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The Corresponding Drop in Retail Jobs as a Result of the Economy

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Retail boxes and bags

Image by robinsonsmay via Flickr

When the economy takes a downward turn, the effects are felt by many different people across all ends of the spectrum. From small businesses having difficulties staying afloat, to an employee who was just laid-off wondering where the mortgage payment will come from; economic difficulties affect everyone. There have been many proven correlations between an economic recession and aspects of the economy that depend on spending and finances in general. Among one of the most prevalent of these correlating relationships is the relationship between the economy and retail jobs.

Retails jobs, as the name implies, deal in the retail industry. These types of jobs depend heavily on consumer spending. The more people that are out purchasing items, the more these companies grow and need to hire personnel to deal with the growing consumer base. However, when economic difficulties hit, people begin spending less to accommodate drops or losses of income and pay bills. When this occurs, retail outlets that depend so heavily on consistent consumer spending are forced to down-size and lay-off employees in order to weather the financial losses they are experiencing.

Currently, the economy is laying stagnant, never consistently moving in a positive or negative direction for more than a couple of days at a time. Due to this fact, some consumers are beginning to venture out and purchase more goods and services, regardless of the fact the economy is still in a difficult position. While in fact the retail industry is far from what it was prior to the recession, this has the brightest it has looked in a while.

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Fashion Tips for the Bear Economy Job Seeker

May 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When the economy is booming, businesses tend to hire people in droves. While employers like to get the best people on board, they aren’t as picky about their selections as during tough financial times.

During those bear market days, employers may still be hiring, but they will look a lot closer at prospective employees, choosing those that are the best fit for their organization.

To that end, job seekers must do what they can to impress from the moment they walk in the door. A résumé and portfolio will only get you as far as your actual experience can carry. Beyond that, your physical appearance and personality must fill in for what’s missing.

The first time you meet with your prospective employer, that first impression you make will go a long way toward further interviews and a possible offer. High-end fashion labels, like Rocawear clothing or Gucci, might make you think your sending the right message, but as long as your are clean cut and neat your resume will speak for itself. A major part of that initial meeting will involve how you look and how you dress.

There are three main schools of thought on interview attire. One suggests that you put your best foot forward, wearing the best suit and tie you can afford. A second would have you dress according to the company’s dress code. And, the third is a mix of the two.

Since you’re looking to make a great statement about yourself, it’s best to beat the company’s code. You want to look respectable without being sloppy or too dressed up. (Example: A three-piece suit wouldn’t work if you are interviewing for a factory job making widgets.)

Go for what looks good on you, and what looks good to others. Something modest and attractive will start your interview off on the right foot.

 

Filed Under: Job Tagged With: , ,

Surviving An Extended Period Of Unemployment

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Having your employment terminated is an incredibly humbling and scary experience. At first, you may feel sorry for yourself and curse things like the economy and big bank executives. Eventually, you’ve got to get around to improving your situation and turning a negative into a positive. Here are three things you can do if you are unemployed and looking for new work.

1.) Touch up your resume- If you were comfortable at your most recent job and had been there a while, odds are good that your resume is a little dusty. Take this opportunity to really spruce it up with details on your most recent work experience. When it comes time to send in your new resume for a prospective job, use your cover letter to highlight the experience you’ve gained and really sell your abilities to a new employer.

2.) Visit job fairs- A job fair is a great way to get your resume out to several places of employment at once. It can also serve to give you employment ideas you hadn’t previously considered. Further, you will be among people who are likely in a similar situation to yourself. This can be good for your spirits if you’ve been spending a lot of time in solitude reviewing help wanted sites online and sending in your resume to faceless employers.

3.) Exercise daily- It seems daunting if you haven’t regularly exercised in some time but it can also be great for your self esteem. Working out is hard and can make something like sending in a resume seem easy by comparison. Get in het gym while you have the time.

Filed Under: Employment Tagged With: , ,

To Find a Job, First Work for Free

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you have a passion in life that you want to make into your career, one avenue to your dream job may be through volunteering. Some jobs are difficult to get into without very specific prior experience, and if you can afford to work unpaid for a period of time or have found yourself without a full-time occupation, then volunteering might provide you with an open door. Of course, your volunteer experience will depend on a number of factors: your family obligations, your current employment status, and the requirements of the agency for which you volunteer. Here are two more formal avenues to this kind of opportunity:

  • AmeriCorps: There are several branches of this federal program that will place volunteers in schools, non-profit organizations, faith communities, and public agencies. This is a full-time program that will provide a small stipend as well as health benefits and an educational credit towards existing or future higher education expenses. AmeriCorps, as well as the more specific Teach for America program, has a competitive application cycle. It is popular among recent college graduates. You can specify what kind of environment is most interesting to you, and the experience, which usually lasts 1-2 years, may in some cases lead to your promotion to a paid position within the organization where you volunteer, or may provide contacts for wider opportunities.
  • Unpaid internships: This is a route for people interested in joining a particular industry such as fashion or journalism. Some publications openly advertise positions for interns, while other internships are created from social connections within the organization of interest. It is important to be sure that your unpaid internship conforms with current labor laws and does not exploit your unpaid status.
Filed Under: Employment, Job Tagged With: , ,

Know Your Options for Family and Medical Leave

February 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We all suffer from illness or we need to take care of family members at some time during our working lives. Some of us are fortunate enough to work in an environment where we are provided with clear guidelines about the paid and unpaid leave time to which we are entitled. If you are not in this position, you will need to fall back on national guidelines to tell you your rights. In the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provides us with these rights. If you worked more than half time for at least 12 months either a public agency or for a business with more than 50 people, and you live within 75 miles of your place of work, then you are probably FMLA-eligible. You may take this kind leave if you are eligible, are too ill to do your job, if you have a new child, or to take care of a sick immediate relative.

Your employer is not required to pay you when you take family or medical leave, but they do have to refrain from eliminating your position and your benefits, and they are not allowed to retaliate against you for taking this time off. It is important to recognize that the FMLA does not apply for short-term illness (hopefully your employer gives sick leave), or for the care of pets or non-relatives. Definitions of who is covered by the Act may vary from state to state, so be sure to familiarize yourself with local laws before you decide to invoke the FMLA. Some states allow its use for organ donors or for reasons related to military personnel deaths or illnesses.

The FMLA is often used by those who do not have entitlements to parental leave. Maternal or paternal leave may be taken for up to 12 weeks under the protection of the Leave Act, but the U.S. does not require that any of this leave be paid.

Filed Under: Employment Tagged With: , ,
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