Here is a link to an article re: the Fix Housing First Bill:
http://www.atlantarealestateforum.com/support-the-fix-housing-first-bill-6469/
Management Training
13 years ago
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Fix Housing First Bill
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Potential Job Opportunities for IT Professionals
Two corporate giants to land Georgia government technology contracts
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/11/10/daily64.html?f=et50&ana=e_du
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Three Days of Red: Dow Plummets 411
As with some of the other economic news I post. This is not posted to depress you but to alert you that, if you are not paying attention to the economic climate in which you are currently or may soon be looking for a job, it is time to start paying attention The markets collapsed under the weight of plunging retailers and free-falling financials on Wednesday, sending the Dow to its third consecutive losing session, Citigroup to all-time lows and crude oil to levels unseen since January 2007. The latest carnage on Wall Street was preceded by an ominous warning from Best Buy of a "seismic shift" in consumer behavior and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's announcement that the $700 billion rescue package won't be used for troubled assets after all. Today's Market The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 411.30 points, or 4.73%, to 8282.66, the broader S&P 500 fell 46.65 points, or 5.19%, to 852.30 and the Nasdaq Composite slid 81.69 points, or 5.17%, to 1499.21. The consumer-friendly FOX 50 fell 35.42 points, or 5.15%, to 652.16. The markets have ended in the red in five out of the past six days, carving roughly 1,350 points from the Dow in the past week alone. The recent declines leave the benchmark U.S. index just a few hundred points away from its lowest level of the economic crisis."This is not a pretty picture right now. There is clearly investor concern that we may retest the lows," Michael James, senior equity trader at Wedbush Morgan Securities told FOX Business. All but one of the 30 components of the Dow lost at least 1% on Wednesday, led by American Express (AXP), which is reportedly seeking $3.5 billion from the government. Citigroup (C) plunged below $10 a share for the first time ever and General Electric (GE) fell sharply as well. The index's only winner was General Motors (GM), a company trading at 62-year lows and needs a massive government bailout to avoid a potential bankruptcy filing. The latest pessimistic comments on the economy came from Best Buy (BBY), which Wednesday morning cut its fiscal 2009 profit forecast and warned same-store sales could plunge as much as 15% in November following a 7.6% decline last month. "Since mid-September, rapid, seismic changes in consumer behavior have created the most difficult climate we've ever seen," Best Buy CEO Brad Anderson said in a statement. The lower guidance from Best Buy comes just days after rival retailer Circuit City (CC) filed for bankruptcy protection. Best Buy's news weighed heavily on other retailers as Amazon.com (AMZN) and RadioShack (RSH) both plunged to 52-week lows on Wednesday. Markets Spooked by TARP Changes The markets were anything but soothed by Paulson, who on Wednesday disclosed major changes to the government's $700 billion financial rescue package, called the Troubled Asset Rescue Program. Paulson said the government no longer believes purchasing banks' toxic assets is "the most effective way to use TARP funds" -- even though that was the way the massive rescue package was sold to the public and lawmakers. Instead, the government will continue its current use of the funds to inject capital into financial companies. "I think that change made people a little more uncomfortable about the financials in general in terms of their stability. I think that's why you are seeing such dramatic weakness in the financials today," said James. That weakness was most obvious in shares of Citi and Goldman Sachs (GS), both of which plummeted to fresh lows. "Our financial system remains fragile in the face of an economic downturn here and abroad, and financial institutions' balance sheets still hold significant illiquid assets. Market turmoil will not abate until the biggest part of the housing correction is behind us," said Paulson. Paulson did not endorse using the TARP funds to help rescue Detroit's Big Three auto makers -- Ford (F), General Motors (GM) and privately-held Chrysler LLC -- that are burning cash at precarious rates. Instead, he said Congress could take legislative action to authorize the use of federal aid. Shares of the auto makers rose anyway as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has embraced the idea of providing help to the auto makers in a lame-duck session of Congress next week to prevent layoffs that could reach into the millions and further weaken the fledging economy. The executives of the Big Three auto makers and the United Auto Workers union are expected to testify on Capitol Hill on November 18, FOX News has learned. Meanwhile, crude oil futures sank to their lowest levels in 22 months Wednesday despite a new report from the International Energy Administration warning global supplies won't keep up with growth without infrastructure investments. The price of a barrel of crude ended $3.17 