| We're no way through this recession. Every week | | | | competitive means being better prepared, |
| we look at the unemployment statistics and, with | | | | sharper, and willing to do more to win than your |
| some minor exceptions, the trend is still UP. | | | | "adversary." |
| Employers continue to reduce their workforce, as | | | | -- Become Strategic. Analyze yourself and the |
| a cost-cutting measure, in a difficult economy. | | | | employment market. What jobs and careers are |
| With payroll costs the largest single expenditure | | | | most in favor for the immediate, short, and long |
| for most businesses it's natural to look at | | | | term? Look at the newspaper want-ads. Check |
| possibilities for "doing more with less." And, in | | | | out CareerBuilders.com, and The U.S. Department |
| many organizations, that means "less" employees! | | | | of Laborhas excellent career forecast information. |
| The unemployment rate as of June, 2009 is over | | | | Plan your career strategy so that you effectively |
| 9%, and climbing. Most experts predict it will top | | | | position yourself. Growing areas include healthcare, |
| 10% before year's end, and that may be | | | | education, international business, professional and |
| optimistic. | | | | business services, environmental science," green" |
| WE'RE UNDERGOING A "SEA CHANGE" | | | | industries, and some public sector careers, |
| "Sea Change" is a wonderful term, and seems to | | | | particularly at the Federal level. |
| be particularly applicable to our current economy. | | | | -- Learn New Skills. Take seminars, courses, |
| A Sea Change is a massive, formidable | | | | certificate programs, etc. Build your resume, and |
| occurrence. It sweeps everything in its path, and | | | | your arsenal of credentials. Sometimes that |
| like a tsunami, may result in devastation and | | | | Certification in Microsoft Office will make the |
| displacement. It's a transformational event. The | | | | difference between unemployment and becoming |
| U.S. economy is undergoing an economic sea | | | | gainfully employed. For the currently employed |
| change. We've been through this before, and it's a | | | | training and knowledge may give you an edge in a |
| major challenge. Those of you familiar with | | | | promotional opportunity. |
| economic history know that we've experienced, in | | | | -- Use your Network. Most positions are filled |
| the past century, a change from an agrarian | | | | through contacts or referrals. Develop and |
| society to an industrial one, an "information age," | | | | maintain your network of friends, colleagues, |
| internationalization, and a global economy. Along | | | | business associates, etc, so that you can learn of |
| the way we experienced several depressions, | | | | new opportunities. Many positions are not |
| recessions and other economic turmoil. Many | | | | advertised, and many companies prefer people |
| characterize this a post-industrial era of finance, | | | | known to their current staff. Some even pay |
| commerce, and service, on a global scale. | | | | referral bonuses for referred new hires. |
| With all this change, many workers have been | | | | -- Practice a Customer Focus. In these |
| displaced, replaced, or discarded. Employees, | | | | competitive times employers value employees |
| whether white-collar, blue-collar, managerial, or | | | | with a customer-first attitude. Retaining |
| self-employed are experiencing a sense of | | | | customers, and attracting new ones is a major |
| uneasiness, uncertainty, and economic vulnerability. | | | | challenge and employees who do not contribute |
| PROTECTING YOUR ECONOMIC VIABILITY | | | | to this process are not highly valued no matter |
| In times like these, individuals need to be more | | | | what their level of technical proficiency. |
| adaptable, creative and strategic. It's important to | | | | -- Invest the time. Seeking a new job or |
| have options and preparation to be able to "make | | | | promotion takes time and energy. There may be |
| a living," and, hopefully, to experience success and | | | | nothing more important than spending the time to |
| financial security. There are many ways to | | | | identify, research, prepare for, and target new |
| improve your odds. Here are a few: | | | | opportunities. |
| -- Get an Education. We're in an era of "lifelong | | | | -- Improve your Attitude. Often overlooked, and |
| learning." You can't afford to suspend your | | | | sometimes underrated, is the importance of a |
| education. If you don't have a high school diploma, | | | | positive, "can do," attitude. It's easy to slip into |
| get one. Continue on with your Associates | | | | negativity when you are confronted with job loss, |
| Degree, and don't stop there. They say the | | | | unemployment or limited career advancement. |
| Masters Degree of today is what the | | | | Don't fall victim or defeatism or self-pity. Use |
| undergraduate degree once was - and not that | | | | positive self-talk, motivational techniques, etc. |
| long ago. In my lifetime I've seen the percentage | | | | Awareness is the biggest factor here. Listen to |
| of the adult population with a four-year degree | | | | yourself. Ask trusted friends or family to give you |
| increase from 10% to over 30%. Undergraduate | | | | feedback. Remember that to most employers |
| degree educations are certainly commonplace | | | | ATTITUDE is the most important factor. You can |
| now, and increasingly, so are post-graduate | | | | always teach someone new skills, but it's difficult |
| credentials. | | | | to change someone's attitude or outlook. |
| -- Resist Complacency. Your greatest enemy | | | | YOU'RE UNIQUE |
| may be an attitude of "it'll be OK." It probably | | | | Remember, you are unique. In all the world there's |
| won't. Changes occurring right now, and likely in | | | | no one exactly like you. Recognize and capitalize |
| the near future, will probably test your | | | | on your strengths. Don't be afraid to showcase |
| resourcefulness and initiative. Try to stay | | | | yourself. Modesty may be a charming trait, but in |
| motivated and focused. After all, it's a money | | | | these times you have to be a salesperson for |
| economy, and you need income. | | | | your special talents and abilities. To become |
| -- Be Competitive. I'm not saying it's a | | | | employed or advance in your employment |
| "dog-eat-dog" world, although it may be. What's | | | | requires a lot more preparation, dedication and |
| more realistic is to understand that the | | | | effort than it did just a few years ago. Make sure |
| employer-employee contract has changed. It's | | | | you're up to the JOB. |
| more temporal, less permanent, and less | | | | Copyright ©, 2009, Dr. Ben A. Carlsen, MBA. |
| committed, on both sides. With more people | | | | All Rights Reserved Worldwide for all Media. You |
| looking for jobs the differences in abilities and | | | | may reprint this article in your ezine, newsletter, |
| potential between candidates is more apparent | | | | newspaper, magazine, website, etc. as long as |
| and decisive. Whether you're seeking an | | | | you leave all of the links active, do not edit the |
| entry-level job, or an executive position, there is | | | | article in any way, leave my name and bio box |
| competition, and you must be able to differentiate | | | | intact, and you follow all of the EzineArticles |
| yourself from your competitors. Being | | | | Terms of Service for Publishers. |