Minnesota Morning

Being a guy who watches the stock market and economy closely I understand at a freshman level college course what is going on. I get what the issues are and understand most of the ideas to fix it.

Most folks do not follow this like I do. And rightly so. I am a little nuts for following this stuff like I do.

Then again, it is part of my job to follow market and industry trends and as we know and are experiencing labor markets go with the economy.

Our elected officials have and are missing opportunities to speak to the American people and explain the heck is going on.

Minnesota Morning

Whoa, two weeks since my last Minnesota Morning. Bad, bad blogger.

I have been really busy creating presentations for both recruiters and job search, networking and LinkedIn. There will be many posts, news and events that will come out this week including a small but significant update to Be Your Own Headhunter.

I am also working on stuff for the Minnesota Recruiters group including webinars and the first event of 2009.

Below you will find some links from the past two weeks that I have passed around via email and/or posted on @MNHeadhunter, my Twitter account.

Recruiter and HR:

• The Recruiters Lounge: 25 Articles on Social Media Recruiting

Economy and Company News:

• Jobs: Jan -598K and 7.6% | -525K and 7.5% was expected | Nov and Dec revised lower
• PC World: Microsoft Layoff Sparks H-1B Debate
• General Motors: Offering buyouts to ALL hourly workers. $25K car voucher & $20K cash. Targeting their 22,000 retirement-eligible workers
• HarvardBusiness.org: What Demographics Tell Us About the Economy
• Best Buy had internal email today that the buyouts were not enough. Involuntary layoffs mid February
• Target: Confirmed. 600 laid off. 400 open positions closed. Paid through April 1 then a severance by years of service. Health care for 1 yr
• Business Pundit: The Fortune 500 CEO Hall of Shame
• PC World: Monster.com Reports Theft of User Data

Career and Job Search:

• JobberJobber: 10 Free Job Search Resources Online
• One Day, One Job: 50 Twitter Users to Follow for Your Job Search (I, err @mnheadhunter was not cool enough to make it. No love.)
• WCCO TV: Good Question: Should You Google Yourself? (thanks @DeRushaJ for link to MNHeadhunter.com)
• Daily Axioms: 101 Things That Will Add Value To Your Resume
• HR World: 25 Things You Should Never Include on a Resume
• Jobacle.com: Beware of Other Career Blogs
• JibberJobber: The 10 Hour Job Search - Seriously
• Laid Off vs Fired | WCCO TV Good Question: Fired Or Laid Off: Any Difference?

Minnesota Morning

Catching up on a few days worth of links…

Recruiter and HR:

• Standout Jobs: Will Mobile Recruiting Hit a Tipping Point in 2009?
• Microsoft JobsBlog: Microsoft Hiring Update
• CNNMoney.com: Headhunters get the ax

Career and Job Search:

• Squawkfox: 6 Words That Make Your Resume Suck
• What Would Dad Say: 42 Rules for Obama’s First Week
• Forbes.com: Should You Take The First Job You're Offered?
• JobMob: Everything You Need to Know About Finding Jobs with LinkedIn Groups
• Career Hub: Does social media in my job search make a difference? - Ask an expert.
• Heymarci.com: 3 Easy Ways Email Can Jumpstart a Career
• HR Minion: Resume advice

Local blog posts from TwinCitiesBlogs.com:

• Bex Huff: The Semantic Web: Impossible In Theory, Impractical in Reality
• Blogger Design: Integrate Your Blog and Twitter
• Charisma 18: Simpler
• Blowing Things Up / Notes from the Technology Underground: How to be Interviewed on Live TV
• Online Marketing Blog: BlogWell - Growing an Online Community
• The Unofficial CTO Blog: Local ISPs fading away
• The Daily Gopher: it is official Minnesota to play USC
• Steve Bendt: Best Buy Reorg and an Open Social Approach
• Small Business Mavericks: Is Online Networking as Good as Offline?

