Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Majority Say Recession Is Here…What It Means for Your Job Hunt

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After all of the talk about “are we” or “aren’t we” in a recession, the Wall Street Journal reports that it appears that the people who know these things really think we can honestly say we are in a recession:

“The evidence is now beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Scott Anderson of Wells Fargo & Co. Thirty-six of 51 respondents, or more than 70%, said in a survey conducted March 7-11 that the economy is in recession.

So, the big question of the day for job seekers is this:

What impact does this recession have on your job prospects?

Penelope Trunk blogged today that A Recession Probably Won’t Affect Your Job Market.

She quotes experts who note that Boomers are expected to retire in droves causing a shortage of employees.  (Click here for another take on what the Boomers may have planned.) Penelope suggests that even sectors that have been hard-hit by the economy such as finance and real estate should maintain their hiring.  Trunk notes that “In terms of real estate…almost 60% of people working in this market will be retirement age by 2010.”  In theory, there should be plenty of jobs to go around!

I agree with Penelope’s assertion that it is pointless to get all worked up about a recession.  There are many steps to take to help make yourself more marketable and competitive in your search.  If you need a job, job  hunting at this stage may or may not be harder than it ever has been in the past.

However, the fact is, if you are out of work and can’t find a job, pundits and researchers aside…How you are impacted by the recession is based on your own circumstances.  If you are a Boomer not ready to retire or re-invent yourself, this may be a difficult time for you. On the other hand, Gen Y job seekers right out of school may find many job opportunities (assuming they aren’t starting their own online firms!)

Back to the point of the job search being in YOUR hands…

The fact is, optimists outperform their peers in their job searches. Research shows that persistence and a postive attitude pay off in the job hunt, even in difficult economic times.

I think most of us in the career industry agree that leaders, well-branded professionals  and flexible performers who are on top of their career plans should do fine.

The key point is to be prepared, keep on top of your game and don’t let negative talk get you down. Opportunities happen for people who make them happen.

U.S. Jobs Data Isn't Pretty

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The AP reports on the March 7th Jobs data, and it isn’t pretty:

Employers Slash 63,000 Jobs in February, Most in 5 Years, Feeding Recession Fears

They also report that the unemployment rate actually went down from 4.9% in January to 4.8%  in February, indicating that hundreds of thousands of people stopped bothering to look for work. Hard hit sectors:  construction, manufacturing, retailing, financial services and professional and business services.

Better sectors:  education, health care, leisure and hospitality and the government.

The AP notes that the troubled job market  “Certainly solidifies the notion that the economy has fallen into a recession,” said Ken Mayland, economist at ClearView Economics.

A silver lining (if there is one), as economists predicted, workers with jobs showed slight wage gains, to to $17.80 in February, a 0.3 percent increase from the previous month.  The AP reminds us that these tiny increases don’t go far when prices for gas, food and other necessities continue to rise.

All of this information should re-focus the job seeker (and job holder) on the importance of a well run job search (and strong performance at work).  If you are an unemployed worker, consider alternatives to dropping out of the search – Keppie Careers  offers ideas for how to recession proof your career, suggestions of the best careers for today’s economy, information about what to do next if you’ve lost your job, rules for job hunting in a recession and tips if your search is going on and on.  

Be sure that your job search is on the right track.  Keppie Careers will write your resume,  help you with your correspondence and coach you through your interview and job hunt.  When you find your job, you will agree that seeking help is a great investment in yourself.

Job Change – Is it the other inevitable?

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Here we thought that only death and taxes were inevitable.  Looks like “change” is peering her head around that same corner, and I don’t mean the change that the politicians keep bantering about.  I mean the real, honest-to-goodness, things are going to change around here kind of change that happens at work.

Some are suggesting that some of the very tenants of our work world are likely to change as baby boomers retire and our system adjusts.  That may be years down the road, but talk of recession and lots of pink slips make talk about change a definite here and now topic.

How can you prepare for change?  Some thoughts…

 1.  Keep your head out of the sand.  You don’t want to engage in unsavory gossip, but make it your business to know the skinny in your area and the company at large.  Touch in with professionals in competing companies as well so you’ll have a finger on the pulse of your industry.

2. Make yourself vital.  Volunteer for projects.  Don’t complain.  Become an expert in a niche market.  Specialize in something useful and leverage your services when change comes around the bend.

3. Keep your eye on the prize.  What are your goals?  Plans?  Do you hope to move up the ladder in your company?  Move on to another industry?  If you don’t have plans, change will come and hit you in the face.  I don’t have to tell you that most people who are hit in the face aren’t going to be lucky enough to have much say in the directions they go.  Don’ t let that be you. 

Keppie Careers will help you prepare for your next career step.  We offer resume writing, career coaching, and an array of services to help you make the best change possible…www.keppiecareers.com

Lost Your Job? What to Do Next

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I’ve written about jobs predicted to have a rosy future in 2008 and offered suggestions of what to do if you think that your job is in jeopardy.  But, what approach should you take if you have lost your job and you (and many, many others) are now seeking work in a flat economy?

The first thing to do is stop and get a handle on your job search materials.  Do you have a resume that represents you and all you have to offer?  Have you brushed up your job seeking skills (networking, cover letter writing, interviewing)? It’s not like riding a bike – you CAN forget how to look for a job.  Worse, you may never have really known how to job search in the first place.  Keppie Careers offers an array of services to help get you prepared.

Sarah Needleman addresses the topic of job searching in a recession in the Wall Street Journal Online.   Gary Rich, president of Rich Leadership, an executive advisory firm in Pound Ridge, NY, believes that selling and servicing jobs are more resilient, as they impact the bottom line.  He says:

Less durable jobs are those in human resources, public relations, finance, strategic planning and other non-vital business functions.

Needleman’s article also suggests that if you don’t work in a promising sector, focus on your transferable skills  and consider switching industries.  Plan your transition.  Network and research organizations and industries and learn how you can best use your skills to benefit them.  Consider volunteering with organizations on special projects to demonstrate your added value.

Keppie Careers can help tailor a transition resume to highlight what you have to offer.  We recommend focusing on your skills and accomplishments rather than “what” you have done in your jobs to help potential employers envision you working for them.

Don’t forget that, even in a recessionary economy, some jobs and skills are still invaluable and sought out.  So, just because you may work in an industry that is experiencing a lull, if you have prepared and positioned yourself to have the skills and training needed to fill management gaps, you’re in good shape!
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www.keppiecareers.com
We advise, encourage and enlighten job seekers.  We offer resume writing, mock interviews, coaching and more to position you for your future.