It is a job seekers market out there and that is good, however, a lot of companies haven’t figured it out yet. They continue doing the same thing, recruiting the same way, treating their most valuable assets badly, giving the usual 3% raises and wonder why burn out, churn and open positions are so prevalent.

Glass half full, great time to look.

If you are unemployed in this market, you need to look in the mirror, figure out what you need to change and get some professional help. There is a reason you have been on 6 interviews and haven’t got a job. Sorry but someone has to be honest with you.

If you are employed but not inspired, start putting your ear to the ground but try not to get your head stomped on. In tough times, companies will promise the moon to get you on board and then, well you can figure it out. Be smart in your search and get good advice. Find your passion and go after your dreams.

If you are both employed and inspired, build your network and your personal brand. Invest in yourself and finely hone your message. Not that you have to look over your shoulder but remember, you are only one day away from joining the ranks of the unemployed.

JFK said it best, “The best time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining.”

Thank you so much for covering this special topic. I work in Ontario Canada as an Employment Support Worker and we have the same problem up here. Our Federal Government is popping the champange corks because the economy produced a big 10 000 new jobs last month. However, if you read between the lines most of those jobs were in the service sectors (Tim Horton’s, Wal-Mart and Costco) which only pay between $9-$10 per hour. They kind of bury the fact that in the last two years we have lost over 289,000 manufacturing jobs in Ontario which pay adult salaries (at least $20.00/hr or more plus benefits). Like you and some other readers have stated they do not factor in those clients whose Employment Insurance Benefits have run out and have to go to Social Sevices or work under the table to make money to support themselves.

Hopefully someday we can get some realistic numbers on both side of the border

Cheers

I am actively employed but know things can change tomorrow. That is life today. I saw a job posting last week and the employer put in the job description, “Long term commitment wanted.” I had to laugh. Will they give that person a long term job?

When I studied the changing workplace for my dissertation, it surprised me how much instability we can expect in the future. Today’s college graduates can’t count on their employer to reward them like my father’s generation did, and we can expect to be back on the job market frequently. It’s a really scary thought, because our entire lives we were brought up to expect that we would finish college, get a job and then be set for a long time.

So, I know how you’re feeling. Luckily, many companies are hiring as well as firing… but the trick is to find them and make sure that we have the sort of skills that will easily transfer to new positions.

@Daniel J Jr. – that is really, really interesting… when I was looking I couldn’t use it as an excuse (so it had the opposite affect on me)… instead, it was a major discouraging factor (it was a “what’s wrong with me??” thing).

@Daniel S – Good points (and you are more qualified in this area than I am)… you support the idea that what people think (or at least what I thought) the rate means doesn’t necessarily mean what it really means. Shoot, I got an A in economics but it doesn’t mean I understood much of it

@Katie – Hm… I didn’t mean to come across with a “sky is falling” message. I don’t now why I feel strongly about this topic, but I do remember reading about how great the economy was, and hearing it on the radio… at a time when I couldn’t get one stinking interview. If it was so great why did I meet weekly with almost 100 different professionals that were in the same boat I was? I think that too many people think they know what this number represents but don’t really understand what it is. You are right on, though… career management… long-term, personal.

@David – right on… and… wow, thanks for sharing JibberJobber with 100 people yesterday! that is way cool!

@Heather – excellent advice… instead of looking at the rest and wondering what’s right with them, just figure out how to fix “my” situation. I like the attitude, and the message you send your clients.

@Scot – this is a fascinating dynamic of corporate America. The last time I worked in a really, really big company I don’t remember those types of dynamics but I know it’s out there. That’s why I tell people that JibberJobber is not just a job search tool. If you are in transition (or will be), whether it’s changing companies or within the same company, you need to take career management seriously! BTW, Scot runs an awesome blog called CubeRules where he touches on this stuff a lot.

Many companies reorganize departments every six to ten months. What work you did — and perhaps enjoyed and was right on your career path — now changes and you work on something very different with some of the same skill sets. “Hurray,” will say those who champion career management, “you have the opportunity to expand your skills.”

The truth of the matter is that at the individual job level, management will put people in a reorg where they need them, skills or not. You hope you have skills in the position, but often that is not the case. You’re a good employee and you’ve done well in the past and no one wanted to lay you off. But that’s not exactly furthering your career, is it?

So, chalk this up to the “despair” side of the equation. Fighting for your career skills, landing a great job that matches up with what you want out of your career, then getting thrown into something you have no desire to do and that doesn’t match what you are trying to do.

You can argue that you can leave and find a different job that does match your skills — but in many corporations, it means you get a new job every six months. Not exactly what we have in mind.

One can’t give up, of course. But it’s a lot harder to stay focused on career when what you are doing for your career doesn’t match and then changes every six months.

Of course one would sign up for JibberJobber! Anything to help networking and career management to understand where there is sanity in the corporate world of 2.5% unemployment and 75% annual churn in positions.