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Finding a Job in
Today's Market by Killer
Resume
Less than a year ago, a job candidate
with a decent resume and little or no experience could walk into virtually
any interview knowing that an offer was inevitable.
Candidates would send out 10 resumes
hoping to get 2 or 3 responses, but they would instead get 20 responses,
many from head-hunters, whose business was booming like never before. Back
then, it was almost impossible to find a company that *wasn't* hiring.
NASDAQ had broken the 5,000-point
barrier, and thousands of 20-somethings fresh out of college had option
packages that made them millionaires on paper.
That was just a year ago. So close, yet so far away. Today the job market
appears the very antithesis of those glory days. Seemingly endless
layoffs, missed forecasts, a major NASDAQ correction and events abroad
have led us to an uncomfortable phase of economic unrest.
Jobs, of course, are no longer easy to
come by; and many of the unemployed have found themselves "on the bench"
for weeks, then months.
But the cyclical nature of the US economy is a known fact; and a downturn
was not only expected but inevitable. Instead of stressing and worrying at
such times, we should rise to the occasion and meet the new challenges. In
this job race, the only survivors are those who fit themselves with a
stellar resume and a die-hard attitude.
Following are some tips on accelerating your search for a new job:
-
Get a
Positive Attitude: While it may not be easy these days, it is
an absolute must to remain positive and optimistic.
-
Be Aware of
Job Security: Don't wait for your company to go out of
business before you start looking for a new job. If you have any reason
to believe your job is in jeopardy, update your resume and start testing
the waters. When the time seems right, make the jump if it is to a
better, more secure job.
-
Search
Online: Regardless of the industry you are in, you are
missing out on major opportunities if you aren't looking for a job
online. Internet use allows you to send out more resumes far quicker
than any other way.
-
Be
Proactive: If you would normally send out 5 resumes a day,
start sending out 10 or even 20. Don't be picky with the companies you
choose -- get in as many interviews as you can now, and be pick with the
*offers* later. If a job listing has a both a contact phone number and
email address, pick up the phone and call them -- it is far too easy for
an email to be filed away for later.
-
Totally
revamp your resume: While your old resume might have landed
you a job in yesterday's booming market, today competition is as tight
as ever. Your resume is your first impression with an employer; it will
get you interviews or cause you to lose them. Consider having your
resume re-written by experienced editors -- for example, The Killer
Resume offers resume editing and writing by Harvard-educated
professionals who have a great deal of experience with what works and
what doesn't in resumes.
-
Polish Your
Interviewing Skills: Once you begin interviewing, be sure
prepare yourself for each meeting. Interviewers are impressed by
confident individuals who show strong communication skills and eagerness
for the position. When in doubt, always wear a suit and tie to the
interview. Mention a willingness to work in groups but the ability to
carry your own weight. Research the company's website before the
interview, and if you are able to slip in a few facts during the
interview (e.g. "I'd particularly be interested in working with your
Open Server product") it will score you extra points. Remember -- the
more you interview, the better you will get at it. This is particularly
true because most interviewers ask the exact same questions. Soon
enough, the answers will flow out of your mouth before you even hear the
whole question.
Anyone can get a job when the market
is booming, but those who prevail in tough times like these show true
character and spirit.
From the editors at
The Killer Resume
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