How to thrive, not just survive, in a rotten job market

With handfuls of failing businesses, staggering unemployment rates, millions of families struggling every day to survive, it’s not hard to imagine that there could be a full-blown depression lurking in the shadows like a rabid monster. But as the crumbling economy reverberates around the world, it’s no longer a stretch to imagine that your job could be gone in the blink of an eye.

And yet, solving this employment dilemma can be much easier than you think.

All it takes is a good crop of basic preparatory actions.

So let me draw the curtains and show you more.

*digs the well before drinking*

Do your due diligence on your current company. Review analyst reports; dig into their resources, read everything you can find. Study the company website. You’re looking for clues, looking for patterns and threats that could uncover a possible downsizing or worse. Although this laser-focused research is not science, it is still the best research you can access in these scary and uncertain times.

*Increase the net worth of your employees*

Next, you must give yourself the jolt to improve your skills. Relax, I’m not talking about going back to college.

But you do need to prepare to be positioned as a hot prospect in the job market. (With the added bonus that you can renegotiate your current salary because it has increased in value.)

Here are some ideas to get the gears turning for you:

o Learn a foreign language (Japanese is a sure winner for most Westerners)
o Try a part-time course at your local university.
o Improve your technological knowledge.
o Get ahead of the curve: If during your preliminary research you discover that there is a new trend about to hit your industry, become an expert on it.
o Join the professional/trade organization in your field.

By doing this, at the very least, you will be filled with positive self-confidence and brimming with raw energy about your new set of skills.

*The Extreme Makeover*

If it looks like your career might be going the way of the dinosaurs, the first step is to give yourself an immediate professional review. More specifically, you need to decide if you want to continue in the same field you’re currently in or if you want to jump into something new.

A good place to start is by looking at your hobbies or personal interests. (It’s no secret that we tend to excel at the things we love to do the most.)

Be sure to break down your experience and focus on “soft skills” that can be applied to any industry.

Next, research the companies you are interested in working with. Read press releases, swipe through RSS feeds, visit Yahoo Finance, and set up Google News Alerts by entering the company or industry keyword you’re looking for.

Just focus on this fact: Employers hire people to solve problems.

Let me break it down: A hiring decision is only created when a company needs to increase the size of the workforce to disrupt production, or when a specialized skill set is required.

This is an opportunity to push yourself ahead of the competition.

As?

Familiarize yourself with the most common problems plaguing your chosen industry… Then figure out ways to solve them.

Some areas may include:

o Sales Objectives
o Production Costs
o Management problems
o Technological challenges
oFinancial problems

Mastering this process will put your job search or career on the fast track to glory and wealth.

Now that you’ve insulated yourself from the trauma of the outside world, armed with your new set of skills, you’ve essentially skyrocketed your courage.

The next stage is preparing a resume and cover letter, putting together a new interview outfit, brushing up on your interview technique, and building your networks.