I Have a Job, They Don’t: Research

The "I Have a Job" Roundup.

You've got your unemployed friends and family and want to help.  One thing you know they've got to do is research -on jobs, on locations, on career options, on education.  You wish you could help them.

Ok, so go do it.

You're a geek, an otaku, a fan.  You live in a world of information and are probably insanely good at researching a few things if not a lot of things.  You probably have a terrifying amount of knowledge about some important subjects.

So, help those looking for work by assisting them with research.

I'm not saying do it all for them – though in some cases it may make sense that they "outsource" to you.  I'm saying help out where you're really good to help them get the information they need.  GO where you're most needed, and most critical.

Don't worry too much about doing their job for them.  In these tough times life's challenging enough as it is.

So go on and find out what technical skills they need, or use your freakish knowledge of demographics to find them an ideal city.  Go and apply your typing skills and ability to network among geeks to find out about good career options.

Go and apply those research skills.  As long as they're willing to listen, helping them out is an option.

Steven Savage

I Have a Job, They Don’t: Visiting TIme

I'm big on relocation – having moved across a country to do it – and because let's face it, economic opportunities (and the recovery) aren't uniform across the nation – or a state, or the world.  Sometimes you have to do it – now more than ever.

Of course is a location right for you – or for, say, a friend or family member looking to move there?  the best way to go is to A) know someone there, and B) visit them.

You see where this is going.

However, if you don't see it, here's something I advise – and have done.  Find that person engaged in a job search, and put them up for a short time (say a week or two) to scout the area you live out.

Read more

Why Local Politics Matter When You Relocate

Right now there's a lot of talk about Arizona's recent immigration laws – as well as additional laws and policies following it.  To summarize as easy as I can:

  • The governor signed a bill that extended police power to detain/question people over citizenship with reasonable suspicion.  The interpretation of this – and some potential modifications – make it more complicated.  The law is quite controversial as it seems to invite profiling (though people I know in Arizona says it's less change than people may think).
  • A bill that would limit ethnic studies (and oddly lump it in with other things)
  • An education department policy on teachers with accents that could lead to teachers being fired or limited in teaching.  I find this ridiculous as I live in an area with tons of accents.

Yes, if you read about these laws, you'd get the impression that there's some racial and ethnic animosity here.  I sadly come to the same conclusion, am sure that this is going to be a giant political powderkeg, and that there will be much fallout in the future. 

But ask yourself this (before I turn this into a Frustration Friday), would you have heard of this if it wasn't national news?  I don't think you would.

Read more