Have you been laid off or know that a lay-off is in your future? Finding a new job is always a stressful ordeal but there are strategies to minimize the stress and make finding a job much easier. Once it becomes obvious that you are about to join the ranks of the unemployed, you need to move fast to try to make the unemployed period as short as possible. Here are a few things you can do to improve your odds of finding a new job.

Skills Assessment

Sit down and assess the skills that you possess. Write them down and then look at them carefully. Which skills do you have that will cross-over to a new job or career path? Take careful not of these because you will need them to rewrite your resume for the job applications. When you arrive for interviews, make sure that you are sure which skills you possess that will wow your potential new employer. Employers are looking for specific skill sets to fill their open positions, if you possess those skills and communicate this in the interview, then you greatly increase your chances of being hired.

Networking

Who do you know that works in a field in which you would like to become employed? Contact them and find out what skills are most desired by employers in their field. While you’re at it, ask if they know of any openings in their field. Maybe someone is retiring at their company or they may know of another company that is going to be looking for a new employee. Other sources of referrals are friends, relatives, neighbors, members of a club to which you belong, fellow church members, and just about anyone else that you know. Also check the job related websites , such as Monster.com, and see if there are any jobs that you can apply for online. Post your resume on several online sites and let potential employers know that you are looking.

Search before advertisement

Why wait for a job to be advertised before you apply? Once a job is advertised, the number of applicants is going to jump into astronomical figures. See which companies employ people in your chosen field and contact them to see if they have any openings coming up in the near future. You may get a leg-up on your competition and get the job before anyone else even knows that the job exists.