TEN TO DO'S FOR SURVIVING IN A TOUGH JOB MARKET

Are you feeling anxious about this year's job market? You're not alone. It's a tough job market. But there are steps you can take to be as prepared as possible as you start to look for your next job.

1. Assess yourself and develop your plan.
Take time to do a thorough self-assessment. Understand what you truly want, without listening to the background noise of others' expectations. The core questions for reflection are: What are your values and interests? What are your preferences for industries, companies, functions, locations, job content, people you'd be working with and for, and organizational culture, style, and size? What are your strengths and skills, and, more importantly, which do you want to use in your next job?

From here, create your plan. First, explore/research industries and companies broadly. Next, narrow down your choices and make decisions on what you'll target. Then, design your marketing plan (your resume, how you'll connect into the industries/companies, etc.). Then it's time to go to work on filling in some of your gaps. (Is there additional knowledge or skills you'll need to be competitive? Can you do something sooner rather than later to differentiate yourself or make you a stronger candidate? Are you aware of the industry's buzzwords and vocabulary?) Finally, implement your plan, assessing how you're doing and making adjustments as you go.

2. Use us - your Career Services Office
Participate selectively; use your time management and prioritizing skills to help decide which resources you should take advantage of. We at Portfolio plus offer a variety of resources to help you, most likely including advice/counseling, on-campus recruiting, and a resource center/library or website which provides books, directories, website links, reports, research, and other resources.

Our center offer workshops or programs with industry/function. Participating in these can save you many hours of research time on industries and functions, add to your job-search skills, and facilitate your networking.

Career centers also facilitate employer/company information sessions, which can be a valuable, efficient way to learn about a company quickly and meet the critical players who make the hiring decisions.

3. Research the industries you're interested in
Do your homework-over-prepare. A common refrain I hear from recruiters about someone who is impressive is, "She really understands our business and asked some great questions.

As you research, ask questions like: What does this industry actually does-make, offer? How does it add value to the customer? Who are the major players and the up-and-comers? How do they differ? What are the critical success factors for a company to outperform the others? How does the trend look on metrics such as performance, size, growth, or contraction? What are the different models of doing business? What does the future look like for this industry? Are there common qualities/experience for executives who do well?

4. Research the companies you're interested in
As you do, ask questions like: How does this company stack up against its competitors? What are its points of difference? What is the company's culture? What are its values and personality? Who are the leaders? What are they like, and how do they value (or not value) people? What is the company's track record with DHMCT hiring? What kinds of career portfolios have its DHMCT hires had? What is the company's level of innovation, turnover, and commitment to developing and keeping its employees? What are its specific recruiting plans for your campus-key dates to note, positions hiring for, locations, recruiting team members? Read the company's job descriptions, check out its website, and get evaluations of the company from any fellow students or contacts who've worked there as summer interns or full-time employees.

5. Develop a winning resume
Especially if you will be changing industries, your resume is extremely important in helping you stand out from other candidates. Remember that most recruiters make quick judgments about resumes--in just two seconds to two minutes. Also, this year you'll be competing with candidates who are more experienced since so many MBA alumni and other talented professionals are on the job market. To develop the best resume possible just read through;
These are my favorite pointers for resumes. There's beauty in the basics.

> Make it one page

> Use action verbs (e.g. created, developed, formulated, designed, contributed as team member, led, researched, evaluated, built, cultivated, grew, started up, implemented, wrote, served. . .)

> Develop problem/action/result (PAR) statements for the items on your resume. Ask yourself: What was the issue the Problem you were trying to solve; what was your Action; and what was the Result? Your resume should make these things clear.

> If you are changing industries, think about a functional resume which emphasizes two to four applicable categories of skills/strengths such as: Leadership and Teamwork, Planning and Analysis, Customer Service/Relationships, Communication, Project Management, Operations and Implementation, People Management/Teambuilding, New Product Launches. Start the resume with a two- or three-sentence summary of your objective, such as: "To utilize 7 years of experience in problem solving, managing projects, and working with diverse customers in dynamic, high-growth organization. Strengths in communication, creativity, and action orientation."

6. Refine your interviewing skills so you feel confident and stand out
Keys to success in the interview include preparation and practice.

7. Network, connect, and follow up
In this job market, networking is more important than ever. Cultivate and tap into your network in traditional and novel ways. Broaden your network by contacting people like recruiters who come to campus; recruiters who have not been to campus for awhile for whom you can find contact information; alumni of your school in the industries, companies, or jobs you want to be in; students or alumni of other schools who are influential in the field your school's advisory council, faculty, deans, career center staff, and admissions staff; colleagues from old jobs; referrals from referrals. . . .

When you get in contact with people you want to network with, introduce yourself briefly, explain how you got their name/how you know them, explain what you want (e.g. you are trying to get up to speed on their industry, know they are an expert, and have a few questions…), and REQUEST--don't expect--15 or 20 minutes of their time.

When you have conversations with new contacts, know what questions you'll ask beforehand and don't finish the conversations without asking if they can recommend a colleague or two who might have job opportunities or who are also knowledgeable/helpful. Let them know you'll keep in touch to keep them informed on how you're doing-and follow through. Keep your connections alive and dynamic.
Just be polite and genuine, and willing to reciprocate when asked to do.

8. Reflect, refine, and redirect your search if you need to
Be critical of yourself. How are you doing? Where could you improve? What help or advice do you need? Who can provide that to you quickly? Are there gaps in your performance that need filling in? Are they knowledge gaps or skill gaps (e.g. your cover letters aren't as sharp as they might be)? Remember: Knowledge is attainable, and skills can be developed.

9. Mind your recruiting etiquette throughout the recruiting process
In this tough job market, shining in this area can make a big difference. It's important to show respect to everyone you are in contact with during your job search: your peers, those that are recruiting you, and the career center professionals who are helping you.

Etiquette means: attending a function if you RSVPed yes; waiting to be asked for your question in an employer information session; not attacking what a cohort says in that same session; and not walking out in the middle of an employer event (or, if you must, sitting near the door and being quiet when you leave). It's introducing your classmates when you're at a function talking with a recruiter; turning off your cell phone and pager during recruiting events; knowing your table manners; writing thank-you letters after interviews; declining an offer-not holding onto it-if you know you are not going to accept it.

Etiquette also means returning calls promptly, not over-negotiating your offers, and telling career center staff and others who help you that you appreciate their efforts.

10. Leverage the best job/career-related websites
Supplement your campus recruiting efforts by visiting the many excellent sites out there.

As the popular adage goes……"KNOWLEDGE IS ATTAINABLE, AND SKILLS CAN BE DEVELOPED"