More Bad Economic News...

Well, evidently we are now looking to bailout the auto industry? I wonder if my own business fails, if I can apply for bailout money? I don't want to get on a soapbox about politics here, believe me. But I cant help wonder the impacts of a bailout for the auto industry vs. not bailing them out. I can't help wonder where this ends. I cant help wonder when and where this impact will stop. At what industry? At what geographic location? I cant help wondering a lot these days. Seems to be a growing trend around the nation at this point thanks to our government robbing us blindly. After all, this is the biggest robbery of the century.

With the auto industry specifically, since that is the bailout topic du jour, either way I see it hurting the economy. Nice, a lose-lose situation. We bail them out and we the taxpayers will pay. We don't bail them out and people are without jobs which will push up the unemployment rate further, deepen consumer confidence and hence negatively impact the economy overall as well. To me, the metric would be what is the better longer term effect?

We cant get hung up in this rut. Sure, it's easy for me to say - I haven't lost my job. But that doesn't mean I am not fearful. I have a family to feed and can't create a crutch for me to rely on. I have to rely on myself, preparing and planning. After all, I am the CEO of my family.

So the question I guess would be, what if I did lose my job? What would I do? If you read my blog you might guess most of what I would do to attain my next job.

I would find ways to remain confident in myself. There is always a way, when there is a will, right? You pick the pieces up and you move on. You have to. You discover openings and you enter. This is Darwinism of sorts. The strongest survive. If we are all equal, then we all have an equal chance to be the strongest.

Yes, times are extremely difficult right now, but it is also very strange to me. I mean, JTL has had the best month this fiscal year in October which coincidentally was probably the worst economic month for the US economy in my lifetime. Unemployment is the highest since the mid 1990s. I realize some geographic areas were hit more than others. I realize that some industries were hurt more than others. But I also realize that companies are hiring.

Heck, just go to Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com and look for yourselves. I know I despise those sites but just take a peak and see that there are lots of available jobs across the US.

Look, have some faith. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Grab the bull by the horns. Figure this out. You can do it if you want. Trust me everyone of you/us that has been hurt has at least someone else who has been hurt much harder.

This disaster will pass.

For those looking to start over, get yourself organized. Need help? Reach out for us at JTL and see if we can help. Obviously we cant help everyone, but we can help some. So give it a chance.

Oh yeah, what would I do if I lost my job? Here are the top 10 items I would have on my list:

• Get my resume organized immediately. That should already be ready since you should always have one prepared.
• Initiate a LinkedIn.com account. That too should already be ready, but if not I would get one organized. Reach for connections and seek recommendations.
• Initiate a FaceBook.com account. Build up my network there. You never know who may know of an open position that may fit.
• Google myself to make sure there is no digital dirt on me. Potential hiring managers will Google me so I want to be prepared.
• Get some letters of recommendations together. Preferably from previous bosses.
• Get copies of my college transcripts.
• Get a suit together and prepared and have ready to go at all times.
• Try to put together a one minute video giving summary highlights of my education, experience and past accomplishments.
• Find two or three good local recruiters that understand my industry and that have had years of success hiring in my industry.
• Call them. I would not send my resume out of the gate. I would talk to them first to find the one I like the best.

What I wouldn't do? Throw my resume on Monster or Careerbuilder. Read my blog. There is a plethora of information about why I would advise against this.

Stay strong!