In an article: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09/is_a_college_education_worth_t.html, it states “the average debt of a graduating student at $23,000 to $27,000”, which is a large financial investment.  Being a Recruiter for 9 years, with exposure to the statistics in the economy, along with the hundreds of applicants I have met with; it is my professional opinion that there are some things that colleges are leaving out in the application process.  Here are some things to consider when you are pondering going back to school.

Business is a Placeholder Degree

Choosing a degree should really be about focusing your skills in an area that builds on your own skill set.  Most colleges and universities offer both broad degrees and highly focused degree.  For example, going back to school for a major in “Business”, ends up being a placeholder on a resume.  Yes, the candidate has a four year degree, but the narrative tends to stop there.

In Lynn O’Shaughnessy’s article 8 Reason’s Not to Get a Business Degree,  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-37244200/8-reasons-not-to-get-a-business-degree/ she points out that the job market is crawling with Business Majors and their prospects of earning power post graduation as well as how they fare in MBA programs is fairly bleak.

Finance or Economics might be a better choice.  For that matter, English or History might be better as well.  O’Shaughnessy points out that: “Association of American Colleges and Universities found that 89% of surveyed employees said they want college students to pursue a liberal arts education.”

Health Care Isn’t Always Hot

“Health care is recession proof” is a term you may be accustomed to hearing.  However, the medical field s also a very broad area, and it can be a confusing decision which area of study to choose.  Unfortunately, those catchy ads for the popular yet costly business schools offering programs such as “Medical Billing”, “Medical Assistant”, or “Medical Secretary”, although can seem promising  with their “Guaranteed Job Placement”, seem to be little more than catchy.  Again, in my experience, and especially with the economy being so tight, companies seem to be mainly seeking applicants with the “actual experience” for the job.   Are theresome companies which may hire on an entry-level basis? – Sure!  However, given the number of graduates from these particular programs each year, the truth is that there are just not enough opportunities available to accommodate them all.  Moreover, it is more cost-effective to hire a candidate with experience, than to train for the job.

The fact of the matter is that there is no easy path to financial security.  A college degree can help increase earning power and lead to a higher standard of living.  But your choice of what to study and where is a major investment.  Choose a degree based on your own strengths and with a realistic view of the job market post graduation.

For more advice on this topic, below is a link to a list of “Top 25 Careers to Pursue in a Recession” to consider (accounting being one of them).

http://www.focus.com/fyi/top-25-careers-pursue-recession/

In today’s ultra competitive work environment, many people feel the need to be “super workers” and have an answer to every question. But, it’s not always a good thing if you have people who work for you that are afraid to admit they don’t know something, and it’s the kind of behavior that can ultimately get you in trouble with potential clients.

She goes on to cite an example of a ‘sales shark’ type who would sell anything to anyone without any thought to the company’s ability to fulfill a contract.  This is obviously not a great place to be if your company, like most, is seeking long-term, trusting relationships with customers.

But what about the opposite? The power of ‘I know’?   Whether its from a sales person or a supporting staffer, there is still a place for experience and expertise.  The problem is that we have become a society of straight opinions rather than one or informed perspectives based on knowledge.  Ultimately, a customer will appreciate perspective and opinion if it helps grow business.  Managers should cultivate a culture of information and knowledge for the simple reason that it can often be the best way to make money.

Of course, Popick’s point is perfectly valid.  No one should pretend to know when they don’t.  But an employee with knowledge and/or experience shouldn’t be afraid to speak up when they know what is best for the bottom line.

Read the entire article here:  http://www.inc.com/janine-popick/2010/02/the_power_of_saying_i_dont_kno.html

Well, according to Susan Cain, that’s an incorrect assumption that is actually costing business money.   In other words, business that is losing out on the power of the mighty Introvert.

Her talk from the February 2012 TED Conference lays out a compelling case for both introverts and quiet time for the extroverted.  In her opinion, the workplace has become too focused on constant teamwork and team building which tends to allow the agressive and extroverted to rise to the top.

