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!
