Copyright 2008, Measure Up Place LLC
Recession Session #1: Be Prepared
It’s here and we have no choice but to weather the storm.
The deep cuts of the American economic crisis are continuing to hemorrhage jobs at an unmatched pace.
A recent U.S. Labor Department jobs report shows the economy lost 524,000 jobs in December and 1.9 million in the year’s final four months following September’s credit crisis. With the unemployment rate climbing toward 10% and the underemployment rate a staggering 13.5% many people are left wondering— how will we survive?
While I cannot offer a solution, I can hope to provide some tools to educate the recession weatherer.
The first step towards ensuring recession safety is preparing yourself. As so many companies are downsizing, the last place you want to find yourself is looking for a job during this growing period of high unemployment rates… but if you do find yourself in such a situation it is important to be prepared.
Update Your Resume
It’s a new year and a good time to update your resume. A current CV is important to have, and takes a bit of stress out of an unexpected and often unwelcome search for a new job. Below you will find some links to help you get organized:
Monster.com Resume Writing Tips
Associated Content : How to Update Your Resume
Career Management Alliance: Update Your Resume
Keep Your Contacts Close
Now might be a good time to put in a call to some of those dusty contacts. Make a list friends and colleagues to call— see how the new year has been treating them so far, play catch-up, say hello. This list should include not only those that may hire you, but also those that can spread the word and keep a look out for job opportunities.These might just be the same contacts you will find yourself turning to should you find yourself in search of a new position. It never hurts to stay in touch.
Acquaint Yourself With Job Resources
In the digital age opportunities don’t always knock, but they are available to those diligent seekers who refuse to wait passively. Depending on your experience and field of work, you may find job opportunities in any number of places. But just as important as knowing what you are looking for is knowing where to find it; here are a few online resources, including some that specialize in 6 figure income jobs.
Monster
Hot Jobs
Job Hunt
Career Builder
Simply Hired
6FigureJobs
TheLadders
There is nothing certain about what the future may hold, but the first step towards a positive outcome is being prepared.
October 13th, 2008As Seen on TV
Bosses come in all shapes and sizes, all temperaments and ethics, and they can be quite entertaining, especially when enjoyed on the small screen; but it is no laughing matter when the TPS reports, Sunday overtime hours, micromanagements, and cantankerous outbursts are an everyday event unmitigated by the comfort of the recliner in front of the television. TV shows turn the possible horrors of an unpleasant boss into tame and digestible caricatures, but never seem to stray too far from reality.
The Office sees Michael Scott’s misguided attempts to oversee the goings-on at Dunder Mifflin. As an insecure and immature boss, Michael regularly and unwittingly makes inappropriate, offensive, and often mean comments to his employees. If someone in upper management was looking to hire a regional manager with all of the charm, wit, maturity and responsibility of a third-grade class clown, they did just so with Michael Scott.
In Entourage, the real-life superagent inspired Ari Gold is harsh, abusive, and vengeful. As the most powerful agent in Hollywood, the ruthless Ari stops at nothing to get results. Of course you would want him to represent you, but would you ever be able to handle daily dealings this sharp-witted and evil-tongued shark?
And for those of you who haven’t turned on your television in the last three decades, you are probably more familiar with Lou Grant. Lou, perhaps one of television’s more endearing bosses, was a mixture of tough and tender. Lou could get loud, it’s true, but who wouldn’t want to work under such a down to earth and well-meaning editor?
Does your daily 9-5 mirror television primetime or is your boss a character that has yet to hit the little screen?