What Occupations Add the Most Workers to 2020? How to Increase Your Odds for Continuous Employment

A radical shift is taking place in the U.S. and Europe. More and more jobs are changing from full-time employee to contingent positions. A recent survey by Kelly Services reveals 44 percent of workers indicate they are now freelancers and most without benefits. So it will be important going forward to choose a high-growth field with plenty of new opportunities.

It should not be much of a surprise that jobs in the Healthcare and Healthcare Support occupations will add the most new workers in the U.S. from now to 2020, for a total of just under 3.5 million. Two factors are driving this growth - baby boomers hitting retirement age and an increase in life expectancy. In raw numbers the ranks of Registered Nurses will swell by 712,000. Add to this 706,000 Home Health Aides, 302,000 Nurses Aides and Orderlies, 210,000 Medical Secretaries, 168,000 Physicians and Surgeons, 163,000 Medical Assistants and other related jobs to round out the largest employment increase of any field.

Healthcare is followed by 2.35M Office and Administrative Support positions; 1.87M Sales and Related occupations; 1.41M Construction; 1.40M Education and Training; 1.34M Personal Care and Service; 1.33M Transportation and Material Moving; 1.17M Business and Financial Operations; 1.1M Food Preparation and Serving; 800,000 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair; 778,000 Computer and Mathematical occupations; 664,000 Building Grounds and Maintenance; and 616,000 Management occupations. All others, and the average salaries of each profession, can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site.

What does it mean when one-half of jobs are contingent instead of traditional employee-employer relationships and trending even more in the freelance direction? It suggests that the employer can terminate your contract at any time, which is not much different than that of an at-will employee, but it's easier to cancel a contract than fire someone - and they don't have to pay unemployment compensation. And, of course, the reason they are bringing new employees in on contract in the first place is they don't have to pay other benefits, such as health insurance, nor keep employees happy with promotions and career path discussions. If you are a contingent worker, you will have to cover your own health insurance - and forget 401k contributions - you'll have to save for your own retirement. This leads to the job security question - none, nadda! Since the majority of workers will be independent contractors, you're going to have to learn how to fend for yourself in these areas. Most importantly, it will be up to you to continually look for your next contract position since the current one could go away at any time. You will need to develop the skills to market yourself while fully engaged in your current position and ensure you don't do it at the expense of the current gig, to give anyone the excuse to end the contract early.

You are going to have to develop and nurture networks of colleagues, co-workers, trade association members, recruiters, friends, relatives, schoolmates, etc. to always know what positions are opening up in your chosen field. You are going to have to recognize what new skills are coming into demand and master them - whether through more schooling, mentors, or extra effort on the job. The key is to be proactive. - to stay a step a head of the game and always be thinking of your next job and actively be in communication with a close-knit network willing to assist you, because you've done the same for them. It will also be important to stay out of debt, as much as possible, because there will be gaps between jobs and no unemployment insurance to help.

This doesn't have to be a scary proposition. Choose a field where you know there will be growth, or one so specialized that few can do what you can. Two-thirds of all new jobs have been created by small businesses over the past two decades. So think small business - either start your own or find one where you can add the most value. You will create your own job security going forward.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track 2nd edition, available on Amazon and Kindle. 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://amzn.to/Hd9wVr

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

Finding a Job and Keeping a Job Require Mastery of 5 Skills

Whether you've been out of work for quite some time, long-term in a position, or looking for a career change you will need to master some business and life skills to progress in your career.

The philosopher and poet, Dante writes in the 12th Century: The secret of getting things done is to act! This is the same lesson carried forward by Stephen R. Covey in many of his books - what he coins as proactivity. You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for your career. To leave something this important in the control of a manager, with many other interests and employees, a company, a union, school or to only react to circumstances that befall you can be a mistake of a life time. The best advice in the world won't do you any good unless you take the information and proactively do something with it.

In my book, "5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track," I outlined the critical skills to survive and to get ahead in the toughest of employment markets. You must develop the ability to be cognizant of your surroundings - of your co-workers next door and your boss in the corner office - but also your company, industry, products, competitors, and the health of the local and national economy. This will make you a more knowledgeable and useful employee and give you the insight to better position yourself and company in the marketplace. If you are looking for a job or wanting to make a career change, you need to research what occupations are growing and what companies are positioned to prosper. No use becoming a deckhand on a sinking ship or venturing into a shrinking, dead-end industry.

