Manpower released our Second Quarter 2010 Employment Outlook Survey today and things are looking up.  Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed throughout the country, 16% anticipate an increase in hiring while 8% expect a decrease.  73% expect no change — which is a record-breaking number for the third quarter in a row and good news for those who are currently employed.

U.S. employers anticipate hiring to inch ahead in the second quarter.  We’re headed in the right direction, but the labor market is still going to take time before it begins accelerating.

To see the details and what is happening in your community, go to Manpower’s Employment Outlook Survey.

Take a few minutes and watch Manpower’s CEO Jeff Joerres interviewed by Hub Culture at the World Economic Forum in Davos.  He has some insightful comments about the recovery:

• Yes.  We are indeed in a recovery now.
• But there are confusing and distracting statistics that make it somewhat difficult to truly understand.
• Companies and employers are feeling cautious momentum but they’re not ready to push unemployment down to normal levels because the consumer isn’t in the game quite yet.
• This appears to be a classic start to the recovery — no surprises.

It sounds much better coming from him — so take a listen.

Last week there was an excellent article on Forbes.com called Three Tips For Getting That Job Offer Now.  The point of the article, written by Jerome Young, is that you might be perfectly suited for the position, but if you don’t have excellent interview skills you won’t be selected. 

Jerome’s three tips:

1. Have an interview plan.
2. Prepare answers for the questions you’re most likely to be asked.
3. Know your interviewers before you step into the room.

If you’re getting ready for some job interviews, read the article for the details.  It just might get you that job!

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 recently interviewed by the local Business Journal.  The original story was about how HR departments have changed since recruiting and retention have slowed down due to the poor economy.  Slowed down?  I didn’t think so!  I told the reporter that while recruiting might be a bit easier in today’s economy, the role of HR is more important than ever before.

In Don’t Forget About Existing Employees  we talk about the importance of keeping existing employees — particularly critical employees — engaged.  Recall a few posts ago in Get Engaged I talked about a Right Management survey that indicates that over 80% of existing employees are at risk when the economy turns.

So read the Business Journal article to understand the importance of engagement. 

P.S.  And you’ll get to see a picture of me bald!

I just read some good advice on Forbes.com in an article titled Three Tips For Starting the New Year With a New Job.  The tips are sound and won’t cost you anything.

I’ll add one more tip.  You might not feel it is the best career move for you,  but I strongly recommend registering with a temporary help service (Manpower, of course!).  I believe there are lots of good reasons why:

• Staffing services have access to most of the employers in your area — registering with one gives your skills and abilities visibility at many potential places to work.
• The staff at temporary help services want the best for you and they’ll work hard to find the right job.
• You’ll be earning some money — maybe not what you were making prior to being laid off, but you will be making something.
• One of the best ways to get hired permanently is to start as a temporary employee.  The company gets to know you, sees your skills and experiences your work ethic first hand.

That’s how I started at Manpower over 28 years ago — during a recession that kept my resume from being noticed.  And, as they say, the rest is history.

Some might call it confusing.  Others might say the employment picture continues to be dire.  Still others might hope there is a chance that there is some good news for a change.  Whatever your opinion…

Manpower released its first quarter 2010 Employment Outlook Survey this morning.  On a national basis, 12% of the 28,000 employers we interviewed plan to increase their workforce early next year while 12% plan to reduce their payrolls.  A whopping 73% expect no change.  And one more number — when we make seasonal adjustments it turns out that 6% of those we surveyed plan to add employees.  So what does it all mean?

• That 73% is the highest number of employers who plan to keep their workforce steady in the history of the survey — since 1962.  That’s good news for those of us who are employed, but not necessarily positive for job seekers.
• At +6%, our seasonally adjusted net employment number points toward the positive.  That may mean expanding opportunities for those looking for work.
• And more about that +6%.  Traditionally the first quarter is a slow hiring month and it is very unusual for our survey to show an improvement from the 4th quarter to the 1st.  Good news?

To read more detail on the Q1 2010 numbers go to us.manpower.com.

My colleagues at Right Management completed an interesting survey recently.  The results might shock some employers — but my hunch is they won’t shock too many employees.

• According to their survey, 60% of employees intend to leave their current jobs when the economy turns.
• And an additional 27% are either actively networking or have updated their resumes.

