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Are we in a recession?
Or is it a recovery? It
depends on who your ask? The news media can’t seem to
get it straight. Regardless,
job search is tough right now.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you with
the Long Term process:
Stay Focused!
Employers are
inundated with applicants right now.
The market is so flooded that employers have their pick of
who to hire. However,
employers look for flags – red flags!
Here’s an example: An employer will quickly select you
for a job you have recent experience in VS. you the applicant
who’s been downsized ( and unemployed for last six months) and
needs a job – and you’re thinking “sure I can do this job”
(until a better job comes along).
Don’t Sell Yourself Short!
It’s easy to
take a job making less money right now – it’s practically the
norm! But a 10-20% cut
will pull the reins tighter. A
50% cut creates scenarios like: selling your home, car or possibly
other assets just to make ends meet.
If you were earning $50,000/yr, a 20% cut takes you to
$40,000. Whatever your
salary, you do the math on a 10% or 20% adjustment.
However, your expenses don’t get reduced.
So you’ll need to make up the difference somewhere.
Also think how long will it take to make up the 20%
difference – once you are employed.
Can you live with the squeeze during that estimated time
frame? Or will you need
to supplement? Chances
are right now a Part Time job to supplement the 20% may be hard to
come by.
Continue to Network!
This continues
to be an excellent tool. When
the economy starts to take a noticeable turn, it’s too late to
start networking then. Many
positions will already be taken by the folks who had been networking
all along and got in on the ground floor.
They will be the people who will help companies grow through
the next economic turn.
In
addition to networking, think about doing a marketing letter with
follow up calls to your target market. This goes back to the first suggestion – stay focused.
What is your target market’s needs as they continue to move
through 2002. Can you
fill those needs? It’s
too easy to blanket the universe with your resume (generally online)
and doubly hard when the efforts are minimal at best.
Stay on track with our internal map.
Know what the job looks like in job titles, know your core
competencies that support such job titles and identify target
companies who are in the market for a product – you!
The key
here – Long Term. Panic
creates decisions for the short term. Focus creates decisions for the long term.
In the bigger scheme of things, this frustrating job search
will be a small bump in the road along the journey we call life.
Good Luck!
It’s Spring
Time! ___
With spring in the air, what’s new and exciting in your
life? I’ve been busy
with career consulting projects including managing a career center
and teaching resume writing at a number of workforce centers.
I sneak in a few chances for writing every now and then.
Meanwhile, www.careeradvice.com
continues to offer job seekers a wealth of information.
If you or someone you know needs help in a job search, please
steer them to the site for useful and free information in their job
search or career change.
Happy Spring and Warmest Regards,
Rosemary Augustine
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