In a recession it takes longer.  Everything takes longer.  It takes longer to find a job - obvious really - there are fewer jobs out there - so less choice.  It takes longer to go through the interviewing process - employers are nervous so they make candidates go through more hoops.  It takes longer to get an offer - everyone and his or her uncle, aunt and cousin twice removed has to approve the hiring. 

And what can you do?  Know that it's not you.  It's the process.  If they are ask for another interview don't go into a tail spin and think that you didn't answer the questions right in the last meeting.  Know that they are doing this to all candidates.  Be ready for the whole process taking longer.  So if you thought you would have a job in three months know that it could take six (or not).  Work on your finances and your faith so that you can keep on riding the mechanical bull which is the job market at the moment.

Good luck
David Couper

www.davidcoupercoach.com

Don't look for a job.
Don't go to job fairs or job-hunting events.  Don't apply online or register at a job bank.  Don't ask for job leads or look in the job section.
WHY NOT - Most of these ways don't lead to a job so focus on the ones that do.  Go to events where there are people with jobs who have information for you on what companies might be open to you (unlike most job-hunting events where there are lots of people without jobs and no information for you). Put up a webpage, go onto blogs or publish articles to get your message out there and people contacting you.   Meet with people but ask for contacts or data not only jobs.  And forget reading the jobs wanted and start reading the business section to find out what's going on and how that's going to effect you.

 

Do say no to a job offer.
Don't say yes to every job offer.  Don't say yes to an offer that wants you to relocate or travel when you don't.  Don't be afraid of saying that this job is not for you.
WHY NOT - Even in a bad economy you want to be able to say no to a poor offer.  Taking a salary with a low starting point can cause problems in the future.  You may never catch up - it's just not possible to have your salary jump that much in the organization you joined.  You may have to explain to a future employer why you took a lower salary and why you want more with them.  Hoping that the travel will die down or that the work you didn't like will get better is a long shot at best.  Taking a job you don't want may make you demotivated and disgruntled.
 

 

Don't prepare for an interview.
When you prepare for an interview you often prepare speeches about yourself.  You may do lots of research you are dying to share with the interviewer.  You may have even rehearsed how greet the interviewer and conduct yourself in the interview.
WHY NOT - when we prepare we can lose the spontaneity of the interaction.  We can be so polished that we are not natural.  We can even forget to listen to the interviewer's questions and body language.  Prepare but don't lose yourself.
 

 

 

Don't write a resume. 
Instead of sending out a resume, talk about who you are.  Whenever someone asks for something in writing to send to a contact ask to speak to the contact instead.  Don't post a resume online but do post to blogs and other websites in your field.
WHY NOT - we often rely on resumes - sending them out blindly - be deleted or discarded. When we talk to people directly we have a better shot at making the right contacts and selling ourselves.
 

 

A supposed horror is being late for an interview.  I got my highest paid and best job as a young whipper snapper from an interview where I showed up two hours after the time I should have done. 
And I just did an interview where the person was late - got lost, traffic, dog eat my car etc. - but nobody was that bothered and were more interested in asking questions

I don't recommend going to interviews late but if you do then don't let it throw you.  If you do a good job of answering questions, impress them with your skills and have a half-decent excuse you might do just fine.

So there are lots of articles about hot jobs - healthcare usually comes as well as some odd ones such as education (we have to keep educating kids - although States are cutting their budgets left, right and center). 
So I did my own survey on monster.com.

I searched for jobs in Los Angeles  - 40 pages came up (5000 plus jobs)  Then I broke them down.  These are some of the results.

Accounting and Auditing - 337 jobs (supposed to be a growth area - the theory is that someone needs to police industry)
Advertising and PR          - 251 jobs (we do have Boeing and Northropp Grumman)
Aerospace                         - 333 jobs
Automotive                        -  77   jobs  (yikes - it is a mess - both for sales and mechanics etc.)
Banking                             - 269 jobs   (maybe the bailout did help)
Biotech/Pharmaceutical - 220 jobs   (supposed be a growth area doesn't seem that way)
Broadcasting etc.             -142 jobs    (is very popular area and jobs often are not advertised and it's been hit by the economy)
Retail                                  - 347 jobs    (retail is down - 300 jobs sounds a lot but given the natural turnover in the industry that is low)

So what does this tell you?  That stats are just stats.  That even in areas where there are not supposed to be jobs there are jobs.  And that beware of jumping into a "growth" area only to find it's no better than the job you left.  In the end it's down to you.  You can make it happen!

You got the job offer and then they withdraw it.  No explanation, no reason, no nothing.  So what happened?  It could be economics but it could also be some information that the organization gets on you that puts you in a bad light.  For example the degree you said you had in your application is not actually complete - although it probably will be next year - but the employer doesn't like that.  You told a fib and you got found out.  Or the company finds out that you were a pain in your old job and your boss didn't like you.  The company contacted your old employer and found out you were not Mr or Ms Popular.  Or you send a thank you note which has a bunch of typos in it and the company decide you blew it.

So what can you do?
You can ask.  You can ask to find out more information on why the offer was reduced.  If you persevere then you may get an answer.  If you know then you can either explain or learn for the future.  
If you know there is a problem - e.g. your boss will say bad stuff - then warn your new employer and explain why - and give some references who will say positive stuff. 

So you got the offer and you're packing your lunch for your first day and you get a call.  And the company says thanks but no thanks. Can they do that?  Sure.  Unless you had a signed contract - which most people don't - and which probably has some clause on page 23 that says that they can.
And why would Mr. Employer do that?  Money.  Bad results or even worse?  New directive from a big cheese?  Change of executives means you are not the flavor of the month anymore.  All kinds of things.

What can you do?
Keep in touch.  Keep communicating.  Meet up with the boss before your official start date.  Visit the company ahead of time if possible.  Keep researching the company.  And if something doesn't make sense or looks strange then ask questions - lots of questions.  You may not be able to do anything but you can be prepared.  If things look dicey or risky at a company then you can start looking for a plan B, hold back on any big plans like moving or buying a new car on the strength of the job or just be emotionally ready.

You went through all the hoops - resume, job hunting, interviewing and they make you an offer.  You're set, right?  Wrong!  You still need to keep working.

Bad credit - bad idea.  It's stunning, sad and silly that any employer would make a decision based on whether you paid your credit cards on time - especially in this economic situation - but I guess they do.  I am not sure what difference it makes.  I guess there is this weird logic that if you went nuts at Nordstrom you also go nuts in the new job.  Still it seems like 50% of companies do credit checks.

What can you do?

If you know you have bad credit and your new employer asks you for a credit report it's time to fess up.  Explain what happened, hopefully showing that it wasn't splurges on silly items but the challenges of the economy that did you in.    If they like you enough then you maybe good to go.  If you don't say anything you may have no chance.