Often times young people get discouraged with the length of their job searches. There are two rules of thumb to keep in mind.

First, it will take you 40 hours a week for 3 months to get the job that you want.

Second, it will take one month for every $10k in salary. So, if you want to make $40k it will take you 4 months.

It is important how you spend your time job searching. Up to 80% of all jobs are received through networking and only 10% of jobs come through the Internet. Therefore, if you are spending 40 hours a week searching, then only 4 hours should be spent on the job boards. Spend your time wisely by networking with other people. 

We have mentioned the Return to Roots program in far southwest Virginia as a way to recruit native sons and daughters back home to fill vacancies of very good paying jobs. Paul Dellinger of the Roanoke Times wrote a nice piece on this initiative that has been endorsed by Governor Kaine. 

Our friends in far southwest, have jobs, just like Roanoke and the NRV. However, the disconnect comes in the mismatch of skill sets with positions available.

Additionally, quality of life is a huge component that comes into play. If IT jobs are in such high demand virtually everywhere in the country, then the job seeker can focus on where he or she wants to live. The quality of life amenities become even more important.

Likewise, if positions are available, then the question must be asked what are individuals doing to make themselves employable in the local labor market? Are they obtaining new skills sets for today’s economy?

Ultimately, the Return to Roots program is a proactive and innovative way of addressing some of the challenges in rural America. The people of those communities should be appreciative for the work this group is doing.

If you know someone who is from far Southwest Virginia, please let them know about this program.

The City of Roanoke has created a database for job seekers who want to be in the Roanoke region. Simply go to the site, submit a profile and upload a resume. Local employers may contact you directly. In addition, we will send you an eNewsletter every couple of weeks alerting you to "hidden jobs" in the region.

Note: Although this site is intended to be a helpful resource, it is recommended you also spend time networking with people in the region for optimal results since most jobs are received through that method. 

Yesterday’s USA Today article, featuring Roanoke native Cameron Johnson, was a fascinating story on what the goals are of Generation Y, or in this article 18-25 year olds. Below is a sample of the statistics.

• 81% - To get rich
• 51% - To be famous
• 30% - To help people in need
• 22% - To be leaders in the community
• 10% - To be more spiritual

The story also provides links to other resources too on this topic.

Roanoke native and Blacksburg resident Cameron Johnson will appear on CNBC’s Big Idea with Donny Deutsch tonight at 10 pm to promote his new book on entrepreneurship called You Call the Shots, which was an Amazon Top 10 seller yesterday. Make plans to watch him. It will also re-air at 1 a.m.

Our Hollins J-term intern - Brandi Robertson - has done a wonderful job picking up from where H.H. started our MySpace page - RoanokeWantsU - to better connect to young adults regarding things to do and available jobs in the region. In less than a month, we have almost 100 friends and we are beginning to see the benefits of creating this communication piece. We would like you to be our friends.

If any of you have alternative media channels you would like to use to help us get out the word on our young adult initiative in Roanoke and the region, then please send me an email.

You Call the Shots - a book about effective entrepreneurship - is being officially released on Tuesday, January 9 by a Roanoke native and current Blacksburg resident Cameron Johnson. Published by Simon and Schuster, it contains a testimonial from Donald Trump and a foreword by personal finance guru David Bach.

Cameron is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, speaker and businessman. And oh by the way, he is 22 years old. Yes, he is 22.

Cameron is the exact person we need representing the region to the rest of the world - youthfulness, intelligence, business savvy, creative, innovative and flat-out successful.

We congratulate Cameron on his big book launch tomorrow and you will be reading more about him on this blog in the weeks and months ahead.

Recently, I was visiting with a young adult who showed me their MySpace page. This page, like many others do, opens with a popular song by the group Nickelback.

Immediately, I asked the young adult, "Did you go to their concert in Roanoke last spring?"

The young person said, "They came to Roanoke?"

"Yes, you did not know that?"

"I had no idea!"

This illustrates a fundamental problem not only this region, but many regions across the country are having - complete communication disconnects between generations.

Younger generations repeatedly say there is nothing to do in Roanoke and when a popular band comes to town, those same people making that statement do not know about the event.

The vast number of traditional and non-traditional forms of communication are driving people further away instead of bringing them closer together. We see it socially with concerts and professionally with jobs.

Our issue is not that there is nothing to do or that there are no jobs, but it is a communication and promotion barrier we must overcome. This is our #1 issue in addressing brain drain.   

Yesterday’s announcement by Governor Kaine, Carilion and Virginia Tech on creating a new medical school in downtown Roanoke was a tremendous boost for the RN region (Roanoke and New River Valleys).

We have a three-week intern who started with us yesterday. She went to this event and other meetings throughout the day. Being somewhat skeptical of the future of the region, I asked her what she thought after one day of learning more about some of the companies and projects in Roanoke. Her response, "I had no idea all of this was in the works." She did a 180 on the future vision of Roanoke.

I asked her what  her friends would think if they had been exposed to some of the same things she had been exposed to during the day, she said they would be impressed too.

We must get more isolated young adults better connected to individuals from older generations in order to learn more about the current events and projects of the region. If a strong connection like this existed, I believe you would hear this phrase a lot less - "There is nothing to do in Roanoke…"

Young adults are invited to hear Governor Kaine, Carilion and Virginia Tech on January 3rd, at 3:30 pm at the Riverside Center office building (third floor) in announcing plans to open a medical school in the Roanoke Region. The new school will address future physician shortages in the area, boost the local economy, and attract technology firms to the region.

The Riverside Center Office Building is located at 1703 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke.