Yesterday was an exciting day. Unemployment numbers were better than expected, and I was interviewed by Adriana Hausner on CNN en Espanol to give my views on it. We had a five-minute interview, that got magically edited into a 2-minute segment. Adriana is a fantastic journalist who made me feel at ease since the moment I first saw her.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be featured on a segment on "oh not so negative" unemployment numbers. Although 8.9% unemployment represents almost 14 million individuals out of work, the pace of unemployment is slowing down, and that is something to be happy about. It means that waiting time to get a new job is getting shorter. Because unemployment is a lagging indicator, one can interpret that the end of the recession is closer, and companies could start hiring earlier than anticipated.
 
A few minutes after the interview aired, I was being contacted by friends across Latin America, some of whom I had not seen or even spoken to in years. It was awesome to reconnect thanks to the magic of CNN!

So, here is the video. If I you and I met at some point in our lives, get in touch. You can reach me at rfiguera@thetalentcircle.com. I would love to hear from you.

Making each other laugh by creating a fake “Survivor” show ad in Photoshop with the pictures of the remaining team members is one of the ways Amber, Daniel, Susan, and Patricia keep their spirits high.  After surviving five rounds of layoffs at a Manhattan-based high-end design firm, and despite tremendous increase in job responsibilities, the team found ways to bond. 

Just about one year ago, a firm was expanding at the speed of light, hiring people constantly, and turning residential projects down left and right while focusing only on larger scale ventures. The times have changed and after downsizing thirty percent of the workforce, the firm is, well, still hiring.  However, the new hires are mostly highly qualified interns willing to work for no pay. In addition to tremendously larger workload, the possibility of losing the job to interns keeps the surviving team members awake at night.

The team of survivors did not let their fears get the best of them.  Instead, the remaining bunch turned to each other for support. They found themselves collaborating and building strong bonds.  “It’s a challenge to go from entry-level position to managing workload of four people, but the team makes me get through my day", says Amber, a workplace divorce survivor who just went from junior designer to designing a major Las Vegas club by herself. We have also gotten to know each other better, Amber continues, "I did not talk to Susan at all before but now we are close.” Daniel, the only smoker of the group, and the only surviving architect on the floor is touched that his co-workers take turns to go on the breaks with him for support.

“In the old days we did not take much time to get to know each other. There were feelings of fierce competition, and I felt intimidated. Now we take lunches together, poke fun at the situation, collaborate on work projects, and motivate each other to stay strong.  I truly feel as a team member,” Susan, a workforce divorce survivor admits. 

Their growing support of each other doesn’t seem to end at work.  Frequent get-togethers with laid off team members are held often to keep the team spirit alive, and they have made a pact with each other to take a trip to Costa Rica if worse comes to worse and the rest of them lose their jobs.

Written by Olya Artman

Survivor yourself?  Tell us your story and help inspire others

“We usually have our status update calls on Fridays; we discuss our progress, leads, best practices and have a bit of a team venting session” Justin tells me over lunch. He is not referring to a work meeting, however; he is talking about a new trend with those that have been recently laid off: support groups.

Until recently, Justin used to work at one of the top management consulting firms. He was part of a group of people that lost their jobs due to cost cutting across the company. After the initial shock and mourning period, many of them got together and asked themselves “now what?”

I saw how determined and excited he was about this group so I decided to dig a little deeper and find out: does misery really love company? As it turns out, it does. But it goes beyond group therapy: “we keep each other motivated and action oriented – we try not spend too much time complaining” – said Brian, another former employee.

The downturn of the economy came very suddenly for some, and being a part of a community of likeminded people helps you make sense of the events. Whether you are sharing through the phone, in person or on a blog, this exercise can also make you feel more engaged and integrated.

Once the emotional wounds have healed, groups have also found that keeping in touch with other can be useful for their career search. “By sharing job search stories, tips and market color, we keep each other focused and on track” – explained Julie. And for those who are considering a career change, they have found a supportive sounding board that encourages them to try new things and makes them more comfortable with risk. “If you’ve ever thought about leaving finance to become a chef, now might be the time to do it!” –concludes Justin, with a big smile on his face.

Written by Adriana Roche

Share your own story with us: How do you deal with laid off blues?

I was at a networking event last night and, unsurprisingly, the conversation turned to work and the recession.

An old friend told us that she was stressed out and that she now does her job and the jobs of those who've gotten laid off.  A feeling of doom and gloom now permeates her office. Someone else dismissed her and said "Hey, at least you still have a job!"  That little phrase has become all too common today.

