It is tragic to see how many unemployed people there are on the planet. I am among them, although I study and keep busy so I do not get too frustrated. However, not everybody can nor have the courage to do so. It is even more frustrating when one looks at the job database every day, and see so many jobs out there. So employers want employees, “wanna-be” employees want employers, and yet jobless rates increase all over the world (or almost). I found figures on Trading Economics website and I selected a few countries (mostly in Europe). Here is how the situation was in February 2010:

In my motherland, the rate is 10,10% and in my adoption country it is 9%, they are very close which I suspected.  I do not know what the job market looks like in France nowadays but I hear it is like everywhere else, it is tough to find anything. About Sweden’s job market, I can talk a little more however. As I said, there are jobs, I saw them on the employment agency website (arbetsförmedligen). Companies are looking for personnel, yet they are very demanding. So much so that I do wonder if they want to find anyone for the positions they offer. One example comes to mind: I had found, what I thought to be a great ad for a regular office job, so I read through. I could have been good there if it had been nearer, it was reasonably demanding, but at the end it said “no smokers”. There is always one little thing that prevents a person to apply. Other jobs are so demanding, that for a second you are ashamed not to be all that they want you to be. But if you are, then there is always the argument of the lack of experience.

To employers in general, leastways those who are looking for new staff.
Do you really know what you are looking for when you put so many adjectives that should qualify a candidate? Why do you not take the risk, even with the actual economical crisis, to let candidates prove with acts, and not diplomas or references, what they can do? Or is it that you just have a quota to fill of job ads to post on the unemployment agency’s board?
There are so many qualified people out there who might not have all the personal qualities required, but who could do such tremendous work.

Another aspect is this: if the jobs out there do not find the right staff for lack of qualification, why not make it easier for people to get it? That is the kind of investment municipalities need to prioritise. There are simple solutions at hand that need obviously the right decisions to be made. We all had enough of “those in charge” (and you all know who you are) shaking their heads in front of the bad figures, and catastrophic economy. We had enough hearing them talking about it and hear what they cannot do to help. I say to them: find out what you can do, do it and then talk about it!

I am unregistered-unemployed (so I am not included in the rates) French citizen, living in Sweden where the unemployment rate reached 9% in February 2010 as I previously said. I am sending resumes and letters, maybe not every day but often. I study Swedish, Small Business and a couple of other things. I have a study allowance of 88 SEK per month (9.10€ or 12.17$ or 7.9£), because I have to pay back the extra money I was not supposed to get. Of course I am pissed off now and then… BUT… I know where I am going and it feels good. I have a wonderful husband and a family that I cherish. I am convinced deep inside that everything will be fine as long as I do not give up. But it is not about me, is it? I am one of the luckiest, yet all the others like me who struggle every day. Do they all have my luck? When are they going to get the help and attention they need?

There is no money, I know! We all do… what on Earth are you then doing with the money you get from the tax payers? and do not say healthcare, because it is becoming a big joke!

Now, I am getting carried away. All I wanted to say was that there are plenty of jobs, plenty of qualified unemployed people, plenty of others not so qualified… with all that, why cannot the governments/companies improve the situation? We are waiting!

À découvrir de toute urgence, la BD de Nolive qui est absolument déléctable et hilarante. Sacré coup de crayon l’artiste et un humour rafraîchissant! J’adore ^_^

Unfortunatelly this comic book is not yet available in English…

I am well aware that most of you already know and have experienced the power of a good network, and although this is not the object of my article today, I needed to say that: I just recently did too! I often come to wonder what is behind the concept. These past few years, we have seen the face of Internet change considerably with the explosion of “Virtual” Social Networks, like “MySpace”, “Facebook”… I have heard many things about them, but mostly inconvenient… maybe not the right word, let’s call it “a huge downside that overpowers everything else”.

• The downside to “virtual” networking:

Internet Social Networks (ISN) are crowded with sexual predators… hmm! It is probably right, but so is the real world! Virtual Networks are nothing but a reflection of our Society. Why kind of control do people have in the real world that they do not have in a “virtual” society… the only thing I can think of is that it is very easy to lie about who one really is in a virtual world, that would be the danger. Common sense tells one to trust others even more seldom in a virtual platform… that would be what parents should teach their children very early, it’s actually their job to protect them and that is one way. Not that easy? Well, nobody said it was easy to be a parent!
Okay, let us leave that aspect aside as it is another debate. ISN bring people in a more isolated settlement even though one could have hundreds of “friends” from all over the world. Networking through Internet is keeping people more apart than ever. It is like my husband says: “what is wrong with just picking up the phone?” Obviously nothing is wrong with that, however would it make any difference if Internet had never become what it is today? Would people stay in touch with one another the way they used to? I would not be so sure.

“Virtual” Social Networks are but a tool for people to communicate beyond frontiers. It is a tool to keep in touch, to spread information…  The dangers of it, or rather the danger, is to forget what it really is: just a tool!

• The upside to “virtual” networking:

As a tool, it is user friendly and people tend to choose it over phoning or writing letters because it is cheap, even free (if one does not consider the cost of an Internet connection). In the actual economical situation the world finds itself, nothing is better than saving money any way one can (even though it is but an illusion). No matter… that kind of networking works really good with patience and luck. I do believe that luck is a big factor. Of course, it depends on the reason one is actually networking. Getting a musical band better known, or a book, or anything that needs people to exist, then “virtual” social networks are a blast! One just needs one person whose network (amount of connection) is larger than ones; a person that likes ones art/product and communicates about it, for one to finally get the attention needed/deserved. It is not necessarily to sell that one needs such attention, not at first… it is to get the sense of purpose in what one is doing. Then the business part kicks in and it is an entire other story (which I am not interested in for this piece).

Humanly speaking, why does one want to leave a mark such as art? why one wishes to be noticed? After all, we are all going to die at some point, so why? why does one think that future generations ought to know one were here? Is it pride? what is it?
Again, this is another debate, but what I wrote above just made me think of these questions some of you could even ask: why are you writing? why do you need to have a blog? why do you think people care about what you think? I would say, just because ! (even though it is no answer).

Anyway, back to “Virtual” Social Networks… As long as one does not forget what they are: just a tool, one is safe. Common sense is the best way to keep ones head cool and keep ones feet on the ground. Responsibility is also an important notion: for parents, users, and networks owners… Just do not forget that “Virtual” Social Networks are nothing more than a copy of the world we live in, but they are not life. Whatever bad happens because of a virtual interaction, people do the deeds not the tool! When good things happen, it is still people who make them happen, not the tool! But when there is bad then it is the tools fault… when there is good, one praises the tool…
Finally, I need to add, risking repeating myself: having friends is good; to meet them, chat with them, have fun with them, interact for real with them, is what counts and makes life wonderful. “Virtual” is a tool, nothing more. PEOPLE are what matters!