Archive for January, 2009

When I first got canned, I must have submitted over a hundred job applications through Monster, eFinancialCareers, Indeed, and every corporate website that I could find. This literally got me zero responses. Frustrated, I started to think that the thousands of listings online were little more than a mirage.

There are three reasons why some job board listings aren’t genuine opportunities:

1. Sometimes job listings are a formality

Some employers need to show that they opened up their recruiting to a diverse audience. These mandates may come down from HR or be indirectly pressured by an agency like The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Often the position will be filled internally or by a professional recruiter, rendering the job post little more than a formality.

2. Recruiters post dummy jobs

Professional recruiters like to build up databases of resumes. An insider told me that some of his headhunter friends will post fake job openings just to collect names and contact details for future use.

3. Old openings get recirculated

Lots of job boards cannibalize each other. Sites that can’t get enough direct listings will scan competitors, re-use their listings, and provide a link back. This doesn’t always happen in real time, so sometimes these crusty old listings are re-listed as shiny and new.

Avoid the black hole. Even for a legitimate job offer, submitting your resume online can be like sending it into a black hole. Especially in a recession, you need to follow up on anything worth applying for. The true value of job boards is that they provide market research. Job boards are one of the best ways to figure out who is hiring and what skills they are looking for.

Whenever possible, use job boards as a point to start your networking. Check your Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, or alumni database to see if you can find an inroad. Find out if the firm is visiting a career fair near you and make a connection in person. Whatever you do, don’t sit back and wait after filling out an online application.

Customer Experience Ninja
Bonobos, New York City

Welcome to the Layoff Beard blog!

When I got canned from my job a couple months ago, I didn’t lose hope. I just stopped shaving. Out of those first weeks of scruff, the idea for TheCanned.com was born.  A couple months later, even the Wall Street Journal picked up the story.

A layoff beard is more than facial hair– a layoff beard is a state of mind. For millions of jobless, its a way of seeing the lighter side of unemployment.  On this blog, we know how it feels to get canned, cut, downsized, made redundant, fired, laid off, axed, let go, and just plain shown the door.  Together, we’ve knocked our heads together and come up with some solid information on getting back on your feet.  This blog is for all the good stuff that doesn’t fit elsewhere on the site– humor, tips, tricks, commentary, etc.

We’re down, but definitely not out. We are The Canned.

With the unemployment rate growing by the day, many of you job seekers may have noticed that employers have raised the bar when it comes to qualifications. In particular, a bachelor’s degree and a couple years of experience in a position won’t go too far. A case in point: we had a Harvard JD and a Stanford MBA apply for an unpaid internship here at TheCanned.com.

In addition, soft skills that were once transferable– ability to communicate, clarity under pressure, strength with numbers, general qualitative analysis– are no longer as desirable.

If you’re looking to get a job quick, think in terms of hard skills. When times are good, employers look for the smartest people and train them. When times are bad and training budgets get cut, employers want people who can hit the ground running.

Aptitude and potential don’t matter so much as the specific tasks that you are used to performing on a regular basis. If you were a management consultant, look to get on with a corporate planning team but don’t try to do security selection for a hedge fund. If you were an accountant, look to do equity research or financial operations but don’t look to do strategy consulting.

By focusing on a narrow set of opportunities for which you are perfectly qualified, you will likely land a job quicker.

Of course if you have connections, this is all a moot point.

Maybe you were blindsided or maybe you saw it coming.  Either way, you have some important decisions to make.  For most, the first reaction after getting canned is either getting emotional or diving right back into the job search.  Before you make any moves, here are 10 suggestions for your first days of unemployment.

1. Take 2 days off.  You probably have more options than you think and rushing into a job search can be calamitous.  Designate a “time out” period and stick to it.  Give yourself a chance to shake the desperation and really think about what you want to do next.  Get out of the house, ditch the computer for a while, exercise, and make sure that you feel healthy when you hit the job trail.

2. Get your finances in order. Take a cursory look at your finances and make an action plan for staying in the green. Organize your expenses and look to trim as much as possible. For many, putting together a reasonable budget can help you feel back in control.

3. File for unemployment. Especially when unemployment rises, states get bogged down with new claims.  For many, it can take over a month to start getting checks.  If you get severance, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t collect.  Look at your state profile on TheCanned.com for specific directions.

4. Get your story straight. You need to answer a few important questions before you can make a productive work search: are you willing to move? do you want to stay on track or make a career transition? aside from money, what types of fringe benefits or work/life perks do you really want? Equally important, make sure that you know why you got canned and how you want to address it in interviews.

5. Update your resume. Use action words and sharp adjectives.  Be as specific as you possibly can on projects. Make yourself sound as skilled, successful, and capable as you possibly can without lying.  You can perfect it over time, but get it into working order as soon as possible.

6. Put together an outreach strategy. The best way to find a new job is by networking.  Start with your former colleagues, then move on to friends, family,  former clients, alumni, etc. Avoid email lists.  Nothing feels more impersonal than a “:CC” list 100 people long.  Regardless of the truth, people think that you have time to burn now. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone.

7. Establish a job board perusal routine. As you can see in the Job Board Listings section of TheCanned.com, there are hundreds and hundreds of sources for new job advertisements. Find the ones that are most relevant to you and get into a routine for when to check them. Where possible, take advantage of email subscriptions and RSS feeds.

8. Take advantage of the time off. Job searching is certainly a full-time job, especially in the beginning.  But some of your search can be conducted outside of business hours and from anywhere with an internet connection. Take some time to travel or reconnect with friends. Get a girlfriend or boyfriend. Explore the day-time side of your city that you’ve never had time to enjoy.

9. Read up. If you’re planning on interviewing, having a command of the headlines for the world and for your field is key. If you ever plan on going back to school, now is a good time to study for the entrance exams. GMAT scores, for example, are valid for 5 years from test day. Why not study up and ace the test while you have the time?

10. Stay active. Wake up each morning even though you don’t have to and make sure that you stay fit and eat well. Make time to work out– maybe you can finally hit that elusive fitness goal. Instead of takeout, try learning to cook. If you look and feel good, it will make it easier to stay confident. Most importantly: Grow Your Layoff Beard.