

Job Search Rule #26 - Don't Tell Me Why You Got Laid-off
Last week I interviewed John. During our conversation I found out that he was only on the market because he had been laid off from his last position. That's okay. These things happen.

I also found out (despite my best intentions to steer him differently) that John had really loved his last position, that he would never have left on his own, that he missed his last position, and that it had been ideal for him with his unique set of skills. These factoids were all wrapped up in a long rambling story about the industry and company events that had led management to make the decisions to do layoffs.

Whew!

What I couldn't seem to get at was why he was interested in the job that he had applied for and how his skills were going to benefit my company. He was very qualified for the job, but he landed in the "no go" pile anyway.

I have some colleagues who prefer not to hire candidates who have been laid off from their prior position on the theory that the low performers are put on the layoff list first. I've managed enough workforce reductions in the past decade to know that perfectly good employees land on the layoff lists for reasons beyond their control. So I'm not adverse to interviewing them - if anything, I am empathetic to their plight and secretly hoping they'll do well in the interview.

However, I do look for evidence that the candidate is the kind of person who can handle adversity, bounce back, and move on. Therefore, I am very sensitive to how people handle questions like "What has you looking for a new career opportunity at this time?" And I definitely tend to pass on cover letters that start with the phrase that "Only an unexpected layoff has me looking for a new position at this time..."

As a recruiter or hiring manager, I am interested in four primary things:

Can you DO the job at hand (i.e., do you have the skills and experiences)?
Do you WANT to do this job?
Can you BUILD PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS with my employees and clients?
Are we a MATCH in terms of culture and work style?
Notice that none of these areas require a job seeker to go into a lengthy discussion of how much he loved his past job and how and why management made layoff decisions. The only way to get back into the workforce is to focus on the work you can and will do in the future.

Bottom line: If you are only on the market due to a layoff, let go of the past and focus on what your potential employer is looking for and how you can meet those needs.

Education

I have heard from a few people that they are considering beginning a college education, opening a business of their own or pursuing a different career. This is a link to an article that lists free online courses available from major educational institutions:

http://lifehacker.com/software/education/technophilia-get-a-free-college-education-online-201979.php

There are also free resources available to support those who might wish to open their own business. Here are some links to help get you started:

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html
http://www.score.org/index.html Assistance from retired executives
http://www.sbdc.uga.edu/newsite/index.aspx?page_name=mbd_home

SBDC can help you with how and what to research in terms of trends, competition and fiscal viability. I hope this information is helpful.

Free classes at this web site: http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html

Negotiating an offer

Dream Job
Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young engineer who was fresh out of MIT, "What starting salary were you thinking about?"

The Engineer replied, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

The interviewer thought a moment then said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years - say, a red Corvette?"

The Engineer sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"

The interviewer replied, "Yeah, but you started it."

DBM Direct Documents

Click to enlarge for detail.

Outplacement Resources

DBM (www.dbm.com) is the world’s leading provider of strategic human resource solutions that help organizations align their workforces to meet changing business needs. Known for over 35 years for its innovative and effective career transition services, DBM offers in-depth capabilities in employee transition, retention, development, and selection. Founded in 1967, the company has more than 225 locations in over 45 countries.

Ordinarily DBM works directly with a company that is downsizing and DBM's services are included as part of a severance package for departing employees. They very kindly agreed to meet with me and have prepared a combination of group and individual services to assist former Wieland employees. I will cover the highlights here and have more detailed information if you are interested.

The DBM Direct package is online assistance and includes resume assistance via email, access to a research resource center, tutorials for interviewing questions, access to skills and knowledge inventory assessments and additional services. Thirty days of access costs former Wieland employees $100 and sixty days of access cost
$150.

I have a document with detailed information and attempted to post it but encountered technical difficulties. I will continue to try so hopefully that information will be available on the blog soon.

In addition, DBM has offered to conduct either full or half day seminars that would include a DBM facilitator for the duration of the session, thirty days access to DBM's Comprehensive WebCenter and sixty days access to the DBM Search Guide. The session would be limited to 15-20 participants and would range in price from $40 to $100 per person, depending on whether it is a half or full day session and on how many choose to participate.

