What My Employers have to say...

12/9/2011: Wages are lower, hiring is picking up a little.  People need to remember that companies are still trying to recover and that losses form previous years need to be overcome.  We can't go back to the old salaries until we have the old profits.

Many employers have cut to the bone over the last couple of years.  Not just volume reduction layoffs, but middle management too.  Fewer workers means less supervision.  Doing more with less at all levels.

Now that they are cut to a bare minimum, any increase in volume not only takes more production workers and designers, but also means replacing supervision and middle management.  Going from 8 to 20 production workers means the plant manager spends more time in the office and needs a supervisor on the production floor.  Increasing from 3-6 designers may mean that the design manager can't be one of the designers and has to be a manager again.

May take some time to spread nation wide.  We are seeing signs in the northeast and in the upper Midwest, including central Canada. 

9/24/08: Times are tough and our competition is giving trusses away just to keep their plant open.  This industry goes up and down and we put some away in the good years.  I just hoe it is enough.  We are not hiring at this time, but will surely need designers when things pick up.  From one of our 2005 top employers in the south.

End of the year, maybe too the recession...?  12/11/2011

Looking back, this year wasn't so bad after all.  Not that enough people went back to work, but the overall pulse of the industry started to flutter, if only a little.  Still, for JobLine, 2011 ends better tlan 2010, with hope that there is more on the horizon in 2012.  Hang in there folks, it looks like we are going to make it.  

The mood of our employers changes day to day...  9/7/2011

Job searches are on, then off, then changed to a manager, then too busy to interview, lost the paperwork, missed appointments, then start over because the candidate is tired of waiting.  BLAH!

A little better, but not enough...      6/11/2010

... to feel like a turnaround.  Maybe this is what it is like when you touch the bottom.  Like when we were kids and in the big kids pool.  Bobbing toward the deep end and touching bottom just enough to feel safe. Not swimming and not standing, just something in between. 

So while I am seeing some encouraging signs, I don't get the feeling that we are standing on the bottom.  Still bobbing and maybe touching the bottom more now than last month...

Maybe a corny analogy, but it's the best I could come up with on short notice. 

Swimming in a sea of doubt:

We have hundreds of candidate who are desperately hanging on with hopes that the housing industry will turn around soon.  Unfortunately, many have had to seek employment out of the industry to put food on the table.  They stay connect to the industry by keeping their JobLine membership current.

JobLine remains active, contacting employers, sending out available candidate lists and maintaining current employer contact files.  We constantly look for new employers, or new contacts at current client employers.  We keep reminding employers that JobLine is here with the best candidates, so contact us first, and they are.  Slowly but surely.  It is with the same hopes that the industry will return soon enough to help our members that keeps me going. I have faith...

11/9/09:

Please be patient...  I am working part time as time allows.  As soon as we have some job activity, I can transition back to full time. 

Until then, hang in there,

Cheers and don't forget to buy Trail Creek Wines!

Just finished calling my key employer clients.  Most say things are no better, some say it is much worse than it was 3 months ago.  I am looking at options to keep JobLine going while no one is hiring, and will report back soon.  I am still confident that when employers start hiring, we are their best resource.  More details to follow soon...

What Candidates have to say...
JobLine may edit candidate comments to protect confidentiality and to fit space.

I am willing to take what ever the employer will offer and move myself.  I just need a job.  (Multiple Candidates from coast to coast)

Will consider all design jobs, anywhere.  There is nothing in Florida and I don't see it getting better any time soon.  We have lost everything.  I can't sell my house so I will leave the keys and most of my stuff behind.  We will only need a small U-Haul trailer and gas money to move.  I can replace things and fix my credit if I get a good job so please tell your employers to hire me now.  They won't regret it! (JobLine Certified Senior Designer in the Tampa area)

You can put my search on hold.  Our company reorganized.  All of us took a pay cut and some like me took a step back too.  It hurt, but I am glad to have a job.  I am now a designer at half of what I made last year. We don't need a design manager with only two designers and me.  I appreciate your help but I am 100% loyal as long as they need me.  I will let you know if that changes. (Design Manager West Coast)

Hi, I have been working out of the industry for the past few months and would like to find a design job using MiTek software.  Salary or hourly is fine as long as it is full time (even 50+ hours) and has benefits. (General Manager in the Southwest)

I am ready to go anywhere.  I lost my home, my wife's car, and can't pay for COBRA.  We moved in with my wife's brother and don't have a lease to break.  I can be on the job in a week or less. (Production Manager in the South, will go anywhere)

(Send your articles and thoughts to me using Talk Back).  Your posting can be confidential.  Rant, chastise, and advise Employers on issues important to you as a Candidate.  Your name will not be released without your permission.