During a brief discussion on the Fox Business Network this morning about jobs in 2009, I was reminded again that many leaders and pundits believe we are in for a really gloomy year. When I spoke about job opportunities and hiring activity that is going on, the host thanked me for my "optimism."
Optimism seems to be scarce lately. Yes, job losses and the unemployment rate will likely rise in 2009. But the U.S. still has over 90% employment, and jobs open up every day.
As author Laurence Shatkin (150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs) said to me for a recent article: "Remember that people are always being hired, even in a recession."
Granted, job seekers will have a more difficult getting a job this year. Competition will be tough, and the search process will take longer than in recent years.
To give job seekers a better edge, I asked members of the Recruiter Roundtable on Yahoo! HotJobs for their best advice on the one thing that candidates must do to get the jobs they want in 2009.
They all had great advice, and I recommend reading the article. A common theme emerged around diversifying your search and your resume. In other words, don't limit your search to a particular industry, job title, or location. And don't take a "one size fits all" approach to your resume; you should tailor each one to a specific job description.
There are several other articles that offer great tips for everyone who is interested in finding a new job this year: "6 Essentials for Finding a New Job," "Job-Search Rejection? No Sweat," and "8 Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable."
A final note: Try to keep some optimism alive, especially if you are hoping to find a job or switch jobs this year. Even if it means turning off the cable news networks! A good attitude will make you a much more attractive candidate, as hiring managers will easily spot and avoid a Debbie Downer.
Related Stories: | Topics:Leadership, Management, Careers, workforce, hotjobs, resume, work, salary, job hunting, Yahoo, job hunt, jobs, job interview, Business, FOX Business Network, Job Searching, Jobs and Labor, Laurence Shatkin |
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Recent Comments | 10 Total
January 8, 2009 at 8:20am by Allen Laudenslager
I’m always amazed that the professionals assume that everyone looking for a new job has developed the same expertise in job search and resume writing that the seeker has in their career field.
As a former hiring manager, what I look for in a resume is so far removed from what the HR department wants that I finally had all applications sent directly to me for initial screening because so many great candidates were being overlooked by the HR department.
Most jobs don’t demand a professional resume writer!
January 8, 2009 at 11:05pm by J C
Very, very interesting comment from Allen. Especially the part, "As a former hiring manager, what I look for in a resume is so far removed from what the HR department wants that I finally had all applications sent directly to me for initial screening because so many great candidates were being overlooked by the HR department." I think I have been the victim to HR's flawed review process which is typically fast and sticks hard to the bullet points. I am a firm believer that there are a lot of people out there, like me, who are definitely out of the box thinkers and are truly innovative. HR usually sees us as uncontrollable or too high risk when in fact a company can be rewarded handsomely for this type of natural creative and innovative talent.
January 9, 2009 at 1:02am by Ronny Kochery
Well I must say that at 2years of work experience I am still too young tom comment on this subject but what i do agree with is that what the HR department misses out is the "fire" that an individual possesses. All that the HR department looks for us conformity to what "they" have in mind as a suitable fit. I still remember my first few interviews, I being an I.T engineer was consistently rejected for jobs in the Marketing domain though Marketing is what I wanted to do. And the company that finally selected me (in Sales) did do so only because I gave their aptitude test and satisfied their requirements.
I believe even now that qualification's and in some cases experience or lack of either of these shouldn't deter employers from hiring talented and motivated individuals.
January 9, 2009 at 10:40am by John Agno
Job seekers should not send their resume to prospective employers. Why? For the answer, go to:
http://coachingtip.blogs.com/coaching_tip/2007/01/dont_send_your_.html
January 9, 2009 at 10:40am by John Agno
Job seekers should not send their resume to prospective employers. Why? For the answer, go to:
http://coachingtip.blogs.com/coaching_tip/2007/01/dont_send_your_.html
January 14, 2009 at 8:45am by Joshua Letourneau
Allen and L. Jamie, you both are correct. As an Executive Recruiter, my probability of providing the 'ideal candidate' is slim to none if I am not able to speak with the actual Hiring Manager. However, in today's economy, HR will often remove you (i.e. "fire you") from the 'vendor list' if you contact a Hiring Manager. Now, I'm not necessarily anti-HR by any means . . . however the impulsive desire to control all communications of the Hiring Managers with Recruiters like me too often winds up with the Hiring Manager having to interview the wrong candidates, which frustrates them and reduces their morale/engagement, on top of the fact that many wind up missing out on the ideal candidate. If HR was to focus Talent Acquisition efforts on truly enhancing organizational performance, and not on simply putting 'bodies in seats' at the lowest cost, perhaps U.S. organizations could better compete on a global scale.
May 13, 2009 at 7:18pm by Eric Shannon
I would recommend creating something useful online that shows off your skills or knowledge. Talk is cheap and seeing is believing. Also, ask the right questions in the interview - here's a good primer: http://network.justjobs.com/forum/topics/whats-the-best-interview
Eric Shannon
President, LatPro, Inc.
JustJobs.com | DiversityJobs.com
May 15, 2009 at 1:45pm by Tom Hanks
For getting job in 2009 the main thing is to keep your resume up-to-date and the person should have also immense knowledge in his subject so that the recruiter could not find any mistake in you and your resume and the best thing that you should always try to explore new avenues for yourself.
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Tom
career hunting uk
May 26, 2009 at 5:42pm by Eric Shannon
Just published the 2009 guide to the top 100 job site niches. For each top employment category it lists the top 3 or 4 niche job sites.
The point of this list is to avoid looking at the same jobs or job seekers that everyone else is looking at. Yes, you should use one of the largest general-purpose job boards and a job search engine. There, you will find the greatest numbers -- and you will be competing with everyone and their brother. But, if you are looking for something harder to find, this report may be helpful.
Eric Shannon
President, LatPro.com