Reflections on the Economics Nobel, II: Unemployment Comp Is Good for the Labor Market

In the recurring debates that have accompanied attempts to extend Federal unemployment compensation over the past year, critics, mainly on the right, have argued that extending unemployment benefits subsidizes idleness and leads job-seekers to remain unemployed rather than take available jobs.

The critics are right - but they're wrong about the utility of extending unemployment benefits. According to research conducted by one of this year's winners of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, unemployment compensation improves the efficiency of the labor market.

How so? It allows job seekers to reject imperfect job matches and hold out for better ones, thus making it more likely that the employer and the right candidate for the employer's opening will find each other.

Christopher Pissarides of the London School of Economics conducted research on the efficiency of labor markets in 1984 that showed that under ordinary conditions, the intensity of job searches -- how hard employers and employees look for the right fit -- is too low and equilibrium unemployment is too high. One of the problems he discovered is that job seekers reject too few jobs, not too many.

There's a reason for this: As job seekers' resources dwindle, the pressure for them to take a job, any job, increases until, for example, the systems programmer ends up working the cash register at a Target -- a match that will ultimately satisfy neither the systems programmer nor Target and an inefficient outcome.

Unemployment compensation in such a system allows job seekers to hold out for more appropriate offers, thus increasing the likelihood that our systems programmer will find another job as a systems programmer.

This finding suggests that in periods of persistently high unemployment, such as now, extending unemployment compensation on a temporary basis actually makes sense, as it makes it more likely that the many jobs still available will be filled by those best suited for them.

Improve the efficiency of your job search by using PhillyJobs.com to find the right match for you.

By: Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.

Surviving a Job Transfer

by Alex A. Kecskes

The good news is, you didn't lose your healthcare job. The bad news: you're being transferred out of state. Not an uncommon scenario these days. But are you ready for the change? A few tips to help you survive:

Tap into Employee Relocation Benefits. Many employers, especially large ones, offer varying relocation benefits—like reimbursing you for moving expenses and closing costs (if you buy a home). Some will even buy your existing home if you can't sell it before you move.

Check Out Your New Hometown. Get an idea of the housing market, the schools, libraries, churches, shopping and medical services. Look into the parks and other recreational areas. Check out the transportation system. Your new position's higher salary may be offset by higher home prices. You may opt for a longer commute from a more reasonably priced area, in which case, public transportation may be an option if the roads are always jammed.

Preview the New Job Site. Do a meet-and-greet of the people you'll be working with, not just your supervisor. Stay for lunch in the employee lunchroom. Get a feel for the pace and temper of the various employees. Talk to a few if you can. Soak in the "politics and culture" of the new location. What do employees think about the company, their bosses?

Preview Your New Office/Cubicle. When crossing state lines, there are always subtle changes in people and attitudes. Check out your new office environment. Observe how offices are decorated. How employees dress and act. Some company divisions are very strict about what goes in an office or cubicle, others are far more liberal. If skirts and ties are de rigueur, follow suit. If it's pants and open collar shirts, dress likewise.

On a personal note, before taking a job at one company, I spent a few hours in their after work "watering hole" and told some of them I'd be working for the company. I learned quite a bit that night. Far more than anyone I'd met in the office that day. After a few drinks, it's surprising how people open up to strangers—in vino veritas.

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

Just How Secure is Your Email Anyways?

As a job hunter, you most likely may send private information almost everyday via email. After all, email is the primary way most people send resumes and communicate with organizations - and individuals - for both business and networking purposes.

Do you realize though that sending any information over the Internet – via email – is similar to sending a postcard *with* a one hundred dollar bill stapled to it? Why? Well, according to Ram Tanamy, the CEO of Simplicato.com – an email hosting and archiving company, when you send and receive emails, these messages pass through the sender, the recipient and the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Further, these messages are saved within the ISPs servers. That said, emails that you thought you deleted months – even years back – may still be available on your ISP’s servers. Further, email messages can be modified while they are in transit – before the email reaches the intended recipient. Of course, there are also the issues of identity theft and general privacy invasion problems that can arise from insecure email.

Additionally, it is important to remember that email security issues are difficult to diagnose. For instance, you will not know that someone is reading and modifying your email until an email security breach has occurred.

This situation does not sound too secure does it?

Well, fortunately, there are steps that you can take to secure your email – so that all of your personal and employment information remains private. In fact, if you implement certain email security strategies, you can upgrade your “useless postcard level email security” to one that is much, much more secure. How can you achieve this level of email security though?

