May 2009
102 posts
1 tag
Free concert! Dave Matthews Band.
Rememba the days where you scurried to the office, even on summer Fridays not even considering free summer concerts? “Oh, they’re just for tourists,” you convinced yourself as you grabbed a morning cup of Joe on the way to cubicle boredom. Well, those days are gone and it’s time to smell the roses and listen to the free tunes! A-listers are performing so we might as well...
May 31st
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MY WORLD OF CHEAPNESS.
Unemployment has finally allowed me to “come out” as a world class cheapskate, and the recession has made my long held predilection for thrift fashionable. I have lots of company now too, and not just from fellow layoff victims and those with normally low or fixed incomes. A recent “New York Times” story, for example, highlighted upper and upper middle class employed folks who finally feel...
May 31st
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NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.
A Cautionary Tale I gave thought to sharing this information; I did not want to bring potential bad news to those of us struggling to find gainful employment in this horrific job market. But I always do feel better after I write things out…so please bear with me as I ramble on. Intellectually, I was aware that this might happen; in fact, if I followed this to its logical conclusion, I...
May 31st
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May 31st
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ONE STOP CAREER CENTER.
One stops have access to information on all levels of job leads and in all industries and fields, though a one stop career center, in and of itself is not a placement agency per se. I think it’s important that I address the services of the one stop centers for unemployed people. In answer to the questions, are the job leads entry level, mid level or higher, I would also have to answer what...
May 30th
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MAINTAIN YOUR WORK ETHIC BY VOLUNTEERING.
It’s getting to be summertime and hiring will slow down as managers go on vacation. Here’s how you can maintain your work ethic: Volunteer! In the summer months, nonprofit groups often experience a mismatch of increased demand for help and decreased supply of folks to pitch in. Their staff and usual volunteers go on vacation, which makes the need for more hands especially acute. Whether...
May 30th
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FREE DONUT ON NATIONAL DONUT DAY.
You say doughnut, I say donut. Let’s call the whole thing off.  One thing we can agree on is that free do(ugh)nuts are always a good thing (unless you’re on Biggest Loser).  If you agree, June 5th is your lucky day as it happens to be National Do(ugh)nut Day! Woohoo! Well, no one is getting off work or school — not even a delayed opening — for National Donut Day, but what...
May 29th
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I'M SORRY, I DON'T SPEAK PROCESSING FEE.
Enough with the fees! ATM fees are probably the most griped about fee, which the downsized should stay away from at all costs.  But whether we like it or not, right now we expect this cost and can plan accordingly, take more money out when you visit the ATM, use your debit card, flat out don’t buy the gatorade and clif bar from the bodega, etc. What really gets me are the...
May 29th
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WALL ST. PINK SLIP PARTY IS BACK.
You’ve got to give credit when credit is due and credit is due.  The Wall Street Pink Slip Parties were the inspiration to our very own Project 405 Party, an informal networking environment mixed with recruiters, career coaches and fellow 405ers.  Well we’re not hosting this one, but we’re up for supporting anything that helps fellow 405ers. Here’s the info: The Wall Street...
May 29th
1 tag
MAYOR GLOOMBERG SNAPS.
What happened to “there’s no such thing as a stupid question?” At least that’s what my teachers and bosses for that matter have said in the past.  Apparently that’s not the case if you’re questioning Mayor Bloomberg, who called a reporter a “disgrace” after he pointed out to the mayor that the economy is improving, and asked whether that cancels out...
May 28th
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UNEMPLOYMENT MIXED AGAIN.
The story of decreased layoffs followed by a bigger decrease in hiring continues. Today’s Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report is out. New claims are slightly down while continuing claims moved to 6,788,000, setting the record once again. Bloomberg reports U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Fall 13,000 to 623,000: Fewer Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, a sign the...
May 28th
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May 28th
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WEDDING THRIFT.
Wedding season has arrived, and if you are “about that age” like myself you are probably feeling the financial pinch.  It’s hard to afford being a wedding guest on $430 a week. Even harder to be in the wedding party.  Throw in travel expenses for out of town gatherings and say goodbye to your checking account.  My wallet is still reeling from pricey mistakes I made before discovering the...
May 28th
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HERRMANN'S LINK-A-PALOOZA.
Our resident news junkie Mark Herrmann is back with a plethora of economics articles to feast on. Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods. Government Bonds Fall as Mortgage Rate Jump Routs Treasuries Bloomberg 05/28/2009 04:36 AM U.S. Weighs Single Agency to Regulate Banking Industry Washington Post 05/28/2009 04:46 AM Questions Delay Sale Of Toxic Bank Assets ...
May 28th
2 tags
FREE ADMISSION FOR 6: LAUGHS, LATIN-AMERICAN...
The Comic Strip Live, on Second Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets, is offering free admission for up to 6 guests for Thursday’s “Comedy Caliente” Latin-American comedy night. Hosting the show will be Angelo Lozada, founder of Nuyorican Rule. Among the performers are: Dustin Ybarra, Mike Britt, Mark Viera, Sherrod Small, Justin McKinney, and JJ Ramirez — featured in...
