Tips For Finding a Job During a Recession

I recently found myself in the same unenviable position as a rapidly growing number of Americans--I unexpectedly lost my job and had no good prospects for a new job. The following are some tips and strategies I have picked up in my own search for a new job. I hope they are helpful.

This is the first step to prepare yourself to apply for jobs. Spend some time on this, as your resume will be the one chance you have (in addition to a cover letter) to showcase your experiences and skills to a potential employer. The style of your resume will vary depending on the field you are interested in. For example, a sales resume will probably be more descriptive (like your sales pitch of yourself and your accomplishments), whereas a computer programmer's resume will include more bullet points of specific projects or accomplishments, and a laundry list of programs they have used, certifications and credentials, programming languages known, etc. In other words, think of your target audience and make your resume appealing to that group.

You may wish to create several resumes targeted towards different potential employers. This doesn't mean that you are making things up, just that you are highlighting relevant experiences for the appropriate companies. For example, I created a resume that highlighted my office and customer service experiences for Administrative Assistant positions. I also applied for some teaching positions, however, so I made another resume that emphasized the teaching aspects of my last job and included several summer jobs and volunteer activities I'd had that involved teaching.

One recruiter I spoke to said that if you have the necessary skills but not the formal experience for a position, use your resume and cover letter to connect all the dots for the recruiter--explicitly state what skills and experiences you gained from each position, and how they relate to the skills needed for the position you are applying for. Make it easy for them...they are scanning through dozens (or even hundreds) of resumes, and do not have the time to interpret your qualifications.

Search for job openings in the places that will yield the most results without wasting your time. I had great success with jobing.com, monster.com, and careerbuilder.com. Each of these sites lets you create and save job searches that are as broad or as targeted as you want them. You can also have reccommended jobs sent to your email every day if you want. They also have resume building programs, if you choose to use them, as well as tons of helpful articles and services. Best of all, they are completely FREE to join!

Another thing to consider is applying for government jobs, as these may offer a certain amount of security. You can go to your city's website to find local county or state openings, or try www.usajobs.gov for both local and national opportunities.

When applying for jobs, don't be afraid to try a variety of positions. If you have ever thought about trying something new, now might be a good time to feel it out. Just remember to sell yourself to the employer and convince them that you would be a great fit for their company.

Do not underestimate the impact of a cover letter! Always, ALWAYS use one! This is your chance to be persuasive, show your personality, point out the best things in your resume, or share how you think you could be an asset to their company. Recruiters want to know that you are qualified for the job, but also that you will be a good fit with their current employee team. Always personalize your cover letter to the position and company you are applying to, as this shows the recruiter that you are really interested in that job. Do not be afraid to ask for an interview in your cover letter. A sentence such as, "I look forward to speaking with you in person about how I can become a valued member of your team," or "I will call/email you on (date) to discuss an interview date" (of course, if you do this one, be sure you actually DO call or email on the specified date!). This shows confidence and assertiveness--qualities a company looks for in an employee.

If you need income right away, consider a part-time job of some sort. Not only can it supply some money for day-to-day living expenses, but it can open the door to more hours, overtime, or advancement within the company.

Finally, send out LOTS of applications.  With nearly 10% of Americans currently unemployed, you are applying for the same jobs as many other people. The more applications you submit, the better chances you have of landing an interview, and the better your odds of finding that employer that is thrilled to hire you. You only need the right one to say yes, but you will need to spend a lot of time searching to find that right one.

Remember: unemployment is not a vacation. It's hard work!

When I began job hunting, I was desperate to find something. In my desperation, I ended up hurting myself by falling for scams disguised as jobs. The first was an ad from craigslist.com advertising a work at home job as an ads processor. I sent somebody $15 dollars through PayPal for a "training manual." I received some pages about how to place ads on craigslist.com telling people to send you money for a training manual. I got caught in a pyramid scheme. First mistake.

My second mistake was applying for a work at home data entry position I saw on craigslist.com. I had an "interview" through Yahoo chat, and was hired the same day. The lady even directed me to a website for their company. I was told that I needed Peachtree and some other accounting software for the work I would be doing, so I was to wire $220 to a supplier in New Jersey, and I would be reimbursed for the products with my first paycheck. I sent the money, and the next day received an email directing me to send another $300 for additional equipment. At that point I refused and never heard from them again.

My third mistake (also, coincidentally, in response to an ad on craigslist.com) was contacting a foreign businessman who claimed he was looking for a US representative to help him advertise by placing ads in US newspapers. He said he would send the money to me, I would place the ad, and keep the extra as commission. However, when he sent me the first check for over $1500, it came with instructions to deposit it into MY BANK and wire a portion of the money to a guy in Austria within 24 hours. I was very suspicious, so I took the check to M&I bank (the supposed originator of the check) and they confirmed that it was a fake. I'm glad I didn't cash that one!

After my second fiasco, I talked to a fraud expert at Western Union and learned these tips:

• As a general rule, anyone that claims they are hiring you but wants you to send money to them first is scamming you.
• Anyone asking you to send wire money via Western Union, etc for ANY REASON, even if it seems like a charitable cause, is scamming you.
• Any mailing you receive saying you have won or can win a prize, but you must send them a processing fee in order to claim it, is scamming you.
• Under NO circumstances should you EVER deposit a check from someone you don't know if they are telling you to immediately wire money a portion of that money to a third party--the check is a fake and you will get stuck with the bill!

While I was looking for jobs, I attended job fairs hosted by Jobing.com and Monster.com. I was skeptical at first about the effectiveness of these events, but now I would send anyone who is job hunting to a job/career fair! I was able to get more interviews by meeting with recruiters face to face than a month's worth of sending out blind resumes! I even received two job offers as a direct result of attending a job fair!

When you go, be sure to dress professionally, bring copies of your resumes, and come with your "game face." Treat your meetings with these representatives as mini interviews, as these may be the people that will either recommend you for an interview, or will be conducting the interviews.

If you have been applying for jobs for weeks or months with little success, it is easy to become discouraged and want to give up. I hit that wall after about 8 weeks of hunting. I was driving to an interview one day and I caught myself thinking, "What's the point of even going to this interview? They're just going to say no anyway. I'll never find a job. I'll be working in fast food for the rest of my life." After a few minutes of this cheery dialouge I had to forceably redirect my thoughts. After all, if I wouldn't even hire me, why would this employer?

Who is your worst enemy when searching for a job? Yourself. If you believe you are a great catch as an employee, and convincingly convey that to prospective employers, you will eventually find a job. When you give up, however, you have doomed yourself.

If your job hunt seems less like a trip to the shooting range, and more like a 3-month African safari searching for the last white rhino, do not despair! Keep applying, keep asking around, keep attending job fairs, keep working part time or finding ways to hire yourself out for odd jobs, and most of all--keep your spirits up! There is a job out there for you...you just have to be patient until you find it!