Randy’s Career Tips

With the current global recession, finding a job has never been more difficult. As the job market shrinks, competition between prospective employees has become fierce. If you want to land the perfect occupation, you need more than just a bit of good luck. Employment experts agree that there are certain steps that make finding a job that much easier.

1.) Have a Plan: Searching through the classified ads or browsing the internet job sites each day is not a plan. When you are looking for employment, you need to treat your job search as if it were a job itself. You should devote a specific amount of time each day to job-related activities. In addition to actually looking for job notices, time should be spent revising your CV, improving your skills and evaluating the type of employment you want and need. There are numerous resources available both on the internet and at the library that can help job seekers create a personalized plan of attack for their job search.

2.) Engage Your Social Networking Sites: Whether you’re a member of LinkedIn or have created your own MySpace, now is the time to put those social networking platforms to good use. Let everyone and anyone know that you are on the hunt for a job. You never know who will be in a position to offer you a lead or connect you with a decision maker. While LinkedIn is specifically intended for professionals to network with one another, don’t overlook the usefulness of Twitter, Facebook and any of the other social media options available today.

3.) Get New Skills: If you’ve been downsized from a shrinking industry such as manufacturing, your chances of finding a job in the same field are probably shrinking as well. Carefully consider your options and determine whether it might be time to upgrade your skills or move into a new industry. Depending on your location Read the rest of this entry »

The good thing about 2009 is it has ended. It was an extremely difficult year. The “global economic crisis” or the “Great Recession,” as it has been called in the United States, is finally over. Most economists agree that the global economic recovery that began at the end of 2009 will continue throughout 2010. As we enter the year 2010, it is important for executives to take some time to survey the new economic landscape in order to move their organizations forward during the recovery.

Finally, Positive News

The negative effects of the global economic crisis have been analyzed and dissected by the media ad nauseam. That has finally ceased as multiple positive economic indicators have emerged. First and foremost, the general public is much more optimistic than a year ago. The Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator has risen steadily in recent months. The Economic Sentiment Indicator analyzes media coverage of the economy as an indicator of economic health. Manufacturing orders and production are increasing. During the downturn companies slashed their inventories and production to cut costs and raise cash. As the economy has begun to improve those companies are rebuilding their inventories to meet demand. Finally, there have even been positive developments in both the housing and banking/financial sectors – two of the leading culprits in the economic meltdown. Sales of new and existing homes in the United States have trended upward over the last few months. Banks and financial institutions are slowly beginning to ease some restrictions and make loans again – primarily to corporate borrowers.

A Different Kind of Recovery

Many economists have noted that the recovery from the most recent recession has been, and will continue to be, different from those in the past. One defining characteristic of the economic crisis was its globa Read the rest of this entry »