If you’re not from there, you might only think of Detroit as the city with the massive population contraction. Or the one abandoned by the auto industry. Or the place with all the racial tension.

Or maybe when you watched the Super Bowl last year, you were introduced to a Detroit you hadn’t considered. You saw Eminem driving a Chrysler 200 through a hard-nosed, never-say-die, lunch-pail city with the Joe Louis fist suspended proudly by the riverfront (ironically located just outside of General Motors’ headquarters). And this year, it was Clint Eastwood with a more somber and yet hopeful view of the Big D’.

Whatever your impression of Detroit, I can tell you that if you’ve never spent any time there, it’s wrong. You may think you know about the city’s grit, but unless you meet gritty Detroiters, you don’t. You may think you understand the concept of reinventing blight into opportunity, but until you walk through the Russell Industrial Center or the Heidleberg Project, you don’t. You may think that as an enlightened white person, you understand the psychology of blacks who are just a few generations removed from slavery. But until you walk through the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, you don’t. (And even after that, you don’t.)

I’ve spent the better part of two years traveling to The Motor City to film “Lemonade: Detroit,” allowing myself to be absorbed by its zeitgeist, trying to find stories of reinvention that accurately reflect its brand . . . A brand I could have never fully – nor even partially – grasped without the first hand experience of being there.

There are anecdotes of promise everywhere you look that belie what you think you know. I couldn’t begin to list even a tiny fraction of what makes Detroit’s brand so resilient, so proud, so inspiring. But here are a few stories that have been on my mind lately:

• The Green Garage, which what was once an abandoned Model T showroom, has been reinvented into a collaborative workspace for sustainable Detroit entrepreneurs.
  
• Torya Blanchard, who cashed out the 401(k) she earned as a French teacher, opened a successful 48 square-foot creperie. So successful that she expanded it into a 2000 sq.ft. creperie. Then she opened a second 2000 sq.ft. location across town. And now Torya is about to open a breakfast and lunch joint in Hamtramck called Ootie’s.
  
• An amazing place called Youthville is giving kids in Detroit a state-of-the-art facility to explore everything from robotics to music video production.
  
• Lest you think Detroit is only for ambitious hipster entrepreneurs, check out how Dan Gilbert, the Quicken Loans chairman and majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is reinventing downtown with his skyscraper buying spree.

“A rising tide lifts all boats” is the ethos in Detroit. Startups that would be competitors on paper are helping each other with everything from permits to suppliers to marketing. Try finding that neighborly love in New York or LA.

To be clear, Detroit isn’t Eden. The population retraction? The country’s worst education system? The high unemployment? All true. There’s a mountain to climb, and they’re nowhere near the summit. But those who call themselves Detroiters don’t want your handouts. They don’t want your condolences. And they especially don’t want your pity.

On the other hand, it has also been ranked as one of the top ten downtowns in America, and was highlighted by Forbes as being one of the best cities in the country to be an entrepreneur.

So where does this leave Detroit’s brand? Well, I know it can’t be fully articulated in an ad. Like any brand, you need to see it. Touch it. Experience it on an emotional level. The same way you don’t fully know Apple’s brand until you play with an iPad. Or Chrysler’s until you drive a 200.

Original from Forbes.

Lower unemployment is a positive a sign for President Barack Obama’s re-election hopes. Still, he’s likely to face voters with the highest unemployment rate of any post-war president.

“There are still far too many Americans who need a job … but the economy is growing stronger. The recovery is speeding up. And we need to do everything in our power to keep it going,” Obama said Friday.

Hiring accelerated across the economy and up and down the pay scale. The high-salary professional services industry added 70,000 jobs, the most in 10 months. Manufacturing added 50,000, the most in a year.

“This is a very positive employment report from almost any angle,” said Brian Bethune, an economics professor at Amherst College.

The report seemed certain to shake up the presidential campaign, which is expected to turn on the economy. The unemployment rate is the lowest since February 2009, one month after Obama took office.

The report Friday from the Labor Department sent money pouring into the stock market, already off to its best start in 15 years because of improving confidence in the economy, and out of more conservative investments in bonds.