Please email me at elizbell@bellsouth.net if you are interested in additional information. For those of you who are interested in DBM Direct, please consider the seminar as well. A full day session with 20 participants, including thirty days access to DBM's WebCenter and sixty days access to the DBM Search guide , is the same expense as simply thirty days access to DBM Direct. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

For Any Cabinetcraft Charlotte Peoples

Not sure how many (if any) former CC-Charlotte people we've got here, but...

I spoke with Linda from the Refugee Office yesterday afternoon, and she has a company in her contact list whose manager is interested in anyone and everyone who was laid off from CC-Charlotte. It's a woodowrking company, located in south Charlotte, off Westinghouse.

Leave a comment and link your email if you're interested, and I'll email you with the name and contact number.

Post your Resume for Employers to Search

I have been working on a way to get our resumes posted so that recruiters can easily access them. My recommendation is to post on Craigslist, do not include your name or phone number in the resume and use the anonymizer at the bottom for your contact email.

Once you have posted it, copy the link in the browser window, add a comment to this post with a Title such as: A/P Manager with Fifteen years of experience and paste the link in the comment window. Once it is posted recruiters/employers can review resumes that might be of interest. Call me with any questions. This is a trial run so we may have complications.

I am forwarding the blog to every recruiter, company and HR organization I can think of for their review. Please continue to forward so as many people as possible have chance to post their resumes.

Recruiters and Job Postings

Adult Education in GA

Several of you motivated, high achievers have contacted me about financial assistance for adult education in GA. Here is a link that should prove helpful:
https://secure.gacollege411.org/AdultLearner/financial_aid_options.asp.

Best wishes and good luck! There is some HOPE assistance available for adults but I am not well versed on the details so please use the resources at the link above or through the financial aid office at a local college for details. It has been wonderful from those of you who have called or written.

We Need Your Feedback!

We all want this to be a comprehensive resource, so as you look over the site and visit the links, please let us know if you're looking for any information in particular that you're not able to find, that we don't have listed, or clarification on anything you see posted here.

While Elizabeth and Tonya provide All Things HR-Related, I'll be working on a few non-HR articles, specifically how to eat well and travel on a budget, and how to ratchet down recreational and entertainment spending without cutting out every bit of fun in life. I'm hoping to also talk to some counselors, psychologists, and naturopathic physicians about stress/anxiety/depression management ideas, as well as ways to combat existing mental-health conditions should any of us eventually reach a point at which our finances necessitate treatment of pharmaceutically-treated conditions without pharmaceuticals.

Again, we're here to help, so if you have any concerns you want to see addressed, please let us know.

Networking, Government Websites and Verbiage for Resumes

At the following link you can search for Clark Howards broadcast on networking:
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/10157930/index.html

The Bureau of Labor Statistics at: http://www.bls.gov
and O*Net at: http://online.onetcenter.org
can be helpful in researching job titles, responsibilities and helping with verbiage for resumes.

I also recommned searching job postings at Company Websites, on Careerbuilder, on Monster, wherever and matching the skills on your resume to the verbiage in their description, if you in fact possess those skills. Some companies use "word matching" software and the higher you score as a match to the description the more likely you are to hear back.

Catalyst for Change?

I've been waiting for this. I don't mean waiting as in anticipating it, or planning for it, or preparing myself in any way; I mean this is exactly what I need, the perfect catalyst for a decision-making process I've been essentially ignoring for several years now.

My husband and I have been sitting across from each other on the sofas at night, trying to figure out what we need to do to make our life better, what we need to do to be happier, and coming up with nothing. We've known we needed to make a decision, a sacrifice, a change -- something, anything -- but what? What's the question we need to answer? What are our choices? What do we sacrifice?

Here it is. I got laid off. This is my chance.

It's hard to sacrifice anything you've grown accustomed to when you don't have to give it up. It's hard to make changes in your life when nothing else is changing. I'm too lazy -- or my dad might say too inert -- to change anything I don't have to. Even if life in general isn't working, it's still moving. I'm just sitting back and letting it all happen.

