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

Holiday Blues - Jobless and Underemployed Questions and Answers - To Crack the Career Code

I've been through two major corporate layoffs in my career and guess when they occurred? You are right, just before the holidays - the worst possible time of the year. Holiday shopping, parties, or schussing down the ski slopes just can't shake the blues. Worrying about where and when your next job will materialize is about as stressful as it gets. So we put on a smile (as phony as it may be) and try to maintain a positive attitude so we don't ruin this time of year for friends and family. No one wants to be around someone in a funk - especially during this special season.

No matter how prepared you are, other than a start date at another company already confirmed, you cannot be totally equipped to hear the words, "unfortunately I am going to have to let you go because of a workforce reduction." Yes, you feel betrayed. "Why me?" you ask. It's one of the toughest psychological challenges we have to deal with and it gives you serious doubts about your self-worth. You have every right to be pissed that some third-party arbitrarily upended your life as you knew it! Similarly, if you've had to accept a part-time or meaningless job - replacing a real career position - just to pay the bills, the season is anything but joyous.

The worst thing you can do (the first stage of grief) is deny it happened to you. Just pretend nothing changed. Keep buffing your plastic like there is no tomorrow. Buy those expensive holiday gifts you thought about when you were gainfully employed. Drink heavily at holiday parties, to show friends and family that you're not going to let this minor speed-bump slow you down. Go into hock for the weekend in the Bahamas - what the heck. All bad ideas. It's better to be angry this whole damn thing happened to you - followed by being real depressed for a couple of days - then pick yourself up and begin the most important marketing assignment you'll ever have - to market YOU. Surround yourself with close friends and family - not for whining about how you were wronged but for understanding about how you feel. This will hopefully help move the grieving process to acceptance (not that you have to like what happen to you, but it did occur and to millions of others this past year). So get over it. Don't go into debt on holiday gifts or extravagant dinners. Your close allies will understand and appreciate a well-thought out gift - whatever it costs. They will appreciate your intelligence to think ahead and plan for the immediate future. We all know people who have gone through this same thing and all know it could happen to us.

Evaluate your skills: who you are, where you have been, and what you have accomplished. Next, identify where you want to be in a couple of years and how you are going to get there. Create a strong resume focusing on your proven skills, supported by your work experience and education. Network, network, and network some more. One of the best bits of advice I have heard is to build your network before you need one. Get on LinkedIn, if you haven't already done so, and figure out who you know and who they know and what jobs are available. Certainly, check out the big job sites, network through Twitter and social media sites, and use other traditional job search tools. But real networking with people you know - people in your field - is most likely where your next job will come from. Jump into your network with both feet and focus your energy on connecting with colleagues and researching companies over the remaining holidays. As a byproduct, it will occupy your days and leave you less time to fall back into the holiday blues.

As the economy heats up, companies will start hiring again - many should start that process right after the first of the year. Be ready, with your homework done, to position yourself (with the help of your network) for your next new challenge. Going forward your only job security will come from your own preparedness: How sound financially you are to weather a storm, a strong network of friends and colleagues, continuous education to keep on the top of your field, and having and executing a plan for the future.

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 of facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com

Slacking Off For the Holidays - Not a Good Idea - Instead Position Yourself For a Promotion

It's been a tough year. Bank collapses, mortgage foreclosures, and job losses add up to major stress. How we cope with the stress can have far reaching consequences for our careers. Psychologists say that the fear of the unknown - not knowing if your position will be cut - actually can cause more stress than getting a pink slip.

One method of coping might be to back off the intensity and drive you put into your job and just try to chill out for the holidays; to regroup, take time off with family and friends, and enjoy holiday parties. While it is healthy to put the job aside and have a life outside of work, it could cost you a big opportunity to move ahead in your company. Many companies, which have cut their workforces to the bone, will start hiring again after the first of the new year. Why let these new hire positions go to outsiders when you could be perfectly capable of stepping up your game and taking on added responsibility and the corresponding salary increase? Not to mention that if your company is still weeding out people they believe are not valuable contributors, you could find yourself on the chopping block.

