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5 Time Management Strategies Post-Layoff

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“I woke up in the morning, the day after facing the humiliation of a layoff, with a strange feeling; a feeling intermingled with emptiness, an inexplicable heaviness in the head. My mind is in a whirlpool of confusion on what to do next.”
A friend narrated to me after a few weeks of in a layoff from a job where she had been for 9 years.

 

Post layoff – what you need is a plan to jump-start your job hunt or just plan ahead on what needs to be done.

As for any plan to take shape, first you need to manage your time to do so effectively.

From searching for jobs on the online job boards to tapping your social network to just brooding about why you were in the layoff while many others were not.. there can be a long or short list to how you want to spend your days ahead.

The faster you plan on an organized and planned schedule the faster you will feel better and rejoin the workforce.

Here are some tips on how to manage your schedule after a layoff. A routine that you had been following for years no longer exists; time to plan a new schedule to get back on track.

 

Plan a Routine

After battling with the many emotions after a layoff, it is time to restructure a new routine. Not easy at all, since you have been on a regular routine for the many years you have been at your previous job, suddenly everything seems in disarray.

It is time to plan on managing your time so as to fill it meaningfully and bring more routine to your new lifestyle (even though temporary, it pays to plan for an effective job search and peace of mind).

It may be an altogether new routine if you have no experience with working on your own, but never be disheartened; once you plan your weeks ahead it would be easier to get used to the new routine and also enjoy it.

Use whatever means you are most comfortable with – a calendar, your PDA or computer/laptop – the point is to know what time you will allocate for job search, networking, doing house chores, and spending time with family.

 

Manage your Finances


Plan at least 2 hour a week (how about one hour every other day of a work week – comes to about 3 hours in 5 day work week) to manage your finances. Look up the loans and monthly bills and assess how will the expenses evolve in the coming few months.

Always assume that you might not be in a full-time job for at least 6 months from the time of your layoff. It is better to be pleasantly surprised if you land a job in a couple of months than to be in doldrums of overestimating the job market. If you need some supplement income during your jobs search, you may seek out some legit online jobs that can help you get that extra income and a sense of financial security when you need it the most.

 

Your skill-set is the vehicle to your destination

Set aside at least an hour a day (that means 5 hours a week or preferably 10 hours a week) to learn a new skill or hone your present ones. If you continue on the job search day after day, the routine and the excruciating wait to hear back from the recruiters or companies can result in a burnout.

Plan now on what new skills you would want to acquire during the job search period, never hesitate to ask around either a career expert or your friends on which areas might be of value to the new job scenario of the 21st century.

 

Health and fitness would help more than your computer

Spending too much time in front of the computer (as most job seekers do) doesn’t yield as effective results as you may assume they would. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of information overload. Set aside at least half an hour and preferably an hour a day to either go for a morning/evening walk or a trip to the gym. Or just use this hour at your favorite sports activity.

The point is to work your body to pump up the adrenalin –  your enthusiasm and mind alertness will follow suit.

 

Switch off when it is time to switch off

Know when to get away from the job search mode and switch to recreation or family time. Don’t extend your job search hours more than your normal previous work hours; try your best that you keep some quality time for your family. To rejuvenate the mind and be at peace in these trying times you need the refreshing variety of a routine.

 

A Sample Work day on a Smart Job Search Routine

As a summary if you work say 8 hours a day on your new routine. Here is an example on how it could look like:

9:00-11:00 am – Read and reply emails in your inbox. Read online advertised jobs in your area of expertise, job alerts or other job related subscriptions you subscribe to. (If you have not done so, it is time to do so – create job alerts through your email inbox or through other job boards).

11:00-12:00 noon – Schedule meetings with friends or colleagues who can possibly inform you about an internal opening within a company or call friends who could help. Prepare for any such informational interviews and draft a decent email and schedule follow-up.

12:00-1:00 pm – lunch / break time (add some chores here which might help ease your weekday routine)

1:00- 2:00 pm – Before you get back on the internet, perhaps it is a good idea to manage your finances now. How much savings do you have and how much you need to set aside for present payments and rainy days. Read about money management during this time if you need some guidance. Alternate: go for a post lunch walk or if you like a morning work out switch around your routine to suit your best workout schedule.

