What To Do When Unemployed

Being unemployed for any amount of time can be frustrating and disheartening. But for those job seekers who are considered long-term unemployed -- previously employed full time and out of work for 12 months or longer -- it can take an enormous toll. Not only can it impact morale, but being out of a job for an extended period of time can impact people's ability to provide for themselves or others.
According to a new CareerBuilder survey, the loss of a regular income has affected the long-term unemployed in various ways, such as not having enough money for food (25 percent), strained relationships with family and friends (25 percent) and maxing out credit cards to pay other bills (12 percent). Other ways they've been impacted include:

• Losing their house or apartment due to the inability to pay the mortgage or rent -- 10 percent
• Moving back in with their parents -- 9 percent
• Moving to a less expensive location -- 4 percent

Covering expenses when out of work
Searching for a job can be a full-time job in and of itself, but unfortunately you don't get a paycheck like you would with a regular job. Instead, many long-term unemployed have had to rely on their spouse or partner (39 percent) personal savings (31 percent) or side jobs (12 percent) to make ends meet. Others have borrowed money from others, including parents (11 percent) or family and friends (9 percent).
Progress can be slow
It's not for lack of trying that many long-term unemployed haven't been able to find work. Forty-four percent say they look for jobs every day, while 43 percent look every week. While not all have made progress past the application phase -- 30 percent haven't had any interviews since they lost their jobs -- the same number (30 percent) have had five or more interviews; 14 percent have had 10 or more. Others have even received job offers but they weren't the right fit -- one in ten have turned down a job while unemployed.
Challenges of finding work
One of the main concerns job seekers often have when they've been out of the workforce for a while is that they'll lose valuable skills in fact, 45 percent of long-term unemployed say they're worried that their skills have depreciated. Of these respondents, more than half say their technology skills declined.
When asked to share some of the major challenges they encounter when looking for a job, the long-term unemployed point to:

• My age or experience is a disadvantage -- 66 percent
• The longer I am unemployed, employers are becoming less responsive -- 63 percent
• The number of jobs in my profession has dropped significantly during and post-recession -- 37 percent
• I am unable to relocate or commute far -- 30 percent
• I am having difficulty transitioning skills to a new field or industry -- 16 percent

Gaining new skills
While job seekers may face challenges from being out of work, many are doing something to overcome them. They're finding ways to fill employment gaps by acquiring new skills and gaining new experiences. Some specific ways they've done this include:

• Expanded my professional network online and offline -- 20 percent
• Volunteered -- 20 percent
• Signed up with a staffing firm/recruiter -- 18 percent
• Took on part-time work -- 14 percent
• Took a class -- 12 percent
• Went back to school full time -- 5 percent

"There are many talented people in the U.S. who are having a tough time finding a job -- not because of a lack of ability, but because of ongoing challenges in the economy," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "While our study explores the struggles they are facing, it also brings to light the resilience of these workers who remain optimistic, look for jobs every day and take measures to learn new skill sets to open the doors to new opportunities."

Networking To Get Hired

Networking and Word of Mouth are often the best ways to get that best job for you.
 
Here is a simple exercise to get you started:
 
Make a list of every personal and business contact you can think of.  Ideally you will have at least 100 people.  If your contacts are already on LinkedIn then your work is done for you.
 
Call, email or send a note to each person.  It doesn't have to be aggressive or cheesy.  Just let them know you are putting the word out that you're in the job market.  They may know of someone now that is hiring or will at least keep you in mind if they hear about an opportunity later.  A referral to a Job Fair or a Job Placement Center could be just what you need.

Updating Your Resume

Everything needs updating every once and awhile. After having the same haircut for a few years, it's always fun to change it up a bit. When a new season arrives, it's a good excuse to clean out the closet and update your wardrobe.
When it comes to your résumé, it's smart to periodically revisit and refresh it, even if you aren't looking for a new job at that moment. Having a current résumé will come in handy should you find yourself in a position where you need or want a new job right away.
No need to panic that your résumé needs a total overhaul. There are a few basic items that you can update easily.  Here are five:
1. Contact information
This might seem like an obvious one, but if you haven't touched your résumé in a while, you may still have your old address or cellphone number on there. Also, check to see which email address you've included; you want the email address on your résumé to be as professionally sounding as possible. If your email address is still likestoparty28@hotmail.com, it's time to create a new one. Consider [first name].[last name]@hotmail.com instead.
2. Objective statement
Your objective statement may be up-to-date, well thought out and well written. The problem? You have an objective statement in the first place. Objective statements are outdated and are being replaced by professional summaries or summaries of qualifications. The difference between the two is that objective statements talk about what you want in a job; professional summaries recap your job-seeker "brand" and explain why you're the right fit for the position in question. Since this is usually the first thing hiring managers will read on your résumé, you want to make sure it grabs their attention and makes them want to learn more about your skills and qualifications.
3. Skills/areas of expertise section
The skills or areas of expertise section is usually where you list out in bullets everything you're proficient at; so anything from a certain Web design program you've mastered to your negotiating skills. Take a look at your list to make sure you can still confidently say you excel at all those skills, and see if there are any new skills you've acquired that you'd like to add. Also think about the "So what?" for each skill listed; if you can't answer or speak in depth about your expertise, don't include it. Something else to consider? Removing this section all together and incorporating your skills into the professional summary/summary of qualifications section.
4. EducationYou may be proud of your 3.9 GPA or that you graduated with honors. And if you're entry level, you should include such achievements, along with relevant coursework, on your résumé. However, if you're an experienced job seeker, it's no longer necessary to mention your GPA or go into specifics about what classes you took as an undergrad. Instead, keep this section simple, listing the college you went to and its location, the degree(s) you graduated with and years attended.
Of course, if you recently went back to school to obtain a post-graduate degree or certification, that information should be included, especially if it shows how you have gained skills that will help you succeed at the job for which you're applying.
5. Formatting
With the limited amount of space that you have to include your entire work and education history, it can be tempting to use a ton of different font sizes, bullets and section breaks to break up the content and keep it organized. If your résumé looks like an eye sore, it's time for a formatting refresh. Sleek and simple is the name of the game -- use easy-to-read fonts and clean formatting. You can use all caps or a different font color to emphasize section headers, but keep it consistent and stick with basic colors such as blue.
Sure, change is never easy, but with a few simple updates to your résumé, you'll be in good shape to tackle a new job search -- whether that's a few days, months or years down the road.

