With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to ramp up your
job-search -- not shut it down.
The simple truth is that while the holidays do cause business to slow, employers are still interviewing and still hiring -- and deep into
planning for the following year.
In a new article published on Quintessential Careers, job-seeker can find some key how-to's for searching for a job between Thanksgiving
and New Years, including:
The first step involves a change in your mindset -- both about job-hunting and about the holidays. You'll need to believe --
really believe -- that you can have job-search success during the holidays -- fighting off the holiday blues when you have to.
Furthermore, make an action plan for the twenty or so business days between Thanksgiving and New Year's -- with a goal of accomplishing at
least one job-search activity each day.
The second step is about reviewing your job-search materials and strategies. If you have not been successful obtaining interviews or
attaining job offers, before ramping up your holiday job-hunting, consider getting an expert to review your methods.
Often there are simple fixes to resumes and interviewing techniques that can quickly lead to success.
The third step focuses on taking advantage of the holidays for pushing your networking activities into a higher gear. With work
slowing and people in a more festive mood, now is the time for job-seekers to request meetings, reconnect with people,
attend holiday gatherings, and request informational interviews. Networking is always the best tool for uncovering job leads,
and the holidays are the perfect opportunity to schedule meetings.
The fourth step involves monitoring key employer career centers and niche and professional job boards. Even in December, new job
opportunities will be posted by employers, so spend some of your time monitoring and applying for these positions.
An optional step, if you have the time and energy, is to volunteer. Charities and other organizations are often
stressed to the limits trying to help people cope with the holidays. Besides the emotional and spiritual lift you'll receive from giving back,
volunteering is an excellent way to meet new people to add to your network.
Businesses in the U.S. add new jobs for 10th month in a row in October, showing
continued promise for hiring.
According to the report released today from the U.S. Department of Labor,
businesses added 159,000 jobs last month -- many more than most analysts
had predicted -- and the best month since April 2010.
Overall, there was a net gain of 151,000 jobs added, as governments continued to
shed (8,000) jobs, but at a much smaller rate than in recent months.
Since December 2009, nonfarm payroll employment has risen by 874,000.
Most experts say the economy needs to add about 150,000 jobs each month just
to keep pace with population growth -- and several hundred thousand more to
begin making inroads in reducing unemployment.
Unemployment remained unchanged at 9.6 percent. There are still about 15 million people in the U.S. who need jobs.
In terms of specific areas of growth in October, temporary employment in the
professional and business services industries rose again, adding 35,000 new positions,
while retail added 28,000 jobs; healthcare added 24,000 jobs; and food services
added 24,000 jobs.
Employment in construction, wholesale trade, transportation, information, and financial activities showed little change in October.
November 1, 2010
Third annual Job Action Day arrives with job-seekers struggling with a new and more
challenging future of work, future of job-hunting.
With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering just below 10 percent, and with many
workers either overworked or underemployed, we face a grim employment picture --
one not expected to change anytime soon, regardless of the election outcomes on
November 2 -- or even 2012.
Instead, what experts envision is a prolonged period of more of the same -- of slow
job growth in the private sector, with fewer full-time positions -- forcing many job-seekers into alternative
avenues of employment.
In fact, there is consensus among experts that the largest growth in jobs will be
that of self-employment, as the need for temporary workers, contract hires, freelancers, consultants,
and the like expands dramatically. More people are expected to make a living combining
several part-time jobs -- into what has been called Portfolio Careers, and what one
QuintCareers contributor calls Patchworking.
Those job-seekers who continue to work in full-time positions will also see changes,
as employers will continue to combine job roles and duties. Another expected change
is an increase in job flexibility, with some jobs being completed entirely off-site.
While a collaborative work effort trend is expected to continue, more of said
collaboration will be completed virtually rather than face-to-face.
Women, as they continue to rise in the ranks of organizations, will slowly transform
the corporate cultures, workplace environments, and hiring practices of their
organizations.
Finally, because of the weakness in the economy, wages are expected to stay
steady at best -- and in some cases, actually decline.
Want tools, tips, and advice to move your career and/or job-search forward?
Find the articles and blog posts of more than 30 career experts -- all focused on
this year's Job Action Day theme of creating opportunity. Go to:
Job Action Day 2010: Creating Opportunity.
Quintessential Resume & Cover Letter Tips Blog,
a blog from another part of the QuintCareers Network, with new resume and cover letter tips daily. A must-see for any active job-seeker.
The Career Doctor Blog,
a blog from another part of the QuintCareers Network, where each day our own Career Doctor Randall Hansen answers one career, job, college, or workplace question.
