How to Get a Job Even During a Recession

Posted on Nov 16th 2009, 02:27 pm, under Career Advice

Finding employment in a normal economy is hard enough, but doing so in the middle of a recession is even tougher. But there really ARE jobs out there, if you look hard enough and plan your moves strategically. The government stimulus package has been pumping money into our economy for the past several months, creating thousands of new jobs. We discussed how to get government jobs in a previous post , but now we've got even more tips to help you out:

1. First, look at where the money is going. We recommended USAjobs.gov before as an excellent site to start your search. This week, we found a few new government sites that will let you track stimulus package funding and aid you in finding new jobs.

Recovery.gov is the official site for the federal government's stimulus package. It doesn't list jobs directly, but it does have the details on all current and future projects under the stimulus package. Identify which companies are receiving funding and see if they have any openings. In particular, check this page: "Where Is The Money Going?".

Other sites of interest include USASpending.gov and Federal Business Opportunities. Don't forget that your home state might also have a website for monitoring its own economic recovery, so do a search for that as well.

2. Get noticed. When you find a company that's receiving stimulus money, go to its official site, find a suitable position, and apply as soon as possible. Don't worry if it's not exactly what you want to do; the important thing is to get your foot in the door and your resume in the company's system. 

The key to making it through this stage lies in keeping your resume current. Update your online profile in the company's resume database regularly (even if it's just a trivial change, like modifying your interests). Recruiters can check when you last updated it, and they like it better when a resume stays fresh.

Alternatively, you can send your resume to the general job pools at USAjobs.gov. The site lists standing registers across several broad categories such as "computer technician" or "architect/engineer", organized on a per state basis.

3. Set automated alerts. Many corporate websites allow applicants to set a job alert, where you get informed of new openings through email. This shows your interest and persistence in getting a position. However, don't take the shotgun approach by applying for every job that is emailed to you. Choose wisely and apply only for the positions for which you have the necessary qualifications. It's a major rule of job-hunting: never show recruiters any desperation on your part.

4. Lastly, don't give up. It may seem like a lot of effort, but you're applying to companies that have actual openings, instead of sending your resume out into the wild and hoping someone notices it. You'll get a job eventually if you keep at it and stay positive.