A friend of mine recently got let go from his company after 10 years of service due to the tough economic times. Its tough. Being heavily involved in recruiting and hiring a lot of our key team members, here are the 5 main things I discussed with him that should (hopefully) get him back on his feet (at least from my perspective).
Photo By alphageek
1. Expand / Circulate your resume to more and more Recruiters / Headhunters Everyday. How many recruiters do you currently have connections with? If it is only a few, you need to bring this number UP because they will have the contacts that you most likely don’t. I can’t underestimate the value that Recruiters bring in a desperate time of need. They are your allies. Don’t mistrust them. It’s in their interest to have you hired and working (since they have a commission when you do). If you think they are not putting the effort to get you hired and working, you need to figure out why or just have more recruiters working for you. As such, in the face of a layoff, its critically important to get the number of people working for you (to get you working again) to be as high as possible (especially if new job postings are showing up few and far between on Monster.com and workopolis.com).
2. Improve your interviewing skills – If you’ve had interviews, its a good sign, it means you look good on paper (at least). But if you find that you are not getting to the next step (eg second interview or that you are not getting any offers, it may be a trouble sign). It may be something about the way you project yourself during your interviews. Maybe you are not projecting the positive energy that you should be in order to gain the confidence from the hiring person / recruiter. If thats what it may be, then you need to brush up on your interviewing skills.
First, go research online for the questions that have been asked before during your most recent interviews. Alternatively, go visit the library to take out books on interview questions (there’s a lot of them). Read them.
Second, videotape yourself answering those interview questions. What I find useful is to videotape myself doing presentations or answering standard interview questions by myself in a room by myself. This is a good way to find out (objectively) when you play back how you respond to the interview questions, whether you are answering the questions well, or if you are projecting the wrong vibe. (Even when you answer the phone, you need to project positiivity). To know whether or not you’re doing this and to make sure you don’t do it during your interviews, videotape/record yourself. Playback the responses to yourself and be the judge on whether you are answering the questions with the right tone. When you view / listen to your responses to yourself, think of whether you would hire the person you’re hearing on the playback. If the answer is no, then you need to change your voice / or your posture or your tone. Get someone you trust to be a good objective judge.
3. Don’t stop searching for the job postings / new recruiters EVERYDAY. If you are not finding many new job postings everyday, search for the new recruiters and forward/ email your resume to new ones everyday. Setup a quota system for yourself, eg. send resume to at least 5 recruiters within your georgraphic boundary everyday. Get your resume to them and meet with them. They may do a mock interview with you to find out how you’re like during an interview.
4. If you’re studying for a second career, don’t stop looking for a job or for new recruiters – Continue continute doing the above 3 things especially # 3 above (even if you’re studying for a second career). I’ve known people that just abruptly stop looking for work just because they start studying for a second career. Its such a big mistake because it tells me they’re losing sight of the forest for the treees. The number one goal of studying for a second career is to find a job after completing the studies. That’s why its important to keep looking for a new job(s) / new recruiters on a daily basis even if you’re studying for a second career. Its important to have your line in the water to get the next fish (just like when fishing for bass). The good news is you only need one fish to get your next job. Then you can stop fishing (for a moment at least).
5. Stay positive – It can be difficult especially if you’ve been laid off. But realize that being negative does not improve the situation or your chance of getting your next job. Plus, it helps during your interviews.
or people working in the corporate environment. I like the book’s chapter on how to get promoted:
