Getting a Job in Times of Recession

You can’t open a newspaper or switch on the news at the moment without hearing about the economic downturn that the whole of the western world is suffering from. Hardly any sectors are immune, and many companies are making redundancies in order to stay afloat. The worst part of this is that companies often slow their recruiting, and there are far more people competing for the smaller number of jobs.

It can seem hopeless, but having spent a long period of my life in online travel recruitment, I like to think I’ve learned a few tips to help you find work – even in times of recession:

Be Focused

If you have recently lost your job, you can end up panicking and being tempted to apply with a standard CV to anything and everything. This isn’t a good strategy, and can lead to further despondency (if you’re applying for jobs that you’re not qualified for, or have no experience of, then the likelihood is you’ll never hear back and consider it a slight against yourself.)

Instead of using this shotgun approach, take time to pick the jobs that you want the most and the ones that you are best suited to. Then, take the time to tailor your CV to each application and make sure that you meet all of the requirements that are listed on the ad in your CV and/or covering letter. Don’t make them read between the lines and be explicit with it, or you’ll risk blending in with thousands of other job seekers with similar skills. The truth is that if you send a generic CV to every employer you end up being an average fit to everyone, but a great fit to no one.

Don’t fall back on the idea that the number of applications you make is a ‘score’ of how well you’re doing. 5-10 tailored applications to targeted jobs every week are far more likely to pay dividends than 50-100!

Be Flexible

The worst thing about looking for work in a time of recession is that you become more beggar than chooser. In particular, you may need to drop your salary expectations and be prepared to travel. Jobs may be more prevalent in other areas of the country, so you greatly enhance your employment prospects if you’re prepared to relocate – maybe even consider international work if it’s an option. Because less people will be prepared to go this extra mile (often literally!), you may find that the competition is considerably less fierce giving you the edge that is so vital during a credit crunch.

Be Pro-Active

Successful job hunting always requires you to work extra hard to outdo the opposition, and you really need to be especially proactive in times of recession. I always tell clients that proactive doesn’t mean uploading your CV and occasionally looking out for travel jobs in the paper – you need to make phone calls, network and tailor an application to every single job you apply to. You may also consider signing up to an agency, and you’ll definitely a specialist for your industry, whether you need an expert in legal or online travel recruitment.

Bear in mind though that even then, recruiters aren’t an excuse to slip into habits. Be sure to chase them up, or you may well slip off their radar, and it doesn’t hurt to continue looking under your own steam.

Employers will increasingly turn to the internet to learn more about you, so consider joining professional networks like LinkedIn. A blog too is, in some professions, a great way to show off your talent and knowledge so consider this as a strategy to give you the edge.

Don’t Burn Out

If you panic and allow the newspaper talk to get the better of you, you may well find yourself spending every waking hour searching and applying for jobs. While this will almost certainly yield some results, you may find you just end up feeling exhausted, frustrated and disillusioned. Be a little more selective with your jobs, and don’t let the job hunt completely consume you. Consider devoting the morning (say 9am-1pm) to looking for work, and spend the rest of the day taking your mind off things with something else – go to the gym, or do some gardening. You may well find that taking the pressure off, and allowing you to think about something other than jobs will allow you to come back refreshed, and make those applications that bit more irresistible.

If All Else Fails, Consider Retraining…

It may make sense at first to look at areas where you have experience, but if it really isn’t working for you (or you simply feel like a change), this could be the perfect time to retrain. While online travel jobs (my area of expertise) are limited, there are other areas of work which are considered ‘recession proof’ – there will always be the same (or more) demand for teachers, police officers and health care. There are also areas of work which come into their own in recession – accountants are all important as businesses have to keep a close eye on their books, and consultants are often in demand as companies look to cut costs.

Getting a job during a recession is hard work, but if you are serious about it and make it a full time job in itself, you’ll certainly be able to get one. Keep these tips in mind, make sure your CV is up to date and the best it can be and there’s no reason you can’t move on to bigger and better things – even while the world’s economies falter.