Finding a job while having an "ethnic" name

Does your name matter when it comes hiring decisions? Many times it does - even more so when you factor in race. In fact, the way names of people from different races are perceived may provide some insight into why the black unemployment rate is sky-high at 15.1 percent - almost double the 8.9 percent for whites - and has remained nearly twice the average of whites for some 30 years.
According to a study for the National Bureau of Economics, resumes and applications with names more commonly given to white Americans were 50 percent more likely to be contacted for job interviews than those applicants with names more associated with black Americans.
It has also been found that employers download resumes from applicants with "white names" - such as Molly and Daniel - 17 percent more often than those of applicants with "black names" like Maesha and Darius. Some speculate that it is not about race but that names are indicative of social background. Either way, assumptions are being made independent of a person's capabilities.
Instead of getting depressed or wondering whether or not we should give our children less culturally telling names, it's best to ask how we can overcome the lingering racial biases in the minds of too many hiring managers. We have to become stealth job seekers and have a strategy that makes an HR professional's stereotype of what a Teisha or Tyrone is capable of crumble at the sight of a gifted, black professional.
For African-American candidates, being aware of which subtle social and racial contexts you need to overcome is key to outperforming the competition. I remember a psychologist and executive career coach telling me that most African-Americans do not realize that once you have the job interview, the employer already feels you are qualified but needs to determine if you are a "fit" with the organization. Do you "fit" in with the other employees? Do you have a high likeability factor? "Fitting" often requires nimble choreography in today's contemporary career dance.
Since many whites have had limited experience working and being with blacks in social settings as colleagues and friends, a good deal of their impressions of African-Americans are based on the barrage of negative images that saturate the airwaves. Consequently, we have to show examples of who we really are and define our own achievements even more than our white counterparts. So how do we ensure our voice is heard, and that we have a chance in the bid for employment?
Here are 5 strategic job search moves to help increase your chances of getting an offer:
1. Change your name (temporarily). If you have a name more commonly found in our community, consider adapting your name or using a middle name that is less telling of your cultural background for your job search campaign. Remember, this is about marketing yourself and just as marketers use slick advertising to win the hearts of customers, you have to do whatever it takes to get in the door.
For example, if your name is "Daquan Justin Woods." Go with "Justin Woods" for now, you can always change it up once you get the job. Or, how about combining your first and middle initials? "DJ woods" is a lot more race-neutral.
Now you may be asking, 'Why should you change who you are?' That's not the suggestion at all. This is merely a strategic and offensive tactic to overcome bias in the hiring process and to allow employers to meet you and evaluate you in person versus never giving you the opportunity to sell yourself at all.
2. Never put your address on your resume. In this digital age, there's no reason to disclose your address. Your email and phone number are enough for employers to contact you. It's not uncommon for hiring managers to note where you live and to make assumptions of your race and status based on zip codes.
What about e-applications? Only put your address if it's absolutely required. One of my white friends told me that they use their parents' address, which is in a very affluent neighborhood. So that goes to show that everyone is aware of zip code profiling and the impact it has on perception.
3. Conquering phone interviews. Can people discriminate against you based on if you "sound black?" Absolutely. It's not about sounding "black" or "white," it is a matter of communicating clearly and articulately so that people can not linguistically profile you. How you communicate on the phone, your tone, and your ability to express yourself go a long way in selling your talents. Every company wants to hire someone who can communicate effectively. Find an honest friend, ask them to interview you or tape record yourself. Do you say "umm," or "basically" too much? If so, practice your public speaking. Try joining a local Toast Masters chapter to enhance your communication skills and to be more comfortable speaking in front of groups.
4. Energy. An interview, whether it be on the phone or face-to-face, is a performance. So bring your A-game. Pump yourself up mentally, get excited, be happy and smile especially if you are on the phone - it will amplify your voice and indicate confidence.
5. Stand out from the crowd of candidates. Bring a portfolio or a sample of a previous project or a plan of action showing that you've already thought about the job and how you might tackle upcoming projects. Show your creativity. If you are applying for a marketing position; prepare a short one-page marketing plan. Do something different that is memorable and shows your intellect.
Ultimately, we would all like to think that race is still not a factor when it comes to hiring processes and does not influence decisions. However, empirical data just doesn't support a completely unbiased hiring process. When we identify the obstacles and combat them with a stealth offense to get in the door, we have better control in defining who we are as individuals and showing that we are indeed the right fit for the job.

