job hunting in a recession. what, exactly, does “during a recession’ mean? and how does job...

Job Hunting in a Job Hunting in a RecessionRecession

What, exactly, does What, exactly, does “during a recession’ mean?“during a recession’ mean?

And how And how doesdoes job hunting job hunting differ during a recession?differ during a recession?

What is a Recession?What is a Recession?

A period when the economy A period when the economy of a country is not successful of a country is not successful and conditions for business and conditions for business are bad.are bad.

The never-ending doom and gloom in The never-ending doom and gloom in the media can become a self-fulfilling the media can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.prophecy.

If you feel you will have a hard If you feel you will have a hard time finding a job because of the time finding a job because of the economy……you will.economy……you will.

Why?Why?

Because you can’t fix something Because you can’t fix something you don’t have control over.you don’t have control over.

The MOST IMPORTANT The MOST IMPORTANT THING:THING:

Stop thinking like a victimStop thinking like a victim

Realize that no matter how bad Realize that no matter how bad things seem, things seem,

no matter how bad the media says no matter how bad the media says things are….things are….

there there are are actions you can take to actions you can take to increase the chances of finding jobs.increase the chances of finding jobs.

Are you aware that Are you aware that the open job the open job market accounts market accounts for only 20% of the for only 20% of the jobs?jobs?

Jobs considered Jobs considered “open” are “open” are advertised.advertised.

Job openings exist even during times Job openings exist even during times of fewer jobs and higher of fewer jobs and higher unemployment: unemployment:

retirement,retirement,people who quit or fired,people who quit or fired,maternity leave,maternity leave,moving up & opening a job moving up & opening a job

for someone newfor someone new

In a recession, jobs retreat In a recession, jobs retreat into the into the

job marketjob market

Ten Tips to Job Hunting Ten Tips to Job Hunting during a recessionduring a recession

Tip # 1Tip # 1

The key strategy in a recession is The key strategy in a recession is being able to “shop” the candidate being able to “shop” the candidate around to employers who know you, around to employers who know you, to see if the candidate fits the timing to see if the candidate fits the timing and hiring needs of this employer.and hiring needs of this employer.

To get an employer to consider a To get an employer to consider a candidate when a decision to hire candidate when a decision to hire may not have been fully decided, the may not have been fully decided, the employer must trust YOU.employer must trust YOU.

Employers must truly understand Employers must truly understand that you know them and what that you know them and what their employment needs are.their employment needs are.

They must believe you have their They must believe you have their interests at heart when you make a interests at heart when you make a business proposition like…business proposition like…

“ “I have a candidate you should be I have a candidate you should be interested in.” interested in.”

If the employer believes that you If the employer believes that you have their interests at heart, than have their interests at heart, than you can present an unsolicited you can present an unsolicited candidate. This is a candidate who candidate. This is a candidate who offers potential solutions.offers potential solutions.

Build Business RelationshipsBuild Business Relationships

Friendships are Friendships are great but often great but often slow at creating slow at creating job opportunitiesjob opportunities

Build Business RelationshipsBuild Business RelationshipsIf your sole purpose If your sole purpose is to educate the is to educate the employer about our employer about our services, you run the services, you run the risk of creating risk of creating employer resistance.employer resistance.

Engage the Engage the employer in employer in conversations and conversations and questions to learn questions to learn their business.their business.

Get to know employers and their Get to know employers and their business needs about employees, business needs about employees, regardless if they have a job opening regardless if they have a job opening or not. or not.

By getting to know the employer’s By getting to know the employer’s general business needs, even when general business needs, even when they are not hiring, positions you to they are not hiring, positions you to be a future supplier. be a future supplier.

You earn the right to present a You earn the right to present a candidate before or when openings candidate before or when openings arise.arise.

How do I start the conversation?How do I start the conversation?

An opening line might be:An opening line might be:

““Bandon High School is trying to build an Bandon High School is trying to build an effective employment program to help out effective employment program to help out employers in these tough times. We want employers in these tough times. We want to be able to help our community and to be able to help our community and have the resources to do so. I was have the resources to do so. I was wondering if you would spend 15 minutes wondering if you would spend 15 minutes with me discussing your business needs?with me discussing your business needs?

You are not there to give the employer You are not there to give the employer information… you are there to collect information… you are there to collect

information from the employer.information from the employer.

