Those who say jobs are picking have to explain more bad news. The nation added only 18,000 new nonfarm jobs in June, down from 54,000 in May, according to a news alert from the New York Times.
Since May's number was a crash from April's 232,000 new jobs, this new report was particularly unwelcome. June's unemployment rate rose to 9.2%.
Carpet bombing doesn't work any more
One job applicant has "blanketed the country in résumés". Unsurprisingly, this hasn't worked. That was an effective strategy 65 years ago--carpet bombing helped win the war in Japan.
But it didn't work in Vietnam and it's ineffective today.
She needs to remember employers really have only a single question and they're very stupid.
She's apparently not answering that question: "What can you do for me?"
Probably her résumé is great and has all the skills on the employers' ads. But employers can't connect the dots.
"I have experience in X" is one thing.
"I suspect doing Y on B would boost your profits in Pennsylvania by 2%. That's how using my skills in X could help your company today" is a far different story.
Delivering that kind of suggestion requires focus and research. You don't have time to drop résumés nationwide. But look at the difference in impact.
A job with NO competition
I reported last month that India cannot find a hangman. Zimbabwe has the same problem--the last one retired in 2005. Six years later, they've been unable to find a replacement.
Unfortunately the pay isn't much--the monthly $300 Zimbabwean dollars are worth about 79 US cents.
Talking to prospective employers
Some companies are interviewing eight to twelve people as a group.
Employers say this is a good way to judge cultural fit and watch leadership skills when the group is assigned a task.
Some applicants call the process demeaning. Hands leaping up to answer questions remind one of Jeopardy. Other observers say leadership takes time to develop.
The experience certainly tells the applicant a lot about the company.
Edit, edit, edit. One job advice columnist wrote "Use the information generated in exercise #1 to create a 30-minute marketing statement or "elevator speech"" (emphasis added). That's one hellatious elevator talk. Doublecheck your deodorant before beginning.
Tidbits
A British TV show where winners get jobs is being criticized as "crass and humiliating." Apparently you can't watch Donald Trump in the UK.
Hour long networking on Twitter becomes a virtual job club.
Having just one job may become old fashioned as underemployment flows throughout the economy.
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Image courtesy of nuttakit
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