A COUNSELOR’S BLOG FOR OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING

A job search can be isolating, and coming home empty–handed day after day can be difficult to deal with. So find another person looking for a job, for mutual support, or join a job search group in your area (just Google it). If this is not for you, find a job search Blog or two and share your experience with others while reading about others’ trials and tribulations: you are not alone.

It also helps when you see your job search from a different perspective. Think of yourself as a Sales Rep. The product you are selling is you, and you are working on a commission only basis. As with any sales occupation, you have to foster a lot of prospects before you make one ‘sale’. For you that ‘sale’ is getting hired. Many sales professionals sometimes go months before they make a sale that will set them up for the year. They keep up it because they know it will come. Once you make that ‘sale’, you can not only be set up for the rest of the year, but, hopefully, for many years to follow.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in March, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.  Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs over the month.  Employment in federal government also rose, reflecting the hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010. Employment continued to decline in financial activities and in information.

In March, the number of unemployed persons was little changed at 15.0 million, and the unemployment rate remained at 9.7 percent. 

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (10.0 percent), adult women (8.0 percent), teenagers (26.1 percent), whites (8.8 percent), blacks (16.5 percent), and Hispanics (12.6 percent) showed little or no change in March. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted.

For more information: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

The Financial Forecast Center (FFC) is a site that specializes in the creation of forecasts related to money: investments, loans, finance, economics and employment. Visit them at

http://www.forecasts.org/unemploy.htm.

According to the FFC the U.S. unemployment rate was estimated at 10% in November 2009, but rose to 10.1% in December 2009.  Fortunately, for the first seven months of 2010 (January thru July) the US unemployment rate is expected to hold stable at 10.2%.  According to the NY Times, President Obama’s chief economics forecaster Christina Romer indicated in May 2009, that the country was not likely to see positive employment growth until 2010.   http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/business/11economy.html.  

Aptitudes are natural abilities that we develop with minimal effort or training.  People display various aptitudes, from motor abilities (finger dexterity, manual dexterity, eye-hand-foot coordination) to verbal, numerical, and clerical aptitude, etc.  It is important to consider aptitudes when selecting a job/career because certain aptitudes will help us succeed in certain occupations by making it easy to acquire career skills and knowledge and increase our career opportunities.  

Of course, to identify a satisfying career a person must not only have the needed aptitudes, but also have interest in the occupation, or the work will become boring or meaningless in time.  Interest leads to increased competence, high motivation, and creativity.  Aptitudes are sometimes linked with interests in that our interests often develop along our natural abilities.  A person might decide to become a pianist because she has the finger and manual dexterity necessary and values self-expression. And, a bank teller might be happy in his job because he likes paying attention to detail and has the clerical and numerical aptitude to succeed.

If you are unclear what your vocational interests and aptitudes are, a vocational evaluation might be in order. Many adult programs (non-profits), which provide job placement and career training offer vocational evaluation services.  Some community colleges and public vocational/technical schools also offer these services.  For more information call your local adult education program.

Have you considered a temporary job to help pay the bills while you land that permanent position? Nowadays, temporary agencies specialize and can place people in just about every career field.

There are long term assignments and, in many cases, temporary agencies may provide benefits to their employees: paid holidays, medical & dental coverage, life insurance, and 401K plan.  Ask a lot of questions about the cost of the benefits to you.

Temp jobs can provide you with experience in industries and careers you where you might not worked before. This is a good way to enhance your resume.  If you are not happy with the assignment or the employer, you can move on to your next position and start fresh.

A temp job can also be a foot-in-the-door at a company you are interested in.  And temporary assignments can turn to permanent employment.  It is estimated that 90% of all companies use temporary employees.  More and more, companies use temporary agencies to screen their employees and to send them the best candidate for their ‘temporary’ assignment. If the company likes the employee, he/she may end up with a permanent position.  If they don’t like the employee, they can request another be sent, without any commitment on their part.  So, what are you waiting for?

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Non-farm payroll employment continued to decline in June (-467,000).  The unemployment rate was 9.5 percent and the number of unemployed persons 14.7 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.  Job losses were widespread across the major industry sectors, with large declines occurring in manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction.  Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 7.2 million, and the unemployment rate has risen by 4.6 percentage points.

In June, unemployment rates for the major worker groups–adult men (10.0 percent), adult women (7.6 percent), teenagers (24.0 percent), whites (8.7 percent), blacks (14.7 percent), and Hispanics (12.2 percent)–showed little change.  The unemployment rate for Asians was 8.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted.  Among the unemployed, the number of job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs (9.6 million) was little changed in June after increasing by an average of 615,000 per month during the first 5 months of this year.  (See table A-8.)

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by 433,000 over the month to 4.4 million.  In June, 3 in 10 unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or more.

Education pays.  It translates to higher earnings and lower unemployment rates.  Most of us have known there is a correlation between the level of education and the level or earnings in the U.S.  That is to say, the higher the level of education the higher the level of income.  Now, here is the proof. Of course, this does not hold true in each individual case, but, overall, the relationship holds true.  What is welcome news for individuals with higher education levels, is that they will experience less unemployment in their lifetime.

The data above is provided courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, as indicated in the Current Population Survey for 2007. Data are 2007 annual averages for persons age 25 and over. Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers.

Have you considered furthering your education or training in these tough economic times?

Sticks of Fire: The Turning Point, a novel of recovery and redemption.

Available at www.TumiPublishing.com

Brooklyn Bridge

A job search can be isolating, and coming home empty–handed day after day can be difficult to deal with. So find another person looking for a job, for mutual support, or join a job search group in your area (just Google it). If this is not for you, find a job search Blog or two and share your experience with others while reading about others’ trials and tribulations: you are not alone.

It also helps when you see your job search from a different perspective. Think of yourself as a Sales Rep. The product you are selling is you, and you are working on a commission only basis. As with any sales occupation, you have to foster a lot of prospects before you make one ‘sale’. For you that ‘sale’ is getting hired. Many sales professionals sometimes go months before they make a sale that will set them up for the year. They keep up it because they know it will come. Once you make that ‘sale’, you can not only be set up for the rest of the year, but, hopefully, for many years to follow.

www.Tumipublishing.com

Now available: Sticks of Fire: The Turning Point; a novel of recovery and redemption

Central Park, NY

We live in very difficult economic times.  As a consequence, we must be more diligent and thorough in searching for the right job or career.  Recently, I met a man who had not had success returning to work in the printing field.  He had plenty of printing press experience, but no one needed him.  It so happens that digital printing has taken a big bite out of the market that used to belong to ‘traditional printing’.  As a consequence, he decided to make a career change.  

The following are the top 20 fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Labor.  Also, please find the training required, in most cases, for these occupations.  Is your targeted occupation among them?

WWW.TumiPublishing.com

Now available, Sticks of Fire: The Turning Point, a novel of recovery and redemption