Being proactive will assist in all of your business and career endeavors; whether its getting that report out on time, contemplating your customers needs, or implementing a beneficial, new procedure before your boss mandates it. It's recognizing changes in your industry or organization that aren't positive for you personally or your company - and to start the process to make a change, on your timetable and terms. It is to be continually educated and re-educated in your chosen profession and the economic outlook in general. If you are not gaining knowledge on new and changing processes you are actually slipping backward and losing your competitive edge to contemporaries.

Learning to deal with many management styles and degrees of professionalism (or lack thereof) will give you an edge over your co-workers. You need to develop honest and straightforward dialog with bosses, so you know their expectations for you. Getting along with other employees in your workplace is going to be a challenge at times. Recognizing cultural differences and unique work styles and keeping communications open and positive will only help. Complex jobs, especially in the era of downsizing where new tasks have been handed to the survivors, have made it critical to work well with others to get projects completed. If a boss becomes unbearable to deal with, only you will know when its time to move on to another company. But if you are still gaining valuable knowledge and moving ahead in the company, you might want to hold on a little longer until timing is right for a change - when you have another position lined up.

A mentor can be very beneficial in advancing your career. Mentors aren't just people in more senior levels within your company, but can be life coaches, ministers, family friends, or colleagues from a professional association. They may be able to assist you to navigate the corporate "land mines" and position you to move ahead in your organization or help in a quest for a new job. The more information you have at your disposal, and the ability to bounce things off another and get a second opinion, the better equipped you are to handle challenges that arise. Many companies now have formal mentoring programs, but even without one many more tenured employees are willing to take you under there wings if asked.

Networking with industry colleagues, old college friends, professional associations, church groups, or any potential employers will increase your knowledge of the job market and improve your marketability. Social networks are mediums to connect with others but still must be used effectively to develop into good networking relationships. LindedIn is, in my opinion, the best professional site. But remember the cardinal rule of networking - you have to give before you receive. You are taking care of yourself, your career, and building your self-esteem all at the same time by maintaining contact with friends and colleagues. Networking is the most efficient way of finding a new job or to get promoted in your existing company.

Many people are only reactive, and sit back expecting someone else to look after their interests, when a monkey wrench gets tossed into their career. Often the damage is done and its too late to repair the situation. The people who have the best careers are the ones who are proactive and stay ahead of the game - the go-to people in their organizations - who know how to get projects completed 100% of the time. The key is to acquire all of the knowledge you can about an organization, its management, and its products/services then act on the information. If you are currently working for that organization and prospects don't look good long-term start making a plan to move on. Conversely, only apply for positions in companies which are well-managed and in growth industries. Do your homework - then act on it!

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. 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

Networking - It's How You Will Find Your Next Job

Employers have done a good job at belt-tightening the past few years out of shear necessity (for survival). This translated nationally to a 6.2% rise in productivity in the fourth quarter. A negative consequence of this is that they - especially small businesses - are reluctant to start hiring again, for fear of a slow recovery. This is leaving about 6 unemployed people vying for each job opening, not the odds you are looking for if you are on the job hunt.

How we have to go after jobs has changed dramatically over the last decade, in the digital age. This presents some benefits and some challenges. Many people have a misconception of Internet job search and social networking sites. A recently published article on Yahoo! HotJobs, has a career "expert" suggesting "use social networks to, well, network." This is her complete advice on networking and use of social networks - which tells me she doesn't have a clue about how to effectively network. Social network sites are simply mediums to connect to others, just like the telephone, email, snail mail, or face-to-face meetings - and nothing more. They do give you broad reach to a great many people (the positive benefit) but only if used for (effective) networking. And job search sites - they are just the electronic equivalent of printed job posts in the newspaper of yesteryear, only digitized. The benefit is that you can search for jobs across a broader geographic region - easier - since it would be difficult to pick up help wanted ads from neighboring newspaper markets. They also allow you to send a resume online versus print and mail to each job post you are interested in. The downside is that thousands of others can do the same thing and your resume usually ends up in a digital "pile" on someone's desk - many times buried without so much as a cursory review. They normally receive so many resumes because of the reach of the Internet that they almost always refuse follow-up phone calls and don't respond to emails.

