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Many forecasters believe that recession is approaching. Finding a job in an impending recession can be challenging as well as stressful. At the onset of a recession, the job market gets tighter, and the competition increases. So, it’s pretty common for companies to limit/freeze hiring, cut staff, or let people go to cope with the decreasing demand and profits and increasing debt. All this can create unique challenges for the jobseekers and make it difficult to find and maintain employment. Lets explore how to get hired in a recession as a jobseeker.
How Does a Recession Impact the Job Market?
When the economy is booming, there is no dearth of work in the job market. As there are abundant jobs, the competition is less, and job seekers have far better opportunities to find a position of their choice.
However, when a recession is near, there is an increase in inflation and federal interest rates. Companies unsure of their financial health become reluctant to hire new people and even lay off employees to reduce expenses.
This is a difficult time for job seekers as the number of unemployed people suddenly increases in the job market. As jobs become scarce, it isn’t easy to find a suitable position.
Many job seekers also accept any job offers that come their way and start working at lower salaries. So, the immediate impact of the recession is unemployment, underemployment, and people taking jobs below their skill level.
Tips for Handling Job Market Challenges During Recession
Unfortunately, the decision to lay off and hire is not in your hands. But there are still ways you can reevaluate the current situation and make changes to prepare for the challenges that come with a recession.
Here is what you can do to increase your chances of finding work during a recession:
Take Action / Associate with Positive People / Avoid News and News Channels:
Don’t sit around and listen to news channels whose only job is to scare people. When was the last time you read a news article which was motivating? Once in a blue moon. Mostly it’s all about negative things like robberies, arson, etc. Get busy, write down an action plan, and start working on it.
Most people just plan but never act on it. Start, and things will automatically unravel. Keep yourself busy and avoid television, TikTok, YouTube, etc., as these distractions will prevent you from achieving your goals. Associate with positive people who are not always saying negative things like the economy is bad; there are no jobs. Discussing these things won’t help you land a job, but working on yourself and your job search will.
Stay Updated on the Latest Job Opportunities:
The opportunities may be less during a recession, but you can’t sit and wait for them to come your way. Staying up to date with the latest job opportunities is the only way you can grab them as and when they arrive. Sign up for email alerts on different job sites like Indeed, dice, monster, and CareerBuilder, so that you don’t miss any new job positions. Other ways to do this — reading newspapers, keeping an eye on the job boards, coordinating with top IT staffing companies, and following the industry’s trade magazines.
Also, stay active on social media sites like LinkedIn to connect with hiring managers, find out about new job openings, and send out your resume to employers. You can also use social media to find gig work or side hustles to earn extra bucks while job-hunting. In addition, consider attending networking events to connect directly with people from the industry and ask for their help directly.
Craft a New Resume to Make it Stand Out:
Before entering the choppy job market, it is imperative to have a resume that markets you well and establishes your brand. Having a good resume is not enough; it should be top-notch, helping you stand out from the crowd. Even if you have experience or a degree, your resume may be collecting dust or ending up in the dustbin. The reason being it’s outdated and does not reflect your current skills and the work you’ve been doing. In this situation, you must craft a new resume right away.
Part of making a new resume is adding everything that’s not included in your previous CV. Identify key skills on popular job postings and have them in your resume to ensure your resume reaches potential employers. Also, ensure you have a scannable resume and a robust portfolio with links to your projects, a professional website, and a GitHub profile. A well-designed and readable resume can set you apart from other candidates.
Work on Yourself and Your Wardrobe:
When it’s a competitive job market, it’s very important that you start improving yourself both physically, mentally, and visually.
How to do that?
Start Working on your Communication Skills and Engrain Positive Vocabulary:
Many people use weak words like I think, maybe, I feel, I can’t, have not, I don’t think, I don’t understand, I am not sure, I am not good enough, these are weak words. Replace them and use strong words like I can, I will, I will figure it out, I believe, Absolutely, I have done that, I am good, I am intelligent. Use this vocabulary when speaking to yourself and to others to have a positive impact on yourself and others.
Upgrade your Wardrobe and Your Look:
Always be well-dressed, well groomed. This leaves a positive impact on the interviewers. Preferably wear a white shirt and dark Skirt or trousers when interviewing. Ensure your hair is well groomed and you don’t have too much makeup on if you use makeup.
Setup your Email/LinkedIn/Audio/Video Equipment:
Always use professional email ids. No one wants to see an email id jonlikes2party@abcd.com use more professional email ids, which shows you are a serious and responsible individual. Set up your Linkedin profile with a professional photograph dressed in business casual and a smiling face. Set up voicemail on your phone: You don’t want to miss out on any interview calls, so set up a voicemail so potential employers can leave a message for you.
Set up your Audio-Video equipment for Video Interviews:
Most interviews nowadays are conducted remotely through Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Team, Google Meet, etc. Please go through this blog to understand how to set yourself up for video interviews.
Start Going for a Walk or Sign up for a Gym Membership:
Job hunting is stressful. Sometimes you start feeling low, so start working out at least 30 minutes a day, including running or walking on the treadmill and using some light weights. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins which are feel-good hormones that are scientifically proven to alleviate anxiety and improve your mood and are natural antidepressants.
Upskill Yourself:
We cannot stress enough the reason to upskill yourself. Do understand that in a recession now, a single job will have hundreds of applicants as compared to tens before. Job seekers should differentiate themselves by having skills that make them stand out above other job seekers. You need to offer more value to employers so that they can choose you over other job seekers. It is especially significant if you are in an industry that might be affected by the recession or if you’re going up against stiff competition for new jobs. As per USA Today, more than 41000 tech workers have been laid off from technology jobs since the beginning of 2022.
