Maybe you have been job searching for a while and have given up, resigned to staying where you are, with your less than perfect position?

Now may be the time to take a fresh look. As the global economy begins to look more hopeful and the end of the gloom is in sight, many businesses will be realising they may need to rethink their human resources, to position themselves for an upturn, or that new contract they have been anticipating.

The companies who cut back viciously on staffing to survive will be aware that they are under resourced now to take advantage of the upturn. It is too late to begin the recruitment and training process once the upturn comes-competitors will be ahead of them, they will be too slow off the starting blocks.

So they may now be prepared to consider opportunities that present themselves in the form of promising recruits. even if they have not formally got round to the task of reviewing staffing, coming up with potential gaps in their structure, drawing up job specifications, instructing a recruitment company, letting them filter out suitable candidates for interview. And then presenting their bill for such services!

What if someone contacted them out of the blue with a proposal as to how they could add value –solve their problems?

And what if that person was willing to bet on themselves? Offer to start on a reasonable salary with a “payment by results” package attached. Could be worth a meeting at least, what is there to lose?

Does all this sound vaguely familiar-we looked at all this in our FREE job search course, especially the modules that dealt with using your contacts to get in front of a business owner.

So go back to those modules, and re-read them. There are lessons to help you write a great CV, be successful at interview, plan your career opportunities to achieve your goals, discover the hidden job market, network to enhance your career opportunities, hone your time management and presentation skills. We look at Job hunting, Career goals /management, Salary negotiation and how to use your contacts to get your dream job.

Scan your notes to see who said to you “I would give you a chance in better economic conditions, but we are not recruiting anyone right now.”

Are there any other comments employers made when politely turning you down that would allow you to reopen the door now? You will know who was just being polite and who genuinely might be open to an approach now.

Remember to consider small and medium sized companies as well as big conglomerates. It is now widely recognized that these companies are extremely important to any economy, create around two thirds of new jobs and the good news for you is that they are much easier to approach. They rarely advertise vacancies, probably don’t have a human resources department and will often be prepared to create a position for someone they believe can generate growth and profit for them. And it is much easier to use contacts to get to the owner/manager.

So go back over your notes-you have done all the hard work in obtaining names and contact details through your own contacts. Make a phone call, or write a letter or email, reminding them that you contacted them some months ago, and give some detail of the contact to jog their memory.

Explain that you were greatly encouraged by their kind words and sympathetic approach on that occasion and you wondered if perhaps they might be in a position to reconsider your proposal. Can they spare twenty minutes for a quick meeting?

Re-do and update any research, and remember, when you get to the meeting, present yourself as a resource that will solve their current problems, and add to their success. Keep strictly to your timescale when you meet, unless they specifically give you permission to overstay.

So come on, now is the time to dust off your notes and go back to the people who gave you a reason to think they would consider you in better times.