CAREERS NOW 04-23-08

Action Steps in a New Job Market

DEAR JOYCE: I'm on the market - again - and I've never seen such competition as I'm finding in this job market. I was at my last job seven months and left before I was fired. I read a book that says you can lie about certain things on your resume and omit a negative experience, much as advertisers don't mention what's wrong with a new product. Do you agree? - S.L.

No. Here's the rest of the story. Even if a background check doesn't reveal the omitted job and you're not challenged on the resume time gap, you'll be asked to fill out and sign an application form verifying truthfulness. The form is a legal document. Should a company want to dump you without muss or fuss, managers can pull out your signed application from your file and say "You lied, adios." That would leave you not only back where you started but with two negatives to explain.

DEAR JOYCE: My son is having an awful time finding employment. He was finally offered a job today with a county government but hasn't accepted it because he doesn't like that kind of work. I advised him to take it anyway and work his way up into something better later. What do you think? - F.T.

It's your son's choice. Consider two viewpoints when faced with a can-you-work-your-way-up-the-ranks issue:

The classic: You probably won't do your best in a job you dislike, and, with a poor performance, you risk branding yourself as a loser who gets poor references.

The situational: How desperate are you for a paycheck? If you're able to get a foot in the door of an established organization with proven promotion opportunities, keep focusing on your better future. And when entry-level tasks are mind-numbing: Challenge yourself to education and training classes that apply to the position you hope to work up to.

DEAR JOYCE: While seeking a permanent job, I was finally offered a contract (contingent status) job and took it. Although it pays more to compensate for missing benefits, did I make a mistake? - H.B.

I don't think so. What you're really missing are long-term promises and those have hardly proven to be iron-clad in recent years as jobs and pensions disappear. The term "permanent" job has become a misnomer.

When hiring is down, employers find it easier to trim ranks among contingent workers than long-term employees who hold regular status. That's why, in an uncertain economy, employers behave conservatively and hire contingent workers whenever they can. When times get better, if you're within scoring distance of being an A-team player, you may find yourself wooed to stick around for the long term.

DEAR JOYCE: I was told of a hiring freeze at the last five companies where I applied for a job. Should I bother following up in case the freeze thaws? - Y.Y.T.

Not until you've covered all the new turf you can. When you can find someone to talk to in human resources or line management, you'll probably be told quickly whether or not the organization is under a hiring freeze. If not, ask. A hiring freeze suggests you should move on quickly before more companies follow suit. Admittedly, there are occasionally good opportunities in distressed companies and industries, but the odds for getting hired are better elsewhere.

One consideration for employees of a company clamped shut with a hiring freeze: Managers often are reluctant to fire anyone because they can't replace the person. Standing pat may be your personal best action step.

DEAR JOYCE: In looking for a new job, how much time should I devote to encouraging employed friends to recommend me to their companies? - S.E.

Here are the ABCs: (A) During this downturn, the number of employee referrals, already high, will soar off the charts. (B) Referred candidates tend to be hired before unknowns. (C) Devote whatever time it takes to manage, without becoming a pest, a network of people whose personal recommendation will make a difference in your life.

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