by Jess McCuan     .     photo by Brent Fleury

People in any industry can find themselves out of work. Ten years ago, Susan Hopkins, now Asheville branch manager for the international recruiting firm Manpower, was out of a job herself for nearly six months, even though she’d had steady managerial jobs since college. “It was time to re-market myself,” says the Churchville, New York, native who has a dual degree in management and marketing. And that’s exactly what she recommends for anyone looking for work in the current economic downturn. Don’t panic. Take time to retool, spruce up your resume and learn a new skill. “The reality is we’re all going to make it through,” she says. 

What traits do you look for in a job candidate?   When it comes down to it, the “soft” skills end up setting one candidate apart from another. It’s about relationships, how you interact with people and how you present yourself. What is your thinking style? How many ways can you answer a question? What drives you and motivates you? How persuasive are you? It’s things like that, rather than your specific technical skill set. 

How has the recent economic downturn affected Manpower’s business? Manpower has been through 60 years of ups and downs. Our general mission has not changed. To me, it’s made it really exciting. First of all, so many more people are available to work with at this point in time. It keeps us hopping.  

What advice would you give to women just starting out in their careers? First, conduct yourself with integrity. If a customer leaves dissatisfied, they’ll tell ten people. If they leave happy, they may or may not say anything. Don’t burn bridges. You never know who’s going to be your supervisor, your manager or someone you want to do business with down the road. Second, find a mentor. Look for someone you respect and observe their actions and the way they conduct themselves. Third, develop a strong work ethic. A lot of people coming into the job market today want to start at the top. Be humble and understand that it’s healthy to work your way up. There are a lot of candidates out there.  

On Finding a Job

Tips from Susan Hopkins

1. Be persistent. The market is going to turn around. The economy will gain strength, and there are positions available. Maybe you’ve been looking for two weeks and haven’t found an open door. But tomorrow, someone may leave their job. Don’t give up.
2. Be humble. Understand that you may have been making a certain amount of money elsewhere, but you don’t necessarily have to make that in the next place. Be flexible in what you’re willing to take.
3. See how you can re-present yourself. If you’ve been in an industrial position and don’t have a resume, make one. If you can, learn a new skill. Don’t be afraid to make changes.