Job seeking from a hunters perspective Blog

2011 Better year or more frustration?? December 30, 2010

I don’t know about you but I am fed up with the conflicting articles about the economy and unemployment figures.

My take on the economy is that the people hyping the economy are paid by big business so as not to bite the hand that feeds them they will say things are looking great so that you will spend money to boost the economy that isn’t great. The economy as I see it is in shambles still and will remain that way for 5- 6 years at the minimum. The economy is in an oscillation and will remain that way due to all the false hope presented by the economist.

The other thing driving this false notion id the fact that US based companies are doing well offshore, they are hiring in other countries while continually laying off here at home. Their stocks are going up because they are being profitable on the books. This is great for the company but has no effect on our economy. It certainly isn’t producing jobs here.

What lesson can you learn from this? You can start broadening your job search to offshore or stay here and perish.

If you are still thinking about using job boards in 2011 then I pity you and hope that you can somehow manage to keep food on the table and a roof over your head in the coming year. I see job boards as becoming passe in 2011 as they are for companies and recruiters and really do not serve our interest as seekers.  The information they provide seekers is the same tripe I feel that is keeping you from landing that position.

That brings me to all the career expert, coaches and trainers that have been like the job boards been putting out the same BS and tripe all through 2010. I think they are desperate as they are loosing business because we seekers can no longer afford them or have found out it has been monies wasted.  I feel that we know our industry and markets far better than they do. We understand the hurdles and barriers to entry better than they do. We have also learned that job boards are ineffective for the most part when finding a new career.  I want to see or hear something new or innovative from these people in 2011 something that is truly useful to us seekers. It is time for the broken record of 2010 to end. Get on the fad wagon of industry and get innovative!

So that leads me to companies and the hiring practices of 2010.  Hey hiring managers get a clue will ya! Do you have any idea really of what you need for the present or the future? Do you remember or have you heard of manpower studies? This would help you tremendously in figuring it out.  I know from experience that it really works. But to let some of the burden off of you guys I know that your job is made more difficult by those above you who haven’t a clue or are afraid to make a decision for fear of looking like an idiot. Well I have news for them they look like an idiot either way so make a decision and stick to it.

And since I am on a roll here with my frustrations lets not forget the seekers for 2011.

I have been working with fellow professionals fro the last 2 years trying to help them make sense of all this and to get them to get their heads together and start thinking like a professional again. For some it has taken for others it is hopeless. I am trying hard to help one friend as she is fully aware and gets the whole picture and like me we just can’t seek to get our foot in the right door to present ourselves. A company that hires us will never regret it as the ROI is much higher than what are loaded labor costs would be. But for other seekers I am tired of providing information and suggestions to these people just to be ignored or they do not utilize the tools given to them. I am also tired of hearing that their industry has disappeared but they are still sitting here looking instead of looking where the industry might be hiring. The usual excuse is that “well I have family here”. Yes and it is called transportation for a reason. Last I knew, correct me if I am wrong here, phone and roads work both ways. What a revelation!!! You can travel by car, bus, train, or plane to visit. You have telephone. cell phone, Skype, Facebook and other means for staying in touch.  So the I have family here excuse is just that an excuse to take a risk and move on. It is out of fear of the unknown. Change your attitude and look at it as an adventure not a disaster waiting to happen. Look at it as a way to meet and make new friends to explore a new area to get back to enjoying work instead of being miserable at home. Do what I did. I say down with my children awhile ago and told them , look I love yo all dearly but I have to go where the work is and we can visit each other. Guess what they understood and accepted the fact that this is the new reality in this country. So for 2011 get rid of the excuses about family and schools and such and support your family by landing a good job where ever and start fresh. The alternative is to stay put and loose everything. The choice is yours think about it.

So if I have everyone mad at  me at this point I have accomplished my goal for the end of 2010 it was a bad year anyway. I am looking forward to a better and brighter new year. If you understood the points that I tried to make come join me if not I am leaving you on my dust try not to choke to death!