Minnesota Morning

Earlier this morning Maren Hogan put this out on Twitter:

No matter what your feelings were or who you voted for, you'd have to have a stone heart not to see how this inauguration is impacting kids

I have thought about this quite a bit since Election Day. Kids will group knowing that just maybe it is true that in America you can be anything you want to be. As a late 30’s white guy I can barely imagine what that must be like but for the kids to see this, for these kids to grow up with that thought has to be a most powerful message.

I am a pomp and circumstance guy too. I love inaugurations so I am geeking out on the history, protocols, the red white and blue.

That we can transfer power without bloodshed, tanks in the streets, Martial Law is a beautiful thing.

Other than security (always an issue) it seems the next biggest issue is if there are enough port o potties for the crowds they are expecting.

On this Martin Luther King Jr holiday and in these times I am reminded how blessed I have been to be born in this country. No doubt we have issues, problems, and big things ahead of us but taking that proverbial step back for a moment, there is no place I would rather be.

LINKS

Recruiter and HR:

• Fistful of Talent: Hey Jerry Jones: Individual Talent is Often Overrated
• The HR Capitalist: Wells Fargo and Firing Former Employees as a Part of Mergers and Acquisitions...
• Cheezhead: search engine offers free social reference checks
• The Talent Buzz: The Coverage Continues… News, Information, and Blog Posts for the Twitter Community

Career and Job Search:

• Wall Street Journal: Folks Are Flocking to the Library, a Cozy Place to Look for a Job
• MSNBC: Under 30? Looking for a job? You're not alone
• Brazen Careerist: Networking Thru Social Media, Steal This strategy!
• CareerDiva: Who’s the most screwed in this economy?
• What Would Dad Say: Don’t Fire Yourself
• JobMob: 39 Best Job Search Tip Articles of 2008
• The Boston Globe: Flex your networking skills
• Career Solvers: In Life and Job Search, Preparation is Key
• Blue Sky Resumes: The 7 Mistakes You're Probably Making On LinkedIn

Local blog posts from TwinCitiesBlogs.com:

• RemainComm: On the Trail of Twitter's Tipping Point
• Small Business Mavericks: Social Media: Finding the Right Site to Join
• Media Pirate: Mediapirates Top Five Reasons To Use Social Media!
• Twitter Means Business: Facebook (and Twitter): my recent epiphany
• Bex Huff: What is a Technology Certificate Really Worth?
• The PF Hyper Blog: Minneapolis Unwired: Park Board decides to throw its weight around

Minnesota Morning

I have a bunch of stuff to post today so rather than have one really long post later today here is a bunch of links with commentary to come later in the afternoon...

Recruiter Links:

• The Talent Buzz: 8 Tools for the Twitter Community
• HR Minion: Capable minion seeks evil mastermind to hench for. Must like blogs.

Career Links:

• Chris Brogan: You are the President of Your Career
• Fortify Your Oasis: Networking 2009 Style
• U.S. News & World Report: How to Keep Your Job in '09 by Working Like a Freelancer
• Career Hub: Is Your Head Spinning From All the Career Advice You've Been Reading?
• One Day, One Job: Entry Level Hiring Outlook for 2009
• Blue Sky Resumes: Using Twitter for Job Search
• Satisfying Career – Happier Life: 5 Essential Tips on Thriving after a Layoff
• Employment Digest: Avoid Job Application Rejection

Local blog posts from TwinCitiesBlogs.com:

• aimClear Blog: Degrees of Separation, FaceBook, Twitter & Social Distribution Networks
• Minnov8: Why Executives Don’t “Get” Social Media
• Mike On traffic: Richfield's Modified Basketweave Stop Sign Pattern - One Year Later
• The Unofficial CTO Blog: IT Security during layoffs
• Techrigy: Facebook adds 20 million new users since December 10th
• Bluestem Prairie: Congressman Walz moves upstairs Interesting to know how in one part office space on Capitol Hill is decided
• Centrisity: Vetoed Voters Get Letter
• Politics in Minnesota: Poll: Coleman should concede, but we're no Franken fans, either
• The Minnesota Independent: Kiffmeyer’s can of worms is Coleman’s recount battle plan

Minnesota Morning

Yeah, Woo Hoo for the first official work day of 2009.

