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by Vanessa Orr
It's never easy to lose a job. But for some older professionals, the task of finding new employment might seem daunting. Some of the best advice, according to Kerry Boehner, owner of professional recruiting firm KOB Solutions, is to approach the search just like it's a regular job.
"Get a shower, get some coffee, sit down at your computer and start working," she explained. "While it can be devastating to lose a job, you have to realize that for every door that closes, another one opens."
Boehner suggests that the newly unemployed first take stock of their skills and attributes, and then decide what they want to do next in their careers. "This is the perfect opportunity to do something new," she explained. "I've read studies that say that people have five different careers in their lifetimes--this is your chance to start doing what you really want to do."
For some, that means completely changing careers. For others, it means taking their already established skill set to a different industry. Regardless, Boehner says that one of the keys to finding new employment is for the job hunter to contact everyone they know and ask for help.
"It is extremely important to get the word out, especially in Pittsburgh," she explained. "While people might be embarrassed to say that they are out of a job, it is critical to let others know that they need help." Unlike other cities, where job hunters often have success finding employment through the Internet and other means, Boehner says that the job market in Pittsburgh is heavily powered by word-of-mouth.
"Call everyone you know--friends, family, people that you worked with five or 10 years ago," she said. "People in Pittsburgh are extremely helpful when you ask for help, and they'll be happy to point you in the right direction."
Before going on any job interviews, however, Boehner advises updating and reviewing your resume. "It seems like common sense, but make sure that everything is spelled correctly and that the dates match up," she said. "Everything should be valid and true, because if it isn't, it can come back to bite you during a background check."
Boehner says that employment should be listed chronologically and that each job should include your main duties, with your most marketable skills listed first. "I don't believe that you should limit your resume to one page; if you've had a 20-year career, that's selling yourself short," she said. "Every position should be listed--in 1977, you might have worked at the same company with the person who is now reading your resume."
Boehner also suggest not submitting a resume though a company's website, as it might never get to the hiring manager who you're trying to reach. "Email it to a specific person," she said, "and don't do a mass email. Don't send material through the mail or fax."
Professional recruiting firms can also help a job hunter with a resume or job search. "Working with a headhunter can be a great way to start," she said. "They know who is hiring, who is letting people go, and what companies might have money to spend."
Recruiters are paid by the companies seeking employees, so they provide their services to job hunters for free. Still, it's important for those looking for work to find the right type of recruiting firm to help them.
"Find a firm that focuses on the field that you want to get into," said Boehner, whose company works in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. "Ask your friends in the industry if they've been contacted by a headhunter, or search on the Internet for a company that meets your needs."
The most important thing, according to Boehner, is simply not to give up. "If you're calling people and not hearing back, keep trying. But don't leave too many messages; just try to reach them when you might catch them in the office, or ask their secretary if there's a good time to call."
"It's important to be persistent, assertive and enthusiastic," she adds. "When I'm looking to fill a position and I have a person who might be slightly less qualified than another, but who is persistent where the other is not, I will go with that person."
Or course, you can't get hired if you don't try. And for that reason, Boehner strongly suggests not taking a 'couple months off' before looking for a job. "That's a really bad idea, because the longer you wait, the harder it is to get started," she said. "You need to hit the ground running."
"Though the Internet has changed things some, the old rule of thumb is that a person will be unemployed for one month per every $10,000 they made," said Boehner. "The less you make, the easier it is to get a job. The higher up you are, the longer the process will be."
