By Alexis Stodghill on Feb 7th 2011 3:52PM
Filed under: News, The Economy
From The Grio:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The unemployment rate dropped sharply last month to 9 percent, the lowest level in nearly two years. But the economy generated only 36,000 net new jobs, the fewest in four months.
The January report illustrates how job growth remains the economy's weakest spot, even as other economic indicators point to a recovery that is strengthening.
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Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Learn New Skills:
With that being said, if you want to move from cashier to management or make a total career change, you should grab the bull by the horns and make it happen. I am a strong believer that you can get any job you want just as long as you know what you want and what it entails. If you don't have the necessary education or training, then it's your job to get it. So take that computer course, register with that college or vocational school, and talk to as many people as possible that have the same job that you want.
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Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Set realistic goals:
Don't live in a fantasy world. If you are a cashier at your local drugstore, don't apply for an executive position at a Fortune 500 company. Being realistic means that you only apply for positions that dovetail with your qualifications. Otherwise you will spend more time online applying for jobs rather than a real time chance through interviews.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Learn New Skills:
With that being said, if you want to move from cashier to management or make a total career change, you should grab the bull by the horns and make it happen. I am a strong believer that you can get any job you want just as long as you know what you want and what it entails. If you don't have the necessary education or training, then it's your job to get it. So take that computer course, register with that college or vocational school, and talk to as many people as possible that have the same job that you want.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Staffing Agencies:
Register with as many staffing agencies as possible. It's a great way to find a job and an even a better way to keep your interviewing skills up to par. The best way to find a Staffing Agency in your city is on the web or word of mouth. I also suggest targeting smaller agencies as opposed to feeling like just a number at a larger one. Being a recruiter at a boutique agency allows me to give a more personalized touch to all of my candidates. Since the flow of traffic isn't as heavy, I am able to spend time with my candidates and really get to know them on a professional and personal level.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Resumes:
Resumes should be easy on the eyes, which means simple and uncomplicated There are two types of resumes -- functional and chronological. Functional resumes are more effective if you're changing fields; chronological works best if you want to move up in your field. Email addresses should be professional, sexygirl@gmail.com is not appropriate. Once you've finished writing your resume, always have another pair of eyes to review it to avoid grammatical and spelling errors.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Honesty is the best policy:
Never lie on your resume -- embellishing is fine -- but flat out lying will send you back to the unemployment line. Most companies will do background checks, so be as accurate as possible.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Use the 'Net:
Posting your resume on Monster, Hotjobs, and Careerbuilders is definitely worth a shot, but in these hard times you have to think outside the box! Start your own blog for people like your self who aren't working. Get a discussion going; join linkedin immediately if you're not already a member and Facebook (seriously!) One mortgage broker swears by Facebook because he has made more contacts on Facebook than anywhere else.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
Networking:
Word of mouth is a great way to get started. Let your friends, and former business associates know that you're looking and what type of position you're looking for. Embrace technology. Send a mass email out to all those who might be helpful. Encourage them to pass it along to their contacts. You'll create a ripple effect that just might lead to the job of your dreams.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
References:
Notify references prior to interviewing. No employer wants to hear "I'll have to get back to you with that." It is just as important to be prepared before your interview as it is during.
Getting a Job in a Tough Economy
African-American unemployment remained virtually stagnant going from 15.8 to 15.7 percent and black teen jobless figures, still the highest of any group, actually ticked up from 44.2 to 45.4.
Friday's report offered a conflicting picture on hiring. Unemployment fell because the Labor Department's household survey determined that more than a half-million people without jobs found work. The department conducts a separate survey of businesses, which showed tepid job creation. The two surveys sometimes diverge.
Severe winter weather likely reduced the number of jobs created. Harsh snowstorms last month cut into construction employment, which fell by 32,000, the most since May. Transportation and warehousing also fell by 38,000 -- the most in a year.
In one bright spot, manufacturing added 49,000 jobs, the most since August 1998.
Read more about black unemployment on The Grio. 
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Comments: (11)
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By: Brady on 2/07/2011 4:13PM
Regarding black unemployment. I dont get a sense of panic or emergency, its almost like no one really cares, even the unemployed.
Yes there is the occasional story (once a month), and it will have a very short news run, and then nothing.
Nothing much from those suffering the most, the unemployed.
I see more comments on that pepsi commercial, than something as important as this.
Sigh Oh Well
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By: SAY WHAT! on 2/08/2011 12:10AM
Man, is that the best photo that you came up with for the article.
That dude looks jobless, hopeless, mindless
AND HOMELESS.
God's gonna punish me for thinking it but Damn!
