Despite the grim economic news these days, we need to realize that companies are still hiring. Even organizations that are laying off employees in some departments and functions are still looking for talent to fill other positions. I am urging my career transition clients to pick up the pace of their job searches.
Here are 5 Tips for Job Hunting Success in a Difficult Economy:
1.) Develop and Implement a Strategic Action Plan
The need to plan an effective job search campaign is always important, and in difficult economic times it is vital to develop a strategy for finding the job that's right for you. Here are the steps of a Strategic Career Plan:
• Assess your talents and strengths and prioritize them in terms of what are most favorable to you
• Research the job marketplace and identify opportunities that are a fit for you
• Develop a marketing campaign, including written communications (resume, cover letter, biography) and verbal communications (branding statements, interviewing and negotiating) that will allow you to effectively represent yourself to prospective employers
• Identify and utilize all the avenues available to identify job leads including referral sources, job fairs, recruiters and direct research and contact with companies
• Set realistic goals on a daily and weekly basis and follow-up on all leads
2.) Keep a Confident Attitude and Strive to Build and Maintain Momentum
By developing a plan and sticking to it, you are setting yourself apart from a lot of people who have lost confidence and are not maintaining a high level of job search activity. The result is less competition for you, so take positive advantage of this and increase your lead development.
3.) Consider Temporary, Part-time and Project Opportunities
Even though they may be looking to fill less full-time positions, companies may increase their need for workers to fill temporary assignments, part-time positions and project-oriented roles. While these may not be the best match for your needs and interests, they can provide you with cash-flow while you continue to look for full-time opportunities. Also, these contingency positions allow you to get your foot in the door and can turn into full-time jobs down the road.
4.) Increase your Networking to Expand Information and Job Referral Sources
Especially in difficult economic times, word-of-mouth job searching can produce quick and effective results. Pull out all the stops to develop and maintain referral sources not only for job leads but to get introduced to people in companies you are interested in working for and to individuals who can provide vital information on trends affecting your field, function and industry.
5.) Don't Go It Alone: Seek Support
The job hunt is an emotional roller coaster to begin with, and it is much more stressful in a challenging economy. Seek both emotional and professional support from those around you. Take advantage of job search support groups offered by a number of non-profit organizations and government agencies. Utilize the expertise of a career coach to bring efficiencies to your search. Don't operate in a vacuum. There are many sources of support ready to assist you in developing a strategic plan for continued career success.
For more resources including receiving career consulting, Click Here
Mature Workers: for more resources,Click Here
Monday, August 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Gear up for a Successful Summer Job Search!
Stop the excuses! Yeah, it’s hot and humid, everyone seems to be on vacation or getting the kids ready to go back to school. Not the time to be planning and implementing a full-bore job search? WRONG!
When I started my career over 30 years ago, there were some definite cycles that defined the level of hiring during the calendar year. During the summer months, recruiting activity decreased as hiring managers and candidates took vacation. As Thanksgiving approached, hiring slowed way down until after the new year began.
Today, in our virtual, 24/7, go-go-go world of work, recruiting activity slows down only slightly during the summer and the year-end holidays. Get your search up and running now so you can take advantage of the fact that many other job seekers (i.e. your competition) are kicking back and taking it easy.
Start now, build momentum, be considered for opportunities now and be in high gear when the 3 months of Prime Recruiting Time, September, October and November, arrive as employers are back from vacation, the kids are back in school and everyone gets back to focusing on work.
Take advantage of this time to prepare and implement an effective transition with these 5 Action Steps:
1.) Assess Your Career
Is your current job meeting your expectations? Is it time to look at new opportunities
that are a better fit with your interests, values and priorities? Analyze your current
situation and determine if the job/function/company are meeting your needs. If not, what needs to change?
2.) Restate your Objectives and Goals
What are your short-term objectives and long-term career goals? These can change
as we think about new directions and priorities, so always be thinking about revising
your roadmap to success.
3.) Explore the Market for Your Talents and Interests
With your goals in mind, put on your detective’s cap and investigate the potential
opportunities out in the career marketplace. What trends are affecting your function
and/or industry? What companies are on top of their competitive game and could use your talents? ID the organizations you want to target. If you are looking for part-time or temporary assignments, you are in tune with many employers who are constantly hiring people to take on projects, temporary assignments and part-time positions.
4.) Conduct a Personal Marketing Makeover
You have one chance to make a good first impression. Revise your resume to be an
effective sales tool to communicate your background and interests to prospective
employers. Brush up on your interviewing techniques and negotiating strategies.
Develop an extensive plan to ID jobs that interest you, and work hard to increase
your visibility in the job marketplace through networking (social networking on the
Internet as well as face to face) and following up with referrals.
5.) Implement a Strategy to Success
Take that plan and make it work for you by setting weekly goals for yourself in
utilizing all the avenues available for developing job leads including networking, searching job boards, contacting recruiters and introducing yourself directly to
decision-makers in companies that interest you. Build and maintain the momentum necessary to successfully reach your career goals!
When I started my career over 30 years ago, there were some definite cycles that defined the level of hiring during the calendar year. During the summer months, recruiting activity decreased as hiring managers and candidates took vacation. As Thanksgiving approached, hiring slowed way down until after the new year began.
Today, in our virtual, 24/7, go-go-go world of work, recruiting activity slows down only slightly during the summer and the year-end holidays. Get your search up and running now so you can take advantage of the fact that many other job seekers (i.e. your competition) are kicking back and taking it easy.
Start now, build momentum, be considered for opportunities now and be in high gear when the 3 months of Prime Recruiting Time, September, October and November, arrive as employers are back from vacation, the kids are back in school and everyone gets back to focusing on work.
Take advantage of this time to prepare and implement an effective transition with these 5 Action Steps:
1.) Assess Your Career
Is your current job meeting your expectations? Is it time to look at new opportunities
that are a better fit with your interests, values and priorities? Analyze your current
situation and determine if the job/function/company are meeting your needs. If not, what needs to change?
2.) Restate your Objectives and Goals
What are your short-term objectives and long-term career goals? These can change
as we think about new directions and priorities, so always be thinking about revising
your roadmap to success.
3.) Explore the Market for Your Talents and Interests
With your goals in mind, put on your detective’s cap and investigate the potential
opportunities out in the career marketplace. What trends are affecting your function
and/or industry? What companies are on top of their competitive game and could use your talents? ID the organizations you want to target. If you are looking for part-time or temporary assignments, you are in tune with many employers who are constantly hiring people to take on projects, temporary assignments and part-time positions.
4.) Conduct a Personal Marketing Makeover
You have one chance to make a good first impression. Revise your resume to be an
effective sales tool to communicate your background and interests to prospective
employers. Brush up on your interviewing techniques and negotiating strategies.
Develop an extensive plan to ID jobs that interest you, and work hard to increase
your visibility in the job marketplace through networking (social networking on the
Internet as well as face to face) and following up with referrals.
5.) Implement a Strategy to Success
Take that plan and make it work for you by setting weekly goals for yourself in
utilizing all the avenues available for developing job leads including networking, searching job boards, contacting recruiters and introducing yourself directly to
decision-makers in companies that interest you. Build and maintain the momentum necessary to successfully reach your career goals!
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