lower to $56.16 -- the lowest level since January 2007. Crude futures, which have fallen 10% since Monday, are now off by 61% from all-time highs of $145 a barrel set in July. While consumers may cheer the plummeting energy prices, they are a stark reminder of expectations the economy will contract further in the months to come. Corporate Movers American Express (AXP) is seeking roughly $3.5 billion under the government's rescue plan to counter slower consumer spending and rising defaults, The Wall Street Journal reported. It's not clear if the application came before or after AmEx converted to a bank-holding company on Monday, the newspaper reported. Anheuser-Busch (BUD) shareholders signed off on the beverage giant's $52 billion deal to be sold to Belgian-Brazilian rival InBev (INBVF). Despite the current conditions, InBev said the deal, which still needs regulatory approval, remains on track to close by the end of the year. The new company, which is to be called Anheuser-Busch InBev, would be the world's largest brewer. Macy's (M) reported a narrower-than-expected non-GAAP loss in the third quarter and backed its recently-lowered 2008 guidance. The department store operator lost 8 cents per share on an adjusted-basis, well above the 19 cent per share loss analysts expected. Macy's said sales slumped 7% to $5.5 billion. Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO Lloyd Blankfein told investors the company's strategy won't change under its new status as a bank-holding company. Goldman's shares have plummeted in recent days on fears its new status will dampen its appetite for risk that has led to enormous profits in years past. Microsoft (MSFT) is nearing a deal to pay up to $650 million over five years to become the default search engine on Verizon Wireless phones, The Wall Street Journal reported. Search leader Google (GOOG) is also competing for the deal with Verizon, which is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (VZ) and Vodafone (VOD). World Markets Major global indexes slumped across the board. In Europe, the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, which tracks the 50 largest companies on the continent, fell 82.87 points, or 3.34%, to 2400.74. London's FTSE 100 Index slid 64.67 points, or 1.52%, to 4182.02. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 Index fell 113.79 points, or 1.29%, to 8695.51 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index ended down by 101.81 points, or 0.73%, to 13939.09. http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/futures-green-paulson-press-conference/
Monday, November 10, 2008
Outplacement Resources and Resume Assistance
I spoke with Drake, Beam and Morin last year to get information on support services available through their firm. They provided some detailed information and I posted it on November 26, 2007. Please use the archive section at the bottom of the main page or use the "post label" search option to find the information. Prices may have changed a little but should not be substantially different.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Affects of unemployment on the family
I am posting this because unemployment and, the fear of pending unemployment, can be very hard on a family. This downturn in the housing industry has been lengthy and stressful for so many people. Those who work in lending, closings, construction, vendors, so many people from so many areas have suffered. Some of you who still have jobs are experiencing stress related to wondering how long it will last and what you will do if/when it ends. A spouse may or may not understand the stress you are suffering and how you are coping. You may not understand how the stress you are experiencing is affecting your family. While this seminar is not designed specifically to address the issues surrounding unemployment, it is a resource you may find helpful. INTIMATE ENCOUNTERS MARRIAGE SEMINAR Intimate Encounters is a 12-week series designed by Dr. David & Teresa Ferguson to help couples develop the skills needed to identify each spouse's primary needs and to meet those needs in order to foster a more profoundly intimate marriage that blesses each spouse and glorifies God. During Intimate Encounters couples learn how utilize their marriage to meet their emotional, relational, and physical needs. If you are married, seriously dating, or engaged join Major Boglin , Don McLaughlin , and Ken Snell for this life changing series. At a minimum, it will enhance your marriage. If your relationship is really struggling, this series may save it. The sessions will be held (beginning December 3) at 7:15 p.m. in room 106. No registration fee is required for this series, but each couple is encouraged to buy an Intimate Encounters workbook for $16. Click [HERE] to register for the seminar. Click [HERE] for more information or to sign up. If you have additional questions, call the Genesis Center for Christian Counseling at 770-399-6333.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Money Saving Web Sites – Help for the Christmas Budget
Web sites offer smart consumers valuable tools to save a bundle
By Herb Weisbaum
msnbc.com
updated 4:52 p.m. ET, Thurs., Nov. 6, 2008
You don't need a crystal ball to predict that a lot of us will pinch pennies this holiday season. Survey after survey shows a significant number of shoppers plan to spend less on gifts this year.
