Nationally, 1 out of every 6 people is currently unemployed. Analysts report that banks that borrowed our tax dollars are returning it with a profit. What does that do to our personal bottom line? It does nothing. We have to continue to find ways to create jobs and help each other get through this mess. Finding a job has become your job. Daily job searchers put out hundreds of resumes. If you are lucky, you may land 2 interviews per month. Normally, the job you are applying for has upward of hundreds of applicants to choose from for 2-3 jobs and the numbers are rising. The question is what can you do to make sure you have a better than most chance of landing that job?
Healing and Moving on
• Talk about the situation, grieve and move on
• File for benefits
• Put family on a budget
• Examine your assets, see where you can pull money from if you need to
• Know the social agencies around you and don’t be afraid to ask for help ie., food stamps, Medicaid
• If you lose your health benefits you may qualify for state subsidized insurance for your children. Here in Georgia it’s Peachcare.
Job Tips
Review and update your resume. Before you get too detached from your last job, call and make sure you secure 3 references both written and make sure they agree to speak to a potential employer on your behalf
• Review all that you have accomplished, and give your resume a face lift
• Type General Cover letter and save in Word Format; this way you just need to update the send to information
• Bookmark three Career Websites including your State Department of Labor.
• Join a job networking group online or in your area.
• Prepare two interview outfits, make sure the colors are soft, use earth and neutral-colored suits
• Make sure you cover any tattoos and piercing.
• Practice your introduction and know it verbatim.
• Keep a spread sheet of all the jobs you apply for and send follow-up letters or attempt personal contact to check on the status of your application.
• During an interview avoid any slang or profanity.
• Keep your answers short but take your time to answer the question correctly.
Strategies
• Research and know something about the company to which you are applying.
• Know the job description and make sure you qualify. Use key words about the job in your resume.
• Have examples ready of past experiences you can incorporate into the job for which you are applying.
• Incorporate skills and strengths that you know are important in landing your new job.
• Practice and memorize general questions and answers.
• Have that elevator speech ready. Be able to summarize in 3 minutes what kind of job you are looking for and what you have to offer.
