Although our goal remains the same, our business changes in a recession. We are inundated with new customers who have recently been made redundant. Many are the long-term employed who have not looked for work in years. They are unsure where to look or how to use their transferable skills to prove they are an asset in a new field. They are often angry, frightened and overwhelmed by their situation. Yet to be hired, they must project a positive confident attitude.

In a recession employers hire differently. With a high unemployment rate, employers can afford to screen people out for minor issues, so it’s no wonder that even those who would normally get jobs quickly are struggling. The generic pitches that have worked in the past don’t work now – to be hired job seekers must use new techniques which allow them to stand out from the crowd. Also, in tough times, employers hesitate to advertise in the open market for fear of being inundated with resumes that are costly to sort through. The good news is that even in this tough economy there are still thousands of jobs available, but they remain unseen in the hidden market. In this hidden market, traditional tools like resumes and applications are largely ineffective. In fact, even in the open market over 90% of resumes and applications are screened-out before the interview. Job seekers must be taught to use “side doors” in order to get direct access to the people with the power to hire.

While WorkNet International provides seminars that provide practical and proven methods of assisting job seekers in this current job market, over the next 2 posts I will outline 4 keys that unlock side doors so your candidates can stand out from the crowd.

Photo by Metro Centric