By Chris Patrick
A Little Background
Job hunting is hard work for many
of us even in the best of times. It’s been a particularly tough
task during the past few years as companies across America have downsized and outsourced. The
challenge can be particularly great for people who are in their
40s and 50s and are without work for the first time in many years.
If you are in that group, this article is for you.
If times seem tough, it may help to
know that it is not your imagination. The number of published
job openings has decreased dramatically over the past few years.
Notice I said fewer published openings. Companies always
have openings and there is probably at least one that is right
for you.
You may wonder what is behind this
jobless economic recovery. Our modern knowledge-based economy
is a pretty complex animal; one that defies easy explanation.
However, Dean Ned Hill of the Marriott School of Management at
BYU has identified one critical factor that makes this economic
recovery different from many that have preceded it. That factor
is increased productivity. In a recent presentation addressing
the relationship between productivity and job creation, Dean Hill
pointed out that each 1% annual increase in productivity results
in 1.3 million fewer jobs being created than would have been otherwise.
The current recovery has been driven by a robust 3.0 – 3.5% annual
productivity increase. In contrast, the recovery following the
1990-1991 recession was driven by a 2.0
– 2.5% productivity increase. So if it feels like jobs have been
a long time coming in this recovery, you are right.
Now for some good news. Jobs are likely to be more plentiful for people with
the right skills and education starting as early as 2005 and on
through 2010. Will we see a worker shortage like we saw in the
late 1990s? No one really knows for sure. Will outsourcing to
the lowest cost qualified providers continue? That trend has
been with us for a long time and is not likely to change. Who
will have great jobs in the future? The best jobs, and those
most resistant to outsourcing, will be those that require education,
flexibility, creativity and the ability to work well with others.
What kinds of jobs are those? The Bureau of Labor Statistics
points to occupations that include college educators, managers,
software engineers, management consultants and designers as jobs
that will be growing significantly through 2012. (To see Dean
Hill’s presentation “The Changing Job Market,
2004” go to http://marriottschool.byu.edu/emp
and click on Dr. Hill’s faculty profile. Also, see “Software:
Will Outsourcing Hurt America’s Supremacy?” in the March 1, 2004 issue of BusinessWeek
and “The Future of Work” in the March 22, 2004 issue of BusinessWeek)
What To Do Next
So, now you know something about what’s
behind the current dilemma. What are your options? First of
all, keep yourself in good spiritual condition. Fasting, prayer
and regular temple attendance all help. Sometimes as you are
engaging in these activities you will receive promptings that
you recognize as coming from a divine source. Follow these promptings
without hesitation, even if they lead you in paths you might not
naturally pursue. Like Nephi’s quest to claim the brass plates,
you may need to move ahead without having a clear idea about how
things will turn out. The key is to keep moving and to follow
the promptings as they come. (See 1 Nephi 3-4)
Second, remember the five best ways
to find work suggested by Richard N. Bolles
in his very popular and very practical book, What Color is
Your Parachute?
| Job
Hunting Tactic |
Effectiveness
As Reported by Bolles |
| Ask
for job leads from family, friends and everyone you meet. |
Works
for 33 out of every 100 job seekers. |
| Go
to the door (yes, physically go to the door) of any employer
that interests you, knock, and ask if they have work for
someone who does what you do. |
Works
for 47 out of 100 job seekers. |
| Use
the Yellow Pages to identify subjects or fields of interest
to you. Contact employers listed under these subjects and
ask if they have work for someone who does what you do. |
Works
for 69 out of 100 job seekers. |
| Use
the same method just described, but work in a group with
other job seekers. |
Works
for 84 out of 100 job seekers. |
| Use
Bolles’ creative job search formula
which includes deciding what you want to do, where you want
to do it, and then going after
the organizations that interest you the most. This approach
is particularly effective if you decide you want to change
your career. |
Works
for 86 out of 100 job seekers |
It is possible that even using all of these methods
you will not be able to find a job exactly like the one you loved
and lost. It’s important to be open to other options and avenues
that will allow you to use your particular talents in new ways.
