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Depending on whom you listen to, the latest jobs report was a bit of good news in a drab week or another sign of a still shaky economy that could teeter at any moment. Numbers can be dissected and spun to support nearly any viewpoint. The real question is what does it all mean for those seeking employment or looking ahead to future career opportunities?

Just as the scale is only one measurement of your overall health and fitness, the jobs numbers only tell one part of the story. Our economy has changed and while it will undoubtedly improve over time, it will never be the same. The same is true for the employment market.

Before the recession, there was already a shift happening in the employment market. Employers were no longer the long term caretakers of worker security and stability. Pensions had given way to 401(k)s, benefit costs were no longer fully subsidized but shared and positions could be moved, changed or eliminated at will. In the midst of this shift it also became easier for workers and companies to connect across time zones and even countries to get work done. Workers were no longer competing against the local professional but against a global talent pool more specialized than ever before.

The bottom line is that how we define and accomplish work has forever changed. We can wave our fists and rant about the disappearance of certain jobs and sectors or we can adapt and continue to prosper.

Knowledge is power and in this new economy it is also a highly valued good that is bought and sold across geographic boundaries. If your industry is offering fewer opportunities begin to think of ways you can leverage your experience and skills in new ways. In other words capitalize on what you know rather than what you do. You may be surprised at the number of ways you can create your own opportunity and in doing so become a valuable resource to others.

Related articles

• Jobs report exceeds expectations. Official unemployment rate hits 9.1%. ‘U6′ at 16.1% (dailykos.com)
• Jobs Report: Harsh News for Older Workers; Some Resources to Help (aarp.org)

If you’re in the middle of a job search you’ve likely heard the news that the market is tough.  The national unemployment rate in the U.S. may be hovering near 10% and CEOs may be cautious about hiring but during your job search the focus should be on you. You are not trying to change the national employment rate nor are you trying to find 162,000 jobs, you only need one. You can continue to read the bad news and convince yourself that you haven’t got a chance.

One job, that’s all you need. You only need one company to see that you are a fit and make you an offer. In the whole wide world, just one. You can do that right? Stay focused on one and you’ll be okay.

One action at a time will help you find that one job. Make that one phone call to someone who can you help you. Hang up and make one more call. Write one line of your resume until it’s done. Reach out to one person in your network. Target one company and locate one contact there. One step at a time to one job. Keep doing one until you find the one.

Save yourself today and once you’re employed you can reach out and help someone else find their one.

The annual report addresses changes in the job market and forward looking expectations for the coming year.  Career industry professionals have been beating the networking drum for years and the report validates its role in the executive search process. The report found that 73%  of executives find career options through networking.

I love this quote from Dave Opton, Execunet CEO & Founder which sums up my own views on networking:

“Time and again, the executive who ensures the fitness of his or her network will always be able to produce results. Let your network wither and no matter how much effort you flood it with, it will not revive quickly enough for you to respond to changing workplace conditions.”

Other findings from the report:

• The pay gap between men and women at mid-level executive ranks is narrowing but the discrepancy widens to 14 percent when they reach the president/CEO/COO/partner/chair level.
• 10.1 months is the amount of times executives in active job search expect to spend searching for their next position.
• Executives remain in their current job an average of 2.7 years. This number may also illuminate many of today’s corporate woes.

A large part of any marketing campaign, including career marketing, is market intelligence.  This report presents insights and trends that can help you prepare an effective strategy to attain your next position. Visit ExecuNet to read more highlights and get a copy of the report.