10 Tips for Finding a Job in Today’s Economy

It seems like whenever you turn on the news, or look through a newspaper, there are stories about the ongoing unemployment problem in this country. In fact, just a few weeks ago it was reported that the number of Americans who are receiving food stamps rose to a record 40.8 million in May. To assist taxpayers across the country looking for employment, I have put together the following list of tips for finding a job in today’s economy.

1. Make Goals

One of the hardest parts of job hunting is the amount of perseverance it requires. In order to keep motivated, set goals to strive for on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. For example, your daily goal might be to send out 5 resumes, or your weekly goal might be to go to at least one interview. By keeping yourself motivated you can stay focused, and encouraged to keep working towards your goal.

2. Get Aggressive

The job market is competitive right now, and if you want to stand out you have to work hard. Be aggressive in your job search by calling back potential employers and making sure they know you want the position. Then, always send thank you notes after every interview. Above all, stay positive, a good attitude will keep your mind sharp and impress potential employers.

3. Online Resources

The Internet can be used as one of the most powerful tools in your job search. Create profiles on online job search sites, and look for jobs in your area. You should also check the job section on classified sites such as CraigsList.org on a daily basis.

4. Resume Tips

Having a resume that is too general will give the impression to potential employers that you are not really that interested in the specific position they are offering. You should always modify your resume before sending it in for consideration, so that it is relevant to the open position. You do not want recruiters to think that you send the exact same resume to every listing you see. It also helps to write a new cover letter for each application.

5. Work on your Skills

There are some skills that need to be learned on the job, however while you are looking for employment you should consider building up some of your relevant skills. If you are unfamiliar with Microsoft Office then check out an online tutorial or pick up a book from Amazon.com. Any extra skills you can add to your resume will help set you aside from other job candidates.

6. Phone a Friend

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of jobs are found through networking. If you are serious about job hunting then you should call and email your friends and family members to see if anyone knows of a vacant position.

7. Use Social Media

Another great way to get the word out that you are looking for a new job is by participating in social media communities like FaceBook or LinkedIn. Just be sure that you do not post any questionable materials to your profile, as recruiters often Google the names of candidates, and you do not want your online presence to reflect an unprofessional image of yourself.

8. New strategies

Regularly checking the same job sites or the same newspaper could get you stuck in a rut. Therefore, you should try looking for job openings in new places whenever you have a chance. Maybe pick up a less popular newspaper or start a profile on a different job site.

9. Enlist Some Help

If you have been on the hunt for a while, you might want to enlist the help of a job placement agency. Run a search on Google for job placement help, and you should be able to find a few local agencies. However, you should always be cautious and avoid scams that make you pay excess fees for equipment, or invest in a pyramid scheme.

10. Nail the Interview

In the past you may have come to an interview expecting to answer a few questions, and leaving it at that. Not in this economy. Before you go in for an interview you should always research the company, and prepare a list of questions to ask the person conducting the interview. Preparation is the key, and if you look well prepared it will help you stand out from the list of applicants.

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Jobs For New MBAs Are Back--But They're Different

From Forbes.com:

It looks like last year's predictions of a meltdown in the job market for new MBA degree holders may have been as panic stricken and inaccurate as many of the other forecasts we heard in 2009. As Pamela Mittman, who heads up career services at NYU Stern business school, reports, "We've been cautiously optimistic throughout the past year, and we're now seeing that optimism justified in a renewed commitment by recruiters in pipelining talent in the wake of the financial crisis. We've seen job postings for immediate hires up 40% on 2009 and vacancies in some sectors such as venture capital, private equity and consumer products up by as much as 70%."

The recovery may not seem quite as strong outside top schools like Stern, but it still appears to be a reality across the business education spectrum. The latest research from the MBA Career Services Council, which surveyed schools across the USA and Europe, found 60% of career departments reporting more job postings this year than last.

However, according to Becky Joffrey of the Tuck School, in New Hampshire, these general figures may be masking a substantial shift in the hiring picture. She says that more and more Fortune 500 companies are now hiring international MBA students, not for classic head office roles in the U.S. or Europe, but to run operations in their own home countries. "With the rapid pace of globalization, corporate America has got the message that global growth requires talent with in-depth knowledge of the languages, customs and geography of other parts of the world," she says. She cites examples from her school such as Manoj Sahoo, recruited by Cargill to run its Indian operations out of Singapore, and two other Tuck students joining Samsung to train in Seoul and then return to their native countries, Israel and India.

François de Wazieres, director of international recruitment for the cosmetics giant L'Oreal, says, "We are deeply interested in talent acquisition for our developing markets, because our sales in new markets will very likely exceed those in Western Europe this year, and our CEO is already talking about us reaching as many as 1 billion customers there." L'Oreal looks for graduates of major U.S. and European schools such as Harvard, Wharton, HEC and IMD and gives them their initial exposure to the business in centers such as Paris and New York. "This accelerates their learning path within the company and readies them for operational and entrepreneurial assignments in our new markets."