For years the skills and maintenance crises were deemed a non-issue and not news-worthy of mainstream media outlets. With the explosion of news coverage before the election and after with the looming fiscal cliff, crises are now dinner-time conversations. Below are a few excerpts of coverage. The greatest thing that all of this coverage is creating, is discussion, debate and action. More technical programs are being developed, more funding sources, scholarships, internships and apprenticeship programs are in development.

As promised sharing more information on the Fiscal Cliff. This is from colleague on the National Defense Workforce Advisory Committee, Laurie Moncrieff. Let's all stand up and be heard. Tell Congress that they need to FIX-IT NOW!

THE VIEW OF THE CLIFF FROM AN ACROPHOBIC

I am a parent, spouse, small business owner, manufacturer, neighbor, and friend. I am the segment of the economy that is painfully aware that in the past 10 years we have experienced an economic downturn second only to the “Great Depression.”

Despite the general malaise and anxieties perceived in the job market with the absence of high volume open hiring, companies are still on the look out for quality talent. However, to avoid being inundated with lengthy lines, high volume telephone calls and resume stacks of unqualified talent, companies are employing stealth hiring techniques.

Companies have realized that buying want ads in newspapers, radio and television is not only expensive but also opens the net so wide that they do not have time to filter through the resumes, phone calls or possible lines.

Despite high levels of unemployment across the country, employers still complain about locating quality talent and resources ready for work. Compounding this issue is that many educational outlets spend more time coaching students how to charm their way into and out of an interview into a job.

Manufacturing Day has been designed to expand knowledge about and improve general public perception of manufacturing careers and manufacturing’s value to the North American economy. In addition, manufacturers will learn about business improvement resources and services delivered through manufacturing extension partnerships.

HOST AN OPEN HOUSE

As a manufacturer it’s your opportunity to:
• Tell your company’s story
• Dispel outdated myths about manufacturing
• Inspire a new generation of manufacturers
• Connect with potential customers in your community

"Build it they will come."

Remember that line from the film classic "Field of Dreams"? What many do not know in order to film the scene at the end where all of the cars were meandering down a dirt road to see the field in the cornfields of Iowa, a local radio station instructed all of the drivers where to go and how to get there.

The point being that is that even if you build it, they will only come if you tell them about it.

So how do we get more support for Manufacturing in the US? How do we break down the negative image of being dark, dirty and dangerous?

Since we live in uncertain times and since many of us either have no job, underemployed, unsatisfied with current job, or just curious about future jobs, providing you below some helpful tips, tactics and techniques to build your own safety net that will protect you and advance your career.

Face it, the era of job security is over. No longer can anyone expect to work with one company for their career. However, if you develop skill security system you will be able roll with the volatility in the economy and be able to thrive while others struggle.

With the ambient anxiety in a society of over 700,000 attorneys of being constantly careful of not offending has created a fake interaction where we can no longer tell people what they need to hear but what they want to hear.

This newsletter features certification, e-learning, skills and management training courses.

This newsletter features certification, e-learning, skills and management training courses.