2:00-4:00 pm – Time to hone your skills. The most important two hours and you can always alternate between the afternoon hours or morning to assess better productivity. What are your current skill-sets? Are they featuring in the job descriptions presently out there? Will there be jobs in future? What would be the new skills in demand? How can you diversify and reinvent your current skills? Think about these points and make an action plan on how to act on them.

4:00-6:00 pm – Take a short break and work on revamping your resume or making a plan on what new courses or training can help you in future. Do you want to go back to college to acquire a new degree? Think and plan accordingly. If you have to network or attend some seminars it is time to register for them.

Now — Call it a day and spend time with your family now. If you really need to then get back on the computer at night but if you can do without it for a few nights; then just work when it is time to work.

Of course, with priorities and circumstances your plans might change, but always consider job search a full-time job. In the end it is your routine and you decide how you plan around it, the above is a suggestion.

 

Are these tips helpful? Any other tips that you would like to share on how to manage your time after a layoff?

 

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How Twitter can help during Job Search

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For those not familiar with Twitter – it is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? (Source: Twitter )
Read recently somewhere – is Twitter the next Monster (the well known job search site); sure, it can very well be, and quite a personal one too. The web is evolving and the present recession can offer different opportunities for companies to diversify and expand their horizons to meet the customers needs. Sure enough this social media website can help you in your job search. Here are some tips:

  • Quite a few companies now have their twitter sites or presence. If you are interested in those that are there and you might get some relevant tweets when the open positions are announced.
  • Quite often someone you know on Twitter might tweet an internal job opening or someone you do not know may be ‘retweeted’ for a freelance position that suits your qualification. Also know who to follow, search for recruiters or career experts who post advertised or internal job openings and add them to your follow list.
  • Follow the job boards and the career experts and you have some great free job search and career advice in less than 140 characters and some latest links come your way almost instantly as they are published. Fresh, crisp information right from the oven.
  • And now you have the Twitter Job Search engine! Just type in a search query and see which jobs have been posted recently on Twitter. You can also add jobs on this website. Cool.

Some Resources on Twitter Job Search Tips

  • And right now there are many articles online on this very topic (I just found out as I googled the titled). One of the very best advice comes on Mashable from Sarah Evans.
  • Another good article is here Twitter: the new way to find a job
  • Although Twitter may seem like a simple application but there are many features which can be used to your benefit, Darren Rowse has a great website on twitter tips – TwiTip, browse to discover how to use Twitter.

Yes, I am on Twitter too. Follow me on twitter.

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How to Generate Income and stay Positive when you have no Job – Part 2

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In part 1 of this article you have read about how to remain positive in these negative economic times; here I carry on the next step –towards generating income when you have no job.
Here are some ideas: (Your ideas are also welcome to supplement the following list)

Temporary Placements and Part-time Jobs
It is the best time to find some freelancing work since you know that full-time jobs might not be coming your way easily this year.

Read some tips at: Alternatives to a Permanent Full Time Job

Career in Sales
Some of the jobs that might pay off your bills and also give you the recently lost self-worth might be in the life-insurance and other financial products. The positive aspects of such jobs are that the company hiring you provides you complete training, benefits and options to work part-time or full time. You could explore job possibilities at the reputed insurance giants as New York Life and MetLife or explore those in your local area.

 

Your Hobbies Your Passion Your New Business
People may not have lots of money to spend on new clothes or eat out at a restaurant, but when it comes to spending on their kids skills development, education and even recreation or for that matter in just keeping them busy; they would be willing to spare a few bucks by cutting on other non-essential expenses. Now what that means towards generating an income for you depends on your current skills and experience.
No not necessarily your professional skills but your non-academic may come to use if you are passionate enough. Explore the possibilities of a home based business and it can very well be taken to a multi-million dollar business with proper planning and insight. Alright, here we are not talking about multi-million dollars flowing in anyone’s pocket right now but having a long-term vision pays off eventually. There is an interesting article you might enjoy reading on CNN Money titled: 6 companies born during downturns.

