how has the economy hit you?

[Katy Nicholls]

indeed.com is a good site. http://www.simplyhired.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is similar to Indeed.

This is an interesting article with links for industry specific job boards.

http://www.internetinc.com/top-100-job-board-niches" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.theladders.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is also a good one for jobs $100K+

K

[John Prosser]

My undergrad students are participating in a job faire today in Long Beach with a record number of employers participating. The career counselor swears that she can't fill all the tech and defense jobs she gets listings for. She says still jobs for grads with the right skillsets. Have no idea what those are, or what the salary outlook is like. I'd think both tech and defense would be getting hurt right now.

I am sure that will be the leading story on the news tonight and the Times tomorrow (right).

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

I'd think both tech and defense would be getting hurt right now.

I thought I.T. would be bad but when I went looking for one contract while finishing out another I was pleasantly surprised to find LOTS of recruiters calling me for jobs. I was pleased/relieved. That 'SC master's degree is DEFINITELY paying off in an intangible way.

[Reijo Silvennoinen]

My undergrad students are participating in a job faire today in Long Beach with a record number of employers participating. The career counselor swears that she can't fill all the tech and defense jobs she gets listings for. She says still jobs for grads with the right skillsets. Have no idea what those are, or what the salary outlook is like. I'd think both tech and defense would be getting hurt right now.

Weird. Would she have some incentive in giving an "optimistic" spin on the situation (like real estate people up here)? My discussions with people I used to work with down there within the last couple of weeks tells me that the energy sector is in the toilet down there.....not to mention what people have said on here. Is the sky a different color in her world?

[Christine Grice]

I can tell you that at least one defense company is actively looking to hire. It's not all doom and gloom, you just have to have the correct collage degree.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

you just have to have the correct college degree.

Fixed that for you

[Christine Grice]

you just have to have the correct college degree.

Fixed that for you

I'm an engineer, I'm supposed to have bad spelling. It's a requirement.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

you just have to have the correct college degree.

Fixed that for you

I'm an engineer, I'm supposed to have bad spelling. It's a requirement.

Yeah because we don't write documentation so who needs proper grammar and spelling

But she's right....the right school, right degree, definitely opens some hard to open doors.

[Kurt Rahn]

I'd think both tech and defense would be getting hurt right now.

I thought I.T. would be bad but when I went looking for one contract while finishing out another I was pleasantly surprised to find LOTS of recruiters calling me for jobs. I was pleased/relieved. That 'SC master's degree is DEFINITELY paying off in an intangible way.

Actually, I'd say that hiring green grads and contractors are probably the smartest thing companies can do in this economy. The fat is in the managerial layers that draw large salaries and have sky high benefits costs.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

My undergrad students are participating in a job faire today in Long Beach with a record number of employers participating. The career counselor swears that she can't fill all the tech and defense jobs she gets listings for. She says still jobs for grads with the right skillsets. Have no idea what those are, or what the salary outlook is like. I'd think both tech and defense would be getting hurt right now.

I am sure that will be the leading story on the news tonight and the Times tomorrow (right).

Worth the Business section front; not an Page 1 story in and of itself; needs more meat like a trend. Local TV doesn't understand economic stories, so they don't do them unless the numbers are spoon-fed. Then they often botch them anyway.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

you just have to have the correct college degree.

Fixed that for you

I'm an engineer, I'm supposed to have bad spelling. It's a requirement.

Yeah, but can you rise to the level of engineers who write incomprehensible documentation that's riddled with all sorts of errors and redundancies?

[Steve Ekstrand]

That why there are guys like Bobbie B. to fix it.

[Kathy Teulie]

indeed.com is a good site. http://www.simplyhired.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is similar to Indeed.

This is an interesting article with links for industry specific job boards.

http://www.internetinc.com/top-100-job-board-niches" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.theladders.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is also a good one for jobs $100K+

K

Thank you Katy. I will try these sites.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

That why there are guys like Bobbie B. to fix it.

In one hand I hold a scalpel; in the other a chainsaw. The worse it is, the more two-stroke fuel gets burned. ;)

[Larry Andrews]

Actually, I'd say that hiring green grads and contractors are probably the smartest thing companies can do in this economy. The fat is in the managerial layers that draw large salaries and have sky high benefits costs.

