Judging by recent news and economic reports, the United States has entered into a recession. This recession is not expected to last more than a year, but unless you are wealthy or have substantial savings, one year without a job is a long time. Depending on their salary and field of employment, most people take about 2 to 6 months to find a job.

Job searching can be difficult and frustrating, but do not despair. There are plenty of jobs out there, but finding them usually requires hard work, persistence, and creativity.

This article talks about some things to do while you are looking for a job as well as some creative ways to meet and interact with new people. It is unlikely that you will find a job immediately, but be persistent and something good is likely to happen.

Resumes

Resumes are overrated. Many job searchers spend too much time working on their resumes when they should be meeting and talking to hiring managers.

I have received job offers from employers who had never seen my resume. I got this offer by talking to a hiring manager, telling her about my skills and previous experience, and showing that I conduct myself in a professional manner. The manager was so impressed that I received an offer before anyone at the company had seen my resume!

The problem with resumes is that they are static pieces of paper. Even if your resume is in the hands of the right hiring manager, it may just sit on their desk. Hiring managers tend to be busy and they receive hundreds or even thousands of resumes. The best way to differentiate yourself from the competition is not to have a better looking resume, but to engage in more frequent contact. E-mail is usually best, but phone calls are also a good way to contact people. If you can build a professional relationship with someone at an organization, then you are more likely to get hired by them than if you just sent them a resume.

Networking

"Networking" is probably one of the most overused and misunderstood words in the English language. I frequently hear people talk about networking, and many articles have been written about the importance of networking. Despite this, few people can provide a clear definition of networking or describe how to do it.

Networking is building relationships with people who share a common interest. For most people, networking will consist of developing relationships with other people who work in the same field as they do.

A common mistake that many people make when networking is only focusing on what other people can do for them. Chatting with someone for a few minutes and asking for their business card is not proper networking. Instead, when you first meet someone, find out what they do and what their interests are. The more you focus on other people's goals and how you can help them, the more likely they are to help you.

When meeting new people and networking, take a long-term approach. When they meet me, many people ask me if my firm is hiring during the first 5 minutes of our conversation. Never ask someone if they know of any job openings when you first meet them. Follow up later and see how the person is doing. If you develop a professional relationship with someone, they will help you look for a job.

The way to build a professional relationship is through common interests and goals. Find out what interests other people have. This will give you a common interest and something to discuss with the other attorney. For example, if an attorney who you meet expresses an interest in employment law, you may want to send them an interesting article on a pending class action lawsuit by the employees of a large company.

Do not hesitate to ask other people for their professional advice on an issue. For example, if one of your friends is having trouble being reimbursed by an insurance company for a claim, call an attorney that you have met who works in the field of insurance law. Keep the call brief, and do not take up more than 10 minutes of the attorney's time. Let them know that you trust their advice on the matter, and offer to refer your friend to them as a client if the attorney thinks that your firend has a good case. Afterwards, send the attoney a short e-mail thanking them for taking the time to give you advice.

Showing other people that you can help them develop professionally will make them more likely to refer clients to you and tell you about job openings. This is the ultimate goal of networking.

Attending networking events while you are looking for a job is very important. You should not wait until they are unemployed before they start networking, though. Whether or not you currently have a job, try to do more networking.

Interviewing

Interviewing has changed significantly during the past 10 years. The process has become less formal, and interviews are frequently shorter and less structured than they used to be. Your performance during job interviews will be a major factor in how many offers you receive, as most law firms make hiring decisions based in large part on how a candidate presents themselves during an interview.

In the old days, companies firms would accept resumes, screen them for qualified applicants, and invite those applicants to meet with several of the company's managers for interviews. The managers would ask each candidate the same list of questions, and then make a decision.

Today, interviewing is much faster paced and not as formal. I have met people for job interviews at Starbucks or a restaurant rather than an office. Interviews are frequently rushed and last less than 10 minutes. Sometimes it is not even clear whether or not a meeting is actually an interview!

This new environment requires people who are looking for a job to develop new skills. Rather than waiting for the person conducting the interview to ask you a question, have a few concise talking points that explain your background, why you want to work for the organization, and how you can help it succeed. A candidate should be able to make a convincing case for why they should be hired in about 5 minutes.

Probably the most important thing to remember about the interviewing process is this: people make hiring decisions based on emotional reasons and justify their decisions with logical reasons. Focus on connecting with the person who is conducting the interview. Present yourself as a confident, trustworthy, intelligent, and outgoing individual. If the person conducting the interview is impressed and wants to hire you, then they will look for logical reasons to present to other members of their organization. Be ready with a solid list of reasons why you should be hired. For example, "I graduated from a good law school, wrote articles for a law journal, and interned for a judge." These reasons all present a strong logical case why you should be hired.

Dressing appropriately for an interview is important. Check on the dress code at the company or organization where you are interviewing. If the employees wear business casual or business attire, then be sure to wear a suit. I recommend wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and a dark red or blue tie for men. If there is any doubt about what clothing is appropriate, then dress conservatively and wear a dark suit.

If the employees at the organization where you are interviewing dress casually, then you may not want to wear a suit. If the office is very casual and everyone usually wears jeans and T-shirts, then you may want to wear business casual cloths. Khakis and a nice shirt will suffice. I once interviewed at an internet company and wore a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie. I looked overdressed and awkward as I sat on a bean-bag chair and talked about my qualifications. The person who was interviewing me was wearing blue jeans, and I did not look like someone who would fit in at their company. Remember that although it is usually best to wear a suit to an interview, there are exceptions.

After the interview is over, be sure to follow up with the person and thank them for meeting with you. I usually send a quick e-mail the next day. Let the person know that you are still interested in the job, and mention something that you discussed during the interview. For example, "it was interesting to learn how your firm has been expanding its real estate practice."

Interviewing requires patience and practice. If you work on it, you will get better as you go along.