Workplace

The worst economic bad news may be behind us, said Anne Kates Smith in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, but “good news for anyone looking for a job is still in the distance.” By some estimates, “we may have to wait until 2013 before the economy again supports full employment.” If you’re out of work or stuck in an ailing industry, you may not want to wait around for a comeback. Instead, consider targeting some “bright spots” within the economy, and look for work in areas such as health care, education, nonprofits, or government.

While jumping into a new industry isn’t easy, it doesn’t necessarily require drastic measures, said Diana Middleton in The Wall Street Journal. The easiest route is to “redeploy” skills you already have by applying them to a high-growth industry. ­“If you’re an accountant at General Motors, for instance,” just look for accounting work in other industries. If a possible transition path isn’t quite so clear, start by talking with people you trust, says Connecticut-based career coach Trudi Schutz. Brainstorm “your wildest ideas.” Then ask everyone you know to help you connect with people they know in fields that interest you. Sooner or later, Schutz says, “someone will lead you to someone else who will lead you to someone else.”

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up