May 28th
1 tag
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP MINI-MEETUP TODAY.
Any soccer fans in The 405 Club? If so, join us as we watch the Champions League Championship on May 27th at the Manchester Pub in midtown. If you don’t like soccer, join us anyway to mix it up with fellow 405ers! Click here to RSVP. FYI: The Champions League Championship is the final game of a tournament comprised of the best of the best soccer clubs in Europe. The match begins at 2:45pm...
May 27th
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I SOLD GOLD FOR CASH.
Park Slope is one of New York City’s better neighborhoods for the downsized.  While the median one bedroom rent of $1800 it is still expensive for the average 405er, the multiplex on 15th Street features matinee prices before 4pm, there’s a well regarded food coop to reduce grocery costs, a wide variety of coffee houses to substitute for offices and many freelancers and stay-at-home moms to keep...
May 27th
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UNEMPLOYMENT AT 8% IS THE NEW NORMAL AS GROWTH... →
Bloomberg adopted a Breaking News format for the above headline, which is different than the headline you’ll get if you click through. There was also this blurb: Americans may have to get used to unemployment greater than 8 percent for the first time since 1983 as potential economic growth slows from 3 percent to 2 percent. Lasting shifts in consumer spending and saving may crimp profits...
May 27th
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“If time is money, how come I’m broke? Cause I’ve got plenty of time!”
– Unemployed 405er The 405 Club
May 27th
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRADUATION.
Being that graduation ceremonies have begun across this great nation of ours, we will offer a weekly take on the reality awaiting these newly minted degree-holders as they face an uncertain future, with few job prospects, in a very cloudy economic climate. -By Yvonne Fitzner, Contributing Writer & Member
May 27th
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FREE NETWORKING SEMINAR TONIGHT.
New York - Who’s Got Your Back Community Event Tuesday, May 26, 2009 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET) Grand Hyatt 109 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017 “Keith Ferrazzi Presents Who’s Got Your Back: The breakthrough program to build deep trusting relationships that create success – and won’t let you fail.” Keith Ferrazzi, the internationally renowned thought leader, consultant, and...
May 26th
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SEND IN THE CLOWNS.
You heard it, step right up folks. The Greatest Show on Earth is hiring for the summer. Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus will hold a job fair on Wednesday for 200 ticketing, ushers and maintenance positions for its Coney Island summer run. “We want to work directly with the Coney Island community,” said Stephen Yaros of Feld Entertainment, which runs the circus. ...
May 26th
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HOW ARE BLOGGERS DOCUMENTING THE RECESSION?
Are you familiar with Popurls.com? If not, it’s one of the handful of sites you can go to in order to get an all around feel for what’s posted on the most popular sites across this worldwide web of ours.  At first it seems like an overwhelming amount of information in one space but in actuality it’s synthesized and structured into readable columns and rows making popurls a great...
May 26th
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THOSE WERE THE DAYS WHEN...
Let’s take a minute to reflect on some positives to being employed that we miss since becoming recession casualties.  “Those were the days when…. … coffee was free in the office kitchen. … I made more than $430/week. … I had company benefits - 401K, Health, Dental, etc. … I had a T&E budget/AMEX corporate card/Blackberry bill paid for. … my...
May 25th
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May 25th
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DON’T FORGET.
It may be a day for the beach, a picnic or barbecue, but it’s also the day to claim your weekly benefits. So, before the holiday weekend is over, and it’s back to searching those online job sites again, go online and file your claim. And don’t forget why we celebrate Memorial Day.
May 25th
2 tags
LAST-MINUTE REPRIEVE.
Time was running out for 56,000 New Yorkers whose unemployment benefits were coming to end last week. Those who have been unemployed for more than a year, who were still jobless and had exhausted their 59 weeks of benefits, faced the prospect of having no income at all to survive. With job layoffs continuing — in addition to hiring freezes — few are finding work. Food stamps, public...
May 24th
1 tag
HERRMANN'S LINK-A-PALOOZA.
Mark Herrmann must be an avid reader of the news because he always does a fantastic job rounding up articles related to the economy, the recession, unemployment and other relevant issues to The 405 Club.  Take a look at today’s Link-a-Palooza. Fed’s Kohn defends response to financial crisis Market Watch from Dow Jones 05/23/2009 08:29 PM Fed’s Kohn Says Purchases May Boost Economy,...
May 24th
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May 24th
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FEELING LAZY? FOLLOW THESE STEPS.
May 23rd
1 tag
COMPANIES HIRING NOW: MAY 2009. →
Our friends over at ResumeBear.com have comprised a list of major companies from Aetna to Yahoo, all of whom are hiring right now in numerous fields and industries. Take a look and follow them on twitter @resumebear.
May 23rd
2 tags
May 23rd
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UNEMPLOYMENT’S REVOLVING DOOR.
