How to Land a Job in a Tough Economy
Being out of work is a hard and depressing. The bills are still coming and you still need food, clothing, shelter, and transportation for you and your family. What can you do to make the job search easier in this economy? Here are a few suggestions.
Re-purpose your skills into another industry
We all have skills that can be transferred into another industry or career. The key is to know what you can do and how valuable your skills are. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself into one type of job and get stuck looking only in that field or industry. Take into account the tasks you’ve done that were outside the scope of your job and put it on your resume. Think outside the box for ways to use your skills and talents in a new industry.
Hire yourself out as a virtual secretary, house cleaner, dog walker, baby sitter until you find another job
If the work is hard to come by in the traditional sense, you may consider using your everyday skill to make money. Do this while you are looking for other work. The benefit is you get to work, make money, and still have the flexibility to search for a more permanent situation. You never know though, you may like doing the freelance work and decide to keep doing it full-time
Volunteer with an up and coming organization
As counter-productive as it seems, volunteering is a great way to meet people who may be hiring. You get to meet all kinds of donors and board members who have their own businesses or are executives. These connections can lead to a permanent job. Be sure to research several organizations and choose one or two that resonate with you and have organizations and people who could open doors for you.
Look at the US Job outlook report to find out where the jobs are
Check the US jobs outlook reports to find out which jobs and industries are on the rise. You should target companies in your local area that fit the criteria of this list. This goes back to transferring your skills into another industry.
Believe that you will find something
The hardest thing to do when you are out of work is to stay positive and motivated. It takes determination to believe you will find something. When you are focused on the negative job outlook, looking at news reports that scream the economy is getting worse, and seeing your friends struggling, seeing the positive is very hard. But you have to push through that noise and begin seeing a positive future for yourself. You will find work or you can make work as discussed above. It’s up to you.
Brush up on your computer skills
We live in a computer age so it’s important to have good computer skills. This is a no longer a trend, but a way of life. So develop solid computer skills whether it is an office productivity suite like MS Office or a graphics program like InDesign.
Companies need people with solid computer skills to keep them running. Also, consider learning a programming language or other specialized program for more marketability.
The point of these suggestions is to keep your momentum during the job search. If you are sitting on the couch depressed you will find very little. When you are active and doing freelance work, volunteering, or brushing up on your skills the opportunities will come your way faster.