| CAREERS NOW 02-18-09 |
| Sassy Recession Site Worth a Look |
DEAR JOYCE: When I was laid off three months ago, I thought, "This is
happening to someone else. It's not me!" My instant reaction must be fairly common if a news clip that I saw
this morning on CNN is a clue. One of the several founders of a hot new Web site - RecessionWire.com - said that
exact immediate denial hit her too when her job went on the chopping block. I looked at the site - it's sassy,
helpful, funny, satirical, supportive of the laid-off community and a great place to vent! Please tell your readers!
- K.E.W.
You just did. The hip RecessionWire.com is a must-see experience. My favorite pieces: Second Careers for Failed
C.E.O.s (still LOL), This Week's Lemonade Maker (turning lemons into lemonade), and Will Meals on Wheels be the
Next Boom? (hot dog carts).
In the wings: The New York founders say they've also reserved the site name DepressionWire.com, hopefully to be followed, sooner rather than later, by RecoveryWire.com.
DEAR READERS: Crooks have turned their attention to job seekers. As the job market turns anemic, watch out
for malicious computer viruses. Tech lowlifes, recognizing that millions of people are desperately trying to find
work, play to that interest with sender lines that begin with "hr" (meaning human resources) in front
of a well-known company name. Or the subject line may read, "Thanks for your application." (And you didn't
send one.)
This morning my mail box contained several of the new phonies designed to prey on employment panic. One pitch,
for example, was from "hr@coca-cola.com" and was presented with an authentic-looking company logo.
The come-on message was absurd: "At Coca Cola everything is possible! We have the budget to hire anyone from
any country where our company is present. All you need to do is fill out the form we have attached and get ready
to bring your career to the next level and triple your current salary! Our company offers excellent benefits such
as 60 days (sic) paid vacation, company car, health insurance for you and for your family, option to work from
home and friendly work environment."
A free virus checking service, novirusthanks.org/blog, says that particular e-mail is really bad-news Storm Bot
spam (carrying the Storm Worm) trying to trick users into thinking that the e-mails are signed by Coca Cola. (Google
"Job Offer from Coca Cola!" ) Beware.
DEAR JOYCE: At a recent interview I was asked to give an example of my analytic skills. My brain went dead.
What can I say if asked that question again? - O.B.F.
Merely asserting that you are a good problem solver or have analytical skills won't make the sale. Have a true
example - one with a relevance to the job you seek - in your pocket to spring at a moment's notice. Surround it
with words with this flavor: "I'm naturally inclined to reverse-engineer situations and other things. My parents
tell me that even as a youngster I liked taking apart alarm clocks to see what made them tick. I consider the parts
of an assignment or problem, figure out how the parts fit together, anticipate pitfalls, make an estimate of probable
outcomes and then move forward with confidence."
DEAR JOYCE: Just watched a job-search expert on a TV show who advised jobless viewers to start their own
small business. That strikes me as King-of-the-Nitwits advice. Your thoughts? - E.S.
I'm not sure where the credit and customers for a new small business venture are coming from right now -unless
the entrepreneur has an ace in the hole (rich aunt, trust fund, captive customers, defense contracts, and so forth).
For a more optimistic outlook for small business start-ups, scour current editions of small business magazines.
Email Joyce
Sorry, the volume of mail makes personal replies impossible.