As the recession nears its two-year mark and the employment outlook improves, many job seekers are still finding it tough to land any job, let alone the perfect one. Recently, the number of unemployed people increased to 14.9 million, and the unemployment rate rose to 9.7 percent nationwide.
The unemployment rate in Virginia has been consistently lower than the national average, recently falling to 6.9 percent, but that does not offer much comfort to the currently unemployed, or those who are scheduled to separate or retire from military service in the near future. Add looking for employment in another state, or in a field where there are not many jobs available, and the search can be a long road.
But there are many things that can be done to speed up the process, especially by planning ahead, using available resources and networking.
Take for example Ryan Taylor, a former petty officer 2nd class who planned to move to the Norfolk area after separating from the Navy while stationed on the West Coast.
“With the job market in the middle of a downturn, it wasn’t the ideal time for start searching for a job,” Taylor said. “But, to make the job hunt worse, there aren’t many jobs available in my career field in this area.”
Taylor offered freelance services to organizations in the Tidewater area while still in California. By trying a different approach to job hunting, He found a permanent position after a colleague on one of the freelance projects recommended him for a position that was opening up.
For those who are preparing to find employment while jobs seem scarce, here are some tips to help make the process a bit smoother.
1. Examine various industries for trends
Look for industries and job sectors that are experiencing worker shortages or are experiencing job growth. These are the areas to focus the search. Some job search Web sites produce a job forecast report that indicates hiring trends for the next few months, both regionally and across major sectors.
Also, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases monthly figures on occupational job growth. BLS data shows that health care, education, government, food services and information technology categories have all gained jobs in 2009.
2. Assess your employment needs and skills
Job hunters should determine their employment needs and match that with a relevant job. One way they can make sure they know what career path to go down is through the informational interview. By speaking with someone at the company in which they would like to work or who hires in a related field, candidates can learn about qualifications for job they want. They can determine if they need a degree, how much experience is required and if lack of either one will make or break the deal.
Another way to determine how to proceed is through a job needs assessment and a skills assessment offered by the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), the Airman and Family Readiness Center or the Army Career and Alumni Program.
“You need to ask yourself, ‘do I need a job right now and must take the first thing that comes along, or do I have the financial resources and time available to wait for the perfect job with the salary desired?’” said Amanda Slosson, an employment educator at Naval Station Norfolk’s FFSC. “And sometimes the position the job seeker is targeting is not a match to the skill set they have. We make sure they are a match.”
3. Update required skills
“The biggest change I’ve seen in recent hiring practices is that the person with the most applicable skills is the one getting hired,” Slosson said. “Gone are the days when someone would get hired without all of the skills the job required and be given time to acquire the skills after starting the job. If the match is not there, then they will not get hired.”
Many possibilities exist to update skills ranging from something as simple as improving typing or customer relation skills to taking a few courses at a local college or online to complete a certificate, to completing a bachelor’s degree and beyond.
4. Part time or freelance can lead to full time
Just like with Taylor, it can be easier to break into a new job by freelancing or working a part-time position. Often, more than one part-time position can add up to cover the bills and provide enough job security until an appropriate full-time job comes along. The experience from one of more part-time positions or freelance work adds to the résumé as well.
“Even if you can’t find a part-time or freelance opportunity, then do some volunteer work,” Slosson said. “Volunteer work helps build the résumé the same way as paid work does.”
Job seekers can even find that job sharing, temporary positions during the holidays or taking over for someone on medical leave can allow them to not only try on a job for size, but to also improve skills, impress a potential long-term employer and network with people in their industry. They can potentially make something better happen in the short term instead of waiting for the right full-time career opportunity to appear.
5. Step up your social and professional networking
Networking is easier than in past years because of the quick and convenient access to friends and colleagues through a multitude of social networking Web sites that have sprung up everywhere. As requests to join LinkedIn and BrightFuse, and most certainly Facebook, have been accepted over the years, now is the time to take advantage of the network that has been built. Countless opportunities can be found online through a few keystrokes and a couple of mouse clicks, rather than spending time peddling résumés at anonymous networking events.
“Networking is huge, and can be the most important way to find the opportunity to get in the door and get someone in the organization to vouch for you,” Slosson explained. “I’ve seen a big push with professional networking, like LinkedIn, which is a great way to make contacts. You can see who in your network knows someone at a company that you might be interested in working for. Then you can ask them to make an introduction on your behalf.”
6. Use recruiting agencies or headhunters strategically
It can make sense to use an employment agency to further the search. Using a headhunter can be beneficial as well, especially for high-level positions, since these jobs are not always advertised or in an industry that uses the typical methods like job boards to fill vacancies.
“Staffing agencies and recruiting agencies are a great resource,” Slosson said. “They help get you the interview and then you do the rest, but make sure you find the agency that is a match with your skill set. Some are engineering focused, for example, and you need to make sure they can help you find the right job. And don’t use one that limits your job search to using them only. You need the flexibility to be able to continue to market yourself. The more types of search methods you use, the better off you’ll be.”
7. Practice the interview
Confidence is key to a successful interview. Practice your answers to interview questions – especially the one that explains why you are not working. Candidates must be able to explain the situation in a way that is authentic and sincere without sounding bitter or defeated. Try to stay positive and share what has been learned from the experience – employers hire those with good attitudes and the ability to handle adversity.
“Some people may struggle to answer certain questions, so preparation for the interview is extremely important,” Slosson said. “Asking us to go through a mock interview with you to get the jitters out can help quite a bit.”
8. Market yourself well
How job seekers choose to market themselves will directly impact how long it will take to find a new job. Identify strengths and put them together in the best possible way. Candidates should be prepared, be professional and do the work for the interviewer through a flawless résumé, a customized and compelling cover letter, and articulate and engaging networking. The hirer must be able to quickly imagine how the candidate would fit into the position – that is the candidate’s main objective. If they can not make themselves relevant, their résumé will find its way to the bottom of the pile.
“The résumé is the most important piece and is all that they are going to see when they are deciding who gets the interview,” Slosson said. “And the biggest asset our clients have in Fleet and Family is that we can help write the resume.”
9. Find an opportunity with your current employer
Frequently, employers look to their current employees to fill newly opened positions, or sometime they can look to expand the role of an employee. This can be more beneficial than looking for a new job with a new company. According to Slosson, the best way to improve your chances of expanding or being hired for a better position is to cross train.
“Make yourself familiar with other aspects of the organization and be involved with other people and activities,” Slosson recommended. “Then when the time comes, a typical organization will post a job internally before advertising to outside personnel. You can build a résumé that shows you are the best fit for that positions, or you can justify asking to expand your role and get a raise along with it.”
10. Be realistic about time
It will take time to find a new job. Some experts estimate it will take at least three months to find a job that pays $40,000 per year, plus one month for every $10,000 more in salary per year. Those who are looking for a $70,000 a year job should expect it to take at least six months to find one.
“In the current job market, people who are more educated will take lower jobs and salaries, because they need to have something,” Slosson said. “People with master’s degrees are taking jobs normally filled by people with a bachelor’s degree.
“But salary requirements don’t always matter the most,” Slosson said. “The steps involved in the hiring process can be the biggest factor that makes the process long. It can easily take months from the time a job is posted until the first day of work. Job seekers should start looking at least 90-100 days before they need the job.”
The bottom line, according to Slosson, is that job hunters should always be planning ahead and using the resources that are available to them.
“That’s why the professionals are here to help,” she concluded.
