Get a New Job— Entrepreneur

This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, focused on encouraging people around the world to bring new ideas and services to the marketplace. If you are looking for alternatives to solving your unemployment dilemma, becoming an entrepreneur may be the route for you. If you are a freelancer or have taken on contract work that you arranged yourself, you already qualify as an enterprising individual.

An entrepreneur is defined by Merriam Webster's as “One who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise,” but what it takes to be entrepreneurial goes beyond this generic description.

All the same skills and attributes you need to apply to job hunting are basic to starting a business: market research; believing in your idea and yourself; having a goal; building a plan; networking; marketing; persistence; and a base of knowledge. But, is this a good time to be an entrepreneur, with the economy still weak? Opinions differ, but if your risk level is low and you need little capital to get started, it just might be the best time to start a business. Before taking the plunge, though, do your research, get some advice and check your own finances.

There are many free and low cost local resources for prospective and active entrepreneurs throughout the U.S., especially through the Small Business Administration, SCORE, and your local government’s small business development agency. Because these groups want businesses to succeed, they offer training classes to get you started as well as ongoing advice and support.

Entrepreneurship may not be for you—it requires hard work, attention to detail, long hours and sometimes low self pay until the business is sustainable—but with a solid plan and mentoring, you may find that being your own boss is right for you.

See these articles for commentary on whether a recession is a good time to start a new business:

Five reasons why a recession is a good time to start a company

Is Now a Good Time to Start Up?

Starting a Business in a Downturn

Thoughtful Persistence Can Lead to Temp or Contract Work

There is a point at which repeatedly contacting someone about contract or temporary work is too much and will only hurt your chances. Certainly a phone call every day would be ridiculous, and every week could be overkill too. But staying in touch on a periodic basis—say, every couple of weeks or once a month—with your contacts at agencies where you are registered will give you an edge over others who are not so proactive.

It’s your job to help agents remember you in a favorable way when temporary positions begin to materialize. And, the word is that they are starting to appear. You want to be first on their call list for the best jobs. So, pick up the phone and call to say “Hi.” Indicate that you are still available and provide a quick update on what you have been doing to stay marketable.

This kind of thoughtful persistence can only work in your favor.

[You may also want to read this related post: To Temp or Not to Temp—That Is Sometimes the Question]

To Temp or Not to Temp—That Is Sometimes the Question

One of the first things I did after being laid off was contact major temporary contract placement firms in my field (marketing and communications) in the Washington, D.C. area market. One of them was a firm that helped me get my foot in the door of a previous employer through a temp-to-perm contract and that I later used to find temp help for a conference. Three other agencies have also signed me on as a “talent in waiting.”

That was four months ago. The temporary job market has been slow, even downright dry since then. I’ve stayed in touch with the agencies, however, periodically checking in to say “Hi” so that I am still on their radar screen. I even heard from one a few weeks ago about a job that disappeared as fast as it arose, but it raised my hopes. Employers are starting to fill the gaps in projects and programs—gaps made by layoffs or other changes such as maternity leave. It’s a good sign.

Margaret Zollars, who specializes in marketing placements for Aquent, said yesterday that she’s beginning to see an uptick in contract opportunities at the senior level as well as for mid-level professionals. She’s seen three new positions in D.C. just this week, and as summer wraps up, she pointed out, there will likely be more. For contract work, she said, “it’s a matter of having flexibility” regarding hours (PT vs. FT) and location, but you gain “a. exposure to an industry or interesting project” and the chance to “b. keep up your skills.”

Temporary or contract work can help fill the financial gaps after a layoff, since the pay rate is generally good. Some agencies offer benefits such as health insurance after you have been working with them for a while. If you land a part-time assignment, it will leave you some time for your job hunt, networking and interviews. Keep in mind that an assignment could last weeks or months when signing a contract.

You may also want to read this follow-up post: Thoughtful Persistence Can Lead to Temp or Contract Work