Halpin Personnel

Domestic Job Creation is Sweet

2012-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

Click here to see President Obama sing Sweet Home Chicago

President Obama's corporate tax plan is supposed to be unveiled today and according to this CNN article, it will call for a system with incentives for domestic job creation.

"Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas," Obama said in his address to Congress in January. "Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it. So let's change it. " - President Obama

I think we can all agree that domestic job creation would be pretty sweet! Not Sweet Home Chicago..... but just sweet.

Picture Credit

Shout Out to Sadie

2012-02-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

Much like we did here, we need to brag. Read below about our temporary worker of the month, Sadie Perez, and you'll know why we feel so compelled to do so.

Sadie has worked for Halpin Personnel for over half a year now, taking on various warehouse assignments that we receive. Her longevity at each assignment often goes longer than the client anticipated which speaks to Sadie's energetic, enthusiastic, & above-and-beyond work ethic. (It's hard for them to let her go!)

Sadie is fully bilingual, has extensive warehouse experience, and has never missed a day of work. She is currently on assignment for one of our favorite clients in Kenosha and we want to give Sadie ( and our respective client) and big SHOUT OUT for being awesome!

SADIE!!! HERE'S TO YOU!

Does one of your temporary employees from Halpin deserve some recognition? Email megan@halpinpersonnel.com & tell me about it! =)

It's Half Time America

2012-02-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

The Superbowl had its fair share of controversy this weekend and I'm not talking about Madonna. Chrysler's commercial called "It's Half Time America" was a rally cry to America, reminding us that even though people are out of work and hurting, we'll find a way back to be the country we once were.

Or was it? Critics like Karl Rove say the commercial was nothing more than an "auto bailout" commercial and political propaganda.

Take two minutes to watch the commercial again and let me know what you think below in the comments section. Also, and perhaps more importantly, let me know what you thought of Madonna.

How To Retain A Temporary Employee

2012-01-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

Halpin Personnel Owner & Staffing Guru, Mike Halpin,

speaks on How to Retain your Temporary Employees

Quick Tips to Retaining A Temporary (or Temp-to-Hire) Employee

PREPARE

Prior to their first day let them know, through the recruiter, what to wear, whether they should bring a lunch, what to expect, etc. The more info you can give them the better as it will help to ease nervousness.

COMMUNICATE

Talk them often and always – especially on the first day.

Learn their name and introduce them to everyone.

Give them a history of your company and sell them on it. Get them to buy in!

Show them where the bathroom is and tell them who to talk to if they have questions.

Follow up with them before they go home on their first day. Ask them how it went!

CONCERNING MONEY

Pay the employee what they’re asking. If you can’t afford what they want or believe their pay expectations to be unrealistic, don’t hire them. If a temp comes into your position unhappy with their pay they’ll continue their job search on the side.

Don’t low ball someone. If a temporary worker accepts a rate that you believe is “too good to be true”. It is. They will turn over.

Give a review after 90 days, if not before. A small raise is a good idea at this point if it’s feasible.

Have a specific question? Leave a comment below, contact your recruiter, or email ryan@halpinpersonnel.com

Now and Later

2012-01-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

Work hard now so you can retire at the beach later.

Happy Monday everyone!

Quitters CAN Prosper!

2012-01-11T09:41:00.000-08:00

It's common for employment experts, like us at Halpin Personnel, to advise our candidates on how to get the job they want. What's less discussed, though equally important, is how to quit the job you currently have.

Quitting your job, the right way, is essential. If you burn a bridge with an employer, you might as well have never held the job at all. You won't be able to use the employer as a reference. Plus a savvy interviewer will always be able to tell when you didn't leave a company on good terms.

Read this article by Alison Green on how to quit your job properly. If you follow her eight steps, you'll ensure that quitters do in fact, prosper!

How to Quit your Job Effectively

(as seen here)

1. Be sure that resigning is really the right decision.

2. Don't agonize too much about the timing.

3. Talk to your boss in person.

4. Give an appropriate amount of notice.

5. Be ready to answer questions about why you're leaving.

6. Be prepared for a counter offer.

7. Offer to do whatever you can to make the transition.

8. Don't get "senioritis."

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2012's Most Stressful Jobs

2012-01-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

Picture and article here

CNBC has a great slide show compiled of America's Top Ten Most Stressful Jobs. That Top Ten list is as follows;

1. Enlisted Military Soldier
2. Firefighter
3. Airline Pilot
4. Military General
5. Police Officer
6. Event Coordinator
7. PR Executive
8. Senior Corporate Executive
9. Photojournalist
10. Taxi Driver
11. Halpin Personnel Blogger (I may have added this one in myself.)