Is Recession Good for Sex?

According to an article in Forbes this week, the answer is yes. Writes Susan Adams, “Layoffs, furloughs and shrinking 401(k)s may not seem like natural aphrodisiacs, but according to experts in relationships and sex, the depressed financial picture is leading some couples—and singles—to better appreciate each other.”

I’m with the psychologist quoted in the article who notes that it’s way too early for empirical studies, that it takes years to compile a meaningful picture of how the downturn has affected intimacy. But just for fun, let’s apply the myriad hypotheses based on anecdotal evidence to the love lab of my relationship for a minute and see.

One psychologist quoted in the article suggests that more couples are turning off the television and turning to one another, leading to more sex. Meanwhile, our TV diet (24, Fringe, Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol) seems to have steadily increased.

Another source in the article suggests that with so many Americans out of work or on furlough, there’s more time to exercise. Exercise boosts libido, leading to more sex. In our relationship, exercise has gone the way of dinners out. Marco quit the gym. I’ve been feeling gross and bloated, strung out on fertility hormones. Until this week, it’s been crappy outside. But hey, it’s not like Marco doesn’t get any exercise. The other day, he schlepped the 30-pound tote bag filled with change accumulated over the last few years to the bank six blocks away. “I came back with $300!” he said. Now, that was hot.

According to the article, fewer lavish vacations mean more affordable pastimes that stimulate bonding. And it’s true, we’re connecting more and more these days through quiet times together and talk. But here’s where this theory falls down: more talk can also mean more stress, particularly when that talk comes out in phrases like “how’s that portfolio coming along?” or “did you call your mother to thank her for the check?”

Our n of 2 may disprove some of these early-stage Forbes theories. But here’s what is true: In spite of the fact that husbands and wives both work at home and occasionally getting in each other’s way, they truly do enjoy each other’s company. The richest and most rewarding interactions often come from just being in each other’s presence, laughing at the cat, reacting as one to the daily news. Everyday life has grown comfier somehow, because he’s part of it. Maybe the psychologists are onto something after all.

How Has the Recession Affected Dating?

Remember Madonna’s Material Girl video? A begowned pre-Madge Madge channels Marilyn Monroe, is plied with diamonds by a dancing troupe of tuxedoed beefcakes, and ends up getting wooed by a man (played by Keith Carradine) proffering daisies and a lift in a dusty pick-up truck. Madonna, in her own way, could have been offering tips about how to date in a recession: Keep it simple. Don’t break the bank to impress. And, whatever you do, don’t give the girl diamonds — at least not on the first date.

Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that people are not dating less because of the recession; instead, online dating sites are reporting double-digit growth in use. Love, it seems, blooms in hard times. People’s defenses tend to dip. They don’t want to worry about money alone. They have a heightened desire to connect.

But how to date in a downturn, especially in a city where cocktails can run upwards of $18 and late-night cabs may be among the indulgences you’re trying to cut back? Plenty of people believe in going dutch on dates anyway, and there are certainly ample suggestions out there on how to date for less. Still, New York is not cheap, walks in the park notwithstanding.

So, to all the single ladies – and guys too – do dish: How has the recession affected your dating life – and your dates?

Economists see recession through 2009

According to the National Association of Business Economists, 90% of the 102 members responding were more pessimistic about the economy than they had been in July.

The economists indicated that a recession is likely to continue at least through the end of next year, with 79% saying the economy will grow less than 1% and 38% saying the economy will shrink next year.

"There has been a sharp decline in current and near-term expectations among economists," said Ken Simonson, a member of the NABE committee that conducted the survey. "This represents a big turnabout in attitude about the economy."

With the economy mired in a prolonged credit crisis, the Federal Reserve has slashed interest rates several times, most recently cutting them by a half-percentage point, to 1%, on October 29.

But just 36% of respondents said the rate cuts and other initiatives by the Fed to unfreeze the credit markets were having a positive impact and 58% said the programs were having little impact. The survey was completed on Oct. 23, before the Fed's last rate cut.

"Economists have a very pessimistic view of the Fed's programs," said Simonson. "The inability to get funding has lowered their near-term expectations for the economy."

