Press Release Headlines

Surviving the Job Market in a Perilous Economy

New Book Provides Guidance, Spiritual Inspiration and Practical Tips on Employment

BLACKJACK, Mo., Oct. 30, 2009 — In an economy where unemployment rates are at an all-time high, advice on how to survive in the working world can be extremely valuable. In their new book, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith's Employment Survival Guide" (published by AuthorHouse), co-authors Odie and Daval Smith offer readers both practical and spiritual insight into how to effectively navigate unemployment and how to better develop an existing career.

Odie and Daval Smith have been married for 22 years and experienced both the employment highs and unemployment lows throughout life. With this book, the Smiths impart their knowledge and professional guidance, assisting every reader in positioning themselves toward effective employment. They write:

With our changing economy, it is difficult to know if our jobs are truly secure or if we are in safe hands with our employer. We are all replaceable. This book will provide you with some assistance during your employment transition with what we call the O-D-I-E method:

  • Organizing yourself before leaving a job
  • Developing a To-Do list after you have been released
  • Improving your chances during your search for another job
  • Executing an appropriate work ethic while on your new job

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith's Employment Survival Guide" includes a broad spectrum of career-related advice, including tips on leaving your current job if necessary, how to get through unemployment with enriching activities, job-search tips, resume-building advice, unemployment benefits and information, essential skills to build or improve upon and interviewing pointers. Also included in the beginning of every chapter is a Bible verse that relates to the subject matter of that particular section. This spiritual inspiration gives a new perspective on employment advice that is not often highlighted in related pieces of literature. They write:

CHAPTER 2
Helpful Tips for Surviving a Layoff
Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong…Ezekiel 22:14 (KJV)

Circumstances can vary — there are many distinctive survival situations and behaviors for anyone who has become a victim of downsizing: from a single young worker, who has the options to continue their education and find a part-time position to fulfill their lesser needs, to the laid-off parent, who must continue to provide for their family. Regardless, both of them are without a steady paycheck and will need assistance and encouragement. No job is 100 percent secure or guaranteed, and anyone is susceptible to a layoff.

About the Authors

Odie Smith is presently the customer service manager and technical regional manager with CBIZ Network Solutions, LLC in St. Louis. He has been awarded numerous honors for his discipline in professional decision-making, becoming recognized nationally as a superior customer service specialist. Mr. Smith's degree in business administration and his other academic studies have fully prepared him for this new direction.

Daval Smith is a certified pharmacy technician for a leading benefits management company in St. Louis. She began her career through the St. Louis Community College system, where she studied childcare development, which led her to pursue a career in childcare. In 1993, Daval and Odie established a non-profit company in which they distributed unemployment assistance information to workers in the St. Louis area who were casualties of layoffs.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.

EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:
Kristy Ketterman
Tel: 888-728-8467 ext. 5224
Fax: 812-961-3133
Email: Email
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

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