The James Dicks Blog

I know there are a lot of people out there today who have recently found themselves without employment and I also know it’s an “employers market” when it comes to who gets hired and who doesn’t.  Much of the cream of corporate America is searching for a position that will get them back in the workforce.  But before you go applying for everything you run across online, seriously consider your personal desires and talents. 

If you just left a corporate management position in a major U.S. city, are you ready to become management in the fast food industry?  Probably not.  But don’t get to the point where you compare your previous position to one that’s being offered to you today.  You might not make as much money, you may have to travel more (or less), and you may not have a corner office.  But consider whether any new employment opportunity fits your personality and your professional capabilities.

To begin with, get ready to do your homework.  Speaking of homework, you might consider going back to school to get a higher degree or take a vocational course; it can’t hurt.  But by homework, I mean, determine what it is you’d like to do.  This will give you a better idea of where to start looking.  Maybe you might consider getting into a different sector of you field or perhaps you’d like to completely change your area of expertise. 

One good lesson is to establish what your passions are and then guide your search in that direction.  What is it that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance because you were too busy “working.”  Now that you have that obstacle out of the way, maybe it’s time to write your novel, or paint your masterpiece, develop your catering business or buy that Bed & Breakfast in upstate New York.  What are you dreams – could be the time to start living them.

If you still want to get back into the traditional workforce, there are a variety of ways to find your new position.  Use your network.  Who do you know that can help you find your next career move?  Start calling them and reconnect with some people you haven’t talked to in months or years. 

There’s always the Internet.  While some people aren’t too excited about the Internet job boards, they just can’t be ignored.   Go on to some of the majors (Careerbuilder, Monster) and post your resume and create a personal profile.  Many of these sites will allow you to create a personal job search that will automatically send you an email highlighting the newest jobs that fit your specialty.  The government is doing a lot of hiring and there is a website specifically for finding government jobs (www.USAJobs.gov). You may also visit an actual company website or go and apply in person. 

While your personal goals and your unique personality will ultimately determine the perfect job for you, never forget that it is your professional (and personal) abilities and liabilities that will determine your performance.  Highlight your strongest abilities to the greatest extent possible and while you’ll never be perfect, there are probably some liabilities you can improve upon.  You’ve heard it said that finding a job is a full time job.  But let me add this, finding the “right” job adds to the process.  This will not happen overnight but when it does happen, you will be glad you searched and took the extra time to do so. You need to spend the time and energy in order to better assure yourself, and your next employer, the best outcome. It is always more beneficial to find a position where you can fit in and find personal contentment.  If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never “work” another day in your life!  Consider that when selecting your new position and good luck on your job hunt. 

One more thing – never give up – it will happen for you.

I keep hearing news reports about the current economic situation and so many government economists are now saying that the end of this fiscal debacle could start to mend itself earlier than first anticipated….this year!  I kind of have my doubts but in keeping with my own personality, I always try to keep positive thoughts.

Just this past week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave an extremely optimistic report when he said he expects things to start showing growth patterns this year.  Bernanke, speaking to a joint Congressional Economic Committee, gave his most hopeful prediction so far about the end of the recession, telling us that he anticipates the U.S. economy to start growing this year — although the recovery could be weak and more jobs will be disappearing even after a recovery seems to take hold.  He said he saw hopeful signs, including more solid home sales, a revitalization in consumer spending and a small improvement in lending conditions for banks, businesses and individual borrowers.  Even though it’s Bernanke that said it, it’s still only one man’s opinion but it is good to hear some hopeful words for a change rather than the normal gloom and doom presented hourly (24 hours a day!) by our esteemed media.

The economists who are telling us their opinions today are doing so, I believe, to gain a foothold to fame.  Should an economist or analyst “hit the ball out of the park” with a prediction, they will be labeled a hero for the remainder of their career and might even win the Nobel Prize.  Stranger things have happened!.  And if they miss it, it probably will go unnoticed by the American population.  So, what do they have to lose?! 

My point is to stop listening to these harbingers of doom or those who sometimes deliver unsubstantiated good news via the media.  Chances are that sometimes both of them are right in some form or another and sometimes both of them are wrong.  What really matters is your personal economic situation.  If you have a job, the economy is in pretty good shape.  If you don’t have a job, the unemployment rate is 100 percent at your house.  It just depends on your personal perspective and that is developed by your individual situation as it pertains to your own life right now. 

Those who are responsible for informing the American public, whether they are politicians or media reporters, are doing a disservice to our population by reporting what they believe in partisan truths.  It might be true but then again…..?????

The old adage of “sifting through the noise” comes to mind and I urge each one of you to apply this concept to your own life.  Determine what is important to your situation, find a source that you are comfortable with and then apply this information to your personal and professional life.  No matter what side of the political fence you sit, why read or watch a news agency that angers you?  There’s enough anger in the world so don’t amplify it. 

If you are conservative – fine! 

If you are a liberal – great! 

One thing is for sure, everyone needs accurate information, or what they perceive to be accurate, to make solid decisions.  So, filter the information you receive everyday to determine what’s important to your situation and then use it to find your own economic reality.

Whether things start to improve this year or not – generally the “big picture” is out of our control.  There is no sense in getting upset over what the economy is or isn’t doing.  Just fix what you can in your personal life, don’t get frustrated, and keep moving forward.  One thing is for sure; bad times always seem to improve and I truly believe this “bad time” will be no exception.  When the economy begins to improve is really not that important – the only thing that’s important right now is keeping your personal economic situation on the tracks.   If we are all strong individually – we’ll be stronger as a country.