careers for troubled economy
Tough Times
When the economy hits a rough spot (as it certainly is now), companies and individuals begin to tighten their belts and watch their wallets. In the workplace, that means its a good time to make sure you are adding value to your company, increasing your knowledge and skills and placing an emphasis on being frugal and sticking to budgets. It's also not a great time to ask for a salary increase or an extra bonus. In other words, if you're employed and you like your job - continue to work hard, keep your nose down and do whatever it takes to help your company make it through the rough patch. If you're not employed or you really need a job change, then you'll need to make some extra considerations in a tough economy.
Find Growing Industries and Companies
Find out which employers in your area have actually been growing their businesses and adding staff in the last couple of years while the economy worsened. That's a sure sign that whatever business they're in, it is a business that's built to take advantage of a downturn. Here are a few ways to find these businesses: 1) check local or national business publications and their list of fastest growing companies; 2) call your chamber of commerce - they will usually have some good information on who is growing their business; 3) check job boards and other job search resources to fund the companies that are listing a relatively large number of positions; 4) keep your eyes and ears open for firms that are spending a lot of money on local advertising, as companies that spend to advertise will usually have room for new employees; and lastly, 5) keep aware of national and local trends in the economy and anticipate which industries and businesses might stand to benefit from those trends.
Delay Dreams?!
Not the most romantic suggestion, but in an economic downturn when jobs get tight, it just might be time to delay your dream of starting a new business and instead buckling down with a steady job in business that has growth prospects. Keep in mind that this need only be a speed bump on the path to your dreams - don't be deterred! But what is most important in tough times, as you move forward in your career, is that you don't go long without a job - for both financial reasons and for future career reasons. Future employers will certainly wonder what you did for that ten month period when you weren't working and they'll be curious as to why no other employer wanted you. In a downturn, if you like your current job though it may not be your dream job, stick with it and see what opportunities are available when the economy recovers. And in the meantime...
Sharpen Your Skills or Retrain Yourself
This is a great time to sharpen your skills and put yourself in position to take advantage of the economy when the upswing happens and jobs become plentiful again. A great way to do that for working professionals is to get an online degree to expand your expertise in your current career, get in to an area of interest or an industry that will be one of the many to benefit from an improved economy. Think about careers that will allow you to strike the appropriate balance between total job satisfaction, quality of life and financial compensation. That balance is yours to decide, but knowing the balance you want to achieve will you help you decide whether you want to grow your current career or pick a new one. Whichever choice you make, there is an abundance of great programs available for you to take advantage of.
When the economy hits a rough spot (as it certainly is now), companies and individuals begin to tighten their belts and watch their wallets. In the workplace, that means its a good time to make sure you are adding value to your company, increasing your knowledge and skills and placing an emphasis on being frugal and sticking to budgets. It's also not a great time to ask for a salary increase or an extra bonus. In other words, if you're employed and you like your job - continue to work hard, keep your nose down and do whatever it takes to help your company make it through the rough patch. If you're not employed or you really need a job change, then you'll need to make some extra considerations in a tough economy.
Find Growing Industries and Companies
Find out which employers in your area have actually been growing their businesses and adding staff in the last couple of years while the economy worsened. That's a sure sign that whatever business they're in, it is a business that's built to take advantage of a downturn. Here are a few ways to find these businesses: 1) check local or national business publications and their list of fastest growing companies; 2) call your chamber of commerce - they will usually have some good information on who is growing their business; 3) check job boards and other job search resources to fund the companies that are listing a relatively large number of positions; 4) keep your eyes and ears open for firms that are spending a lot of money on local advertising, as companies that spend to advertise will usually have room for new employees; and lastly, 5) keep aware of national and local trends in the economy and anticipate which industries and businesses might stand to benefit from those trends.
Delay Dreams?!
Not the most romantic suggestion, but in an economic downturn when jobs get tight, it just might be time to delay your dream of starting a new business and instead buckling down with a steady job in business that has growth prospects. Keep in mind that this need only be a speed bump on the path to your dreams - don't be deterred! But what is most important in tough times, as you move forward in your career, is that you don't go long without a job - for both financial reasons and for future career reasons. Future employers will certainly wonder what you did for that ten month period when you weren't working and they'll be curious as to why no other employer wanted you. In a downturn, if you like your current job though it may not be your dream job, stick with it and see what opportunities are available when the economy recovers. And in the meantime...
Sharpen Your Skills or Retrain Yourself
This is a great time to sharpen your skills and put yourself in position to take advantage of the economy when the upswing happens and jobs become plentiful again. A great way to do that for working professionals is to get an online degree to expand your expertise in your current career, get in to an area of interest or an industry that will be one of the many to benefit from an improved economy. Think about careers that will allow you to strike the appropriate balance between total job satisfaction, quality of life and financial compensation. That balance is yours to decide, but knowing the balance you want to achieve will you help you decide whether you want to grow your current career or pick a new one. Whichever choice you make, there is an abundance of great programs available for you to take advantage of.