by Ashley Andrus

“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”
14th Century Proverb, Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

The Society for HR Management recently reported that expected hiring levels for May 2010 “could reach levels not seen since 2007″ and that this “spring fling” has led to increased difficulty in hiring qualified candidates.

In conjunction with the increased hiring many organizations will be implementing in coming months, we can also expect many current employees will take the opportunity to job hunt actively as the economy continues to improve and new opportunities open up.

And in the May 2010 Fast Company Magazine, Chip & Dan Heath argue that, “When you own the talent factory, you’ve created a permanent competitive advantage.”

Given these realities, now is a good time to examine the ways in which training and development directly impact YOUR organization’s employment life cycle and some high-return actions you can take to ensure you are positioned to take advantage of improving conditions. Read the rest of this article »

by Ashley Andrus

I recently took 7 little boys to play laser tag for my son’s 8^th birthday.  As I was headed out the door my friend and team expert Nora Burns (who very politely declined an invitation to come along) said, “I suspect there will be some life lessons learned with this adventure…”  She was totally right.

It’s not so much that there are brand-new lessons to be learned, but the experience was a good, solid reminder of what you can accomplish with sheer, unstoppable energy and a “you’re goin’ DOWN, Mary!” attitude.  You don’t need a college degree.  You don’t need to have read all the latest business best-sellers.  You don’t even need a driver’s license.

Here are the 3.5 reminders I walked away with:

1. DON’T QUIT.

You’re going to get tagged.  So?  5 seconds penalty then you’re right back in it.  Your parents told you not to quit.  Your high school counselor.  Your coach. Your teachers. Your best manager.  They were right.  Never-say-die doesn’t solve all problems, but it’s a pretty effective strategy for lots of real world endeavors. Read the rest of this article »

By Ashley Andrus and Linda Anderson

An April 2009 New York Times article confirmed that unemployed baby boomers are facing some steep odds in the current depressed job market. They noted, “workers ages 45 and over form a disproportionate share (pdf) of the hard-luck recession category, the long-term unemployed — those who have been out of work for six months or longer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” On the bright side, some seasoned workers have avoided layoffs as employers utilize a “last hired, first fired” practice to ensure they are avoiding age discrimination.

A May 2009 TIME article discusses age-based stereotyping and its impact on performance, and confirms that impact on older workers is real. Again on the flip side, the effect is offset when a positive stereotype or example is presented at the same time. Experience counts!

Job search advice runs the gamut from the obvious (”spell-check your resume”) to the creative (”think like a gourmet chef“). If your efforts have yet to produce the results you want, why not try something different? We’ve found several resources on the web to make your job search quicker and easier, with the following tips: Read the rest of this article »

by Ashley Andrus

If you’re like most people, you finished that saying with, “…it’s WHO you know.”

That was true for a long time…but in the age of online social networking, it’s more accurate to say, “It’s not who YOU know, it’s who THEY know.” More than ever before, the internet makes it easy to access the networks and circles of influence of the people you know.

As networking expert Sarah Michel explains the equation in today’s market: The value of others + the value you bring to others = your netWORTH (™) . In this economic climate of free-falling 401(k) values, your network has become quite literally your netWORTH (™) . Are you putting social networking tools—especially LinkedIn and Twitter—to work for you?

There’s a catch, though. Too many people forget about the second variable in that equation (the value you bring to others) and focus exclusively on the first (what’s in it for me?) REAL WORLD TIP: The people you’re reaching out to don’t care what’s in it for you—they care about what’s in it for THEM.

Some quick tips on maximizing your efforts so your equation is balanced:  Read the rest of this article »

by Ashley Andrus and Linda Anderson

Though the State of Colorado’s unemployment rate grew to 7.2 percent in February 2009, there are still industries in the state that are thriving and adding employees in a variety of job categories.

The energy sector remains strong with a diverse range of career opportunities. According to a release on Thursday March 26th by Gov. Ritter’s office, “This week alone, Colorado has seen three straight days of new job announcements, which will create more than 1,600 clean energy and water jobs over the coming years.” Growing companies in this sector include organizations like The Water Company in Pueblo, Ascent Solar in Thornton, and Vestas Wind Systems in Brighton.

Organizations in this sector will receive an additional boost as stimulus funds begin to be infused into renewable energy technology and efficiency programs. Colorado’s new energy leadership — with its strong presence of renewable energy companies positioned across the state – is widely expected to provide an edge in the competition for federal stimulus dollars to promote the enhancement and growth of this new energy sector. Part of these funds is to be set aside for state energy programs that will provide career training to fill the numerous jobs being created by the new growth. Read the rest of this article »

by Sarah Michel

With our economy in a recession and unemployment at the highest rate it’s been in over 16 years, there is no hiding from the fallout…we’re all feeling it.  However, there is a silver lining in this dark cloud we’re all sitting under.  There has never been a better time to invest in growing your network and social capital than now.

I have lived through several recessions in my lifetime and the one consistent observation I’ve made is how people seem to shift their priorities to focus on what really matters during lean times…relationships.  This is the time to start reaching out to people in your network and looking for ways to be a resource to others to increase your netWORTH™.

Your netWORTH™ is determined by your access and influence (which I call your “A & I factor”) that you have with your network.  Now is a great time to gain access to people you want to meet or have not seen in a while because business is slower and people are more available.  You will gain more influence when you focus on bringing value to others and commit to being a resource.  Approach your network with your arms open. Read the rest of this article »

by Jeff Thredgold, CSP

The “dismal science” of economics typically focuses on “bad” news. We clearly face significant challenges…no argument here. However, there are also many favorable developments taking place within the U.S. economy. This article focuses ONLY on the “good” news…

• The middle and lower-middle class had stronger income gains in 2007 than did the top one-fifth of households.
• For every dollar of U.S. economic output generated today, we burn less than half as much oil as 30 years ago.
• The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. declined by an estimated 1.3 million (to 11.2 million) between August 2007 and May 2008. Stronger enforcement and fewer job opportunities contributed to the decline. Read the rest of this article »