Strategies for Career Survival in a Down Economy

Strategies for Career Survival in a Down Economy
Here are some tips on how to keep your job and, if you are temporarily unemployed, how to re-enter the workforce stronger than ever.

1. Add Value –The first employees asked to leave during a economic slowdown are normally the ones who cost the company the most money. Talk with supervisors and peers to determine what you can do to be seen as a more value-added employee.
2. Shhh! – If you are hearing rumors that your company might be liquidated and you have decided to start looking for other employment, make sure you keep everything related to your search confidential, no matter what. Even the guy you’ve known for the last 10 years at the company might make an innocent comment to another guy he’s known for 10 years that you are looking to leave. This information can very easily end up in the lap of your boss, guaranteeing you a spot at the top of the list for people to be laid off.
3. Confidential resume– If you decide to post your resume on the Internet job boards, not the wisest decision to begin with as you will see in #4, make sure to remove your name and contact information, including references from the entire resume. Overzealous recruiters will not hesitate to contact the references for leads to other job openings and so forth, jeopardizing your confidentiality.
4. Avoid hanging out with the herd - Don’t post your resume on the Internet…at least not right away. The process of finding a job is in many ways like dating. In the earlier stages, it is a good idea not to make yourself easily available as you may appear desperate. Internet-derived candidates are seen as easy and will not be the first ones employers call for an interview. While it might very well be true that you are desperate for work, it is vital that you don’t communicate that to potential hiring managers. Find a hiring manager’s name and phone number at the company and make a call to find out when they will have time to meet with you. Something like this can move you to the front of the line.
5. Stay open and flexible – If you are out of work and aiming for a position that is going to keep you at the same salary, provide you the same vacation package and health benefits, you are out of your mind. It isn’t happening. Without taking too far of a step back, determine what your family can survive on, financially, and take steps to get back to work right away. Without a job, you have absolutely no leverage to bargain. Get your foot in the door and when positions arise that meet with your accustom level of expertise, you will have a greater shot of landing in as an internal employee as opposed to an external stranger. Having a job also provides you more leverage should you continue to search for the ideal position somewhere else, but be careful not to burn any bridges.
6. Try a new industry – Years ago, my dad was laid off, mid-career, from a VP position in the garment industry after the company announced they were moving operations overseas. He was out of work for a year when finally he found an opportunity in a completely different industry doing something completely different than in his previous role; initially paying a lot less money, ‘draw against commission’ compensation structure no less. Within a year’s time, he went on to earn a larger income than he could have hoped to earn in his previous role and was far happier with the new industry in which he flourished. Keep an open mind to other industries and positions. It could lead to something far better than you could have imagined.
7. Stay positive, be relentless – It is easy to fall into the “Woe is me” routine, attending every pity party that will have you, however, it is this negative spiral that is the reason many people don’t get back to work sooner. Stay positive. Each job you don’t get just means you are a step closer to finding the right opportunity. A relentless pursuit to find the right opportunity must remain consistent and take up your entire day. Even letting up slightly invariably leads to laziness and apathy, giving other job seekers with more drive, first crack at potentially huge opportunities. Stay focused and quit the whining.
8. Take care of yourself – Eat right, get good sleep, and be kind to yourself. Showing up to interviews undernourished while lacking sleep is a bad idea as it is always written all over your face. You only have one chance to make a first impression.
9. Be prepared - Have a professionally created resume printed on high-quality paper and always have copies of it with you. You never know when you’ll meet someone who can help you out.
10. Dress for Success – Dress each day as though you are going to an interview. Sitting around the house in your nice suit will feel awkward and it ensures you are prepared should the opportunity for an interview arrive on-the-spot. Leave the house and get to work finding work.

How to Sell Yourself Without Selling Out

For most people, the word sales conjures up images of slick hucksters with painted-on smiles and polyester suits, tactless and saccharine in their approach. Therefore it isn’t too surprising when talented job seekers recoil at the prospect of having to “sell themselves” in an interview. Here are some ideas on how to convey your value to an employer without being overbearing and overconfident.
The main difference between the stereotypical salesperson described above and a top-end sales executive is one thing...the ability to listen. The majority of clients I have helped with their career-transition over the years, whether they are an industry newbie or a seasoned veteran, have had a misconception of what it means to sell their selves during an interview. The common perception of “selling yourself” has been to communicate each task accomplished in every position they have had to an employer, while simultaneously conveying their strong work ethic and ability to “pick things up quickly”. This, however, is a recipe for disaster that often leads to a perception that you are more focused on yourself. The goal of a successful interview should be to create enough rapport with the hiring manager so, to put it simply, they like you. Regardless of whether or not you have the top skills in an area, an employer will not hire you without feeling a personal connection. As a point of reference, a candidate should reach the level of rapport with a hiring manager that equates to being the type of person the boss wouldn’t be embarrassed having over for dinner with his family.
Here are some ways you can sell yourself in an interview without feeling like you are selling-out:
1. Ask questions – Be an investigator. Learning more about the position by asking questions not only shows your legitimate interest in the position but also functions to transform the interview into more of a conversation. More often than not, when candidates ask an employer to tell them more about the position, other job aspects, that weren’t on the ‘official’ posted job description, arise.
2. Make sure you understand exactly what you are being asked – If you attempt responding to broad statements such as, “Tell me about your work history”, the odds of your answer being shorter than 5 minutes is slim. Counter something like this by stating, “I would be happy to. Would you like me to tell you about my most recent role at XYZ Company?” Provide an answer that is detailed but concise and then STOP TALKING! Don’t fear the silence. That is your cue to ask the first question and begin the conversation that will lead to the positive rapport you need.
3. Ask why the position is open. Find out which strengths the previous person in the role had that were viewed as valuable. If the person was terminated, ask what his/her weaknesses were and what led them to initially hire them. Having this information allows you to better understand which aspects of your background to focus on or which to ignore. If the employee’s strength was in tying his/her shoes, then it would be wise to bring up the fact that at XYZ Company, you won an award for shoe tying. If the employee was terminated for attendance, it would be a good idea to mention that you didn’t miss one day of scheduled work all year.
4. Don’t say ‘No’ – Saying ‘No’ implies you have absolutely zero knowledge of what the employer is asking you about. Make sure you relate your similar experience to what it is they are asking so they have enough ammunition to hire you when the time comes. Without any related experience, no matter how much an employer likes you, they won’t be able to justify the hire to themselves or their superiors.
5. Is there anything else I can tell you about myself to assure you that I am the right person for the job? – Many times, employers make decisions based on assumptions they have made about you. Whether it is the content of your resume or the type of companies you previously worked for, an employer might think you lack a certain skill that in fact you have. This question will give an employer more confidence to ask a question that might, for one reason or another, have been tough to ask. Even if you lack direct experience with an area of concern, using the strategy explained in #4 should help you navigate through any objections presented to you.