Looking for a job? Welcome to the club. (1st in a series)

As we head in to the 2009 holiday season, we are being bombarded with news about the economy and unemployment. Layoffs continue…

• Adobe Systems lays off 680 people (November 10, 2009)
• Microsoft trims force by 800 (November 5, 2009)
• AOL to cut 2,500 jobs (November 19, 2009)

And if retail numbers from this holiday season are weak as many expect, then next year will likely see more layoffs as retailers large and small shudder their stores leading to a ripple effect in the commercial real estate market and economy as a whole.

Yes, numbers show the economy is improving – but they also show this will continue to be a jobless recovery for many sectors. However, the Information Technology industry has some light shining on it from behind the clouds. Despite unemployment rates at record highs, there are still jobs to be had for highly skilled resources.

On a daily basis Axis Technical Group is introduced to numerous technology professionals who are amongst the jobless, each seeking some silver lining in what is clearly a stormy job market. What we offer each of them is the plain, un-coated truth of what they can expect and what they need to do to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack. Often, this is not what they want to hear, but understanding what you are facing in this job market is important if you are going to be successful in navigating through it.

For truly the first time in a depressed market, technology jobs and spending is not the first to go on the chopping block. Clearly budgets have been slashed, and people have lost their jobs. But when you look at the IT marketplace, you see companies realizing that in order to make money now and in the future, technology is the force that is driving improvements in daily workflow, process, and productivity.  Therefore, organizations that are cutting back across the board are looking to their technology team last and with a smaller knife than other areas.

This is the first in a series of blog posts that will share some of that plain truth with you, and offer some of the tools, information and tips that will help you pilot your own successful job search. The series will be geared towards the Information Technology (IT) industry and job market, but really can apply to any job search.

The perception in the IT segment of the market is that there are no jobs out there. The reality is quite the opposite as there are still numerous opportunities in IT, but they call for specific skills and expertise, not to mention offer lower salaries and the chance to compete with a stampede of candidates vying for the same position.  Every candidate is facing increasingly stiff competition from other highly qualified individuals and it is those people who are best prepared for the job search that will ultimately find success.

So, as a job seeker, what can you do to get the right job for you? Here are a few tips:

• First, have a plan. Are you currently working but looking for something better? Are you out of work and need to get income going again? Regardless of your situation, you have to have a game plan about everything from how you will run and manage your job search, to the industries (and even specific companies) you wish to target, to the weapons in your job search arsenal (resume, cover letter, references, work examples).

• Be realistic about your situation, and the changing marketplace. The jobs are there, but the employers have the all of leverage right now and are intent on finding the exact right fit, and at a compensation plan that fits the budget, but not necessarily your lifestyle. Know for yourself exactly what your limits are for compensation, commute, and level of responsibility.

• Be realistic about the job you are seeking. If you are a senior Software Engineer, don’t apply for the QA job just because you desperately need work. You will grow increasingly frustrated at the lack of return calls and will be wasting valuable time focusing on the job opportunities that are right for you.

• Choose your job-search partners carefully! This goes for everything from job boards to recruiters. Quantity IS NOT better than quality. Focus on some of the best IT job boards ( The Ladders, LinkedIN, and DICE are amongst your best choices in the crowed job website space. Equally as important is to be careful about the recruiters you work with. Make sure you interview the recruiters who call to interview you, and learn about their history and how long they have been in the business; learn who their clients are; learn what their resume privacy and submission policies are.

• Network – never underestimate the value of networking. Use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to your advantage. It’s far easier to find a job when you “know someone who knows someone” than when you’re just dropping your resume on the virtual stack of resumes that pile up at every company. And don’t be afraid to ask someone – a friend, colleague, former boss – for a referral or a few kind words. They are worth their weight in gold.

• Guard your information and resume, and know who you are sending it to. Finding a new job is a job itself, and therefore keeping detailed records of who you have talked to, who your resume has been sent to, and the status of your opportunities, is very important.

Finding a job in today’s marketplace is a daunting task. But don’t let the challenge own you – you must own the challenge and remain positive every step of the way.

Related Posts

• Your Name In Lights (2nd in the “Looking for a Job” Series)

• Ready to begin that search? You sure? Really sure? (3rd in the “Looking for a Job” series)

• Identity Theft – Resume Style

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