Isn't it amazing how much things have changed in the last six months? Seattle has gone from being a haven of recruiting opportunities for the many to a mad scramble of the many vying for the same few jobs.
With the layoffs at Microsoft two weeks ago, many Staffing Consultants are wondering what to expect in the weeks and months ahead. Those of us with ties to MS Staffing former colleagues were furiously sending email back and forth trying to see if anyone we knew personally had been given their walking papers. Thus far, I only have heard of one person that was let go, and that was third-hand from someone that *used* to work with her.
Add to this the massive layoff announcements around the country and globe, and the mood for recruiters is somber bordering on panic-stricken.
Over on HRPN, the global HR Yahoogroup I co-moderate, we are seeing more and more people joining our sister HR job board in droves. A recruiting friend of mine has been working to build the Seattle Job Social Network. The first Social was last week and it was *packed*. We are exploring options for programming, and I have several presentations I've used over the last few years as well as the entries generated on my job hunting blog. I'm even trying to engage my consulting partner in designing a resume and job board for the exclusive use of the Job Social Network (we are an internet and database company, after all.) We are all besieged, daily, by this person or that individual, looking for work.
There is an air of unease, and a fervent prayer that the recent change in US Administrations will help jumpstart the economy. I think I feel the most for the graduating seniors, especially with degrees in finance/accounting. This is a miserable economy to be entering, especially when *so many* experienced professionals in the field are jumping on low-paying jobs just to be able to put food on the table.
Things will get better. There are still companies out there, and recruiters are exceeding lucky that we have a job that has the capacity to be 100% virtual. It's just time to make those connections, find those clients, and leverage those networks to try and ride out the economy.
| 1 comment
|
flag
