How to do things well during a downturn.

One of the major problems to remember is that no one is hiring unless they absolutely have to. This can be very frustrating for you especially as you find there are fewer opportunities to develop your skills you have acquired in college or university.

However it does not have to mean the end of the world. Find out what the company needs to function? All of this information can be found on most websites, just do a little digging.

Another option that I have taken more seriously is to look more creatively in what a job looks like – the career is going out of the window. Being able to work on multiple projects with different organisations is a skill in itself and will help you to have plan b, c, and d when things are not going the way that they should.

If you can meet an employer’s basic needs then the happier people are. This would lead to further work in the future even if the current work dries up.

Always consider how the company’s needs fit in with your radical aims.

Know the place that you are trying to work for as if people come in and speak the same language as you – it is not dangerous. Get the language right and make it inclusive.

It is useful to have a brand. A brand can be what you are giving of yourself that is unique to you or the fundamentals things that make up you. It should be a statement of intent and history.

Talk within areas of strength. Try to speak more about the future and not be historically perspective. Think about what would the other person want from me and what can I give them.

Try to get some third party endorsements and building a support group for advice on how they see you as a brand. This will help you decide where your strengths and weaknesses are when you are putting yourself out there.

Use the biggest pigeonhole you can so instead of talking about journalism – maybe discuss communications, production, or research.

Always think how can I solve your problems, use your CV and cover letters to highlight how you can solve their problems. Remember to add in keywords as most companies are using computer systems that shift through CVs without actually reading them.

Be on the lookout for opportunities that are compatible with your goals and future aims.

Whenever you go for an interview, think about what are your reality and the employer’s perception – that is the ultimate compromise. Interviews are about making good use for the business, not making you look good. Treat the interview like a pitch: thought, word and deed. One useful tip to remember is be nice to the receptionist as most employers speak to the receptionists and asks how the candidate addressed the company’s front desk.

You don’t have to have all of the answers. However your body language should be perfect. Think about eye contact, stance, posture, gestures, use your space, and your voice. When using your voice, think about pace (pauses), pitch (dynamics), power (volume), projection (throwing your voice).

Try to network your way into advertised roles – at least find out who is recruiting and what the job entails, it could also be good to know why the other person is leaving. Every advertisement is a way to increase your network and broaden your contacts.

Be soft in the way you take advantage of your network and try to organise around your network every so often.

Do email me if this has helped you in any way.