Interestingly, she encourage workplaces that have cafe like spaces that encourage social behavior and casual interactions.  About Susan Cain:

Susan Cain is a former corporate lawyer and negotiations consultant — and a self-described introvert. At least one-third of the people we know are introverts, notes Cain in her new bookQuiet. Although our culture undervalues them dramatically, introverts have made some of the great contributions to society – from Chopin’s nocturnes to the invention of the personal computer to Gandhi’s transformative leadership. Cain argues that we design our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions for extroverts, and that this bias creates a waste of talent, energy, and happiness. Based on intensive research in psychology and neurobiology and on prolific interviews, she also explains why introverts are capable of great love and great achievement, not in spite of their temperaments — but because of them.

What about your workplace?  Are you overlooking the introverts?  And is there real talent there being overlooked?  Is there a better way of working that would allow everyone a greater amount of quiet time?  What are you losing by overlooking introverts and what they might offer.

Is your body ready for the beach? I know what you’re thinking….”who has time to workout in addition to working a full-time job?” But it’s important to ask yourself about your energy and confidence levels not to mention the benefits of reducing stress. Working out and working go hand in hand and reap benefits far beyond looking great at the beach.

In addition to working full-time, I’m also in the process of finishing my degree on-line, and I take care of a needy dog at home. Recently, however, I found time to incorporate working out on a regular basis using an at-home DVD program.

You may have heard of the popular “Beachbody” craze that everyone is talking about! For me, this was a program that made it easy to balance both a busy schedule along with a workout program.

Three weeks ago, I started one of Beachbody’s best-seller workout programs called “INSANITY”, and believe me, the title certainly holds true to its name.
Insanity is a series of workouts that takes place 6 days a week. And the minimum workout time is around 40 minutes. I can admit, it hasn’t exactly been easy to get home at 5 o’clock at night, workout, eat dinner, take the dog out for a walk, and then give a couple of hours of attention to my schoolwork each night. Further, I have not really been the type who has been able to stay fully motivated with a “home workout program”, however, the program I am using is definitely addictive, and a lot of fun

Committing a TV show’s worth of time to something that makes you look and feel great doesn’t seem insane at all. The great thing about these programs, are that you can complete them in the convenience and comfort of your own home – there’s no fear of being “judged in the judgment free-zone”; you don’t have to leave your living room, basement, or wherever you chose to complete them, and best of all – THEY WORK! Skeptical? I was too. However, once I ordered my INSANITY program, and announced it to FaceBook for my friends to see, I soon discovered that there are actually a lot of people I know who have used the program, had success with it, and really enjoyed it!

40 minutes to an hour a day might seem like a lot. But, why not give it a try? I always had the excuse “that I never had enough time” – well I do now, because I’ve made time, and have committed to the program. And so can you. Besides, bikini season is coming up fast – therefore time to commit is now! In the words of Beachbody – “Decide. Commit. Succeed”!

http://www.beachbody.com/category/fitness_programs/best_sellers.do

However, we’re still not completely enlightened when it comes to putting this serious medical condition into the context of work.  A stigma still exists around clinical depression and employees must navigate their own workplace carefully.

Writing for The Huffington Post, Anne Harding points out that there is no clear right or wrong way of dealing with the issues of depression in the workplace:

Some workplaces are more tolerant and progressive than others.

Employers are increasingly aware that promoting employee mental health is good for business… A happy employee is more productive, so it makes sense for employers to help people in need of services to find those services. Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability among adults 15 to 44 years old, affecting nearly 7 percent of adults in the U.S. each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And depression causes an estimated $23 billion in lost productivity in the U.S. each year.

But that doesn’t mean you should expect your employer to commiserate or bend over backward to help you. Even at the most supportive companies, navigating mental health benefits can be tricky.

The startling statistics on lost productivity alone, should make both employers and employees address this issue and begin treating depression for what it is: a serios illness with treatment and even cures.  The results could be happier lives and that’s good business.  Read the full article here.

