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.

Here is the good news tho… I have learned something valuable. How to say no. Really. I have.

In the few months I have done a lot of stretching myself outside of my box. My network in business and in my home community has exploded so much and I was EXCITED! I thought it was an awesome wave and I didn’t want to stop riding it. Problem was, the ride had me.

Honestly, I have been managing my current responsibilities at OA and I just finished finding and hiring a City Manager for my small town. That took a TON of meetings. Getting something done in a municipality is a nightmare! You can not just open a req, and fill like any normal position. The amount of public meetings needed is more than enough for me to realize that I am glad I do not fill those positions on a full time basis. (Although, I have filled a position faster than cities in Ohio using an executive firm) Also, I was asked to be a consultant for my towns EMS provider. They are having alot of trouble. Thought I could do that and network with more people in our town, since working in Cincinnati, I never get a chance to do this type of stuff. Problem is, they are in a crisis mode, and I tried to get into it…Then things started to fall for me personally.

In the mean time of all of this, I have had awesome opportunities come to me professionally in the recruiting world. I wrote a small article for The Source, and Jim Stroud published my sourcecon post. I have had many requests to keep writing. So, I was also trying to think of things to write about on top of the many things already listed…

Think that is just it??? There’s more.

I also have an amazing friend and now have the privilege to call business partner. We are working on a start up. Cant say what, but it is going to be a big launch. I am hoping to write more about this just a few more weeks. The hours alone on reading, talking and conference calls is unbelievable. Starting a business is not for the weak or timid I can tell you. It not only takes blood, sweat and tears, it takes the dust left when you have no more.

And, last, but in no means least, my family. My amazing, wonderful, family.

You don’t see this on my resume or on posts, but if you know me personally, you know that my husband is a Pastor. He is the Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Greenfield Ohio. We live in a small town and I commute an hour and 20 mins to work and from work. Living in rural Ohio does not afford good working opportunities, and when you have a passion and talent to recruit, you go where the jobs are. I am hoping that changes with my start up, but until then, I am still making this crazy commute. Enough of my commute tho, and back to the family. With being a Preachers wife, there are a multitude of other things I handle outside of my work. I also deal with a stigma that Pastors wives are not ones that typically work or seek a career. (Note to you that may think that, read Prov. 31, whole chapter, then we’ll talk…) Anyhow, it does lead to people treating me poorly. I ran for City Council in my small town, and I received snail mail that was anonymous that threatened me. It would say a Pastors wife should be seen and not heard, or to my husband that he needs to control me and put me in my place or else. It was, and still is, a hard thing for me. I have a drive, a talent, and not everyone, even in the year 2008 can see that you can be a Pastors wife and have goals, talents and a drive to do something in life. This is a hard balance for me, and I can honestly say that I dont always balance things well. Which is the point of my post.

The other important part of my life are my four amazing children and one foreign exchange student. You read right 5 children. (Don’t ask about the grocery bill…) I have one in Highschool, one in Jr. High, to in elementary and our foreign exchange student at OSU in the Aerospace engineering program. They are all special and smart and beautiful. I can not find anything other than my husband that makes me happier than my children. Giving them a life and parenting I never received, is my ultimate goal in my career. It really isn’t about me, ever. It is, and for, them.

So, now that you have the readers digest version of my life.. You are probaly thinking… huh???? What is the point already?

I got excited about the successes.. and thought I was the bomb..

Then

I cracked

I took on too much

and I melted down.

Nothing like a drama movie, but things started falling apart. My temper was short, I was not sleeping at night. I would find myself up at 2 am using my laptop or berry. Then I just shut down. Lights were on and no one was home.

So, I have spent all this week clearing out the unnecessary and saying no to some, and yes to other things.

My first step to enlightenment??? Sleep. Rest.

Family time was next.

Then I asked my husband and close friends for their opinion. Let me tell you, that is not pretty. It is a hard pill to swallow, but having those who know you best to bring you back to reality is better than any $75 nut job.

I can tell you, I am still recruiting, that is something I enjoy and keeps my family going since the church isn’t able to support us financially. I am still working on the business. The city manager and ems, well, not on the plate.. and this is the first I have written in a while as you can see from my last post. My amazing hubby, kiddos, and our church, they are a constant, and I couldn’t breathe if I didn’t have them.

