We all know the expression “April Shower bring May Flowers”. As I live with day after day of gray rainy skies I pop the question “What do October Showers Bring? This warm muggy weather sure feels more like April then October. So what will they do to irrigate the job-market?

Last weeks/month job creation numbers were extremely weak to say the least. The analysts attribute the down turn to Hurricanes and all agree that this is a temporary downturn in the job creation cycle.

I read a story that the fast food chains in the New Orleans area are offering generous sign-on bonuses (6K) and doubling wages so they can attract hamburger flippers to feed the hungry. I hope that someday the programmers market returns to sign-on bonuses, counter-offers and panic hiring. But for now we should all be happy that IT wage deflation has seized and that the demand for IT talent has return to a somewhat competitive level. The IT perfect storm of the last few years, Y2K, Dotcom Bust, 911 and Off-Shoring leveled the demand very quickly with hurricane force. I am pleased to report that this destruction has been repaired with the prospect over the long term looking very positive and the war for IT talent has begun.

As for our micro market sample here at BLK (https://www.jobsbl.com) we have experienced a slow down with mixed signals from our leading indicators. New job assignments are off by about 30% (not a good sign), but the number of new and repeat clients contacting us for staffing product demos are up 25% (pointing to a positive demand increase in the near future)

So I guess the bottom line is that I have no idea what the immediate future holds, but remain extremely positive long term. As for now on this rainy day the NY Yankees are cleaning out their lockers and I know George Steinbrenner will be creating a few jobs in the Bronx over the next 6 months. We look forward to expressing our opinions on who should fill those openings. One thing is sure April showers will bring new talent to the Bronx baseball diamond.

About 30 years ago I discovered the staffing industry or as it was called then “the placement business”. Looking back it was one of the best days of my life, with the exception of my wedding day (my wife always reads these entries).

For the past 30 years I have enjoyed the fruits of this business, the challenges, the “thanks” from clients, job seekers and wonderful employees. Rarely will a day pass that I don’t thank god for guiding me into this wonderful profession.

For the past 20 years I have attended every NAPS conference through good and bad times. Each year I’ve walked away with different ideas, most I forget (senior moment), but always returned with immediate and future techniques that improved my business.

Our company has survived numerous recessions over the past quarter century and grew during this most recent staffing depression. How did we survive and thrive? I must give credit to NAPS Conferences. During these 3-day annual events I have met many great colleagues, been in the presents of master teachers, visited informative vendors, received sensible legal advice and mixed in a lot of fun. These exchanges as student, peer and teacher have given our organization invaluable lessons on closing, marketing, management, trend analysis and operation strategies.

So in less than 30 days the NAPS Conference begins. The price is reasonable $399, the best education value in the industry. However the true cost of attending these 3 days is your time away from your business. But as someone who is returning for the 21st time (slow learner) I know that the real “loss” would be to miss this opportunity to increase my understanding and guaranteed return in future business. So please consider joining this staffing event.

If you are one of the 600 already registered, you know what I am talking about. If you are one of the many sole proprietors, business owners, managers or recruiters who are not yet registered click here. With 30 Speakers, 3 Keynotes, Value-Add sessions (featuring Barb Bruno and Danny Cahill) exhibitors, legal session and 35 best practice tables I know you will walk away with tangible and intangibles that will help your business grow and prosper over the next 30 Years.

May the staffing gods be with you.

August is the full swing on NY/NJ vacation times. Record rentals are being reported in area resorts. Tourism has returned to normal in NYC. So who will find the time to interview job prospects, write the job specification and check the references? I don’t know but based on our continuing increase of job orders somebody is NOT on vacation.

Today, one BLK (https://www.jobsbl.com ) client whom will be adding 20 plus additions to staff during the next four months, place and order for 5 direct hires and one temporary consultant. Our HR department reports a record number of new orders for temporary corporate recruiters (always a good sign for job creation). Rates for recruiters are rapidly increasing back to prior 2001 levels. All are great signs for the job seeker and point to the concerns as competition for talent heats up with the August temperatures and I am projecting to continue through the rest of the third quarter and into the fourth.

