Do You Remember How To Find A Job?
by Jack Smith, 1 Jan 2009

Jack Smith is Managing Director of Intelligent Capital Network, a people and solutions company focused on the Marketing and Technology spheres. Jack has 18 years experience in the recruitment and staffing industry, spanning marketing, technology and scientific disciplines. As a business owner and entrepreneur, Jack maintains a close pulse on hiring issues in the Delaware Valley.

Visit them online at www.icn-i.com.

As we are all painfully aware, the economy is "horrible", "abysmal", "the worst since the Great Depression". You can pick your description du jour. As we watch cable news, we see a different politician or economist predict doomsday. Quite frankly, anyone with a shred of common sense has known for a long while that things are not good, and getting progressively worse.

As the overall unemployment numbers continue to climb, there are some bright spots in the job market. The national unemployment average is approaching the 6.5% mark (as of October 2008), but in Pennsylvania it is slightly better at 5.8%, and Chester County is 4.4%. So, geography plays a big part in the employment picture. As this example points out, knowledge of your local employment environment is powerful. Knowledge of your specific industry or job type can be equally as powerful, as the job market differs from industry to industry and from skill set to skill set. Do you possess the knowledge to make informed choices? With 2009 seen as a worsening economic front by most, what can you do to be prepared for the worst case scenario, losing your job abruptly?

Be prepared. It cannot be overstated enough. Being prepared ranges from simply knowing the reactive steps you will take in the event of a job loss to proactively searching for your next position or company. Regardless of where you stand within that spectrum, there are several steps that are the cornerstone of preparedness.

Update, update, update. Dusting off the resume and adding your current position and responsibilities is only your first step. In a tight employment market, getting any employer to give your background a second look requires something that makes it stand out. Having a resume that succinctly highlights key accomplishments and shows a definitive progression of success gets you noticed. Remember, at the end of the day, a resume gets you in the door (or keeps you locked out). You must sell yourself in person.

Preparation is the key to success. It sounds cliché, but preparing sufficiently for an interview takes effort. There are the typical questions that still creep into most interviews; greatest success, greatest weakness, where do you see yourself in the coming years, why should we hire you, etc. They are well documented and most managers/organizations read from the same playbook. Being prepared allows you to proactively discuss aspects of the job and organization that are germane to your background and experiences, leading to a natural fit between both. A job interview is never the time to wing-it.

And, as hard as it is to believe sometimes, many interviewers are just not trained to execute a good interview. Therefore, the burden really does fall upon the shoulders of the interviewee. Being able to weave your strengths (and downplay your weaknesses) into the core attributes the position calls for is a skill, so practice it. And, remember, connecting on a personal level still carries significant weight in the hiring process. You must find a way to connect to the interviewer that makes you personally fit the job.

Networking, there is no substitute. For many, the thought of attending every job fair, user group, industry event and continuing education program ranges from boring to downright intimidating. It may be, but there is no better way of making contacts than meeting in a non-formal atmosphere. Once you have met and connect, you need to stay in touch. Far too often, follow up contact is lost. A simple email, discussing an innocuous event is all it takes. Schedule a follow up contact on your calendar; it doesn't take a lot of effort to keep yourself fresh in the eyes of a potential hiring contact (or future hire). In addition to traditional networking, the world of on-line social networking affords us all the opportunity to become connected in a much more efficient way. If you haven't heard of Linkedin, Facebook, MySpace or Plaxo you are way behind the times. Run to your nearest internet connection and get connected. For the rest, make sure you are keeping updated across all your social networking platforms. It is a great way to advertise your skills and successes. And remember, any future employer will be looking you up before a decision is made, don't disappoint.

You're never too old to learn. Learning must be a constant. And, that applies to learning how to identify the right type of company, find the right job and interview exceptionally well. Most often, continued learning revolves around discrete functions associated with a job. And, while that is of utmost importance for your professional growth, you must also be cognizant of learning how your industry and specific professional role continues to evolve. Again, staying connected with peers matters. Being able to participate in on-line and off-line discussion forums allows you to see where the industry is headed. Use collective wisdom to your advantage. This will also come in to play when you are looking for your next job. In addition to posting your resume to the usual job sites (Monster, Careerbuilder, TheLadders, and countless niche sites), talking with peers in a non-solicitation manner (asking for advice as opposed to asking for job leads) will allow you to be seen in a different light. You still should explore all options, including general and specific job boards, just do not expect that posting your resume will lead to that dream job. Do your homework, research the job boards most relevant to your situation.

Freelance, really? Why not? There is typically a much defined boundary between those that do contract work and those that do not. Sometime that occurs for good reason but sometime out of ignorance. Freelance work will allow you to try out a company or role or manager in a finite capacity. Many times, companies like the prospect of trying out employees before making a full time commitment from their side. It is a situation that has advantages and disadvantages. But, for the right person, in the right situation, it can be invaluable.

Hopefully, you will not need to utilize any of this information for a long time. But, it is never a bad idea to brush up on the simple tips that can empower you to land that next, great role in your professional career.