Hey! Thanks for coming back. Make sure to check out ClearFit to receive your free candidate and employee assessment. Check back often!
… it’s true. They are out there. Believe it or not. Even though most of the news that we hear on a daily basis seems to indicate overwhelming job losses and negative news - there are industries and certain jobs that continue to hire and add jobs. According to Manpower, a leader in the candidate assessment and employment services industry, employers are still finding it difficult to find candidates in the skilled trades and specific niches.
Point and case - engineers, nurses and machinists. Although it’s definitely an employers market, there is a deep gap in the backlog of qualified and educated workers to fill certain positions. Experts agree that these trend will continue, in part because of the enormous stimulus money that will be spent on infrastructure projects, requiring engineers and trades people. While many candidates go through a rigorous hiring selection process, qualified engineers, nurses and trades people have a fairly straight path given the current needs.
In addition, nursing continues to experience a shortage of qualified and willing workers. As the baby boomer generation continues to blossom into “late adulthood,” more and more people will unfortunately require medical attention - testing the system and resources of the industry.
So what if you’re not an engineer, nurse - or abandoned your dreams of becoming a plumber? Here are some tips finding a job during a recession:
1. Analyze The Data
The above is a perfect example of how you can take advantage of a seemingly negative situation. If you’ve never thought about going into engineering or nursing, perhaps now is a good time. You should be aware of industry data, trends and overall employment information. Find an industry or employment area that is in need of people. Do what you have to do to get in the door by improving your skills, attending school or using your existing knowledge and experience to leverage potential opportunities. Every plumbing company and hospital also needs an accountant, so think outside the box and how you can compliment what you’re good at into an employment opportunity.
2. Refresh/Reset Your Career (Or at least be open to the idea…)
Again, nobody expects you to go from your financial accounting job to becoming a registered nurse. But - be willing to freshen up on your skills by taking upgrade courses to make your qualifications more recent and relevant. Consider contacting local universities, colleges and schools to get the latest and greatest information. You’d be surprised at the amount of courses and subjects that are now being offered. Don’t give employers a chance to look over your resume and reject it because you’re lacking a certain skill. If you’re not familiar with MS Word, Excel or have a tough time navigating the Internet - make the call. Take an employee personality test to see what careers you’d be a good fit for.
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
When was the last time you had a job interview? If it’s any significant amount of time, chances are you’ll want to role play and get back into the swing of things. There is nothing wrong with asking a friend or partner to go through a mock interview with you and to provide you with some feedback. Remember that an interview can make, or break your job prospects. Therefore, don’t underestimate the power that a good interview can have and make sure that you’re prepared. Confidence is key, so eliminate any doubts or chances of freezing up.
4. Clean Up That Resume and Yourself
Make sure that the interview you’re sending out has today’s date on it and isn’t the one you used to get your last job. Ensure that it’s addressed to the right people and that it reflects your most recent work experience. Think in action oriented terms and showcase results that you’ve achieved. If you’ve taken an employment test, make sure to include your findings. This may also be a good time to shave, get a haircut and put on some cologne. Just saying… Place yourself in the shoes of the person reading it - why would they want to see and eventually hire you?
5. Be Flexible In The Work You’re Willing/Have To Do
If the concepts of freelance or part-time work seems foreign to you - visit Freelancia or Part-timland and check out the sites. Chances are, that you’ll have to be a little more accommodating to the realities that currently exist. If jobs aren’t easy to come by currently, consider working a freelance or even part-time job to make ends meet in the meantime. The flexibility and potentially loose scheduling that comes with these positions could be a blessing in disguise and allow you to continue to seek full-time work opportunities.
6. Step On The Social Network Gas Pedal
Remember all those times when you were on Facebook, LinkedIn and the other social network sites… yeah, back to square one again, ironically. Make sure that you let people know you’re looking for work and are willing to meet, shake hands and kiss babies if you need to. Networking has never been made easier for us, so let’s take full advantage of it by broadcasting to the world that “I am looking for work.”
If you’re looking for work, need some career advice or interested in finding more information on increasing your chances of finding work - take the first step in the right direction by completing the ClearFit JobFit tool.