Some ideas here:
Do you play the piano well, or the guitar, or know a special dance form, or good at tutoring – Maths, Science etc., do you know a language that people in your area might be interested in learning, or how about cooking, sewing, or soccer – are you good at it?
The point is first know what you are best at and what you love doing? If you can teach something interesting or in demand – you have a home business up and running at the same time.
Think about how can you turn your passion/hobby into a new home based business?
Always remember the three “P”s that can help you succeed: Passion, Perspective, Persistence, Plan and Patience. 

  • “Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion”
  • There has never been a short cut to success – be persistent.
  • Always have a broader perspective on your idea and where you want to go; expand your outlook and find out how viable or in demand are your ideas.
  • Plan your actions; plan your day; prepare a plan on revenue generation. “If you fail to plan you plan to fail”.
  • “He that can have Patience, can have what he will”

For more information on how to set up a home business covering all legal issues check out these websites (some are country specific, you might want to first check on what support your government provides in setting up a small or home-based business):

 

 

Have a Well kept House and a Good Location? Why not Start a Bed n’ Breakfast
Of course this is a big job too; one of your best bets is to start with reading something like “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Running a Bed and Breakfast”, you might get an idea if it is a viable solution and whether this is what you want to do.

 

Online Cash
There is money in internet business and other web based jobs if you have the skills to harness this exciting frontier. People make money blogging, filling surveys, selling stuff or running an eBay business, selling your own products or someone else’s online etc. and can diversify quickly into multiple stream of income. But howsoever exciting and easy it may sound, you still have to put in a lot of time and effort and also the income that you generate might not be enough to sustain your financial needs. But again if you have spousal help and expertise towards technical knowhow then this could be a good source of so called ‘passive’ income, but again, do not assume that the return would be instant or you shall see good profits in 3-6 months. Read and research before spending a lot of time on any one particular income generation stream.

 

Get Ready to Explore the New Industries
The job market condition is deplorable and very few companies are hiring nationwide. What does it mean to you? Some new industries are thriving in the current economic downturn and perhaps more federal funds may be diverted to the ‘clean tech’ or ‘green jobs’ try out the new industries and see how you can reapply your skills in these industries. Also this could be a good time to start honing your skills towards the new jobs of the future.

 

Network to Explore Possibilities
Often new ideas come to us when we discuss with other like-minded or sometimes even completely opposite-minded people. It is not the time to hole yourself in the house and double your stress level, make sure that you step out, meet with friends and find other opportunities to network with others, for example career seminars and job fairs in your city and other workshops that the employment agencies are coming up with.
And another piece of advice – be ready to recreate and diversify and, if possible relocate where the jobs are.

 

What has been your experience, would appreciate if you can also pitch in some ideas to supplement the following list, please add your ideas and suggestions to the comments below.

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How to Generate Income and stay Positive when you have no Job – Part 1

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“’With no job and 5 kids, ‘better to end our lives’, man wrote”.. with such horrendous stories making headlines in recession, it is time we thought in-depth on the topic – How to generate income post layoff / or during job search process and also focus on how to remain positive during these tough times.

I am presenting this article in two parts – focusing on how you can generate small incomes when not in a full-time job and the other very important aspect is — how to remain positive and do the right things when the going gets tough. This post will be updated in the coming weeks with more ideas, in the hope that even if it helps or influences the lives of 10 odd families, it is much much worth it.
Before you even start thinking of how to generate extra income to sustain yourself and family, it is very important to have a healthy balanced mental outlook. Quoting from an article on my website:
“While the positive state of mind governed by positive emotions can do wonders in realizing one’s aspirations and goals, the negative frame of mind, harshly controlled by negative emotions, can cause havoc and destabilize, dislocate and demoralize a person to unimaginably lowly depths. Positive thinking and high morale can lead one to incredible heights of achievements and success, low morale and pessimistic outlook can drive people to ignoble defeats and tragic failure, one state of mind may lead to the path of fame and glory, the other may push one to hellish fire of sorrow and misery. Hope and faith may lead to incredible achievements.”

