The Labor Market

I keep hearing about how good the labor market is.  I’m not sure I see it.  My observation is that it is good for some and not good for others.  It really depends on your profession.  With all of the mergers and acquisitions over the past few years, many corporate support jobs have gone away.  Areas like purchasing, payroll, and finance have all seen job erosion.  Other areas like IT, Accounting (thank you Sarbanes-Oxley), Human Resources, and Interactive Marketing seem to be doing just fine.

So, you are not an IT professional or an interactive marketer?  Don’t worry.  The job market still exists…it is just sometimes difficult to find.  What do you need to do if you find yourself in the market?

1. Figure out your value proposition
2. Network, network, network (and don’t ask for a job)
3. Refine your skill set…go back to school if necessary
4. Don’t spend more than 20% of your time on-line posting for jobs
5. Finally, make sure you let every one your friends know that you are in the job market

And, don’t hesitate to open yourself up for contract or volunteer work.  There is nothing better for the soul than getting up in the morning and having a place to go.