Social network sites can connect you to complete strangers, who you would not (should not) recommend for anything - if they are more than two degrees of separation away. This is advice strongly espoused by the networking guru of our time, Guy Kawasaki, author of Art of the Start and several other top-selling books. This means if your immediate circle of contacts, good friends, former colleagues, and school mates (1 degree) tell you they are good friends (1 degree) with someone they introduce to you (physically or electronically), and you have complete trust in their judgment, you can also recommend that person. But never a friend of a friend's friend - after all your reputation is on the line. Online social networking is the equivalent of more traditional networking, such as at a chamber of commerce meeting or industry tradeshow, where you meet someone you haven't met before. Here is where the Law of Reciprocity comes into play. It basically says, "if I do something good for you, you will feel similarly obligated to do something good for me." But you have to give before you receive. You must get to know this person first. Listen, listen, and listen some more to what they have to say and establish some common threads of interest and people you know. Only when this rapport is established and you offer them advice or assistance, can you ask for the same. This is not likely to occur on this first meeting, which is why follow-up is critical to the success of networking. This "meeting" can also take place online but it's much tougher to "get to know" someone and usually should only be done through introductions by someone you know.

This brings us to effective networking - which is the best way to land your next job, sell your product, or complete complex tasks in your current job. The majority of middle to senior management jobs are not posted outside the company or selectively given to recruiters to fill. The only way to find out about these jobs is through the network you have established. (The best advice I can give you is to always establish and nurture your network before it is needed!) You will find you have greater reach with your network than you think when using (the positive benefits of) social networking that make it so easy to keep connected to former school mates, business associates, extended families, and other shared interest groups. When one of these "friends" is offered assistance and then asked for assistance, you open up their networks. When they know the position you are qualified for, they can get the word out and "open doors" for you. The best scenario is for your resume to be walked into the hiring manager without ever having the job advertised to the masses. Minimally it gets you on the top of the stack for a guaranteed review. Networking can similarly get you past the "gatekeeper" to the right contact if you are selling a product or if you need expert advice on a project you are tasked to complete - a whole new avenue of resources.

How you position yourself to a prospective employer is also critical to getting past the resume review and through the interview process. We have seen in the economic downturn that companies have retained more "generalist" employees who could not only do their own jobs, but also extend themselves and take on tasks previously handled by others who were laid off. But it is interesting to note that employers now are being extremely selective in who they hire. They will not even look at candidates who do not match "perfectly" the job skills for the position they are filling. So you must research the requirements of the job you are applying for and lay your resume out to completely satisfy a HR screener that your "skills" meet those requirements. Even if you can bring a great deal more to the position, do not go down that path until you get by the resume screeners and preliminary interviews. Once you get the opportunity to sit with the hiring manager, you will want to convince him or her that you not only meet all of their requirements but you also bring so much more to the position.

It's a new world with new challenges, but not too complex to handle once you sort through the hyperbole and master the art of networking.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. 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

Help! Where Will I Find My Next Job?

The US economy and the US worker are both resilient. The economy will eventually bounce back and so will badly needed jobs. But what occupational sectors will return the strongest, adding the most new workers? Will workers have to be retrained for these jobs and, if so, who will do the training? What additional education will be necessary to prepare those just entering the workforce? What regions of the country will be the recipient of the jobs and what migration of workers will be required so they are in the right place at the right time?

Keep in mind that there are approximately 15 million people unemployed currently according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or about 10% of the total labor force. It is important to note that this figure does not include the roughly 11 million people who have either expended all unemployment benefits or who have given up looking for jobs - many out of work for years. So the "challenge" will be to match these 26 million (total) workers and the new labor pool entrants to these jobs, in the locations where the positions will emerge.

According to the BLS, there are 20 occupations that will account for more than one-third of all new jobs between now and 2018. It is interesting to note that one-half of the fastest growing occupations are related to healthcare - due in a large part to the aging of the baby-boomers. Some of the occupations, which will add the most new jobs in this period, are (in thousands): Registered nurses 581.5, Home health aides 460.9, Customer service representatives 399.5, Personal and home care aides 375.8, Retail salespersons 374.7, Office clerks (general) 358.7, Accountants and auditors 279.4, Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 276.0, Postsecondary teachers 256.9, Construction laborers 255.9, and Elementary school teachers 244.2. The entire list can be found on the BLS Web site.

The 20 occupations with the fastest rates of growth (not the largest number of jobs added but highest growth rate) will require an associate degree or higher for 12 of the occupations; whereas 6 are in the on-the-job training category; 1 is in the work experience in a related occupation; and 1 in the postsecondary vocational degree category. Eleven of these occupations earn at least $10,000 more than the National annual median wage, which was $32,390 as of May 2008. Nine of the occupations earned at least twice the National median in May 2008. These fastest growth occupations are Biomedical engineers, Network systems and data communications analysts, Home health aides, Personal and home care aides, Financial examiners, Medical scientists, Physician assistants, Skin care specialists, Biochemists, and Biophysicists. The remainder of the list can be found on the BLS Web site.

