Become Creative When Looking for a Job

What Happens to Job Seekers and Employers During Regional or National Economic Problems?
Regional and national economic downturns often generate “unusual” behavior by both employees and employers. Typically, the behavior of both helps neither group. While neither companies nor employees individually cause national economic problems, they sometimes compound the negativity that tends to permeate the business community.

If you want to better manage your career in dark economic conditions, it is important to understand some of the thoughts, actions, plans, and effects of these tendencies. Being aware of the possible results of these changed philosophies might help you further your career when others are losing ground.

First, consider the common actions taken by many companies during regional or national economic problems. These actions could affect your job or career. Companies often:

• Cut back on research and development.
• Freeze wages, incentives, benefits, and/or overtime.
• Contemplate layoffs, hiring moratoriums, plant and office closings.
• Postpone new locations, branches, construction, leases, and/or improvements.

As you can see, all of these potential actions could affect your job or career situation. While you probably would have little influence on changing these corporate action plans, understanding that one or more of these actions may occur keeps you alert and on guard.

At the same time, employees often shift their focus from assertive, creative, and positive to withdrawn, cautious, and negative. These feelings and actions are understandable and, in a sense, reasonable. Yet, there are opportunities that often arise during these otherwise unpleasant periods.

You should realize that, although the newspapers, TV news, radio news, business magazines, and economic “experts” all tend to paint a doom and gloom picture, most companies still need to function efficiently, sell products and services, conduct marketing programs, and, at the least, maintain break-even bottom lines. They need competent employees, even if there are less of them. This need may open new doors for career opportunities.

Ways to Make Yourself More Creative and Valuable
When the national economy enters these difficult periods, think about ways to make yourself more valuable to your employer. If you can do this, management will usually recognize your added value and thoughtful creativity as a major asset. To paraphrase a well-respected and accurate business theorem, “Do more than you are paid for at the beginning and soon you will be paid for more than you do.”

With this philosophy as your mantra, consider the following suggestions:

• Volunteer. Make it clear to management that you are willing to take on more responsibility during the difficult economic periods. Instead of becoming negative about potential heavier workloads, be pro-active and embrace additional duties as an opportunity to show your talent.
• Be a vocal, engaged, positive employee. Maintain an upbeat attitude and don’t be shy about expressing your support of management and the company. You might infect your co-workers with enthusiasm and management may take notice of your positivity.
• Challenge your creativity. Spend quality time thinking about ideas that might help your employer during economic crisis. Can you think of ways to save money, increase sales, reduce energy use, generate change, or improve teamwork?

If you survive downsizing, lay offs, or strong personnel cost cutting actions, show your creativity, loyalty, and talent. In an economic crisis, your skills will shine even greater.

You’ve Been Downsized. Now What?
Through no fault of your own, you’ve fallen under the economic crisis knife. Your first thought might be, “How can I find a job now, when everyone’s cutting staff?” Try to relax and take a deep breath. Even this disheartening situation may provide some wonderful opportunities. At first glance, you may not recognize these options, but a little quiet time and information may pull back the curtain.

Superior employment search firms, like Kelly Services, are often even more helpful to job seekers during the troubling and uncertain periods of economic chaos. Here’s why:

• They have their finger on the business pulse of the nation. They know where the openings are and what type of candidates their client companies want.
• These firms, like Kelly Services, offer the entire menu of jobs: Temp, Temp-to-Permanent, and Direct Hire opportunities.
• Experienced employment counselors can keep you optimistic, upbeat, and confident when you could easily fall into uncertainty and doubt. Your attitude is an important component in a successful job search.
• Kelly will learn more about you and your skills, only recommending the best-fit opportunities.

While there are typically fewer job openings during an economic crisis, always remember it only takes ONE to get your career moving again. Even for short-term financial relief, temporary jobs can often open new vistas for your career options. Should you successfully practice some of the suggestions for increasing creativity and value, you’ll often find that what was once a temporary position evolves into a full-time attractive offer of employment. The original fear and confusion you may have felt during the downsizing period may quickly become enthusiasm, hope, and excitement at the new opportunities you’ve discovered. You should realize that global business moves in cycles. For every low, there is a corresponding high point. By taking advantage of new and different opportunities, you can not only find a good job, but you may witness your career moving forward faster and better.