Of course, we'll still buy presents – we'll just be a lot more aware of the price.
"If you have limited funds to work with, you really must shop smart this year," says Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org. "You want to buy when there's a sale, get an instant discount because of a promotion, then find a rebate."
Dworsky is a friend of mine and one of the most frugal shoppers I know. He uses the Internet to research products, compare prices and find bargains. He delights in finding super deals and sharing them with others.
This week he published a list of web sites that should help you stretch your holiday budget. Use these online tools, Dworsky says, and you should be able to spend less and get more for your money. Here are ConsumerWorld.org's sites for sore wallets.
SlickDeals.net & FatWallet.com
The message board postings usually give more than just sale prices. You'll often find information about rebates and coupon codes. And the savings can be substantial. About a week ago he found a posting for a reconditioned Dyson vacuum cleaner (regular retail $400) for just $149.99.
"The best things tend to go quickly," he warns. "So when you find one of these unadvertised deals, you need to jump on it."
SundaySaver.com & SalesCircular.com
Check out the section called "Free with Rebate" that lists products that don't cost you anything after you send in the mail in rebate form. These items range from software to glucose monitors. (Note: As we've warned in the past, rebates can be tricky. Stick to well-known retailers, send for the rebate right away, follow all the directions and keep copies of everything you put in the mail.)
SundaySaver.com has a "Black Friday Ads" section with a number of post-Thanksgiving sales already posted. For example, Sears will drop the price on a Sharp 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV from $1,200 to $899 as an early bird special.
SalesCircular.com has a nice feature. It lets you search for specific categories of products, such as GPS units, digital cameras, MP3 players or sweaters.
PriceSpider.com
Is that DVD player on sale for $399 really a good deal? Not if you know it sold for $299 a few weeks ago.
PriceSpider lets you check the price history for various items at hundreds of stores across the country for the last six months. Armed with this information,
I did a price check on a Sony DVD Recorder and found current prices ranging from $144 to $199. By looking at the graph, I could instantly see that the $144 price was a great deal. The chart showed the median price for this model had not been below $160 in the past six months.
DealAlerter.com
Using the site is easy. Start with the price comparison search engine. If the prices seem too high, set a lower target price and DealAlerter.com will check prices every day. If it finds the item at or below the target price, you'll get an email alert. You can set the site to search at one store or at the hundreds of online stores in its database.
Shipgooder.com
Just put in the "to" and "from" zip codes and the weight and in about a second you can see your various options, listed by carrier, based on delivery speed: next day, second day, third day and ground.
When I priced a 10-pound package from Seattle to Philadelphia, the second day delivery prices ranged from $9.80 to $52.06. In the past, I'd have to go to each carrier's site, punch in that information and then compare rates. This site is both a time saver and money saver.
A few more money-saving sites
More information
© 2008 msnbc.com
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27579959/
ConsumerMan: Stretch your holiday budget
Here's where you'll find out about sales or other special offers that are not widely advertised. Each site has a "Hot Deals" forum where veteran bargain hunters share the money-saving offers they've discovered online or at brick-and-mortar stores.
The Sunday newspaper is loaded with advertising inserts that let you know what's on sale at local stores. Maybe you don't get the paper. Maybe you threw out the circulars. No problem. These sites let you see those sale items. You can choose national retailers or limit your search to stores in your state.
We all see sales every day. As Edgar puts it, "Sometimes the sale is great; sometimes the sale is just so-so. If you're not up on prices it's hard to tell."
you instantly become a smarter shopper.
This is Dworsky's own site. It let's you know when the price drops on a product you want to buy. Dworsky created the site to help busy shoppers. "People don't have the time to keep checking week after week to see if the price has come down."
