The Employment Report

Forget the New Year’s resolutions about dieting, taming bad habits, and joining the gym. Most people are more concerned with job security in 2009. Gary Daugenti, Los Altos career transition counselor, and Dr. Tracey Wilen, Palo Alto author, academic and businesswoman, have teamed up to offer New Year’s resolutions to help leapfrog the recession.

Here are their top three New Year’s resolution recommendations, whether you’re employed at the moment or not:

1. Tech readiness–Are you 2009 literate? Do you know how to use a spreadsheet, presentation applications, conduct a Google search? Do you have a Facebook page, network using LinkedIn, instant message, operate a PC or other portable device with ease? If not, make sure technical readiness is first on your list of resolutions this year. It’s a critical factor for employment in 2009, technical proficiency is required for 90% of today’s jobs.

2. Education readiness–Are you half way through a degree? Wondering when or if this is time is right to pursue an MBA? When there’s an excess of candidates applying for jobs, like it or not employers will screen resumes by degrees and certifications. Eighty percent of jobs that range $75K+ require a BA. Fifty percent of jobs that range $125K+ require an MBA or equivalent. Ninety percent of the fastest growing jobs require post secondary education. College graduates earn nearly 40% more than high school graduates. Education readiness should be on your list of resolutions this year.

3. The 10-second-scan resume–The resume is the most powerful instrument for pursuing a job. Resolve to update your resume and make it 10-second-scan ready. It should be only 1-2 pages, a spec sheet about you, in chronological format, with factual bullets. Quantify achievements using #’s, %, 000’s, use industry specific words, clarify your individual and industry successes.

Daugenti, president of Gent & Associates, and Wilen, author of edu: Technology and Learning Environments in Higher Education, offer additional tips of dos and don’ts for job security in 2009:

If You Currently Have a Job
To Do:

* Redo your resume and make sure it meets the ten-second-scan.
* Explore expanded or new jobs options by having informational interviews. Not all parts of the firm will be laid off and you might expand or make a lateral move.
* Increase job skills and technical readiness on the job, take corporate classes.
* If you firm has tuition reimbursement, take classes and finish that degree or pursue valuable certifications.

Don’t Do:

* Don’t be a sitting duck. Too many people wait until they are laid off to take action. Start now; people do get hired, promoted and make lateral moves during recessionary times.
* A working person is five times more employable than a non-working person.
* Don’t wait to update your resume. It should be a living document, current and ready to send out on a moment’s notice.

If You Currently Do Not Have a Job
To Do:

* Redo you resume and make sure it meets the ten-second-scan.
* Customize a cover letter for each job you pursue.
* Search jobs boards and network with colleagues, LinkedIn, Facebook and other job sources.
*Consider “like” industries for example, an ex-automaker should look at engines, tires, transportation, or any industry that uses similar processes to manufacture.
*Degree readiness. Finish your degree or enroll in a certification program. Start thinking about building skills, securing a job and developing a recession-proof career. (Healthcare and IT are hot industries now.)
*Pursue seasonal or part-time jobs (chauffeur, retail, hospitality, health, call centers etc) to keep income flowing and keep busy. These are also good places for networking.

Don’t Do:

* Don’t blanket jobs with resumes. Target perfect matches and follow through.
* Don’t target wish jobs. Too many people think that when they’re out of a job, it’s time to pursue their dream job even through they don’t have the skills, for example “I hate my procurement job so I will pursue marketing.” Employers hire skills and successful track records. Pursue what you know now and make the switch once hired.
* Don’t start a business unless you investigate it in-depth. Many people idealize about opening that restaurant, bed and breakfast, or flower shop but have no experience in a self-owned business. Before investing life savings into unknown territory, do your research. Interview shops owners, work in the industry - part time in a restaurant, hotel or flower shop - so you understand the business.
* Don’t mope and sit idle. Take classes, finish your degree, pursue a certification, learn new tech skills and apply for part-time jobs. There are many on-line jobs (teaching, setting up an eBay store), phone only (call center sales), as well in-person jobs (temp agency, retail, transportation).