6 Ways The Job Search Has Changed Post-Recession

From AOL.com By Debra Auerbach

The recession changed a lot of things. It changed the way people spend
money, the way they save for retirement, the way they invest in stocks.
It's also changed the way companies recruit employees. Gone are the days
when companies courted prospective employees, hiring managers offered
generous starting bonuses and job seekers could choose from multiple
offers.

Since the recession ended in June 2009, companies have been slowly
emerging from survival mode and have begun more active hiring. Yet the
job market has been forever changed, and job seekers have had to face a
new reality when going about their job hunt.

So how does a job seeker emerge successful in this post-recession job
market? Here are six ways the job search has changed and the adapted
tactics needed to get hired.

1. Passive job searching is no longer an option

Pre-recession, it wasn't uncommon for a skilled, qualified job seeker to be romanced by a prospective employer. Recruiters
would actively seek out candidates without the candidates having to do
much in the way of aggressive follow up. That's rarely the case anymore.
These days, job seekers need to be proactive in order to find jobs and
get the attention of employers. "This means job seekers must be active
in their job search and set 'alerts' on major job boards/search engines
so they are notified when an appropriate job match is posted," says
Daniel Newell, job development and marketing specialist for San Jose State University's Career Center in San Jose, Calif.
"This also means that job seekers should utilize several job-search
strategies, such as job boards, job-search engines, classifieds,
networking sites and social media, in addition to job fairs and hiring
events."

2. Fewer jobs mean more competition

In the early 2000s, jobs were more plentiful, and if you didn't get one
job, chances are there'd be another one just like it. Yet nowadays, the
odds are not in a job seeker's favor. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, when the recession began in December 2007, the number of
unemployed persons per job opening was 1.8. When the recession ended in
June 2009, there were 6.1 unemployed persons per job opening. While the
number has since been trending downward and is currently at 4.2 (as of
November), you still need to find ways to stand out from the
competition.

"The burden of proof has shifted to the job seeker to demonstrate value and fit," says Roy Cohen, career coach and author
of "The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide." "Job seekers need
to be bolder and more energetic in this very challenging market. They
need to show that they're willing to go above and beyond and that
they'll work hard, tirelessly and take initiative to get the job done."
Cohen also says that job seekers need to be more solution-oriented.
"It's not enough to say, 'Here I am.' The emphasis is now on, 'Here's
what I can do for you.'"

3. Mistakes, even minor, are not tolerated

Back in the "glory days" before the recession, mistakes made in
application materials or during an interview weren't ideal, but they
weren't necessarily automatic deal breakers, either. If a candidate
misspelled a word on their résumé but otherwise had all the right
qualifications, the employer may have let the error slide. In this job
market, there's absolutely no room for errors. "Nothing less is accepted
or tolerated in a market where there are many more candidates than
positions, and companies need to be sold on adding headcount," Cohen
says.

To avoid making costly mistakes, proofread your résumé backward and
forward, and then have someone else proof it again. Ensure you're fully
prepared for an interview by researching the company and practicing
answering interview questions.

4. Social media is the new recruiting tool

Before the recession, HR teams were more robust and better equipped to
manage the hiring process. During the recession many companies
downsized, leaving HR short-staffed and buried under piles of résumés.
Recruiters have had to finds ways to more efficiently recruit, and
social media has become a solution for hiring managers to more quickly
find and screen candidates. That means job seekers need to have a social
media presence, and a professional one at that.

"Social media has made a huge impact for job seekers," says Lavie Margolin, career coach
and author of "Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for
Practical Job Seekers." "Employers are using social media to post job
openings and look into candidate backgrounds via private Facebook pages.
Job seekers have an opportunity to increase their visibility ... via
their LinkedIn page and possibly a blog that is industry-focused."

5. Customization is critical

It is no longer acceptable in this post-recession job market to use a
"spray and pray" method of applying for jobs. Blanket emailing
recruiters with the same generic résumé will ensure your application
gets tossed to the side. Newell says it's important that job seekers
create targeted résumés. "They must have a different résumé for each job
they are applying for, and they must ensure that they effectively
communicate their skills which relate to the job [for which] they are
applying." The same goes for cover letters.

6. Networking is more important than ever

It's becoming more and more of an advantage in today's world to know
someone within the company you're applying to so your résumé gets in the
right hands. While not everyone has automatic connections, there are
other ways to build relationships. One way to do so is through
networking. "My advice to today's job seeker is to network," Newell
says. "Job seekers should join groups and attend socials through sites
such as MeetUp and LinkedIn. Attending a casual social and being active
in online and offline groups can open many doors to employment."

The job market may not look the same as it did five years ago, but that
doesn't mean you have to start from square one. It just means that by
equipping yourself with the job-search tools needed in today's world,
you'll be in a better position to get hired.