Hiring may not be so great in 2008

Technology is also sluggish, economist Bernstein points out, bringing in new jobs only in “dribs and drabs.”

But there are also bright spots, he adds. “In health care, job growth has way outpaced the average, and so are jobs in education.”

Bioscience and clean technology companies are also seeing some signs of life, says Chuck Pappalardo, managing director of recruiting firm Trilogy Search.

Despite the positives, it’s going to be a bumpy road for most workers this year.

“The debate isn’t whether we’ll have a first half that’s strong but whether we’ll have a recession or just slow growth,” explains Bernstein.

So it’s time to get your career armor on and figure out how you can best fight your way through the job battle ahead.

If you’ve been laid off from a job you thought paid well and you can’t find something comparable like what Gary mentioned above, this next year might be a good time to go back to school in order to learn something new so you can transfer your skills to another industry. There may be state or federal money available for retraining, so it’s a good idea to check with local community colleges.

With a mechanical background you could be a hot commodity in a hot industry like green manufacturing where companies are looking to make environmentally friendly products, says Trilogy’s Pappalardo.

Now more than ever, you have to be clear on what you can bring to a prospective employer because there are going to be more people applying for that job you want.

“They need to develop an elevator pitch for why someone would want to hire them for a particular job,” Pappalardo advises. “Candidates want to be very targeted. I don’t mean get one or two targets, but really target your career and who you are. What sets you apart and makes you more qualified for a certain job than others.”

To target your search, you have to do a lot of research up front into a company and the job you’re applying for. Sending out hundreds of resumes without knowing exactly what you want is going to get you no where, especially in a weak job market.

For Robert, the licensed lawyer from Kansas City, and others like him the only option may be relocation.

This is especially true for people who want to work in the manufacturing sector but are in Northern states or the Midwest, says Pappalardo. Manufacturing positions will be easier to come by in Southern states including Tennessee and the Carolinas, he adds.

But often relocating is just not possible, as with Robert who says, “My wife has found her ‘dream job’ here in Kansas City, and we have family and friends here, so relocating to another part of the country is not an option we’re ready to consider at this time.”

In this case, Pappalardo says Robert should think outside the box and find a legal job in what may seem non-traditional areas, such as nonprofits or combining his legal and administrative skills in a corporate position that’s not in the legal department.

No matter what path you take, get ready to brace yourself for this year.

I have covered labor issues and the world of business for about two decades, and during that time I’ve seen how economic downturns can hit working people hard.

The ones that make it through unscathed have a few things in common: They are willing to adapt and upgrade their skills in order to try something new; or they’re open to moving to a city where they can do what they love; or they just keep grinding away at a less-than-perfect job until the good times start rolling again.

And, the bottom line, they don’t give up.

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