Job news continues to be bad

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services announced the August 2011 unemployment statistics (county by county data comes out next week). Through a variety of factors, the overall unemployment rate increased by .1 percent which equals somewhere around 6,000 or 7,000 people. This is such a difficult time with all the economic hardships that the number is not surprising. Another issue that I saw a posting on today is one of Ohio's legislators is seeking to introduce and pass legislation that would ban companies from posting that unemployed workers would not be considered for positions. With the high rate of unemployment this legislation is necessary.

Having been on unemployment in 2009 and a few months in 2010 I can say that things need to be done to help all those looking for work. Each week I would submit more than the required two applications and even for jobs that I was over qualified for in an effort to secure a job, any job. I know that there were many others out there just like me.

It would be great to start seeing a decrease in the unemployment rate, down more than 1 or 2 percent. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but I can always keep hoping.

Marketing Mix Modeling or MMM

While looking at my reading this week for class and thinking about the acronym for the topic I got a sudden craving for chocolate in a candy shell. Hmm, I wonder why. Anyway I decided to try something a little different to start out preparing for my class blog this week. After reading the assigned articles and viewing/listening to the PowerPoint presentations, I took to the web to see what was available on the topic Marketing Mix Model. I found some interesting results. Beside the all-powerful Wikipedia (please note the sarcasm here) entry, the majority of the entries were from firms that offer Marketing Mix Modeling as a service to their clients. The one that I got the biggest smile from is the fact there is a Facebook page for Marketing Mix Modeling that people can “Like”. There are only nine likes so far, so draw your own conclusions from that.   

Like many things I have learned so far in my other three classes, common sense plays a big role in all fields of communications/PR. Marketing Mix Modeling basically is used to help determine what parts of the marketing campaign are worth the money that was spent on them. I don't understand why any company would not use some for of this. However, one article I read talked about a recommendation that a marketing budget be at least $10M or ever closer to $50M for the modeling to really be worth attempting. Wow, even on the low end of that I can only dream of having a budget of that size to do nothing but market and promote my company's product or service.

Well it is about an hour until I have to have my class blog posted, so I guess I have procrastinated enough and should get back to it. I think my 500 words for the blog and not quite enough this week. We'll see in the end.

Doing what's necessary to make ends meet

Well a lot has happened in the past few months. I have completed three classes toward my Master's degree, was handed my lay-off letter, only to be offered a part-time position three days later. I have started back to working some freelance opportunities and am on my way to becoming an Avon representative. It is amazing what all you can find time for when you are trying to make ends meet and not use money from savings.

This is all on top of my son starting first grade and dealing with additional homework. While none of it is too hard for him yet, it does take more time than Kindergarten homework. He is also now in cub scouts and soccer, so three days a week I am running to places.

Anyway, I just began a class on public relations measurement and return on investment. Our first week's blog was to comment on the statement "Public Relations is not measurable." I found it quite interesting since we are in class to learn how to measure PR campaigns. I have a feeling that this class will be different from anything I have done before and am really looking forward to continuing it over the next seven weeks.

Wrenches thrown into life

Just when I thought that life was finally back on the right track, a major wrench is thrown in the journey. But first, I should go back a few weeks. As I mentioned before I was accepted to a graduate program. I began my studies two weeks ago and so far have been enjoying it. About three weeks ago I started a new job. Well, not exactly new. It was the job I was doing as a temp but now I am a full-time, permanent employee. So things were looking up until.... Tuesday. Kasich released his proposed state budget and the agency I just joined is facing a more than 50% budget cut. There is now a campaign to get the legislators to reverse some of this cut so that no one loses their job. So now my employment fate lies in the hands of our elected officials at that statehouse. Say a little prayer that things work out for the best as I really do not want to be looking for another job in three months.

Goals for 2011

2011 is almost one month old and so far neither of my resolutions have come to fruition. I guess what I thought about for the new year were more goals than resolutions. I wanted to secure a job and be accepted to graduate school. Now don't get me wrong, it's not that I haven't  been working toward them. I have applied and interviewed for positions and have my application in for grad school. I am actually in the waiting phase for both. By the end of February I should know whether I have a job or to keep looking and I'll know if I will be starting two years of reading and writing papers to get my Master's degree in public relations. So, while I keep waiting, I also keep hoping that it won't be too much longer before my two wants for 2011 come true. Then I guess I can go back to the normal resolutions of losing weight or becoming richer. If I do get a job and accepted to grad school those shouldn't be too hard to accomplish as I won't have time to eat or spend money on anything but school. Here's to a great 2011.

It's amazing how you start out doing something with good intentions but you quickly realize that you have neglected it for several years. That is how it is with this blog. I am going to try to post at least once a week in 2011 about whatever is on my mind or that I have read. A new chapter is close to starting in my life including a possible job opportunity and graduate school. Plus my "baby boy" is half way through Kindergarten which is impossible to believe that he will be six years old in just a few months. I may even talk about what I had been thinking/feeling over the past 13 months after I was terminated from my previous position. Life has a way of working out for the best even when you can't see it right away. Well here's to a new year of good intentions and the restart of my blog. Any questions for me feel free to post and I'll answer the best I can.