When the Economy is Down, Can You Still Land That Job?

When no one is hiring, can you find the job you want? Is it out there? How do you best position yourself to get the job?

After months of unemployment and endless searching, many job seekers give up and wait on the sideline doing little (if anything at all) to look for a job. But Ford R. Myers' book "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring" motivates job seekers to keep their chin up and hit the ground running - HARD. Myers' gives hope to those of us who continue to submit resume after resume and rarely hear anything back from companies in this down-turned economy.

Myers' book has a multitude of great job seekers lists. Below is one of my favorites - "Twenty Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market" with some additional comments of my own.

Twenty Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market

1. Network, network, network - Continually nourish your network - when times are good and bad. Go to events and make a conscious effort to get yourself out there.

2. Seek help - Ask others in your network for help - a direct reference into a job will get you much farther than blind shooting a resume to a job posting. Afterall, many job openings are never posted on job search websites and most companies prefer to fill positions internally first before reaching outside of the company in order to reduce hiring costs.

3. Read career books and attend career seminars - Always keep abreast of whats going on with your own career - no one else will manage it for you! Take an inventory of where you've been, where you are today, and where you want to go in the future. Set goals and work towards them!

4. Leverage technology - There are so many websites today that are able to help you online with your job search, but think beyond the typical job search engine. Create a VisualCV and LinkedIn profile to highlight your career to-date and continue to update it throughout your career. Connect via social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Create blogs and wiki's to showcase your knowledge in a particular field or area of expertise. Use applications on your smartphone for job searching - many job search engines and career profile websites have streamlined mobile versions of their services in the form of a free downloadable application. Use it while you are waiting for an appointment or on a break.

5 Differentiate yourself - We've all heard this one, right? But how DO you differentiate yourself? Show yourself as an expert by writing articles, giving presentations, or teaching a seminar. Push yourself to be a leader and get yourself out there. Seek out leadership opportunities in volunteer organizations but don't limit yourself to executive office titles - volunteer to work on the organizations website, publish some material in their newsletter, or volunteer to organize a fundraiser.

6. Use your time off wisely - Use this time off to build your credentials and other qualifications

7. Pursue a temporary, part-time or contract position - This is great if you are looking to enter into a new industry or field, but it is also a way to show that you are willing to do anything to get the job done especially when it counts on the financial well-being of your family. Taking a part-time job shows humility and the ability to not let pride overcome yourself.

8. Act with speed and urgency - Show how serious and committed you are by being quicker and more dedicated than your competition. Come prepared and make an impression that you are more assertive and responsible than others.

9. Take care of yourself - Nothing can boost your self-esteem and confidence quite like a regular workout. Nervous about an interview tomorrow? Go for a run in the morning to help get your blood going and feel better about doing something for yourself. Exercise has an immense effect on how you look - not just how lean your stomach is but also your posture, skin, and energy levels.

10. Be flexible and adaptable - In this economy, this is the most important thing for a job seeker to promote themselves as. Are you geographically mobile? Are you willing to convene on more travel assignments than before?

11. Improve and enhance all of the documents in your career portfolio - Your career portfolio is no longer just your resume but also the following: one-page professional biography, a collection of powerful accomplishment stories, a series of compelling cover letters, a page of professional references, a list of targeted employers, a 30-second elevator pitch, and other items. Whew! Update update update! And get it online! Use applications on LinkedIn, such as Box.net, to showcase digital copies of what you have done. Also include a formatted downloadable version of your resume. On the free subscription to Box.net you will get an email notification if someone downloads your resume file. While the free subscription does not tell you exactly WHO downloaded it, at least you will get an idea of how in-demand your resume is. Having a separate downloaded resume is better than the profile-to-resume conversion that LinkedIn can automatically do for you.

12. Identify industries that will emerge stronger when the market improves - Which industries will come out better off after this economic down-turn is over? Apply, apply, apply!

13. Practice interviewing and negotiation skills - Double up with a friend to practice your interviewing and negotiation skills - preferably someone in sales and someone in human resources who deals with negotiating. Read up on skills in interviewing and negotiation online. Search out mock interview sessions at your university career center.

