If you're among the more than one million workers who've been laid off this year, finding a new job will require a strategy that differs from a typical search. The competition may be stiffer than anything you've faced before, and you'll likely be asked difficult questions about your dismissal. Knowing where to look, how to set yourself apart and what to say about your situation could mean the difference between getting a job and sinking deeper into unemployment.

A critical first step is to come to terms with your job loss, says Cynthia Shapiro, a career strategist in Woodland Hills, Calif., and author of 'What Does Somebody Have to Do to Get a Job Around Here.' Some people become angry, others insecure. While these reactions are normal, they can derail a job search should recruiters pick up on them. 'You have to take some time to mentally regroup,' says Ms. Shapiro.

Cast a Wide Net

Once you're ready to hit the pavement, consider that the wider you can look geographically, the greater your chances. To identify employers that are still hiring, start perusing local newspapers, trade magazines and business publications, advises Howard Seidel, a partner at Boston-based Essex Partners, a provider of career services. 'Some [layoff victims] stop reading newspapers because it can get depressing,' he says. But if you keep at it, 'you'll get a feel for what companies seem to be doing OK.'

Don't rule out small businesses or those in struggling industries. 'There are some companies that are countercyclical,' says Mr. Seidel. Industries like health care and education are still adding jobs. Public accounting and financial advising are also continuing to do well, although their growth is more muted.

Another job-hunting method is to network. Recruiters in particular can offer valuable insight, regardless of whether they have any search assignments that match your skill set. 'They're very close to the market and tend to have an idea of what's happening,' he explains.

If you don't already have relationships with recruiters, now is the time to start developing some. Many search firms accept r口sum口 submissions through their Web sites, which can lead to a recruiter contacting you. But you can boost your odds of success by reaching out to recruiters directly. Since they typically prefer to meet job hunters through referrals, ask former colleagues, business associates, alumni and other members of your network for an introduction to a recruiter they have a relationship with already.

Studies show that referrals lead to the highest number of job placements, so devote the majority of your search time to networking, says Annie Stevens, managing partner at ClearRock Inc., an executive coaching and outplacement firm in Boston. Responding to ads on job boards also ranks high, while attending career fairs delivers modest returns -- especially for experienced professionals.

When applying, avoid expressing bitterness or self-pity. Many layoff victims send cover letters that blame the economy for their job loss, says Ms. Shapiro. There's no need to even point out the fact that you've been laid off. 'If your last work day was in October, your r口sum口 will say that,' she explains. Plus, since so many workers have been handed pink slips in the past year, this information is unlikely to kill your candidacy upfront. While it can be helpful to explain why you were let go over others whose jobs were not eliminated, save those details for the interview and use the cover letter to describe your strengths.

如果你不幸成為今年超百萬失業大軍的一員, 那你可得用點不同尋常的策略來尋覓新工作了。

你也許會面臨前所未有的激烈競爭, 而且應聘時對方可能會問一些為何你先前會被解雇這一類難以應對的問題。要想順利找到工作、不致在失業的困境中越陷越深, 你就必須懂得從何處入手、如何讓自己脫潁而出以及如何描述自己當下的處境。

Dave Klug加利福尼亞伍德蘭德崗(Woodland Hills)的職業規劃師、《求職必做之事》(What Does Somebody Have to Do to Get a Job Around Here)作者辛西婭·夏皮羅(Cynthia Shapiro)說, 關鍵的第一步是接受失業這一事實。有些人會因此而惱怒, 還有些人會失去安全感, 這些反應均屬正常。不過, 如果招聘人員察覺到你有此種感受, 你在求職之路上就可能遭遇挫折。夏皮羅說：“你必須花點時間來調整自己的心情。”

廣撒網

一旦你準備開始找工作, 你就要想到，視野越寬, 機會就越多。波士頓就業服務公司埃塞克斯事務所(Essex Partners)的霍華德·塞德爾(Howard Seidel)建議,多看看當地的報紙、行業雜志和工商界出版物, 尋找有招聘意向的用人單位。他說, “有些人(失業后)就不再看報紙了, 因為報上都是令人沮喪的消息。” 不過如果堅持看報紙的話,“你就能夠了解到哪些公司看來仍然運轉良好。”

不要把小公司或目前處境艱難行業的公司排除在外。塞德爾說：“有些公司是逆勢而行的。” 醫療保健、教育等行業的工作崗位仍在增加, 會計及理財顧問行業也持續看好, 只不過它們的增長勢頭有所減弱而已。

另一個找工作的方法就是建立人脈網路, 特別是獵頭, 不管手頭是否有適合你的職位, 他們都能夠為你提供非常有價值和有深度的意見。塞德爾說：“他們處于招聘市場的第一線, 通常會對目前的狀況非常了解。”

如果你尚未跟獵頭建立起聯系, 那么現在就應該著手做這件事了。許多獵頭公司的網站都會接受簡歷, 在你投遞簡歷之后就會有獵頭跟你聯絡。不過如果你主動直接去找獵頭本人, 成功的幾率就會大大提高。獵頭通常更傾向于選擇那些有人推薦的求職者, 所以你可以去找找以前的同事、合作伙伴、校友以及其他關系, 讓他們向熟悉的獵頭推薦你。

清巖公司(ClearRock Inc.)是波士頓一家管理層人員培訓及職業介紹公司。該公司的執行合伙人安妮·史蒂文斯(Annie Stevens)說, 研究表明, 通過他人推薦找到工作的成功案例最多；因此，你找工作時應把大部分時間用在建立人際網路上。通過招聘廣告求職成功的例子也不少, 而招聘會帶來的收獲就不怎么顯著了 ── 對經驗豐富的專業人員來說更是如此。

在應聘時,不要發泄怨恨，也不要表現得可憐巴巴。夏皮羅說, 很多被解雇人員在求職信中將自己失業歸咎于目前的經濟形勢。其實, 你根本沒有必要特別點明自己是被解雇的。她解釋說：“如果你上一份工作干到十月份, 你的簡歷里就已經寫得很清楚了。” 而且, 在過去一年里遭到解雇的人多的是, 因此這一資訊并不會對你的應聘造成什么不利影響。向對方解釋為什么是你而不是別人遭到解雇沒什么不好，不過這些細節還是留到面試時再說，在求職信中只需強調你的優勢就可以了。

Signal Confidence

Another faux pas many unemployed job hunters make: Sending introductory notes that overextend gratitude, says Ms. Shapiro. These include lines like, 'Thank you so much for giving me consideration,' which signal a lack of confidence. She suggests taking the opposite approach by conveying that employers should take advantage of this opportunity to recruit you. Just be careful not to come across as arrogant. Say something like: 'I look forward to hearing from you.'

Meanwhile, show employers you're flexible and not fussy. A candidate for a senior consulting job at International Business Machines Corp. recently indicated to hiring manager Mayank Shah that she was willing to travel locally and abroad, as well as undergo training. 'There were many candidates with the same skills and experience, but what differentiated her was her can-do attitude,' he says. Many of her competitors made specific demands or agreed to adhere to certain requirements only in exchange for higher pay. Keep your requests for concessions -- like working only out of a particular office or during certain hours -- to a minimum. You can work up to those perks after you've proven yourself in the position.

Still, don't go overboard. Offering to do things you really don't want to do -- such as relocate anywhere or travel up to 100% of the time -- can turn off recruiters, warns Russ Riendeau, a senior partner at East Wing Search Group, an executive-recruiting firm in Barrington, Ill. 'When I hear that, I know it's not true,' he says. 'I know I'm dealing with a desperate candidate.' What's more, you could damage the relationship you have with a recruiter if he or she believes you and you later renege on your promises.

