After my Labor Day post, I began thinking more about the unemployment in our nation today.  There are many who are out of work.  Remember, unemployment is the highest it’s been in 26 years, or since 1983.  My neighbor recently mentioned he had sent out hundreds of resumes with no luck.

It reminds me of a few years ago when I was laid off, but in a much better economic situation.  I was bless to find a job again almost a month from the day I was laid off.  Even though it might seem the job fell into my lap, I worked extremely hard over the course of that month to network and find potential opportunities.

Some might think a job opportunity will come to them based on experience and skills.  This is the wrong approach.  To find a new job, you have to be a self – starter, aggressive and motivated to persevere.

This post is about some of the things I did during my lay-off to find a job, but also some things I might consider doing today, if it were to happen again.  I know that in just two years time, the world is much different.  Not just because of the economy, but there are new opportunties available today and the mode in which people network is different because of advances in technology.

Steps to find a job

Begin work the day after you’re laid off

My work was finding a job and I did it nearly full-time.  Mainly because I was concerned about using up our resources and fear that bigger changes would have to occur should I not find a job.

Get in the right statement of mind

Sure, it’s easy to panic and let your mind go a million different negative directions.  I chose to use my faith in God to focus.  I knew my family would be taken care of no matter how bad things got because of my faith.

Do the basics

I got my resume updated immediately.  I didn’t procrastinate on this very important task.  I had it ready to go the day after I was laid off and had it sent off to a friend and professional mentor for review.  This is not something I could not see myself delaying.  The resume is really where it begins in terms of submitting for a job, or the second step after having made a new contact.

Job board sites

I created a profile and submitted my resume to the big job board sites such as Monster and Career Builder.  Some say this isn’t worth it because of the numbers, but I disagree.  Websites like Monster, may have a lot of submissions for one job, but such websites are also great ways to see what is on the market and which companies are hiring.

Network like crazy

LindedIn became my best buddy.  It served as a great tool to rekindle past work relationships.  I spent time updating my profile and reconnecting with people who I had worked with in the past.  These online connections turned into lunches and eventually resume opportunities to submit my resume.

Establish recruiter contacts

I followed up with professional recruiters I had worked with in the past and new recruiters through my networking.  I met with them and interviewed with them.  They submitted my resume to open opportunities.

Follow up regularly

I always asked when I could expect to hear back after speaking to somone about an opportunity.  If I hadn’t heard anything, I didn’t wait.  I called and followed up.  This is great for working with recruiters, business associates, or after interviews.

Get the word out

Beyond rekindling past business relationships and working with recruiters, I got the word out to my friends.  Some of these friends were in my field of work, but many were not.  My wife helped network too.  It’s amazing how many friends and neighbors know someone who knows someone.

Steps to find a job today

All of the above still stands today.  However, there are a few things I would do to add to the list.

Expand your network using Facebook and Twitter

Both of these social networking tools, can also be great for doing what Linkedin did for me.  Facebook and Twitter have grown to be more than friend networks.  There is opportunity to connect through groups of like minded people on Facebook and there is also opportunity to follow people on Twitter based on different interests.

Identify professional organizations in your area and go to their meet ups.

If your profession is technology, it would be important to insert yourself into those networking opportunities and bring value, based on your experience, to the discussions.

Reapply

If you’re working for a large company, there may be other opportunities within should you be in good standing.  Stay connected with your previous boss and ask if you can follow up with he or she and HR about these potential opportunities.  Rehiring a past employee in good standing is a no brainer for companies.

I would ask my previous boss to circulate my resume.

Again, if you’re in good standing, your boss has a network too and is someone who can speak about your most recent experience and accomplishments.  I would ask my boss to consider my background while working for them and share with anyone in their network who may have a potential interest.

Volunteer your time

Yes, that’s right.  I might consider working for free.  If I found a company I was really interested in, I might ask if I could volunteer my skills in order for the opportunity to meet people and learn more about the organization.  I’m not suggesting doing this on a full-time basis, but a day every two weeks might be worth considering and of mutual benefit.

Help others

A job search is a job.  If you do it right, it takes a lot of work.  If you’re good at something outside of work, a hobby, or other gift, channel that to something good to keep yourself in positive spirits.   There are always needs at local churches for those who want to serve.  By the way, volunteering also provides opportunties for networking.

Final thoughts

Today, I am employed and grateful for my job as well as the opportunity to work each day.   How did I find my job?  You might have guessed, it was through intense networking.  There is power in connecting and the more you do it, the more powerful it becomes.  Technology, accelerates the process, but in the end, hard work and perseverance is the fuel behind it all.

Are there any additional steps you would you take to find a job today?

Note:  While social networking tools are a great tools to leverage, let them be what they are meant to be, tools.   Be diligent about your schedule and time management.  Spending all day on social networking sites can also hinder your job search productivity.

Related Posts:

• Tips to Survive a Layoff