Job Hunting in Times of Uncertainty: Five Overlooked Strategies to Help Make Your Job Search More Productive -- and Successful

In times when the economy falters, when financial markets fall, and when companies of all sizes in many industries announce plans to reduce their workforce, job seekers tend to get a bit concerned about the length and success of the job search they may face. It almost goes without saying that job-hunting in a boom economy is quite different (and much easier) than job hunting in a slumping economy.


Different, yes. Harder and often more time consuming, yes. Impossible, no. Job hunting is an art that simply takes more time and work to perfect in uncertain times than in good times. You will have to work harder and smarter at finding new opportunities, but they are out there, and if you take advantage of these five strategies you will be much better positioned to land a new job.

Utilizing the Power of Networking. What's the most important tool of job-hunting, especially in times of uncertainty? Not a resume nor interviewing skills…but networking. Why networking? Networking is the most effective tool of job-hunting because if you use your network properly, you will hear of multiple job opportunities, often before they are even listed (if they are ever listed).

Some job seekers shy away from networking because they equate networking with taking advantage of people, but if done correctly, networking can be a rewarding experience for all parties involved. Networking is not asking everyone you know for a job. Networking means developing a broad list of contacts -- family, friends, and people you've met through various social and business functions -- and using them to your advantage when you look for a job. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.

Now is the time to broaden your network -- even if you are not currently looking for a new job. You never know when you'll need your network, so make every effort to grow it.

Finding Hidden Job Opportunities. In good times job openings are plentiful, but in uncertain times the job openings disappear. Job-seekers are left scrambling for the few “open” jobs. But there are always other job possibilities lurking in the background, and it is up to the persistent job-seeker to find those hidden job opportunities and/or to create new opportunities.

Finding hidden opportunities. Job seekers must take full advantage of their network to uncover as many potential job openings as possible. Hunt down every lead. Consider using cold calling techniques to find other opportunities. Focus more of your time and energy here than trying to respond to every job posting at Monster.com or the other job boards.

Creating new opportunities. As companies downsize and consolidate job functions, many opportunities may arise for a job seeker with the right skills. Determine your most marketable skills, examine the ongoing needs of the employers where you want to work (including your current employer), and develop a proposal showcasing how the employer would benefit from hiring you.

Sharpening the Focus of Your Resume. Decide whether a traditional chronological resume format is better for you or whether you need a functional resume format, or some type of hybrid format.

Consider developing a "qualifications summary" or "key accomplishments" section for your resume. Think of this section as the executive summary of your resume. If the employer reads only this one part of your resume, will it be enough to entice the employer to read the rest of your resume?

Develop multiple resumes, perhaps even customizing each resume you send to the specific job and employer. Also consider multiple resume formats, from the standard formatted paper resume to a scannable text resume and Web-based resume.

Finally, remember that a resume is a living document. You are never "done" with your resume. You should update and edit your resume(s) regularly, adding new accomplishments and skills, sharpening the focus, removing outdated material.

Developing a Dynamic Cover Letter. A cover letter is an integral tool of your job search. Perhaps in the past you have been able to get good jobs with a mediocre cover letter, but in uncertain times, your cover letter becomes the main tool that can determine whether your resume is read and whether you are even considered as a candidate for a position.

How can you improve your cover letter? Let's review the two most important parts of the cover letter: the introductory paragraph and the ending paragraph.

The first paragraph of your cover letter must sell the employer on the benefits/skills/talent you will bring to the job - a mix that no other job seeker has and one that has a clear benefit to the employer. Do not waste this critical opening paragraph.

• Weak opening paragraph: I am writing today to apply for the account manager opening you have posted on your company Website.
• Better opening paragraph: I have increased the size and sales levels of my client base in every position I have held, which in turn has increased the revenues and profits of my employers. I want to bring this same success to the account position you have posted on your Website.

The final paragraph of your cover letter must be proactive. You must ask for the job interview (or a meeting) in this paragraph. You must express your confidence that you are a perfect fit for the job. You must also put the employer on notice that you plan to follow-up within a specified time.

• Weak closing paragraph: I hope you will review my resume, and if you agree with what I have stated here, consider me for the position. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
• Better closing paragraph: I am eager to help advance the success of your company, and I am convinced that we should arrange a time to meet. I will call your office in the next week to schedule an appointment.

Mastering the Art of Follow-Up. In good times, some job seekers may be able to get away with being impolite in not sending thank you letters and being lazy by not following up all leads, but in a tight or uncertain job market, job-seekers must follow-up every job lead, every job application, and every job interview.

Some job seekers may see follow-up as too aggressive, but the cliché about the squeaky wheel getting the grease applies to job seeking. As long as you don't contact the employer too often or act abusive, following up with emails or phone calls is a way to stay at the forefront of the minds of the employers, as well as a way for you to stay on top of the status of the search. Each time you follow-up, your strategy should be to reinforce the perception that you are the ideal candidate for the job; the job seeker with the unique set of skills and experiences required for the job.

Follow-up each cover letter and resume you send with a phone call or email requesting an interview. Follow-up each interview you have with a thank you note or letter to each person who interviewed you. And follow-up your thank you note with a phone call or email to again express your interest and fit with the job and check on the status of the search.

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Where the jobs are

This is a follow up to my previous post, "How to Survive a Layoff". In that post I discussed how to approach your job search after being laid off. Feel free to engage any of those techniques as you explore "Where the Jobs Are".

Here are some questions and answers about who is hiring.