The good news is that many of the occupations that will add the most new jobs are "people" related, e.g. healthcare, retail sales, customer service, office clerks, etc., which will be added in population centers and will not mandate the costly movement of people from other parts of the country. The specialty fields may very well require some movement of people, but by nature of the positions moving costs are more likely to be borne by the hiring company. As noted, 12 of the occupations with the fastest growth rates will require associate or higher degrees. So the large number of currently unemployed or underemployed workers may want to consider adding a degree or certification to their portfolio and target one of these occupations of interest. I agree this is much easier said than done. It's tough to fund more education when you have temporarily lost your earning power - but nonetheless it may be the most important thing you can do once you begin a new or temporary job. There is also some grant money available under the last "stimulus act" for several occupations and groups of people.

Net, net, the workers of the future are going to have to be generally more proactive than they have been in the past - and leave less to chance. For instance, you will not want to just say I think it would be great to be a biomedical engineer and then hope there are positions that become available. You must research a field first, for future opportunities, and then work toward getting the requisite education completed. You should, at the same time, target a specific organization, or two, and get your "foot-in-the-door" by taking a lesser or temporary position to get to know them - and so they can get to know you.

The same cardinal rule applies to all job searches - network with colleagues, former classmates, trade or civic association members, etc. - to find the occupations of interest in the region where you want to live and work. When someone, in the network you develop, knows an insider in an organization you have targeted, your resume can be presented to the hiring manager - and not just be tossed in the pile of the hundreds received.

For the entrepreneur in each of us, many of the occupations listed provide "new business" opportunities for small companies, sole-proprietorships, or contractual employment. These include such booming occupations as Home health aides, Personal and home care aides, information technology, computer consulting, and network administration occupations. The trend for large companies to outsource services presents an opportunity to create a business around one of these services, where you happen to have expertise. Take charge of your career now by being proactive in planning, researching, networking, and getting the education you need - all necessary for securing jobs going forward.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. 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

Hiring Decisions Put on Hold - Business Belt Tightening Raised Productivity

Companies have cut their head-count to the bare bone to survive The Great Recession. This has actually improved their productivity - nationally rising by 6.2% in the fourth quarter. So when will they begin to hire again? Many, after squeezing more output from their existing workforce, are downright paranoid about adding new positions because of a lack of confidence in the sustainability of the recovery.

Let's face it, American businesses have gone through a painful experience, just to weather the economic downturn, and are understandably reluctant to add new employees. Especially when they discovered they could do more with less - less employees that is. What does this do to the current job market?

The Labor Department released the latest (estimated) unemployment number of 9.7% - a slight decrease from 10% at the end of last year. But, at the same time, they revised the number of jobs lost last year upward by 930,000. Since the beginning of the recession, the number of jobs lost has also been revised from 7.2 to 8.4 million. The Labor Dept. unemployment percentage doesn't take into account the 6.3 million long-term unemployed who have expended benefits nor the discouraged workers who have given up looking. Labor experts believe the "true" rate of unemployment is now 16.5%. Most don't expect the problem to get better any time soon. It is estimated that there are an average of 6 people searching for each available job opening.

We are in a classic Catch 22 situation: with 70% of our economy driven by consumer spending, we must see the demand for goods and services increase where businesses will be stretched beyond existing capacities. They will have to hire additional employees to keep up with the new demand. But that could be a slow process with almost 1 in 5 workers unemployed - most likely eliminating any discretionary consumer spending, which our system is so dependent upon.

Workers can only be pushed so far before the added stress of more hours and higher production rates takes a toll. It has been argued that the left-behind workers, who have been forced to take on added workloads of the workers laid off, have it the roughest. They are forced to work longer and harder causing stress - leading to depression and even physical illness. Not only are they stretched near the limit, the "unknowns" of their jobs possibly being cut next adds to the stress, and can be debilitating.

If employed in a company pushing you to the limit, you must begin a dialog with your manager that you are giving your all - but it cannot go on forever. The company has kept you around for a reason - perhaps you have become the "go to" person, as well as performing your job well. This certainly will help solidify your position, but should also give you the respect to yell "uncle" when the workload becomes too heavy.

