Home Builder’s Hidden Time Bombs

October 17, 2008 9:28AM

By Elizabeth MacDonald

Housing starts in the US sank 6.3% in September to a seasonally adjusted rate of 817,000, the lowest level in 17 years. That's worse than economists had expected, with a consensus forecast of a 1.7% drop in home construction.

Moreover, economists expect further declines in the fourth quarter. Building permits, an indicator of future activity, fell 8.3% to a 786,000 annual rate.

The decline in housing starts–the third precipitous drop in a row–should help weed back existing housing inventories, however, all of this means the home builders remain under severe pressure. That includes Hovnanian (HOV: 4.88, -0.20, -3.93%), Centex Corp. (CTX: 10.85, -0.42, -3.72%), D.R. Horton (DHI: 6.78, -0.42, -5.83%), Lennar Corp. (LEN: 9.01, -0.65, -6.72%), Toll Brothers (TOL: 20.57, -0.93, -4.32%) and Pulte Homes (PHM: 10.55, -0.76, -6.71%).

More so as U.S.-regulated banks are rapidly getting out of home building. "This is, by far, the toughest time for home builders since World War II," said James Hamilton, an economics professor with UC San Diego. "It's really a phenomenal collapse in the market these past two years."

On top of all this, Standard & Poors lowered its credit ratings on seven homebuilders in the last three months, and had cut 11 in the preceding quarter. Large homebuilders–like D.R. Horton, Lennar Corp. and Pulte Homes-are working furiously to cut back production to levels last seen in 2000 and 2001, while others have retreated as far as 1994.

Supply Glut Socks the Home Builders

The National Association of Realtors says that inventories are at a supply of 10.4 months, the highest level in 18 years. The US Census Bureau releases new home sale and supply data, with data dating back to 1963. As of August 2008, there was 10.9 months of supply, down slightly from the peak of 11.2 months seen in March of this year. August marked the sixth consecutive month of double digit months of inventory, a trend that has never happened dating back to 1963.

Previous highs of 11.6 months of supply were made in April 1980, with a few other months of double-digit supply in 1981. In short, the current levels of inventory are unprecedented, warns Meredith Whitney of Oppenheimer Equity Research.

To wipe out the supply glut in housing, builders will have to pump out just 800,000 houses annually for two years, Merrill Lynch says. That's about half of the going rate up until recently.

House Price Declines Hurt

Housing futures imply a housing price peak-to-trough drop of 22% by November 2008, a drop of 29% by November 2009, and a drop of 33% by 2010. Under this scenario home prices would return to levels last seen about eight years ago, essentially wiping out nearly a decades' worth of home price appreciation.

Home Builders' Ugly Debt Picture

The average leverage of investment grade home builders, as measured by debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, could grow to four times in late 2007, from a current average of 1.8 times.

Moody's Investors Service has already reported that a worse-than-expected housing slump has left home builders with less cash flow to cover debt interest, and some ratings could be cut if that trend continues.  

Cash flow is the key to reducing debt and interest expense, but companies have had a harder time boosting cash flow than in previous downturns, Moody's said.

Home Builders' Hidden Time Bombs

There are hidden time bombs on the home builders' balance sheets–off balance sheet debt, which could keep the home building sector dark for a while longer.

Specifically, many home builders entered into land deals with partners, but then shoved billions of dollars in debt from those deals into off-balance sheet vehicles, debt that could come back to bite their stocks.

Put that debt back onto their balance sheets, already underwater with an ocean liner of debt, and the companies' dirt-cheap book values fall deeper in the hole.

Here's how it works. Many large builders took minority stakes in joint ventures, which let them stockpile land for future needs while keeping billions in debt off their balance sheets. If they don't make sales, if they can't move that land, they're still very likely on the hook for their share of that off-balance sheet debt.

Alisa Guyer Galperin, an analyst at the Center for Financial Research & Analysis, figures that 13 of the country's biggest homebuilders on average have debt to capital ratios that look way uglier with this off balance sheet debt factored in, as much as 977 basis points higher than typically reported.

Why Debt Ratios Matter

This is why investors should care about higher debt to capital ratios. A company with high debt-to-capital ratios faces higher costs, like interest, on these debts that can suck free cash flow out of a company, cash that could go toward expanding an operation (yes taking on debt can also help pay to grow a company, but at a big cost-especially if management is poor).

High debt can weigh on a company and increase its default risk.

The Center for Financial Research & Analysis figures that Lennar, one of the country's biggest home builders out of Miami, Fla, and NVR, a homebuilder in Reston, Va., have the most off-balance sheet debt. The Center also adds that NVR in each of the last three years bought developed lots from a company controlled by a board member-did it get a fair price for shareholders?

Homebuilders may be held responsible for their share of joint venture debt guarantees, based on their pro rata share of the joint venture or the JV's specific recourse agreements. The accounting rules are really loose here-the homebuilders themselves get to decide whether or not they are the prime beneficiaries of an off balance sheet deal, and so whether they need to book the debt on their balance sheets.

The Center's Guyer Galperin has estimated that Lennar is on the hook for up to $910 mn of $5.6 bn in debt through partnerships not on its books. Lennar and other home builders are already fighting with lenders that are stamping their feet to force it pay off its share of their partnerships' total outstanding debt.

And Deutsche Bank has already sued Technical Olympic USA, alleging the Florida builder is in "multiple potential defaults" on $675 million in debt owed by several failed joint venture partnerships. Lennar says it's protected from any problems because it's hooked up with solid institutional investors like the pension fund CalPERS and has set up deals to ensure it isn't liable for partners.

http://emac.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2008/10/17/home-builders-hidden-time-bombs/

St. Ann’s Catholic Church offers: Career Quest

Career Quest, the oldest active and most experienced job network in Atlanta is staffed by heads of local businesses, division heads of major
corporations and other self starters. Direction and detailed descriptions of our workshops and Bios of our facilitators are available on our web site:

Call 770-552-6400 ext. 6104 for more information.

OUR SCHEDULE:

* Every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm we hold two events that run concurrently:

* Group Networking: self driven, an open forum dedicated to networking with other job seekers
* Resume Reviews: One-on-one time is available with experienced volunteers
* 7:55pm the Workshop Session: Begins & runs to approximately 10pm these are self-help workshops designed to provide job seekers with the basic tools to locate jobs and have an edge when applying for jobs

WORKSHOP for 10/21/08: "Starting a Job Search"

The session provides job seekers with much more than just an introduction to what proven techniques follow in the rest of this dynamic approach to re-entering the new workplace, but also how one can make a successful career transition. This initial session also provides the following for each participant that actively engages the process:
- The understanding that they are not alone deals with job seekers feelings
- Offers an overview of critical web-sites and support services for job seekers
- Highlights of each job search tool offered with take-aways! A job-seeker marketing plan for each participant
- Strategies for each job seeker to create a career development plan

Presented by Susan Nofi a Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel, for the world's leading industry provider of print media in 170 countries. Susan has over 20 years of experience. She created a focus on strategic and organizational management, particularly in salary
administration, performance management, and training

WORKSHOPS for the remainder of OCTOBER:

10/28/2008 "D.I.S.C.: a Human Behavior Model" presented by Ernie Pollitzer

St. Ann's is located on 4905 Roswell Road/ 120, (at the intersection of Bishop Lake and Roswell Rd./Rt.120) Marietta Ga. 30062. Everyone is
welcome. There is no charge and dress is casual. Drive around the back of the Church and park near the swing set and enter the building through the
door under the drive-thru overhang; our room is on your right. Call 770-552-6400 ext. 6104 for more information.

