Break Free From the Stats

Oh no! Just like “high gas price” stories and celebrity gossip, stories about the latest trends in unemployment seem to be in the paper at least once a week. Great, just what you need to make you feel better about losing your job.

Sure, the unemployment rate experienced an increase in May that was larger than any other in the past 22 years. And yes, Wall Street economists expect a decrease in payroll. But what do you know about those people who are unemployed? Not much…other than that they aren’t working.

As a self-motivated individual, you are taking this situation in your own hands. You definitely don’t know if the 5.5% of unemployed individuals are even looking for a job. Maybe they are just sitting at home moping, which you definitely aren’t doing, right?! You’re one step above anyone sitting around on their couch, waiting for a job to come to them.

Looking for a job and still no success? Have you tried looking in the world outside of the internet? Local newspapers and special job supplements often have pages with super tiny print, full of employment opportunities! And since posting locally can be cheaper than placing an ad on a national web site, you may find something that all the people looking exclusively on the web are missing.

What’s your favorite place to search for jobs? [Wall Street Journal]