Unemployed and looking at a company from the outside, first do your research on the company and determine it is a good fit for you. Use your network to connect with someone (or someone who knows someone) inside the company that interests you. Find out if they are stretching their employees to the limit or preparing to hire from the outside. You might even suggest doing some contract work for them, so they can keep up with their demand without the long-term risk of adding full-time employees in this time of uncertainty. This will give them exposure to you and your set of skills - and gives you a peek into their culture, management style, and the long term viability of the company. It can be a win-win situation.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. 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

Bad Advice for Jobseekers - So Called Career Experts Out to Make a Buck Off Unemployed

Career advice experts are popping up all over social and traditional media with varying claims of expertise. Many lack "real" experience in career counseling or employer/employee relations and are merely opportunistic. I do not believe there is ill intent with most, but I find bad advice or incomplete advice to be worse than no advice at all. I also have a real problem with those out to exploit unemployed people - many desperate - who are down to the last of their savings or unemployment benefits.

The only thing recession-proof in today's job market recovery is the career advice field, with seminars, publishers churning out career books, and personal coaching businesses springing up in every nook and cranny of the Internet. A story in a large metropolitan newspaper on one of these self-proclaimed experts goes something like this: Susan Smith (name changed) was a free-lance writer in the entertainment industry when her career hit the skids. She needed a career makeover and decided she was a career expert and used her writing skills to get a career advice book published and launched her own blog. Poof! Now she's a full blown career coach. And many of these self-proclaimed experts are commanding fees of $500 to $1500 a month per client - not bad for a brand new profession!

An example of an ill-conceived, half-baked article recently appeared on a top Internet jobs site. It goes through eight steps to "gift yourself employment." What a powerful concept - I wish I would have thought of just gifting new jobs - it would save a great deal of effort.

Her first point, finding a job takes time and available space to conduct the search - she even suggests a local restaurant. The latter proposition is horrible advice. Restaurants are noisy, by definition you're not going to be organized well, and the restaurant and other patrons will love having you there (not). Set up a home office or a private room of a library where you can use the phone. And finding a job will take time - a simply brilliant assumption - but gives no clue about average times to find a job! Which, by the way, is roughly one month for each $10,000 of annual income you have earned e.g. eight months to replace an $80,000 job.

Second, you're going to face competition in today's tough job market - another stroke of genius. But she does offer some good advice about the possible use of your background skills and talent in a different field - thinking outside the box.

Third, put updating your resume on the "to do" list. Terrible advice. Until you update your resume and figure out your complete set of skills you can't even contemplate her advice of finding a related out of the box field to conduct your search. You can't post your resume (since it's outdated), send it to anyone, nor interview with it. This is job search 101 and the very first thing you must do. Get your resume up-to-date focusing on your skills and accomplishments and always keep it updated.

Fourth, "use social networks to, well, network." Social networking sites are strictly mediums to find names of other people, hopefully in related fields or who can connect you to potential new jobs. She says nothing about how to effectively network, which is building relationships with the people you meet online, offering to give them assistance, discovering similar interests, and common friends. This is networking. Just because you found someone's name online does not mean you can ask them for a job or to recommend you to someone else. This would be like meeting someone on the street and asking them for a job. A new online contact would be extremely foolish to recommend you to anyone until they know and trust you.

Fifth, post your resume. Not bad advice, but your resume should always be customized to highlight your skills (and key words) to the particular job you are going after. Although posting your resume on job search sites, is the electronic equivalent of adding your resume to work wanted printed ads of yesteryear - with thousands of competitors. Yes, creating your own Web site will help you to stand out - some good advice - but where you will most likely find a job is through effective networking not a job site. I have read where up to 90% of senior manager and higher jobs are not even posted outside the company and most likely involve a recruiter. This is where networking comes in to connect with someone inside a company who knows of a particular job which your qualifications are a good fit. Perhaps even getting your resume on a hiring manager's desk before anyone from the outside hears about it - eliminating competition.

Sixth, join career or job clubs. The camaraderie is good for moral support but they won't find you a job.

Seventh, hit the streets. This is some of her worst advice unless you are applying at Joe's Plumbing Supply. Professional businesses do not want you "dropping by" to hand deliver your resume, nor calling, and they state this in their HR Web sites.

Her eighth point, and last one, is probably her best - Consider something temporary. As she suggests, find a temporary employment firm that specializes in your field of work. Many times contingent work leads to full-time employment, but more importantly it gives you a story to tell potential employers about what you've been doing. It shows them you are industrious, and willing to think outside the box.

