The current economic uncertainty pushes many people into the harsh reality of redundancy. With such masses of staff and jobs being cut at the same time, there is fierce competition for the roughly half a million existing jobs.
If you are in the unlucky position facing up to redundancy right now, don't panic and take your time to see what practical advice is working for candidates right now.
Start your own blog
The phenomenon of blogging has exploded in the last several years. Although it can be a powerful communication tool, it's not necessarily a unique one. The social media tracking site Technorati follows more than 112 million blogs every day. But for job seekers, a blog can be a résumé in motion. It can show potential employers who you are and what you're about in a very comprehensive way.
Work with your network
Job seekers know that tapping into social and professional networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter can connect you to contacts that might be the key to your next job. But in addition to those structured networks, job seekers are reaching out to the contacts in their informal network -- close friends and family. It may seem like an unsexy or uninteresting approach in a tech-savvy atmosphere, but it capitalizes on one asset that everyone has access to: people.
Make yourself stand out
Of course; you're not supposed to wear a shirt to an interview that says, "Please hire me" or write a poem about why you want the job. But the message is clear here: The old ways are outdated. Job seekers who land the jobs they want are increasingly going above and beyond the standard job search expectations.
Competitors in the job market are treating their job searches as a job in and of itself, so job seekers need to make sure that they have powerful cover letters and CVs, are prepared for the interview, and know as much as they can about their potential employer and the people to whom they'll be talking.
Take a closer look at industry data
Research industries and job sectors that are experiencing worker shortages or still experiencing job growth. These are the areas where you may want to focus your search. Despite the current gloomy state of the economy and job market, the health care, education, engineering, sales and accountant sectors are still experiencing growth and seeking qualified personnel.
A look at the 2009 Recruiter/Catalyst Fast 50 firms reveals the sector's most successful players based on recent growth. Just over half the companies featuring in the Fast 50 serve more than one sector and they focus on professional services, clerical and secretarial, IT and Telecoms, financial services and engineering and technical.
Freshen up your skills
"Don't give an employer a reason to pass you over because you don't know the basics," states Diane Morgan, director of career services at London Business School. Morgan says everyone should know basic office skills, like Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. "Since these are skills you can teach yourself from the Internet or a library book, there are no excuses for not having them."
Try part-time or freelance work.
According to the HRM guide, the only bright spots in the UK labour market figures are increasing part-time employment and temporary working and self-employment. "Rather than one 'job,' think in terms of multiple positions. Breaking in [to a new job] may be easier if you aim for part-time work within a company," advises Katy Piotrowski, career counselor and author of "The Career Coward's Guides." "Line up multiple part-time positions and you'll benefit from more job security; if one position evaporates, you have the others to fall back on." Moreover, it will pad your CV and your wallet.
Find opportunity in your current position
"New skills can come from a small part of your job that you most enjoy doing," Morgan declares. Ask your current employer to send you to a conference, pay membership dues or join an association. You can also leverage dreaded tasks by seeking out ones that match a future interest, Morgan adds. "If you dream of running a nonprofit but are an operations manager, volunteer to run the community day for your company. A former law colleague is now the head of PR for a botanic garden because she leveraged her hobby. "