Resume Fictions: Be More Than You Can Be

So you’ve never operated a forklift before. How hard can it be?

If you’re like most jobseekers in today’s shrinking and increasingly competitive labor market, you can’t afford to limit your qualifications to, well, your qualifications.

According to a recent workplace survey, the few employers out there looking for new hires are reporting a sharp increase in trumped up or outright fraudulent resumes. That’s hardly surprising, perhaps, given the dwindling job opportunities now available. This month unemployment hit a 30-year high, while sites like Monster say job postings are down 30 percent in the past year.

For their part, HR managers and other workplace gatekeepers say they can spot fantastical resumes a mile off …

Recession Obsession: Groupon

In a downturn, a little deal won’t do ya.

To get my attention, it has to be a steal. And a low price alone won’t convince me to pry open my wallet; the discount has to be on something really good. Like, say, two one-hour massages for $75—which is what I paid last week through Groupon.

My new favorite bargain source, Groupon is sort of what is sounds like …

Spitzer’s Cabbie Econometer

How can you tell when the recession is really over? Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has an idea, and it doesn’t involve asking any economists or financial analysts for help. Spitzer thinks we should look to cabbies, instead.

“The moment that I can’t get a cab anymore, I will feel the economy is picking up. Right now, it’s raining this morning, but I have no doubt I can get 10 cabs in 30 seconds. That’s a bad sign for the economy.” (via The Takeaway)

As silly as it sounds, Spitzer does have a point. Luckily, the folks over at Kiplinger have taken it a step further, putting together a list of a handful of economic indicators that just might be as good an economic barometer as any stock picker on TV.

So what exactly are the everyday life clues we should be using to judge the economy? Glad you asked. Here are some of our favorites…

Screwed: 4,000 at General Motors

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

Today’s partial total: 7,914

General Motors plans to layoff 4,000 more employees…Namibia’s diamond sector lost a total of 1,900 jobs…Sumco Pheonix is closing its Maineville, costing over 600 workers their jobs…Michigan State University is considering laying off approximately 590 members of its staff…Hav-A-Tampa is closing a cigar factory and laying off 500 workers…Myspace continues its layoffs internationally, with 300 overseas more jobs gone…Harvard University is laying off 275 employees…Georgiana Lumber Mill closed, leaving 265 without jobs…The Metropolitan Museum of New York laid off 74 workers and intends to layoff as many 250 people before the end of the summer…

Recession Briefing 6.24

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The recession-driven shift to eating at home more often is giving new life to grocery stores’ most basic offerings. (Wall Street Journal)

Nationally, 27 percent of about 1.6 million graduating college seniors plan to work for nonprofit groups or governments, an increase from 23 percent from 2008. (Bloomberg)

A growing number of American homeowners are falling into financial limbo: They’re badly behind on payments, but their banks have not yet foreclosed. (Washington Post)

Buy Now or Pay More Later

The economy may be looking up as of late, but that’s not necessarily good news for everyone. Or for shoppers, at least. That’s because many of the “recession discounts” and super sales that have been going on at stores across the country will most likely become a thing of the past once stocks go up and consumers return to their usual ways.

So what goods and services should you start buying now before the bargains dry up? Forbes has a rundown:

Real Estate: The combination of falling interest rates, discounted foreclosure properties, government incentives, and bottoming home prices is making this a great time to buy. Not that this news is especially shocking to you, we’re assuming …

The Recession Will End… Not Until 2011!

Says who: The World Bank

“While the global economy is likely to begin expanding again in the second half of 2009, the recovery is expected to be subdued as global demand remains depressed, unemployment remains high, and recession-like conditions continue until 2011,” said Hans Timmer, Director of the World Bank’s Development Prospects Group. (via World Bank report)

Why it might be false: Governments worldwide have announced about $2 trillion in economic stimulus programs, and China targets GDP growth of around 8% this year, keeping it in a position to suck in more raw materials and capital goods…

Paying Your (Small Business) Bills

A certain business based in North Carolina is facing tough times like everyone else. Its forklifts, once commanding strong prices in good times, haven’t seen demand decrease — just customers’ ability to pay on time. Its cash-flow strategy? Milk the mom-and-pop customers for what they have, and tighten the trade terms (the period during which the company will extend credit while customers get their own cash-flow situation together).

But, for the most part, small businesses report, suppliers aren’t putting the squeeze on their customers — everyone needs the business they can get. Usually, the vendors are putting the squeeze on the suppliers to come in at a lower price point.

Be that as it may, here’s how to manage a bullying vendor who’s pressuring you to pay now…

Screwed: 1,000 at Hypo Real Estate

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

Today’s partial total: 2,024

German Bank Hypo Real Estate will lay off 1,000 employees by 2013… United Airlines will be reducing its flight attendant work force by 600… MySpace plans 300 international layoffs… The Metropolitan Museum of Art has laid off 74 employees in the past few weeks… Chesapeake Energy Corp. has laid off 50 employees at its corporate office… The digital ad agency Razorfish laid off 10 percent of it’s New York City staff…

Recession Briefing 6.23

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Barely half of Americans are now confident that President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus measure will boost the economy, according to a new poll. (Washington Post)

Lines at soup kitchens are growing across the U.S. as they cater to a growing number of families struggling to make ends meet. (Guardian)

Shelters are struggling to house the increasing numbers of pets being abandoned by cash-strapped owners. (CBS News/Early Show)