My husband and I haven’t vacationed together in nearly 2.5 years thanks to the recession, moving to North Carolina, and starting a new job (him) and launching a new career (me). Flying off to the Caribbean for a few weeks isn’t an option for us, right now.
Many of you are in the same boat. You’re foregoing vacations, this year, and opting to stay at home and attack piles of crap in your garage and basement. Thanks to the recession, you are saving money, vacationing locally, and finally donating that big pile of old clothes to the Goodwill. I’ve seen some of your pictures on Facebook. Many of you are working in your yards, staining the deck, and changing the brakes on your wife’s car.
We’re all living the American dream, aren’t we?
Since it’s Friday, I want you to dream & reminisce. Tell me about your best vacation of all time. Where did you go? Who was with you? Would you go back there, again? Do you have a dream vacation you’re waiting to take? I want to hear all about it, and if you can link to pictures and websites, even better.
My dream vacation? Back to Maui, where I honeymooned, but I would like to spend some time on the Hana side of the island. Lush tropical rainforests. Gentle ocean breezes. Bring me a Mai Tai, too.
Have you ever used your mobile phone to apply for a job? Have you ever filled a position using mobile recruiting tools?
Both scenarios are the way of the future according to my friends Chris Hoyt and Michael Marlatt. With four billion mobile devices in the world, job seekers and potential candidates are everywhere — and there are always jobs to be filled. It’s becoming clear to companies that candidates and future employees don’t need to sit at home and send PDF copies of their resumes.
There’s a new way of recruiting out there. It’s mobile.
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So, okay, life is going mobile. What does this mean for you as a job seeker?
Well, companies are starting to make their career sites mobile-friendly. As a job seeker, you can use mobile apps for the iPhone (and other devices) and apply for a job in an instant — without fancy documents or widgets. Furthermore, once a company captures your information, the possibilities are endless. Businesses can send you text messages when they are hiring, they can contact you and ask if you’re still interested in a future opportunity, or they can text you and ask for a referral for a tough-to-fill job.
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So I have some questions for you.
Have you ever applied for a job through your phone? What was it like?
Does your company care about mobile recruiting?
Are you interested in applying for a job through your phone?
Here’s my most pressing question: does a mobile-enhanced career website mean anything to you as a job seeker?
When you look for a job, what’s more important: the salary or the health care benefits?
Would you accept a great job with a salary & crappy benefits, or would you take a mediocre job simply for the health care benefits and health insurance?
I want to thank you for giving us your best advice for job seekers. You guys are awesome. Seriously, the list is an amazing collection of tips from HR professionals, recruiters, job coaches, and regular old joes.
My best advice? Stop being needy.
No one is doing you a favor by interviewing you.
When you are speaking to a potential employer, remind yourself that you don’t need the job.
If you really needed a job, you would work at Wal-Mart.
Work is an exchange of goods & services. Your company exists to make a profit, and you work to earn money so you can support the things in life that have the most meaning for you.
Too many of us are involved in co-dependent relationships with our previous employers. We bring that psychological baggage into our interviews. There’s no bigger turn-off than a clingy, needy, desperate candidate who lacks confidence and self-awareness.
If you lack meaning in your life, and if you feel disconnected from the ones you love, a job will not fill that void. Dump those insecurities, re-prioritize your life and think about why you’re working, and engage each potential employer with a sense of determination and confidence.
America’s jobless rate in June is the highest rate since 1983. Some of my Punk Rock HR readers weren’t born in 1983, so this may be the first time many have experienced such a sad & depressing state of affairs in the job market.
It gets better. I promise.
I would like to spend the month of July offering honest, practical, and smart tips on my site. Most job seekers need a fistful of antidepressants, better resumes & interviewing techniques, and up-to-date accounts on LinkedIn. Those are basic competencies in this job market, right now.
What else?
What are people missing?
What’s the single best piece of career advice you can give to someone, right now, who really needs a job?
I have three boxes of swag from the most recent HR conference I attended. There’s everything from books to t-shirts to candy. If you submit an item of advice, you’ll be entered to win one of the boxes. I’ll do a video blog and announce the winners on Tuesday. l will provide the best piece of advice I have for anyone who needs a job, too.
Let’s hear your best Punk Rock HR advice for job seekers. Do your patriotic duty and share a piece of advice that is absolutely required in this job market.
What to do if you do not have health insurance and faced with cancer? I am trying to figure out what is important. I was hoping you might be able to give me some insight. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
These are the email messages that break my heart and motivate me to write about healthcare in America. I responded privately and offered my support. I provided a link to the American Cancer Society. I suggested that she fight for the best treatment out there, regardless of cost, and to proactively consult a bankruptcy attorney.
Furthermore, Pfizer — my former employer — launched a new program called MAINTAIN. It’s a program that helps eligible unemployed Americans (and their families) who are in financial need and lack prescription coverage continue to get their Pfizer medicines free-of-charge for up to one year or until they become insured, whichever comes first. More than 70 Pfizer medicines are offered that treat a range of chronic health conditions.
Here’s where you can help fellow readers. What other programs are out there? How have you been managing your prescription costs while being unemployed? Were you aware that a program like MAINTAIN even existed? If you’re unemployed, will you use it? How can we share resources more effectively with our unemployed family and friends? Let me know what you think.
[Editor's note: I used to work for Pfizer but I am in no way benefitting from this post. I believe that in a time of 9.5% unemployment, a program like MAINTAIN is a good resources to share.]
I have a love of disruptive, loud, and angry music — and your company could benefit from an honest, raw, and unfiltered look at the way it hires and treats its employees.
You want some Punk Rock HR career advice? Have a strong and developed voice and presence. Even if you’ve been out of work for two years, be confident. I’ve always hired employees who are a little dangerous, outrageous, and didn’t look like they needed the job. Tell the employer about what makes you great, have a point-of-view, and don’t let the job get in the way of your personal mission.
My husband and I haven’t vacationed together in nearly 2.5 years thanks to the recession, moving to North Carolina, and starting a new job (him) and launching a new career (me). Flying off to the Caribbean for a few weeks isn’t an option for us, right now.
Have you ever used your mobile phone to apply for a job? Have you ever filled a position using mobile recruiting tools?
The winners of the 
