September 16, 2002
At the end of August, I ran a poll in my Yahoogroup (to join, go to Yahoogroups.com and join the group named NewYorkMetrotechnologyJobs; if you prefer, you can return to my website homepage (www.newyorkmetrotechnologyjobs.com) and click on the button that will help you join the group. The question was, "How are you finding the job market now vs. 6 months ago?"
In March of this year, I wrote about the difference between the market a few months before and then (March). I described the improvement in the number of jobs available, comparing it with the three previous months. I wrote about how companies were exercising leverage in getting wage concessions from new hires because the market was a "take it or leave it" market (Take my offer or there are 90 other people who will).
Six months later, the choices offered were:
Better than 6 months ago
Better than before but still pathetic
The same as before
Even worse than before
I have no idea
Now, before looking at the results, answer the question yourself. How is the job market for you now vs. 6 months ago?
Ready?
Scroll down.
More than 46% of respondents described the job market as being better than before but still pathetic
25% described it as the same as before
The rest thought of it as worse than before
No one thought of it as better than before without describing it as pathetic
What does this tell us?
The technology job market is still struggling to absorb the people who are looking for work and that almost three quarters of the respondents are probably getting interviews, but are dissatisfied with the results of them.
And 25% are sufficiently frustrated that they judge that they are worse off than before.
Yet compared with February and March of this year, it reflects progress. At that time I reported that I was starting to get jobs to work on again (as opposed to the end of 2001 when there was no employment marketplace) and most job seekers that I spoke with had had no interviews yet at the time I was speaking to them.
I want to report that I am starting to see a noticeable pick up in jobs being offered again, but still at staff levels. Hopefully, there will be a peaceful world for a while because firms will be reluctant to commit to new projects, hiring new managers and staff for them, as well as committing to purchasing new hardware and software, if the climate seems dangerous.
If our nation decides to attack Iraq or another nation as part of its commitment to keeping our country safe, let's hope that it is a quick decisive win like the last Gulf War where upon victory, the economy began the last ten year growth period.
Good luck!
Jeff Altman
At the end of August, I ran a poll in my Yahoogroup (to join, go to Yahoogroups.com and join the group named NewYorkMetrotechnologyJobs; if you prefer, you can return to my website homepage (www.newyorkmetrotechnologyjobs.com) and click on the button that will help you join the group. The question was, "How are you finding the job market now vs. 6 months ago?"
In March of this year, I wrote about the difference between the market a few months before and then (March). I described the improvement in the number of jobs available, comparing it with the three previous months. I wrote about how companies were exercising leverage in getting wage concessions from new hires because the market was a "take it or leave it" market (Take my offer or there are 90 other people who will).
Six months later, the choices offered were:
Better than 6 months ago
Better than before but still pathetic
The same as before
Even worse than before
I have no idea
Now, before looking at the results, answer the question yourself. How is the job market for you now vs. 6 months ago?
Ready?
Scroll down.
More than 46% of respondents described the job market as being better than before but still pathetic
25% described it as the same as before
The rest thought of it as worse than before
No one thought of it as better than before without describing it as pathetic
What does this tell us?
The technology job market is still struggling to absorb the people who are looking for work and that almost three quarters of the respondents are probably getting interviews, but are dissatisfied with the results of them.
And 25% are sufficiently frustrated that they judge that they are worse off than before.
Yet compared with February and March of this year, it reflects progress. At that time I reported that I was starting to get jobs to work on again (as opposed to the end of 2001 when there was no employment marketplace) and most job seekers that I spoke with had had no interviews yet at the time I was speaking to them.
I want to report that I am starting to see a noticeable pick up in jobs being offered again, but still at staff levels. Hopefully, there will be a peaceful world for a while because firms will be reluctant to commit to new projects, hiring new managers and staff for them, as well as committing to purchasing new hardware and software, if the climate seems dangerous.
If our nation decides to attack Iraq or another nation as part of its commitment to keeping our country safe, let's hope that it is a quick decisive win like the last Gulf War where upon victory, the economy began the last ten year growth period.
Good luck!
Jeff Altman
