For the individuals that have just been made redundant or are preparing themselves for a layoff, this translates into an increasingly competitive job search. With all of this in mind, LBH Consultants have put together some hopefully useful tips that will guide you through this difficult period and give you an advantage to find the right job during this period.

1. Stay Organized: You as the individual are now soliciting more companies and networking with more people to find the next job. This requires you to be extremely organized during your job search. Establish a centralized database to store information, such as: the company and interviewer’s name and title; the company’s products and services; the date of the job interview; and the status of interviews, thank you notes, and other follow-up tasks.
2. Focus Your Accomplishments: A resume is the perfect place to boast. Clearly list key accomplishments, and the correlating impact under each job listing. Each impact statement should begin with the results of the achievement. For example, “Cut overhead costs by 25 percent by streamlining workflow and centralizing operations.” Load the resume with active verbs and keyword nouns. Active verbs sell the employer and keyword nouns increase the odds of your resume being found in a resume database.
3. Consider a Functional Resume: If you are considering a career transition–as is the case for many job seekers in recently impacted fields, such as the construction and Oil & Gas industries–a functional resume is needed. A functional resume highlights cross-over skills and achievements and downplays job titles and industries. This is an ideal way to show prospective employers that you’re perfect for the job, even though your experience may not be directly related.
4. Research and Prepare: Make a distinct impression by being the best-prepared job candidate. Research information on the company before the interview, and use this information to ask educated questions during the interview. Some employers have even interviewed candidates who were armed with a printout highlighting important facts about the company’s products and services found on the company’s website.
5. Follow-up Frequently: Since our clients are now interviewing many job seekers for one position, it is important to regularly remind your recruitment consultant that you are still available and interested. Reminders work well through frequent follow-up with phone calls, e-mails, and written notes.
6. Be Realistic about your salary expectations: The high-flying days of the dot.com era are history. Have realistic expectations while negotiating a compensation package. Research the competitive salary range for the position within the specific geographic region, along with vacation time, and other components of a compensation package. Hold out for you’re worth, but be open and flexible. And remember to always let the employer bring up the topic of compensation first.
7. Present Sample Work: Since you want to stand out from the rest of the competition, impress prospective employers by bringing a portfolio of best work samples to the interview, even if it was not requested. Compile both recent and dated samples of work to demonstrate expertise and results achieved at prior jobs. Be ready to discuss the ideas and strategy behind each sample.

The market is fierce when it comes to finding a job today, but job seekers who follow these tips are sure to come out on top.