I'm Back!!!! With Career Hunting Advice...

Took some extended time off from my blogging activities here to work on myself. Check out my posts at http://www.transformation.com/NCDrJCN/blog/.

On to career hunting advice...

I was downsized for the third time on February 23, and have been given "outsourcing resources" to assist in my transition. This company has many webinars to teach us the skills needed to find a job in today's world. During several of these sessions, I have heard several "one company" folks talk about the uncertainty of today's job market, and how they haven't had to do this for 20+ years and never thought they would have to again.

In the spirit of The Wisdom of Age, I have captured some thoughts that were rambling throught my head during one of these exchanges, and thought rather than blurt them out and offend anyone, I would blurt them out here for a more controlled audience. Also, I find blogging things to be healing...

• Many of these folks want to know the "rules," the kind of rules that we learned when we were young and that told us how to do everything. Well, right now, there are no rules and there is no rule book! The things that worked in the past may not work now, and I am not convinced that strategies that may have not worked a year or two ago won’t work now. You need to try anything and everything!

• The reality of the 21st Century is that companies, particularly bigger companies, hire and downsize employees just like we trade stocks. There is very little emotion, just a commitment to the bottom line for the next quarter. It is ironic to me that the current financial mess has been created, to a large extent, by companies willingness to engage almost entirely in short-term thinking. After all, had the geniuses on Wall Street and all of the banks been looking forward a bit more they should have all realized that this thing was going to crash sooner or later…

• Companies that are on the ball, and companies that "get it," are hiring right now if they can. They know that there is an unprecedented glut of talent out there right now with free agent status. They can upgrade their work force and be ready for the other side of the mountain, whenever all of this stimulus finally kicks into high gear, or maybe just out of neutral!

• These companies want to know what you can do right out of the box. Degrees do not seem to matter for much outside of your starting title and pay grade. Show me the results!!

• My personal opinion is that there are opportunities galore in the chaos that currently exists. Many companies do not know what is coming, and can use the help of learned minds to help them sort through it all. After all, there have been downturns before, and everything has been OK when the line starts going up again!!!

Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I am curious to hear what you think, particularly if you are out there seeking something interesting to do with the rest of your life!!!

Until Next Time,
Julius