6 Strategies to Get You Out of the Unemployment Line

Trying to find a job is tough. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, there are more than 1.8 million long-term unemployed people in the United States. These are workers who have been looking for work for more than 27 weeks. But why?

There are a number of factors at play. If you are one of the long-term unemployed workers, you might be wondering what is hindering your search. Here are some possibilities:

• The sheer number of job hunters is a big factor. You are up against more people competing for fewer opportunities.
• The location of the jobs. If you are unwilling or unable to commute or relocate, you reduce your options significantly.
• Poor presentation of your talent during the recruiting and selection process.
• Jobs are requiring individuals with more education and training.
• Over-estimating the value and the strength of your talent in the open market.
• The more senior your experience level, the longer it takes to find a new opportunity – positions just don’t open up as frequently as non-senior level jobs.

A new  Pew Research Center survey, conducted in association with the Markle Foundation and an analysis of government data, finds that employment in occupations requiring more education and training is on the rise, and many workers realize that retraining and upgrading their skills needs to be a lifetime commitment.

Let’s cut to the chase and talk about what you should do to find that job sooner rather than later. I don’t believe employers are as shallow as we sometimes read in some of the blog commentaries that are out there. Having been on the other side of the table, I know that when I’m working with leaders finding talent, they want the lowest maintenance person possible. Meaning, they really do want someone able to hit the ground running. A close second is someone who has most of what is needed, and with a little additional coaching, can meet the demands of the job. 

If you can’t show up to the interview on time, construct a coherent sentence or clean the dirt from under your nails, then this is not the article for you. For now, let’s assume some things about your brand before you read the rest of this post:

• You present your brand well in person.
• Your reputation is solid.
• There are no typos in your resume or online profiles.
• You can hold a good conversation, and your command of the language is strong.
• You are leveraging your network to help you in the search.
• Your digital footprint is clean. There are no known Spring Break photos out to haunt you.

If you can say yes to all the above, then what else can you do to land a job? Here are a few of the ways I suggest to my coaching clients:

Go to where the job is. The moment you make your brand portable, the more opportunities open up for you. I used to be afraid of flying, then I got a job that required me to do so weekly. Fear subsided. You can do anything for a few years – anywhere. Who knows, you might like it and stay. Show that you’re willing to relocate to make yourself eligible for more jobs.

Update and refresh your skills. While you’re searching, what area of your talent can you refresh? Sometimes employers will give clues in the interview of what they’re looking for based on their line of questioning. It doesn’t hurt to conduct a few informational interviews to compare what employers want to what you have. Also, if you’re successful at obtaining interviews and not getting jobs, ask for honest feedback from the interviewer. In all my years of experience, I can count on one hand the number of job candidates who called and asked for feedback, and I ALWAYS provided honest feedback that I felt would be helpful.

Make yourself findable. Joining job boards is helpful. But did you know that the number one place recruiters go for talent is LinkedIn? According to a 2-year study by Econsultancy, LinkedIn is the top social referral source used five times more frequently than Twitter and Facebook. According to another LinkedIn report by Digital Marketing Ramblings (DMR):

• Geographically LinkedIn reaches more than 200 countries and territories.
• 70% of LinkedIn users are outside of the U.S.
• Adding a professional photo to your profile makes you 14% more likely to be found on LinkedIn, and 36 times more likely to receive a message.
• List a skill in your profile and get 13x more views. List at least 5 skills and that number jumps to 17x more views.
• 65% of job postings in LinkedIn require a Bachelor’s Degree.
• The second hottest skill to land a new job according to LinkedIn is Statistical Analysis and Data Mining.

But here’s where you get the upper hand for job opportunities on LinkedIn. Of all the millions of people who use LinkedIn less than 13% use it once a day. This could make the difference in getting the jump on an opportunity.

LinkedIn isn’t the only game in town, but you’ll benefit from knowing more about this power-networking site. Regardless of your platform, you must find out where employers who hire people with your talent are spending their time and go there. If they are posting jobs or publishing posts and articles on an association or specialty site, then that is where you also need to be present.

Know the various title combinations for your work.  I was working with a gentleman recently who shared a keen understanding of the different title descriptions an employer could have for someone with his skillset. He was smart enough to have an idea of what to look for in his search. This opened him up to not only the traditional job hunt strategies, but he was able to think from the employer’s view and find opportunities that might be hidden simply because the title was different. For example, if you’re looking for an HR Director job make sure you’re also using words such as People, Leader, and Human Capital, in your search terms. Employers are creative with their titles - so get creative with your search.

Showcase your thought leadership. You can do this by posting SlideShares or Posts on LinkedIn. Also, if you have a vanity page, use it to showcase an area of expertise. How will a potential employer get evidence, beyond your assurance during the interview, that you know your area of specialization? Writing about it is a start. When the employer “Google’s” your name, you’ll have proof of performance, and be putting your brand to work for you.

Present your experience portfolio. Providing copies of your resume is standard, but presenting examples of your work in a digital or nicely bound paper portfolio is even better. Place “CONFIDENTIAL” over the content that is proprietary and pass around the binder (or tablet) at the appropriate time in your interview. Never leave a paper portfolio with an employer, it is just for sharing during the interview. The portfolio offers proof of performance and experience. Don't forget to mention your experience portfolio in your cover letter.

Finding a full-time job is a full-time job. You must be willing to do some things you haven’t done before. If you’ve been called on by recruiters in the past, look them up, rekindle the relationship and let them know you’re on the market.

Finally, I often get messages asking if I’m accepting new coaching clients. The answer is yes. I do have a few slots open starting in February. If you’re interested in re-working your job search strategy, I’m available. Send me an email and let’s get your brand to work: [email protected]

What other tips do you have for job seekers?

? Pamela J. Green, 2017

Pamela J. Green, MBA, SPHR, ACC helps people achieve success through organizations and organizations achieve success through people.  She is a noted entrepreneur, keynote speaker, professional coach, and author of the book Think Like A Brand: A 7-Step Strategic Brand Plan to Increase Your Career Satisfaction and Success available from Amazon.com and other major booksellers globally. Join her Community of HR Professionals and HR Coaches to create a lasting leadership legacy. Follow Pamela on Twitter @pamelajgreen.