Four Things You Need to Be Doing to Find a Job in This Economy
Whether you are currently working and are looking to make a change, or you've lost your job and are eager to get back into the workforce, this is a challenging economic climate. You can find a job but you need to do things that your peers are not. Let me share with you four things that will help you stand out:
1. Stop taking it all personally. It's frustrating to apply for positions and not get any responses. The truth is hiring managers and recruiters are being inundated with resumes and applications right now. The fact that they haven't replied to your application has nothing to do with you. By personalizing the situation, you waste time and energy, often with the end result of feeling bad about yourself. Realize that if you want to stand out from the competition, you'll have to stop wasting time and focus instead on the next best action to take.
2. Ask for feedback. Find out how you can improve your chances of being hired. When you get those opportunities to speak to employers make sure you ask for specifics: Do you have feedback on my resume? How did I do in the interview? What advice do you have for me? What can I do differently to stand out next time? Many employers welcome this as an opportunity to help someone out.
3. Be proactive. Don't just apply for jobs online or e-mail your contacts asking for leads. Pick up the phone and make sure you follow up each contact. Call your network of friends and family and remind them of what you are looking for, and ask if they are willing to help. Be sure to ask for focused assistance. Don't just ask them to pass on any leads they come across. Instead ask if they have contacts in the field you are interested in or a company you would like to know more about. Will they make an introduction? If you've had an interview and are wondering what happened, stop wondering, pick up the phone and find out. By following up, you demonstrate initiative and remind a busy hiring manager who you are.
4. Get out of the house and meet people. You may feel uncomfortable with the whole idea of networking. Here's another way to look at it. It's about getting to know people and having them get to know you. Don't go to functions because you feel you should. Find gatherings of people with whom you have an affinity: alumni, special interest clubs, exercise groups, community associations, classes, etc. Make it your intention to simply meet people--don't weigh yourself down with expectations! Be open to people and to having them get to know you. We help people we like. For someone to like you, they need to get to know you. Be interested in people and what's going on in their lives. Give yourself the gift of sharing something about yourself. If you keep the focus on building relationships you'll naturally connect with people who will want to help yo u and vice versa.
Annemarie Segaric is a respected career change coach, motivational speaker, and the author of 107 Tips for Changing Your Career While Still Paying the Bills. Ready to switch careers and don't know where to begin? Visit http://www.segaric.com/toolkit.shtml and download your own career change toolkit today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annemarie_Segaric
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Robert C •I certainly agree with many of my fellow job seekers-article offers great advice (which I'm following most ideas), but still having difficulties landing THE job I want and know I'm more than qualified for. Having had over 14 years experience as manager in the hotel/hospitality field in a primarily "tourist driven" large western city-you would think any small to moderate sized hotel would be eager to have me on board here in the Midwest. Apparently that is not the case thus far. I have even tried making it personal by walking in "cold" to MANY prospective employers with resume in hand dressed to impress(like everyone did back in the day). All I get is "just go to www._____ to apply", "we generally don't take resumes in person", etc. I believe the problem is we are so disconnected as a people with the good 'ol person to person interaction. Seems the days that a potential candidate that presents themselves professionally, looks the hiring manager in the eye and personally hands their app and/or resume to them-are long gone. That used to be the way an employer could "weed out" the good from the bad-just by the way the candidate presented themselves, showed effort, took initiative and showcased their personality in that brief (but usually effective) encounter with the employer. I say to all (myself included) that we must remain positive and try-as hard as it seems at times-to stay true to yourself. As the article noted, we can't blame ourselves-it's a tough,cold and competitive job market out there right now. Yes...I too feel the younger less experienced applicants are most likely the ones ending up landing the gig-but persistence will hopefully pay off because opportunity certainly will NOT be knocking at OUR doors so we must get going and start applying and networking and asking friends/family, and so on...eventually we will prevail by knocking on THEIR doors-they open-and we finally getting our foot in it! Best of luck to all!!Thanks! -
Gary Veidt •Good article
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Cheryll Kavapalu •I hemmed and hawed all night after receiving yet another thank you but no thank you letter yesterday. Thanks to your article I sent the interviewer an email this morning and requested feedback on my interview. I have never been out of a job before and this is a difficult process so these hints are very helpful. Thank you
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D. Nemchick •A well intentioned article, however, I see it as a bit short-sighted; especially items 1 and 2. Having been in job search mode for over 19 months it is very difficult to remain objective and upbeat when you don't even get a response (let alone an interview) for a job posting for which you are 100% qualified. I'd respectfully request the author to publish another article detailing what "next best actions" we (who are experienced and over 50) should be focusing on taking to get responses and interviews. The plain truth of the matter is that there probably aren't any other things we can do, as suggested in item #1. Regarding item #2, once again it sounds good, however I have yet to find any employer who will actually give me any useful feedback. Rather what I constantly hear is "your resume is fine" or "we think you're totally qualified". In the end they decide to "persue other candidates", which giving me any futher specifics. You can't improve what you're doing if no one will tell you what needs to be improved. The reality is there just too many well qualified candidates for every open job out there. With so many candidates to pick from, job seekers are at a severe disadvantage, and even doing everything the "experts" advise, doesn't guarantee success.
