Thousands who lost their jobs between 2007 and 2009 are still underemployed or not employed.

The financial services sector and real estate were especially hard hit. The chart below shows which occupations saw dramatic losses in the number of job opportunities from November 2010 to November 2011 and which grew. (Based on job opportunities listings as reported by indeed.com.)

If you are a part of the shrinking sectors, or have already been down-sized, this information is for you.

I was an asset manager for a closely held commercial real estate firm in a large city in what was a booming economy. In 2008, the company, in an effort to survive, re-organized, recapitalized, and reduced manpower by about 50% [the high earners were the first to be let go], I was one of them.

Since the crash, I’ve held a number of short term posts at half or less of my previous salary; I went back to school for my MBA and looked at a number of ‘online’ or ‘network marketing’ opportunities. The problem with all these efforts was that none of them really used my professional skills, honed over years of managing multi-million dollar portfolios and operating budgets.

Here is the perfect storm: a reduced number of opportunities plus increased competition from new graduates and other down-sized professionals. Add to that my expectation of a wage commensurate with my experience, and the possibilities continued to shrink.

Fast forward to the end of 2011: I am working from my home office, interacting with accomplished and interesting people on a daily basis, and earning income from multiple sources.

If you are one of the professionals that lost a 50K + position, I invite you to check out my team, our resources, and especially our high-end earning opportunities. If you already have a business in mind, or have already started one, you will benefit tremendously from our marketing training, all complimentary when you join.

In case you are wondering about the stats on income from high level professional positions vs. starting your own, here’s a chart comparing the top US companies’ pay scales with ‘early stage’ entrepreneurial efforts. Entrepreneurial income tops all but the Fortune 50 execs….here are the details.

Enter your name and e-mail address below to get your copy of my new e-book: 110 Tips for Career Success Using LinkedIn and Google+ and a BONUS newsletter series with 94 Lessons for Business Success. I look forward to adding you to my network!