Ups & Downs

“You don’t want to work at being seen, it’s better to be seen working.”

That’s what one of the staffers of the Duane Reade Pharmacy at the corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue in Times Square in New York City said Thursday when I stepped into the store’s elevator.

It was just a chance meeting, but the lesson is a good one!

As the elevator door opened, the man was polishing/cleaning the stainless steel inside. I smiled and said,”Ahh, caught you working!"

He chuckled and delivered the perfect line: “You don’t want to work at being seen, its better to be seen working.” He continued polishing that elevator with such a sparkle in his eye, that it put a smile on my face and made me happy for him.

This man got me thinking about all the other jobs hardworking American’s perform everyday without notice.

It got me re-focused on the jobs people have or don't have, and the struggles most are going through these days.

I created my Dear Job Hunter blog in June, 2010, but during most of this year, I’ve been so focused on making sure my own little company survives, that I haven’t had a chance to keep-up with this blog, that I’ve been told by my readers, is REALLY needed during these tough times.

So my chance meeting with the Duane Reade employee gives me the perfect chance to get back to writing and talking about something that is affecting EVERYONE in America in someway.

It was the perfect day to re-engage on Dear Job Hunter because I was travelling from New York City to Chicago with a several hour delay at LaGuardia Airport. It was a good week, having attended a CNN launch party for my close friend, Erin Burnett. Erin has a great new job and career. She’s a pro!

For most journalists, Erin has the ultimate job...she is the television news anchor of a new primetime general news program on CNN called OutFront. The show begins Monday, October 3, 2011.

It was great to see how happy Erin was about her new job! However, Erin’s job wasn’t the only job I took notice of during this visit to NYC. I spoke to a website code writer, a global insurance executive, flight attendants, TSA staffers, cab drivers, clerks, ticket agents, baggage handlers, waiters and busboys. The list goes on-and-on.

I thought how great that all of these people have jobs…and by golly…most seem happy doing what they do every day.

After I boarded my plane, I read a cover story called The New Faces of Poverty in USA Today about those who have lost their jobs…then their homes…and the rest of their American Dream. The story details how hard it is for people to give up their pride while relying on food banks, friends and families to help. Even with all the turmoil, they keep going…keep looking for work…and keep hoping they will find their way back to positive territory in their checkbooks, savings accounts and their lives in general. Some have found work; others work several jobs to make ends meet. And, then there are those who take jobs they would never have dreamed of in a better economy.

It takes all kinds of people and jobs to make the world go-round, but when life feeds you lemons, its amazing how many people are able to make lemonade.

The quote from the Duane Reade employee will stay with me forever!

I thank you Duane Reade employee for sharing your wisdom with me, and now my readers!

Let’s hope that the world can find its way out of this recession…and when we do...make sure that you’re seen working! There’s NO substitute for hard work when it comes to landing and keeping a job!

In closing, there are approximately 14-million people out of work!

Dear Job Hunter wants to hear what you are doing to find a job and your story of pride and perseverance!

Thanks for reading!

Trish

You can comment directly here on this blog or email by privately at: trishhoffman@gmail.com.

The President's Job Council Gets a Makeover

Makeover shows are all the rage in America…now the President has jumped into the act.

Today, President Obama announced he is revamping his job council by appointing GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt as the new chair to the council. It will be named the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. No word yet on whom else will serve on this council. The current chair is former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volker who is said to be stepping down next month according to an Associated Press story.



According CNBC.com, Mr. Obama said, "We still have a long way to go, and my number one priority is to ensure we are doing everything we can to get the American people back to work.”

The President added that many businesses have created new positions, but still too many American’s are not working!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of December 2010, 14.5 million American’s were unemployed, which is down from 15.2 million a year ago. That means some 556,000 people landed a job. The December unemployment rate is down to 9.4 percent. 

So Dear Job Hunter wants to know what you think of this “makeover” and whom you think should be on this council?

Finally…is all of this a little too late?