Here is a list of some of the tech companies and their job losses:
- Snap- 1280
- Better.com- 250
- Meta- 60
- Apple- 100
- HBO Max- 70
- Peloton- 780
- Calm- 90
- Microsoft- 2000
- Oracle- Unknown but in hundreds
- Groupon- 500
- Robinhood- 700
- Tiktok- 100
- Carvana- 2500.
Most of the time, job seekers can quickly get absorbed into the job market if they have marketable skills, so do a self-evaluation as to if you have the skills employers are hiring for; if not, don’t wait and start upskilling yourself. As a job seeker, especially in the tech industry, it’s in your best interest to make yourself more attractive to potential employers by adding a skill portfolio that is in high demand, like cloud experience, Machine learning, experience with full stack or Java programming. These technologies are in high demand, and employers are actively hiring for these skills.
If you’re unsure what skills to upgrade, search for skills employers are looking for in candidates. If you cannot find work in your area of specialization but have transferable skills, consider leveling them up to make yourself more hirable. There are many ways to level up your skills, including bootcamp training courses, attending seminars, and reading books. If you’ve been out of work, it’s the best time to take some freelancing/gig work, enroll in a course, or apply as a volunteer. Taking up these meaningful activities would fill up the gap in your resume. At the same time, it will help you stay relevant and brush up on your skills so that you are ready to get back into the game.
Be Aware of Scammers:
Lots of scammers start exploiting job seekers by sending emails that they won a lottery or they got a job offer, but to process that, they need to send a certain amount of money. No employer would raise a job offer and ask for money to give a job. So be wary of too-good-to-be-true schemes.
Focus on Networking:
Even if your interactions with people are less during the downturn in the job market, you shouldn’t give up on networking. It’s the best way to find work during a recession, as it helps you stay informed about the latest job openings and find out about companies that may be hiring.
Remember, networking isn’t just about collecting business cards from people you meet. But it’s also about staying connected with them via email, phone calls, and social media. If you’re job searching, make an effort to interact with people regularly. Even when you’re not active in your job search, networking can help you make valuable connections that can lead to better opportunities in the future.
Be Flexible and Ready to Move:
Flexibility to move to any location can make a big difference to your job search, particularly during a recession. For instance, if you only look for jobs near your location, it will be much harder to find work. However, if you’re flexible, you can expand your job search to other cities and locations. Expanding your job search horizon can help you find work quickly and get back into the workforce sooner. In addition, you should also consider applying for jobs similar to your field. For example, if you’re a website developer and there are no website developer jobs in your area, consider applying for a web design or back-end developer position.
Learn a New Skill:
You have no control over what happens in the economy, but you sure can learn to adapt. If you’re working, you can prepare for the next economic downturn by learning a new skill or switching to a technology that’s more resilient to job market volatility. There are lots of online resources and programs to help you learn new skills, including coding bootcamps that teach new skills from scratch. If you’re already out of work, now is the perfect time to acquire new skills.
Use your downtime to enroll in an upskilling program and enhance your resume. Be sure to choose a skill that is in demand and can be used in multiple industries. One of the greatest benefits of learning at a bootcamp is getting placement assistance, making your job search easier and more organized.
Search about Companies you Want to Work with:
When it comes to finding work during a recession, it’s important to research companies you’re interested in working for and stay ready to give an interview whenever the opportunity comes. This effort can make a big difference in getting you to work quickly. You can start by searching for companies with open job positions on Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. Once you have a list of companies you’re interested in, learn about them through their blogs, social media posts, and press releases.
Going through the information will give you an insight into the company’s values and how it operates, putting you in a better position when you go for an interview. Also, ensure to follow up with colleagues, hiring managers, and HR representatives to stay on their radar.
Work on Your Interviewing Skills:
If you have been out of work for a while, you may be rusty when it comes to interviewing skills. That’s okay. Like anything else, you can improve them with practice. You can work on enhancing your interviewing skills by researching common and technical interview questions, practicing your answers, and taking mock interview sessions at the coding bootcamp.
Also, read:
What not to Say in an Interview?
Body Language Mistakes to avoid during a Job Interview
You can find many websites with lists of the most common interview questions. Brush up on these questions so you’re prepared, and don’t get thrown off guard if something unexpected is asked.
Even when you are not working, you can’t let the recruiter think you are out of tune. So, make sure you know the latest tech trends, current tools, and best practices.
Read industry magazines and articles, follow bloggers, talk to professionals, listen to podcasts, and participate in discussions to stay abreast and answer the interviewers confidently.
Conclusion
Although the impact of a recession on the job market is inevitable, don’t let it keep you from finding work. With the right tools in hand and preparation, you will be able to traverse the volatile job market and take advantage of the opportunities that come by.
Jobs are always open for the right people with the right skills. Thus, instead of waiting for the right job, transform yourself into the right person for the job so that recession, inflation, or depression all these words don’t concern you anymore. You not only survive in your career and job search but thrive.
Anytime you want to upgrade your skills and need a helping hand to enter or reenter the tech workforce with high-demand tech skills, reach out to us. Since 2010 we have helped 1000’s of jobseekers achieve success in the technology sector. SynergisticIT’s career-oriented training programs guarantee fast-paced, quality tech education, preparing you with top-notch skills for coveted tech roles in the industry. Reach out to us. SynergisticIT- Home of the Best Data Scientists and Software Programmers in the Bay Area!