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Recession Proof Job Searches: How Job Seekers Can Ensure their Phone Keeps Ringing During a Sluggish Economy

Long Island, NY (PRWEB) May 13, 2008 -- According to The Labor Department over 260,000 jobs have been lost since the beginning of 2008.

After years of job seekers calling the shots, with the job market tightening, it's now an employer's market. This means translates into qualified candidates being overlooked for a position because they haven't prepared.

Linda Matias, author of How to Say It Job Interviews and president of CareerStrides based on Long Island, New York states, "When the job market is tight, it may be tempting to cut corners on a job search, but for the sake of landing a position, job seekers should refrain from doing so. When it's a buyer's market, job seekers owe it to themselves and their family to put their best foot forward. To stand out, there are three key factors job seekers need to concentrate on---their resume, interview skills, and a follow-up strategy."

To recession proof their job search, she suggest job seekers do the following:

1) Take time to create a compelling resume

While a homespun resume would have garnered interviews in the past, in a tight market job seekers have to step up their game. This isn't a time to rely on a friend's goodwill and use her as their "resume writer."

Job seekers should strongly consider working with a Nationally Certified Resume Writer or someone who works at a One-Stop Center. A professionally written resume can make the difference between getting called in for an interview and getting overlooked.

To ensure the best possible service, job seekers should ask to look at the writer's resume samples. They shouldn't get caught up in all of the hype regarding certifications and publications.

"This advice may sound strange coming from a Nationally Certified Resume Writer and published author, but I've been in the career-services industry long enough to know that quality work trumps credentials," said Ms. Matias.

That said, job seekers can and should add weight to the extras, but the bottom line is that they have to be comfortable with the quality of work they will receive.

2) Prepare for the interview

Most job seekers will admit they usually go on interviews without preparing. In a job-seeker-friendly market when companies are clamoring for great employees, the "wing it" method works just fine. But to compete in today's market, job seekers have to invest time getting acquainted with common interview questions and sample responses.

In her book, How to Say It Job Interviews, Linda Matias covers the following interview questions:

- Many candidates have submitted their resume for consideration. Why should I hire you over other qualified candidates?

Job seekers should keep in mind that the interviewer is interested in their candidacy. That is the reason the job seeker is interviewing for the position. When answering this question, job seekers should mention the three main reasons where they stand out from others. Depending on their position, reasons can include their proficiency in account management, customer service, and/or strategic planning.

- What do you know about our company?

There is a difference between wanting a job and taking a sincere interest in working for the hiring organization. There are no shortcuts to answering this question successfully; job seekers have to conduct research.

What areas of your abilities would you like to improve upon?

This is a tricky way of asking, "What is your greatest weakness?". Job seekers should choose an ability that needs improvement but isn't an integral part of their job.

3) Follow-up effectively

The interview isn't over when the job seeker walks out of the interviewer's office. Chances are, many candidates interviewed for the position before he did and many more will interview for the position after him. To remain competitive, it is essential that he write a follow-up letter.

"This is advice most job seekers tend to ignore," say Ms. Matias. "It's a shame because the follow-up letter can seal a job offer. This is because only a small percentage of job seekers write a follow-up letter, so those who do take the time to write one stand out," she continued.

Experts agree that a recession is looming. Jobs will be scarce. It will be up to job seekers to take a proactive approach in their search efforts. Those that take the extra step to prepare effectively, will be in a better position to weather the storm.

About Linda Matias

Certified in all three areas of the job search---Certified Interview Coach ? (CIC), Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW)---Linda Matias is qualified to assist you in your career transition, whether it be a complete career makeover, interview preparation, or resume assistance. She is also the author of How to Say It: Job Interviews which can be found at Amazon.com or your local bookstore. You can contact Linda Matias at (631) 387-1894. Her website is www.careerstrides.com.

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