How to survive redundancy: Your questions answered

This coupled with the news the government are looking to cut public sector redundancy payments, it looks like a tough market is set to get tougher. With some experts warning we are on the brink of a double dip recession the fight for your next position is really on. With more candidates set to flood the market how can you ensure that you stand out in the candidate crowd?

Standing out from the crowd means presenting yourself, as the best candidate. The most qualified candidate does not always secure the position; the one who gives the best perception often does. Approach your job search as you would any other project. Identify the objective of the project and then plan how you are going to achieve it. Set targets and objectives to ensure that you stay on track. Preparation is key to understanding which of your skills are the most marketable. Is your CV selling those skills effectively? Have you prepared stories to discuss in interview and networking situations?

In most cases job hunters make do with a CV that does not sell them effectively, add it to job boards and await recruiter contacts. This happens successfully in less than 10% of cases; have you had the initial flurry of activity that then drifts into silence? If you were tackling a project that failed to produce results you would change direction or find an alternative way round. Many people fail to do this when it comes to their own job search strategy. If things are not working then try something different. Keep the strategy focussed on a clear objective – this reduces the amount of rejection you open yourself up to.

Q, I have been trying to find a position for many months and I am now considering a change in direction. Is this possible in the current climate?

There are two schools of thought to job searching in a recession- 1) you need to stay close to centre and in a related field as this is where you will have maximum impact in the shortest time. In these times employers want people that can reduce costs and drive profit. If this is your area of expertise then you need to highlight it. 2) Change direction- redundancy can often provide the chance to try something new but you have to be sure that you are retraining or making a transition in to a market that is sustainable in this climate.

Q, I am a senior executive who has not been able to find a position at Director level should I start applying for lower level positions?

The difficulty for people who have been at a senior level is that they are deemed too experienced for lower level positions. If you start applying for these types of roles then the employer will simply think you will leave as soon as an appropriate position comes along. I would suggest that you need to change your approach and network your way into an appropriate role. Talk to decision makers who can create an opportunity for you.

Q, I am a graduate who then completed a Masters but I am now coming up against the work experience barrier, what can I do?

There are 2 things you need to do, one is start planning how you are going to secure an income. This may not be your ideal role initially however it will allow you live whilst developing a strategy to progress your career in the longer term. You can also consider intern programmes to break into your chosen market. Career planning is important at every stage of your career, ensure you do not fall into a role and then stop thinking about your next move.

Q, How do I know if my job search strategy is working?

Consider how long you have been job searching and how many business networking meetings and interviews you have had in this time. Most people attend many interviews and meetings before they secure a position. Only a small % of people at a mid to senior level secure their position through an advertised or online vacancy. You need to proportion your time accordingly – ensure you are not spending all of your time in front of a computer – set up alerts and check these for a few minutes each day. Your online time is better spent looking at news and sourcing industry information.

Q, I really hate the job I have but I am worried that this is not the time to start job seeking, should I wait until the market is better?

People are still securing positions, people still retire, go on maternity leave, emigrate and for a host of other reasons create gaps in the job market that need filling. Effective job searching does not mean putting your CV on a job board, it is identifying companies that could utilise your skill set and networking your way in. This is a long term strategy and my advice is to always be thinking about where you want to go next. This does not always mean looking outside of your current company either, internal vacancies may occur.

How to create your next job opportunity

With the startling news that unemployment is now higher in Yorkshire than anywhere else in the country; the forecast looks gloomy. The recent statistics do not taking into account those people who have not registered as unemployed, for example those high earners ineligible for job seekers allowance and living on savings. Does this make the statistics even scarier? The answer is no. If there is a whole group of people not registered as job seeking – there is no real way of knowing how many of these people in the hidden market have created opportunities and have secured positions.

It is well publicised that between 75- 80% of the job market is hidden, which is not to say that there is a secret list of available opportunities, it just means they have not made it to the public domain. These may be filled by people known to the business, or someone within the business. It’s well known that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. This should not strike fear in to the hearts of those who feel “they don’t know anyone”, it simply means they need to meet more people.

Networking should form a key element of your job search strategy. Networking is not walking into a room full of strangers and showering them with business cards. Networking is about having useful business conversations, getting on the radar of influential people and keeping at the forefront of decision makers minds. The Career Practice run regular free seminars to inform people about job search strategy and take the fear out of networking. These are a great place to understand what else you could be doing to progress your job search. The following questions have all been asked at recent seminars.

Q) I have sent my CV to a number of recruiters and no one ever phones me back, Why?

The easiest answer is that a recruiter works for their client, the company who will ultimately pay the fee. In a tough market like this Recruiters are likely to be spending 95% of their time trying to secure new business rather than being interested in talking to candidates. You need to work harder to present yourself as a desirable candidate to ensure that recruiters recognise your talent. Only 1 in 10 jobs are filled by recruiters so they should only take up 10% of your time!

Q) I spend lots of time looking at job boards but when I apply for a position I don’t hear back. How can I improve the return?

The answer is to spend less time on the job boards and more time being reactive. The job boards should really be used to research who is recruiting rather than for making applications. If you apply for a role on a job board then you are relinquishing control of your search. You always want to be in control of your job search – the more time you are talking to people rather than sitting in front of your PC the better. Set up alerts on the job boards and be proactive.

Q) I have been looking for work for 18 months and have got nowhere, what am I doing wrong?

In any work situation if something was not working we would have no choice but to find another way of doing it – treat your job search like a full time position. If your strategy is not working then change it. If you don’t know how to change it then seek some guidance. If you keep repeating the same cycle it will not change and your job search will simply get more and more frustrating.

Q) My CV does not seem to be opening doors for me anymore but it has always worked in the past. What has changed?

The market has changed, there are fewer roles in the advertised market, papers and job boards and recruiters are filling less roles than they did previously. Take a look at your CV, ensure that it is selling you effectively – are you giving the right impression from your CV?

Q) My CV is getting me interviews but I just don’t seem to get to the next stage. I have always been able to secure final interviews and job offers in the past so what is going wrong this time?

The market is flooded with candidates, and looking to get worse with the public sector redundancies everyone is expecting to be announced soon. The choice companies have is greater and this might be part for the problem. You will need to be better at talking about your skills. This is a sales process and being able to sell your skills is not easy. My advice is to get some help looking at how you interview and how you come across to the interviewers.

Q) I have exhausted my network. I’ve called all the people I have kept in contact with and none of them can help but are now not returning my calls. The only thing is to continue with the internet jobs boards and recruiters.

Effective networking is all about drilling into people’s circle of influence. Asking the people you know if they know of any jobs is ineffective and unlikely to yield success. I suggest you get some networking training and plan your job search so you spend your time getting to the people who can help you.

Louise Lapish runs the northern operation of The Career Practice in Leeds. She has been in the Career Management and Recruitment Industry for more than 10 years. If you would like to ask her a question for answer in a future column, please post a comment under this article, or email [email protected].