Austin Career Services

In recessions of the past we have seen layoffs and downsizing as companies scale back their expenses to deal with declines in revenue. We have also seen in each recession that some companies, mostly those that were not well capitalized, do not survive the downturns.

In earlier recessions however, as the economy improved we saw companies start to hire again, and we saw new companies come into existence to replace many of those that did not survive the downturn. It was almost as if things went bad, then they got better and went back to how things were before the recession occured.

That scenario does not seem to be playing out in this "recovery". One of the reasons is that due to vast improvements in technology, communications, and transportation, many jobs that used to be here in the United States can now be done in many other places around the world where the wage rate is much less than in the U.S. What that means, simply, is that a lot of the jobs that disappeared leading up to and during the recession are not coming back...ever.

What does that mean for job seekers? It means that it is more important than ever to be able to show an employer how you can add value to their organization if you want to be considered for a position there. It may mean that you need to acquire new skills, broaden your prospective target companies and industries, and market yourself more effectively than you have in the past.

It is critical for job seekers today to realize that we are in a strong buyer's market, meaning that there are more job seekers than jobs available, and the employers can afford to be very exacting in how they choose candidates to interview and hire. Right now there are about six and a half job seekers for each job that is created. If you cannot set yourself apart from the crowd, you will face a very difficult time in finding a position that will offer you challenge, growth, and the compensation you want and need.

Will it get better and will the supply and demand ever get more balanced? Sure, but not tomorrow, not next month, and probably not within the next year or two.

You will find yourself at a distinct disadvantage if you do not prepare for the scenario described above. Be proactive...get your resume in good shape so that it shows the value you can bring to an organization...learn how to present yourself effectively to prospective employers. They will hire the one who has done these things. Those who have not adapted to the new environment will be looking for quite a while, and what they find will likely not be their ideal match.