Another NYC based client called for a proposal to staff three information technology positions to develop the automation of new business lines. A new tier client place and order for two additions to staff in the Washington D.C. region. Repeat business from returning BLK tier clients are increasing daily through the summer months at record levels. So much for planned vacations.

All of this summer activity leads me to believe that by Labor Day, we will celebrate with a lower unemployment rate and look for the hiring pace to increase even more in September. My one word of caution is the high price of gas could put a halt on this optimistic prediction.

One observation continues as an increasing percentage of these hiring demands are coming from employers with less that 500 employees. Small business has always been an engine for new positions, but from my observations during the most recent 7 months they are beginning to run on all cylinders, surpassing the fortunes in momentum and career opportunity.

Yesterday was the first day of summer. Telling signs of the season are warmth and relaxation. Cool drinks, barbecues, vacations, sandals and shore visits are the signatures of summers in the NY/NJ region. But as the pavement heats up will the job market pick up or will a chilling thunderstorm symbolize this summer job market?

Here at BLK (https://www.jobsbl.com) our leading indicators turned down sharply during the beginning of May and we experienced a slow down of new hires from mid-May until this week. It is just during the past 5 business days have we seen these leading indicators reverse and begin to rise in synch with the rising mercury.

So my predictions are for a strong summer of hiring with just enough rainy days to keep the flowers from weltering. The Bergen Record article recently published (6/14/05) a survey that reported 47% of Bergen County companies are planning to increase staff during the 3rd quarter with only 9% planning on downsizing. These figures are very positive compared to the New Jersey statewide results reporting only 23% planning on increasing hiring during this period. As for the United States 31% are planning on adding to staff during Q3.

Skills that we at BLK (https://jobsbl.com) see rising faster than the temperature are: Java Developers, Network Security, Cost Accountants, Tax Accountants, Recruiters, MY/SQL, PHP & C# developers, & Compensation Analyst.

So if you are a job seeker remain aggressive in your search. Even if its from your cell phone on the beach. And for the employers these numbers point to a heating up of the talent war for the best and the brightest. All in all it should make for a hot, stormy, sizzling season.

Here at Berman Larson Kane (https://www.jobsbl.com) we have several staff member’s children graduating from high schools and colleges. Each BLK employee is filled with excitement watching their children cross these thresholds to college, graduate school and the work force. Graduation parties are planned, proms anticipated and ceremonies attended with great excitement. Graduates and their families all anticipating a bright future for loved ones.

As I attend these milestones, listen to the commencement speakers and look into the eyes of the robed graduates, the speakers always bridge the good times pasted with the obligation and commitments to the future. I am always motivated by the humane platitudes of these speeches. They sort of remind me of New Year’s eve resolutions sounding great in the heat of the June sun, extremely logical as I sit in the bleachers but forgotten by my retreat to air conditioning and a cold drink.

My question to myself is how do I maintain this June spark throughout the year. Our established careers should be refreshed with these insights and send us forth ready to conquer the world. Or at the very least showing up for work on time.

Here at BLK (https://www.jobsbl.com) we are always having clients and potential clients calling us for immediate results. Or, what I should say having the expectation that we have qualified candidates for their “unique” needs one finger click away from our desk to theirs. On some occasions this is true especially in our local office support division but for the majority of searches a unique work plan is needed to service their “unique” request for “unique” talent to meet the client’s “unique” staffing requirements.

Therefore for the majority of requests we at BLK have to organize a work plan to make sure a wide net is cast over the three distinct giant talent pools.

Pool #1 – Qualified but Not Looking Talent – The majority of talent is not looking for a new job. Even if they are not 100% satisfied most employees are sitting at their desks doing a good job and bringing great value to their employers. Reaching out to this pool requires, organization, automation, tenacity, persistence and a very labor intense effort by our staff here at BLK. In organizing a work plan we at BLK need to discuss with the client, competitor sources, optional titles that this person might bear, email blast lists, lures to temp a passive candidate into speaking with the client, advantages to working with the client, career path, current and potential compensation and competitive advantages. All of these steps and many more require a very organized detailed plan.

