Getting a Job in a Down Economy

When you start looking for jobs, what’s the most natural thing to do? Look in your industry. Industry experience matters to employers so when you’re in job search mode, you go for low-hanging fruit. We definitely recommend you do that as part of your search—but what if you’re in one of the industries like finance or real estate? There might not be an option in that industry. Don’t despair. I’m going to hook you up with secrets to manage that situation.

The Secret: Think Functionally

What does that mean? Every job is categorized by both industry and function. For example, an industry is pharmaceuticals, but the function is sales. Your potential to get an interview is based not only on the industry experience, but also on your functional experience. And guess what? Functions go across industries! That’s right. You have gained transferable functional skills that apply not only to your industry, but to others as well. Things should start coming into focus for you now….

Your job is to begin thinking functionally right now. Don’t think about the industries in which you’ve worked, start thinking of the different functions that you have experience with. Here are some functions to get your mind working:


• Marketing
• Sales
• Operations
• Recruiting
• Consulting
• Market Research
• Information Technology (networks, hardware, software, development)
• Strategy
• Research
• Project management

What about skilled trades?

• Truck Driving
• Painting
• Auto Work
• Hotel Room Service
• General Hospitality

Think about the projects that you’ve worked on within your job. Did you lead a team, do budgeting, perform custom analyses, business plan, or mentor others? Do you have a skill or trade that can be used anywhere? It’s extremely important to know what you have done when in job search mode. Cater your resume to your function and you'll be ahead of the competition. Good luck!