Illustration © Michael Aschner, 2009 Some people use unemployment as an opportunity to take stock, reassess goals, change course, or pick up creative projects they’ve been putting off. Others, like me, respond by curling into fetal position and moaning. Because I’m not the kind of person who rolls with the punches. I’m the guy who keels over and vomits. Even though I knew it...
May 23rd
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May 22nd
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WatchWatch
DREAM JOB. This Just In: Secret revealed to teenagers how great working is!
May 22nd
1 tag
IF NOT A JOB, CAN I AT LEAST GET AN AMEN?
This whole job search is really screwing with my mind.  But, as corny as it is, praying (alongside all the busting my ass in interviews, of course), is actually helping me be more peaceful and zen about it.  It’s probably ridiculous to be optimistic but I think it will work out. via jgh The above passage reminded me of an article The New York Times had published earlier this month,...
May 21st
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May 21st
115 notes
1 tag
FAMILY MATTERS.
I’m so tired right now. Just got back from filling out an application for a potential job that I may be working at. I hope that they give me a consideration for their available position. I’d love to work there more than anything and it’s one of the only places that I’ve really had my heart set on; I’m not going to jump into any conclusions at the moment but I really hope that I do get this job...
May 21st
2 tags
UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION REDUX.
You lost your job more than a year ago and are still unemployed. You’ve had all the extensions in benefits that were offered: 26 weeks + 13 weeks + 7 weeks + 13 weeks = 59 weeks of benefits. You thought you’d find something by now! Your savings are long gone; you’re cutting back on everything. No more gym. Cut off the cable TV. Cellphone plan switched to pay-as-you-go....
May 21st
1 tag
SAMPLE SALE OF THE UNEMPLOYED.
If I were a good unemployed girl I’d wake up early, get dressed in business or business casual attire and approach my job search as if it were my new job.  Each new day would be an opportunity to network and spin my years of successful multitasking into model cover letters for the next exciting chapter in my career.  Instead, I’ve developed a number of alarming habits that interrupt my focus when...
May 20th
3 tags
FREE NEW YORK CAREER FAIR TOMORROW.
Date: Thursday May 21, 2009 Time:11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Location: Radisson Martinique on Broadway City: New York City, NY Register here for free. JOB TITLES AVAILABLE AT THIS EVENT Associate Director of Medical Management Behavioral Health Care Manager Bilingual Family Team Conference Coordinator Bilingual Orientation Counselor Business Recovery Services Manager Business Systems Analyst Car...
May 20th
2 tags
RECESSION PROOF BAKING TIPS.
Tip #1 — Why throw out leftover holiday candy when you can bake with it.  Let’s take Easter:   Old, uneaten chocolate bunnies and Perugina eggs make great ingredients for everyday desserts.  Just break them up into chunks and use them as a substitute in anything from cookies to cakes, or just about anything that requires a hint of chocolate.  Save the high quality stuff for yourself...
May 20th
1 tag
GOTCHA COVERED: THE ART OF THE COVER LETTER.
One of the must-do’s for a professional job seeker is to compose an effective cover letter. The cover letter gives a voice to your resume and personalizes your application. A dynamic letter is the first half to managing the project of seeking an interview. Your letter must jump out at the prospective interviewer and be conversational enough to compel someone to want to call you in for an...
May 20th
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HELP US HELP OTHERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
We at The 405 Club love to share our stories, tips, tricks and resources with fellow 405ers.  As an online community we love it when our readers get involved.  Whether our readers are guest blogging, suggesting new topics to touch upon or sharing our posts with others, you are all a major factor in the success and motivation behind the club.  I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your...
May 19th
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REJECTION LETTER #10.
May 18, 2009 Thank you for your interest in the openings now available at WonderWorks. We appreciate you taking the time to submit your resume. We have reviewed a number of applications and regret to inform you that we have chosen to pursue other candidates whose skills, background, and education more closely match our needs. We will keep your resume on file for ninety days and will contact you...
May 19th
2 tags
GET CARDED.
The day before I was laid off, a little box full of brand new business cards was delivered to my desk.  When packing up my things, I wondered if I should take them along with me since they were pretty much useless.  Just small paper reminders of who I was. Now there is a way to turn those cards into mini memos about who I want to be. My friend recently sent me a link to Cards of Change, a site...
May 19th
1 tag
THE REBIRTH OF EMPLOYMENT.
Just when you began to wonder if you’d ever work again, WCBS reports a resurgence in hiring. Major company HR reps were profiled from Ernst & Young, Bloomingdale’s, Apple, various banks, and other corporations, announcing that there are between 80 to 200 positions, including creative, finance and other high level executive positions, that they hope to fill this year. The New York State...
May 19th
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“I’ve gone from successful college student to unemployed. FML”
– prodigiouscitrus While you can’t claim unemployment straight out of college, our 405ers come in all ages. Can you or your son/daughter relate?
May 19th
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May 18th
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May 17th