Saturday 13 September 2008

Strategies for staying upbeat in a weak job market

an item in The Career News Volume 8 Issue 35

More and more Americans are being affected by a malady that Randall Hansen calls the "Job Market Blues". Hansen, a nationally recognised career and job-search expert and founder of QuintCareers.com, says that "job-seekers can employ five strategies for staying upbeat and fighting the blues in a weak job market."

Here are his suggestions:

  1. Keep a positive focus While it can be extremely difficult to do, job-seekers must show confidence and a positive attitude when job-hunting.
  2. Surround yourself with support
    Job-seekers should seek the support of family and friends – some of whom may even be able to offer job leads.

  3. Don't be discouraged by what you hear or read
    With all the bad economic news that abounds, it's easy to get caught up in the negativity. Job-seekers should focus on positive aspects, such as programs that offer free-job advice and retraining.

  4. Have a long-term focus, but short-term goals
    Job-seekers who have the most success in finding a new job are those who set daily job-search goals, such as tracking down job leads, applying for jobs, making new network contacts or going on job interviews.

  5. Remember that everything counts
    The job-seeker who gets hired is not always the most qualified but the one who made the best job-hunting effort. Job-seekers should perfect all aspects of job-hunting, including finding job leads, developing strong resumés and covering letters, and polishing interviewing skills.
Abridged: SouthCoastToday.com Springfield, MA

Hazel's comment:
Nothing new there but it is sometimes worth stating the obvious.





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