I don't think anyone would disagree that an enlisted military soldier deserves that #1 spot. So while we're on the subject, I think an official thank you to all our military is appropriate. THANK YOU!

In my professional opinion, there is only one job noticeably absent from the list, that being "Halpin Personnel Mascot." It an extremely stressful position, especially when it requires Booker to dress as a taco. (As seen below.)

OLE'!

It's a stressful job but someone has to do it.

What do you think of this list? What jobs are unjustly absent?

Happy Holidays from Halpin Personnel

2011-12-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

Halpin Personnel's Racine Office wishes you a Happy Holidays.

(The Kenosha Office does too but they don't have a picture.)

From left to right; Aaron Miller, Sean Cook, Mike Halpin,

Megan Halpin, Nicole Santiago, Bryon Spencer

A Starbucks Tell All!

2011-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Perhaps "barista-ing" (I made that word up. Go with it.) is not as easy at it looks. This article provides an interesting look into what working at Starbucks can actually be like.

Have any of you held entry-level positions that didn't get their due?

Halpin Recruiting Manager, Sean Cook, cut his "working" teeth at Subway. He claims that as a "Sandwich Artist" he learned the importance of customer service but admits the job wasn't necessarily "challenging."

Check out the article! Guaranteed you'll be more patient next time you wait in line for your coffee!

To read 'Why Working at Starbucks for Three Weeks Was the Toughest Job I've Ever Had' you can click here

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Bragging Rights

2011-12-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes at Halpin Personnel we are so proud of our candidates that we can't help but brag about them .This is one of those times.

Ladies and gentleman, it's our honor to introduce Jacquelyn Rogers.

Jacquelyn came to Halpin Personnel after graduating college in 2009. We placed her on a temp-to-hire position at one of our biggest clients, IMS Fastpak, a distribution center for companies such as McDonalds and Kraft Foods.

Fastpak was looking for a Customer Service Associate - someone with a college degree, good communication skills, and the ability to learn things quickly.

Not only was Jacquelyn soon hired into IMS Fastpak but she's received several promotions since then. She now works on the Anheuser Bush account and serves as a direct liason between them and Fastpak.

Jacquelyn has a bright career ahead of her and we couldn't be prouder. Do you see now why we wanted to brag?

**Fun Fact - Halpin Personnel owner, Mike Halpin, began his career working at Anheuser Busch. He started out on the beer trucks and then went into route sales. Though that was a LONG time ago folks!

Preparing for the Holidays

2011-11-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

Halpin Personnel mascot, Booker, is finding himself in the holiday spirit.

How about you?

Still hiring for the Holiday Season

2011-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Click here to watch Cheryl Casone's report

As reported today in Fox and Friends, the following 5 companies are STILL hiring for the holiday season.

1. Target
2. Domino's (Fun Fact - The night before Thanksgiving is one of Domino's Top 5 busiest nights!)
3. Honeybaked Ham (though only in Georgia)
4. TJ Maxx
5. Victoria Secret and Bath & Body Works (The parent Company is called Limited Brands)

Halpin Personnel can create your resume for $15 if you want to apply at one of these companies. Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Sneak Peek

2011-11-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

The makeover of Halpin Personnel's Racine location continues on. We're almost there folks! Who wants a quick sneak peek?

Beautiful, right?

I especially love our new board room.....

Ha! Just kidding! Our contractor wasn't that good.

Alright. For real this time....

Mr. Mike is going to show us around..

TA DA!!!
Our new Candidate Application Center

Check back soon for more unveilings!

Pictures (1, 2)

Biting the Bullet

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Know when to "bite the bullet".

Tough love. That's what Lani Harless, owner of Rapid Staffing in Florida, is giving out. Those that don't like her honest, blunt approach might be the ones that need to hear it the most.

“Someone in a skilled trade like an electrician who was making $20 an hour when they got laid off, that’s not going to happen now,” she said during a recent interview with Tampa Bay Online. “Those jobs might pay $15 an hour now. You have to be willing to bite the bullet.” - Lani Harless

Check out what else she says in this article here. It's a good read and also boasts 10 Mistakes that Jobs Seekers make that aren't the cookie cutter ones that we've heard a millions times.

