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Message |
    
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 399
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 9:23 am: |     |
If you have not already seen the numbers the economy only added 21,000 new jobs in Feb.
My company is doing very well. We have had multiple quarters of both revenue and net income growth and have beaten expectations for the last three quarters. We are hiring on a selected basis, with the primary focus of adding people that will drive near term revenue growth.
There are many people that are overworked but the general feeling is that we don’t want to get ahead of the curve if this is not going to be a period of sustained economic growth.
Achieving our financial targets and customer service metrics are the driving factors for all decisions. Adding the number of people that we really need is not going to happen in the next 3-6 months because the down side it too risky.
Is my company alone in this thinking?
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Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6529
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 9:26 am: | |
Curious. Are you Dilbert's boss or is that some other torture machine you're putting the English language through?  |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 161
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 9:32 am: | |
It would be fun to apply the methods of Meeting Bingo to Sylad's post.
(see Virtual Cafe - I am in Hell thread) |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2053
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 10:43 am: | |
Hmmm...
My company just announced a hiring/replacement freeze. Morale sucks, everyone I work with is looking for a job - including me.
The best part is that we still don't have our 2004 budgets, but we're being told that we have to hit our numbers. Just can't spend any money to do it. It pisses me off, because I like my job, yet feel like I have to go elsewhere, because it is impossible for me to do my job really well with no resources. Half-assed output is not my style & I don't wear it well.
Can you post the economy data your company used so that I can forward it on to our CEO? Perhaps he's reading reports from 1987... |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 120
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 10:58 am: | |
Sylad's post made me a bit woozy. Gotta lie down. |
Gene Z
Citizen
Username: Genez
Post Number: 22
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 11:50 am: | |
Green,
You're lucky you're just in a "freeze.' My Company is downsizing, selling off divisions, laying off, and "transferring" employees to other companies like there's no tomorrow. Come to think of it, maybe there isn't!
I'm one of the few left, because I'm "essential." (READ: They can't find anyone else dumb enough to stay.)
Listen to our CEO, and everything's going to be cheery. Yeah, but we were still downgraded.
Sorry, just had to vent.
Gene (Time-for-a-Career-Change?) Z |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 974
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 12:06 pm: | |
Sylad - what industry are you in?
My company is in a terrible industry and we just announced another downsizing is on the way. My department has gone from approx. 250 people to 80 in the past six years and my group in particular has gone from 33 down to 8 in the last four. I am underpaid (not significantly) compared to market but I love my job, the flexibility is tremendous so I stay. I will ride it out as long as possible. Almost everyone in my department is nervous although we have been assured that our jobs are safe this time around. Funny thing is that my group has seven VPs every one of them earning in excess of 200K plus 50-75% bonuses on top of that and during our downsizing this past summer they did not let one go. My level was slashed as there were "inefficiencies" that were reduced. Seems to me they omitted glaring "inefficiencies" at the top.
My sympathies to anyone who is in jeopardy. The jobs report this morning sucked, although as of right now the market seems to have shrugged it off. If there is one place that I think Bush is vulnerable it is the jobs issue. |
thegoodsgt
Citizen
Username: Thegoodsgt
Post Number: 401
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 12:14 pm: | |
My employer is doing reasonably well and is hiring. With a few exceptions (IMHO), they are being selective, but things are definately looking good. |
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 405
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 1:02 pm: | |
Communication/networking.
A small part of the very large IT industry. We really rode the wave of the late 90's mostly due to Y2K. 2000-to early 2003 were very tough times for us and we cut back in many areas and improved our cost structure. Our head count has been pretty stable since late 2002. Our product lifecycle is between 3-5 years so most companies that upgraded for Y2K have started to increase spending on our sector. Over the last six months we have seen increased acvity and willingness to invest. Our forecast is very conservative, 3-5% on the top line and 6-9% at the bottom. In the middle of last year we began to see the improvments that we made to our cost structure.
I just don't know what the government can do for jobs, unless they create a public works program. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2055
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 1:10 pm: | |
Gene-
We're not "officially" downsizing, but there have been layoffs for egregious wrongs such as wasting money by using too many coffe cups. OK- bad joke on a serious thread, but you know what I mean... |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2320
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 1:26 pm: | |
I'm at a 15-person startup technology company. We're growing fast but still have no revenue. My boss, the CEO is brilliant at raising capital, and that's great. The rest remains to be proven.
sportsnut, does anyone ever recommend that his own job be eliminated to save the company money? No need to answer. You have a lot to be grateful in your job (since I worked there for 12 years too) and maybe, given the perqs, you are not underpaid. And maybe you can feel secure, since your job is saving the company money. I'm surprised your organization has been cut so much.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 249
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 1:27 pm: | |
We're hiring, albeit cautiously. In fact, I myself was a new hire last fall in a newly created position. My company is in the media/publishing world, and we've received an infusion of cash from our owners (we're part of a fund owned by a large investment bank that just bought a very well-known consumer magazine). Our mandate is to launch new products all year long and add staff accordingly. That said, this is a lean company that will plan to stay lean. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 975
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 2:03 pm: | |
tom - I had to laugh at your question because its so true. However, this time they actually brought in an outside consultant to help determine the inefficiencies. I can't help but think of the movie Office Space.
