The problem is a common one: I got laid off from a start-up in Silicon Valley where I was working my a-- off as Product Manager.

The question: How do you set yourself apart from the thousands of other folks out there that were also laid off, when you're all battling for new jobs in a tough marketplace?

I'm trying to leverage all my networking contacts, surfing the web endlessly and have posted my resume more places than I care to think about.

I welcome your advice and comments.

-- Bryan Ward (bward02@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001

Answers

Bryan,

You may want to check out this story on our site called "(Re)Brand You: This marketing expert and author will help you reboot yourself after a layoff." It's located here: http://www.fastcompany.com/invent/ invent_feature/act_roffer.html

I hope it helps.

- Anni

-- Anni Layne (alayne@fastcompany.com), March 26, 2001.

I run a recruitment service in Aussie and have been in HR management for thirty years and I thought I might offer one hint that will put you apart from the other "resume senders"

In times like these in SV when everyone else is sending resumes you need to get off your a.... and visit potential companies personally.

With the web you can now research backgrounds, products, philosophies etc and addresses - be at the side door at 7.30 am in the morning to see what happens, whether the people entering have happy faces or sad faces - do you want to join that company anyway? do the face to face thing - by all means take your resume - but be persistent.

hope it helps

-- Bob Liubinskas (magic@primus.com.au), March 28, 2001.

You set yourself apart By Exceptional Giving! There is no shortage of takers, but an unselfish, genuine giver IS PRICELESS!

Let me illustrate a practical example: A man laid off from the shoe factory decided he really wanted to own a car dealership (Making up Your mind as to what You really want to do is the first step) To pay the bills, he worked as a substitute teacher for 3 months. Before and after school, He read car magazines, and helped Senior Citizens in their decision making process for purchasing new and used cars. Six months later, he was top salesman for a wonderful car dealer. One year later, He owned his own dealership. It all started with his magazines (Education, Giving to Himself) and helping Seniors (Giving of Himself).

-- Edward Bryant (ebryantus@yahoo.com), March 28, 2001.