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8 Steps to Getting a Job in a Recession
Get through the unemployment line as quickly as possible.
by
Feb 02, 2009
Feb 02, 2009
Still got a job? Consider yourself lucky - unemployment is skyrocketing in this worldwide economic free-fall, and there's no sign of slowing on the horizon. In fact, it's looking to get a lot worse before it gets better; on Monday alone, companies announced more than 65,000 job cuts in the United States and around the world - and that was one day.
“These are not just numbers on a page,” President Obama said last week. “As with the millions of jobs lost in 2008, these are working men and women whose families have been disrupted and whose dreams have been put on hold. We owe it to each of them and to every single American to act with a sense of urgency and common purpose. We can’t afford distractions and we cannot afford delays.”
Damn right we can't afford delays. That's why we've put together a comprehensive, 8-point how-to guide on getting a job in the scariest economic climate most of us have ever seen. This isn't a guarantee that you'll defy the odds and climb the ladder while the world crumbles around you, but at least you'll be equipped when it's time to separate the swimmers from the sinkers.
1. Do Your Homework. Establish communication within the company you want to work at - develop contacts, gain an understanding of what they need, and find a way to fill that need. This will help you exponentially when it's time for the hiring manager to get a feel for what you'll bring to the company. Keep in mind, if you're a job hunter, you're in the business of selling time and skills to someone who can build value/make money from them. If you can look at it that way and learn to describe yourself as such, you'll be doing the hiring manager's job for them - which is to figure out why you’d be a valuable hire.
2. Get Your Resume Right - Before you try to get anyone's attention, make sure you've got something that presents your skills. Got a portfolio or professional blog? Now's the time to update it and get it together. There are tons of resume help sites on the web, as well as ones that can help you with your cover letter. It's important to tailor your paper pitch to to reader/hiring manager, so they're able to immediately see that you know your shit and have your eyes on the prize. You've done your homework (see #1) and have at least an understanding of what the company needs, so make yourself that missing piece of the puzzle.
3. Side note: On your resume, it's crucial to avoid common interest-killing phrases such as "responsible for," "excellent at," "team player" and "experienced in." They've seen it all before, and those words get the glaze-over every time. Get the point across, but do it without looking like a complete robot. In other words...
4. Understand Your Value - In a rough economy, you're already fighting an uphill battle - companies are looking to cut costs, not add new ones. So it's important to understand your value - aka how you can help a company that’s facing those harsh realities, and communicate your understanding - as well as what you can do to help them overcome those realities. A company will find the money for things that will make them more money. Be one of those things, and make it clear that you are, and you'll have an advantage over other hopefuls. Sometimes a little bit of the "fake it till you make it" magic needs to be put into play. Confidence is key.
5. Expose Yourself - No, don't show up at your interview wearing nothing but a bluetooth - the most important part of a job hunt is to make yourself as visible as you possibly can. Finding ways to highlight your skills, whether through blogging your abilities or by creating something that exemplifies your skills (if you're a programmer, build a web site or software, etc.), can be your most valuable tool at a time when it's more important to stand out from the pack than ever before.
6. Don’t Get Lazy - The worse things get, the harder it can be to get off the couch and pound the pavement. It's deceptively easy to fall into the productivity-killing, pendular cycle of self-pity and self-loathing when things aren't going your way, so make sure to stay aware of your daily progress. Hold yourself to a standard - these days, nobody's going to hire someone who's not clearly self-motivated and eager. Be that guy. Set that alarm clock. And that brings us to...
7. Time Management - Make sure you spend at least a third of every day job hunting - and that does not include perusing the classifieds with a red pen; it means working on your resume, getting your cover letter together, researching the specific needs of companies you're eyeing and making contacts therein. Sending out resumes is an empty practice, and isn't going to do the trick on its own.
8. Be Persistent - If you've got the qualifications, the more you remind your prospective employer of your presence, ability and dedication, the more likely you are to get a shot at the position. Make follow-up calls, show up in person, make follow-ups to follow-ups. Don't get creepy about it, but do your best to stand out from the pack. It's the only way to survive when it comes time to figure out who doesn't have to eat top ramen anymore.
Not in any way associated with Crave Entertainment, Inc.
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