| It's no secret that our economy is in very serious | | | | |
| trouble. Everyday we hear about companies laying off | | | | Get Creative |
| thousands of workers, and the unemployment rolls are | | | | You may have been in one field for your whole |
| increasing each week. | | | | career, but your job skills are probably transferable to |
| The job losses are occurring in all American industries: | | | | other fields. Make a list of your skills and then search |
| real estate, construction, finance, law, newspapers, | | | | the Department of Labor's O*NET Online job |
| magazines, hotels - no sector has been immune to the | | | | database see how these skills might fit into other |
| financial downturn. | | | | careers. Remember to include such skills as people, |
| These obviously aren't ordinary times. What worked | | | | communication and leadership along with the skills you |
| before when looking for a job probably won't work | | | | learned in school and on the job. |
| today. So what can you do if you find yourself out of | | | | If you are able, consider volunteering to intern in a |
| work now? | | | | company to gain specific job skills. If you can get into a |
| | | | company, you have a better chance of getting a |
| Consider Relocating | | | | paying job when it's available. |
| You may be reluctant to move to another city, but you | | | | |
| might have to in order to get a job. The economic | | | | Network, Network, Network |
| downturn has affected the entire country, but some | | | | Tell everyone you know that you're looking for a job. |
| areas are having more problems than others. | | | | Don't be embarrassed, or afraid to let people know |
| Research the economic picture city by city on the | | | | you're out of work. Thousands of people are in the |
| web to see if there are opportunities in your field in | | | | same boat, and you'll find that people are very happy |
| another location. | | | | to try to help you. Be helpful to them too. If you know |
| It's time to be realistic and understand that your job | | | | of an opportunity that's right for someone, tell him. He'll |
| prospects might no longer exist where you live. Don't | | | | appreciate it, and help you in the future. |
| wait for competitors to get the job you need | | | | Be Realistic |
| someplace else. Go after it now. | | | | You're going to have to let go of your previous job |
| | | | status. It's gone. Be open to opportunities you never |
| Get Training in a Growth Field | | | | would have considered before. You need a job. This is |
| Find out which business sectors are still growing and | | | | no time to care about anything except bringing money |
| hiring, and find out if you can take courses to get | | | | into your house and family. |
| certified quickly. For example, health care positions are | | | | This is definitely a difficult time for job seekers. There's |
| expanding, and are projected to continue to grow in | | | | nothing normal about looking for work today. But you |
| the future. They may not pay as much as you were | | | | can give yourself a leg up on your competition by |
| earning, but you'll be getting a paycheck and you might | | | | forging ahead doing everything you can to find work. |
| get benefits. | | | | |