Many holiday gifts will need to be shipped to friends and loved-ones. You have a number of options, but prices vary greatly from service to service. Shipgooder.com lets you compare the cost of shipping that package via DHL, FedEx, UPS, the U.S. Postal Service and Purolator.
In its November issue, ShopSmart magazine lists seven web sites that can help you find real deals fast. "We scoured the Web to come up with this short list of sites you can count on for great deals every time you shop," says editor-in-chief Lisa Lee Freeman.
Unemployment rate at 14-year high
CORRECTED: Job losses soar, jobless rate at 14-year high I am posting this, not to discourage you, but to emphasize you will likely need to put careful thought and deliberate focus on your job search. Simply submitting resumes online will probably not result in the type of opportunity you are looking for, unless you have a very specific job skill. A top notch resume to accurately showcase your skills, a targeted job search and dedicated networking will be the keys to finding the type of opportunity you wish to find. Even when unemployment rises, someone is being hired every day. More often than not, the person who is being hired found a way to get to a hiring manager and bypassed the thousand or so resumes that were submitted online. You find a way to be that person!
Employers cut payrolls by 240,000 in October, much more severely than expected, while September registered the biggest monthly loss in jobs in nearly seven years, according to a government report on Friday that showed labor markets were sharply deteriorating.
REUTERS/Graphics
By Glenn Somerville
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers slashed an unexpectedly steep 240,000 jobs from payrolls last month and the jobless rate shot up to a 14-1/2-year high, the government said on Friday in a report underscoring the economy's steep slide.
The Labor Department also said job losses in September and August were deeper than previously thought. The economy shed 284,000 jobs in September, the most since November 2001 which was shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and lost 127,000 in August. That meant 179,000 more jobs were cut in August and September than previously thought. "We have entered the phase of serious recession conditions. Unfortunately we will encounter more of this ...," said Richard DeKaser, chief economist for National City Corp in Cleveland. Wall Street economists had expected a loss of 200,000 nonfarm jobs in October and had looked for the jobless rate to move up to 6.3 percent from 6.1 percent in September. "The 6.5 percent unemployment rate will only reinforce market talk of a peak in the unemployment rate above 8 percent," said Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut. Still, the data was not as dire as some had feared. While the dollar extended losses, U.S. stocks rose and prices for U.S. Treasuries turned lower. PAIN WIDESPREAD In manufacturing alone, a whopping 90,000 jobs were cut in October -- reflecting in part 27,000 striking workers at Boeing Co. That followed a loss of 56,000 factory jobs in September. Construction industries dropped 49,000 more jobs last month after eliminating 35,000 in September, many of them in specialty trades related to home building. Average weekly hours of work held steady at 33.6 in October. At factories, the average workweek also held steady at 40.6 hours, while overtime was unchanged at 3.6 hours. But the big drop in employment pulled down a measure of overall work effort by 0.3 percent. (Additional reporting by Ros Krasny in Chicago and Burton Frierson in New York; Editing by James Dalgleish) http://finance.yahoo.com/news/CORRECTED-Job-losses-soar-rb-13501267.html
So far this year 1.2 million jobs have been lost, 651,000 in the past three months alone, showing labor markets are crumbling faster and heightening chances of a deep recession.
Analysts said the bleak data could give further impetus to efforts on Capitol Hill to quickly craft a package of measures to help support the economy. President-elect Barack Obama was set to huddle with top economic advisers later in the day before holding his first news conference since being elected.
Instead, the unemployment rate rose a steep four-tenths of a percent to 6.5 percent, the highest since March 1994.
"I think people were basically looking for a pretty weak number so it needed to be a tremendous surprise," said Thomas di Galoma, head of U.S. Treasury trading at Jefferies & Co. "It needed to be down 350,000 to really get the market rolling."
The U.S. Federal Reserve has cut benchmark interest rates by 4.25 percentage points over the last 13 months, including 1 point last month alone, in an effort to buffer the economy from a deep housing slump and a widening credit crisis which has reverberated worldwide.Interest-rate futures prices imply a 64-percent perceived chance the Fed will lower its target overnight federal funds rate to 0.5 percent at its next policy meeting in December. That would be the lowest on records dating to July 1954.