The Dow Jones industrial average shot 160 points higher to 12,865 in the first hour of trading. That is 55 points better than its highest close since the financial crisis struck in the fall of 2008.

It was the most jobs added since and March and April of last year, when 246,000 and 251,000 jobs were created. Before that, the last month with stronger hiring, excluding months skewed by temporary census jobs, was March 2006.

The government said hiring was stronger in November and December by 60,000 jobs than first estimated. It was also stronger over the past two years than previously thought. The economy added 1.82 million jobs last year, nearly twice as many as in 2010.

The unemployment rate was down two notches from the 8.5 percent reading last month. It was also the fifth consecutive month the rate has fallen, the first time that has happened since late 1994.

Employers have added an average of 201,000 jobs a month in the past three months. That’s 50,000 more jobs per month than the economy averaged in each month last year.

The Labor Department’s January jobs report was filled with other encouraging data and revisions. The economy added 200,000 more jobs in 2011 than first thought.

The unemployment rate is nearly a percentage point lower than over the summer, when many feared a recession was imminent.

Impressively, the job gains last month were spread across the economy. Even the beleaguered construction sector added 21,000 jobs, its second month of strong gains. That figure has probably been helped by unseasonably warm weather this winter.

The leisure and hospitality industry, which includes restaurants and hotels, added 44,000 jobs. Retailers added nearly 11,000.

The unemployment rate fell even as more people began looking for work. But a much larger number said they found work.

More jobs and higher incomes should help consumers boost spending and increase economic growth.

Even with the gains, the job market faces a long way back to full health. The nation has about 5.6 million fewer jobs than it did when the recession began in late 2007.

There are still 12.8 million people out of work, though that is the fewest since the recession ended. An additional 11 million are either working part-time but would prefer full-time work, or have stopped searching for jobs.

When all those groups are combined, nearly 24 million are considered “underemployed. The so-called “underemployment” rate ticked down in January to 15.1 percent, from 15.2 percent.

Several reports signaled this week that the economy is improving gradually. Manufacturers expanded at the fastest pace in seven months in January, a private survey showed.

And fewer people sought unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said. The four-week average of applications fell to its second-lowest level since June 2008. The drop shows that companies are cutting fewer jobs, which usually leads to more hiring.

Americans spent more at big chain retail stores last month compared with a year earlier. And automakers began 2012 with a strong sales gain in January. Healthier auto sales can boost a range of companies, from steel makers to parts suppliers to shippers.

The economy expanded at a 2.8 percent annual pace in the October-December quarter, a full percentage point higher than in the previous quarter.

Even so, economists expect slower growth this year. Much of the fourth quarter’s expansion was due to companies ordering more goods to restock their warehouses. Restocking is likely to slow in the first three months of this year. That would drag on growth.

Europe’s financial crisis could also slow demand for U.S. goods. And average wages failed to keep up with inflation last year. That leaves consumers with less spending power, which can hamper growth.

Original from Associated Press

In the meantime, we’ve been out on the town with some of our recent placements celebrating. Here are a few photos and words from our recent candidates who have found satisfying new careers with our clients. Contact us today if you want in on a new career, just like them.

K.M., Senior Tax Analyst, CPA

“After deciding I wanted to move out of public accounting, I worked with several recruiters unsuccessfully. Then I received a call from Arthur. Global really took the time to get to know me and understand what position would best fit my needs. I didn’t get that from the other recruiters. Global kept my career goals and skill set in mind and presented me with job openings that were a good fit for me. They also provided excellent interview prep and guided me through the entire process. In the end, I received an offer from a great company much quicker than I did with other recruiters! Thanks to Arthur and Dee who were instrumental in helping me secure a great position. I would highly recommend their services to anyone searching for a better career. Thanks for all your help!!”

