According to the grape vine, job seekers are optimistic about hiring for the New Year. Perhaps its just part of the fervor surrounding the going out of one year and the prospects of the incoming New Year, especially as far as hiring is concerned. Data seems to support job seeker's optimism with a relatively small but an increase, nonetheless, is the consumer confidence index.

With a modest upward gain to the tune of 52.9, you would think that is hardly a consumer confidence figure worth bragging about. On the other hand, given how bad the consumer confidence index figures have been throughout 2009, any positive seems to get everyone excited. This excitement may be a little premature as as good consumer confidence index is 90 or better. As you can see a consumer confidence figure of 52.9 is barely over the 50% line in reference to a good consumer confidence figure.

So why are job seekers and consumers, in general, seemingly excited. The short answer is most of the excitement is likely to be emotional driven. Again, after a terrible 18 months with the economic recession, some may just feel the need to change spirits irrespective of the presence of economic drivers. At the same time, employers are expected to hire coming out of the gate for 2010, especially where part-time and contract work is concerned. Moreover, some industries such as Information Technology, Manufacturing and Professional Services are looking up as far as full time hiring is concerned.

Although there is no evidence of the presence of large scale economic drivers to influence the hiring of 2 million jobs (to keep unemployment from rising), there is, still, room for optimism. Such optimism is emotional fueled coupled with some silver linings in the data. In the end, whatever the reason(s) - job seekers are optimistic about hiring for the New Year. Now if we can ratchet up this enthusiasm across the board to include more employers and job seekers than we might be on the verge of hiring tidal wave to start out 2010. What a great way to start out the New Year!

If you are one of the many job seekers looking for solid ground, a teaching job equals job stability plus reduced student loan debt. With the demand for teachers holding steady, job seekers looking for a career change benefit from a salary, excellent benefits and student loan vouchers that can be applied towards existing student loan debt. Now that's what i call stepping the game up to attract qualified teachers.

Teach for America is one the big players in recruiting teachers mostly for those looking for a career change. Apparently, what a lot of teacher recruits are doing is working for a few years in communities dubbed as "high need" in exchange for a student loan debt reduction voucher along with a salary, benefits and summers off from work. Sweet huh. Well of course teachers on average earn a salary around $36,000, which isn't a great deal, but when you factor in having two months off work with pay and receiving a voucher of $4,100 to apply to any existing Federal Student Loans, than the picture look a little brighter.

So who makes for a "good fit" as a teacher? Well according to Teach for America, those with "leadership" capabilities, likely, fit the mold quite well. Since, leadership is such a subjective term, you might just need to apply for yourself and see how your background meshes with the full scope of teaching requirements. For the most part, the teacher recruiting process shouldn't be a great deal of hoop jumping as most of the teachers in the program are career change individuals or those who don't, otherwise, have a background in education. So if job stability is your focus, teaching equals job stability along with reduced student loan debt via vouchers up to $4,100. Give it a go. As they say, what may be lacking in pay is offset by job satisfaction.

As millions celebrate the Holidays with gift giving, food, and family festivities - for the unemployed job prospects make for Holiday cheer. While taking a time out to reflect during this season of giving and family emphasis, job seekers know this state of nirvana is short lived. Within a matter of days of exiting Holiday cheer, the reality of the post Holiday job search grind is renewed. That reality is compounded with the fact that the average job search is dragging on longer and longer as the number of job seekers unemployed for six months or longer continues to increase.

Despite the current economic woes of job seekers, the job prospects for the New Year adds a much needed dose of optimism. Such optimism is, perhaps, prompted through economic experts promising a strong first and second quarter with regards to job growth and hiring. The thought is that many employers start off the New Year with elevated levels of hiring, following head count budget commitments from the recently expired year. While that may be true, from a traditional standpoint, the question is whether that rule of thumb still applies given the current recession is anything but traditional. Moreover, the nearly 16 million still unemployed, echoes the fact that the current economy is still struggling. Also, with close to 16 million jobless looking for work, perhaps it becomes clear why job prospects make for exceptional Holiday cheer for the unemployed. The good thing is that job seekers are heading into 2010 optimistic looking for a turnaround. Now, the burden shifts to employers to make good on job seekers optimism through gobbling up the unemployed. The remaining question is which employers will be amongst the first to step up and answer the call? Merry Christmas!