Resources to help you Survive a Layoff

You may click on the picture above to enlarge the information. All the information above is listed under the Georgia Department of Labor under "Surviving a layoff". The link is: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/survive_layoff.htm

And there are live links to each resource listed above on the webpage.

Unemployment highlights need for community, family networks

CLARKONOMICS: Clark wants to issue a special challenge to churches and other religious organizations ahead of what is likely to be a trend of rising unemployment. At just a little over 6%, unemployment remains low today compared to historical numbers. But odds are fairly good that we may see it rise to between 8.5% or 9%.

Some places like Michigan and Rhode Island may be there already, with California following closely behind. In the past, churches, synagogues and other religious institutions have offered people a place to network during times of high unemployment. In Clark's estimation, the Internet and its networking forums just don't have the same touch as a brick-and-mortar building where you can go to share bumps in the road with others seeking work.

So our nation's religious institutions should look to fill that role again. There's also going to be a great need for counseling. People are more likely to hurt themselves during times of higher unemployment. They may feel a lowered sense of self-esteem; we perceive our value as being based on what vocation we have. It may not be true, but it is how we feel in America.

If you are facing unemployment, realize that it probably stems from larger economic tides and it is not a reflection of you.

Likewise, if you know a friend or family member facing unemployment, reach out to them regularly. Some people may need financial help. The big houses we Americans have can be put to good use if a loved one is evicted or foreclosed upon and needs a place to stay. We tend to look to government to take care of us, but the state can't do what we can do as a family.

Having said all that, Clark wants to emphasize that we are not headed toward a wave of mass unemployment in the 20% range that would suggest a depression.
From Clark Howard on October 20, 2008: http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/index.html

Webinar – How to find a job on the Interne

This webinar will take place on November 1, 2008 @11:00am. It is free but you must register.

I cannot preview the material so I cannot provide a true "reference " for it. If you watch it and have any questions about the validity of the information or processes discussed, please let me know.

http://howtofindajobontheinternet.eventbrite.com/

Excerpt from Registration page:

Even though times are tough, it is not impossible to find work to support yourself and your family. I remember the last recession of 2002 when I had bills to pay, mouths to feed and no interviews pending. How is that for irony - a Recruiter looking for work?

Like every other job seeker, I placed my resume on Monster, scanned the newspaper and asked people if they knew of any openings. In other words, I was doing what everyone else was doing, at the same time, but for some reason I was expecting different results. Two weeks into my job search I decided to do something different and today I am still reaping the rewards from my efforts back in 2002.

In my free webinar, "Confessions of a Job Search Strategist" you will learn the following:

• Where does your resume really go? (The Blackhole Explained)
  
• Why Job Boards don't matter (and why they do)
  
• How to use Google to discover jobs that most people will never see
  
• How to get Recruiters to chase after you
  

The class is 1-hour to include a Question and Answer session.

Notes will be made available for downloading after the session.

Just Because

This stuff is just because I feel like posting it J

Motorcycle weather for months – one of the benefits of living in Atlanta

Here is the GA Full Throttle Calendar: http://www.gafullthrottle.com/archives/oct08/cruisincal.htm#october

Don't miss "Wheels Through Time" near Maggie Valley, North Carolina if you like bikes: http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/

Marion and I rode to Gatlinburg, visited Maggie Valley and rode the "Tail of the Dragon", a road consisting of 318 curves in 11 miles. The driver pointed out this particular ride is a LOT more fun for the passenger (me) than the driver: The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, with 318 curves in 11 miles, is America's number one motorcycle and sports car road. The nearby Cherohala Skyway is quickly becoming number two with its remote 60 miles of scenic mountain highway. http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

For those of you who know my darling daughter, she graduates from college in December – Oh Happy Day! I can finally exhale a little.

I hope everyone is doing well. I would love to hear from you anytime you have time to write. For those of you who are or will be looking for a job – Good Luck! I hope you find the opportunity you want. 8

Talk about a challenge

The Wizard of Oz characters sculpted in the eye of a needle. http://www.willard-wigan.com/
Check out Willard Wigan's art before you decide you just cannot do something J.

Implode a Meter

It is not like you do not already know

http://builder-implode.com/

Part-time and Home based employment for Professionals

The link for Mom Corps is also posted on the right hand side of the Blog under Job Search Resources.

http://www.momcorps.com/about_us/

An Industry-First Business Model for Flexible Employment

Mom Corps is the expert in the flexible employment market. Our mission is two-fold:

We provide companies direct access to a previously untapped market segment of exceptional talent - professionals who have opted out of the traditional workplace.

We enable professionals to work in their respective fields, while simultaneously meeting familial needs and responsibilities.

We execute this mission through the following services:

Staffing Services (Contingent, Project, Permanent)

Online Job Posting Board

Events and Conferences (Coffee Clubs, Own Your Life Annual Conference)

Expert Services for Candidates (Expert Resumes, Expert Coaching, Expert Training)

Corporate Consulting

Interview Preparation

Do Your Homework Before the Big Interview

by John Rossheim
Monster Senior Contributing Writer

• http://career-advice.monster.com/interview-preparation/Do-Your-Homework-Before-the-Big-Int/home.aspx
  

Once upon a time, a job seeker landed an interview, skimmed the prospective employer's annual report, wowed the hiring manager with a few company facts and strolled into his dream job.

That late-'90s fairy tale rarely comes true these days. With employers in more control of the labor market, candidates feel compelled to give it their all when preparing for interviews. And that includes mounting a broad, deep search for relevant information about the position, the company, the industry and even the interviewer.

Luckily for you, diverse resources, many of them free or cheap and available on the Internet, enable you to achieve that competitive edge if you're willing to put your nose to the grindstone -- or computer monitor.

Employers' Web Sites

Your prospective employer's corporate Web site is the best place to see the company as it wants to be seen. Do check out that annual report, but also look for a "press room" or "company news" page that links to recent news releases. As you mull all this information, consider how the open position, as detailed in the job posting, relates to the company's mission.

But don't stop there. Use the company site's search facility to query the names of the hiring manager and any others on your interview dance card. You may retrieve bio pages or press releases that give you insight into their most visible activities at the company. "Learning about the interviewer is probably the most valuable thing you can do," says Ron Fry, author of 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions.

Research Employers

Next, get some vital statistics and independent perspectives on your prospective employer. Hoover's Online, for one, provides capsule descriptions, financial data and a list of competitors for thousands of large corporations.

Your 401k or mutual fund account with a major broker likely provides more detailed research on publicly traded companies and industries, free of charge. "You may be able to go to competitors for the prospective employer's financials," says Joyce Lain Kennedy, Los Angeles Times career columnist and author of Job Interviews for Dummies.

News Sources

Now broaden your perspective and see what general-interest and business publications and Web sites are writing about the employer and its industry. You can find a wide range of media outlets at NewsLink, notes Kennedy. Search national publications for news on major corporations; use hometown newspapers to learn about small businesses and how big businesses interact with their local communities. Refdesk and bizjournals.com also offer gateways to journalism on companies and industries.

Trade Journals

Taking cues from your research so far, drill down into your target company and its place in the industry by looking at trade journals and other specialized publications. "Get a few months of the relevant trade journal," advises Fry. "You're going to find out about new products and what the trade is saying about the company."

