Like a huge percentage of people living in Los Angeles right now, I too, am unemployed. Not by choice. I would love to be working full-time for an agency or a film studio. But no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get noticed. I have worked on several big campaigns and some have even won awards but I'm not even getting the interview. What's going on out there?
With the age of the computer and the internet in the 90s, the recent recession and the state of our economy, finding a job in 2010 is a whole new ball game than what it was not too long ago. For artists, gone are the days of making a first impression with your logo, letterhead and presentation and here to stay are the days of 'key words' and 'exact matches.'
Job Sites
To make matters worse the new trend in job sites is to charge the unemployed to view job posts instead of charging the employer to post them. What does this mean for the unemployed? It means that you will be taken advantage of simply because you are desperate for work. These jobs sites that charge the unemployed to search through listings are nothing but a scam to make money. It's someone's job to figure out a way to get money for these listings and the obvious prey are those who are seeking work. If they charged the employers, these companies would lose their main incentive to get companies to place the ads in the first place. But remember, some of the listings on these paid sites are also on free sites, so you just have to dig a little harder to find the listing.
Boycott these sites. Do not pay to view job listings.
I actually paid for a trial on one of these sites and what I found were outdated job postings with the same open jobs every month. Some of these sites keep these job postings online to draw you in and to take advantage of your situation. They can't charge you for listings if there are no jobs listed so they extend their lists by keeping old jobs that have already been filled or jobs that you can find on free sites.
Guerilla Marketing or Desperate Plea?
Have you heard about these business men in suits from various cities around the world throwing on a suit and tie and hitting the pavement with a sign and a handful of resumes? In several cities in the United States and one I could find in Wales, England – desperate men are taking desperate measures to find a job these days.
And, why not? In most of the cases I could find about this topic online, all of the men who marketed themselves in this way were successful in receiving job leads, offers and ultimately, a full-time job. It scary to think how this could be the next big thing in self-promotion.
The Truth of the Matter
The truth about finding a job in 2010 is that the rules have changed and it's every man or women for themselves. Whether you have children or an elderly parent to look out after, family is a big part of most everyone's life and it takes money to take care of a family.
According to a recent article on
USAToday.com regarding young graduates entering the workforce, about 2.4 million students will graduate with bachelor's and associates degrees as part of the Class of 2010 and add to the already 15 million Americans who are currently looking for job.
Those job seekers will go head-to-head not only with fellow classmates but also with laid-off workers, financially strapped retirees and still-unemployed 2009 and 2008 grads.
SoxFirst.com reported in June 2010 that 'economists warn [that those who are unemployed longer than six months are] likely to become a permanent feature. Since the start of the recession at the end of 2007, 7.4 million jobs have vanished from the US and many of those jobs aren't coming back. In industries like home construction, manufacturing and retail, fewer workers will be needed even after the economy has fully recovered. The reason for that is what economists like to call "higher productivity". It actually means that companies have learned how to produce the same level of goods or services with fewer workers. Older workers, those 45 and up, make up the largest slice of the long-term unemployed with African-Americans making up 20.8% and men accounting for six out of 10.'
Recently,
The Atlantic reported that the Great Recession may be over, but the era of high joblessness is probably just the beginning. They say that before it ends, it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults. They predict that it could cripple marriage as an institution in many communities and that it may already be plunging many inner cities into a despair not seen for decades. Ultimately, it is likely to warp our politics, our culture, and the character of our society for years to come. In short, we're screwed.
In Closing
Soon, I will join the millions of Americans whose unemployment insurance has come to an end. With the vote from Congress to cease unemployment benefit extensions, I will be one of the desperate eager to take whatever I can get. But, I have a plan and I promise to keep you posted on the progress.
Don't give up or give in. We are all in this together and have to do whatever we can to support each other as a community and as artists. It is our creativity that gets us through the day and it will be our creativity that gets us through this crisis.
How a new jobless era will transform America – TheAtlantic.com
Job hunting man dons suit, sandwich board – msnbc.com
Looking for a job? Then hit the road, pal! – news.com.au
St. Paul man tries new way to sell himself: a sign and a suit – TwinCities.com
Man with sign, suit and MBA looks for work on busy Tampa corner – TampaBayOnline.com
America's jobless disaster – sox first, management & compliance