1.) Challenge and Inspire
Today’s modern generation of talent is one that desires to personally contribute at a high level and to be “managed” by inspirational leaders who challenge their ability to innovate and generate results through their own empowered performance. It is a workforce that requires frequent and open communication and expects a business approach that provides the individual with a format of empowered decisional freedom. Finally, it requires meaningful recognition that identifies results on both a team and personal contributions level.

2.)  Stay Informed
Modern managers should take time consider these workforce observations to incorporate strategies enhancing their current management approach. Would a random survey of your team reveal that you are perceived more as a leader or a traditional manager? This is important information to obtain if your goal is to build an empowered team. Business leaders today consistently take time to personally reflect on their management activities from a leadership perspective and work to enhance their overall leadership skills as they continue to grow professionally.

3.)  Stay Personal
Successful business leaders additionally acknowledge that leading teams requires an investment of time focusing on communication as they work to build an organization that is agile and empowered. This communication requires focused “face time” and “voice time” that is targeted and data rich. Emails and text messages might fill in the small communication gaps but fall way short when it comes to inspiring highly empowered and productive teams. It’s a leader’s personal connectivity that provides their team members with the opportunity to openly voice information at a meaningful level that is engaged and productive.

4.)  Created an Empowered Culture
To raise the empowerment bar it is important to build an environment throughout your organization that genuinely encourages and rewards individuals to make self-directed decisions independently with the best interest of your customers and the corporation in mind. As the direct links to customers, your employees own the intimate customer level relationships necessary to respond to your clients. Empowerment allows your team to immediately and successfully transact business ahead of your competition. Trust and training are the keys to facilitating self-directed empowered decisions resulting in exceptional execution.

5.)  Encourage Above and Beyond
Finally, almost every successful business leader will affirm that today’s empowered workforce also requires more consistent recognition compared to teams in the past. Today’s modern workforce performers thrive on recognition and this can be delivered both inside and outside of the confines of the office. To recognize the next great accomplishment within your organization, try a hand-written note sent to an employee’s home instead of their corporate mailbox. This simple follow up for a job well done crosses over the threshold of the workplace and delivers recognition at home which is a far more personal and appreciative setting.

Every modern business manager possesses the ability to build highly empowered teams within their own organizations. With commitment and focus, any manager at every level can work to consistently enhance their personal leadership skills and implement strategies to enrich internal communication, employee empowerment and team recognition and to increase efficiency and gain competitive advantages in today’s competitive business environment.

An article published in the Chicago Tribune, written by Cynthia Hanson, explains that unlike in the past when a main stressor from work was the workload, many of today’s employees have a greater fear of losing their jobs.  Working as a Recruiter, this has been a fear that I have both discussed with job applicants, and also eased them up with placing them into a more stable position/company.  It is unfortunate that this fear can be somewhat unavoidable given the unemployment numbers, and how hard it has become to obtain a new position for someone who is unemployed.  It is however a fear that can be managed with the right frame of mind, and also some tips to get you through.  Here’s what you can do:

MINIMIZE TALKING SHOP AT HOME   
It is no surprise that the more your stress at work is discussed at home the more stress it will bring you, and the more likely the ones you love may want to avoid having a conversation with you.  As a simple rule of thumb, as much as you may want to “vent” your stress at work, and possibly even receive a sense of sympathy for what you are going through, it is important to keep your talk about work limited while are you are home.  If you feel the need to absolutely talk about it, try to keep the conversation short, and only cover key points that will make you feel better to discuss.  Or, if possible, keep the conversations about work out of your home life altogether, which of course depending on the issue, might be difficult – but at least give it a try!

CARVE OUT TIME FOR YOU  
Take some time out for YOU – if you get into your car in the morning heading into work, and are already feeling the stress that the day will bring, take a few minutes and try some relaxing breathing.   Or, you could even try to listen to some soft music on your way to work as a way to relax you, if that is an option for you.  Further, once you leave work, and get into your car for the drive home, maybe take some time to do something that will make you feel good.  Stop at a bookstore and purchase a book to read, stop and pick up your favorite food to make for dinner, or maybe even take a run at a local gym if possible.

