Monkey Talk in Today's Job Market

To give yourself the best chance of finding gainful employment in an area of interest to you, there are a few steps you need to take.  Top step: network, network, network -- and then network some more.  Networking is the core strategy in a plan for job hunting.

Secondly, make sure your resume is clear about what you type of job you're seeking and what you can do for a company or organization.  In other words, use monkey talk.  Be clear.  Be brief.  Be straightforward.  Don't bury the good stuff amidst clutter and confusion.  A recruiter will only give your resume a short glance -- unless the right idea catches their eye.

Once you have a resume that will please a monkey, it's time to target employers looking to grow.  Who might these employers be?  Government, for starters.  Read A Call to Serve to learn more about government initiatives to recruit new grads.  Also, read Mission Critical to find out why the government is hiring in such large numbers and what types of positions need to be filled.  

Another potential source of opportunities will be the base of companies aimed at competing in the global market.  These big companies need to maintain a presence in the world arena, so they are looking for top-notch talent.  Also, take a look at green companies.  With an emphasis on conservation, ecology, and sustainability, there are jobs of many varieties (from scientists to communication strategies) available in the green sector.  Finally, despite your dream to work for a Fortune 500 firm, consider opportunities available in small companies.  Although they typically look to fill jobs from a "just in time" standpoint, small companies (especially fast-growing ones) have many opportunities.  You may not get the name recognition from peers when you say, "I work at XYZ" but the reality is that you will be a big fish in a small pond -- instead of a small fish in a big pond.  You can make your mark in a small company in a few short years and gain a wealth of experiences that only higher-ups can access in larger companies.

Bottom line: the outlook for job hunters is not as dreary as you might expect.  There are jobs available -- the key is to network your way into them.  And stay flexible and open-minded.  Your first job (or 40th) is not necessarily where you need to stay for the rest of your life.  But having a job somewhere is probably better than having no job at all!