Job Seeking in a Recession
by Alfred Johnston
Diversity Resourcing Manager
BP America Inc.
From the employment standpoint, a recession can offer benefits to both employers and job seekers:
- Companies are pressured to look at all of their expenses, as well as the skills and duties of current staff, to see what’s working and what’s not. It’s a chance for them to become really lean and measure their return on investment for every expense. They typically become more proactive and strategic in hiring, as well as in developing, restructuring and shifting talent. Sometimes that means downsizing so the right talent can be hired or so current staff can be shifted into more-productive roles.
- Job seekers have the time to more carefully study the positions that are available, as well as the stability and sustainability of the organizations that offer them. People with the right talent have an opportunity to be hired or shifted into more appropriate roles that align with the new direction of the company.
During a recession, companies look more closely at job openings. So, if a company posts a position, you can be sure that they want to fill it. At the same time, the difficulties in the financial markets have trickled down to all industries. So job seekers definitely are facing stiff competition for each job opening.
The good news is that companies that are doing well are still hiring. BP, for example, has had an average of 75 to 100 open positions across the United States throughout the recession. That’s down a good bit from the average 150 to 300 open positions we had before the recession, but we are still hiring, even when some companies are not.
Granted, some of these positions require numerous approvals to get an external hire in place--especially if a current employee can move into the position.
In many industries and for certain roles, companies have been offering lower salaries than before, given the large number of unemployed workers and small number of open positions. We see MBA graduates taking undergraduate positions, and college graduates taking lower entry-level positions than they did a year ago. In many cases, companies have rescinded their offers to recent college graduates.
At the same time, companies don’t want to cut staff too deeply because they know they may end up needing to hire people back in a year or two. And they’re concerned about losing the experience of the baby boomers as they retire in the years ahead. The “boomers” have so much valuable knowledge and experience that will take time to transfer to less-experienced co-workers. For the experienced professional, that’s good news because this recession will correct itself, as recessions always do.
If you’re looking for a new position in this market, keep these tips in mind:
Sharpen your skills Take career-development classes. Look for transferable skill opportunities, such as shifting your skills in banking and finance into a career in oil and gas. Or, if you want to stay where you are, engage yourself more strongly in the organization, build your skill set and create a back-up plan.
Pinpoint your passion When it comes to career planning, nothing is more important than identifying your passion and pursuing it. Nothing else—not pay, not a bonus, not benefits, not stock options—should be more important than that. Remember, you’ll spend around one-third of your time working. Make sure you’re doing something you enjoy!
Focus on the future Whether you’re looking to stay where you are and move up or are seeking a position with a new company, keep your eye on the future: Does this company . . . does this position . . . offer the growth you’re seeking?
Do the research Visit the company’s Web site and figure out what human components it needs to operate: If we have computers, we need IT. If we communicate, we need public-relations and public-affairs people. If we’re training people, we need trainers. If we’re trading oil and gas, we need traders.
Meet more people Career fairs, conferences and networking platforms offer the opportunity to talk with real people in your target organizations. That’s where you’ll get the real goods on the companies’ cultures, benefits and roles. Ask these people, “Where did you get your experience and where did you come from and why did you select this company to work for?”
Attend to detail Keep your resume to one or two pages with even margins and consistent fonts printed neatly on high-quality white or off-white paper. Proofread carefully and ask someone else to proofread it, too. Be sure your profile or objective is clear. Be careful about listing clubs and interests that might put off the interviewer. Remember that another human being reads your resume, and personal biases can get in the way. And don’t forget to include your phone number and e-mail address.
Appreciate the interview If you’re granted an interview, that’s more than half the battle, because the majority of applicants don’t get that far. Beforehand, dig deep within yourself and be prepared to answer questions about what you’ve done in the past and what you would do in a particular situation. Prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview. And send a thank-you letter, card or e-mail to each person you talk with. It’s a great finishing touch. Remember, at some point, they’ll all be talking to each other about which candidate to hire.
Tell the truth Always be honest about what you’ve done and your potential. If the job calls for five years in account reconciliation, and you only have three, be prepared to say what you could do with two years of on-the-job training. Most employers know they’re not going to get everything they ask for in their job posts.
Scope them out The interview is an excellent opportunity to get a feel for the company. Is it a place you want to work? A job you want to do? Is it in alignment with your personal career goals?
Look the part For your interview, dress as though you’re already working at the company—but stepped up a level. Once you get the job, you can decide if you need to upscale your wardrobe or pull out the knakis and polos.
Know what you want Don’t ask the interviewer to create a job for you or guide you. Know your strengths and passions and how they can benefit the organization.
Don’t set up roadblocks Don’t say, “I don’t know if I’ll get this job, but here’s my resume.” For example, don’t assume that an oil and gas company only hires engineers and geologists.
Help them sell you Be sure your resume states your previous accomplishments and notes your strengths. Repeat those in the interview. That helps recruiters and human-resources managers sell you to the hiring manager.
Diversity counts For women, the opportunities are endless in all different arenas these days. In oil and gas, for example, we have a high need for women, not just in administration, but in all phases of our industry. It’s OK to ask the interviewer if the company has established affinity groups that speak to who you are.
Once you have the job of your dreams, make sure your manager understands your personal-development plan and will help you achieve it. It’s not your boss’s job to figure that out. It’s yours.
BP is proud to sponsor the Texas Conference for Women as an example of our commitment to diversity. Our female employees have found these conferences a great source of inspiration, networking opportunities and guidance along their career paths.
More than 300 BP women will attend this year’s conference. If you’re interested in learning more about positions in the oil and gas industry, talk with them and visit our booth, which will feature a recruiting corner and supplier-diversity corner.
In the spirit of the conference, our Diversity Resourcing Manager, Alfred Johnson, offers tips about job seeking in a recession.
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