WOMEN in BUSINESS - February/March 2009 - (Page 28)

PE R S o n A l S k i l l S Job Hunting During a Recession wRiT Ten bY DiAnE StAFFoRD Here’s a glimmer of good news in a sour job market: AbwA members have a leg up whenever job hunting gets tougher. You’ve already built a network outside your own place of business. in fact, many of you already have created your own jobs as entrepreneurs. but for those of you who are looking to be reemployed, here are some tips that might help ease the re-employment challenge. ter, u mp r co to u t yo més post sit a résu job e t t on’ off ible an b targe D ng ss c y firi ry po . That refull ll, then eve find ng. Ca u we é for you pressi t fit yo sum n. de s tha our ré licatio job rite y app rew ry job eve Go to every professional association, fraternal or chamber meeting that seems relevant to your job search. make contact with people who do what you do (or what you want to do), and make your job interest known. Don’t dwell on being unemployed or unhappy where you are. be friendly, energetic and, when the time seems right, make a short pitch about your skills and experience and tell what you could do for the organization. if you already attend the appropriate meetings, step up your involvement. Take on leadership roles or plunge into the project of the hour. Your hard work and results will raise your profile, and your peers may think of you first when they hear about an opening. similarly, get your name better known by writing articles for your professional newsletter or trade association magazine. Don’t sit at your computer firing off résumés to every possible job post you find. That can be depressing. Carefully target jobs that fit you well, then rewrite your résumé for every job application. Draft a top paragraph that makes you look perfect for each target job. Reframe your job history (your bullet points) to emphasize the skills or experience that best fit the job. if you fear age discrimination, try listing only your most recent 10 or 15 years of experience on your résumé, but let common sense be your guide. Attend two or three “job clubs” in your area. You may find that some churches and community colleges near you sponsor jobloss or job-transition support groups where job hunters meet to share tips and leads. Typically, someone with human resource expertise leads the group and can advise you about your résumé and interviewing skills. Research your target organization and industry and apply to healthy, hiring places. use the internet, personal contacts, and online salary surveys to get a picture of the job’s pay range so that you don’t price yourself out of consideration. Then network as well as you can within your target organization. when employers can be very selective, interview invitations are most likely to come when someone advocates on your behalf. Diane Stafford is the Workplace and Careers columnist for the Kansas City star. Read her blog at www.economy.kansascity.com 28 28 w o m ee n i i n bb us n ee s s FF E B // M A R 22 0 0 9 w o m n n us i i n s s E B MAR 009 http://economy.kansascity.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009 Contents ABWA Member Benefits Letter from the Executive Director Letter from CEO ABWA Board News A New Era Unfolds Money Matters ABWA Announcements Personal Skills Style Breaking Down Barriers Legal Matters Business Spotlight Workplace: Working Online to Build ABWA Teams Mind & Body Workplace

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

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