The Unemployed Life

What I Learned About Jobs in 2009

Last year was the biggest learning experience I’ve had. In 2009 I had to learn how to stay positive when almost on a daily basis I was interacting with candidates who were losing their homes, savings and any sort of self respect. And  I had to be flexible when we saw our own company’s recruiting efforts become fruitless because there were so few jobs to fill.

After all, last year drove home that people who are able to change and adapt to the changing economy were the most successful. With zero experience in radio, we launched a web radio show, landing interviews with Keith Ferrazzi (author of Never Eat Alone), Michael Port (author of Book Yourself Solid), and the brash Jeffrey Fox (author of How to Become a Rainmaker). We put up their bios and shared the interviews with our talent pool. Did it make us a single penny? No. But we learned (some more) and were able to give back.

I think 2010 is going to be an interesting year–and it will be more successful if we use all the lessons we learned in the last 12 months:

Lesson #1: You need people to have your back.

Some candidates who were overworked and in bad situations managed to land better jobs in 2009. What was the common denominator for all of them? Networking. They all were connected to people who were one to two steps above them in their career. Think about this for a second: If you really want to advance in your career it makes sense to network with people who are at the level you want to be in two to five years.

The frustrating part of networking is it takes time. I attended a networking meeting back in March where one gentleman openly admitted that he only networks when he needs a job. No wonder he’s out of work every few years. Don’t be that guy. If you want to develop your networking skills, check out Keith Ferrazzi’s book Never Eat Alone.

Lesson #2: Do what you have to do.

In the downturn, many companies have had to figure out how to survive the week, the month or the quarter. Questions like “What are you going to do when the economy picks up?” or “What would happen if a couple of your key personnel left abruptly because of being so overworked?” weren’t even on the radar. Sometimes, that’s just the way it is. Many of my job candidates have tapped all of their savings, 401(k) plans and other assets just to keep food on the table. I recently interviewed someone who who was working 12 hours a day at $10.88 per hour to just maintain a reasonable standard of living. Just two years ago he was making $60,000. One former VP of human resources had to accept a job that was 20% of his former pay to provide health benefits for his family. So be it.

Lesson #3: Creativity can save jobs.

This story is one of the most creative success stories I have heard in 2009. As I was recruiting for a accounting manager spot in the Dayton, Ohio area in March, I came across a lady who was still employed but nervous about her organization’s sales volume.  She had told me there had been several layoffs and more were to come. But what she did saved at least 10 of those position. She not only had her accounting staff, but the staff in shipping and receiving make cold calls to existing clients promoting their repair business. Instead of everyone trying to look busy they were busy—getting the word out. And I’m sure her staff now has a firm grasp on how to add more value to the business.

Lesson #4: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

I had a casual conversation with Charlie Jacobs last fall and he was mildly surprised not to have had more business after his book “Management Rewired” went into paperback. Charlie Jacobs was asking me how to get access to C-level executives and wanting tips on cold calling. Charlie was seeking advice to pass on to his marketing team. If successful authors are willing to ask for help, why doesn’t that go for everyone who is jobless? Because asking for help takes courage–but it pays off.

When I interviewed Dr. Debra Condren, author of Ambition Is Not A Dirty Word, in 2009, she was a firm advocate of creating a “dream team of informal advisors.” Make a list of the people whose work you admire. “By choosing people in varying professional areas, you will fill in all sorts of information gaps,” she advises. Then take a proactive approach and reach out to them in a very complimentary way. Condren says that you need to rally the courage to call up peers, bosses, and people you went to college with and ask for frank feedback about your skill set, including strengths and weaknesses. Then take action to minimize your blind spots and maximize your strengths.

If you are uncomfortable on the phone, use email, then make a follow-up call. If you get voice mail, leave a message that will be intriguing enough for that person to want to call you back. If you are not willing to step up, then you are just going to be another average person looking for a job.

Lesson #5: Value really is measured in numbers.

For every good resume that comes across my desk I see at least 15 bad ones. In this challenging economy organizations are only going to hire you for two reasons: You are either going to save the company money or make the company money. You must demonstrate on your resume how you have done that through the course of your employment history.

There have to be significant metrics on your resume. You can’t just write, “I am hard worker, dedicated, and trustworthy” on your most important piece of marketing collateral. I read a resume this year that had the word “responsible” on it 43 times. Are you kidding me? Seek assistance in putting together your resume. There are free resources out there, and for a minimal investment—under $300—you can have really solid resume.

Lesson #6: Flexibility is key

Go where your skill set is valuable. Don’t wait in a city like Detroit and hope new manufacturing jobs are coming anytime soon. Guess what? They aren’t. I have come across many candidates who waited too long. Now they’re out of savings–and some even lost their homes. Focus on getting your foot in the door. Stay flexible on title, salary, shift and commute. And remember that you can increase your chances of gaining employment by being a consultant or independent contractor.

Lesson#7: Social media can be very powerful

The social media craze is in full force these days, but you have to use tools with care and consistency. Sites like linkedin.com and twitter can be very helpful in your job search. To avoid being overwhelmed, take a strategic approach. For example, if you are looking for a engineering job within the plastics industry, you could start out by searching for company profiles on Linkedin within your geographic preference. Once you find an attractive one, scan employee profiles to see who could be a potential hiring manager. Join the group(s) that they have joined and then you can email that individual directly. Your only investment is your time. A VP of marketing and sales I interviewed in December 2008 told me he’d had a 50 percent success rate getting information interviews with C-level executives using LinkedIn.

It is also important to remember that social media is SOCIAL. You have to be willing to let people know you as a person. When I interviewed Julien Smith, co-author of “Trust Agents,” he pointed out that there is a right way and wrong to utilize social media. If you come off as fake you will be shunned. If you follow the groups and people that you are interested in, it can and will work wonders for you.

About the Author:

Jay Hofmeister, Co-Founder of The Resume Bay has taken the pain out of the job-hunting process for hundreds of job seekers just like you (from entry level to executive level!) Now, Jay invites you to go to http://www.theresumebay.com and get a resume that will get you noticed in this employer driven market and complete job interview coaching that will help you ace the job interview. Also you can gain career insight by listening to “The Job Prospector” hosted by Jay Hofmeister at www.webtalkradio.net.

Tags: 2009, advice, job-hunting, jobs