Job Hunting

I was wondering how hard is it to find employment these days? I don't mean just any job, but a good paying job with decent benefits.

A good friend of mine was let go from her job and it took over a year to find a similar position. Its incomprehensible that someone with over 10 years corporate experience and a Master's degree will go through such an ordeal. People that have invested so much time and effort into their careers should have an edge on their competition, but it seems impossible to break through some hiring barriers.

In my observation, I noticed there isn't a demand for individuals with a 'generalist' background, which are people that have a mix of skills, such as, marketing, product management, sales and client management. After a certain level it is expected that you will be an expert at only one of those areas or some kind of niche segment of a business. Its a shame because I think people with a diversified background can add so much value within any organization, and it also demonstrates their ability to learn new things and adapt to change quickly. Many of them have spent years pursuing college degrees (part-time, while working full time) which is impressive and also demonstrates their commitment and tenacity.

In college, I had a wonderful professor who once said that ANY job can be learned in six weeks (except professional jobs, like doctor, lawyer, dentist), I agree with him.

Maybe this trend will change, however, I doubt it given my recent experiences with this topic.