Launch of Spain Business Advisors to Identify Career Opportunities for Executives

After several months of exploring new professional opportunities in the second half of 2010, I made a decision to acquire a license to represent Personal Business Advisors (PBA) in early December 2010. As a Senior Advisor with PBA, I advise and assist executives and senior level professionals to identify and evaluate new non-traditional business and career opportunities.

As a result of the current economic challenges that we all have personally experienced over the past several years, demand for my independent consulting services (Spain Technovative Solutions, launched in early 2005) began declining in the second quarter of 2010. Beginning last summer, I leveraged my professional network extensively and evaluated several dozen potential new business opportunities including:

·         Delivering consulting and business coaching services to previous clients

·         Identifying new prospective consulting clients

·         Applying for numerous full-time “traditional” jobs in the RTP area

The results from my active job search over several months did not result in a single response from any of the prospective employers where I had sent resumes and cover letters. I also received consistent responses from prospective consulting clients that they were not in a financial position to engage outside services at this time. My ultimate business decision to partner with PBA was also influenced by these factors:

1. I was interested in exploring options that would provide me with greater control over my own professional destiny
2. I have considerable recruiting experience having reviewed thousands of resumes and interviewed and hired hundreds of professionals at all levels for over 30 years
3. I have been working independently from a home office for six years and preferred to continue to work in a virtual versus a traditional business office environment
4. I have been very active in professional networking since I relocated to Research Triangle Park and have connected dozens of professionals with new career opportunities over the past 15 years
5. I have a strong professional network to help jumpstart my new role as a Senior Advisor supporting successful business professionals
6. I am energized about initiating a new business venture, especially one where I could potentially receive tremendous satisfaction from making a positive difference in other people’s lives

Of course the current jobs outlook weighed in on my decision as well. In the past few months, dozens of news stories have reinforced this career decision including the following recent posts:

·         “…the total labor underutilization of the economy—climbs to 17 percent.”

·         Unemployment rate hits 10-year peak in 112 U.S. markets

·         Small companies are the big job generators

·         “…While only 5 per cent of employees said they intend to remain in their current position and the remaining 11 per cent are not sure about their decision”.

·         “The proportion of men and women 25-34 living at home is closer to the 1950 rate than the 2000 rate”

·         “Although the U.S. is projected to reach its 2008 peak in output, employment isn’t expected to recover for a long time.”

·         Long-Term Unemployed: 6 In 10 Jobless Have Searched For More Than A Year, As Hopelessness Sets In

·         U.S. changes how it measures long-term unemployment

·         What happens when the jobless give up?

·          Working past 65: Boomers face job challenges in senior years

Beginning in early 2011, I will be building a team of Advisors at Spain Business Advisors that are committed to empowering senior-level professionals to identify exciting new career opportunities.

I wish all my former colleagues and professional contacts tremendous success in 2011 and beyond as our great country emerges from a long and challenging economic recession. Please contact me if you have any interest in exploring new business opportunities or know of any unemployed or underemployed associates that may be interested in evaluating new, exciting non-traditional career options.

Jack Spain