My research shows that there are still plentiful jobs in the following three areas:
1) Healthcare (all areas, since the industry is strong).
2) Advanced education (job seekers are trying to close the gap with more education, so professors at the undergrad and grad levels are in high demand).
3) IT/IS (yes, we still need our techies!).
Readers, do you agree with this? Are there other industries that you would like to add to the list?
The national unemployment rate is 6.5%, but that doesn’t factor in December’s numbers. Those will be available January 9, 2009. Here in Illinois, we’ve raced ahead to 7.3%. When you think about what that means in terms of actual people, that number is staggering.
With so many fewer jobs available yet more candidates than ever, job seekers have to be smart. Does everyone in your network know you are looking for a job? Is your LinkedIn profile engaging and easy to read? How many endoresements are on there? Remember, your LinkedIn endorsements are your on-line references page so don’t overlook this!
More to come in the next few days/weeks about setting yourself above the competition. Here’s a sneak-peek…What’s your personal USP?
Hi Everyone,
So…after *cough cough* a really long time, the new website is finally here! No, it had nothing to do with my fabulous web designer, Lin Chen over at www.newcircleconsulting.com. It was, as are most business speed bumps, the fault of the business owner, aka – me. But now it’s finally done and I absolutely love the results – a very happy home, indeed!
More than anything, I’m so glad to cross this one off my list and not carry it over into 2009. That’s what this week is going to be about; getting things finished so that I can wrap up the year properly. We have so many great things planned for 2009 – new things with the radio show, a few more resume writers added to our team, a few more resume packages to chose from…all exciting stuff!
I want to thank Monique Caradine for having me on her tv show as her guest this weekend. She hosts a show called Perspective, which airs on the CW network every Sunday at 9AM CST. Monique, I was completely amazed at how fluid and smooth of a host you are. I think I have a lot to learn before I attempt something like that again! As soon as Monique sends me a link, I’ll post the show on the site.
My wish for everyone is that you also have some time to cross lingering things from your 2008 list. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009!
I just read a really interesting article in the Los Angeles Times. A recent study was conducted that showed people warm up to you faster if you have warm hands. Likewise, you are more open and friendly with people when your hands are warm. So should you hold a cup of coffee in your hands for a few seconds before a client meeting or job interview, as the article suggests? It can’t hurt! Here’s a link to the article, written by Denise Gellene:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-hot24-2008oct24,0,2072016.story
The world is small. Really, really small. If you have the time and inclination, you can connect with people a world away without ever having to leave your home office. This happened to me today and I give the time and inclination credit all to my new friend, Sai Browne. (Or Saideh, as her mom would prefer…) Long story short, Sai is a an accomplished author. In gathering resources for her next book (focusing on Gen Xers who are redefining their lives) she put out a query on HARO http://www.helpareporter.com/, seeking Gen X contributors. I think I’d be an interesting case study for a number of books, so I sent her out an email. A few hours later, I got a phone call.
Let me back up. Before I sent an email to her, I checked out her blog at http://www.liferemixedradio.com/ and found it funny, real, topical and thought-provoking. As a matter of fact, I felt like after reading a few blog posts, I really knew her well. So in a matter of just a few minutes of her call, we were chatting like good friends. It didn’t hurt that she too, is a Project Runway/Tim Gunn fan! (How awesome would it be to have Tim standing over me and my stack of unfinished resumes, saying “Make it work, Lauren!”
After our conversation, I thought for a moment how amazing this interaction was, and how unlikely something like this would have been years ago. I hope you, dear readers, have something just as cool happen to you this week.
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