How many times have you heard conflicting news about the job outlook in today's economy? My bet is that you've seen news articles ranging from statements that the recession is over to warnings that the unemployment rate will continue to increase over the next year. This is not to say that these stories are inaccurate, however, as a job seeker you could easily get frustrated about your future job prospects.

The fact is, there are plenty of companies still hiring, but few people have experience dealing with a major recession. Furthermore, there are also numerous job seekers that have been laid off from jobs they've had for 20 or more years. To say that those who have not searched for a job in decades are at a disadvantage is quite the understatement. Job seeking today is a much different than it was 20, even 10 years ago. Unfortunately, many job seekers have not adjusted their job search techniques and expectations with the recession. The key is catering your techniques to your particular skill set. Below are some things to consider in your job search whether you have 20 years of experience or are fresh out of school.

1.    Use the right type of resume

Using the wrong type of resume can not only be a disservice to your skills, but can also immediately label you as unqualified. For instance, a jobseeker with 15 years of experience should use a functional resume in order to highlight their skills. It also highlights the fact that an experienced worker most likely possesses the skills to immediately make an impact within the company.

Conversely, a jobseeker that is looking for his/her first job should use a chronological resume that includes any experience gained in side jobs such as babysitting or any extra-curricular activities they participated in during school.  While your resume may not be very extensive, it’s still important that you showcase your skills and experience to employers in a professional manner.

2.    Brand Yourself

This is a relatively new concept that that has emerged through the popularity of social media. The term “personal branding” comes out of a need for working professionals to establish themselves within their field of expertise as an expert. Personal branding requires a combination of strategies that and can (and should!) include using the following sites: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and your own blog.  Simply having a profile on these sites, however, is not personal branding. Your profile on each of these sites should have a common theme. Your theme should reflect whatever interests you, which hopefully correlates to the industry in which you’re looking for a job. Once you have set up your profiles to your liking, start placing links within your social network profiles to your blog. Soon you will have a regular readership, and more importantly, a key advantage over other job seekers. There’s nothing more appealing to an employer than to have an employee who is regarded as a thought leader within their industry.

3.    Expand Your Career Options

Unfortunately, no matter how hard one may try, there are some professions that are simply not hiring during the recession. While this can be frustrating, it also provides an opportunity to gain experience in complimentary fields. For instance, say you are in the Marketing field. Marketing jobs are scarce right now, so why not try a job in sales, public relations or human resources? All three are fields that would provide valuable skills as a marketer, while also increasing one’s breadth of expertise.


Now with all that being said, job hunting during a recession is more of an art than a science. The bottom line is that if you’re not getting the results you desire, you (and you alone) can change things up and get the results you need.