Never Take No From Someone Who Doesn't Have The Power To Say Yes!

 “Find the decision maker and never take a no from a person who doesn't have the power to say yes. Try to see the big picture of an organization and be a team player. Stay positive and remove yourself from any office gossip. Rise above it and don't get caught up in any negativity. Make yourself valuable every day. Don't look to take credit. If you do your work well, credit will come to you. Leave your ego at the door. Learn to anticipate your bosses’ needs and questions. If there is a problem, come to the table with a proposed solution. Just don't ask your boss what to do. If your boss asks you to do it, just do it! Smile and laugh. It's OK to have fun.”

—Karen Deutsch, Advertising Director

Constructive Criticism Helps You Grow

 Don't be too sensitive or precious about your work. Learn to see criticism, comments and notes from your bosses as ways to grow and understand your field better. Even if something stings, move on from it tomorrow and come to work with a smile on your face. Having a thicker skin is for the best: No one has time to hold your hand and give you a cookie over every assignment that comes your way.


I would say network, network, network, and in the process remember you’re always selling yourself.

5 Best Things To Say During A Job Interview

Interviewing for a new job can be incredibly nerve wracking and it’s natural to feel nervous about it. But if you take a deep breath and focus on preparing to say the things recruiters want to hear, you’ll be fine.

Just take these five tips from experts.

“Let me tell you about a time that I solved that problem.”

Even if an interview question could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” you want to be sure to say more so you highlight the value you’d bring to the organization if you’re hired for the position.

“Always have an anecdote or story about your previous experience that relates and can give more insight into yourself on the job,” suggests David Morgan, President of IT and Engineering at Addison Group.

“Can you clarify?

Asking follow-up questions such as “does that make sense,” demonstrates to an interviewer you’re intent on communicating thoroughly and accurately, a skill most employers appreciate.

“Checking-in with the interviewer by asking him or her whether things are clear and establishing a common understanding is a good way to not only engage, but also demonstrates a certain amount of care, both of which do wonders in getting that follow-up interview,” says The Workforce Consultants Managing Director Lynda Zugec.

“I read about that project on your web site.”

When two people meet for the first time, it’s polite to ask questions and express an interest in each other. In a job interview, though, you demonstrate your interest in the company by doing research before you show up, so don’t have to ask basic questions and can move on to having an intelligent conversation about it.

“I don't mean memorizing the About Us page on the company website. I'm talking about doing your due diligence (read: research!) and knowing the company you're applying to,”

says Voices Human Resources Manager Jessica Campbell.

“What made you decide to work here?”

Well-thought answers to an interviewer’s questions demonstrate your knowledge, experience and communication skills. But companies also want to see you’re curious about what they do.

“One of the best things you can do at an interview is come prepared with thoughtful questions for the interviewer,” says Cheryle Palmer, owner of Call to Career. Doing so demonstrates an interest in the company and the job, and shows you did your homework before the interview.

“I’d love the chance to join this team!”

There’s a huge difference between begging for a job and expressing a genuine desire to work for a company and fill the role you’re interviewing for. Recruiters are looking for people who are excited about the company and have a real interest in their prospective role.

“If the job truly is your first choice and you would accept it if given an offer, then say it,” says Jennifer Bevan, founder of Job Coaching “Hiring managers want to give offers to exceptional candidates who have a high likelihood of accepting the offer.”

Don't Act Entitled

Don't act entitled. Entitled people start at a job and think they're above doing menial things that need to get done in order for an organization's wheels to spin. You should never go into a job with this attitude, and you should never be above doing any task. Even when you're running your own company and ruling the world, if you need to make copies or send faxes or balance a budget or do anything else that is technically 'not part of your job,' you should always be willing to do it. Successful people roll up their sleeves and do the grunt work after everyone else goes home. If you start at a job or an internship with the attitude that you're too talented to do the grunt work and should be doing what your bosses are doing, it will show and your superiors won't like you. A good attitude and a desire to please and earn next-level opportunities goes a long way.