So for that reason I shall cover the money generation topic in the next post – part 2 of this article.

HOW TO STAY POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC WHEN YOU HAVE NO INCOME

An inspirational quote here:
As life becomes harder, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more the good things of life become unexpected gifts which we accept with gratitude.
- Etty Hillesum

Here are some tips, please contribute yours to supplement this list:

  • Do not isolate yourself. Talk to your friends and those you connect to – just closing yourself to the world can do more harm and enhance depression
  • It is not your fault or someone else’s that you are out of job, do not fall in the guilt or blame cycle – think about what must be your next positive steps
  • Evaluate your spending – what can you cut down to save the few dollars, even those will matter in the long run. For example;
    — Cook meals at home in a small budget, or get together with other friends and families and eat together- you might save this way too..
    — Avail free food services – there are quite a few places in most cities where you can get free food for the family, for example Presbyterian Churches, Sikh Gurdwara Temples etc.
  • Listen to some inspirational audio once a week
  • Read a good/inspirational book every month
  • Dance alone or with your kids whenever you can – at least once a week
  • Think positive thoughts – a healthy mental state is very important to achieve anything

And if the list above does not convince you enough, think about all those who are in far much situation than yours and still fighting life smiling. Think about those affected by war or chronic disease.

DO NOT HARM YOURSELF OR OTHERS or indulge in other criminal activities, remember that this too will pass. Don’t let a wrong move today haunt you and your family forever.
Every crisis must teach us to do things better next time. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?

What would you do different if it ever happens again? And the reason this is a good time to think about the future because we never get time from our daily routines to think about what we could do if things were different .. well this is the time. Use your time well and you will get out of it wiser.

Words of Wisdom from the Great Minds

Give the great thinkers of our times a chance to motivate you – those who have said more in few words:

“Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valleys you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper.”
– Og Mandino

“If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can’t help but learn”
– Bernie Siegel
“If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.”
– Bill Clinton

 

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do, remember?”
– Gregory Peck
 

In the part 2 of this article, I will compile some ideas on how to generate money if you have no permanent job and getting one in near future seems isn’t likely. If you have ideas to share please do add to the comments below.

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What would you do to land an Interview?

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Every new idea looks crazy at first.

~~ Robert Olson
Today I was reading in the newspaper an article from Mike Cassidy titled “Will Work for Interview“, how one man turns to a marketing gimmick to lure prospective employers.
It is a story about a San Francisco man who wanted a new ‘angle’ to his job search mainly because the traditional ways of job search might not be effective in an economy we are in now.
KyNam Doan has pledged 6 hours of community service for each job interview he lands. Cassidy reports in this article that he has landed 9 interviews since he started his campaign through the social networking websites and his own, but no job offer so far.
With almost 11 million Americans out of work now and more expected to join the list this year, what would be your job search strategy which grabs the attention of the employers?
And if you are thinking on why would you share a new idea with others here…. read the quote below and then make a decision.

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.

~~ George Bernard Shaw
 
 
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5 Essential Tips on Thriving after a Layoff

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Economic downturn and recession presents hardships to many around the world; with no jobs to pay for their mortgages or support their current lifestyles frustration and loss of working towards a goal can bring down self-esteem. And what is troubling is that for some months it would be harder to find a job because there are very few around. Putting in the whole day and night in applying for jobs and networking and still not getting results could be frustrating and depressing but if you work towards a well managed schedule balancing job search, personal / professional development and some family fun time, the hard times can be thriving and fruitful to you.

Now, I am no financial guru and as a career coach do not offer personal finance management advice, but here are some ideas that I would like to share to help you sustain through the hard times if you have been in a layoff recently and searching for some solutions on how to revive your career or just have a decent income to sustain through these times.