Management is frequently a bottomless pork barrel, but somehow that juggernaut goes unchecked. Thain, anyone? Er, AIG?

Right now a majority of tech companies are ditching 'seasoned' folk and taking on lower-paid kids that'll work 80 hours a week to make up for their cluelessness. Got kids? You're on your way out. Medical history? Don't let the door hit you. Heard a Sr. Exec at Oracle the other day on the radio saying how proud she was to work with 8-person teams of H1-B programmers that will crowd into a 1br apt to deliver a software product in 60 days for less than 10K total. Ten grand for two months work for eight grads. That's not even minimum wage.

This is the kind of attitude that gives rise to unions and gets nearly filibuster proof Dem majorities.

[Mari Clements]

Facing a $240K shortfall in my department and $2.5 million across the seminary. Our endowment only lost 25% (way below university averages of 30-40%), but not good. I have no intention of even looking at my or Eric's retirement funds, but the one that really hurts is Matthew's 529, which is now worth less than we've paid into it.

Just found out that there will be no raises for me for 3 years, that they are temporarily suspending contributions to retirement plans, that health care insurance will go up, and that there is a hiring chill (mandatory review by the provost before any hire--even replacement)...and it might or might not be enough.

We knew we had to worry about Eric's job. We mistakenly thought mine was fine. If worst comes to worst, we've lived in the trailer before!

(When we first moved to California for my job, we lived in the race trailer on Eric's parents' ranch in SLO for three months. We were supposed to live in their guest house, but when we were somewhere around Missouri, Eric's older brother decided to quit his job and move home with his soon-to-be ex-wife and their three kids. She ate no meat and no dairy. Eric eats ONLY meat and dairy. It was a long three months.)

[George Schilling]

Every always says to me you're in a great business. Everybody needs plumbing, heating and air conditioning. Problem is, there are a lot of plumbers and heating and air conditioning technicians out of work and on unemployment. They don't just sit home and collect unemployment...........they become my unlicensed competition. To them it's "I pay this much for materials, and the rest is profit." They don't have to deal with the myriad of government BS, taxes, insurance. office staff, rent, overhead, etc, etc. With fewer and fewer jobs in the overall pool, we are hurting. I can't collect unemployment. For people like me, I have a choice of either paying out of pocket to keep the business going or close the doors. The contractor down the street with big boat and Seadoos in the driveway is in deep Bandini. They are probably mortgaged to the hilt. Fortunately, I lead a very conservative life, everything is paid for. While some considered my level of frugality obsessive, I should have no problem weathering the storm that's to come. My biggest fear is that the new administration will consider people like me an enemy of the state and will expect us to bail out everyone else that didn't save for a downturn. As it is now with the so called stimulus, my tax dollars will be given to others and I will have to pay it back with interest. Just doesn't seem fair. I make the sacrifices to provide good paying employment, I give generously to charity, and yet I'm made to feel like I'm the bad guy. The world sure isn't the same as it was when I was a kid.

[Steve Towers]

My biggest fear is that the new administration will consider people like me an enemy of the state and will expect us to bail out everyone else that didn't save for a downturn. As it is now with the so called stimulus, my tax dollars will be given to others and I will have to pay it back with interest.

Dude, that's already happening. Consider: Do you trust this administration to audit ANY of the bailout payments. Didn't think so.

At the end of the day, the folks that did it right will be holding the stinky end of the stick. Those of us that played within our income level, paid our bills, and all the other things that apparently make us naive, will ultimately be the folks that pay for the excesses of the knuckleheads. Tain't fair, but 'tis true.

[Chuck Fowler]

My biggest fear is that the new administration will consider people like me an enemy of the state and will expect us to bail out everyone else that didn't save for a downturn. As it is now with the so called stimulus, my tax dollars will be given to others and I will have to pay it back with interest.

Dude, that's already happening. Consider: Do you trust this administration to audit ANY of the bailout payments. Didn't think so.

At the end of the day, the folks that did it right will be holding the stinky end of the stick. Those of us that played within our income level, paid our bills, and all the other things that apparently make us naive, will ultimately be the folks that pay for the excesses of the knuckleheads. Tain't fair, but 'tis true.

yup, if i could just choke down a little self respect i could make a killing not paying any of my bills and begging for a hand out

:barf:

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Dude, that's already happening. Consider: Do you trust this administration to audit ANY of the bailout payments. Didn't think so.