You may find hard copies of trade journals at university or public libraries. Some journals are available for free or by subscription through their own Web sites; the full text of thousands more is available through periodical databases like ProQuest and InfoTrac. You may even be able to access InfoTrac for free via the Web, using just the membership number on your public library card. Contact your local library for details.

Industry Directories

By now, you've probably got some very specific questions regarding the employer and your potential role there. Go directly to the grapevine by making contact with other workers at your target company or elsewhere in the industry. "If you belong to a professional organization, go to its directory," says Marilyn Pincus, author of Interview Strategies that Lead to Job Offers. If you don't belong, consider joining; check out the American Society of Association Executives' Gateway to Associations Directory.

Of course, you can also use networking services to get in touch with people inside the company.

Google

Finally, if you hope to have a company ogling you, try Googling them first. You just might come up with a nugget you would have missed otherwise.

While you're at it, Google yourself to make sure you and the interviewer are on the same page. Because if he's savvy, he's doing unto you as you've just done unto him and his company.

Evaluating niche job boards

If you are looking for online resources for a specific skill set, Alexa.com might be helpful.

You can use their directory/business/employment and select a professional or skill area for a list of job boards and their rankings. This will help you determine what kind of traffic a site actually attracts. Obviously,the more traffic a site attracts, the better the chance you may find an opportunity or an employer might find your resume.

http://www.alexa.com/browse?CategoryID=1

Early Voting Information for GA

If you are interested in voting early, the following link will take you to the Secretary of State page for information:

http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/advanced_voting.htm

Hello after a break

I have not posted in a while as I have been busy. Sitting watching the coverage of Hurricane Ike I feel so blessed to be home and safe. I lived in New Orleans for five, pretty quiet, hurricane years but still remember what a strong rain storm could do to the area. My ex-husband worked out of Houma for a while and I hear the levees have been breached there.

I hope all of you are home, safe, and counting your blessings. I know layoffs have continued at JWH&N and feel for all of you who have lost jobs or fear the loss of a job. Wish everyone the best. Enjoyed working with all of you.

General Interest to Homebuilding Community

List of Imploded Builders and builders to watch:

http://builder-implode.com/#tiny

Purchasing and Facilities Manger Opening

Purchasing and Facilities Manager position - Atlanta GA

The position is a Purchasing and Facilities manager in our Atlanta Ga. We are looking for someone with at least 3 year of experience in purchasing,procurement, or vendor management. They will need to have strong negotiation skills in a fast paced environment. I have attached the job description below.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Purchasing & Facilities Manager
REPORTS TO: Director of Procurement & Facilities
POSITION SUMMARY: Negotiate and administer vendor contracts, agreements and purchase orders.Develop and maintain the Vendor Management Program (including gathering critical supplier information and maintaining data spreadsheet and files for audit). Maintain Great Plains purchasing system and processes, including receiving and logistics. Manage the effectiveness and efficiency of the Office(s) work environment.
PERFORMS A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENTALGUIDELINES:
1. Negotiate, administer, and maintain vendor contracts, agreements,and purchase orders. Leverage national account supplier agreements companywide to maximize cost savings and overall value (costs, service,quality) for areas inclusive of, but not limited to computer hardware,software, peripherals, and maintenance agreements; telecom hardware and services; Security systems and low voltage; travel program; leasehold improvements; office supplies, equipment, and furniture; printed forms, stationery, and business cards; marketing agreements; vending and break-room supplies; and any other requested areas of need.
2. Manage the purchase order process in Pivotal in an accurate, timely and efficient manner as required.
3. Manage the effectiveness and efficiency of the Office(s) work environment, including the Reception, Mailroom, and all common areas.
4. Manage relationship with building Property Management according to the real estate lease (utility invoices), facility and employee needs and requirements.
5. Develop and maintain the Vendor Management Program, including gathering critical supplier information and maintaining data spreadsheet and files for audit.
6. Develop and maintain information regarding Supplier Diversity, Buy American Act, and any other Government Contract requirements. Distribute reports and information as required.
7. Maintain Great Plains purchasing system and processes, including shipping logistics, receiving and matching of purchase orders.
8. Manages the implementation, maintenance, and administration of purchasing policies and procedures.
9. Develops and maintains purchasing reports for management perusal.
10. Provides excellent communication, as well as efficient and polite customer service to all SecureWorks, and affiliate personnel and associates.Communicates and maintains knowledge of product pricing and delivery times regarding goods and services.
11. Completes other required tasks and special projects accurately and on-time as needed.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Perform other essential duties as assigned KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
1. Experience required in negotiation and execution of national agreements.
2. Excellent verbal and written communications skills with the ability to converse with all levels within the organization
3. Extremely organized and detail-oriented.
4. Self-directed, self-motivated and capable of working with little direction
5. Excellent prioritizing skills, the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, as well as problem solving skills and the use of initiative to finalize tasks.
6. Computer literate, especially in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio and the Great Plains financial system.
7. Multi-tasking and project management capabilities are essential.
8. Ability to recognize and support the organization's preferences and priorities.
9. Results and people oriented with sound judgment and the ability to balance other business considerations.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
1. Bachelor's Degree preferred
2. Preferred five years of experience within management & purchasing agent or buyer role
3. Preferred IT Industry experience
4. Proficient in Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, & VISIO)
5. Experience in working with Financial systems such as Great Plains,SAP, or Peoplesoft

One of the many advantages of working at SecureWorks is the exceptional benefit program which includes: medical, dental, vision, 401K with company contributions, flexible spending accounts, sick and disability benefits,life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). SecureWorks is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse work culture, M/F/D/V.Listed duties, responsibilities, requirements and functions are not meant tobe all inclusive. Please forward candidates and leads to Leslie Humphries Thanks and Make it a Fantastic day! Leslie Leslie Humphries Human Resources Manager - Generalist & Recruiting SecureWorks 404.638.0632 office 404-327-8835 - fax

Accounting Job Posting

If youknow of some one that may be interested they should contact Nancy Blythe our Director of Human Resources or myself.

Dianna MillerWalton Communities, LLC
2181 Newmarket Parkway
Marietta, GA 30067
678 303-4133
678 303-4134 Fax


Walton Communities, LLC
JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Property Accountant

Reports to: Debbie Larsen, Controller

Job Location: Community Support Office - CSO

Job Grade: TBD

Job Summary:
Provide support services to the Controller by auditing/managing the integrity of the financial data generated at the properties. Ensure the timely reporting of financial information by managing critical accounting dates and training property staff on key accounting functions.

Reporting Relationship:
The Property Accountant reports to the Controller and will have regular interaction with the Property Managers.

Duties/Responsibilities:

I. Accounts Payable:
· Process for payment & file all invoices for all Properties
· Process Monthly Escrow Payments, utility transfers, miscellaneous deposits originated for the properties at CSO and record journal entries
· Process all Sinking Fund Payments from schedules monthly
· Receive all NSF Checks from the bank, record and report to the proper property for collection and processing.
· Prepare Cash Report weekly for all Properties.
· Prepare Owner Distribution Checks by end of each month.

