{"id":4896,"date":"2010-12-16T22:27:19","date_gmt":"2010-12-17T06:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=4896"},"modified":"2013-09-30T13:26:07","modified_gmt":"2013-09-30T21:26:07","slug":"5-steps-for-retooling-in-the-new-job-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/5-steps-for-retooling-in-the-new-job-market\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps for Retooling in the New Job Market"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure if we should call it the \u201cnew\u201d job market or the reduced, redefined, elusive job market.\u00a0 Too many people who have worked for years with relevant skills and valuable experience now can\u2019t find employment where once their talents were in demand.\u00a0 This dilemma isn\u2019t limited to the industrial workforce that has watched American production ship out to foreign shores. For twenty years there has been public debate and wringing of hands over teacher shortages and the lack of trained nurses.\u00a0 Today there are licensed teachers and RNs that in some regions, can\u2019t find work.<\/p>\n

This condition of not-quite-depression and not-quite-recovery has created a job market where employers are reluctant to hire, government agencies are facing budget cuts, and talented people are running out of unemployment benefits.\u00a0 A lot of frustrated unemployed people have had to redefine their goals.\u00a0 When it comes to looking for work today, sometimes that means redefining your personal skills.\u00a0 Instead of looking for a position that fits your experience, try redefining your skills to fit what\u2019s out there.\u00a0 Here are a few suggestions for realigning your abilities to match a morphing economy.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Conduct an Inspection of the job market: <\/strong> You can get a pretty good idea of what job titles are in play by combing online listings, which is worthwhile just to learn what\u2019s out there.\u00a0 Those listings aren\u2019t the best option for seeking work but they provide the skills associated with the jobs that are open.\u00a0 For example, a lot of companies are looking for \u201corganizational development\u201d professionals.\u00a0 Never heard the term?\u00a0 In many cases, it\u2019s code for someone to manage a downsizing project that requires distribution of an established workload to fewer employees.\u00a0 In other cases it means cranking up a business function that is new to a company trying to navigate a newly flattened global business climate.\u00a0 Anyone who has managed a staff, has written an operations plan or has simply devised a daily work plan in an office can illustrate their organizational development skills by adopting the language these job descriptions are written in.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Talk to a placement specialist and learn what sells:<\/strong> This is the other part of your research assignment.\u00a0 Spot a job listing on a recruiter\u2019s website, send off a resume and follow it up with a call.\u00a0 It has been my experience that these people talk to professionals for a living and they are generally willing to talk to one who may not fit the position they are trying to fill.\u00a0 They\u2019re always looking to add contacts and people with placement potential, so they\u2019ll spend some time talking to a person who isn\u2019t on their radar screen currently.\u00a0 That\u2019s how to learn what you\u2019ve got in the job market or some sector of it; and what skills are critical for consideration.\u00a0 If you\u2019re going to become a chameleon in the job market, you need to know what colors are popular.\u00a0 Recruiters are great resources for resume keywords, for a snapshot of local hiring trends within their specialty, and for a sense of where you might best fit.\u00a0 In this case, it\u2019s free advice with some value.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Decide what is within reach:<\/strong> When you begin to understand the language of the jobs marketplace you\u2019ll begin to grasp where the opportunities lie and what might match your skills, your experience, your interest \u2013 or hopefully, all three.\u00a0 You may also find that there are NO jobs that meet your existing curriculum vitae, which means that you begin to downsize your own expectations to match the market.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean collecting shopping carts in the parking lot because you worked as a mechanical engineering tech; it means accepting your limitations as perceived by potential employers and working to convert those skills, that experience, into working capital when you\u2019re shopping for a job.\u00a0 There are a few ways to do that.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Turn your resume upside down:<\/strong> This suggestion means stressing skills instead of work experience.\u00a0 Back in the Twentieth Century I was taught to write a resume that presents a chronology of jobs, hopefully showing increasing levels of responsibility, followed by a few sentences about skills and interests.\u00a0 The number of resume experts online today approaches infinity, but some portion of them suggests that it makes more sense to tick off your skills at the top of the page and couple them to a generic description of accomplishments.\u00a0 The bottom of the page is reserved for a list of employers and the ubiquitous \u201creferences available on request.\u201d\u00a0 It may sound counterintuitive to people who have spent ten or fifteen years in a profession, but the idea is to catch the resume reader\u2019s eye with talents, not training.\u00a0 You already know that professional experience is getting you nowhere.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Go back to school, in affordable bites:<\/strong> Sometimes you can substitute a little education for a lot of job description.\u00a0 Because of the tectonic shifts in the economy and employment, hundreds of schools are offering programs for the tens of thousands of unemployed people who have chosen to return to school.\u00a0 There are part time degree options, evening classes, and online degrees that allow you to study and continue a family life \u2013 or if you\u2019re fortunate, maintain your under-employed job.\u00a0 It depends on what you need to accomplish, but public universities are still a real bargain and online programs are offered at cost-per-credit, which means you can work towards a credential or degree on a pay as you go basis.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an unemployed accountant, see what it takes to obtain CPA licensure.\u00a0 If you used to manage a warehousing operation, look for a program in supply chain management.\u00a0 If you majored in psychology, take a look around for a program in HR specialization or training or recruiting.\u00a0 There are master\u2019s degree programs that can be completed in a year or less, and certification options that don\u2019t require a degree.\u00a0 The challenge after a long, frustrating, fruitless job hunt is bringing a new career into focus because it requires hope and a little confidence.\u00a0 If you can incorporate those elements into a change in career track, you can add a few components and then reassemble and repackage yourself to match a niche in the market.
\n
\nBob Hartzell<\/strong> writes on jobs and education at Masters Degree Online.com<\/a> and several other college oriented websites, addressing the issues confronted by would-be college students and professionals returning to school trying to find career options in a chaotic, unpredictable job market. He recently wrote the Top 5 Masters in Education Programs online. <\/em><\/p>\n

Don’t Forget To Sign Up For the PTB Newsletter!<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Upside Of The Economic Downturn: Why Being Unemployed Isn’t So Bad<\/a><\/p>\n

Overcoming A Loss Of Motivation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m not sure if we should call it the \u201cnew\u201d job market or the reduced, redefined, elusive job market. Too many people who have worked for years with relevant skills and valuable experience now can\u2019t find employment where once their talents were in demand. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":237,"featured_media":13034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[37,6],"tags":[4645,990,993,989,66,992,4629,198,991],"yoast_head":"\n5 Steps for Retooling in the New Job Market - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I\u2019m not sure if we should call it the \u201cnew\u201d job market or the reduced, redefined, elusive job market. Too many people who have worked for years with relevant skills and valuable experience now can\u2019t find employment where once their talents were in demand. This dilemma isn\u2019t limited to the industrial workforce that has watched American production ship out to foreign shores. For twenty years there has been public debate and wringing of hands over teacher shortages and the lack of trained nurses. 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