I'm getting too old to be afraid of everything; for me, that's what it all boils down to. I've made choices that have left me -- at best -- generally dissatisfied, because I was afraid of the temporary discomfort the better choice would cause, or afraid I would make someone mad, or fail, or screw up something. I've spent my entire life afraid I'd make the wrong choice and not be able to go back, and now I've come to the realization that you can't go back if you never go anywhere to begin with. And at this point, I have nothing to be afraid of. The worst has already happened. And happened, and happened, and happened again.

Generally speaking, I'm not what you'd call an optimist. I prefer denial to dealing, atrophy to exercise, brooding to the bright side. I have a hard time believing everything happens for a reason. But to quote immortal philosophers and theologians The Brady Bunch, "When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange who you are into what you're gonna be." Sha-na-na-na-na.

I'm going back to school. We may end up moving into a less expensive place, and I'll almost certainly have a part-time job -- or three -- in either retail or foodservice, with crappy hours and crappy pay. But I'm going back to school. And when I'm done with school, I won't have to sit behind a desk and answer the phone. I may never have to create another spreadsheet (unless I just want to; I do love the spreadsheets). I won't have to stand behind a cash register all day or pour a cup of coffee for anyone who isn't me.

It's going to be a long few years. I'll probably see my little boy only on the weekends, and my husband may be in bed already by the time I get home in the evenings. But then, he may be writing. He may be playing music. He may be doing any number of things he's been wanting to do all this time that he hasn't done because I've been sitting there across from him with a drink in one hand and a lack of motivation in the other. It won't be easy, and it won't be comfortable, but I've got to grow a pair and risk being uncomfortable to get what I know I want, what I know I need, what I know will make things better for all of us in the long run.

I'm going to ring in the big three-oh in February and say goodbye to fear and letting my life happen without me. My kid deserves to grow up seeing his mom take risks to get what she wants; otherwise, he'll grow up the way I did: afraid to decide, afraid to risk, afraid to try.

What's happened -- in a word (a family-friendly, radio-edit word that egregiously understates the circumstance) -- stinks. But for me, it's an opportunity. In Fight Club, Tyler Durden says, "The things you own end up owning you." And having spent years working in an industry based entirely on conspicuous consumption, it's hard to look at life that way. But now is the time for me. Own less, live more, be fearless.

This song has been on endless loop in my car, my apartment, my iTunes for the past three days, and it's been an inspiration, so I'll share it with you. Ladies and Gentlemen, Bruce Springsteen.

Template Tweaks

Hello and welcome, fellow former co-employees! Liz McKennedy here, formerly of Cabinetcraft Charlotte.

I'll be doing a little template-tweaking over the weekend, so bear with me if you visit and find that everything looks wonky. I hope to have us looking pretty by this evening.

Emotional Impact of Unemployment

Note from Elizabeth before the tips begin: I worked in the oilfield in the 80's when it tanked, in the IT staffing industry when the Dot.com bubble burst and now I can add Residential Homebuilding to the list. I have been laid off multiple times and now permit myself 48 hours to simply collapse. Once the 48 hours is up it is time for me to get moving. You are bright, motivated and have tons of contacts. Use the tips in the list and approach the job search like you would your job. Set your goal, break it down into action items and start checking them off.

Newton's First Law of Motion: The first law: Unless acted upon by an outside force, a body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion

Does this guy look familiar??

Article: When you lose your job, not only is your usual source of income gone, but also your personal work relationships, daily structures, and an important sense of self-purpose. Unemployment can be, and often is, a shock to your whole system. You can experience some of the same feelings and stresses that you would if you were seriously injured, going through a divorce, or mourning the loss of a loved one. You can go through some or all of the stages of grieving just as you would with any other major loss.

You will probably feel as if you are on an emotional roller-coaster. You may be shocked, angry, or deny that anything bad has happened to you. You will probably worry or feel anxious about how you are going to pay the bills. This can also make you feel frustrated and depressed. Feelings of frustration, anger, hope and excitement will all come and go while you are looking for a new job. The roller-coaster ride can often keep going until you find a new job.

Why you?
Your job is a very important part of your self-esteem. When you lose your job, your self-esteem may be diminished. You may even begin to feel worthless; it is a common response.
Try to be realistic about why you lost your job. Was it something beyond your control, such as financial problems or political decisions within the company?

