Posted by Brian McCullough
…Or, how to find a job when no one’s hiring.
This was one of the early posts I wrote for this blog. As I say, not to praise my own powers of prediction, but we were seeing in ResumeWriters.com sales numbers that things were getting tough out there as much as a year ago.
I began my career in the late 1990s, and initially as many as 1/3 of my clients were in IT and related tech fields. So I wasn’t in this business very long before the Dot Com Bubble burst, and I spent a good 3 years or so helping IT people especially, try to find jobs in what was then an employment wasteland.
Here are some of the tips I picked up helping people find work during the last recession:
As always, the best way to stand out in a tough job market is to hiring some professional resume writing help.
- Start Early.
The earlier the better. When any market turns south, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When the job market goes bad, it’s no different: people look around and see their competitors have stopped hiring, and suddenly they feel like they should cut back too. And then when they cut back, others notice and cut back as well. You’re dealing with a herd mentality. If you get out ahead of that wave of perception, you can hopefully sneak in under the wire. Additionally, if you get yourself out there first, you’re competing with less people. If you wait until layoffs are all over the place and the unemployment numbers are skyrocketing, then it’s too late: you’re in the same boat as everyone else. If your particular industry is starting to go south, start packing your parachute now. - Networking is even more important in a tight job market.
I’ve already suggested that networking is the quickest way to a new job. But when no one is hiring, this is even more true. Think about it, in that sort of a situation, the only way you have a chance at getting your foot in the door at your dream company is to know someone who already works there and can agitate on your behalf from the inside. - Line up your contacts and keep in touch.
If you’re currently still employed, make a comprehensive contact list while you still have access to that information. Remember, you want to enlist the aide of anyone you know when you’re in the midst of a job search. But the best prospects by far, are people in your industry. Know who they are and make sure they don’t forget you. - Sell yourself as a cost-saver or turnaround artist.
All your vaunted skills and accomplishments might not mean anything in a tight job market. People would love to hire you, but right now they can’t use you. However, if the times are tough, what they CAN use is someone who can manage the tough times effectively. If you can add value to a company, every company is hiring. In a bad economy, what is valued above all is an ability to deliver solutions that can help a company survive and turn the bad times around. - Don’t be passive.
In a tight job market, a lot of people just accept it. ‘Look, no one is hiring. What can I do?’ Bologna. Don’t fall into a defeatist attitude. That doesn’t do you any good at all. Keep your eyes open and think outside of the box. Look for hidden opportunities. - Learn to accept rejection.
As hard as this is to do sometimes, you need to have a zen attitude about rejection. It’s not always about you. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time and luck. What if I had a crystal ball and told you that you would land your job only after your 14th interview. Well, you’d never even get there if you gave up after only 12. - Try, and then try again. And again. And again.
- Remember, even in a recession, some people are still doing well.
Somewhere. It might be in a tiny, hard to find niche. All that means is you have to be resourceful to find the hidden gems. In the very teeth of the last IT recession, Google started hiring like crazy. If you had gotten on board then, you’d be a multimillionaire now. Ok, you say, but I’m not a programming genius. Fine. Neither am I. But I remember helping several people get hired at Netflix years ago, right when they were taking off. The rest of the economy was in the tank, but little old Netflix was just beginning it’s growth and they couldn’t hire accounting, retailing and logistics people fast enough. - Get past the stigma and the shame.
A lot of times clients come to me depressed that they even have to ask for a job. Look, everyone loses a job sometime. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. And in fact, a timid or embarrassed attitude is counterproductive. You need to be projecting a positive attitude. You’ve got plenty to offer! They’re going to be lucky to hire you! Even if you’ve suffered through rejection after rejection, don’t forget the unique skills and experience you have. You’re like a great stock in a bear market. Just cause no one’s buying doesn’t mean your underlying value has gone away. One day your Warren Buffett will come and notice how undervalued you are. - Be willing to settle.
All bad markets are temporary. Having a job in tough times is very much a bird in hand situation. Take what you can get, even if it’s a step down. It’s better to have a so-so job now so the paychecks keep coming in and you’re still gaining experience. This is much preferable to holding out for your dream job for months or even years. The opportunities will be there again soon, and when they are, you can land the dream job then.
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