We're picking up what you're putting down Lani! Well done!

Read the full article here

Job Descriptions. Write Them.

2011-10-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

That's Kenosha Recruiter, Mary Rodriguez, writing a job description.
Go get em' Mare!

Should you ever need to hire, even through the assistance of a staffing firm, having a job description is a million dollar idea. (It won’t yield you a million dollars, but it’s just a good idea…okay?)

Why you should have a job description for every position in your company.

1. Helps with New Hires

Especially if you don’t have a stellar training program within your company, a job description will help new employees know what’s expected of them. Their job description says they’re supposed to do X…..but perhaps you forgot to mention it. A job description doesn’t forget.

2. Helps evaluate IF you need to hire

Thinking about hiring someone but aren’t sure if you need to? Sit down and write out what this person would do. Is it a little bare? Maybe you're not there yet – perhaps a temp from Halpin Personnel is all you need. Have six pages of things that need to be tended to on a daily basis? Maybe you need two people!

3. Useful come review time

Need to have a difficult conversation regarding performance and nervous about it? Use the job description to aid your rhetoric. Think someone should be promoted and can’t convince your boss? Use the job description to prove the employee’s performance is surpassing company expectations.

Now that I’ve convinced you, (you’re convinced, right?) I’m sure you are wondering how to write a job description. Don’t worry! I got you!

Don't over think it. It doesn't need to be super formal or a dissertation. The following is a very simple job description. Obviously, the higher level the position, the more detailed it would be. But this is a good starting point. Good luck!

SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Administrative Assistant

Reports to: HR Manager

Responsibilities: (What are you hiring this person to do? Be as specific as possible.)

Answers six line phone system.
Serves as first point of contact for guests.
Manages Accounts Receivable report in Microsoft Excel. Makes daily pivot tables for this report.
Prepares conference room for all meetings.
Files daily paperwork.
Orders all necessary office supplies.

Requirements for Hire: (What skills must they absolutely posses to be considered for the job? Be specific.)

Bachelors Degree
Types 50 words per minute
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Power Point
Professional demeanor
Two years working in a financial environment

A bit about "screening"

2011-10-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's well understood in staffing circles that screening is the backbone of our industry. Good screening skills are essential in order to make sucessful placements. That's a fact.

Screening, to others however, can have a more literal meaning. Take Halpin mascot, Booker, for example. An actual screen was recently put up on his back door in which he's been reluctant to embrace. Let's all watch as he overcomes his fear with the help of Peppridge Farm Goldfish.

The lesson here? Bad screening is scary. Actual screens are not. Write that one down.

Halpin Personnel Goes Glam!

2011-10-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

A "before" shot

Breaking News at Halpin's Racine location! We're going glam y'all.

A MAJOR makeover session is underway. A fancy conference room, a swanky bathroom, a Martha Stewart-esque kitchen! If you can't tell - we're pretty excited.

The recruiting that's done within the walls of Halpin Personnel is high quality. That's apparent when you work with us. Having the actual walls at Halpin be pretty is just an added bonus.

Come back soon to check out our finished space!

Careers with Staying Power

2011-10-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

ET- was he a robot??
Regardless - See #5 on this list!

Attention all college bound kids and their parents! Develop a passion for science. STAT! Current College kids too. It's not too late!!

Picking a career in the following fields ensures your career doesn't become obsolete within years of its commencement. The following careers are all classified as "forward looking" ensuring longevity and job security.

CNBC.com has a very interesting slideshow, here, that explains these fields in depth.

No majoring in philosophy, okay?????

Current Careers with Staying Power!!!

1. Digital Marketing Engineer
2. Disease Mapper - Map it away from Wisconsin, thank you!
3. Web Developer
4. E Book Producer
5. Robot Programmer - I think ET needs a sister!
6. Headline Optimizer
7. Biomedical Engineer
8. Dermatologist
9. Information Engineer
10. Medical Scientist - Develop a cure for cancer please!

Hallmark is smart - is your business?

2011-09-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hallmark recently launched a new genre of cards. Essentially, it's a "sorry you lost your job" line. The cards ranges in tone, from serious cards to light and humorous ones.