Q: What fields are hiring?
A: Even Friday's (Dec 7th) dismal November jobs report had tiny positive glimmers in the form of fields that are doing a little bit of hiring — mostly in the low thousands, and nowhere near enough to offset the hundreds of thousands of job losses elsewhere. Look to your "Monopoly" board for a couple of the industries that are hiring: railroads and utilities. Others are just as old school, like the logging and mining sector, and food, drink and tobacco manufacturing. The oil business is still adding a few jobs, as is pipeline transportation. General merchandise stores also did some pre-holiday hiring.

Q:Which jobs are considered "recession proof"...jobs that are still expanding in a volatile economy?
A: Accounting. The more companies reorganize, the more accountants they need.
Nursing: One field where there is still a shortage, and openings at most hospitals.
Computer I-T: With companies keeping computers longer, they need people to fix them and update software.
Commission Sales Reps: In a recession, companies are desperate for good salespeople.
Security: You can't have enough security guards these days.
Building maintenance, as companies hold off on new offices.
The US Census Bureau...which is now hiring thousands of workers to prepare for Census 2010.

Q: What industries generally don't shrink when times are bad?
A: Health care and education tend to stay flat during bad times. That's it. This recession has sparked a surge in federal spending — so much so that the government hopes to add about 100,000 jobs this year.

Q: Are there specific jobs, even at companies laying people off, that will continue to be filled?
A: Yes. In the financial services sector, some hiring continues as companies lay off workers who make $350,000 and replace them with workers who make $75,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which cut 10 percent of its staff in the last few months, has been running select help wanted ads for junior positions.

Q: Are some states better off than others?
A: Yes. Even in industries that are shrinking nationally, the reality is rosier in some places than in others. Connecticut, for instance, has seen its financial services workforce shrink only slightly, despite widespread layoffs in New York, thanks to its more stable insurance base. The state's construction industry is also holding up better than construction is nationally. Similarly, Wyoming's energy industry continues to hire.

Job placement firms may be the number one place to turn to right now. Many companies are holding off hiring full-time employees until they see a bottoming of the economic crisis. Accepting a "temp to hire" positon could lead to a full-time position. If companies keep telling you they are under a hiring freeze right now, ask about a "temp to hire" position, where they take you on as a temp with no commitments. Then if the economy starts to look better in 2009, you'll have an edge over outside applicants.

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How to Survive a Layoff

Every time I tune my TV to the news (my favorite news channel is CNN) someone is commenting on the economy and the total number of job losses. It's depressing news and I can empathize with those who are out of work. It triggers a time when I was laid off during a recession period in 2001.

I was seeking a career with a company that would have a strong business plan and provided an unique service to consumers. I found my ideal company 20 minutes from home. It was a start up company that was in business 2 years prior to me joining. The company offered resume writing, job search and job placement services to people who were long termed unemployed or laid off. Goal -- get people back to work. My recruiting experience and background was a perfect fit.

It was the summer of 2001. It was a Friday and I wanted to get an early start on the day. I arrived at work an hour before anyone else. Activity during the day was normal. It was also payday. All of us were looking forward to getting paid before going into the weekend. As he normally did the President of the company had our payroll checks prepared in the morning and would come by our desk with our checks right after everyone came back from lunch. He would always spend a few minutes talking with each employee (only 7). It was his 1:1 connect time with his staff. But the conversation on this day was different. We got the news that the company would be closing it's doors (going out of business) at the end of the day. Talk about a shock! No one saw it coming. We were instructed to contact every one of our clients before the end of the day and inform them that the business was closing due to lack of funding. We were about to find ourselves in the same population as our clients. Our clients relied on us for support and assistance in getting back to work. How ironic and weird!

I collected unemployment insurance for 3 months while looking for work everyday. I got up every day the same time I did when I was working and I focused on finding my next career. I planned my day and I was deliberate in executing my plan.

1. I would get up every morning confident I would find another job. I kept reminding myself that I have skills!
2. I started my job search the following Monday. If you can afford to take a couple of days off before searching use that time to rest, refocus your energy, reassess your career goals and strategize your search.
3. I made a list of targeted companies, searched their career sites for openings and tailored my resume to fit the opened position(s).
4. Not only did I post my resume to national job boards like Careerbuilder, Monster, and Yahoo!Hotjobs but I also subscribed to their email alerts so openings would come to me.
5. I contacted my references let them know that I was back in the job market and that I was counting on them. I provided them with a copy of my resume.
6. I asked my ex-boss to write a recommendation letter that also explained why the job loss occurred and how it was not my fault.
7. I practiced my interviewing everyday to keep my confidence level up.
8. I applied to temp positions. Sometimes they can lead to a permanent position.
9. I filled out at least 5 applications per day and/or passed out 5 resumes per day.
10. I attended local job fairs with a list of companies that I wanted to target. I arrived before the doors opened. My strategy was to speak with the recruiters/hiring managers before they were bombarded by other applicants. Having attended hundreds of career fairs as a recruiter I could remember how drained I was after 2 hours into the event. I made it a point to stop by the booths of those companies I was interested in before I left the fair.
11. Network - I was always networking. If I shopping, getting my car repaired, or eating at a restaurant I was always asking people if they knew of anyone needing my skill sets.
12. Newspaper - I did not limit my search to the classifieds. I searched the Business News section and (this may sound morbid) the obituaries. Sometimes I would find job leads.

My plan paid off. I secured a job in the first week of September the same year. And I successfully negotiated my salary increasing it 50% more than my previous salary.
I shared some methods that I would agree sound desperate but these are dire times. You must have a creative and aggressive job search plan in order to secure a job in these volatile times. And just as important you must keep your chin up and stay positive.

If you decide to use any of these methods please come back and post your success so others can benefit.

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