Unemployment Rate Doesn't Matter

Last week the unemployment rate for Sept was announced and it went up slightly to 9.8% nationwide.   I have clients who regularly keep tabs on this statistic and it's triggered more and more anxiety as it has continued to go up.

My invitation to them and to you is to ignore it.  Why?  Because it doesn't matter.  Why doesn't it matter?  If you are unemployed, you are 100% unemployed.  Does it really matter how many others are in your same situation?  I suggest, 'no, not really'.

It may matter from the perspective of how much competition is out there, but ultimately, that doesn't matter either.  Good job search strategies are good job search strategies and you should (I don't usually like using that word, so here goes...) no, you must use good job search strategies regardless of how much competition is out there. 

So ignore your local unemployment numbers and the national ones too.  As my yoga teaches always reminds us: "Stay on your mat" and by that she means, just focus on what you're doing, not anyone else.  Keep your eye on the goal, your goal and stay on YOUR mat.   

Brenda