A recent Staffing Industry Analyst Daily News article Yes, I could do my boss’ job better, talked about a recent Monster survey.  In the survey, 67% of respondents say ‘yes.’  And a resounding 33% go as far as saying their boss is totally incompetent.

This makes me sad and a bit scared.  I actually don’t think I could do my boss’ job better than she can.  We all have different skills and strengths — hers fit her role and mine fit mine.

So lets quit whining and figure out ways to work together, to capitalize on either others’ strengths and to help our organizations succeed.

Unemployment numbers come out tomorrow morning.

Here’s hoping the numbers are better this time!

Have you ever dreamed of ditching that desk job for your dream?  I have!  I’d try to figure out something to do with dogs — a dog day care, go back to school to be a vet tech, a serious dog walker and sitter… whatever works. 

Read Ditching the Office for the Outdoors in U.S. News & World Report about someone who has done just that.  He didn’t ditch the suit for dogs, but he did develop a successful second career that takes him outdoors and keeps him active.

What is your dream?

We heard yesterday that the recession might not be officially over.  I don’t know about you, but the signs definitely seem to contradict that official call — there is job growth and other economic indicators are heading in the right direction.

An end to the recession is excellent news for those who are unemployed.  It might take a while, but the job market will come back and unemployment numbers will moderate.  But is it good news for employers?

We have some contradictory evidence.  According to a recent survey by Manpower, employers feel that fewer than 5% of their workers will jump ship when the economy improves.  But according to Right Management, over 60% plan to leave when the job market loosens up.  60%!!

It doesn’t really matter which data set is right and which is wrong.  The point is, whenever critical employees leave — no matter how many — vital knowledge about your organization leaves with them.  If you want to learn more about protecting that knowledge and making sure it is effectively transferred, read a new position paper by Manpower called Knowledge Retention and Transfer in the World of Work.

I had a few interviews this week and last regarding the latest unemployment numbers.  You’ve heard them by now, I’m sure — but just in case…

• Unemployment remains at 9.7%
• 15 million people are unemployed
• 162,000 jobs were added
• Health care and temporary help added jobs
• Construction remains steady
• Manufacturing is trending up

It all seems like pretty good news, but the media has tended to discount the job growth because many of those new jobs were temporary — 48,000 census workers and 40,000 added to temporary payrolls.  I may be biased, but I disagree that this tempers the positive numbers and I don’t think you can argue with my logic.  These jobs may be temporary, but the numbers are still positive:

• Workers earn money while on temporary assignments.
• While temporary help services place workers on temporary assignments, they often result in a permanent hire.  In fact, at Manpower over 40% of our associates are hired by the clients to whom we send them.
• Workers gain experience and valuable resume material.  The census jobs are definitely temporary with no hope of becoming permanent, but the workers’ work history will be enhanced.

And, temporary help is good for business.  Until business owners and HR departments are really sure the recovery has arrived, they are reluctant to make a permanent commitment.

So don’t discount the temporary jobs numbers.  They all add up to a much more positive outlook than we’ve been seeing!

On the last day of January, there were 2.7 million job openings in the U.S. — up from last month.  The job openings rate of 2.1% is the highest it’s been since February, 2009.

There was a good piece on Good Morning America yesterday morning — about where the jobs are.  In Finding a Job: Target Areas That Are Hiring, a good case is made for registering with a temporary help service.  A few other areas where hiring is taking place were also covered.

If you follow my blog, you’ll begin to think I sound like a broken record.  And while I am biased, I believe the facts support the suggestion that registering with a temporary help service is a great way to get work.  The temporary help industry created 200,000 jobs last month and according to experts, half of the jobs created during the recovery will start out as temporary.  I say started out, because nearly 40% of our temporary employees are hired permanently.  What a way to go!

No matter your skill set — up to and including high-level professionals — please consider my suggestion.

What are you waiting for?

I was interviewed a few weeks ago on an interesting topic:  are you committing career suicide by taking a job for which you are grossly overqualified.  You’ll see if you read the article on CNNMoney.com that I don’t believe it’s career suicide.  Rather, I think it’s survival.

I’ve been thinking about this issue for a while and I have a few more opinions and bits of advice:

• I agree with the article that in today’s economy and with current unemployment rates, employers will not penalize job seekers for taking a job to put food on the table.
• I’ll repeat what I said about finding a job.  Registering with a temporary help service is a great way to get your name and skills out there.  Consider taking a temporary position to get your foot in the door.  That’s how I started with Manpower 28 years ago!

And these didn’t make it into the article… 

• Be honest on your resume and when interviewing for subsequent positions.  Don’t hide anything because gaps in employment will raise a red flag.
• Actually, be more than honest.  Discuss what you learned in these jobs.  If you’ve been a cashier at McDonalds, talk about how your customer service skills have improved.  If you’ve been cleaning offices at night, be explicit about the fact that you’ve gained an appreciation for the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.  Whatever you’re doing, you’re learning something that will make you a better employee and a better person.

So don’t be shy.  Be honest.  And use your experiences during this recession to show potential employers that you’d make a superb addition to their staff.

From Mark Toth, guest blogger:

The answer to yesterday’s question is the one hiding modestly at the end of the list . . . humility.

That may seem 100% counterintuitive when you picture today’s stereotypical CEO.  But according to various workplace gurus (including the research team behind the landmark business book Good to Great), it’s true. In short, leaders who are truly (1) servant-hearted, (2) able to put others and the organization first and (3) willing to listen with humility to other points of view are the ones that people will follow.

So, I humbly suggest that you ask yourself this question today:  Do others see humility in me? If you want to be a truly great leader, the answer should be a resounding “YES.”

I’ve always believed that a positive attitude is very powerful and can help you through just about anything.  But I’m even more convinced now…

You all know that I’m currently undergoing treatment for metastatic breast cancer.  My attitude has been good — but not great.  The serious nature of my diagnosis meant that my mind often went where it shouldn’t go.  And while I’ve tolerated the treatment relatively well, when my mind was in that bad place, I felt much worse physically.

I got some very good news last week.  The lesions on my bones have either shrunk or disappeared — so the treatment is working.  Woo hoo!  This news has given me a much more optimistic attitude as well as confidence that this will go on for years and years into the future — a future I wasn’t convinced I had.

There is a lesson here that I’m going to try to remember.  Our minds have amazing power over our bodies.  When I was less-than-positive, my body reacted in negative ways.  Good news means my body is reacting in positive ways.  And I have to think that my new attitude affects how my body will continue to accept treatment and heal.

Don’t ever underestimate the power of your mind!