More Job Hunting Tips for this Tough Market

"How is business? What's the job market like? What are you working on? Do you know of any opportunities that I might be qualified for? I'm looking for an opportunity; can you help me? How can I navigate this job market? What do I need to do to differentiate myself?"

Those are the most common questions executive recruiters say job seekers are asking them these days. The recruiters note that IT professionals—whether they're employed or whether they've been laid off—are genuinely anxious about their job prospects. So, knowing executive recruiters have their fingers on the pulse of the job market and understand exactly what employers are currently looking for in candidates, job seekers are urgently phoning and texting recruiters to solicit them for career advice. Some get as many as 60 such calls and e-mails each day.

Many recruiters say they would genuinely like to help every job seeker who contacts them, but realistically, with the call volume so high, they can't. Business is scarce in the recruitment /search industry, and the consultants have to spend their time on what pays: drumming up search business and working on projects for existing clients.

To help the poor old recruiters and the IT professionals contacting them, we have compiled recruiters' answers to job seekers' pressing job search questions. These have been organised into six 'tips' for ways of working effectively with recruiters and for increasing your chances of landing a new job in this terrible market.

Make Yourself Visible (1)
If you want recruiters pursuing you for jobs, instead of you haranguing them, you have to make yourself visible. This means becoming a thought-leader in your industry or area of expertise. When you become a thought-leader, recruiters have an easier time finding you.

For example, if someone is conducting a search for a vice president of business intelligence, they find out who's speaking at BI conferences and heading up BI-related professional organisations to find potential candidates for the job. The executives who are speaking at conferences and who are elected to boards of professional associations have made themselves visible to recruiters.

Obviously, you can't become a thought-leader overnight. The quickest thing you might be able to do to establish yourself as an expert in your field is to start a search engine-friendly blog and update it every day. Remember that this is not an instant solution. It will take time to make an impact.

Make Yourself Visible (2)
Another way to make yourself visible is to maintain a strong presence on the websites recruiters use to find and screen candidates, such as LinkedIn and ZoomInfo.

Offer Something in Return
You can distinguish yourself from the rest of the job seekers contacting recruiters for advice by offering something to them. You could offer the recruiter a lead on an employer who's either having trouble filling a high-level position on their own or who's looking for a retained search partner.

You could offer a contact from your network who might be perfect for a job the recruiter is trying to fill. You could share an article relevant to the recruiter's business or some other market intelligence you've picked up while networking. Recruiters like job seekers who try to help them. They appreciate the help and they remember it.

Don't String Recruiters Along
If you're not interested in a position that a recruiter calls you about, or you're in the middle of a 12-month long systems implementation and you can't make a move until it's complete, tell the recruiter up front. Recruiters are like every else, they don't appreciate being misled.

Similarly, if a search firm offers you an interview with a client that you know you absolutely don't want, tell the search firm straigh away that it isn't what you want. Clearly you should explain why and tell them what you are looking for. Don't go to an interview just to get some 'practice' it can be very distructive for your credibility.

Just as recruiters remember the professionals who help them, they also remember the people who make them look bad. Part of the role of a recruiter is to keep good records and most keep detailed notes on who helps them and who doesn't, going back many many years.

Bag the Résumé
Handing out your résumé at networking events is expected but it can also appear to be a bit "old and stale". Instead, try out business cards printed with your name, personal e-mail address, mailing address and cell phone number.

The advantage of a business card over a CV document is that it's "soft, genteel and not in your face", not mention it being easier to carry around.

In addition, when you give out a business card, you usually get one in return. As you place your business card in the recipient's hand, you can ask them to please let you know if they know anyone who might be interested in your background. When you get their business card, you can then follow-up with them via e-mail, with an offer to help them in any way, a brief paragraph describing your skills, and a request for them to forward your name to anyone who might benefit from your skills. You have started a dialogue.

Keep Your Options Open
You can increase your chances of finding a new job if you're open to being flexible in your approach; relocating, switching industries or doing different work.

Candidates that limit themselves to a particular geography or fix the type of position they are looking for, generally stay unemployed longer.

Consider consultancy as a career
This is also an excellent time to consider consulting as a career move because a lot of companies are much more likely to take on a consultant than they are to take on a full-time employee. It's a lot less risky for an employer. They can take on a consultant much faster, with much less internal deliberation, without three rounds of interviews over five months.

If you're going to be flexible about your location, the position you're willing to take, and/or your compensation, you have to give recruiters and employers a good reason for your flexibility. You don't want to look like you're being flexible because you're desperate or at the mercy of the market.

Network. Network. Network
You've heard it over and over, but it's true: Networking is critical to finding a new job. Most jobs are found through networking. Consequently, people looking for jobs should spend most of their time networking.

Reach out. Do research on companies you're interested in working for and do some networking to find people who can introduce you to those companies.