One thing that never ceases to amaze me is this job market we have here. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. There are more people starting their own businesses than ever before. There is more diversity in the labor force than  before. Wages  still lag behind but some companies are starting to be more competitive and offer better packages and yet people are still being laid off, outsourced, downsized, and outplaced.

Don’t feel too bad though because there are opportunities out here. Lately, I have been working with more Executives and individuals who were laid-off but given outplacement services. What are outplacement services? That’s when a company who is experiencing a reduction in workforce, downsizing or layoff scenario pays a career coach or career services firm to assist them with their resume and interview skills. Some even help find new jobs.

I have been fortunate enough to help Executives with their resumes and although the executive level resume is different from the entry level or average resume, the individual still has a lot of the same feelings about reentering the job market.

In most cases these folks have not been in the job market for several years, maybe even a decade or two, so all this social media recruiting, ATS and other stuff is just…well overwhelming.

It’s important to remember that even now with high job confidence there are still individuals of various career levels, experiences and titles who about to learn that it’s a whole new order. I commend those companies that seek to provide some resources for their workers even though they are about to be outplaced – and it’s not just personal gain for me either.  One of the things that I love about being a resume writer is the people I meet, the lives I can effect and the fulfillment of helping someone with the information I have.

So many people are being laid-off for the first time and it’s a shocker but the thing is, its going to be alright - take it from me, there is life after a setback.

Need some help? Join the resumecrusade – contact me ‘[email protected]’