II. Property Lease Audit/Aged Receivable Audits:
· Make sure all leases are received on move-ins for each Property from the weekly activity report.
· Audit all Leases to make sure that information has been accurately entered into Yardi. Audit would include verification of:
o Dates
o Security Deposits
o Washer/Dryer
o Storage
o Garages
o Pets, etc.
o Move-in prorations
· Audit the Aged Receivable Report weekly to ensure that prepayments are being applied to open charges and that we are receiving timely payments from our subsidies.
· Proactively provide training to property staff in problem areas identified during the audit process



III. Walton Communities/Owners Associations/Misc Partnerships:
· Process invoices for payment and file all checks
· Handle corporate VISA reconciliation
· Track intercompany receivables to ensure that Walton is property reimbursed
· Track predevelopment costs for new projects to ensure that Walton is reimbursed at closings
· Prepare annual budgets and bill appropriate parties

IV. Other Responsibilities:
· Bank Reconciliations
· Utility transfers for One Point
· Assist with updating Accounting Procedure Manuals
· Maintain General Liability/Workers Comp certificates for annual audit
· Prepare annual business license renewals
· Maintain property tax schedules to be used for potential appeals
· Other projects as assigned


Personal Competencies:

Education & Certifications:
· Accounting degree preferred
· 2 years minimum accounting experience

Experience:
· Proficient in Excel/Outlook required
Property Management experience a plus
Yardi experience a plus

Core Competencies:
Team Player
Detail Oriented
Deadline Driven
Takes Initiative
Oral and Written Communication

Job Posting for an Estimator

Georgia State University, located in Downtown Atlanta, GA is seeking a Construction Estimator (Vacancy #0600499) who will perform construction estimating work involved in large scale projects ranging from half a million and above. This position relies greatly on professionalism, both in the actual estimating and in the everyday dealing with clients, and outside contractors. Will accurately forecast the scope, cost and duration of construction projects, develop the cost information for the management and continuously monitor the projects and track actual costs relative to bid specifications as the project develops.Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in the field of Construction Management, Construction Science, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field and 5 years experience in commercial/institutional construction estimating field. A combination of work experience, including training and education, may be substituted for degree. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with hardline competitive public and private bids. Proficient in word processing and spreadsheet program. Must be able to coordinate several projects simultaneously and able to prioritize workload to meet deadlines. Must be familiar with project scheduling software package such as Microsoft Project or Suretrace(Primevara). Effective communication skills both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and contractors. Effective analytical and problem solving skills, attention to detail. $51,658.00 to $78,603.00If you meet these skills, please immediately go to https://jobs.gsu.edu and enter Vacancy #0600499, to apply.For an overview of the Benefits of working here at GSU, please feel free to click on the link below:http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwhre/benefits/index.htm

Many thanks to Sheronda Rankin for passing this along!

Basic Assessments available at Careerbuilder

These are very basic and may be helpful to some of you. More detailed assessments are frequently available, for a reasonable fee, through local colleges or technical schools.

http://www.careerpath.com/careerassessmentquiz/careertestingcenter.aspx

Internet Job Search Tips and Resume Review

Sorry for the late notice on this one, I just got it:
Tues, March 11th - Special Dual Workshop "Internet as a job search tool

Please pass our March 11 schedule, which includes a special dual workshop tolocal job seekers.Career Quest, the oldest active and most experienced job network in Atlantais staffed by heads of local businesses, division heads of majorcorporations and other self starters. We offer self-help workshops designedto provide job seekers with the basic tools to locate jobs and have an edgewhen applying for jobs. Time is also available for networking with other jobseekers. Direction and detailed descriptions of our workshops and Bios ofour facilitators are available on our web site:<http://www.st-ann.org/career_quest.php>

CURRENT SCHEDULE: (all sessions are on Tuesday evenings starting at 7:45PM, no one is allowed into the building until 7:30 PM)March 11, 2008 Internet as a job search tool, or advancedinterviewing including roll playingLed by: Barb Pisano and Phil VerstraeteBarb is top notch Project Manage well versed in all aspects of the internetand its use as a networking tool. Phil is the Southern Region Retail Sales Manager for Fitness Resource, oneof the world's largest dealers of high quality exercise equipment. He hasbeen in management for over twenty years, holding a variety of positionsincluding business owner. Phil's areas of expertise include staffmotivation and training, sales productivity and the hiring process. Phil is a published author in the fields of exercise, sales training and employeemotivation

One-on-one resume reviews are available every Tuesday with experienced Human Resource executives from major local companies. Our resume review and mentoring team is led by John Marotto, former VP of HR for the MarriottInternational hotel chain. St. Ann's is located on 4905 Roswell Road/ 120, (at the intersection ofBishop Lake and Roswell Rd./Rt.120) Marietta Ga. 30062. EVERYONE is welcome. There is no charge and dress is casual. Drive around the back ofthe Church and park near the swing set and enter the building through thedoor under the overhang; our room is on your right. Call 770-552-6400 ext.6104 for more information.

Scream Free Parenting Seminar

The seminar is being offered at our Church this Saturday for $10/adult. Looks excellent! There are support groups that meet for several weeks afterward. Childcare and refreshments are free.

Please contact North Atlanta Church of Christ for more information.

http://www.screamfree.com/media_events/calendar.php?op=viewevent&event_id=327

Get A Job - Video from Fox

If you cannot use the link, the video is posted with the Fox Network video section, entitled "Get a Job", How to beat unemployment as employers slash jobs by Michael Irwin with Careerbuilder:

Inexpensive Entertainment

Try this at home and see how it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOCYhMh490

Mobilizing an Unplanned Job Search

From the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120430513855303309.html?mod=CarJMain_middledeco

Mobilizing an Unplanned Job Search

First, don't panic. When you're faced with the prospect of an unexpected job search, you'll need to act deliberately -- not just fast.
By TODDI GUTNER Special to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Ramping up to land a new job quickly after a layoff, a downsizing, or company relocation takes thoughtful planning despite the urgency of the task. More professional and middle managers have been laid off since March 2007 than in the previous three years, according to Right Management, an outplacement and career transition consulting firm. "The trick to a successful transition is not to panic," says Doug Matthews, President and CEO of Right Management. "You don't want to hit the market in a chaotic fashion," he says.

Take stock of your finances. Identify and prioritize your bills and debt. An immediate need for cash flow may require you to take a temporary assignment. "It can give you a sense of productivity and give you some good experience," says Mr. Matthews who notes that the number of people taking temp work has risen 10% in the last two years.

Create a planned job search strategy. Despite the need to mobilize a quick job search "you don't want to send out a bunch of things into the marketplace without any thought behind it," says Mr. Matthews. Take some time to step back and create a thoughtful and measured approach to your job hunt. Be specific about the position you want and target the companies where you want to work.

If there is an onslaught of professionals in your field who are flooding the market, think creatively about where to apply for your next position -- consider a smaller company or another industry that may need your skills.

Determine your market worth. Conduct research with several executive recruiters, career coaches and others in similar positions to the one you're seeking to determine what salary and benefits you can request. If you happen to be in an industry that is in general contraction, make a checklist of your skills and identify those that are transferable to other industries that are in a growth mode.

Practice your pitch. No matter how quickly you need to land a job, make sure you take at least 72 hours to process your emotional reaction to job loss. You don't want to jump in immediately, but rather practice your pitch until it is devoid of as much anxiety and negative emotion as possible. Try it on friends or family, then a trusted colleague or mentor. A successful job search is partly about how you present yourself. "You've got to be out there telling people about yourself," says John A. Challenge, president of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas.

Polish and post your resume. A resume is your window and calling card to the world of work. Make sure it highlights the position you want, your key accomplishments and measurable results of those accomplishments. Post your resume on the Internet at general and industry specific job boards as well as social networking sites like LinkedIn. Make sure it gets in the hands of executive recruiters as well. "You don't want to leave any stone unturned," says Mr. Challenger.