I have been working very hard over the holidays so while some are only getting up to speed I am already in high gear. As I posted on Twitter and Facebook this morning:

“2009 business world, it's me versus you. Hope you are rested, fed, and up to the fight because I am going to kick your ass.”

I have been getting some inquiries by out of town friends about the U. S. Senate contest between Norm Coleman and Al Franken.

Today the Canvassing Board could certify the results which have Al Franken +225 votes. Then there is a seven day waiting period for law suits.

Norm Coleman currently has a request with the State Supreme Court about 600+ ballots he says were improperly rejected and not put in the big pile to be looked at.

Minnesota Morning

Happy first sort of official work day of 2009. Sort of because I know a lot of people have today off. Sort of because I know a lot of them are checking their email all day.

With big sports events like the Super Bowl and World Series politicians usually do a “bet” of sort. If you win we send you a (fill in the blank). Usually local food, beverages, etc.

I am thinking Governor Tim Pawlenty should call the Illinois governor and do a “bet” on who fills their respective senate seat first. But then again, maybe the last thing with all the issues he has Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich should bet on anything including if he will still be the governor.

Ah yes, the hypocrisy of politics. It is sort of interesting to watch Norm Coleman taking the same tactics Al Franken did when Franken was down and Franken adopting the “leader” status. Now Coleman wants to count all the votes and Franken seems to be OK with the current numbers.

Current status: Franken +49

Minnesota Morning | Sports Only Edition

Happy New Year to you and Best Wishes in 2009.

This post is entirely about sports, most of it on the Minnesota Golden Gophers and college football with some short thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild at the end.

So no recruiter, career or business stuff today.

College football bowl season is one of my favorite times of the year to go along with spring practice, fall practice, non conference schedule, Big Ten season, rivalry weekend and for the other conferences their conference championship game.

Yeah, I have a bit of an addiction to college football. I do not smoke, gamble, eat too much, drink much or often so as far as addictions go this is rather low on the list of bad ones. I also tend to get more work done because I can watch and type at the same time.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Minnesota Golden Gopher football season ended last night not as a Gopher fan would hope. As I stated in my Minnesota Morning yesterday I predicted the Gophers by 4.

And I was wrong.

Minnesota Morning

I found myself doing some work today and am without my college football update I was looking forward to giving. But since tomorrow is a day of games I will save it for then.

My Minnesota Golden Gophers play the Kansas Jayhawks today in the Insight Bowl starting at 5 PM CST. I will skip the ongoing online debate about why a bowl would have a tie in with the NFL Network and one that unless you have premium sports tier cannot see.

I take that back, Comcast is doing a one day preview for free but only if you have digital cable.

I do not have the premium sports tier which may shock many but by choice I do not. The last thing I need is any more access to sports options.

And being a non gadget guy do not have digital cable either so I am getting together with a couple of friends one of whom has digital and a big TV. Very nice.

Here are a few local bloggers writing about the game. I would point you to Gopher The Roses (my Gopher football blog) but since it has not been posted on since September you can skip it (you might need to scroll on these sites as the men’s basketball team play Michigan State this morning):

• Golden Gopher Football
• The Daily Gopher
• Buck Bravo’s Gopher Football Blog

And some other links:

• GopherSports.com (Official home of Gopher athletics)
• Minneapolis Star Tribune Gopher Coverage
• St. Paul Pioneer Press Gopher Coverage

Last I heard the folks in Vegas have Kansas favored by 9. That may not be current.

I am picking the Gophers by 4. Not a homer pick. I think with the extra practice, new OL coach, a healthy Eric Decker, and some time for the rest of the guys to heal up from late season the Gophers will win this game.

So more college football tomorrow.

Go Gophers!!!