Service-producing industries cut 108,000 jobs in October on top of 201,000 lost in September.
Earlier this year, job losses had been concentrated in the factory sector, but September marked the third month in a row that the vast services sector lost more jobs than manufacturing, a sign of the economy's widening woes.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Layoffs at John Wieland today
I have heard some of you were laid off today and I am truly sorry. There are posts throughout this blog that will help you locate resources and provide miscellaneous tidbits of information, such as job search expenses that are tax deductible.
All of us want and need for the housing market to rebound for a multitude of reasons. Not the least of which was my personal hope that no one else at Wieland would have to lose their job for anything other than voluntary reasons.
A speaker at the jobs ministry at my church gave us the advice that "any incident only has the importance we attach to it". For instance, if you decide the loss of a job is the end of the world for you then it may indeed be a cataclysmic event. If you decide the loss of a job is an opportunity to find something you enjoy as well or better than the job you lost, a chance to change careers, pursue education, etc. then they lay off will represent an opportunity. How you view your unemployment will affect how you perform in interviews and likely how quickly you will find another job.
Please look back through the posting archive at the very bottom and locate the post on social networking. Networking is key to locating another position and the Roswell United Methodist Church has a VERY active jobs networking group. Please check them out for moral support if nothing else.
I wish you all the best. Please post any comments you wish or email me.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The 2010 Census – A Great Way to Earn Extra Money
http://www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. The pay is good, the hours are flexible, and the work is close to home. Census taker jobs are excellent for retirees, college students, persons who want to work part-time, persons who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community
Monday, November 3, 2008
Economy drops hammer on John Wieland Homes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, October 31, 2008
Construction has stopped on about half the John Wieland homes in metro Atlanta and the company's business is off sharply, the founder said Friday.
"Overall, our Atlanta business is down 60 percent from the best years," said John Wieland, chairman of Atlanta-based John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods and perhaps Atlanta's best known homebuilder. "It may be a little while before it fully recovers."
Wieland said more houses are at the hold stage — incomplete but presentable — than ever before. He put the number at approximately 150. Those are houses that are little more than shells and will remain so for the time being.
"We are holding some of our homes at their current stages of construction while we get over the presidential election," Wieland said. "We have more homes at a hold stage now than we have had previously."
The company's Atlanta home sales were off 36 percent in fiscal year 2008, which ended in September. Closings totaled 350 compared to 547 in 2007.
Wieland Homes forecasts just 300 Atlanta home sales in fiscal year 2009, said Jennifer Nilsson, the director of corporate marketing.
The average sales price of a new Wieland Homes house is $550,000, so the company might be the largest in the metro Atlanta in terms of dollar volume, Wieland said.
Wieland Homes also builds in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Its work force has been halved to about 350 since last year.
Wieland said the current slump is the worst he's seen in the three decades since Wieland Homes' founding. The company's struggles mirror the downturn in the metro area housing market.
"Overall, Atlanta's housing starts declined 60 percent and closings declined 40 percent during the 12-month period ending in September," said Eugene James, Atlanta division director for Metrostudy, which researches residential real estate.
"The pace of new-home starts has not been this slow in more than a decade," James said. "Builders have done the right thing by cutting back on production in response to declining demand, which, in turn, is returning the supply of homes to a more balanced level."
