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With lots of concern about the performance of the economy, job security is something that many people covet these days – even more so than usual. For those of us who have been in the workforce for a little while and are seeking that promotion, with a deteriorating job market that advancement looks a little more tenuous right now.
If this sounds depressing to those of you looking to move up or change jobs in a declining job market, here are some great tips from Newsweek to help you land that newer, better job.

1. Follow the Money

Even in a weak job market there will always be some industries and fields that are actively looking for new talent. This may require you to switch fields and use your crossover skills from previous employment in your new line of work. Now may also signal a time to head back to school and retrain yourself for one of these growing professions. What are those areas that are experiencing growth and looking for employees right now? According to the Labor Department, 3 out of every 10 new jobs will be in health care, social assistance (elder and child care) and educational services. Strong demand also exists in communications, IT and accounting.

2. Use a System

Spamming job boards and general resumes and cover letters all over the Internet isn’t the way to find that new position you are looking for. Career Coach Kate Wendleton with the Five O’Clock Club encourages people to spend some time researching and targeting preferred companies and jobs, even if they aren’t advertising any openings. Make sure to take advantage of any connections you have and request lots of informational interviews. Make sure to check back with companies every six weeks for new openings and make sure never to put all your eggs in one basket. Best case scenario, you receive multiple offers and can negotiate a more lucrative contract offer and worst case scenario having some options can cushion the blow of a rejection.

photo credit: kalebdf

3. Update your approach

We’ve talked about this concept a bit here before, but the standard resume and general cover letter aren’t getting the job done anymore. Customize your resume and cover letter to each job and make sure to highlight action words and accomplishments of yours. Show people what you have done and are capable of doing, and if you are looking to jump into a new field, don’t be afraid to update your skills by taking a course and learning something new. At the very least it shows initiative.

4. Make money in the meantime

While this doesn’t mean applying to flip burgers or bag groceries necessarily, there are lots of ways to make money while still searching for that new dream job or working towards a promotion. You can sell items on eBay, do odd jobs for friends or neighbors or take some part-time work in a field you are familiar with while still leaving time to look for other opportunities. Heck, start a blog or your own part-time business. Doing this will help pay the bills during your search and allow you to take your time in looking for something great instead of feeling pressured to getting a job ASAP to keep up with the rent.

No one said that climbing the corporate ladder would be a cake-walk or be without it’s difficulties, but if you do it the right way then you can often find exactly what you are looking for and do it without losing your shirt in the process.

To read the full text of the article referenced above, “Employers Aren’t Biting”, click here.

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