The sudden downturn in the economy has companies laying off workers by the dozen and freezing open positions. So if you're out of work, youre facing the toughest job market in decades!
But there is hope. Some companies are still hiring.
Two Job Hunters StruggleThe daily headlines say it all: Layoffs, layoffs, layoffs.
Angela Aridge, laid off from a catering firm, is now looking everywhere for work. Angela says "I keep my fingers crossed every day. And I try to get up as early as I possible can. My mom always told me the early bird gets the worm."
Brian Smith, just out of the US Marines, tells me he never expected job hunting to be so tough.
Smith says "All my buddies are combing the internet and the newspaper, and a lot of them still dont have jobs."
One Possible Solution: "Temp to Hire"So Smith signed up with the placement firm "Manpower," which remains busy, despite the slowdown.
Manpower's suggestion to him and other job hunters: be willing to take a temporary job which could lead to a full time position.
Manpower calls it "temp to hire," and says it's a great option right now, as many companies are holding off hiring full timers until they see a bottoming of the economic crisis.
Brian Smyser of Manpower says "a lot of places are hesitant to hire full time, cause they dont want to have to let them go, depending on the economy the next couple of months. So they use a temp agency."
Where are the Full Time Positions?
But what if you need full time work with benefits?
We checked the latest numbers from Manpower, Forbes magazine, and the networking service JobFox.com to find what each consider the top "recession proof" jobs....jobs that are still expanding in a contracting economy.
Among them:
- Accounting: The more companies reorganize, the more accountants they need.
- Nursing: One field where there is still a shortage, and openings at most hospitals.
- Computer I-T: With companies keeping computers longer, they need people to fix them and update software.
- Commission Sales Reps: In a recession, companies are desperate for good salespeople.
- Security: You cant have enough security guards these days.
- Building maintenance, as companies hold off on new offices.
- The US Census Bureau...which is now hiring thousands of workers to prepare for Census 2010 (Click above link).
Good news: Brian Smith is now one of the lucky ones: Manpower has just found him a full time warehousing job.
And Angela Aridge just learned a company wants her too. So don't give up hope, and don't waste your money! I'm John Matarese.
