The economy is bad, company revenues were low, you heard rumors, but hoped it wouldn’t happen to you, but it did – you lost your job. It’s a trying time, a stressful time. But you need to look ahead and start thinking of going forward to get hired in a new job.
The first thing to do when wanting to get hired is to be calm, cool, and collected. Wait until the emotions – fear anger, sadness – have passed; remember, things always seem brighter in the proverbial morning. Don’t start your job search until you are no longer hurt or angry, but are ready for a fresh start.
Next, examine your options. Is this a time when you want to attempt a career change, or maybe update your skills? If your financial house is in order, maybe you could take that trip you wanted before you start your job search? Figuring out what you want to do and doing them can help you regain a sense of purpose and direction.
To get hired, you need to know what the market is like – the types of jobs that are out there and the skills that are required. The obvious step is to review the want ads online or from recruiters.
While you don’t necessarily need to apply to these jobs or companies, you will understand what you are up against and either know that your experience meshes with current market trends, or that you to update your skills accordingly to get hired faster.
At this point, it’s time to dust off and update your resume and cover letter. Has it been a while since you have updated it? If so, take a look at resume samples on our site to see how yours rates in terms of wording and format.
Because this is the first encounter prospective employers will have of you, take your time, get lots of opinions, maybe even create several versions of your resume that are tailored to different jobs.
While the want ads indicate which employers are hiring, they aren’t the only ones who are. Start chatting with former colleagues, managers, recruiters – basically: get connected, stay connected.
These people can give you insight into job markets, ideas for your resume, and possibly even job leads. And it’s good for your mental health to have a support system.
Finally, you are going to start sending out your resume. But there are decisions, decisions – do you apply to any organization that is hiring, or do you pick and choose to find the right fit? This is a personal decision based on your financial well-being and the state of the economy in your area.
In some instances, it’s best simply to have a job, but in others, it is an employee’s market. In general, you should try to balance your need for employment with the types of available work to make the best decision about how to launch your plan of attack.
Pounding the pavement, or scouring the Internet, sending out resumes, attending interviews, answering questions, and waiting waiting waiting for that job offer can be trying. However, don’t worry, be happy!
Impatience and frustration can start to creep through your words and body language, and make you appear a less desirable candidate. Keep a positive attitude – something will turn up, and that also means you need to keep at it.
With a precise plan, updated skills, perseverance, and a whole lot of patience, you will get hired.
About the Author: Michelle Dumas