Excess housing inventory peaked in the second quarter of 2006 and has been slowly shrinking since, James said. The supply of lots will continue to rise until starts increase significantly, which may not happen until 2010, he said.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/business/stories/2008/10/31/wieland_homes_economy.html
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Of course it’s a recession
If anyone was hoping to hear good news at the Atlanta Rotary Club's lunch today, economist Don Ratajczak quickly changed that thought. Ratajczak, former director of Georgia State University's Economic Forecasting Center who currently serves as a consultant, did not hold any punches. "We are a nation that's troubled, and we are in a world that's in panic," Ratajczak said. And he dispelled any doubts about whether we are in a recession. "Of course it's a recession." As evidence, Ratajczak pointed to the fact that there's been a loss of jobs every month for most of the year. He expects that when the new numbers are reported in November, another 200,000 jobs will have been lost. And that could increase to 300,000 a month early next year. The real issue is whether the nation will be able steer its way out of the recession without entering a depression. And Ratajczak wouldn't make any guarantees. Several actions will need to occur including regulating the unregulated parts of the financial community. "We now need to regulate activities, not institutions," he said. "We need to regulate mortgages, not banks." Ratajczak's forecast was that corporate profit would be down 20 percent in 2009. He expects companies to reduce capital expenditures, and he expects further contraction in the market -- minus 3 percent in the fourth quarter; about the same in the first quarter and then a negative 1 percent in the second quarter of 2009. The biggest question of whether the United States will be able to avert a depression is one of confidence. "We have got to rebuild that confidence," he said predicting that the Christmas season will be rather dismal for retailers this year. As to the presidential election, Ratajczak said he would like to hear more direction from both candidates about how they would deal with the economy. He criticized U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for using words like "sharing the wealth when wealth is imploding." But before letting people think that he is supporting U.S. Sen. John McCain, Ratajczak said of Obama: "He's more elegant than the other guy." When asked about unemployment in Georgia, Ratajczak said his forecast shows it could reach 8.5 percent. He also predicted that the Federal Reserve Bank will cut interest rates again this year and that inflation will be only about 2 percent next year. In closing, Ratajczak said: "I'm longterm bullish on banks. I just don't know which banks to be bullish on." From: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/10/27/daily16.html?f=et50&ana=e_du
Monday, October 27, 2008
Is your job too stressful? Take the test
An Imag Career coach has a test to help you determine if your job is too stressful:
Stocks seesaw after Homes Report
The markets reacted positively after the government offered a rare, better-than-expected report on housing. The Commerce Department said new home sales jumped by 2.7% in September to an annual rate of 464,000. Economists had expected a more modest rise in sales. However, the median price of new homes plunged 9.1% last month to $218,400 -- the lowest level since September 2004. T The report sent shares of homebuilders like Pulte Homes (PHM) and Lennar (LEN) sharply higher. Excerpt from a much lengthier article at: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/global-market-selloff-places-pressure-futures/
Friday, October 24, 2008
Stock Market Turbulence
I know that today's continued volatility is unsettling, but please recognize no matter how much the media is scaring you we are not hitting new lows. The lowest point for the S&P 500 and DJIA was reached on October 10th and ever since then the DJIA has traded between 7,773 and 9,310. I would anticipate that we will continue to be bounced around until after the elections. It should also be noted that trading volume was significantly higher on the 10th, another sign of the market capitulation that I discussed in my last email. Below I have provided a few resources that will hopefully help you recognize that we are much closer to the bottom of this market, leaving tremendous opportunity for a recovery in the coming months. I know in these difficult times to stay the course requires a strong stomach. We encourage you to stick with your long term investment plans at this time. Please contact me if you need to talk about your portfolio or what is going on in the economy. The markets have experienced other crises in the past (the Savings & Loan debacle of the 80s, the crash of '87, the currency crisis of the 90s, the technology boom/bust cycle of the late 90s, and now the mortgage/credit meltdown?). In each of these periods, the problems have eventually been resolved and markets return to more positive and less volatile times. Thank you for letting me be a part of your financial decisions, and I recognize the weight of my responsibilities. As always I am here to discuss any of your concerns and please feel free to forward these updates to your friends and family that are also looking for direction in these uncertain times. J. Brian Preston, CPA, CFP®, PFS
2008 "150 Best Financial Advisers for Doctors" list.
NAPFA - Registered Financial Advisor
Preston & Cleveland Wealth Management, LLC
1611 South Zack Hinton Parkway
McDonough, GA 30253
www.Preston-Cleveland.com
Ask the Expert” Roundtables are back with 15 speakers!
Hello from RUMC Job Networking!
“Ask the Expert” Roundtables are back with 15 speakers!
Join us Monday Night, October 27th when we have 15 speakers at RUMC! This is one of our most popular and interactive events. We’ll have each of the speakers give you a 30 second pitch as to why you should be at their table. You then get to choose 3 of them.
We start at 6:00 pm with a free dinner and close around 9:15 pm. Go to www.RUMCjobnetworki ng.com for more information and directions. No RSVP is required.
