Leaving Behind the Muddy Tracks of 2009—Here Comes 2010

All the hard-learned lessons and trials of 2009 may be caked to your boots, but it’s time to leave the muddy tracks behind you. We’re entering a new year and a new decade. On Sunday, December 20, the Washington Post’s Kiplinger Personal Finance column started off with: “In 2010, look for a sign of prosperity that we haven’t seen in years. It reads ‘Now Hiring.’”

What shape this hopeful turn takes and how many new jobs will open up, and when, remain to be seen, but 2010 holds promise for opportunities for the more than 7 million who lost their jobs in 2009. The Post added a caveat to its cheery employment outlook—that a “full recovery is far off”—but that’s nothing new. Economic recoveries are never fast, and they tend to be different from region to region, depending on what makes local economies tick.

Whether the new job opportunities turn out to be permanent or temporary, full-time or part-time, freelance or contracted, they will be competitive. Salaries may not match what they were in 2008, but it is better to be back in the market at a somewhat reduced income level than living on memories. As the economy grows, your salary will also rise again, but you have to be part of it for that to happen.

If you are unemployed—possibly since months ago or even longer—or underemployed, now is the time to recharge your job hunting batteries. Make sure your resume is current, get back in touch with your network, connect with agencies, refresh your online profile, and be ahead of the rest of the contenders for the jobs that do open up.

Good-bye mud. Hello new decade. Happy New Year!

One Tomato at a Time will resume two posts a week on January 5.

Taking Stock—What Do You Really Want to Do?

We’re approaching the end of the year. A lot of people take this time to make resolutions for the next year. If you are out of work, and the months have been ticking away without a hot job lead or an offer, the holiday season is a great time to stop and consider what you really want to be doing. Here are some things to ponder:

• Do you really want a full-time office job like the one you had before or would you like to try something new—maybe two part-time jobs?
• Would you enjoy more flexibility in your work life, possibly working from home most or all of the time?
• Have you considered working independently as a contractor or freelancer?
• Would starting your own business be your dream come true?
• Is there another line of work you can pursue that also fits your talents and today’s job market?
• Do you have skills, knowledge or talents that can transfer to a totally new field, such as the in-demand alternative energy industry or health care?
• What’s most important to you: benefits, salary, interesting work, flexibility, etc.?

How you answer these, and the many other questions you can pose for yourself, should drive the direction you take as you move forward in your career path.

Sometimes, jobseekers feel so driven by a sense of duty to those who rely on them for support, they overlook this important introspective step. Taking it now could make your search for gainful employment in 2010 more productive and rewarding.

Turning Anger into Positive Energy after Job Loss

When you leave a job, especially under unhappy circumstances such as a layoff or separation, it is wise to leave with as much style as you can muster—staying calm and professional. And, to stay that way, no matter how angry you are. Throwing epithets or trashing your former employer will only do you harm.

In a town like DC where a lot of people know a lot of people, word can get around. You may tell people what happened to you in “confidence,” but in another context your tale of woes may just be another bit in their memory bank, and it may be reaching the ears of possible future employers or coworkers. It might even reach your previous boss, which could hurt your chances if he or she is called by your next potential employer for a reference. Additionally, people shy away from complainers. If you are networking, you’ll do better if you park your personal issues at home.

However, I’m not suggesting that you ignore how you feel or suppress your initial anger. What I am suggesting is that you deal with it to get over it, so you can start on a positive path towards finding new employment. If you deal with your anger in constructive ways, whether it’s writing in a personal journal (not a blog), talking it out privately at home or with a professional counselor, or taking it out in exercise, you are taking charge of it rather than letting it consume you and infect what you do and say.

Employers are looking for upbeat attitudes, and burning bridges has never been the route to success. Working through your feelings will help you find the positive energy you need to move on.

Play the Match Game When Applying for Jobs

There are tons of employment options in the D.C. area, even in today’s fractured job market, but where are you putting your attention? Are you going for those that offer you the chance to do what you know best? Are you following a career path or just going for a “job” to earn a paycheck?

It’s easy to justify to yourself sending out hundreds of resumes, following every remotely possible opportunity. You are actively job hunting, right? Wrong. You are just doing stuff rather than focusing on jobs that truly suit your abilities and experience or that offer career growth. Going for jobs that are not right for you are a waste of time and energy, and if you do land a job for which you are not really qualified, you could be setting yourself up for failure.

Success is the goal. Finding a job that you may not like and may not really know how to do at any salary, for any employer, won’t get you there and may be short lived. Finding a position that allows you to shine while being paid a fair market rate (or better) to provide vital services to an employer is my definition of success and is most likely to lead to long-time employment.

Making the right match and focusing on a realistic target are game winning strategies.