Brother can you spare a dime, and other 1929 classics

Dear Financial Markets,

WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?!? On behalf of all financial services professionals five years or less out of college- PLEASE “check yourself before you wreck yourself.” Or perhaps its too late…A good chunk of America has seen their hard earned money disappear into thin air over the past two weeks- and this clearly is going to have serious repercussions over the most innocent of us whose only act of “corporate greed” (as the socialist left would put it) has been to show up at work and dedicate our days to making our company better, and financially stronger. But this blog is REALLY supposed to be about jobs, and most importantly finding the right one for you and how it looks once you’re in your cube farm.

The one thing that this financial crisis hasn’t changed is the need for certain positions in the financial community. Granted, with the massive layoffs that the industry has seen since the collapse of Lehman, it is certainly not the time to walk into your boss’s office and demand a 30% raise, a promotion or a week of vacation because “you need a break” (ps- I’d like a raise, a promotion and a week of vacation if anyone is reading this…I’m exhausted). The traditional and obvious doors may be temporarily shut but, for those looking for a job, there may still be a way to sneak in through the window. Here are some things I’ve noticed in the past few weeks.

Accounting: if you have a penchant for numbers, this may just be the way to get into your dream corporation right now. I work for one of the companies that have been making headlines lately, and although new hires have certainly slowed down- one thing I have noticed postings for is Accountants of various levels. WHY? Because when you’re in a financial pickle- some of the most important people in the organization become those people who tell you where your money is going and how much is coming in. It’s a simplistic thought but a well staffed accounting department is fundamental, especially when a company is having a hard time.

Marketing- if you have a background in marketing, and you are trying to enter the financial world right now, while this isn’t in itself a qualification, it is a fantastic talking point. Listen, you might say to the person interviewing you, in these tough times, in a soft market, one of the most fundamental elements of a company’s sustainability is retaining existing clients. For growth, one must bring in new clients, and this is most effectively done through good marketing and relationship management. BOOYA- marketing people- USE THIS ARGUMENT! (If talking points can work for political parties- why can’t they work for job hunters?)

Lastly, if you think that there is no way that despite the above you can find a job, maybe its time to start making a strategic investment in yourself- maximizing your ROI is after all, and the name of this blog. In a tight job market, the general idea is to have your resume stand out more than the next guy (and maybe the next guy went to Harvard- what do I know??), and a wonderful way to show interest and dedication to a field where you might not have any practical experience is through professional examinations. So, if in your long days of hunting experience.com or monster or job fox, you are still frustrated- perhaps its time to pick up a text book. Start your Series 7, your CPA exams, your CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) or any other of the number of titles offered through the American Institute of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters. It is a better option than watching day-time television anyway!

Let think positively and proactively- and WE can make all the difference in the next 40 years of financial history!