| Unemployment abounds. Young candidates, ages | | | | only to find the paychecks were farther and farther |
| 18-24 are particularly hard hit with some sources | | | | behind. While the boss apparently was losing his |
| quoting 50% unemployment or underemployment. It | | | | funding, he seemed to think the idea of a non-paying |
| is a time when prospective employers should be on | | | | situation might fit his needs as well as hers. He lives in |
| high alert to avoid unethical practices in the hiring | | | | a million dollar plus home, has a wife, three young |
| process. In the last three months I have witnessed | | | | children, a vacation home and really lousy business |
| many examples of this, some that are illustrative are | | | | ethics. |
| below. | | | | Another young friend found a job on Craig's list for |
| A family friend, a recent MBA graduate, lost his sales | | | | an Australian wine company planning to make their |
| job and has vigilantly been interviewing with | | | | entrance into the USA market. An experienced wine |
| placement agencies and companies directly. He has | | | | marketing major, she was asked to provide |
| been stood up by a head hunter after he traveled an | | | | numerous wine reviews of their products and friends' |
| hour for a lunch meeting. The excuse was a "last | | | | opinions of their products, and then was told her |
| minute conflict." He made it to a 3rd interview round | | | | profile would be submitted as part of a VC solicitation |
| then was told after he heard nothing for 3 weeks | | | | package. There might be a position for her if the |
| ("we will get back to you by Friday" was the | | | | funding was obtained. |
| dictate), they "decided not to hire anyone." Finally, | | | | Let's be perfectly honest - people who are doing the |
| after a 2nd interview with a large communications | | | | hiring today might be doing the applying tomorrow. |
| conglomerate, he was asked to create a | | | | There are many super qualified people out of work, |
| spreadsheet for upcoming 4th quarter projections | | | | and more than one dead beat in a so-called (and |
| that they would be free to use (own) as an indicator | | | | maybe temporary) position of power. There's only |
| of his ability. | | | | one letter in the alphabet between the "f" in firing |
| My daughter obtained her business degree in 3 1/2 | | | | and the "h" in hiring, I think symbolic of their |
| years, only to find a stagnate business climate. She | | | | symbiotic relationship. Deal with candidates honestly |
| was one of scores that applied for a internship with a | | | | and promptly, pay them a contract fee if you are |
| San Francisco based start up, requiring an extensive | | | | going to use their work product and walk that |
| amount of product reviews as writing samples. Yes, | | | | proverbial mile in their footsteps in each stage of the |
| the company could and use those reviews. She was | | | | hiring process. |
| one of 3 who scored this modest paying internship - | | | | |