The job market can be a crazy. Just like the real estate industry when sometimes it’s a buyers’ market and sometimes it’s a sellers’ market, he job market can fluctuate on a moment’s notice. Recent and highly publicized lay-offs at major corporations are consistently being reported. News Flash - it’s happening at smaller companies as well and it's not only jobs in the Tech sector.
On the other hand, the recent jobs report indicates at least some sectors are hiring at a robust rate. These are unpredictable times. You can easily find articles and media reports representing different viewpoints on current economic and job market conditions.
However, none of this should affect what you should be doing now. It really doesn’t matter. Everyone out there should always have an updated resume and be well prepared to enter the job market on a moment’s notice:
1) Even if you are satisfied with your current employment situation, things can change very quickly such as your current manager leaves the company, the company begins to re-organize, business begins to decline, and so forth.
2) Even if you are satisfied with your current employment situation, you might decide it’s time to investigate other opportunities and see if you can achieve your career goals more quickly with a different organization. Actually, that’s the best position to be in when entering the job market.
3) Perhaps you’re currently employed, but on shaky ground for a variety of reasons such as the company culture is changing and not for the better, your job responsibilities are changing and not for the better, you’re hearing rumors of budget cuts resulting in possible lay-offs, and so forth. This has the potential to cause serious stress and anxiety. Waking up in the morning and hate going to work is not a good situation to be in.
4) Perhaps you were recently let go and need to begin this process. If the lay-off was unexpected, you might have to begin the process from ground zero. This can definitely cause serious stress and anxiety. Not everyone gets a golden parachute with a robust severance package.
The good news is that the process is really not that bad. In fact, it can be very informative and interesting to do. Seriously! Most people come away with newly found confidence and motivation once they complete the process. That alone can reduce a great deal of stress. No matter what happens, you are ready to go! Right now! You probably possess greater experience and skills than your giving yourself credit for. Most people do. You just need to document and display it in the most marketable way on your new resume and verbally during the interview process.
The moral of the story is EVERYONE should have an updated resume and LinkedIn profile no matter what their current employment situation. Everyone should be ready to enter the job market on a moment’s notice. Borrowing a tag-line from a well-known company, JUST DO IT! It’s not as dauting as you might think, and might even be an enjoyable and informative experience.
Eventually, there will come a time when you look back and be very relieved that you went through this process. Probably sooner than you might think.
If you are thinking about entering the job market and need additional assistance, please contact Job Transitions for a free resume review and initial consultation. www.jobtransitions.net/contact.
Check out our entire series of podcasts - Career Success: No Fears, No Excuses – available on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and our website. www.jobtransitions.net/podcast.
John Karras
President, Job Transitions, Inc.
(708) 277-8813
