Thousands of people have lost their jobs with more reductions on the way according to news reports. There are also those out there who are just plain unhappy and wondering if they should even bother looking for a new position right now.
The answer is "yes". There are jobs available. Good jobs. But, depending on where you live, finding them may not be easy. While you may feel compelled to take anything that comes along or stay where you are even though you're unhappy, investing some time in identifying companies whose values match yours is worth the time it takes.
Before you start your search you need to take some time to figure out what you want from your next employer and your next position. What do you want your next job to be like? What makes you unhappy at your current job or made you miserable at your last one? What didn't you like about the company or the boss you worked for?
Once you have some clarity around those issues (and you really do need to think about them or the chance is good you'll wind up in another rotten place, unhappy again soon), then start thinking about what you value most in your life and how you can find work to honor and support that.
For example...your family / personal time is important to you yet in your current job you often work 50+ hours a week. You're out of alignment on that value so how can you get more in alignment on your next job? Your health is important but your current job has the areas worst healthcare so you haven't been to the doctor recently. You're out of alignment on that one too.
Having trouble identifying your values? Here's a great way to figure them out: Quickly list the 10 most important things in your life. Then go through the list and cross out ones you can live without. When you've got 4 left those are the 4 most important things in your life.
The next step is to recognize and accept the limitations you place on yourself in connection with your job search. I live in South Jersey near Atlantic City. There are very few industries down here but we're only about an hour away from Philadelphia. Even so, there are people who refuse to commute there. That's fine...but that decision just eliminated a whole bunch of potential job openings from your consideration. I'm not saying you have to make that kind of commute but recognize the choices you're making and the limitations you're placing on yourself.
Once you've identified your commute zone, then identify the absolute best places to work within that zone. Check out their websites to learn about them. What types of jobs do they have? What kind of education and background do they need? Do you know people who work there? Do your contacts know people who work there?
Lots of companies SAY they are principled or values-driven...they SAY they value their employees...but they really don't. Just like we as individuals can say one thing and do another. So do some research into who's really the best to work for.
One research tool is to go to your favorite search engine and enter your state and "best place to work." Check out the results you find to see if there are places within your commute zone who you would really like to work for.
We experience the greatest happiness at work when we use our God-given strengths and talents in a place whose values and philosophies match our own.