We are excited to have all of our guest speakers. However, for the first time ever we’ve gotten commitment from Ruthie Powell of “Ruthie’s List” fame to join us Monday Night. The other 14 speakers and topics will be sent via email later this week via RUMC Yahoogroups in time for our meeting as we wrap up our confirmations.
Our last meeting we had over 155 job seekers in attendance. Also 112 job seekers took advantage of our dinner which focuses on developing your spiritual resume. With over 40 of our 130 volunteers on-site at each meeting we are excited to contribute to your job search. We have a great program for you on Monday Night and hope you can join us.
Please review this line up for Monday Night. We are experimenting with the timing of some of these activities causing some of the activities to overlap. We added Resume Reviewing to follow the Free Dinner so you can take advantage of both in the same room. We also have moved our resume reviewers to 6:00 pm and added a new Interview Discussion Room and the new Small Business Opportunity Discussion Room. See below:
1. 6:00 – 7:00 pm Free Dinner Program with Resume Reviews (7:00 – 7:30 pm). We have an individual contributor who is sponsoring our dinner Monday Night starting at 6:00 pm on “Developing your Spiritual Resume.” Volunteer leader Bob Kashey will lead you through some critical steps that will help you in your job search. The dinner is free but please arrive by 6:00 pm. Again, no RSVP is required. For those that attend dinner we will be offering resume reviews so you don’t have to rush out early.
2. 6:00 – 7:30 pm Resume Reviews. We have Recruiters and HR Professionals volunteering their time as Resume Reviewers that are anxious to go one-on-one with you.
3. 6:45 – 7:30 pm Interview Discussion Room. This is a brand new addition to our ministry and is run by Richard Kirby. We will have an informal drop-in format.
4. 6:45 – 7:30 pm Small Business Opportunity Discussion Room. This is also a brand new addition to our ministry and is coordinated by Bill Williams.
5. 7:30 – 9:15 pm “Ask the Expert” Program. Select 3 of our 15 guest speakers based on what you are most interested in. Bring a note pad to take notes!!
6. Industry Guide Access. We have over 65 off-site volunteers that will take one of your phone calls after the meeting. You get to select one of them based on the industry and company that they work for.
Do you need directions or more details? Go to www.RUMCjobnetworking.com.
Membership Codes
Do you need another reason to attend? We will be distributing Membership Codes for www.crossroadscareer.org which is a site that will walk you through the Six Steps in your Job Search. This website is a one of a kind resource that we are pleased to share with you – if you attend Monday Night.
See you Monday Night!
Jay Litton
Volunteer Leader
www.RUMCjobnetworking.com
Unemployment up 44 percent from last year
Atlanta jobless rate climbs Unemployment up 44 percent from last year By MICHAEL E. KANELL Metro Atlanta's jobless rate climbed last month to 6.5 percent, up from 6.2 percent in August, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/10/23/unemployment.html
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The region's official unemployment rate, which has not been adjusted to account for seasonal variations, matches the state's rate, also 6.5 percent.
The jobless rate is up 44 percent from the same month of last year, reflecting a continued decay in the economy.
That trend is national. About 478,000 laid-off workers filed new jobless claims last week, federal officials said Thursday.
Anything above 400,000 is considered evidence of a weak labor market. The report has been above that mark since mid-July.
The weekly national filings were up from 333,000 first-time claims in the corresponding week of October a year ago.
Job losses accelerated as problems in the real estate market multiplied and led to layoffs. Many cuts came among builders and roofers. But they rippled through services like brokers and accountants, as well as into sectors like textiles, where the housing boom had boosted demand.
Now, layoffs have spread even wider across the economy, said Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, to include workers in manufacturing, construction, trade and services.
Metro Atlanta payrolls lost 17,200 jobs from August to September, officials said. That accounts for slightly more than half the 33,600 jobs lost during the past year.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Market Meltdown: Change Your Job Search Mindset
Market Meltdown: Change Your Job Search Mindset
Joe Turner 10/20/08
The current economic meltdown is just the tip of a much larger iceberg that will have far reaching economic implications for all of us here in the U.S. Tens of thousands of layoffs in and beyond the financial industry will only be the start of more sober times as companies across the country will be forced to rethink their future hiring plans.
