Don’t let grim employment statistics beat you

July 3, 10:09 AMEntry Level Careers ExaminerHeather Huhman

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released their June findings for the Employment Situation Summary, and the unemployment rates are staggering—9.5 percent overall. As you know, I’ve been watching this situation closely over the last six months or so, reporting the good, bad, ugly and extremely ugly. In the end, I always try to note the positive—how you can overcome even the grimmest statistics.

Yahoo! HotJobs' managing editor and career expert, Tom Musbach, dissected the latest numbers and shared how they will impact internship and entry-level job seekers. “The latest BLS data suggests that job seekers—particularly young ones—will likely have very stiff competition. The unemployment rates for younger workers—under 25—are higher than for older age brackets,” he said. “This knowledge should motivate younger workers to adjust their expectations: The job search may take longer, and candidates have to be very resourceful and persistent.”

Musbach agrees with something I’ve said many times before—your age isn’t always on your side. “In today's job market, you will likely be competing against older, more experienced workers—even for entry-level jobs. Experience is the name of the game. One way to be more competitive is to make sure your appearance is mature and professional—both in person for interviews and online, where recruiters will search on information about you,” he said.

So what is the silver lining on this dark cloud? Musbach provided three tips for beating these new statistics:

1. Be flexible. You may have to look outside your desired industry, location or pay range to find a job. You should be open to taking one or more part-time jobs or some other "bridge job" to get you through this time, if necessary. Even volunteering can be a way to gain important experience that gets you closer to your ideal career-starting job.

2. Be special. You must assess what qualities and skills make you uniquely valuable to an employer, based on your achievements. Once you identify these, you have to communicate them well in résumés, interviews and 20-second "elevator speeches" or summaries that you can use at networking events.

3. Be positive. First impressions are critical in hiring decisions, so project a positive, confident attitude in your contacts with potential employers. This may be especially challenging for people who've been unemployed for months or rejected several times, so do whatever necessary to engage with your support networks and pursue recreational activities that recharge your batteries. You won't get hired if you seem defeated.