My advice is to check out the backgrounds of career counselors before you buy their products or services. Find people with real-world experience and study their material first to see if what they espouse makes common sense. I've reviewed thousands of resumes and personally recruited and hired hundreds of people, and have a couple of decades of experience with large corporations and start-ups. My experience and what I believe I can do to help countless floundering people in this tough job market is the reason I wrote a book on careers - not I'll write a book and then become a career expert.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. 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

Get a Job in 90 Days - The 2010 Recovery

While there is no silver-bullet available to get you back into the full-time workforce, there are proven methods that will expedite the process. The rule of thumb for the time to find a job (and it has held true during this recession) is one month for each $10,000 of annual income you have earned. For example, if you made $90,000 in your last job it will take you roughly nine months to find comparable employment, a year if you made $120,000, etc. But things are different as we start the new '10's decade. While we are in a recovery, don't expect the job market to return to the way it was a few years back. We now realize how fragile our national economy is; how closely tied we are to the world's economy; and that our government cannot jump in and "save the day," as we have witnessed its inability to create jobs other than government jobs. And on this last point, that is exactly what we do not need - a bigger, bloated government which created a national debt greater than the combined debt of all the other countries of the world - sapping available funds from the credit markets that are sorely needed for private enterprises to grow and add jobs.

The jobs growth engine of our economy for the past two decades has been small business, which (depending on the source you follow) has created between 70 and 80 percent of all new jobs. It can be argued that this growth came as large corporations downsized and outsourced more and more of their functions. This trend will continue as these corporations become even more risk adverse.

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.

I will bet that just about everyone reading this article can find a volunteer position directly or indirectly related to their past employment, within one week. 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 as you land interviews.

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 MySpace or Facebook. That is not sophisticated networking - just because someone's name showed up. But do join LinkedIn, the most professional social networking site, 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.

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. Do research on 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 professional 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 ensure you will be brought in for an interview.

With small businesses adding three-quarters of all new jobs, focus your efforts on those which 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 what your specialty is. Ask who 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 use your large corporate experience to your advantage by suggesting how you can get more companies to outsource to them. Almost one-half of all jobs are now filled with contingent workers - either consultants, contract, 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 closely related. Over a third of these jobs become full-time employee positions -- and you get the opportunity to experience the company's culture firsthand and they see how you blend in with their existing workforce.

While there are no guarantees in life, following these steps can stack the deck in your favor to land a new job in the shortest time possible. Good luck!

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. 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

Job Loss Warning Signs - How Will I Recognize the Signs Given

What are the warning signs you will be replaced or your position will be cut in a company staff reduction? Some of these cryptograms are not really a secret language at all but quite easy to discern. One rather obvious one is when your boss doesn't support you when things go wrong - even tries to distance herself from you. Then there is the assignment she gives you, but never follows up on your progress or even that it was done at all. This kind of sounds like busy work, not something she would assign to someone she considers a valuable employee, and probably should arouse your suspicion. Another is the boss who normally is mild-mannered who starts acting paranoid and needs to know everything you're doing and micro-managing your every task. He may turn what has been positive performance reviews into nitpicking sessions focusing on a few small details, while ignoring overall stellar performance.

There are the secretive, closed-door senior management meetings, which should be taken as a serious sign of pending cuts, especially when sales or profits have fallen behind previous years. If your company is lagging behind its industry competitors in product innovation, new technology, or marketing savoir-faire something must give. Since labor costs are typically at or near the top expense line on a company budget, they probably will look at reducing the headcount.

The more subtle signs are things like having a boss start making sarcastic jokes or teasing in not so nice ways. Or he could make conclusions, with little or no facts to back it up. Guy Kawasaki, a leading business author, says, "Does the boss accept criticism or blame when the going gets tough? Be wary of people who constantly dish out criticism but can't take a healthy dose themselves." A boss distancing herself from her team may be her mechanism for coping with what she knows is going to be a tough decision to let part of her staff go. This may involve less eye contact. Not seriously listening to you or your suggestions - just paying you lip service when you are trying to improve the service of your department.

If you are trapped behind an inept manager who doesn't know how to plan or prioritize tasks, or one who believes if it's not her idea, it isn't a good idea will be a difficult career challenge for you. As Stephen R. Covey says, "Don't let yourself become a victim of your bosses weaknesses." Someone in senior management may be listening to your manager and have very little knowledge of what you contribute to the organization.

What can you do if you think you are in danger of unemployment? When you have a lousy manager whom you know will only be protecting his or her own skin while leaving you out to dry? Start by always having an up-to-date resume. Always volunteer for committees, project teams, sports teams, holiday party planning group, or educational seminars your company has to offer - to get you exposure to other departments and managers to get out from underneath your questionable boss. Become the go to person in your company - someone who can always be depended upon. This makes you too valuable to lose or, in the event of a decision to let go you or another employee, this becomes a tiebreaker in your favor. Build up a network of friends, colleagues, classmates, church members, sports team buddies, extended family, etc. who you can count on to give you advice and help if ever needed to find a new position.