Recruiter Links:

• HR Search Marketing: Guaranteed Rankings - There's No Such Thing I hope Nicole start writing more. She has a lot of insightful information
• Cheezhead: 2009 hiring predictions Consistent with everything else I have seen
• HR Wench: Breaking news: companies don't walk their talk Not breaking news really as this is unfortunately very common
• FunnyBusiness: Note to HR Folks: Hiring Over-Qualified People Is A Smart Strategy

Career Links:

• Career Upshift: Expert Reveals How Facial Expressions Influence a Job Interview Yes, the little things do matter
• CareerAlley: Job Search New Year’s Resolutions - What’s yours?

Economy Links:

• The Conference Board: December numbers released. All lower as expected but not in a steep decline
• Seen on CNBC: Couple in Maryland doing a raffle for their $1.2M home. Tickets $50 www.fiftydollarhouse.com 

Local blog posts from TwinCitiesBlogs.com:

• RickMahn.com: Interesting how people plan for the new year
• FunnyBusiness: Are Furloughs Becoming The Strategy Du Jour To Cut Costs?
• B2B Lead Generation Blog: How to use social media for lead generation
• Online Marketing Blog: How Community Building Boosts SEO
• Garrick Van Buren .com: 2009: A Year of Clarity

Click Minnesota Morning for previous editions or MN Headhunter for the main page.

Minnesota Morning

Finally, the day before the day before New Year’s Day.

I am not real big on News Year’s resolutions. Not that folks should not make changes they would like to make but why wait until January 1? I mean, why not July 16^th or April 7^th? Or whatever day you think of it?

What stops people from making the changes they want to make now?

2008 and will go down for me personally and professionally as the best and worst year I have had. There have been many blessings, fortunate timing of events, good luck, old friends and new people with trusted relationships. I have learned that I truly have the best of friends. There has also been illness, death, client non payment issues, not been able to keep my word as I planned and misunderstandings through miscommunication.

This in just the past 60 days which really is a snapshot of the whole year.

I know life “happens” and while we do our best to make decisions and plans, think about tomorrow and next month sometimes shit just happens and you deal with it the best you can.

About ten days ago on Twitter and Facebook I posted something about remembering as a kid you could call a “Do Over”. Usually it was involved in some game or other activity. It gave you the ability to have another chance.

I decided that 2009 was going to be a bit of a “Do Over” year for me.

But then life happened (again) and I dealt (am dealing) with it and now see 2009 a bit different.

Screw the “Do Over” concept. I promise that I have been doing the best I can with what I have and will continue to do so. Rather than make 2009 a 2008 sequel I am going to make it it’s own year as it should be.

Not so much a resolution but I am going to go back to trusting my inner compass on what I should be doing on any given topic at a particular time.

The saying, “Lead, follow or get out of the way” is one I like.

For 2009 it will be, “Hop on, step aside and watch, or get your ass run over.” All I can promise is that I have the best of intentions, trying to do the right thing and am going to do the best I can with what I have.

Oh and if you hop on please fasten your lap belt and keep your arms within the vehicle because no doubt it will be a bumpy ride.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes to everyone.

Tomorrow, be prepared for some sports talk. It is my favorite season, college football bowl season and while watching much of it have some stuff to share. That and my Minnesota Golden Gophers play the Kansas Jayhawks in the Insight Bowl tomorrow (Wednesday, December 31st) at 5 pm CST in Tempe, Arizona.

Recruiter Link:

• Fistful of Talent: 5 Must-Use Social Media Tools For HR & Recruiting Professionals In 2009 I am a big fan of Jennifer McClure

Career Links:

• HR Morning: 4 ways to keep your job Not so obvious things to think about
• Networking Effectively: Are You Afraid To Ask For A Favor? After all these years I do still fall in this trap

Economy Links:

• CNBC: In Minn., more turn to cash-starved state for help
• BusinessWeek: Will Work for Praise: The Web's Free-Labor Economy Hat tip John Sumser
• StarTribune: Growing UP in a down economy There are companies doing well during this recession