Frankly, I was bit depressed reading this story. But then again, hopeful that economists that predict high jobless rates for years will yet again get it wrong all over again.
The 'dismal science' has not exactly done a stellar job ... either as a scientific predictor of our future ... or as a shaman-like oracle proclaiming what lies ahead of us. I find it curiously ironic that the story quotes the OECD Secretary General referring to history as an indicator of the future, i.e., "History says that jobs lag the recovery and the deeper and faster the jobs were lost, the more it lags". Really? What exactly does history say about economics? Look, at Ikembu we are trained in economics too. We are. We love economics. But shy away from making declarative statements of doom and gloom. More so when it relies mostly on history instead of the promise of human potential and possibilities. Let us open up a world of opportunity, instead of remaining mired in history. Tomorrow is here, today. Lets Ikembu!CNN ran this story with some interesting tips on 'reverse engineering' the resume. At Ikembu, we agree with the following tips (OK, at least most of them)
1. "Pinpoint the jobs that you want". Let us add, pinpoint those that you really want.Reuters ran a positive story on the US service sector seen as leading US job recovery. This makes sense. Services have a lower fixed cost and barrier to entry. Manufacturing comes with attendant fixed costs and long lead times. With accumulation of inventory, any uptick in demand is bound to take a while to trickle down to the shop floor and kick-start production. Services, on the other hand, enjoy much shorter lead and lag times.
At Ikembu, we believe that the barriers to service sector recovery lie in the relatively inefficient and ineffective ways to connect opportunity seekers with providers. While manufacturing comes with its attendant specialization(s), making it easier to match workers with jobs; services have so many nuances that it becomes pretty noise pretty quickly when you try do find or fill a job. Isn't time that we prepared for a recovery by shedding some of the bulky burdensome systems and approaches that slow down the matching process?Some tips are timeless. Business Week ran this story last year where they said: focus on helping the company, don't attack rivals, and know the pressures on your boss. How timeless. We at Ikembu suggest that these tips hold up even in good times. Many have said a job recovery is on the horizon.
Career Advancement is really one's own responsibility. While an employee could well expect the organization to look out for its associates, ultimately, it is up to each person to focus on where one wants to go and working on getting there. Whether you plan to literally jump the ship, steer it or just stay on it ... this would be a great opportunity to focus on these timeless tips for career advancement.Ikembu will soon be out there, helping you advance your career.What a timely and relevant article on the perils of social-networks + job searches, by the Voice of America. People have to be extremely careful about what they post on social network sites and other digital sandboxes. For the footprints they leave behind can come back to haunt them. In a moment of impulse, when logic is abandoned, some might post pictures or messages that conflict with their personal brand and identity. Privacy is a quaint almost antiquated concept. This leaves people more vulnerable to losing control over their professional brand and message.
Isn't it time to take back control? So, let us Ikembu and bring back some control in the world of job search and career advancement. Creating and connecting opportunities. That is Ikembu.