eFinancialCareers

When looking for a job, especially during an economic downturn, patience is essential. It takes time to find leads and follow up. It takes time to arrange interviews. It takes time to get responses. All in all, finding a job can take a lot longer than you planned. So be patient, persistent and professonal throughout your search, and don't take non-responsiveness or rejection personally. It’s difficult to be patient when... Read more

When I was working as an investment banking consultant, my wife and I did not think twice about buying what we wanted for ourselves and our children, dining at expensive restaurants or taking taxis. We were far from living extravagantly: we lived in a small but luxurious rental on the border of the Upper East Side and Spanish Harlem. Still, we were living the good life. There was a rooftop... Read more

While unemployed and searching for a job, you have a great opportunity to reevaluate your experiences, skills and passions. It is the perfect time for self-assessment and taking personal inventory. In a difficult economic environment, especially if you are in a hard-hit industry like finance, stepping out of your own box might even be a necessity. To do this, draw upon not just your professional experience, but your life experience:... Read more

Life has many trials, and earning our daily bread is one of them. During my job search, I rode an emotional roller-coaster. There were plenty of days when I was depressed and did not want to speak with anyone. But I never lost hope. With a little help from family, friends, career counselor and my inner faith, I always bounced back. When you're unemployed, it's important to do what you have... Read more

When I hadn't found a job a few months after my layoff early in 2008, the prospects for my wife, five children and myself looked bleak. Everyone in both my wife's family and mine knew I was unemployed. What they did not know was, I could soon be reaching out to them for serious help. Through the good times and difficult times in my life, I always maintained open and consistent... Read more

If I had given up at any time during my job search, I would not have found a job, received a second round of publicity for my success and perseverance, or ended up where I am today. My experience illustrates why it is so important to keep your eyes on your goal and maintain the determination to reach it. I never stopped sending out resumes, even when I received very... Read more

I studied marketing at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Four years of my professional work experience were in international marketing of satellite communications equipment. Another four years was spent acting as the "brand police" at a U.S.-based affiliate of a large European bank, ensuring that all of the company marketing communications material, including its web site, conformed to the European headquarters’ marketing standards and policies. I value the importance of brand... Read more

When looking for a job, especially in economically challenging times, it helps to be open to change. Perhaps, you will have to do something else, somewhere else, at least for a while in order to survive. What's more, you may be pleasantly surprised where an opportunity may lead you, whether in terms of the kind of work you do, where you do it and whom you meet. During my job search... Read more