10 Job Search Tips for Unemployed Job Seekers

Losing your job is one of the most stressful curves that life can throw you. It's harder to find a job when you don't have one, regardless of how well qualified you are.

As difficult as the situation may be though, there are steps you can take to increase your chance of getting hired in the future. Here are some strategies to help you move your job search in the right direction.

Top 10 Job Search Tips for the Unemployed

Recognize that job loss often results in some of the same emotions as loss of a loved one or the end of an important relationship.   Working through the shock and anger of job loss with trusted confidants or a professional counselor can make it less likely that these feelings will surface during your network meetings or interviews.  

Employers favor positive, upbeat candidates and tend to shy away from candidates who express any animosity towards past employers or supervisors, so try to get any negative emotions in check before you begin the interview process.

Get your story straight and practice delivering it as positively as you can.  If you were laid off for business reasons like a budget crisis, or phasing out of a product or service, be ready to represent this information without anger or hostility.  Be brief in your explanations and then move on to conveying your enthusiasm for the job you are applying for. Here’s how to explain a termination during a job interview.  Be prepared, as well, to discuss why you were out of work.

If you were let go for performance reasons, be prepared to explain any steps you have taken to resolve any issues or to upgrade skills. Make sure you are in a field which suits your strengths. Research new fields which tap your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. It will be easier to explain performance issues if they were based on skills that aren't necessary for the new job. Here’s how to answer questions about why you were fired.

Secure positive recommendations from colleagues, managers, clients and subordinates to counteract any negative perceptions that employers may have about your work history. Proactively insert these recommendations into the process by sharing them with employers and networking contacts.  Incorporating recommendations into your LinkedIn profile or a credentials website and listing the link on your resume gives recruiters the opportunity to take a look at how others view you.

Take stock of your accomplishments and make sure you can discuss them in a specific way during networking meetings and interviews. Review each job or citation on your resume and brainstorm your successes, no matter how small they might have been.  Be ready to describe the situation or challenge, the actions you took and any positive results that came about.

Revise your resume and make sure you have focused your descriptions on the skills you have applied and any associated accomplishments. If you're applying for jobs in different fields, take time to craft different versions of your resume to highlight the skills critical to each field.

Tailor each cover letter to the job at hand. The quality of your job applications is more important than the quantity.  Analyze each job and make a list of the key employer preferences or requirements.  For each requirement, prepare a sentence referencing an asset of yours that relates to that qualification.  Include a brief allusion to the job or role where you applied that strength, and any positive results you were responsible for. Here's how to match your qualifications to a job.

Schedule job search time each day when you are at your peak energy level. For most individuals, 4 or 5 hours per day is the maximum that can be productively devoted to job search.  Set time aside for exercise, volunteer work, an interim job or even an internship. These activities will help combat depression or stress, help you to feel productive, and can even be a useful way to network and build relationships that might be valuable in your search for a new position.

Mobilize your network and systematically reach out to contacts for help.  Make a list of networking options. Consider members of professional associations, neighbors, friends of the family, college alumni, former co-workers and church members. Be ready to tell your contacts what you need from them. This can include referrals to people in your field, advice about your job search, or job leads. Whenever possible schedule informational meetings in the workplace since it will be easy for your contacts to introduce you to their colleagues.

Follow up on interviews better than the competition. Send a thoughtful email or letter as soon as possible after the interview.  Mention that your level of interest in the job has been enhanced by the interview. Include a brief statement regarding how well the job fits your skills and background. If you forgot to mention a piece of relevant information during the interview, you can include that in the message, as well.

In addition, you can demonstrate your motivation by doing some research on a topic that came up during the interview, if appropriate. If you met with multiple interviewers, sending a slightly different follow up communication to each individual noting something interesting which they shared or addressing a concern which they expressed can also impress an employer.

Read More: How to Stay Positive During a Job Search | Job Interview Tips for Unemployed Job Seekers
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