Finding and Keeping a Job in Today’s Economy

Posted on August 25th, 2010 by Amara Dumlao |

Everywhere people are talking about the challenges that come with job-hunting in the current economy. Many are quick to assume that there is nothing one can do to improve their likelihood of finding a great position or advance the one they have. This is simply not true; consider these suggestions on how you can move up in today’s job market.

Expand Your Knowledge Base: Apprentice work, an internship, or active participation within your chosen field is a great foot in the door to any job. By creating networks and learning skills beyond those you already have, you enhance your resume as well as your knowledge base.

Notice Places Needing Improvement: Have you ever worked a job where a needed skill was missing? Consider learning the skills that are needed in your target organization. Having skills others don’t that are important to the business is much more likely to help you earn a raise or outshine other job candidates, possibly in ways the boss might not have considered yet.

Be Bold: Job-hunting is not the time to be shy. Moreover, you are unlikely to get a raise or promotion unless you ask. Use creativity and aggressive yet professional interest to make sure that you are a candidate that stands out as exceptional.

Meet Everyone: In Japan it is a common practice to carry business cards all the time, because you never know whom you are going to meet. Even if you are unemployed nothing shows professionalism quite like being able to present your contact information in a simple takeaway form. If it is your first time creating business cards do a quick search online to see how other professionals in your field display their information.

Don’t Give Up: This is a big one. Many of the most famous (and wealthy) individuals will tell you that perseverance is a key trait to success. Whenever the challenges of the job hunt get you down, just remember each obstacle is a step towards the forthcoming success.

• “The Pursuit of Happyness”: Will Smith plays leading man, Chris Gardner, in this film based on the real life events of a businessman who managed to work a job, compete at a non-paid internship at Bear-Sterns, and raise his son while homeless.
• The Secret of My Success”: Michael J. Fox goes about getting his foot in the door by pretending to be an executive in a way that could only be done in this 1980’s classic.

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