Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Here you are, unexpectedly or improbably in a job search. You may be among hundreds of thousands of people who’ve been let go from their government jobs. Or you may have been laid off from the private sector because of tightening budgets, a waning economy, or AI integrations.
These are dire times to be searching for a new job. With more unemployed workers than available jobs, it makes it especially hard to stand out among the multitude of applicants. For many, the biggest challenge appears to be getting the initial interview.
Instead of falling prey to panic and stress, give yourself a pep talk and tell yourself that you’re up to the challenge. Afterall, you have a track record you can be proud of, your past employers can give you glowing recommendations, and you’re not new to this pursuit having successfully managed a job search for previous positions.
As you set out on this next search, here’s how to best position yourself to land a job interview in these fraught times:
1. Get Your Job Materials in Shape
Hiring managers are sorting through hundreds of resumes for each role. Standing out in the first impression on paper is the first step toward getting the chance to do so in person.
Inject some personality into your resume and cover letter.
Once you have clarity on the skills and expertise that are needed for the position, put some pizzazz into your messaging. Needless to say, you’ll want to show the value you can bring to the organization, but even in a bullet on a list you can turn a phrase or inject a verb that adds zing to your explanation. Think of this as a way to demonstrate enthusiasm and cultural fit.
For example, if your expertise is in sports marketing and you’re applying for a specific position, feel free to add some characteristic terms and phrases like “add to your bench strength” or “able to size up the competition” into your cover letter. (Just don’t get carried away and end up sounding corny.)
Showcase a strong professional LinkedIn profile.
Most recruiters find candidates on LinkedIn, so a robust presence on the platform is essential. Take the time to research people in the role you’re after in your chosen company or field. Scrutinize their online bios and note the contacts in their networks. This will give you insight into how to maximize your LinkedIn profile and gear it toward hiring managers in your industry.
Highlight your relevant skills, accomplishments, and the value you’re able to bring. Whenever possible, use keywords relevant to the roles you’re seeking. Also, be sure to set up job alerts to receive notifications about new postings that match your criteria.
Reach out to the colleagues you used to work with and ask them to write stellar recommendations and testimonials on your profile. In particular, ask if they’ll address your standout soft skills that are more difficult to showcase through your own messaging. (Pro Tip: Build good will by returning the favor and posting your own glowing testimonial on their profile.)
2. Ask Ten People for Referrals
Referrals are the smartest way for job candidates to rise above the competition. Instead of competing against hundreds of people for the same position, you skip all the way to the head of the pack.
While referrals are tricky to ask for, it’s worth it! First, consider who you may know in the company. Then think of reasons why it is worth that person’s time to refer you. Write a winning email to your contact.
Employ this strategy with several contacts at different companies. If at first you don’t succeed, ask different contacts for their help.
Some firms even offer substantial cash rewards to staff who refer a candidate who accepts a position, so these workers are incentivized to be on the lookout for job seekers. Employers would rather hire someone that a friend or colleague can vouch for than an unknown applicant.
3. Network Smarter
To increase your chances of knowing someone you could even approach for a referral, you need to expand your network.
Put yourself among peers in your profession.
Join a professional association and mingle with people who can offer career advice and potentially steer you to upcoming job openings. Your participation will also help you to stay current with industry trends. In addition, your involvement increases your credibility as a professional.
Learn new skills in your downtime.
Now that you aren’t devoting most of your time to work, you can dedicate time to upskilling in order to fuel your career for the future. Once you identify a key skill that you’ll need to master, research training opportunities on LinkedIn.
Showing your initiative in meeting the demands of future work will improve your prospects in landing an interview. Make sure to add any new certifications to your LinkedIn profile and accomplishments on your resume.
What’s more, many associations provide access to educational resources and training — sometimes at a reduced rate.
4. Look in the Mirror
Decide if it’s time to pivot. If you are still not getting any bites, it may be time to pivot.
Let’s say you designed websites for a government agency before you were let go. Recognize that this is a transferable skill. You may want to consider designing websites for a different business or using your website-designing prowess to go freelance instead of limiting to full-time roles.
If you’re in a shrinking field or if you had the kind of job that’s being phased out by AI, figure out new ways to use the skills you have. Conduct some research to find which fields are growing that could give you crossover opportunities.
As you perfect these ways to land a job interview, work to stay positive. Remind yourself of your worth and have confidence that your persistence will pay off. Better times are ahead!