Network, network, network. An estimated 42% of people found their job through a networking contact, according to a Right Management survey. To that end, make a list of contacts from your college or university and former companies, to charities and volunteer organizations. Reach out and tell them what kind of position you would like, but "never ask anyone for a job," says Mr. Matthews. "Instead ask them for information and referrals." Find a contact who can introduce you to a decision maker at companies where you want to work. And take heart, nearly two-thirds of the 21,000 professionals that Right Management serves annually end up finding a job within 90 days.

MORE 90 DAYS

• 90 Days: Planning a Move to Your Second Job
• 90 Days: Finesse a Flexible Work Schedule
• 90 Days: You're the New Boss, Now What?
• 90 Days: What to Do After a Layoff
• 90 Days: Make the Most of a Promotion

Faith Based Encouragement

The North Atlanta Church of Christ, located in Dunwoody, has a job search support group that is open to all and meets at 10:30 every third Sunday in a theatre area attached to the church building. The support group this coming week will be addressing "Networking" and I would love to see some of you there!! http://www.nacofc.org/index.shtml

In addition to the support group, which meets again next Sunday, March 16. I have attached some links to sermons that might be of particular interest depending on the issues with which you may be struggling.

One of these "Oh the places you go" is taught by Major Boglin (Major L. Boglin, Ph.D, LMFT Executive Director Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
and addresses how God takes us through difficult situations to learn and develop our character. It is one of my favorites when I decide that life, at any given time, is just too darn hard: http://69.15.236.170/past_sermons/2007_10_07/2007_10_07.htm then select "Oh, the places you'll go".

Today's sermon was another good one for those of us rebuilding and I will post the link once I have it. Hope you all have a lovely day and a terrific week.

Department of Labor

This is a link to their page on surviving a layoff:

http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/survive_layoff.htm

There are resources available through the DOL but you will have to take the initiative to find them and use them. Dealing with our government is not for the faint hearted, keep the poster below in mind!!

Resume writing

I do not have any personal experience with this group but several people have asked for potential resources. In addition to this group, there is information pertaining to DBM in the archived older posts, links to those are posted at the bottom of the page.

http://bridgecareermanagement.com/

I have no idea what the fees may be. If you use this group, please let me know whether you have a positive experience so I will know how to advise others.

Work at home

Information from Clark Howard:

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/workathome_help.html

Evaluating an Offer

Don't turn down the new job before asking these questions

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/business_resources/hr_careers/business_advice/at_work/2008/03/03/column305.html

Atlanta Business Chronicle

This is an excerpt from a 2007 posting in the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

18) John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods Inc.
Revenue -- $753 million, down 4.3%
After experiencing a 4.19 percent increase in revenue in 2005, John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods Inc. had a 4.27 percent decrease in its 2006 revenue, dropping from $787 million in 2005 to $753 million. The company fell from No. 13 to No. 18 on Atlanta Business Chronicle's Atlanta's Top 100 Private Companies list.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2007/10/15/focus3.html?page=3

John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods employed somewhere around 1100 to 1200 employees when I was originally hired with the company in 2004. I wonder what the head count is at present. My best guess is that between the multiple layoffs and natural (probably at a recently escalated pace) attrition there has probably been an approximate 50% cut in employment.

If I am anywhere close there are a lot of us out here to help each other. I hope that you have and will continue to do so.

Wieland Falls Short on Pledge for Emory Ethics Center

John and Sue Wieland fall short on pledge to Emory
http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=25244


John and Sue original pledge to Emory University:
http://news.emory.edu/Releases/EthicsCenter1174483385.html

Careerbuilder

In addition to posting job openings Careerbuilder has additional information for job seekers. This is a link to their information on resumes and other job search information.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resources/CareerResources.aspx?sc_cmp2=JS_Nav_AdvRes

Job Opening

I have a friend on the southside, McDonough area, who is looking for an all around office person to assist with travel reservations, reconciling invoices, processing payments, dispatching trucks and a wide assortment of office responsibilities. The high end of the salary range is probably 35k. If this sounds like a position that would be of interest to you please contact me and I will be happy to forward your resume.

Very Basic FLSA Information

This is an excerpt from a government website that covers the "Administrative" Exemption for classifying employees as exempt from overtime pay. Micromanagement to such an extent that employees hold the title of "manager" but are not, in fact, allowed to function as such can destroy the administrative exemption.

Information below is an excerpt from:

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/opinion/FLSA/2005/2005_12_16_54_FLSA.htm

As for the administrative exemption under 29 C.F.R. § 541.200(a), “[t]he term ‘employee employed in a bona fide administrative capacity’ shall mean any employee: (1) Compensated on a salary or fee basis at a rate of not less than $455 per week…; (2) Whose primary duty is the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers; and (3) Whose primary duty includes the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.”

“The phrase ‘directly related to management or general business operations’ refers to the type of work performed by the employee. To meet this requirement, an employee must perform work directly related to assisting with the running or servicing of the business, as distinguished, for example, from working on a manufacturing production line or selling a product in a retail or service establishment.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.201(a). “Work directly related to management or general business operations includes, but is not limited to, work in functional areas such as tax; finance; accounting; budgeting; auditing; insurance; quality control; purchasing; procurement; advertising; marketing; research; safety and health; personnel management; human resources; employee benefits; labor relations; public relations; government relations; computer network, internet and database administration; legal and regulatory compliance; and similar activities.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.201(b). Additionally, “[a]n employee may qualify for the administrative exemption if the employee’s primary duty is the performance of work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer’s customers. Thus, for example, employees acting as advisers or consultants to their employer’s clients or customers (as tax experts or financial consultants, for example) may be exempt.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.201(c).

“To qualify for the administrative exemption, an employee’s primary duty must include the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance. In general, the exercise of discretion and independent judgment involves the comparison and the evaluation of possible courses of conduct, and acting or making a decision after the various possibilities have been considered. The term ‘matters of significance’ refers to the level of importance or consequence of the work performed.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.202(a).

“The phrase ‘discretion and independent judgment’ must be applied in the light of all the facts involved in the particular employment situation in which the question arises. Factors to consider when determining whether an employee exercises discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance include, but are not limited to:
1. whether the employee has authority to formulate, affect, interpret, or implement management policies or operating practices;
2. whether the employee carries out major assignments in conducting the operations of the business;
3. whether the employee performs work that affects business operations to a substantial degree, even if the employee’s assignments are related to operation of a particular segment of the business;
4. whether the employee has authority to commit the employer in matters that have significant financial impact;
5. whether the employee has authority to waive or deviate from established policies and procedures without prior approval;
6. whether the employee has authority to negotiate and bind the company on significant matters;
7. whether the employee provides consultation or expert advice to management;
8. whether the employee is involved in planning long- or short-term business objectives;
9. whether the employee investigates and resolves matters of significance on behalf of management;
10. whether the employee represents the company in handling complaints, arbitrating disputes or resolving grievances.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.202(b).

Federal courts generally find that employees who meet at least two or three of these factors mentioned above are exercising discretion and independent judgment, although a case-by-case analysis is required. See 69 Fed. Reg. at 22,143.

