Good job search techniques are recession proof

By Sharon Thomas DeLay

A recent Newsweek article painted a dismal picture of current employment opportunities. It shares some pretty scary numbers that might make the faint-hearted pull the covers over their head and wait a few months before venturing out to find a job. However, the truth is (which you discover a few paragraphs later), no matter your age, circumstance, or industry, there are a few job hunting techniques that transcend all of this economic noise.

Stay focused. It may be easier to pull the covers over your head and play victim, but if you don’t stay focused and devote time to finding a new job, it’s highly unlikely it will come to you. Along with this, be proactive. Unless you’re well networked, you simply cannot afford to rely on the generosity of others to send jobs your way.

Keep plugging away. Determine how much time you can spend on your job search and then stick to it. If you’re currently unemployed, then your job search should become your full-time focus. Unemployment is not a six-month vacation. Unemployment should be viewed as a support tool and benefit, not an entitlement. Sell your value, not your knowledge. Someone may have worked at a company or within an industry for 10 years, but if she or he cannot demonstrate how that tenure translates into value for future employers, it just simply looks like 10 years at a job. Review your résumé and make sure it’s written in terms of accomplishments and what you can do for the employer.

Consider making a change. Learn about your industry, as well as others. Is yours growing or leveling off? What industries are growing? By understanding this, you will understand if it’s time to reposition yourself in a new industry, emphasizing your transferable skills and quite possibly getting additional training.

Stay positive. There are jobs and opportunities out there and with time and effort you can find them. Now is not the time to be a victim, appear desperate (even if you are), or badmouth your former employer (see if you’ll do it to your previous employer…).