With all the protesting in major cities across America, you’d think that employers aren’t hiring.
Ain’t true.
Although there are more than 14 million unemployed in America , a recent Manpower Survey found 52% of US employers are having difficulty filling critical positions.
The obvious disconnect is that employers are struggling to find A) qualified applicants who B) possess a decent work ethic.
Let’s be clear. There are job candidates who have the right skill set, but employers want more than skills; they want people who will show up and work, as this article illustrates as well as this one.
So, protesters can continue to Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Chicago, Occupy San Francisco, Occupy Denver, etc., but those that are truly serious about finding employment need to drop their signs and with it, their entitlement mentality, and get busy honing their skills and their work ethic.
There are plenty of good jobs to be had. But you won’t find employer’s scouring the picket lines for job candidates.
Related articles
- Occupy Chicago continues. (lastprometheus.wordpress.com)
- Today’s Employers Need More than Job Occupants (revivingworkethic.com)
- What The Occupy Protesters Really Want and What They’ll Do If They Don’t Get It (socyberty.com)
Here’s an interesting article that explains the protester’s anger. (see: http://www.businessinsider.com/what-wall-street-protesters-are-so-angry-about-2011-10?op=1)Frankly, I think an employer would be interested in hiring someone with passion. You wrote recently about the need for other than job occupants, a protester who’s willing to get out of their comfort zone and have their voice heard certainly has more initiative than many of the unemployed who are sitting home watching Springer and Dr. Phil.
I think we should all remember that this country was founded by protesters. Taxation without representation; the fat cats in Merry Olde England getting rich on the hard work of the colonials were some of the foundational issues. http://www.businessinsider.com/what-wall-street-protesters-are-so-angry-about-2011-10?op=1
I respectfully disagree, Tom. Our country was founded by revolutionaries, not protestors, and there’s a big difference.
My 28 year old son quit a great job with a large advertising agency in Chicago moved to San Francisco 9 months ago. He thought that with his impressive portfolio, he’d have a number of offers in a short period of time. Well he’s still looking for work, but I can promise you that he’s not protesting. He isn’t blaming government or big business. He’s cutting his living expenses and doing whatever it takes to make ends meet while he’s filling out new applications each day.
There are jobs to be had. Protesting against Wall Street greed and big business isn’t going to do a damned thing.
Amen, Eric! I have to admit I am tired of hearing reports likening the protestors to those that marched with Martin Luther King Jr and the original Boston Tea Partiers. Those individuals weren’t looking for handouts, they were looking for freedom and a fair shot at living the American Dream. They were willing to work hard for those dreams. Thank you for the sane voice in an insane situation.
The link above to the AJC article mentions a one problem with today’s workforce; “Everybody’s taught them how to add and subtract, but no one’s taught them how to work with their hands,” When I was in school Shop Class and Mechanical drawling were mandatory. The first assignment in Shop Class? Make a paddle with your name on it to give to the assistant principal. This paddle was used to discipline you if sent to the office by any of your teachers. Today? A kid acts up, all they do is adjust their medication.
I’m all for restoring skills training to high school, but there’s something really evil about asking a teenager to make a paddle that could be used to whack him. That’s like asking a death row inmate to wire up the electricity in the chair down the hall.
I agree, jobs are available, but the applicants are not qualified. I consult with a variety of businesses and many are small businesses. A business near Philadelphia has advertized for 6 months for welders, pipefitters, test technicians with limited success. For the welders they brought 3 guys out of retirement with an 18 month contract to get them through a spike in production. They also brought in four – 20 year olds as apprentice positions hoping to grow future employees. All four left before 5 weeks, no desire to pursue future work with the company.