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5 Questions for Job Seekers in 2009
By Bigg Success Staff
12-15-08
It would not be wise to base a career decision on a single year. However, if you’re looking for a job now or are considering a career change in 2009, you have to factor in the current conditions.
With that in mind, here are five questions to guide you through a career change now:
Is this career in an industry that is essential?
People will primarily spend money on necessities. Luxuries will be out the door for the most part. Even industries, that in past recessions have performed well, are predicting decreases in revenue. So think about what people have to buy.
For example, while there are reports of cutbacks by some healthcare institutions, most careers in health care should be relatively safe. New jobs in health care are driven by the aging population, and that will continue regardless of economic conditions.
Is it a cheaper substitute?
Consumers will be frugal in 2009 and perhaps beyond. So before you jump into an occupation, ask yourself if the service offers a cheaper substitute.
For instance, consumers will cut back on do-it-for-me and rely more on do-it-yourself. Finding a new job in a firm that helps consumers serve themselves may be more fruitful with most consumers pinching pennies.
What’s the news?
When we think of 2008, words like “bailout”, “stock market crash”, and “credit crisis” come to mind. Think about the news this year for a hint of what will be hot next year.
As a case in point, careers that help individuals and companies wade through the financial and legal hurdles of their debt will likely be strong.
Is it a long-term trend?
Education is expected to remain strong, especially at the college level. In fact, enrollments are expected to rise, fueled by a large number of college-aged young people, increased desire to get a college degree, and more adults returning to school. Educational institutions are expected to hire to fill this demand by their patrons.
Expand your mind to the possibilities
You may be reading this article because you’re looking for a job right now. You may be considering a career change. In either case, before you do your own research, consider what the future holds.
We found a great article that discusses top careers in 2012. That’s not that far away, but some of these jobs sure do seem far out!
Oh, and now for the fifth question –
What career matches an opportunity with your passion and talents?
Some recommended reading on Bigg Success to help you find your passion and talents:
Your Personal SWOT Analysis (Part I)
Your Personal SWOT Analysis (Part 2)
Back to the Future: Visualizing the Life You Want (Part II)
Once you know the answer to this last question, you'll be on the right career track for you!
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(Image by djayo)
Seth Godin on Tribes: Part 3
On The BIGG Success Show, we’ve been talking with Seth Godin about his incredible new book, Tribes. So far we’ve discussed:
Part I: what a tribe is, what the leader does, and why quality trumps quantity
Part II: why Seth became a leader, the power of one, and the importance of leverage
Today we wrap up our conversation. Let’s get to it!
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More
Change and chaos creates opportunity
How $70,000 Delivered 5,000 Families from Drought and Hunger
Bloggers from all over the world wide web are discussing poverty today in the hopes that conversation for a cause will lead to a cure. We’ll share how $70,000 had an impact on drought and hunger.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More
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We chose to participate because we believe in the cause and we believe in the power of people working together with a purpose.
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We remembered an inspiring Wall Street Journal article [pdf] written by Roger Thurow. It highlights how seemingly small things can make a bigg difference in the developing world. We love success stories and this one is awesome!
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$70,000 feeds 5,000 families
A group of farmers in Ohio raised $70,000 and sent it to another group of farmers in Kenya. The project is part of the Foods Resource Bank, an organization that fights hunger by connecting churches here with groups in need around the world.
The Ohio farmers decided to send money, rather than food, so the farmers in Kenya could decide how to use it best. They spent the money to build a number of small dams and retention ponds to catch water in the rainy season so they would have water year-round. With that water, five thousand families have been delivered from hunger.
Everybody wins
Here’s an example of the impact made by just one project. The farmers in Ohio sent $3,000 to the farmers in Kenya, who hired an engineer. With the plan in hand, the Kenyan farmers built the dam with their own labor and materials.
Now their village has water – for themselves, for their cattle, and for growing crops. The women of the village used to walk about ten miles to get water. Now their time is being used much more productively.
With the water problem solved, the village switched its focus to better roads. These roads are the link to nearby markets where the farmers can sell their surplus produce. But they had deep ruts which made them nearly impassable.
It used to take two hours to get to the market by bike, which is the main form of transportation there. Bikes cost $6 to rent. With the improved roads, it only takes a half-an-hour now to get into town and bike rents have fallen to $3.
Talk about win / win! The farmers are paying 50% less to rent a bike. But the person who rents the bikes is making 100% more, because the bikes get returned so quickly. Everybody wins!
Farmer increases income over 400%
The article also highlights one Kenyan farmer. With the water nearby thanks to the dam, he was able to dig his own water retention pond, which he uses to irrigate his crops. His income has grown from less than $100 a year to $500 per year!
That’s an increase of over 400%!
Now he’s plowing his extra profits back into his business. He bought a generator and mechanical pump to double his cultivated land. He also planted 400 mango trees.
Entrepreneurship at its finest!
How it started
All of these wonderful things started with the vision of one man – the pastor in the village. Originally, he reached out for food from the large international agencies. But he feared that his people would become dependent.
So he formed a development group that created a list of needs – water was number one on the list. He sent that list to a number of organizations, including the Foods Resource Bank. They got the farmers in Ohio involved.
Takeaways
We found this story so inspiring because it shows that a small amount of money with a large amount of focus can accomplish bigg things.
We liked how farmers here supported farmers there. We can all use our passion, knowledge, and skills to help people like us in other parts of the world.
It also shows the resourcefulness of people. Get resources to people on the scene. They will find a way to overcome their biggest obstacles with their ingenuity and industriousness. The accomplishments can be phenomenal!
You, too, can make a difference. Donate money or make microloans to people in need with good ideas. Reach out to organizations that have the infrastructure in place to help people in need.
It only takes one person. Each of us can make a bigg difference in helping other people around the world be a bigg success.
Next time, we’ll talk with a man who left a high-paying job with a prestigious law firm to do his own thing. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!
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Success Building Blocks: Competitive Greatness
John Wooden, arguably the best coach in the history of college basketball, developed the Pyramid of Success. It’s a wonderful tool to succeed BIGG in any endeavor you choose.
So far, we’ve discussed four rows of his Pyramid. Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, and Enthusiasm form the foundation. The second row consists of Self-control, Alertness, Initiative, and Intentness. The third row, which sits right in the middle of the Pyramid, includes Condition, Skill and Team Spirit.
The fourth row, which is also the second from the top, is made up of Poise and Confidence.
This week, we’ll look at the single block that sits at the top of the Pyramid.
Competitive Greatness