"The most secure way to send email is using public-key encryption, where the sender encrypts the message using the public key of the recipient and the recipient decrypt the message using its own private key”, says Ram Tanamy of Simplicato.com.

“Yet – this method is not unbreakable by brute force with enough computational power and time – but usually only the most devoted hackers will invest the time necessary. Also, the private key should be kept secure and available to the recipient when needed. Otherwise, the recipient will not have access to the message.”

Perhaps then, while email security may not be a topic that you think about on a day-to-day basis, since you are sending personal information via email when you apply for jobs, it may be wise to give this topic more thought.

Ready to supercharge your job search? Visit PhillyJobs.com.



Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues and other topics for a variety of international websites, magazines, and businesses.

Green Your Workout Routine

How about taking an environmental initiative and giving your health and the environment a clean start by greening your exercise routine?

You may not think that a few simple actions can help you lose weight and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time, but if you follow these tips you’ll be well on your way to a green exercise routine:

1. Try a reusable water bottle.
Staying hydrated is important when you exercise so instead of buying a pack of bottled water and creating more plastic waste how about using a stainless steel or recycled water bottle that you can wash and reuse again.

2. Eat organic.
Get your energy boost with organic cereal and granola bars, or try a homemade smoothie by mixing organic yogurt, orange juice and fruit together in a blender.

3. Walk, run, or ride a bike.
You don’t need an exercise machine that uses electricity to help you burn calories, if the weather’s good. You can always get your green exercise by walking, running, or riding a bike around a park or neighborhood. You can even take along biodegradable bags and pick up trash and recyclable aluminum cans along the way to help clean up your surroundings.

4. Dress the part.
Whether you need a sports bra, running shorts, or workout sneakers you can always find clothing and accessories made from organic cotton, recycled fabric, bamboo, and other natural ingredients. You should also donate your old workout clothes to thrift stores.

5. Plant a garden.
If you have a backyard with available space or know someone who does then you can get a weekly workout by planting a garden this spring. All the digging, planting, watering, and weeding will give you a great workout every time you visit the garden, plus you can eat your organic fruits and vegetables as a healthy meal! To be extra eco friendly you can reuse rainwater caught in a barrel to water the plants.

6. Save water: Wash your towels less.
Most likely you are going to take a shower after a heavy workout. If you use a towel to wipe away sweat, you don’t have to wash it after its first use. Reuse the towel a few times more since you’re going to take a shower anyways. This will help conserve water because you’ll be using the washing machine less.

7. Try natural deodorants.
Many deodorants contain harmful ingredients such as aluminum and formaldehyde, so freshen up after your hard workout by using deodorants made from all natural plant-based ingredients or make your own. Also, make sure that the product is certified “cruelty-free” to prove that it has not been tested on animals.

8. Encourage your gym to go green.
Some gyms are starting to install green cardio equipment, which usually uses energy from your pedaling or running to generate electricity, which is then used to power the gym.

Make these tips a part of your daily eco lifestyle routine. You’ll not only get in shape but help out the environment.

Help make the world a healthier place -- start your career as a health care professional today! For more information on healthcare careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com/

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.

When Looking For a Job- Mind Your Phone Manners

When you are sending out resume after resume, getting your phone to ring can be an accomplishment in itself, but be sure that your phone manner isn't causing employers to pass on asking you for an interview. When you think about it, you can imagine being a hiring manager with a stack of people to call to schedule an interview. If you are less than confident about the candidate after leaving them a message, it is very easy to just skip to the next person on the list. Don't let this happen to you.

Here are some tips for making your phone employer friendly:

• Keep your voice mail greeting simple- When employers call, don't subject them to 30 seconds of your new favorite song before they get to the voice mail greeting. Call tunes can be fun for friends, but when you are hoping to get calls from potential employers, take it off your phone. Also, record a simple greeting stating your name and number and asking the caller to leave a message. Remember that sometimes, this is the first impression an interviewer will have of you. Make it count.
  
  
• Don't let other people answer your phone- When a hiring manager is calling to schedule an interviewer, the last thing they want to have to deal with is a small child answering the phone. Or worse, someones grandparent or college buddy who thinks that the caller must be a friend who is joking and who doesn't understand what the caller is trying to say. To avoid these situations, be sure to guard your phone when you are looking for a job. It would be awful if someone from the company you are dying to work for called you for an interview and they ended up talking to your friend who kept asking if they were someone who was at the keg party last night. Just don't let this happen to you.
  
  
• Keep a professional manner when answering your phone- When you answer your phone and you hear a professional voice asking for you, don't respond with a confrontational “Who is this?”. It will turn the employer off fast. They want to get the feeling that you are a professional who is well versed in handling simple customer interactions like answering the phone.
  
