With the US unemployment rate at the highest level in 14 years, it's difficult for job seekers to have hope when it seems like no one's hiring. But career expert Ford R. Myers, president of Career Potential, LLC, a Pennsylvania-based career consulting firm www.careerpotential.com  and author of the upcoming book, "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" says, "Even in this difficult economic climate, job seekers have more control over their career circumstances than they might think. There are specific strategies and tactics that consistently generate strong results in a bad job market."

Myers offers the following 10 career tips to get people through these tough times:

1. Maintain your momentum.
Stay busy, get active, and be productive in both job search and non-job search-related pursuits. Increase your level of networking.

2. Seek help. Get career support from a professional.
A qualified career coach can better prepare you for your next position. If you are struggling emotionally, get counseling help.

3. Read career books and attend career seminars.
Keeping informed of industry trends will help you gain greater knowledge of the industries and careers poised for future growth.

4. Leverage technology.
Utilize web sites and online services. Create a career web site, using tools like VisualCV and LinkedIn. Network through social networking sites. Keep in touch with colleagues via e-mail.

5. Differentiate yourself.
Position yourself as an expert by writing articles, giving presentations or teaching a class. Get involved and play an active role in professional organizations.

6. Use "off time" wisely.
Gain more education by participating in classes, seminars, certifications and professional conferences.

7. Pursue a temporary, part-time or contract position.
Volunteer, provide pro bono work or do an internship/apprenticeship. This tactic is especially useful for those who wish to pursue a career in a different industry.

8. Take care of yourself.
Eat well, exercise, get plenty of rest. Keep in close touch with friends and family. Maintain your interests in hobbies and activities.

9. Consider shifting industries and/or being more geographically flexible, to open up more career options.

10. Improve/enhance all the documents in your career portfolio.
Practice interviewing and negotiation skills. Focus your message on the tangible results you can produce.

Myers adds, "Getting the job you want takes energy, discipline and career support. Despite the pressures today's job seekers are facing, they must stay focused on their goals and search smart. Those who continue to think strategically and are proactive will fare much better during this market crisis."

About
Ford R. Myers, M.Ed., is president of Career Potential, LLC, a prominent career consulting firm. He is a speaker and media personality on the topics of career management, executive coaching and employment trends. Ford's timely advice and tips have been featured on NBC-TV, Comcast-TV, Fox-TV, Clear Channel Radio, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Inc. Magazine.

 
Even if you weren't a news junkie before the economy took a turn for the worse, worries over the country's financial health may have you craving news. In fact, poll after poll in the recent presidential race showed that the economy is top of mind right now for the majority of Americans.

But with so much information out there, how do you determine what's news and what's just noise? Where do you turn for credible information? With all the sources of news  available, it's easy to feel information overload, says Scott Severson, president of ARAnet, a company that provides content to newspapers and Web sites.

Fortunately, Americans do seem to have a clear idea of where they can go to find credible, useful information.

Americans, it seems, turn to television and daily newspapers for their news, and consider both media to be the most credible sources of information, according to a recent survey of more than 1,000 adults. Respondents said they get nearly 35 percent of their news from TV and 23.5 percent from daily newspapers.

What's more, they're turning to these media because they view them as highly credible, the survey indicates. Asked to score each medium's credibility on a scale of one to 10, consumers gave television a 6.6 and daily newspapers a 6.3, according to the survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation's CARAVAN Services on behalf of ARAnet.

Radio, online sources and weekly community newspapers ranked in the middle of the list for credibility, with free weekly shoppers at the bottom scoring just 3.5.

The credibility scores corresponded with the amount of news and information people say they receive from each media source each month, with television and daily newspapers ranking as the top two sources. People reported getting just 1.6 percent of their monthly news and information from magazines, the survey showed.

The types of media people view as most credible are the ones that they turn to the most often for news and information, says Severson. TV and daily newspapers continue to be important sources of information for Americans, and the growth of the Internet is making online media another significant source of important news.

For more information on the ARAnet and Opinion Research Corporation's CARAVAN Services survey, visit www.aranetonline.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent