Last week, Liam Denning wrote a very cogent article for the Wall Street Journal "Heard on the Street" column that explained year-on-year comparisons, as the usual measure of progress, are not as relevant today as in the past — particularly when the year in comparison was a real "downer."

"Up 16 percent in housing prices from last year" does not tell the story when prices have flat-lined since May 2009.

Though the fundamentals of business today seem to continue at a "slow and steady" pace, there is not much difference to the media whose headline might read - the economy continues to "flat-line."

Whether there is a double dip recession or not, the media is never kind to long periods of stability. They like the volatility (e.g. new "news") to attract readers and viewers. It is often a "the worst or the best since"...syndrome with the media.

While recently talking to an employed executive who was ready for advancement and for a job change, I reiterated the strategies we counsel our members on every day, and on the particular perspective that is needed in this environment: Don't judge your career opportunities by the media headlines; it only takes one job to fulfill you, but many millions more to satisfy the media and the economy. You are looking just for one job.

Our view is that there is opportunity out there in this environment - even if it's not found on job boards currently. Our surveys say that over 50 percent of companies would be willing to upgrade talent in this environment. They are looking for "A players" to replace potential "B and C players" and CEOs have problems that require solving, even if they haven't initiated a job search to fill their needs.

Your job is to find companies that have problems and then present yourself as the "solution." You are searching for problems companies are struggling with, and when you find one you can solve, a specific job may follow.

Mark Anderson
Mark Anderson is ExecuNet's president and chief economist. An Arjay Miller Scholar, Mark received his MBA from Stanford University and a BA in economics from Yale University. He joined ExecuNet in 1993, with extensive marketing and new product and business development experience, having served as president and founder of A&M Associates, an investment management firm. Mark's corporate leadership experience includes several senior marketing and financial positions with RCA Global Communications (a GE subsidiary) and American Can Company.

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