When the economy is readjusting and slowing, it’s tempting to pull back from your job search.  There are fewer and fewer postings for open positions out on the Internet sites or within corporate websites.  All the chatter says that very little is happening.  Don’t back off and don’t give up.  But more than anything, don’t be passive and reactive!

Treat yourself as a marketer with a new product that has to find and penetrate a new market.  You have to evaluate the product’s features and benefits as they pertain to your new target markets.  You have to simultaneously research the various markets and target audiences that might be viable.  You then cross check your product (yourself) against your newly researched targets.

Then, just like any good sales person, you have to find a way to get to talk to the decision makers in your market.  You can’t be a bad and passive sales person, waiting for the market to come to you.  (Kind of like waiting for a posting on the Internet, right?)  Wiggle your way to your decision maker and determine their business needs and problems.  Match your abilities to those needs.  Propose yourself as a solution.  Be creative in the various proposals you make.  Offer choices as to how you can help and the “business deal” you could work under.  Be ready to be flexible.

Even if they don’t jump forward with you right away, you’ll be poised to join in and help them solve their needs as the economy recovers and new budgets for the New Year are put in place.  Be the help they need and you’ll have proactively created opportunity for yourself!