“The exercise of discretion and independent judgment must be more than the use of skill in applying well-established techniques, procedures or specific standards described in manuals or other sources.” 29 C.F.R. § 541.202(e). As the court noted in Clark v. J.M. Benson, 789 F.2d 282, 287 (4th Cir. 1986), it is not sufficient that an employee makes decisions regarding “when and where to do different tasks, as well as the manner in which to perform them.” Nor is it sufficient that an employee may make limited decisions within clearly “prescribed parameters.” Dalheim v. KDFW-TV, 706 F.Supp. 493, 509 (N.D.Tex. 1988), aff’d, 918 F.2d 1220 (5th Cir. 1990) Rather, there must be true discretion and independent judgment exercised on matters of significance or consequence related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers.

COMMUNITY

When I began this blog I envisioned a clearinghouse for information. I believed we could share networking opportunities, information on good recruiters, job opportunities, support groups and general information, like Tracy Lee Yates sharing the fact that job search expenses are tax deductible and providing internet resources for research.

When it became obvious that people were using the site as a source of information but not submitting information to post, I asked a former company member what I could do to make the site more interactive. The response was that people were embarrassed to be among those who had been laid off.

I am so sorry if any of you are internalizing responsibility for an industry that is experiencing difficulty on a nationwide basis. You must be quite powerful indeed if this nationwide situation is all your fault :). And let's face it, with each round of layoffs we approach the majority not the minority of Wieland employees!

This blog was created to be an interactive forum for former and current company members to share information. If you find someone who does an excellent job writing resumes let us know. If you find a recruiter who you would highly recommend, let us know. If you have information you would like for me to post, and wish to remain anonymous, you may email it to me under my profile information and I will post it for you.

I know that people are accessing the blog for information (and no, I can't identify individuals, but I can see the number of page hits), hope you find it helpful and know that it can be even more helpful if you are willing to share information with others in the same situation.

"Helping yourself and helping others is not mutually exclusive :). Success in life comes as we do something that is counter-intuitive to our nature. It is natural to take care of yourself, think of yourself and focus on your needs. Little children only think of themselves and how they can get what they want. As they grow older, they learn they are not the center of the universe and have to get along with others.

The amazing thing is that the way to get what we want is to do the exact opposite of what comes naturally. It is natural to think of yourself. Hey, after all we all live in our own heads and see the world from our own perspective.

The delightful paradox of life is that we gain more by giving to others more. Zig Ziglar said, "You can get anything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want." The Zig man was right on target with that!
http://www.bizjournals.com/extraedge/consultants/succeeding_today/2008/02/04/column503.html

This article on social networking has some interesting information for job seekers: http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/social-networks

Specifically:
Social networks were first researched in the
late 1940s. With the advent of the Internet, online communities and social networking websites, their significance has only increased. Any review hoping to be meaningful must begin with the normative contributions of the sociologist Mark Granovetter and the mathematician Linton C. Freeman who both wrote
influential articles well before the Internet was popularized.

Granovetter (1973) argued that within a social network, weak
ties are more powerful than strong ties. He explained that this was
because information was far more likely to be “diffused” through weaker ties. He concluded that weak ties are “indispensable to individuals’ opportunities and to their incorporation into communities while strong ties breed local cohesion.”

Granovetter’s doctoral thesis demonstrated that most people
landed jobs thanks to their weak ties and not their strong ones. It was the people that they did not know well, the ones with whom they did not have shared histories and did not see on a regular basis who were of most help. This is because people with strong ties generally share the same pieces of information and resources. Therefore they are of less help to one another.

If don't believe one piece of information or one contact can matter, then please take a look at this social networking diagram:

75 to 80% of all job seekers find a job through people they know

Using the Internet to conduct a Job Search and Resume Review

Mon, March 3 Job Network Meeting at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Crossroads Career Ministry will host our monthly Network Meeting, March 3, 2008 from 7-9 pm. (3rd floor Loft A)

Please make plans to attend this event if you are actively looking for a job or considering a job change. Come learn cutting edge tips and techniques from Buck Trayser, a leading expert on Using the Internet to conduct an effective Job search. There will be opportunities for networking--You don'twant to miss this meeting! Resume reviews by professional recruiters begin at 6:15pm, prior to the meeting-we hope to see you there! No RSVP needed. For more information on Crossroads offerings, please contact us at 770 565-0854, ext. 3015 or crossroads@jfbc.org

Thinking of you guys

I am so sorry to hear that there has been another round of layoffs at Wieland. I am thinking of all of you and know that you are probably struggling with stress and adjustment anxiety right this moment. I can promise you that things will get better. From talking with people who were let go in previous layoffs I hear that most are doing fine and pretty relieved that the "homebuilding crisis" is part of their past and not their future.

Your reactions will differ depending on how many layoffs/downsizings you have been through in your career. Overall going through the loss of a job is described as working through a grief process. This is certainly true for those of you who have invested many years in the company. Attending meetings of the jobs ministry at my church I heard a counselor say that " The size of the impact this event has on your life will be directly related to your perceptions of the size of the event". Basically, after the shock wears off, if you perceive it to be the end of the world it will have much greater impact on you than if you perceive it as a problem to be solved and go about solving it.

I have an excellent package of information from that particular workshop and will be happy to forward to anyone who emails me with a request. It is simply too large to post on the blog.

Those of us who have already gone through this are thinking of you and wish you all the best.

Please read back the older posts archived at the bottom of the blog. There is some good information re: an Outplacement firm, tax writeoffs for job seekers and Behavioral Interviewing. A lot of you will have to go through Behavioral Interview phone screens to get in the door for an interview and practicing through these questions will help.

Please contact me if I can be of any assistance. You are all bright, capable, motivated people and candidates like you are always in demand!! ALWAYS!

Avoid the Top Ten Resume Mistakes

Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes
By AllBusiness.com

Most employers are deluged with Resumes from eager job seekers. Some human resource managers have hundreds of them sitting on their desks on any given day. With competition this fierce, the key to effective resume writing means being certain that yours is free of the common errors that many employers complain that they see made over and over again.
A strongly written resume can be the difference between landing an interview and landing in the "no" pile. Here are 10 common pitfalls to avoid when preparing your resume:

1. No clear focus. Your resume should show a clear match between your skills and experience and the job's requirements. A general resume with no sharp focus is not seen as competitive. Why are you the best person for this particular position?
2. Dutifully dull. A solid resume is much more than a summary of your professional experience; it's a tool to market yourself. Avoid phrases like "responsibilities included" or "duties included." Your resume should not be a laundry list of your duties but rather an announcement of your major accomplishments.
3. Poorly organized. Information on a resume should be listed in order of importance to the reader. Don't ask employers to wade through your hobbies first. Dates of employment are not as important as job titles. Education should be emphasized if you are freshly out of school and have little work experience; otherwise, put it at the end. If your resume is difficult to read or key information is buried, it's more likely to be cast aside.
4. Too much emphasis on old jobs. Resumes that go too far back into the job seeker's work history can put that person at risk for possible age discrimination. Does anyone really need to read about your high school job bagging groceries, especially if that was 20 years ago? The rule of thumb for someone at a senior level is to list about the last 15 years worth of professional experience.
5. Important skills buried. Don't forget to bullet the important skills that make you a standout in your field. Your objective is to play up the value that you will bring to a prospective employer. Emphasize how and what you will add worth to the company, not the reason you want the job. Employers are looking for someone to enhance the organization, not their own resume.
6. Drab looking. Try to stay away from the cookie-cutter resume templates that employers see constantly. Show a little imagination when writing and designing your resume. . But don't overdo it. Overly artistic or tiny fonts are a no-no, since they're hard to read and don't scan or photocopy well.
7. Too personal. If your Web site includes photos of your cat or your personal blog about what you did over the weekend, don't steer prospective employers there by including it on your resume. Keep your personal and your professional life separate in order to be taken seriously.
8. One typo too many. Your resume is your one chance to make a first impression. A typo or misspelled word can lead an employer to believe that you would not be a careful, detail-oriented employee. Spell-check software is not enough, since sentences like "Thank you for your patients" would get the thumbs up. Ask several people to proofread your resume to be sure that it is free of typos and grammatical errors.
9. Stretches the truth. Everyone wants to present his or her work experience in the most attractive light, but information contained on your resume must be true and accurate. Whether you're simply inflating past accomplishments or coming up with complete fabrications, lying is simply a bad idea. Aside from any moral or ethical implications, chances are that you'll eventually get caught and lose all credibility.
10. Skips the extras. A common mistake is neglecting to mention any extra education, training, volunteer work, awards, or recognitions that might pertain to your particular job area or industry. Many employers view such "extracurricular activities" as testament to a well-rounded employee, so leverage such things as assets to distinguish your resume from the hordes of others out there.