With unemployment at 9%, it makes sense that Hallmark would predict that there is a market for this type of card and respond to it. And this isn't the first time. Throughout the company's history, they've made cards in response to The Great Depression, the military draft, and 9/11.

Whatever your thoughts on getting or receiving a card of this nature, you can't argue with Hallmark's business savvy. They're identifying revolutionary and creative ideas to ensure they're product is still necessary and relevant in evolving markets.

The lesson here is not the cards, but rather to consider your own business model and decide how you too can apply some of this "Hallmark-ness." I know this always something we're trying to remain cognizant of at Halpin Personnel. Though currently, our best idea is trying to staff a few players on the Chicago Bears. We see a need there. Just sayin!

Packer/Bear Raffle

2011-09-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

It's our favorite time of year again!!!

The 3rd Annual Bears/Packers Raffle.

Show your team some love!!

What a hottie!

Who's this guy???

Get excited people!

DIRECTIONS FOR RAFFLE ENTRY

In the "post a comment" section below, leave your;

Full name
Job title
Name of the company in which your representing. (It's fine for multiple people at one company to enter.)
Your team! Packers or Da Bears

Participants who picked the winning team will be entered in a raffle for a jersey of their choice. All comments/entries must be in by 5pm this Friday!

Good luck and may the best team win!

The American Jobs Act

2011-09-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama speaking about
his American Jobs Act

Last night President Obama told Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. He actually told them that more than once - 33 times is the official count. "Pass the plan Damnit!!!" (He actually didn't say that but it seemed like he wanted to.)

For the comprehensive details of his plan, click here. It breaks down the plan quite simply. Though, I've highlighted the main points below. Keep in mind these changes would take effect next year if Congress gives the green light.

1. Cut Payroll Taxes on 160 million Americans.
-Estimating the "typical American family" would save $1500. A small business with 50 employees is estimated to save roughly $50,000.

2. Reward companies who hire unemployed veterans with finacial incentives up to $9,600. Also tax credits for companies that hire long term unemployed workers.

3. An extension of unemployment insurance for 5 million more Americans.

4. Renovation of 35,000 American Public Schools.

So what do y'all think? Should Congress pass it - yes? no? Speak your minds people - leave a comment below!

President Obama Talks Jobs

2011-09-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

President Obama speaks with CNN's Wolf Blizter
about increasing jobs

Save the date! Have as much fun as you can this weekend because after Labor Day its officially time to get down to business. (And stop wearing white.) Come September President Obama will address how he plans to increase jobs. As he mentions in this interview with Wolf Blizter his plan involves the following items;

Cutting Payroll Tax
Renewing tax breaks for businesses that are willing to move up investments
Trade deals with Korea, Panama, and Colombia

What do y'all think of his plan? Happy Labor Day everyone!!!

Breaking News!

2011-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

This just in. Halpin Personnel mascot, Booker Halpin, has learned a new trick.

Booker said he’d like to dedicate this new trick to all the hard working employees currently on assignment for Halpin Personnel. He says without these employees, and an obscene amount of treats, this new trick would have not been possible.

So without further ado……

Where the Jobs Are!

2011-08-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

Hudson, Wisconsin

CNN did a survey to locate the top 25 counties in America with the most job opportunities. Click here to read the article but here is a spoiler alert. Only one county from Wisconsin and Illinois made the cut. Barely! Coming in at #25 was St. Croix County, Wisconsin. (A county comprised of Hudson and Richmond, WI.) Apparently Uline is opening a warehouse there which will add an upwards of 150+ jobs. OEM Fabricators is also located in St Croix County which is a big employer. Perhaps we should open up a Halpin Personnel in the northwoods -what do you guys think?

10 Companies with the Toughest Interview Questions

2011-08-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Halpin Recruiter, Bryon Spencer, in action.

Below are 10 American companies reported to have the toughest interviewing questions in recent years. As of now, Halpin Personnel isn't on the list. We must admit, however, we like the idea of making our candidates tell us a joke, much like marketing group, Red Venture, does.

Read below to see how your company compares!

10 Companies with the Toughest Interview Questions
As reported by Seth Fiegerman here.

Some companies ask candidates to describe their strengths and weaknesses during a job interview, whileothers like global consulting firm Bain & Company, ask applicants to figure out how many ping pong balls can fit into the overhead compartment of a 747 plane.

