the upside for job seekers!
Yes, the demand for workers seems to far exceed # of job applicants!
“Jimmy Vann, who owns Bombers Burrito Bar restaurants in Albany and Schenectady, said that before the pandemic it was not uncommon for him to have 30 people apply for a job within six hours of a Craigslist posting.
Now, when he posts a job, including on platforms that he’d never needed to use such as Facebook, Vann said, “I’ll get zero applicants, or one. There’s no pool of people.”
(TU 9/5/21)
On the flipside, JOB SEEKERS looking to get into/back into the workplace have opportunities now that were not available pre-pandemic. …and not just in the food industry! This is the case in healthcare, insurance, technical/coding, the libraries, banking and other industries.
And as you evaluate the job, salary and benefits, don’t forget to factor in TRAINING that is being offered on-the-job or in partnership with an educational institution! In addition to free training, some companies are offering greater flexibility in schedules and/or remote work opportunities. And some organizations are offering assistance in applying for positions!
To learn more about opportunities here in the Capital Region, go to:
This however is not the case for all job seekers!” With downsizing going on in broadcasting, museums and other entertainment venues), job seekers with both higher-level skills and valuable experience are facing fewer opportunities. Some folks in this situation are considering working independently/starting businesses; others are looking at changing careers.
This past June, NPR’s “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal hosted a panel with three works who changed their careers during the pandemic. One panelist, Alan Buxbaum, is an orchestra conductor. “I cannot imagine my life without orchestra conducting…But I was facing the harsh reality that financially it would take me some time, especially paying back student loans. I decided to enroll in a MEDICAL CODING training program! WHY MEDICAL CODING? “Number one reason, You can do it remotely…In order to get gigs, like in various cities around the country, around the world, it just makes it way easier to have a remote job. And I was able to finish the course in a good seven months…and I found a job about a month after that!”
And for ideas on how your skills can transfer to different fields, go to EXPLORING A SKILLS-BASED APPROACH TO OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY at
And explore possibilities through https://www.philadelphiafed.org/surveys-and-data/community-development-data/occupational-mobility-explorer (does not include capital region as a location)
As you consider your different options, keep in mind: The same job-seeking principles hold!
- START by putting yourself in the driver’s seat! CLARIFY what is important to you in a job, your workplace preferences, what skills you would like to use, the special strengths and talents that you want to bring to a job!
- Gather information about workplace opportunities…
Learn what is important to different companies and what they are trying to achieve…
just as if you are running a business and trying to understand your customers need/what they are looking for! YOUR BUSINESS WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL THE MORE YOU MEET YOUR CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS…
In the same way, as a job seeker, your goal is to meet the goals of particular company in which you’re interested in working. IT’S A 2-WAY STREET! What you have to offer has to match what the employer is seeking…and conveyed in your 30 sec commercial, your resume(s), your cover letter(s), your Job Interview(s) and your FU Thank You notes. These are the tools through which you have the opportunity to demonstrate your value to the company…
3. KNOW YOUR UNIQUE GIFTS & TALENTS!
BECAUSE IT’S YOUR STRENGTHS AND TALENTS that will sell you to an employer AND just as when we’re involved in activities that we enjoy, we feel SELF-CONFIDENCE…WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE ACTIVITIES,
WE NATURALLY EXUDE CONFIDENCE AND ENTHUSIASM!
4. And at least 85 to 90% of jobs are found via word of mouth!