When you consider the "intangibles" that come with my job I guess I'm not really underpaid. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2056
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 2:39 pm: | |
The only valuable "intangible" I'm getting from my job is the free high-speed internet access. 
Pardon me; I'm feelig especially bitter today! |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1686
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 2:43 pm: | |
My company has exactly two employees. We make money. The last new hire was me, nearly 10 years ago. |
Ruck1977
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 64
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 3:01 pm: | |
my company is one of those in the telecom industry that is constantly announcing the reduction of jobs. No, they are not hiring, I was hired 4 years ago just out of college, adn I am still by far the youngest employee (that I see). However, there are contantly new contractors and consultants added to the mix...hire consultants...fire those costly employees! |
Shock & Awe Straw
Citizen
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 2128
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 4:17 pm: | |
hiring big time. As a matter of fact, I just got a pal a job last week. Nice one to, buck fifty+bonus. |
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 410
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 4:24 pm: | |
Straw....please define "Big Time"
How many employees at your company?
What industry?
What kind of jobs are being added?
How many openings?
How long has this hiring been in effect? |
Shock & Awe Straw
Citizen
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 2130
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 4:31 pm: | |
thousands, media, all types, plenty, years..
I'd share the stock but after the martha thing..well you know how it is. |
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 411
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 4:34 pm: | |
Why...so over the past three years your company has added "plenty" of jobs and that trend continues.....good for you. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2550
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 5:04 pm: | |
We have been having major hiring freezes since I started work there over 30 years ago but when you have over 250,000 employees in several thousand job categories, there is always some hiring going on.
In my office, the newest hire has well over ten years of seniority. Not too long ago we figured that in order to produce all of the product we should this year, we would have to quadruple the staff. Since that isn't likely to happen, we figure that we have at least four years of work ahead of us before we catch up and by then there should be at least another four years of work that needs to get done ... |
gemini
Citizen
Username: Gemini
Post Number: 292
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 6:02 pm: | |
There are no openings in my company. But no firings in the works either. I'm the co-head; there are 4 subordinates, no lunch break, and the pay sucks(except on holiday bonus times). The hours are horrendous (sp?) and nobody cares about spelling mistakes. Schedules and meetings are stricly enforced.
The good thing is that you CAN lose your cool, scream at the subordinates and no diversity committee will knock on your office door. It's a good thing I can't get fired!! BTW we have a young staff; the total combined age is about 15.
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Mergele
Citizen
Username: Mergele
Post Number: 48
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 7:55 pm: | |
My little corner of an insurance behemoth has been selectively hiring throughout my 2.5 year tenure. As a matter of fact, it looks like I'm about to get the staffing I've been (politely) screaming for for the last 2 of those years...
"Cats climb because being ruler of all you survey sucks when all you survey is ankles." -- Unknown |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 2156
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 8:03 pm: | |
I think Straw is really Roger Ailes. |
Nohero
Citizen
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 2991
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 8:35 pm: | |
Tom, I hope you're correct about that. The other alternatives are even worse to contemplate ... |
sbenois
Citizen
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 10804
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 8:57 pm: | |
Yes. We are hiring big time. We're looking for skilled project managers, technologists familiar with the use Java in robotic movements, data mining experts, parabolic simulation specialists, marketing types, and many, many others. We have roughly 477 jobs that will formally be opened when Fiscal 04 starts.
---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <-
Let's Go Royals
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Deb G
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 801
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 9:50 pm: | |
I work in magazine publishing. We are hiring up a storm, but mostly contract freelancers for now. We feel nervous about adding significantly to the staff when the industry is on such a roller coaster, and when we are launching new products that may or may not fly. That said, the company did make one significant new management hire this year...me.  Also, we are in the fortunate position of being supported by a fiscally healthy parent organization -- we're the "boutique" arm of a more prosaic business. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 101
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 5, 2004 - 11:29 pm: | |
We're in the middle of a large merger, a hiring freeze was announced a month or so ago, as was a transfer freeze, so all internal job postings have been halted as well. Let's just say I don't see any job creation coming out of this situation for the next 2-5 years... about the only activity I see churning forward is figuring out how to ship more programming work off to Bangladore.
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