Staying optimistic during your job search

There have been numerous reports over recent months about the number of people out of work and looking for new career opportunities in the US. We can all be forgiven for feeling less than happy about being out of work or looking for a new job during a downturn and this has been borne out in recent research published by Gallup.

Of the 4,000 unemployed people interviewed in January 2010, 60% are not confident about finding work. Human Resources / Leader - 2 March 2010 p8

Whilst the survey may be skewed by the style of questioning used it did throw up some interesting points nonetheless.

• The least hopeful were those in the 50-65 age bracket.
• Black people and those who fell in the 18-29 age bracket were the most hopeful.

So what can you do if you find yourself out of work and not sure where your next job is coming from?

Network - but not with the people you see on a regular basis, but friends and contacts of people you know vaguely. Don't monopolise people at parties or networking events, but you could let it be known you are available. And if someone asks you to follow up by telephoning or sending in a resume then for goodness sake do so. Similary - facebook and twitter may allow you to find opportunities.

Don't limit yourself to your previous job title. Look at the skills you have and the skills needed by an employer, the job title may not be the same, but some skills translate across many disciplines.

Job Boards - Get online and see what openings there are, don't just send in a single CV and hope you land the position, get as many out there as you can, but don't be sloppy - make sure you address each job specifically.

Employment Agencies - these may be the foot in the door you need. If your confidence has taken a battering as a result of a job loss, working on short-term contracts can help you get that confidence back. And who knows where that short-term contract will end up. There are many stories where a person went in for a single day and ended up working there for years, and /or being asked back on a regular basis because of their reliability. And it looks good on your resume too - just remember to say it was a contract position through an employment agency otherwise employers will want to know why you appear to be job-hopping.