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Jeri •Though your article was uplifting my job hunting experiences have been hard. Embarrassing as it was after a year of networking, searching, applying for different positions I resorted to asking a few acquaintances for help, they both came through for me. One of the job referrals had a talent acquisition person call me to see where I thought I could apply my skills, I found the phone interview to be difficult because you don't know what they are really going to subscribe to the HR person on your behalf and there was not a specific position open they could talk about unfortunately, but they may email me with something that might fit my talents in the future. I felt this was just a way to go through the motions and most likely I will not hear from them again. The other phone interview was from a Bank and they asked me some strange questions that were hard to cap on over the phone. I received a email from them stating I was not a good fit, most likely I am over qualified anyway. I went to that bank after the rejection and saw that everyone was under 30 years old but the manager. Very interesting, again I think it was just a tactic to do the phone interview to keep in line with the fair hiring rights laws. I have had my resume looked over by 3 resume writing professionals and spent time training to update my computer skills, interviewed and signed up with temp agencies and I still have not landed anything. My next course of action may be a head hunter. For those that are out of work networking is good, do it! Volunteer it could turn into something, I will soon be doing that also.
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R.D. •GREAT ARTICLE!
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Floyd C. •Well... After reading these comments, I guess I'm not alone. (cue the violin music) I'm 55 and have been in Drafting and Design for 35 years. I've done all the right things during my career - after college started out on the drafting board, got computer CAD training in the 8o's, got 3D SolidWorks training in 2006 and worked for an impressive list of employers from small companies to General Dynamics Corp. Years ago I'd have no problem finding employment. It's been quite a task this time around. Living in a rural area hasn't helped. I've extended my search from Buffalo to Maine - no luck. Why hire an out-of-towner over locals. Applied to less paying jobs but as soon as they see my former salaries on the application - rejected. Go back to a 2 year college to change careers? Great idea but would you hire a 58-60 year old or a fresh kid at 21-25. My advice is keep plugging away. Look at all positions and hopefully somebody out there will give you a chance. Hang in there my friends.
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Helen M •Good read. Getting a job is harder now than ever before for me. I have a long stable job history and had to move to get married. I am trying everything and agree that the best lead is the one not publicized. You look on a job site and go to all jobs and go from there. Also just making new friends and taking in any news/advice they have to offer. Trying to stay positive on the Cape.
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Henry H. •As a 55+ year old engineer with two degrees, and health issues, I find it nearly impossible to get a job in my field. The economy has brought out a lot of unemployed competition onto the job market, and that unemployed competition is generally younger, which makes it difficult to compete for what available jobs there are on the job market right now. The tips presented are good, but they can only go so far as it pertains to the older job seeker. Finally, as it pertains to the unemployment mess, blame the Bush administration for getting the economy out of control, which led to the unemployment rate approaching 10 percent. It could be said that Bush was the modern day Herbert Hoover, and that this recession is the worst since the Great Depression.