Low consumer sentiment and poor economic conditions have sharply reduced demand for goods and services. According to the survey, 35% reported falling demand while just 30% said demand was rising. It was the first time since 2001 in which more respondents reported declining demand than rising demand.

By way of comparison, 44% of respondents reported rising demand in July and only 19% reported falling demand. The NABE said every time since 1982 when economists reported more declines than increases in demand, the economy has later proven to be in a recession.

As demand slumped, respondents said their firms' profit margins sagged as well. Just 15% of economists surveyed said their companies' profit margins were rising, compared to 44% who said margins were falling.

Continued job cuts are also likely, as 23% of respondents said their firms or industries were cutting jobs, compared to 16% who reported that they were hiring.

"Over the next six months, far more firms expect to cut back on employment, which will likely make the recession deeper,"

Your 2009 Recession Survival Guide

So you think it's bad news that a recession
has been "officially declared"? (Turns out, it started back in December of last year.) Puh-lease. First of all, it shouldn't be news to anyone that the economy has been in the tank for a while. Unemployment has been climbing (from 4.4 percent in March 2007 to 6.5 percent now), and the stock market has been plummeting (down roughly 40 percent so far this year). Ouch!

Second, the recession announcement by the National Bureau of Economic Research can be a handy catalyst for action. Now that there's not a shadow of a doubt that the economy is terrible, you can look ahead to 2009, make smart plans to weather the downturn, and—if you're savvy—figure out how to take advantage of the tough times we'll be facing all next year:

* The economic outlook. Oh, it's going to be nasty out there. Not so nasty that your great-grandparents will quit telling those Great Depression stories, but bad nonetheless. For a while, economists thought we might luck out and get away with a downturn no worse than the 1990-91 recession. That one lasted eight months, with back-to-back quarters of negative GDP
growth of 2.9 percent and 2 percent. Unemployment rose from 5.2 percent to 7.8 percent. But now it looks as if the 1981-82 downturn is the better comparison. It lasted 16 months, had several quarters where the economy shrank 3 percent more, and saw unemployment rise as high as 10.8 percent. So what about the recession of 2008-2009?

* Weakening big picture. There have been two quarters so far during the recession where the economy has gotten smaller, each time by less than 1 percent. Those days are over. "We are currently forecasting a 4 percent decline in real GDP in the fourth quarter, placing it among the worst quarters for economic growth in the postwar period," says Jason Trennert of Strategas Research. The first three months of next year could be just as bad. And even once the economy begins to grow again, the overhang from the credit crisis will probably crimp significant growth until until 2010.

* Worsening unemployment. It's the sharp jump in job losses that really pushed the NBER to make its recession call. And things only seem to be getting worse. "Current conditions in the economy are terrible," notes IHS Global Insight economist Brian Bethune. "Employment continues to go south, the unemployment rate is ramping up sharply, and households are seeing their net financial worth evaporate before their eyes on a daily basis." Economists say that an 8 percent unemployment rate is likely—and 10 percent is not out of the question. Even worse, more people without jobs will make it that much tougher for the housing market to rebound anytime soon.

* Sickly stock market. The stock market often begins to perk up about three to six months before the end of a recession. But economist Michael Darda of MKM Advisers says the time to buy has yet to arrive. "We don't expect the current recession to end until late 2009, which means equities may not put in a durable bottom until the first half of 2009."

* Tight credit. Since the housing bubble started to unravel, credit card companies have been cutting credit limits and, in some cases, raising interest rates, partly because they fear more consumers will default as financial stress spreads. "We haven't hit bottom yet in terms of credit card companies trying to protect themselves," says Justin McHenry, president of IndexCreditCards.com. Even if the Federal Reserve continues to hold down interest rates, McHenry says credit card companies will probably raise rates and cut credit limits through early 2009. That means people who have credit cards with decent rates should hold onto them, because they might not find a better deal elsewhere.

* Food prices may drop. After spikes in the prices of milk, eggs, and other staples earlier this year, shoppers may be in for some relief in 2009. The price increases were partly caused by the high price of gasoline, which is used to transport much of our food. Now gas prices are dropping, leading some analysts to expect lower supermarket prices. But it won't happen overnight, because the cost of diesel is still high, and farmers need to recover from the high input costs they faced over the summer.