WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?

Major Employment Trends

• The days of retiring from a company

after working there for 25 years are

long past – probably gone forever!

• The average person will change

careers from four to six times during

his or her working lifetime, according

to the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Increasingly computers are being used

to sift through job applications to

select candidates that “best fit” job

requirements.

THE NEW EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE

“I need to invent the delete key next…”

Major Employment Trends (cont.)• Many jobs have disappeared because

of widespread cutbacks and layoffs.

• Competition for jobs -- even minimum

wage positions -- is keener than ever.

• As payrolls have shrunk, demands on

individual employees have expanded

proportionately. (Multi-tasking

anyone?)

• Technology has simultaneously

eliminated some jobs, but created new

opportunities for skilled workers.

• Full-time positions increasingly being

replaced by “temp” and contract work.

CHANGE: THE JOB SEEKER’S KEY TO SUCCESS

Something‟s not quite right here…

“It is not the strongest

of the species that

survive, nor the most

intelligent, but the

one most responsive

to change.”

Charles Darwin

WHY DO PEOPLE RESIST CHANGE?

Change is Scary.

Change is Hard Work.

Change is Necessary.

And if you don‟t believe me, just ask a DINOSAUR!

DON’T BE A DINOSAUR! ADAPT!“When

you‟re

finished

changing, yo

u‟re

finished.”

Benjamin Franklin

CAREER EVOLUTION 101:

This should do the trick nicely…

• Recognize the need to change. (Hint: If

doing the same thing over and over is

getting you nowhere, consider doing

things differently.)

• Brainstorm with a friend, a family

member, your case manager or your

employment specialist about the kinds

of changes you need to make to

supercharge your job search. (Some

examples: Do I need to change the way

I‟m looking for a job ? Do I need more

education for the job I want? What must

I say at interviews to stand out positively

from the crowd?)

• Prepare an action plan that gets results!

(Suggestion: Put it in writing.)

BERTHA BOULDER: A CASE STUDY

Meet Bertha. Her factory job Stonehenge Wheel

Inc. is being eliminated because the market for

wheels isn‟t growing as fast as projected. (Cars

won‟t be invented for another „few‟ years.)

Bertha wants to try something different, perhaps

that clerical job down at the Wooly Mammoth

Registration Bureau she just found out about.

Typing skills are a must. Competition is expected to

be keen.

Problem: What can Bertha do get the inside track

on this great opportunity? How can she make her

application stand out from the rest. What can she

do to increase her chances of landing an interview?

BERTHA BOULDER: ACTION PLAN (PART 1)

• Network: Rather than submit an application and hope for the best, Bertha

opts for a more proactive approach. She asks for help from her contacts –

friends, family, coworkers, etc. – to find the name of the hiring manager or

anyone else associated with the company. (*Other good sources of

information include: the local Chamber of Commerce, trade

associations, municipal planning boards, and Rotary Club. )

• Skills Upgrade: Realizing her office skills are a little rusty (Bertha took

typing in high school 20 years ago!) she decides to enroll in free business

prep courses offered through Adult Education. Bertha also investigates the

many other free computer courses open to her. She won‟t complete the

courses in time for to help her get this job, but getting more education will

make her more marketable in an ever evolving job market.

BERTHA BOULDER: ACTION PLAN (PART 2)

• Resume Retool: Bertha dusts off her old resume, moving her newly

acquired skills and education to the top. Having learned more about the job

requirements from her well-placed contacts, Bertha makes sure that her

resume includes keywords that will help her standout from the rest.

• Advanced Interview Prep: Facing stiff competition, Bertha knows she

needs to bring her “A game” to the interview. Bertha registers for free

interview training and practice sessions at the public library to get ready for

the big day.

• Bertha gets her shot: Impressed by her resume, cover letter and all the

hard work Bertha has put into her application, the manager from the Wooly

Mammoth Registration Bureau invites her in for an interview. Bertha is excited

about the opportunity. Stay tuned…

21ST CENTURY SURVIVAL SKILLS

• Recognize that employers can no

longer guarantee you a job for life!

You need to take charge of your

career.

• Build Your Career Network.

(Friends, family members, church

groups, business

associates, professional societies...

Leave no stone unturned!)

• Keep your network well oiled! It‟s

not enough to have a list of

contacts, you need to keep those

conversations going. Tip: Give back.

Pass on leads you hear about to

others in your network.

21ST CENTURY SURVIVAL SKILLS (CONT.)

• Embrace Technology: The internet is your best friend. Use the web to

build your network. Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter are good starting

points.

• Keep Learning: In a labor market that increasingly emphasizes

technology, advancing your skills isn’t just an option – it’s an

imperative.

• Find your niche: Marketers call it “branding.” Find the one thing you

do better than your competitors. Make sure prospective employers

know how your talents can help them be more successful.

• Research: Know what prospective employers are looking for. Make

sure “keywords” are high on your resume so you’ll stand out.

• Volunteer: If you aren’t employed, consider doing something you love to

gain additional experience. Be sure to include it on your resume. Be

engaged!

RESOURCES:

Russell Library (Very helpful and you can’t beat the cost. (FREE!)

http://www.russelllibrary.org/reference/business.html

http://www.russelllibrary.org/news_events/business_progs.html

Contact: Brandy Doyle, career services librarian, 860-347-2528

Online Skills Building: (Free trial software.)

http://www.metrixlearning.com

http://www.lynda.com/

Some advice on networking (applies to online and personal

networking)

http://www.houstonnetworkingnews.com/Education/HowToNetworkOnline/tabid/235/De

fault.aspx

IT’S UP TO YOU!

“Whosoever

desires constant

success must

change his conduct

with the times."

Niccolo Machiavelli