If you recognize the warning signs and see them all around you, start making plans to get out of the organization. Talk to your mentor or other trusted senior adviser, but do not tell a sole in your department because word will travel like wildfire, especially if someone in your team believes it will save their job to let the boss know you are looking elsewhere.

Don't give your present employer a reason to fire you. Do your job and do it well, but in your off hours and weekends begin the job search in earnest. Potential employers will understand if you can only meet over lunch or for coffee prior to the start of the business day. They will respect you for giving your all to your existing employer. Heed consumer warnings about online jobs or job placement sites that require a fee to join. Use your network of friends and colleagues to find the jobs before they are even posted.

The key is to recognize the warning signs of pending change in job status and to take action. You must be proactive and take care of yourself - no one else has the same motivation you have.

Stress, Anxiety, Depression - The New Workplace, Cause or Effect

Even companies thought to be bulletproof from layoffs, such a Google, have had to reduce their workforces in this long, deep recession. The Obama Administration says it's going to get worse before it gets better, with unemployment rising above 10% before it inches back down later in 2010. The reality is that there is no such thing as job security any longer and basically everyone should have a healthy dose of concern for their livelihood, that is unless they are independently wealthy and don't really need to be employed. For the rest of us though, worrying about making house payments, putting food on the table, and gasoline in the family car, angst is rampant. So where is the happy median of a healthy concern for our jobs as opposed to being stressed out to the point of it causing major health problems, including depression?

Sarah Burgard, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, in an article published by LiveScience says "In fact, chronic job insecurity was a stronger predictor of poor health than either smoking or hypertension in one of the groups we studied." She goes on to say that "Based on how participants rated their own physical and mental health, we found that people who were persistently concerned about losing their jobs reported significantly worse overall health in both studies and were more depressed in one of the studies than those who had actually lost and regained their jobs recently."

How can this be? When you think about it, the stress of the insecurity about the next paycheck, medical benefits, retirement plans - all tied to our jobs - has to take a toll on us. Everywhere you turn today you see family, friends, and colleagues either out of work or in fear of a forced career change and it's the major focus in much of the media we see. If you get laid off or otherwise terminated from your employment, at least you know where you stand and you can channel your anxiety into action to network and search for another job. Not that this is without its' own stressfulness but at least the uncertainty and helplessness of waiting for the ax to fall is relieved.

In the US, the average savings rate as a percentage of income is lower than the rest of the industrialized world. This leaves us vulnerable in light of job cuts - especially now with 6.2 people competing for each available open position. Most workers lack the wherewithal to maintain their standard of living when hit with a job loss and go through the (sometimes) long process of securing a new one. It will take you an additional month on average to find a new job of equal pay, for each $10,000 of income, e.g. if you make $80,000 it will take eight months to find a replacement position. This includes getting your resume together, networking, the search, getting called back, the preliminary interviews, the final interviews, checking references, making the offer, you accepting the offer, and actually starting the new job. This could be a painful period with meager unemployment benefits.

What happens to your job performance if you are at unhealthy stress levels, which weaken the immune system leading to physical illness and even depression? Your work suffers. You are not upbeat and motivating to your subordinates, teammates, and even customers. You probably have more sick days. This lack of positive contribution can even be your downfall - setting yourself up for a target in the next round of layoffs and can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yes, the insecurity you feel in your job can cause you to lose it.

What can workers do to remove themselves from this vicious cycle? Start by always having an up-to-date resume and keep an eye open for your next position. Be forward thinking so that you are cognizant of your standing with your employer and the market position of your company, so that you can be proactive and make a change if need be. Help create a healthy work environment in your job where teamwork is encouraged and satisfaction is achieved. You should add value to each task you undertake. Always take the opportunity to continuously re-educate yourself and network with the people in your industry and community who have knowledge and offer guidance. Keep pace with new technologies. Religiously build your savings account for a potential rainy day; that will add a great deal to your security. Being overly dependent on a company can destroy your ability to take risks or make changes when you know they are necessary. You need to prepare for the future by putting these practices in place. This will be your security going forward.