14. Be patient, but persistent - Don't pester employers, but show that you ARE interested and the best qualified. Always send a thank-you email or a thank-you card in the mail if time permits. Personalize your message and find a way to remind them of why you are more qualified for the position than your competitors. Be genuine! Don't wait for people to get back to you - follow-up with them while continually applying and searching for other positions. 

15. Focus on tangible results and practical solution - What do employers need that you can accomplish right now? Explain how your relevant accomplishments will allow you to succeed over other candidates.

16. Work from a budget - Know where you and your family stand financially. How much longer will your savings last? What can you cut out or significantly reduce from your budget? Spending too much money at Starbucks? Make coffee at home and job search off of the wireless internet you already  pay for each month. Invite friends over for dinner instead of going out. Spend some of your valuable free time organizing your home to make it more presentable for in-house entertaining but also for organizing a garage sale. Get to know your neighbors by organizing the first annual neighborhood garage sale. Show how you are a leader and understand the bottom line of your own finances by standing up and taking ownership over what money comes in and out of your household.

17. Be kind to yourself - Don't beat yourself up! It IS tough out there right now, and while you may not have been "perfect" in your career management in the past (and let's face it, none of us will ever be "perfect"), understand that the job market is a huge challenge for millions right now.

18. Pay extra attention to your personal image - Stay on top of personal hygene and maintenance - update your hair cut, update your make-up, reinvent your wardrobe, purchase new shoes and accessories to match. Look the part of who you want to be - don't walk around in your sweats expecting to get a high-profile job. Sweats at home is great, but be sure to have days where you need to get out of the house and dress up a bit. After all, you never know who you will meet when you are out or what opportunities could arise.

19. Watch your attitude - Don't let disappointment in your job search transverse over into your job interviews. Keep an upbeat attitude and believe whole-heartedly that you CAN get the job you want right now.

20. Be philosophical - Stay true to the idea that all events in life happen for a reason. Seize the day and make the most of what you've been given!

Sending an interview thank you email? Use LinkedIn!

Since graduating with my MBA, I've found myself surrounded by millions of other fish in the sea also swimming for the same dream - to get a good job with a good salary and hopefully benefits. As we all search for our next career, how do we make ourselves stand out from the crowd after you've scored that interview?

Sending that Thank You Note
Whether it is a follow-up for a phone interview or an in-person interview, build your LinkedIn network by sending a thank-you note through an invitation request to join your LinkedIn network. Not only does this show off your LinkedIn profile (that is assuming, that it's worth something showing off), but it also comes into the interviewer's inbox as something different.

The down-side? You have to closely monitor to see if the person accepts you or responds. If they do not respond, be sure to send a personal email within the first week since the interview to again thank them and then quickly (and politely) mention that you had already sent a message through LinkedIn but wanted to follow-up and make sure they got your thank you message.

How to Customize Your Invitation Message in LinkedIn
If you are still learning the ropes for your LinkedIn profile, here are step-by-step instructions on how to customize the Personal Note section in an Invitation to Connect on LinkedIn:

1. Search for the person you interviewed with using information from their email signature to double-check the profile is for the right person (i.e. company name, title, etc.)

2. Once on their profile, click on the "Add to your network" link on the upper right-hand corner of the page

3. On the "Invite to connect on LinkedIn" page, select how you know the person using the radio buttons available. Several options will require that you enter in the person's email address, but alas you already have that from their email communications with you!

4. Directly below the radio buttons is text-box entry point to include an optional "Personal Note" to the person you are sending the invitation to. USE IT! Characters are limited so use your space efficiently while thanking the person for your interview.

5. Select the blue "Send Invitation" button at the bottom of the page and voila! You are done... for now.

6. Follow-up! Monitor your email to make sure the person either accepts your LinkedIn invitation or that they send you an email response saying a reason why they would not officially connect with you online. One woman I contacted for a follow-up at a job fair responded with a personal email saying that she does not use LinkedIn much and therefore would not add me, but that she would ensure that the hiring manager would get my resume for the job we spoke about at the job fair. Do not be offended by whether or not someone accepts your invitation - just ensure you follow-up with a direct email within a week if the LinkedIn request is not accepted within the first few days following the interview.