Good News for remaining company members!

But a new promotion offering price discounts up to $100,000 and a lifetime
structural warranty on Wieland houses produced 89 sales for the company between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3, twice the number of homes the company sold in the same period last year, according to Wieland officials.

That provided a welcome cash infusion of $50 million for the homebuilder, which is currently marketing 30 communities with more than 400 unsold homes around the metro area. And the surge in cash flow has recharged Wieland's confidence that his company can withstand the anemic sales expected to continue through the rest of 2008, Wieland said.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/02/06/wieland_0207.html

IT, Estimator, CAD and Engineering jobs with Bechtel

http://careers.bechtel.com/

Two openings - Executive Assistant and Paralegal

1. High Level EA for a consulting firm-heavy Excel-PowerPoint and scheduling-GREAT ORGANIZATION-Midtown
2. Paralegal-great organization skills -team player-great attitude-International Company-Marietta

These positions are ready to interview today. Please ask any referrals to contact me ASAP!

Thanks so much,
http://www.ajilonoffice.com/

Rebecca Payne
Executive Recruiter
Ajilon
The Pinnacle
3455 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 110
Atlanta, Ga 30326

tel.404-264-0001 x 302
fax.404-261-5566
rebecca.payne@ajilon.com

Several job search events for February

Transfiguration Catholic Church CareerCare Ministry Schedule February 2008
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday Nights 7:00 to 9:00 PM Areas Covered: Spiritual Support, Attendee Introductions, Job Leads, Industry Guide Program, What is Going On In Atlanta, Job Seekers Workshop, etc.



Monday, February 4 MARKETING PLAN
Identify the elements, source, construct and model.
Monday, February 11 THE INTERNET
How the Internet can help you get your job!How the Internet can be used as a Job Search tool and a research tool to locate information on available job openings.
Monday, February 18 THE RESUME
Preparing and Evaluating Your Resume - Bring A Copy! What types of resumes work best for different backgrounds and jobs? Have your resume reviewed and critiqued.
Monday, February 25 SELLING YOURSELF
Improving Your Sales Skills! Learn how to develop an effective elevator speech. Learn how to script your calls to get results.

Volunteers, who are available to help you in your job search, network with you in your Industry . CareerCare supports ALL those who are in career transition either through unemployment, misemployment, or a desire to change their present situation.
Contact: mailto:mike%40lang.net or 678-642-3727 (C) for information.CareerCare Ministry Web Site: http://www.transfiguration.com/ministry_careercare.htm

Thank You and God Bless
Michael J. Lang (Mike)770-993-4474 (H)678-642-3727 (C)

More Job Search Advice and Resume Review

Here is a link to an event on Monday, Jan 4:
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheRuthieList/message/17761

Networking and Resume Writing

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Crossroads CareerR Ministry will be hosting our
monthly Network Meeting, on

Monday February 4th, from 7-9 pm. (3rd floor Loft A) Please make plans to
attend this event if you are actively looking for a job or considering a job
change.
Our featured speaker is Martha Lanier. Her topic is "Seize the Moment".

She will cover creating a plan, overcoming self-limiting barriers and
believing in the ability to achieve extraordinary results. Resumes reviews by professional recruiters from 6:15-7pm-see you there!

No rsvp required. For directions - call JFBC church line 770 973-6561
For info on other Crossroads programs, please contact us at 770 565-0854,
ext. 3015 or crossroads@jfbc.org

February

The rumor mill is, of course, churning that layoffs are scheduled for sometime from the middle to end of this month. If they occur, and for any of you who may be impacted by such an event, please check out the links on the right hand side, and read the older posts. Please be aware that if your resume is posted on Careerbuilder or Monster and you are currently employed you should classify it as private.

Otherwise the fact that you are updating information and searching for a job is clearly visible to your current employer. Also, DO NOT, conduct a job search from work. Conducting a job search from work will entitle your employer to terminate you for cause, no warning necessary. With existing economic conditions, every employee who can be terminated for cause is less of a financial burden for the company. Severance is not paid when someone is terminated for cause.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/sampleresumes/a/sampleresume2.htm

In older posts DBM offers resume and job search assistance for $150 for sixty days.

Another contact recommended Randy Levy for resume writing. She charges $250 and comes highly recommended although I do not have personal experience working with her. I will need to locate her contact information if you need it.

Monster.com Job Fairs in Atlanta

Atlanta Job Fairs
Atlanta Marriott Northwest
200 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339

Monday, February 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Behavioral Interviewing used in Phone Screens and Face to Face Interviews