Stress can be deadly. It weakens your immune system and can lead to all sorts of related physical illnesses, and even depression. To fight stress and the fear of the unknown, stack the deck in your favor. Become the go-to person in your company. Volunteer for new assignments, gain exposure to other departments through internal company networking, and find and nurture a mentor relationship - with someone who can help you navigate the corporate minefields and get you face time with more senior executives. Mentors are not hard to find - most are found right under your nose, someone you know you can go to for tough questions or help in completing projects. Since your boss provides day-to-day support it should be someone out of your direct chain of command to truly give you impartial advice. Just ask if this person might have time to meet with you and provide some guidance from their experience. Many executives are willing to share their knowledge and experience by taking a more junior employee under their wing. Be sincere and always thank them for their time and you will be amazed at how willing they are to advise you.

The more value you add to your job and the more indispensable you become, the less likely your position will be cut and the less stress you will experience. It can be a self-fulfilling prophecy - not only easing the job-related stress but helping you land a promotion as your company begins hiring again.

Once you have positioned yourself as described, then let your hair down for some well-deserved holiday down time feeling secure in your career. One caution, always be professional at holiday parties - you never know who might be watching!

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

Make Your Move - Get a New Job Or Promotion Now, As Companies Begin Hiring Again

We've hit rock bottom, or soon will, in the job market. Yes, layoffs will continue into 2010 before the unemployment numbers start dropping, but smart, well-managed companies have already begun to prepare for the upturn. If you work for one of these forward thinking companies, you better start to jockey for position to replenish management ranks, as they bring new people on board to fill vacant and expansion positions held over from the deepest recession in decades.

This is similar to the wisdom imparted by a good stock market advisor, buy low and sell high. As we know in the market, many investors jump on the bandwagon trying to catch waves already cresting, then end up selling on the down slope. Companies have shed almost seven and one-half million jobs since the recession started, kept inventories at minimal levels, and stripped advertising budgets to the bone. They must now reposition themselves to take advantage of the economic upturn - even though the jobs piece of the equation is still on a somewhat slippery slope. This presents a great opportunity - in the trough of the jobs market - to advance in your career by riding the wave as recruitment begins in earnest.

Now is the time to gain maximum visibility in your company. Volunteer for new assignments, process improvement committees, to assist other departments, charity drives, even the holiday party planning team. Position yourself as the "go to" person in your department or division. Network within your company, with your manager, mentor, or any other connection, that you are ready for more responsibility. Update your resume and highlight your skills and experience, which have prepared you for more challenge. Why should your company's management look outside the organization, incur recruiting expenses, have questions if someone will fit into the company's culture, etc. when you are a proven asset? But it is up to you and your allies in the organization to communicate this. Your boss, her manager, your mentor, and others you interact with should be enlisted to sing your praises. Ask other departments, human resources, and your boss to keep you in the loop on jobs before they are even posted - to give you the first crack at them.

If your company does not have near term growth prospects for you, begin looking outside. Now is the time to re-evaluate your skills, education, and experience to begin the search for your dream job. Will you require some intermediate steps like going back to school for an MBA or other course work in your field? Do you need more experience in a particular discipline before you are qualified for your ultimate job? At the same time, evaluate if this dream job in a field that is expected to continue to have above average growth in the coming years? Will it require a move to another part of the country? Do you have enough savings to make a move - since many companies have cut down on relocation reimbursements? All of these questions need to be answered as you take proactive steps to move forward down your career path.

If the chosen profession has limited growth and therefore upward movement, it may be time to look for a position in another field where your skills and experience will also apply. The US Labor Department has forecast the highest growth occupations through 2016, and may help you in your decision of where to look. Network systems and data communications positions will grow by over 53%; personal and home care aides by 50%; home health aides by almost 49%; computer software engineers by over 44%; and veterinary technologists by 41% to name a few. This information can be found, as well as fast growing cities, on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site.

A few words of caution - do not ignore any of your current job responsibilities as you look ahead, down your career path. And for heaven's sake don't tell co-workers you are looking elsewhere, as this will spread like wildfire and could damage chances for an internal promotion. Do your research away from the office, on your own computer and phone, and schedule interviews or meetings over lunch or take a vacation day.

It is up to you and only you to seize these new career opportunities, whether inside or outside of your current company. Timing is in your favor, before companies announce their expansion plans and flocks of transitional workers begin tossing their resumes into the hat. Pick up a copy of my new book to walk you through the process. Go for 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 of 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!