Pool #2 – Qualified Actively Looking Talent – These are the millions of job seeking candidates that have their resumes displayed on the web. Whether they are displayed on the public, private, and niche or discussion boards. Sifting through this vast resource to isolate the “unique” requested talent is an art and a science and requires seeking, qualifying, and as the market becomes more competitive luring talent.

Pool # 3 – Actively Selective Looking Talent – These are what we refer to as web surfers. They do not have their resumes displayed on the boards nore are they sending out mailing to announce their availability. This is a group of talent that check job boards and selective websites on a regular basis looking for the ideal position or career move. To get the attention of this group one needs an organized web campaign that includes job boards, niche sites, corporate sites and agency sites. Along with the correct image, reputation and ethics. However, to attract the correct “unique” talent” using this method always means sifting through the 1,000 of incorrect responses to isolate the few correct ones.

So as you look to fill your jobs or find the best career move, remember jobs and hiring are very serious undertakings and the step of isolating the best talent is a very labor-intensive undertaking. We here at Berman Larson Kane have been attempting to get it right for the past 25 years. Thanks for all your business and understanding.

Yesterday I celebrated my 53rd birthday. Celebrate is a generous description, since as I get older the only birthdays that have any significance are the milestone decade transitions. So my secret wish is for these birthdays to pass with minimum acknowledgement. But our front office software here announces birthdays to all Berman Larson Kane (https://www.jobsbl.com)employees on network login. So much for anonymity? But the computer wishes didn’t stop here.

When I checked my voice mail during the day I received at least 20-25 birthday wishes from sales reps who are either prospecting or have prior sales history with BLK. Another 20 or so I believe auto-generated e-cards arrived from various organizations, retail establishments and others seeking favors. What was the sincerity of these wishes? I believe the intent is sincere but would these wishes have arrived without automation. I think at least 90% would have not. How some of these groups obtained my birthday information is a mystery. Is there a market out there for the four digits of (mm/dd) of passage? I guess so!

In contrast to these automated wishes I have 6 siblings, 3 of them called to wish me a happy birthday not bad at our ages for 50% of them to remember. Would hazard a guess that none of them where generated by computer ticklers, but more likely by my mother’s nudges (God bless her). The group here at BLK had a lovely cake, singing and a great card with warm wishes, very meaningful. My 3 children and great wife all remembered with presents and phone calls. I am truly blessed with family, friends and co-workers.

So what is the point of this entry I don’t think it has one? Just my rambles about a not so natural observation “computer generated b-day wishes”.

As for the real celebration, everyday is a gift and is a present. And as I get older I appreciated all the wonders of life that each day brings without automated reminders. One day, one breathe, one nanosecond at a time. As for computers they are a most wonderful amazing invention, the best organizational helper ever, they just don’t need to remind me that I am getting older and older with so much efficiency.

“April showers they bring those May Flowers” “April is the month of Death & Taxes” and this April is the 25th anniversary of Berman Larson Kane. https://www.jobsbl.com

So what has 25 years in business taught me? What lesson can I pass along to 25 years of helping employers and job seekers?

Observation # 1 – Change is a Constant/ Predicting Change is a Crap Shoot
In 1980 when BLK started, resumes were typed and snail mailed. Bicycle messengers peddled from mid-town to down town with urgent resumes that needed to be delivered for next day interviews. I thought the fax machine was the greatest invention, only to have an exclusive life cycle of only about 3-5 years before email made faxing resumes obsolete. I thought the Internet job boards would never be able to deliver quality job applicants. Now we at BLK have our own job search and registration system. Were have all the programming jobs and programmers gone? Maybe Peter Paul and Mary had the answer “it’s blowing in the wind”.

