Consider Your Resume a Work in Progress
Your resume is your meal ticket. If effective, it will generate interest from a prospective employer and lead to an interview where you can strut your stuff. Every effort should be made to make sure that your resume presents the best case for your candidacy for a specific position. In situations where you have information on the position you are applying for, answer a few basic questions:

• Does my resume reflect my strengths as they apply to this position?
• Are all of my experiences that are important for this position reflected in the resume?
• Does my resume tell a story that is consistent with this position? (For example, make sure that the resume does not stress management expertise if the position calls for more of a contributor.)

Network, Network, Network
It is extremely important to tap into your network of business associates. Let everyone know that you are seeking employment and try and get leads of potential contacts that can help you in your search. I imagine that many of you have already done this, but have you extended this to other members of your network of support. These people would include accountants, lawyers, golf partners, social acquaintances, and the like. Most people want to help, let them know how.

Manage Your Mood
Let me put it bluntly. If you find yourself down or in a mood of resignation or despair, your likelihood of finding a new job becomes infinitely more difficult. These are very difficult economic times however there are people finding new jobs and consulting opportunities. Opportunities do exist but they are difficult to locate. My recommendation is to locate a career coach. This is a person that can support you in your job search and also offer recommendations for new methods and tactics to try. The most effective way to maintain a positive mood is to continue to take new, strategic actions. Look to former co-workers, managers, employment professionals, or trusted friends for this type of support.

Investigate New Industries
If there is one thing that this economic recession has taught, it is the need to manage our careers more effectively. Too many of us are finding the search for new employment even more difficult because our experience has been confined to one or two industries. The transition into new industries, while difficult, can be done. Look for industries where companies are highly regulated and look for internal writing opportunities within those companies. Remember this pointer when the market improves and you find yourself employed and seeking a new position. This is the easiest time to make the transition into a new industry.

Target Companies in Similar Market Niches
The fact that your firm had a reduction in their work force may not be an indicator of the condition of all companies in that market niche. You are most marketable to companies with similar products and services to those you have documented. Specifically target these companies in your job search.

Go Directly to the Source
Wherever possible, look to bypass the Human Resources department and try and contact the hiring manager directly. In many cases, the Human Resources department will not know about upcoming positions or consulting opportunities. This will take some research and digging on your part. There are several tricks of the trade to finding out who these people are:

• Call in and ask the receptionist for the name of the Publications Manager or ask to be connected to the Publications Department. When connected, ask who heads up the department.
• Research the Internet by conducting an advanced search in a search engine like Google. Enter phrases like Publications Manager and words like NY, NJ and the name of a specific company. This type of research takes lots of patience and trial and error but can produce good results.
• Tap into professional society member directories. Some are even available online and are free to search.

Investigate Career Sites
We all know about monster.com, hotjobs.com, careerbuilder.com and the like. But there are some other lesser-known sites that may prove effective:

• Directemployers.com: This site is my favorite and allows you to conduct job searches across corporate Internet sites.
• Sites posting consulting assignments include freeagent.com, guru.com, and sologig.com.
• Be sure to not only check out the main society Internet sites but also the individual chapter sites in your area. Many local chapters maintain local job boards.

A Word of Advice on Interviewing
There are few things more nerve-wracking than interviewing for a new position, especially when you have been out of work for a while and really, really need a new job. My recommendation is to not go to the interview with the purpose of getting a new job but instead to go to the interview to find out the challenges of the position, and the skills required to meet those challenges. Only after you have these answers can you determine for yourself if the position is of interest and if your skills are appropriate to satisfy the hiring manager. This recommendation, while subtle, creates a new dynamic for the interview with your attention now focused on the clients' requirements and how you can potentially provide value.

2001 Ross Squire. Printed with Permission.

About the Author
Ross Squire is the President of KnowledgeStaff. Ross has been involved in the learning and content design and delivery industry for close to twenty years. At various points in his career, Ross has been responsible for overseeing Marketing, Sales, Client Services, Project Direction, and Recruitment operations. Ross is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to career development, instructional technology, and technical writing industries.

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