by Lucinda Gunnin

Created on: July 20, 2009   Last Updated: July 23, 2009

Finding a job is always easiest when you already have a job, so if your company seems adrift in the poor economy or if the last round of layoffs struck too close to home, start looking before you get the pink slip.

If it's already too late to start before you are unemployed, take heart and follow some easy steps to finding your next job.

Apply for unemployment. Even if you aren't eligible for unemployment compensation, your state unemployment office should be your first stop when hunting for a job. Most states have data bases available for job seekers and usually those data bases are listing jobs the company wants to fill fast. Additionally, a lot of those jobs never make it to the newspaper or on-line postings.

Another advantage of the unemployment data base is that most also ask you to complete a skills analysis as part of the job matching service. This is extremely valuable because most people forget all the duties that have been included in previous jobs. If your last job required you to act as back up for accounts payable, then be sure to add accounts payable to your skill list. Never lie on your applications or resume, but be sure to take full credit for things you have done.

Consider registering with temporary agencies. Many people don't want to consider temping because they need a permanent job, but many temporary agencies offer temp-to-permanent positions and many employers prefer the pre-screening accomplished by hiring through an agency. Even if the temp agency can't find you a permanent job, they may be able to help you find something while you are looking.

Maybe it's a perception issue, but most employers like hiring someone who is already working. Whether it gives them a sense of your commitment to work or a thrill to steal their newest employee from someone else, make it work for you by working. A temp job will also help you make ends meet while you are job hunting and will keep you from developing poor unemployment habits, like off sleeping schedules or letting your professional appearance slip.

Access on-line job sites. Hundreds of different job sites exist on-line with a general job boards like Monster and more specialized sites like HigherEdJobs.com. Find the job sites that are appropriate for you and use them. Format your resume or CV in a way for easy uploading (watch for formatting issues) and keep track of the jobs you apply for. One word of caution: Many scam artists will use job boards as a means to identify people looking for work and will use your unemployment as a weapon in the scam. Consider setting up a disposable email address at one of the free email services (Yahoo, hotmail or gmail), to use during your job search and abandon it later to the spammers.

Tell everyone you know about your job search. Friends in the industry, your church, social groups and even on-line social networking sites can be a great way to let people know that you are looking. Often, someone you know might have access to information about job openings that you never would have considered otherwise.

Stay focused. One of the hardest things about a job search is getting up every day and looking for a job. Getting up at the same time every morning, showering and dressing professionally can help keep you on track and make you ready for a last minute interview without scrambling to shave.

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