Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Finding USA Jobs In Challenging Times

By Alex Wu

USA jobs in a challenging economic environment exist. And they can be had if one is savvy enough, and determined enough to either find them or train to be qualified for them. Since the advent of the global economy and the dominance of the World Wide Web, whole job sectors in the USA have undergone a vast sea change. The nation is in the process of changing over from a manufacturing-based economy over to one that has more services-based attributes.

People shouldn't make the mistake of assuming "service-based" means low-paying burger joint employment. The reality is quite different. Truthfully, a wealth of new "online" jobs exists, from document preparation and medical billing at home to attorneys who bid out their services to sundry and various employers. "Service-based" is that amorphous a term, in reality.

More-and-more, the traditional manufacturing assembly line environment is diminishing. Many elements of it will always exist though; just not in the vast numbers once seen in the USA or anywhere else in the world. This is because automation and development of new manufacturing processes have led to new efficiencies. This new reality means that more of these people will need retraining or a new mindset when it comes to what they are and aren't able to do. They'll be the masters of their own fates, to be honest.

Some parts of the United States have been hit harder than other parts. Nobody can deny that the Midwest has been dealt a series of body blows when it comes to loss of jobs. Heavily dependent on auto making, they're all struggling to retrain their collective workforces in order to survive. At least they're doing what they can.

What USA jobs that'll be created will depend on how willing we are in our minds to come to grips with the need to adapt. If we find that we really aren't, then we may end up fulfilling Darwin's observations on the failure of species to survive over the long run.

It's realized that many people have roots that aren't easily pulled it. But if the choice is between obsolescence and maybe moving a little further out into the sunlight -- in order to figuratively ensure photosynthesis and life-sustaining energy -- then the choice is obvious. Start training for new jobs in new fields and in other parts of the country.

People also need to take full advantage of the wealth of job-attaining knowledge and assistance available to them on the Internet. If they're uncomfortable with using a computer, they should consider enlisting the aid of a son or daughter or person who isn't. Whole online companies and websites are set up to aid in this task. There are free CD-ROMs devoted just to helping someone engage in a job search or even just to learn about computers.

It'll be our own failure of will that dooms us in this new digital millennium, if we fail to adapt, improvise, and overcome. The Dodo bird once had its day, but it failed to come to grips with a new environment. Are we Dodo birds? That answer, too, should be obvious. - 16890

About the Author:

No comments: