With the reverberations of Sep 11's attacks on the US being felt by the global economy, Asia is also feeling the heat. That translates into depressed demand for talent on top of an already declining market for jobs. But that does not mean you should resign yourself to failing in your search. Sure, you may be competing against a larger number of eager candidates for the same jobs, but you have to take charge of the situation and make it count for yourself. In this scenario, you must be creative in getting your foot in the door and having your story heard by hiring managers.

In this day and age of Internet recruitment and mass media job advertisements, recruiters and employers are facing a multitude of Resumes pouring into their inboxes. Hundreds of applicants could be vying for that one opening. So, how do you move from being one of the crowd, to becoming the one?

Close In On A Target
Blind Resume-zapping will not garner you the jobs you are looking for. Screen the jobs you apply for. Only invest time in those you know you will qualify for and want to do. If you make applications en masse, the likelihood might be that you forget whom you applied to and why. When the call comes from the employer for an interview, it reflects very poorly on yourself if you (a) have no inkling as to who is calling, and (b) are not qualified to take on the role.

Get your target in scope so the chances of getting a job of your choice is better.

Brush Up Your Cover Letter Finesse
This has been said time and again, but most people do not bother. Even if they do, they'll write the bare minimum "Dear Recruiter" letter of generic characteristics. This makes the recruiter no wiser as to why you are set apart from the rest. Everyone has a university degree with a Second Upper class or GPA of 3.0+ these days. You have to go an extra mile. Take the time to make sure you read the advertisement carefully. Note the skills they require or prefer, as they like to put it. Discern the kind of personality or character they deem suited for their ideal candidate. Then, process this information and craft a cover letter that concisely and clearly identifies how your experience and skills render you as a candidate they would be crazy to decline.

But what more than that?>
Get A Name. Write An Email. Give A Call.

If you had the choice of sending a Resume and cover letter to a real person's email or postal address versus that of a generic alibi, such as jobs@companyz.com, make your best attempt at sending your documentation to the real professional in recruitment. If you have to make a call to the company or research the company's website for a name, telephone number and address, do it. (Unless there are strict guidelines not to contact the recruiter any other way than that specified in the ad.)

Those personalised confirmation notes informing you that your Resume was received are most likely auto-generated. So, either send an email or telephone the recruiter to personally enquire whether your Resume was received intact. This gives you a chance to make contact with a person and encourage them to check if your Resume was received. You may not get a reply or you might have to leave a message at the first attempt, but you have made the overture. Wait a few days, and then make contact again. Try as far as possible to speak to the recruiter in charge if making a call. Whatever makes you stand out from the rest is a good strategy in an employer's market. One or two emails or telephone calls is usually enough. Remember, there is a fine line between persistence and being pesky.

Network Your Way To A Job. Leave No One Out.
The other week, I got three freelance opportunities for projects from very unlikely people in my social circle. One relative, a childhood friend and someone I met once. It shows that networking does work!

Snagging that crucial job interview slot over someone else who is just sitting by the phone is not very difficult. In times like these, putting your network into action will most likely be the most effective job search tool you can utilise. Spread the word to your friends, co-workers, family, your doctor, church group or acquaintances, heck, anyone who has the time! Make it known to them that you are looking for a job, but don't just stop there. Tell them briefly what you are capable of and the kind of jobs you are looking for. Armed with this information, any form of conversation they have with their network can ultimately lead to a referral for an opportunity that is not being advertised anywhere else yet. If you can, use your networking contacts to identify the real hiring manager for the position and have your contact either refer you via the employee referral process or go directly to the hiring manager on your behalf. Alternatively, you can attempt to contact the hiring manager directly. Most often, recruiters will follow up on personal leads they get from people they know before they plow through the pile of Resumes. It eases their job if they trust the referee to recommend a worthy candidate.

Never Close Your Doors
You really never know from where your next job lead will materialise. A lot of people think, I am perfectly suited for that job, but unless someone sees you, they may never find out. It's your self-marketing and approach that will make the difference in the company's realisation of that fact and getting them to act on it. In the worst-case scenario -- if the company you contacted has filled the position or is not hiring at the moment -- request for an informational interview where you can ask questions about the kind of jobs you would have been qualified for within the company and the corporate culture. This is to assess if you are really a match with the company and if there might be opportunities of interest to you in the future should positions open. Ensure you make a favourable impression during this interview so that you will be foremost in the mind of the hiring manager to contact you when a position does materialise. Now go take on the world!