Just like the previous administration's "audits" of war contractors.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

While some considered my level of frugality obsessive, I should have no problem weathering the storm that's to come. My biggest fear is that the new administration will consider people like me an enemy of the state and will expect us to bail out everyone else that didn't save for a downturn. As it is now with the so called stimulus, my tax dollars will be given to others and I will have to pay it back with interest. Just doesn't seem fair. I make the sacrifices to provide good paying employment, I give generously to charity, and yet I'm made to feel like I'm the bad guy. The world sure isn't the same as it was when I was a kid.

I can't argue with you here George. I believe in the "LBYM" philosophy.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

At the end of the day, the folks that did it right will be holding the stinky end of the stick. Those of us that played within our income level, paid our bills, and all the other things that apparently make us naive, will ultimately be the folks that pay for the excesses of the knuckleheads. Tain't fair, but 'tis true.

And this different how from bailing out the steel industry, Chrysler the first time, S&Ls? When it's all added up, even the stupid individuals will be seeing a tiny pittance of what's going toward propping up Wall Street firms and greedy banks.

[George Schilling]

At the end of the day, the folks that did it right will be holding the stinky end of the stick. Those of us that played within our income level, paid our bills, and all the other things that apparently make us naive, will ultimately be the folks that pay for the excesses of the knuckleheads. Tain't fair, but 'tis true.

And this different how from bailing out the steel industry, Chrysler the first time, S&Ls? When it's all added up, even the stupid individuals will be seeing a tiny pittance of what's going toward propping up Wall Street firms and greedy banks.

I don't agree with any bailouts of failing companies. We would be stronger as a nation to let the weak companies fail to make room for new competition. The jobs will still be there, just with different companies.

The airline industry is a great example. Most of the old staples of the sky are gone making room for the likes of Jet Blue. This upstart provides better planes, better service, and happier customers. Let the old, inefficient companies die. New, better run companies will take their place.

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

I don't agree with any bailouts of failing companies. We would be stronger as a nation to let the weak companies fail to make room for new competition. The jobs will still be there, just with different companies.

The airline industry is a great example. Most of the old staples of the sky are gone making room for the likes of Jet Blue. This upstart provides better planes, better service, and happier customers. Let the old, inefficient companies die. New, better run companies will take their place.

Totally....I just flew on the new airline Virgin America and it's like a little more upscale version of JetBlue. Excellent service!!

[Jeff Shyu]

somewhat unrelated, but i thought it was interesting, 10 points on entrepreneurship given on a commencement speech by Guy Kawasaki at Babson College

"Hi. I play on the wind ensemble, which will be playing at the commencement exercises this month. Our conductor told us that you will be the commencement speaker this year.

This greatly excites me, for as a member of the wind ensemble I have to sit through all of the speakers and try to stay awake, so that I play well afterwards. In past years I read books to stay awake during commencement. I promise not to read a book during your speech."

I will use a top ten format just in case you find me a boring, old geezer. I hope you don't. At least you'll know how much longer my speech will go and when you can start partying.

It is customary to do a speech about lofty things like human rights, society, and empowerment. I'm not a customary guy. The title of my address is, "So You Want to be an Entrepreneur."

10. Embrace the unknown.

In the late 1800s there was a thriving ice industry in this area. Bubba and Junior would cut blocks of ice from frozen lakes and ponds and sell them around the world.

These ice harvesters were put out of business by companies that invented ice factories. It was no longer necessary to cut and ship ice because companies could make it in any city during any season.

These ice makers were put out of business by refrigerator companies. If it was convenient to make ice at a manufacturing plant, imagine how much better it was to make ice and create cold storage in everyone's home.

Interestingly, none of the companies made the transition from ice harvester to ice factory to refrigerator company because they resisted the unknown and accepted the known. If you want to be an entrepreneur, do the opposite: Love, embrace, embody, and create the unknown.

9. Don't ask people to do something that you wouldn't do.

Suppose you made the world's greatest mouse trap - based on a miniature nuclear bomb. You murder mice better than anyone in the history of mankind. However, there are some issues:

You need a PhD in physics to set it
You have to drop off the radioactive dead mice 100 miles away
It costs $50,000
You wouldn't buy a product like this. Why do you think anyone else would?

