November 17, 2008 10:42 AM

Job search tips list-o-rama
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 10:42 AM

Sunday's Globe had a story by reporter Robert Gavin that painted a pretty depressing picture of the Massachusetts job market. It chronicled the futile job searches of two very qualified workers who had been laid off.

It's no surprise that it's an extremely bad time to be looking for a job. With unemployment continuing to rise as layoff announcements become a daily event, there are many more applicants for much fewer jobs. The competition for available jobs is as tough as it's ever been.

But we're not here to lament. Along with the boom in unemployment has been an equal rise in the amount of advice for those battling through this tough job market. Here are a few checklists for those looking for every bit of job search advice they can get their hands on.

First, Messmer, chairman and CEO of staffing firm Robert Half International, offers the following 10 tips for job seekers:

1. Step outside your comfort zone. Avoid limiting your search to your current industry or field. Identify your transferable skills and experiences, and communicate them to prospective employers.
2. Minimize work history gaps. If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships and part-time opportunities, all of which can potentially lead to a full-time role.
3. Be flexible. Remain open to all possibilities, even if the job title, salary and benefits may not be exactly what you hoped for. Once you get your foot in the door, you will have a chance to prove yourself.
4. Find jobs before they're advertised. Read your local business journals and newspapers to identify companies that are hiring or expanding, and send them your resume.
5. Cast a wide 'net.' General job boards can be useful, but don’t forget industry and trade association websites, which may have more targeted career opportunities.
6. Network -- online and off. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job, whether in-person or using professional networking websites.
7. Manage your digital footprint. Think your friends are the only people who viewed those less-than-professional vacation photos you posted online? Think again. With a few mouse clicks, potential employers can dig up information about you on blogs, personal websites and personal networking site profiles. Make sure you do a thorough self-search and take any necessary corrective action.
8. Customize. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each opportunity. Employers want to see why you’re the right person for their job.
9. Enhance your marketability. Find out what skills are most in-demand and take steps to give yourself an edge in these areas. Focus on sharpening both functional and interpersonal skills.
10. Meet with a recruiter. Staffing executives can be your eyes and ears in the job market. Recruiters also provide useful feedback on your resume and interview skills, and help you locate full-time and temporary jobs.

An article in the new career mentoring site Gotta Mentor, which just launched its beta version, also offers job search tips in a bad economy, this time focusing on what recent college graduates and those looking for entry-level work can do to increase their employment chances:

• Think global. Despite what is happening in the U.S. economy, there will continue to be growth abroad. If you do not have a global perspective, which includes language skills and an understanding of how to do business in different cultures, you will limit your opportunities
• Consider the opportunities in which you will learn the most and develop transferable skills. Now is the time to plan for your future. Employers are increasingly looking for people that can hit the ground running. In this economy, don’t take the best sounding job, take the job where you will have the most responsibility and develop skills
• Reach out to alumni in areas of interest to you. They can be sources for job leads and industry insight that makes you look smart in an interview
• Don't be picky. Cast a wide net. In a down market you want to focus on getting experience. Once you're in the door, it will be much easier to move around
• Get a mentor or two. Engage people you know and trust to help you in your job search and interview prep.

There have also been a number of advice pieces in the Globe and on Boston.com in recent days and weeks. Here is a quick list of links.

• 7 steps to take after being laid off

• 10 ways to adapt to the job market in a down economy

• 8 steps to turn your job search into a business plan

Are you fearful of being laid off? What steps have you taken to prepare for the worst? What advice would you give to those who have been laid off? Share your thoughts in our discussion forum.