thecareerbeat.com Blog

Poll: Obama affect on employment hopes

Wow.

Q	Despite the continuing economic crisis, has President Obama’s arrival improved your employment outlook for 2009?
Yes	48%
No	52%
10042 Votes to date

Source: Yahoo! HotJobs site poll, 1/26/09

Good looks give you an advantage

If you want to get ahead, start by assessing your appearance. We live in a visual society, and hiring decisions — among other business decisions — are often made on first impressions.

That doesn’t mean start researching cosmetic procedures — although I am fascinated by stories of men getting liposuction or pec implants or even hair-dye jobs to improve their professional prospects.

It does mean making the most of what you’ve got and carefully honing your appearance, according to Jennifer Selby Long, an executive coach in the San Francisco area. Maybe a better haircut, a manicure, or better-fitting clothes can give you an image pickup — and a career boost.

In a recent Yahoo! HotJobs site poll, 3 in 4 respondents said they were more likely to get a promotion or raise if they improved how they look. It shows the power of a good appearance!

For on this topic, I recommend the article “Using Your Looks for Career Success (Without Going Overboard).”

Poll: Affect of the unemployment rate

Interesting poll results from last week’s poll on Yahoo! HotJobs:

How is the (rising) monthly unemployment rate affecting you?

It’s making me work harder!	49%
I’m less likely to look for a job now.	32%
It’s not affecting me.	19%

Job-loss anxiety hits 1 in 3 workers

More than a third of working Americans are anxious about their job security in 2009, according to a recent Yahoo! HotJobs survey.

The feeling is certainly understandable, with rising unemployment and daily gloom from news outlets about layoffs and financial fears. In fact, I’m surprised the number from the survey isn’t higher.

Another interesting bit of data from the survey: job satisfaction actually rose in 2008. More people claimed to satisfied at work (38%) than in 2007 (28%). The recession is improving how people feel about their jobs — as in, “I’m glad to have one!”

For those who are feeling anxious, I recommend reading the article about the survey, as it includes 6 tips to combat job-loss anxiety.

How to get a job in 2009

Optimism seems to be scarce lately. Yes, job losses and the unemployment rate will likely rise in 2009. But the U.S. still has over 90% employment, and jobs open up every day.

As author Laurence Shatkin (150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs) said to me for a recent article: “Remember that people are always being hired, even in a recession.”

Granted, job seekers will have a more difficult getting a job this year. Competition will be tough, and the search process will take longer than in recent years.

To give job seekers a better edge, I asked members of the Recruiter Roundtable on Yahoo! HotJobs for their best advice on the one thing that candidates must do to get the jobs they want in 2009.

They all had great advice, and I recommend reading the article. A common theme emerged around diversifying your search and your resume. In other words, don’t limit your search to a particular industry, job title, or location. And don’t take a “one size fits all” approach to your resume; you should tailor each one to a specific job description.

There are several other articles that offer great tips for everyone who is interested in finding a new job this year: “6 Essentials for Finding a New Job,” “Job-Search Rejection? No Sweat,” and “8 Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable.”

A final note: Try to keep some optimism alive, especially if you are hoping to find a job or switch jobs this year. Even if it means turning off the cable news networks! A good attitude will make you a much more attractive candidate, as hiring managers will easily spot and avoid a Debbie Downer.