M.H., Senior Auditor, CPA

“As a 3 year CPA from Alaska, pursuing new opportunities was challenging, especially being on an H1B visa. Investing in a Custom Job Search seemed odd and very non-traditional method for a search/recruiting firm, but I had nothing to lose. Arthur walked me through every step of the process, actively seeking all H1B employment possibilities. He not only brought opportunities for me to interview with prestigious organizations, but was also heavily involved in the interview coaching process and educating companies on how easy the H1B transfer process is, which was invaluable. Landing my new job with a Big 4 firm was a dream come true as a result of Arthur’s relentless efforts and involvement. Arthur is truly an expert and I would recommend his “out of the box” approach and attitude to anyone!”

M.G., IT auditor, CISA
“I wanted to thank you for the amazing effort you made to revamp my resume! If not for your efforts and your bringing to my attention that my resume needed some serious reworking as I transitioned to the US market, I would never have been able to make a career move over here! Your help in doing my resume has resulted in my securing a job at a Big 4 accounting firm in the Detroit-area! Thank you! I would definitely recommend you to any overseas professionals looking to start a career in the US.”

 
With the job market rolling along, especially for audit, tax, accounting, and finance professionals, these recent placements are just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve got dozens of new opportunities in the mix across the country with expanding firms. So contact us today and in a month or so, it might be you celebrating!

So let’s tune yours up with six simple steps:

Step 1. Revisit your goals. At its most basic level LinkedIn is about marketing: marketing your company or marketing yourself. But that focus probably got lost as you worked through the mechanics of completing your profile, and what started as a marketing effort turned into a resume completion task. Who you are isn’t as important as what you hope to accomplish, so think about your goals and convert your goals into keywords, because keywords are how people find you on LinkedIn.

But don’t just whip out the Google AdWords Keyword Tool and identify popular keywords. It’s useful but everyone uses it—and that means, for example, that every Web designer has shoehorned six- and seven-digit searches-per-month keywords like “build a website,” “website templates,” “designing a website,” and “webmaster” into their profile. It’s hard to stand out when you’re one of millions.

Go a step further and think about words that have meaning in your industry. Some are process-related; others are terms only used in your field; others might be names of equipment, products, software, or companies.

Use a keyword tool to find general terms that could attract a broader audience, and then dig deeper to target your niche by identifying keywords industry insiders might search for.

Then sense-check your keywords against your goals. If you’re a Web designer but you don’t provide training, the 7 million monthly Google searches for “how to Web design” don’t matter.

Step 2. Layer in your keywords. The headline is a key factor in search results, so pick your most important keyword and make sure it appears in your headline. “Most important” doesn’t mean most searched, though; if you provide services to a highly targeted market the keyword in your headline should reflect that niche. Then work through the rest of your profile and replace some of the vague descriptions of skills, experience, and educational background with keywords. Your profile isn’t a term paper so don’t worry about a little repetition. A LinkedIn search scans for keywords, and once on the page, so do people.

Step 3. Strip out the clutter. If you’re the average person you changed jobs six or eight times before you reached age 30. That experience is only relevant when it relates to your current goals. Sift through your profile and weed out or streamline everything that doesn’t support your business or professional goals. If you’re currently a Web designer but were an accountant in a previous life, a comprehensive listing of your accounting background is distracting. Keep previous jobs in your work history, but limit each to job title, company, and a brief description of duties.

Step 4. Reintroduce your personality. Focusing on keywords and eliminating clutter is important, but in the process your individuality probably got lost. Now you can put it back and add a little enthusiasm and flair. Describing yourself as, “A process improvement consultant with a Six Sigma black belt,” is specific and targeted but also says nothing about you as a person—and doesn’t make me think, “Hey, she would be great to work with.”

Share why you love what you do in your profile. Share what you hope to accomplish. Describe companies you worked for or projects you completed. Share your best or worst experience. Keep your keywords in place, leave out what doesn’t support your goals, and then be yourself.

Keywords are important but are primarily just a way to help potential clients find you. No one hires keywords; they hire people.

Step 5. Take a hard look at your profile photo. Say someone follows you on Twitter. What’s the first thing you do? Check out their photo.

A photo is a little like a logo: On its own an awesome photo won’t win business, but a bad photo can definitely lose business.