Recession: It Ain’t Over Until It’s Over (in the immortal words of Yogi Berra)

Samantha, a laid off 29 year old clothing store manager, says, she’ll know the recession is over when she gets a new job. A cartoon (satirical humor) in The Denver Post shows a long line of unemployed workers waiting to get into the unemployment office, when one person leans over his shoulder and says, “the recession is over, pass it on.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke recently stated that the US recession is “very likely over.” The same day the Dept. of Labor announced first time unemployment claims for the week came in at 550,000. It’s hard for any of us to grasp what this means. Think about it, each week over one-half million people (the population of a city the size of Denver or Boston proper) file for unemployment benefits for the first time! And this is compounded, week after week, which is why we have roughly 15 million unemployed in the country. About one-half of these people have depleted their unemployment benefits. Imagine the disrupted families, which at about four per household means 60 million people are directly impacted in total. It is not a pretty picture to think of these parents scraping together money to get school supplies and school clothes for their children starting the new school year – let alone food on the table and gas in the car for the job search.

Then we add in the indirectly impacted folks. The workers at Office Depot, whose sales of school supplies are down, causing management to sack another employee or Macy’s pink-slipping a clerk because the school clothes season didn’t meet expectations. It is a vicious cycle we’re caught in. Our economy is built on consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of our economic engine.

This recession isn’t going to end until jobs are created in sufficient numbers to get laid off workers back on the job – and the bloodletting of job cuts comes to a screeching halt. It’s not going to end until consumer confidence builds to levels not seen for many years. Several recent articles have pointed to the damaging impact of “stress” on our lives and much of that today is caused by not really knowing if our employment is stable for the long-term. Unless American workers again acquire confidence in our system, that the housing crisis, financial crisis, healthcare mess, and government overspending is behind us, we won’t begin discretionary consumption as needed to create new jobs. This is the only way we can begin an upward spiral out of this recession.

Americans are resilient people. Hopefully we have learned something from this economic morass and will never again get too deep in debt and proactively stay a step ahead in the job market. We have learned that we have to take responsibility for our own lives and careers – that we can no longer depend on corporate America, our government, or educational system to take care of us. Our own preparedness is our only security going forward. This means always accepting new challenges and assignments in the workplace – become the go to person. It places even great emphasis on maintaining a solid network of colleagues and friends, so they will be there if needed. It’s recognizing what’s going on within your company or industry: are they making a profit or losing out to competition, are they introducing new products, is your position redundant, or is your boss a tyrant adding unbearable stress to your life? Then to proactively do something about it, such as apply for a new position within your company or start looking at a new company or go back to school for another degree. It’s up to you!

Recognize the Warning Signs - Your Job May Be in Danger

With all of the job loss reports splashed across newspapers and Yahoo!, one would think that workers would do a better job at recognizing the warning signs of pending job cuts. Yet most are not recognized or ignored all together. The national unemployment rate just hit a 26 year high of 9.5 percent. Just waiting for the ax to fall is probably the stupidest thing you can do. In this tight job market, you should not only be constantly on the hunt for your next job, but the one after that as well. If you are a part of a large reduction in staff, you will be forced to compete against all of the others in the same predicament! Be a step ahead of your co-workers when cutbacks occur by getting your resume out and starting your search at the first signs of trouble in your company.

What are the red-flags of pending layoffs? They are presently all around us. Consumer spending and confidence are down. The US economy has contracted for yet another quarter. Your state and local economies are most likely in the dumpster. Stimulus Package - or not - jobs aren't going to rebound anytime soon. What about your own company? Are you bringing in new business? Do you work for a profit center or a cost center? Is there a chance you'll be replaced by an automated system? Does your boss tell you your skills are essential to the company and adding to your responsibilities - or are projects taken away?

In your own company always accept the opportunity to serve on committees, Six Sigma, re-engineering task forces, planning teams, or any other group selected by management or co-workers. This can provide valuable recognition of your contributions to the organization. It can also give you tremendous insight into what's going on in the company -- on subjects like new product lines, new company directions, rightsizing, plant closings, process changes, etc. which could very likely affect your job. Whenever additional training or educational seminars are offered be the first to volunteer. It will put you a step ahead of others who choose to sit on the sidelines.

Red-flags - or not - you should always have an updated resume fine-tuned with all of your skills. That is what prospective employers want to see - not just time on a job. One of the best pieces of advice I have read recently is to develop your network of friends, colleagues, associates, etc. before you ever need one. You must nurture your network, both online social networks and career specific, so it will be in place when it is needed. Plan ahead and determine what you want to be doing in 3 to 5 years. What is your dream job? What do you have to do now from career change and educational perspectives to progress toward that ultimate job you desire? Then it's up to you and only you to take action.