Advanced Career Solutions (ACS)

​2022 saw one of the lowest unemployment rates according to the Federal statistics (if you can believe them). Much of it had to do with the Covid-19 retreat and companies trying to fill positions that they eliminated during the Covid crisis. Obviously, corporate growth requirements lend to more hiring.
 
More recently, job growth has slowed, and layoffs are happening with certain companies around the nation (probably to decrease their #1 expense and increase end-of-year profit [and the bonuses paid to the executives]).
 
Most of us know that the first quarter (JAN – MAR) experiences more hires than any other business quarter unless the company doesn’t use the fiscal calendar, e.g., schools’ fiscal year is generally JUL 1 – JUN  30. So, be ready!
 
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RESUME UP TO DATE! ALWAYS!! Any new position, new duties, new achievements and successes, formal education, certifications, coursework, etc. It won’t take that long to update. This may also cause elimination of your companies from early in your career, on your resume, that have nothing to do with what you are seeking next or are possibly obsolete due to technology and market changes.
 
I can’t begin to tell you how many clients, including myself, have been asked for a resume tomorrow because of a pending corporate acquisition/merger, or reorganization. I have seen it a lot and the poor employee feels panic struck. “How do I produce a resume for Friday when it’s already Wednesday?”
 
The other main reason to keep that resume and a flexible, cover letter current is that you may get a call from someone in your network, or perhaps see a great opportunity online. You must be ready to go! Open your resume and update it every quarter!
 
Having viewed more than 8,000 resumes during my career as a VP/GM, the resumes look the same today as 50 years ago except with an email address…a chronological obituary that virtually all hiring, decision-makers are sick of seeing.
 
Subliminally, they would love to open a resume that is different, lots of ‘white space’ where hard and soft skills along with achievements that are portable to the next position jump out at them. Easy to skim, therefore easy to read the items that are most important. This alone will make you rather unique.
 
I know, it is SO hard to write about yourself which is why you should seek out a ‘certified professional’ and just not someone, or some company that shows on a Google search! It takes a real professional to turn that chronological obituary into a marketing masterpiece…a hiring proposal to gain interviews.
 
I wish you all a very happy holiday season and let’s get revved up for a great 2023!

​It was a strange year and seems to continue into 2022. COVID cases are way down from the same period in 2021. The ‘Delta’ variant was rather severe, followed in a quarter by the ‘Omicron’ variant that is said, by those that contacted it, was more like the seasonal cold. More variants will surely follow.
 
More than 90% of seniors have been vaccinated or have resistance from contacting COVID. The jury is still out on what is best for children (to a certain age), but reopening classrooms is critical to their learning, psychological and social well-being.
 
On the job front, fewer positions are now fulltime ‘remote,’ however there are still positions and companies that, with the right person, function well remotely and it saves the company money, thus improving profit. I believe that many positions will and can remain ‘remote’ for quite some time.
 
I believe that it is a candidates’ market at present. There will be lots of competition, but with a professional resume and professional interview coaching, you can win The Offer from those that appear more qualified in print. Bravery only comes from facing fear.
 
This will be a wild year. Primary elections...government (so-called) experts with different opinions on COVID on any given day...the national economy...distress in foreign countries...crime rising drastically in most major U.S. cities, and more.
 
As a registered Independent, I find it easier to research the candidates and vote for the one that best reflects the country where my children can flourish. The old two-party platforms are gone or burning!
 
For you, remain positive amidst all that surrounds us! As a country, we’ve survived times with more challenges. You can too!

​This happens a lot! If there were biases (age, gender, job-hopping, employment gaps, etc.), you would not have been scheduled for the interview(s). So why nothing since the first interview?

​As we quickly move through the holiday season, 2021 is near. Will it be better for Americans than 2020? I believe that it will be so!
 
Our medical and scientific communities know much more about the Covid virus than months ago. The death rates are less than ½ % of those that were diagnosed with the virus (under age 70 and no/few comorbidities). Several tested vaccines are almost ready for distribution. Those people under 70-years of age that attend K-12 school and college are virtually unaffected, yet most schools remain closed, or in a ‘virtual’ classrooms which is degrading their education and progress. Ridiculous and unsupported by science!