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Archive for the ‘Going Back To School’ Category

You have been out of work for quite awhile and it doesn’t seem that you will ever get another job again. I know it’s frustrating because I like you read the newspapers and listen to the news and know that you are just one of many. So what are you to do?

First let me say that the purpose of this article IS NOT to sell you something just because I might think you are desperate enough to buy it. This is an article to give you some ideas.

I was listening to the Rush Limbaugh program Friday and he had a call from a landscaper in Florida who said that his income had been cut by over 50% due to the new home foreclosures. The gist of the call was Rush’s suggestion that the caller approach the banks who now own the homes and make them a deal on maintaining the lawns rather than have them sit unattended until they sell. Since the banks don’t want to own them and really want to resell them it makes sense that they would want to keep the appearance looking beautiful.

That got me to thinking. Look around you and find a need then see if you can think of some way to fill that need. Back in 1976 I worked in aerospace and had a job that I hated. At that time I came across a company that offered training for repairing vinyl in restaurants. The cost was modest so after looking into it, I went for some training and bought the equipment to do this. The training consisted not only repairing the torn or cut vinyl but color matching so it would look presentable and the tear wouldn’t get larger. In a couple of weeks I was ready to begin. Well I thought I was but it turns out that I needed more experience, so I went to work at home practicing what I had learned. All told it took me about a month and the cost for training and equipment was modest. Incidentally, I made a good living from this.

There are many things like this that you can learn or maybe you already have what you need to begin. Start by brainstorming with your wife/husband/friends/relatives etc., and see what ideas you come up with.

Doing that is 1000 times more productive than waiting for “something to happen”. Think about it and see if you can come up with about ten ideas then delve into the possibilities. If you have trouble coming up with ten ideas do some research but don’t quit. Even if it took you some time, what else are you doing?

You are not beaten unless you absolutely give up.  Never do that!

Have you lost your job as a result of a bad economy? Before you panic, there are many ways to remedy the situation. You can now do things that you never would have been able to while you were employed. Use this time effectively while you plan your future. Sit down and make a list of things that you have always wanted to do but couldn’t because of your job as you plan your future. There are many ways to make a living besides working 9 to 5. Here are a few ideas to improve your situation:

• · Get a degree:

Why not? I will bet it is something you have thought of before unless you already have one; in that case maybe it’s time to add to your degree. Or maybe take a class and learn a new skill like computer programming or computer repair. And remember it is a “life time” degree.

If you can’t spend two years of time on a masters degree, you could do a short term diploma degree in your field of experience. If not a diploma, how about a certification? Certification adds lots of value to your profile. Besides this will open your eyes to other possibilities of a certification in another field. The opportunities are endless.

• Do Tutoring:

This is something anybody can do. You can do this as a part time and earn quick buck for survival. Teach high school students, college students right in your house, of course for money.

Choose a part of curriculum that is tough for students but that you know something about and start tutoring. Trust me anybody can do this. This is the easiest job, nevertheless it requires some ground work before starting. Research what tutors are charging in your area. A few years back I owned an upholstery business. They taught upholstery in a local high school adult education department. I applied as an instructor and was hired on the spot.

• Learn new Technology:

What are you interested in that you may be able to turn into a profit if you learned it? Maybe hire a career coach at this point. Here are some additional ideas: photography, acquire IT skills, graphic design, computer repair, the list goes on and on. Brainstorm with your wife, husband or best friend and stretch your imagination. Did you boast of working in numerous technologies on your resume? Are those skills out of date? Add these to your list of things to brush up on.

• Start a Business:

Recession? Bad Economy? These are the terms for the “panic-creating” media and not for winners like you. The best time to start your own business is now! But research it thoroughly first. One of the best areas is the service area. There are always jobs for handyman services.

• Do Freelance Work:

Many people think freelance work is not their cup of tea but it isn’t that difficult. Here is a great source for freelance work. My only advice is you had better know how to do the work you claim to know. Otherwise not only won’t you get paid but your reputation will suffer. This is a compact area so word gets around quickly for bad service. We have used freelance writers for special projects, some with good results and some not so good. If you want references for future work you had better be good.

So the next move is yours! Take it – Choose any of the links above and start climbing out of the tank! Do it now!!

One of my all time favorite shows is “America’s Got Talent.” You can be 8 or 80 and try out, it makes no difference. The only problem with this show is that out of thousands of auditions they only choose 20 acts to go through, then weed those 20 down to 1 winner.

But do you know how huge the entertainment industry is?! Did you also know that you can live just about anywhere near a big city in the US and find work in entertainment if you have some talent?

I had a friend a few years ago that took some acting classes through a junior college. It just so happened that the professor also produced commercials and he when he saw how good she was he offered to hook her up with some commercial directors. There’s local commercials produced in every state (for both radio and TV) that are constantly looking for local actors and good voices.

Another friend I grew up with was good at making clothes. She got a job working at Orange County Performing Arts Center in their costume department. Soon she was hired by one of the traveling Broadway companies for a major production and her career took off from there.

Anyway, the point is that if you have a little bit of talent you might just find your way into the entertainment industry in your local area. You can make it a career or just do it part time, but there’s money to be had!

Check out local colleges for acting classes, art and costume design, computer graphics, sound and animation. These are great places to meet people that might hook you up with an interview. Also, any certificate you earn looks good on a resume.

Also, if you have a talent for:

• Singing – any type
• Dancing
• Playing an instrument well, no matter what it is.
• Acrobatics
• Costume design
• Stage set design
• Lighting and sound production
• Writing
• Video
• Film editing
• Modeling

Look to see if there’s any dinner theaters or local playhouses in your area. These places usually hire local talent for all the positions.

Do you have a pleasant voice and know how to sound animated? Contact some of the radio stations in town and offer your services for commercials. They might not pay much but it’s a great experience and you can create a demo CD for bigger jobs by doing local ones first. As a commercial producer for a local radio station in my town I hired just about anybody that had a knack for animated sounding voice work.

If you have a talent for modeling all (ages and sizes) then look for professional managers in your area. If you need help with ideas click here for a great source. You might wind up in a newspaper print ad or catalog. Maybe even modeling a local designer’s wear in a professional show.

We hope these suggestions get your creative juices going. There’s a lot of work in local markets if you just look around.