The Great American Job Sellout

google groups ^ | feb 2005 | Paul Craig Roberts

[Conspiracy Guy]

Telecommunications/Data Networking equipment company. My data side is in good shape but the Telecom side needs two technicians, one with experience and a trainee. I also need a customer service rep and a dispatcher. I am the Operations manager and currently I am filling the gaps with me. I am working 12 hours at the office or running service tickets when we get overloaded. I am backing up the one Cust Svc rep, doing the schedule and adjusting it all day long, and when my 6 techs get covered up I am toting my tool bag. In addition I do my job, I do jobsite surveys, manage the trainers, manage the project managers, make coffee, make joint customer visits with 4 sales people, and handle emergency calls at night 1 week every 7 weeks. I ask to be fired 4 times a day on a good day, (I'm no quitter). I freep when it's calm.

This has been going on since October, when one guy retired, one left to build houses, and two got lured to another company. The resumes we get read like chronic unemployed and work release. The people we have interviewed lack basic skills. I have never seen it like this.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Exactly. I'm in Alabama an the want ads are full of telecom/data openings, everyday!

The Chilean flag on my home page is a joke.

[Conspiracy Guy]

We pay more than most anyone in town.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I get job offers from all over the country. I can name my salary. I like this company but if I don't get these jobs filled I will leave.

[budwiesest]

During Bush's first term, state and local government created 879,000 new government jobs.

We should export these guys, let them regulate foreign countries to death (or at least to the same level our businesses are). While they're gone, privatize most of what government does and save ourselves billions in the process (while improving service many fold).

[Protagoras]

As opposed to employers offering to pay 30% less than market, and bitch and moan that you cannot get anyone to take the job...

Bitching and moaning doesn't solve employment problems. And the "market" is ALL the people willing to do the work. Not just some people who are arbitrarily chosen by some. The amount of legal immigration levels has always been a bone of contention.

Government has caused the problem by interferring in the process, they will not be the solution.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I did further in the thread.

[NeilGus]

I guess that explains why we have 5.2% unemployment.

NOT

Maybe we should be more like Europe (protect jobs by law) so we can have over 10% unemployment too.

[Protagoras]

You are ignorant about basic economics. I don't think I will be getting through to you.

You also embrace government force to try to repeal the laws of nature. It won't work.

[dfwgator]

Not saying that these are your qualifications, but I have seen ridiculous requirements for applicants, like 10 years of Java plus 5 years of .Net experience with C/C++/COBOL, requirements that noone could ever match.

I would rather hire good technical people with solid basic technical skills. They may not have the experience on the specific technology, but I would be confident that after a week or two of ramping up, they would probably be more productive than someone who has the specific experience, but poor general technical skills.

Again, not saying that this is your case, but I have seen this too many times.

[grey_whiskers]

This has been going on since October, when one guy retired, one left to build houses, and two got lured to another company. The resumes we get read like chronic unemployed and work release. The people we have interviewed lack basic skills. I have never seen it like this.

Where is your company located?
How much is your annual salary offered?
Are you willing to train in those with the aptitude?
Are you willing to consider "overqualified" ?

[grey_whiskers]

I get job offers from all over the country. I can name my salary. I like this company but if I don't get these jobs filled I will leave.

What is your field? Is it one of those areas being outsourced?

If so, what are your specific skills?

[Protagoras]

I guess that explains why we have 5.2% unemployment.

4% is concidered by many economists to be full employment.

Maybe we should be more like Europe (protect jobs by law) so we can have over 10% unemployment too.

Excellent point.

[KC_for_Freedom]

The amount of legal immigration levels has always been a bone of contention.

Our birth rate is just about replacement level. The law of supply and demand applies to everything, and many of us have been laid off for one reason or another. We live with it and find other work, or other careers. Anyone living in times that are as changing as ours needs to have this basic understanding, and get all the training they can. And there is nothing wrong with relocation too.)

[Mad Dawgg]

"4% is concidered by many economists to be full employment."

Yes and the average unemployment rate over the last 40 years (as compiled by the BLS) is 5.9% yet we are at 5.2%. Yet all I hear from the left and the protectionists is how bad the employment numbers are.

It makes one wonder what is the real goal of all these doom and gloomers.

[cinives]

What type of jobs are these ? I know quite a few technical people I could send your way who are unemployed or underemployed.

Also, an interesting fact: as home ownership rises, the interest of people in relocating for a job drops correspondingly, so unemployment for those people lasts longer.

[Protagoras]

Capitalism and freedom aren't necessarily pretty. They just work better than government interference.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'm basically looking for basic skills and that is it. If your aren't colorblind, not physically impaired, and can read and operate a laptop and basic hand tools, I can make a technician out of you. If you can answer a phone, be nice, and operate a desk top I can make a cust svc rep. If you answer a phone, operate a desk top, and manage a workload database, I can make you a dispatcher.

We like to train people from the ground up when we can but we need basics to work with.

[Protagoras]

It makes one wonder what is the real goal of all these doom and gloomers.

They don't like freedom or free markets. Sometimes they say they do so they can say they are "conservatives".

[dennisw]

It ain't all about you and your "situation". It's about jobs and paychecks for Americans. You should not lean on anecdotal evidence so much, even worse when it's your very own anecdotal "situation"