The Top 5 Friends You Should Have at Work

By Tania Khadder for Excelle

You spend most of your day at work. Why not make some friends while you're there?

You won't just have more fun — you'll be happier and work better. Gallup research shows that developing close friendships at work boosts employee satisfaction by almost 50%.

And while we don't always choose our friends with career success in mind (company happy hour, ahem), there are some people in the workplace whose friendship can actually help us perform better on the job.

Whether or not you want to spend time with them after work, it would behoove you to develop at least a pleasant rapport with them.

Here's our top five:

1. The IT Manager
When your computer freezes, your emails disappear, or you can't for the life of you remember your password, there's only one person to turn to: the IT manager.

They may or may not be someone you'd actually hang out with outside of work, but make sure they're your buddy on the job.

Between making sure your computer won’t crash just before a big deadline and having the power to see everything you've ever done on the Internet, this is someone whose good side you definitely want to stay on.

And this means more than just smiling when you ask them for help. Be friendly even when you're not having a Windows crisis! Strike up conversations in the kitchen, find out where they're from, ask them what they're doing over the weekend. Be their friend and when the company orders a new MacBook Pro — and they get to choose who gets it — you'll be at the top of the list.

2. The Veteran
Chances are there's someone at your company who's been there longer than you. She knows the processes inside out. She's connected to all the right people. She was there when the company still offered free snacks, for goodness sake. She's your go-to gal for any question you have that you'd rather not ask your own manager.

But beware — all veterans were not created equal. Some are more willing to help than others, and it'll take some time and research to pinpoint your match. The veteran you want to make friends with is the one who has been most welcoming since you first started, the one who is patient and has always been comfortable answering your questions. Ideally, she's someone whose company you actually kind of enjoy, and who you have other things in common with. You don't want her to feel like your friendship is a one-way street. 3.

3. The Cross-Department Crony
No matter how much you love your job, there are always things you need to vent about. And while it's helpful to talk to others who share your job function — and therefore your specific grievances — sometimes this kind of relationship can be dangerous territory. You might end up feeding off of one another's negativity or reinforcing their biased opinion. And what happens when one of you gets promoted? Talk about awkward!

A safer shoulder to cry on is one that belongs to someone who works in an entirely different department. He may be able to give you a more objective perspective on your situation than someone who’s deep in it with you. He's far enough removed from the situation and most importantly, your own boss. And finally, he may confess to you his frustrations with his own crazy department, which will make you feel better about yours!

4. The Office Manager/Receptionist
She keeps the stock room ... well ... stocked. She plans company outings and makes reservations for your business trips. Above all else, she makes sure the whole organization stays afloat. Don't you want to stay afloat with it? Get your office manager’s good side and, hopefully, she'll look out for you where she can. The secret is most office managers get a little tired of being ignored. Often, people only talk to her when they need something. Be a better friend than that! Go to lunch with her. Make her job easier by cleaning up after yourself. Refill the coffee maker when you've taken the last cup (you know you should be doing this anyway, right?).

Get to know your office manager above and beyond what she can do for you, and who knows where you’ll end up.

5. Your Work Best Friend
Need someone to cover for you when you have to leave the office a little early? Looking for a colleague to bounce crazy ideas off of? Someone you trust to share gossip with (when you just can't hold it in anymore)? Your work best friend's got you covered. According to Vital Friends author Tom Rath, people who have a “best friend” at the office are seven times more likely to be engaged in their work.

Your best friend is the person who you are absolutely closest to and, unlike the other friends on this list, you will probably spend a significant amount of time with him after work.

This type of closeness can be great for your productivity, your stress level, and your overall happiness — but it can also be dangerous if you have a falling out. Work hard to nurture this friendship but be prepared for the consequences if for some reason it goes awry.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/5-friends-you-should-have-at-work-545869/