Ask an Atlanta human resource expert for career advice!
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Welcome to the debut of HR Roundtable, a blog featuring commentary by human resource experts from SHRM-Atlanta (Society for Human Resources Management). Dionna Keels, Michael Haberman and Bill Pinto will discuss a wide variety of issues pertaining to the world of human resources, from hiring and firing to workplace lawsuits. The topics will be of interest to both employers and job seekers.
So here is your chance to ask human resource professionals a question about what really goes on in the world of HR, and use it to your advantage when you are job searching or looking for workplace and staffing solutions. Submit your questions in the blog comment section below. All submissions will be reviewed and those selected will be answered by one of the HR Roundtable panel members in a future HR Roundtable blog entry.
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19 comments Add your comment
Phil Dolan
January 8th, 2009
8:59 am
My wife and I were self employed for twenty five years till she got cancer and couldn’t work. She was the creative force in our art business, and thus I am back looking for work. Of course now I have a twenty five year gap in my accounting experience. My accounting degree seems obsolete and I cant even get an interview. I cant even get temp work as a bookkeeper because I didn’t learn Quicken, Excel or any modern computer accounting techniques. I’m broke, ruined and watching my wife deteriorate daily by inches. Foreclosure, bankruptcy, and probably jail are only days away. My newest suit is exactly nine years old. The only tie I own is a Jerry Garcia tie my wife got me for xmas in 1994. I need a haircut, I look older than my 57 years, and I have zero people skills or interviewing aplomb because I’ve been so isolated doing artwork in my garage all these years. We used to sell hundreds of paintings every year. There was no need for a Plan B. That’s why I didn’t pursue my masters or CPA or my computer skills. I guess HR training probably never prepared you for hopeless cases like mine, but thanks for trying.
Sonjia
January 8th, 2009
11:20 am
I’ve been trying to get a position within Human Resources for some time now.I have three years working in Human Resources as a temp (in payroll and doing administrative tasks like setting up interviews,admin. testing, entering new applicant info.), and my other experience includes roughly seven years of admin. work and customer service. I graduate in Feb. 09 with my Bachelor’s degree, my major being Human Resources Management.I’m just wondering how in the world can I “get my foot in the door” because every where I look the employer wants more experience than I have. I really would love to work in the areas of training and development or recruiting. I appreciate any advice you can give me.
RK
January 8th, 2009
8:45 pm
I will be retireing from the Navy in a few months and I wondering with all of the online job searching I am doing, how important is it to have a unique cover letter for each job application?
Michael Haberman, SPHR
January 12th, 2009
9:02 am
RK:
I took a brief survey of some of my recruiter friends and we all agreed that the cover letter is not very important with the initial application if you are just applying to an ad. However, if you are sending your resume to a particular individual (the better way to do so) then a cover letter can be very important.
Pamela
January 12th, 2009
2:07 pm
Hi Phil,
I understand where you are coming from. I was a stay at home mother for ten years so I had a ten year gap. My recommendation would be to recruit all of your friends, even the ones you haven’t spoken with in a while and tell them items that you need. If you have a friend who can give your hair a trim, call them. If you have a friend that is close to your size, ask them to borrow a suit. Exhaust your posiblities. This is what I did until I got on my feet. Hope this helps.
Pamela
RK
January 13th, 2009
4:42 am
Most of the ads I am applying to are off of monster.com and hotjobs.com. With all of those ads they forward on your resume.
Getting back into the job market after a long absence? | HR Roundtable
January 15th, 2009
4:37 pm
[...] after being self-employed for 25 years while facing a difficult personal situation. Feel free to read his question in its entirety, it’s the first response to last week’s blog post. For Phil and anyone else who may be [...]
TR
January 16th, 2009
3:39 pm
After 3 years as a manager and 5 years total with a rental car company, I followed my wife and kids to Atlanta where her job relocated us with her promotion. That was almost a year ago! After applying for several postions in the Atlanta Market and not wanting to sell copiers or financial services I am lost. The hardest thing is findin a career that paid and gave me the joy my last career gave me. After 12 or so interviews as a sales manager or as an account executive I have been given feedback that they prefer some one with industry experience vs. my skill set. I have been offered various entry level positions that pay not even a third of what I was making. Where do I look for a career in this market.
Emily
January 20th, 2009
6:50 pm
I recently relocated to the metro Atlanta area from Houston and was wondering if there is an HR Rountable group that meets for the purpose of networking? We had one in Houston where HR professionals would meet once a month, usually had a speaker and had an opportunity to network. Is there anything like that other than SHRM meetings?
Zsuzsu Illes
January 20th, 2009
9:33 pm
I am wondering whether it would work for Phil Dolan to sell his services (that which he did for his wife) to other artists in the area?
Joy Johnston
January 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm
Emily-
There are indeed Atlanta HR groups that may be of interest to you. Here is a list compiled by HR Roundtable panelist, Dionna Keels:
HR Leadership Forum – Atlanta: For HR Executives
The American Society for Training and Development – Atlanta
The Atlanta Area Compensation Association
Metro Atlanta Recruiters Channel
Stacy Norris
January 24th, 2009
2:31 pm
I was laid off from a Medical billing/collections position in May 08 after 10 years of service. (Company sold) At the same time I relocated to an area that I am not familiar with, nor do I really know anyone, and I am having a difficult time trying to find a position within the medical industry. There are jobs available but the going trend here is knowing someone within that company. I am really at a loss, I have the qualifications for the jobs but I cannot seem to even get a call back to inquire about my resume. The Job ads are next to none since everything is word of mouth, so I really don’t know what my next move should be. Any thoughts?
JD
January 26th, 2009
10:11 am
I relocated to the Atlanta area six months ago due to a transfer my husband had to make. I was employed as an HR Coordinator at the corporate headquarters of a large company in Dallas, TX, and have yet to find work here in Atlanta. I am a hard worker, smart and reliable. I know if I could just get an interview or two I might be able to find something, but haven’t even gotten that far in the process. Help!
JD
January 26th, 2009
10:12 am
Enter your comments here
Joy Johnston
January 27th, 2009
5:23 pm
Stacy-
Here are what some of our HR and employments experts have had to say, they seem to think that right now, networking is the key, so even though you are new in the area, it may be wise to become involved in local groups to rebuild a professional network so that you can have another avenue for job leads:
http://www.ajc.com/hotjobs/content/hotjobs/careercenter/articles/2008/12/07/askhr_layoffs.html
You might want to consider going the contract or temp route as well:
http://www.ajc.com/hotjobs/content/hotjobs/careercenter/articles/2008/10/19/lindgren.html
Good luck to you in your job search!
Duchess
February 6th, 2009
6:50 pm
I have job presently, but I don’t like it. I am very thankful to have a job, but do I stay with my job and be miserable or do I try and find something else. Where do I draw the line. Thanks.
Michael Haberman, SPHR
February 16th, 2009
2:23 pm
Duchess:
Right now I would stay with the job and try to figure out what you don’t like about it and see if you can fix it. But, nothing bars you from looking for a job while you have a job. In fact, that is actually the best situation. Just try to do it on your own time. Otherwise you may find yourself on the outside looking in and now is not a good time to be doing that.
Lane
February 21st, 2009
10:11 am
With today’s high unemployment rate, how long would a person be unemployed before he/she is asked during an interview why he/she has been out of work for so long?
Joy Johnston
March 2nd, 2009
11:42 am
Lane, a related question just happened to be answered in this month’s Ask HR column, hope it helps:
http://www.ajc.com/hotjobs/content/hotjobs/careercenter/articles/2009/02/28/ask_hr.html