Onyxpurr,
Hey, I am in AZ as well. Actually, Cave Creek, but close enough.
I have maintained (still maintain) that the job market has been bad - but not as bad as people "want" to believe. In my articles and prior post I am very careful to steer people away from job postings (either online or in ads) as a very effective determiner of opportunity.
It certainly is one indication - and it may very well indicate that employers are struggling to fill positions using other methods.
As Bolles pointed out 30 years ago in the first edition of, "What Color Is Your Parachute," want ads (job boards are want ads) are an employer's least desirable way to find talent. Employers first look to those internal, those they know, those other employees and industry peers know, and finally, the big gamble, want ads.
Employees on the other hand - start first with want ads - and often stay there. They meet the employer at the riskiest point.
Since everyone is "on commission", I advocate a more direct - get out there and meet people - knock on doors approach. It produces faster and generally qualitatively superior opportunities. You can also use this type of approach to create a more robust network of contacts and find companies that you might not have known existed.
While I have published articles on career development and provided seminars on the topic, I am an in-the-trenches technology and business consultant who has found the past few years to be rife with opportunity.
In fact, for many of the companies I consult for, they have had no one enter their company off the streets looking for work. Sales people don't count. It is like having no competition and holding a virtual monopoly.
In any case, it is worth considering. Some people don't like the idea of going "door to door" to find work. I don't either. But I like being underpaid, underemployed, and underappreciated even more.
The fact is, my current primary client has paid me nearly $100k in the past year, I work 2 half-days onsite and the rest of my time is done from home. I spend 1/2 day every other week visiting other local companies and focus all my efforts within 15 miles of my house - I don't like commuting even when I do it rarely.
This is not a "Look at me, aren't I great!" post. I work very hard to make this working arrangement and have met several others who do the same - or that I have helped do the same. I focus my attention solely on finding those opportunities and DO NOT WAIT until companies call me. I find them at their point of need - and the only way I can do that is by wearing down the soles of a nice pair of shoes.
Just an idea.
Matthew Moran
PPP