Relationships are built because you listen Relationships are built because you listen rather than talk.rather than talk.

Start asking yourself,Start asking yourself,

What’s in it for them?What’s in it for them?

Tip #2Tip #2Concentrate on Concentrate on growth industries to growth industries to find recession proof find recession proof job sectors that are job sectors that are experiencing job experiencing job shortages: shortages:

Health Care,Health Care, Teacher Aides,Teacher Aides, Energy,Energy, National Guard,National Guard,

Border Patrol, etc.Border Patrol, etc.

Tip #3Tip #3

Consider Interning….Consider Interning….

One of the best ways to get your foot One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is to apply for internships in the door is to apply for internships either at a company were you wish either at a company were you wish to work to work oror let the community college let the community college set up an internship with a preferred set up an internship with a preferred company.company.

Tip #4Tip #4

Consider volunteering during the Consider volunteering during the senior year. A great way to add senior year. A great way to add measurable achievements to a measurable achievements to a resumeresume

Tip # 5Tip # 5

Take a Temporary Position with a Take a Temporary Position with a staffing agency if you are not staffing agency if you are not locating work right away after locating work right away after graduation.graduation.

Many permanent job offers come Many permanent job offers come from temp. positions. As the YTP from temp. positions. As the YTP specialist, this expands your network specialist, this expands your network of future employers.of future employers.

Tip # 6Tip # 6

Youth must be proactive.Youth must be proactive.

If a student’s idea of finding work is If a student’s idea of finding work is to post a resume on Monster.com or to post a resume on Monster.com or to email a few companies, to email a few companies,

that’s waiting for work to come to that’s waiting for work to come to you.you.

According to Kensington According to Kensington International, a top recruiting International, a top recruiting agency, the response rate to an agency, the response rate to an on-line ad represents only a on-line ad represents only a 0 – 15%0 – 15% probability of landing a job probability of landing a job interview.interview.

Encourage youth to get out of the Encourage youth to get out of the house and meet people.house and meet people.

Beware Of:Beware Of:

Resumes@BlackHole.comResumes@BlackHole.com

Tip #7Tip #7Focus on Achievements…..Focus on Achievements…..

What future employers want to know What future employers want to know is what chance of success will I have is what chance of success will I have when hiring this student?when hiring this student?

Rethink a resume in terms of Rethink a resume in terms of achievements. Identify strengths achievements. Identify strengths and put them on resumes.and put them on resumes.

Tip #8Tip #8

Show how the student matches the Show how the student matches the job requirements…job requirements…

Generally, a person lands a job Generally, a person lands a job because they are a good match. By because they are a good match. By using key words in the cover letter, using key words in the cover letter, resume, or in an interview shows the resume, or in an interview shows the employer that the student knows employer that the student knows what the employer is looking for.what the employer is looking for.

Tip #9Tip #9

Informational interviews…..Informational interviews…..

Setting up informational interviews and Setting up informational interviews and meetings with business recruiters not only meetings with business recruiters not only provide opportunities for personal growth provide opportunities for personal growth but exposure to the employer. When the but exposure to the employer. When the timing is right, the employer may be timing is right, the employer may be calling you, as the YTP coordinator, to give calling you, as the YTP coordinator, to give the student a job.the student a job.

Tip # 10Tip # 10

Coach students on what Coach students on what NOTNOT to say to say during an interview:during an interview:

““No, I don’t have any questions for No, I don’t have any questions for you.” you.”

Signals to an employer a lack of Signals to an employer a lack of interest. interest.

““I’m going to need to take these days I’m going to need to take these days off.” off.”

Avoid bring this up until the job is Avoid bring this up until the job is offered.offered.

““And another thing I hate…”And another thing I hate…”

Practice mock interviewing to help Practice mock interviewing to help eliminate a student’s need to rant.eliminate a student’s need to rant.

““I don’t know anything about your I don’t know anything about your company.”company.”

Gives a less interested impression.Gives a less interested impression.

““I hated my last boss.”I hated my last boss.”

Makes an employer wonder whose is Makes an employer wonder whose is responsible for making life miserable, responsible for making life miserable, the student or the last boss?the student or the last boss?

On the Brighter Side:On the Brighter Side:

Even with 10 % unemployment,Even with 10 % unemployment, there are 90% employed.there are 90% employed.

Best advice: Be persistent and stay positive.Best advice: Be persistent and stay positive.