Posts Tagged ‘Job losses’

If you’re thinking about going into business for yourself 2010 just might be the year to do it.  There are many pros and cons to becoming self-employed but with a less than stellar job market, looking at other possibilities is a wise move. We’ve offered tips on being self employed before on the blog and how research suggests that self-employed people are the happiest people.

But now a recent press release from the company BOTH (short for Back of the House, a company that offers support for self-employed individuals) predicting that self-employment is only going to grow in 2010 based a number of factors.

• Historically serious recessions has always led to a large group of workers who find their way back into the workforce via self employment or contract work.

• Even as unemployment begins to level out the growth rate for new jobs will take some time leading many companies to seek less expensive ways to get projects done. Leading to an increase in contract and freelance work.

• Professionals will resort to other measures to generate income outside their regular pay grade.

• With technology and the Internet job mobility has become without limits. As people become able to do more and more from virtual offices, companies will look to increase flexible work environments that embrace that.

• With many Americans having had the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath, many people will shy away from traditional “job security” and instead look for situations in which they have more control by working independently.

As the job market remains somewhat unstable now is a good time to take mental stock of your schools and abilities and see if branching out into freelance or contract work would be a good way to generate an extra income or replace a lost one.

Though reports show that unemployment may finally and slowly be starting to level out it is still well over 10%. Looking for a job under any conditions can be a stressful endeavor but in an uncertain economy while competing with obscene amounts of other job seekers many people can find themselves under enormous amounts of stress while looking for work.

Not only is this unhealthy but the effects of stress can easily hinder your ability to find the right job, or any job. Stress can lower your self-esteem, your energy level, your ability to focus and your attitude. And attitude is the key to any job search. Here are a few tips to managing your stress while looking for work. It could mean the difference between finding the job the job you want and finding your self still looking for work.

• Meet people of your age who are also looking for work. Don’t look at people your own age as the competition, look at them as allies in the war against unemployment. Especially if you live in the same neighborhood, have kids that attend school, or intermingle in the same circles. They can give you a heads up to new opportunities, take turns watching kids during interviews, and just give you an understanding ear after a couple of hits in the job search.

• Specifically meet people with positive attitude and are realistic. No matter what the age of the people you’re around, negative folks can do nothing but drag you down. Both negative and positive attitudes are like a yawn. Both are incredibly catchy and your take in what the people around you are putting out there. Hang back from the friends who can’t find anything positive to bring to the conversation and spend more time on friends who are putting out a good attitude.

• Take long strolls everyday which will give you energy to speak better, write better and interact better with confidence. This will help keep you focused and keep your game sharp. It’s critical to take some reflective time to yourself every day.

• Do a 10-minute meditation – Simply gaze at a tree and watch it move in the breeze for about 10 minutes – do not think of anything else – this will give your mind a bit of rest to gather energy and positive attitude. Nothing conquers a high stress level better then meditation each and every day.

• Take your food in regular time everyday and do not waver from your regimen of taking food or doing exercise or meditation everyday. Remember that as your health decreases your stress level increases. So keep your diet healthy and exercise as much as possible. Whether it is at the gym or just a 15-minute yoga routine at home.

If you keep yourself focused and don’t let stress get the better of you, you will continue new ideas in your job search and new confidence. 2009 is almost over – may the New Year yield you that dream job your looking for.

As unemployment continues  to rise due to layoffs in most industries across the country many people are finding themselves facing an uncertain future. One way many people are dealing with that uncertain future is by going back to school. Whether it be to finish obtaining a degree or credential you never quite got to whether it’s to start fresh on a career path you always dreamed of pursuing going back to school seems to be the most logical step for many adults facing unemployment.

If you find yourself thinking about returning to school, here are a few tips to help you on your way.

• Go back to school virtually: Though there are many online universities out there, the truth a lot of them may not be what they appear to be and fake degrees is a continuing issue in the world of online education. Stick with legitimate and well-known universities like the University of Phoenix. Though these legitimate online universities offer degrees in many areas, the one downfall is that they do tend to run a little costly. Your local community college may offer a similar program for much less, or even completely paid for if you qualify for assistance.
• Get it Paid For: Many working adults (especially those with kids) may be surprised to find out that they qualify to have the majority if not all of their expenses paid for by various grants and scholarships. Careers in early education even have additional programs where they award you many for taking so many classes. Money to help sustain your household, pay for books or get a new laptop. They’re rewarding you for choosing to go back to school. Don’t overlook these opportunities. Go to your school’s financial aid office and ask someone to help you find out what you qualify for. Free money is always a good thing!
• Be Equipped: Going to school is not the same thing as it was when many of were kids. If you’re taking the leap to go back to school make sure you have a laptop to help keep you n top of your work. Especially if you’re a parent who may be doing a lot of homework on the go you’ll need something mobile. Don’t fret; look on craigslist for something new or even Walmart or Target for a basic Dell or something similar. See the above tip for ways to cover your news laptop and other necessities for going back to school.
• Talk to Your Family: Going back to school whether its online or in the classroom requires time and commitment on just your part but your whole family’s as well. Make sure you talk it over and that everyone is on board for the extra effort it’s going to take form everyone while you’re studying and accomplishing your goals.
• Have a Game Plan: Though flipping through the course catalog for your local community college is a great way to start when it comes time for registration talk to a counselor! They can help you map our what classes, credits, and in what order you’ll need to accomplish you’re goals in the most efficient way.

Be proud and stick to it! You’ll be glad you did.

Job losses - How Ntroduction can help

I was yawning  at the San Jose airport waiting for my friend who I had not seen for over 14 years (limited to email, phone calls) and  news Flash on the TV monitor in front of me, shook me – CA has 14% unemployment.

Man! – That might be a bit exaggertated. I would say perhaps 12% would be near to reality. I opened my iphone to check emails and my friend had sent me this link which is related to CA job situation.
Lets not feel happy comparing to the last year’s July planned job cuts as that’s not a happy news but overall, Say I am walking on a street of 20 people, 3 of them are without job in CA – Scary isn’t it?

These  are lost jobs to outsourcing or corporate greed or stockholders pressure or M&A. Whatever the reasons are, most of the jobs are ‘Gone Baby Gone’. What happenned to the promise by President that companies sending jobs would be taxed more?

I was talking to a friend, Director of IT in leading storage company and he agreed with me that IT jobs are now outsourced every second as we speak. So, , my advice to future employment force is to stay away from IT and look for something that is core to the business and that would be essential to keep it within corporate.  I would suggest you to browse professional introductions Seeked and provided and you will get an idea of what seems to be in demand.