One fact seems certain. All of these combined circumstances will have huge ramifications for job seekers. The failing economy and a constantly rising unemployment rate will require individuals to take a fresh approach to their job search.
Referencing the most recent economic crisis, Neil McNulty, Principal Recruiter, McNulty Management Group states, "The game has changed, but the rules remain the same; now, more than ever, job seekers need to change their mindset from looking for 'openings' to looking for 'opportunities. ' Opportunities are born out of crisis and chaos, and exist even in the worst economy."This means that you, as a job seeker, must look beyond job postings and move into marketing yourself to the managers of the companies and organizations who are experiencing problems that you can solve.
Here's how:
1. Change Your Mindset: Move away from being a passive job seeker and toward being an active problem-solver. Don't just rely on the Internet to find job openings. Scour the marketplace to find the hidden jobs that aren't advertised. Most jobs are not posted or advertised. The best jobs are often found through networking, word-of-mouth and informational interviews.
2. Stop Thinking of Yourself as Just an Assortment of Job Skills: See yourself as a product to package and market, and then create your own marketing campaign to find your desired job. This includes having a state-of-the- art resume and sharpening your interviewing skills.
3. Sell ROI: View yourself in terms of Return on Investment for an employer. See yourself as a mini-profit and loss center. Be prepared to demonstrate ways you have helped to positively impact the bottom line of your past or current employer. This means demonstrating ways you've helped make money or save money for an employer or clients. As employees, we all touch money. Some of us may be closer to it than others. Regardless, we must find ways to prove this in short "sound bites" when given the opportunity.
Remember, it's not about you, but about the organization itself. All communication with a prospective employer must answer the question, "What's in it for me (the employer)?" The road ahead will be littered with casualties; make no mistake about that.We could sit by and whine about the circumstances. We could wait for the government to initiate a "bailout" package that might somehow rescue the unemployed. Or, we could take charge of our own lives and power ourselves forward.
Joseph P. Kennedy said many years ago, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." That statement is just as true today as it was then. Whether we're employed or not, we all have this rocky, tough economy in common. We can respond as victims of the economy or we can get tough, and get going. As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of "JobSearch Secrets Unlocked" and "Paycheck 911" , Joe has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers
<http://www.jobchangesecrets.com/> free insider job search secrets.
Job Networking Ministry at Roswell United Methodist Church (RUMC)
A button posted on the lower right side of this blog will enable you to join RUMC's Yahoo Group. Their group distributes an email "Daily Digest" of job openings in the metro area.
Job Networking Ministry at Roswell United Methodist Church (RUMC) located at 814 Mimosa Boulevard in Roswell, Georgia.
We focus on tending to the needs of job seekers and career changers. We meet every second and fourth Monday evening at the Dodson Youth Center starting at 7:30 pm and ending around 9:15 pm. If you arrive early at 6:00 pm you can take advantage of our new program "Developing You Spritual Resume".
We provide a Free Dinner that is sponsored by companies and individuals that want to contribute to your search. Then at 6:45 pm you can take advantage of:
- Resume Guides (recruiters who will review your resume)
- Our small group program (learn more at http://www.c3g.org/)
- And many other networking opportunities.
Before you leave, take advantage of our Industry Guides (a RUMC creation) where you get to select an employed church member to network with after the meeting based on the industry and company they are employed with.
Our main program at 7:30 pm typically has powerful guest speakers and programs that will provide practical strategies you can put to work the next day.We have one of the largest volunteer programs in the State of Georgia with over 110 employed RUMC volunteers. We are anxious to show you how we can help you personally in your job search.
For directions and more information, check us out at http://www.rumcjobnetworking.com/. Take a look at our Crossroads Career Partner website. We can help you with the best practices with the Key Six Steps. It is free to everyone because we have paid for your subscription as a service to you. You will need a membership key to log into the site as a career explorer. We provide these at no cost every meeting! Join us to learn how to find the hidden jobs and obtain the skills necessary for a successful job search. Remember, keep God part of your job search too. It makes no sense to do this alone!
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