Tips on hunting for a job in tough times from Newsday.com by Patricia Kitchen

Although the local jobless rate is lower than the national rate, the number of employees out of work is still at a high by historical standards.

On Wednesday night Siobhan M. Murphy, a career and business coach in Bay Shore, met with four women in job transition. Here is some advice she gave participants on job searching in tough times.

BE CLEAR. If you want others to know how to help you, you need to get clear about what kind of work you’re looking for, Murphy said.

RESEARCH. If you’re not sure, you can research jobs and job titles by using job board aggregates such as indeed.com and simplyhired.com. Enter a job category of interest and see what kinds of openings, titles and requirements come up. Or check the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/OCO/, which gives earnings, descriptions, training and educational requirements and prospects for hundreds of jobs.

ASSESS SKILLS. Think of your transferable skills and where else they might be valued. Murphy told of a woman who had worked for a mortgage broker and is now about to start working for a bank that is hiring those skilled at evaluating mortgages.

NETWORK. Posting a resume on job-related Web sites is too passive; you need to connect with people who will help you with information, direction and support. Create profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook and connect with others. Read and post to major blogs in your field.

TAKE CLASSES. While some industries are tanking, others are hiring. Think of essentials, she said, such as food stores, health care, businesses and services that cater to an aging population. Also, in tough times people often go back to school, so higher education might offer opportunities.

Similar Posts:

• Staying Motivated at a Dead-End Job
• Why The Workplace Office Is Becoming Arbitrary
• Using LunchMeet to Advance Your Career
• Top 5 Employment Trends for 2012
• Getting A Recommendation From A Past Employer