Gas Prices and Weather are Slowing Summer Job Search

A summer lull in the job market is nothing unusual, but this year’s dip may be caused by more than summertime blues. Bill Kasko, President of Dallas-based staffing firm Frontline Source Group, Inc., blames the slow summer job market in part on high nationwide temperatures, rising gas prices, and vacations.

“Friday’s announcement that 113,000 fewer jobs were created than expected only confirms the trend we’ve been seeing for the past few months,” Kasko said, referring to the nation falling short of an expected 145,000 new jobs. “The Fed probably will not lower interest rates with the economy slowing down.”

His staffing agency saw similar trends three to six months ago with rising gas prices, Kasko said. “If energy costs weren’t double or triple the amount from a year ago, we most likely would not be in this situation.”

The Bureau of Labor reported annual average employment in manufacturing was above 17 million prior to the year 2000, before declining sharply. During 2005, manufacturing employment averaged 14,232,000. Kasko said he was not surprised.

“We’ve noticed it in our own company,” Kasko said. “Information Technology and Accounting/Finance are still strong as well as increases in salaries for mid to senior level professionals.” Kasko’s observation coincides with the July job report.”

“This is something that hasn’t happened for some time,” Kasko said. “Demand is still high.”

The job report indicated that 124,000 new positions were created in July. However, Kasko said he is uncertain about the accuracy of calling these positions new.

“Are new jobs truly being created, or are we just seeing a shuffle of empty positions finally being filled?” Kasko said. “I don’t know and only time will tell if this trend continues.”


Beating the Slump

With slower job activity, it is important to make the best of every opportunity. Many hope the job market will speed up again, leading the nation into a new age of productivity and progress. Until then, Sherrie Dvorak, recruiter at Frontline Source Group, offers these tips.

Review contact information, including e-mail address.

“An e-mail address such as ’XXXsexygurl’ is going to negatively change my opinion of you as I read your resume,” Dvorak said. “Also, make sure your phone number, address and e-mail address are accurate. If I can’t reach you easily, then I may give your perfect job to someone else.”

Persistence is critical.

“I don’t need you to call me every day, but once a week is good.” Dvorak said that many good candidates are not selected because they fail to follow up.

“It’s fine to say you are excited about the position during the interview, but if I don’t hear back from you, I’ll think your initial enthusiasm was insincere.”

List specific technical skills on your resume.

“We don’t want to hear that you’re an ‘energetic self-starter,’” Dvorak said. “We’ll determine your personality in the interview.”

Instead, Dvorak advised including in your resume any experience with Excel, expertise in an unusual database system, or examples of good communication skills.

Update your resume before posting it to job boards.

“I want to know what you’ve been doing for the last five to ten years, not 20 years ago,” Dvorak said. “Especially with huge technical changes, what you did 20 years ago is likely not relevant to what is being done today.”

She also pointed out that job boards are only a helpful resource if used correctly.

“Check the listings daily and refresh your personal posting to help land interviews,” Dvorak said. “If you don’t refresh regularly, employers may assume you have already landed a new position.”

As a final piece of advice, Dvorak asked candidates to follow the company’s application instructions to the letter.

“If a company says no PDFs, it means no PDFs; if it says no calls, it means no calls,” Dvorak said. “Trying to get around the system does not make you look good to a potential employer. In fact, it looks more like an inability to follow directions.”

Please visit us on the web at http://www.frontlinesourcegroup.com

Frontline Source Group is one of the fastest growing Information Technology, Accounting, Legal, Human Resource and Administrative staffing and permanent placement firms based in Dallas Fort Worth Texas. Frontline specializes in matching top talent with companies for permanent, contract and contract-to-hire placements. We work with clients and candidates in all areas of North America.