In recent years, tech companies like Google have developed a reputation for conducting tough interviews, but according to a recent survey by Glassdoor.com, a job search engine, it's really consulting groups like Bain & Company that ask candidates the most difficult questions.

Glassdoor analyzed employee reviews for dozens of companies on its site to pinpoint the organizations with the most daunting interviews and found consulting firms dominated the very top of the list, while Google ranked down at No. 21, just behind fellow tech giants eBay and Amazon.

So what is it that makes interviewing at a consulting company so difficult?
"With consulting companies, the questions aren't just about your resume. It's also situational problems that job candidates have to reason through to find a solution," said Samantha Zupan, a spokesperson for Glassdoor. "And we all know it's really stressful to have to go deep into those questions and try to shine while coming up with an answer."

Just because these companies have tough interviews doesn't make them bad places to work. In fact, just the opposite seems to be true. Glassdoor's reviews found that employees were generally satisfied with most of the companies on this list, despite the difficult interview process. As Zupan points out, these tough interview questions arguably help companies find the most suitable workers, and help workers determine if the company is right for them so that both are more satisfied in the long run.

Here are the 10 companies with the hardest interview questions, ranked on a scale of one to five, with five being the hardest, along with some sample questions from each company, as provided to Glassdoor by their employees. Start preparing for the interview now.

BP
BP may be infamous for other reasons, but it turns out the oil company is also notorious for its job interviews.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.5
"How many volts does it take to power an offshore rig?" -- For an engineering internship.
"If you had to change a tire how would you do it?" -- For a mechanical engineering position.
Red Ventures
This South Carolina-based marketing group boasts that it has been called the next Google, but in reality, the company has surpassed Google, at least in terms of the interview process. However, unlike some of the other companies on this list, its questions often veer toward the eccentric rather than problem solving.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.5
"If you were an animal, what animal would you be?" -- For a regional account representative.
"Tell me a joke." -- For a sales agent.

A.T. Kearney
A.T. Kearney is the first of several consulting firms to make the list, and focuses mainly on working with companies to be more socially responsible, perhaps most notably by improving their environmental sustainability.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.5
"What companies in the Polish energy sector do you know?" -- For a business analyst position.
"How big is the market size for wheelchairs in Shanghai?" -- For a business analyst position.
Teach for America
Teach for America is known for being one of the most challenging -- though rewarding -- experiences a young adult can undertake, training recent college graduates to teach in low-income public schools around the country. Given the stress that comes with the job, it should come as little surprise that the organization would have a particularly difficult interview process to weed out applicants.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.5
"You want to take the third graders on a field trip to the zoo, but there is no extra funding to do so. You must ask the principal to reconsider and allow your students to go on the field trip. Explain how you would persuade the principal." -- For a teaching position.
"Can you think of anything that might make you leave TFA earlier than your two-year commitment?" -- For a teaching position.
Palantir Technologies
One of the few technology companies to rank near the top of the list, Palantir specializes in putting out software to help governments and financial organizations analyze data.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.5
"You have a 10x10x10 rubix cube. You paint the outside. How many cubes have paint on them?" -- For an embedded analyst position.
"You are outside a room. Inside the room there are two light bulbs. One light bulb is on all the time, the other light bulb only turns on when you open the door. How do you determine which light bulb is on all the time?" -- For an engineering position.
Boston Consulting
This Boston-based consulting group often ranks as one of the best companies to work for, and indeed, Glassdoor's data show high levels of employee satisfaction here, with the average worker giving the company a four rating overall. Still, the interview questions range from quirky to brain busters and will likely make candidates sweat in their seats.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.6
"Estimate the market size of IVF treatment in Sweden." -- For a management consulting position.
"Why do you like singing?" -- For a consulting associate.

