With 13.2 million people currently unemployed in the United States, ABC’s television program, The View, aired a themed show this week on jobs: where to find one, how to get one, what to do if you become unemployed, job ideas for stay-at-home moms, and how to start a “job club”.
Because this is such a timely topic (everyone knows at least one person who has lost a job during this recession), I took notes to share with you. Please share this post with the people in your life who are needing some encouraging, constructive support right now. This post is LOADED with helpful links and resources!
Andrew Serwer, managing editor of Fortune magazine, reports that the lowest unemployment rates are in the farming and ranching industries, ranking states like Wyoming and South Dakota lowest in unemployment.
Ah, but you’re not a farmer or a cowboy? Serwer reports that the following industries are also fairing relatively well right now:
- retail trade
- health care
- finance, insurance
- professional and business services
- state and local government
- accommodations and food services
Jobs that should grow with the President’s stimulus programs include:
What industries are NOT likely to be hiring now?
- real estate
- arts, entertainment
Here are two specific companies that ARE hiring today:
- Wal-Mart is opening 150 new stores across the country and is hiring store managers, human resource personnel, sales clerks, and more. They are willing to train people who have a strong work ethic.
- HCA Healthcare reports 9,000 available job openings for nursing, x-ray technicians, physical therapists, secretaries, administrative and more.
Marcus Buckingham, career expert and author of The Truth About You: Your Secret to Success, reports that it is taking 120 days on average to land a job. He offers his top ten things to do if you become unemployed:
1) Financial assessment: Do a thorough review of your current financial situation. What costs can you eliminate or reduce starting today? Cancel your cable package, eat at home, stop buying things — or buy them used. Hoard your cash.
2) Self-assessment: Re-evaluate what your strengths, interests and passions are and how you can best contribute to a company. Discuss your ideas with someone who is objective, such as an open-minded friend, a coach, or a counselor.
3) Update your resume: Customize it for each specific job that you are applying for. Keep it simple — filling your resume with irrelevant details is distracting. Highlight relevant experiences and describe your strengths using quantifiable verbs (“organized, saved”). Be specific about the results you have achieved and the contributions you have made to the business. Contact the people you intend to use as references. Only include those references you are confident will give you a favorable review.
4) Hire yourself as a headhunter: Treat FINDING a job AS a job, with a 9 to 5 structure. Establish daily and weekly goals. If you are rejected for a job position, ask the interviewer for feedback. Their feedback can help you improve your job hunting skills.
5) Network: Tell the people you know that you are looking for a new job. But phrase it in a positive way like, “I am looking for a career that will allow me to use my strengths to improve a business” rather than whining, “I lost my job. Do you know anyone who is hiring?” Stay in touch with colleagues (especially your previous manager) so you are on their mind if re-hire opportunities come up.
6) Get your mindset right: It isn’t just about thinking positively, it’s about acting positively. Tackle the things you’ve been putting off in other areas of your life. Act, feel productive, and your stress will be reduced.
7) Expand your skills: Finish your degree, apprentice, hone your strengths. This will make you more appealing to future employers.
8 ) Take a platform job: Go ahead a take a job that you are over-qualified for. Do what it takes to feed you and your family. Look at it not as a step down, but as an opportunity to network with new people while you continue to search for your ultimate job. Or wow your employer so much that they promote you.
9) Volunteer: Show future employers concrete activities you’ve performed during your lay-off that demonstrate initiative and skill-building. Be an awesome volunteer and you might impress someone at the organization so much that they will offer you a paying job. (Note: if you are receiving unemployment benefits, check to see whether volunteering impacts your eligibility.)
10) Start your business: Now that you have the time to investigate this option, utilize the many free resources available for those who are interested in starting a business.
Tory Johnson, CEO for Women For Hire and author of Will Work from Home: Earn the Cash–Without the Commute, shared her “job club” tips. A job club is a group that motivates one another, networks, supports, and helps each other keep accountable. Click here to learn more about forming a job club.
Johnson also suggests:
- expand your search – create different resumes targeting your different skills
- create a LinkedIn profile and ask people to write recommendations for you
- update your resume and make it look like you are doing things rather than waiting around for a job to come to you
- One size fits all – you should customize for each job application
- rehashes your experience – highlight your successes instead
- outdated and overblown – your resume needs to be current and concise
- unexplained gaps – address employment gaps using volunteerism, education, etc.
- submit and wait – you need to submit and HUSTLE!
Johnson also discussed stay-at-home mom jobs that allow women to take care of their kids while earning an income. Here are some of the online resources she suggested:
Direct sales (through established companies, like Tupperware parties):
- Cooksey Keepsakes (photography parties)
- The Happy Gardener
- Stella and Dot Jewelry
- Wine Shop at Home
- Simply Fun (games)
Promote your expertise:
Soft Skills / Care giving:
- childcare: Sittercity.com & care.com
- eldercare: HomeInstead.com & SeniorHelpers.com
- pet sitting: FetchPetCare.com
- technical: guru.com
- writing: associatedcontent.com and helium.com
- advice: liveperson.com
Online Selling (convert your clutter like designer clothing, old cell phones, and movies into cash):
- Creative Etsy.com users sell $12 million dollars worth of their hand-crafted products!