I don’t know an answer as to how to not to get overwhelmed. But I do know that stopping and getting off the ride and changing the speed is not only ok, it should be done alot more than we can ever realize.

Thanks for listen… Amie

I am currently on the search committe in Greenfield, my local town, to find a City Manager. Here is the job posting below. I am not recieving any fees in helping with this search, it is strictly volunteering to help my small community..

———————————-

The City of Greenfield, Ohio is currently accepting resumes in consideration for City Manger. The candidate selected will be the first City Manager since Greenfield was established in 1799 and will be looked upon to inspire and lead our community of 5,000 residents with an annual budget of 9.44 million.

 The City Manager is appointed by and reports to the City Council.  The City Manager serves as the chief executive officer of the City.  The duties of the city manager are established in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC 705.59). http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/705.59 The successful candidate for city manager will be a dedicated professional with high integrity, honesty and strong leadership skills.  A Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business, Engineering, or another closely related field is required.  The following are preferred assets for the successful candidate: □ 3-5 years public administration or comparable experience. □  Solid finance and budget expertise. □  Experience in community development. □  Experience in providing innovative, creative solutions and alternatives to execute   the vision and strategy of city council. □  Demonstrate strong public relation skills.  

For more information about the City of Greenfield and the City Manager position, please visit: www.greenfieldohio.net

 Starting salary for this position is negotiable, commensurate with background and experience.  A competitive benefits package will be provided. Resumes may be mailed or emailed to: Clerk of CouncilCity of Greenfield300 W. Jefferson St.Greenfield, OH.  45123rkarnes@greenfieldohio.net 

Ok, I am going to go on a few tirades, so bear with me…

1.) Jeremy Langhans had it right this morning on this response to Dave Mendoza’s ERE post in the Elite Cyber Sleuthing group..

 http://tinyurl.com/3dd3r4

There are many in our recruiting/sourcing group that is going WAY overboard on using a recruiting community sites that are focused on recruiter development, education and discussion focused on our industry to self promote and spam their business or consulting group over and Over and OVER again. Problem is that WE in the industry feed each others egos. Plain and simple. One person will find a great way to expand networks or reach passive candidates in a new unique way and then you are then instantly promoted to a godlike status where you are handed the ability to spam people about how wonderful you are and how you are their snake oil fix to a rusty wheel you haven’t been able to fix in months. No one calls them out for what it really is, (except a rare few who have the self confidence to know they have a great talent in this industry and don’t need to base their self worth on someone else’s laurels) and it needs to stop. ERE needs to better reign in and control this ever increasing issue. I believe that when you are one of the few that do have an ability to contribute to others in a way that will help them be more successful, this does not give you the right to be an arrogant self righteous zealot. What it does require of you is the intestinal fortitude to have some character to not let the praise or increase in business hinder you from remembering where you came from (the same place as the rest of us) and be a community player and remember “to much is given, much is required”.

I may never make it to that “IT” status. You know, that is not what I am looking for either. But I will tell you this my friend; I will make darn sure that if that point does come, people can see that I want to make the world better… and not just all about me. Ok…. Enough on that one!

 Second rant…Shrm.org posted on Tuesday about bullying is now being seen worse that sexual harassment. Yes, you read right. If you are being left out of the lunch group, or if someone isn’t playing nice in the sandbox (or cubie) then darn it! That is way worse to endure and ever get over than someone being sexually harassed. Need a one night stand for that promotion? Who cares.. No one pities that or rebukes that anymore..just deal with it, right? That is similar to what Penelope Trunk’s advice on Sexual Harassment is. But ooohh, if someone dare make you feel bullied, well call the EEOC this minute! I can see the headlines. “Former employee awarded 5.5 million for co worker bullying.” How does HR manage this one? Will we need to make sure we are like the public schools where kids get suspended if they offend someone? Will we need to have unpaid leave if you don’t offer someone to go to lunch with you? OR Heck, lets just ban lunch hour, it is too divisive anyhow. I think we are becoming a society that will not be able to pull their own pants with out the government making darn sure that no one offended us if they didn’t like the color scheme we choose to wear to the office. Oh, Wait! We can fix that too! Corporate uniforms! Ok, enough… you get the point..