Job Hunting in an Economic Crisis
Posted: Monday, January 05, 2009
by Lesa Caskey
Brick Elm LLC
The financial sky is falling and you need to get a job. What do you do? You've done all of the obvious exercises of posting your resume on job boards and have submitted your resume to dozens of jobs posted online. You've alerted your network to the fact you are on the market and are actively looking for a new job. Now what?
Don't be so sure you've posted your resume everywhere it should be. There are recruiters and hiring managers who search every job board that exists. Some definitely get more traffic than others, but all of them get some traffic so it is worth your time to register and post your resume with as many as are applicable to your search to gain the most exposure. To briefly review, the big three job boards are Monster, HotJobs and CareerBuilder. But there are literally thousands of others across the country that cater to almost every niche possible be it by industry such as healthcare, construction and finance or by geographic location; by state, county, region and city. There are job boards specific to people who have a security clearance, people who are of specific ethnic origin, education levels, veteran status and certifications. Do a few searches based on these criteria to find the ones that suit your background and objectives.
Have you joined some groups online to get and stay connected to what's happening in your world? There are many social networking sites that offer various ways to connect with people. Get online, search for social networking sites, register and explore their unique universes. They mostly all have groups and what happens in these groups is people hear of news and then announce that news to the group. For instance, I belong to many groups relating to Human Resources and Recruiting where I learn something new every single day without exception relating to the industry in some way. I hear about seminars I can participate in, tools (software and otherwise) that I may want to use, best practices for every facet of my business, candidate and company information and even tidbits about how to stay motivated. We all have something to learn and we each also have something to share. It is guaranteed that you will learn, and what you learn may be the key to opening the door to your next job.
You have let your immediate circle know you're looking. Have you specifically asked them to help you in your search? They don't have to do much beyond remember you as they go about their day. With you and your search on their mind, they will absolutely find information to share with you that may help. But you have to ask them to do so and keep in touch with them to remind them you're still looking. An email or quick phone call to say "Don't forget to keep me in your thoughts because I need all the help I can get" are both great reminders. Have you found that your awareness grows once you have something to relate to? For instance, not realizing how many Volkswagens are on the road until you own one. Keep yourself in their minds and it will help your search. What are you doing when you're not making your eyes dry out from staring at the computer or the TV? Look into volunteering your time somewhere at least twice a week for a couple of hours. Do this in person in an environment conducive to meeting new people. A soup kitchen, homeless shelter, animal shelter, your local community center, senior center, political organization, church, the library, etc. are all equally good venues. Give of yourself while you have the time. This activity will help you in multiple ways because it will take your mind off of yourself and your situation for at least a little while (we all need a break from our own reality sometimes), and it will give you an opportunity to meet people and make them aware of your search.
When asked how they got their jobs, most people will respond with some form of networking story. It was their friend, their wife's cousin or their best friend's son who knew someone who was able to get them an interview or an application. There are quite a few who get their jobs through recruiters as well, but at the end of the day recruiters are simply people who get paid to know lots of people - it's all networking. Get out there and get yourself as much exposure as possible. You literally never know where the successful lead will come from. Oh yes, and be sure to be friendly to your neighbors. You never know.
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Good tips Lesa, thanks for sharing. There are lots of people in need of jobs these days.
Good advice yet I'm from the old school. Two oldies are, right time right place and Godfather.
hi lesa,i thought this was a wonderful article. well written, interesting, and to the point. it also had sound, honest ways of finding a decent job. i hope all the right people read this article. thanks for sharing,i hope you continue writing,welcome to searchwarp,best regards,sue thom
Lesa, What indepth coverage! You have given so much valuable information, that should one take your advice, their work is cut out for them. There really are so many outlets. Getting out and meeting people at chamber events, networking groups, and volunteering as well, can open so many doors.
I am one of the many that are following the job search guidelines. We go on our interviews but as I mentioned in my article, find that most of the proposed bosses end up low balling on a salary. The saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind. What I have found hard in my job search is the type of work I for can make it difficult. The area I live in doesn't have a broad spectrum of opportunities. I, like others, cannot not just pick up and go due to other responsibilities-children that are shared with an ex which states that you are unable to leave the school district or you lose custody, is one of my examples. You present many good insights on how to obtain a job. But, if there are no jobs available, then what? I have found my local paper, as well as, the larger metro area paper help wanted ads thin out. Employers are looking to fill their vacancy and be able to retain the employee they hire. They are not looking to fill the void. Most have found that filling the void only incorporates more money they will have to spend to find a new employee once that employee leaves or is terminated.Lisa,
I can relate to your restrictions on how far you can go to get a job as I have the exact same parameters. It's definitely tough! I'm not sure what you do or what your background is so it's hard for me to weigh in on specific strategies for you other than what I've already mentioned in the article. There are definitely fewer job available as well, which makes it ever more difficult to get yourself noticed. As for taking a job as a stop-gap (filling the void), those jobs are best come by when you know the person who has the opening because they will be understanding and more appreciative of the efforts you do make. I've had a couple of these jobs myself over the years and was very successful in both instances. Both employers knew that I was way overqualified for the role but they also felt assured when I told them that I would do a good job while I was there, that I would give them plenty of notice when I left and that I would do everything I could to help find a replacement for me. Be honest, be helpful and keep up your good work - it will pay off!
I wish you the very best of luck in your search,
Lesa
Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on the article - I appreciate your feedback! -Lesa
Wonderfully informative and well-written article, Lesa, for someone looking for a job--I'm not, but I'm sure there are many (too many) out there who are.Good luck to them and thanks for giving them a heads up.Sandra
Lesa,This is a very helpful article. Thanks for sharing it.
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