Five Startup Ideas to Help Others Beat a Tough Job Market

The job market hasn't been this crowded for over 26 years. An estimated 10.2 percent of the U.S. population is unemployed. The U.S. workforce has seen 15.7 million jobs vanish since the start of the recession in November 2008. In this environment, many job seekers are looking to support services to give them a competitive edge. Answer their call by parlaying your skills into a business helping others get hired.
The following small businesses draw strength from a competitive job market, providing a lifeline of professional support services to job seekers.

1. Career Coach
Help people discover the color of their parachute by setting up a private practice as a career coach. Unlike personal counselors, career advisors are not licensed by an outside body. The only credentials you need to hang your shingle as a career coach are a positive attitude and access to an arsenal of career assessment tools. If you have a background in human resources or professional counseling, so much the better. Some career coaches possess intimate knowledge of a particular industry such as law, and specialize in helping clients find their place in this universe.

Professional and Business Networking is critical to a thriving career coach practice. Team up with corporate recruiters, institutions such as universities, business networking sites such as LinkedIn, Tradeseam, and counselors as a valuable source of client referrals. To create a buzz for your services online, construct a well-designed Web site with the help of a website design and SEO specialist. A career advice blog can also help draw attention to your coaching service.

2. Temporary Staffing
Recession is boom time for the staffing industry, as businesses rely on temp agencies for greater flexibility. According to the National Association of Personnel Services, temporary staffing agencies have emerged as a "full-fledged human resources business partner to corporate America." The industry has averaged a steady ten percent annual growth for the past seven years.

As the administrator of a temporary staffing agency, you handle recruiting, placement, and benefits. In exchange, you charge a premium over the hired employee's base wage. Temporary staffing agencies require little overhead and due to their regional focus, can compete effectively with the industry's titans. It's possible to fund an agency startup on a shoestring budget of several thousand dollars. You'll need a small office, a computer system with accounting and database capabilities, and a Web presence. Credit Card Processing and E-commerce services can help you get the ball rolling at minimal cost.

3. Graphic Design
Job seekers depend on a couple of self-marketing tools to land a job: an effective resume, a cover letter, a portfolio, and increasingly, a personal Web site. Your freelance graphic design business can help go-getters develop visuals that get noticed in today's competitive marketplace.

Graphic designers need little overhead funding to set up shop. Word of mouth and an Internet presence are the keys to building a client base. To make the most of your online storefront, consult a search engine optimization expert for specific keyword and web design strategy advice.

4. Career Skills Training
Employers with their pick of qualified candidates can demand on advanced, up-to-date technical skill set. Help prospective employees get up to speed and back in the race by setting up a specialized training institute. You may draw on your own technical skills to develop a niche curriculum. Or hire experts to pass on their trade to a new generation.

Startup requirements will depend on how you decide to deliver career training to students. For a traditional classroom approach, look for real estate and equipment leasing. Or opt for an online approach, investing in an e-learning module to deliver lectures and host class discussions.

5. E-commerce Support Services
Help out-of-work professionals help themselves. This business-to-business e-commerce support venture allows you to partner with an entrepreneur who has a great business idea or product, but lacks the skills to bring it to market.

To launch a business in e-commerce support solutions, draw on your experience and outsource other functions to external experts. For example, you might want to focus on the business side, developing strategies and proposals to attract investor interest. Contract the technical logistics to an independent expert, and you have a full-service e-commerce support solution. Medical Billing, Telemarketing, Call Center, Web design, SEO, and/or pay per click management are good candidates for outsourcing.

The rising unemployment rate indicates the need for a new type of business--support services for job seekers. Your skills and experience could offer the unemployed the resources they need to get back on their feet. Business ventures specializing in career counseling, training, placement, and self-presentation extend a crucial lifeline to displaced workers, helping them evolve with the changing times.