Be careful about pinning all your hopes on posting your
resume on Internet job boards and employer’s websites. You may
well land the job of your dreams through the Internet. However,
Bolles cites research showing that only
4 to10% of those who rely on the Internet for their job searches
actually get jobs that way.
Resources
There are many excellent resources
available for mature job seekers. Here, in no particular priority
order, are some you may find helpful:
Your ward and stake welfare specialist. Most wards and stakes have welfare
specialists who know something about helping job seekers. They
can provide encouragement; help with your job search strategy;
and offer advice for building useful job seeking tools like resumes
and cover letters. But, don’t expect your ward or stake welfare
specialist to find you a job. Their role is to help you become
an effective job seeker. You must do the actual job hunting on
your own.
www.providentliving.org.
This very helpful and practical website includes a large section
devoted to employment. This website can be a useful complement
to the help you receive from your ward or stake welfare specialist.
State
employment centers.
Each state in the United States operates a system of employment centers known generically
as the One-Stop System. States have different names for these
centers. Employment centers often have resource rooms equipped
with computers, printers, books and staff who can help with your
search. Some employment centers offer free classes for job seekers
to help with interviewing skills, job search strategies, resume
writing, and so forth. To find the employment center nearest
you use America’s Service Locator at www.servicelocator.org.
Many states now have a great deal of useful information for job
seekers in electronic form which you can access from home.
BYU Management Society. Two of the primary purposes of the
BYU Management Society are to promote networking and career development.
The Management Society includes over 6,000 members with chapters
in 40 U.S. cities and 10 countries. You don’t
need to be a graduate of BYU or a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints to join. You will meet good people
at chapter meetings who will be anxious to help. To learn more
about the BYU Management Society and to locate a
chapter near you see www.marriottschool.byu.edu/mgtsoc/.
If there is no chapter in your area contact Rixa Oman at 801.422.6824 or management_society@byu.edu
to see how to get started.
What Color is Your Parachute? This book is one of the best known, and most helpful, guides
for job seekers. It is packed full of useful suggestions, references
to essential resources, and packaged in a way that is both entertaining
and accessible. What Color is Your Parachute? is available at www.amazon.com
or www.bn.com.
It is updated annually. (Bolles, Richard Nelson. What Color Is Your Parachute?
A Practical Manual for Job Hunters and Career-Changers.
Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, 2004.) There is a companion website
at www.jobhuntersbible.com.
www.quintcareers.com.
This website is a comprehensive career search website that supports
over 2,000 content pages. Of particular interest to job seekers
in their 40s and 50s is an entire section titled, “Job and Career
Resources for Mature and Older Job Seekers – Including the Baby
Boomers”. This section includes links to 13 other websites that
focus on the particular challenges facing mature job seekers.
Finally, the April 2004 Ensign
magazine includes a wonderful article
titled, “Helping Marriage Survive Unemployment: Seven Principles.”
This article describes how a faithful church member who was suddenly
unemployed after 30 years worked with his wife to change what
could have been a devastating turn of events into a valuable growing
experience. It’s well worth reading.
A Parting Thought
Job seeking can be a discouraging
process, particularly if your job search takes significantly longer
than you expect. Sometimes that discouragement can lead to withdrawal
and depression. A few down days now and then is normal. Overcoming
an extended period of depression may require professional help.
Consider talking with your doctor first. Sometimes depression
has a physical cause. If your body is healthy, consider seeking
out a professional counselor who shares your values. LDS Family
Services may be a good place to start. Your bishop can provide
a referral. Your doctor may also provide referrals to qualified
counselors if LDS Family Services is not a viable option. Seeking
professional help may cost a few dollars at a time when money
is tight, but if your ability to deal with life’s challenges is
improved, the time and money you invest in yourself will
be well spent.
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