Here are the 5 essential tips that can guide you to success post-layoff:

 

Have a Goal – Rather TWO

It is important to have a goal in mind, both long term and short term. Your short-term goals must be a goal for every week or every day.. strive to achieve something everyday and you will find yourself getting up from the bed happy and energized to start a new day to achieve something .. your every day achievement may seem small at first but slowly builds on to something that you can be proud of. And these are the times when you need it the most- something you can pat yourself on your back and not be let down by the layoffs or financial tensions in the family. A positive and energized mind and body can only bring in positive results.
Your long-term goals must be on how to get back into the workplace or if you entrepreneurship is something that you are looking for in future. For that break down your long-term goals into tasks that you must work on every week or month – it could be on personal / professional development and growth working towards your goals and feeling proud of yourself. Get that self-worth back and it is only possible by careful skills assessment, planning on self-development and a good time management.

 

Be Practical

Of course you want a job right away but if there are slim chances of getting one right now you better start looking in other directions of making money but keeping your long-term goal in mind. Even the best made plans and goals can fall short if they are not practical.

Here are some tips to be aware of when planning for a change of career or getting back on the career track:

  • Do not have unrealistic goals or deadlines. Do not set your expectations sky high; it is good to climb the hill step by step.
  • Don’t just keep sending your resume online to 100 different companies daily and wait for a reply.
  • Have patience, your goals might not see results immediately, maintain faith but also check on their viability by discussing with others in the family or like-minded friends.
  • Take a break – constant worrying and working over something may lead to similar results and fatigue. To avoid burnout take breaks and just relax and laugh with your family when you find time and when they need you. A vacation is not a solution to feeling good also when you are in a financially pressed situation, just taking a break and going out for dinner and movie with the family or hanging out with your kids can be a great stress-reliever.
  • Hone your networking skills – landing a job is more about networking the right way then spending hours on the computer reading and applying online. Get out there – meet people who can help.

 

Get Organized

It might take a few days to get back to working on your own, but it pays a lot to be organized and work peacefully when you need it the most. Inform family of your plans when you prefer not to be disturbed and plan your working schedule accordingly to concentrate on your job search or goals. Get rid of distractions and focus on the short term goals.

You might find these tips helpful: 5 Steps to Manage your Time after a Layoff

 

Diversify and Analyze your Skills

Diversify during the recession. Learn to manage your career during recession but always be aware and ready to move on when required. Work towards a planned job search process and don’t hesitate to consult professionals when looking for a new job or during the career discover process. It is also the time to look at your skill set and see which transferable skills that you have now can be applicable towards your future job or career. Some good tips on transferable skills are here on the USC website. You can add on to your skills base with online courses and degrees, iwu online offers many online programs and also financial aid assistance to those who qualify.

Planning a career change – these tips might help: 5 Fundamental Career Change Tips for Working Professionals and the Unemployed

 

Manage Your Finances

The layoff hits hard when you are the sole earning member of the family. With a mortgage to pay and kids to take care of things can be very tough now.

Some tips that can help you pay the bills:

  • Analyze together with your family on current expenses and find areas where you can cut back. Money saved is money earned.
  • Give up your credit card – allocate weekly funds for running the family expenses and learn to live within the means.
  • A garage sale might not be all the a good idea when most people are cutting back on buying anyways, don’t waste energy on small things think about how you and your spouse can earn supplemental income by working part time.
  • Rent a part of your house if you can; even a small rent can help you in some ways.
  • File for unemployment if you have not already done so. Even small different money streams together can relieve a lot of financial tension. Discuss with your family and friends on how they can help or advice well.
  • Learn from your mistakes; if you had not saved enough emergency funds for the rainy days, make it a point that you would not when you have enough.

Some good tips on 10 Things to do with your Money Right Now were on TIME website. Good articles and advice is what you should be reading in your spare time, to inspire and act mindfully when your mind is not at its positive best.

And know that this too will pass by, it’s how you react and act now determines how smoothly you can take on the bumps on your career path.

 

Any tips that you can share that helps during this transition stage?


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Workplace Violence – Will we see more of it as the Layoffs become Widespread?

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Emotions are at its worst within the first few hours of receiving the news of a layoff or on the news of being fired. It is at this point that some violent or self-destructive emotions can arise in a person.
Many people are highly stressed in the current economic turmoil; financial tensions, losing their houses already puts enough mental pressure on many in the world these days and when the brutal strike comes if this person loses his/her job – there is a high probability that such tremendous mental and financial tension could result in a negative outburst and violence. Not that most of us react in similar way but sure enough the instances are increasing.