展露自信

夏皮羅說, 許多失業者在求職時常犯的另一個錯誤，就是在求職信開頭說一些謙恭過頭的話。“承蒙垂注, 感激不盡”(Thank you so much for giving me consideration)之類的話表明你缺乏自信。夏皮羅建議, 這些人應該反其道而行之, 給雇主這樣一個資訊：聘用你將是他們的榮幸。當然,你也不要給人以妄自尊大的感覺。可以用諸如“靜候佳音”(I look forward to hearing from you)之類的表達。

與此同時,要給雇主這樣一個印象：你是很容易變通的, 不會對工作挑三揀四。最近, IBM在招聘一位高級咨詢顧問的時候, 一位求職者向招聘經理瑪雅克·沙爾(Mayank Shah)表示, 她愿意出差, 去國外出差也可以接受, 還愿意接受相關培訓。沙爾說：“其他很多求職者也有同樣的技能和經驗, 讓她脫潁而出的是她那種什么都能做的態度。” 她的眾多競爭對手都提出了具體的要求，或者同意在提高薪酬的條件下接受某些工作安排。盡量少提條件 ── 比如只在某個部門或某個時間段工作。只要你在自己的崗位上表現卓越，你早晚會獲得這些特權。

當然， 也不要過猶不及。伊利諾斯州巴陵頓(Barrington)東翼獵頭公司(East Wing Search Group)的資深合伙人拉斯·李安德(Russ Riendeau)告戒說, 同意去做你壓根兒不愿意做的事情 ── 比如到公司安排的任意地點工作, 或者一年365天都出差在外 —— 也可能會讓對方對你敬而遠之。他說：“聽到這種話的時候, 我知道對方肯定是言不由衷, 也就知道對方是病急亂投醫了。” 而且, 如果獵頭相信了你、而事后你卻食言的話, 你跟對方的關系也就毀于一旦了。

Salary Issues

Some unemployed job hunters also hurt their chances by volunteering to take a significantly lower salary than what they earned in their last job. An offer to take a pay cut of more than 20% can suggest to employers that you're biding your time and would re-enter the job market in search of higher-paying positions once the economy improves, says Jeff Joerres, chief executive officer of outplacement firm Manpower Inc. Or, you might unwittingly imply that you're going to ask for a raise soon after coming on board.

A better strategy is to wait for the hiring manager to raise the subject of salary. If the job pays less than what you previously made, respond with a plausible reason for accepting it. For example, you might say that you recognize what's going on in the economy and cite reasons why you're attracted to the position and the company. 'You want to project that you are facing reality and are comfortable with the situation,' says Mr. Joerres.

Finally, prepare an explanation about what led to your layoff. For example, you might tell the interviewer that your skill set wasn't critical to your last employer's survival, but that you believe it is for the organization you're now targeting -- and then explain why, suggests Mr. Joerres.

If you've been unemployed for a long period of time and a recruiter asks why, consider pointing out that you're being selective about your next move, says Mr. Joerres. Then describe how the position is a strong fit. Or you might explain that you opted to delay your search to spend time with family or take a class, suggests Ms. Shapiro. 'You have to make those last months sound like a conscious choice,' she says.

薪酬問題

一些失業的求職者會主動表示可以接受較前份工作低很多的薪酬, 這種做法很可能會讓你功虧一簣。萬寶盛華人力資源公司(Manpower Inc.)首席執行長杰夫·約雷斯(Jeff Joerres)說, 在雇主看來, 愿意跌價20%以上的提議表明，你其實是在伺機而動, 一旦經濟好轉, 你就會重入就業市場尋找薪水更高的工作。亦或對方會認為, 你在得到工作后很快便會要求加薪。

比較好的策略是等著招聘經理先提及薪酬問題。如果對方的提議比你先前的收入要低, 那你就要給出一個讓你接受這一提議的合理理由。比如, 你可以說你了解目前的整個經濟大環境, 然后一一列舉出這家公司、這個職位吸引你的理由。約雷斯說：“你應該向對方表明, 你懂得面對現實, 而且對目前的安排感到滿意。”

最后, 要準備好一套說辭來解釋你被解雇的原因。約雷斯建議, 例如，你可以跟面試者說, 你的技能并非上一家公司的生存立命之本； 不過你相信，對于目前的公司來說卻是如此 ── 然后再解釋個中原因。

約雷斯說, 如果你已經失業了很長時間, 有獵頭問到其中原因的時候, 你不妨說那是因為你對自己的下一步發展非常審慎, 然后向對方說明自己是多么適合目前應聘的職位。夏皮羅建議, 你也可以說是想要跟家人共度一段時間, 或者是為了進修, 所以暫時沒有尋找新的工作。她說：“你必須讓對方覺得,過去這幾個月之所以沒有上班, 完全是你自己的選擇。”