Part 3 (1/2)

The macroeconomics will be argued for some time to come. As a guerrilla job hunter, you need interest yourself only in the microeconomic impact of offshoring and how it affects your career-in short, which jobs are likely to disappear over time and what industries are likely to benefit. If you think ”By America” legislation will save your job-don't bet on it. There are many issues that will take time for President Barack Hussein Obama II to work through Congress, though personally I'm confident he will.

Your job is at risk to offshoring if: * It can be broken down into many smaller tasks that can be redistributed to lower skilled, lower paid workers.* Your company's profits are under constant a.s.sault by low-cost compet.i.tors.* Someone else with a high-school education can do your job with less than a week's training.

Here's what you can bank on: * The offshoring trend won't stop anytime soon.* Companies will continue to maximize profits and reduce costs.* The government will not solve your career problems-at best it will provide limited retraining a.s.sistance.

SKILLS THAT WON'T BE OFFSh.o.r.eD

Leaders.h.i.+p Skills

Self-confessed team players are often regarded as ”followers” or ”hangers-on” by senior management. I know you have been told: ”We are supposed to be team players.” The human resources department may have told you that, but there's a difference between leaders who can follow others, and those people who always need to follow others. My advice to you-forget about buying another power tie, instead invest in a course on leaders.h.i.+p and look for opportunities to test your newfound skills within the company or outside as a volunteer. The ability to lead will be the number one requirement for guerrilla job hunters.

Project Management Skills

Develop the fine art of managing people and projects. Learn how to deal with customers, work with vendors, and interact with management in ways that satisfy the needs and objectives of the organization. This elusive talent is of great value and will support the notion that you are becoming a person who is of great value to your organization. My advice: look into a formal accreditation through the Project Management Inst.i.tute (e the person who can pull teams together, support communication, and make things happen, that will help make your position and perceived value within the organization more visible and support the argument that leaving your job intact is a good business decision. My advice: learn to be likable and how to work a room without looking like a self-obsessed shark.

Communication Skills

Writing and public speaking are critical skills whether you are representing your company or merely trying to sway your boss. A public speaking course will have you on the podium and in the limelight faster than any other single action you can take. Your value and confidence will increase dramatically. My advice: join a Toastmasters networking group near you today.

Sales Skills

There are many jokes about salespeople: what do they really do besides lunch and golf? Bring in the business, that's what, and today that's everyone's responsibility. New business is the lifeblood of every business. When you become known as a rainmaker, the chances of your job being offsh.o.r.ed diminish dramatically. My advice: become great at it. Start with a few books like Five Minutes with VITO Five Minutes with VITO by David Mattson and Anthony Parinello (Beverly Hills, CA: Pegasus Media World, 2008), and by David Mattson and Anthony Parinello (Beverly Hills, CA: Pegasus Media World, 2008), and Speak to Win: How to Present with Power in Any Situation Speak to Win: How to Present with Power in Any Situation by Brian Tracy (New York: AMACOM, 2008). Devour those books and then take a formal course. by Brian Tracy (New York: AMACOM, 2008). Devour those books and then take a formal course.

JOBS THAT WON'T BE OFFSh.o.r.eD

There are some jobs that, at the moment, just can't be offsh.o.r.ed. Can you imagine offshoring your personal financial planning to a stranger in some foreign country? Are you going to fly to a foreign country just to see a doctor or check yourself into a hospital? Is a salesperson from Asia likely to travel to your home or place of business to sell you insurance, a new car, computer, or clothes? Unlikely.

There is a clear pattern here. Many jobs, because of their personal or ”intangible nature, cannot be offsh.o.r.ed. Baby boomers are the wealthiest generation ever and scores of new jobs will be created because of their obsession with youth, advances in medicine, bioengineering, and security.