Are professional orgs doing enough to help job seekers?

By on September 29th, 2009 In Jobs

Valley PR Blog reader Pat Elliott posted an article on Facebook this morning from Ragan.com in which the author suggests groups like PRSA and IABC are not doing enough to help job seekers.

Industry pro Janet L. Falk, who is in fact looking for a new job, writes: “It’s even harder when the displaced don’t have the support of their industry and professional associations. Here in New York, arguably the public relations capital of the world, where are PRSA, IABC and PCNY when we job seekers need them?”

I think a professional association has some responsibility to help its members seek employment, perhaps more so in this tough economy. But even Falk agrees that the responsibility to find a new job is really hers. Falk has some good points, but the real question for Valley PR Blog readers is how are Phoenix area professional associations reaching out to help local job seekers? Pretty darn good I think.

IABC Phoenix and Phoenix PRSA have had numerous networking events over the past few months. The August IABC luncheon was about how individuals can best market their own skills, and just last week the group held a communications dialogue about tips for job seekers. Tomorrow morning PRSA is holding an event to help new professionals better navigate career waters.

I’m sure more can be done, but on the whole it’s my opinion that our local professional organizations are doing a great job holding career oriented programming.

I haven’t looked for a job in a while, so I honestly can’t tell you if the job market for communicators is soft in Phoenix. I certainly get my share of e-mails from friends and associates who are looking for work…but the majority of them end up finding a job. Just yesterday I got a note from my friend Jason Scott, who had been looking for work for several months, telling me he landed a new gig at Moses Anshell. Congrats Jason!

I’ve always wanted Valley PR Blog to be a place where we celebrated our successes, and I’ve tried to include new job announcements regularly. So if you’ve recently landed a new job let us know and we’ll post an announcement. If anything it’ll help those of you who are still looking for a job find encouragement.

And what do you think of the job climate for communicators in Phoenix? Is it really bad out there or are things never as bad as they seem?

Comments

Ryan Beck Says:
September 29th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

As a current student who attends ASU I think the market is soft in Phoenix when you compare it job markets in other cities. I do think the organizations in Phoenix do a fair amount of events but if you are not involved with those organizations you probably do not know about the event . Which makes it difficult to network. I think these events should be published more widely.

Janet L. Falk Says:
September 29th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Len,
Glad to see the essay on Ragan.com rang a bell with you and Pat Elliott.

It’s great to hear the Phoenix-area associations are supporting their members and job seekers.

If I can be of any help to you in this area, please let me know.

Regards.

Janet L. Falk

Sara Korolevich Says:
September 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

I recently moved back to Phoenix last year and have been looking for a full-time PR position since April. I have attended various events geared toward job-seekers, but I keep hearing the same advice over and over: network–the old fashioned way AND through social networking sites. Does anyone have any other tips??

Since I’ve never worked in the Phoenix PR industry, I don’t know what the job market is usually like, but it seems there are slim pickings right now. Every position I apply for receives an insane number of applicants. But I’m an optimist at heart and will persevere–I know my skills will be appreciated somewhere, someday!

Pat Elliott Says:
September 30th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

IABC and PRSA’s recent offerings have been very valuable, as well as individual contributions of many people (including VPRB’s Angelo Fernando) who provide pro bono workshops for local job support groups.

From the perspective of more than six years’ experience locally that includes helping manage two online communities for Valley job seekers, and personally assisting more than 100 local public relations pros in job search, I’ve learned a lot.

– There has been a greater demand for PR jobs than supply for decades; the last two years have exacerbated the situation significantly.
– Most job seekers do a good job of hiding the hardships they are dealing with and PR pros are better than most at projecting a positive image to others even when their own personal circumstances are horrible.
– Job support groups are providing a valuable service to our peers because they give access to honest information about employment conditions in local firms – the good, the bad and even the truly ugly.
– Some of our colleagues have been dealing with severe financial issues from underemployment for two years or longer. It would be helpful for those organizing networking events or workshops to find a way to reduce costs or offer free admission in a compassionate manner.
– The assistance offered to several high level PR directors and managers in the Valley from the state’s unemployment service arm has been to suggest they retrain to become prison guards or go to local community colleges to retrain for entry level blue collar work.
- The recession is impacting PR pros from every age group and every level of experience, but those over the age of 40 have been affected faster and in higher numbers.
- Social media tools are invaluable to all job seekers today, but many over 40, including PR people, are challenged by them and need training.

Yes, individuals are responsible for managing their own careers and job searches. It’s also important to recognize critical community issues and get involved. I hope more of you will find individual and organizational ways to help our neighbors and colleagues.

Phoenix has sustained the highest percentage of job loss of any large city in the country and is projected to be among the last in the country to recover from the current downturn.

Pat Elliott Says:
September 30th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Some ideas for those who would like to help out local job seekers.

PRSA at the national level is putting together a job hunter’s boot camp targeting people who haven’t been looking or want some tips for how to stand out in a crowd of highly qualified candidates.

Here’s some of what they’re considering for topics.

* Tips on current resume development/writing/style
* How to not look overqualified when you really are?
* Tips for getting through the electronic screening process.
* Rules of thumb for contacting the company or recruiter. How not to be considered a stalker.
* How do you stand out when there are so many people looking?
* Can you get a job today without networking your way to it?
* Suggestions for older job seekers?
* How do you use social networking to market yourself
* What if you or your spouse finds a job in a different city? Is it worth taking it? How hard will it be to network back home or network him or her to your new location?

I’m sure that VPRB readers can come up with many other, relevant topics.

Amy Monier Says:
September 30th, 2009 at 9:34 pm

That bad, well lets say that corporate communications position you posted received over 600 resumes, its bad :( but its getting better!

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