Posts Tagged ‘job search’

The unemployment numbers came back late last week and there is only one word to describe them:

Ugly.

According to the data, 626,000 people made initial jobless claims, which was 35,000 more than the previous month. Not only is that an incredible (and depressing) increase, but it also marks a level of jobless claims not seen since 1982.

So what does this mean for your Entry Level job search? It will mean that you have to work harder and do more to get noticed if you want to land an interview and a job.

Downward pressure can be expected in the job market given the number of newly unemployed people looking for work. This means that you will not be competing for jobs with both new graduates and the recently unemployed.

But keep the faith. So long as you are willing to put in the work, you can find a job in any economy. Interviews, if you put in the effort, can always be had. So what can you do to help yourself along? If I had to sum my advice, I would boil it down to these five things:

1. Stand out from the crowd – Make sure you do everything you can before looking for jobs to make yourself appear unique. These can be life experiences, extra curricular activities, or skills that no one else has.
2. Network like crazy – Always be looking to meet and mingle with new people. You never know whose company will be looking for its next young superstar!
3. Prepare a stellar cover letter/resume - When you do find a job (either through networking or a job posting), have the basics of a great application package ready so you can apply quickly with limited effort.
4. Brush up your interview skills – Don’t memorize answers to every interview question you can think of, rather practice responding to questions you might not be ready for. The ability to think on your feet is vital in an interview.
5. Follow Up – When you do get a chance to meet someone for an interview, always follow up with a thank you note.

Now I know that this is making it sound far easier than it really is, but you can do this! If you are willing to put in the time and the effort, jobs can be found. Stay positive and good luck!

Sometimes, even experienced MBA graduates need help to find a job. An HR Generalist wrote to the Career Doctor to vent their frustration with a job search that has led nowhere. But given the techniques that this person was using, it’s no surprise. Here’s an excerpt:

I go into company web sites daily and respond to job postings and don’t get one phone call. I want to be able to speak to a human being instead of all this resume posting. It is getting me nowhere and I can’t believe that an MBA in HR is not wanted anywhere.

Well I (along with the Career Doctor) think that the problem is pretty obvious. You cannot rely on job boards and posted positions to find a great job. Networking and making live connections with companies is the most important part of the job search. If you aren’t getting in front of decision makers or leveraging your network, you are flying blind.

What surprises me most about this is that this person is an experienced HR Generalist with an MBA in Human Resource Management. Shouldn’t they know all about the best techniques for finding a job?

Regardless, check out the great advice offered to this newly unemployed MBA. Even though it is written with the experienced (though naive) professional in mind, there is some great advice as to how to conduct your job search.

A new ComputerWorld article, Web 2.0 adds a new twist to familiar job search strategies, covers many of the cutting edge tools that people are using today to get ahead in their jobs search. These tips are even more important with the recent downturn in the economy.

While it is a long article (and well worth the read), there were a couple of tips that stood out:

On standing out from the crowd:

…tailor the experience, skills and education sections of your resume to the position you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job posting, employer’s Web site and any related articles on the company.

On Modern Networking

Social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as microblogging tools like Twitter, make it easy to initiate relationships with new contacts. Remember, however, that this is just a launching pad. It’s up to you to develop and grow these relationships.

And on your online image:

…be mindful of what you post online, and continually consider what others might assume or perceive from what you share… protect your online persona by implementing privacy restrictions, such as displaying a limited public profile on Facebook or using invite-only photo-sharing on Flickr.

The part about managing your online image is particularly important for new graduates. Your Facebook profile may be considered your “social resume”. Many employers are checking up on potential hires on social networking sites. You have to ask yourself the question: based on my social media profiles, would someone still want to hire me?

Either way, it’s a great article. I recommend that you check it out!

REM was right. Everybody hurts. And this can be a big problem for you and your job search.

Like it or not, our moods are greatly affected by our environment. And music is no exception. Uplifting and upbeat music can improve your mood just like slow depressing music can deflate it. So regardless of how much you love the song Everybody Hurts, this is not the type of music that you need to be listening to while you are hunting for work. This is even more important if you are about to have an interview of any kind. Ensure that you are listening to music that makes you happy and confident. It is a subtle way of improving your chances at landing the job.

Remember: The little things make all the difference.

Thoughts? Comments? Leave a comment!