  • In September this year fired Indian workers lynched CEO. Corporate India is in shock after a mob of workers bludgeoned to death the chief executive who sacked them from a factory in a suburb of Delhi.
  • Another recent tragic and shocking killing at SiPort by an employee fired the same day of the killing brings forth some frightful workplace scenarios, especially when the world economy takes on a nosedive every other week and the layoffs are on the rise.
  • In April 2007, a gunman shot a hostage and himself at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the reason was stated to be a bad performance review that may have sparked the shooting.

While these are some highly publicized incidents, I was indeed surprised to read a report at the ABC 7 online where Garry Mathiason is a senior partner with Littler Mendalson, the nation’s leading labor law firm, says that there are about 700 workplace homicides each year.

Some serious training must go in for the HR and upper management personnel to carefully analyze how employees must be notified of layoffs and firing. The financial tensions are high everywhere and the best bet would be to use your best people’s skills to empathize with those being terminated from the company and also do their best to protect those in such a decision-making process.
Management must display emotional intelligence in handling such situations (layoffs, downsizing, firing) which they are facing and would be facing over the next year or more. It could be a tough year for most companies who have to layoff the workforce due to the economic downturn and in their list of things to do to maintain stability of their shares and meeting expectations, another item must be added: how to handle emotional situations at the workplace and pay special attention in managing those in the layoff – paying more emphasis being compassionate and coming up with a well-managed post-layoff package/assistance.

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has a some very informative documents and fact sheets available on their website, of the many there is a Workplace Violence fact sheet which talks about how employees can protect themselves from workplace violence and what the employers must do in case of one.

Train your Brain Against Violent Actions
If you are someone who has a history of violent or aggressive behavior when a tense situation confronts you then perhaps these tips can help you train your brain. If you prepare yourself (train your brain) to react in certain ways to any particular situation, chances are your brain will recall and act accordingly.

  • You will not take any immediate actions, such as shouting back, throwing things or hurting yourself or others if you feel a surge in negative emotions right after hearing news of either layoff, firing or accusations. According to Charminghealth.com one can easily recognize any of the warning signs for violent behavior; however violence is not the answer; by hurting others one have to live with the guilt, sadness and frustration throughout the life. Before getting violent, everyone feels anger in his or her own way. When one feels he or she is angry, they probably feel:
    – Muscle tension
    – Accelerated heartbeat
    – A “knot” or “butterflies” in stomach
    – Changes in breathing
    – Trembling
    – Clenching fists
    – Goose bumps
    – Voice sounds louder
    – Flushed in the face

 

  • Do not go firing off an email to all colleagues or staff venting off negative thoughts for someone or the company. It can only harm your career and relations with the management. Remember that it is a small world and often references are taken before you are offered a new job. Do not jeopardize your career by reacting through any unethical actions.
  • Now what you must do could vary from one person to another but I would suggest that just take in the situation calmly, and give yourself a few minutes or hours before you react in any way – it could be just getting ready to say goodbye to work, or trying to set up a meeting with the HR/Management to discuss your layoff package (if not already presented to you) or writing your goodbye email. You may or may not want to discuss this with your friends or family and that is perfectly alright, all you must train your brain is not to react in haste when feeling a surge of negative emotion. Give yourself time to calm off before doing anything. Count to 100, drink a glass of cold water, walk outside or breathe deeply for 5 minutes…. Whatever that helps you. And train yourself to such reactions now and you will be surprised your brain will do accordingly under those circumstances. There are some other tips on How to Deal with a Layoff which you may find helpful.

You must try your best to say goodbye to work in a decent way. Don’t let the ghosts of ill-behavior at the signing-off time haunt your career in future.


 

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How to Find a Job when there are none around

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If you cannot see something it does not mean it is not there; it only means that you have to try harder and perhaps with a different vision to find the unseen.
If you were in a layoff as a result of the economic downturn; then you will benefit from these tips on how to find a job when there is a hiring freeze everywhere and the companies are getting our of business left and right.

