The following appeared in the Roanoke Times New River Valley Current on Tuesday, February 2.

In January, we introduced the concept of the Unserviced Workforce. These workers are stuck because neither the private nor the public sector is adequately servicing these people. Unserviced workers are defined as having good skill sets, but not billable skill sets. They have some form of higher education. They have upside and potential, typically younger, and are looking for a professional-level job. The goal of these people is to move out of this labor sandwich, but they do not know how. They need a roadmap to proactively manage their career. The Perfect Job Seeker is a proven strategy to get you out of the Unserviced Workforce.

The Perfect Job Seeker diversifies his/her time working and managing a career by investing in four buckets – Relationships, Humility, Study and Faith.  The first two buckets are immediate and the others have a longer-term horizon.

First, it’s all about Relationships. Only 1 in 5 of all jobs is advertised. To uncover the other 4 you must establish and nurture a network of contacts that provide information about these hidden jobs. A recent survey found only 6% of job seekers secure jobs through online resources. Relationships are king.

Practice Humility or someone else will do it for you. Unrealistic expectations and entitlements have created many bitter job seekers. In this economy, everyone is affected regardless of academic pedigrees, past accomplishments, or tenure and seniority. For a period of time, one may have to become under-employed and take on multiple jobs. Simply put, there are jobs available, if a person wants to do them.

More long-term solutions used by a Perfect Job Seeker to stay out of the Unserviced Workforce include continuing your education through formal or informal Study. The high school diploma or college degree from years ago now may be outdated. Acquiring new skills is essential to placing oneself in a fountain of opportunities. Again, there are jobs available, if a person wants to obtain the skills needed to perform the jobs.

Take a leap of Faith and start a business.  This does not have to be a full-time gig. Internet and home-based businesses plus franchise opportunities all offer the ability to create multiple revenue streams. At no other time in U.S. history has the barriers to entry in starting a business been so low.

Ultimately, using the Perfect Job Seeker model for guiding your career will not only help you navigate through this economic recession, but it will also prepare you for the next recession. Diversify your career planning and job search activities. Invest time in relationships. Humble yourself and take jobs beneath you. Commit to lifelong learning. Think about how to create a small business.

Using the Perfect Job Seeker recipe will keep you out of the Unserviced Workforce.

For more information, visit the www.perfectjobseeker.com and www.unserivcedworkforce.com.