Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows 2.7 million jobs remained unfilled in the U.S. in August 2011, and employers are reporting having a hard time finding skilled workers to add to their payroll. Manpower’s 2011 Job Shortage Report confirms job applicants are NOT qualified for the hard and soft skills and intangibles companies need and are looking for in job applicants today. How can that be?
The human world and the work world continue to shift and change and eventually will find an alignment to become whatever the norm is for the moment. As generations continue to age out and up, trends and consumerism will also change.
The full 2011 Talent Shortage Report is here. Take some time and read it. It will give you ideas, clues, calls to action and direction on what it takes to be skilled, qualified, sought after and appreciated if you want to be hired by a quality company or keep your job today and secure your career future.
80% of jobs are NOT posted on job boards and are in the hidden job market, which we have heard before. The BIG difference now is that they are only accessible through networking and word of mouth. The networking now is in two equally important and mutually beneficial worlds, in-person and online. The blended use of both is the best, most effective and fastest way to find and make great connections.
What are you doing to close the gap?
Are you a player on the field and in the game?
Or are you on the sideline watching the game play out?
This skill gap developing and simmering for almost 10 years has finally emerged and reared its ugly head and it’s deep, wide and bad. The only person, place or thing that can change it is YOU. Don’t wait for corporate, the government, your county, alumni association or chamber to help you skill up and personally brand yourself.
Take control and command of your future, your career, your life and move it where you want it to go.
There are so many things you can do to…
Up Your Game
Add Value to Yourself
Stand Out
The business, work and career world requires a much stronger personal and career brand and much more aggressive branding activity.
Here is my “5-5-5 Plan” for raising your career branding metabolism.
5 ways to close the gap
- Become highly relevant in your filed, industry and expertise.
- Invest in skills education.
- Become trend-savvy and smart.
- Develop a leadership mindset.
- Prepare to move fast and pounce on opportunity.
5 activities to up your game
- Define your strong personal brand and launch a blog, website or splash page.
- Invest in a branded business card or postcard.
- Find an internship, mentorship or volunteer.
- Join Toastmasters and work on your public speaking.
- Engage much more in social media marketing especially LinkedIn and Facebook.
5 skills that value add
- Chit Chat, sales and communication.
- Versatility and being a team player.
- Being articulate and speaking up.
- Adaptability and flowing with change.
- Attitude of positivity and good vibe.
What are you doing right now?
Act as if.
Keep Moving.
Try different things.
Go out and talk to people.
Yes I can is your daily mantra.
These are radical times that require radical actions to get radical results. We are all reinventing ourselves. Corporations and individuals must respond to rapid, relentless, constant change.
It’s the norm and the great story of this moment.
What are you doing to close the gap?
Author:
Deborah Shane is an author, media host, speaker, writer and branding strategist. She hosts her Toolbox Blog and is in her third year of hosting a weekly business radio show called Deborah Shane’s Metropolis that has over 32K downloads! She is a regular contributor to several national business, career and marketing blogs and websites. Her new book Career Transition-make the shift is available on Amazon.com and all major book sellers. Deborah delivers smart, no-nonsense ideas and solutions, which make her a popular go-to resource for clients, national media and influential blogs. Visit her at www.deborahshane.com.
