Unemployment potential?

First and most important step is to commit to focus on the controllables, not the uncontrollables. Yes it is more challenging to get a job but certainly not impossible.

Your focus must be on taking action that will move you closer to recruitment day.

So what can you do?

Initially let me tell you the question that most people can’t answer with any great conviction at an interview -

“Why do you want the job?”

Most people pause and have to think of an appropriate answer to this question – I expect nothing less than an immediate outpouring of excitement and information that proves to me beyond all reasonable doubt that yes this is the job for you.

Remember if you don’t really want that job in the current environment we have plenty of people who probably do

With this in mind it may be useful to take this timeout to reflect on what you really want?

What occupations satisfy your interest and values?

If the job reflects something that is very important to you or you are very passionate and interested in this area you start to become a very marketable potential employee. If on the other hand although you will be tempted,you will find going for any old job will probably be as difficult as going for the one you want.
Note going for a lower level job in a company which could offer you a career path to your dream job is a good choice if that is all that is available at that time. Get in the door and wow them. It is easier to get up the scale than get in the door.

When you have zoomed in on your area of interest start building a compelling selling message both online on offline.

Online is where there are now many, many opportunities to build your personal brand.
Lateral thinkers have got jobs through their involvement in such sites as Twitter. This microblogging site allows you to post 140 chars at a time on what you are doing at that time.

What you can do and what I have done is to post relevant industry news specific to your area of expertise or indeed highlight information on whats required of the modern employee and so. This can give potential employers an insight into your thinking and style. Also Twitter allows you to follow people – obviously follow those organisations and people who you would like to work with in the future if they follow back you can send them through direct messages ref employment aspirations and so on.

Twitter gives access to a lot of decision makers that just may get excited about your personal brand. Seize the opportunity to impress.

Another obvious strategy but less immediate is to develop your connections on Facebook, Linked in and so on.

Be very careful with your online brand – one jobseeker who had just landed a job with one of the big software companies decided to go online and share the following dilemma with her Twitter following “ just got a job offer with ….. will the fat pay cheque ease the pain of a boring job?” One of the companies reps were online and reported it to HR – job offer rescinded!!

Offline of course it is important that you develop a winning CV that engages the interviewer.
I personally prefer the following layout : Personality Profile – Working Achievements – Educational Achievements – Sports, Interests and Hobbies – Personal Details. Maximum length 2 pages
Remember we are operating in an attention deficit society!

Finally you need to move from the instant gratification paradigm to perseverance.

As a child you realised that every failure was bringing you closer to success that should be your mentality. I would also think you should look at becoming an expert in your field – research suggests that three hours a day for ten years will bring you expert status and all its rewards.

Don’t worry you wont have to wait for a job that long. Believe and control the uncontrollables!