The Key To Finding ONE JOB During A Recession

If you’re job searching at the moment, let me ask you a question – how many jobs do you want?

Just the ONE right?

If you’re looking for just one job, it doesn’t matter how deep the recession is, how many job cuts are announced each day, how much doom and gloom there is in the environment – if you’re only looking for one job – one job will be out there. (Really, it will).

That’s the same attitude I had during the recession of the early 1990’s when I graduated with no relevant experience and a fairly average academic record. I kept telling myself “I only want one job – there’s one job out there with my name on it, I just need to go out and find it”

And I did. I joined a top 10 listed firm which most of my peers thought was beyond our reach.  Many of them sat back with a "there's no jobs out there - what's the point" attitude which meant they stopped trying.

It took me several months of hard work, plenty of set backs, being flexible (it wan't exactly my ideal job), and being persistent (I had sooo many rejections)– but all this was based on a mindset that I was just as good as anyone else and “I only want one job.”

That’s the same attitude you need to take in the current market.

I appreciate that there are fewer roles in the market compared to 12 months ago and there are more people looking – but it all comes down to a) the level of self esteem you have and b) what actions you are willing to take to find a job.

a) Self Esteem
Placing a high value on yourself and having a belief that there are employers out there that you can make a contribution to - employers who will value that contribution – give you the foundation to find work during a recession.
Of course it’s not just about the self esteem – it’s also about action.

b) Taking action
If you are really clear about the results you have delivered to date, can articulate them coherently to other firms and are persistent in your approach whilst being open minded about what you’ll consider - there will be opportunities in any market. For some people, that may mean having to reinvent your career and find new jobs in different parts of the economy - but again, there will be opportunities if you rebrand yourself, are flexible and willing to work hard it.

So don’t get too absorbed in the bad news and job loss announcements that seem to be a daily occurance in the media. Stop that voice in your head that keeps telling you "you're screwed, there are no jobs out there." If you place a high enough value on yourself and take the appropriate actions consistently, you’ll find work.

After all, you only want ONE JOB right..?

By Sital Ruparelia, Cross Posted on the 6 Figure Career Management blog

Comments

[Carol]

Great post, very specific and practical tips. There’s also some very useful job hunting tips and career advice on this site: http://www.spherion.com.

[Danny Iny]

Sital, this is a brilliant post, thank you!

This is the same issue as people looking for industries that are always hiring - it doesn't matter how many jobs are out there, because you only need one!

[Dale Kurow]

This is wonderful advice for all those people who are overwhelmed with a job search and continue to listen to the news about job layoffs. Only one job is a great mantra! Thanks for the post.

[hazel]

Hi,

This is such an inspiring post..I would surely send this out to my colleagues who are candidates for next month's layoff

Hazel

[Susan]

I keep hearing about facebook and myspace for jobs...finding a job on a social network is an urban legend. Here's 3 job sites from about.com's top ten job sites-

www.linkedin.com (professional networking)
www.indeed.com (aggregated listings)
www.realmatch.com (matches jobs based on your skills)

good luck to those looking.

[Paul]

Very nice post... jobs are out there but right now the issue is competition

[D Jacobson]

Keeping up motivation and self-confidence is one of the hardest things to maintain during times like these. The key is to stay proactive and mix your methods of job searching. At my staffing agency, Hollister, Inc., we encourage applicants to be open to all opportunities, including temping. You never know what any type of work experience will lead to. http://www.hollisterstaff.com/

[Sital]

Thank you all for the comments

@Hazel - best wishes to your colleagues

Sital

[Bruce Bloom]

Excellent advice. Especially the part about taking action.

One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Woody Allen:

"Eighty percent of success is showing up."

[SGJobSearch]

Visit http://sgjobsearch.50webs.com and let its mega search engine find a job for you.

[Timothy]

Your "One Job" point is great. A lot of people come from a place of finding anything and often, once they get the job, wind up wondering why they settled so easily.

Since we're also talking about being more creative during this economic slump, why not think outside the box of looking to work for another in the first place? Stay with me for just a sec.

I'm rather amazed that there are plenty of skill sets that are for whatever reason not "conventional" enough to be taught in schools, but the mastery of which would lead to more autonomy.

Most of us are trained to be employees- nothing wrong with that, but I'm convinced that thinking that way is a kind of tunnel vision that keeps many from learning skills that wold allow them to carve out there own path to income.

One of them is as close as the computer in front of you. For the first time in history, we are 3 feet in front of the world, yet few learn how to use it in a way to render 1) value to others and 2)income for themselves.

leavethejobbehind.com

[Job Search]

Indian senior management jobs are highly professional jobs. There are various MNC companies which offer high salary to their employees. Management jobs are helpful in getting bright career and growth opportunities. Job site offers lots of companies’ details which want to recruit fresher and experienced candidates.

http://www.theindiajob.com/

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