Imagine if airline execs flew in coach and ate the food? The world would be a different place. Don't ask people to do something you wouldn't do.

8. Focus on implementation.

During the first 15 years of my career, I thought that the key to entrepreneurship was the quality of the idea. I was wrong. Good ideas are easy. Even great ideas are easy.

Ideas are the not the key to entrepreneurship. Implementation is the key, and furthermore, the key to implementation is building a great team.

Anyone can come up with good ideas all day long. I'll give you multiple-billion dollar idea right now: create a fast, small, easy to use, bug-free operating system. There you go. Have at it.

And come see me if you can do it and need funding.

7. Don't be paranoid.

If you have an idea, share it, talk about it, solicit feedback about it. Don't hold it close to your chest. Build partnerships and alliances. License it.

This is because, as I said, it's not the uniqueness of the idea that's the key. It's the uniqueness of your ability to implement it.

If you have a good idea, assume that five other people are working on the same thing. If you have a great idea, assume that ten other people are working on it.

I've never met a paranoid entrepreneur who was successful. The successful ones share their ideas, share their equity, share their dreams, and bare their souls.

6. Pursue entrepreneurship for the right reasons.

This is the hardest lesson of all to learn. It may seem to you that the goal of entrepreneurship is a liquidity event as a means to be "happy" and that happiness is predictable:

IPO
Big house
Fast car
Private plane
Happiness is temporary and fleeting. It should not be the goal of entrepreneurship.

Joy is the right goal. Joy, by contrast, is unpredictable. It comes from pursuing interests and passions that do not "obviously" result in happiness. It comes from building a great team, from family, from friends and inexpensive if not free things. It comes from making the world a better place.

So create products or services that you love. That make the world a better place. At the end of your life, God's not going to ask about your market cap. She's going to ask how you made the world a better place.

5. Continue to learn.

Learning is a process, not an event. I thought learning would be over when I got my degree. It's not true. Entrepreneurs never stop learning. Indeed, it gets easier to learn once you're out of school because it's easier to see the relevance of why you need to learn.

Don't confuse school and learning. You can go to school and not learn a thing. You can also learn a tremendous amount without school.

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to continue to learn.

4. Be brief.

3. Obey the absolutes.

Things change from absolute to relative. When you were very young, it was absolutely wrong to lie, cheat, or steal. As you got older, and particularly when you rise in corporate hierarchies, you will be tempted by the "system" to think in relative terms.

"I didn't cheat as much on my taxes as my partner." "I don't pad my expense reports as much as others." "I didn't cook my books as much as other companies."

This is wrong. There absolutely are absolute rights and wrongs. An entrepreneur is an admired position in society. Therefore, you have the moral obligation to set a high standard.

Think of your graduation as your IPO. All the world is watching, so set a good example.

2. Play to win.

Play to win and don't let the bozos convince you to do anything less. Indeed, the more bozos tell you that you can't succeed, the more you may be on to something.

Playing to win is one of the finest things you can do. It enables you to fulfill your potential. It enables you to improve the world and, conveniently, develop high expectations for everyone else too.

And what if you lose? Just make sure you lose while trying something grand.

The unexamined life may not be worth living, but the unlived life is not worth examining. Make sure your life is worth examining.

1. Enjoy your family, friends, and colleagues before they are gone.

This isn't directly related to entrepreneurship. It's the even bigger picture.

This is the most important lesson of all. Nothing - not money, power, or fame - can replace your family and friends or bring them back once they are gone.

I predict that children ("spinoffs" as we call them in Silicon Valley) will bring you the greatest joy in your lives - especially once, like you, they graduate and pay their own bills.

So.is anyone in the Babson ensemble asleep?

And the question now becomes: Will I fall asleep when they are playing?

Guy Kawasaki, CEO and Chairman of Garage.com, is the former chief evangelist of Apple Computer. He is a columnist for Forbes magazine and author of seven books including Rules for Revolutionaries and How to Drive Your Competition Crazy. He has started two software companies and been an angel for three others.

Garage.com is an incubator business, helping entrepreneurs and investors build successful businesses. For entrepreneurs, Garage.com's primary objective is to assist in obtaining seed-level financing. Garage.com's two-day Bootcamp for Startups teaches entrepreneurs the fundamentals of taking a company from startup to IPO.