Get Creative - Our Top 8 Job Search Tips

The economic slowdown and cuts in the job market should not deter skilled immigrants from pursuing their dreams to rebuild their careers in the U.S. Upwardly Global suggests that jobseekers think unconventionally and consider alternatives.

Below are eight job hunting tips to help skilled immigrants navigate their job search in 2009.

1. Look for hidden jobs. Companies opt to post jobs on their own websites to cut costs and as a result, a large percentage of jobs are not advertised. Be more diligent in your job search by creating a list of targeted companies and visiting their websites to learn about career opportunities. In addition, research a company's website to learn more about the company's performance. Demonstrate your familiarity with the company's development and new initiatives, because the job offer goes to the applicant who has done the best job preparing for the interview.
   
   
2. Research industries and locations where there is growth and focus on transferrable skills. Jose Chanes, one of Upwardly Global's jobseekers, is a great example of this situation. Originally from Bolivia, Jose had been working with numbers and math during his 15 year career as a civil engineer. Jose learned about the shortage of math teachers in the U.S during his job search with Upwardly Global. Realizing that his extensive knowledge about math could fill the gap, he applied for a teacher position. He used the interviewing skills he learned from Upwardly Global, passed the tests, and successfully secured a position as a math teacher at Vineland Public High School in New Jersey.
   
   
3. Consider volunteering and internship. Most U.S. employers like to see that you have U.S. work experience. As competition gets tougher, it is important to have an updated resume with recent U.S. experience, and volunteering and internship opportunities are good way to start. Even if the work is not paid, you can put the experience on your resume and give a reference from that volunteer position that can speak to the quality of your work. And who knows, it may lead you to a full time position. Martha, a young professional from Cuba was doing an internship in events planning/hotel management at Robert Smith Hotel in Manhattan. Her diligent work paid off as the Hotel recently hired her as Events Assistant Manager - a position they created for her.
   
   
4. Be open to relocation. Jobseekers often flock to New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago to find jobs, but they might be headed in the wrong direction. In the current economic condition, jobseekers must re-evaluate their job search strategies and consider other cities in the U.S. Utah, California, Salt Lake City, Texas and Alabama are just few best cities to find jobs currently .
   
   
5. Look for emerging industries. Green-collar job is one sector that is poised for growth. In fact, late last month, President-elect Barack Obama announced a massive plan to create 5 million new jobs in green businesses. Visit www.greenjobs.com or www.environmentalcareer.com to find a job lead in your area.
   
   
6. Keep developing your skills. In this economy, companies will want to hire people who require less training because it means less additional expenses. Therefore, the task to keep yourself abreast of industry development lies in your own hands. Attending industry workshops, taking academic courses, joining ethnic professional associations, and participating in online trainings are just few ideas to keep your skills updated.
   
   
7. Use informational interviews. An informational interview is a meeting in which a job seeker asks for advice rather than employment. Use the interview to gather information on the industry in your field of interest, find employment leads, who is in charge of hiring, and expand your professional network.
   
   
8. Create an online profile and network digitally. The U.S. job market is very dynamic and it becomes increasingly common for U.S. employers to conduct online researches of a candidate's profile before an interview to learn more about his/her background. LinkedIn, a professional-networking site who has 32 million members, allows you to digitally showcase your skills and experience. The site also has new job-search functions that allows jobseekers figure out what connections they have to people who work at companies that are hiring.