SHRM Home > HR News
1/28/08 4:00 PM
Behavioral Interviewing Popular, but Training in Use Urged
By Kathy Gurchiek
Use of behavioral interviewing is on the rise, according to a new survey, but employers are cautioned to identify and define crucial competencies and train interviewers in their use if they want positive results.
More than half (55.7 percent) of 2,556 senior HR professionals and training and development executives surveyed plan to continue using behavioral interviewing at the same frequency, and almost one-fourth (24.7 percent) plan to use it more often, according to a national survey the Novations Group conducted in December 2007.
Behavioral interviewing is a technique aimed at predicting a job candidate’s suitability for a position based on his or her past workplace behavior.
“The interviewer asks the candidate to describe, in detail, how he or she handled specific situations in the past,” Novations executive consultant Tim Vigue said in a press release.
“The answers enable the hiring manager to learn the candidates’ capacity to handle similar situations in the new position.”
The sharp rise in the hiring technique may be attributable in part to what Vigue says is “an increasingly diverse talent pool” that demands that organizations hire the best candidate “from the broadest possible pool.” That requires, he said, using “objective methods that won’t screen out qualified candidates due to bias.”
However, for behavioral interviewing to be effective, the employer must identify and define a short list of the competencies and behaviors considered crucial for the position, and have people who are trained in the technique administering the questions, Vigue noted.
What Is Behavioral Interviewing?
“Behavioral interviewing” is a term that is tossed around loosely, observed Mark Stewart, who has a Ph.D. in industrial psychology and sits on the Society for Human Resource Management’s Organizational Development Special Expertise Panel.
He was skeptical that the 55.7 percent who said they use behavioral interviewing all adhere to the same standards for conducting those interviews.
It’s a technique that goes beyond including some questions about how a job candidate handled various work situations at a former employer, he said. It requires the interviewer to have been trained in spotting the strong answers for the competencies in question and knowing how to score those answers, Stewart said.
“The key in behavioral interviewing is that it has to be structured, [with] set questions that are delivered to every candidate in the same wording, the same order and scored in the same way,” he said in a SHRM Online interview.
For example, the main interview question would be followed up with questions structured to elicit the candidate’s actions and thinking; the outcome of the action taken; what he or she learned from the experience; and how he or she applied the lessons learned at a later date.
The interviewer records any negative or positive themes evident from the candidate’s answers—such as a lack of timely response to customer issues, or handling difficult customers comfortably.
“Ideally, the head of HR works with operational executives to determine the competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to [execute] corporate strategy,” Stewart said in a follow-up e-mail.
“After executives reach consensus, HR must create methods to measure these competencies, educate organizational members on the process and potential value, and work with these people to fully implement the process,” as well as maintain records on the interview program’s use and effectiveness, he wrote.
Stewart, a senior consultant for PCI Human Resource Consulting Inc., in Pittsburgh, advised employers interested in using behavioral interviews to:
• Train the interviewers in its use.
• Use a system that checks that the persons not only received the training but all displayed some degree of accuracy.
• Follow up with the employees after they completed training.
• Involve the hiring manager, who should be familiar with and trained in the process.
• Demonstrate that the interview questions used three or four years ago remain representative of those positions.
Behavioral interviewing can be used in any industry but might be too expensive a process for low-level applicants, Stewart said.
The best way to use the technique, he said, is further along in the selection process, after screening the resume and conducting some type of online inventory. Interviewers can conduct phone interviews that incorporate behavioral interview questions and can conduct in-person behavioral interviews with the final candidates. It’s a way to keep the cost down and the quality of hires up, he said.
“Improving the interview quality is a never-ending process. Predicting performance potential is an art; it’s always sketchy,” he said. The interview answers, he added, “should be viewed as a piece of the data, not the complete picture.”
Kathy Gurchiek is associate editor for HR News.

Tax Returns Free and Refunds Quicker

Remember your job search expenses may be tax deductible, see prior information from Tracy Lee Yates.

If your adjusted gross income was $54,000 or less in 2007, you can use Free File to prepare and e-file your taxes online. You will also receive your refund faster.

http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

Residential Home Sales news

Excerpt from article:

The Commerce Department reported Monday that sales of new homes dropped by 26.4 percent last year to 774,000. That marked the worst sales year on record, surpassing the old mark of a 23.1 percent plunge in 1980.

The government reported that the median price of a new home barely budged last year, edging up a slight 0.2 percent to $246,900, the poorest showing since prices fell by 2.4 percent during the 1991 housing downturn.

The new report reinforced the view that housing is currently undergoing its worst downturn in more than two decades, with the slump threatening to surpass in some ways the severe housing recession of the early 1980s

Link to full article: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080128/economy.html?.v=10

Links to articles of interest from Wall Street Journal

There is information on the main blog page regarding Behavioral Interviewing. This article from WSJ highlights the rise in this approach to interviewing candidates. Please do additional research on the web to help identify role play questions and walk in prepared!

Today's News

Interview Trends
More than three-quarters of roughly 2,500 human-resources executives polled recently said their firms conduct behavioral interviews, using questions like: "Describe a time when you. dealt with a particularly difficult customer." The survey, from global consultancy Novations Group, also shows that nearly a quarter of respondents plan to use the technique more often.

Links from WSJ:

WSJ Virtual Career Fair
http://www.wsj-classified.com/vcf/

Networking
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118704955586296589.html?mod=CarJMain_howcanwehelp

Support for those in transition

Dear North Atlanta Family,
If you are experiencing job loss or a career transition, please join us as we kick-off our new North Atlanta Jobs Ministry! The initial meeting will be held Sunday, January 27, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m in the Hebrews Coffee Shop in the Family Enrichment Center.

Our goal is to provide spiritual and emotional support as well as encouragement for those in need. Our initial topic will be dealing with the emotional aspects of job loss or a career transition. We are pleased to have Dr. Major Boglin, Director of the Genesis Center, as our presenter on the topic.

Subsequent meetings will be held on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Please plan to attend!
For more information, or to volunteer to assist in this ministry, please contact Steve Pratt at 770-814-9627 or Ken Vaughn at 770-597-9840.

http://www.nacofc.org/

Tax appraisal for your home may be too high

Once again from Clark Howard:

Jan 17, 2008 -- Hints for appealing your property tax reappraisal
A lot of us got a lump of coal from our own government this past year. Your home may have gone down in value in 2007 and may continue to do so this year. But talk about rubbing salt into the wounds; people are getting property tax reappraisals that are way up from where they were before. The Washington Post reports that Maryland residents are seeing property tax increases of 33 percent, yet property values are down in much of the state. This scenario is being repeated all over the country. The appraisals are out of date and use faulty data from boom-year sales. The net effect is that your local government is ripping you off. There's no other way to say it. Do you have to take it? No, you can appeal your appraisal. The rules for appeal vary by jurisdiction. There may be an informal process before the formal one. Never gripe about the government during the process, just present the facts about recent sale prices of homes similar to yours. These figures, often called "comps" in real-estate lingo, are the smoking gun that will help you get an appraisal price rollback. Search out comps on the Internet or consult a local real-estate agent for help. If you can get comps for foreclosures in your neighborhood, that's like having extra ammunition. Clark suggests dressing business casual if you have to appear before a panel as part of the process. The idea is to dress nicely -- but not too well -- and people will respond to your appearance

Cheap and Free from Clark Howard - Love this guy!

Variety of cheap and free links, hope you find one that helps:

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/free_and_cheap.html

Great way to network and help others

A lot of you have the skills to really help and get in some networking at the same time :).

http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb/forms/habitat-volunteer-registration4/

This is a link to a Habitat Build through Clark Howard.

Work at home

This link is to a Clark Howard article recommending legitimate work at home companies:

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/workathome_help.html

Recap of prior postings

If you go to the bottom of the page and look at prior postings there is information pertaining to quite a few subjects that may be of interest. Tracy Lee Yates provided some information on the fact that job search expenses are tax deductible. There is information from DBM regarding assistance with re-working resumes and using their research and job search resources. If you have any questions, please post a response and I will be happy to help any way I can.

I hear that many of you are concerned another round of layoffs may be coming by the end of next month. Please know that if you are concerned about your position being eliminated and wish to contact me in advance of that occurring, you may email me and I will absolutely respect your confidentiality.

How much are you worth

Good resources to assist you in determining salary ranges for positions are:

Salary.com
http://www.salary.com/

and a government website O*Net
http://online.onetcenter.org/

The O*Net website can be an excellent resource for resume verbiage as well.

Using the Internet in a Job Search

Once again, a link from the Wall Street Journal, they have some good information on their Careers page.

http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/usingnet/

Links from the Wall Street Journal

This link addresses online tools to assist with money management
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120036745653590459.html?mod=money_page_left_hs

This link concerns a new tax deduction:

"Homeowners with a new mortgage that is covered by insurance can claim a tax break on the insurance for the first time this year."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120045166939593341.html?mod=money_page_left_hs

Another blog that might be useful

http://www.employmentdigest.net/

After a quick review of the information posted here, it does appear as though there might be some good tips and helpful information. As an interviewer I do know that the first impression is crucial. If necessary, review some behavioral interviewing questions (information posted in links on left) and have someone go through them with you so you don't walk in cold.