Can't Find a Job? An Upgraded Strategy May Help

Follow These Simple Steps to Improve Chances for Employment Today

Apr 28, 2009

The labor market may be tough, but laying out an effective search strategy is even tougher. Here's what job seekers need to know to improve the chances for employment.

Can't find a new job? Though the labor market may present numerous challenges for those seeking gainful employment, all hope is not lost. By using this downtime to polish the search strategy, seekers can make some positive changes that may help improve the chances of landing a new position.

Revise the Cover Letter

A good cover letter is a well-written summary of the candidate’s most relevant accomplishments and how skills and background match the employer's description. The letter should be approached as a marketing tool to "sell" relevant and applicable job skills to the employer. The tone must appear confident and factual, yet never embellished.

Revise the Resume

Is the resume well written, and is the type appropriate to the seeker’s circumstances? A candidate who has gaps should consider writing a functional summary of qualifications which emphasizes job skills over consecutive work experience. A reverse chronological one, the most common type, is good for those who have a consecutive work history.

Use a Variety of Job Search Engines

Monster, Careerbuilder, and Dice are the big incumbents that have been around for quite some time and are used by millions of people each day. Candidates should also search using alternative employment websites including Yahoo! HotJobs, Flipdog, Juju, SimplyHired, Indeed, and Thingamajob are useful as well.

Gather New References

Ask current coworkers and others for professional letters of recommendation. If references go back years and the candidate has not spoken to them lately, it may be a good idea to reconnect with these former colleagues. Given today's focus on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and other social networking websites, it's relatively easy to catch up with past coworkers on the web.

Improve Interviewing Skills

Learning effective interviewing techniques increases the chances of landing a new position. Ask a good friend or family member to play the role of the employer, and instruct him or her to ask challenging questions. Dress appropriately for the mock interview, have a list of questions, and maintain good eye contact. Use a mirror if nobody's around.

Join Special Interest Groups

Membership in a Society or other special interest group allows members to search for jobs, participate in local meetings, learn new techniques, and share search strategies. It's also a great way to connect with new people who share common interests and who may have knowledge of who's hiring.

Update the Wardrobe

An upgraded wardrobe gives the candidate a youthful, proactive look that impresses the employer. Old clothes may give the employer the impression that the candidate is stuck in the past and will have a difficult time adjusting to new job skills. A new personal line of fashion chic not only adds to the candidate's hipness, it also lends to a feeling of greater confidence.

Get a Makeover

There's nothing wrong with the natural look, but seekers who want to get an edge up on the competition may want to consider a makeover. A younger look with an updated hairstyle makes a good first impression and signals to the employer that the person is energetic, proactive, and able to problem-solve with ease.

Take Classes to Brush Up on Critical Skills

If the person has been out of work for awhile, reflecting updated skills on the resume is critical. Online distance learning, community college classes, or even a new degree appears proactive and comforts the employer in knowing they are hiring a quality candidate that has the cutting-edge skills to excel in the new position.

Everyone should consider join networking groups at libraries and churches. However today, it is becoming imperative to register with online social networking sites, particularly Linkedin. More companies report checking the candidate's profile on this site for job skills, resume, and recommendations. Linkedin also allows individuals to share leads and search strategies.

Today's quest for a new position is becoming more complex with far more than just a resume on a piece of paper required. If the phone isn't ringing, it may be because the labor market is still lagging during this recession. Or, it may be an impetus for the job seeker to take a step back and reassess the overall search strategy.

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