Desperately Seeking Employment

It's 2010 and I'm one of thousands of Americans who are unemployed. I think I can use that term to describe my current status. You see, I've been self-employed for the last four years and my two businesses are still operational (although generating insufficient income right now). While looking for a real job I'm still keeping the doors to my at-home businesses open. The income flow keeps gas in the car, the cell phone turned on, and a few bills paid.

I'm supposed to be freaking out. Alabama has one of the highest unemployment rates according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/lauhsthl.htm). In April 2010 it was 11%. However, I live in North Alabama and the unemployment rate for Huntsville is a mere (wink) 7.9%. So there's plenty of room for hope. Right?

Even though I have a best friend who's been unemployed for almost eighteen months, and despite the fact that CNN allows its job-hunting viewers to do a hire-me sales pitch during a news segment, I choose to be optimistic. I have an undergraduate degree in Communication Arts and more than twenty (that's right, 20) years of business experience. That should count for something. I'm betting that puts me head and shoulders over some recent college graduates. Oh yes, one more thing: I'm willing to relocate. The odds are in my favor!

So.....I've set a goal of applying to a minimum of ten jobs each week with the hopes of landing a job no later than July 1st.

I will chronicle this quest of mine in hopes of learning from my mistakes and possibly helping out fellow-unemployed colleagues. I'll keep a scorecard that captures: jobs applied for, interviews, offers. I'll try to insert a grid or something.

I welcome your suggestions and leads. I'll be sure to post mine here.