Career & Life Coaching

Job searching is never fun, nor is it something that is particularly comfortable for the majority of people out there. It can be frustrating, but ultimately, it can prove to be an extremely rewarding experience. There are additional challenges that exist, however, when it comes to job searching in a recession.

The term recession is likely to be as frightening to many as a job search. Because of this, it’s important to remember that there are ways to simplify job searching in a recession. Whether you are currently employed and concerned about the possibility of a layoff or you are unemployed and eager to find work, the following tips will help with job searching in a recession.

1.Inventory your skills. Whenever you are searching for a job, it’s important to make sure that you know your strengths and that you are able to identify the areas where you could be stronger. While job searching in a recession, if you are aware of the potential for growth in a given area, you may want to make an effort to develop those skills – particularly if they will make you more marketable to employers.
2.Identify your long term goals. When you are searching for a new job, you have a great opportunity to get a fresh start. If you’ve always felt that you aren’t doing the right type of work, you have the opportunity to explore other options – and what you would need to be able to break into a new field – rather than just looking for more of the same.
3.Step up your confidence. When you are frustrated and down about your circumstances, it is going to show. The more that you are able to overcome the stress that you’re experiencing and exude confidence, the better the position that you will be in to go in for the interview.

Ultimately, confidence is one of the strongest factors out there; when you are committed to doing your best work, when you are focused on learning about the companies that you apply to and you are able to focus on developing the full skill set that they are looking for, you will have an advantage.

Staying marketable is something that you can focus on whether or not you currently have a job and regardless of whether you are starting into a new field or looking for a similar position. When there are strains on the economy, there will be more applicants for various positions and that means that there will be more competition; remember that competition can be a good thing – provided you let it drive you to be your best.

Job searching in a recession, in other words, is really just a matter of ensuring that you are at the top of your game – that you have all of the necessary skills, that you know what you are working toward and that you know that you’re able to accomplish all of the things that you set out to do.

Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Given that the economy is nowhere near as strong as it could be, more and more companies are looking at layoffs as an option that will help them to stay in business. No matter how great you are at your job, there is a risk of the company eliminating your position – and if that happens, it’s likely that they will offer you a severance package. What many people don’t know is that negotiating a severance package is possible.

Before you really start thinking about negotiating a severance package however, there are a couple of things to consider. The most important thing to remember is that negotiating a severance package is not about exacting your revenge on the employer that terminated your position.

But just what is negotiating a severance package about?
1.First, negotiating about the package that you are offered is something that gives you the opportunity to ask for something more realistic. If, as an example, you have worked with the same company in the same position for a number of years, you are likely to look at an offer of two months of pay differently than someone given the same offer who’d been with the company less than a year. Additionally, if your expertise is limited and it’s unlikely that a similar position will open up elsewhere, you may be able to successfully argue for pay over a longer period of time.
2.Similarly, negotiating with your employer about a severance package is a chance to make requests for fair treatment. In some cases, particularly if you only have experience with a given system and way of doing things, you may find that your past employer is willing to offer an additional stipend that will help you to get training as you look for a new job.
3.The negotiation process is about making a clear and professional case for each item that you are requesting. Because of this, it’s important to determine what the severance package contains before you try to get something more.

Ultimately, some severance packages are extremely fair; others seem to be more of a token effort than anything else. If you are laid off and aware of the opportunity to negotiate the package offered, you will want to be sure that you know what your employer is offering; in some cases, it really will be best to accept the package as it is written. However that doesn’t mean that you should just assume that you’re getting the best possible deal.

Before negotiating a severance package, make sure that you know when you must respond – your employer will give you a deadline – then read through the offer. If it seems unrealistic or grossly unfair, you may want to talk to a lawyer about your situation to ensure that you have a solid argument. When you are able to point out the flaws of the severance package as offered and to make a clear, professional case for each request that you’re making, however, you just might find that it’s possible to come away with more than initially offered.

Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.