©Bain.com

Bain & Company
As we mentioned in the beginning, this is one consulting group that really knows how to ask a hard question.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.6
"Help me estimate how many car dealerships there are in the United States." -- For a consultant position.
"What is the revenue of an inner city Sydney gym?" -- For an associate consultant position.
Cree
Cree produces LED light fixtures and bulbs and is the only other tech company to rank high on Glassdoor's list. Its questions are particularly fascinating.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.7
"How is the pothole formed?" -- For a science position.
"How many barbers would you need in a city of 1 million?" -- For a process engineer.
Jane Street Capital
It's not just consulting groups and tech companies that pose difficult questions. Jane Street Capital, a trading firm with offices in New York, London and Hong Kong, knows how to grill job candidates better than most. Its questions of choice focus on math skills.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.7
"What's 26 times 27?" -- For a capital trader position.
"What is the expected number of flips of a coin to simulate a six-sided die?" -- For a capital assistant trader position.
McKinsey & Company
Of all the major companies, none poses a more challenging interview than McKinsey & Company, a global consulting group that helps big businesses manage customers, developer marketing strategies and handle mergers and acquisitions. Since employees at this company play such a crucial role advising other businesses, it stands to reason that they need to be highly qualified, hence the tough questions.
Interview Difficulty Rating: 3.9
"A Canadian beer manufacturer notices that when they increase the price of beer, other drinks' consumption goes up. How will you predict the change in quantity bought based on change in price?" -- For an analytics specialist.
"A mom-and-pop music shop wants to grow with stiff competition. How should they go about it? Calculate customer lifetime value." -- For a marketing professional.

Halpin Personnel in the Headlines!

2011-07-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Halpin Personnel's Mascot - Booker

Halpin Personnel's mascot is famous! Booker Halpin was asked to be featured on a blog entitled "Coffee with a Canine." Check it out here. Congrats to Booker!

Be All That You Can Be......Or Not.

2011-07-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

With the Army and Marine Corp getting smaller, the Armed Forces are no longer a reliable and guaranteed source of employment like the once were.

Unemployed? Don't Count on the Military

By Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon Producer

July 8, 2011 7:06 p.m. EDT

Washington (CNN) -- Friday's government report showing a rise in unemployment shines a light on a new hurdle facing young people in need of work: The military isn't the reliable source of employment that it used to be. The Army and Marine Corps are getting smaller, and now there's a nearly year-long waiting list just to get into boot camp, no matter which branch you want to join.

The shrinking Army and Marine Corps are part of a long-planned reduction in the size of the armed forces.
But the backlog for enlistees is a new issue. Incoming recruits will spend quite a bit of time before they see a Pentagon paycheck. "Some may take a year or slightly longer, the typical new enlistee would probably be somewhere between 9 and 11 months," Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith wrote in an e-mail.
A lot of it has to do with the economy.

"In a tighter job market, young men and women may be more receptive to learning about the many opportunities the military has to offer, from competitive salaries and compensation packages, extraordinary education benefits, to valuable job skills and leadership training," Smith said. It's not just a tighter job market that has more people seeking to enlist. Defending America pays better than it used to.

"The average junior enlisted member, typically with just a high school degree, earns approximately $43,000 per year," Smith said. And that doesn't include benefits like free medical care and a government-paid retirement package that kicks in with 20 years of active-duty service.

Smith said that since the war in Afghanistan began, troop salaries and benefits have jumped significantly.
"From 2002-2010, military pay rose 42%, housing allowances have risen 83%," she said.
During the same time period, private-sector salaries rose 32%.

That, in some ways, is a good thing for the Pentagon, because it allows the services to choose the best possible candidates to defend our country.

And the backlog helped former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates end a controversial Army program called stop-loss, in which soldiers were forced to stay in the Army beyond their original enlistment dates in order to fill a personnel shortage. Last month, Gates announced that no more soldiers are being stop-lossed.
But for young people who can't, as hard as they try, find a job in the private sector, the backlog means the military isn't the solution they might have hoped for. For example, even if they get in, they may not get the kind of enlistment bonuses that troops got just a few years ago.

For example, the Army reports that "the average amount of bonus has gone down substantially over the past few years," said Doug Smith, a spokesman for the Army's recruiting office. He said that in 2008, the average bonus for Army enlistees was more than $18,000. It was less than $6,000 last year.

But the services still pay bonuses for hard-to-fill jobs. For example, in the Marines, "the more challenging the occupational field positions are to fill, the higher the bonus," according to recruiting spokesman Maj. John Caldwell."Currently, our cryptologic linguists and electronics maintenance technicians get the highest bonus offered at $10,000," he said.

And don't expect the situation to get much better, at least for the Army and Marines. Both services are on a path to reduce the size of their active-duty forces starting next year.

The Army will shrink by about 22,000 people, the Marines by at least 15,000. All that means, if the economy doesn't improve, would-be GIs and leathernecks will be competing with just as many people for even fewer jobs in uniform.