The news, lately, has been pretty breathtaking. Inconceivable drops in the market. Unbelievable amounts in the federal deficit. Unimaginable stimulus legislation. Washington turned upside down with a new administration. Whew. But more breathtaking than that has been news at the personal level. There are friends, acquaintances and colleagues that I know who are out of work and looking for jobs in this bleak environment. The scale of this economic mess is such that I’m sure everyone knows someone who’s been affected. That puts a face on the problem.
The best advice I’ve been able to give to the newly unemployed is the same advice I’ve always given. Keep your networks strong. But, more importantly, think of your job search as a marketing campaign. Start with the product. What are the benefits that you have to offer a company? Take a look at the old résumé and see if you’ve just amassed a bunch of facts about yourself. Instead, you may want to take those facts and translate them into real benefits to offer and contributions you can make. Of course, it’s tempting to pursue a “shotgun” approach to a job search. But, just as in a marketing campaign, you’ll probably find your best results when you hone in on your target market. The most compelling way to sell a product or service – or yourself – is to match what you have to offer with a likely prospect. So, while the internet has made “blasting” your résumé easier than ever, take the time to identify and research your best prospects. Go narrow and deep.
With all that, it’s still tough out there. So, there are two final words of advice. Be patient. There are jobs, there just aren’t a lot of jobs. It will take some times to make the match. And, finally, keep your perspective and your sense of humor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment