Latest Thinking On Finding A Job

Get A Leg Up With Advice From BusinessWeek's Michelle Conlin, On The Early Show's Saturday Edition

(CBS)  The jobs picture continues to get bleaker and bleaker, and finding a new one, more and more daunting.

What's more, traditional methods of looking - even those considered cutting-edge in the last few years, just don't cut it any longer.

But on The Early Show's Saturday Edition, BusinessWeek magazine's Michelle Conlin shared tips to get you up to speed.

According to Conlin, the job market is getting gloomier by-the-minute, and unfortunately, the worst is yet to come. We're going to start to see massive layoffs as we close out this year and head into 2009 - and no industry is safe.

"Anybody who thinks their job is particularly immune is fooling themselves," Conlin said.

Obviously, Wall Street and the financial industries will be among the hardest hit sectors. Others that will probably see layoffs include airlines, automakers, Information Technology (computer and the like) consulting, media, and law. There are very few safe harbors at the moment.

But just because it will continue to worsen over the course of the next year doesn't mean there isn't opportunity out there, because there always is. These times can be profitable for people willing to hustle and generate new ideas. Being comfortable isn't always good for your career. Sometimes, uncertainly can be a kick-in-the-pants and inspire innovation.

The biggest challenge facing the newly unemployed is mood management. People who lose their jobs tend to get depressed. Managing your mood is the No. 1 priority. This is also a great time to take control of your body. Spend some time working out - you'll look good, have more energy, and hopefully, a positive outlook.

There are big differences between looking for a job today compared to ten years ago. At that time, a lot of people didn't have cell phones, blogs, social networking sites, online job search boards, etc. It was totally analog - mostly paper and pressing people's hands.

Today, it's very virtual - and that's good news: It's very efficient, so you as a job seeker can be more productive and have many more job seeking avenues.

TIPS FOR FINDING A JOB:


1. MANAGE YOUR MOOD

Everyone feels powerless and out of control. Go to the gym, eat well, spend time with friends and family, and work your social networks for support. Take care of yourself, you body and your mind.

People who can remain positive will be the ones companies will pick up first.
They will sense that vibe. You have to be a mental athlete about your job search and refuse to get down about it.

2. CREATE A DIGITAL PERSONA

Everyone now has two selves: your human, physical self, and your digital self. It's imperative to manage both. To that end, no one in the job market can afford to not be developing a presence on social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Ning.

Job searches no longer just exist in the real world. The handshaking and back-and-forth and backslapping, even interviewing, are migrating, increasingly, to online. INVESTING IN YOUR ONLINE SOCIAL CAPITAL IS KEY.

3. INVEST IN YOURSELF

Now is the time to get that new degree, develop that new skill, create that new blog, or start that new business. Place whatever bets you can on yourself, broadening your skills and talents. If you're older and not comfortable with your computer, this is a great time to learn how to be a pro.

Short on cash? There are ways to get the skills you need without paying for them. Conlin suggests bartering the skills you have for those you don't; for example, go on craigslist.com and barter to learn computer code.

4. NETWORK ON LAND & ONLINE

It's not an either-or. Shake as many hands as you can. But also "poke" as many people as possible. Milk your friends for connections - plus work your social networks. Conlin says you're most likely to get your new job through a friend.

5. BUILD A VIRTURAL RESUME

Make sure you have a paper resume, but also have it in a virtual format, so you send it out via e-mail. Try to create it in Microsoft Word and send it out as an attachment - that will make it easy to open and easy to read. Also, think about starting a blog. In some industries (i.e. I.T., consulting, media, etc.), a blog is the new resume. A blog is where you can spout off on your industry, provide solutions, throw out new ideas.

Blogs are the new interviews. Prospective employers want to get a sense of how your mind works, how you think, how you problem-solve. Use your blog as a way to show off how smart you are, and the asset you would be.

[raskal_2]

i wouldn''t put alot of stock in what Obama says. Or any other person who seeks the office. Frankly even to get elected you must compromise your principles. what ever they may be. Government''s only duty is to care for those who cannot care for themselves or not so good a job do. It is also the role of government to leave those that can alone. In that understanding the fact that I cannot get a decent deal on a credit probably means I shouldn''t borrow. The fact that that piece of paper with $20 dollars on it is actually only worth $14 because others shouldn''t have borrowed means that I have only 14 dollars to spend. My question, What needs fixing exactly?

[johnpatrick9]

Blame this mess on a stupid war waged by a stupid president and supported by a lot of stupid citizens who don''t think. At ten billion a month $10,000,000,000 this maddness has broken our nation and now OBAMA must clean up the mess made by these idiots. GOD BE WITH HIM FOR WE THE PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS OPPOSED THE FASCIST REPUBLICANS WILL STAND BY HIM THROUGH THE NEXT 8 YEARS OF UNDOING THE BUSH STUPIDITIES AND CRIMES.

[asor1-2009]

Some of you must NOT have been listening to Obama very carefully. He NEVER said, one single time, that he would "fix everything". He will start us back to a healthy economic status, but he warned that it would take time.
Go drop your negative criticism on your fellow red-necks. They''ll appreciate it a lot more.

[ontheleft]

''Disheartening.....poor Obama will be slimed daily by GOP attack dogs for not undoing their incompetence quickly enough.''

Posted by tawpdawg111 at 01:12 PM

No kidding. The damage won''t be undone in just 4 years. It will take a generation. People have no idea how bad things are going to get before they get better.

[shanev137]

Why are you even worried about this?
Obama is going to fix everything.

------------

You''re right, I''m not worried.

[tawpdawg111]

God himself couldnt fix the mess the GOP leaders made of America for the last 8 years.

NO WAY WOULD I EVER HAVE IMAGINED WE WOULD BE IN THIS BIND 8 SHORT YEARS AFTER CLINTON.

Disheartening.....poor Obama will be slimed daily by GOP attack dogs for not undoing their incompetence quickly enough.

[hawksprings]

Why are you even worried about this?
Obama is going to fix everything.
He said so.
Sheesh!

Those who can afford and where available, they should consider taking unemployment insurance. The unemployed will need the following help in addition to any benefits they get. Communication companies should offer free Internet, and telephone access. Transportation companies should offer them free rides to job interviews, informational interviews, libraries, colleges, and philanthropic organizations. Community colleges might offer free job oriented courses. Temporary deferral of mortgage payments, car payments, rents, and taxes will also help.

[credibility2]

Too few jobs, too much competition. Prospective employers will use any and all excuse not to hire someone. Some I''ve heard: you''re too experienced, you''re not experienced enough, you''re over qualified, you''re not qualified enough, you''ve too much education, you''ve not enough education, why do you want this job since it''s considered an entry to mid-level job, we''re concerned you''d leave us soon after being hired as soon as you find something else that is paying more, blah, blah, blah. Older job applicants find it increasing difficult to even land an interview. And, the government considers those forty and older as a so-called protected class. Now we know it''s illegal to discriminate based on age, but it happens all the time. These hints don''t really help, since you''re at the mercy of the prospective employer. Online, in-person, on the phone, whatever doesn''t really mean anything.