March 2008
The Pre-Recession Job Search
By
President of Workforce Associates
March 2008
The Pre-Recession Job Search
By
President of Workforce Associates
You can tell that there's a shift in the American economy when an article in a newspaper one day is contradicted the next! I'm referring to whether the employment pitcher is half full or half empty, i.e., whether competition for skilled workers is even more keen because Boomers are on the cusp of retiring or whether unemployment is on the verge of heading upward. Hard to tell with fingers pointing in both directions at the same time.
But, clearly, there is an alert being sounded: If you've kept your skills razor sharp--technological, professional, and networking skills, that is--and you're willing to be adaptable regarding your lifestyle and where you live, you'll ride this recession out just fine. However, if you're inclined to spend, spend, spend rather than taking online classes, attending professional meetings, or take out a "Dummies" book from the library, Good Luck! Globalization is solidly in place, which means that someone who works harder than you and is willing to work for less will literally eat your lunch!
And no question about it, social networking sites are gaining big time for job searchers. If you haven't checked out www.linkedin.com in awhile, make some time to become acquainted with this serious Facebook and MySpace equivalent for business and career connections. According to a recent article in the New York Times, you'll be joining "more than 19 million members who also are building far-flung networks in the hope of advancing their careers." According to Michelle Slatalla, reporter for the Times, a real live person helped her beef up her LinkedIn profile--which I think is a phenomenally smart move on LinkedIn's part, since most folks over the age of 40 tend to dumb down their experience and talents for some unknown, but very common, reason.
A LinkedIn competitor has recently appeared called www. Notchup.com. It's new and untested but looks like it may have merit, particularly in skirting around the high fees that companies pay third parties to get access to potential job candidates. At this website, companies can bid up to interview candidates who sign up with Notchup--but at 10% of the going rate in the regular recruiters/headhunters market. And don't we all love a bargain, especially when times are going to become tough?! Check Notchup out and let me know what you discover.
And while you're online, check out these venerable websites that only get better over time:
CareerBuilder.com continues to build its incredible database from150+ newspaper classified listings around the country. Owned by Gannett Co, Inc., Tribune Company, The McClatchy Company, and Microsoft Corp., CareerBuilder.com offers a vast online and print network to help job seekers connect with employers. It's been around since 1995 and is growing stronger than ever.So remain upbeat during this downturn in our economy. Keep your options open by checking out these websites. Each of them not only offers new job opportunities, but also plenty of free advice for working smarter at your place of business. They'll also alert you to ways to update your skills regularly with online networking opportunities and webinars. And don't forget to become more engaged in the local chapter of your professional association so you can sharpen your skills and employability by doing more reading in your field, listening to guest speakers, networking locally, and securing certifications.
CareerJournal.com is offered by the Wall Street Journal is chock full of excellent articles and insights about the world of work. Its new service, The Ladders, offers jobs in the $100k plus category in a wide variety of fields. In addition, The Ladders also offers thumbnail sketches of the job scene in major cities around the country, by quarter by sector, during the last four years. Very helpful in tracking opportunities or warning signals that you may need to move geographically and/or professionally to stay ahead.
CollegeRecruiter.com makes it easy for college students to learn the ropes of job searching online. It's a very simple process to submit an electronic resume and to receive email newsletters regarding the latest techniques and trends in careers for entry level workers. I found it interesting that College Recruiter's recent blog discussion centered on whether linkedin.com has added value for those who haven't been out in the "real world" yet. I think that you'll find the discussion and conclusions interesting.
Craigslist.org is more ubiquitous than ever! I found this out by helping someone from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan recently. Only fir trees and mounds of snow, you might think, but there are plenty of opportunities for those in health care, technology, and specialized printing services, plus many local internships. Who says that you have to go to Madison or Chicago for some $$ action?
Dice.com is still going strong as "the career hub for high technology". Thousands of jobs with companies or through staffing firms continue to fill its pages. Outsourcing is certainly available but the demand for home-grown computer professionals is still going strong.
ExecuNet.com offers targeted job searching for those who are looking for senior positions in all kinds of fields throughout the country. In addition, ExecNet, which has been around since 1988, is always adding new features. Its latest is webinars in which job seekers and experts share information and resources about possible career opportunities that have not been publicized yet.
Indeed.com has replaced Flip Dog in its spidering abilities to find jobs from multiple job boards, which still number in the thousands! And it is constantly looking at professional associations and newspapers for additional opportunities that you can check out for free. A gem of a site, in my humble opinion and that of Walter Mossberg, Technology Reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
Happy Ides of March and St. Paddy's Day
I can always be reached at jlommel@WorkforceAssociates.com
Jane M. Lommel, Ph.D.
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