M.D. Wright
10.16.09
Is it just me? Or is it not? But there seems to be a common theme with the hiring practices of companies nowadays -- recession or not; because some of these trends were in place as far back as 2004. However, it is worth noting that many Human Resources (my prime target) jobs are being outsourced overseas and those that are supposedly hiring for that position are lowballing experienced veterans.
A side note:
BEWARE OF THE VAUNTED "ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/MANAGER" TITLE. That's just code word for "tons of cold-call sales". That's the only way some of these companies can manage to lure you in for their greasy presentations before you realize an hour and a half of your life has been wasted (unless you're just the MAVERICK SALESMAN WITH EXTENSIVE NETWORKING LINES). I've been warning people about that for about five years when I was initially duped by the slick wording for the position. I am NOT a salesman. Yes, I am persuasive by nature and have a dominant personality, but I ABHOR sales.
It seems nowadays that the only jobs opening up are 100% commission sales. Who can afford to do that -- unless you are sitting on a few stacks? I'm not. I have student loans to repay. I can't deal with 97 out of 100 people telling me "no" or slamming the door in my face before I even get the opportunity to be told "no".
While it's true that the recession (DEPRESSION) hasn't hit us here in New York QUITE the way it has in other cities, the job crunch is real. 10% of the city's eligible workers are unemployed. 1 in every 5 Black males in New York City is unemployed. Meanwhile, women are being employed 4 times as much as men (prompting me to continue the onslaught against the "independent" nonsense, when a lot of men are being passed over for jobs that are going to these women who in turn flash their wealth and material possessions in these guys' faces as if they are unemployed through a complete lack of effort).
It is a very disturbing trend. I did not drink the Obama Kool-Aid last year and I refuse to do so until the jobs open up. You'd think before ANYWHERE ELSE, we would see some of these so-called government initiatives pop up here in New York State. There needs to be jobs created here ASAP. We're going to end up back in the late 80s/early 90s-type New York City with high crime and people resorting to unconscionable acts in order to survive. Wall Street and Midtown sleazeballs continue to get bailed out and receive major bonuses while the divide between them and the lower crust continues to widen. To be sure, there has always been a wide divide between Upper East Side residents' salaries/wealth and those who live just a couple of miles north of them in parts of Harlem.
As a Black man, the more education you have, the harder it is to get a decent job. I could find a job much more easily if I didn't even graduate high school. And to think, I'm pursuing an MBA, JD and a Ph.D.
For all the talk about "start a new business, create your own opportunities" -- HEY! GENIUS! YOU NEED CAPITAL TO DO THAT.
Just needed to throw that in there for the slouches who suggest that while they are comfortable with their cushy mid-management jobs and houses in the suburbs; never having to (nor having the stones to) take the risk of doing so themselves.
Always easy to dole out advice rather than live by it, right?
