http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/12/news/economy/job.hunting.fortune/index.htm
February 14 2008: 7:15 AM EST
7 tips for job hunting in a tougher market
Landing a new position in the months ahead will likely take some extra
effort and flexibility. Fortune's Anne Fisher has advice to help you
get the job you want.
By Anne Fisher, Fortune senior writer
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- With the U.S. economy apparently getting ready
to take one of its cyclical snoozes, employers are more hesitant to
take on new hires than they were even just three or four months ago -
and the recent uptick in unemployment means more competition for each
opening. That doesn't mean you need to give up on the idea of looking
for a new job. In fact, if your company is going through a merger or
seems likely to announce layoffs, your best bet may be to start your
job search right away.
What's different about job hunting during a slowdown? Sure, the
fundamentals - a resume that highlights your achievements and is easy
to read, customized cover letters that succinctly tell why you're the
best candidate for a particular job, and diligent follow-up (including
prompt and impeccable thank-you notes) - never change.
But when the market's tough, you have to work harder at job hunting
and be more flexible, say Annie Stevens and Greg Gostanian, managing
partners at Boston-based executive coaching firm ClearRock
(www.clearrock.com). They've come up with seven tips to help you get
the job you want.
1. Request more face-to-face meetings. During boom times, it might be
okay to rely on phone conversations and e-mails with networking
contacts and recruiters. But right now, "people need to have more in-
person meetings, in order to gather more information and make a better
impression," says Stevens.
2. Step up your job-search activity. "The sheer numbers of letters and
phone calls also need to increase," says Greg Gostanian. "Plan on
making up to 40 phone calls a week, and sending out between 15 and 20
letters to prospective employers, recruiters, and others. It's
important to keep quality in mind when developing these contacts, but
there's no question that part of this process is a numbers game. In a
slower economy, you need to better your odds by making more contacts."
3. Try to be as flexible as you can. With so much uncertainty in the
air, employers may not be jumping to offer you a full-time job at the
salary you have in mind. Instead, they might propose contract or
project work, bringing you on-board part time, or hiring you full time
at less than what you were hoping to earn. If you can possibly afford
to, at least for a few months, accept what they're offering,
especially if it's at a company where you see growth and the potential
for bigger opportunities later. Once you have a foot in the door, says
Stevens, "show what you can do, and how you can help them achieve
their goals."
4. Consider relocating. Job candidates who are willing to move are in
even shorter supply than usual these days - partly because tumbling
real estate values in many places mean that relocating involves
selling a current residence at a bargain-basement price (in some
cases, for less than is owed on it). But being open to the idea of
moving improves your chances for success, Gostanian notes. "When you
expand the geography where you're willing to live, you have a bigger
playing field with more opportunities," he says.
5. Scour the hidden job market. "In good times, only about 20% of
available positions are ever advertised or posted. In a slower
economy, even fewer jobs than that are publicly announced in any way,
because employers don't want to be inundated with resumes," Stevens
says. So dig deeper into uncovering unadvertised openings through
networking, and by contacting potential employers directly. Whenever
possible, register on companies' web sites to receive e-mail updates
about new openings that fit your experience and skills.
6. Spend very little of your time on Internet job boards and help-
wanted ads. It's fine to keep an eye on the job boards and post your
resume on job sites, especially niche sites that specialize in your
industry or your area of expertise. But don't fritter away too many
hours online. "Fewer job openings mean more people are chasing the
same advertised and posted positions," notes Gostanian.
7. Take advantage of social networking sites. If you aren't already
using web sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Friendster, and MySpace to re-
connect with old acquaintances and make new ones, this would be a good
time to start.
As the name "social networking" implies, these sites aren't designed
primarily to help people develop professional contacts (except for
LinkedIn, which is the most business-oriented of the bunch) - but,
hey, you never know. Besides, the sites can be fun. Between working
harder at your current job and trying to figure out where to go next,
you could probably use a little fun, couldn't you?
Have you ever landed your dream job during a downturn? How did you do
it? What tricks do you have for finding a job when the market's
tougher? Post your thoughts on the Ask Annie blog.
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