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David R. •Thanks, I have been looking for ways to help me get out of this rut, I like the ideas of opening up and getting people to know me. Thanks again. PS anybody want to help by getting to know me in UTAH?
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Barbara •Very helpful advice..a great reminder.
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Karen •I just love these "experts" on how to get a job. They want me to get a resume done by a professional. I don't even have enough money to feed my kids, but I'm supposed to pay someone to make my resume stand out. What is it going to be in extra large font so it will stand out because there are about 100 to 200 people applying for every job that I am over the internet. This is a joke. I've been a legal secretary for about 20 years and bookkeeper for about 10. It should not be this hard to get a job. I have never had this hard of a time getting a job. But according to the republicans, I'm a lazy, drug addict, hobo that doesn't deserve to live, so no unemployment extension for me and my kids. We get to starve and be homeless!!! Thanks for the advice.
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Richard •To young to retire. To old to hire. I would work at half my fomer compensation as long as it was double what unemployment is!
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Bobbye •Thanks for your article, it gave me the confirmation I needed to know, that I was on the right track in my jobs search.
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Samreen Hassan Hijazi •very informative and uplifting article.
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Johnny Federico •Very valueable and uplifting reading. Thank You for the chance at getting my second wind!
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Heather Peterson •I am young and have a bachelor degree in computer science. I cannot find a job.
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Marsha Westbrook •Networking is the way to get to know people and by listening to what they have to say. Give a smile, someone needs to be encouraged today.
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Gladys Rubio •I also agree that the older you get the harder it is to find a job. I have noticed that employers are only interested in hiring young people. Young people don't care how much they get paid, nor do they worry about benefits because they live with their parents and don't have to pay rent. I think it's unfair that because we get old we get discriminated. If I was the one hiring. I would only hire older people bacause they are more reliable, experienced, hard workers, and because they are serious about their jobs.
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Joe Phillips •I surely enjoyed your article and more so the comments that followed. It seems that one of my fellow jobseekers is misinformed regarding networking. Networking is NOT about getting a job through a friend or a relative! Networking is about obtaining information regarding a potential opening through a fellow jobseeker. Please note, this opening may not have been advertised or otherwise displayed for the public at all! So, in order to gain knowledge regarding the existence of these positions, you need to know someone inside the organization. This is what networking is about, people helping people learn about openings - not getting them hired! They will need to get themselves hired based on their own merit! I would like to offer up a bit of advice to new members of our unemployed group. Watch your money carefully during this time! You may want a new car, new clothes, etc. - all this is fine. But, it needs to wait until after you get a job. Right now, focus on maintaining your monthly bills and the funding of your job search.
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Jonas Kaye •It was helpful to read the above.
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Outraged •The political agenda of the sell-out congress and their masters in Corporate America is to destroy our middle class by exporting middle class jobs to communist China and by importing alien workers to replace the Americans being laid off from the few remaining domestic jobs. Nothing short of a revolution will reverse this seditious trend and put this nation back on its traditional path once again. I suggest you "network" with combat vets if you want to prepare yourselves for a brighter future.
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KMcLeish •Very Encouraging..Thanks for the TIPS!
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Todd •The sad truth in today's market is that employers have it all, and job seekers nothing. Unless you can rely on a friend, your odds of getting hired until the economy improves are slim. With two degrees in engineering, I have been out of work for one year. Even the federal government told me I didn't meet their education requirements! I laughed at that one, since I more than met the requirements.The bottom line is that 70% of our economy is based on consumer spending. When 70% of it is based on that and not something like manufacturing, the economy is caught in a vicious cycle that we will not escape for sometime.My advice is to use every friend, colleague, ex-employer and source to gain employment. I use about six different headhunters, but unfortunately in this environment its really just not possible to get work.I try and keep positive that tomorrow will bring the phone call I've been looking for, but I usually just get nothing. But somehow, someway, I keep going on.Lastly, its easy for those working to say here's how to get work, and you should stay positive, but trust me, it's an entirely different story when you are the one on the frontline.
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William Petelo •Very encouraging and motivating comments
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