December 2004/January 2005

Volume 45, Number 3

Jobs…or the Lack Thereof

by Jonathan W. Baker, Director-Sponsor Region 1

Over the years, I've asked and been asked, "Why doesn't STC do more for its members who need jobs?" To which the usual answer has been, "Well, we have chapter and Society job banks, plus chapters often put on resume writing programs, job search programs, and so on." And these are all true. STC provides, through the chapters and SIGs, places to network and to develop leadership skills. And people really do find jobs through STC. I'm certainly one who has.

But I think that this answer misses the point. So try this, "STC is an educational/professional organization. STC is not in the placement business." Still, that doesn't really answer the question either. I think that the real question is, "Can you help me find companies that will buy my services?" And the answer to that question is, probably not. But I am not sure I understand why not.

I talked at length with a recruiter once, when times were good, asking how recruiters found technical communications positions. In those days, it was easy. The jobs found them, like the jobs found many of us. After further poking and questioning, I did come to understand that most of the placement people had people on staff who did nothing but call the companies asking if the company had any openings. Basic cold calling stuff. Over time, the placement firms would develop contacts inside companies, who could provide them with meaningful information about any openings.

I was also informed that, because companies come and go so quickly in high tech, that the contact information gets stale quite quickly. In fact, the contact information could go stale in as little as three months. And remember that most placement firms are local, not national or international. If the local placement companies couldn't keep up even with full-time staff, imagine the difficulty of trying to do this at a national level.

Now, mix in the bad times and the downsizing of most HR departments. All those contacts disappear into the woodwork. People who could be counted on for good information about a company's hiring plans are gone and the company doesn't want to let on that it won't be hiring anyone in the foreseeable future. This scenario makes finding work doubly difficult.

So, now that I have framed the pain, let me ask, because I am trying to help, how can STC support you in your job searches? Do you need lists of local companies who might be potential customers? Would access to online business directories through STC's web site be of value? Do you need training that STC could provide, beyond the type a chapter might provide? Would skills development, like marketing and selling skills, help? Do you see some other ways in which STC can add value? Please let me, or any of the other Director/Sponsors, know what we can do in this area that would add value.