When writing my last entry, I was really in a great mood and fired up for the holiday season. I am still in the spirit and doing my best to finish out the year. In previous years, December brought with it a rush of open positions to fill for January start dates.  It was like the icing on the cake.  However, like many other small business owners, my recruiting business this year has been terrible, just awful. Even though revising resumes has been a bright spot in 2009, it does not come without it's own frustrations.

I do my research and stay up on industry trends, which includes reading all the lists on how to get one's professional career back on track.  Is it just me, or do all the lists and articles now sound the same at this point? There is no magic bullet to make the perfect job appear.  We all agree, first things first - the resume.  Then, moving forward, what if you have done everything the experts have told you to do and still no job? Most of my resume candidates are in jobs they love, which is incredibly satisfying. However, there are also the few that have fallen short of their goal.

If you really want to get depressed, read the reoccurring CNN Money profiles on the long term unemployed. On second thought, don't because we all know those people, and we might even be one of them.  They live in our neighborhood, their kids play sports with our kids, they go to our church, and they shop at our grocery store.  Everyday is like groundhog day, and the pressures do not go away. They simply get heavier. Depressing enough?

I think we need a new strategy for 2010. We need to start the year fresh, with a rejuvenated spirit. Hallelujah!  If your small business is lagging or you are still looking for that full time job with good benefits, it is time for a diversion.  

If you have extra time on your hands, sure you could volunteer, but what else could you do to put money in the checking account? Some ideas that come to mind:  Work at a book store, get a little retail therapy for the soul on a part time basis, substitute teach, work at a grocery store, a bakery, or be a bank teller.  The possibilities are endless.  As long as you enjoy your diversion and it fulfills a personal need, it might help you become a better job seeker.  Maybe your need is to simply get out of the house, to be around other positive people, laugh a little bit, generate some pocket change, or feel good about having some kind of routine.

I miss my cake this year.  I wish I had some icing too; however, I have a good feeling about 2010. I think taking a little break from the job search and the worries of a business owner during the holidays is healthy.  I haven't read that on any expert list.  All together, exhale....

Happy Holidays!
Leigh