Long-Term Employment Secret

Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most notable architects in the last century, once stated "Business is like riding a bicycle. Either you keep moving or you fall down." The same can be said about jobs. If you are stationary - not progressing - you are actually slipping backward as the world passes by you in our fast-paced society.

The secret to maintaining employment even in a tough job market is to be proactive. Too often we cruise on autopilot and accept what a company or job hands us. We are not noticing what's going on around us in our company, industry, or the economy in general - let alone the corner office. How is my performance compared to co-workers? Am I looked upon as a go to person - someone who gets things done? Do I anticipate the needs of customers before they have to ask? Do I seek out new assignments before my manager has to delegate them?

In the macro sense, we have to study industry trends. Are our products/services still going to be viable in 5 years? If you are in an industry or particular position in your company that is losing its relevancy, start now to make a change to a new department, a new company, or even change careers. You've got to always consider how stable will my job be in an economic slump? Don't do anything rash - use you current job to fund your effort to find a new long-term endeavor. But make sure you are still giving your current employer 100 percent of your time and effort. Don't give your boss a reason to hand you walking papers.

It's too easy to accept the status quo until it's too late. Someone makes the decision for you - and that is usually unemployment. Make a change on your terms and timeframe. Start actively networking to see what other career choices exist. What do friends and colleagues say about their jobs and companies? What research are you doing about your company or a prospective employer? There is a great deal of public information available especially on publicly traded companies - both long and short term business risks. Information is power - power you need to ensure job stability.

What other skills do you possess? What would additional schooling do for your career - either an advance degree or additional course work? We must continually be educated on new and changing job requirements or we are slipping behind. Act now if you see red flags in your company or industry. Take the bull by the horns and direct your own career and life!

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track available on Amazon. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working on facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place.http://www.5necessaryskills.com

How Do I Land a New Job in 2011?

As we inch back to full economic recovery in 2011, companies will begin adding new employees. But it will take time for business owners to regain confidence that the country is really in a sustained growth mode. There are still five unemployed workers vying for each job opening – but that is an improvement from the 6.3 per open job a short time ago.

First, let’s deal with the magnitude of the bad news: If you are currently part of the 15 million unemployed, the 9 million forced to work part-time because of no full-time work, or the 2.5 million discouraged workers who have (at least temporarily) given up looking, there is no absolute, guaranteed method to get you back into the mainstream workforce. Add to this the fact that a 2010 survey found that one-half of US workers believe they are in stagnant jobs and the 3 million new workforce entrants – graduating from high school and colleges annually – and you are going to find fierce competition in the jobs marketplace, as people jockey for newly created positions.

Now for some good news: We are seeing signs of jobs creation – perhaps some of the residual growth promised by the stimulus plan – but most likely because the tax cut issue was settled and business owners can better forecast their company and personal liabilities (for the next couple of years). Small businesses have been the jobs growth engine of our economy for the past two decades – creating about three-quarters of all new jobs – and this will get them back in the expansion mode.

In any crowded marketplace, you must differentiate your product from the masses to get noticed and make your sale. There are some proven steps to take to set yourself apart from others in your field and get you in front of hiring managers.

The first thing needed to fast track your job search is to re-tool your resume. Keep in mind it's not about you - but about the skills required by a potential employer, with your skill set overlaid to determine the most qualified candidate. You will want to tweak your resume to mesh with the unique job requirements of each position you are interested in. You've heard it before but it's worth repeating - always maintain an up-to-date resume. The last thing you want is for a friend or colleague to "open a door" for you and ask for your resume, then not receive it for a week or two. It needs to be in their hands while you are in top-of-mind awareness.

Secondly, just about everyone reading this article can find a volunteer position directly or indirectly related to their career, within a week or two. If you have financial services experience, volunteer with a community agency to help people repair their credit scores, as an example. With a human resources background you could assist in a job services center helping workers get back into the labor force. Construction workers would be welcome at Habitat for Humanity. Who knows, you might end up pounding nails with a CEO or city councilmen - not bad connections to do some networking. There are three primary reasons to volunteer: It gives you a "story" to tell a potential employer about what you've been doing; it may provide the opportunity to network and find a new job; and it will build up your self-esteem - utilizing your skills and doing what you do best - giving you the confidence you need to project on the interviews you land.

Networking is where you will find your next job. I do not mean to rush out and join Twitter and see how many followers you can get in 60 days, or friends and family on Facebook. These are just “mediums” to meet people. Networking is reciprocity – always offering assistance to others before asking for help yourself. You will not get any introductions until others get to know you and feel confident in recommending you to their networks. LinkedIn is the most professional social networking site, so join if you have not already done so. Use your newly crafted resume to fill out your profile and search for friends, classmates, and former colleagues to re-connect with. You do not want to appear desperate. Don't ask for a job. Ask about what they are doing. Offer any help you can in getting them connected to others for their own careers or for a work project. Tell them about your volunteer work while you are looking for a new career position. Let them offer to assist you. This is effective networking.

Research companies where you see a logical fit. Don't waste a great deal of time on job search sites, which are more or less the "help wanted ads" of the digital age. You can find sites that will let you drill down for a particular field and by city and region, but you will be competing with hundreds or even thousands of others for these positions. Seek out the companies which employ people with your skills - by reading annual reports, searching their web sites, trade associations, press releases, etc. Then use LinkedIn, or similar more professional networking sites, to find out which ones are hiring; current and former employees you or one of your connections might know; and who can make an introduction for you to get directly to the hiring manager. This is the best way to stand out from the crowd and ensure you will be brought in for an interview.

With small businesses adding three-quarters of all new jobs, focus your attention on that segment. Target your efforts on those that may have been the recipient of outsourced business in your field or a closely related one. You may very well find that one of the large corporations you contact now outsources your specialty. Ask whom they outsource it to - perhaps get them to forward your resume to them (a great way to open the door). When connecting with a small business, you may want to use your large corporate experience to your advantage by suggesting how you can get more companies to outsource to them.

Be prepared to become a contract worker. Almost one-half of all jobs are now filled with contingent workers - consultants, contractors, part-time, or temporary employees. Find a staffing company or two, specializing in your field, and let them go to work and find you an interim position either in your field or a closely related one. Over a third of these jobs become full-time positions and you get the opportunity to experience the company's culture firsthand and they see how you blend in with their existing workforce.

There are no guarantees in life, but following these steps can stack the deck in your favor to land a new job in the shortest time possible. Good luck on your 2011 career quest!

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of “5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track” available on Amazon. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working on facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com