Eight Job Hunting Tips during recession

The global economic crisis could make this period the toughest for job seekers in recent history. The credit crisis has led to increased job losses and reduced vacancies .This has resulted to increased unemployment rate. To be a successful job seeker (that is, landing yourself a job) you have to be calm, patient, proactive and imbibe these tips.

Pick and choose your targetsIt is important to put your strength ,time and energy in jobs you are most interested in and qualified for. Pick few companies and follow them whether there are present openings or not . Since there are many unemployed, going for positions that you are not qualified for may be and effort in futility because there are many qualified people chasing fewer jobs. Just applying for any job or jobs you are not qualified for will not only deplete your scarce resources but increase your frustration.


Concentrate on “recess immune” industries: Any job that alleviates pain is recession proof . Sectors like medical, security and energy are recession proof sectors. For example: If the economy worsens more people will suffer from and there will be need for more medical and security personnel. Information technology jobs are also recession proof since more companies will like to prune staff and replace them with technological products. If you have no skill that will make you employable in these sectors, then this is the time to re-train and acquire new skills.

Work on your social network:This is the time to attend networking and social functions. Connect people and let them know you are searching. A friend got a new job with MTN from an old connection he met at a social function. With this age of social networks like Facebook, Hi-5, twitter and other networks it is time you let technology help you connect with more friends and increase your chances of getting a job. Don't be shy, just consider it like marketing, the more people know you are unemployed the more chances they will give you information about job openings.

Get yourself prepared:Interview preparation is more than learning about a company and her operation. It includes learning how to talk about yourself in a meaningful and powerful way. To achieve this, create a list of potential interview questions and the answers to each, practice speaking in a serious interview manner and simulate interview environment with friends. Dress smart and neat and don't forget your courtesy. Remember to make eye contacts and don't be in a hurry to answer questions, relax and listen attentively. Listening attentive and focusing your eye on the interviewer as he or she talks creates a connection between you and the interviewer. But, it doesn't mean you should gaze into their eyes. Be relaxed while answering questions, don't talk too fast since many would lose sense of what you are saying but don't bore your interviewer with very slow responses. Talk with friends to get the best talking speed for you. Also make sure you ask questions about the company for it shows you are interested in working with them. Examples of good question to ask are: "Does your company provide on the job training for it workers", "Does your company offer opportunity for career development of their staff", "Are there adequate safety policy in the company for the staff" etc.

Freelancing to the rescue: If you are in a field that supports freelancing or online jobs such as writing, marketing, information technology and teaching, consider doing it. Freelancing means working independently for different organization rather than being directly employed by one. A good way of freelancing is blogging on the internet and you can register with blogspot.com or blogger.com and earn some little money to survive this recession. How it works is like this: you write an interesting article in your blog and then invite friends to view it. The blog site places advertisements on the pages of your blog and you are paid a percentage of the advert earning from your site. It is simple and it free to register. Also you can try some freelance marketing. Meet a company with a product you believe you can sell and negotiate with them for freelance marketing. You will be paid a percentage of the price of the product you sell. Freelance marketing is a tool most haven't been utilized but most companies are needing it badly. So walking up to them and presenting yourself as a freelance marketer will not only be welcomed but creates a connection between you and the company which can be useful if there is any future job opening in the company. Moreover, it is better in some cases that you add freelance marketer in you resume than having nothing as job experience in your resume.

Take a temporary job:If freelancing is not practical consider picking up a temporary job such as a weekend job or an event driven job. This option may carry your bills until a permanent position comes up. A good way to start is to volunteer for a job in your church, mosque, an upcoming event or social gathering. Sometimes doing a volunteer work gives you some necessary experience that can drive other endeavors of your life. Excelling even in a work you volunteered to do can give you some unexpected referrals. I once met a guy who got a job in a newspaper company by writing and editing his church's monthly journal. One of the church members that have read his articles in the church's journal referred him to the newspaper company when an opening occurred. Instead of sitting down at home languishing in idleness, get positive, take a temporary job or at least volunteer for a job.

Sound correspondence:
Do not forget to come up with a good cover letter and resume (For more information on good cover letters and resume, click on cover letter and resume category). Don’t use a template cover letter. Make sure each letter addresses specific skills or qualities the company is looking for. This gives you an edge over applicants that submit template cover letters.

Stay positive:The most important thing when searching for jobs during economic recessions is to remain positive. Do not lose hope of getting a job. Do not feel that there is nothing you can do to get a job. Believe firmly in yourself, follow some of these tips and you will definitely land in a great job.  The economic condition might make you start losing hope but always know that you can if you believe you can. Surround your self with positive thinking friends, if you don't have them, encourage them to be positive thinking or find someone that will encourage you like an elder, pastor or someone you respect.