We don’t need to tell you that the job market isn’t awesome right now. In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE is the guru organization on college hiring) reports that college hiring is down more than 20% this year. CASH for Careers and your friends in the Career Services Network want to give you a few tips to help you through the tough times. Below are four main tips to help you in your job search.

Check back regularly for new tips and success stories from your fellow Spartans.

BE PROACTIVE

How easy is it to sit behind your computer and submit resumes to every online position you qualify for? Super easy! But is it an effective way to approach your job search? NO WAY! Don’t wait for jobs to come to you, be proactive! You NEED to have a game plan – pick 10 organizations or companies you want to work for and seek out ways to connect with them. Have a strategy.

Devise a plan to figure out what you want to do, where you would like to be and what companies/industries interest you the most. Having a game plan and learning how to convey that message to employers can help you land a job.

BE CREATIVE

Employers are always looking for innovative candidates who can really think on their feet. Why not WOW them right off the bat with a creative way of getting their attention during your job search. Successful candidates have used anything from video resumes to blogs to Facebook pages in order to land a job. At the very least, take the time to make each application unique to the company you’re applying to. Nobody wants to read a cookie cutter resume and cover letter.

NETWORK

You don’t need anyone to tell you again that networking is important during a job search, but we’re going to anyway! Networking is REALLY important! Now more than ever, it is critical to leverage your networks when seeking employment.

Not only should you keep in contact with people you already know in your field, you also need to create new contacts that can help you with your job search. Since 70% of jobs are unadvertised, it truly is who you know, not what you know that’s going to help you find a job. More recently, the phenomenon is who KNOWS you! Also, networking is not a one-time transaction, but rather a continuous process to foster a relationship.

PERSEVERE

In today’s job search, it would be easy to get frustrated every time you hear “We’re not hiring,” “That position has been filled,” “We don’t have the resources to bring anyone in right now.” Don’t take NO for an answer. If someone turns you down today, try again in a week or two to stay in touch with your contact. Keep your head up and keep trying. Having a positive attitude and a strong support system will help you get through difficult times.