job prospects make for holiday cheer for unemployed

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!