The New Job Market

Jobs, jobs, jobs, - where are they? Rare is the New Yorker who will readily uproot from the fast pace and bright lights of the City to head out to the Rocky Mountain state of Wyoming or even North Dakota for his or her pick of positions. No that takes a special kind of adventurer. But those states and a few others in that geographic vicinity currently have the lowest rates of unemployment.

There are jobs in the major cities, and tackling job hunting is almost its own part-time job. Eventually, if you keep at it long enough, then by shear odds you should land a position, not necessarily in the company of your dreams, but a job nevertheless. There is one key that is important to use now more than at any other time due to the sluggish job market; networking.

The world of job hunting has changed significantly over the past 20 years. Employment has been bombarded by crises, such as the catastrophe at the World Trade Center, financial debacles, such as the fall of Enron and international trends, such as outsourcing. Finding a way to navigate the changing terrain of job hunting needs more strategic tactics:

The old standard resume just won’t do. Resumes and cover letters must hone in on the specific needs of the job for which you are applying. Get input from others as you update your resume and consider hiring someone to re-do your resume to get the attention of the hiring manager.

I am an advocate of the Knock Em Dead series of books by Martin Yate. His book on resume writing helps nail down what you want to effectively convey to the reader. Also check out the website www.knockemdead.com.

Follow the etiquette: Know when to follow up; send out the thank you cards or emails after an interview. Stay on the radar as long as possible.

Dress appropriately: It is endlessly amazing what some people will wear to an interview and it is even more striking in the non-profit world. No, flip-flops are not considered appropriate for an interview – think power suit. Make a professional statement. It always goes over well.

Networking: Let all of your personal and professional contacts know you are looking. It goes without saying that you want to maintain discretion in your current workplace until you get firm job offer, so carefully create a list of everyone who should know you looking, then send out emails or call them to give more specifics of your search. Word of mouth and possible recommendations can give you the edge to getting the position you want.

If you are seeking a new position, try some new strategies. It may take a little more effort but overall should shorten the time it takes for you to reach your desired goal.