Friday Factoid #2 for Employees: "The  Sky is Falling, the Sky is Falling..." 

 

In yesterday's issue of USAToday.com, Ms. Heidi Shierholz, an economist from the Economic Policy Institute, shared her thoughts on how her research points to a rocky financial recovery period over the next five to ten years as a result of the recession.  She also anticipates that the unemployment rate will remain elevated at least for the next five years and that joblessness could be stuck at 8% by 2014.

With all the doom and gloom, one may think, "Why bother trying to improve your career options?"  While everyone is yelling "the sky is falling, the sky is falling...", we want you to be encouraged and stay focused.  You need to take control over how you think and the amount of negativity you allow to occupy the space between your ears.  Be confident!  Be proactive about your career development needs.  Be responsible for your decisions and stay connected to professionals in your career.

Now is the time to ignore the bad press and become a restorer of hope for your career success.  If you are currently unemployed, you must be selfish about your time and spend it wisely.  Talk to as many people and hiring managers on a daily basis as possible.  Be prepared to verbalize your skills, qualifications, and work experience within two to three minutes.  The more concise you are, the more impressive you will sound to a potential employer.  We wish you the absolute best with your continued success.