Job-hunting in a down economy is no picnic, but the challenges are not impossible to overcome. Here are some tips we’ve found helpful for continuing your job search, despite the nation’s economic predicament.

 

            There is no reason you should feel ashamed of your current predicament. With just under one in ten Americans in your shoes, your situation does not reflect poorly on you; it simply reflects the economic times. If you keep your lips sealed about the fact that you’re job-hunting, friends and family won’t know to keep their eyes peeled for prospective job opportunities.

 

            While it would be ill-advised to rely solely on who you know (and who a friend of a friend knows), one of the most distinguishing ways to get an interview is to know someone who already works for the organization you would like to work for. Be honest with friends and family and tell them you’re job hunting. See if (presently employed) former coworkers know anything about the companies where the two of you might have worked in the past, or where they work now. Post applications online and visit job forums, building friends and contacts not simply in person but also from across the Internet; such areas are excellent to meet others in your area but outside of your social group, and they may have excellent advice or tips about open positions. Be courteous, gracious, and thorough, and thank those who have taken time to help you in your search, even if their suggestions did not pan out. (See our “Expert Networking Tips for Jobseekers” at http://www.job.com/my.job/careerlib/aid=585/ and http://www.job.com/my.job/careerlib/aid=624 for further details.)

           

            Similar to getting past the imagined stigma of being unemployed is the temptation to give up if your first choices don’t work out. Being passive will get you zero results at best, and at worst it will allow other jobseekers to get the edge on you, if they’re hunting while you sit back. The important thing is not to get discouraged. You should treat every interview or every position with the same enthusiasm and professionalism as if it were your dream job. Consider your job search as your new temp job, and give it the same attention and dedication that you would give a paying position. Post your resume online, make calls, and do some footwork in your area. Being active will prevent you from losing your edge. Stay busy and don’t give up.

           

            With so many other jobseekers competing for attention, your resume and interview should truly shine. The level of competition has driven up the standard for what employers are looking for, and some of the carelessness that might have gone unnoticed in former years will now look overtly sloppy. This is not an aspect of your job search to simply “phone in” or treat with anything less than your full attention. Do not exaggerate, but take sound consideration when revising your resume and preparing your interview: How can your skills fit into their company? (Read Job.com’s article “Stress Free Interviewing” by CEO Brian Alden for more interview tips here: http://www.job.com/stress-free-interviewing)

 

 Keep in touch with your contact list.

            After you interview, don’t just sit tight and wait for that phone call. Primarily, you should still be job-hunting in other places, but you should also not abandon the organization that interviewed you. On the most basic level, send a sincere and polite thank you note, and professionally check back with them after about a week. Do not become obnoxious by inundating the company with phone calls, but intelligently distinguish yourself as someone who is passionate about the position. If you did not get the position, and if you are still job seeking later on, it’s perfectly fine to go back and apply for a different position, and now you may have made a contact—your interviewer—within the company who is at least familiar with your credentials. It cannot hurt and may well lead you to positions within the same company you had not thought to examine. 

 

 

 

            Brush up on your interview skills from all sides, but realize that almost no matter the position, struggling companies are really looking for individuals who can help salvage the predicament they and their workers are now in. If you are a cost-saver, stress that quality in your interview and demonstrate how you could help turn things around in your department if added to the team. On your own time, sincerely consider how your skill set can be used to the company’s advantage. Be thorough and thoughtful. You may discover something you hadn’t thought of that can mesh perfectly with what the company is looking for.

 

            Resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to apply old skills to new situations go a long way to making you the most desirable candidate. What are the biggest problems facing the department you’re applying for, and how could your past experiences and skills help you solve them? Think as if you are already a member of the company and invested in its success.  Be an "outside of the box" thinker by showcasing your strengths and providing examples of how they can be applied to the role requirements of the position.

 

             Given the number of jobseekers competing for the same available positions, you may not get your first choice, regarding either the company or the position therein. While not to discourage ambition, this may not be the time to hold out in hopes of a dream job. Be flexible and realistic. Do not turn down a position or interview because you find that job to be “beneath you.” These circumstances are temporary, and instead of finding yourself continuously unemployed, you can be paying your bills and building up experience in your old field or a new one. PLUS, you never know how far you can climb up the corporate ladder when taking a job at ground level. Often times, a foot in the door is the first step to success as it can open up many more doors of opportunity within that company!

 

While it may not be your traditional field, look at the markets that are still hiring despite the recession. Take healthcare, for example, which is booming while other industries suffer. While you may not be a trained doctor or nurse, hospitals also require everyone from attorneys to clerical staff to gift shop sales personnel. Take serious consideration in evaluating how your skills can function in those industries that are still available. Be prepared for lower-level positions or different or expanded duties if you’re seeking the same position, but don’t exclude a similar position simply because it’s in a different field. (See Job.com’s “Top Industry Picks.” Just follow the link: http://www.job.com/my.job/careerlib/aid=658)

 

            You will receive rejections, but it is not personal and does not necessarily reflect on your career skills. Every company is tightening its belt, but you are not alone in your search. If you get discouraged, talk to friends and family. Get in contact with other jobseekers who are in your same situation and share information and experiences. Remember that the economy will eventually improve; just don’t sit tight and wait for it to happen. Keep at it, don’t let it get you down, and you’ll find what you’re looking for!