Add that up.  87% of employees — your employees — are unhappy enough to want to move on when things get better.  What would happen to your organization if 87% walked out?

But more important, of those 87% which ones are your critical employees — the ones who drive a disproportionate share of your companies’ business performance and generate greater-than-average value for customers and shareholders.  Probably a bunch, so my advice to you is to step up your efforts to engage these critical folks to motivate them to stick around.

How?  The answers are simple, but not easy to pull off.  Talent-savvy organizations support their key people on the issues they care about the most:

• Give them — or allow them to do — work that engages them
• Help them learn how to do their jobs even better
• Provide ongoing fresh challenges
• Give them opportunities to interact with people — at all levels — in positive ways

I’m not suggesting that anyone should dread the recovery (hurry up, recovery!), but I am suggesting that smart companies are preparing for that recovery right now.  Develop those strategies to insure your best people stay put!

Today’s guest blogger is Allan McKisson, Vice President of Human Resources for Manpower U.S.  To learn more about Allan, see his biography.  Here’s what he has to say…

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About a month ago, my daughter Maggie was a guest blogger on Contemporary Working.  Check out what she wrote in Find a Job.  It was about her year long job search.

I was supposed to follow up the next week with parenting words of wisdom… about patience, support and encouragement.  I waited for a few weeks and then things began to heat up.  Maggie had a few interviews and was invited back for second looks.  The stars were aligning  — I felt something good was about to happen so I waited a bit longer. 

Well, it happened.  Last Friday she received the call and was offered the “perfect job.”  (I thought I had that!)  She’s working for a recognized organization in downtown Chicago.  Besides exposure to some really nice, smart people who work hard (my model for top talent), she’ll be part of delivering a customer experience that reinforces the organization’s brand.  She’s with a group that thrives on learning and innovation.  What could be better for a recent college grad?  I’m elated and proud of Maggie. 

She’s learned a lot this last year and it’s all applicable to her new career. 

• Persistence — she kept on looking, knowing that opening one door would lead to other doors.
• Never give up — ever.
• Patience — sometimes you can’t force things or make things happen on your timetable.
• Learning as a way of life — she volunteered, researched, interviewed and wrote about her areas of interest… progressive not-for-profits and social entrepreneurship.
• Networking — meeting new people, asking questions and following up.

Interestingly, these behaviors and characteristics will serve anyone well and probably will separate the successful candidate from the rest of the pack.  They seem similar to my parents’ advice.  I must’ve listened and passed on these behaviors to Maggie.

Good advice is timeless!

My guest blogger this week is Maggie McKisson — the (talented, but unemployed) daughter of Manpower’s VP of HR.  To learn more about Maggie visit her LinkedIn profile.

Now for Maggie’s words of wisdom…

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My dad approached me about writing this entry for Melanie’s Contemporary Working blog over a glass of wine during my first visit home after taking the big plunge and moving to Chicago — jobless.  His sales pitch was, “Just a short message about a young person in the workforce.”  With a chuckle I replied, “You mean a young person NOT in the workforce!”

After graduating in May of 2008, I moved home — like many of my friends.  However, I was quite sure I’d find something great shortly thereafter.  I don’t need to tell you that the market is bad.  While others are feeling it in much more significant ways, I never imagined finding a job would be so difficult.

My game plan has been to get my name and resume out to as many people as possible.  I quickly had to get over the scary prospect of picking up the phone and pleading my case.  But for the most part, every person I’ve encountered has been extremely kind and willing to help in any way they can.  Unfortunately none of these connections has led to a job!

While I’m enjoying every minute of city life in Chicago, the last year at home had some significant positives:

• Bonus time with Mom and Dad:  I am so lucky to have parents who made living with them fun.  I wouldn’t have the confidence to pursue a job that makes a difference without their continued, loving support.
• Volunteering:  Lots of free time has given me the opportunity to identify organizations I feel are doing excellent work in the community.  I’ve gotten involved and I love it.
• Planning ahead:  My latest plan is studying for the GMAT with the hope of getting my MBA in the near future.  It doesn’t hurt to plan ahead!

I remain confident that I’ll find the perfect job for me.  And I look forward to being in a position where I can help those who have been so kind to me over the last year.  And I still fill my free time with volunteering, studying and exploring the city.

But for now, Find a Job will remain at the top of my To Do list.