Patience, productivity urged in job hunt

Out-of-work job seekers need to be patient and learn to market themselves, career transition consultant Packard Brown tells people in search of work.

Brown, a 1968 graduate of Whitworth University, is a career consultant based in Denver. He made a presentation on job search tactics Friday during the university’s homecoming weekend.

Among other tips, Brown said unemployed folks should take part-time jobs even if they’re not specifically in the career direction they’re going.

“A future employer will say: ‘Though you didn’t find anything in your line of work, you’re still being productive, making a living and using the skills you have,’ ” Brown said.

That shows initiative and shows one is not being idle, Brown said.

He offered several other tips, including:

• Translate your job strengths into skills a possible employer can use. “If you are good with people, you can show a company you can help in customer service and reduce customer complaints, for instance,” he said.

• Research every company before you contact a possible employer. Find companies that are growing.

• Contact the department manager who would be the person most likely to make a hiring decision, instead of first pushing a resume through a company’s human resources department.

“Talk to that manager first to show you know what’s going on in the company and how you can be of help to them,” he said.

Tom Sowa