Network to Penetrate the Unpublished Job Market


Where all to look for jobs, when there are none being advertised? The answer is: Do your research and the answer shall come to you.

  • Read newspapers, trade magazines, journals, BLS website (this is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and would be different statistics if you are not in US). What are the current industry trends? Where all is the funding money being channeled? These could towards the new solar development companies or other green-tech; there might be many unadvertised jobs here and all you have to do is first find out which ones could be the ones to apply for and how.
  • Research and find out which companies are showing good profits and sales increase in the tough economy; they could be the ones looking for hiring new employees since money is not a constraint with them.
  • Research to find which companies are launching new products and there is a possibility that the project teams could be expanding.
  • There could be some jobs that are recession proof, perhaps there could be the right job for you where you can channel or re-package your skills. (Read more at: Best Jobs to have during Recession)

Once you are ready with your research the next action step is finding the right contact to approach the position internally. Do not be put off if you do not see any advertised jobs on their online job boards. Some internal positions are not advertised and you can very well approach these jobs by smart networking.

 

Training for a new Job and Skill


May non-profit vocational training center and job placement centers offer training sessions for jobs like JobTrain which serves hundreds of youth (ages 14-21) each year in both in-school and out of school programs. Trainees also learn to improve their communication skills, to understand the importance of punctuality and working hard, and to build self-respect and self-sufficiency. JobTrain youth can spend summers working and gaining real-world experience, or can earn high school credit in non-traditional courses. This is very important for the youth especially since just out of college you may not land a job immediately during an economic downturn.

 

Use your Current Skills to Freelance


It won’t bring in the same money that you might be getting as a full-time job but when paying your bills and taking care of a family are the priorities then any additional income is welcome. Also make sure that you spend say about 40 percent of your “work” time in freelancing and rest of the time in networking with friends and ex-colleagues on any possible job openings leads and enhancing your skills.

 

Part-time or Weekend Work


You or your spouse can work a few hours during the weekend to make some extra dough – not a bad idea in a recession. Well, it could be as simple as helping in advertising for a local pizza place to showing your web savvies online by either learning a new skill (there is tons of information online and self help courses that you can learn from) or teaching others and charging them for it – Ok that means have your website or blog (Note: you may not monetize this option in a short time, it needs time and careful nurturing and advertising.. but yet again, it is good to begin something that and then evaluate the options on the returns and your interest in taking it to different heights).

 

Be Ready to Relocate


Many good corporate jobs are moving overseas, there have been many reports during the last few months where companies in India and China have offered good positions to those laid off from Lehman and others affected from the Wall Street roller coaster debacles. Asian economies are growing and many companies are eager to absorb these globally experienced professionals.
An international experience would only enhance your portfolio and there is always a possibility to return to your native land when the going gets good.

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Recreate and Diversify in a Recession

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If you want to live and thrive through a recession and not just survive as a either a fence-sitter or blanket sulker, then your best bets today lie in being creative and in your knack to diversify quickly in the areas that have positive cash flow. And for this the first step must be to do a smart and time-efficient research to identify areas where there is present and urgent requirement and demand, either in terms of customer satisfaction or at your present workplace.
In most situations you might not need reinvention – but recreation and diversification can most certainly help to turn around the tide to your advantage.
Just to clarify further – by ‘recreation’ I do not mean that create a solution or product or services completely new or from scratch, but how well you can put together your old solution in a new packaging which fulfils the needs and budgets in the trying economic scenario.
Read on to see what I mean here and why it is beneficial to your professional growth in a recession….
and I would love to see your suggestions on this topic – please comment to share your ideas on how you see renovation, diversification and re-creation can help during recession.