Take a look at your current photo. Does it reflect who you are as a professional or does it reflect a hobby or outside interest? Does it look like a real estate agent’s headshot? A good photo flatters but doesn’t mislead. Eventually you’ll meet some of your customers in person and the inevitable disconnect between Photoshop and life will be jarring.

The goal is for your photo to reflect how you will look when you meet a customer, not how you looked at that killer party in Key West four years ago. The best profile photo isn’t necessarily your favorite photo. The best photo strikes a balance between professionalism and approachability, making you look good but also real.

Step 6. Get recommendations. Most of us can’t resist reading testimonials, even when we know those testimonials were probably solicited. Recommendations add color and depth to a LinkedIn profile, fleshing it out while avoiding any, “Oh jeez will this guy ever shut up about himself?” reactions. So ask for recommendations, and offer to provide recommendations before you’re asked.

The best way to build great connections is to always be the one who gives first.

Original from Inc.

The survey results are based on data collected during the last two weeks of November. The survey’s index of business improvement, called new orders, advanced to +13 from +9. The production index remained virtually unchanged but retreated to +7 from +8. The employment index posted a gain, rising to +24 from +15.

In the index, numbers above zero indicate an expanding economy, and numbers below zero indicate a contracting one. The farther the number is above or below zero, the better or worse the conditions.

Long said Michigan still has the automotive parts producers to thank for the positive numbers. He said second strongest group for November was industrial distributors, many of whom appear to be having a good year. He said the office furniture firms appear to be plateauing at the current level.

“The auto industry continues to strengthen,” said Long. “Since much of Michigan’s recession recovery can be attributed to the auto parts suppliers and assemblers, it is especially gratifying to see industry sales for November rise by 14 percent, up from October’s increase of 8 percent.”

Long said the other big economic news for November was the drop in the national unemployment rate to 8.6 percent from 9 percent.

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.” An expanded version of this report and details of the methodology used to compile it are available at www.gvsu.edu/scblogistics.

Original from CBS Detroit

It would be foolish to think that this is the first time in the last 30 years that Detroiters started to believe, “This time is different. This time Detroit is on its way back.” I can remember feeling like this before. And, I know I’m not alone. There have been big projects that rightfully gave hope to Detroiters — the building of the Renaissance Center or Comerica Park. And, there are milestones in Detroit’s history — the People Mover and the election of Kwame Kilpatrick — that, in retrospect, make us feel foolish for our misplaced optimism.

That said, and at the risk of looking really foolish in 10 years, I believe that this time is different. This time Detroit is on its way back. So, what makes me so optimistic? It’s a combination of things, and that, in and of itself, is a good thing.

For starters, this time, there is no one big thing that we’re banking on. Rather, it’s the aggregation of dozens of projects varying in size, scope, and ambition that is giving the city a vibrancy it hasn’t had in decades. Is there a plan moving forward for light rail on Woodward as the spine for a regional transit plan? Sure. Am I pinning my hopes on it? Nope. Is Dan Gilbert buying up office buildings downtown and looking to fill them with high-tech companies? Yep. But, if in the ultimate spasm of irony, he pulls a LeBron and abandons us for Cleveland, is all hope lost? No way.

Why not? Each of these projects is just one part of an ecosystem of activity that seems to grow bigger every day. Much ado has been made about the hipsters moving to town, and they’re certainly coming in droves. But, it’s more than just millennials in skinny jeans and funky glasses. People of all ages are getting involved. Many of them have been here all along, toiling under the clouds of negative publicity hovering over the city. Some of us are ‘boomeranging’ back after spending time abroad.

Model D Media, a publication that has helped change the narrative about Detroit, recently hosted an event called the Next Big Thing: Is a Million Little Things. It featured lots of the home-grown projects that are changing the face of the city. Odds that any of these will single-handedly save Detroit? Zilch. Can all of them do it together? Maybe.

