Do Any Friends or Relatives Need a Job?

The unfortunate state of the current USA job market has thrown many people into the job market unexpectedly. These include:

• Friends

• Executives

• Relatives

• Skilled tradesmen

• White collar workers

• College Graduates

Previously the numbers of people in the workforce would typically hover around 4-5%, however recently the norm has become more like 9.5-18% depending upon location.

These unemployed suffer from a similar fate in that most have not until recently had to need a job – many for dozens of years. To use a high level executive as an example, they began their successful career in business. Promotions occurred inside their company. When they changed jobs, it was through a recruiter or business associate’s recommendation. This occurred several times and they never, on their own, were forced to actually look for work – until now that is. Likewise, for example, college degreed professionals never searched for a new job as they progressed in their chosen career.

Well those days are over for the unfortunate millions of currently unemployed nationwide. Many of them have been literally forced into the job market by circumstances beyond their control:

• Plant Closings

• Downsizing

• Early Retirement

• Termination

• Outsourcing

Now what we have is a job market full of experienced individuals with highly developed skills vying for the fewer number of job openings as they become available. In addition, new high school, trade school and college degreed graduates flood the current market as lower cost (pay) potential employees. Older workers also tend to stay in their jobs longer than they might have several decades ago due to the recent economic uncertainty.

A combination of all these factors cause needing job to be quite frustrating, stressful and full of many disappointing interviews. The average time for a person who finds themselves unemployed today stretches into years rather than months as was the time of a successful job search previously.

Now since necessity becomes the “Mother of Invention”, new sources of help for the people who need a job have recently been available. Networking Clubs where members act together to trade openings that they unsuccessfully interviewed are shared with others who might be more successful. People go thru practice interviews to hone their skills and answers to tough questions typically used to screen applicants. Companies which are hiring are discussed openly among members of the club. These hiring companies often only advertise for limited positions while in fact they are hiring for many others at the same time. This provides opportunities to others in the so called “Hidden Job Market”. Sales / Marketing Jobs Chicago IL

Similar opportunities exist with your previous business associates employed or not. Many business colleagues are still connected with others. They are often privy to an available opportunity and can serve as possible sources upon which to follow-up. Even others can serve as a valuable reference. Friends and relatives each are connected with many of their own circles of acquaintances and can often provide valuable leads or even hiring contacts. The high value of all this networking is to widely make known the fact that you are now in the job market and also certainly would appreciate any help to speed your job search efforts. Don’t be afraid to make your resume available for them to hand out to interested contacts who may be prepared to assist you somehow.

All in all to summarize, reaching out now while helping others in their job search efforts may provide you help when you need it most – during future job searches of your own. Since it takes a village to raise a child successfully, likewise it takes both a business and friend network to help locate a job successfully in today’s market.