Steve Levy's Blog (261)

Stiffing New York City

Our Governor Patterson is obviously blind to the strategic needs of New York state. While those influential to him live in upstate New York, the bulk of the revenue generation takes place downstate. So when I just read that the initial stimulus plan dollars will be going upstate, I had to scratch my bald head.

How will funding upstate New York bridge replacement, highway resurfacing and… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 23, 2009 at 3:48pm — 12 Comments

Recruiting an Archbishop

Imagine having this as a retained search...

The New York archbishop has been referred by the late Pope John Paul II as the "Archbishop of the world" in deference to the historically lofty position of the leader of the New York diocese. Considering that the Archbishop of New York is far more than a theological CEO - the outgoing Cardinal Edward Egan had to close a $48 Million budget deficit - this position is one that practically ensures the holder elevation to Cardinal and a far… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 23, 2009 at 7:15am — No Comments

Sometimes the bottom-line shouldn't be green

I was so busy making calls this week that I missed this article about sportsmanship.

Read it - please

Having been around recruiting since 1985 (I probably should stop giving indications to how old I am because of the… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 21, 2009 at 11:47am — 2 Comments

Bye-bye secret bank account

My how times are changing... you might have heard that UBS has agreed to pay $780 million in fines as part of an IRS investigation into the hiding of money offshore to evade taxes.

What rankles me is the suspicion that from late 2002 to 2007, UBS helped wealthy American clients illegally hide $20 billion, evading $300 million a year in taxes. Math time!

That would be… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 19, 2009 at 7:36am — 1 Comment

Fat New Yawkahs

Today, a Federal Appeals court upheld New York City's proposed regulation requiring chain restaurants with at least 15 outlets across the country to post calories on menus and menu boards. The rationale is that displaying such information is a reasonable way to curb obesity because it forces people to know… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 17, 2009 at 2:56pm — No Comments

Jobseekers aren't happy anywhere - so why torque them off even more?

When the NSA says that that personal instability caused by this greedy recession had become the biggest security threat facing the US, you know that employment is a really big issue. Read this article then ask yourself how you interact with jobseekers...

Three

Are you an old school soldier who believes command and control is your strategic response?

Are you the used car… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 15, 2009 at 12:11pm — No Comments

Welch's recruiting philosophy

When life gives you lemons make grape juice then watch and listen to others wonder how you did it.

The problem with challenging times is inclination to do what others are doing - but then you have the situation where you're simply picking apples at the same orchard as everyone else. The only thing you can find are partially eaten apples and worms.

Al's gonna hate me for saying this but toss out Monster for a week - heck, no job boards at all - and… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 15, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

You recruited them, laid them off, now they're in hock

"Before, so many of us were living a good life here...Now we cannot pay our loans. We are all just sleeping, smoking, drinking coffee and having headaches because of the situation."

To make matters worse, a "new draft media law [in Dubai] would make it a crime to damage the country’s reputation or economy, punishable by fines of up to 1 million dirhams (about $272,000). Some say it is already having a chilling effect on reporting about the crisis."

So you… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 12, 2009 at 7:23am — 6 Comments

America's Most Miserable Cities

Stockton, CA

Memphis, TN

Chicago, IL

Cleveland, OH

Modesto, CA

Flint, MI

Detroit, MI

Buffalo, NY

Miami, FL

St. Louis

Read the article and comments (the comments are, as always,… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 11, 2009 at 3:01pm — 1 Comment

The Col. Jessep approach to recruiting

Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be infiltrated by recruiters with phones and keyboards. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom.... You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Wall Street's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, is the key to hiring top talent. You don't want the truth because deep down in places… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 9, 2009 at 2:21pm — No Comments

Everybody loves Raymond: Lucky Suit interview and Facebook

You thought it was bad when a parent would come to an interview, now this.

[you must view both these videos - MUST]…

Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 9, 2009 at 1:22pm — No Comments

Is it really that bad? Nope...

Too much fear mongering not enough reality and action

Added by Steve Levy on February 9, 2009 at 12:00pm — 10 Comments

Women should wear high heals and lipstick to be successful

Female employees at the Bank of England have been advised to "Always wear a heel and some sort of make-up, even if it’s just lipstick." And don't forget that clients like tight skirts and cleavage too...

Personal branding coach Mary Spillane, a partner in the London office of executive search firm Whitehead Mann says, "People move on in their careers because of communication, influencing skills, being able to create the impact that conveys leadership and authority, and that… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 8, 2009 at 10:00am — 14 Comments

The government's January unemployment numbers aren't real

I've been a big fan of John Crudele for many years; he's one of the few good things about Rupert's NY Post, the most highly used black and white at the Fulton fish market.

His columns on employment should be on the must-read list of every… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 7, 2009 at 1:39pm — No Comments

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, and Recruiters are from Uranus

With the potential for more women in the workforce, why do so many recruiters still question women who want to balance work and family? And why can't companies see this and offer more telecommuting options?

The pathetic part is that with the inventory of people on the rise, more companies than ever are demanding that people work on site when I suspect people would happily take a less in salary for more flexible… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 7, 2009 at 9:53am — No Comments

Why is it always the economy that sheds jobs?

The economy hasn't shed a single job but companies have. This is called passing the buck.

In this article, the chief economist for Moody's says, "Businesses are panicked and fighting for survival and slashing their payrolls. I think we’re trapped in a very adverse, self-reinforcing cycle. The… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 6, 2009 at 3:55pm — 2 Comments

Less water in the talent pool: The middle class flight from New York City

Article and Report

Excerpts from article...

The report defines a middle class New Yorker loosely as someone who has enough money to pay the bills, have health insurance, own a computer with Internet connection, live in a safe neighborhood and take a vacation once a… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 5, 2009 at 3:09pm — 2 Comments

Office and Compensation of the President of the United States

With the President calling for a $500,000 ceiling in CEO compensation for CEO's of companies receiving Federal assistance, I was wondering what the total compensation is for office of the President.

...aggregate amount of $400,000 a year, to be paid monthly, and in addition an expense allowance of $50,000 to assist in defraying expenses… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 4, 2009 at 1:44pm — 1 Comment

The Stimulus Bill Scorecard

What will be the impact of the recent $818 Billion stimulus bill?

Safety-Net Spending; Cost: $164 billion; Stimulative? Yes

Making-Work-Pay Tax Cut; Cost: $144 billion; Stimulative? Toss up

Energy Efficiency Retrofitting-Environmental Spending; Cost: $90 billion; Stimulative? No

State Stabilization Fund; Cost: $79 billion; Stimulative? Yes

Education Spending; Cost: $79 billion;… Continue

Added by Steve Levy on February 4, 2009 at 12:25pm — No Comments