There are dozens of these little organic projects underway. But, the big boys are partnering too, in a way I have never seen before. Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health Systems, and the Detroit Medical Center are collaborating with Midtown Detroit Inc. to add density, jobs, and vitality to midtown. Blue Cross, DTE, Quicken, Compuware, and Strategic Staffing have followed suit downtown. In the past, there seemed to be mistrust and decades of baggage at every turn, and there is still fierce competition between the various factions. But, now this competition seems to be about who loves the D more and who can be seen as doing the most to speed in the city’s recovery.

This momentum is aided by another powerful force that is finally tilting in the city’s direction: economics. Where else can you buy a beautiful 1930s stone house for 10k? Want to buy a new warehouse or rent some office space? Make me an offer. Of course, things are still a little rough around the edges, and perhaps city services are somewhat sporadic. But if you’re an entrepreneur, taking out your own garbage is hardly the biggest challenge you face on a daily basis.

And finally… finally… the media (national as well as local) is starting to get it. Until a year or two ago, you didn’t see the word “Detroit” in a newspaper over the last 30 years unless it was followed by the words “bankruptcy” or “crime” or “urban decay.” Today, the modern American city is being celebrated as the way forward, places where density and proximity lead to innovation, economic growth and (not or) a healthier environment. And, it seems everybody in the country is rooting for the D.

This newfound, positive vibe is spread virally in the ever-growing social media world. Search for “Detroit” on Facebook and you’ll find hundreds of groups. Some have names that include words like “defend,” “restore,” or “save.” But, increasingly there are more and more with other themes in their titles: “salsa,” “young,” “discover.” Why is this important? Because, we’ll know Detroit is healthy again when we all have stopped focusing on saving it.

A friend of mine recently had a house warming party. Normally, this is an occasion where a few good friends and neighbors bring over a bottle of wine and celebrate their friend or new neighbor’s achievement of an “adult milestone”. But, in this case she invited several hundred employees of a new local employer to show them the type of housing stock available in the city. I can’t wait until the D is back on track, so economic development will get out of the way of a good party.

Original from HufPo

There could of course be any number of reasons why you received no response. Maybe you just weren’t on the “top 100” things the hiring manager had to do on any given day. Maybe your information was of no further interest to the hiring manager and it was simply discarded. But maybe—just maybe!—the hiring manager did have some further interest in you and merely set aside your information, to follow up on later, and simply hasn’t gotten around to it yet. If you have any reason to suppose that this last reason is perhaps why you have received no response, and if you genuinely want to continue to pursue a position with a particular hiring manager or company, then maybe you should seriously consider beginning to brand yourself as “The Rag Man.”

The what? you are probably saying! With due apologies to the women reading this blog, and with no intention whatsoever of being perceived as chauvinistic or sexist, let me explain who “The Rag Man” was (and still is!).

Back in the Wild West of the 1800s, pioneers got most of their news from a person everyone referred to simply as “The Rag Man.” Because it was so painful for the family when someone in the family died, it was The Rag Man’s job to come by and clean out the deceased’s personal effects—clothing, jewelry, whatever—and take them away. The Rag Man then traveled from town to town, village to village, either in a horse-drawn cart or using a push-cart. At each stop along the way, upon his arrival, he would shout, “Rags for sale, rags for sale. Come and get your rags!”

People flocked to greet The Rag Man at every stop, but it wasn’t because they were just interested in the “rags” he was selling. Rather, the people actually were eager to hear the latest “news”—any “stories”—that The Rag Man may have learned or picked up along his route.

The contemporary equivalent of The Rag Man is the professional to whom others in his/her official or unofficial network consistently and regularly turn to learn what’s going on in a particular industry or in specific companies within that industry, etc. The term which probably best fits today’s “Rag Man” (who obviously could also be referred to as “Rag Woman”) is “center of influence.”

Regardless of which term is used, the job hunter who brands himself/herself as someone who is—if not the expert—an expert in any given field or professional specialty can have considerable impact on and wield significant influence with prospective employers. Indeed, the job hunter who is branded as a “center of influence” can capitalize on this perception to “re-touch” hiring managers or companies when no response has been received from initial efforts.

