Don’t get me wrong. Cobra is a necessary bridge for an employee that has lost their job for any reason and needs the safety net that Cobra provides for them and their family. But, should every former employee be eligible for Cobra? I think not.

A bit of background. We had an employee quit Advancement in October 2007 to start their own company. A noble endeavor. However, they started this company two months before they quit, using information obtained from my company. I sued this person and we settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. At the same time this individual signed up for Cobra ( Advancement’s plan ) and remained on it for the legal limit, 18 months. Without knowing any of the details, there have been claims by this individual.

Now we are up for renewal for the company’s medical plan. Because of our claims history, including those on Cobra, we are faced with a significant increase in premiums in the coming months. Cobra claims were among the highest in our company in this last policy year.

My point is, given the circumstances I just described, should every former employee be eligible for Cobra? After almost two years, I feel this individual unjustly continues to penalize this company and it’s employees.

Yes, changes need to be made and I feel this is just one example.

Persevere and never lose sight of your goal. Never let up on your efforts, and never stop believing that the right opportunity is out there. The job market in its current state is disheartening to say the least, but there is opportunity out there to be had. That opportunity goes to those who keep their heads up, get creative in marketing themselves and persevere in their efforts. As frustrating as your situation may be, never lose your passion! Show passion in everything you do, even when falling and not finding that job, get up, dust your self off, put a smile on your face and get back in the game.

Passion and a positive attitude are infectious, people see it in your efforts and in everything you do. This goes beyond your game face for interviews, your networking and daily job search. It’s about being positive, your body language and how you interact all the time. We as a country have been down many times before and it has always been the positive attitudes, passion and keeping our heads up that bring us back bigger and stronger than before.  So, for all you job seekers out there, show some passion and strength in everything you do, you’ll be amazed at the reactions you get and the impacts on your job search.

One last thing… As we get ready to celebrate the fourth of July, our freedom and independence, remember our troops.  The men and women of our armed forces are truly what Passion, Perseverance and Positive Attitude is all about!

Without question, the relationship and friendship I value most is that of Art Healan, who is one of the first designers I hired and will be the last and most important association I have had over the past 45 years. I have been a success due to those relationships and, specifically, my long association with Art. Art has been successful because he has been able to take Advancement to the next level and diversify, in spite of the economic situation of our country today. I have been through several recessions over the years, some serious and some not so serious, and we will get through this one also.

I have received numerous emails and calls over the past six weeks, all of them are very meaningful to me. My philosophy has always been to employ and work with the most qualified people I could find, and they represented me and Advancement professionally, and sold our reputation every hour on the job. Treat everyone fairly, honestly and with respect. That is what I feel is the golden rule to running a business and living life.

With all humility I am pleasantly surprised at the number of employees, both past and present, as well as client companies, who have taken the time to wish me well in my retirement. I wish Art, the staff, and all our employees present and past, the very best.

At a 2007 Staffing Industry Forum I attended, it was reported that US colleges were not graduating enough Engineers to meet the demand. 100,000 more Engineers were needed every year than there were graduating. That demand and shortfall, as stated at the time, was expected to continue for at least a decade – 10 years.

Obviously the demand, along with so many other professions, has dropped dramatically – for now. The silver lining to this recession is there is expertise and talent available today that companies spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to hire just a year and a half ago and couldn’t. Hard working, creative people, that were employed 18 months ago, are sitting on the sidelines waiting to go back to work and prove their worth. Companies that know they will need this talent as the economy starts to turn around are wise to examine this opportunity today, rather than wait.

There will be a shortish again, probably sooner rather than later. For those who wait, the selection of top people will wear thin quickly and you will most like pay a premium for who you can hire. My advice is (as crazy as it might sound to you right now), don’t wait. Plan for the future now and be positioned for growth with the best personnel available and leave your competition behind.

In an effort to be positioned for growth when the economy turns around some of our clients are strategically planning which of our contract staffing services will give them the ability to staff up or down quickly supporting their business functions as well as their strategies in long term project planning. Over the years the benefits of temporary/contract staffing have been proven time and time again in thousand of dollars saved in payroll expenses, taxes, insurance, employee benefits and most importantly the ability for companies to retain and attract key, talented individuals.

In my twenty plus years experience in the staffing industry I have never seen a time more important than now for companies to look at their workforce today and plan how they are going to position themselves to be competitive and productive with a “Flexible Workforce” going forward.

Companies need to plan for the future now. . .

Ray started Advancement in 1971. Over a 26 year span he built a successful Engineering and Design contract staffing operation. For many years he virtually ran the company by himself. He would get the openings from his clients and then go about filling them. Ray always maintained a loyal following of customers and contract employees, successfully filling hundreds of positions. I still feel that he is one of the most capable recruiters I’ve ever worked with.

Ray was my boss, my competitor, and eventually my employee ( although I never thought of him that way ). But more than that, he has been a trusted friend and advisor through all these many years. He has always served as an example of how I should conduct myself in business. Work hard, have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously. Deal with situations head on and trust your instincts. Have a love and a passion for what you do. Appreciate what you have, but don’t flaunt it. He doesn’t stick his nose in your business, but he is there for you anytime you need to talk. In short, Ray is a “class act”. Oh yeah, one more thing, he is one of the best dressed guys I’ve ever known.

I am fortunate and eternally grateful Ray has been in my life in such a profound way. I’ll miss working with Ray, but if I need him, I know he’ll always be there to help me. Good luck and thank you Ray.