I keep reading and hearing about the doom and gloom of this economy, and that jobs are being lost faster than they are being created, (and the world is falling apart, well....). At Cool Works, we are paying close attention to the world around us and have our own concerns, but I thought I would add some bright spots of working in the seasonal world for those willing to think outside the box. And yes, I am considered to be a glass half-full sort of person.

1. Employers are still listing their jobs on CoolWorks.com. Sure, we've seen a slow down like everyone else, but new job postings are added every day.

2. Most seasonal jobs come with relatively cheap eats and housing. If you get a job in a national park, your meals are prepared for you and you get a place to live for a reasonable amount that comes out of your paycheck. No mortgage to worry about or shopping to do.

3. Many people who start on a seasonal basis with a resort, ranch, camp, concessionaire, or travel industry job move up and into full-time, year-round positions. Summer jobs and seasonal jobs are a great foot in the door. The initial job may or may not be the dream job, but as an internal employee one may eligible for job opportunities that may not get posted outside the company. Many companies promote from within. Get on the inside!

4. Last thought here is that people are unwilling to give up their vacations. I was just in Yosemite National Park in October and there were plenty of people wandering around, eating out, buying stuff from gift shops, etc. In addition, with the dollar still low, the International guests number was up. They're still coming over to see our great nation. Be their guide, serve them dinner, make up their rooms. There are jobs to do!

Here are a couple of helpful links on Cool Works for finding a job, seasonal or year-round.

My CoolWorks - http://my.coolworks.com

A social network for those who want to compare and share their work and life experiences in great places. Join to network with those out there working the jobs and planning ahead for the summer of 2009.

Cool Works Careers Page - http://www.coolworks.com/careers/joblist.asp

Lots of full-time, year-round positions are listed here and the list changes almost every day. Job seekers just might find themselves in great places doing jobs they love.

Cool Works Seasonal Pros Page - http://www.coolworks.com/seasonal-pros/joblist.asp

This page is good for those not quite ready to commit to a year-round job, but do want something stable for 3 to 6 months.

Cool Works Help Wanted Now Page - http://www.coolworks.com/help-wanted-now/joblist.asp

Need a job yesterday? Well, these employers need staff now. Check out the list.

The bottom line is that those of us at Cool Works want to help. We know that it's tough out there, but hope that jobs found on our website will get people through, and better yet, may even set them on a course that they never thought possible. Check out our stories to see how the seasonal world has transformed each of us.