We think that the ones who have stayed are the lucky ones: people who still have an income and can maintain their lifestyle.  But the truth is not as rosy when we look closely. Some people get tough when the tough gets going, but many others are suffering from what is called post-downsizing stress-syndrome. Typical symptoms include: irritability, trouble concentrating at work, health-problems, feelings of mistrust, absenteeism and hopelessness. 

Even more worrisome for corporations: a survey published in December by the Institute for Corporate Productivity claimed that theft in the workplace had actually risen by 18%. So, if your employees feel stressed, abandoned and swamped with more work than ever, there is a good chance that they'll leave when the economy picks up.

What can you do to prevent this? For starters, you have to show that you care about the employees that you want to retain as much as you care about those who've left. A few things to keep in mind:

-          Communication is a must, so acknowledge what your employees are going through;
-          Keep them informed with newsletters, blogs and/or meetings;
-          Have them feel involved by including them in the design of new management practices;
-          Encourage teamwork and collaboration to avoid a dog-eat-dog attitude; and
-          Invest in their development with training or a coach

What will be the result of this counter-attack? It will result in happier and more committed employees who will be more efficient and help you navigate through these white-water times with success.

Share your story with us: How are you battling the survival blues?

Written by Adriana Roche

In the current market environment, networking has become more important than ever. With so much talent available, and pressure to reduce recruitment costs, hiring managers are relying on internal talent referrals and direct hiring. In other words, in times like these, you are more likely to land a job through someone you know than through a recruiter or by answering an online job board.

Networking is an art, and as such, it takes practice and discipline to master it. Just meeting people, attending events, and sending e-mails, is not going to cut it. You need to strategize and - if you are not a natural networker, practice your networking skills as often as possible.

Below we highlight a few tips that can help you become a more effective networking. In addition to trying to apply these tips, we encourage you to explore partnering with a career coach to help you practice and perfect your unique networking style.

Map-out your network.  Create a visual map of your contacts.  Use this map to remind you of who is in your network all the time.  It will become a handy tool for keeping in touch with everyone.  Look at it every time when reading an interesting article or hearing about something that might be beneficial to people you know and drop them an email or forward the information piece.  Keep in touch regularly.

Identify super connectors.  People who have introduced you to several contacts throughout your life are super connectors.  Find a way to show appreciation to these contacts if you haven’t done so already.

Have your pitch ready. What would you say to George Soros or Steve Jobs if you had one minute to network with them?  Be always ready to introduce yourself and highlight what you bring to the table. You will have an advantage if you know before hand who you would be talking to, so you can tailor your speech to catch their interest.

Utilize social networking websites.  Create profiles, and make sure that all of your profiles present you in the best possible way and you are visible to potential employers. Use search engine optimization to come up in searches more often.

Join professional associations and attend their events.  Don’t forget your college alumni associations they might help you develop new contacts.

Talk. Talk to everyone about what you are doing, from friends, family, to your pharmacist and hairstylist.  You never know who will connect you with the right person.

Follow Up. Attending events and collecting business cards is not enough. Make sure you develop a structured follow-up strategy so that no lead is left behind.

If you are interested in partnering with a coach, contact us. We will work with you to polish your skills and get you networking like a pro.

At Talent Circle, we have decided that, no matter how tough the markets out there, we will keep a positive attitude -towards ourselves, our clients and our candidates. There is enough emotional wealth in the air, we just need to make sure we do a better job at distributing it!

Maybe because we are all a bit emotional in NY nowdays (elections around the corner, markets riding us hard) I want to share an inspirational tale today. Last weekend, I ran into my friend Ana. She is a beautiful woman, but on that night she was truly glowing. You could tell, she was just very very happy. While catching up, I learned that a few weeks ago, she had decided to quit (by choice) her job at a top-tier investment bank in New York, and went to work as an apprentice florist with a well-known expert in New York City...and today, as she spends her days among flowers and plants, I can assure you, she is one of the happiest people you will cross during these trouble times.

As you probably guessed...I am not suggesting that you leave your job in Wall Street and become a florist. But, as you sit there and feel the world tumbling down, think about what you are really passionate about. Allow plenty of it in your life. I promise, a job will never feel the same way.

Ana, I am so proud of you!

Just back from the World Economic Forum in China. Wow...you really have to see it to believe it. What a vibrant, booming place! 

On the talent side...I am more convinced than ever that mobility holds the key to the future. Middle East and Far East-based companies are starving for top talent, while top talent in NY is starving...go figure!

So, today's tip: as you re-write your CV, dont be shy to highlight your global edge. Stay geographically open, and you might be on a plane to Dubai before you know it!