Job Security Gets a Little Stronger
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A survey released this month says that Americans have gotten more confident about the job market than they have been in at least two years — but that doesn’t exactly mean that people are dancing in the streets.

In the random sampling of 1,017 full-time workers nationwide conducted by Right Management Consultants, three-quarters of people responding say they believe that there is little or no chance they will lose their jobs in the next year. In addition, for the first time since Right Management created its semiannual Career Confidence Index two years ago, fewer than 70 percent of workers expect a rise in the unemployment rate.

Now only 65 percent do. Yes, that is still nearly two out of three, but it is a little better — especially when you consider that the unemployment rate is generally getting lower, so a little bit of a bounce back up wouldn’t be a shock even if the economy keeps improving.

But even though they feel somewhat secure, the workers are a long way from getting cocky. About 4 out of 5 believe it would be at least somewhat difficult for unemployed workers to land jobs that pay a comparable salary to what they had before.

As far as their chances for advancement at their current companies, about half the workers say it would be at least somewhat possible to move up. On the other hand, there is still more than a little hopelessness: About 1 in 7 workers say they have no possibility for advancement — unless they change companies, of course.

Those workers who feel the most optimistic about their chances of moving up at their current companies tend to be younger, African American or Latino. Two-thirds of people 18 to 34 say that job advancement is possible; so do 62 percent of Latinos and 61 percent of African Americans.

The cuts go on: While workers may be more optimistic, employers did announce plans in October to cut 101,840 jobs nationwide, according to the latest monthly report from the global outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

That comes on top of 107,863 job cuts announced in September, meaning that for the first time since January and February of 2003, more than 100,000 job cuts have been announced in back-to-back months.

Telecommunications was hit particularly hard, Challenger reports, with 16,664 cuts announced — the largest figure in the industry this year and the third consecutive month that cuts have increased.

For the year, the worst job cuts are still in the financial industry, with 88,392.

Sorry, wrong number: In response to my recent column about workplace stupidity, reader Sharon Selleck sent in another good example:

“I was interviewing a young woman (probably 21) for an entry-level accounting position. Her cell phone rang during the interview and she took the call. She didn’t turn it off and say ‘Excuse me,’ she didn’t take the call and immediately say to the caller, ‘I have to call you back.’ SHE TOOK THE CALL and spoke for about 30-45 seconds.

“That was the shortest interview I ever had!”

The young woman’s mistake is obvious — unless there was something life-or-death crucial about that call, she should have ignored it — but sometimes people make similarly stupid cell phone decisions while driving.

It’s almost always a dumb idea to have a crucial cell phone discussion on the road. It’s hard for the brain to focus on vital items and still pay sufficient attention to road conditions — meaning you risk sounding like a dolt or causing an accident.

Neither road is exactly tempting.

Nap time: Yes, great talent will help you be a star, but sometimes a great excuse can work wonders. San Francisco Chronicle colleague La Tricia Ransom sent me a list circulating over the Internet of the “The 10 Best Things to Say if You Get Caught Sleeping at Your Desk.” Here are my four favorites:

“They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”

“I wasn’t sleeping. I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm.”

“I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance.”

“… in Jesus’ name. Amen.”