Job Statistics – Focus on the Positives
We’ve all heard how tough the job market is, but the truth is that people are still getting hired. Here are some numbers that might surprise and inspire you:
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 4.3 million U.S. workers were hired in June 2010, including seasonal workers, part-timers, temps and contract workers.
- The number of job openings at the end of June was 2.9 million – an increase of 26% since the most recent series trough of 2.3 million in July 2009.
- Although job growth is down, it does not mean there are no jobs available. 4.3 million hires are still 4.3 million hires.
These numbers show that every day, someone somewhere in the U.S. is being hired, and starting a new job. All you need is to find that one job.
For the job seeker, the question becomes, “How can I be one of the people who gets hired?” To put yourself into the hired category, do everything you can to give yourself an edge, starting with these top six techniques, which we have covered in past blogs:
- Make your resume and cover letter stand out
- Network effectively
- Monitor and improve your online presence
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile
- Target a wide range of employers by including small companies and start-ups in your job search
- Find out what job-seeking techniques worked for the newly hired and use their stories as inspiration for your own search
While the job market remains tough focus on the positive and put strong energy toward proven techniques for finding a job. Don’t get bogged down in negative news about the economy. Instead, focus on the fact that hiring is still happening and what steps you can take to put yourself in that hired category.