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By: jeromequigley on 2/08/2011 2:59PM
I always notice the same thing Brady...A completely "nothing" story gets hundreds of hits but some thing that is about actual issue and "nothing" again. Now besides the usual comparission that is always done on here by "him", white vs black there is a lot more that goes into the unemployeement rate. The one that always seems unmentioned is how foreign born or alien unemployeement seemed to take no hit at all during all this trouble. While most of americans were losing jobs, aliens were not losing jobs at all. Their numbers of employeement were going up?? Now some will say "oh it's those jobs americans would not do" i.e. crop or field work. But that is not all together the case at all. The jobs being "taken" were construction, hotel, food and a number of other jobs along those lines. Jobs that america depends on to keep our middle americans going. I think that is why you see such a big issue coming around about cracking down on illegals. Not only do they suck money out of our systems but they are the 1st choice for companies trying to cut their spending and the first and easist place is illegal employee's. NO taxes, not benefits, no workmans comp. But in a time when we are struggling to get/keep jobs we can not afford to also lose jobs to peepz who are not even kicking in to Our system or community. I would love it for one of these Articles to show ALL THE EMPLOYEEMENT NUMBERS, not just their usual white vs black BS!! I am all for peepz coming to the US to build or enjoy The Dream but there is a right way and a wrong way. My In laws both came here from the Philipines and became Americans the right way. So why can't we hold everybody to the same standard??? Peepz would be amazed if they knew just how big of an impact the illegal or foreign born people here are having on our unemployeement. Check it out for yourself and you will find PART of the problem. There are many issue's that go into it but that is huge the way I have observed the data. Of course us allowing US companies out-source our jobs to other countries and then bring the product back here for us to buy is a big one also. I just don't see how peepz can't see that if the "middle/low income" don't come together as one to fight this that we are doomed?? I just wish I knew how to get peepz to wake up to it!!
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By: Alexis Stodghill on 2/07/2011 4:19PM
Yes, that is true. I think that is true for most serious news, though.
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By: joed on 2/07/2011 8:42PM
blacks work for whites. so, how can their numbers change? if they worked for themselves and spent their money with blacks. then maybe they could have something. but, that's like hoping for rain on a hot summer day in the desert. it may happen sometime but mostly likely it won't.
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By: The Cynic on 2/07/2011 7:34PM
Everybody please read this. This is NOT SPAM.
Stephen Steinberg's chapter entitled 'Occupational Opportunities and Race' in his book, "Turning Back" is probably the best summary of the enduring job crisis for Blacks in the United States. A MUST read for anybody interested in this issue.
http://newpolitics.mayfirst.org/node/254
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By: DWEETTA on 2/07/2011 10:14PM
BECAUSE OF INSTATUTIONALIZE RACIUSM, WHITE HIGHER WHITES,MAYBE FEW ASIANS A TOKEN HISPANIC , BUT BLACK ARE ALWAY AT THE BACK OF THE BUS . IT INGRATE IN WHITE TO KEEPS US DOWN IF THEY CAN .
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By: Sanford Hall on 2/08/2011 1:30AM
There are jobs out there to hold you over until you find the job of your choice. Check out my blog at http://www.GreenUptrends.blogspot.com
I will do a more in-depth blog info. on how one can make money on the internet later this week, so keep checking the blog for that article.
I also have a website tat publishes stock alerts once a week, can be found at www.alexastock.webs.com
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By: Peter D. Slaughter on 2/09/2011 4:30AM
They need to keep feeding more poor black people to these jails and prison's. Also,keep them on food stamps and locked into other povery pimp programs.Why don't black people wake up and realize we have been set up to be souled out like this. Is this what all this change was suppose to be. Making sure that more black's be locked up and gotten rid of and put back in some form of updated
slavery
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By: Trace on 2/09/2011 5:56AM
The point I want to make is universal, because it has been happening to a lot of people. Companies get insintives for employing people and bringing down the jobless rate. They will pay $10 and only $3 of that hourly pay is coming out of the company's pocket. Most of these jobs are temporary but presented as full time. Once the worker gets close to 90 days they are out of a job.So the unemployment rate drops and the same people are still out of a job.
Then the article says the highest unemployed grou are black teens. If I go in McDoalds there are middle aged people eho maitain morgages and support families off minimum wage. They are so bad off they need minmum wage jobs and the teens run out of ideal options.
Here in the plants poeple who were once making $30/hr before lay-offs are getting called back to make less than half that. Detroit is predominately black. Areas that are like this contribute to making us look bad through statistics, because in these areas we are the majority.
Yes we are getting the run around but look at the industries that are most effected. Although there are people with degree's who are out of work, Education is still key at this point.
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