Suppose, for example, that you run across an interesting article either about a particular company you are pursuing or the industry in which it operates. You could email that article to the hiring manager with appropriate comments. (Since a lot of companies today will not open emails with attachments because of the threat of computer viruses, you would be better advised to “paste” the text of the article within the body of your email.) That will show the hiring manager, among other things, that you are actively engaged in and dedicated to keeping up with important, ongoing developments within the company/industry. Or, if you write a blog, and the content is appropriate and relevant, make sure the hiring manager you are actively pursuing has easy access to it. The point is, make sure you institute consistent, meaningful and relevant contact—“re-touches”—with any hiring manager you want to pursue.

(As an aside, research shows that it takes, on average, at least SEVEN “touches” before you will be able to break through the “clutter” and “noise” surrounding most people, including hiring managers, of course, and get their attention. So don’t give up after a couple of contacts! With today’s harried, frazzled, overworked hiring managers, it’s quite likely to take far more than seven “touches,” too!)

If you feel you are qualified and able, you might also want to consider setting up and conducting appropriate professional seminars. These seminars don’t have to be spectacular, costly productions either. They can perhaps be set up and coordinated with existing local professional or civic organizations, thereby being essentially free to both you and the participants. Certainly you will want to join—and become and stay actively engaged in—appropriate LinkedIn groups. And, if you have the talent, write and submit professional articles to professional publications or online forums. (These communication outlets, while most do not offer compensation to contributors, are constantly seeking fresh, informative material from people branded as “experts” in the field.)

Obviously, the opportunities to be branded (perceived) as an “expert” who is totally engaged in your profession are limited only by your imagination, degree of commitment and willingness to explore them. One thing is certain, though, a hiring manager will quite likely view you as somewhat more than just an “average” candidate if you do become engaged in such activities, if you do indeed brand yourself as The Rag Man (or Woman). You will be viewed as someone who thinks strategically about his or her profession, about the relevant industry, someone who is action-oriented, not just another candidate who is “looking for a job.”

Original from Personal Branding Blog

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Gov. Rick Snyder and others no doubt will be buzzing about this dubious honor today, when the new BEES index is unveiled at the Bloomberg State & Municipal Finance 2011 Conference in New York.

And why not? After being the nation’s economic caboose for most of the past decade, why not give the Michigan whistle a little toot when some new numbers show you are suffering a bit less, proportionally, than the rest of the nation’s sputtering economic train?

North Dakota was the only state to record positive economic progress overall between the end of 2008 and the second quarter of this year, according to the BEES, a new quarterly index that combines data on tax collections, personal income, employment, home prices, mortgage foreclosures and the stock prices of public companies.

Michigan edged out Nebraska for the No. 2 spot on the inaugural BEES list. Other top 10 states include Great Lakes neighbors Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to an early snapshot of BEES data in Bloomberg Business Week magazine. Those suffering the worst economic tailspins — with drops of more than 20% since 2008 on the BEES — were Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho and Nevada.

Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon and John Nixon, the state’s budget director, are to be among the speakers at today’s finance conference staged by Bloomberg, the business and financial information provider.

They no doubt will be touting the upgrade in outlook for Michigan’s bonds from stable to positive by the Fitch Ratings agency in July, following a visit by Snyder to New York to discuss Michigan’s economy and its 2011-12 budget. Fitch said then that its improved outlook “reflects prudent budgeting and efforts to grow reserve levels in the context of an economy beginning to slowly rebound.”

Fitch also noted the state’s effort to “grow reserve levels” and put away more in the state’s rainy day fund.

Michigan’s strong — or should we say less-weak? — showing on the BEES index is partly because of a rebound in the auto industry. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have all gained market share and become profitable since 2008.

But the modest recovery in the auto sector hasn’t spread to other industries. University of Michigan economist George Fulton said last month that the state’s economy was still on track to add more than 60,000 jobs this year, but he cut his forecast for job growth next year. Michigan’s jobless rate stood at 11.1% in September, up from 10% earlier in the year.

If the best we can say about Michigan is that we’re now the nation’s 49th- biggest loser, so be it.

Original from the Detroit Free Press