Tips on how to find a job worth seeking

The job market remains tight, according to a news release from Lee Hecht Harrison, an international career development and consulting firm based in New Jersey. Lee Hecht Harrison said that 484,000 job seekers had stopped searching for work because they believed there were no jobs available. However, William A. Wells, a senior vice- president with Lee Hecht Harrison, said gainful employment is attainable through a focus on a structured effort.

Even with a good plan of action, he said, job seekers who are discouraged or fatalistic tend to unwittingly neglect or sabotage their searches. Wells said job searchers should seek out the advice of others who have been successful finding a job. He said one key point is knowing the search territory - finding out where the jobs are posted. Wells also advised job hunters to be aware of trends in the market and to connect to resources. Network and develop professional relationships, Wells said, while maintaining an optimistic attitude, a sense of humor and flexibility. Job seekers also should set short-term goals and enlist a job-search partner, he said.

Once employed, it is critical that employees weather the transition with focus. With the world of work as well as the world at large increasingly uncertain, having the capacity to concentrate and remain effective in the face of stress, upheaval and uncertainty is important in all aspects of life, Wells said.

Even though there is uncertainty in the job market, employees still harbor expectations about happiness in the work force. A 2004 employee wish-list survey, conducted by OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in administrative and office support professionals, discovered that 48 percent of the respondents listed a bonus or a raise as No. 1 on their wish list. Coming in at a distant second was more time off. Seventeen percent of the employees listed additional help at the office at the top of their wish list.

The good news for the 24 percent who desire more time off is that another survey, developed by Accountemps, a staffing service targeting accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, said employees who take their vacations may be doing their company a favor. An independent research firm polled 150 executives from the nation's 1,000 largest companies and, when asked if employees were more productive before or after vacations, 51 percent of the executives said after a vacation. Thirty-one percent said before, and 14 percent said it did not make a difference. Four percent did not know.

A few local experts and business owners weighed in on the Accountemps survey. Add Staff Inc. staffing specialist Colleen Folsom said employees are productive on both ends - before and after vacation. They are trying to get everything done before they go, and when they come back, they are playing catch up, Folsom said. Margie Cowan, executive director of Colorado's Business Networking International group, said, If everyday, every business owner did the amount of work they do prior to a vacation, their businesses would be in good shape. Seven out of 10 Colorado Springs employees bucked the 150 executives' responses and said they are more productive before their vacation.

Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, said maximizing vacation plans is key to limiting work interruptions and avoiding bombardment on return. He advised scheduling a vacation during a traditional quiet time, such as the Fourth of July week, when others also are on vacation. Messmer said that at least one colleague should know the vacationer's filing system and where to find pertinent information. He also said employees should inform clients of alternative contacts during their absence and assign a decision maker before they leave.

Yet another OfficeTeam survey discovered that 43 percent of the 571 employees interviewed about their vacation plans said the biggest mistake they made was not taking enough time off. Diane Domeyer, OfficeTeam executive director, said, Employees fearful of falling behind on projects or not seeming like team players often put off vacations or limit their breaks to long weekends. However, Domeyer said the need to recharge through time off is more vital than ever.

After vacation, recharged or not, it is back to the humdrum of the daily grind.

So what makes Springs' employees happy with their daily work routine? What is at the top of their wish lists? In line with the national survey, 12 out of 15 randomly polled Springs' employees said show me the money. More money or a bonus was their No. 1 wish.

Brian Larson, a 2003 graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, landed a job in May at Home Depot with a goal toward management or marketing. Money is important to me, but at the same time I have to be interested in what I am doing, he said.

Employers who keep their employees interested and value them, ensuring competitive salaries, reprioritizing projects when resources are limited and communicating effectively stand a better chance of retaining employees, Domeyer said. She echoed Larson. Compensation may be at the top of the list, but employees also want an enriching work experience, she said.

Copyright 2004 Dolan Media Newswires
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