Job hunting during a recession may require some creative thinking. Whether you've been in the same job for many years or have worked in several fields, a layoff can be a good time to think about switching either your occupation or your industry.
What’s the difference between Occupations and Industries?
Your occupation is what you do; your industry is where you do it. For example, receptionist is an occupation that can be found in most industries, such as health care, manufacturing, or financial services. On the other hand, an industry like health care employs receptionists, but it also employs people in other occupations like doctors, nurses, technicians, and janitors.
Option 1: Stay in the Same Occupation and Same Industry
Are you pretty sure you want to look for a job in your current or most recent occupation or industry? Then start your job search by checking out tips for job hunting after job loss.
Option 2: Move to the Same Occupation in a Different Industry
For example, a receptionist can move from working for an auto manufacturing firm to a hospital. Consider the following:
Consider a less volatile industry. While no industry is completely recession-proof, jobs in health care, education, and other human service fields are less likely to be outsourced. And since the demand for human services doesn’t stop during a recession, these industries are less subject to economic shock.
Transfer your skills. If you were a clerk in the auto manufacturing industry, can you jump to being a clerk in a hospital or school? Maybe. The key is to understand your skills in general terms and know how they might transfer easily to a new industry. See What are Your Skills? for more information.
Market yourself. During times of high unemployment, employers can be choosy about who they hire. Be sure to explain how your experience in a different industry translates into real value for a prospective employer. Visit CareerOneStop's Resumes + Interview section for tips on how to tailor your resume and cover letter for each job opening (this section will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the new window).
Research the trends.View employment trends by occupation and industry to get a sense for which industries employ people with your background and skills (this section will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the new window).
Option 3: Move to a Different Occupation in the Same Industry
For example, a receptionist working in a hospital can apply for a medical transcriptionist position in the same or a different hospital. Get started exploring this option with these tips:
Assess your skills. Visit What are Your Skills? to explore how you can move easily from one occupation to another.
Find related occupations. If you are thinking of switching occupations, you should research which occupations can make the best use of your skills. Visit CareerOneStop's Skills Profiler to find occupations that use skills similar to your previous job or view an Occupation Profile of your previous occupation to find related occupations (these resources will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the window).
Network. Networking can be especially effective if you’re looking for a different occupation in the same industry, because your contacts may know each other and can communicate easily. Get tips on networking during a recession.
Learn about the salary range in your new occupation by checking out CareerOneStop's Salary Tool (this will open in a new browser window; to return to this page, simply close the window).
Option 4: Move to a Different Occupation in a Different Industry
For example, a receptionist working in a hospital decides to find a job as an animal groomer for a local pet store. If you're interested in a whole new career, be sure to explore all your options. Since your job search is taking you in a completely new direction, it’s best to take a step back and explore careers in many occupations and industries. Here are some things to consider (these resources will open in new browser windows; to return to this page, simply close the new window):