Media headlines continue to be dominated by news of layoffs and company closings. What does this economy mean for the active job seeker? Even the most optimistic job seeker can be disheartened and reluctant to hit the streets.
Job hunting in today’s economy requires the job seeker to pull out all the stops, take the basics to a new level, and really work at the mindset and process. These tips and tools can help expedite your search during these challenging economic times:
- Focus on what you have to offer. The key to staying positive during a job search and interviews is to remind yourself of what you bring to the table. Make a list of situations (jobs, volunteer or other) where you faced challenges, what your actions were, what the results were and how this translates to value for the employer. Did you make money? Save money? Streamline operations? Nurture relationships? Get business? Keep business? These are your success stories. They are at the heart of why you are marketable. Practice your success stories so that you become more comfortable promoting yourself. To avoid the appearance of bragging, a concern of many, focus on citing the opinions of others, using testimonials and documentation in a portfolio, or simply reporting the facts. And remember that while your potential employer is evaluating you, you should be evaluating them too. This is a collaboration not an interrogation. It’s all about finding a fit for both sides.
- Polish your written image. Show your resume and marketing documents to a professional resume writer or contact. Many resume services offer critiques free of charge online. Make sure all documents are free of errors. Tweak your documents to mirror back qualifications to the job target a one size fits all does not yield results statistically. If you’re applying for jobs not in your industry, consider using a skill-based or functional format. Better yet, use a hybrid format that focuses on your most relevant qualifications but also shows the reader a clear idea of your path to get where you are. Don’t forget that a bio, LinkedIn profile, or a suite of thank you, follow-up letters may be in order to maximize your success. Make sure that your online profile is professional. Do you have content on Facebook or other social networking sites that is not professional? Clean it up. Google will find you.
- Use a targeted job-search campaign. You can glean details in any job-search book or online post, but in a nutshell, a targeted job search is one in which you have chosen the job title or industry in which to focus. With this goal in mind, you identify specific companies and department managers to contact about jobs that may not be advertised. Smaller companies are especially likely to have openings that aren’t posted.
- Take control. No, you can’t work 24/7 job searching, but do at least one thing (ideally more) every single day in support of your job search. Purchase a tiny notebook or pad that can fit in your purse, briefcase, or pocket. Mark down at least one thing you do daily for your job search. Did you make phone calls? Refresh or send your resume? Network with parents in your child’s playgroup? Research potential employers? Log every thing you do. Write, write, write about what you’ve done to follow up. Everything counts. Treat your Career Diary with exceptional care. It is pen to paper on your goals, actions and results.
- Shake up your network. Realize that you probably need help. Make sure you have a professional network and a non-professional network. Connect with family, friends, former co-workers, professional associations in your industry, the clerk at your favorite grocery store, people at church and in the groups you volunteer with. No one is off limits. This is not about them getting you a job. They may not have the power to hire you, but they can use their voice to tell your story. There is power in this! It’s the domino effect! It flows to the point where before long, many people know of your need and your talents!
- Become a salesperson at heart. In this market, unless you are one of the few lucky to be courted, you simply have to sell yourself. Always think of yourself as the product and the employer as the potential buyer. You must market yourself every step of the way resumes to interviews. Inventory your success stories. Put them in writing and articulate them in conversations. Yes, you will get rejected. Yet, in sales there are yeses for nos. You are going for those yeses! Commit to applying to a minimum number of jobs a day. Call employers to ask about what other opportunities they have or may have down the line.
- Remember the important sales and marketing secret. Once you’ve committed to being your own salesperson and following through, remind yourself of the rule that sales and marketing executives share that it is rare to close a deal on the first try! The rule of thumb is that the average prospect needs to be exposed to your sales message at least seven times before becoming a motivated buyer. No, it doesn’t mean that you’ll get a job if you call the recruiter or employer seven times! But it does mean that persistence pays. Remember to follow up with all job opportunities, because it is likely you will not be offered a position on your first try even second or third. But statistically and historically, persistence really does yield rewards!
- Do your homework. Some industries are prospering despite the recession climate, while others were in trouble long before the economy took a downward spiral. If possible, concentrate your job search in growing industries; try to avoid focusing on jobs in a dying field if you can. Healthcare, security, repair businesses, green/environmental services, etc. There are always businesses that survive even thrive in economic downturns. Research the market and possible employers that are a fit and hold promise of success in a rough market.
- Manage your mindset and expand your search. Abandon assumptions, excuses and non-serving habits. Accept that a job search in a tight market requires you to do things that make you uncomfortable. You will need a plan and commitment to work that plan for a few hours each day. Be open to possibilities and don’t limit your choices to one job, one career, one industry, or even one geographical location. Balance your dream opportunities with open-mindedness. Be willing to explore opportunities outside of your usual scope. Be honest. If you lack the skills for your job goal, get training. If you need experience, find it at a lower level to get your foot in the door. Be flexible. Yes, you should certainly focus on what jobs will make you happy. Sometimes, however, you will need to make money. If you’ve been searching for your dream job and are not making progress, consider the possibility of biting the bullet and taking a job that you’re qualified for even if it’s not your passion or dream job. It might open the door to other opportunities. It might give you an arena in which to hone skills, cultivate contacts and earn a paycheck until that dream job opens up. Consider it a bridge or stepping stone job not the end of the line! And don’t limit yourself to one type of position. Think about five or more different positions you can pursue simultaneously. And don’t forget about new twists to old jobs. If you’ve been a graphic designer in a corporate environment, can you start promoting from-home graphic design services? As a chef, can you start a small-scale catering operation?
- Stay professionally refined. From your resume to your clothes and grooming, don’t ignore a single detail of your image and brand. You will face more competition than ever before. Be absolutely sure that at all times, you look and act like someone an employer would want to hire. You never know where your paths will cross. From haircut to nails to language, clean it up.