What about money?
You have a right to claim unemployment or welfare benefits that you are entitled to, and you should do it as soon as you possibly can. There is nothing wrong about doing so.
At the same time, start thinking about how to reduce your regular living expenses. Find out about sources of low-cost entertainment, recreation, food and clothing in your community. If you have a family, everyone will need to be involved in making plans to cope with a reduced income.

Create a new daily routine
A job forms a large part of your daily schedule. When you lose your job, it is important for you to build and maintain a new routine. Your search for a new job will, no doubt, take a large part of your new schedule, but it will likely not take up all your time. Remember to maintain recreation and leisure time for yourself. Try to live as normally as you can while you are unemployed.
Reach out for support

We all need to share our burdens. When we do, problems can be put into a better perspective and can seem less difficult. Talk to your family and friends about the problems you are facing while you are unemployed. Their caring and support can help you cope during this period. You will, no doubt, find they care about you and that you are important to them whether or not you have a job.

Remember, family and friends can also be a valuable source for suggestions and may even help you find a new job. In addition to family and friends, check out local organizations for programs designed to assist unemployed people with building their self-confidence and improving job search skills. Self-help groups may also be available in your area to help you cope with the changes in your life. If you feel your problems are too overwhelming, talk to your family doctor about seeing a mental health professional.

Coping strategies
To help you keep your stress level down, your confidence up, and your health and relationships strong, you should develop some special strategies while you are unemployed, such as:
Establish a daily schedule including a regular time for job search activities.
Set daily goals that you know you can accomplish. Go for a walk, go to the library, call a friend.
Contact the local Department of Labor or other employment counseling service for information on programs in your community.

Use your networks. Tell everyone you know what kind of work you are looking for, and ask if they know of any jobs or any companies that employ people with your skills. Your friends, relatives and acquaintances may not think of mentioning contacts to you because they don't have a clear idea of what kind of work you are looking for. Remember, many people get their jobs through "word of mouth."

Read some books or take a workshop on stress management techniques. Everyone is under extra stress when unemployed, and you could save yourself and your family from additional emotional strain if you learn some effective stress management skills.
Volunteer to help someone else. Both of you will feel better.

Keep busy and stay active outside your home. Isolating yourself at home will not get you a new job and can lead to additional mental and emotional stress.

Reward yourself on a regular basis for your efforts.

Before you go to bed, prepare a written plan for the next day. It will give you a reason to get up in the morning.

Pursue the hobby you always wanted but never seemed to have time for.

Check into new career opportunities or the possibility of continuing your education.

Keep regular hours, and get regular exercise. Limit your intake of caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol. When you do get a job, you want to be in good shape for it.

From: http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=2-28-62

Coping with Unemployment

I am creating this blog in the hope that we, as a community of former John Wieland Company Members, can help support one another through the challenges of unemployment.

My vision for this site is a positive, future focused vision that does not dwell on the past or on bashing any person, place or thing. I believe we are best served with looking forward and sharing information. Topics that come to mind right away are:
1. Contacting your mortgage company or landlord right away to work out arrangements that allow you to stay solvent until you obtain employment.
2. Contacting other creditors to work out payment arrangements
3. Sharing Job Search resources around the metro area
4. Sharing counseling and other support resources
5. Addressing other needs as they may become necessary

I have spoken with other former company members and some current company members who have agreed to assist with this blog. This is truly a community effort and if each one, helps one you may be amazed at the results! To quote Zig Ziglar "“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want”.

I am meeting with an outplacement firm next week and they have agreed to provide me with a menu of items they offer to people on an individual basis. Their services can be pricey ranging from $1400 to $40,000. They have also referred me to some lower cost options. Simply posting the information does not meant that I recommend them simply that I am aware of them. If you use one of the sources please share your experience with the rest of us.

The more information we each contribute the more benefit we all receive. You are a group of terrific people and I have enjoyed working with every one of you!! I look forward to hearing from you on the blog.

Resume Assistance

An outplacement firm referred me to Randy Levy who will work with you on creating a resume for a flat $250 fee. As an HR professional I can assure that a well written, well organized resume can easily determine whether or not you make it through the initial screening process at any company. If others of you have similar resources to contribute, please add them. Providing this information is not a recommendation, similar sharing a resource.