The Job Market is Better - or Worse?

Depending on which report you read, the job market is continuing to downslide or it's starting to move up. I read one report yesterday that said the number of job postings had declined significantly and employers were cutting back. A CareerBuilder survey reports that 25% of companies hired more workers in the third quarter and 23% plan to add employees this quarter, while 63% plan on no changes and 10% plan on cutting back. The Rasmussen Employment Index also says that 23% of employers are hiring, up 2 points from last month.

What does this mean for those who are looking for jobs? In a nutshell, even though some employers are hiring, it's obviously not a terrific job market. CareerBuilder also reported that it took 21% of the workers surveyed more than 4 months to find a job, so there is time involved as well as work.

There's more competition for available jobs and it's important to work smarter at your job search, as well as harder. Don't limit yourself to one method of job searching. As you can see from the Where Did You Find Your Last Job survey the results of what works are varied. Anyone seeking employment needs to spend time and energy on their job search - writing targeted cover letters and resumes, applying for jobs, building a contact base on LinkedIn and using your connections effectively, and spending time promoting your candidacy.

Be aware, as well, that your job search could take more time than you expected. If money is an issue, consider a temporary job to tide you over. Retailers are hiring now for seasonal jobs for the holiday season. A temp job is a good way to earn some extra cash, but still have flexibility so you can continue to job search.

More: Job Listings | Job Search Help

_{Image Copyright CareerBuilder}