Laid off?...Now What?

February 2009

By: Rich Reinecke, Career Quest, Linking Talent With Opportunity

Finding yourself unemployed is frightening.  Finding yourself unemployed in a market with a rising unemployment rate in one of the toughest economies we have experienced in decades, and that fear is heightened to a new level.  However, if you can follow a few key points, your job search can be a less daunting task.

Stay calm, focused and get yourself organized.  The calm piece is probably the toughest but most important.  This is not the time to panic and take a fast shotgun approach. Follow a few of these suggestions:

·    Write a description of the perfect position you see yourself in. Next, evaluate the points that are must haves and points that you are flexible on.   You need to know your bottom line on where you can be flexible so you don't fall victim to taking a job that does not meet your criteria. ·    Freshen up your resume.  You need to have an accurate, results driven resume that is consistent with your peers.  ·    Develop a system to keep track of your job search Ø  who you have contacted to network with Ø  where your resume has been sent Ø  when you need to take the next step with a particular contact or employer

 

Companies rely on your past experience as the best indicator of your future success.  You need to make it easy for potential employers to understand the difference between you and the rest of the candidate pool.  Focus on how you can add value to an employer and quantify whenever possible with facts.  Do you make money for a company or do you save money for a company?  If you have been successful in growing sales, retaining customers or you are an accountant that has reduced the time it takes to close the books, be sure you can quickly and concisely articulate that to potential employers in your resume as well as the elevator pitch you deliver at networking events.

 

You need to take a very targeted and strategic approach to each job opportunity, making sure the right person is exposed to what you bring to the table.  This requires networking to the right contacts.  Now is not the time for a shotgun approach - blasting resumes to as many companies as possible is an old school tactic that does not work well any more, particularly in a tough job market. 

 

Most people are unaware of the importance of developing and keeping a personal and professional network alive and active.   The larger the net you have, the more opportunity you will become aware of.  Also, expand your horizons and think creatively when considering networking events. 

TIP ·    Look for opportunities to network in both professional and personal settings like trade associations, church and volunteer opportunities.  You never know who you will meet or where you will meet them ·    Technology is an incredible tool today.  There are plenty of social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.  So, make sure you can be found on the internet.  But, beware of your social networking footprint.  We all know we need to dress to impress at interviews...make sure your web presence is tidy as well.

 

Be flexible but also be realistic.  Refer back to the "perfect job" description you developed at the beginning of this article.  There are some things in that description that you must have to make your next career move a success while other points are on the wish list.  You might need to consider opportunities outside of your industry or ones that are a different size than where you worked before. Do not underestimate the time it will take to find the next position. By some estimates it could take one month of job searching for every $10,000 in salary.  As in most things, you can influence these estimates with an active approach to your search. 

·   Consider temporary or contract consulting positions.  Ø  Many times they lead to full time work! ·   Realize that depending on circumstances, you may have to lower your expectations on the level of position and compensation.  But, don't give up so much of what was on your "must have" list that you regret taking the job.

If you have found yourself in a tough spot in this job market, find resources that can help you.  A great recruiter that you can rely on (one with a solid reputation for helping similarly skilled professionals) is a powerful resource.  If you want to discuss this article or your job search with someone on our team, we welcome the opportunity to help you.

Rich Reinecke, President Career Quest LLC 804-377-8600 rich@career-quest.com