Tag Archive for: how to find a job

How to Stay Prepared in Case of a Recession

/in

When the Great Recession hit, we spent a lot of time helping job seekers secure their futures during uncertain times. We saw first-hand how workers and families in the Twin Cities were hit hard by the sudden loss of jobs and the need to find new work quickly.

Fortunately, the last few years have seen a good economy, especially in Minnesota. Still, it’s important to remember the lessons we learned last time. Here are some of the things that you can do now to stay prepared in case of another recession.

Grow your savings

The first thing you want to have in place in case of a sudden layoff is a strong emergency fund. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average length of unemployment is 9.3 weeks.

Financial experts suggest having three to six months’ worth of income in your savings. This should help you cover your mortgage/rent, food, utilities, and debt while you search for a new job. The money needs to be liquid, or easily accessible in a bank and not tied up in an investment like a house.

Be prepared for a job search

Most people use the saying “brush up your resume” when they hear about coming layoffs. But it’s a good practice to always keep your resume up to date.

Have a place where you’re tracking important work achievements so that you’re ready to add them to your resume when the time comes. Add new responsibilities or update your job title on LinkedIn as they happen. The last thing you want to do after a layoff is to try to remember what you were doing two years ago.

Keep your friends close

Networking is an important way to find new job opportunities and to receive recommendations. However, working on your network isn’t an activity that’s done only when you need a job. You’ll need to create genuine connections while you’re employed too.

Set a reminder to regularly connect with people in your network. Add coworkers, former coworkers, and classmates on LinkedIn. Send emails to people you haven’t heard from in a while to ask how they’re doing.

Develop new skills

Is there a skill that would make you a stronger candidate if you had to re-enter the job market? Perhaps you would have more opportunities if you had another certification or were fluent in another language.

If there’s something you’ve always wanted to learn, start working on that skill now while you have the support and income of your current job. You may even be able to get your current employer to help cover any costs.

Research staffing agencies

During the stress of a layoff, don’t get frazzled by trying to find new job opportunities and sending out applications to individual employers. Remove some of that stress by having a staffing agency on hand that you can turn to for help.

If you find yourself facing an unexpected job hunt, Award Staffing is here to help. Call us or visit one of our Twin Cities locations to learn more about how we can help you find your future.

How to Start Your Job Search in Minneapolis

/in

Have you ever has a job but felt that you desperately wanted a new one? Coincidently the time wasn’t right to make the job switch because your schedule needs wouldn’t allow for you to interview with another company easily. In the end, you decided to stay put until something changes on in your life.

Regardless of your rationale, there are still plenty of things that you can do immediately to prepare you for job searching in the future. Here are some tips for helping you with your future job search:

Take Time to Update Your Resume-

Have you reviewed your resume since you started your current job? If so then it is time to update it and get everything in order. By taking the time to update your resume now, you won’t have to do it later when it comes time to apply for jobs. When updating, have a basic resume format that is ready to go but allows you to tailor your resume based on individual postings, speeding up the application process.

Make Sure Your Online Presence is Positive-

Professional social media profiles are common amongst job seekers, so it is best to make sure your profiles are as polished as your resume. Make sure all of the information is correct and up to date. If your profiles contain items that you would want your grandmother to see, odds are a prospective employer won’t appreciate them as well.

Start Reaching Out to Your Network-

Since you are not readily searching for a new job, you have time to start reconnecting with other professionals you may have lost touch with. The best and easiest way to rekindle these relationships is by sending a message asking them how the holidays treated them. The key is to keep the conversation light and not to overwhelm them. From here let the conversation progress naturally and wait to ask about job opportunities until you have rebuilt the relationship.

The critical thing to consider is not to force a job conversation too soon. Take time to catch up before diving into the job-related questions since you have time before your job search really begins.

Try Working with Recruiters-

If you haven’t ever worked with a staffing company or recruiter, this is a great place to start before you are ready to begin job searching. Recruiters can help you refine your resume while getting other job searching items in order.

Interested in working with a recruiter to find a new job opportunity in Minneapolis? Award Staffing has the experience you need to help you with your job search. Contact us today, so we can connect with some of the best companies to work for in Minnesota. Want to learn more career tips and tricks – check our When Work Works blog.