  
• If you aren't able to talk, don't answer- It is better to let an employer leave a message than answer your phone when you aren't in a place to talk. They don't want to hear you arguing with your child, checking out at the grocery store or be put on hold while you place your order at the drive thru. If you aren't in a position to have a professional conversation, call them back. Most busy professionals understand and will appreciate you making sure that you are able to devote your attention to them.

Having a great phone manner is a skill and it takes some thought and practice. Follow these tips and think about what your phone manner says about you.

Have you had any bad phone experiences? Let me know in the comments.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

Bilingual Healthcare Workers Needed Now

by Alex A. Kecskes

Minority Nurse Magazine recently reported that just 2 percent of all US registered nurses are Hispanic/Latino. Today, being bilingual is critically important in nursing or any healthcare career. In fact, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates that every organization receiving federal money employ bilingual staff.

Hospital patients feel more comfortable if a nurse, lab technician or doctor can relate to the concept of familia. Physicians' assistants, nurses' aides, orderlies, mental health technicians, food service personnel, and people who work in nursing homes need to be bilingual to make a healthcare organization more efficient and effective. Patients need to understand the procedures they will undergo, results of tests, and how and when to take their meds. Explaining these things in their native language simplifies this greatly.

If you're a bilingual healthcare job seeker, you should subscribe to the American Journal of Nursing and other professional journals. You would also benefit by joining any of the many Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic/Latino professional organizations geared toward healthcare.

Bilingual and bicultural healthcare professionals are in demand and extend beyond Spanish to many Asian and European dialects. So English-speaking individuals with these language skills should consider a career in healthcare if they are looking for work.

Financial aid is available through educational institutions and other sources. The American Nurses Association, for example, offers the Minority Fellowship Program for students training for careers in mental health.

On a personal note, I believe bilingual healthcare workers are needed to prevent a hospital maintenance worker or child relative from having to translate medical information to non-English speaking patients.

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.

What Does Your Body Language Say About You?

One of the ways that we all communicate is through our body language. In fact, a study by UCLA revealed that we receive over 55% of information through body language alone. Given that fact, it is important to think about your what your body language says about you during an interview. Preparing for your interview is important, and equally important is learning to control your body language in order to be sure that you are making the best impression.

Here are some tips for good interview body language:

• The handshake- Giving a good handshake is important. Most men know this, but there are still many women who are reluctant to offer their hand for a handshake. A good handshake is firm but not overly gripping. Generally, a good handshake follows this formula- A firm grasp, two pumps and release. Don't hold the handshake longer than a few seconds, but always follow the other persons lead. A good handshake shows that you are a professional and that you mean business.
  
  
• Don't cross your arms or legs- Crossing or folding your arms is often an aggressive gesture. Even in situations where it may not be interpreted as such, it still reflects a closed attitude. Crossing your legs, for men, is also a closed off position. For women, crossing legs at the knee is habit but you may want to try to cross them at the ankle during the interview.
  
  
• Don't fidget- This one is the hardest. When you are nervous, it is natural to fidget. Fidgeting can be a sign of nervousness and insecurity. If you catch yourself doing this during an interview, try your best to stop. To an interviewer, fidgeting is distracting and makes you seem less trustworthy, exactly the opposite of what you want.
  
  
• Pay attention to your chair- In an office environment, many times the interviewer will only have chairs that are extras in the office. That means that they may have wheels and be swivel chairs. Be careful that you don't rock or swivel in the chair. When you are nervous and anxious, it is so easy to do this but it gives a bad impression. Especially if the chair is a little squeaky, this sort of behavior can drive an interviewer nuts.
  
  
• Notice the interviewer's body language- Are they leaning in slightly when they are talking to you? Do they seem interested? Use their body language as a guide to the formality of the interview.
  
  
• Deal with interruptions- If the interviewer is interrupted by a phone call or someone in the office, the polite thing to do is to look away from them and the phone or person. This type of body language signifies that you are giving them privacy to deal with the interruption. Actively paying attention to what they are doing can make you seem nosy.
  
  
• Smile- A smile is the best way to communicate enthusiasm and positivity. No matter how badly you need the job, how nervous you are or how anxious you are about the interview going well, be sure to take a deep breath and smile.

When you pay attention to your body language, you have more control over how you are being perceived. It is hard sometimes when you feel that you have so much riding on a meeting or interview, but it is definitely worth taking the time to consider. Watch other professionals and pay attention to how they use their body to make a point and think of how you can do it as well.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia Area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.