Finding a Job in an Economic Downturn

In a recession marked by layoffs, cutbacks and fewer job opportunities, what's the best way to find a new job? Where should job seekers focus their energies, and what is involved in overcoming both the real and imagined barriers to finding a new job in the same field...or starting over? This Guide offers some tips, advice and strategies for regaining the ranks of the employed.

Created by Author

Susan MacDonald

Subject: Employment

Tags:career, coping, economic downturn, economy, employment, jobs, layoff, recession, resume, skills, unemployment

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Inside the Guide

The Job Search
Create Your Own Job: Start A Business

Job Web Sites
News Coverage of the Phenomenon

Books and Articles
Videos about Searching for a Job

Resume and Job-Searching Tips

The Job Search

Unemployment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment

Harvard Business Blog: Need to Find a Job? Stop Looking So Hard

http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cs/2009/02/need_to_find_a_job_stop_lookin.html

Blogger Peter Bregnan says it's about focusing on what you LOVE and what you can do, rather than fretting about what's not out there. With passion, you'll find your next job.

Finding a Job: USA.gov

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Education_Training/Finding_Jobs.shtml

Career Builder: Job Searching in a Recession

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-975-Job-Search-Job-Searching-in-a-Recession/

How to Find A Job During A Recession | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_4697538_job-during-recession.html

How to article - how to find a job during a recession. You may think it's impossible to find a job during a recession--or at least a good one. Not so. By following...

Blog-Indeed: Recesssion-Proof Your Job Search

http://blog.indeed.com/2008/03/11/recession-proof-your-job-search/

BNET: Guerilla Job Search Tips in a Recession

http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=915085&tag=content;col1

Recession Job Search | How to find a job during recession

http://hubpages.com/hub/Recession-Job-Search-How-to-find-a-job-during-recession

Let us now explore how to find a job during recession. ... How To Find A Job During A Recession ... How to Find a Job During a Recession 83 ...

Time: The 150 Best Overall Recession-Proof Jobs

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1858773,00.html

Computer programmers and analysts, teachers, database managers, health-care workers, environmental scientists and investment counselors - they're among the jobs that (if you can find one) offer a chance of success.

QuintCareers: Job Search Dos and Donts

http://www.quintcareers.com/recession_job-search-dos-donts.html

CareerOneStop: Career Resource Library

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/crl/library.aspx?LVL2=7&CATID=4&LVL3=y&PostVal=1

Job Web Sites

Monster.com

http://www.monster.com/

Career Builder

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

Yahoo! Hot Jobs

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/

The Ladders.com

http://www.theladders.com/

Simply Hired

http://simplyhired.com/

Dice.com

http://www.dice.com

Clean Techies: The place to be for young entrepreneurs

http://blog.cleantechies.com/2009/02/20/the-place-to-be-for-young-entrepreneurs-global-clean-technology-innovation-forum/

Books and Articles

Get the Job You Want, even when no one's hiring (pre-order)

http://www.amazon.com/Want-Even-When-Ones-Hiring/dp/0470457414

What Not to Do When Seeking a Job

http://www.amazon.com/What-Not-When-Seeking-Employment/dp/1418423491

51 Ways to Find a Job Fast

http://www.amazon.com/Ways-Find-Job-Fast-Guaranteed/dp/097588381X

The African American Job Seeker's Guide to Successful Employment

http://www.amazon.com/African-American-Seekers-Successful-Employment/dp/0970222424

Internet Your Way to a New Job

http://www.amazon.com/Internet-Your-Way-New-Job/dp/1600050913

Resume and Job-Searching Tips

What does a great resume look like? Everbody has an opinion.

Lindsay Olsen: 5 Things You Should Never Put On Your Resume

http://lindsayolson.com/5-things-you-should-never-put-on-your-resume/

HRWorld: 25 Things You Should Never Include on a Resume

http://www.hrworld.com/features/25-things-not-to-put-on-resume-121807/

LadderBuilder: Clean Up Your Web Trail

http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/find-personal-information-online

Have you published an embarrassing blog post? Shared some photos on Facebook that you'd rather not have your employer (or potential employer) see? Time to clean up your digital Internet trail...

US News: 5 Resume Mistakes You're Probably Making

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/careers/2009/01/22/5-rsum-mistakes-youre-probably-making.html

Create Your Own Job: Start A Business

If you're not convinced that someone else will hire you, why not pursue your passions and start your own business?

US News: The best small businesses to start in 2009

http://www.usnews.com/sections/business/best-small-businesses/index.html

Freelance Web writer, energy home auditor, athletic trainer - those are just three of the hottest jobs for 2009 if you're interested in starting a small business.

JobDig: 100 Attributes of Successful Small Business Owners

http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/12/10/a-complete-list-of-100-attributes-off-people-who-start-companieshow-you-can-be-one-of-americas-entrepreneurs/#comment-116067

Are you a speed reader? Good listener? A manager, not a leader? Solving a problem? These are among the attributes you'll need to start -- and successfully run - a small business.

Rediff.com: Tips to Start on Your Own

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2009/feb/02recession-tips-to-start-on-your-own.htm

USA.gov: Resources for Self-Employed Business Professionals

http://www.usa.gov/Business/Self_Employed.shtml

News Coverage of the Phenomenon

Not only has the economic downturn spawned more interest in job searches, it's also been a source of news: who's being affected, how they're coping and why.

New York Times: Forced from Executive Pay to Hourly Wage

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/03/01/us/01survival2_190.jpg

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Recession-Proof Your Job Search

http://www.ajc.com/hotjobs/content/hotjobs/careercenter/articles/2008/02/22/0224_lindgren.html

San Francisco Examiner: Twitter for Job Search in a Recession

http://www.examiner.com/x-2864-Recovering-Lawyer-Examiner~y2009m2d28-Twitter-for-job-search-in-recession--part-1-of-3

San Francisco's "Recovering Lawyer" advice columnist provides tips.

MarketWire: Ten Tips to Find a Job in a Recession

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_20050229/ai_mark02037373

The 2009 recession isn't alone: this article from 2002 covers the same topic, but in a different economy.

Business Week: Recession-Proof Jobs

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2008/tc20080717_842379.htm

New York Times: Room for Debate...What to Do When You Lose Your Job

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/what-to-do-when-you-lose-your-job/

A panel of experts -- consultants, labor coaches, sociologists -- provide tips for people who are losing jobs again or for the first time.

Videos about Searching for a Job

TV Interview: Tips on Job Search Strategies in a Recession

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8lgoFm6GMc

TV Interview: Tips on Job Search Strategies in a Recession

Click to Close Video Player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =R8lgoFm6GMc

Watch Mojo: Job Search Tips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB1rshuI5fY&feature=related

Watch Mojo: Job Search Tips

Click to Close Video Player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =EB1rshuI5fY&feature=relat ed

JobSearchMasterPlan: How to Speed Up Your Job Search in a Tough Economy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOQkhP7LfLI&feature=related

JobSearchMasterPlan: How to Speed Up Your Job Search in a Tough Economy

Click to Close Video Player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =FOQkhP7LfLI&feature=relat ed

Employment Crossing: Job Search Secrets for a Recession

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYSmOnIVQlY

Employment Crossing: Job Search Secrets for a Recession

Click to Close Video Player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =YYSmOnIVQlY

VitaminC.com: Using Technology to Turbo-Charge your Job Search

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/educational_and_howto/watch/v16576023Mpj6tjwy

Learn how to optimize your use of online web sites and search engines to update your resume, add info to job sites, etc. If you're not particularlyl tech-savvy, this is a good video with lots of how-to screenshots and descriptions.