An Employee/Worker on Diversification
As an employee or a worker put your efforts towards ingenious diversification of your skills at present work. Diversification will work best for you if you can manage it. Learn to manage your career during recession but always be aware and ready to move on when required. If your skills are in certain areas where you can freelance – go for it. It is quite similar to in saying that diversifying your financial portfolio helps to save better; it is at times good to diversify your skill set. Always aim to learn a new skill every year and in such times you will see that reinvention and recreation will come easily

An Entrepreneur who Re-creates
As an entrepreneur check on which products and/or services satisfy the needs of customers – recession or no recession if you have something that the mass needs, you can create a positive cash flow. Check on the sustainability and practicality of your idea (products or services) and analyze if people are cutting back costs in certain areas then which other areas is their investment channeling to? However don’t completely abandon ideas if you see that the trend is only temporary and with some good news from the economic sector money will be tricking back in through that service or product. It is time to diversify and look for alternative paths which help you flourish– don’t be the one who just lies down and waits for such economic crisis to pass by.

Do not assume in the first place that customers will not buy once they begin tightening their pockets and budgets. It is time to offer and market other services or products which could be squeezed in their budget – yet again an example of intelligent refurbishment of your offerings through customer satisfaction and need analysis.

It is not the give up and put your feet up, recessions and economic slowdowns perhaps make us more aware of our spending and expenses. And also gives us the time to reinvent and diversify – these could be the best strategies to thrive during the economic storm and also adds to your contribution towards bringing the economy back on its feet.

Related Posts:

Managing your Career during Recession
Best Jobs to have during Recession
Post Layoff 5 Step Successful Comeback Plan

Careerbright – Career Article and Information for Professionals and Working Women
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Do Recruiters Accelerate the Job Search Process?

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Well, the answer is – it depends. Many recruiting agencies have a had a wonderful track record of having many satisfied customers over and over again whereas some who have had a not-so-good experience would always say “beware of the recruiting agencies”.
You might be visible only to a smaller section of jobs available while working with a recruiter. I have heard of at least one case where the recruiter was non-cooperative to the candidate once it got to his notice that she was approaching companies and contacts on her own. But of course it is up to you to discuss your and his/her expectations upfront before committing to the relationship. The recruiters can fall in a fee dispute of the job seeker gets the position on his/her own.

The recruiters work on fees and commission basis. No, you do not have to pay anything upfront (however note – some recruiters do charge job seekers) in most cases the employers pay then when you are hired and stay in the job for at least one year or so. So of course if you are a suitable candidate the recruiter will work hard on you and with you to find the right job for you – after all his/her income depends on how many he/she can successfully place. If a recruiter asks for money upfront from you, it is a good idea to first question them on why and also ask for some referrals on successful candidates they have worked with. Research well before you go in for the recruiter relationship.

Why would you need a Recruiter’s help?

  • If you are not confident on how your resume presents today, a recruiter might help you in critiquing and updating your resume to the desired industry level.
  • If you have shaky interviewing skills, the recruiters might help you get some interview training done through a career consulting agency or person career coaches. It actually helps a lot to make an effort to polish you interviewing skills, after all interviews are your gateway to the job. Even with a great resume and attractive skills, an interview eventually makes or breaks your chances of getting that job.
  • You have been in the job search for long and some help and advice can encourage and motivate you to action. A recruiter, career coach and career consultants can be of help to you now. The recruiter has had an experience of being in the recruiting business for long (so some reputed firms with experienced recruiters is what you should be looking for) and can present a good picture of the present hiring market – well, to counter what I say here, there have been many instances where recruiters have painted an untrue picture to keep the job seekers in their list and that is where the disgruntled testimonials come from.
    Recruiters have an inside scoop on the advertised jobs which you might never see, so going for a recruiter when times are tough might be a good idea.

How to know of the Recruiter is the Right one for you?
Check out if the following is happening in your relationship with the recruiter:
Is the recruiter;

  • Scheduling personal one-on-one meeting with you to discuss your requirements and inform you on the job search process or just working on your resume and approaching jobs that fall in your keywords bank?
  • A good listener? Is he/she paying attention to your needs first rather than imposing on what is the right way to approach the job search process. Usually we do expect a good recruiter to have good peoples skills, it is not about how good he can update your resume but more on how well he can work with you.
  • Communicates expectations upfront and is honest.

The recruiters must also specify on the confidentially statement when working with a job seeker. Read some more tips on an honest recruiter on Monster columns.

Also some good tips are here on the videos at jobing.com.

Some very helpful articles:


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