Mix signals?
Is it just me, or is the economy giving us mixed signals. The Dow Jones has recovered nearly 3000 points from it’s low, yet 84 banks have failed this year as of last week. That averages out to 2.5 bank failures per week. Ouch! There are still signs of things sinking, particularly in commercial real estate. Yet other signs show we are improving. Mix signals? As the only vice presidential candidate we’d wanna see in a centerfold would say, “you betcha!”
However, this is a little bit of silver to an otherwise dreary lining. Our recession is moving through its progressions, which equals progress. Our markets are also clueing us in that the big picture ahead is looking brighter. Just remember that the markets don’t reflect our current reality, but our perceived future. We’re continuing to hit turning points, which is good news for our future.
Unfortunately for us laid off folk, future doesn’t fix the present.
But being laid off does have its advantages. Especially in a recession. This is the perfect time to step back and take stock in our life. Do we like where we were going being we were laid off? Should we change paths? Would furthering my education advance me, or should I look at another career. Some of us may be used to working in industries that routinely lay off and rehire (defense contractors and the like are notorious for this. My friend’s dad has been laid off and rehired between Solectron and General Dynamics for almost two decades, ouch!). Maybe this one stings a little bit more, and makes us realize we need to find something more stable.
So to all my fellow unemployed/underemployed persons, use this as your opportunity to start going in the direction you want to go. Although the “potential employee” pool is larger than normal, we now have the opportunity to make a move and shine. So take advantage,
As for me, I used this as my sign to go ahead and finish school. I was almost done with my associates when I was laid off (I graduated in July), but instead of taking time off before transferring to a 4-year, I took being laid off as my sign to go ahead and get it done with. I’m now in my first semester at UNCC, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Physics, with a minor in Mathematics. I still have withdrawal pains from the job world, and it is still weird being the “old fart” around campus. yet it has already been challenging and rewarding, and I can now focus on everything a lot more. By the time we’ve mostly recovered from this recession, I will have positioned myself to be a strong candidate for anywhere I want to go.
So use this opportunity wisely, recessions don’t happen everyday.
