Hello 2010! 2009 was a difficult time in the job market for students and graduates alike, and unless you spent most of your time inebriated with a traffic cone on your head, this is an inescapable fact. But it’s a new year, and for those of you that remain unemployed, then now is a good time to take a brief pause and re-focus your job hunting strategy.

So, allow us to disrupt your sales shopping with 10 tips to help you tackle the employment market in 2010.

1. Don’t appear desperate

Companies don’t hire desperate people. Desperation often overshadows what you have to offer i.e. your skills and the value you can add. So, avoid blanket emailing, random sending of CVs, and also writing “Looking for a job” on your Facebook or LinkedIn status. Target who you contact and promote your skills not your hunger.

2. Get work experience

In tough times graduate employers often look for evidence that you’ve gained experience in your field, as they can afford to be choosy, and if you haven’t picked up this type of experience, it’s a good bet that many of your peers have! But don’t despair you can get it now or after you graduate by doing voluntary work, freelancing, an internship, or temping.

3. Do your research

Before applying for any role do your research on the company and the industry! This is where many students and graduates go wrong. Allow me to illustrate; imagine you owned a small business and you’re presented with two equally gifted candidates seeking a job that you’ve advertised for. Candidate A knows nothing about your company, whilst Candidate B shows an understanding of the company’s aims and business model. Who would you pick?

4. Be flexible (It’s a tough market!)

This means giving consideration to not only searching for jobs in other industries, but also a geographical move. To land my first graduate role, I moved from the bright lights of London to the bright lights of Milton Keynes (cue raised eyebrows). However, a year or so later, I moved back to London with experience under my belt and landed a dream graduate role.

5. Call on your network

Let your family, friends, former colleagues, past employers, and university peers know that you are seeking employment or have a service to offer. Recommendations go far further than cold applications, hence why many large graduate employers have internal referral schemes.

6. Keep your CV in good shape

Ensure that your CV is consistently updated and don’t rely on your memory to recall past events, as you’re likely to overlook critical achievements and contributions. If a recruiter suddenly gets in contact, the last thing that you want to do is present them with a hurried CV; in an abundant market like this, they’ll simply look elsewhere.

7. Get a presence online

Use the web to showcase your skills and to network with professionals in your industry. Use YouTube to post videos, Flickr to create a photography portfolio, get a LinkedIn account, follow key players in your industry on Twitter, and even consider blogging. In a nutshell, get out there and promote yourself.

8. Tap into the “Hidden Job Market”

It’s widely reported that approximately 70% of jobs are never actually advertised, resulting in thousands of job seekers chasing 30% of visible vacancies, and therefore increasing the competitiveness. So where are these hidden jobs? These opportunities can be found through recruitment agencies, careers fairs, local publications, direct applications, and through your network.

9. Get rid of your iamalegend@example.com email address

Yes, unfortunately you’re grown up now and this means getting rid of your once-funny email address. Recruiters will no doubt see the funny side, but are unlikely to take your application very seriously. So change your mail address asap and ensure that it’s on your CV and that your wider network have it, for use when they’re putting you in contact with possible recruiters.

10. Stay positive

Don’t beat yourself up; there are many others out there in the same situation and any negativity will only cloud your judgement and derail your efforts. In any case, being rejected is part of the game, so take it on the chin, seek feedback and learn how you can improve your application.

Have you had any success lately in finding a job? Do you have any tips for our student and graduate community? If so, please leave a comment below.