Despite 500,000 Leaving Employment Market, Job Openings Surge by 300,000

Last week’s employment report was quite disappointing as only 88,000 net jobs were created. The unemployment dropped from 7.8 to 7.7 percent, but the reason was that some 500,000 people left the labor force. If you’re not employed and not looking for employment then you aren’t counted in the ranks of the unemployed. Some of those who left the workforce came from the increasing number of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age but pretty clearly many came from those who would prefer to be working but gave up their search after reaching the conclusion that it was fruitless.

Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a report that should provide some comfort to those who are still looking for work as well as those who stopped but may re-start their search. According to the BLS, there were 3.9 million job openings on the last business day of February, up from 3.6 million in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.3 percent) and separations rate (3.1 percent) were little changed in February. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region. Continue Reading

Attention Unemployed Or Underemployed Recent College Graduates

While the job market may still be tough, recent college graduates shouldn’t completely blame themselves for not having jobs or the jobs they want.  Find out why, and learn some things they should keep in mind during their job searches.

The following is a guest post by Caroline Ross. We’ve all seen the reports: around 50% of recent college grads are unemployed or underemployed. Now, before we start pointing fingers and placing blame, let us remember that, even though the recession is supposedly over, our economy still isn’t as strong as it was before. Employers all across the board

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Attention Unemployed Or Underemployed Recent College Graduates

Number of Unemployed Young People Since 2002 Increases by 64%

According to one source, there has been an increase of young people not working since 2002, in 2012.

Nick Gidwani, founder and entrepreneur of SkilledUp.com (a search engine that provides easy access and discovery of more than 40,000 online, career-advancement and skill development courses), says there are a growing number of young people who have been priced out of higher education and are looking for alternative ways to increase their marketability. Many of those who have acquired a degree have found that its value no longer guarantees a well-paying career in their field of study. Millennials typically have excellent basic computer proficiency, but they lack specific and marketable skills that businesses can use, such as using graphic design or data analysis software. With thousands of low-cost or free courses, these young people can get “skilled up” so that they can take control of their career paths and compete in the marketplace – both with their peers, and with an increasingly global digital workforce in India, South America and Eastern Europe. Continue Reading

What to Say and Not Say to Someone Who is Unemployed

Do you know a relative or friend who is currently unemployed?  If so, you might find it a bit difficult to talk with him or her, as the conversation will likely turn to work at some point.  If you need some help in approaching this topic, then you can find some advice here. Continue Reading

Tips for the Unemployed Six Months or More

If you have not found a job in the past six months, you would want recruiters and employers to believe that you still are interested in working.  Sure, an employer may wonder why, but not just view you negatively.  However, a recent article points out that some employers are using being unemployed long-term (over six months) as an excuse to separate these workers from the competition.  That is why the long-term unemployed must prove their desire to be a part of the workforce.

Here are some tips for you to keep in mind if you’re among the long-term unemployed: Continue Reading

4 Ways to Spot a Recruiting Scam

For the unemployed, job scams are like a kick in the shins when you’re already down. Unfortunately, with thousands of resumes posted on job boards, chances are that scammers will get a hold of your information from time to time. It’s bound to happen — but don’t let it get you down.

At one time or another, every unemployed job seeker will suffer from that terribly disappointing feeling of their heart dropping when they realize that the opportunity of lifetime is too good to be true. Continue Reading

Waiting for Job Opportunities – How to Keep Yourself Occupied

With over 500,000 people losing their jobs in the month of November 2008, and over 10 million unemployed in the United States to date, the thought of acquiring a job can almost seem hopeless. But it’s not. Companies are still hiring, jobs are still available, and you can have one – as long as you don’t give up.
But what do you do in the meantime to keep yourself occupied? If you’re not busy while waiting to hear back from prospective employers, you can easily fall into a state of hopelessness – not good. So if you feel yourself getting down about your job search, here are a few strategies to keep you moving …
Don’t Stop Searching
This may sound obvious, but while you’re waiting to hear back from a prospective employer, don’t stop searching for work. This means treating your job search like a full-time job. It may be tempting to say to yourself, “I’ve already submitted my resume to 12 companies. I’ve done enough.” But unless those 12 companies are currently calling you for an interview, you have more work to do.
Luckily, job searches are easier than ever with search tools all over the Internet that provide customizable job-seeking functions. So if you have the Internet at home, your job for now will be to prop yourself in front of the computer and search all day. The more seeking you do, the more opportunities will open up to you.
Market Yourself
Marketing is a strategy that many job seekers don’t consider as a part of their job search strategy – but it works. You may be accustomed to posting your resume on websites like Monster and CareerBuilder, which are both great for marketing. But unless you know certain keywords to strategically place throughout your document, it may be difficult for prospective employers to find you.
This is why it’s good to not only learn proper resume-posting procedures, but also try marketing yourself through websites like Craigslist, as well as signing up for accounts with sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. On Craigslist, you can post a free ad in your city’s “services” section to market the same skills you post on your resume (look at other ads in this section for structuring ideas). And on LinkedIn and Facebook, you can create profiles to list your skills and link up with prospective employers. All of these options can work well to get your name and skills out there. They can not only help you score a temporary or part-time gig to keep money flowing until you get the full-time job offer, they might lead you to the full-time opportunity you’re looking for.
Maintain the Right Attitude
If you become discouraged due to a lack of responses, or begin to feel down that you’re unemployed, it can negatively affect your job search. Just remember, anything can change at a moment’s notice, so stay positive and keep searching. And whatever you do, don’t mentally absorb all of the bad news you hear about the job market. Remember, it does not have to apply to you.
Keeping yourself busy while looking for a job can definitely be a job within itself. But by searching daily, marketing yourself and keeping the right attitude, you will get that anticipated callback in no time.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a resume writing service? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.