This time last year, the kids were back in school and we were riding that staffing wave and “hanging 10” (insert Hawaii Five-O music here).  Soon after, recruiters were left simply “hanging” and some felt like “hanging” themselves (though I do not know of any that actually did thank goodness).  My fellow recruiters started losing their jobs and we knew we were all in trouble.  And now, Ben Bernanke, current Federal Reserve Chairman thinks that one of the worst economic downturns in American history IS OVER (insert happy music here like “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang ).   Every publication and media outlet seems to point that way i.e. The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, FOX News…you name it.  The problems in the subprime market seem contained, consumer confidence is restoring, homes are selling, HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!!!!  BUT, BE AWARE that Bernanke also did not detail any significant changes in the immediate future.  Yes we are improving, but not at a rapid pace.  If you ask me, go ahead…ask me…ok, thanks for asking, a full recovery cannot come quick enough.  Bernanke’s Fed, meanwhile, has been giving pretty clear, yes “crystal clear” (thanks Jack and Tom) signals over the past couple of months that it thinks the recession is ending but the recovery will be sssssllloooowwww and weak.  At my firm we support both Corporations and Executive Search and both are showing an uptick in activity, not a rapid uptick, but an uptick nonetheless.  I’ll take that.  Clients that we have not heard from in a while are opening searches and we continue to see activity in the areas of Defense, Energy, Healthcare and Education.  Even new clients are coming out of the woodworks from these areas.  I just look forward to the days when retail, financial services and construction are strong again and I will feel whole again.  Meanwhile, I will continue to satisfy my clients, exceed expectations, watch Wall Street recover and dream about the day when all of my fellow recruiters are back to work and that time should be soon…I hope. ARE YOU READY FOR THE WAVE ?!?!?