How to stay afloat in today's job market?

Question

How are people finding jobs in today's job market, where there are many applicants per position as opposed to years ago when it was the other way around?

Answer 1

Marketing one self better would be the way to go ahead...

Answer 2

• Update yourself with latest technologies in your domain.
• Always learn (new stuffs) as if you are a fresher
• For IT professionals learning is life

Answer 3

Start a start-up!

Answer 4

I'm definitely noticing today's job market perking up briskly -- that is, at successful hi-tech companies and ambitious startups in Silicon Valley, looking, as usual, for top-of-the-heap engineers, product managers, technical managers, &c -- but even in that niche there was about one year where much less recruiting, head-hunting and hiring was going on. Now I see all the signs -- annoying head-hunter cold calls, emails, etc, recruiters showing up at grassroots tech-enthusiast meetings, companies doubling referral bonuses and/or launching special referral campaigns, etc, etc. I notice all of this both as a subject of such attention (unwelcome in my case, since I'm so happy with my current employer!), and as a person who's trying to recruit, refer (and ideally get hired!-) great people for my company.

I think that all you have to do today to get a great job offer is: live in the right area (Silicon Valley's fine, I'm sure some other areas are too), known specialties that are in high demand (technologies, languages, application areas, etc), be one of the world's best in your field, be reasonably well known around your area -- the last one's about too easy to mention, because if you're really burning-hot with enthusiasm for the field you're in, you'll have been organizing (or at least regularly participating in) grassroot meetings of interest groups, meetups, hackfests, install parties, and the like. (If you have no real enthusiasm for the field coursing in your veins, if you're looking for "just a job", then it's harder, but then it SHOULD be because that's already one strike against you).

If you live in a depressed area, consider moving; if that's ruled out by personal issues (caring for an aging parent, say), the barrier is higher, BUT there are companies out there which are putting together a world-class distributed team (of course, to be considered for such a team, you'll have to be THE world's best, not just "one of", and enjoy world-wide fame and awe, not just "be reasonably well known"). If your skills are not up to par, you can hone them -- that's especially easy for software developers, with so many open source projects you can join, but there are possibilities in other technical areas, too. If your skills are incredible but you're not well known, remedy that: blog, become very active on Stack Overflow and rack up tens of thousands in reputation, do podcasts and videos, write books, organize conferences, be on every conference or meeting (in-person or virtual) that's relevant to your field and that you can possibly reach, etc, etc.

If you make all of this a habit, you'll never be wanting for offers -- not even in the next bleak turn-down, in my experience, and most definitely not when things are starting to look up again, like now, and the industry's starting to leave one turndown behind itself...!-)

Answer 5

Do not fear anything or anyone! Even if you scared to death don't behave like a victim. Be proactive - talk to managers, be useful, start new projects, call everyone you know and you don't know. Create LinkedIn account. And if you fear for your job - start looking now. Sell, sell, sell! If you are the biggest talent but nobody knows about it - you stand no chance. Of course you have to have what to sell - that goes to the answer #1.

Nobody can survive by barricading in the cube and turning off the light

Answer 6

@tslib,

Your best bet is professional and personal networking. Your peers, friends, and family are your best bet for getting a new position or moving into a new field. Although all of the online job sites are helpful they can only take you so far. Head out to the job fairs and other social media events that occur for your field. Dress nice while being proactive and outgoing (break out of your shell if you have to). Take your resume with you in paper and electronic form so you have it when asked.

You also need to be thinking of how to set yourself apart from the other persons applying for the same position. Think back to your last/current job and note the extra things you did to help increase effectiveness and efficiency. Did you help stream-line a process or generate a new procedure that helped everybody understand a task better? Add these to your resume if you haven't or be sure to bring them up during the interview. Persons who can do extra activities that benefit everybody while still doing their usual duties are very valuable at any time.

Try to express confidence during this stressful time (hard to do unless you are thinking about it). Remember, one way or another you are going to get through this hard time and move onto your next position.

Good luck, Cutaway

Answer 7

A lot of people have noted that learning is life for those working in our industry, this is correct. However, I know very few people who apply the same passion to non technical business learning. Taking courses that offer some kind of certification in project management, ethics, cost analysis and others really helps to show that not only are you on top of the latest technology, you are a business minded individual. HR training is also not a bad thing to have.

A big fear shared amongst many high level managers are technical directors who are incapable, or unwilling to weigh technical and business merits equally when making decisions, especially decisions that result in costly delays.

You can assume that should a tie occur between you and someone else for any position based on your technical background, other elements in your background will be the deciding factor. Make sure you are (on paper) as much of a business person as you are a technical expert and you'll do rather well.

Answer 8

Polish each and every of your skill so that you're much better than all those other applicants. This will give you an edge.

Our company is hiring now and we turn down almost everyone who comes for an interview because their skills (especially learning skills) are horrible - they've spent years working but can't solve even moderately difficult tasks and that's mot likely because they are just unable and not willing to learn. So what there're lots of applicants? We send them off and continue searching.

Answer 9

Finding one's niche is as useful now as it was in other recessions, IMO. Understanding what it is that you do well and like, how would someone want you to do that, and making the connection are the keys. The last is simply networking which will be recommended all the time as really how else does one find those awesome jobs?

There may be something to getting one's ducks in a row and being ready for the job hunt should something terrible happen as it seems almost everywhere has some risk, even governments. Granted I'm in that odd province called Alberta that managed to go from having billions in surplus to billions in deficits in a year so maybe this isn't a typical situation. ;)

Answer 10

Keep an eye on the job boards and be constantly on the lookout for a paradigm shift or technological tsunami. For example:

• If you deemed Novell UnixWare as the de facto standard for desktop apps in 1995, not only were you an idiot, but soon to be an unemployed one.

• If you were still doing Powerbuilder for client-server apps in 1999, you missed the boat when the web hit.

• If you didn't realize that Microsoft was slowly abandoning VB.NET in 2009, and have failed to learn C#, you may soon be marginalized.

That said, the people finding jobs now are the ones that could sense the "sweet spots" in technology. You have to go where the fish are biting.

Finally, you must be well rounded. If a manager can toss you over the wall to a demanding business user or VP of some department that wants a solid app, and not have to babysit you or translate basic English to you, you are worth 10 geeks that know nothing but techno-babble.

Stay current, and stay coherent. You will always have a job.