IT’S NEVER THE END OF THE WORLD  
Generally speaking, gaining control over your own thoughts is the best thing you can do, although might be the most difficult.  Try to look at the positive in your fear – you do have a job, even-though you may think that it won’t last much longer, you may be wrong.  If you do lose your job, let’s face it, it’s not the end of the world; sure, we don’t “want” to receive unemployment benefits, however, they are there for a reason, and if you happen to need them, they will be there for you when you are in need.  Having a more positive outlook on your workday will help you both at home and personally.

What do you do to reduce anxieties about job loss?  Should employers be minimizing these fears?  Share some insights or stories here in the comments sections below.

Astro Manufacturing & Design is facing this challenge. This major supplier to the aerospace industry has a major challenge filling skilled labor positions and this profile of employee David Slamic from The Plain Dealer starkly illustrates the problem.  Robert L. Smith writes:

Astro executives not only hired [Slamic], they asked if he could bring in 10 more young people like himself. Slamic, who makes more than $20 an hour as a machinist, said he could not bring even one.

“My friends, they’ve got a false perception,” he said, as a $300,000 computer-driven lathe thrummed gently behind him. “They think it’s a dirty job, factory work. They don’t actually know what it’s like.”

As noted in the following article, the Northeast Ohio area is combining efforts from the Business Attraction group Team NEO, local Community colleges and industry groups like the Alliance for Working Together to help close this gap and strengthen our workforce to meet the challenges of the coming decade. By starting early in the education process to be sure that basic skills are taught, and with specific courses in secondary education tuned to local industry needs, the challenge faced today will be overcome. It is heartening to see the combined efforts at many levels of the community and industry working hand-in-hand to bridge the gap and bring a solution to bear.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/take_this_job_and_love_it.html

Realistically, however, making a well crafted elevator speech can be just as valuable to employees, prospective employees, and really anyone who’s attention you have for three minutes.

Why?

Yes, shortened attention spans are a reality, but a concise elevator speech forces you to boil down the value of what you do and even your role within a company.  In a meeting that lasts an hour, spending 25 minutes on “Who we are and what we do” takes valuable time away from real discussion.  When you’re interviewing prospective employees, sure, you could take all the time in the world — but hearing their elevator speech is really more valuable.

So treat everyone like a CEO and assume their getting off that elevator in just a few minutes.  Besides, it’s good practice for when that really happens.

Need help building your elevator speech?  Here’s a handy tool from the Harvard Business School:

http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/careers/pitch/

Wanna know what real businesses are doing with digital marketing? Here’s a few of the findings:

81 percent don’t (that means DO NOT) use social media
37 percent are not using their website to expand their business
84 percent don’t sell their products or services online
62 percent don’t use email for marketing purposes
65 percent do not use online advertising

We got a long way to go kids…

Oh really?  Do we?  The thing that these numbers show is how disconnected many analysts and technologists are from the realities of most businesses.  Since Citibank surveyed small businesses, they probably have included many contractors, house painters, plumbers, etc.  Even those providing a more sophisticated product or service, may have a very limited online presence.

Here’s why:  most business are more like plumbers than Nike.  Most business, large and small, is based on complex interactions that weigh economics, trust, efficiency, quality, and some amount of personal connection.  The problem with most branding ideals is that they are based, for the most part, in consumer products.  These same ideals are often applied to web-based marketing as well.  Most business do not sell anything through their websites, they invest in face-to-face customer relationships, and they rely heavily on word-of-mouth.  So whether you’re a plumber or a supplier to the aerospace industry, most advice about web marketing and social media is irrelevant.

Of course, this is not to say that there isn’t value in social media or web-marketing.  It just needs to be carefully considered to fit your particular business needs.  So, kids, do we have a long way to go?  Maybe.  Let’s just make sure we’re going in the right direction.