Crown Details Steps for Building a Full-Time Life in a Part-Time World

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rather than pretending like a new job market will be arriving any day now, American job seekers need to embrace a paradigm shift: building a Full-time life in a part-time world, observed Crown President Robert Dickie III, in an analysis piece out today at Fox News. The need for a shift is crucial as the Labor Department's jobs report out today revealed that once again fewer jobs had been created than expected.

"The growing reality of finding and holding gainful employment means that new patterns must be developed to win in a game with new rules.  It is not your grandparent's economy anymore," said Dickie, whose organization has helped equip people for career and personal financial success for almost 40 years.

Case in point: The hardening sector of part-time employees (people unable to find full-time work) cannot be ignored any longer or written off as a temporary correction. This week's Wall Street Journal reports, "More people have left the workforce than got a new job during the recovery—by a factor of nearly three."

Since the recession officially began in December 2007, 5.8 million fewer Americans hold a full time job, while 2.8 million more are working part time (defined as people working less than 35 hours a week.) The impact of this kind of math on the moving target of the unemployment rate was recently noted in the New York Times, "If you include both part-time workers who want full-time work and people who have stopped looking for jobs but still want to work, the unemployment rate is actually 14.3 percent."

In fact, with the addition of the dismal jobs numbers out in July, we learned that 77 percent of the jobs created in 2013 were part-time.

Dickie noted: "The American dream of employer and employee bound 'til death do us part is passing away. Today we must become 'life-style entrepreneurs' and embrace mobility as we leverage our skills in creative ways."

It's widely believed that the average U.S. worker will have seven careers in a lifetime. To begin that process, here are seven tips to help find those different careers and have success during this transition:

1. Plan Deliberately. It has often been said that failing to plan is planning to fail. Too many Americans avoid the hard work of simple budgeting or developing career and financial goals. Over the past decade Crown has helped more than one million people follow a simple life plan – in writing. Analysis tools like CareerDirect can focus your job search.
2. Avoid Anchors. This is no time to make long-term financial commitments. Stay flexible and Keep costs low.
3. Enlarge Networks. According to a job's website Careerealism.com, 80 percent of the available jobs out there are not posted on job boards, but must be found through networking and word of mouth. Join local and national networks and spend a few minutes each day networking.
4. Brand Yourself. Remember that every contact between you and the business world is an advertisement. Give your Facebook and other social sites a scrub. Surveys indicate that about half of employers say they check out the social networks of applicants, while recruiters report that 3 out of 4 will trust by verify.
5. Multiply Income Streams. One of the realities of being a company person is that when that job ends, so do your checks. A little discussed strength of this economy is that when people develop multiple income sources, they don't need to rely on one job to survive. Check out the Direct Selling Association for a list of options.
6. Get Inside. Getting your foot in the door of a company you want to impress can begin with internships or short-term contract work. A survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 60 percent of paid interns received a job offer, while 37 percent of unpaid interns earned work.
7. Serve Others. Don't forget about those who are less fortunate than you are. It doesn't just look good on a resume to give to others and volunteer your time; it will also help you find perspective on the world in which you live.

Crown, a non-profit, helps people and businesses integrate their values into business practices, debt reduction, and financial decision-making. For more than 35 years, Crown has been offering economic analysis and advice based on timeless truths. Theirs is a strong, international grassroots organization with offices in the U.S. and overseas. Crown experts work one on one with individuals and business leaders, as well as through workshops and seminars, teaching people how to build on a strong foundation that includes the business principles and practices found in the Bible. It is well known for its cutting edge materials first developed by its founder, the late Larry Burkett.  For more information, go to www.crown.org or call 800-722-1976. To book interviews, e-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Crown