Recession job hunt p1 - Military Transition - Military Times EDGE

You’ve probably stared down the barrel of things worse than this.

Yes, job hunting recently got way tougher — just as you’re thinking of leaving active duty. Job-fair lines are getting longer as unemployment figures creep higher.

But there’s no reason to panic. There’s a right weapon for every task, job-hunt experts say. Here’s your arsenal for landing a job during these dark recessionary days:

Be portable

Be prepared to go where the jobs are. What’s one more move, after all? Plus, it’s likely you have a full or partial paid move coming to you, care of Uncle Sam. If you’re willing to relocate and a new employer doesn’t even have to pick up moving expenses, you are a hot commodity, according to Stephen M. Norred, a partner with Kaye/Bassman International Corp., which specializes in placing former service members.

Get to the bottom of the news

It’s easy to get mired down in daily reports of layoffs and closures, and that’s all very real. But it’s only one part of the story, said Barbara Adler, a senior managing career consultant with IMPACT Group. “Recent headlines told about the downsizing at Microsoft and all the reasons contributing to the slowdown in its business,” she said. But read an often-overlooked New York Times report, and a different story emerges. “Microsoft said Thursday that it would replace some of the fired workers with new hires … as it tries to grow new businesses.” Do your homework, Adler advises. Read the papers and explore companies’ own Web sites. See a new contract or a new product line? You may be on your way in, even while others are leaving.

No job is too small

While you wait for a couple of trillion dollars in bailouts to do their trick, don’t just sit on your hands. Take part-time work if it is offered. Freelance if you have the right skills. Take seasonal work or a temporary job. Any of these can pay the bills and get you an audience with the decision-makers who will be doing the hiring when the economy revives. Job-hunt authors, Careerbuilder.com and dozens of other sources are rating this high among job-hunting strategies for a dud economy.

Lateral drift

Don’t see exactly the job you want? Slide a little to the side, take a position that’s “close enough” for now, and then use your time wisely. “An example of flexibility in position is someone who worked on the credit side with a financial services firm, but moved into a corporate credit position,” said Bill Driscoll, a district president with Robert Half International. From this position it’s possible to keep up one’s network, stay current on industry topics, take courses — do whatever is needed to hop back over the fence when the moment is right.

Rifle, not shotgun

Intuition says this is the time to cast a wide net. Apply for every job that even seems close, and you’re bound to land the big one eventually, right? Wrong, say the tipsters at Monster.com. It’s a waste of energy to launch generic cover letters at dozens of recruiters each week. Pick the positions you want and hone your efforts accordingly, or find a company that looks like the right fit and delve deep, learning all you can and fine-tuning your approach. One good, clean, accurate shot is most likely to hit the target.