Money Talk Daily

Posts Tagged ‘job search’

Bleak Outlook for those who are Unemployed The Numbers Paint a Grim Picture

We are all aware that money is tight for a lot of people these days, but somehow when the actual statistics come out it can still be quite shocking. A recent article by the Associated Press reports that over 20 million people in the US received unemployment benefits over the year 2009. The unemployment rate for the year reached a whopping 10 percent. It is easy to see why sales of many products are way down when one in every 10 people is out of a job.

It has been a Drawn out Struggle for Some

While there are not as many workers being laid off or let go as there were in recent months, many employers are still reluctant to re-hire until they see a dramatic upturn in the economy. Some who have lost jobs have been fortunate and found work again, even though some of them find themselves in new jobs that aren’t optimal. Lifestyle adjustments are often required, and people who have taken on casual jobs just to stay employed should feel lucky to find work at all. Among those that are jobless, 5.8 million were unemployed for over six months. This circumstance can take a toll not only on the pocketbook, but also on a person’s pride.

The Vicious Cycle

With so many people out of work or working low paying jobs, there is little money being spent. Businesses relying on sales of some sort are struggling to get customers. They can’t hire any more people, because they can’t make enough money to pay them, and they are forced to keep an eye on longevity instead of hiring a few more people in the here and now. Also, the government stimuli are beginning to run out, so there is less money for businesses to work with. Consumers are unable to spend, and companies are unable to hire, which makes the economic crisis geared for a longer period of time.

Just how Long will the Crisis Last?

The unemployment rate is showing signs of declining, but not at a speed that most of us would like to see. Experts are estimating that within a year’s time the rate will be above 9 percent, slightly down from the current 10 percent. With such a scarce job market the government has been forced to extend the term of unemployment benefits beyond the usual 26 weeks several times in 2009 and will likely have to continue to do so, otherwise millions of people will be left with even less to spend.

Job Competition is Fierce

If you are one of the many Americans who is unemployed and looking for work the odds are definitely not great. It is estimated that for every open job there are six unemployed candidates. There obviously are other people to consider. This doesn’t include people that are employed but looking for full time or better paying opportunities.

Try to Remain Positive

It can be tough to stay optimistic is such trying times. Taking a casual job can be humbling, but take comfort in that you are at least working. Try to think outside the box. If you have skills for freelance work, this is a good time to put them to use. Companies are far more likely to offer freelancers work than regular employees in tougher times. The internet has a lot of opportunities open online.

Many people know that sites like Facebook and MySpace are great for keeping in touch with friends. What some do not know is that those same social networking sites can help job seekers in their search for new employment.

Some sites, such as LinkedIn, are geared more towards business use, but even the social networking sites can be valuable assets in a job search. In fact, some companies have even started using the sites as recruitment tools. The benefits to hiring managers are obvious: there is no cost, they can reach people in a certain geographic area and it is easier to find people to fill specialized niche positions.

On sites such as Facebook, users can post a note and write about details of their job search. You can even post a resume in this way. Under the privacy settings you can choose to allow only your friends, friends of friends or everyone to be able to see the note. Doing this has the potential to allow hundreds of people, including many that do not know you but know one of your friends, a chance to see your resume and learn about the type of job you are seeking.

LinkedIn, being that it is business based, offers even more opportunities for job searching. In addition to being able to be linked to people that you know, LinkedIn also allows users to search companies to see if any of your contacts has a contact at that company. If not, users have the option of paying a monthly fee which will allow them to make contact with someone with whom they have no “friends” in common. LinkedIn also allows employers to post job openings, which other users can view.

Twitter can also be helpful in your job search. On Twitter you can search for people who share common career goals or interests. When you follow them and/or they follow you, you may become privy to some job openings that may not yet be posted on any job sites. If you Tweet often about the status of your job search, there is always a chance one of the people following you will see it and send you a lead.

Including social networking sites in your job search is just one more way to help you land the best job for you.

Sure, the internet has made starting the quest for a new job a bit easier. Still, there are many common mistakes that can hinder your job search. Below are five mistakes that many people make.

1. Wasting Everybody’s Time

If the position requires 10+ years experience and you are fresh out of college, then don’t bother applying. It wastes your time, and the time of the hiring manager who has to wade through the resumes of under qualified people in order to find the ones who meet the criteria included in the job listing. Instead, be sure to read the listing carefully and then only apply for jobs for which you qualify.

2. Not Paying Attention to Privacy Settings

Your current employer may be looking to hire a few more people. Suppose that while your boss is perusing the resumes on some job search sites, he comes across yours. It’s hard to imagine a situation in which this could be positive. Be sure to carefully check the privacy settings so that neither you – or your boss – encounter any unpleasant surprises.

3. Searching While at Work

While it may be tempting to spend half of your workday cruising around job search sites and shooting your resume off here and there, here is a word of advice: Don’t. First of all, it’s unethical. Your current employer is not paying you to look for another job. Spending your on-the-clock time that way is akin to stealing from the company. Aside from being unethical, you stand a pretty good chance of getting caught. More and more companies have installed software that allows them to track the internet usage and email activity of employees. Some are enabled with automatic keyword searches that bring any activity containing certain words to the attention of management. You don’t want to lose your current employment without having found your next job. Save your job searching for your off hours.

4. No Follow Up

As mentioned earlier, the internet has, in some ways, made searching for a job simpler. That does not mean, however, that you can just post your resume on a few sites and forget it. Conducting a successful job search takes a lot of work. You’ve to follow through, make phone calls, send letters, do research. Make finding a job your job. Very few people will land a job without diligently following through on leads.

5. Presenting an Unprofessional Presence

Websites such as VisualCV.com make it easier than ever to post professional looking resumes. You even have the option of including photos, videos, charts and graphs. While those tools can be positive, just be sure to keep in professional. This is a job search, not a creative video making contest. Too much extra stuff could possibly turn off the hiring manager. Keep it professional and increase your chances of getting an interview.

By working to avoid these five common mistakes, you can increase your chances of landing a job in a shorter amount of time. Happy hunting.