Looking for a Job? Don't Panic - 10 Things to Do Instead

With the unemployment rate hovering around 10% nationwide, probably every one of us knows people who have recently lost their jobs. Companies are trying to remain profitable (or at least lose less money) during a serious recession. Salaries are a big part of overhead. To the executives, it’s business. To those directly affected, it’s their career and their life. First and foremost, DO NOT panic. Panic tends to hamper the ability to act with purpose, and it is a time for focused action. If you didn’t see your job loss coming, you may not have been well-prepared for a job hunt. So get prepared now, and fast. 1. ASSESS YOUR FINANCIAL SITIATION: How long will your savings last? Depending on the type of job you seek, you could need 6 to 8 months of money to pay living expenses while you are unemployed. (For senior executives, 1 to 2 years is more realistic.) 2. POLISH YOUR RESUME: Be sure it’s current, complete, professional, attractive, compelling, and error-free. Get help from your friends or an expert to make sure it’s the best it can be. Once you have your base resume, it can be easily tweaked when applying for specific opportunities. 3. UPDATE LINKEDIN: Be sure the information on LinkedIn is consistent with your resume. 4. FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT: The best case scenario is that you won’t need it – but it’s there to help you through exactly this type of transition. 5. NETWORK RELENTLESSLY: Let your personal and professional contacts know that you are available for a new opportunity, and that your contact information has changed. Most positions are acquired through networking – not advertisements or public job postings. Get involved in community and professional organizations, where you can meet new people and learn new things. The bigger your network, the more chance you will be in contact with someone who can help you. 6. PURSUE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS: You have time now that you can use to enhance your skills and make you more attractive to potential employers. That sort of initiative makes a good impression. 7. CONTACT YOUR COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: Some schools have Career Services departments that help alumni as well as students. Ask for help and get involved. 8. PRACTICE YOUR INTERVIEWING SKILLS: Ask a friend or mentor who has hiring experience to conduct a mock interview and give you honest feedback on your “performance”. If you get your foot in the door for a real interview, you want to be poised and prepared. 9. RESEARCH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS: If you know what company you would like to work for, do your homework. Scour their web site, read their annual report, be familiar with related recent news and current events. Your obvious interest will be apparent in an interview. 10. ASSESS YOUR APPEARANCE: While we’d like to think people don’t judge us by our looks, that’s not entirely true. Do you need to drop a few pounds, get a good haircut, buy a new suit, have your nails manicured? Whenever you go out networking, make sure you take pains to look your best. There are jobs out there, but you need to do more than passively sending out your resume. Keep taking positive action, and opportunities will appear.