Observation # 2 – Values are the Foundation of Business/Life and Remain a Constant
Over the past 25 years our mission statement has adjusted, some years becoming longer and other years shorter. The type and mix of services is constantly adjusting at our clients and job seekers request. But the Value of offering “The Best Staffing Options” has always been the foundation of our Berman Larson Kane’s success.

Observation # 3 – Providing Excellent Service is a Continuous Journey
I know that we offer a great staffing service and have the best employees in the staffing industry working here at BLK. A great group of experience, smart, dedicated employees looking to assist job seekers and employers with matching careers aspirations to jobs that need to be performed. Our service is dedicated to making sure that both job seeker and employer are winners. How we accomplish this is a daily journey. Our previous experience is only one of the tools that make us who we are. Continuous learning is another part of the journey. Understanding and listening is a continuous process towards providing the “Best Staffing Options”.

Good I love this Journey…. may it continue for at least another 25 years. Special thanks to all that have joined us and assisted us on this value driven, constantly changing and continuous journey. Berman Larson Kane https://www.jobsbl.com

March is the season for College basketball playoffs and this year it is the month of job madness. We here at Berman Larson Kane (https://www.jobsbl.com) continue to see a dramatic increase in the number of our clients that are hiring at a March Madness pace. A welcomed contrast to the lackluster hiring “sadness” of the past few years.

Hot areas that have re-emerged include technology/brokerage/finance, logistics, lease administrators, sales/marketing, programmers, database administration, human resources, corporate recruiters and customer service. Competition for these skill sets will be creating a war of talent to staff growing business.

Another interesting trend is that the technology survivors of the dot.com era have seen a recent business surge creating a need to hire rapidly to increase/maintain their market share. A dramatic change from recent layoffs and business failures.

As a staffing company we at Berman Larson Kane hope this activity continues for the talent that still seeks employment. If these needs continue to accelerate we might even see employers willing to train US job seekers in needed skills. Evident of this is our HR department is beginning to see scattered requirement for training & development professionals.

One word of caution, the wild card in this March Hiring Madness is the price of oil. We at BLK remained concerned that if this spike at the pump continues it will put a halt on this new hiring cycle. As for now job seekers should enjoy the competition on and off the court.

Effortless, seamless, natural, instinctive, in the flow, is the heart-warming expression for those with the right partners and/or the right careers. We at Berman Larson Kane (https://www.jobsbl.com) are always in awe.

“Valentines Day” the hallmark/retailers holiday of love. A day to formalize our expressions of love for romantic partners with gifts of flowers, jewelry, cards and foods. For those lucky enough to be in a solid loving relationship all days of the year or at least most of those days are caring expressions of love. (No daily gifts needed) But occasional flowers and jewelry don’t hurt.

Well although it is different type of love. Think of those whom you know who are in the right career and jobs. They are usually successful, but would do their jobs with the same energy and passion no matter what the pay or hours. We all know this person; it might be a maintenance worker, sales professional or the CEO. It might be your accountant (probably not your lawyer just joking) or another service worker who is in a zone that allows them to perform their job perfectly, joyfully and gracefully everyday on every project. These lucky people are the cupids of the work world. These true work-a-world valentines are the ones that carry a company to greatness. Are the ones that all your customer’s love. Are the ones that you always want to embrace on your project team. And are the staffing professionals that you want filling your positions or assisting your careers.

On this day as you buy your gifts, write cards and make those expressions of love to your partners and/or those whom you are wooing. Take a brief moment to feel if this is a natural or forced activity. If it is natural you are in the flow. If it is forced I hope that it is a temporary situation. Because if it is not? Difficult choices could be on the horizon.

One final valentine career thought. Think of your job, as you’re other lover, friend and guardian. Read each hallmark sayings applying it to your job and career. Are you in that love zone? If you are, you are a very fortunate person. You are the ones that our clients love to hire and the ones lucky enough to be guarantee effortless career success. If it is forced? Career challenges are probably in your future.

Our Berman Larson Kane valentine wish to all is may the love of cupid strike your heart in all areas of your life. Enjoy the holiday and if you aren’t in the flow, at least you can drown your sorrows with chocolate.