I just came across this article in the Wall Street Journal which says companies are stepping up layoffs because of the lack of economic recovery. I've been told by some sources to expect unemployment to reach 10% by the fall. And the government just eliminated extensions on unemployment benefits in July.
WARNING: If you've been affected by a layoff, or you get laid off in near future, you should see if your employer will provide you with outplacement services to speed up your job search.
Why? The average length of time it takes to find a job right now is 39 weeks. Unemployment benefits (depending where you are) run for 26 weeks. Do the math. You need help as a way to shorten that job search!
What is Outplacement?
Basically, it's job search support that's delivered either in-person or 0n-line. You'll receive training and assistance as a way to get your search in gear.
What is GOOD Outplacement?
Not all outplacement programs are created the same. And, just because they are more expensive, doesn't mean they are better. I've worked with people who paid 1,000s of dollars for "premium" outplacement with some big name firms, only to spend a year looking for work and not landing a single interview. By the time they reached my doorstep, they were pretty frustrated. To avoid this, keep in mind that good outplacement services:
Let you work with career experts on ALL of your career tools including, resume, cover letter, career story, personal branding, LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, interview prep, informational interviewing, networking, salary negotiation, career transitions, salary negotiation, etc.
Provide training materials in both written and video form that can be taken advantage of on-line so you can use them at your convenience. Some places demand that you attend classes in-person to receive their training. For many of us, this is not possible. So, outplacement that has extensive on-line support is better for most job seekers today.
Can prove that their materials are helping people in today's economy actually find work.
Are especially knowledgeable in the "new rules" to job search which rely heavily on social media as a way to find job opportunities as opposed to the outdated job boards.
How do I approach my former employer?
Step 1: If you've been affected by a layoff recently, or get laid-off in the future, contact the employer's HR department and inquire if they have any existing outplacement service providers that they are offering to ex-employees. There may be some resources you weren't aware of at the time you got laid-off. Losing your job is such an emotional experience, many people don't hear what the HR person is saying/explaining with respect to options because they are too shocked to pay attention.
Step 2: If your company doesn't have any outplacement service providers, ask them if they would be willing to offer any financial assistance for you to get access to an outplacement program that could help you find a job faster. Affordable yet comprehensive on-line programs like CareerHMO.com, cost only $49/person to join and $9/month after that.
Companies can even negotiate group pricing for all employees affected by the lay0ff. You'd be surprised how few companies know this kind of outplacement service exists. It's a cost-effective option they could give to you and your fellow colleagues who were affected by the layoff. It certainly is a good way for them to show their support of you and desire to help you find a new job to replace the one you lost.
Step 3: If your company doesn't offer outplacement and won't provide you with any financial support, consider investing in outplacement for yourself. The cost of getting the right information and support to help you find job faster could be well worth it. The alternative could be a longer job search where you are tapping into savings and racking up credit card debt.
Remember: You Won't Get Help if You Don't Ask!
In closing, getting laid-off can be very traumatic, especially in a gloomy economy. With 25M Americans currently "between jobs" and the unemployment outlook not improving, you need to speak up and get the help that can assist you in finding your next job. Sadly, if you don't ask for the help, you most likely won't get it. So, don't waste the opportunity to request outplacement services from your former employer. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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