| Today's economic crisis is creating an economically | | | | enabling you to pursue another career path that may |
| unfeasible situation; the supply of workers in areas of | | | | have a brighter future while at the same time providing |
| weakness far outstrips demand. Jobs in construction, | | | | you with some breathing room while the world works |
| real estate, finance, hospitality, media, and law, to name | | | | out some of its kinks. |
| a few have been lost in the tens of thousands and it | | | | I would advise any change to be focused on those |
| appears will continue to hemorrhage for at least | | | | areas where growth seems possible. Research on |
| another few months. Career shifts, once the | | | | which industries are still hiring (eg. health care, |
| provenance of choice have now become a necessity. | | | | education, software engineering) and which are poised |
| Having said all this, what is today's job seeker to do? | | | | for growth as well as related compensation would be |
| Since these are not ordinary times it's important to | | | | in order. Hopefully you'll find a match between your |
| consider extraordinary actions. If you have just lost | | | | desires and reality. |
| your job in an industry that is going through substantial | | | | Changing Fields: |
| downsizing you have several options to pursue. Here | | | | Finding a job in a different field that requires similar skills |
| are some ideas you might consider. | | | | would be another approach. Evaluate your skills, both |
| Relocation: | | | | hard (those skills learned in school and on the job) and |
| There are opportunities outside of your home city and | | | | soft (people, communication, leadership skills). Using the |
| even if the compensation levels appear to be lower, | | | | Department of Labor's O*NET job database see how |
| often times the cost of living in those areas are lower | | | | these skills might fit into other careers. Acting and |
| as well. In a segment on CNN today they listed the ten | | | | thinking creatively is critical for those attempting a |
| best small towns to live in and these reflected not only | | | | career change. Offering to intern for free, volunteering |
| lower housing costs but also high quality education for | | | | at trade or association events to gain exposure to a |
| children, good social outlets, and most importantly, job | | | | new group of people are some of the tools you can |
| growth. If Plymouth, Minnesota (1) or Round Rock, | | | | use to penetrate new areas. Effective networking |
| Texas (7) does not appeal to you, perhaps Irvine, | | | | becomes the key in any career change. |
| California (4) or Franklin Township, NJ (5) might. | | | | The not for profit industry might be a great place for |
| In the late 1980's when I was heading up an executive | | | | your unique set of skills. Nonprofits seem to have a |
| recruitment firm during Wall Street's downsizing, I was | | | | perpetual need for certain skills and disciplines. Not only |
| inundated by a daily flood of resumes. What struck me | | | | would this provide you with some income, but it would |
| was that even in the face of shrinking job prospects in | | | | also offer continuity on your resume, a new skill set, |
| New York, the majority of job seekers insisted on | | | | and perhaps even a feeling of doing good. |
| looking only in New York and limited their search to | | | | Move On: |
| strict compensation parameters. Although most of | | | | This is probably your most important step. It is difficult |
| these people ultimately modified their search | | | | for some people to let go of the status that their past |
| requirements to better reflect existing conditions, they | | | | job conveyed, consequently their job search is |
| had lost precious time to competitors who became | | | | hindered by the memory of what was and not intent |
| more realistic a lot earlier. In times of mass | | | | on what can be. If you need some time to mourn the |
| employment layoffs across so many industries it | | | | loss of your status then take a few weeks off from |
| would be prudent to cast as wide a net as possible | | | | your job search as a form of sabbatical. When you |
| Reeducation: | | | | are ready to resume you can more easily focus on |
| Is there some career or job that has always intrigued | | | | your skills, talents, and interests and see where your |
| you or do you have regrets about some path not | | | | search leads. |
| chosen? If so, this may be the time to explore those | | | | Looking for a job or a new career is never easy and |
| areas further. Reeducation for a new career can be a | | | | in these times can prove to be even more difficult. |
| viable and sometimes preferable option if there is | | | | Persistence, creativity, preparation, research, and a |
| some income coming in or a large enough financial | | | | positive attitude are the tools that will get you through |
| cushion available. This has the two fold effect of | | | | this period. |