I, of course, do not remember too much of the 70’s since I was very young at the time and still trying to master walking, talking and learning my ABC’s. I do remember being with my dad in line at a gas station and hearing him and my mother worry about how they were going to manage with the cost of inflation. Anyone remember when you had to put 20% down to purchase a home? I sure do because that was always the talk at my home, when my parents finally were able to purchase a home to own themselves, it was a big deal.

The 70’s seem to be in rerun again. Oil seems unstoppable, the ripple of inflation (or stagnation depending which side of the cup you think is full) is now becoming a full blown tidal wave. What happened in the 70’s also need to look at the proceeding 60’s era. Low unemployment, low interest rates, and progress in industrial manufacturing. Then in the 70s people were compounded with the war in Vietnam, Oil and starting to look at pollution and the environment. Doesnt sound all the unfamiliar does it?

What can be taken from history is how some buisness were resilient and some created, some lost in those tough times and how do we as a HR industry learn from the past and make the future even brighter?

-In the toughest times, ingenuity always wins. Take Bill Gates, a prodigal of the 70’s, who know in 2008 he would retire as one of the iconic businessmen / Software developer of all time. When companies are looking how best to stretch the dollar, be there with ideas. When they dont have ideas, find your own and make something from it.

-Find your way around the middleman - whom ever he or she maybe. In trying to get healthier, I have been told by a nutritionist that I should shop at the grocery store on the outer perimeter. Dont shop down the isle. You see the perimeter has all the basics. Bread, Meat, Dairy and Produce. This will keep down your grocery bill and also keep you from spending money on needless preservative and high calorie foods. So – I ask, who is your middle man? What can you do to for your company to eliminate those additional costs and just do business around the perimeter.   

-Network more than you ever have before. You see one of the keys to many making through the 70’s was networking, just not in the way you think of it. Someone in the neighborhood had to drive and run an errand, and let everyone know to see if there were items they needed or would like to come along and share a ride. Some planted gardens and shared, in returned recieved something they were in need of. Yes, money is the key to buying power, but it isnt the spark that makes something run, or the door to unlock. It is that personal involvement in the lives of others and communicating and sharing of resources that makes even the roughest of spots easier to navigate. Your network is your most powerful tool in this trying time. You can reach out to them and maybe find an opportunity you didnt realize was available. Never leave any stone unturned and never let your network grow cold and always remember to give back when you can.

I read an article this morning that I just LOVED. Wished I wrote it myself, but that is ok, just gives me something to comment on.

Six Good Things That Happen to HR Pros During Recessions

Kris Dunn has everything right. From delivering the bad news to employees to bench building. I needed a good reminder this morning to look around and see the good that can happen in this recession and that I am on the right track with what I am doing..

1.) – Movin on Up! (Tag in Jeffersons music) – Inside of movin to the East side, I am movin my way onto the home office -gas -commute -firewalls in corporate office that keep me from recruiting on facebook and other social sites that I am doing at home as it is and putting in alot of hours.. I get to all that and more hours being successful at HOME.

2.) Webinars and Online Studies.. Now that is what I am talkin about.. I will have more time to hone up on my skills even more.. Plus, Source Con is in just a few days and that always sharpens my edges – even if I can not win, I still love competition.

3.) Bench Building – Man, I love that mysterious and ever so elusive word. I am always looking to bench build verses fire fighting. In a recession market, here is the time to shine and work it. I think reaching out to social networking and in person networking (Like the Linked Cincinnat and Dayton group meetings) are the key. I have attend a few in person meetings, but not enough. I have also filled two reqs recently with my local networking verses my national networking. That has been very neat for me! And my local networking also helped me fill the City Manager position in my town. How? I called a friend of mine in Ohio that I know was a mayor a few years back. She called her network, even tho they are not City Managers, but got me contact names of 3 people who were and knew who was looking for new opportunities confidentially. One of those 3 calls was my new City Manager in Greenfield. Only downside was that it was a volunteer fill. No placement fee for that one. Thats ok tho, what I got in return was people in town I never see because I have had this crazy commute is that I am good at my profession, and they maybe should think twice the next time I run for City Council (and I will again) that just because I am not over the age of 50, I can be a very productive member of city administration. That is the problem tho. If you look at the City of Greenfield website, all the council members are over 50. At some point, old towns need to look at the young ones who can lead them too…

Ok, sorry about that trail, I was talking about HR and Recession, Right…??

Last point from the article

4.) Me time..

     Man, I havent been on a vacation in two years… But, with a recession..lol..gas prices..I dont see that happening this year either.. I will try to pencil that in for 2010.

TTFN..

Amie

I am excited to announce that I have accepted an opportunity to work at Search Wizards with Leslie O’Connor and her great team there. I start working with Leslie next Monday the 19th.

The 19th is a very big day since the Source Con Challenge arrives that day as well.. I can not wait to see what is in store.. The teaser video on Jim Stroud site was pretty cool.

I am feeling really blessed. I had a great Mothers Day, and I am not a hallmark kind of gal, so we did not go out to lunch or do anything super grande, but what I did get is alot of hugs and home made cards from my beautiful kids. They make the day for me, not trinkets..

Also, I have been super stressed, with commuting, wanting to take my career up another notch and honestly trying to be everything to everyone wasnt happening. It has been great to see how making priorities has really impacted things personally and professionally for me.

Interesting to see an imemergence of free job boards and resume boards again recently. hmm.. I dont see where it adds any value, or decreases the paid sites value. To me the quality hire isnt on the boards anyhow, just interesting to follow.

Ah, and again, someone has posted on ERE there is a War for Talent.. A drum that is beaten and beaten and beaten. So much so we are all deaf to the tone. The writer infers more to the global demand from the EU. With many EU nations taxed so high on their income, I dont see the masses here in the US flocking over to the EU. (Unless they are a democrat.. but they are also still here : ie – didnt Alec Baldwin promise to leave the US if Bush was reelected?? He is still here…)(Ok, this isnt about politics so I will stop)

The war for talent is not really a war. There is talent every where. What there is a need for is skilled, trained HR professionals to look anywhere and everywhere to find them. As in Jurassic Park, which my husband loves to quote..”Life finds a way..” Well, business also finds away. When they can not get the talent they need, they look to agencies and outside contractors.. but always, business finds a way. We just need to be there to fill that need.