Can I get a new position in THIS economy?

This weekend I have really been thinking a lot about all of my outplacement clients and how they are struggling to gain new employment in an economic recession. I'm hearing all day long that "there are no jobs out there" and "how difficult it is to find a position". In all candor, my heart hurts for them when I hear their fear of the future. Remember, what we dwell on, is what we tend to see. The first place that success begin is in your mind.

The fact is that there is 8.5% unemployment, meaning there is 91.5% employment! Most people are working. Now I understand, you are either 100% unemployed or 100% employed. Statistics say that 47% of Americans are afraid, yes afraid, that they are going to lose their jobs, yet there has only been a 3% increase in unemployment. I would encourage you to not follow this nation in FEAR (false evidence appearing real) but know that your future is bright. This nation has been through significantly worse. During the Great Depression, there was 25% unemployment, the stock market was down by 90%, and they rationed goods. During the 1970's there was 17% mortgage interest, double digit inflation, and lines to get gasoline. We currently have 4.38% mortgage interest, no inflation, and plenty of gasoline. Come on, change your attitude and change your perspective. There are jobs out there looking for you!

Please hear me clearly, no company owes a lame worker a living. As I mentioned in earlier blogs, you create your own job security by developing your excellent track record of success and becoming known as a person of excellence. If you become known as a person of excellence, you will never need a bail out. You may have a temporary setback that helps you develop your "resilience" muscle, but you will never be without.

It is most certainly an uncertain season - no denying this, however, dwelling on fear and negativity will only perpetuate the problem. If you are unemployed, YOU have not changed. Your status has changed BUT you have not changed. You are still valuable, you still have skills, you still have competencies and you are still a great employee. None of that has changed. You must sit down and think about what you do have and how you can leverage those skills to make a difference for another company. So often we want to focus on what we don't have - "I don't have a job" or "I don't have income". You need to step back and focus on what you do have - family, friends, support network, colleagues, your health, and people who want to help you launch in to the next chapter of your life story. We all have SOMETHING to offer - you need to figure out what that something is and leverage it.

Time Magazine recently published a great article called "Thrift Nation". This article spoke about the current economy and how so many of us are stripped down and have to start over. Starting over is exciting. You get to start fresh and put any mistakes behind you. Remember, your best days are ALWAYS ahead! You have enough to weather this storm. You have enough inner strength and enough resources to get through anything that comes your way. We have become a nation of excess. If you have food and shelter, you have enough to weather this storm and any thing else you have is gravy. Hardships such as the current economy invite us to be grateful for what we do have. These times help us to focus on what we have found vs. what we perceive we have lost.

Remember, you can do it and I know from personal experience that whatever you are going through WILL END and will make you stronger. When I experienced different trials in my life, my dad would say "that which doesn't kill you, will make you stronger". He was right. You are stronger than you realize and you can get through this and come out on the other side better off than you are now. You are in the process of developing a life story that one day will be a source of encouragement to someone else.

Change your attitude and you WILL change your life.

Xodus Advantage serves as expert partners to individuals from the time they contemplate a potential career/job change, through the planning and transition phases. We specialize in making the change process positive and practical by empowering the individual to excel in their job campaign strategies. We are committed to seeing a successful career transition.When individuals find themselves on the job market or interested in a career transition, they are typically very uncertain. It is always nice to offer them the “voice of calm” plus real-world practical strategies to accelerate their down time during the transition.

For a free 30 minute consultation, please contact:
Lori Harbeck - lori@xodusadvantage.com
Janet Blumen - janet@xodusadvantage.com