Job Search Strategy - Should it Change in a Tough Economy?

Let's face it. It's a tough time to be looking for a job. The American economy has been growing for a long time, but is now taking a pause and will probably shrink for a period of time. None of us know how long the tough times will last, but we do know the effects on jobs have not been good so far. Millions of people are now considered unemployed by the government, meaning that they are seeking work, but unable to find it.

The unemployment rate has just increased to 9.4% (summer 2009), which is the highest number it has been since early 1980s. And even though the experts believe that the rate has stabilized they still insist it will continue to grow before it will be reversed.

In spite of the bad news, you shouldn't get discouraged, but instead use positive thinking...with a touch of realism. We're not guaranteed that "everything is going to work out". Hope is not a strategy. But, by seeking to understand the world around us, setting goals, planning carefully, and working hard, we can increase our chances for a better future. If you are out of work right now and looking for a job, this especially applies to you. There are fewer open jobs today and more competition for them, but by following these three steps you can increase your chances of finding the job you are seeking even in this tough economy:

1. Execute an effective job search strategy. Don't rely solely on classified ads or on-line job boards. Be clear about your personality, strengths, and skills. Have a clear, specific target job. Identify a list of target companies that could use your skills, develop a resume that "sells" you effectively, and then contact the decision-makers at your target companies. Multiple contacts are better than one contact. Sell yourself in interviews.
2. Be more aggressive, but also more patient. Finding a job is a sales process and in this economy your rejection rate will be higher. You will have to contact a larger number of companies in this job market than in a normal job market because there are fewer hiring opportunities.  Whereas before you might have had to contact 40 hiring managers to ensure a successful job search, in this job market you may have to contact 80, 120, or more hiring managers to find the one that is hiring. You should also expect your search to take much longer than normal. Whereas it might have taken 3 months to find a job in a normal market, it might take 6 months, a year, or longer in this market.
3. Be more flexible. This is not the time to hold out for the ideal job. In this economy, you should be more flexible about location, compensation, and even the specific position that you take. By this, I don't mean you should give up on your goals and career aspirations. Taking a less than ideal job now may put you in a position to get to where you want to be as the economy improves.

 Follow these steps and you will differentiate yourself from the millions of other job seekers and increase your chances of finding a job in a tough economy.