Looking Ahead to 2011

The New Year is nearly upon us.  Everyone is eager for positive economic news, something to make us all forget the last two years, which have not been the best, to be sure.  Regrettably, as many of you know, the Federal Reserve recently released a less than positive report for 2011, indicating that though the recession is over, it may feel like we are still in one to many people.  And since they seem to be convinced that the best way to fix things is printing trillions of dollars in Monopoly money, bankrupting the country through excessive and wasteful spending, and causing potentially runaway inflation (perhaps even a return to the glory days of the late 1970s with the dreaded "stagflation"), in that area at least, things don't seem too promising.  And the new unemployment figures out last week didn't help either.

But it is always important to look on the bright side of things.  And there are plenty of positive things to point to at the end of 2010 and going into 2011.  Factories are busier, construction spending is up, and auto sales are rising.  And automakers are behind much of the growth in manufacturing. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all reported double-digit sales increases for November. The news is particularly welcome for GM, which just returned as a public company, and for the people of Michigan, who rely so heavily on this industry.   And though unemployment is up, the economy is still creating new jobs (many of which are in accounting and finance). 

This cautiously optimistic outlook comes on top of other signs that Americans are increasingly willing to spend money, raising hopes for the holiday shopping season. Measures of spending, consumer confidence and personal incomes are all up.  So don't let the unemployment news get you down too much... the economy is still growing, just not as fast as anyone would like, and looks to move forward in 2011, if the government finally stops strangling it.

And with increased economic output and consumer/company spending comes increased employer need for skilled, talented professionals like you.  We're already seeing demand spike, as companies began gearing up for the Holidays months ago and are preparing for next year's growth with larger departments at the end of this year (to ensure sustained budgets).  It is a great time to get in the game, as your knowledge and abilities are a valuable commodity in today's specialized labor market and there are excellent opportunities out there for your skill set.  So contact Global today for a confidential conversation and learn how we can position you to take advantage of the coming surge in 2011! 

Of course, 2010 isn't over yet.  And for those eager to get a head-start on their job search or who want to keep the momentum going, the following is some advice from the corporate world on how you can utilize the Holiday season to further your career objectives: